Celebrating holidays and birthdays together

   

   During 2014, New York twins Jeffrey Wade Bevans and Jimmie Robert Bevans were born three minutes and a day apart, July 23 and July 24, according to the clock and calendar, a birthdate event even more rare than Leap Day. 


                                                                                

Birthday photos from www.google.com


(Story updated March 03, 2016)

MOSS POINT (Feb. 29) -- Today marks Leap Day, February 29, the only day that comes around every four years as part of an adjustment to keep calendars in line with Earth's annual trek around the sun.
     That makes having your birthday pretty awesome. Still, it's your day, and it's rare that anyone can claim that day as their own, except for the late Pope Paul III and singer/actress Dinah Shore, rapper/actor JaRule, motivational speaker Tony Robbins, and a few others.

     Three Leap Day babies -- Henry Wilson, Elizabeth Mitchell Ludwig, and Vanessa Toncrey Nell -- recently met each other as adults. They were all born Feb. 29, 1956, at Biloxi Hospital, according to Sun Herald. The three, 60 in actual years, turn 15 in calendar days.


     Still, Feb. 29 is a day that's all theirs. In fact, if you're born on Leap Day, it makes that day almost uniquely yours because few people share that day with you.

     Most leaplings have special parties and do extra things to compensate for missing that birth date the other three years. They celebrate either Feb. 28 or March 1.


     Ocean Springs resident Becky Seymour Gatian said her family celebrates for three days -- Feb. 28, Feb. 29, and March 1. She is 56, though 14 in leap years.


     But what happens when the whole nation celebrates the holidays on your birthday?  It makes day a curse and a blessing, according to some Mississippi Coast residents who were born on national holidays. All the attention is on that event being observed, and birthday honorees get lost, sometimes even forgotten, in the celebration

     Having a birthday on a national holiday is special, but it also can make the day common to the individual, less uniquely theirs, according to some residents. All attention is on that event being observed, and birthday honorees get lost, sometimes forgotten in the celebration.

     For others, the blessing is that everyone is partying on your birthday. No only that, the parties are bigger and better than a celebration for an individual, meaning more food, presents and people. And no one forgets your birth date.  

      Every month of the year features a national observance, some officially holidays, some cultural observances, some obscure but accepted with no particular impact on the rest of the nation. Some holidays are state-oriented or even regional events, such as Mardi Gras that is known nationally.

     While everyone else pops firecrackers and toasts the New Year, Evelynn Stephens, said celebrating her January 1 birthday has not been a big deal over the years.

     "We were Holiness and they didn't really believe in celebrating birthdays and things like that," she said.

     Stephens, a former school district nurse, has spent the last several years working in Arizona, but hopefully plans to return to Moss Point sometime this year.






     Famous folks born on Jan. 1 include American Revolution hero Paul Revere, American flag-designer Betsy Ross, R&B singer Jessica Jarrell, actor Morris Chestnut, and about 50 others.


     Harold Johnson of Gulfport is really proud that he was born January 15, also the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., though King's birthday is observed nationally on the third Monday of January.




     "It makes me feel like a king," he said.




     King's national birthday celebration is one of several floating observances for dates. And if your birthday happens to fall on the third Monday of January, its on a national holiday that particular year. The same floating holiday is true of Sunday dates for Mother's Day in May and Father's Day in June, and the Thursday observance for Thanksgiving in November.

     Mark Hollins of Moss Point said being male sometimes made celebrating his birthday disappointing and seemingly unfair.

     He was born Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, which is a cultural holiday celebrated across the country as the day for husbands and wives and couples.

     "It was kind of bitter sweet because I'm a guy, and when I really realized the significance of Valentine I seemed obligated to get something for someone else on my birthday," he said.

     "The majority of women think its for them," he said, though his ex-wife did give him birthday presents sometimes.

     As well, Hollins' wedding anniversary was on Valentine's Day. "That made it even worse. That made me have to give even more."

Former teacher Korei Rembert Grey, who now lives in Memphis, said her birthday is on April Fool's Day, April 1, and when she learned of it as a child she thought it was special.

"I guess I don't really consider it a holiday," she said.

     April Fool's Day is not an official holiday, but more of a societal practice that gives a green light for people to play practical jokes and pranks on each other. People expect something to be done, and usually take the pranks in good humor.

"My students couldn't believe I was born on that day," she said when they first learned of her birthdate. "My students always tried to play a prank on me."


