Margaritaville Resort reopens in Biloxi after closing due to Zeta

One well known resort, Margaritaville in Biloxi, has reopened their doors. It’s been closed since October after sustaining damages from Hurricane Zeta. When Hurricane Zeta hit our Mississippi Gulf Coast the shoreline along Highway 90 looked like a battle zone. Margaritaville fought the odds and opened quicker than originally anticipated. They suffered water damage on their ground floor and exterior…

Vaccine distribution continues on the Coast

More and more people on the Mississippi Gulf Coast are receiving their COVID-19 vaccine shot. Vaccine distribution continued in Gulfport today at the Isaiah Fredericks Center. Hundreds of first dose Pfizer shots were administered by Memorial staff members. Since vaccinations began, Memorial has given hundreds of shots to grateful crowds of people. Director of Clinic Operations Eddie Maddox said, “The…

MSDH reports 437 new COVID-19 cases and 11 new deaths

The Mississippi State Department of Health has reported 437 new COVID-19 cases and 11 new deaths including two in Harrison County. The statewide total stands at 298,445 cases and 6,845 deaths. Here’s a look at the cases by county in our area: Hancock County has 3,562 cases and 78 deaths Harrison County is at 16,962 cases and now 290 deaths…

Mississippi inmate death

A Mississippi man convicted of child exploitation has died after being taken from a prison to a Jackson hospital. Sixty-three year-old Vernon Williams was pronounced dead Saturday at Merit Health Central. Williams pleaded guilty to child exploitation in Rankin County. He was given a 30-year sentence. The judge suspended 20 years which means Williams would have faced ten years in…

Biloxi PD looking for suspect accused of damaging several vehicles and CTA bus station

The Biloxi Police Department is requesting your assistance in helping to identify an unknown black male who allegedly caused damage to several vehicles at Merit Health and several windows at the CTA bus station at 820 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd on March 1st. Estimated damages to the vehicles are valued at over $1,000 and damages at the CTA bus…

Froogel’s employee fired after incident involving alleged racial slur

Froogel’s has fired the employee that two shoppers accused of using a racial slur. Protesters boycotted the Froogel’s in Gulfport following the incident. There is Facebook Live video circulating that shows the outside of Froogel’s when the incident took place. The video has almost 3,000 shares. Froogel’s released a statement saying: “Froogel’s strives to provide its employees with a hostile…

Harrison County deputy cleared from criminal wrongdoing

A Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputy has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in a shooting on October 9th that left a Gulfport man injured. According to our media partner the Sun Herald, the shooting happened after Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputies got a call from American Medical Response to respond to a home off Northup Cuevas Road. When the responding deputies…

Campaign for Jackson County school bond election

While there are still over two months until a special school bond election in Jackson County, the campaign for the measure is just getting started. With the facility bond issue now approved by the Jackson County School Board and the ballot set for a May 18th election, the campaign and information process now begins. Jackson County School District Superintendent Dr….

W.J. Quarles House in Long Beach to be restored

The oldest building in the City of Long Beach is officially being restored thanks to a two-million-dollar grant from the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund. Through the years, the W.J. Quarles Home has endured hurricane damage, was moved from its original place on Railroad Street, and in 2003 it was listed as one of the ten most endangered historic sites in…

Captain Al’s Steak and Seafood preparing for the summer

Summer is approaching and Captain Al’s Steak and Seafood is doing some remodeling as they prepare to enjoy the summer days ahead. Captain Al has a beach front vision for his waterfront restaurant. The crew has built a brand-new deck, put in white sand to provide the illusion of beach and lounge chairs. Captain Al plans to create a summer…

More funding to help businesses with Zeta damage available

It’s been more than three months since Hurricane Zeta hit our Mississippi Gulf Coast and people are still making repairs and cleaning up damage from the October storm. While a number of local business owners have applied for federal help, such as SBA loans, there are some other options to help businesses recover. One source is local. Mississippi Gulf Coast…

Mississippi Highway Patrol demonstrates seat belt safety in Biloxi

Changing bad driving habits can save your life. The Mississippi Highway Patrol demonstrated seat belt safety today. After watching a stuffed dummy fly out the safety simulator vehicle, Ocean Springs resident Angie Smith was reminded of the day her daughter was involved in a vehicle roll-over accident. Her daughter was properly strapped in and walked away with no injuries. Smith…

Protest calling for boycott of Froogel’s after an incident involving alleged racial slur

Protesters are calling for a boycott of Froogel’s in Gulfport following an incident involving alleged racial slurs. The protesters are saying “don’t shop where you are not respected.” A Gulfport woman claims than an employee at the shop used the slur in a derogatory context with her. She also says that she talked to the manager and he laughed at…

Two arrested for human trafficking in Lauderdale County

On Thursday, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation conducted an undercover human trafficking operation in Lauderdale County, resulting in the arrest of two men and the recovery of four trafficking victims. Forty-three-year-old James T. Boylan and 52-year-old Guy Hammonds were both charged with human trafficking after a collaborative investigation between multiple departments including Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Narcotics, led…

Memorial distributes first-round COVID-19 vaccines in Diamondhead

Hundreds are on schedule to receive their COVID vaccine in Diamondhead today. The vaccine distribution happened at Diamondhead City Hall courtesy of Memorial medical staff.  All those in attendance received their first dose of Pfizer vaccine. Director of Clinic Operations Troy Pepperman says the turnout and experience has been exceptional. Memorial expects to administer anywhere from 400 to 600 shots…

Picayune Main Street and Mississippi Power team up for beautification projects

There was a ribbon cutting Monday afternoon in Picayune for a new parking lot with several handicapped spaces across the street from City Hall. But the story is bigger than this one parking lot. Picayune Main Street has undertaken several projects to beautify and modernize downtown Picayune. They’ve opened a couple of other parking lots, removed old signs from businesses,…

MSDH reports 357 new COVID-19 cases and 26 new deaths

The Mississippi State Department of Health has reported 357 new COVID-19 cases and 26 new deaths including three in Harrison County. The statewide total stands at 298,008 cases and 6,834 deaths. Here’s a look at the cases by county in our area: Hancock County has 3,555 cases and 78 deaths Harrison County is at 16,943 cases and now 288 deaths…

Prescribed firing operations today at Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning to conduct prescribed firing operations today at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. The potential burn site represents 133 acres located at the end of Bayou Bend Road, west of Gautier-Vancleave Road and south of Interstate 10 in Gautier. Prescribed fires are an essential part of refuge management to restore the…

International Women’s Day Floral Design Seminar

In honor of International Women’s Day, floral specialist Dr. Jim Delprince held a virtual floral design seminar, highlighting floral arrangements for Easter. Delprince demonstrated how to create three different tabletop floral designs made with fresh flowers during the Zoom seminar.  The first design featured was a round arrangement accented with flowers of various values of whites. The second arrangement featured…

Ocean Springs leaders make final preps for Fort Bayou Drawbridge closure

In less than a week, the Fort Bayou Drawbridge will shutdown for repairs, causing local leaders to make their final preparations in notifying the public. The intersection of Bienville Boulevard and Washington Avenue will look quite different one week from now as Ocean Springs city leaders make their final preps for the Fort Bayou Drawbridge closure at 10 p.m. on…