JXN Water error leads to massive bill for business owner

Business News

Dr. Deidra Snell, a dentist in Northeast Jackson, was shocked to receive a $91,000 water bill, which was later corrected to $190.52 after JXN Water discovered a clerical error.The JXN Water website — the portal to check or pay the bill — was offline for “routine maintenance” for much of Wednesday. That page went blank shortly after 16 WAPT started asking questions about why one business owner got a bill for more than $91,000.”When I saw that number I thought it wasn’t real,” Snell said. “So I had to take screenshots. I had to do as much stuff as possible to make sure that I just wasn’t seeing something. That wasn’t my imagination. I’ve never seen a bill that high.”Snell was astounded by the bill, which claimed her dental office used 5 million cubic feet of water in one month, enough to fill more than 5,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.”It’s very incorrect. I only use my water here to flush the toilet and wash hands in the sink and wash my instruments,” Snell said. “It would have to be a leak, a pond right there on the corner of Atkins and Ridgewood, in order for it to be that much water.”Snell said when she called JXN Water for an explanation, she was told she must have a water leak. She also sent an email and received a reply that they would look into her complaint.”It seems like they don’t want Jackson businesses around,” Snell said. “Because they’re not trying to help us out. As a matter of fact, they’re making it worse because the whole time I could be doing dentistry, I’m on the phone waiting to talk to the water people.”When 16 WAPT News reached out to JXN Water for comment, a spokesman said someone made an error entering information from the meter reading into the system. They fixed the mistake and adjusted Snell’s bill.”I do apologize, but your bill has been corrected. The correct amount of the bill you received that was incorrect is $190.52,” a JXN Water representative said in a voicemail.Snell expressed her frustration with the situation.”It’s just wrong for the water company to do people like that,” Snell said. “They need to have somebody double-checking and triple-checking bills after they were elevated to a certain level.”According to JXN Water, they’ve put in place a new management system that allows the electronic transfer of billing information instead of someone doing it manually.

JACKSON, Miss. — Dr. Deidra Snell, a dentist in Northeast Jackson, was shocked to receive a $91,000 water bill, which was later corrected to $190.52 after JXN Water discovered a clerical error.The JXN Water website — the portal to check or pay the bill — was offline for “routine maintenance” for much of Wednesday. That page went blank shortly after 16 WAPT started asking questions about why one business owner got a bill for more than $91,000.

Eltra Logis invests EUR 800,000 in the development of its own software platform – Rapido, and launches a new business line

Business News

Eltra Logis, one of the leading players in the niche logistics, transportation, and warehousing market, has developed its own software solution, Rapido, with a strategic investment of EUR 800,000. The company brings a scalable solution dedicated to e-commerce players to the market that increases operational efficiency, reduces costs, and improves customer experience.Eltra Logis aims to outsource and offer the Rapido software for sale to other customers and collaborators, laying the foundations for a new business line.   

“With the launch of Rapido, we aim to strengthen our position in the logistics market and provide a competitive advantage to our partners by automating and digitizing critical supply chain processes. The Rapido Platform is an integrated system designed to optimize and manage logistics and warehousing operations. It includes advanced modules for real-time GPS tracking of vehicles, route optimization, as well as monitoring transport conditions such as temperature in trailers, which is essential for temperature-sensitive goods. Rapido also gives carriers, shippers and customers access to detailed inventory, KPI generation, and effective control over inventory and orders”, stated Elena Jianu, founder of Eltra Logis.

Rapido, developed in-house by Eltra Logis, is a complex software system that integrates essential functionalities for efficient warehouse and transportation management. It includes CRM (Customer Relationship Management) for customer relationship management, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) for enterprise resource management, TMS (Transport Management System) for transport optimization and WMS (Warehouse Management System) for warehouse management. 

All these technologies integrated into a single solution allow Eltra Logis to streamline its operations, giving its partners competitive advantages through an integrated flow of information and resources. Both the WMS and TMS play a key role in optimizing logistics processes. The WMS manages stocks and orders in real time, while the TMS organizes transports, optimizing routes and reducing costs. By integrating these systems, each batch of goods processed in the WMS is automatically picked up by the TMS, facilitating the monitoring and organization of transports.

With Rapido, Eltra Logis aims to attract and support customers in the e-commerce sector, including small and medium-sized companies. The Rapido platform offers dedicated solutions for this sector, automating order and stock management processes. This enables e-commerce companies to process orders quickly, minimizing errors and reducing delivery times without making massive investments in their own logistics infrastructure.