     Sometimes, Grey would prank others by letting them thinks it was a practical joke when they didn't believe she was actually born on April 1. "Then at the end of the day I would tell them it really is my birthday."


     She knew of two other classmates who were born on April Fool's Day.


Then there is Easter, one of two holiest days on the calendar for Americans. The date itself cannot be claimed because it falls on the first Sunday after the first full money occurring on or after the spring equinox.


EXTRA SPECIAL BIRTHDAY(S)

     Grandmother Brenda Vance just dotes on her grandsons Jimmie and Jeffrey Bevans, who live in New York. The 18-month-olds have one of the most unique birth dates of most identical twins, something even more special than Feb. 29.

Born during summer 2014, Jimmie arrived at 11:47 p.m. July 23 while his brother Jeffrey was born exactly at midnight July 24, according to the clock and our Gregorian calendar. 

Amtrak Rolls Through Coast Cities, Residents Celebrate

GULFPORT -- Band students and cheerleaders from Gulfport High joined scores of residents and government officials from Coast cities and counties, and South Mississippi business leaders to greet the Amtrak train making a test run across four coastal states today.

Hundreds of South Mississippians turn out to welcome Amtrak
WLOX TV-13/February 13, 2016
 The Amtrak Inspection Train made its first stop in Mississippi at Bay St. Louis before going on to Gulfport, Pascagoula, Mobile and several cities in Florida, where the passenger was expected to end in Jacksonville. There was no stop in Ocean Springs, but residents and city officials turned out to celebrate none the less.

All aboard Amtrak: Mississippi Coast crowds signal support for services
Sunherald/February 18, 2016
 Deidra Dunn was among the crowd gathered at the downtown depot, and expected she'd ride the Sunset Limited if passenger rail service is restored in South Mississippi. 

 "I'll probably do something if it comes," she said.

She expected the celebration was bigger in Biloxi, with the crowd filling up the Coast Transit Center at several restaurants offering food. She tried to catch the celebration there but the train was pulling off when she arrived.

"I think Biloxi is really going to contribute to its (renewed passenger rail service) coming. They are going to push it because they have the mass transit center," said Dunn.

Railroad representatives, and city, state and federal officials rode the train during its inspection run today.

Coast Residents Honor Veterans on Their Day

GULF COAST -- Numerous community ceremonies, school programs and business offerings honored veterans, their families and supporters on Wednesday, Nov. 11, which was the .. annual Veterans Day across the country.

The day of events was among numerous events that have been held this month to honor American residents who have served in all branches of the nation's military services.

ClaudetteThird Storm of 2015, Hurricane Name 6 Other Years

GULF COAST -- Tropical Storm Claudette is this year's third named weather system for the Atlantic hurricane season. Claudette is also the third time the name has been used for an Atlantic storm.

Claudette caused some damage during other years, and remained a storm at sea during six other years.

Claudette 2015 recently formed off the Virginia coast, and, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving northeast at 15 mph on Monday.

NOAA officials project the storm to hit Newfoundland and skirt the edge of Nova Scotia, but will miss the USA entirely.

Tropical Storm Claudette caused significant flooding in eastern Texas and westernLouisiana in July 1979. The third named storm of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season, Claudette developed from a tropical wave located east of the Windward Islands on July 16. It gradually strengthened and was upgraded to a tropical storm on July 17 and crossed the northern Leeward Islands later that day. As it was neared landfall in Puerto Rico early on July 18, upper-level winds weakened it back to a tropical depression. Claudette remained disorganized and the National Hurricane Center operationally reported that it degenerated back into a tropical wave after crossing Puerto Rico. Late on July 18, the depression struck Dominican Republic, emerged into the Caribbean Seaon the following day. Claudette struck western Cuba on July 21, shortly before reaching the Gulf of Mexico and "regenerating" into a tropical cyclone. By July 23, Claudette regained tropical storm intensity and turned northward toward the Gulf Coast of the United States. The storm made landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border late on July 23 as a moderately strong tropical storm. It weakened slowly and drifted over land, lasting until dissipation in West Virginia on July 29.

