Lee, Hopkins latest to see paving in east Biloxi

The paving juggernaut in east Biloxi continues, with Warren Paving Co. crews applying asphalt to Lee Street today and planning to move to Hopkins Boulevard Thursday morning.

Since Friday, crews have applied temporary paving to sections of Main, Division, Lameuse and Lee streets to make traveling smoother on major thoroughfares in the 55 miles of roads where infrastructure is being repaired or replaced in east Biloxi

In fact, pending infrastructure work on Porter Avenue and at the west end of Division Street is preventing asphalt from being added to those streets, as the city had hoped to do this week.

Instead, Lee from the CSX railway to Suarez Street was completed today, and Hopkins from the CSX railway to Division Street will be paved Thursday.

“As we’ve said all along, we want to get the most out of this paving as we can,” said Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich. “We’re working to coordinate our efforts with Oscar Renda, the infrastructure contractor, to make sure we’re not going to be paving a street that’s going to be torn up in the next several weeks.”

Gilich said city crews will meet with the contractors again to assess which streets can be paved during the next several weeks.
Read background on the Restore Biloxi work

 

Keesler wing to add more aircraft maintenance workers

Keesler Air Force Base’s 403rd Wing, home of the “Flying Jennies” and “Hurricane Hunters,” is growing.

The wing will see the additional of a new aircraft maintenance unit, currently being referred to as Detachment 1, comprising about 145 maintenance professionals. Detachment 1 will focus on servicing the 10 C-130Js in the 815th Airlift Squadron, known as the “Flying Jennies.” The new unit also will allow existing maintenance staff to focus exclusively on the aircraft in the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as the “Hurricane Hunters.”
Read the complete story

 

News and notes

Contest time: Attention artists and would-be artists. The 2016 Blessing of the Fleet & Shrimp Festival is looking for artwork for its poster and T-shirt. The artwork should reflect the shrimping industry, heritage of Biloxi and Blessing of the Fleet and St. Michael Catholic Church. Deadline to submit is 4 p.m. on Friday, April 1. For an entry form and rules, click here.

Lifeguard time:  Individuals age 15 and older interested in lifeguarding can stop by the Biloxi Natatorium between 4 and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30 or Thursday, March 31 for a pre-test. Once passed, individuals may sign up for the classes April 4-10. To see requirements and details, click here.

Nomination reminder No. l: Nominations are now being accepted for the 33rd Annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony, which recognizes individuals of all ages and groups for outstanding volunteer service in myriad fields. The nomination deadline is 4 p.m. on Monday, April 11. For details and to print an nomination form, click here.

Nomination reminder No. 2: Nominations also are being accepted for the Biloxi Sports Hall of Fame. The nomination deadline is 4:30 p.m., Thursday, June 30. For details and  to print an nomination form, click here.