NATHAN'S LEGACY PART I

Jones County, MS

On December 11, 2009, a motorist ignored the flashing lights and extended arm of the stop sign on a school bus and killed 5-year-old Nathan Key as he crossed the street to go home.

After Nathan's death, his parents Andy and Lori Key vowed to prevent this from happening to another child. The Keys' first step was to stiffen the penalties for unlawfully passing a stopped school bus. Senate Bill 2472, also known as Nathan's Law, passed on July 1, 2011.

The Keys also started the Nathan's Legacy Foundation, Inc. to keep Nathan's legacy alive. The non-profit organization is the National Association To Help Another Nathan Survive.

Nathan's Legacy Foundation members travel throughout the state to spread school bus safety awareness to children. Along with educating students during school visits, the Keys work with Mississippi's School Bus Safety Task Force to ensure that motorists, bus drivers, and students exercise caution around school buses. Initially, the School Bus Safety Task Force was established to last only one year, but under an executive order from Gov. Phil Bryant, the task force will remain.

The Keys will continue to work with the Nathan's Legacy Foundation and organizations like Mississippi's School Bus Safety Task Force to keep children safe.

EMPTY BOWLS

- Hattiesburg, MS

As of 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that 14.9 percent of the nation is food insecure or regularly hungry. Mississippi and Arkansas have the highest rate of food insecurity with a 19.2 percent hunger rate. 

In an attempt to heighten awareness of hunger issues in the state of Mississippi, Main Street Books employees in downtown Hattiesburg host an Empty Bowls fundraiser. Employees first collected over 300 handcrafted and painted bowls from local artists like Elizabeth Huffmaster. Then, the employees sold the bowls for 20 dollars each. 

On opening night of the fundraiser, participants who purchased bowls received a warm bowl of soup. The business also accepted 500 dollars worth of food from Big Star Supermarket to donate to the food pantry. All proceeds and donations from the fundraiser go to the Edward Street Fellowship Center in Hattiesburg.  

The fundraiser, according to Carolyn Critz, is not only only about raising money and collecting donations for the Edwards Street Fellowship Center, but it is also about bringing awareness for the many starving families that are in the state. 

These bowls are not just carefully crafted pieces of art; for those who purchase them, they are a daily reminder that there are families who need food. 

Employees have yet to sell all of the bowls, but they are excited to continue selling them to help combat hunger issues in the state. 

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ROLLER DERBY: THE SOUTHERN MISFITS

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- Hattiesburg, MS

Team members from the Hub City Derby Dames' Southern Misfits are rough and tough in the skating rink, but when the skates come off, these ladies are compassionate and kind.

Members of the team, like Kristin McNair, live perfectly normal lives outside of the rink. The ladies' occupations range from wives to doctors to army servicewomen to administrative assistants. When the skates are on and the crowd is cheering, these women are anything but ordinary.

Along with team members' balancing work while skating circles around the competition in the rink, they are also community service volunteers. Team members have collected Toys For Tots and have worked to build homes for habitat build projects. For Breast Cancer Awareness month, team members joined with The Grand Theatre in Hattiesburg for a screening of Derby Baby with all proceeds being donated to the Pink Ribbon Fund. The team was able to donate over 500 dollars to the cause. Southern Misfits' Coach Lee Chambliss says that team members will continue their involvement with philanthropic events because it's good for team morale and the personal growth of each of the members.

As the derby season progresses, the Southern Misfits are dedicated to making the best of the season while they display their dedication to community service.


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USM QUIDDITCH

- University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg

A mystical game flies off the pages of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and lands on the intramural field at the University of Southern Mississippi.

In 2011 Nicolas Kubicki decided that he wanted USM to have a quidditch team. He says that getting the team up and running was tough, initially, but once he got the ball rolling, the team seemed to blossom. The co-ed team now has over 30 consistent members, and USM is the only university in the state of Mississippi to have a team registered with the International Quidditch Association.

To play the game:
     Each team has seven players on the field. Three members are the chasers who throw quaffles through the opposite team's hoops to score points; each team has a goalie who protects their team's hoops. Two members from each team are beaters who use bluggers to protect team members. One player from each team is a seeker who tries to catch the snitch to not only end but also win the game!

The USM Quidditch team has yet to host an official match on the University of Southern Mississippi's campus, but they hope to host a game in the near future.


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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.