SunHerald.com : Barbour appoints Guice

SunHerald.com : Barbour appoints Guice

Is he the best person for the job or is it a payback for something?

SunHerald.com : Cities consider cottages

SunHerald.com : Cities consider cottages

The cities are considering letting these cottages be more than just a stop gap measure. But will they limit where they can be installed?

MS Gulf Coast: Wind v Water

The Mississippi Supreme Court has agreed to decide how an insurance policy should be interpreted in a wind vs. water dispute over Hurricane Katrina claims.

In Corban vs. USAA, Long Beach policyholders argue the insurance company should cover wind damage to their property, regardless of damage caused by water. Water damage is excluded from coverage. USAA and other insurers argue that policy language also excludes coverage for a combination of wind and water.

The Supreme Court is expected to resolve the issue before the case goes to trial in Circuit Court.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with insurance companies, finding that policies bar coverage when wind and water act in sequence to destroy property. The Supreme Court is not bound to follow the federal appellate court's ruling, however, because state law governs insurance contracts.

We will see just how much influence the Insurance companies have over the state Supreme Court. My guess is that it has considerable pull within the state's highest court.

Who Will Be Biloxi's New Mayor?

Probably no one!

Mayor A.J. Holloway already showed his hand and announced he wants to keep the job and become a five-term mayor. "I have every intention of continuing to serve the people of Biloxi," he said.

Since Biloxi is a betting town, the wagers around town are that Ward 4 Councilman Mike Fitzpatrick will run for the job along with Ward 2 Councilman Bill Stallworth. Harrison County Supervisor Connie Rockco is still a roll of the dice, since she would have to decide between serving the county or the city.

Other possible candidates are just starting to consider a campaign for mayor, including Andrew "FoFo" Gillich Jr., who ran a close race with Holloway in 2001, and state Rep. Michael Janus, who said "if Mayor Holloway does not run I'll consider tossing my hat into the ring. I'm not going to run against him."

Damn there must be some major benefits to being the mayor of Biloxi (can anyone say casinos).

Still Homeless People From Katrina

What? you ask. Yes there are still many people without adequate housing on the Gulf Coast.

As the June 1 deadline for residents to vacate FEMA trailer parks approaches, many are looking to find more permanent homes, but find few affordable options. After five months of searching for a rental house, Tamecca Carter, 37, succeeded and began moving out of her trailer in a north Biloxi FEMA park last week. Carter is moving back to hard-hit east Biloxi, which still faces a long recovery. She'll live on the same street she lived on before the storm.

There are some good news and mostly bad news. But the worst news is that there is plenty of money for people (I use the term very loosely) to build apartments that go unrented or houses that go unsold, and yada yada, but they must depend on volunteers to build houses for those displaced by Katrina.

Ok am I the only one that sees the bullsh*t here? There is sympathy all around for Burma yes it was a terrible thing, but there are people here that need a home. send the money south. Once we are ok then I personally do not give a sh*t where it goes after that. we are talking about Americans here, if the guys in Washington cannot do the job, then throw the bums out and find someone who can.

WORD!

Another Coast Landmark Dies

S.S. Camille is gone and soon forgotten. Sad. The old tugboat gas stood on the beach as a monument to those who suffer and survived hurricane Camille. But I guess the beachfront property where it stood for 40 years was just too valuable for the reminder to remain. Sad. That seems to be the rule of the day...to destroy all reminders of the Coast and its history and culture...and to be replaced by the crap of concrete and steel. With a little luck the Coast will soon be a clone of Las Vegas...Glass...chrome..and flashing lights.

I can hardly wait.

Coast Mass Transit

Improved public transportation and more "walkable" communities are critical to solving some future problems for South Mississippi, but a light rail system is likely out of reach for many years, planners said Monday.

At a summit on smart growth, Kevin Coggin, executive director of the Coast Transit Authority, said plans call for a trolley system that would run along the beach. Itwould be easy, as the government already owns the beach, he said.

But a light rail system, an idea that came out of the post-Katrina charrettes, is still not cost-effective for a market the size of South Mississippi. It takes a high passenger load to support light rail and the Coast could still be about 30 years from that. But Coggin said officials are pursuing a bus that functions much like a light rail system, with a higher passenger load than a traditional bus.

The shame is that most residents are so addicted to their $ gallon to the mile SUVs that this will not be a reality in my lifetime. Sad.

MS: Time Is Running Out For The Gulfport Library

Harrison County supervisors are set to award the bid today for the demolition of the Gulfport Library, but the demolition needs the approval of the state Department of Archives and History as well.

Time is quickly running out for the library building. Time for all people that want to save the "historical" building to stop forward and voice your opinion. Buildings that are 50 years old and older can be named a landmark, but Baughn said buildings that have significant historical significance also can be landmarks even if they aren't 50. The Gulfport Library is 43 years old. So a push should focus there and there would be the possibility to save the "Grand Old Girl" of Gulfport.

f the demolition goes forward, there are no plans to use the property for a public building...think about that......it is a prime piece of real estate and would bring a hefty sum to the city after the sell. If so it is about the cash and not about the saving of a building that deserves to live.

Mississippi: Jackson County Considers New Insurance

PASCAGOULA --

Along with property, wind and liability insurance, Jackson County leaders will take a look Monday at terrorism insurance coverage on the county's 100 buildings. "But if something unforeseen happened and someone blew up the courthouse, how you going to pay for it?" McKay said.

