In Gulfport earlier this afternoon, Governor Tate Reeves reflected on Mississippi’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a year to the day after the first case was reported in the state. The governor says it’s been a long year for Mississippians, but the state has shown resiliency in battling the virus. Reeves says over 800,000 vaccinations have been delivered to residents…
Lots of maintenance repairs in the last several months have kept the doors to the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center closed to the public. In just one week though, the Mary C. will be welcoming the community back inside its doors. Next Thursday, the cultural center will hold its newest monthly event called Firefly. The evening event is centered around…
Gulf Coast Community Ministries is always working to help those physically, emotionally, and spiritually in need. One way the ministry helps is by hosting a free food pantry each Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The pantry gets over 4,000 pounds worth of food delivered from various churches and Feeding the Gulf Coast. Those who are homeless…
This time last year, dozens of volunteers and supporters of Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast were set to start construction on a home in Gautier as part of International Women Build Weeks. Those plans were temporarily put on hold due to COVID, but the project, and some local family’s soon-to-be home, is complete. “A house is made…
The Gulfport School District collected over two tons of peanut butter for the March of the Mayors Food Drive. Over the last month, Gulfport High School participated in a district wide food drive helping contribute to March of the Mayors. Each Coast city is assigned a food commonly used to restock local food pantries. In Gulfport, that food was peanut…
Today, March 11th, has been proclaimed as ‘Healthcare Heroes Day’ in the City of Gulfport by Mayor Billy Hewes. It’s been officially one year since the first case of COVID was confirmed in Mississippi. The City of Gulfport recognizes the hard efforts, dedication, and selflessness of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the help of COVID vaccinations, Memorial sees…
Governor Tate Reeves, along with state judges, family, and friends, gathered at Jones Park in Gulfport this afternoon to welcome the newest circuit court judge for the second district. Standing next to her husband and son, Randi Mueller took the oath of office to formally begin her new role serving the citizens of Hancock, Harrison, and Stone counties. Governor Reeves…
A traffic headache earlier today for thousands of people traveling along Interstate 10 in Harrison and Jackson counties. All four westbound lanes of I-10, just east of the Lamey Bridge Road exit in D’Iberville, were shut down just before 11 a.m. after an 18-wheeler rollover. No official word yet on what caused the accident, but D’Iberville Police and Mississippi Highway…
Fourteen-year old Bridgett Leann Forehand of Vancleave will be tried as an adult for second degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Mickell Gordon in Ocean Springs near Gulf Park Estates. Her first court appearance was this afternoon in Jackson County. Her bail is set at $100,000. Forehand is being represented by a public defender. The defender pleaded for a…
The Ocean Springs School District will host its annual job fair with a twist this year. For the first time, the job fair will be held virtually with interviews taking place via Zoom on Saturday, March 13th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. OSSD was just three days away from hosting last year’s in-person job fair when it was canceled…
In today’s edition of Live Local, a series you can catch on WXXV on Thursdays, Lorraine Weiskopf takes us to the City of Pascagoula featuring one of their historic landmarks. Pascagoula’s Round Island Lighthouse sits at the western gateway of the city. In its over 160 years of existence, the lighthouse has survived multiple hurricanes and undergone numerous renovations. Built…
The Mississippi State Department of Health has reported 679 new COVID-19 cases and 19 new deaths including one in Harrison County. The statewide total stands at 299,124 cases and 6,864 deaths. Here’s a look at the cases by county in our area: Hancock County has 3,569 cases and 78 deaths Harrison County is at 17,008 total cases and now 291…
Mississippi legislators are arguing over regulations for medical marijuana. The House killed one bill Wednesday and the Senate revived the issue hours later. Mississippi voters in November approved Initiative 65, authorizing a medical marijuana program, but the Mississippi Supreme Court will begin to hear arguments next month in a law suit seeking to block the program. A Senate bill proposed…
Wednesday night, D’Iberville fire and police responded to a house fire and rescued one person from the burning home. Around 9 p.m. last night, the fire department responded to a residential structure fire on Whetstone Road. Upon arriving, firefighters discovered heavy flames coming from the rear of the structure. Fire Chief Gerald Smith credits both D’Iberville fire and police with…
With just a few days left until the closure of the Fort Bayou Drawbridge, business owners are talking about how it will impact their businesses. For five years, Pat Taranto has operated his seafood business on the St. Martin side of Washington Avenue. He says the planned Sunday closure of the Fort Bayou Drawbridge will have a negative impact on…
The Biloxi Lions Club held their 91st Biloxi’s Outstanding Citizens Award ceremony at the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum. The award was presented to Colonel John G. Sullivan for his volunteer work at Popp’s Ferry Elementary. He reads to the children every week and serves as a strong role model to the students. Col. Sullivan also serves as a Sunday…
Another sign of South Mississippi and the City of Pascagoula getting into the flow of things is that an annual celebration will be getting underway this May. Although ‘Free Flowin’ on the Riverfront’ is changing venues, it will still be set alongside scenic water, this year at Pascagoula’s Beach Park. In years past, this annual festival has been held at…
Brighter days for those 55 and older in South Mississippi. The Pascagoula Senior Center reopened this week. It’s brought a ray of light to some local seniors who feel like they’ve been in the dark since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Pascagoula resident Ray Carr said, “It’s devastating. I’ll tell you what pickleball was my favorite sport up here, and that…
Today the City of Moss Point honored Dr. Willie C. Williams, a retired educator who was murdered in his home in 2016. Not everyone gets a street named after them. However, on his heavenly birthday, friends, family, and community leaders came out to honor Dr. Willie C. Williams and unveil the street named after a man who meant so much…
After seeing how some students perform better learning virtually, the Gulfport School District has decided to add a new virtual academy program for the 2021-2022 school year. Virtual school existed way before COVID-19 hit, but has now become the new normal. After parents, teachers, and students were all forced to adapt to this new way of learning, it opened up…
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…
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…
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…
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…