MAYOR'S MESSAGE

If you haven't heard, Pascagoula has received a tremendous designation from the National Park Service. We've been named an American World War II Heritage City. This national designation recognizes the important role Pascagoula played in American history. From the very start, Pascagoula embraced the war effort. We went into debt to build a shipyard when America was not yet at war. We opened our homes to the strangers flooding into town. We built streets, schools, utilities, and recreation facilities to handle the explosion in population. World War II transformed Pascagoula from a depression era fishing village into the industrial powerhouse it is today. The shipyard built in 1938 by Robert Ingalls under Mississippi's Balance Agriculture with Industry Plan gave thousands of Mississippians their first real chance to move into the manufacturing sector of our economy, get a steady, good-paying job, and provide a good life for their families. In four years, our little shrimping and boatbuilding town had become a major industrial power and today we are the nation’s premier military shipbuilding center. World War II transformed Pascagoula on a fundamental level and that is our true World War II heritage. We appreciate the National Park Service for recognizing and honoring the important impact Pascagoula made and continues to make on our national security. We're so proud to represent Mississippi positively on a national level. I would like to extend a special thank you to my personal friend and member of our Historic Preservation Commission, Martin Hegwood. Martin discovered the program and spent countless hours conducting research and writing the narrative for the city's application. We are so appreciative of his work to thrust Pascagoula in the national spotlight. -Mayor Jay Willis

SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

Pascagoula-Gautier School District:

Colmer Middle School eighth grader Grayson Stafford has been selected to participate in the Mississippi All-State Band. Grayson is a saxophone player in the Colmer Middle School band under the direction of Jennifer Theisen-Gray.

Pascagoula High School Principal Dr. Caterria Payton has been selected as the Pascagoula-Gautier School District Administrator of the Year. Dr. Payton led PHS to an A-rating this past school year. The surprise announcement was made at the PGSD Board of Trustees Recognition Night held at Trent Lott Academy. Dr. Payton will now go on to represent the school district at the state level competition.