In the Lesser Antilles, the storm brought heavy rainfall and gusty winds to several islands. Minor flooding occurred in Guadeloupe and Saint Croix. Rainfall exceeding 10 inches (250 mm) in some areas of Puerto Rico led to widespread agricultural damage, flooded homes and streets, and one fatality; losses were estimated at $750,000 (1979 USD). Despite its passage over Hispaniola and Cuba, impact in both regions is unknown. Claudette brought record-breaking rainfall to eastern Texas. In Alvin, 42 inches (1,100 mm) of rain fell in one day, which is the record 24 hour precipitation amount for any location in the United States. Significant coastal flooding and up to 15 inches (380 mm) of rainfall was reported in Louisiana. Overall, Claudette was responsible for two deaths and $400 million (1979 USD) in damage.

 (Information from Wikipedia -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Claudette_(1979)

The name Claudette has been used for seven tropical cyclones in the Northern Atlantic Ocean:

• Tropical Storm Claudette (1979), caused moderate damage in Texas and the Caribbean
• Hurricane Claudette (1985), long-lived hurricane that wandered east and grazed the Azores
• Hurricane Claudette (1991), low-end Category 4 that remained at sea for its entire lifetime
• Tropical Storm Claudette (1997), lasted awhile over the open Atlantic
• Hurricane Claudette (2003), hit Puerto Morelos, Mexico, then struck again near Port O'Connor, Texas
• Tropical Storm Claudette (2009), formed south of Tallahassee, Florida, and headed northwest to the Florida Panhandle, where it made landfall on Santa Rosa Island
• Tropical Storm Claudette (2015), today headed toward Newfoundland, not expected to hit USA. 

The name Claudette has been used once in the Southwestern Indian Ocean:

• Cyclone Claudette (1979), caused severe damage to Mauritius and Réunion

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/07/13/brief-window-of-opportunity-for-tropical-cyclone-development-off-the-mid-atlantic-coast/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Claudette

OOPS! DELAY NO MORE. EXPANSION, TOO

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI -- So sorry about the long delay in posts for RiverBeachCities. But here we go again. ....

To reiterate the purpose of this blog, below you will find the original concept, and first blog post, when we started. The purpose is the same, but the goal and work are different -- more photos, more stories, videos, and follower contribution.

The help of visitors and followers is vital. We want you to enjoy this blog and what it offers -- a different approach about the events and lives of people who live along the waterways -- beaches, rivers and ocean fronts -- of all six counties that make up South Mississippi. 

Thanks for visiting -- daily, weekly, whenever. Thanks for participating.

THE ORIGINAL POST:

The goal of River Beach Cities is to highlight the attractions found in Moss Point, Pascagoula, Gautier, and Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and surrounding communities -- established neighborhoods and rural areas of Jackson County.

The hope of River Beach Cities is to serve as a continuing commentary and showcase for this southern area of Mississippi.

The intention is to serve as an avenue to attract tourists, educate the local citizenry, and act as a platform for the hopes and goals of municipal and county leadership. As well, the dreams of residents for themselves and their children

 

Whew! That's a lot to provide in one place.

The name River Beach Cities is appropriate for this area and blog. Nearly every village, town and city in South Mississippi -- considered to include the counties of Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, George, Stone and Pearl River -- community is located somewhere near, on and/or served by a river or ocean beach.

For all intents and purposes, South Mississippi is located on drained swamp land.

My desire is to present a mostly pictorial view, along some with news and features, of the people and places of South Mississippi.

There are plenty of other websites and blogs about this area, so some posts may be redundant. I will strive to give you some unique offerings, that is assured, but there are no guarantees that will happen every day. But I will try.

Feel free to make suggestions and comments when desired.

(Please refrain from negativity, profane language, and comments and information that may constitute libel, slander, plagiarism, and inaccuracy. Provide documentation where necessary.)

Photos provided by www.nature.org and www.srh.noaa.gov

Summer Reading Takes Kids, Adults on Science Adventures

Sue Ellen McNabb presents Naturally Sue Ellen program on June 19

 

MOSS POINT -- Summer Reading Program 2014 came to an exciting end Wednesday and Thursday mornings for students participating in Fizz, Boom Read for grade-schoolers and Spark a Reaction for teenagers, and Literary Elements at Ina Thompson Moss Point Library.

The last adult event will be held at 6 tonight featuring ABC Recycling and Michael Pierce.  

                 Mark LaSalle with Pascagoula River Audubon Center presented June 26 program for adults.

3                                                    Dr. Michael Shields, dentist, presents June 5 program
 

The Jackson-George Regional Library System presented the programs based on science as part of the national summer reading program. The adult program was entitled Literary Elements.

