Mississippi

August 22, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class George Stanciel, 40, of Greenwood, Mississippi, died Aug. 19 at Forward Operating Base Gary Owen, Iraq, of wounds suffered when the base came under mortar attack.

He was assigned to the 370th Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, Bamberg, Germany.

Source: DoD

August 11, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has called a special election for September 23, 2008, to fill a vacancy in the state House of Representatives due to the recent resignation of Representative Daniel “Danny” Guice, Jr.

Guice, of Ocean Springs, had served in the Legislature since 1984 before he was appointed by the Governor to fill a vacant four-year term on the Mississippi Parole Board. Under Mississippi law, Guice was not allowed to concurrently serve as a member of the House of Representatives and the State Parole Board.

“I appreciate Danny’s distinguished years of service in the Legislature and look forward to his contributions as a member of the Parole Board,” Governor Barbour said.    » read more »

BILOXI, Miss., July 1, 2008 -- Lights, camera, action! The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Mississippi Transitional Recovery Office (TRO) raised the curtain on a new initiative created especially for young citizens. FEMA in the Classroom is designed to empower and educate elementary school-age children to protect themselves, their families and their pets.

The program, designed by Public Affairs staff from FEMA's Mississippi TRO, uses various hands-on projects and other activities to explain disaster preparedness topics such as creating a family disaster kit, drafting a family communications plan and pet preparedness.    » read more »

ATLANTA, Ga., June 23, 2008 -- Families and individuals in Bolivar, Warren, Washington and Wilkinson counties who suffered damage from severe storms and flooding that began March 20 have two weeks to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The deadline is July 7.

Those who have not yet registered should call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number for the speech- or hearing-impaired is 1-800-462-7585. The registration line is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, including July 4. Online, register anytime at fema.gov.    » read more »

May 28, 2008 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Mississippi and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and tornadoes on April 4, 2008.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Hinds County.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.    » read more »

May 21, 2008 -- Chicago, IL – Today, Mississippi Democratic Party Chair, Superdelegate and former United States Congressman Wayne Dowdy endorsed Barack Obama.

Dowdy is the 308.5th superdelegate to endorse Obama. Obama is now 61 delegates away from securing the nomination, and has won a majority of the pledged delegates.

Barack Obama: Photo courtesy Barack Obama campaign    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Cpl. William J. L. Cooper, 22, of Eupora, Mississippi, died May 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

   » read more »