The Mudcat Report Episode 20: The Admiral Way

The Mudcat Report Episode 20:  The Admiral Way

HOST:  Hunter Dawkins -  Owner/Publisher of the Award-Winning Newspaper - The Gazebo Gazette, SuperTalk Mississippi News contributor, former Congressional Staffer, former Public Relations for the Attorney General's Office

PRODUCER:  Jeff Clark - Award-Winning Journalist, Multimedia/Podcast Host, Director for the Harrison County Senior Services

GUESTS:

• Bryan Caldwell - Former Gulfport School District Administrator, District 2 Candidate
• Jeffrey Hulum III - State House Representative (Gulfport), District 119, U.S. Army Veteran, U.S. Congressional Candidate District 4
• Shannon Arzola - Member of Gulfport Main Street Association, Co-Owner of Pop Brothers & Tavi's

Transcript

SPEAKER_11 0:00

Once flavored over instant stage in the Broadway hit the musical. Join UX, Donkey, and Princess Fiona on a high-energy family-friendly adventure. June 11th through July 2nd. Tickets start at $25 with four packs starting at 60th. The IP package is available. It's your tickets at Bobs.com, around productions and produced special events from Peter Theatre International MTI Start Charges and Fixers may apply.

SPEAKER_03 0:25

Grab your paddle and join the fun at Paddle the Bay, hosted by the Rotary Club of Pat Christian. Mark your calendar for Saturday, June 13th, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hederson Point Park, right at the base of Bay Bridge. Paddle the Bay or explore the value while enjoying a day filled with food, music, and community spirit. Celebrate more than 100 years of service and consider donating $100 or more to support a great cause. Plus, compete to win gold, silver, or bronze paddles and prizes by raising the most funds. For more information, go to the Rotary Club of Past Christian's Facebook page. Don't miss paddle the bay, where fun meets purpose on the water.

SPEAKER_12 1:24

Here's your host, owner and publisher of the Gazebo Gazette, Hunter Dawkins.

SPEAKER_02 1:34

Good afternoon. My name is Hunter Dawkins, and I am the host of the Mudcat Report. This is the 20th episode of a Mississippi Gulf Coast Community News Podcast sponsored by the Gazebo Gazette, the Harrison County Independent Newspaper, the Beau Revage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Nine Toes Brewing Company in Pascushan, Odewire Realty Agent, Stephanie Mankowitz, Joseph Kelly, Attorney at Law, Coast Casual in Pascracian, the Rotary Club of Paschershan's Paddle the Bay Fundraiser, the Insurance Barn and Gulf Port, Gulf Coast Veterans Associations Carry the Load honoring Memorial Day, May the 20th. And we are always in the U.S. Marine Studio. I'm here with the wonderful producer of the show, Jeff Clark. Jeff is a well-accomplished award-winning journalist, director of the Harrison County Senior Services. Jeff, how are you, my friend?

SPEAKER_14 2:50

I'm well, Hunter. Evidently, I'm still winning awards even long after I've retired, you've told me. So uh, you know, that's exciting. I'm well, man. Uh uh great topic today. Tell tell us all about what uh what our guests are going to speak about.

SPEAKER_02 3:07

Jeff, our theme today is the Admiral Way. The city of Gulfport is the second largest city in the state of Mississippi, and it is right in the middle of Harrison County, where we both work and play. And it has the aquarium, the international airport, the county's largest courthouse, great restaurants, and so much more. Uh, there are a lot of great things happening in the city of Gulfport and a lot of development. We will certainly hear from all of our guests, both the good and bad, and the improvements the city of Gulfport needs. Do you have any thoughts on this?

SPEAKER_14 3:45

Yeah, man. You know, I work in Gulfport. My office is 47 Maples Drive, right behind Pass Road Elementary. So, you know, live in the past. I come down Highway 90 every morning, and you you can't help but see the development that's going on. Uh, Markham Hotel just had a grand opening. It looks amazing. They have a rooftop bar, uh lot going on, and then there's development right there in front of the Hancock Whitney Bank, and that area is a parking garage going up and and other amenities. Um, yeah, downtown Gulfport is booming, and it's been a long, long time coming, uh, especially uh post-Katrina. You know, you certainly, as someone who worked at Mississippi Aquarium for for years, uh that that's a great asset to the area. But then it's the little things as well. Like uh one of my dearest friends, Shannon Arzola, will uh is going to be one of the guests today. And Shannon and her husband opened Tobby's uh Salomeri restaur uh sandwich shop down in downtown Gulfport. You know, they also own Pop Brothers, but uh Tobby's is getting like recognition all over the state, all over the south. Um, you know, it's uh there's a lot going on, man, and I'm proud for my friends, and I'm proud to see the development and the growth.

