Wednesday, February 28, 2007

There were many reasons I shouldn't have gone out today, the biggest one is that I have the flu. It came on so suddenly while I was doing yard work yesterday. Severe pain in my legs and back quickly followed by a cough, fever, chills and an earache. When I awakened this morning, I didn't have as much pain so my intention was to make a quick "dash" to the grocery store and pick up a few things I needed. I had my camera with me and decided what the heck, I will take the long out of the way home and snap some pictures. I turned off Market Street to the left on Washington Avenue and snapped pictures on my left until I reached Martin Street. It would be so much easier if I could manage taking a video and drive at the same time but I have not mastered that at this time. Of course, you will see my "trademark" side view mirror but I wanted to get a picture of all the houses so I used all of them.













I am going to stop here for today as I still have twenty more pictures before I reach where Washington crosses over Martin Street ... that's not counting when I turn back to take the opposite side. The people are building back but the pace is still too slow. My daughter had a confrontation with the contractor that is working on her home and he admitted that he has been doing other jobs by who demands the most. So if any of you are being too nice ... toughen up!

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

The Sun Herald | 02/27/2007 | Bank robbery suspect taken into custody

The Sun Herald | 02/27/2007 | Bank robbery suspect taken into custody: "GULFPORT - A man suspected of robbing a downtown Gulfport bank after it opened Monday morning was in custody later in the day.

Roy Dale Wallace, 39, of Woodbury, Tenn., is accused in the holdup of The Peoples Bank at 1105 30th Avenue"

Standing Dead Tree Removal Deadline Extended to June 30

Standing Dead Tree Removal Deadline Extended to June 30: "From: FEMA Filed 2/26/07

The deadline for 90 percent federal funding of standing dead tree removal in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties has been extended to June 30. The extension by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) covers the whole of each of the coastal counties, not just areas affected by storm surge."


I have been worried about a dead pine tree in my neighbor's yard for months now as when it falls my house will most likely receive heavy damage. I have uploaded a picture showing the marked tree. My home is to the right of the tree. It is a huge pine that should have been taken down before it became a threat. Ignore the quirky things the camera injected on its own.

Monday, February 26, 2007

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: News & Video

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: News & Video: "Groups Help 100 Families Move Back Home In 100 Days
It's a huge undertaking, but five non-profit groups are working together to rebuild or remodel 100 homes in 100 days. The Red Cross, Salvation Army, Mississippi Home Again, The Jackson County Community Service Coalition and 'Hope Has a Face' announced the new initiative in Pascagoula Monday. As Patrice Clark shows us, the project targets an area that's seen little progress since Katrina."

The Sun Herald | 02/26/2007 | Tennessee man named as bank robbery suspect

The Sun Herald | 02/26/2007 | Tennessee man named as bank robbery suspect

SunHerald.com : Biloxi and Gulfport News, Casinos, Jobs, Real Estate, Sports and Cars

SunHerald.com : Biloxi and Gulfport News, Casinos, Jobs, Real Estate, Sports and Cars: "Peoples Bank robber fled in white vehicle
The man who robbed The Peoples Bank in downtown Gulfport this morning handed the teller a note and left travelling west in a white vehicle, police said."

SunHerald.com | 02/26/2007 | President Bush visits Thursday

SunHerald.com | 02/26/2007 | President Bush visits Thursday: "President Bush visits Thursday
SUN HERALD

President Bush will visit the Mississippi Coast and New Orleans on Thursday, according to a news advisory issued by the White House.

No other details of the visit were disclosed. The trip will be the president's 14th visit here since Hurricane Katrina. His last was here on Aug. 29, the one-year anniversary of Katrina."

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Last evening was spent waiting on severe weather that didn't materialize. There was a 20MPH wind that came in spurts. No big deal, except for the time I wasted worrying about it. Years ago my favorite Aunt was so frightened of the weather that she had a small storm shelter built long before it became popular. I was young enough to think her fears were groundless but since Katrina, it's becoming more appealing. Plans were made for me to attend an award's ceremony tonight for my two young grandsons and teammates for the weeks they spent learning to play basketball. It was great, the crowd was sizable and all showed support for the kids. A juggler was the entertainer, he was amazing. I did get a few pictures today in Pascagoula before I went to the event.

Downtown


Downtown

Pascagoula Street


Side view before turn on Beach Blvd.




