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."

Final Report of GoCoast 2020 to be Released Today

   
BILOXI  –  The Final Report of the GoCoast 2020 Commission will be released
at a press conference at 10 a.m. today.

The  event  will  be held at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum Convention
Center in Biloxi in Room L5/L6.

Gov.  Phil Bryant  and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Executive
Director, Trudy Fisher, will release the GoCoast 2020 Final Report and will
make remarks at the press conference.

GoCoast  2020  was  established  by  Gov. Bryant through executive order to
serve  as  the official advisory board for the allocation of funds received
by  the  State  of  Mississippi  under  the  RESTORE  Act  and  to create a
long-range   planning   strategy  for  the  Mississippi  Gulf  Coast.  More
information is available at www.gocoast2020.com.

Coast Celebrates King, Obama Inauguration

MOSS POINT -- Addie Wells, at 70 years old, is about ready to give up her walking shoes, which she did partly on the Marin Luther King Jr. Day march on Monday.

This year was the first time in 37 years that she has not made the trek with other residents on the route to the MLK program at a local church. She said she'd been ripping and running so that her feet were sore, so she rode in one of the many vehicles that made up the caravan.

Regardless of her reason for not being among the walkers on Monday, she was happy to see so many young people participating in the annual march honoring Dr. King in Jackson County. She sees the future of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference among young people.

Addie Wells Griffin

How Times Makes a Change in Downtown Moss Point

Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Holds First Public Meeting

Please use the link below to access the December 2012 Newsletter from the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality:

http://bit.ly/RElRwd

Connect with MDEQ on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/MDEQ/118172664880239?v=wall

Follow MDEQ on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/MDEQ


Mr. Robbie Wilbur
Communications Director
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Post Office Box 2261
Jackson, Mississippi 39225
601/961-5277
601/421-5699 (c)
601/961-5715 (f)
rwilbur@deq.state.ms.us

Happy New Year

HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYED HAPPY NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

IN THIS GREGORIAN CALENDAR
 TUESDAY, JANUARY 01, 2013