SPEAKER_02 5:05

Yeah, it's really uh, you know, not only the downtown area, which of course has got Jones Park, Barksdale Pavilion, the Centennial Plaza, all so many additives to it, but also too, uh, you know, up where we're gonna we're gonna speak with Representative Holm here in just a minute, too. You know, he'll talk a little bit about what's going on up north of Pass Road, at least. Uh, a lot of the the urban development communities are really coming together. Things are looking a lot better, and especially north in Orange Grove. Uh, there's always been shopping malls and hundreds of things happening down there. I think it's really developing. I know Seaway is certainly developing too, and the the city of Gulfport just keeps getting larger.

SPEAKER_14 5:57

Yeah, and I want to give a shout out to uh to one of my good friends who also happens to be one of my bosses, and full disclosure, but uh represent uh district, I'm sorry, supervisor Kent Jones. You know, Kent just opened up the Daniel Kent Jones Community Sportsplex uh right there behind the Isaiah Fredericks uh Community Center and Francis Fredericks Senior Center. And it's a it's great, man. Like it's a full-size football field with goalposts, uh, there's a pickleball court, there's so much for that neighborhood, splash pad, and I I'm really happy for Supervisor Jones.

SPEAKER_02 6:34

Absolutely. Kent's done some great things up there, especially all off Martin Luther King in both directions. Uh, not only that, but that Good Deeds is doing quite a number of things over there. I really think that that is definitely a great building process that uh I certainly uh certainly agree with you, Jeff, that Kent and you know, uh Supervisor Powers is doing quite a number of things up there close to Highway 53 and all the rest. It's uh it's definitely some good good news.

SPEAKER_14 7:06

Yeah, absolutely. And uh, you know, we'll we'll get to our first guest, uh Representative Jeffrey Hollam after our first commercial break. We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_00 7:17

Join the Gulf Coast Veterans Association this Memorial Day as we honor the veterans and first responders we've lost with Carry the Load. The event takes place Wednesday, May 20th, 2026. Meet at 5 15 p.m. at the Pass Christiane Yacht Club. Enjoy a buffet dinner and a special performance by the 41st Army Band. Families are encouraged to walk in honor of the veterans we have lost. Come together this Memorial Day to remember, reflect, and carry the load.

SPEAKER_07 7:48

Looking for insurance coverage you can count on? Call the Insurance Barn, a professional agency since 1959. The Insurance Barn writes all-in-one policies and offers coverage for homeowners: fire, flood, commercial property, auto, boats, motorcycles, plus wind and hail protection. Visit them at 190-221st Avenue in Gulfport. Call 22886-31647 or learn more online at the insurance barn.net. The Insurance Barn, protecting what matters most for generations.

SPEAKER_02 8:23

Okay, we have with us our first guest, one of my very good friends in the former city of Gulfport, actually the Gulfport School District administrator for quite a number of years. I don't want to, you know, overwhelm him with the number of decades that he was uh an administrator and teaching and coaching, but Brian Caldwell, uh Coach Caldwell is also now entered in the race for the the District 2 City of Gulfport councilman. And if I'm correct on that, let me know, Coach. Um uh coach, the first question I've got for you here is talk to me about your relationship with the city of Gulfport and how you know you have come to really be able be a a figure, at least in the city of Gulfport.

SPEAKER_15 9:16

Okay, uh first of all I want to thank you, Hunter, for having me on your show. Um you we are friends and have been since you were in high school, and I've always taught a lot of you and appreciate what you're doing now as a journalist. But uh my roots in Gulfport go as back as far as I do. Uh I was born and raised here. I'm a proud product of the Gulfport schools. I'm a 1978 graduate of Gulfport High School. Uh attended college at Southern Meth, and during my twenties, like so many of us do, I was completing my education and establishing myself in a a new career. And uh got married and moved back to the coast in 1990, and I have lived in uh War II in Gulfport since 1991. I was an educator for 38 years. 30 of those years I spent in the Gulfport School District. I was a boys basketball coach, a U.S. history teacher. Then I moved into administration. I was an assistant principal, principal at Iowa U Middle. And then the last 10 years I was the uh athletic director for the Gulfport School District before retiring in 2022. But my root my roots run very deep here. Um I have taught, coached, been an administrator for so many young people in the city who are now citizens and homeowners and married and established themselves in Gulfport. And I'm just very invested in the future of our city and want to absolutely see what is best for Gulfport.

