Howley to direct Natchez alliance

Mickey Howley will join the Natchez, Miss., leadership community as executive director of the new Downtown Natchez Alliance (DNA) beginning Nov. 1. Mayor Michael Pace introduced Howley on Oct. 6 to the community. Howley is a New Orleans native who comes to Natchez from Water Valley, Miss., where he was executive director of the successful Water Valley Main Street Association for 12 years. Howley was first involved in the start-up Water Valley program as a board member, and then led the organization as executive director from 2009-21. The Water Valley Main Street program has been hailed at the state and national Main Street levels as a premier example of downtown revitalization success. Water Valley is located in Yalobusha County, Miss. The population was 3,392 at the 2010 census. The city has a total area of 7.0 square miles. (Natchez Democrat 10/06/22) Howley leader tapped to head Downtown Natchez Alliance - Mississippi's Best Community Newspaper | Mississippi's Best Community Newspaper (natchezdemocrat.com)

MSU's Ball jumps for Army ROTC

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University's Director of Admissions and Scholarships Lori Ball literally jumped at the chance to be an advocate for MSU’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program. She completed a national leadership and team training program that ended with a challenging 13,000-foot tandem skydive. Established to help bridge the civil-military divide, the Army Cadet Command’s 2022 Centers of Influence program provided multiple academic influencers to become more informed about the nation’s AROTC and gain first-hand experience. With nearly 67% of lieutenants in the Army starting their military careers through ROTC, it is the nation’s largest commissioning source. The MSU Army ROTC nominated Ball because she is seen as a "valuable partner to our program and someone who can help increase awareness ... across the state,” said MSU Assistant Professor of Military Science Maj. Nathaniel Rice. Ball traveled to Fort Knox, Ky., to survey the USACC advanced and basic summer camps and also engaged with Army and university leadership from across the U.S. Participants were tested on teamwork and leadership skills on a field course, rappelled off a 62-foot tower, and discussed the experience of ROTC students to get a better understanding of the Army. For the tandem jump, Ball was escorted by Rice to complete the skydive with the Army’s Golden Knights parachute demonstration team from Millington-Memphis Airport in Memphis. (MSU 10/06/22) MSU admissions and scholarships director ‘jumps’ into Army ROTC learning experience | Mississippi State University (msstate.edu)

2x MSU grad interim state chemist

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Two-time Mississippi State University graduate Erika Womack is returning to MSU as director of the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory and interim State Chemist. The Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory, a state agency, is housed on the MSU campus. It provides testing and analysis services on products sold in state for a wide range of stakeholders. Womack returns to MSU from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her appointment as State Chemist is pending confirmation from the Mississippi Senate. Womack earned her doctorate in molecular biology and bachelor’s degree in biological science from MSU. She also has a master’s degree in biomedical science from Mississippi College. (MSU 10/07/22) Womack named Miss. State Chemical Lab director, interim State Chemist | Mississippi State University (msstate.edu)

MS trustees continue restorations

The Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group is continuing implementation of the Restoring Living Shorelines and Reefs in Mississippi Estuaries project - a Phase IV Early Restoration project approved in 2015. Components of the project already completed have resulted in the construction of 1.8 miles of living shoreline and breakwaters, about 137 acres of subtidal reef habitat creation, and five acres of intertidal reef habitat creation. In September 2018, the Trustees released a Notice of Project Change, cancelling three components of the original Project: The St. Louis Bay Living Shoreline; The Little Island Living Shoreline; and ​The Channel Island Living Shoreline and Subtidal Reef. The St. Louis Bay Living Shoreline component was cancelled in 2018 because some of the adjacent property may not have been owned by the State of Mississippi. Since initiating implementation, however, the State is resolving ownership matter. (Gulf Spill Restoration 10/07/22)  Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group's latest Gulf Spill Restoration news update >>

HII: DDG 123 acceptance trials

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - HII announced Oct. 7 that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division completed acceptance trials for Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123). DDG 123 is the second destroyer to be named in honor of Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee, the first woman to receive the Navy Cross. Higbee joined the Navy in October 1908 as part of the newly established Navy Nurse Corps and became the second superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps in January 1911. Ingalls has built 33 destroyers for the Navy. Four others are under construction - Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128), Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) and George M. Neal (DDG 131). DDG 123 will be the final Flight IIA destroyer Ingalls will deliver as the Navy transitions to Flight III destroyers. (HII 10/07/22) https://hii.com/news/ingalls-shipbuilding-acceptance-trials-lenah-sutcliffe-higbee-ddg-123.