Beach Park



Once in a while I lose track of just where I was when I took a picture ... the next picture is one of those times.


Pascagoula is making progress as I had no doubt they would. The citizens have always been a hard working and determined people. I need a couple days off from taking pictures but I will be back soon!

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Gulfport

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Gulfport: "Turkey Creek Gets Help From Up North To Restore And Preserve It's Community
The Turkey Creek community got some big help this week as it works toward restoring and preserving its historic community. A church youth group of volunteers from the Winchester Unitarian Society right outside Boston, Massachusetts came down to help. "

Saturday, February 24, 2007

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Bay St. Louis

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Bay St. Louis: "Rebecca Powers Reports On Where Restaurants Are Now In Hancock County
Each year, the average American spends more money on fast food than higher education. Going out to eat, is by far one of our society's favorite past-times. Here on the coast, Katrina destroyed 350 eating establishments, leaving just 207 places to dine out. It took a lot of restaurants months to re-open, some never could, while other were forced to change locations. It's hard to know which ones are back and where they are. Rebecca Powers found out, 'where are they now?'"

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Oregon Man's Bicycle Journey Brings Him To South Mississippi

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Oregon Man's Bicycle Journey Brings Him To South Mississippi: "His name is Terry Hunter, but he says everybody calls him 'Rainbow Scooter.'

You may have seen 'Rainbow' and his traveling companion, his dog Rita, here on the Coast in the last day or two. They are bicycling around the country. Rainbow started out in Oregon in October 2005."

Friday, February 23, 2007

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Pass Christian

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Pass Christian: "
FL Teens Say They Understand Katrina's Effect On MS
Some Florida teens say the help they received after Hurricane Ivan inspired them to pay it forward here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Dozens of Pensacola High School students spent Friday landscaping the combined campus of Delisle and Pass Christian Elementary Schools."
I was out again today and, of course, I had my camera. As I drove around, I saw there has been some street resurfacing so I decided I would show you. Just repaving makes a huge difference. The area is in the vicinity of downtown Pascagoula.


I only have one picture of new construction but rebuilding is happening albeit SLOW. Washington Avenue has many houses under construction and some are nearly complete. I am looking forward to the day I can take pictures of the completed houses as I have watched their construction for many months.


Just thinking ... I wonder if people know that my pictures are protected by copyright? If any of them are used, please link to me. Actually, I can identify my work because somehow the sideview mirror is in most of them.

How long has it been now? Let's see, August 29, 2005 and this is February 2007. Eighteen months isn't really a long time if you have been having fun but that has not always been the case. Sure I laugh more than I cry but there are still many, many people who have absolutely nothing to laugh about. There is currently a study being done on how we are coping with this disaster. Personally, I have developed a few phobias that I didn't have. One of them could be normal I suppose but I become a "basketcase" if it rains. We will begin hurricane season in June and I know that I will be uptight until it is over. I went through Camille and wasn't affected the way that I am now. I won't mention my other phobias but they can be summed up in only two words, "I'm scared"!

We have been having springtime weather for the past several days so I ended my day by cleaning leaves out of the raingutters.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Husband & Wife Found Dead In Bay St. Louis

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Husband & Wife Found Dead In Bay St. Louis: "A murder/suicide in Old Town Bay St. Louis has stunned the Hancock County community. Police say prominent Bay St. Louis businessman Carl Heitzmann shot his wife, Mimi to death then turned the gun on himself.

The incident happened at the couple's townhouse apartment at 105 DeMontluzin Street sometime Thursday night. The couple's bodies were discovered Friday morning. "

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Gulfport

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Gulfport: "Rep. Billy Broomfield Talks About Concerns Over Port of Gulfport's Recovery
Lawmakers on the House Port's Committee grilled Gulfport Port Director Don Allee Thursday wanting to know why recovery efforts are taking so long. State Representative Billy Broomfield chairs that committee and was one of the more vocal speakers. He spoke about his concerns on WLOX News at 5pm."

Thursday, February 22, 2007

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: New Jersey Volunteers Build Habitat Home In Waveland

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: New Jersey Volunteers Build Habitat Home In Waveland

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: First Lady Visits "Katrina Cottages" In Ocean Springs

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: First Lady Visits "Katrina Cottages" In Ocean Springs: "First lady Laura Bush toured 'Katrina Cottages' here Thursday as part of a one-day visit to the hurricane-ravaged Mississippi Gulf Coast. The relatively inexpensive homes are designed to give thousands of Gulf Coast families still living in government-issued trailers in Mississippi and Louisiana a more homelike atmosphere.

