Living Large

Locals in the Limelight

BSL was recently named one of top ten beach towns to escape winter, read more below! photo by Ellis Anderson

Living Large features local businesses and individuals in the limelight.
​Have a Living Large candidate for us?  Email us the info or link to the story! 

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Money Names Bay St. Louis a 2024 "Best Place To Live"

September, 2025

Money Magazine recently named Bay St. Louis as one of America's "2024 Best Places to Live" in the U.S. The article said BSL is where "thriving economy meets affordability, diversity and an exceptional quality of life. " We all know it, but now the word, as they say, is out!

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Diamondhead's Jay Hosty named Trucker of the Year

Jay Hosty of Diamondhead, MS, Overdrive Magazine's Trucker of the Year

February, 2024

 Jay Hosty of Diamondhead was recently named Trucker of the Year by Overdrive Magazine. His career spans 40 years as the owner/operator of Jaybird Express. Todd Dills of Overdrive said, "[His] willingness to think outside the box, to push the envelope to find just what's possible for himself" is what gave Hosty the edge and put him over the top. Congratulations!

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​Derick Hall Drafted by Seattle Seahawks

May 2023

Derick Hall – yes, the Derick Hall that’s helped out at Ruth’s Roots for several years – was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks during the 2023 NFL Draft in April. The Gulfport native, who was drafted in the second round (37th overall), formerly played defensive end and outside linebacker for the Auburn Tigers. We wish Derick all the best.

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Peyton Laurent Earns $5,000 Scholarship

May 2023

​Peyton Autumn Laurent, a senior at Our Lady Academy, has been awarded the $5,000 Emily de Montluzin Foreign Language Scholarship for 2023. She will continue her studies at the University of Mississippi, where she will major in mechanical engineering with a minor in French. Congratulations, Peyton!

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"Pirate Day" Makes List of Best Things to Do in the USA

May 2023

The travel website TravelLemming.com included Pirate Day in the Bay as #27 in their 2023 list of "150 Best Things to Do in the USA." This quirky list includes events, historic towns, scenic destinations, and more. See the complete list here.

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Forbes Names Three Hancock Locations "Best Places to Travel in the U.S." for 2023

April 2023

Bay St. Louis, Waveland and Diamondhead were all mentioned in a recent article in Forbes Magazine as being some of the best places to travel this year in the U.S. Waveland earned a place for its beautiful and non-commercialized beaches, Diamondhead for its golf scene, and Bay St. Louis for its art galleries and antiquing. Read the full article here.

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Coastal Living Named Pass Christian to its Best Places to Live On The Coast List

Photo courtesy of the City of Pass Christan

March 2023

For the first time, Pass Christian made Coastal Living's list of Best Places to Live On The Coast for 2023. It is the first time a Mississippi Gulf Coast community has been named to the list.  
Citing Pass Christian’s natural beauty, the article calls The Pass “a gleaming, sweet place... to raise a family, and embrace a true Gulf lifestyle.” 

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BSL Student Prepares for Law School - at 15 Years  Old

March 2023

James Chilimigras of Bay St. Louis is ahead of his class - WAY ahead. He graduated high school at age 12 and now has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in accounting. He also holds the highest score in three states for the law school entrance exam (174). Jimmy has not decided where to attend law school, but it's safe to say he'll have his pick!

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DH Fire Chief Mike Munger Receives Patriot Award

ESGR Ombudsman H. Phillip Muller, right, presents Mike Munger with the award. Firefighter Aaron Warden, left, nominated Munger for the award.

February 2023

Diamondhead Fire Chief Mike Munger recently received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award for the support he has shown an employee serving in the U.S. Armed Forces Guard and Reserve. Congratulations!

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Karl Wilcox Receives Silver Snoopy Award 

BSL native Karl Wilcox receives the prestigious Space Flight Awareness Silver Snoopy award from astronaut Andrew Feustel during a Jan. 11 ceremony. | NASA/Danny Nowlin photo

January 2023

​Karl Wilcox, a native of Bay St. Louis and resident of Necaise, received NASA’s prestigious Space Flight Awareness Silver Snoopy award Jan. 11 during a ceremony held at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Wilcox, a video production specialist with SaiTech, Inc., was honored for his dedicated work on behalf of the NASA and Stennis missions. 

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Nola.com Features BSL Movie Location Walking Tour

January 2023

The website Nola.com recently ran an article highlighting the walking tour developed by Hancock County Tourism that highlights BSL's Hollywood experience as the location for "This Property is Condemned," the 1966 film starring Natalie Wood and Robert Redford. Read the full article here! 

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BSL Landmarks Featured in the Times-Picayune

December 2022

Nola.com, the website of the Times-Picayune newspaper, recently featured videos of the Alice Moseley Folk Art & Antique Museum, Gallery 220, and the 100 Men Hall. Click to view!​

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MacBe Seafood a "Hidden Gem Seafood Spot"

Unsplash

December 2022

The website OnlyInYourState.com recently featured MacBe Seafood on Highway 43/603 in Bay St. Louis as a "Hidden Gem Seafood Spot," saying, "Modest in appearance only, the eatery’s fare delivers in a big way." Read the full story here. 