“With Rapido, we address the specific needs of e-commerce companies, helping them increase their operational efficiency and expand their business in a scalable and sustainable way. Automating processes allows them to focus on growing their business, while Rapido software takes care of the logistics and supply chain optimization”, added Elena Jianu.

Eltra Logis aims to become a software solutions provider for the entire logistics industry. By outsourcing and selling the Rapido platform, the company aims to accelerate the digitization of the sector and at the same time aims to provide companies with the tools they need to optimize their operations and increase efficiency. With Rapido, the company is expanding not only its service portfolio but also its market presence, offering scalable solutions for companies across industries. At the same time, Rapido promises to increase companies’ operational efficiency, reduce costs and improve customer experience. This initiative boosts competitiveness in the local market, encouraging the adoption of advanced technologies and setting new standards for the Romanian logistics industry.

About Eltra Logis

In 2006 the Eltra Logis story came to life. The company started with a single warehouse in Romania, Albota – a logistically excellent location for a geographical area like Romania – and ended up having several warehouses in both Romania and Spain.

With an incredible network of partners across Europe, Eltra Logis has expanded and refined its services to state-of-the-art standards: Cross Dock, Logistics, Warehousing and Handling, Fashion, Pharmaceuticals, and High Value Goods.

The company has a very modern fleet and an extensive network of subcontractors and couriers who work under the responsibility and control of Eltra Logis. It currently has a total storage capacity of 10.000 mp.

*This is a Press release.

Kingston business a pandemic success

Business News

Breadcrumb Trail LinksNewsLocal NewsA Kingston store is sharing it’s success story after emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. All BBQ Canada started out as an online store, before relocating to Resource Drive.Published Apr 10, 2025  •  Last updated 33 minutes ago  •  3 minute readDean Campbell stands inside his new, larger store located at 190 Resource Drive in Kingston on Aptil 8, 2025. Photo by Maegen Kulchar /The Whig StandardArticle contentDean Campbell loves all things BBQ. For him, it’s not just a hobby, it’s his passion. While he would buy items from within Canada, he would often find himself ordering unique products or spices from the United States as well. But as time wore on, the drive to and from Wellesley Island began to take a toll.Advertisement 2Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentArticle contentRecommended VideosArticle content“I kept saying to my wife, ‘Why don’t they sell this stuff in Canada?’ So, I think she had just had enough, and she finally said, ‘Well why don’t you do something about it,’ ” Campbell recalled.He took her advice and in 2018 decided to create an online store out of his home in Kingston called All BBQ Canada. Online, he sold BBQ items typically not found in big box stores. For example,  pellet grills.“It really didn’t get going until 2019 and then it was the pandemic,” explained Campbell. “Everyone was taking up BBQing. No one could travel so they were buying pellet grills, and we hit the ground running. Sales went through the roof, it was crazy.”As many recall, the transition from in-store to online for small businesses took time. For Campbell, he was one step ahead.Advertisement 3Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article content“For many brick-and-mortar stores, when they were scrambling to get online stores open, we were ready to go,” Campbell said.According to Statistics Canada, a large number of businesses closed at the onset of the pandemic. Their experimental estimates of monthly business openings and closures showed that in April of 2020, more than 100,000 employer businesses (13.6% of active employer businesses in February) closed. Those business closures contributed to 30% of job losses that month.At the time, Campbell and his wife were both working full time. The online store was really a side gig. Campbell said it wasn’t their intention to open a physical store, but with a little encouragement from customers, they did just that.“In November of 2021, we opened a really small store on Bath Road just to test the market. We signed a one-year lease just to see how it goes, and it was overwhelming. We outgrew the store in three months,” said Campbell.In 2022, they moved to a bigger space on Days Road, shortly thereafter, growing out of that space as well.In November 2024, Campbell moved his store to 190 Resource Rd., a much larger space that allows him to sell a variety of unique BBQ’s including V-Forge out of Quebec, and Alchemy Grills out of Ontario.Advertisement 4Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentToggle full screen modePrevious Gallery ImageAll BBQ Canada’s newest location at 190 Resource Dr. in Kingston. April 8, 2025.Photo by Maegen Kulchar /The Whig StandardAll BBQ Canada has a large variety of unique pellets. April 8, 2025.Photo by Maegen Kulchar /The Whig StandardV-Forge, one of many Canadian made BBQ’s available. April 8, 2025.Photo by Maegen Kulchar /The Whig StandardAll BBQ Canada holds a large variety of spices, rubs and sauces. April 8, 2025.Photo by Maegen Kulchar /The Whig StandardNext Gallery ImageToggle gallery captionsAll 4 Photos for GalleryFunction Not Available Full Screen is not supported on this browser version.You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen.OKWhile 60% of his store continues to be American products, he’s encouraging customers to shop Canadian and shop local.“A lot of small businesses are struggling right now with the tariffs,” said Campbell. “We’re not doing so much exports but imports from the U.S. So, seasonings are now 25% more for a lot of the products. We’re really taking the opportunity to pivot from a lot of U.S.-centric seasonings. We’ve always been really pro-Canadian. There’s a lot of local vendors that we sell in the store, so bringing a few more of those in.”On the shelves are products by 3 Angry Cats in Prince Edward County, Buster Rhinos in Oshawa, and House of Q in British Columbia.The store has been so successful that in 2023 Campbell quit his full-time job so he could dedicate his time to the store.Advertisement 5Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article content“So now it’s myself, my son, who started working for me about a year ago, (and) my wife helps out where she can. So, it really is a family-run business. It’s amazing,” Campbell said.While the store has been a success story for Campbell, it’s taken a lot of time out of his own BBQing.It’s encouraged him to try something new this summer.“Now that we have a better location, we’ll be doing some cooks out front on the weekends,” he revealed. “So you’ll come in and smell the smoke from the pellet grill and have some fun,” he added, noting that there will also be cooking demonstrations from time to time.“We’re still Kingston’s best-kept secret sometimes. People will discover us because they heard it from a friend,” Campbell said.All BBQ Canada held its official grand opening on March 29.“We had some great giveaways, and a lot of the vendors contributed items. It was a lot of fun,” Campbell said.mkulchar@postmedia.comArticle contentShare this article in your social networkComments Join the Conversation Featured Local Savings