Later Thursday, Bush was to visit an elementary school in D'Iberville."
Plans In Place To Restore Old Pascagoula High School
It was a place for learning and memories for many in Pascagoula. A building once on its way to being torn down is now poised for a comeback. Krystal Allan tell us how plans for a historic Pascagoula landmark are shaping up.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Gulfport

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Gulfport: "
Slum Designation Will Help Gulfport Recover
The words 'slum' and 'blighted' are being used to describe downtown Gulfport. And they're coming from the Gulfport City Council. Council members approved those rather unflattering words Wednesday to improve the city's chances of getting additional grant money. Brad Kessie has the story."

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Pascagoula

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Pascagoula: "City of Pascagoula Presents Post Katrina Plans
Pascagoula's mayor says his city has big plans for the post-Katrina future. Making those plans a reality will take help from the Jackson County Board of Supervisors. Patrice Clark was there as the mayor shared Pascagoula's vision with supervisors."

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Well I went driving around today in Pascagoula and all I managed to do was drop my mood to an all time LOW. The sun has been under a cloud for much of the day. I guess I should be thankful that it isn't raining. I am. I can't find many good things to say about where I live anymore. It looks bad. The torn up streets and crooked telephone poles don't add beauty to even new construction. Most lawns probably will not be back to what they should be this spring either. They have been gouged so much by heavy equipment and last summer's drought gave a foothold to bugs that "suck" the life out of grass. I took a few pictures of destroyed homes that seem to just be part of our landscape now. When I read news about how well we are doing, I think I must have overlooked something. Lately, I have been going to Mobile, AL fairly often with my daughter Anita and her family. Yesterday my daughter, Peggy who lives in Gulfport, and I went to Mobile to shop. We had a great time but you know what we enjoyed the most....? The intact, well kept shopping malls which we don't have now. When we saw Dillards which we had in Gulfport before the storm destroyed it, we were silent. We need help, massive help to recover. The longer we are at a standstill the worse things will get. As a Katrina victim I don't have the interest to take all the agendas seriously at this particular time when I have more pressing problems to take care of. Don't get me wrong, I don't entirely disagree with the do-gooders suggestions to raise the taxes on cigarettes or those who work so hard to save all the animals from cruelty and homelessness. Those are good things but PEOPLE, in my opinion, should be sheltered first. A higher tax on cigarettes is not the way to go if it really is all about health. Raising the price does not take care of the health issue, people will find a way to smoke if they choose to. Ban all cigarettes... take them off the market. It's suspect when the higher taxes on the product will bring in higher revenue. Someone remarked that prohibition on alcohol brought greater repercussions. Not to those who have had alcoholics in the family or a drunk driver kill a loved one. It's revenue again. There are so many issues that have taken the focus off the problems we have on the Coast and that shouldn't be. Not in America! Oh Yes! I have read that what happened to us will step up the response to another disaster but what have the american people really learned? I know what I have learned ... that the city of New Orleans and Coastal Mississippi are dispensable!






Blue Tarp


Trailers

THROW ME SOMETHING MISTER!

Mardi Gras wraps up with grand-finale parades

By ROBIN FITZGERALD and ANITA LEE
SUN HERALD
Beads cover the crowd during the St. Paul Carnival Association Parade in Pass Christian.
JAMES EDWARD BATES/SUN HERALD
Beads cover the crowd during the St. Paul Carnival Association Parade in Pass Christian.

The Fat Tuesday countdown is ticking as thousands of revelers across South Mississippi prepare to line downtown streets for the grand-finale parades of Mardi Gras 2007.

The region's second Carnival season since Hurricane Katrina wraps up today with parades that roll at 1 p.m. in Biloxi and Bay St. Louis and at 5:30 p.m. in Gulfport. Revelers can expect mild temperatures and only a chance of rain. And if hotel reservations hold true, crowds will include a large number of out-of-towners.

"We've been pleasantly surprised since Friday with an increase in hotel reservations," said Linda Hornsby, executive director of the Mississippi Hotel and Lodging Association.