 

    

                                         Janet Beatty presented a  June 12 event on Technology for Grandparents. 




Noel Lamey, science teacher at Pascagoula High School, discussed habitats for marine plants and animals, on July 3. 

During their last programs preschool, school-age and teenagers time competing in fun contests and just having a party based in science.


Watch for updates about the adult program and the activities sponsored for children and teenagers. Photographs provided by Moss Point Library personnel.

Moss Point Library Promotes Volunteerism at Cinco de Mayo Party

Moss Point students and parents enjoy Cinco de Mayo celebration May 5 at city library.

Mark LaSalle with the Bacot/MccCarthy Foundation talks about volunteerism to students celebrating Cinco de Mayo at the Moss Point Library. The foundation gives several scholarships each year, and LaSalle said foundation members consider community activities as well as grades when looking for scholarship recipients.

AG, Contractors Board Warn Victims of Post-Storm Dangers

 

Jackson, MS (April 30) —Attorney General Jim Hood reminds recent storm victims of the dangers that come from crooked contractors following disasters and storm damage like the State has recently seen.

Following the cycles of recent storms, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office (MSAGO) and the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) are joining forces to send a message to crooked contractors that bad business will not be tolerated in the Magnolia State and violators will be prosecuted.

“Our thoughts go out to our friends and neighbors around the state who have been impacted by the recent storms,” said Attorney General Jim Hood. “As usual after such widespread damage occurs, crooks will be on the prowl looking to take advantage of the misfortune of vulnerable homeowners. Before you hire someone to repair any damage to your property, be sure to educate yourself on how to best protect yourself.”

“We caution storm victims to know who you are dealing with and do not hire the first contractor who comes along,” said Stephanie Sills Lee, Executive Director for the MSBOC. “Take your time and protect yourself against con artists who will take your money and run or from unskilled contractors who will perform careless work.”

Most of the common "after-disaster" scams involve tree damage caused by the storm. Here are some tips to protect yourself from fraudulent tree cutters:

· Check out the company and make sure the company is insured.Contact our Consumer Protection Division or the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi to see if they have complaints against the company.Ask for several local references that are recent of at least one year-old and make sure to follow through on checking them. Look online at reviews of their work. If a tree removal service claims to have insurance, contact the insurer directly and ask them to send you a copy of the tree removal service’s certificate of insurance.

· Take time to shop around and be suspicious of any price that seems unusually high or low. Get written estimates from more than one company and check with friends or family who’ve had tree work done recently to see what they paid and who they would recommend.

· Ask how the job will be done and if they will perform the work according toindustry standards. Pay attention to their “lingo” such as, “topping a tree,” “lion’s-tailing” or “using climbing spikes to prune a tree” If you hear these sayings, the company more than likely does not follow industry standards. “Topping” is drastically cutting back the major limbs of a tree to reduce its size. “Lion’s tailing” is an extreme stripping out of most of the interior branches of a tree. Such practices can injure or kill your tree. Sometimes these techniques will be presented as a way to save money by removing more of the tree at one time. However a tree pruned by one of these methods usually requires more expensive restoration work in the future in order to save it.

· Ask about cleaning up and the debris removal after the job is done. Before the job is started, ask ifthe company will remove the tree from your property as well as cut it down because if they don’t, it could lead to you having to also pay for debris removal.

“Since our honest builders are so busy after disaster strikes, many people are hesitant to demand all of the suggested information for fear of losing the builder,” said Attorney General Hood. “That’s why we are joining forces with the Board of Contractors to offer these guidelines and suggestions to help consumers avoid possible misunderstandings about tree cutters and home repair contractors.”

Some tips recommended by both agencies to protect yourself from crooked contractors:

· Hire only licensed and bonded contractors. Ask to see the license and verify the bond.

· Use Mississippi contractors if you can.

· Verify the contractor’s license by checking online atwww.msboc.us

· Be wary of supposed contractors who come to your home soliciting business. Most reputable contractors will be busy and won’t need to solicit business.

· Always get more than one estimate. Three bids are recommended.

· Request references and talk with those references.

