Manatees Succumb to Cold Weather on Coast

GULFPORT -- A manatee found in Mobile Bay died en route to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport on Christmas, and another manatee was found dead along the Pascagoula River in Moss Point on Tuesday.

Moby Salangi, IIM director, said crews from the Moss Point Police Department were helping his staff load the manatee on the trailer. A necropsy will be performed today to try to determine the cause of the manatee's death.


Full Story: Sun Herald
Manatees in Mobile Bay, Pascagoula River Die in Cold Weather

The Little Red Kettle and Its Workers

Tasha Patterson said sometimes it gets annoying having that bell ringing in her ear all day long, but she enjoys being a bell ringer for her Salvation Army. She gives each donor an enthusiastic "thank you."

LaFont Liquidation Brings Inn Biggest Crowd Ever

PASCAGOULA -- LaFont Inn is seeing the largest number of people to ever come through its doors now that the landmark hotel is within months of demolition, which should begin in early 2011.

Owners of the hotel plan to add several features that will include a Hilton Garden Hotel, senior citizens living complex, and entertain-
ment center. Out parcels will be sold for retail outlets.

Within about 15 minutes some 200 people entered the hotel Dec. 9 for the first day of the liquidation sale, which is expected to continue January.

Residents and visitors along the Gulf Coast and across the state picked up bargans of historical and economic value -- fine china, sign for "The Den" lounge, inside doors and 25-inch color television sets for $49 plus state tax and a 10 percent liquidation premium (fee) that totaled $57.67, as well as armoire for $65 plus tax and premium.

Beth Johnston visited the hotel over several days, several times a day on the days she picked up crystal and other treasures, taking memories of times spent at the hotel.

"It's every sad," she said. "We ate a lot of meals here. We stayed in here for a lot of hurricanes."

While making her purchases, Johnston said her daughter-in-law put herself through college working at the receptionist desk.

Johnston was among the many people who wanted to purchase the LaFont Inn sign that graced the wall above the check-in desk in the front lobby. However, Dr. Jack Hoover, a co-owner of the hotel until earlier this year, bought the sign on day two of the liquidation.

It's been seven months since hotel owners served the last meal at the hotel, which had been the quarters of presidents and high-ranking military personnel, national statesmen .

Lighthouse Work Continues at Bridge Entrance

Work continues on the Round Island Lighthouse, located at the western city limits of Pascagoula at the base of the high-rise bridge. Workers were set to move the base into its permanent place by this weekend.

Habitat Conducts Open House for Cottage

PASCAGOULA -- Residents viewed a Habitat for Humanity cottage on 11th Street during an open house that allowed residents to the floor plan for homes built to

(The front door entrance leads to a kitcken, long hall with a living room, outdoor deck and master bedroom.)
(Amenities include stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer, bathroom, walk-in closets in the three bedrooms.)


to restore housing in Pascagoula following Hurricane Katrina.
About 12 people walked through the cottage, which stands off the ground in the Chipley neighborhood just blocks away from the Pascagoula beachfront.

Community Thanksgiving at First Baptist Pascagoula

Paul MaGahie of First United Methodist Church directed the Mass Community Choir during the Community Thanksgiving Service at First Baptist Pascagoula on Tuesday.






PASCAGOULA -- A Community Thanksgiving Service for Pascagoula was held tonight at First Baptist Church on Live Oak Avenue.

The program included 50 minutes of

(The Rev. Jim Fisher was featured speaker. ...... Debra Nelson brought her friend Sally Walley of Ingalls Avenue Baptist Church ..... Rev. Fisher talks with Dorothy Gilmer, Alice Hague, Mazie Grady and Fay Wiley. )


congregational songs, prayers, special music, liturgies and a Thanksgiving message.

Pastors serving as hosts were the Rev. Jay Cook of First Baptist, the Rev. Jim Fisher of First Methodist Pascagoula, the Rev. Clint Regen of First Presbyterian Pascagoula, and the Rev. Dennis Ryan of St. John Episcopal Pascagoula.

Special music was presented by a Mass Community Choir, directed by Paul McGahie, who is music minister at First United Methodist Church.

The service provided an evening of worship, fellowship and giving of thanks for life's blessing.

