New Year - 2007

Auld Lang Syne

I spent most of yesterday removing Christmas decorations from the house ... getting ready to welcome in 2007! The two reindeer are in the garage, "knicknacks" put away (I think). If you are like me, in July you will see the eyes of Santa looking at you from some obscure place in the house. The pre-lit tree that I bought for convenience didn't turn out that way. The fuse for the entire middle section was broken and a new one couldn't be inserted, so there I was doing the very thing I have always hated ... untangling "real" lights to put on the tree. It came in three sections and I had voiced that it will never go back in the box it came out of. Even getting the sections apart didn't work for me..... I only got the top off. So, technically the tree is still in the house and the box I am suppose to put it in is growing smaller and smaller. Anita where are you! Happy New Year everybody!

Gulfport Commission's Pelican Art for U.S. 90 Oak Stump
by Keith Burton - GCN 12/30/06

Motorists driving along the Katrina-devastated area in West Gulfport along Highway 90 this past week were surprised to see an artist at work. What they saw was Dayton and Michelle Scoggins, turning an oak stump on thee median between the four lane road into dolphins with a pelican perched on an outstretched limb. Dayton and Michelle Scoggins, owners of Artistry in Wood, were commissioned by the city for the work. The couple are from Sandersville near Laurel.

Wielding nothing more than a chain saws, the couple turned the Katrina-destroyed tree into a colorful beachfront icon. The couple started their work this past Wednesday and finished by Friday. These photographs were taken on Thursday.

Reports: Saddam executed in Baghdad
Some Arab media, including Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya and the U.S.-financed Al-Hurrah, reported about an hour before daylight Saturday (about 10 p.m. EST Friday) that Saddam had been executed. There was no confirmation from the Iraqi government.

Cautious Optimism For '07 Coast Economy
A longtime Biloxi banker is "cautiously optimistic" about the coast economy. The new year is certain to be filled with more rebuilding and storm recovery in South Mississippi. Steve Phillips has more on the economic promises and challenges for 2007.

Pascagoula

Martin

This picture was taken yesterday just before I went around the curve on Martin to Beach Blvd.. This is the only new construction I saw that day. The others under construction are still under construction. It starts and stops. Everything is so SLOW! This all took place in 2005 and now 2007 is rapidly approaching. How much longer will it all take? I have shown you what is only a small amount in new construction compared to what still needs repair or rebuilding. Maybe, just maybe, the building boom will begin in 2007!

What is it about the holidays that keep us so excited for weeks and as soon as Christmas Day passes, we deflate? I feel sleepy and actually fall asleep in my recliner and, if I have to leave the house, I can hardly wait to get back to the warmth that awaits me. Is it the magic of Christmas? Is it a time for us to slow down and rest? Or is it a time for us to reflect on the year that passed and how we measure up? Did we remember our soldiers, the poor, the lonely and the aged? Or did we just slide through without a single thought of anyone but our own gratifications? The human heart has a great capacity to love. I believe, dreamer though I am, that if we reach out to our fellowman with love that our world will change for the better. So maybe this brief period of "meltdown" is for making our New Year's resolutions to do our part in bringing our world into peace and harmony.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve

The above picture was one that my daughter snapped as my grandsons came up to me and I wasn't expecting what followed. William had a gift he picked himself of bath oils, bubble bath and lotions. His face was priceless as he told me he loved me and he got what he knew I would like. My hand covered my mouth as I was starting to tear up. George was waiting his turn. Although George is 10 yrs. old now, for many of his years, he and I have been sharing coffee, cocoa and Nestle's strawberry drink that he and I believe no one else likes but us. He gave me a very pretty candle that he said he knew I would love and a gift package of fancy cocoa complete with tiny marshmallows. And... no surprise to me that there were only two cups ... one for him and one for me. It was a memorable moment. Thank you boys!

1960s Pascagoula rock band's record sells for over $1,700 on eBay
Thursday, December 28, 2006
By BRAD CROCKER
The Mississippi Press

PASCAGOULA -- In 1966, when Charles Careno, Troy Parker, Mike Jackson and Gary Bardwell recorded a 45 RPM record while playing in their Pascagoula rock band, The Fugitives, they never dreamed that in 40 years, it would be worth anything.