· Put all your terms in writing. A copy of a “model contract” can be found atwww.agjimhood.com

Attorney General Hood reminds consumers that the most effective way to prosecute a fraudulent home repair contractor is by taking photo or video of them. “At the very least, record your conversations when you discuss the terms of the contract and during all transactions. Usually, a con artist will take off at the mere mention of a video recording, but either way, you will have better peace of mind to be able to identify them if they do turn out to be a fly-by-night operation.”

A conviction for Home Repair Fraud could result in up to ten years behind bars. The MSAGO and the MSBOC both intend to prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, anyone caught committing home repair fraud.

In the aftermath of any storm or any other time, if you suspect home repair fraud or think you may have been conned by a scam artist, please contact the Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division at 601-359-4230 or 1-800-281-4418 to file a complaint. Consumers can check a contractor’s qualifications or file a complaint with the MSBOC by calling 1-800-880-6161 or by visitingwww.msboc.us. A copy of the Attorney General’s “Consumer Tips for Storm Victims” can also be downloaded atwww.agjimhood.com. More resources and tips can be found on both agencies’ websites.

 

 

Pascagoula Makes 1 Weird Things List About 50 States

An article on HuffingtonPost.com about weird things in each of the 50 states has been online for a few days, but I didn't read it until today.

Low and behold,  Pascagoula made the list for Mississippi.

Here is the story from Huffington. I never knew.

Mississippi
A "Phantom Barber" once broke into people's homes and cut their hair while they were sleeping.

During WWII, the town of Pascagoula was plagued by a series of mysterious nighttime haircuts. A panic erupted when girls, particularly blondes, would wake up to find part of their hair had been cut, or in some cases, their whole heads had been shaved. The "Phanton Barber" was never caught, so not too much is known beyond a few scattered clues, including a man's footprint found in a victim's room.

You can read the rest of the weird things from each state at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/11/weird-facts-states_n_4869798.html

The Phantom Barber story and more unsolved mysteries are online at http://listverse.com/2013/02/05/10-strange-little-known-unsolved-mysteries/

Pascagoula’s Phantom Barber 1942

In June 1942, after a population boom brought about by the increased manufacturing of warships in the area, the citizens of Pascagoula, Mississippi were stalked by more than the specter of war—a hair cutting phantom terrorized the night.
The man nicknamed the Phantom Barber by newspapers worked in the darkness made more profound by the Army’s blackout regulations. On Monday or Friday evenings, he slit a window screen to gain access to a house, crept inside, and cut the hair of sleeping occupants, particularly blonde girls. Not necessarily one lock or two, but sometimes shearing as much as a full head of hair. He took nothing else from the home except his prize.
He began with two young girls in the convent of Our Lady of Victories, followed by a six year old female child visiting another family. That time, he left a clue—the print of a man’s bare foot in sand on an unoccupied bed in the room. The police were baffled and offered a $300 reward for information. The public was in a panic. Women refused to go outside at night. Men applied for pistol permits. Bloodhounds were brought in to track the bizarre intruder, but the efforts failed. The Phantom Barber continued his hair cutting incursions.
At last, the phantom broke his pattern, or so it seemed. A window screen was slit in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Terrell Heidelburg, and the intruder came inside their bedroom. However, rather than cutting hair, he brutally assaulted the couple. Mrs. Heidelburg lost her front teeth and was knocked unconscious, while her husband was beaten with a metal bar. Both survived the attack. Two months later, the police chief announced the arrest of a suspect, William A. Dolan, a chemist, who was charged with attempted murder.
A connection between Dolan and the Phantom Barber came with the discovery of human hair allegedly found near his residence. He continued to deny he was the phantom, and while convicted of the attack on the Heidelburgs—he bore a grudge against Terrell’s father, a judge—was never charged with the phantom’s acts. Since the Phantom Barber never touched his victims other than their hair, it would seem no meaningful tie exists between Dolan and the Phantom Barber, whose break-ins ended as mysteriously as they began.

It's been 39 years since the events of 1942, but it's fasinating history. No doubt, it's bad memories for many Pascagoula residents who lived though the events of that time, especially since the country was already seeing trying times during WWII. Still, it proves that real life is stranger than fiction.

Sold out: Tickets for Taste of Jackson County

PASCAGOULA -- The 6^th Annual Taste of Jackson County is sold out. The fete will be held Feb. 20 at the Grand Magnolia Ballroom. 

 

Yvette Barr, director of membership communications for the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, said this year's event is expected to be the "the most successful Taste of Jackson County yet!"

