The City of Biloxi is planning two days of events to mark the fourth anniversary of Katrina and milestones in the city’s rebuilding effort.
On Friday, Aug. 28, the city will break ground on two of its largest municipal facilities, a visitors center north of the Biloxi Lighthouse and a new downtown library and civic center, which will be located on Howard Avenue. Also on that day, the city will formally re-open the new Howard Avenue.
On Saturday, Aug. 29, a Katrina memorial observance will be conducted at 8 a.m. on the Biloxi Town Green, followed by the unveiling of “Marlin’s marlin,” a 24-foot sculpture on the Town Green, which will be completed next week by woodcarver Marlin Miller and his wife Rene.
Here’s the timeline for events on Friday and Saturday:
Friday, Aug. 28
8:45 a.m. – meet at Biloxi Community Center on Howard Avenue to board Coast Transit trolley for trip to site north of Biloxi Lighthouse.
9 a.m. – Ground-breaking ceremony at site of new visitors center.
9:15 a.m. – Board trolley for return to Howard Avenue.
9:30 a.m. – Ribbon-cutting ceremony to open new Howard Avenue.
9:45 a.m. – Ground-breaking ceremony for new downtown Biloxi library and civic center.
10 a.m. – Coffee and doughnuts at Biloxi Community Center.
Saturday, Aug. 29
8 a.m. – Katrina memorial ceremony, Biloxi Town Green. This 30-minute, multi-denominational ceremony will feature prayers from several local clergy members. It will be held in the shadow of the Katrina memorial.
8:30 a.m. – Unveiling of the “Marlin’s marlin,” a 24-foot sculpture on the Biloxi Town Green, by Marlin Miller, creator of the majority of the Katrina sculptures in Biloxi and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
More on Katrina observances: To see a list of other Katrina events and observances, click here.
News and notes
Playground equipment: Biloxi Housing Authority Chairman Delmar P. Robinson is hoping to take advantage of a proposition in which Boomtown Casino would provide funding for playground equipment. Robinson, in a letter that Mayor A.J. Holloway has passed on to the Biloxi City Council, proposes to construct a playground in the Hope VI subdivision in east Biloxi, “for a concentration of residents who have children who would certainly use the equipment.” Holloway said he agrees with the idea. To read the letter, click here.
Katrina victims update: Harrison County Coroner Gary T. Hargrove recently reported to Mayor A.J. Holloway and the City Council that 51 identified people perished in Hurricane Katrina in Biloxi, and one person is presumed dead, although her body was never recovered. To see Hargrove’s report, which contains a list of victims and statistical information, click here.