New Hampshire lawmakers consider bill to establish process for banning books in schools

Arts & Culture, Books

New Hampshire lawmakers and lobbyists are debating a bill that would create a process for banning books from school libraries.House Bill 324 would stop what the sponsor is calling “obscene or harmful” materials from being in schools and would create a process for removing such materials.The sponsor, state Rep. Glenn Cordelli, R-Tuftonboro, read an excerpt from the young adult book, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” highlighting a passage that detailed a sexual interaction between two teenagers.He said such materials have no place in school libraries and that there should instead be “age-appropriate” material.”I think if people think that this crap is culture, then we’re in bad trouble in New Hampshire,” Cordelli said. “Let’s be honest. These explicit sexual materials have no place in our schools.”State Sen. Debra Altschiller, D-Stratham, said she was disappointed that Cordelli didn’t share the full content of the book, which has appeared seven times on the American Library Association’s list of 10 most challenged books.”It actually talks about sexual assault, where one in three women in the United States will experience sexual assault, and it talks about mental health, but I didn’t hear you bring that into context,” she said. “So, have you read this book?””I have not read the whole book, and I have no interest in reading the whole book,” Cordelli said.A representative from the American Federation of Teachers testified in opposition to the bill.

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire lawmakers and lobbyists are debating a bill that would create a process for banning books from school libraries.House Bill 324 would stop what the sponsor is calling “obscene or harmful” materials from being in schools and would create a process for removing such materials.

Fusion R&D hub aims to break ground in Eastern Washington this summer

Technology

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and U.S. Sen Ron Wyden, D-Ore., view a replica of an Avalanche Energy fusion device at the Pacific Northwest Energy Summit in July 2024. (Avalanche Photo)

Seattle startup Avalanche Energy plans to open a first-of-its-kind facility for commercial-scale testing of radioactive fusion technologies in Eastern Washington.

The envisioned center, called FusionWERX, is a public-private partnership offering shared resources to universities, companies, and government labs in an effort to support fusion power producers and the sector’s supply chain. It aims to be one of the most advanced private-sector operations for handling tritium, a radioactive hydrogen isotope.

Robin Langtry, co-founder and CEO of Avalanche, compares the idea to the shared Lockheed Martin high-speed wind tunnel that he had access to when testing aerodynamic designs as a Blue Origin employee.

“There’s a really interesting model here,” Langtry said, that can spread costs among participants.

And the Pacific Northwest could be a good spot for such a resource. The region has established itself as a fusion hub with companies that include Avalanche, Zap Energy, Helion Energy, Kyoto Fusioneering, Altrusion and ExoFusion in Washington state, and General Fusion in British Columbia.

