GULFPORT -- Specialist Aquaneldo Maurice Johnson was born to the late Jackson and Jean Johnson.
Johnson is survived by wife Karen Johnson and daughters Janae and Makia Johnson; mother Jean Johnson, sisters Jacqueline Glenn Moody, Marilyn Yvette Exum and Bonnie Stewart; a very special cousin, Precious Ann Thomas; god-brother Sedric Casey; grandchildren Kynnedi and Kassidy Johnson; nieces Talia Glenn and Bryanni Exurn; a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services will be Friday, April 23, 2010, with visitation at 8:30 a.m. and commemoration at 9:30 a.m. at First Missionary Baptist Church of Hansboro, 1100 E. Pass Road in Gulfport. Burial will follow at 11 a.m. at Biloxi National Cemetery.
Read a complete obituary and sign his guestbook at http://www.marshallfh.com/.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Sheriff Honors Emergency Personnel for Rescue
PASCAGOULA -- Sheriff Mike Byrd has honored emergency personnel who helped rescue an infant from a house fire Feb. 18 in Gulf Park Estates, according to local news reports.
The 5-month-old boy, Madden Graham Gunn, died Feb. 19 of burns and smoke inhalation at Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Ala.
The honorees included Chief Michael Belton with the Fontainebleau Volunteer Fire Department, Mike Hurring, a deputy with Jackson County Sheriff's Department, and Ocean Springs police officers Jason Byrd and Steven Dye.
Sheriff Byrd made the presentation during a supervisors meeting on Monday, March 1.
Grandmother Kathy V. Bradley, 57, was able to get out of the burning two-story home with 2-year-old Benjamin Gunn, but was unable to reach her grandson Madden.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Moss Point, Lucedale Firefighters Receive $335 in FEMA Funds
By APRIL M. HAVENS
Three local fire departments have received more than $335,000 in Federal Emergency Management Agency Firefighter Assistant Grant funds for training and equipment.
The Moss Point Fire Department received $107,735, and the Benndale and Central volunteer fire departments, both in Lucedale, received $121,600 and $107,550, respectively.
The grants are part of a $1.66 million program to help 17 fire departments around the state buy new equipment and vehicles.
Loraine Howell, George County's fire coordinator, said the Benndale and Central stations will use their grants for turnout gear (jackets and other personal protection equipment) and training upgrade courses.
"It's a big asset to us because it's going to equip them to have better response and in general make things better for the volunteer firefighters," Howell said. "We're happy to get any amount we can, and we have greatly improved through the AFG grants."
Howell said the grants also help the departments recruit more firefighters.
"Better equipment means more people are willing to volunteer," she said.
Tommy Posey, shift captain and grant writer at the Moss Point Fire Department, said their grant will fund safety vests, 20 new air packs and send 35 firefighters to driver training.
"In the last two years, I've gotten close to $486,000 in grants for the fire department," Posey said. "These grants are amazing, and they really help us out, especially since all the cities are in a bind financially."
Those grants have bought new radios, turnout gear and training, he said.
"We don't just sit here and depend on tax dollars," Posey said. "We go out looking for grants."
Posey still awaits word on two other 2009 grants that would help the department buy a new truck and remodel two of its older fire stations, he said.
Larger vehicle acquisition grants were awarded to East Covington Volunteer Fire Department in Collins, the Farmington Volunteer Fire Department in Corinth, and Silver Run Volunteer Fire Department in Perkinston, while 11 smaller grants went to departments for operations and safety.
The funds are in addition to 20 similar grants awarded in January and are awarded on a competitive basis by FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration.
"The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is useful to many rural and volunteer forces that might not otherwise have the resources to obtain the equipment they need to serve the public," Sen. Thad Cochran said in a news release. "I am pleased that FEMA has accepted grant applications from more fire departments in Mississippi."
In January, FEMA awarded $1.47 million in AFG grants to 20 local fire departments in Mississippi. Congress funded the program through the 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
MDEQ Accepts NCBC into enHance Program
JACKSON – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) recently accepted the Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) in
Gulfport as a leader in its enHance program.
enHance is a voluntary
stewardship program that recognizes committed environmental leaders who
accomplish goals beyond their legal requirements. enHance is open to
facilities, cities, counties, and other entities who are interested in the
program, and applicants can choose from three tiers: associate, steward,
or leader.
“We are pleased that the Naval Construction Battalion Center has joined the
enHance program, and they should be commended for their commitment to doing
good work and their leadership in achieving standards beyond their
environmental permit requirements,” said Trudy Fisher, MDEQ executive
director.
