News - Local

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009

Wade-Hurley will get 300-foot tower to improve cell calls

Here is a look at South Mississippi’s news from the past week. Read the full stories at sunherald.com and see video reports on SunHeraldTV. To become a Sun Herald subscriber, call 1-800-346-2472.

n Jackson County supervisors approved a resolution to erect a 300-foot Cellular South tower in the Wade-Hurley area to help improve cellular phone use in the rural area.

n Coastal Family Health received a portion of a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services that will allow them to expand health-care services to low-income and uninsured people affiliated with its health-center program.

n Jackson County supervisors on Monday rejected a proposal for a $12 million senior-citizen apartment complex near the Interstate 10 exit north of Ocean Springs.

n Biloxi City Council members approved a rate increase for water, sewer and garbage rates. The garbage rate has gone from $2.50 to $7.50 per month, and the base rate for water and sewer was raised by 10 cents per 1,000 gallons of both water and sewer. For water, that means rates go from $1.20 to $1.30 per 1,000 gallons for those who use 8,000 gallons or less and from $1.30 to $1.40 per 1,000 gallons for those who used more than 8,000 gallons. Sewer rates went from $2.65 to $2.75 for the use of 8,000 gallons or less and from $2.76 to $2.86 for more than 8,000 gallons. Seniors will continue to receive discounts as part of the plan. An additional $1.76 sewer surcharge is also added to repay a debt for the water and sewer infrastructure.

n Harrison County Circuit Court Judge Roger Clark on Monday sentenced Kenneth Allen Keith to 20 years for drunk driving in a Feb. 2, 2008, head-on collision that resulted in the death of Tech Sgt. John W. Templin, 42, stationed at Keesler Air Force Base.

n Construction of the new post-Katrina Pass Christian City Hall is said to be nearing completion, with 75 percent of the $6 million complex already done.

n Brian Sanderson, president of the Gulf Coast Business Council, asked the Biloxi City Council to partner with Coast businesses through a $50,000 pledge to help bring the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic to the area April 26-May 2. Mayor A.J. Holloway said the project was a good opportunity for the city but didn’t think the city could pledge $50,000 in one year.

n Gulfport officers on Tuesday diverted traffic on Cowan Road after a fourth sludge spill by a W.C. Fore Trucking vehicle in the last two weeks. Fore Trucking has a contract to haul mud from the State Port in Gulfport as part of a dredging project. The driver involved in Tuesday’s spill left the scene but was later issued a citation.