PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Two-time Grammy Award winner Paul Overstreet, one of country music’s most prolific hit writers, will perform in Pascagoula this July.
Overstreet will take the stage at the Grand Magnolia Ballroom on July 8, part of the “Native Mississippians Singer/Songwriters” series.
Overstreet spent much of his youth in Vancleave before embarking on an acclaimed career in music. He was written/co-written 27 top ten hits and, in addition to his two Grammys, has won multiple Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association awards.
He was also the BMI Songwriter of the Year five consecutive years in the 1990s -- a record which remains unbroken. He is also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The Pascagoula performance will be Overstreet’s first in three years.
“I’m looking forward to coming back to The Mississippi Gulf Coast,” Overstreet said. “I wouldn’t have wanted to grow up anywhere else. That’s what made me who I am. I learned a lot about the big world growing up in a small town.”
Over the past three decades, Overstreet has crafted hits for artists including Randy Travis, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Keith Whitley, Allison Krauss, The Judds, George Jones, Ronnie Millsap, Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood.
Among the classic hits he has penned are “Love Can Build a Bridge”, “Forever and Ever, Amen”, “Digging up Bones” and “On the Other Hand”, “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy”, “When You Say Nothing at All”, “Same Ole Me”, “Houston Solution” and “Some Beach”.
While Overstreet has also enjoyed success as a performing artist, he says songwriting is his first love.
“I’m a songwriter at heart,” he said. “It’s the best life in the business.”
Tickets for the July 8 show are on sale at Scranton’s Restaurant in Pascagoula or at www.grandmagmusic.com.
MGCCC president to receive award from State Auditor’s Office
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Mary S. Graham, president of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, will be honored with the Mississippi Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) Award Thursday in Harrison County.
The award was established this year by Mississippi State Auditor Shad White to recognize government offices and officials for cutting costs, reducing waste and improving efficiency in the workplace.
Graham will receive the award for the Work for College Scholarship, which allows students to work in campus offices and departments to pay their tuition. Work is scheduled around students’ classes, and when they complete the program, their tuition is paid.
The award presentation will be held at the Hospitality Resort Management Center.
Annual Sand Jam “Turtle Up Mississippi” set for June 11
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- The 2nd annual Sand Jam, entitled “Turtle Up Mississippi”, is set for June 11 at Pascagoula Beach Park.
Hosted by the Jackson County Recreation Department, the event is intended as a celebration of Mississippi native wildlife and habitat.
The event will include over 20 activity booths, live turtle ambassadors, kayaking, fishing for children 15 and under, a turtle art competition for all ages, beach games, NOAA’s Turtle Hurdle and more.
“It’s just great to see so many organizations across Mississippi getting involved with making this event so much fun while we help educate our guests on how to protect our wildlife and their habitats,” said recreation director Darcie Crew.
Sponsored by Singing River Federal Credit Union, Chevron, and Mississippi Export Railroad, there is no cost to attend.
According to Barb Medlock, the Jackson County creator and chairperson for “Turtle Up Mississippi”, the event is a great collaboration with many of Mississippi’s organizations and businesses.
“We’re extremely fortunate to have so much support from wildlife biologists, veterinarians, naturalists, turtle experts, rehabilitators, and naturalists to help with all the fun,” Medlock said.
Activity booths will be hosted by the City of Pascagoula, Marine Education Center, Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, Institute of Marine Mammal Studies, the Coastal Conservation and Restoration Group, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’s Shrimp and Crab Bureau, P.L.A.C.E, Wild at Heart Rescue, and bat specialist Mandy Sartain.
In addition, three organizations will be bringing live turtle ambassadors to the event. The Nature Conservancy will show off their Gopher Tortoises, a threatened keystone species. Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue will for the second year be bringing Scooter, a little turtle with an amazing heart, along with other species of turtles.
Also, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science will be bringing turtles from Jackson.
Awards will be offered to all age groups in the art competition. Art materials will be provided or participants may bring bring their own. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and the award ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m.
This will be a plastic water bottle free event. There will be water stations set up with paper cups available or guests may bring a reusable container. For more information, call Jackson County Recreation at 228-826-5330.
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