‘Extreme Makeover’ special airs tonight; other news, notes

ABC’s popular program “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” spotlights post-Katrina Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast in an hour-long special airing tonight before a nationwide, prime-time audience.

In the first of a series of four one-hour specials, the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” team heads to Biloxi to rebuild some cornerstones of the community, including a local free medical clinic and a new memorial to the victims of Katrina.

The program, titled “After the Storm: Mississippi,” airs at 7 p.m. CT.

“This program should go a long way in helping tell the story of the people of Biloxi and south Mississippi, and of the resolve and resilience this community is showing as we move forward,” Mayor A.J. Holloway said. “If we get a fraction of the 15 million visitors who normally watch this show each week, it would be great.”

You can read more about the Katrina memorial in a new section of the Biloxi web site. To see the new section, which launched this afternoon, click here.

Incidentally, The Weather Channel plans to broadcast live and taped segments from Biloxi throughout this weekend.

City seeks nominations for outstanding volunteers

The City of Biloxi again this year will recognize individuals, organizations and businesses contributing time and energy to help others and help improve the quality of life in Biloxi.

You can be a part of the city’s 23rd annual Volunteer Recognition Awards by nominating worthy individuals or groups for recognition. To see a nomination form, click here.

You’re also invited to join Mayor A. J. Holloway and the Biloxi City Council in recognizing the volunteers during an awards ceremony on Thursday, April 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Donal Snyder Community Center on Pass Road.

News and notes

Photo album/DVD status: More than 600 copies of the city’s “Katrina & Biloxi” photo album and DVD have been mailed as of this afternoon, amounting to nearly half of the advance orders placed for the fund-raising initiative. The remaining 600 orders are expected to be in the mail by this time next week. And you can expect to see the product in Wal-Mart stores – along the Gulf Coast initially in about 60 days — before undertaking nationwide sales. You can order online now by clicking here.

Spring fling: A Spring Fling will be held at The Salvation Army Yankie Stadium (corner of Division and Lee) on Saturday, March 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. The family affair will include carnival games, a spacewalk, rock climbing and a super slide. At sundown, a movie will be shown on the football field. So come and bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the show. Hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy will be available for 25 cents, and soft drinks will be free.

Reviving the Renaissance: Biloxi residents will soon be receiving a postcard with information about the inaugural meeting of the Reviving the Renaissance initiative. All are invited to the March 30 meeting at 6 p.m. at the Saenger Theater.

Money-saving permits: The city has extended the deadline for free storm-related home repair permits until May 21. This means that Biloxi homeowners seeking permits to make storm repairs to their homes can save anywhere from $25 to $250 or more in fees. Permits for commercial construction are not waived.