The kicker here is that it will have to be terrorism from an agent of a foreign government. That means if Bubba gets pissed up on Old Milwaukee and puts a pipe bomb in the john att he courthouse, it is not considered terrorism. Now I ask, what are the chances that Syria gets two craps in Hell about Jackson County?

The price tag is about $46.000 and I was just thinking that the cash could be better spent on the residents of the county . I know I am just being foolish again, but the people considering this are just being STUPID!

MS: Ocean Springs Condo Experience

The city of Ocean Springs is the Coast own "yuppy" community. It is the more up scaled community for the young upward mobile individuals. I am not a fan of concrete and steel, I feel we have lost enough of the character of the Coast, thanks to that bitch Katrina. But if there must be condos then I feel that this is the best way to handle the fact.

The new Guyton Place mixed-use development in Ocean Springs is designed to blend into the downtown and encourage residents to walk to nearby stores and restaurants. Designed by architect Frank Genzer, Guyton Place is an infill development on Porter Avenue between Washington and Jackson streets. Along with 22 residential units is 5,000 square feet of commercial space for sale or lease. Smith said he would like to see a gallery, coffee shop, restaurant and community office space open at the complex. A landscaped courtyard is also planned.

If all goes as well as they think, then this is an excellent idea to help a Coast community to keep its original charm. More should be done along these lines, to include the old Markham Hotal in Gulfport.

SunHerald.com : Puff, puff, puff that last cigarette

SunHerald.com : Puff, puff, puff that last cigarette


This is the follow up to the smoking ban in Gulfport. And yes, you cannot smoke even on the out of doors. I know I really appreciate a/holes taking over my life. How about you?

MS: Gulfport's Smoking Ban

Today is May Day, a day that most of the world celebrates labor and its contributions, but not in the US, about the only thing that will be celebrated on 01 May 08 is the ban on smoking in public places in Gulfport, MS.

As of today it is unlawful to smoke in public places like bars with food, restaurants, and smoking outside from public buildings will have to be at least 25 feet from any entrance. Now everyone can take a deep breath and enjoy the fact that they have infringed on others pursuit of happiness. But wait, sports fans, smoking is STILL legal in casinos---go figure.

I will say that if a person does not smoke, bully for them, and they must have laws that protect their delicate sensibilities from those mean old smokers. I am so glad that they could do something about those darn smokers, just wish they could find the same set of nuts to do something about drivers on cels, loud obnoxious music, and cops with shaved heads. All of which is just as silly as smokers, except one and that one is just damn moronic.

So citizens of Gulfport my hat is off to your elected officials. Personally, I cannot wait to see what else these people will want to make a no-no. Maybe making it illegal to serve certain foods to fat people will not be such a bad idea, after all.

Mississippi Coast: A Meeting Of The Minds

A meeting scheduled for Friday will launch an economic initiative to unite neighborhoods and businesses in several parts of the city.

At the "Ward 2, Ward 3" meeting, citizens will learn about hurricane recovery projects and opportunities. The meeting begins a movement to encourage investment and interaction between neighbors and businesses in the two wards.

Wards 2 and 3 include Old Town, Beach Boulevard and the waterfront to Washington Street, the Depot District, and the stretch of Washington running from the beach to Old Spanish Trail and then back toward Main Street.

As much as anything, organizers see the gathering as a meeting of the minds and a path to the future. Public works projects will be updated and development ideas may be discussed in a variety of areas.

The meeting is open to all comers. Invitations were mailed to property owners of record in the two districts, and to local builder's groups. Representatives of the Main Street program will also attend, "to discuss possibilities of funding for small businesses," Thriffiley said.

Representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers have been invited to give a briefing on the Bay St. Louis seawall project. The Mississippi Department of Transportation is also expected to have a representative on hand to brief residents on the pending Beach Boulevard reconstruction project.

May I suggest that one lives in Bay St. Louis then this meeting should be attended. Ask questions if you do not understand what they are proposing. If you do not attend then you have little say what there politicians are doing to your city.

A Metro Government

I have an idea, well not really, it has been considered on several occasions but has been shot down everytime. But I think it is worth considering yet again. One of the points that keep it from being successful is that the different cities would lose their individuality. I say BULL! New York did not and why would the Coast?

One large city from bridge to bridge. A Metro-plex. Public services would be centralized and all playing on same page. City government would be centralized and decisions for the Coast would not have to be considered by many cities. Grant money could be more easily acquired from the Federal government. Standards from everything from construction to food prep would be standardized.

There are many reasons why it would make good economical sense and it is time for this to be considered again. Especially now with the aftermath of Katrina still sour in the mouths of the residents. Petty jealousies and minor differences are not good reason to kill the effort. The well being and security of ALL Coastians should be the only consideration.

Mississippi Coast Could Lose Another Landmark

SunHerald.com : Library demolition won't be delayed

Yet more indication of where these political parasites are at. The relocation has nothing to do with the fact that the original location is a prime piece of beach property. And that someone wants it already. There are annexes of the library everywhere and it should be returned to its location.

Hope you fools see what a bunch of phonies your elected officials are. You voted for them and gave them the power to do this. are you happy now?

We should all support, We The People, in their efforts to save our library. They will need all the local support we can give them . Or sit back and bitch and watch the library be lost. Your choice.