State
Summit receives $400,000 grant to repair sewer lines
Enterprise-Journal
Summit’s chronically backed-up sewer lines that lead to raw sewage seeping from underground pipes and pooling in residents’ yards could be repaired by the summer thanks to a $400,000 grant going toward fixing the problem.
The town council next week will sign off on the payment of engineering and grant administration fees for the Community Development Block Grant-funded project aimed to fix problem lines along Thomas and Calhoun streets.
Dungan Engineering is developing plans for the repairs, and The Ferguson Group is the grant administrator. Those firms are expected to receive initial payments of $8,000 and $8,400, respectively, for their work on the project, which has not yet been bid out for contract.
In addition to the CDBG funds, the town also is applying $138,000 in leftover money from a previous U.S. Army Corps of Engineers grant for the work on Calhoun Street. Town officials expect to have to borrow some money to pay for the rest of the work but they won’t know how much until bids come in.
Mayor Percy Robinson said flooding and sewage backup is still occurring on Thomas Street and the town has been in contact with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality about the matter.
“That’s why were able to get the grant money,” he said.
The mayor said it could be until the summer before the repairs are made.
Meanwhile, town Superintendent Tim Baylor said recent heavy rains have exacerbated that problem and caused a number of others for streets and ditches while impeding crews’ ability to make repairs.
“We just ask for the citizens to bear with us,” he said.
DEER HUNTERS BEING ASKED TO TAKE CAUTION AFTER SECOND CASE OF DEER DISEASE
WTVA
The second case of Chronic Wasting Disease in deer in Mississippi was confirmed in November.
‘THE MODERN FISH ACT’ PASSED AND INTRODUCED BY SENATOR WICKER
WXXV
Senator Roger Wicker brought multiple acts to law before the start of new Congress, one that will significantly help recreational fishermen.
MDMR ANNOUNCES 2019 DERELICT CRAB TRAP REMOVAL PROGRAM
WXXV
In an effort to remove derelict crab traps from state waters, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) will conduct a crab trap closure for commercial and recreational crab fishermen in all Mississippi territorial waters from Thursday, February 7, through Sunday, February 17, 2019.
Wildlife rehab group releases three birds over the weekend in Biloxi
WLOX
The past two days have been busy for Alison Sharpe as the director of the Wildlife Care and Rescue Center. Saturday, a brown pelican became the third rehabilitated bird she released at Hiller Park in Biloxi in the span of 48 hours.
A year on 'The Trace': Local photographers help document the historic route
Commercial Dispatch
In their careers, Bob and Pat Boisseau of Sherwood Photography in Columbus have photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of weddings, senior portraits, children, family reunions and just about everything else in between. This past year, however, they took on an assignment of a different kind when they became official photographers of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Their mission? To travel the 444-mile recreational road that touches three states -- Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee -- and capture images of scenic spots, wildlife and people enjoying themselves.
State Government
Transportation Commissioner Hall won’t run in 2019
NewsMS
Mississippi Department of Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall has announced that he will not be running for re-election in 2019. Hall made the announcement during an appearance on the Paul Gallo Show and said that he intends to finish out his term.
These are the top priorities for the 2019 Mississippi legislative session
Clarion Ledger
Lawmakers on Tuesday will convene the 134th regular session of the Mississippi Legislature — a statewide election-year session.
Mississippi seeing spread of flu, state health officer says
AP
The Mississippi State Department of Health says more cases of flu are being reported around the state.
Regional
Alabama steps up monitoring for Chronic Wasting Disease
AP
After Chronic Wasting Disease struck deer in nearby states, Alabama is expanding its efforts to monitor the state's deer herd.
Derailed trains spills corrosive chemical near Georgia town
AP
BARTOW, GA.
A derailed train spilled various chemicals including hydrochloric acid outside of a small Georgia town, prompting evacuations.
Lawsuit: Oilfield contamination is widespread in Spanish Lake basin just outside Baton Rouge
Times-Picayune
ST. GABRIEL — Wetland ecologist Scott Nesbit drove down a gravel oil field road in an all-terrain utility vehicle, zipping under a heavy forest canopy toward what he says is the source of it all.
Alabama Power raises rates to pay for closing coal ash ponds
AP
Alabama Power Company has raised electric rates this year to pay for closing coal ash ponds around the state.
Judge denies expedited hearing on sale of Bellefonte plant
AP
A federal judge has turned down a request for an expedited hearing on the Tennessee Valley Authority's decision not to sell its unfinished Bellefonte nuclear power plant to a developer.
National
Dem secured policy commitments from Trump environmental nominees
The Hill
The top Senate Democrat overseeing environmental policy secured a number of commitments from three Trump administration nominees before the Senate confirmed this week.
Huge trash-collecting boom in Pacific Ocean needs repairs
AP
A trash collection device deployed to corral plastic litter floating in the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii will be hauled back to dry land for repairs.