Monday, February 19, 2007

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: UMC, U. of Michigan, Studying Katrina's Impact in Mississippi

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: UMC, U. of Michigan, Studying Katrina's Impact in Mississippi: "Researchers from the University of Michigan, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and other institutions this week will start the process of surveying 800 adults who lived in southern Mississippi when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. The goal of the study, which is being funded by the National Institutes of Health, is to help determine the hurricane's impact on individuals and on communities."

Two Mississippi Soldiers Die In Iraq
A member of the Mississippi National Guard stationed in Iraq died of noncombat injuries Saturday in Baghdad. Sgt. 1st Class William C. Spillers, 39, of Terry, was assigned to the Guard's 230th Finance Detachment stationed in Jackson. Meanwhile, the family of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Terrence Dunn are still mourning their loss. The Pascagoula native was killed February 2nd by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. The 38-year-old graduated from Pascagoula High School in 1987.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Enough time has passed since Katrina came ashore and much of the terror of that day has now given way to living in what we are left with today. And what is that? Well I can only speak for myself but the one word that describes how I feel is "disillusionment". At the very beginning of this disaster I was under the illusion that we would get the help we needed, especially since we are americans. Many of you may say we got the help and lots of money poured in to assist us but that is not entirely true. How many of you know that our cities must match a portion of money before federal money starts to come to our much needed aid. If you think about it in a logical way, our cities were devastated and that means revenue is not coming in for the cities to match the federal money. In actuality that would have been known at the very beginning. The 18 months that have passed in south Mississippi shows very little progress. Did you also know that for two other disasters that the federal match was not required? 911 was one of them. So why not for us? I have read many comments made by people who seem to know more about what is going on in our area than the people who live amidst it all. Take it from me.. what is going on in our area is mind boggling. Our state has been so low at the bottom of the totem pole that now I have read where they want to take what happened to us and say it is not the worse catastrophe to happen in our young country. They have got to be kidding or maybe they just don't care what happens to us. It's only those dumb hillbillies in Mississippi ... why bother? I am a French/Creole hillbilly. It's all so childish isn't it? I don't believe those that cast stones could take what we have gone through.

The pace needs to pick up down here as it has been way too long. I still believe that somebody wants us to leave the coast. Are we sitting on oil? Just a thought.

It's Mardi Gras time down here, a time for family fun. Yesterday Pascagoula had their parade and due to a prior commitment, I didn't go. There were thousands of people lining the streets of our small town. They weren't just the citizens of our area. One must understand the close proximity that all the coastal towns have to one another. We attend all of the parades in each city. We are not practicing debauchery as many people think and sometimes voice aloud. Mardi Gras has religious connotations also. The solemn season of Lent begins the day after "Fat Tuesday". It will last for 40 days and nights consisting of fasting, prayers and good works. A contemplation of the Lord's passion and death.


The pictures shown are my collection of "throws". One of my daughters was involved and had the privilege to ride on the floats. She was required to buy her own beads as all were and she always managed to have some left to present to me. Mardi Gras is part of our heritage on the coast. As a young girl I spent most of my time in Mobile, AL at Mardi Gras. They were the originators of the festivity. As with most things, something that is good can be given a bad name by the ones that are intent on doing so. It has gotten very bad in some of the larger cities over the passing years but in our small cities, it is still Mardi Gras! I put a link to an old Louis Armstrong rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In" as some of the songs now are unbelievable.

I have documented Mardi Gras 2007 and have shown you beads that many people would have lost to Katrina. ... Mardi is french for Tuesday and Gras is french for Fat. So with that I wish you Happy Mardi Gras Y'all!!

gulflive.com: The Mississippi Press

gulflive.com: The Mississippi Press: "Former PHS grad killed in Iraq"

HOUSTON -- U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Terrence Dunn's sisters say he was a hero long before an improvised explosive device took his life in Baghdad on Feb. 2.

