More than 700 athletes from across the state will be at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi this weekend for the Mississippi Special Olympics Summer Games.
The games will begin this evening with the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.
“About 10 runners will be at Debuys Road around 4:30 this afternoon to make their way to the Keesler Air Force Base main gate entrance on White Avenue,” said State Torch Run Director Christopher De Back, a detective in the Biloxi Police Department. “The opening ceremony will begin on Keesler at 5:30 p.m. and the torch will actually be brought into the ceremony around 6:40 p.m.”
The ceremony will include the Parade of Athletes and a welcome by Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich.
Games will be held at various locations in Biloxi and include sports such as basketball, swimming, track and field, bocce, sailing and volleyball.
Said De Back: “These are amazing athletes from 15 regions in Mississippi that train hard for these games. I am proud to be part of this event and proud that Biloxi is the longtime host for these state games.”
Local iHeart stations to focus on Conference USA
“Gulf Coast Issues,” the award-winning weekly public affairs program on iHeart Radio, will focus on Conference USA during its broadcasts this weekend.
The 30-minute program, which is actually a rebroadcast of the City Desk podcast, features Overtime Sports President Tim Bennett providing insight into the tournament and its economic impact. The Conference USA baseball championship, featuring eight college teams, takes place May 24-28 at MGM Park.
“Gulf Coast Issues,” which is typically hosted by longtime iHeart News Director Kelly Bennett, will air Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on 92.5 The Beat; at 10 p.m. on Magic 93.7, and at 10:30 p.m. on K99. The program also will air sometime Sunday morning and Sunday evening on NewsTalk 104.9.
Learn more about Conference USA tournament
News and notes
Popp’s Ferry progress: Seymour Engineering, the firm working on the Popp’s Ferry Causeway Park project, has new photographs from the site. To see progress, click here.
City Council agenda: The Biloxi City Council has two meetings on Tuesday. An 11 a.m. meeting will be to discuss establishing a homeless assessment and coordination, along with temporary shelter at the former Beauvoir Elementary School. The council’s regularly scheduled meeting takes place at 1:30 p.m. Both meetings are open to the public. To see the agendas and supporting documents for both meetings, click here.