SPEAKER_02 10:45

Coach, you know, I I know that uh a lot of the reason that most of you guys have entered in this race is because of the retire well, the the recent uh retirement of uh Mr. Ron Rowland, who, you know, obviously had a little bit of health issues and and we're all, you know, un unfortunately feel sorry for that. But as far as entering yourself in the race, what do you think that you have to offer, at least towards the projects that are developing? Something that you kind of have an idea that you want to make put your name on.

SPEAKER_15 11:22

Yeah. So first of all, I really hate that we're here under these circumstances. Uh Ron Rowland was my city councilman for several terms, and I've gotten to know him over the years, and he's a very good man. And I really hate that this has gone down as it has. But this is in fact where we find ourselves, so we've got to do what we can to move the city forward. Um, my priorities are I'll give you three. First and foremost is public safety. I was a school administrator for five years, and whenever I walked in the building, my number one priority was the safety and security of the students over my responsibility. And with without public safety, without a strong police force, nothing else really matters. Businesses will not relocate to a city that they feel is unsafe. People are not going to move here and buy homes here, go to school here, go to church here if they don't feel safe. So we've got to equip the Gulf Force Police Department with those things that they need. I've worked with those men and women for years and they are top-notch professional. But uh they are missing some officers, um that they have not been able to fill positions. And I think we have to do more as a city government to pay them a wage that will attract the best and the brightest to help work. My second priority go ahead. Yeah, go ahead.

SPEAKER_02 12:55

But obviously there's some new projects going on in the city, including Channel South down there right on the intersection of 90 and 49. I just was wondering if that's what your your thoughts of the increase in s public safety, at least which should be.

SPEAKER_15 13:14

Yeah, so that interestingly enough, Channel South is a part of work too. So I have a vested interest in uh seeing that property go up. It's going to be a game changer for downtown Gulfport. It will hopefully draw more visitors to the downtown area. And if that is going to in fact happen, and I believe it will, when you factor in the reopening of the Markham, um, we are gonna need to make sure we have officers on patrol who can keep the area safe. But uh you you've kind of led me into my second priority, which is economic development. Um we've got to increase our tax revenue and go for to do the things that are needed. And um I'm very much pro-business. And to be honest, I've had way too many people tell me that it's difficult to do business in Gulfport. And I think we're on the right track to streamlining some of the processes, and uh hopefully we can do that in a way that will make people want to come and do business here.

SPEAKER_02 14:11

Okay, and as far as with that priority too, coaches, is this gonna be uh I know you want to increase the the tax revenue, but would that be uh where would you think that as far as I know you're not necessarily saying you want to raise taxes, but where would you like to pull money from to be able to to increase that tax revenue?

SPEAKER_15 14:39

Well, I'm 100% against raising uh taxes. Uh I pay them just like everybody else does, and I just feel like we need to grow the pie instead of cutting the pie in more pieces. But I really think downtown being an acad uh economic catalyst can bring more people here who are spending more money, which generates more tax dollars. And um, as that happens, I think that it gives a substantial for more families and businesses relocating to our city.

SPEAKER_02 15:08

Coach, final thoughts too. Just talk to me about what a lot of these uh, you know, since you had spoken about economic development and with a lot of the new buildings, including uh, you know, a lot of the new restaurants opening up, a lot of the new um you know, with the Markham buildings you spoke about, with the aquarium and the Centennial Village kind of upkeeping a little bit better. Is there an idea of renovation that you think that would kind of help at least some of renovating some of these old school places? Or is this just another uh trying to make sure your public safety is taken care of first before this restoration?

