Wednesday, January 31, 2007
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Biloxi
While so many people were robbed of personal possessions by Hurricane Katrina, we keep hearing wonderful stories about people who discovered items amid the debris. A Biloxi family has found comfort in the recovery of pieces in a very special collection. Katrina Angels on tonight's Page 13"
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Gulfport Student Brings Loaded Handgun To School
A 15-year-old boy was arrested. He's being held at the juvenile detention center until his first court appearance."
I have taken hundreds of pictures to show you. Although the written word can describe what is taking place, a picture says it all. I have blogged many news reports which unfortunately do not stay around. They do not belong to me and so they may be archived or sometimes deleted. My apologies if you click on a link and it goes nowhere.
As soon as I receive my new camera, hopefully there will be pictures of new construction. Until then ... please remember Mississippi. I will leave you with a song "We Have Only Just Begun"!
Volunteer's past has some fearing for safety of locals' financial data
By RYAN LaFONTAINE, rlafontaine@sunherald.com
Kathleen Johnson, the volunteer at the center of a tussle with City Hall, seems to have a troubled past that city officials claim ignited the recent ruckus over files and donations.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Gulfport
A Saucier man is in police custody, accused of robbing the Hancock Bank on Highway 53 Tuesday afternoon. Deputies say Jason Lee Keller, 27, is charged with armed robbery."
Monday, January 29, 2007
On the local news, crime seems to be increasing at an alarming rate, especially in Gulfport. Many homes are under construction in Pascagoula, of a new design in order to comply. We will get use to it in time. I noticed when I took pictures of the Katrina cottage that it was approximately 12 inches off the ground. A heavy downpour would flood the house. Maybe they will be put on ground that has been elevated to the required height. Sure hope so or it would be unfair to the people that elevated 23 ft.. When I drive around taking pictures, I sometimes feel sad. We have been hit with an overwhelming blow but still we are continuing on with our lives.
Mississippi still isn't in the news much except to complain about how much money has come into our state or how uneducated we all are. Civil rights issues from 40 years ago immediately made headlines before our fears calmed and our tears dried. My thoughts on being an underdog may be slightly different from most people but I believe that one day the Last shall be First!
See you soon!
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Gulfport
Burglaries in a Gulfport shopping center have merchants wondering who'll be hit next. Police confirm in the last three weeks, there have been ten burglaries and six attempted burglaries in the Norword Village Shopping Center. But some shop owners say even after they alerted police, the crimes have continued. That's when some merchants contacted Action Reporter A.J. Giardina."
How did the main stream get so far off the beaten path?
How did the main stream get so far off the beaten path?
Sunday, January 28, 2007
By REBA McMELLON The Mississippi Press
It seems the line between right and wrong has switched places. It's not simply an issue of accepting differences and abnormalities; abnormal is becoming the new normal and immoral the new moral."
Saturday, January 27, 2007
SunHerald.com : Biloxi and Gulfport News, Casinos, Jobs, Real Estate, Sports and Cars
REJECTED
Senter gives State Farm settlement the axe
By ANITA LEE, calee@sunherald.com
Coast policyholders and attorneys roundly applauded U.S. District Court Judge L.T. Senter Jr.'s decision to reject a proposed class-action settlement of State Farm Fire and Casualty Co.'s Katrina claims."
Friday, January 26, 2007
Katrina Cottage
Well that's all I have for today. Things are improving but still a long, long way to go. Our weatherman just dangled a carrot again. He said there is a chance of snow. See you!
Gulf Coast News - Your Mississippi Coast News Source
Thursday, January 25, 2007
It's official. Beauvoir will rise again. On Thursday, the board president sealed a deal that will put more than $3 million into making one of the coast's oldest landmarks as good as new.
State Farm made a settlement with policyholders which I don't agree with. Everybody knows insurance doesn't pay for water damage. As far back as 1969 when Camille hit the coast, I knew it then and so do the people that sued. Camille had very little rain with it but her fierce winds blew rain water under our front door and ruined "parquet" floors in the foyer. We knew we would not be compensated, the policy clearly stated that.. The wind blew every shingle from our roof and we were paid as the policy covered it. So what made it so different now? Nothing changed. My daughter, her husband, four children and myself stayed in their home during Katrina. There was lots of water ... had the storm lasted longer the house would have collapsed from the water pouring in. There are pictures of collapsed houses with the shingles still on the roofs. I shudder when I think of the repercussions that it will bring to policyholders statewide.
On a lighter note, someone sent me a song today and I have no idea what the title is .. maybe you can help!
Unknown Title
Man dies when pickups collide
Thursday, January 25, 2007
From Staff Reports
HURLEY -- Daryl Smith, 20, was killed just after midnight Thursday morning in a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 63 and Highway 614/Wade-Vancleave Road.
Two others were injured in the accident."
SunHerald.com : Biloxi and Gulfport News, Casinos, Jobs, Real Estate, Sports and Cars
'Most gruesome case'
By ROBIN FITZGERALD
Teenagers accused in the Pine Hills capital murders first cased a home on Wildwood Drive, but decided too many people were around to pull off a break-in, a detective testified Wednesday."