 

Taste of Jackson County features local restaurants and venues at a one-night event complete with live music. The fundraiser showcases dining options available in Jackson County, allowing guests to sample feature items from participating restaurants, according to the chamber's website.

 

The Taste of Jackson County is our way of showcasing the wonderful food that is available in our county," said Carla Todd, IOM, president and CEO of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.

 

Participating restaurants for one of the chamber's program of work include:  

 

· Anthony’s Steak & Seafood

· Aztecas Restaurant & Cantina

· Bayview Gourmet Restaurant

· Chocolates & More

· Crazy B’s Coffee & Confections

· Delo's Heavenly House of Coffee

· D'vine Soulfood & Catering

· E. & J. Gallo Winery

· Family Frozen Foods, Inc.

· Hacienda San Miguel Mexican Restaurant

· Jack’s By The Tracks, Inc.

· Mezo’s Juke Joint

· Mosaic Tapas Restaurant

· Off the Hook Seafood & Cajun Grille

· Sarah Sue's Restaurant

· Scranton's Restaurant & Catering

· Tay’s BBQ

· The Shed BBQ Joint

Sponsors for Taste of Jackson County:

Entrée

Ad.In Design

Chevron Pascagoula Refinery

Ingalls Shipbuilding

South Mississippi Living

Hors d’oeuvre

CupitSigns.com, LLC

E & J Gallo Winery

Merchants & Marine Bank

The Sun Herald

À la carte

ACE Party Rentals

Compton Engineering, Inc.

First Chemical Corporation

Grand Magnolia Ballroom and Suites

Gulfside Periodontics

Instrument Technical Services, Inc.

Jason Pilger Hyundai

Jim Blevins, Mayor of Pascagoula

MacLand Disposal Center, Inc.

Mississippi Power Company

Mississippi Security Police, Inc.

Newell Paper Company

Orion Engineering, Inc.

Singing River Federal Credit Union

YOLO Boutique

Media Partner

The Mississippi Press

 

For general information, residents may contact the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at 228-762-3391, email newsletter@jcchamber.com, or visit www.jcchamber.com.

Ribbon Cutting at Photography/Boutique Shop

 

Ribbon cutting on Feb. 5 at Alan Hinkel Photography/ Bridget Blue Boutique, located at 710 Delmas Ave. in Pascagoula. Their phone number is 228-249-9305. (Yvette Barr/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce)

 

Then Came the Slow Thaw After the Big Freeze

From what I hear, another winter storm in headed this-a-way. Well, sort of. Mostly, Winter Storm Nika is expected to blast the Midwest, but some forcast say it could affect parts of the South and East. 

Just think, it was only a week ago that Winter Storm Leon provided South Mississippi and the rest of a very surprised Deep South residents with four days of very dangerous ice, snow flurries and bone-chilling temperatures. Life was interestingly colder for a time, kind of like it is for everyone who lives north of the Mason-Dixon line.   

By the way, where did this name Leon come from, and why Leon?

As those in the Southeast attempt to fight off a rare winter storm, many have begun to wonder about things other than how long they will be stuck in traffic – for example what’s the origin of Winter Storm Leon’s name and when will he crawl back into his cave.
Here’s a primer.
Leon is the Greek word for “lion,” the most famous of which in Greek mythology is Leon Nemeois, a nearly indestructible beast who terrorized the people of Argolis.
To handle matters, King Eurystheus enlisted the hero Heracles who stunned it with a club then threw some UFC style moves on the animal, wrestling it to death. Later, he skinned its hide and made a cape, which by lore was impervious to the elements and also a coat of armor.
(MORE: Winter Storm Leon: State-by-State)
In short, Heracles killed a lion to make the kind of all-weather coat millions of Americans wish they had this week as Winter Storm Leon pelts southern states from Texas to Virginia.
Leon, like other winter storm names, was chosen by a Latin class at Bozeman High School in Bozeman, Mont. Many of the names come from Greek mythology.
http://www.weather.com/news/winter-storm-leon-explaining-name-20140128

Non-travelers took precedence over mobile folks for two days Tuesday and Wednesday. Days when folks were glad to be at home and off the roads regardless of the loss of money for most hourly workers.

Many regretted the economic loss, but compared to the bone-chilling cold and potential danger to life and damage to automobile (and even more more money lost), it was worth it.