Well, two days before Christmas, they learned that someone had bid $1,724 on eBay for a copy of the record, which contains the singles "No Tease" and "Lonely Girl."

The record has gone on to serve as part of the title for a compilation album of garage, punk and rock and roll bands that were never signed called, "Teenage Shutdown -- No Tease," which is the 12th installation of the Teenage Shutdown series.

Nineteen bands are listed on the compilation album, with "No Tease" as the first track, and a picture of The Fugitives, complete with their matching 1960s rock and roll apparel, is also the new album's cover art.

In their early teens, the four Pascagoula musicians went to Bardwell's house, where H.E. Parsley Jr. recorded the two songs on a small portable system in the living room.

Biloxi Restaurant Hosted President Ford In 1976
On September 26, 1976, President Ford was in south Mississippi. The headline in the local paper after that visit said, "Ford gets royal welcome at restaurant in Biloxi". Details of that 1976 campaign stop at the Fisherman's Wharf restaurant are a little foggy. What Anastasia Himmel and Jackie Aldrich won't ever forget is the significance of that moment 30 years ago. Brad Kessie reports.

Bush Says Late President Ford Helped Heal The Land After Watergate
President Bush on Wednesday remembered former President Gerald Ford as a "gentleman who reflected the best in America's character" and helped heal a nation divided by Watergate. Bush noted that Ford "stepped into the presidency without ever having sought the office" after Richard Nixon's downfall in 1974 and helped restore Americans confidence in the White House by the "honorable conduct of his administration."

Waiting for a Miracle
Thousands Living in FEMA Trailers Have No Certain Home for the Future

by Keith Burton GCN 12/26/06

Its been 16 months since Hurricane Katrina and still nearly 87,000 people are living in nearly 31,000 small, cramped FEMA trailers. The majority live in some 23,244 small travel trailers, most on private lots in front of their homes that are still only slabs. The remainder are in small mobile homes in scattered but crowded trailer parks.

For all of these people, and the families they represent, getting into a permanent home will likely take a miracle.

Most of the people living in FEMA trailers in front of their homes have the hope that they will be able to rebuild. Many are the survivors that found they either had no insurance after the hurricane, or still hoping the new build height requirements and regulations will be modified that will enable them to rebuild.

For those folks living in the FEMA trailer parks, they are residents who for the most part, do not own property. Most are poor who worked in low-paying service jobs. Work that at current housing costs, doesn't pay enough to rent a home or apartment in these post-Katrina days. They are Katrina survivors that lived in the numerous and cheap apartments and rental housing built on cheaper low-lying land that were lost in the hurricane and have no where else to live. For them, affordable permanent housing on the Coast remains impossible to find.

Kentucky couple takes to the road to volunteer
They're helping in Gulfport
Robert "Bobby" Price stood outside a used motor home parked near the beachfront recently in Gulfport, while his wife, Julie, was inside vacuuming sand.

A Georgia Volunteer And His Wife Moves To The Coast To Help Storm Victims Rebuild
One Georgia volunteer is living up to the phrase, it is better to give than to receive. Ed Rutherford and his wife have temporarily moved to coast the after Katrina coast to help people rebuild homes and lives in Jackson County. Patrice Clark spoke to Mr. Rutherford about the decision to drop everything and dedicated his time to relief efforts.

Pascagoula 2 yr. old catches thumb in Macy's escalator

JOY TO THE WORLD

Christmas Eve

Although the above picture was taken on a Christmas Eve over twenty years ago ... these are my daughters. Merry Christmas Girls!

SILVER BELLS

Snowmen!

Marketing Firm Launches Campaign To Bring Volunteers To South Mississippi
South Mississippi is getting some national exposure, aimed at urging more volunteers to help rebuild homes and lives. The new national awareness campaign started when a volunteer from Missouri noticed a sharp decline in volunteers lately. So he contacted an international public relations firm in St. Louis to create an outreach package. A few months ago, the company launched a coast-to-coast media blitz to spark interest in helping our area recover.

Tragedy Turns To Hope For Pascagoula Family
After enduring hardships and heartaches no one should ever know, a Pascagoula family is finally receiving some much deserved good news. More than 12 agencies, businesses, churches and community groups have committed themselves to build Leroy Johnson and Bronstine Miller a brand new home in just seven days.

