jjacob@themeridianstar.com
Monday night's headliner at the Republican National Convention was supposed to be President Bush. Instead, the convention's first night was headlined by Hurricane Gustav.
The proceedings there were minimal, and the speeches by Cindy McCain and first lady Laura Bush were focused completely on the Hurricane.
Even so, state Rep. Greg Snowden (R-Meridian), is having a good time as an alternate delegate at the convention in St. Paul, Minn. He said that, though the celebratory parts of the convention were put on hold Monday, he's still had some interesting experiences.
"It's an experience to be here," he said. "It's really especially good to meet folks from all over."
Snowden said that, along with meeting people from other states' delegations, he's enjoyed watching some notable people walk the convention floor.
"You see media celebrities walking around. You're standing in the aisle and there's Mitt Romney. It's just fun. It's interesting to see people working," Snowden said.
Snowden has been enjoying himself, but has not forgotten about Hurricane Gustav.
"It's a fun thing," he said of the convention, "but it's a serious thing, too." Though the focus was on Gustav Monday, the technicalities of the convention were on the agenda as well.
"The convention has to go on," he said. "It's a legal process."
But once the legalities were out of the way, Snowden said the convention Monday was less a political event and more an outpouring of support for those touched by the hurricane.
"It was very heartwarming," he said. "When people find out you're from Mississippi they can't talk to you long enough... People understand. People know there are priorities here."
As a Mississippian, Snowden said he has also heard a lot from other delegates about Governor Haley Barbour, who stayed in Mississippi during the hurricane instead of attending the convention as planned.
"There's a tremendous respect for Haley Barbour and what he did during the aftermath of Katrina," he said.
Sen. Roger Wicker and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant were also absent Monday, he said.
As for Barbour making it to the convention at some point, Snowden said, "Speculation is that he will probably be able to come later in the week... Hopefully most of our folks will be here by the end of the week."
Local News
Experiencing the RNC with Greg Snowden
Reaching out to the coast
- Local News
-
-
High Honor
The flowers and balloons Crestwood Elementary School Principal Kimberly Kendrick received at school Monday were not an early Valentines' Day gift.
Kendrick has been named Meridian Public School District's 2012 Administrator of the Year – an announcement that both surprised and wowed the 17-year veteran educator when made by MPSD Superintendent Dr. Alvin Taylor. -
Master Dance Class
-
Digital system promises better communication
Hopefully in the near future you won't hear someone in the emergency services ask over the radio, "Can you hear me now?"
A digital communications system, one which is being pushed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), is a few months away and, in some cases, is already in the testing phase in Lauderdale County. -
Inmate escapes custody
Mississippi Department of Corrections officials said Monday afternoon an inmate escaped from custody Friday and is still being sought.
Officials said Johnny Hall Jr. escaped from two Wilkinson County Correctional Facility officers’ custody while being escorted from his father’s wake at the Picayune Funeral Home in Picayune. Preliminary information indicates Hall left the officers and jumped into a waiting black vehicle with a white female driver. -
Citizen’s Police Academy begins today
The work law enforcement conducts on a daily basis is often misunderstood by the general public.
Officials at the Meridian Police Department developed a program to inform and educate citizens on what police do in serving and protecting the population. The program, The Citizen's Police Academy, has been gaining speed for a couple of years since it was first offered. Officials said it shows residents are interested in police work and how it is conducted. - Woman: decongestant brought meth charge in Alabama
-
Star Of The Week: Dominique Goodwin-Jenkins
-
SoMiSPO brings steel drum rhythms to MCC
-
About face
Nothing is forever in the military and after a months-long battle to secure a C-27J Spartan flying mission and its field training unit at Key Field and the 186th Air Refueling Wing, it seems all of that is flying the way of the KC-135 tankers that used to fill the skies over Meridian.
- Marriages & Divorces: Sunday, February 5, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