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BSL Named One of Top 10 Beach Towns to Escape Winter

Shoofly Magazine file photo by Ellis Anderson

December 2022

When Rebecca Strong of Yahoo!Life assembled a list of the ten best beach towns in the U.S. to escape winter, she named Bay St. Louis to that list - of course - along with more well-known destinations as Destin, FL, South Padre Island, TX, and La Jolla, CA. Read the article here.

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Pat Murphy Spotlighted

Pat Murphy photo by Ellis Anderson

 October 2022

​Local musician and historian Pat Murphy was recently profiled in the Sea Coast Echo by writer Cassandra Favre.  The piece highlighted his struggles with a youthful polio disability and the obstacles he overcame to fulfill his life's dreams.  You can read the whole article here.  
Also, check out Pat's "Growing Up Downtown" series in the Shoofly Magazine archives!  

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Shout Out for Boo in the Bay

October 2022

The Mississippi Free Press noted this third annual parade in its round-up of don't miss activities for the fall around the state.  You can access the entire article here.  Click here for pics of the 2021 event by Gregg Martel for The Shoofly Magazine!  Want to participate in or watch the 2022 event? You 'll find full details on our Upcoming Events page! 

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​Coastal Mississippi Makes the List: 27 Best Places to Visit in December

September 2022

Coastal Mississippi was ranked #23 in the list of "27 Best Places to Visit in December," according to the website ExploreNowOrNever.com, a travel blog that offers monthly travel suggestions. Read the full article here.

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Stennis Awarded for Training Program; Island Reaches Service Milestone

(l-r) Commission President Derek Necaise congratulates Jerry Island on 20 years of service.

September 2022

Stennis International Airport recently earned an ANTN Digicast Excellence in Airport Training award, presented by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). This signifies that employees and others working at the facility have completed a specified amount of federally-mandated, airport-specific training and continuing education.

In other news, Stennis's Director of Operations, Jerry Island (pictured), was recognized recently by the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission for his 20 years of service.​

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House Beautiful Names Bay St. Louis as one of America's "Cutest Seaside Towns"

Beverly Fitzsimmons

August 2022

House Beautiful magazine recently named Bay St. Louis one of its "Cutest Seaside Towns," citing the city's abundance of shops and antique stores and its deserted white sand beaches. Read the full article here.

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Bay St. Louis Tops List of "Cutest Small Towns in Mississippi"

Photo by Ellis Anderson

August 2022

WorldAtlas.com, a cartography and geography website, recently chose Bay St. Louis to top its list of "9 Most Charming Small Towns in Mississippi. Calling it an "artsy enclave and beloved beach destination" that "feels like a breath of fresh air," the site promises that visitors will want to "return time and again." Read the full story here.

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100 Men Hall Cited in Rolling Stone as one of "Mississippi's Must-see Music Venues"

August 2022

In a recent article entitled "​These are Mississippi’s Must-See Music Venues," Rolling Stone magazine cited our own 100 Men Hall as a must-see, citing its importance as a stop on the "Chitlin' Circuit" of black musicians, and the importance of the venue today. Other nearby sites in the article are the Government Street Grocery in Ocean Springs and the Ground Zero Blues Club in Biloxi. 

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Port Bienville Railroad Receives Safety Award

The Port Bienville Short Line Railroad staff (l-r): Matthew Marcukaitis, Norman Givens, Railroad Director Shane LaFontaine, Chief Operations Officer Blaine LaFontaine, Ryan Furey, Justin Stewart, Susan Garcia, Scott LaFontaine, Jason Oliver, Mike Skoros, Brennan Stieffel, Colton Penton and Kevin Krull.

July 2022

Port Bienville Short Line Railroad (PBVR) was recognized for its safety record by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) for above-industry-average performance during 2021. ​Port Bienville Railroad also received a Jake Award with Distinction in recognition of reportable injury-free performance last year.

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Martha Whitney Butler Earns AIFD Accreditation

Martha Whitney Butler

July 2022

Congratulations to Martha Whitney Butler, owner of The French Potager on Main Street. Martha has been invited to become an accredited member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD®). Prospective members must participate in the Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE®) and achieve scores at the level required to receive an invitation to AIFD.

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Poplarville's Chapel Hart Gets "Golden Buzzer" on AGT

Chapel Hart

July 2022

Tears could not be contained when Chapel Hart, country up-and-comers from Poplarville, wowed the judges on America's Got Talent. The judges were so impressed by their performance that they gave the songsters the Golden Buzzer, essentially a free pass to the elimination round of the competition. You can view their performance here. Congratulations!

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Pass Books Featured by Mississippi Book Festival

July 2022

Pass Books, the popular local bookseller (and Shoofly sponsor) was featured in a video just posted by the Mississippi Book Festival. The festival takes place August 20. Click above to watch!

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