SPEAKER_15 15:57

All right, so I'll give you an example of I think a place we need to to strike while the iron's hot in terms of economic development in that situation on Pass Road. So there's been a movement here in the last two or three weeks to start looking at properties that are on Pass Road and try to figure out how we can make them attractive for people to invest in those areas. We have too much light uh property on Pass Road, too many areas that are vacant, and that has got to get better. And um I I spent a lot of time in Hattiesburg and on Hardy Street is a street that is very similar to what Pass Road is here, and I think Pass Road can be what Hardy Street is to Hattiesburg, but it's gonna take private money. We need to look into facide grants and making things to the point where investors are uh interested to moving to government.

SPEAKER_02 16:50

Coach, we wish you the best of luck. And if there's anything else that you need, uh tell us when the actual date is for the vote voting to be able to get out people to come out there and vote.

SPEAKER_15 17:03

Yep, uh the election is June the 9th, so it is literally right around the corner. This has been a quick turnaround. So we've been out uh pounding the street trying to get our message out and talk to as many voters as possible.

SPEAKER_02 17:15

Coach, we always wish you best of luck. You take care.

SPEAKER_04 17:18

Nine Toes Brewing Company is a Gulf Coast destination for craft beer, great food, and interactive entertainment. Enjoy a rotating selection of small batch brews, a menu of comfort food favorites, and state-of-the-art golf simulators featuring world-famous courses. Whether you're needing friends or just unwinding after work, Nine Toes delivers a laid-back atmosphere with something for everyone. Located at 110 West Scenic Drive in the Pass, Nine Toes is your spot for bold brews, big swings, and better nights. For more information, please go to 9oesbrewery.com.

SPEAKER_01 17:56

Celebrating 30 breathtaking years, one extraordinary show, the dance of music spectacular effect of the world by storm and captured the hearts of millions of river dance. Now experience the absolute energy of this mesmerizing show live on stage at RiverDance.com at the time.

SPEAKER_02 18:30

It's all independent newspaper. AlphaTo News GoForest every Friday.com. Add your name to the digital audience of 250,000 plus coastal residents who already know where to find the stories that matter to them. We welcome our next guest, District 119 State House Representative Jeffrey Holem III, a 22-year Army, U.S. Army veteran, and a current congressional candidate that represents Gulfport up in Jackson right now. How are you, my friend?

SPEAKER_13 19:18

I can't complain, Honor. How are you doing today? And how your mom is doing?

SPEAKER_02 19:22

Doing well. Everybody's doing well. We thank you. And I told her that too, as well. Representative Holem, what do you think the largest improvements the city of Gulfport needs?

SPEAKER_13 19:34

One of the most important things we need. We are tackling you know economic boom. We are doing that. But one of the most important things we need is affordable housing. And on top of affordable housing, we need to continue to work at making sure that we have things in place for our youth to do and recreational, positive recreational stuff for the kids to do in the afternoon. Because a lot of things that's recreational and family oriented in the city of Guildport is local, mostly for tourism, whether it be either the casinos, the aquarium, and different things, but the regular local people in Guilport want to see things in their community that they can take their youth and their kids to as this cost-friendly from my standpoint.

SPEAKER_02 20:20

With this same point, then this is a good segue, Representative Holm. What issue should the city of Gulfport be focused on mailing as a priority? Would that be housing, like you said?

SPEAKER_13 20:34

Yeah, one of the most important things that I would continue to say, from my viewpoint, is the city of GoPort got to continue to focus on bringing up the tax base, the revenue base, but also making a quality of life better for the people who actually live here, not just for the ones who come here for recoration. That's one of the things I say. But towards um building up infrastructure, curve appeal, cleaning the city up, improving and reducing black properties throughout the city, and reducing youth violence and crime, that's some of the major things that they're striving for and working towards.

SPEAKER_02 21:12

Representative Holem, during your service in Jackson, what are some of the things that you have done to help the city of Gulfport to believe that you believe not only with the city of Gulfport, but can also help in South Mississippi, should you be elected to Congress?

