The Biloxi Shuckers open play at MGM Park this evening in a homestand with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos that will continue through Sunday.
The Opening Day celebration against Pensacola, an affiliate of Cincinnati Reds, will see Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich toss out the first pitch at 6:35 p.m. Gates to MGM Park open at 5:30 p.m.
The homestand will feature a boonie hat giveaway this evening, a magnet schedule giveaway on Thursday, a team photo giveaway on Friday and post-game fireworks on Saturday night.
Read more and see ticket information
Caillavet Street re-opens to traffic
Caillavet Street, where motorists have had to detour for two weeks, was fully reopened to traffic shortly after lunch today, after contractors applied thick coats of asphalt to the intersection at Division Street.
Just days ago the intersection of Caillavet and Division had been a 25-foot deep crevice where contactors installed an 18-inch sewer line and an 8-inch water line. During the work, motorists were forced to use nearby Reynoir Street as a detour route.
Meantime, John Cowart, superintendent for Oscar Renda Contracting, the firm over the $123 million east Biloxi infrastructructure work, announced that Back Bay Boulevard and Oak Street would get their final layers of pavement and striping in May and huge sections of Division Street would be paved by mid-June.
“We had originally planned to have Division Street paved east of Lee Street by June 1,” Cowart says, “but Mayor Gilich wants Back Bay Boulevard and Oak Street completely finished first, so that’s what we’re going to do. We’re still going to have major paving completed on Division by mid-June.”
See video of the Caillavet paving today
See images of the Lee Street work
Volunteers needed for the Great American Clean Up
It’s time to clean up, Biloxi.
The city and county are asking for volunteers, companies and groups to participate in the Biloxi Great American Clean Up during the week of April 16-22.
Throughout the week, individuals, families, businesses, organizations, and church and civic groups are asked to “clean up” neighborhoods or areas in the community or select a specific area in efforts to keep Biloxi beautiful.
Then on Saturday, there will be an organized cleanup for individuals and groups from 8 a.m. to noon by meeting at the Point Cadet Plaza, 121 Cadet St., where trash bags, gloves and participation forms will be available.
“We’re going to have thousands of visitors in Biloxi next month for the Conference USA baseball championship, and this is our chance to show these visitors why Biloxi is a great place to live and visit,” Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich said. “But it’s also not just about Conference USA. Keeping Biloxi beautiful and litter-free needs to be a year-’round thing. We’re asking everyone to join this effort and make a commitment to do their part the week of April 16 through 22, and, frankly, carry that effort forward throughout the year.”
Participants are asked to fill out a form indicating the location of the clean-up.
Trash bags and gloves will be available at the Bond Grant House, 932 Howard Avenue, for participants from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week of April 16-22 as well the participation form to indicate the location of the clean-up.
The project is being conducted in conjunction with the Great American Clean-up and Earth Day.
Sign up now
News and notes
Ohr named Best in Mississippi: The Huffington Post, in an online compilation, has named the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi as one of the country’s Top 25 galleries. Huffed the Post: “Just as Ohr (1857-1918) rose from devastating personal and professional loss to create an extraordinary body of work, so too the Ohr-O’Keefe has risen from Hurricane Katrina’s destruction.” Read the entire post by clicking here.
Weekend Easter event No. 1: Want to meet a superhero and participate in an egg hunt? Well, the Church of the King will hold its free annual Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt at the A.J. Holloway Sports Complex on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a special needs egg hunt and an after party that includes Biloxi police officers and firefighters at the Cedar Popp’s Plaza. To see more about the event, click here.
Weekend Easter event No. 2: The Second Liners Mardi Gras Club will hold its 13th Annual Easter Eggstravaganza at John Henry Beck Park, 671 Division Street, on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. To see more about the event, click here.