Well, we had quite a day at the Pascagoula Kiwanis Club on January 21. The long-time local civic club held a Past Presidents Day to honor those who had served in that capacity over the years, and it was a wonderful moment for those guys and gals, as well as for the club itself.

The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) annual celebration of Black History Month throughout February will mark the important achievements by black Americans, and the central role of African Americans in U.S. and Southern Miss history.

Five students from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College were selected as semifinalists for the highly selective and competitive Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. They are Edgar Marquez of Gautier, Austin Baldwin of D’Iberville, Ciara Brewer of Lucedale, Gloria Giddes of Gulfport and Katelyn Winstead of Ocean Springs. 

USM welcomes students back after winter break.

Praise Temple Church, celebrating five years on the coast, has been drawing crowds that seem to grow larger every week

Looking out for the oddies in nature.

The Pascagoula Senior Center will again be home to the Pascagoula Senior Center Acting Troupe’s annual showcase. These free performances give attendees a way to experience local theater and see some familiar faces on stage.

Projects include revitalizing downtown Biloxi, a new bridge, hotels and restaurants and completing a northern connector from U.S 90 to I-10 and Highway 67. 

Do you have plans for Valentine’s Day yet?

We have talked before about Smokehouse Bayou, and the stunningly good brisket they make and sell at Fayard’s Deli (hidden away in the Marathon gas station on Washington Street, OS), but there is a lot more to this growing business than just brisket. The business started making beef jerky and only later started selling the smoked sausage, wings, chicken and the brisket, that so many people are raving about today. But the story of how the jerky business got started is a pretty interesting one. 

Register now to participate in the seventh annual Rock the Cause 5K on Saturday, April 4, before the price goes up on March 24. The event is a fundraiser for Adrienne’s House in Pascagoula, supporting victims of domestic violence in the Jackson County area.

A 6-Week workout program that can be done at home in 30 minutes

Last year, Jackson County saw the creation of 2,000 jobs and more than $225 million in capital investments, which made 2019 a banner year for the county.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College released the President and Vice President’s lists for the fall 2019 semester.

The fashion event of the season — the fourth annual Renaissance the Runway — is a Bacot McCarty Foundation event hosted by IP Casino Resort Spa at Studio B on Thursday, Jan. 30, from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

It’s been 15 years, but economic data shows the Miss. Gulf Coast is still struggling to fully recover from three major events—Hurricane Katrina, the Great Recession, and the BP oil spill.