SPEAKER_13 21:32

Well, one of the most important things I will continue to say is strengthening our military veterans and a veteran's family, because that goes across all aisles. If it's coming from anyone that's 85 years old, none of the marriage surviving spouse spouse, reducing their tax liability. Also, when it comes to people joining the Mississippi National Guard. Getting approved the child care assistance payment. Not only that, we also think about all of the infrastructure monies from the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund that we have called for to build up the town center and go for clean up our waterways. You know, we also look at the stat from the point of what we had improved from youth safety to, you know, we got a new bill passed that we um co-sponsored with our colleagues on the side of the aisle about if someone molests a kid, that person shall be charged. You know, also we're looking at it from not just from a safe standpoint, but also making sure our police force have the resources they need, you know, and continue to work towards health care. And the most important thing I'd say from my standpoint was fighting against school choice, making sure our public schools were not just funded with teacher pay raise, but also making sure that they didn't enroll the more fibers of our uh public schools down on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

SPEAKER_02 23:03

Representative Holm, talk to me about. If you could talk to me about that, that that you had uh pretty much authored and got through the uh the Jackson uh through the governor bill signing. Talk to me about that, that uh just so people can recognize what that was that since the the Gulf Board Aviation Museum is trying to gain some ground.

SPEAKER_13 23:46

Yeah, you know, we all know the historic moment what the Tuskegee Airmen did for this nation integrated military, also turned the tide in World War II to give America the victory. And a lot of the people that trained at Keysler Airfield and then the city of GoPort to a certain degree. So we were able to get a state holiday for the Tuskegee Airmen, you know, in the state of Mississippi, which is the second African-American holiday on the books. One is Martin Luther King Jr., and the next one is the Tuskegee Airmen. That was very important because the legacy and the family members of the Tuskegee Airmen that uh serve not just America, but the state of Mississippi and on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. But that sits and fits well into our aviation museum when our people and our tourists come and look at all the things from our past, showing that the legacy is right here grown at home. And we need to continue to push people to the aviation museum, where there's summer camp for us, helping raise funds to build an observation deck over the Air National Guard Station so they can see the flights taking off. You know, we got a lot of good things going on in the city of Gulfport and on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, to be exact.

SPEAKER_02 24:57

All right, final question for you, Representative Holem. Are there any issues currently in Gulfport that you either that the state government in Jackson or Congress could help with?

SPEAKER_13 25:13

Yeah. When it comes to funding, we need more adequate funds coming to the city. We need more things for after-school programs, we need more things coming to when it comes to food insecurity. Also, when it comes to affordable health care and after school care, child care, really the federal government to open up the funds so we can continue to maintain our child care centers, our daycares. Also, we need to make sure that the federal government stopped enrolling the more fibers of the benefits of the veterans who they earned, they were not given. We need to make sure the federal government is doing what they're supposed to do for the great state of Mississippi and not enroll and attacking. Also, they need to go back to the grants that they have reduced from the state of Mississippi because when the federal government came out with that one ugly bill, they reduced a lot of funds coming to the state of Mississippi. And Mississippi have to bring that up, but we also need to increase minimum wage, but we need to make sure who that we're being represented the right way. The people's out visiting the constituents. People can be able to call when stuff happens. Also, what we need from the federal government and for them to take their hands off of FEMA, we really need FEMA in the state of Mississippi to assist MEMA because we're going to continue to be plagued by natural disaster storms, especially on the Gulf Coast, because we're a tropical area. So if the federal government can do one thing, it's making sure we have the resource we need to improve the quality of life and the well-being life of all people.

SPEAKER_02 26:50

Representative Holem, tell everybody in the audience how they can give uh be in contact with you.

SPEAKER_13 26:55

Yes, you can reach me at Jeffrey Hullum the third for Congress on Facebook, or you can go to Jeffrey Hullum the third forCongress.com, you know, and check out our website. And we just hear the working for all people because as we say again, this race will be won and decided by the people because the Constitution starts we the people. We gotta continue to fight for the people, all people.

SPEAKER_02 27:23

Representative Hullum, we thank you very much.

SPEAKER_13 27:26

Thank you for having me, Hunter.

SPEAKER_05 27:28

Take care. United States Marine League knows what it means to show up strong. Your grid and teamwork inspire us every day. At USMI, we cherish our family, and our family includes community and you. USMI builds the baddest boats with pride and coastal toughness. Gulf Port route, global impact. Sound like your kind of mission? We are accepting applications from experienced craftsmen to build real boats for real people.

SPEAKER_02 27:53

And now we will introduce our final guest, Shannon Arzola. Shannon is a member of the Gulf Coast of Gulfport Main Street Association, along with co-owning Pop Brothers and Tavis. Shannon is a small business owner in Gulfport. What needs to do you think to improve in other words, to help create more businesses in the city of Gulfport?

