Emergency managers report that a cold-weather shelter will open Sunday and Monday at the Church of the Redeemer on Water Street to help the vulnerable avoid expected frigid temperatures.
The shelter will be open from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. each day. Coast Transit will provide free bus rides through its fixed routes, and Red Cross workers will staff the shelter.
Said Sgt. Milton Houseman, the city’s emergency manager: “We’re not going to be using the Back Bay Mission cold-weather shelter because the Redeemer shelter offers better capacity for what we’ve needed. Back Bay holds about 40 people, and we were at capacity there, with only about two or three people in the shelter at Redeemer, which holds about 60. By using Redeemer, we’re making the best use of available staff and resources.”
To see the detailed seven-day forecast, offered in English and Spanish, click here.
City’s street-lighting work to wrap up next week
The city’s major lighting projects on U.S. 90 — new lights from Oak to Myrtle streets on Point Cadet and ornamental sidewalk lighting from Iberville to Porter on the west beach — will be wrapping up next week, but motorists should expect intermittent lane closures Monday morning for the east Biloxi work.
B&B Electrical and Utility Contractors will be installing the final light fixture on the Point Cadet section of U.S. 90 on Monday morning, requiring the temporary closure of the inside westbound through lane and eastbound left turn lane. Work is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. and is expected to be completed by noon. Warning signs will be posted in the work zones.
The new ornamental lighting for the sidewalk on the north side of U.S. 90 between Porter Avenue and Iberville Drive is expected to be operational by Tuesday evening, contractors say.
The U.S. 90 lighting work, incidentally, is the final phase of a million-dollar, federally-funded initiative that saw storm-damaged lights restored or repaired throughout downtown, on Pass Road, along Back Bay and under the I-110 overpass.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation, meantime, is responsible for repairs to the lone stretch of U.S. 90 where street lights remain inoperative — the area between Porter Avenue and Caillavet Street.
Housing chief on the challenges facing east Biloxi
The Biloxi City Council on Tuesday approved a request by Mayor A.J. Holloway that the Biloxi Housing Authority play an expanded role in the revitalization of east Biloxi.
Delmar P. Robinson, the chairman of the Biloxi Housing Authority, discusses the challenges and opportunities on this week’s City Desk webcast.
To listen to the 24-minute program, which also includes information on other city issues, click here.
Weekend preview: Elvis, elves and it’s all Greek to some
You’ll find a diverse lot of entertainment this weekend: Brandon Bennett’s Elvis Christmas show is on stage at the Hard Rock, Sister Hazel is at the Beau Rivage, and the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Beauvoir Road presents “Christmas Greek Style.” To see the complete list, courtesy of listings compiled by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau,
click here.
News and notes
City Council agenda: The Biloxi City Council will consider a couple of zoning issues — including the re-zoning of 38 west beach parcels to waterfront zoning — when it meets Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 at City Hall. To see the complete agenda and available resolutions, click here.
Hidden Springs hearing: The Community Development Department is reminding residents that they’ll have a chance to comment on the proposed Hidden Springs development in Woolmarket during a public hearing on Dec. 21 at 1:30 at City Hall. To see the official notice that has been published in the Sun Herald and Biloxi-D’Iberville Press, click here.
An Excel-lent gathering: The Biloxi Excel By 5 Community Coalition presents the free event “Come Learn with Santa,” Saturday morning at 10 at Lopez School. Children up to age 5 can sing and dance with Santa, make reindeer ears, hear stories read by Mrs. Claus and take pictures with Santa.
Tag, you’re it: Biloxi athletics boosters are hoping that fans of the Biloxi athletics program will consider buying specialized Indians license tags as Christmas gifts. To read more,
click here.
