Jackson County delivers State of County Address
WLOX
Amber Spradley
February 1, 2023
Jackson County Board of Supervisors President Ken Taylor presented the 2023 State of the County Address during a private Pascagoula Rotary Club meeting Wednesday morning. “To sum it up, the state of our county is extremely good,” he said to the group at the start of his address. It’s an annual progress report that many taxpayers like to see: from the redistricting plan that becomes effective this month to the amount of taxes collected in 2022 ($261 million), the amount of grant money actively awarded ($104.3 million) and this year’s budget ($93.5 million).
Singing River Services growing to meet mental health needs of George, Jackson counties
WKRG
Cory Johnson
February 1, 2023
Singing River Services just celebrated its golden anniversary: 50 years of providing community mental health treatment in George and Jackson counties. In this next chapter, the organization has its sights set on continually evolving and expanding to meet the area’s needs. Treatment plans and resources look a lot different today than in 1972, but the center’s mission remains the same. “Our goal as a community mental health center is to help people live independently in the community to the best of their ability- in whatever way that looks like for the individual,” said executive director Beth Fenech.
Top-ranking Navy officer tours Ingalls Shipbuilding
Gulf Live
Warren Kulo
January 31, 2023
Adm. Michael Gilday, the Navy’s top-ranking officer and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently toured Ingalls Shipbuilding, including stops to see amphibious assault ship Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) and guided missile destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125). Gilday also met with Ingalls leadership during his first visit to the shipyard since March 2020 for the christening of Jack H. Lucas, the Navy’s First Flight III destroyer and most sophisticated surface combatant being built to date, according to Ingalls.
Wicker named ranking member of Senate Armed Services Committee
SuperTalk
Caleb Salers
February 3, 2023
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has been selected as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services by his Republican colleagues. As a member of the armed services committee, Wicker has pushed for the U.S. to add to its Naval fleet in order to prevent a potential war with nations with hostile views against America. The Mississippi senator has also been vocal in his support for Ukrainian efforts in the nation’s war against Russia. Wicker has recently urged Congress to allocate additional aid to Ukraine for the nation to secure its territory and prepare for Russian attacks.
Ingalls Shipyard recruiting high school students across the coast
WLOX
Leslie Rojas
February 2, 2023
Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula is recruiting high school students. Vancleave High School juniors and seniors along with their parents were invited to attend Pizza & Possibilities career fair. Students got the opportunity to listen to Ingalls employees about the various jobs they offer. “We thought it would be easier for the parents to hear firsthand what it’s like for the students who have graduated and came to the shipyard. It would be easier for them to hear those stories, so they can not be afraid to send their kids to the shipyard to work,” Director of Talent Acquisition Fatina Brave said. Ingalls career leaders also spoke to students about salaries, apprentice programs, and benefits.
HII HOSTS CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS ADM. MICHAEL GILDAY AT INGALLS SHIPBUILDING
Press Release
January 27, 2023
HII (NYSE: HII) announced that Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday visited the company’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Thursday, Jan. 26 during a trip to the Gulf Coast. While in Pascagoula, Gilday met with Ingalls leadership and toured the shipyard including amphibious assault ship Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) and guided missile destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125). “Our team was honored to have Adm. Gilday invest time in our shipyard,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said. “We value the opportunity to reinforce our commitment as a dedicated partner in national security, and that we are ready for whatever the future may bring.”
Amtrak making progress in returning to Gulf Coast
WTOK
February 4, 2023
We’re starting to see real signs of passenger rail service returning to the Coast. Amtrak sings are now up in Downtown Gulfport at the site of the planned train stop, the depot near the Hancock Whitney building. The platforms are also now complete for the four Mississippi stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula. Next week, Amtrak will begin making test runs from New Orleans to Mobile. The Gulfport Museum of History staff inside the old train station are looking forward to seeing the passenger trains running again.
City Center part of downtown Pascagoula redevelopment
WLOX
Bill Snyder
February 1, 2023
Imagine living in Pascagoula and you head up to the City Center penthouse for a party and you’ve got a rooftop view. That’s possible within the next few months as they continue to develop what was a bank building into a mixed-use facility. “There’s so much momentum going on right now,” said Richard Chenoweth. You might remember Chenoweth telling us about the building’s renovation. Two years later, it’s almost redeveloped. “They’re not only bringing in apartments, but they’ve also got a rooftop bar, they’ve got a penthouse on top that they’ll rent, but they’ve also got 45 people moving in on the ground floor that will be here every day,” Chenoweth said.
Car dealerships move from Pascagoula to Moss Point with more business development ahead
WLOX
Amber Spradley
January 30, 2023
The City of Moss Point is kick starting the new year with several new business developments. “2023, I think it’s going to be a good year for us,” Mayor Billy Knight told WLOX. “I think we’re going to see a lot of economic development here in Moss Point and mainly here on 63 and I-10.” One of the city’s first new development projects is located on Highway 63 near the I-10 corridor. “We will have a state-of-the-art Chevrolet and separate CDJR: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, FIAT dealership,” owner Gary Dodson said.
Pascagoula leaders break ground on Hotel Whiskey development project
WLOX
Ja’Colbi Rivers
February 3, 2023
Downtown Pascagoula is growing and adding more to its resume. City leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday to officially start building a $6.8 million development called Hotel Whiskey. “We are doing a significant urban renewal of the entire city and it’s starting in downtown Pascagoula,” said Mayor Jay Willis. “We have developed the possibility of downtown living, residential living, as well as the commercial and office space we have down here.”
The Charming Town Of Ocean Springs, Mississippi Is Picture-Perfect For A Weekend Getaway
OnlyInYourState
Melanie Johnson
February 1, 2023
What do you get when you combine eclectic art, serene bayous and nature trails, specialty boutiques, delicious cuisine, and warm and inviting sunsets? The answer is the picture-perfect city of Ocean Springs located in the heart of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This charming coastal town in Mississippi is the ideal location for a relaxing weekend getaway. So, sit back and unwind because by the end of this journey, you will fall in love with this delightful place. Established in 1699, this coastal city was discovered by the French and earned its nickname as the “City of Discovery” because there is plenty to discover and explore in this beautiful town.