Temps eventually dipped into the low teens. In north Mississippi, the gauges registered in the single digits. Something that happened in the early 1980's that this writer remembers. Deja vu again.!  

Coast Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. for 85th Birthday

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI -- Monday's culmination of Martin Luther King Jr. Day marked the 28th year of celebrations that began officially Jan. 20, 1986, three years after President Ronald Reagan signed the national holiday into law.

The much anticipated Coastwide Parade and Battle of the Bands started at 19th Street and 30th Avenue in Gulfport, kicking off at 11 a.m. with some numerous units that included civic organizations, churches, and bands from local high schools and college groups from across the South. Hundreds of other residents spent the day performing community service.

A cornucopia of events marked the week and weekend leading up to Monday's federal holiday, marked by closing of most government offices and an increasing number of private businesses.

Jackson County Celebrates MLK
Sun Herald MultMedia (VIDEO) Jan. 20, 2014
follow videos to see Gulfport parade

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Main article: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Beginning in 1971, cities such as Saint Louis, Missouri, and states established annual holidays to honor King.^[242] At the White House Rose Garden on November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King. Observed for the first time on January 20, 1986, it is called Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Following President George H. W. Bush's 1992 proclamation, the holiday is observed on the third Monday of January each year, near the time of King's birthday.^[243][244] On January 17, 2000, for the first time, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was officially observed in all fifty U.S. states.^[245] Arizona (1992), New Hampshire (1999) and Utah (2000) were the last three states to recognized the holiday. Utah previously celebrated the holiday at the same time but under the name Human Rights Day.^[246]

Attorney General Hood Wants Lawsuit Against Entergy Sent Back to Court

JACKSON, Miss. — Attorney General Jim Hood is asking a federal court to send the State of Mississippi’s lawsuit against Entergy back to state court.

In its recent ruling inMississippi ex rel. Hood v. AU Optronics Corp., the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously agreed with Attorney General Hood’s argument that cases brought by attorneys general to enforce their states’ laws should be heard in state court. The Court’s unanimous holding is significant because it reversed a decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit which said such cases should stay in federal court.

In December 2008, the Attorney General's Office was forced to file a lawsuit against Entergy on behalf of the state, charging the company with violations of the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act, the Mississippi Anti-Trust Act, Fraud and related claims.

Entergy moved the state’s lawsuit from state court to federal court. Federal Judge Henry Wingate denied the state’s motion to remand the case to state court based on the Fifth Circuit’s decision. On Tuesday, the United States Supreme Court held that the Fifth Circuit’s view of the law was incorrect. The state has now filed a motion with Judge Wingate asking him to remand the case to state court in light of the Supreme Court’s unanimous opinion.

“Entergy has already admitted to overcharging Mississippi ratepayers for power,” said Attorney General Hood. “As we argued in our motion to remand, this is a state issue and should be addressed in state court. We think it only fair, given this recent ruling clarifying the point, that we ask the Court to reconsider the remand denial.”

Attorney General Hood has asked Entergy to turn over documents about its business practices to shed some light on the way in which it operates. Entergy has refused every request.

 

Report provided by State Attorney General's Office. Contact Jan Schaefer, public information officer, at jscha@ago.state.ms.us and 601-359-2002.

Firefighters wear pink shirts to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Know the names of these men? 

Firefighters with Moss Point Fire Department observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Names of these four Moss Point firefighters will be provided Oct. 18 for those who don't know. 

Louisiana Residents Use Cruisin' to Spend Time Together

GULFPORT -- The 2013 Cruisin' the Coast kicked off on Sunday following rains from Tropical Storm Karen, which had turned fallen apart and returned to a tropical depression by the time it hit Florida.

The weather system had put South Mississippi residents and emergency management personnel on edge for a few days as the storm system threatened to turn into at least a Category 1 hurricane that had been expected to hit somewhere between Grand Isle, La., and Indian Pass, Fla.

Tropical Storm Karen Doesn't Scare Cruisers (Sun Herald)

Cruisers were unfazed and arrived for the annual fall cruisin event headquarted in Gulfport but featuring events in several cities. Some put off their arrival about a day, but that was about the most effect on the event.

 Blaine and Tanya Covington of Walker, La., drove their 1950 Ford F1 to Cruisin' the Coast. They and his parents, Marion and Joanne Covington, took time for breakfast at McDonald's on Thursday.

