Page 81 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2019

FACING PAGE: MAYOR KING ADDRESSES THE CITY HALL MEETING.
ABOVE: MAYOR KING AND HIS WIFE NATASHA KING READ TO STUDENTS AT MARY’S LITTLE LAMB.
going on and to give their input. This input can be offered in person and online. The mayor says all comments are welcome.
Having a healthy and safe
Moss Point is also an important component of the city’s rejuvenation. “We had a stigma as an unsafe city and are taking steps to change that perception,” King says. Such steps as hiring a police chief from within the ranks of the police department and enacting programs to get young people involved and off the streets are paying positive dividends.
Another major focus is on
improving the health of Moss Point citizens. Mayor King called upon his background of working in the healthcare field to obtain grants and develop programs
for the city. The old city hall was gutted and renovated to create a health plex with nominal fees so all citizens can use it. The Omega Protein company purchased some of the equipment and made a cash donation. The back of the building is rented to Acadian Ambulance Service as another source of income for the city.
“If you live here, you need to know about the water. We
purchased kayaks, water boards and other equipment to get people active on the water,” King said. “We also put in a mini golf course at Rejuvenation Park. The goal
is for people to have fun and not even know they’re exercising.”
And last but definitely not least, education is playing an important role in Moss Point’s rejuvenation with efforts being led by the mayor’s wife, Natasha King. She and others created Rejuvenation Station to encourage literacy and reading. Children come on Fridays to have stories read to them and to learn the value of reading.
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January 2019 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 81