HII 3Q financial webcast Nov. 3

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - HII will release its third quarter 2022 financial results on Nov. 3 and host an earnings conference call at 8 a.m. CT the same day. The call will be webcast live on HII’s website: https://www.hii.com/. HII participants will include Chris Kastner, president and CEO, and Tom Stiehle, executive vice president and chief financial officer. (HII 10/06/22)

4 LA agencies get Brownfield funds

DALLAS - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that four Louisiana agencies will receive a total of $5M in Brownfield grant funding. The agencies include the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the City/Parish of Baton Rouge, the South Central Planning and Development Commission and New Orleans Regional Planning Commission. (EPA 10/06/22) See link for project details. EPA Announces $5 million for Louisiana in Brownfields Funding | US EPA

CG answers multiple distress calls

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard medevaced a crewmember from the commercial fishing vessel Rachel Marie on the evening of Oct. 5 near Venice, La. The CG received a distress call from the vessel that a 57-year-old crewman was suffering from heart attack-like symptoms. The CG launched a 45-foot Response Boat and crew to assist. The crew embarked and transferred that person to awaiting emergency medical services personnel. The crewmember was last reported to be in stable condition. (Coast Guard 10/06/22)

CRUISE SHIP MEDEVAC

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard medevaced a 75-year-old man in the afternoon of Oc.t. 5 from a cruise ship about 195 miles south of Mobile, Ala. The cruise ship's doctor apprised the CG that a passenger was experiencing severe abdominal pain. The CG launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from New Orleans to assist. The helicopter crew hoisted the man and ship's nurse and transported them to University Medical Center New Orleans. The man was last reported in stable condition. (CG 10/06/22) See link for video coverage of the medevac. DVIDS - Video - Coast Guard medevacs cruise ship passenger 195 miles offshore Mobile, Alabama (dvidshub.net)

Davidson new prez of Atmos-MS

 Matt Davidson became president of Atmos Energy’s Mississippi Division on Sept. 1. Davidson previously was VP for rates and regulatory affairs at the Flowood company, which has 320 employees. A native of Brewton, Ala., Davidson has spent his entire career with Atmos Energy, starting in 2004 as an analyst with Atmos Energy Marketing in New Orleans. He joined the Mississippi Division in 2018 as VP of marketing. In 2019, he began his role as VP of rates and regulatory affairs. Davidson has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Alabama and a master’s in business administration from Tulane University. (Daily Journal 09/30/22) Atmos Energy delivers natural gas to approximately 269,000 customers in Mississippi. Davidson leads Atmos Energy’s Mississippi Division | MS Business Journal | djournal.com

Offshore LA firm's $11.3M pact

Offshore Service Vessels, LLC of Cut Off, Louisiana (N3220519C3514), is awarded an $11,301,130 option (P00028) for the fixed-price portion of a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract with reimbursable elements to exercise a one-year option period to support the launch and recovery of U.S. Navy submersibles, divers, and small craft. This is the third, 12-month option and is part of a firm, fixed-price contract with reimbursable elements for one U.S. flag Jones Act, West Coast-based service support vessel, MV Alyssa Chouest. This contract includes a 12-month base period, three 12-month option periods, and one 11-month option period. Work will be performed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and at sea, and is expected to be completed, if all options are exercised, by September 6, 2024. The option is funded by Navy working capital funds for fiscal 23. The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (DoD 10/06/22)

