Pearl News

The enticing aroma of freshly popped popcorn accompanied by excited chatter is the usual scene at Tinseltown in Pearl.

The road also will be straightened with curbs, gutters and new traffic signals added to enhance safety.

<![CDATA[Coleman Hammons Construction Co. of Pearl had the winning bid of $2.56 million to build a safe room in Rankin County, but construction is estimated at $3.4 million because of poor soil conditions at the Marquette Road site. State and federal emergency management agencies are providing 95 percent of the funding with Rankin County providing the remainder. ALSO: The Pearl Board of Aldermen rejected bids last month for construction of West Rankin Parkway after they came in too high. City officials said bidders were not clear that dirt needed to build the roadway was to come from the construction site rather than elsewhere. The parkway will run from the north end of Pearson Road at U.S. 80 to Treetops Boulevard in Flowood. COMING UP: The Pearl Public School Board has adopted a Bring Your Own Device policy. Students in grades 6-12 can bring personal technology devices -- excluding cell phones -- to use in class. The trial program is designed to enable students to collaborate and do research using technology.

A number of metro cities will see new leadership at City Hall following general elections Tuesday, while others will see current leaders return.

Voters picked an eclectic bunch of mayors to lead the metro area for the next four years, and while most of their time will be spent looking inward, the broader success of the greater Jackson area may depend on their ability to work together.

Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway and Gov. Phil Bryant will unveil preliminary architectural designs for a new minor league baseball stadium in downtown Biloxi.

Conversations Book Club, in connection with Mississippi Reads,is excited to announce that its next book fair will take place Saturday, June 1, 2013 at the Pearl Public Library from 1-3p.m. Hosted by book club President Cyrus Webb , the event will feature authors Melissa Cobb , Darlene Collier , Amanda Lee and J.Marie . "Conversations is excited to ... (more)