GARAGE SALE PERMITS

- Hattiesburg, MS

The city of Hattiesburg requires residents living within the city limits to obtain a permit before holding a garage sale. 

According to the City of Hattiesburg's website: 

"Garage sale permits may be obtained after completing a brief application. The applicant must be the legal owner or occupant of the property where the sale will be held. Two sales per calendar year are allowed without a fee. Each permit, when issued, shall authorize a sale not to exceed two consecutive days and must occur only on the dates specified on the permit. No sales are allowed on Sunday or before 8 a.m."

After the two free permits issued within a calendar year, the city charges 50 dollars for the third, 100 dollars for the fourth, and then it will level off at 200 dollars. The city limits the number of garage sales so residents will not run small businesses from their homes in areas of the city that are not zoned for that type of business. 

Hattiesburg residents do agree with the policy because it keeps homeowners from holding too many garage sales within a calendar year, but many believe that driving downtown to get the permit is an inconvience. They also expressed that the city should look into providing the application online for easier access.

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SERVICE DOGS

- Hattiesburg, MS

September is National Service Dog month, and I investigated what role guide dogs play in their owners' lives.

Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center, in Madison, MS, is a non-profit organization that specializes in providing guide dogs for the blind. The Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center's Executive Director is Rebecca Floyd. Floyd has utilized her guide dog, Lucy, for a little over three years. Kathie Curtis works with Floyd as the Director of Kennel Operations and the Puppy Program.

At Gallant Hearts, it currently costs about 17,000 dollars to breed, raise and train a guide dog. In the Gallant Hearts program, there are currently 16 dogs in the puppy raising program, 3 dogs in training and 4 dogs in the breeding program, and Gallant Hearts is expecting the graduation of their first guide dog in the coming weeks.

The guide dog trainer for Gallant Hearts is Ryan Burley. Burley believes that guide dogs can give their owners more freedom by serving as their eyes.

Mac David, a University of Southern Mississippi student, utilizes his guide dog, Cy, to help him navigate campus. David says that it is very important for guide dogs to have a great relationship with their owners.

Floyd, Curtis, Burley, and David all agree that if you see a guide dog working that you shouldn't pet him/her without consent from the owner. Guide dogs are not just pets for their owners, they are working as their eyes.

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HURRICANE ISAAC: BOATS ASHORE

- Pass Christian, MS

I visited the MS Gulf Coast just days after Hurricane Isaac touched down. I stopped by the Pass Christian Boat Harbor and found three boats that were removed from the water by Isaac's powerful winds.

The Harbor Master, Willie Davis, said the boats that came ashore were ones owners left after mandatory evacuation. He continued to explain that when hurricanes are set to come to the mainland that boat owners are given a call and told that boats must be removed from the water. With that, he mentioned that boat owners were charged a 500 dollar per day fine until the boats are picked up. Davis also mentioned that the owners of boats that washed up would also have to pay for any and all damages caused by the boats as well as the crane that would be needed to return the boats to the water.

I also got the chance to meet boat repairman Don Simmons. Simmons was working on one boat that landed next to an electrical platform. He was quickly trying to repair the boat so it could be put back in the water. He was thankful that the boats did not cause more damage than they did.

Shaggy's Harbor Bar and Grill workers were also thankful the boats did not hit the building.

As hurricane season continues, Willie Davis asks that all boats be removed from the water when a mandatory evacuation is in place to prevent damage in the future.