NASA simulator arrives at Stennis

A critical component for future testing in support of NASA’s Artemis space missions to the Moon and beyond arrived - via barge from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans where it was fabricated - on Sept. 21 to the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The interstage simulator special test equipment is 31 feet in diameter and 33 feet tall. It will be used during Green Run testing of the new Exploration Upper Stage. EUS will fly on future Space Launch System missions as NASA continues its mission to explore the universe. (Michoud 10/05/22) Video Short: Stennis Begins Work on Key Testing Component | NASA

MS port authority meets Oct. 27

The Mississippi State Port Authority Board of Commissioners will meet Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. at the Port’s Administrative Office on the 14th floor of the Hancock Bank Plaza, located at 2510 14th Street in Gulfport. Visit the Calendar of Events page for the most up-to-date information. Board meetings are open to the public. (MSPA 10/05/22)

Low-water groundings on MS River

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard continues to respond to multiple barge groundings due to low water levels in the Lower Mississippi River on Oct. 4 near Stack Island, Miss., causing waterway restriction from mile marker 478 to 492; and a waterway closure in Memphis, Tenn., from mile marker 686 to 676. In response to the low-water groundings, the CG established a Marine Transportation System Recovery Unit with federal, state, local, and maritime industry partners to facilitate safe navigation and the continued flow of commerce along the affected waterways. There have been eight reported groundings in the past week. (Coast Guard 10/05/22)

For more information regarding the low water levels please read the following Lower Mississippi River Low Water Conditions MM 869-303 and MSIB Vol XXII Issue 053 Low Water Safety Advisory: Mississippi River MM 0.0 to MM 167.5 AHP. Marine Safety Information Bulletins can be viewed on the following Coast Guard homeport webpages:

• Sector Lower Mississippi River Port Directory page.
• Sector Upper Mississippi River Port Directory page.
• Sector New Orleans Port Directory page. 

MS restoration trustees meeting

The Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group (Trustees) will hold its annual public meeting on Nov. 10 to provide updates on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) restoration activities. The updates will be presented during the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality 2022 Restoration Summit, to be held in person as well as via a Facebook Live virtual broadcast. Learn more at the Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group's latest Gulf Spill Restoration news update >> (Gulf Spill Restoration 10/05/22) 

LOUISIANA TRUSTEES MEET   

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group held a virtual public meeting to present the proposed project from “Draft Phase 2 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #7.1: Terrebonne HNC Island Restoration Project” via webinar on Sept. 8. Trustee representatives provided information on one proposed preferred project for construction. The Plan also considers a non-preferred alternative in addition to a No Action Alternative. The presentation was followed by an opportunity for attendees to submit comments. Find the materials at the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group's latest Gulf Spill Restoration news update >>

Stennis team honored by NASA

Attention to climate and environmental issues continue to grow around the world. NASA’s Stennis Space Center is emerging as a leader in sustainability, evidenced by NASA's honoring of the Stennis Sustainability Team with the Blue Marble Director’s Award for its leading work in energy reduction across the south Mississippi center. Stennis. Sustainability Team Lead Alvin Askew accepted the award Sept. 20. Overall, eight agency teams and individuals were recognized for environmental excellence and leadership during the ceremony. Stennis was highlighted at the awards presentation for its use of Geospatial Information System (GIS) technology to reduce energy usage and costs. Use of this technology helped reduce overall energy usage at Stennis by 3.5% in the most recent year of record. (Stennis Space Center 09/28/22) Stennis Sustainability Team Receives Prestigious Blue Marble Award | NASA

LNG aiding in FL hurricane recovery

PINEVILLE, La. - The Louisiana National Guard has responded to the Florida Department of Emergency Management’s request for assistance through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) process after Hurricane Ian hit that state on Sept. 30. About 60 LNG soldiers, 30 tactical vehicles and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter have moved into Florida to assist officials with recovery efforts, including search and rescue, commodities and supplies distribution and convoy planning, coordination and execution. says Capt. Harry James, executive officer for 199th Brigade Support Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The LNG's response comes a year after the Florida National Guard’s 122nd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Squadron (REDHORSE) came to Louisiana’s aid following Hurricane Ida. (US Army 09/30/22)