Thuan Nguyen's family hopes someone will help investigators find the person responsible for their mother's death. |
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
No mention of Katrina disappoints lawmakers
By Ana Radelat
Clarion-Ledger Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — President Bush steered clear of one of the biggest controversies of his administration during the State of the Union speech Tuesday, making no mention of the federal government's plan for Hurricane Katrina-ravaged New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
"Most Americans think it was not handled well so why bring it up?" said Ron Haskins of the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. Haskins also said a mention of Katrina could have prompted jeers from the Democratic majority in the audience.
I listened to President Bush's State of the Union speech last night and heard what everyone else did but I also heard something else. He told us of threats made against America that were stopped. He said withdrawing troops at this time will have far reaching consequences. we are that consequence. Do we want to take that chance? Surviving Katrina and living in the aftermath would be nothing compared to what could befall ALL of us. He talked about 911 but did not mention Katrina which I found strange considering a great part of the coastal United States is devastated. Could it be he didn't want to infer that it may not have been a natural disaster? Just a thought!
There is so much happening in our area that it is impossible for me to blog it all but I still intend to post whatever I can, especially on our progress.
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Barbour Defends Mississippi's Share Of Federal Money For Katrina Recovery
Barbour told The Associated Press that Mississippi made more reasonable requests for federal aid and is further along in distributing federally funded recovery grants to homeowners."
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
SunHerald.com : Biloxi and Gulfport News, Casinos, Jobs, Real Estate, Sports and Cars
Remains identified as woman missing nearly 7 years
The remains found in a garage attic on Mills Avenue were identified as Deborah Bernstein, reported missing in September 2000."
Human Remains Discovered in Garage Attic in West Gulfport
Monday, January 22, 2007
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Biloxi
It's the longest running daytime soap in history. But this week, the cast and crew of 'Guiding Light' are taking a break from their New York studio to help three south Mississippi families rebuild their homes after Katrina. The soap stars were in rare form Monday, donning tool belts and little make-up as they hammered away on a house in East Biloxi. Meggan Gray takes us to Midway Street for a behind the scenes look."
Bittersweet Weekend
The poem below is not written by me. It is a version of one written by an unknown author.
People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need
you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
to provide you with guidance and support,
to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrong doing on your part
or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met,
our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered
and it is now time to move on.
When people come into your life for a SEASON,
it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
those things you must build upon
in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson,
love the person/people (anyway);
and put what you have learned to use in all
other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
~Author Unknown
Now about the Saints... I am not a football fan per se but I like this team. They never give up, they can teach us all something about tenacity. I watched the last half of the game and my heart grew heavy for the guys. They slipped, fumbled, were penalized, BUT still they carried on to the end. I felt that they were playing for our storm ravaged areas. It took our minds off all the problems here. For a short time, everything was normal again. A local left a comment in one of our papers asking how we could be so foolish when there were more important things to be done here. I am sorry for that person because it is obvious that hope in that particular life for a future isn't alive.
I will take pictures during the week of new construction and anything else I find of interest. It has been raining every day and that makes it near impossible but I will be back!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
The Saints
"GEAUX SAINTS"!
GCN - General News Update
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Chet Lott sings the blues
But it's for a good cause - he's happy to help the Red Cross
Chet Lott, son of U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, performed a two-hour concert before more than 150 people Thursday night at Scranton's Restaurant in support of his new album "Erased It."
( By JUSTIN HOOKS, jhooks@sunherald.com, 01/20/2007 03:01 AM CST)
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Biloxi
Saints fever swept across South Mississippi Friday. Businesses, hospitals, and schools showed off their team spirit and support for the Boys in Black and Gold. They are pumped-up and ready to cheer the Saints to an NFC championship victory. Store employees, nurses, and teachers got a chance to dress down, and go wild over the Saints."
gulflive.com: News
HELENA -- The Jackson County Sheriff's Department is investigating the stabbing death of Carolyn Shelby Gattis, 23, of Jasmine Street, Moss Point. "
Friday, January 19, 2007
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: News & Video
Governor Haley Barbour announced late Friday afternoon that FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security will extend the Katrina temporary housing program by six months through the end of August 2007. Barbour requested a year-long extension back in December. The official announcement by the Department of Homeland Security is expected early next week."
More winter heads for Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri - CNN.com
With thousands of customers in Oklahoma still without power, Gov. Brad Henry on Thursday requested a major federal disaster declaration, which would make people in hard-hit counties eligible for housing grants and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. He had already declared a state of emergency."
SunHerald.com : Biloxi and Gulfport News, Casinos, Jobs, Real Estate, Sports and Cars
Mayor Xavier Bishop has turned in the blue light he was using to make traffic stops, mostly along the city's Main Street.
( By KAREN NELSON, Klnelson@sunherald.com, 01/19/2007 03:01 AM CST)"
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Saints Quarterback Drew Brees' #9 jersey is among the most popular with fans this season. |
SunHerald.com : Biloxi and Gulfport News, Casinos, Jobs, Real Estate, Sports and Cars
No word on housing extension
The past 17 months for Bobby Hinson have included a lot of waiting - waiting for the storm to pass, for temporary housing, for rebuilding aid.