SPEAKER_10 28:23

Well, first, can I talk about the new ones that are coming and that are already here?

SPEAKER_02 28:27

Yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_10 28:28

Okay. Look, we've got so much going on right now. It's so exciting. I mean, Main Street has been on fire lately, just with Kristen at the helm, Kristen Garriga. Um she's done a fantastic job of recruiting new businesses. And, you know, of course, we've got Siren that's already opened, which is amazing. Um Austin and Tressie's uh concepts. Then we've got, of course, Tavi's and Pop Brothers. We've also just got the new uh neighbors tap and table that just opened, and then the Markham with all of the restaurants and coffee shops, the rooftop bar, the beautiful rooms. And you know, we've got the town center coming, and that's exciting. That'll be like mid-2027, the downtowner, which will open oh, any, I think by the end of the month or first part of June. Uh, we got a new owner at Kilted Kelly's. He's doing a lot of different things. So what we need is um we've got a few parking issues that we've got to get worked out, but Gulfport has parking. We just need, you know, people to like employees to start parking farther away from their work so customers can get there. We're addressing those things. Um you know, I've got very little, very little to fuss about, and I'm very excited for downtown at this particular time. We seem to be kind of on a roll, we've got some momentum. We've also got some fun events. Umce a month we do, like um the depot district at dusk, where we have music and outdoor events we set up right outside the history museum at the depot. We got the Amtrak. Yay! But as far as needs go, I think um, you know, the more the merrier. So the more things that we're adding downtown, the more traffic we're getting. And it's it was almost immediate, which which is great. Yeah, I I'm very happy about what's happening right now downtown.

SPEAKER_02 30:32

Do you think the city needs more development?

SPEAKER_10 30:38

Well, yes, and I know, you know, you mean the the city building things or the city recruiting more? I mean the port is expanding like crazy, which puts more bodies downtown a lot. So there's a lot going on at the port too with with the ex with the new businesses and companies and tech companies that are that are um taking up shop there. So um I think we're we're on a roll to to do great things in the next couple of years, and we are working very hard to um to recruit new businesses. So I don't, I mean, I think it today we are we are expending all efforts. Does that make sense? I mean it sounds kind of hokey, but we're just really riding this wave and trying to bring everybody else along and anybody else who wants to come and talk along with us. You know, we've got a new liquor store across the street. I'm trying not to leave anybody out from Tavi's that just opened. And um, and the development that I'm happy about is, you know, Pop Brothers is is across the tracks, but about five feet just north of railroad tracks. And for a long time that was underdeveloped. But what I see now is that you know, the momentum is going all the way down to like St. John Church and expanding down and east and west. So I really, I really think we're on a roll. I think we're doing everything right right now, which I hate to say out loud because it's I don't want to jinx us.

SPEAKER_02 32:15

Right. What's Main Street, what's have they been focused on with the city in 2026?

SPEAKER_10 32:25

Attracting new attracting new uh business owners. And and Kristen has all kinds of um she's put together, I'm going blank the name of it, but you know, the uh welcome to Gulfport Come Open Your Business Year Guide with all the pertinent statistics and demographic information that you need when you're making those decisions. Um what's fun and what I really like is that we are all really supportive of each other. Like while the new restaurants were opening, the the chefs and the employees and the owners were all eating with us and we eat with them, and everybody really tries to to um pat each other on the back and say, way to go. You know, it's tough times right now, it's scary times. Things are you know changing every day. So to open a business right now is uh um could be a little nerve-wracking. You just have to push forward and keep going. Uh you know, hiring is challenging because when so many businesses open at the same time, you're you're almost, you know, fighting for the best that you can find, the best of the best. But but other than that, I mean, I got no bad news right now. And I'm happy about that. I'm I'm very excited and proud of what's going on. And you know, Hughes, Hugh's a um fantastic. I mean, he's got a totally different style than Billy, but he's very present and he's very around and visible and um accessible. So that's that's a big plus.

SPEAKER_02 34:00

What um what does Main Street do they have any kind of things going on new north of the interstate?