FEMA Turns To Katrina Cottages To Help Hurricane Victims
Mississippi has come up with a temporary housing solution that has FEMA's support. The federal agency is sending Mississippi $280 million. That money will build Katrina Cottages, so hurricane victims can move out of FEMA trailers and into better built homes. On Friday, FEMA held a teleconference with the media, and Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran to explain the pilot project. Brad Kessie reports.

I have just about given up on a chance for snow. It has been raining heavily here and thankfully the temps are mild. I have seen snow in our coastal area many times over the years .. we were part of the Blizzard of 1993. That year was the first time I had ever gotten to participate in putting a 5 ft. snowman together, complete with a carrot nose, a scarf and a tophat. It's more a longing for happier times .. the picture above is from one of those times. This Christmas is much better than last year. It's sort of like piece-mealing, gradually getting better for some of us. There are still so many who ONLY have their memories of a happier time. I can look back but I also have one foot in the present. Keep us in your prayers!

Marketing Firm Launches Campaign To Bring Volunteers To South Mississippi
South Mississippi is getting some national exposure, aimed at urging more volunteers to help rebuild homes and lives. The new national awareness campaign started when a volunteer from Missouri noticed a sharp decline in volunteers lately. So he contacted an international public relations firm in St. Louis to create an outreach package. A few months ago, the company launched a coast-to-coast media blitz to spark interest in helping our area recover.

Wounded Seabee home for the holidays

A grave but fortunate wound

By JOSHUA NORMAN

jdnorman@sunherald.com

One Gulfport-based Seabee's fortune changed in a flash about three weeks ago.

One minute, Chief William Bell, 34, was working with a crew on some wiring for a Marine outpost in Anbar province, Iraq.

The next minute the Seabee from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 and three others were thrown against a building after a mortar landed just a few feet away.

Despite the pain, fear and sadness - two corpsmen died from the blast and Bell was lucky to be saved - a bit of positive energy came from that explosion.

Bell arrives in Gulfport today to spend Christmas in his home with his wife, Tamara, and 9-year-old daughter, Brooke.

Bell insists, however, he would head back to Iraq in a second if his wounds allowed it.

"I'm ready to rock and roll," Bell said. "But I don't mind a little break, spending a little time home with family."

Funeral held Wednesday for soldier with Miss. ties

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Army Staff Sgt. Robert L. Love Jr. of Livingston, Ala., was buried Wednesday in the tiny east Mississippi town of Russell.

At least 75 people, including family members, friends and a military contingent, attended a memorial service for Love earlier Wednesday in Meridian. Love was killed in Iraq on Dec. 1 when an explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

"There will be heartache and tears, but if you can trust in the Lord, He will wipe away the tears. You might not see it right now, but He will wipe them away," eulogist Keith Tisdale said in the Meridian Star.

"This is a sad occasion, when someone loses a loved one, but we thank God anyway, because with Him all things are possible."

Love's wife, Staff Sgt. Brianna K. Love, and his parents were presented with the soldier's medals and commendations, including the Bronze Star awarded posthumously.

Love was a 1996 graduate of Livingston High School in west Alabama. Some of his relatives live in the Meridian area.

The 28-year-old soldier was assigned to the 16th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division based in Giessen, Germany. He died Dec. 1 in the explosion at Ar Ramadi.

Love's mother, Mary Love, said earlier that her son and his wife met when they were transferred to Germany at the same time.

Mary Love said her son, one of five children, played in the band at Livingston High. She said he immediately enlisted in the Army after graduation and served eight years.

"He was quiet, but he got along with everyone, and everyone with him. He was a very serious person, but still very loving," Mary Love said in Tuesday's Meridian Star.

Among other survivors is the soldier's father, Robert Love Sr., and his daughters, Brianna and Tenessa.

Lott Says "Thank You" To Weary Hurricane Victims
Mississippi Senator Trent Lott was the keynote speaker at the Biloxi chamber's Morning Call breakfast. It was the first time he had addressed chamber members since Hurricane Katrina. His traditional December speech was filled with laughter, smiles, and a few tears. Brad Kessie explains.