(Contributing information by Robby Myrick)

First Baptist Celebrates Victories at Addiction Workshop

Debra Fagan issues door prizes during the addiction workshop held Friday, Nov. 19, at First Missionary Baptist Church on Main Street in Moss Point.

Thanksgiving Potluck and Poetry at Gautier Public Library

Cheramie Henagan was ready for the crowd that never showed for the Thanksgiving Potluck Poetry Reading planned for Tuesday at the Kathleen McIlwain Gautier City Library.

Henagan, library youth services director, said the poetry reading was established to be a continuing event meant to offer patrons extra activities at the library.

"We've been having this once a month poetry reading since April, which was National Poetry Month," she said. "We've had young people, college students and older people. We've had people of all ages. Lately, the poetry readings have been well-attended."

She suspected the lack of attendance at the Gautier library for the Thanksgiving reading was due to the number of holiday events during the week, including Tuesday's bow making class at the Pascagoula library, and a photography lecture at the train depot in Pascagoula.

"I've always been a poetry lover," said Henagan. "Most people who do come have their own poetry. Those who don't, I always have books for them.

"We just have different things each month, or I try to come up with different things," she said.

The poetry reading for Christmas will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 21, and will include decoration of the holiday tree.

"The public can come in and bring their own ornaments to decorate the tree," said Henagan.

"We try to do a lot of poetry here to let people know they have a library," she said.

The Gautier Public Library provides refreshments for the monthly poetry readings.

Moss Point Students Weatherize Homes

Mississippi Power employee and Moss Point students explain weatherization materials to Anna Bell Roy at her home on Rollins Street on Nov. 17 during a community program sponsored by FOCUS, Focusing Our Community Upon Sustainability.

'Buffet on the Bayou' Showcases Wildlife Eats

Join the Pascagoula River Audubon Center and Edible Gulf Coast on Saturday, Nov. 20 to celebrate “Buffet on the Bayou.” This event is a celebration of wild game and foods from plants and creatures mostly native to this country and enjoyed by many.

The event time is 3-5:00 p.m. This year's menu will include:

Turtle Soup

Smoked mullet pate with Katie & Gary’s microgreens tossed in a pecan vinaigrette.

G & M Goat Farm goat curry with local vegetable rice pilaf and Thomas’s blueberry chutney.

Gulf shrimp stuffed mirlitons

Alligator sauce picante

Garfish stew

Ambrosia with Gulf Coast citrus and pecans served with Vinedresser Farm persimmon scones and Gautier Gold honey butter.

Pumpkin pie with Country Girl’s Creamery pouring cream

*menu subject to change

Costs for the feast is $35 per individual, $60 per couple – Advance Purchase Only. All proceeds go to support Edible Gulf Coast and the PascagoulaRiver Audubon Center

Edible Gulf Coast is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting and celebrating local food traditions of the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast. The Pascagoula River Audubon Center promotes education about and enjoyment of the Pascagoula River, the last, free-flowing river in the lower 48 states.

For further information, or to book a place at the table, please call:

Diane at 251-633-6944 or Mozart at 228-475-0825

Shoppers Go Downtown Moss Point

MOSS POINT -- By late Sunday afternoon, Debby Renfroe had a bag full of goodies when she left downtown, where merchants on Main and McInnis streets were busy during the annual holiday open house.

The crowds gathered early for the afternoon shopping, enjoying sights and sounds of the annual event, foods provided by each of the businesses, door prizes, and discounts on gifts.

The downtown park in Moss Point takes shape, including benches for easy viewing and resting along the banks of the Escatawpa River.

Ahh Maze-ing Fun at Pumpkin Patch

Sawyer Windham, 1, enjoys himself among the haybale maze located on Main Street in Downtown Moss Point. He was with his brother, Foster, 3, and a friend from Daphne, 4-year-old Major Kinard, father Dwayne Windham and Major's grandmother, Judy Kinard. Windham and Kinard live in Pascagoula, but bring the children to the Pumpkin Patch as often as possible.

Family Spends Veterans Day in River City

MOSS POINT -- Pascagoula residents Judy Kinard and Dwayne Windham spend the Thursday, Nov. 11, on a special trip to Moss Point visit. They brought Major Kinnard, 4, of Daphne to visit the Pumpkin Patch in the city's downtown along with Windham's sons Foster, 3, and Sawyer, 1. Kinard is Major's grandmother.