SPEAKER_10 34:09

Well, that's that's not our district. Uh Main Street has a has a boundary map and it's it's mostly downtown. So we don't really have Main Streets are primarily downtown districts. Okay, where are those uh where are those maps found just so you know they're probably the I'll I'll find out, but I think the Main Street uh website, the Gulfport Main Street website should have the should have the map on it. Okay, okay and I think don't you know I could be wrong because it changed a little bit. I think it goes to view the cruise. I mean to view the cruises, I'm sorry, uh Centennial Plaza, and then um west to the quarters, and then to not to Pass Road, but probably a block or two south of Pass Road.

SPEAKER_02 35:01

Okay, okay. So what's the this is the be the final question for you? What's the top priority for you from the city? What does the city need to do for you as a small business owner that's uh of your top priority?

SPEAKER_10 35:21

Right now it's getting some of the parking situation straightened out, and like I said, we just have to almost go business to business and help the employees of the businesses that maybe don't have to have the door swing all day, every day, like like we do, um, to just be mindful and park in a spot that would not be taken up by someone who wanted to go into one of the businesses, surrounding businesses. And that that's really it. But I think we're gonna get that handled um in a way that everybody can kind of get behind.

SPEAKER_02 35:57

So good deal. Well, tell everybody in the audience how they can get in touch with you if they need uh or if they have any other questions.

SPEAKER_10 36:06

Oh, um, if you don't see me zipping around or running back and forth across Highway 49 between businesses, you can you can uh reach me on our uh social media pages, Facebook and Instagram for Tavis, Salumaria, and uh Pop Brothers. And um you uh any messages come straight to me, so anybody can message me through those platforms.

SPEAKER_02 36:32

Good deal. We appreciate you, Miss Shane, and you're always a good friend.

SPEAKER_10 36:36

Oh, you too, Hunter. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02 36:39

Thank you.

unknown 36:40

Bye.

SPEAKER_06 36:40

Looking for trusted legal guidance on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Joseph Kelly, attorney at law, has been serving the coast since 1993, helping families protect what matters most. From estate planning to securing your legacy, Joseph Kelly provides experienced, personalized legal services designed around your unique needs. With decades of knowledge and estate law, you can plan with confidence, knowing your wishes will be honored and your family protected. Call Joseph Kelly, Attorney at Law Today at 228-467-3400, or visit the office at 114-Main Street, Suite 102 in Bay St. Louis. Joseph Kelly, Attorney at Law, here for you, serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1993.

SPEAKER_08 37:29

The following is a paid advertisement by O'Dwyer Realty Agent Stephanie Mankowitz. Call Stephanie today at 228-563-0471 for all your Realty needs.

SPEAKER_02 37:40

And here we are talking about Realty again with our O'Duire Realtor Agent sponsor, Stephanie Mankowitz. Let's talk about the tips this week from Stephanie about what realtors should be doing for you.

SPEAKER_09 37:56

Thank you, Hunter. As always, it's a pleasure to review realtor topics and uh hopefully it helps people, right? So, what should we do we be doing for you, the buyer or the seller? First thing I would say is, and it's in the actual disclosure everybody signs when they work with an agent, is ensure all parties are represented fairly and honestly. It's called fair and honest dealings. And if I'm helping you or anyone out before I can even show you a house, you know, you sign that disclosure. And it's not even a contract, it protects you as a person. And I'm supposed to explain that for him to you and say, hey, before we do anything real estate, I am licensed, I am liable, I am here to help you, give you fair and honest dealings, get the most I can for your house, confidentiality. I'm not gonna, if you're a seller, I'm not gonna tell people your bottom line. That's a secret. So um, so we'll start with that. The first thing is that we are fair. And sometimes realtors get a bad rap and sometimes there's realtors that have caused that. But uh I know I'm one of the realtors that considers myself pretty by the book and just trying to solve the problem. I just want to be part of the solution, right? So if you're selling a puppy or Avon, whatever it is, there's liabilities when you're selling a house times three, times ten. Okay. All right, well, I would say uh another thing we do we we make sure that uh the people who maybe they were they've never sold a home before or they've never bought a home before. We make sure that we weed through the shaky buyers or the sellers, buyers that maybe aren't a good idea to deal with, we can see problems coming before they start. When a realtor's been doing this 10 years, and if it is a buyer, we're also looking for sellers that might be a problem. You know, if we're putting in a really healthy offer and it's like full price or near full price, and then we hear there's a multiple offer situation, it doesn't mean you panic. You know, sometimes you leave your offer right where it is, even though there's other offers. So we're making we're weeding through the shakiness and the things that come up that seem unpredictable. And one of the other unpredictable things, like for sellers, is you know, they get an offer and it's got 10 contingencies on it, and the price looks great, and they say they're cash, but there's all these contingencies. So um you know, you're not you're not really aware how much we help you until you actually deal with a good realtor. That's one thing I would say. And and we want to help them determine the value that's correct if they're selling.

