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Barracks officially opened for sailors
Sailors coming out of basic training and attending the Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC) on board Naval Air Station Meridian will be pleasantly surprised to find their new quarters are brand new.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Tuesday to mark the conclusion of a $19.8 million project to renovate seven barracks and the Administration Building at Naval Technical Training Center on board NAS Meridian.
The seventh and final barracks will begin taking on Naval personnel in the next few days. The barracks will be able to handle approximately 1,000 sailors and according to Comm. Rusty Bownds who oversees the NTTC, the quality of life for the seamen just got much better.
"This will be the first home for most of these sailors right out of basic training so it will be much different than what they've seen," said Bownds. "These barracks will provide an increased level of comforts and amenities as they learn their trade here and ship out for other duties."
The project was awarded Sept. 27, 2006, to TJC Engineering of Louisville, Ky. Following completion of the design, work began on the first two buildings in January 2007. The first of the barracks was accepted Jan. 8, 2008, and students began moving in immediately.
Work included removal of all interior finishes (walls, ceilings, flooring, lighting and bathroom fixtures) and replacement with more durable and up-to-date materials including porcelain and ceramic tile flooring, impact and mold resistant gypsum board, energy efficient/adjustable direct and indirect lighting, new insulating windows and key card locking systems. A new outside air system was designed and installed to ensure the rooms are provided with conditioned outside air to meet new standards for indoor air quality. Barracks exterior "freshening" of the bulldogging included new handrails on the second and third floor walk ways, new exterior lighting and repair and painting of the exterior stucco finish.
"The older barracks were getting grungy and dated," said Bownds. "Now we are prepared to accommodate sailors as they are needed by the Navy and house them comfortably."
Each of the barracks includes 60 sleeping rooms in suites of four rooms with a common lounge. Typically each bedroom houses two "A" school students, though some are furnished with three beds, lockers, and desks to support increased student loading.
The Administration Building now houses NTTC Administration offices on the ground floor as well as the Personnel Customer Support Detachment and ID Card Center. The Liberty Center is located on the second floor. It has a large media room, Guitar Hero "rock out" room, and a sports game room. Computer and wireless access will be added soon.
The project was completed within budget and six months early.
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Flying Milestone
T-45 Goshawks from Naval Air Station Meridian were recently part of a flyover of the USS George H.W. Bush in celebration of the jet trainers 1 million flight hours mark.
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County faces fines from MDEQ
At the same time as they are investigated by the state auditor's office, Lauderdale County is facing fines from another state agency — the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
MDEQ is fining the county $12,000 for failure to use sediment control at a county road project, but Road Manager Neal Carson said the sediment controls were there.
According to MDEQ spokesman Robbie Wilbur, MDEQ found that a road project in Toomsuba did not have the proper sediment controls to prevent run-off into Roasted Hog Creek. -
Convicted sex offender arrested
Nothing freezes the blood of a mother more than hearing the cries for help from one of her children.
Monday night, a mother and her 14-year old son allegedly found themselves in a battle against a man who earlier this year pleaded guilty to a sexual crime. Fortunately, the two were able to fight off the man, identified now by authorities of the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department as Christopher Todd Shelton. Shelton, 41, of Toomsuba, is now being held in the Lauderdale County Adult Detention Facility on charges of attempted kidnapping, failure to register as a sex offender non-compliance, and probation violation. -
No time like now
If State Treasurer Tate Reeves was concerned whether or not the fifth grade students at Poplar Springs Elementary School were listening to him, then he was convinced they were judging by the questions the youngsters were peppering him with after he spoke Wednesday morning.
"Boy these are very good questions," said Reeves as he took a minute to collect himself from the barrage. "You people are really testing me but I like that. It shows you are interested in this issue." -
Downtown organizations adopt a common name
Something as simple as a name can cause a lot of confusion. Three different downtown organizations in Meridian have learned that the hard way, and they've decided to do something about it.
What used to be three sister downtown advocacy groups — related, but separate — are now one. What were Meridian Main Street, the Alliance for Downtown Meridian, and the Meridian Downtown Association will now all operate under the Meridian Main Street name. -
MPD and LCSD get grants
Each year the Meridian Police Department and the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department receive a joint grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help pay for upgrading equipment used to fight crime.
Twenty grants worth more than $630,000 have been approved to help city and county law enforcement agencies in Mississippi upgrade law enforcement equipment, according to U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). The grants to Mississippi police and sheriffs’ departments represent formula grant funding provided through the DOJ Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. -
Rollover sends one to hospital
Meridian Police Department units responded Tuesday afternoon to a two-vehicle collision in downtown Meridian that sent one person to a local hospital with injuries.
According to officials, the accident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of 12th Street and 18th Avenue next to Rush Foundation Hospital. A black two-door sedan was flipped onto its roof as a result of the impact. -
Aniel back at work 12 days after surgery
At first glance, Pete Aniel doesn't look like someone who recently underwent heart surgery.
"I guess you were expecting me to look all weak, and walking around toting an oxygen tank," said Aniel, smiling broadly and – just 12 days after surgery – is neatly dressed in his work uniform.
"Can you believe this?" he says, still amazed himself at the possibility. "I was riding a bicycle in my neighborhood with my wife and grandson just this past Sunday. I tell everyone if you've got to have heart surgery and you're a candidate for this type of procedure, go for it!" -
Stateley Visit
State Auditor Stacey Pickering spoke to the Kiwanis Club of Meridian on Wednesday, Aug. 25.
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State superintendent tours local schools
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tom Burnham took a day away from his office in Jackson Tuesday to visit several local school districts.
"We don't want to get bogged down in the office in Jackson; when you do, you sometimes will see a lot of frustration," said Burnham, who visited Meridian High School, Clarkdale Attendance Center and Enterprise High School. - More Local News Headlines
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Flying Milestone
