Wicker, Hyde-Smith Praise $5 Million Award To Support Mississippi Shipbuilding
Press Release
September 27, 2022
U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today praised the award of $4,999,634 from the U.S. Department of Defense to the State of Mississippi to modernize the state’s shipbuilding industry. The Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program funding will specifically target workforce development initiatives to increase the defense sector’s capacity, capability, and resilience in Mississippi. The grant will be matched by an additional $1.8 million investment from the state.
Three of four Jackson County school districts receive state’s highest accountability grade
Gulf Live
Warren Kulo | September 27, 2022
The Mississippi Department of Education released accountability grades for Mississippi’s 145 school districts Tuesday, marking the first time since 2019 the accountability report was compiled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And the news was almost universally good for districts within Jackson County. Three of the four districts — Ocean Springs, Pascagoula-Gautier, and Jackson County — received an “A” rating, the state’s highest, with the Ocean Springs School District’s total score of 771 placing it as the third-best district in Mississippi. Jackson County came in at #15, with the PGSD at #38.
Multi-million dollar investment to fund Mississippi shipbuilding industry
WLOX
Stephanie Poole | September 27, 2022
A multi-million dollar investment is heading to the Magnolia State to modernize Mississippi’s shipbuilding industry. More resources are funding Mississippi’s shipbuilding industry, and it comes with a hefty price tag. On Tuesday, the Department of Defense and other state partners awarded nearly $5 million to expand opportunities. Deputy of Secondary Strategy Courtney Taylor said Accelerate MS with MS Department of Employment Security focuses on a major component: workforce development.
Ocean Springs native has ‘job that matters’ with Naval Oceanography
Gulf Live
Alvil Plexico | September 29, 2022
Ocean Springs native Amber Spiers is part of Naval Oceanography, helping to ensure the U.S. Navy maintains freedom from the ocean floor to the stars at Naval Oceanographic Office. Sailors and civilians working throughout Naval Oceanography collect, measure, and analyze the elements of the physical environment (land, sea, air, space). They synthesize a vast array of oceanographic and meteorological data to produce forecasts and warnings in support of safety of flight and navigation.
Pascagoula-Gautier School District earns A in statewide scores
WLOX
Ja’Colbi Rivers | September 27, 2022
The Pascagoula-Gautier School District made a huge jump in the statewide accountability ratings. “Oh it’s an exciting time for our school district,” said Superintendent Billy Ellzey. The Pascagoula-Gautier school district earned an A rating in the current rating system. Ellzey said focusing students on graduation from day one played a crucial role in the achievement.
Blood donors prepare to help Florida as Hurricane Ian approaches
WLOX
Leslie Rojas | September 26, 2022
OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (WLOX) -With Hurricane Ian nearing Florida’s coast, several blood donors are preparing to help. Blood donation centers on the Mississippi Coast are working hard to supply hospitals in Florida before the storm hits. At the Blood Center on Monday, staff said they have been averaging around 20 people donating blood daily. Supervisor Lindsi Davis said hospitals still need to supply patients with blood even when extreme weather hits. The donation center has already started sending blood to different hospitals before the storm hits on Thursday.
Gautier to apply for railroad overpass funding
WLOX
Amber Spradley | September 26, 2022
GAUTIER, Miss. (WLOX) – Trains have traffic so backed up in Gautier that city leaders are working to build a bridge over the tracks for commuters. The project has been in the talks since late 2020. According to city officials, trains are still causing blockages in the area almost daily. It’s delaying many drivers, and that includes first responders like police and EMS. Following a feasibility study last year, city leaders determined the best place for a bridge is at Dolphin Drive near Old Spanish Trail where about 6,300 vehicles travel each day.
Singing River Health System celebrates 100th monarch patient case
WXXV
Janae Jordan | September 29, 2022
Singing River’s Ocean Springs Hospital recently reached the milestone of treating its 100th monarch patient case using advanced robotic technology. The robotic bronchoscopy technology is used to see the inside of the lungs and get tissue samples for biopsy. The goal of using the monarch platform is to get a more accurate diagnosis earlier of small and hard-to-reach nodules in the lung.
Singing River Electric sending linemen to assist with Hurricane Ian damage
GulfLive
Warren Kulo | September 29, 2022
Friday morning, 17 linemen from Singing River Electric are scheduled to depart for Florida to assist Peace River Electric in restoring power lost due to Hurricane Ian. By mid-afternoon Wednesday, roughly 46% of Peace River Electric’s customers were without power, and that number was expected to rise sharply. “We’ve been watching this storm closely and been ready to send our linemen to Florida once we knew where they were needed,” said Singing River Electric General Manager/CEO Brian Hughey. “Our linemen are eager to get to Peace River Electric and put their skills to use restoring power for their members.”
Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula designated as ‘baby friendly’
WXXV
Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula joins the list of hospitals on the Coast that have been designated as ‘baby friendly.’ The Pascagoula hospital just achieved the status after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA. It means Singing River is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Ocean Springs Hospital, Merit Health Biloxi, and Memorial Hospital are also recognized as baby-friendly facilities in South Mississippi.
‘Principal for a Day’ event hosts local, state leaders to learn from Ocean Springs schools
WLOX
The Ocean Springs School District hosted local and state leaders for its annual “Principal for a Day” event Thursday. The event, which took place at Ocean Springs High School, Ocean Springs Middle School and Ocean Springs Upper Elementary, is designed to help legislative leaders understand the rewards and challenges of school leadership. At the high school, state representative Otis Anthony spent time shadowing school leaders and learning about the day-to-day operations of local public schools. “It has blown my mind. I have taken plenty of notes to take back to my home district to see if we can implement some of the academic excellence that they are doing here, and this school… I’m just in awe,” Anthony said.
Jennifer Anderson takes over as Boys & Girls Club CEO
Jennifer Anderson, who has been a champion for the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County for three decades, was named the agency’s Chief Executive Officer by the Boys & Girls Club board of directors earlier this month. Anderson replaces her friend and mentor, Catherine Glaude, who retired as Boys & Girls Club CEO this summer after many years as the “godmother” of the local organization.
Airport, marina work planned on MS Gulf Coast with oil spill money
Over $11 million in federal allocations are coming to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to fund infrastructure improvements. The funding comes from the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act), passed by Congress in 2012. $372 million is available to Mississippi for projects in ecosystem restoration, economic development and tourism promotion. Included in the fund awards was money for the City of Moss Point I-10 Commercial Corridor Improvements ($2.2 million) to improve access, connectivity and safety of the Moss Point Interstate Commerce District to enhance the city’s economy and quality of life.
Cruisin’ the Coast set to take center stage across MS Coast (full schedule)
For a quarter century, the first week of October has meant one thing — Cruisin’ the Coast, when thousands of classic vehicles, their owners and thousands more spectators flock into coast communities for what has been voted the nation’s top classic car show four of the past five years by USA Today readers. This year’s event opens with some “appetizers” on Sunday, including Gautier’s “Cruisin’ Through The Decades” event from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the former Singing River Mall property.