“This is great news," said Captain Ed Brown, commanding officer of Naval
Construction Battalion Center Gulfport. "Being part of this program will
help us be better environmental stewards and at the same time assist our
neighbors in Mississippi. The "Can Do" spirit of our personnel on base when
it comes to environmental excellence contributes every day to making the
Seabee Base and Mississippi an even better place to work and live.”
The enHance 2010 class includes three leaders: Caterpillar High
Performance Extrusions (Oxford), Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC)
(Gulfport), and Southern Natural Gas - Pickens Station (Pickens).
Five stewards were selected: Columbus Brick (Columbus), Leaf River Cellulose,
LLC (New Augusta), Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (Gulfport), Northrop
Grumman Electronic Systems (Ocean Springs), and Northrop Grumman
Shipbuilding (Pascagoula).
The three associate members are: Choctaw Gas
Generation (Ackerman), GDF SUEZ Red Hills Power Plant (Ackerman), and Gulf
States Manufacturers - a Nucor Company (Starkville).
Information about the program is available at:
http://www.deq.state.ms.us/enhance.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Public Safety Complex step closer in Ocean Springs
OCEAN SPRINGS -- A public safety complex that will house police officers, firefighters and court facilities is a step closer to reality.
The Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen on Dec. 01 awarded bids totaling $6.5 million to two construction companies, according to reporter April Havens in The Mississippi Press.
She said the complex -- 38,500 square feet -- consists of two buildings on east U.S. 90. GM&R Construction Co. of Waveland was awarded a $2.7 million contract to construct a fire station and emergency operations building.
and the new chief, Jeffrey Ponson.
Gulf Construction Co. of Gulfport was awarded a $3.9 million contract to build the housing for a police station, jail and court facilities.
Find out about Chief Lionel Cothern
and the Ocean Springs Police Department.
Mayor Connie Moran said the complex is being paid for with $800,000 in city funds, $4.5 million from a food and beverage tax, and a Community Development Block Grant, according to the Mississippi Press at www.gulflive.com .
What happens during
The reporter said land clearing and groundwork have been done and construction could start this month. The complex should be completed in about a year.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Military Gunman Kills 12 at Fort Hood
FORT HOOD, Texas -- Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan has been identified as the gunman who shot and killed 12 military personnel and civilian police officer today at Fort Hood.
Civilian police shot and wounded Hasan, who reportedly was upset about leaving for another deployment to Iraq. The shooting occurred at the soldier readiness facility as personnel were preparing for deployment.
Details of the tragic loss of life at the largest military installation in the U.S. has been breaking news since the shooting occurred just after midday. At least 31 people also were wounded.
The Army base was put on lock down following the shooting, which occurred about 1:30 p.m., just prior to a graduation ceremony.
Fort Hood is home to the First Army Division West.
Fort Hood is a United States Army post located outside of Killeen, Texas. The post is named after Confederate General John Bell Hood. It is located halfway between Austin and Waco, about 60 miles (100 km) from each, within the U.S. state of Texas. The main cantonment of Fort Hood is a census-designated place(CDP) in Bell County, Texas that as of the 2000 U.S. Census had a total population of 33,711. Some portions of the base lie in Coryell County. -- www.wikipedia.org
Photo found at abcnews.com
Chance Anniversay on Nov. 6
Spc. James A. Chance III is remembered as the first fatality for the Mississippi National Guard during the war with Iraq.
Chance was killed Nov. 6, 2003, by a land mine near the Syrian border.
Funeral services were held Nov. 15 at the Kokomo United Methodist Church.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Oneto-Sikorski -- Fourth Year Memorial
BAY ST. LOUIS -- While the end of October is party time for most Americans, unfortunately many people know the pain of tragedy that comes with traditional holidays.
While American military personnel usually have their own version of the celebrations, danger in Iraq and Afghanistan, like untimely violence and death at home, does not take off on holidays.
So was the case Oct. 31, 2005, when 1st Lt. Robert C. Oneto-Sikorski was killed in Iraq during a combat mission. He was leader of the Army's 155th Infantry Battalion.
He was a 33-year-old native of Bay St. Louis.
During May, Oneto-Sikorski was the first soldier added to a Veterans Memorial Garden built by students on school grounds at Bay High. His name is etched into a brick of the memorial that honors fallen military personnel.
