State
Overturned fuel truck reroutes traffic in Flowood WAPT
One of Pike County’s familiar faces is leaving town. Artis Brown, who has managed the area’s recycling program since developing it in 2014, is moving to Georgia to live closer to family. She turned in her resignation, which takes effect May 31, last week.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_c7158bf8-3dd2-11e7-9734-1f8ba4825f0d.html City gives 45-day notice to Waste Pro: Company racked up 140 complaints since March 1 Daily Leader
Compost is good for your plants and it’s good for your soil.
Recycling your organic household and garden waste is one of the better things you can do for the environment. Compost is easy to make and it’s cheap.
http://www.sunherald.com/sports/outdoors/article151817667.html Utility Authority accepts bids for sewer work Picayune Item
This is a story about Jesus, Mafia and tourism.
All right, it’s not THE Jesus but a statue of Christ. Oh, and it’s not THE mafia, it’s the
Deepwater Mafia, a spearfishing and diving club. But, if the group’s plan succeeds to place the statue atop a pogy boat in 80 feet of water in the Gulf off Mississippi, it could boost dive tourism.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article151840607.html
Crews clearing boat set to become part of artificial reef
WLOX
Buccaneer State Park’s best-known feature likely is its Buccaneer Bay Waterpark. But don’t limit your experience of the state park to just the wave pool and camping. There’s also a playground and a disc golf course.
http://www.sunherald.com/living/article151739297.html Health Department ponders what programs to scuttle, layoffs Clarion Ledger
Louisiana spends billions of dollars in settlement and fine money associated with the 2010 Gulf oil spill
Fox 8
Assistance available victims of late April storms
Jackson, Miss. – On April 30, Mississippi residents experienced severe storm damage from tornadoes and strong winds. Many parts of the state were declared a disaster area by the Governor, allowing residents to receive federal assistance. The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is working closely with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and other state and federal agencies to assist current NRCS customers and other individuals affected by the storms. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funds will be available through the Tornado Disaster Relief Initiative to address damaged conservation practice(s).
NRCS is offering assistance to help address damaged conservation practice(s) and structures with Mississippi farmers in the counties of Adams, Attala, Chickasaw, Claiborne, Clarke, Covington, Forrest, Grenada, Hinds, Holmes, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lowndes, Madison, Montgomery, Rankin, Smith, Union, Warren, and Yazoo. All applicants will need to meet all EQIP eligibility requirements.
Since this initiative is a result of an emergency, Kurt Readus, NRCS state conservationist for Mississippi is issuing a waiver to all participants affected by the tornadoes of April 30, 2017.
A waiver allows a producer to start a practice in a timely manner due to the emergency circumstances. However, anyone starting a practice prior to receiving funding will not receive funding if the contract is not approved or if the practice(s) are not completed in a manner that meets the standards and specifications of the NRCS. The waiver will expire on September 30, 2017.
"We are glad to be able to secure special funds to assist the Mississippi producers that were hit by storms," stated Kurt Readus, NRCS state conservationist for Mississippi. "We are not only able to assist with storm damage but also help to address the environmental concerns after the devastating storm damage."
The deadline for applying for assistance during the first application cut-off period is June 2, 2017. Additional information may be obtained by visiting your local NRCS office.
To find your local NRCS office, visit
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=MS&agency=NRCS. NRCS financial assistance covers part of the cost to implement conservation practices. Interested landowners are encouraged to contact their local USDA service center or visit the Environmental Quality Incentives Program page for technical and financial assistance information.
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State season for Red Snapper open May 26-Sept. 4 BILOXI, Miss. – Mississippi’s recreational anglers will be allowed to harvest Red Snapper in state waters from May 26 through Sept. 4.
Mississippi territorial waters will be open from 12:01 a.m. Friday, May 26, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4. The bag limit will be two Red Snapper per person per day with a minimum size of 16 inches.
Also on Tuesday, NOAA announced that the federal season for private recreational anglers is three days – from 12:01 a.m. June 1 through 12:01 a.m. June 4.
The season for federally permitted for-hire charter vessels is 49 days – from 12:01 a.m. June 1 through 12:01 a.m. July 20.
The federal government in December 2015 approved the extension of state waters to nine nautical miles. Earlier this month, Congress made the extension permanent.
“We appreciate our congressional delegation’s efforts to make this change permanent,” said Jamie Miller, executive director of MDMR. “Rep. Steven Palazzo and senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker know how important this is to our recreational anglers.”
Anglers also are required to participate in MDMR’s reporting program for Red Snapper, “Tails n’ Scales.” This program is available through a smartphone App, a website and a call center. The App is available in iTunes and Google Play. The website is tailsnscales.org. Fishermen also can call 1-844-MSSNAPP (677-6277) to speak to a representative 24 hours a day.
Anglers must create a profile and start a trip. They must have a trip number when they are out on the water. They must report their catch and close out one trip before creating a new one.
“The purpose of this electronic reporting system is to provide fishery managers the best available data to ensure Mississippi anglers the most opportunities and greatest flexibility for Red Snapper harvest,” said Matt Hill, director of MDMR’s Finfish Bureau.
“This reporting system provides fishery managers with accurate and timely data that will be used for better resource management.”
