This afternoon’s Biloxi City Council meeting, which is already expected to have a standing-room audience because of a housing proposal in Woolmarket, will begin with Mayor A.J. Holloway recognizing a Sun Herald reporter who convinced Kentucky Fried Chicken to distribute $20,000 in cash and prizes this morning to Biloxians.
Holloway will recognize reporter Donna Harris who nominated Biloxi in KFC’s “So Good” Secret Santa promotion, in which a Colonel Sanders lookalike hid prize-filled KFC buckets in public places throughout the city. The 250 mini-buckets — which contained cards for up to $500 in cash and KFC gift certificates — were found at such places as the Biloxi Town Green, the Biloxi side of the Biloxi Bay Bridge walking track, city parks and libraries, Edgewater Mall and Keesler Air Force Base.
“This is great recognition for the people of our city,” Holloway said of Biloxi winning the nationwide promotion. “I’ve always said that our residents are resilient, hard-working and caring, and it’s great to see a company like KFC recognize those attributes and provide this boost at the holiday season.
“It’s also quite an honor that a member of the media – Donna Harris of our own Sun Herald – was so motivated by the people of Biloxi. She turned that motivation into something positive. Merry Christmas to all, especially to the Colonel and his staff.”
In her nomination, Harris wrote:
“Biloxi, Miss., has had its share of troubles — Hurricane Katrina devastated the area in 2005, then the economy took a downward turn and last summer, when things should have been looking up for Coast businesses, the BP oil spill happened in the Gulf of Mexico and our beaches were covered with tar balls and cleanup crews instead of tourists. Now it’s Christmas and so many families are still hurting. These mini-buckets would be such a treat!”
Also on the agenda today: Residents will have a chance to comment on the proposed Hidden Springs development in Woolmarket. The issue is one of nearly a dozen measures before the council during its meeting at 1:30 this afternoon at City Hall. Other issues: a proposal to enter into a $10,000 a month management agreement with the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, and revisions to contracts for work at the Katrina Memorial and Brodie Road. To see the complete agenda and details on each issue, click here.