( By KATHERINE SAYRE, SUN HERALD WASHINGTON BUREAU, 01/18/2007 03:01 AM CST)"
Dozens of volunteers strapped on their tool belts and began building a small Habitat for Humanity community near downtown Biloxi. There were college students hammering nails. Middle aged women carrying two by fours. And a senior citizen measuring where lumber should be cut. Brad Kessie has the story.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Immediately after the storm when I had internet service again, I sent an email to a county supervisor offering my land for placing trailers there. I knew nothing of Fema reimbursements, I was willing to do it for nothing. I never received a reply but getting anything through in the earlier days was next to impossible.
I remarked in an earlier post that if you just name a subject that I can tell you a story. I have one on eminent domain which I think is a legal way of stealing what belongs to someone else. To use eminent domain requires a procedure of notification, signatures and maybe a ridiculous amount of money given to you to take your property. My daughter's boyfriend alerted us to the fact that the county was using a portion of our land and that there was a huge drainage ditch dug across it. The ditch was a requirement to collect the money on a couple of million dollar road project. All we asked for was the $2000 that was paid to other property owners that were involved. They said take them to court and we did. Seven years later we were awarded $15,000 .. the attorney received 40% of it. Was it worth the hassle? No!!! The land has been in our name for 22 yrs., so figure the taxes that have been paid. I just paid 2006 taxes this month. It's a catch 22, if you don't pay the taxes you can lose it and now we have eminent domain raising its ugly head again . Take if from one who knows, they do strike!
We have had stormy weather and lately it has been very cold. I wonder how the people in trailers are faring. Any news on them has virtually stopped. I guess I am old fashioned but I think the welfare of people should be of the highest priority. Please don't tell me I am dreaming again.
Lott: Appropriately Skeptical - What's Next in Iraq
GCN Guest Opinion
Appropriately Skeptical
What's Next in Iraq
by: Sen. Trent Lott Filed 1/12/07 GCN
Leading up to President Bush%u2019s speech outlining the new strategy for Iraq, I was appropriately skeptical. There was a lot of preliminary talk about sending more forces to Iraq in a %u201Ctroop surge.%u201D Given that Mississippi%u2019s active military and guard members have made a large contribution to operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, I feel it my duty to carefully scrutinize the proposal. It would have been inappropriate either to adopt or dismiss the pending plan before it was presented to the nation. I talked to the President, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of State, the Defense Secretary and other officials, asking questions and raising concerns.
The plan recognizes something I%u2019ve said for months: The status quo in Iraq is unacceptable, and we%u2019ve got to dramatically change the dynamics there. This new approach has the capacity to do that."
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
It's a very wintry day as far as temperature and appearance. Skies are a whitish gray and there is a slight drizzle. I absolutely refuse to think there is a chance for that white fluffy stuff. I have grown tired of disappointments. Also it would be very cold for the families still in Fema trailers. The propane tanks must empty quickly... they appear to be somewhat larger than the tanks we use for grilling. I am fearful of any heating system that can explode or emit deadly fumes. My home is gas heated and no matter how cold it is, I turn it off at night when I retire. There are all kinds of plans for getting the people out of the trailers. I have seen it in Pascagoula. Over the weekend I spent a day and a half in Gulfport and was happy to see that, although things aren't entirely back to normal, they aren't as bad as I thought. There are homes and businesses springing up all around the area but not on the beach. Biloxi has a few condos up and casinos operating but their beach is also devoid of new homes being built there.
The grant assistance program has not assisted at least 7000 people who applied in April 06. I really can't understand as the grants were said to be to assist all that were not in a flood zone but flooded anyway. My daughter received her grant but had to put a covenant on her home that if they ever sell that a buyer must also abide by that covenant too. Many people ran into problems with titles, liens against their property etc.. and if granted assistance they must deduct what is owed to the mortgage holder, SBA loans, anything they got from insurance which would leave nothing to build with. I understand the legality of all of this as we were in a business for many years that involved all I mentioned. BUT the grants were to help the people who have gone through a disaster get back on their feet. Something has to be set aside until they are living in what they call home. Fema trailers do not qualify. So, I am still with getting the people out of the miserable conditions they live under.
If one snow flake falls, you will hear from me!
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Monday, January 15, 2007
Biloxi
Biloxi's skyline looks impressive with all the condos that are under construction, some nearly complete. I didn't take shots of anything that I felt could be described in words alone. The Beau Rivage is a massive casino that is very beautiful. The Grand casino is nice although my shots may not depict it. Treasure Bay's temporary casino shocked me after having fallen in love with the huge pirate ship they once had. We drove to where we had to turn back because of bridge not functional.
We took the interstate exit and were on our way to my home in Pascagoula. My daughter arrived home safely too. Was a great weekend and I am glad I finally got to see this part of the coast that means a lot to me.