An early morning fire in Poplarville destroyed an entire city block. Two businesses, the city's chamber of commerce office, and the Masonic Lodge on Main Street went up in flames Thursday morning. Firefighters from all over Pearl River county battled the blaze for hours before brining it under control. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Well, I know I must be driving some of my regular readers a little "wacky" by now but my blog's index page went "squirrely" on me. I contacted blogger but being me and a " hate to wait on anything kind of person", I decided to chance losing the entire blog. My daughter mentioned that perhaps the template went bad and we both voiced our fears of trying to switch from what I had. Later I thought about it and decided I was going to chance it and here I am again.

I haven't been driving around looking for pictures lately as Christmas is taking top priority at this time. I have been making cookies ..... no I am not that domesticated. I bought five containers of cookie dough from a niece who was hoping to be a top seller for her school and at this time I have three containers left. Today, my daughter's oven was re- installed and she will probably take the baking cookies chore away from me. Actually, I had fun!

Thousands Of Donated Uniforms Help Kick-Off New Seasons
Junior soccer leagues will kick-off around the coast in just a few weeks. That usually means parents have to foot a hefty bill for uniforms -- sometimes near $100 per child. But that's about to change thanks to a generous donation from Pennsylvania. Keli Rabon reports on Pascagoula's uniform windfall and how you can share the wealth.

Actor James Earl Jones Launches Literacy Campaign In Biloxi
A legendary actor and a wireless phone company are linking up to help thousands of children hurt by Hurricane Katrina. Mississippi native James Earl Jones and Verizon came to a Biloxi school to launch a national campaign, to bring comfort and joy to families during the holidays. On Tuesday, they announced the delivery of more than 40,000 gift boxes to children in South Mississippi and Louisiana. The first donations arrived at Gorenflo Elementary.

Man wounded in drive-by shooting

By ROBIN FITZGERALD

rfitzgerald@sunherald.com

GULFPORT - A man suffered a shoulder wound Monday night in a drive-by shooting on Monterey Drive.

Police said the shooting occurred in the 3800 block and was the result of a domestic argument. The victim was taken to Memorial Hospital at Gulfport.

Police arrested Alpedro Terez Daniely, 22, of Gulfport, on a charge of drive-by shooting.

The Sun Herald gives details in Wednesday's editions.

Diane Sawyer's Gift To Robin Roberts Generates Tears
A Pass Christian senior will receive a four-year college scholarship in honor of Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts. Fellow co-anchor Diane Sawyer presented the Secret Santa gift to Roberts, a native of Pass Christian, Tuesday morning during the broadcast.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM

William, my grandson, turned 9 yrs. old today. He is a smart boy and he loves music. You should see him dance! He wants to take violin lessons too but finding a teacher hasn't been successful at this time. I think he will do well with anything that pertains to music. Okay ... indulge me just a little!

Isle of Capri lays off 200

By TOM WILEMON

tewilemon@sunherald.com

BILOXI - About 200 Isle of Capri employees lost their jobs in a layoff that the casino's general manager said was necessary because of seasonal slowing compounded by the U.S. 90 bridge being out.

"We still have more employees that we had prior to the storm," said Bill Kilduff, the general manager. "But we have less employees that we had utilized during the summer."

The casino now employees about 1,100.

About a third of those laid off were contract employees, he said. Others were full-time and part-time workers.

For more on the story, read Tuesday's Sun Herald and check out sunherald.com

Harrah's Sale Could Impact Biloxi Casino Market
Media reports indicate Harrah's Entertainment is about to be sold. The board of directors of the world's largest casino company reportedly approved a $16 billion buyout offer from two equity partners. Brad Kessie looks at what the deal could mean for Harrah's casino in Biloxi.

No Fatalities In Chain Reaction Accident On I-10
A two car accident caused a chain reaction Wednesday night on I-10. The accident happened around 5:30 in the east bound lanes of I-10 near exit 50 in Jackson County. According to Trooper Jason Gazzo, that wreck combined with heavy traffic, caused a chain reaction involving another seven vehicles

Colmer Family Reunites at Historic Second St. Home
A family rich in history is celebrating a post Katrina return to their South Mississippi roots. Descendants of former Mississippi congressman Bill Colmer gathered at his childhood home on Second Street Sunday. The home was severely damaged due to Katrina, but one member of the family felt very passionate about building back.

