Sandhill News

A new $6.9 million, 15,000-square-foot visitors center and research laboratory slated for completion next spring should help boost tourism to the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, representatives said.

Jackson County fire departments will use $133,000 in rural fire assistance grants to better protect residents living near wildlife refuges.

It's a day many have been dreading, the start of the 2008 hurricane season. After dealing with Hurricane Katrina's powerful wind and water in 2005 Jackson County Civil Defense is urging people all over the ...

The Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge has reopened a new $2.5 million visitors center, replacing one damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

The Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge is once again hosting visitors thanks to the recent opening of a new $2.5 million administrative and visitors center.

Carters Visit Habitat Homes To Thank Volunteers, Greet Homeowners BILOXI -- Two thousand volunteers turned blight into rejuvenation. via WLOX-TV Biloxi

“The meetings form a basis for the work and it proceeds from there.”

North Gautier residents were knee-deep in grassroots planning Thursday as they helped create a foundation for Gautier's future in the last of five public comprehensive plan meetings. via The Mississippi Press

“People will get a real good hands-on opportunity to learn about this stuff.”

The public must wait another month for the grand reopening of the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge's $2.5 million visitor center.

Administrators had planned to open the nature trail and headquarters area this month, but they've decided to keep it closed until demolition of the old building is complete and the exhibits are installed.

'For everyone's safety we just think it would be best if the old building, the dump trucks and everything that goes with it are out of the way and we don't have to worry about visitors wandering into a dangerous construction area,' said park ranger Emily Neidigh. Read more

“Some of those kids are getting up at 5 and 5:30 in the morning so they can get to the bus at 6 a.m.”

Weeds and brush grow around a rusted merry-go-round and a fallen down swing set where children played 20 years ago. via Hattiesburg American

“We'll just be asking for $1 from each member of every American Legion post.”

ALCORN COUNTY City, county close land deal - CORINTH - The Corinth Board of Aldermen Tuesday approved a Memorandum of Agreement with Alcorn County to transfer title to jointly owned property where a proposed ... via Djournal.com

“Once their green card expires, they should go back and get it renewed. If they don't have one, send them back”

Proposals to deny worker's compensation benefits to illegal immigrants and to make it a felony to transport those illegally living in the state are among two dozen bills touching on immigration issues in the ... via The Clarion-Ledger

“A woman and her two children were asleep when she woke up to the smell of smoke”

Two mobile home fires in Rankin County displaced at least five people, including two children, before lunchtime Wednesday. via The Clarion-Ledger

“I hate to say it, but it's one of the hidden blessings of the storm”

The staff of the Sandhill Crane Wildlife Refuge is expected to move into the new visitor's center next month, and plans are moving forward to have the facility open to the public in the spring, according to ... via The Mississippi Press

A mixture of smoke from a controlled burn and fog could be to blame for a 20-vehicle pileup, said Joe Gazzo, public relations officer with the Mississippi Highway Patrol. via The Mississippi Press

WLOX News has learned that there has been a multiple vehicle accident on I-10 Eastbound. via WLOX-TV Biloxi

Those answering the phones at the Sun Herald on Saturday received many calls from citizens and staffers concerned about smoke hovering over Jackson County.

But it turns out the smoke, which could be seen from neighboring counties, was nothing out of the ordinary. A controlled burn on the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge has been under way since midweek, Jackson County officials said.

The high call volume might be due to the fact that many traveled from areas west to the Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday and for many, it was the first time they'd noticed the smoke. Workers at the refuge are burning land in the Old Fort Bayou area south of Interstate 10 near Ocean Springs. Read more

“We believe that the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge is on the verge of becoming one of the more visible refuges in the country”

Three Gulf Coast national wildlife refuges and the Southeast Wildlife Conservation Group will sign a cooperative agreement today following the annual Sandhill Crane count. via The Mississippi Press

“Crane counters will gather before first light and be taken out to observation blinds overlooking crane feeding areas on the 20,000-acre refuge”

Hidden in blinds with binoculars and notebooks, dozens of helpful volunteers will watch the sun rise over the wet pine savannah of southwest Jackson County and count Sandhill cranes.

Senior wildlife biologist Scott Hereford with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued an invitation for other biologists as well as land managers, birders, educators, students and naturalists to participate in the annual autumn crane count Nov. 2.

Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

Since 1983 volunteers have gathered in the early-morning hours at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge to count and identify native cranes. Read more

“The open burning of residential, commercial, institutional or industrial solid waste is prohibited.”

The property at the corner of Mississippi 57 and Old Spanish Trail is the home of Kenny Vaughn, seven fenced acres with a home, barn, goats, emus, chickens, horses, guinea fowl and turkeys.

Vaughn rakes the leaves on his wooded acres, piles them into small piles and burns them.

Last week when a reporter visited Vaughn, he had about 20 small piles smoldering inside his fence and a DEQ investigator taking pictures just outside the fence.

The smoke was drifting lightly across the intersection of the highway and Old Spanish Trail. 'I don't like smoke, either,' Vaughn said. 'But I don't have any way to get rid of these leaves.' Read more