They had some lunch before spending the rest of the day going through the haybale maze also on the downtown green on Main Street.

They made their way past the Jackson County Veterans Memorial before finding a shady spot near the boardwalk on the Escatawpa River in the downtown area. Almost complete, the memorial has just a litte more construction while the south parking lot near Moss Point City Hall is undergoing major work.

Holiday decorations, lights in Pascagoula

Pascagoula city employees put up holiday decorations on Pascagoula Street near the Downtown Plaza.

Pascagoula Pride Plans Evening of Photography

Afternoon Tea Shows Past, Present, Future of Moss Point

Sixth grader Kenzie Wells, eighth grader Ki'Anda Calloway and senior Stephen Benn gave their thoughts on what they hope for the future of Moss Point. Featured speakers Beverly Taite and Jerry Redmond presented the history of Moss Point and Lindsey Presley discussed the city's ongoing development projects during the first Afternoon Tea Party at Pelican Landing on Nov. 7.



Shirley Chambers and Ruby Hill, members of the Moss Point Board of Aldermen, attend the Afternoon Tea Party at Pelican Landing on Sunday. Mayor Aneice Liddell (not pictured) said city leaders are looking for change.






Residents look over history books,

photographs and maps about Moss Point's history.

Katherine Walker and Maura Bosarge (right), employees with the city of Moss Point, collect fine china displayed during the Afternoon Tea Party held Sunday, Nov. 7, at Pelican Landing. The fundraiser supports the Employee Appreciation Fund.

Chamber Unveils MS East Coast Campaign

Elaine Cox, Jean Canaday and Archie Voda were among some 250 members who attended the 67th annual membership meeting of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, which unveiled its new tourism campaign, Amazing By Nature, on Thursday. The meeting was held at Pelican Landing in Moss Point.

Carla Todd, chamber CEO, and Steve Renfroe, incoming chairman of the board, and Morris Strickland, outgoing chairman, share the meal.

Brad Kessie of WLOX TV 13 enjoys the company and conversation during the annual membership meeting.

Food abounded for more than 250 chamber members and guests.

Lynn Trulove with Singing River Health System and friends enjoy the evening at the 67th annual membership meeting for the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.

PASCAGOULA (Nov. 4, 2010) -- Hello partners and friends!

We are excited to share the new Mississippi's East Coast Tourism campaign with you at our 67th Annual Membership Meeting, tonight. We hope you will be able to join us at 6:00pm at Pelican Landing in Moss Point.

With this campaign, we are excited to spotlight our growing "eco-tourism" industry, and to show off our county's unique charm and one-of-a-kind small businesses.

We invite you to check out the campaign's interactive Web site, http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=uogjbvcab&et=1103872078834&s=814&e=001kHJxRujDP1UVfghgp3gsayWtTw9HhyQyggYGsMM6-WiNQGNACf6iUl2qibM2t-BPg7OqFzVKeSSougVhYLWfFR_9PYcdM6hytla61MDg8K5QZ1KVHp9d-w==, which lists
all attractions, hotels, campgrounds, dining and shopping venues, museums, outdoor activities, and features an events calendar and a six-minute video that showcases all that the county has to offer. We encourage you to check your company profile for accuracy, and to submit any additional information that you would like to have included on the site or calendar of events to info@mseastcoast.org.

We would like to thank BP for funding this effort through the Gulf Coast Recovery Fund. We would also like to acknowledge Ad.In Advertising for spearheading the campaign.

We would like to thank the newly formed Jackson Tourism Commission for their guidance on the
project; representatives include Margaret Miller, Executive Director of the Ocean Springs Chamber, Harry Schmidt, Community and Economic Development Director for the City of Pascagoula, Samantha Abell, Economic Developer for the City of Gautier, Greg Miller, Economic Developer for the City of Moss Point, Mike Mangum, President of the Jackson County Board of Supervisors, and myself.

We appreciate your input and participation in making this possible. This campaign's launch
marks a major milestone in our effort to strengthen the economic vibrancy of our local communities, and we look forward to expanding on it in the years to come.

Best Regards,

Carla Todd
President & CEO
Jackson County Chamber of Commerce