Fusion energy is created by smashing atoms together that fuse and release power — it’s the same reaction that fuels the Sun. Engineers can create fusion, but the challenge is capturing more energy from the system than it takes to generate the conditions needed for fusion to happen.

Avalanche is developing compact fusion devices that use tritium as a fuel, with a focus on space applications, driven in part by a Pentagon contract to develop nuclear-powered prototypes.

The interior of the planned FusionWERX facility in Richland, Wash. (Avalanche Photo)

“We always thought of ourselves as a space and defense fusion approach first, and then, as we perfect the technology, we’re going to move into clean energy,” Langtry said. “You’re seeing a huge amount of interest and funding go into defense and space companies.”

FusionWERX will take over an existing facility in the Tri-Cities town of Richland, Wash., which is home to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The building was previously licensed for tritium operations and the new effort’s plans include blanket and shielding test beds, hot cells for handling radioactive materials, and systems for extracting, purifying and recycling tritium.

The site could also be used to produce radioisotopes for medical and space applications.

Langtry said they’re putting together private and public funding to build out the site, and expect to start construction this summer. He did not share cost estimates. About 15 Avalanche employees will be involved in the effort.

The region’s leaders have welcomed the initiative.

“Just as the United States chose the Tri-Cities to build the first fission reactor in 1943, we are overjoyed that Avalanche Energy will build the first-of-a-kind FusionWERX commercial-scale testbed in our region,” said Karl Dye, president and CEO of the Tri-Cities Development Council, in a statement.

The startup is looking for customers and partners whose work will compliment Avalanche’s research. The cost for using the facility could be an hourly fee.

Avalanche has raised $50 million from investors that include Chris Sacca’s Lowercarbon Capital, Founders Fund, Toyota Ventures, Azolla Ventures and others. It has received $8 million in government grants and contracts, and has 50 employees.

Former librarian publishes first children’s book

Arts & Culture, Books

Mignon Morse, former Sachse Library Director, penned a children’s book based on the adventures of her dog Sadie, and Sadie’s best friend Moose. The book is available on Amazon.

A former librarian’s long-awaited dream of seeing her name in a library catalog is about to come true.

Mignon Morse, a Woodbridge resident, recently published her first children’s book, “Sadie & Moose on the Loose.”

The book, inspired by the adventures of Sadie, Morse’s 9-year-old Aussie/Shepherd rescue, and Moose, a golden retriever mix, was officially released March 19.

“I wanted to write a book so that I could have my name in the card catalog, and, well, that’s not the way most people think,” Morse said. “I talked about it for about two or three years, and then I finally just said, ‘Okay, it’s time to do it.’”

Morse, who has worked in public library management in Sachse, Wylie, Garland and McKinney, self-published “Sadie & Moose on the Loose” through Amazon.

Sadie and Moose’s real-life friendship was the inspiration for the story. Morse said she and Sadie first met Moose, a neighbor’s dog, through her pet sitting business she established after retiring to care for her elderly mother.

Morse said Moose and his owner walk over about once a week for a play date.

“When I say, ‘Sadie, Moose is coming,’ she goes and stands in the window and waits for him,” Morse said.

The story is based on the dog’s adventure after the backyard gate blows open.

The book took about a year to complete, with six months spent on illustrations. Morse hired Canadian artist Chris MacLeod, a chalk pastel and watercolor artist, to bring her story to life.

She asked MacLeod to capture a style like the Carl books by Alexandra Day.

“God has just blessed me through the whole thing,” she said, “with the hiring and finding people to help and do things—because I’ve never done anything like this before.”

Because of her background in municipal libraries, Morse wanted to ensure her book would hold up for multiple checkouts. In addition to the paperback version published through Amazon, she contracted with IngramSpark, a subsidiary of Ingram Content Group, to release a hardcover edition.

Now, Morse is focused on marketing her work. She plans to donate a copy to the Wylie Library, among others, for consideration in its collection.

As for future adventures of Sadie and Moose, Morse said she has thought about writing another book.

“If Sadie does well in this adventure, we might consider another one,” she said.

Beyond her love of storytelling, Morse is giving back to the community. Because of her ties to Sachse, she plans to donate part of the book’s proceeds to the Sachse Animal Shelter.

Aside from selling her books on Amazon, Morse will be at the Hwy 78 Food Trucks and Outdoor Vendor Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19.

For more stories about the Sachse community see the next print, or digital edition of The Sachse News. Subscribe today and support local journalism.