The 2017 edition of the Shrimp Bowl gets rolling this evening at 6 with a pep rally at Indian Stadium, on the Biloxi High School campus, off Richard Drive.
The pep rally, which is open to the public, will feature the Biloxi High Marching Band, along with performances by cheerleaders and dancers. Shrimp Queen Paige Hooker will be introduced and Biloxi Football Coach Bobby Hall will speak. Visitors also have a chance to meet members of the Biloxi football team.
Then on Friday night, the Shrimp Bowl begins at 7 p.m., with the Biloxi Indians taking on the St. Stanislaus Rockachaws.
Biloxi High School football boosters will be on hand during the pep rally and game, offering merchandise, athletic passes and season tickets.
See football ticket information
Visit the Biloxi Public Schools website
New garbage, trash service just around the corner
Team Waste, the company that takes over residential garbage collection in Biloxi beginning Oct. 1, is ramping up public awareness of the new pickup schedule and new service.
New trash and recycling carts are making their way into neighborhoods, but residents should continue to use existing Waste Pro carts and recycling bins until Oct. 1.
The biggest changes for Biloxi under the contract, which is administered by the Harrison County Utility Authority: Garbage, recycling and trash pickup will be one day a week instead of twice a week, and the monthly fee increases to $14.33, from $12.50.
Pickup for areas north of I-10 and the Eagle Point area will be Thursday of each week and south of I-10 will be Friday. (See the map by clicking here.)
Team Waste will handle garbage and recycling, which will now each be in its own cart instead of a bin, and a new second, Pelican Waste & Debris, will be dedicated to trash pick up.
“The biggest issue that everyone had in the past was reliability and accountability,” Biloxi Chief Administrative Officer Mike Leonard said. “They want to know that when they put their garbage, trash or recycling out it is going to be picked on the appointed day. We are encouraged by the steps the Harrison County Utility Authority is taking in the areas of accountability and customer service.”
Among the steps are that bins will have computer chips that will track the location of bins and whether they were picked up as scheduled, and a customer service number — one number — to handle any missed service.
Residents also can learn more about the new services and get answers to questions in any of three upcoming meetings:
– Monday, Aug. 28 – Woolmarket Community/Senior Center, Woolmarket Road.
– Tuesday, Sept. 5 – Dr. Frank G. Gruich Sr. Community Center, Howard Avenue.
– Thursday, Sept. 21 – Donal M. Snyder Sr. Community Center, Pass Road.
Each meeting will be from 6 to 7 p.m.
City Desk: A discussion about the new service
Answers to frequently asked questions
More about the new carts
See a map of the pickup schedule
What to do with hazardous waste
Rodeo organizers seek to round up more visitors
Organizers of a longtime Coast Coliseum event, the Professional Cowboy Association rodeo finals, are looking to beef up their event, maybe even attracting a new herd of visitors to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in January.
For two decades, the Professional Cowboy Association finals have been held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, attracting about 8,000 people over four days, but organizers look to the national finals in Las Vegas as an example of what the event could be. More than 175,000 fans attended the finals, with country music concerts and special attractions at venues throughout the city. In the end, the effort generated a $93 million impact.
Cowboy Association marketer Renita Gordon told a group of tourism marketers during a meeting at Biloxi City Hall this week that the key to success is marketing the Mississippi Gulf Coast to the 127,000 rodeo fans who attend the 47 Southeastern rodeos that lead up to the Biloxi finals.
“By showcasing a Coast hotel or casino, or the community in general, you could entice these rodeo fans to come to the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast to see these finals,” Gordon said. “The rodeo audience is already there. We just need to make sure that they know Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast are the place to be. We want to generate heads in beds for a typically slow time of year.”
The Biloxi finals are scheduled for Jan. 11-14, 2018.
See images from the gathering
See a handout presented during the gathering
News and notes
Remembering Camille: Today is the 48th anniversary of Hurricane Camille, the storm that devastated Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast and claimed the lives of hundreds. Get some viewing tips and see “A Lady Called Camille,” a classic documentary from the era, on the city’s Facebook page. To go there now, click here.
Play ball:The Biloxi Shuckers look for their third straight win as they take on the Jackson Generals tonight at 6:05 in Jackson. For more information about the Biloxi Shuckers and to purchase tickets for a 10-game home stretch that begins Monday at MGM Park, click here.
Movie night: The Parks & Recreation Department will hold its Summer Movie Series event on Friday at the Biloxi Town Green with the showing of the Disney movie “Finding Dory.” Concessions begin at 5:30 p.m., games at 6 p.m. and the movie at dusk. To see the flyer, click here.
Dance night:The Parks & Recreation Department will hold its annual Special Needs Back-to-School Hoorah Dance on Friday at the Donal M. Sndyer Sr. Community Center from 6 to 9 p.m. The free event is sports themed and open to all children and adults with physical or mental disabilities. To see the flyer, click here