JULY 2021

INSIDE THE FLAGSHIP CITY

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF PASCAGOULA

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

I would like to thank the people of Pascagoula for allowing me to serve as your next mayor. I’m so humbled by the outpouring of support for my campaign and aim for my tenure to be primarily about growing the legacy of our community as a family-centric, inclusive, safe, economically-thriving place we’re all proud to call home. It’s essential for leaders to maintain a primary focus on effective partnerships. I and the new Council will pledge to represent and look out for all parts of Pascagoula. We have a diverse city full of intelligent, hard-working people who ALL want this city to continue to succeed and ALL have talents to give. Serve on a city commission, volunteer for a non-profit board, support our small businesses, shop local – and most importantly, BE OPTIMISTIC. One of the most important things you can do as a citizen of Pascagoula is to be positive, supportive, and encouraging of the growth that is happening here. I would like to challenge everyone to renew your commitment to Pascagoula. We choose to live here. We love it here. What can YOU do for our city? Hope, excitement, and optimism are contagious. We are counting on each of you to be ambassadors for Pascagoula every day, everywhere.
-Mayor Jay Willis

UPCOMING EVENTS

JULY 15: Tacos & Ceviche Cooking Class, 5:00 pm, Pascagoula Senior Center
JULY 16: Third Friday, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Downtown Pascagoula
JULY 21: Cake Decorating Class, 5:00 pm, Nura Juice Bar

NEW CITY COUNCIL TAKE OFFICE

The newly elected Mayor and City Council members were sworn into office on July 6. Your newly elected council members and their contact information are as follows:

Mayor: Jay Willis - jwillis@cityofpascagoula.com
At Large: Patrick Gatchell - pgatchell@cityofpascagoula.com
Ward 1: Michael Hyde - mhyde@cityofpascagoula.com
Ward 2: Felix "FeFe" Fornett - ffornett@cityofpascagoula.com
Ward 3: Johnny Walker - jwalker@cityofpascagoula.com
Ward 4: Matt Parker - mparker@cityofpascagoula.com
Ward 5: Chris Blythe - cblythe@cityofpascagoula.com

MAYOR WILLIS ON THE COAST VUE

Mayor Jay Willis was recently interviewed on the Coast Vue with Ricky Mathews on SuperTalk Mississippi about his vision for Pascagoula. You can watch the interview, which starts around the 34 minute mark here.

HOSPITAL ROAD CLOSURE

Beginning Monday July 12, Hospital Road from Highway 90 south to Melton Drive will be closed to traffic. Contractors working on the Highway 90 road project will be replacing several pipes. The closure is expected to last 3 weeks.

TAX-FORFEITED LAND AUCTION

The Mississippi Secretary of State's tax-forfeited land auction in Jackson County is underway online. Bidding is open for 321 parcels across the county, many of them in Pascagoula. This is an opportunity to purchase property at a great price. While you're looking at property, keep in mind the City of Pascagoula offers tax abatement programs on residential properties for renovations and new builds as well as commercial properties.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

They're not technically city employees, but they're some of the most vital people working for Pascagoula. This month we would like to recognize the hard-working men and women of H₂O Innovation, who run the city's Public Works office. They do everything from maintenance and drainage ditch cleaning to storm prep and clean up. They become incredibly busy during the hurricane season and we are so grateful for the hard work they do for the City of Pascagoula.

PRA & MAIN STREET WIN STATE AWARD

The Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority won the award for Premier Partner at the 2021 Mississippi Main Street Association awards ceremony in June. The award recognizes joint ventures between a Main Street program and another local entity. The PRA has been such a critical partner with Main Street as everyone works together to revitalize downtown Pascagoula. The PRA matched $5,000 paid by Main street to secure a $30,000 Mississippi Power grant. The grant allowed Chris Chain, a well-known historic developer, to consult on mixed-use and historic preservation options for several downtown properties.
One of those restoration projects is complete (Scranton's) and two are underway (Odd Fellows & City Centre). The PRA recently matched $10,000 paid by Main Street to secure a $50,000 Mississippi Power grant to have Orion Planning & Design consult on the future redevelopment of downtown. Main Street Pascagoula is excited to continue partnering with the PRA to see Pascagoula flourish! Click here to watch a WXXV story on downtown development.

THE FLAGSHIP DISTRICT

Downtown Pascagoula is now being referred to as the Flagship District and the logo may look familiar. Thanks to AliceKate Berry for the design! There are a lot of exciting things happening in downtown Pascagoula and we're excited to partner with Hometown Spirit Company for the look! Click here to watch a WLOX story on new projects in the Flagship District.

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Help us welcome Sno Fro's to Beach Park! Sno Fro's opened in June inside the concession stand at the park. They offer snow cones, ice cream, hot dogs, candy, drinks, and more. Sno Fro's is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11:00 am - 7:00 pm and Sunday from 11:00 am - 6:00 p.m. Check out their menu here and be sure to stop by and see them!

SUMMER SOFTBALL SOCIAL

The inaugural summer social softball league has been a hit! The league plays once a week on Tuesday evenings and participants, men & women 21 and older, go on a post game social. The purpose of the league is to help people meet new friends around our great city! Since the summer league has been so successful, the Parks & Recreation Department is setting up a fall sport. Stay tuned for more information on "Kicking it with Kickball."

SUMMER SOFTBALL CAMP

Registration is still open for a one day softball camp for ages 7 and up on July 13 with Coach Kenya Peters, a former Division 1 college player. Kids will focus on skills such as hitting, fielding, pitching, and defending. The camp will run from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm. Registration is $50 and can be done at cityofpascagoula.com/register.

YOUTH FOOTBALL FALL SEASON

Registration is now open for the fall season of Youth Football. The Parks & Recreation Department is offering tackle football and co-ed flag football. Flag football is for ages 5-12 (separated into four age groups) and costs $64 for Pascagoula residents and $89 for non-residents. Tackle football is for ages 9-12 (separated into two age groups) and costs $94 for residents and $134 for non-residents. Register at cityofpascagoula.com/register.

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