$241M AF contract to Memphis firm

Crew Training International, Inc., Memphis, Tennessee, has been awarded a $49,550,268 firm-fixed-price modification (P00040) to previously awarded (FA4890-19-C-0003) for the MQ9 Aircrew Training and Courseware Development Contract. The contract modification is for the exercise of Option Year Four. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $241,451,248. Fiscal 2022 operations and maintenance funds are being obligated at time of award. Contract modification (P00042) will add the first incremental funding for Fiscal 2023. Work will be performed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, March Air Reserve Base, California, and Hancock Air National Guard Base, New York, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2023 for this option. Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (DoD 10/03/22)

Is the flu scheduling a 'come back'

Doctors have a message for vaccine-weary Americans: Don’t skip your flu shot this fall, especially senior citizens. There are three choices of extra-strength vaccines for those 65+ years old:  There are three choices. Fluzone High-Dose and Flublok each contain higher doses of the main anti-flu ingredient. The other option is Fluad Adjuvanted, which has a regular dosage but contains a special ingredient that helps boost people’s immune response. After low levels of the flue during the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be poised for a comeback."We know flu is back,” said influenza specialist Richard Webby of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Annual flu shots are recommended starting with 6-month-old babies. Flu is most dangerous for people 65+ , young children, pregnant women and people with certain health problems including heart and lung diseases. Seniors can ask what kind their doctor carries. But most flu vaccinations are given in pharmacies and some drugstore websites, such as CVS, automatically direct people to locations offering senior doses. Webby advised making sure older relatives and friends know about the senior shots, in case they’re not told when they seek vaccination. (The AP 10/03/22) Seniors asked to get more powerful flu shots this year | wwltv.com

Underwater sill plan for MS river

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' New Orleans District will begin constructing an underwater sill across the bed of the Mississippi River channel in just over two weeks. The underwater sill will be built at Myrtle Grove in Plaquemines Parish to prevent upriver progression of saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico. The river’s volume of water has fallen allowing saltwater upstream. Saltwater intrusion in the river is a naturally occurring condition because the bottom of the riverbed between Natchez and the GoM is below sea level. Denser saltwater moves upriver under the less dense fresh water. Normally, the downstream flow of the river prevents much upriver progression of salt water. In times of extreme low volume flow, saltwater can travel upriver and threaten municipal drinking water and industrial water supplies. The largest risk of saltwater intrusion is the appearance of unsafe salinity levels at the intakes of municipal drinking water in Plaquemines Parish. The parish has implemented a proactive mitigation plan. (NOLA.com 08/28/22) Underwater levee in the Mississippi? Here's the plan to protect the region's drinking water | Environment | nola.com

Rocket Lab hot-fire tests in '23

LONG BEACH, Calif.- In 2023, Rocket Lab plans to conduct initial hot-fire tests of a more powerful engine that will power its next-generation Neutron rocket, the company's chief executive told Reuters. The California-based company routinely launches small satellites into space with its small Electron rocket. "We'll start to see tanks roll out of the factory by the end of this year," CEO Peter Beck said in an interview referring to the first carbon composite molds of Neutron's booster stages. The company has pre-burner tests this year and will get into full scale hot fires in 2023, he said of Neutron's liquid oxygen- and methane-fueled engines Rocket Lab aims to fly Neutron for the first time in 2024. Beck said engineers are focused on development and declined to discuss specifics on customer interest. (Reuters 08/30/22) Rocket Lab to fire up first tests of new engine next year - CEO | Reuters  

Mississippi Note: Rocket Lab is locating its engine test facility for its Neutron rocket at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Miss. Rocket Lab is the launcher of Electron, the second most-frequently flown U.S. rocket, and developing Neutron, its larger, reusable rocket, to carry out national security missions and deliver multiple satellites to space. Rocket Lab selected Stennis Space Center as the site of the test and development complex for Archimedes, its Neutron rocket engines. (Y'all Politics 08/21/22) Rocket Lab locating engine test facility at Stennis in Hancock County | Mississippi Politics and News - Y'all Politics (yallpolitics.com)