Children and adults are invited to play in the clay studio and make cool, sculptural clay piggy banks Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art’s Center for Ceramics.
The session, open to ages 10 and up, is $25 per person and feature Ohr arts staffers helping visitors – no experience required – turn piggy banks into dinosaurs and create other works of art, which will then be fired and available for pick up in two weeks.
Register online at www.georgeohr.org or call 228-374-5547.
Elsewhere: There’s a wealth of diversions on this weekend’s entertainment lineup: Center Stage wraps up its run of “Harvey,” you’ll find “the Wiz” at Biloxi Little Theater, REO Speedwagon plays the Great Lawn at Harrah’s, Vince Gill is at the Beau Rivage, and Billy Idol is in concert at the IP.
See the complete list and details
Police collecting unneeded drugs this weekend
The Biloxi Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration are offering the public a chance to safely dispose of unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs, which often become sources of abuse.
The two agencies will offer another free drug take-back sessions, at the Lopez-Quave Public Safety Center, on Porter Avenue two blocks north of the Biloxi Lighthouse, on Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those interested can drop off any expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs in this free, anonymous, no-questions-asked service.
No liquids, needles or sharps can be accepted, only pills or patches.
Dignitaries to spend week on Gulf Coast
A five-member delegation of local leaders from the republic of Georgia will be arriving on the Mississippi Gulf Coast next week to spend seven days learning about the area, and you have a chance to host one of the visitors in your home.
The Steps Coalition, a non-profit group based in Biloxi, is coordinating the effort, which is part of the Open World Program, a Congressional initiative designed to build mutual understanding between the United States and Eurasia. Four of the dignitaries will be making their first visit to the United States.
The Steps Coalition announced the visit during a media briefing at Biloxi City Hall. The Steps Coalition is also seeking host families for the five male dignitaries and two female interpreters.
During their stay, which will be from Oct. 2 to 10, the visitors will meet with local leaders, visit local universities and museums, and the state port in Gulfport, as well as spend a day in New Orleans.
Anyone interested in hosting a visiting dignitary should contact  Ja’Leasa Walden at jwalden@stepscoalition.org or 435-3113 ext. 302.
Learn more about the visiting dignitaries
See the draft itinerary
Learn more about Georgia
Permit issued for Walmart gas station
By Jerry Creel, Community Development Director
This week in community development, the building division issued a building permit for the Walmart Gas Station to be located on Popp’s Ferry Road in front of the proposed Walmart Neighborhood Market, which was permitted last week. The new Market and Gas Station are scheduled to be completed in March 2016.
Also this week, permits were issued to Edgewater Mall for the relocation of Master Cuts. The relocation is necessary to accommodate the proposed 16,000 sq. ft. Encore Shoe Store that will be constructed in the former locations of Piccadilly’s, Mastercut’s, Puzzles, and Epitome. Epitome, a long time tenant of the mall (40 Years) will be relocated closer to the Southern Mall Entrance. Subcontractor permits were issued this week for Boyd Gaming for the renovations to 54 suites, and for two new single family houses. Build out plans were received and reviewed this week for a new $1 million dollar Petco Store to be located in the Shoppes at Popp’s Ferry Shopping Center on Pass Road.
News and notes
Biloxi Police festival: The Sixth Annual Biloxi Community Festival, a chance for residents to learn more about Biloxi Police and Fire departments and how to avoid becoming crime victims, takes place Saturday, Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Town Green. To learn more about the free event, click here.
Get your kicks: Cecilia Dobbs Walton, who manages the Parks & Recreation section of the city website, drops by this week’s program to discuss the kickball tournament Saturday at Hiller Park and a number of other initiatives. To listen to the program, click here.
Welcome, Slavic golfers: Â Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich and his fellow members of the Slavic Benevolent Association of St. Nikoli, also known as the Slavonian Lodge, are hosting more than 1,100 golfers and guests for this weekend’s 41st annual Slavic Invitational, billed as the largest four-ball tournament on the planet. To see a video about the lodge and its influence on Biloxi, click here. To visit the golf tournament website, click here.
Biloxi football: The Biloxi Indians host the D’Ibewrville Warriors this evening at 7 p.m. on the Biloxi High School campus, and it’s City of Biloxi night, with city employees receiving free admission with a paid admission.
Tykes and trikes: More than 50 children with physical or mental disabilities will receive donated bikes during the 12th annual Amtryke Rodeo Saturday, Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon at Point Cadet Pavilion. National AMBUCS, a non-profit service organization of men and women dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities, is the hosting organization. Forty local veterans also will receive bikes during the Veterans Ride & Dinner on Friday, Oct. 2 at Point Cadet. National AMBUCS is holding its  national conference in Biloxi Sept. 29 through Oct. 4, with 350 people expected to attend.
Popp’s Ferry update: Contractors on the Popp’s Ferry Road widening project will close the section between Cedar Lake and Motsie Road on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7 a.m. and re-open it Sunday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. Motorists should  use either Lamey Street or Cedar Lake Road as alternate routes.  For background on the Popp’s Ferry work, click here. For a look at roadwork city wide, click here.