Dunn, 38, graduated from Pascagoula High School in 1987, where he was a member of the school's ROTC program. He entered the army three years later and served tours in Bosnia, Africa, Korea and was in the middle of his second tour of duty in Iraq.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Pass Christian

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Pass Christian: "
New Jersey Firefighters Help Rebuild A Family's Home
After the 9-11 terror attacks, hundreds of South Mississippi firemen did their part to help raise money for people in New York City. When Katrina shook up the Gulf Coast, upstate firefighters say it was only fitting that they help families who lost everything. Elise Roberts has the details on the commitment that's helping to rebuild the coast. "

Friday, February 16, 2007

A Journey Back In Time

"Knowing Pompeii means opening a fascinating window to the ancient world. Streets paved with enormous stones, the monumental forum, intricately designed houses, shops and workshops, astonishing paintings and mosaics narrate the innumerable facets of a city captured in its very last moments of life and delivered to eternity by the terrible eruption of Mount Vesuvius." (Taken from a book published by White Star Publishers with the collaboration of the archaeological superintendency of Pompeii and the superintendency for archaeological heritage of Naples and Caserta.)


Today I went to Mobile, AL with Dave, Anita and the children to the Exploreum to visit an exhibit on Pompeii. I was very impressed by what I saw and read. Mount Vesuvius erupted at 1:00PM on August 24 79AD and buried the city of Pompeii. The discovery of Pompeii began in 1746. I bought a huge, heavy book that is very detailed about Pompeii and the Roman civilization. In the exhibit I saw pottery, pieces of furniture, stone ovens, surgical instruments that were remarkably similar to what our physicians use, bronze fish hooks, simple pieces of jewelry, coins, sculpture, Bacchus, the God of Wine, drew my attention. While looking at this handsome piece of art I thought if I had this, where would I put this nude man. It certainly wouldn't fit into my tame decor. When the volcano erupted the city and surrounding territory was buried in ash. An excavation uncovered bodies. Not skeletons but imprints of people and animals lying in various positions. After so many years the ash had hardened. A mold was placed around the imprints and a cast made. Some of these were at the exhibit. It saddened me as, no matter what century they lived in, they weren't any different than you and I. They had families, pets and ate basically the same food as we do. Then on that fateful day so long ago, their lives ended. That's something to think about. I am sure Anita and I will study the above book and find out so many more interesting things. After the exhibit, we went to an IMAX movie on Greece which was also very interesting.

Mobile was getting ready for their Mardi Gras parades. I wish we could have stayed to see at least one. I took a couple of pictures through a window while I was waiting in the Exploreum. There is an object in the sky that looks like a UFO.


WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Home

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Home: "Mississippi House Passes Bill To Cut Grocery Taxes, Raise Cigarette Taxes"

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Lawmakers propose grant program for Katrina recovery

By KATHERINE SAYRE
SUN HERALD WASHINGTON BUREAU

Pointing to the continued frustration of Gulf Coast residents, House Democratic leaders vowed Thursday to help speed up recovery from the hurricanes that struck nearly 18 months ago.

"The people on the coast have had enough hearings," said Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La. "What they need now is action."

Calling it a first step, Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation that would allow Mississippi and Louisiana to receive federal disaster grants without paying a matching amount. The bill also would give the states the option of avoiding repayment of disaster loans. Both measures have been used in other national disasters, lawmakers said.

Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., said New Orleans and other Gulf Coast communities haven't recovered their local tax bases, making it difficult to pay matching dollar amounts to receive federal aid.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Bill Introduced To Hold Insurance Companies Accountable

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Bill Introduced To Hold Insurance Companies Accountable: "Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, joined with Senate Democratic and Republican leaders to introduce a bipartisan bill Thursday that would make insurance companies abide by the same anti-trust laws as every other industry."
I spent the day just lazing around doing absolutely nothing. I am usually high spirited but every now and then I have to stop and recharge. We have so much bickering going on with insurance, we have a severe housing shortage for the people without homes, we have people from the rest of the state not caring about our welfare on the Coast. Just let us flounder as long as they are okay. I have spent most of my life defending our state and equally share the shame of the civil rights murders that didn't happen on the coast but it did happen in our state. Unfortunately, Katrina happened on the coast but what assurance is there that some devastating disaster can't befall the rest of the state? I know without a doubt that the coast would be there for them. We offered our help to Florida in the recent tornado disaster. I became disheartened when I heard our state insurance commissioner, George Dale, speak. On several occasions he has made the remark that the people upstate are fearful of losing their insurance or have to pay higher premiums (like we aren't) because of those people who chose to live on the Coast. This is my home, this is where I was born, as were my parents and their parents. Somehow, even Mr. Dale seems to separate the coast from the rest of the state. Who wouldn't be disheartened?