A 1954 Chevrolet pickup owned by Marion and Joanne Covington of Denham, La., is among the classic vehicles during the 2013 Cruisin' the Coast in Gulfport and other cities of South Mississippi.

Joanne Covington proudly shows off her Chevrolet pickup. Cruisin' is family vacation time.
"That's our only once a year get-away," she said. "It's just fun. It's something we can all get together and do."

Justin McNamee of Shivers, Miss., just north of Hattiesburg, and his daughter Shelby along with his wife (not pictured) are enjoying their first Cruisin' the Coast this year.

"My work schedule doesn't let me come every year, but I'm gonna start coming every year," he said, while showing off his Camaro 327.

Dean, Rie, Judy Become Volunteers of Year for Time at Nursing Center

 Dean Brown and dog Judy visit with Claretha Evans and Ellen Bracks at Singing River Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. He, his wife Rie and their dog visit residents at the center on Wednesday, conduct church service on Thursday and drop in for more time on Saturday.
                                                           "This is family for us," he said.

Cindy Proske looks forward to visiting with Dean and Rie (pronounced Leah) Brown and their dog Judy during their visits to Singing River Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Moss Point. The couple and canine were named Volunteers of the Year for the Mississippi Health Care Association and were honored with a plague and dog bowl during an award luncheon in Jackson during August.

Volunteer Moss Point Couple and Labrador Judy Have Positive Impact on Nursing Center Residents

Find full story at The Mississipp Press and at www.gulflive.com

Community and Family Say Goodbye to Lucimarian

GULFPORT -- Nearly a year after the Roberts family said goodbye to matriarch Lucimarian Roberts and youngest sibling Robin Roberts underwent  a bone marrow transplant, the Good Morning America co-anchor is ready to go back to work full time.

Robin Roberts to Return to Work Fulltime

A year ago -- August and September 2012

More than 700 friends, residents and community leaders paid their respects o the woman who left a legacy of honor and respect for the people who

 

Roberts' children: She Set An Example

The Sun Herald (online)/Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Lucimarian Roberts, Mother of ABC's Robin

Roberts and Gulf Coast Icon, Dies at 88

The Associated Press/August 31, 2012

What's been going on in along the waterways of South Mississippi

Flashback for year: Updates coming during September.

Fire Chief Participates in Mardi Gras for First Time

By VIVIAN AUSTIN

MOSS POINT – Fire Chief Clarence Parks had never before participated in a Mardi Gras parade until Saturday when the holiday procession rolled up Main Street.

“This is the first time dealing with Mardi Gras, really.” he said. I’ve never participated in anything Mardi Gras. Never.

Visit gulflive.com to see pictures of parade.

“I’m from Tupelo, way up there in north Mississippi. This is most definitely different.

Parks, who moved to Moss Point during summer last year, served as grand marshal. “It’s the first time I’ve been a grand marshal. Truly, it’s an honor to do this for the city. Anything we can do for the city and dealing with kids we are all for it.”

Parade marshal Gwendolyn Kennard, owner of Little People Learning Center, said that the children would attract her the most when tossing throws during the mile-long parade. She had a vehicle packed to the brim with candies, beads, stuffed animals, snacks, cups, and an assortment of other souvenirs.

“This is the first time being a parade marshal,” said the Moss Point native. “Normally I’m on the sidelines catching the beads. This time I’m throwing the beads.”

Toni Ryan and her three children ages 10 to 13 and a friend’s soon scrambled for the throws Parks and Kennard tossed their way. “It’s going good,” she said. “My daughter is in marching in it.”

Austin Ryan, 11, was excited about the mini Saints football and liked the parade best “when they threw the candy.”

Hayley Ryan was among ROTC students and Moss Point High School Marching Band and Tigerettes who marched from Southgate Shopping Center to Hancock Bank in Downtown Moss Point. The procession also included four floats, classic vehicles in the Old School Car Club, and two horse-drawn carriages belonging to the Freedom Riders. City aldermen Robert Byrd, Ruby Hill and Sherwood Bradford, and Mayor Aneice Liddell also joined the parade.

“They were excited about coming,” said Ryan. “They were bugging me all morning. They wanted to come out here at 6 o’clock and wait for it.”

Co-organizer Stephanie Hill said the parade included 25 units, but she wants more participation next year. “It’s good. Everybody is having a great time, but we just wanted more participation.”

Edna Finklea said she had a good time. "I enjoy parades. I don't care how small they are."