Tutorial

Again I am going to give you a few tips on how to navigate around my site. To start with.... at the top of my posts you will see a small search box that is a great help in narrowing down what you may be searching for. I have blogged a lot of WLOX, Sun Herald and other news. Let's say you want to read all that I may have on President Bush or Senator Trent Lott. Type in the box bush and everything that I have on bush will appear and you just scroll down to read. You may think the page didn't change so you don't scroll but look at the URL above my post and note that it did change. So scroll, scroll, scroll! Are you interested in news from a particular city? You can type gulfport in the search box and the news and all I have blogged about that city will be there.

Want to search for something .... type it in the search box.

Wherever you are on my blog, you can always click on the title Camille and Katrina Were Not Ladies and it will take you back to my main index page.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wish Granted

I have been sent snow from a friend in Michigan! Thank you Jeanne and "hang in there" with my new blog ... it will get better, I promise!

Dear Ruth, I have read in your blog, (which just isn't the same anymore) and read your posts on Pascagoula.net how you would like snow for Christmas. I wish I could do better for you than this, but here are pics from last year at my house. As you can see, we had very little snow on Christmas day as it was rather warm, as it is now. We MIGHT have snow Christmas weekend. I do not consider myself an authority on the subject, but of the three winters I spent in 'Goula, it only snowed once, not for long, big wet flakes that stuck to car windows and rooftops. Then it melted about as fast as it fell. From my point of view, in a way, I kind of hope you don't have snow, only because I do not know how well the drivers would react, and it sounds bad down there on dry pavement. I have been keeping up with Anita's blog, and my Christmas wish for you and yours is to be able to fix and eat Christmas dinner in her kitchen. May all of you be able to put your troubles behind you for one day and enjoy the Holiday. Your friend, Jeanne

Today police arrested 18 year old Larry Tyrese Minter, 18 year old Junior Cleveland Green, 16 year old Lazairian DeAngelo Murphy, and 17 year old Darryl Simmons Jr. all of Gulfport.
All four are charged with Capital Murder in the shooting deaths of 54 year old Harold "Bucky" Levron Jr. and 38 year old Christian Ann Suber-Smith.

What A Difference A Year Makes

This will be our second Christmas since Katrina and although situations have improved for many of us, it is still not normal. Let's use me for an example. In the past, as soon as I heard the first Christmas carol I became Mrs. Santa! This was a favorite of mine The Season Will Never Grow Old. If my daughters and their families were home for the celebration, there was an overabundance of gifts for all of them. Special donations were made to charities and the church we attended. It was a wonderful time and would leave lasting memories. Last year, we were sick and very depressed but somehow I managed to get gifts for the children. Yesterday, my daughter Anita and I shopped at Wal-Mart in Pascagoula. I found myself actually enjoying it. I have always wanted to play golf but my husband didn't like it so I put my like on a "back burner". He did buy me a golf cart which was used for driving up the long driveway to get the mail, rides around the lake and even for pulling a cart full of dirt down a hill to fill in low spots at the water's edge. Anita and Dave got me a Tiger Woods Golf Game and a Play Station 2 for my birthday and I now play golf. Back to the story ..... we were in the sporting section and I saw golf clubs so we stopped and for at least 10 minutes I had tried the "feel" of actual clubs in my hands. I believe that if we could have found a ball that I would have hit it down an aisle in the store. I will most likely report the latest news here on the Coast soon after I take care of a few things.

Chevron Gives Millions To South Mississippi Schools
Thursday felt a lot like Christmas Day for some South Mississippi school districts. That's because the Chevron Pascagoula Refinery Corporation awarded millions of dollars in grant money as part of its Energy For Learning Program. Over the next three years, 23 schools in Mississippi and Louisiana will share in $18 million from Chevron's Energy For Learning Program.

GUNS, DRUGS, MONEY
'Flash bangs' thunder in the night as police culminate 3-day sweep
By MICHAEL A. BELL, mbell@sunherald.com
With three loud explosions, Gulfport police signaled their presence at a FEMA trailer park Wednesday night. They swarmed into three different homes to seize guns, drugs and money, arresting one resident they said was dealing crack and Ecstasy.

School Bells Will Ring Again for Beach Elementary
Since Katrina, parents and neighbors of a small Pascagoula elementary school have lobbied for their local school to be repaired. While district officials say Beach Elementary is coming back, they're still not ready to start rebuilding. Keli Rabon explains why.