For a short time after the hurricane devastated us, we were all thought of as victims of this storm. Then the class separation began and so many of us received no help. One of my daughters and two children arrived to stay with me after the storm had destroyed their apartment in Slidell, La. She arrived with a severe earache so we went to the Red Cross for help. We waited for 3 hrs. and when she walked up to say what was wrong with her, one of the male nurses angrily said to me, "Why didn't you take her to the emergency room?" I was taken aback and said because everything is still not operational. They wouldn't treat her. She was crying from the pain and so I desperately went in search of help. I begged the receptionist at a doctor's office to ask if he would please see her. One did and treated her. No thanks to the Red Cross. They are a fine organization but the people we encountered that worked for them were not.

I received no aide from volunteers. The first thing I had to take care of was having a tree removed from my yard that was half uprooted and leaning toward the house. I was charged $900.00 and they left it where it fell.. My backporch was damaged and it stayed that way until March 2006. I had no hot water for a month after the storm because no one knew how to light the pilot. But there was a bright spot, one day there was a knock at my door and there were two Navy nurses from West Virginia asking if "I" needed anything. They gave me a tetanus shot and benadryl for the obvious allergies I had. Most importantly, they talked to me and reassured me that everything was going to be okay. Even to this day, I remember their kindness and concern for ME.

Our crisis here is not over... we need all the support we can get. Be it just a kind word!

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: News & Video

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: News & Video: "Soldier With Mississippi Ties Reported Killed In Iraq
U.S. Army Sgt. Carl Leonard Seigart, whose wife and four stepchildren live in Picayune, was killed in Iraq on Valentine's Day as he participated in a tank recovery mission, his family said. Jessica Moeller, the soldier's stepdaughter, said Seigart was a tank mechanic with the 1st Cavalry, 3rd Battalion out of Fort Hood, Texas."

Arizona group donates to hurricane recovery

Arizona group donates to hurricane recovery

100 Seabees deploy
NMCB 133 members spread over 16 nations
More than 100 service members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 left Gulfport on Wednesday as the final phase of one of the largest Seabee deployment operations.

The Sun Herald | 02/15/2007 | Post office on way

The Sun Herald | 02/15/2007 | Post office on way: "Post office on way
Pascagoula making do with trailer
By KAREN NELSON
Klnelson@sunherald.com
Construction is expected to be under way this summer for the new main post office on Jackson Avenue in Pascagoula, shown here in an artist's rendering. The hulk of the old building, flooded by Hurricane Katrina and shown below, will be torn down this spring to make way for the new one.
Construction is expected to be under way this summer for the new main post office on Jackson Avenue in Pascagoula, shown here in an artist's rendering. The hulk of the old building, flooded by Hurricane Katrina and shown below, will be torn down this spring to make way for the new one.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Highway patrol identifies surviving driver from fatal crash

By ROBIN FITZGERALD
rfitzgerald@sunherald.com

The surviving driver in Tuesday night's fatal crash on U.S. 49 in Saucier has been identified as a 34-year-old Indiana man.

Michael D. Agnew, of Vincennes, Ind., pulled in front of a southbound motorcycle at the West Wortham Road intersection around 7:25 p.m., said Master Sgt. Joe Gazzo of the state Highway Patrol.

Michael Haverkamp, 43, of Alto, Mich., died in the collision.

Agnew, driving a 1989 Buick Regal, was attempting to cross the southbound lanes and turn north when the 2004 Harley Davison driven by Haverkamp struck the left rear of his car, Gazzo said.

The crash remains under investigation.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Biloxi

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Your Hometown News - Biloxi: "Biloxi Shooting on Pass Road Injures Keesler Airman
An airman stationed at Keesler was the victim of a drive by shooting Wednesday morning. It happened just before 7 a.m. near the intersection of Pass Road and Popp's Ferry Road. Police are searching for the shooter."

State Farm Says No New Commercial/Homeowner Policies In Mississippi
State Farm Insurance Cos. is suspending sales of any new commercial or homeowner policies in Mississippi effective Friday, citing in part a wave of litigation it has faced after Hurricane Katrina, a company official said Wednesday. Mike Fernandez, vice president of public affairs for State Farm, said Mississippi's "current legal and political environment is simply untenable. We're just not in a position to accept any additional risk in this homeowners' market."