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.

RAISE YOUR PINTS

Mississippi -

Beer connoisseurs are thrilled The Craft Beer Bill - SB 2878 has passed.

Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law a bill raising the alcohol by weight in beer from 5 percent to 8 percent.

The law does not change the amount of alcohol in currently marketed beers; it allows for a wider selection of imported beer. According to the Raise Your Pints non-profit organization:

"The 5% ABW limit excludes approximately 1/3 of the world's beer styles, some of them the finest, highest quality beverages on earth. Entire styles of specialty beers fall above this limitation, such as barleywine, a strong ale with a typical ABW between 8-13%. Barleywines are elegant and expensive, sometimes cellared and aged for years like a fine Cabernet. Another elite group of beers, those brewed by Trappist Monks in Belgium (considered by many to be the greatest beer in the world) is comprised almost entirely of beers above 5% ABW. These "Dubbels" and "Trippels" are currently illegal in Mississippi."

Beginning July 1st of this year, Mississippians will have access to craft beers with an alcohol by weight of 8 percent.

Butch Bailey, President and Founder of Raise Your Pints, believes that people who are interested in craft/gourmet beers will now have a wider selection of those beers.

Mississippi residents like David Campbell and Hattiesburg's Keg & Barrel owner John Neal are excited about the law change. They believe the availability of more craft beers will increase tourism and revenue to the state because people will no longer have to cross state lines to get their favorite craft beers.

For more information about the Raise Your Pints movement, visit the organization's website:

http://raiseyourpints.com/about-ryp

You can also follow Raise Your Pints and the Keg & Barrel on Twitter: 

Raise Your Pints: @RaiseYourPints

Keg & Barrel: @TheKegandBarrel

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Day In The Life: USM Police

I spent a day with University of Southern Mississippi Police Captain, Charles Chandler.

Captain Chandler believes that the University Police Department (UPD) and the campus community work hand-in-hand to keep the campus safe.

One student, Stacey Roberts agrees that the campus is safer because of the strong presence UPD provides.

One staff member also agrees.

The multiple levels of security that the police provide give students a safe and enjoyable learning environment.

If you are a University of Southern Mississippi student or faculty member, you can join the university's Eagle Alert system for notifications about campus emergencies.

Irish-Italian Festival: St. Thomas Aquinas

- Hattiesburg, MS

This year marks St. Thomas Aquinas' 11th annual Irish-Italian Festival. The festival is a community-wide event that brings Irish and Italian traditions to the city.

The St. Tohmas Aquinas church family begins the celebration with a parade that comes down 4th Street and ends on the University of Southern Mississippi's campus.

Following the parade, the church hosts a festival where the food, music, and fun keep going until the sun sets. With the sounds of jazz saxophonists and traditional bagpipes in the background, there are activities for both children and adults.

Father Tommy Conway, Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, says that the event gets bigger and better every year and that he looks forward to the festivals to come. Visitors also agree that it is one of the best Irish-Italian festivals that they've ever attended.

Part of the proceeds from the Irish-Italian festivities will be donated to a local children's shelter.