Wreaths Across America Presents Holiday Salute
The service and sacrifice of military men and women were honored in Biloxi Thursday morning. A program called "Wreaths Across America" visited the Biloxi National Cemetery. Steve Phillips has more on a special holiday season salute.

Major League Baseball Gives Major Contribution To Katrina Recovery

A Change

Well, I guess some of you regular visitors to my blog have noticed a vast change in appearance. Blogger requires that all of us now sign in with Google. I hate change because you never become a master of anything .... you just start over. So far, it is neat though. I can't blog the news in the easy manner that I once did but that will be a feature soon. The design is a template and they had more than a half dozen to choose from. I tried them all and settled for NOW on the one you see.

I invite you to come back often as I always have something to say!

P.S. Eventually this will be a great change. Under a post you will notice labels that give you a clue as where to go if you are interested. Unfortunately, categorizing doesn't come easy to me but, in time, I plan to achieve an order that you can follow. I have many news articles that please don't overlook as they tell our story and on some of those articles I have written a comment. On the sidebar to the left, when you click on a particular month, all the posts I have put on will appear for you to read. If you click on arrow beside the month, a list will be there and you can choose what you want to read from that month..

So This Is Christmas

click image

Ohr Museum Board Has Made No Decisions About The Future
The future of the Ohr O'Keefe Museum of Art remains a mystery. This weekend, board members will show off the temporary studio they're renovating in Biloxi's Swetman House. What they won't be able to say at the open house is whether the Ohr campus that Frank Gehry designed and Katrina destroyed will ever be rebuilt. Brad Kessie reports.

I spent most of the weekend catching up on the local happenings. Lately, I haven't really reported much as the way things are progressing here is too slow and really doesn't make much sense to me. I am a "priority" person. The important issue to me is the people first. They make the communities what they are. There are still near 30,000 Fema trailers with two or three living in each one so the governor is asking the government for a year's extension until they can find suitable housing. Where? I can only speak of the area I live in first hand. I get my info on the other coastal cities from whatever the news media reports. There isn't much going on in the Pascagoula/Moss Point area as far as affordable houses or apartments being built. Sure the major debris has been cleared but most of our streets need repaving and we need lighting restored around town. The only word I can use to accurately describe how things look here is "rough".

We have excessive car wrecks, we have had a few bank robberies, we have had many suicides, we have had kids taking guns to school, we have had violent fights in school and most alarming is the increase in murders. These things are a part of what happens after a major disaster. There is a feeling of desperation as the people scramble to put their destroyed lives back together. That desperation has a far reach to even city officials. How overwhelming their jobs must be trying to make the right decisions for their towns while contending with losses themselves.

We need immediate relief for our people and their families. Hearing about all the wondrous plans for the future of the Coast may never happen and, if they do, it will be many years. In the meantime, the people here deserve the right to live a normal life once again.

A Perfect Elf!

My daughter sent me Yvonne as an elf and I thought I would have some fun with putting my serious expression on what is suppose to be a "happy" little elf. My 3 yr. old granddaughter is overjoyed being an elf but smart enough to question the "whereabouts" of the elf costume. George and William at 10 and 9 yrs. old can't be duped that easily. When they view me as an elf they break out in loud laughter but sweet, innocent Yvonne says to them, "Shh! Nana is dancing!"

Yvonne
George
William


Well this Elf thing sure flopped. Last time I looked we had no faces or else the site goes down for maintenance. I will leave it as it could appear again!

Santa's Helper!

This is really neat! I am not a very happy looking elf but it was fun dancing!


Click Here

Red Cross Says House Fires Quadrupled
Cold weather can spell tragedy for some as people try to stay warm- from turning on heaters to lighting fires. Since this past Sunday, 12 families in Harrison, Hancock, and Pearl River counties have lost their homes to fires, and according to the Red Cross' Gulf Coast chapter, the problem of house fires is growing.

President Carter Visits Gulfport's Habitat Village
A new beginning - that's what 15 families got Saturday, when they received the keys to their brand new homes in north Gulfport. They are the first to move into a Habitat Village on South Carolina Avenue where hundreds of volunteers have been working countless hours to build 15 homes by Christmas. Former President Jimmy Carter was a part of the dedication ceremony in Gulfport.