Cruisin’ the Coast officials have decided to condense the remaining events in this year’s cruise as a result of weather issues associated with the incoming tropical system. Executive Director Woody Bailey said that today’s events will continue as planned, but the weekend activities will be abbreviated.
“We encourage Cruisers to enjoy today as planned,” Bailey said. “Saturday, our Cruisin’ venues and other activities will be cancelled except for our closing activities at Cruise Central.” Saturday’s events will begin at 9 a.m. and will consist of cash prize giveaways, drawing the winning ticket for the Make-A-Wish Raffle Truck, and the unveiling of the 2018 raffle vehicle.
Gates to Cruise Central in Gulfport at Centennial Plaza will open at 8 a.m. Saturday. Added Bailey: “We want our Cruisers and guests to have the best time possible and enjoy the Mississippi Gulf Coast to the fullest, but still head home with time to clear the area before we begin to feel effects of the storm. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and cooperation.”
Cruisin’ organizers said that participant stamping cards should be turned in at any stamping venue before 5 p.m. today so they may be entered into the drawing Saturday. “We will accept them with or without their stamping being completed,” Bailey said. He also said that for those not present, winnings will be mailed later next week. There will be no official Cruisin’ activities or events on Sunday.
See the Cruisin’ the Coast website
See this morning’s local forecast package for TS Nate
See the National Hurricane Center advisories
Meanwhile, the new pickup service moves forward
It’s Day 1 of the new garbage, trash and recycling service for most residents of Biloxi, and the Harrison County Utility Authority said those who saw pickups Thursday, primarily in areas north of Interstate 10, had few issues.
“We actually began picking up some northern areas of Biloxi on Thursday, several thousand pickups in fact, and things went very well,” said Alan Lane, a utility authority staffer who oversees residential pickups.”
Under the new contract, which began Oct. 1, Team Waste picks up garbage and recycling, and Pelican Waste is dedicated to picking up trash, such a yard trimming, limbs and other non-hazardous materials. Service is one-day a week, with both companies working in northern areas of the city on Thursday and the Biloxi peninsula and some areas north of the Bay on Friday.
The coordination of multiple services all offered on the same day – garbage, recycling and trash trucks all working in neighborhoods – has worked well, Lane said. “It’s been well coordinated, and, with Cruisin’ the Coast in town, we’ve been careful to hit the event areas early, to avoid congestion.”
The utility authority has set up a help line – (228) 701-9086 – to connect callers directly to Team Waste or Pelican Waste. The number is also displayed on the sides of carts.
A few key things to remember as the new contract moves forward:
Garbage and recycling carts and any trash needs to be at the curb no later than 6 a.m. on pickup day.
Make sure containers are spaced three to five feet apart and three to five feet away from any obstructions, such as fire hydrants, utility poles, guy wires, and mailboxes.
“We had a couple of mailboxes hit earlier in the week,” Lane said. “But they have already all been repaired. One was even a brick mailbox that was knocked over and even it’s already repaired.
“People can understand when things happen, whether it’s a missed pickup or a driver learning a new route, but I have full confidence in these vendors and this first week has shown that when there’s an issue they address it right away.”
Answers to frequently asked questions
More about the new carts
See a map of the pickup schedule
What to do with hazardous waste