The students held dedication ceremonies May 22, 2009.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Obama Meets Fallen Soldiers, Agents at Dover AFB
The dignified transfer was a 'sobering reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices' of the military. -- President Barack Obama
During a solemn ceremony Obama stood in salute with military officers as flag-draped transfer case carrying the bodies were transferred from C-17 cargo airplane to waiting vehicles at the military base in Delaware. Earlier this year, Obama lifted the nearly two-decade-old ban on media coverage of the return of deceased soldiers to Dover AFB.
Only the family of Army Sgt. Dale R. Griffin of Terre Haute, Ind., permitted media coverage of the dignified transfer of his body.
Obama met with family members of the fallen military and law enforcement personnel prior to the transfer ceremony. According to www.cnn.com, the president said 'the burden of war on U.S. troops and their families will "bear on how I see these conflicts" ' as he decides on whether to send as 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
The U.S. Army soldiers and drug agents were among 18 Americans killed this week in southern and western Afghanistan. The service personnel and agents died Monday in separate helicopter crashes. Eight others died Tuesday, Oct. 27, after improvised explosive devices hit their Stryker vehicles during separate incidents.View photographs of dignified transfer at www.mortuary.af.mil.
According to www.abcnews.com, the three DEA agents killed were identified as 37-year-old Forrest Leamon and 30-year-old Chad Michael, both from Virginia, and 37-year-old Michael Weston of Washington. Weston, like Obama, was a Harvard Law School graduate.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Pascagoula Gets New Police Chief
PASCAGOULA -- Kenny Johnson has been named the new head of the Pascagoula Police Department.
Johnson, who was deputy chief, replaced former Police Chief Eddie Stewart, who had served for the last two years as chief.
According to a report at www.wlox.com, Johnson has 18 years of service, and he's working with more officers to fight drugs and crime, will develop programs to prevent scams of elderly, and wants police personnel to get involved in community programs such anti-litter campaigns.
Cityofpascagoula.com says the Pascagoula Police Department consists of 107 employees, of that, 57 are sworn officers. The PPD has 4 Patrol Divisions, a Criminal Investigations Division, Court Division, Street and School Patrol Division, Traffic Division, Identification Division, Administration Division, Training Division, and Public Relations Division.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Gulf Coast Chamber Gives Salute to the Military
BILOXI -- More than 1,000 people were reported to have attended the annual Salute to the Military on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center.
The event, in its 31st year, pays tribute to all military branches including veterans and active personnel extending from WWII through today's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce sponsors the military salute, along with business and community partners. The chamber includes the cities of Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach and Pass Christian, and Leadership Gulf Coast and Coast Young Professionals.
Admiral Gary Roughead, chief of U.S. Naval Operations, was the guest speaker. He attended with his wife, Ellen.
Roughead, who lived in Ocean Springs during the early 1990s, thanked the community for its appreciation and support of the Navy and Seabees stationed in Gulfport, according to a media report at sunherald.com. More than 400 military members and families live in South Mississippi.
He was commander of the USS Barry, the first Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, that was built at Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula (now Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding).
Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise and Congressman Gene Taylor were among the dignitaries who attended the Salute to the Military.
Clarence Hartenstine, a first class aviation electronics technician, received the Thomas V. Fredian Award for Outstanding Community Service.
According to www.prambeach.org, the Tom Fredian Memorial Scholarship is offered in memory of Thomas V. Fredian, a founding member, senior practitioner and former president of PRAM Mississippi Beach.
PRAM is the acronym for Public Relations Association of Mississippi.
Fredian, a native of Chicago, resided on the Mississippi Gulf Coast from 1976 until his death in 1999. Fredian began his 23-year career in public relations after retiring from the Navy in 1974. He spent his entire civil service career as the public affairs officer of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Headquarters at Stennis Space Center, Miss. He retired from civil service in 1997.
At the time of his death, Fredian was working as a parttime special projects assistant for Analysis & Technology in Bay St. Louis.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Afghanistan War Anniversary
Today marks the eighth anniversary of the start of the war in Afghanistan.
On Oct. 7, 2001, President George W. Bush made the announcement that U.S. military had begun bombing of mountain ranges in Afghanistan aimed at capturing and killing people -- namely al-Queda and Taliban members -- the U.S. considered responsible for the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and an intended attack on the White House.
Eight years later, President Barack Obama and military leaders are discussing strategy for the future warfare -- or not -- in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, where Taliban and al-Queda fighters have sought refuge and taken over large areas of land and local populations.
Since 2001, as many as 8,000 military men and women have died fighting in Afghanistan, more than 230 of those during 2009.
Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org
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