FRANK MELTON: DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE 'NORMAL'

Frank Melton, the new Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics executive director,
explained to reporters recently his decision to don protective clothes and
join his subordinates for a roadblock operation.

Last week, Melton surprised some Mississippi motorists. State narcotics
agents began stopping them around the Capitol to check driver's licenses
while a helicopter provided surveillance overhead.

Is it normal for directors to do the day-to-day drug law enforcement work
of the streets? Melton was asked.

"I've never been normal in my life," he said.

He then explained that he grew up in a rough neighborhood in Houston,
Texas, and warned people to expect that he will not be like most directors.

"Typically, the narcotics directors are supposed to sit behind the desk and
drink coffee out in Byram," he said.

Primary rumors abound

State Insurance Commissioner George Dale responded recently to a rumor that
former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ronnie Shows planned to challenge him in the
upcoming primary for state offices.

"I know that some folks would like very much for me to have a strong
opponent, but I was hoping it would not be Ronnie," he said of the gossip.

"He's a good friend. I would find it very troubling if he did."

The real problem, he explained, is that Shows is a little too likable -
even for him.

"And if he did, I'd probably vote for him," Dale said.

The rumor is one of many that has circulated in the months leading up to
the primary in August. The Nov. 4 election will include state and county
offices.

Senate pages introduced

Sen. Tommy Moffatt, R-Gautier, had the honor of performing one of the
traditional functions of a legislator last week.

He introduced the Senate pages. Those are the teen-aged boys and girls who
assist lawmakers during the session.

They generally deliver phone messages, get coffee, hand out bills and stand
ready for lawmakers to send them on errands while they're stuck on the
floor listening to debate or voting on bills.

When Moffatt stood to introduce the teens, he said they were the "brightest
and best pages we've had this session."

Well, uh, actually, they are the only pages the Senate has had this year.
The session began Jan. 7.

Dressed for the occasion?

Lawmakers started the session last week with news on the state of
Mississippi's economy and budget.

The state is receiving more money than last year at this time but it's less
than required to take care of the state's needs.

Before the presentation, House Speaker Tim Ford, who serves as chairman of
the Joint Legislative Budget Committee this year, took a look around the
room and commented on legislators' attire.

"I don't think it's a coincidence that all of us wore our funeral suits
today," he said smiling.

Doctors volunteer services

Dr. John Cook, the head of the Mississippi State Medical Association, was a
key figure in the recent prolonged civil justice reform debate at the
Capitol, where doctors, trial lawyers and lawmakers wrangled for months
over legislation during a special session.

But last week, Cook played a different role at the Capitol: He was "Doctor
of the Day."

The assignment was part of a program where the association's doctors
volunteer medical service to legislators and others at the Capitol during
the general session.

During the special session, legislators were often surrounded by
white-coated doctors pushing for new reforms - a time when any lawmaker
would have gotten immediate attention during a medical emergency.

"There would have been a fight to see who got to take care of them," Cook said.

Picture this, Speaker Ford

During his State of the State address, Gov. Ronnie Musgrove praised
soon-to-be retired House Speaker Tim Ford for his work in the Legislature.
He also commented on how much Ford has changed over time:

"When I just looked at the brand new Rural Electric Association book, I
noticed that he looks just a little different today than he did with that
picture 23 years ago. But the people of the state of Mississippi are better
off for his leadership and I want to say thank you again," Musgrove said.