Ohr-O’Keefe to launch ‘Katrina +10’ exhibition

This time next month – on March 20 – the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art will launch “Katrina +10,” a six-month retrospective about Hurricane Katrina and featuring the award-winning efforts of the Sun Herald, WLOX, Mississippi Department of Transportation, Hands On Mississippi and Mississippi Power Co., the company that brought in 12,000 workers from across the country to restore electricity to south Mississippi within 12 days after the storm.

The multi-media exhibit, sponsored by Hancock Bank, will be open daily and will feature dozens of special events, including luncheons with community leaders from across South Mississippi, and such key figures as former Gov. Haley Barbour, former Sen. Trent Lott, and award-winning journalist Kathleen Koch, a Bay St. Louis native and former CNN correspondent.

The Ohr-O’Keefe announced the ambitious undertaking — more than three dozen community events in all — during a lunchtime preview at the east Biloxi museum’s welcome center. The exhibit is also being supported by Biloxi Regional Medical Center, Walmart, C Spire, and the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce.

The museum hopes between 50,000 and 100,000 visitors see the exhibit and special events during the six-month run.

“This is the first major undertaking of this museum since we moved past our own construction phase,” said Ohr-O’Keefe director Kevin O’Brien. “And make no mistake: ‘Katrina +10’ is going to be emotional, thought-provoking and moving. More importantly, we will advance the story. We’re going to remind ourselves how far we’ve come. We’re going to show the rest of the country and the millions of visitors that we have here each year just how remarkable the story of south Mississippi really is.

“We have gathered some of the most inspirational stories and storytellers of the Katrina experience, and we’ve put together a great lineup of speakers and special programs. We want everyone to join us on this epic journey, and it begins March 20 and run through Labor Day.”
See the Katrina +10 website
See a preview of the WLOX exhibit
See photos from today’s announcement

 

News and notes: Weekend and council preview and more

Weekend preview: For a look at this weekend’s entertainment lineup — Heart, Michael Bolton, and more — click here.

Webcasting: Chief Administrative Officer and guest Bill Raymond discuss progress at the Biloxi Visitors Center, construction on the Biloxi Lighthouse Park, and other issues in this week’s City Desk webcast. To listen to the 15-minute program, click here.

Mardi Gras redux: To see hundreds of photos from the Gulf Coast Carnival Association parade earlier this week, click here.

City Council meeting: To see the agenda for the Biloxi City Council meeting on Tuesday, click here.

Traffic update: To see the tremendous amount of work underway on the streets of Biloxi and how that work is impacting traffic, click here.

 

Planning OKs Walmart market for Popp’s Ferry

By Jerry Creel, Community Development Director

This week in economic development, the Biloxi Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a preliminary subdivision plat for the proposed Walmart Neighborhood Market to be located on the former Ellzey property on Popp’s Ferry Road. The commission also voted unanimously to approve a conditional use application for a self-serve gas station which will be located on the same site and be a part of the Walmart operation. The proposed market will be essentially the same design as the one that opened on Pass Road in November 2014, and will include extensive landscaping with 57 trees to be installed. The Planning  Commission approvals will now go before the City Council for final consideration.

Also this week, plans were received for a new Pie Five Pizza Restaurant to be located in Hard Rock Casino, the plumbing repair permit was issued for Casino Magic, and building permits were issued for 2 new single family houses. Our permit valuation total for the year is $5.5 million ahead of last year at this time, and sales tax revenues for the month of January exceeded $1 million dollars for the first time since August, and was a $63,194.00 increase over January of 2014.