SPEAKER_02 40:48

What are some of the things that determine the value?

SPEAKER_09 40:51

Oh okay, that's a good one. Let's start with location. You know the old saying, location, location, location. All right. Uh let's start with what are things selling for around you? If you're in a nice neighborhood and and you think your house is a castle, we all kind of feel like that when we love our home. Doesn't mean it's worth three times what the market says. Uh so people will hear realtors say, Well, the market says your house is worth this. And some sellers don't want to accept that. No, no, it's it's gotta be worth more. I've got a double granite countertop, I've got a fountain that shoots out gold in the backyard, and I've got three kittens with it. So I think I should get a hundred thousand more. And we have to rein people in and say, I love your kittens, I love your granite. And the last year in your neighborhood, people have paid this amount. And though, and that's where we start thinking like an appraiser. So we're like, okay, wait, we can go out two miles and look at the last sales in the last year within two miles of this property, and we can see what people have been paying. And we also look at the square footage, and that's really important, Hunter, because if your house is 2,000 square feet and you saw one sale for a million and it had 3,000 square feet, and you're like, well, mine's worth that too. You're a thousand square feet smaller. So I can't even count that house as a comparable sale, right? When we determine the value is the critical, probably the most critical thing we do as your listing agent. Because that price is the first thing they see, just like the pictures. And if we priced you so high that you seem ridiculous, they're not coming. And then guess who you don't like? Me, the realtor. You don't like me anymore. So I'm kind of an upfront realtor. I think a lot of us are after we've been in a while. And we say, look, in all honesty, right now, this is what the market says your house is worth. Other things we're gonna help you with is um determining what is the inside of the house worth. Um, appraisals are gonna change next year uh across the country, and there will be different data inputs into determining what your house is worth. So we're gonna be on top of that. Um, and so if you're trying to sell on your own, you know, we can be really helpful and deal with all these unexpected things that happen when you try to uh sell on your own. Um and you know, we've talked about sellers a lot, so okay, I'm just gonna put this out there. If you're thinking of selling on your own, that's some of the things we're doing for you, the seller, to make it easier is photos, professional photos. We pay for those. A lot of our photographers have drones. We're taking the calls because it's our number on the sign. So if it's a looky loo, it's not an I. Ideal buyer, we've got our radar out there, so we're taking that hassle, you know, out of it.

SPEAKER_02 44:06

If you are thinking about selling on your own, maybe ask Steph. If you would like to talk to Stephanie to help determine your next steps, call today at 228-563-0471. Or call her at the office and ask for Steph at 228-452-4242. Steph has the latest information to help you get through the process with reasonable expectations. Again, that's 228-563-0471 to speak directly with Stephanie. We gratefully appreciate you listening to this podcast. And Jeff, we thank you again as always. We want to thank all of our sponsors, including the Beau Revage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Nine Toes Brewery in Paschan, O'Dwyer Realty Agent, Stephanie Mankowitz, Joseph Kelly, Attorney at Law, Coast Casual in Paschan, the Paschan Rotary Club's Paddle the Bay Fundraiser, the insurance barn in the city of Gulfport. Gulf Coast Veterans Associations carry the load on this Wednesday, May the 20th, and the U.S. Marine Inc. Studio in Gulfport. Jeff, it was good.

SPEAKER_14 45:43

Yeah, it was a great show. Great, great guest. Love to see the progress in Gulfport and hear proud residents of Gulfport, people who represent Gulfport, stakeholders, and the community leaders uh share their thoughts on it.

SPEAKER_02 45:58

There we go. And make sure you follow us on the gazeboette.com where the podcast will be posted next week or sometime this week. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say next week. It's usually a Sunday broadcast, but it'll be sometime this week as well as on Facebook.com backslash the real gazebo Gazette or on X at gazebo Gazette is the handle. The Mudcat Report is available on all podcasts. And if you can't find it and you're on a podcast, you let Jeff and myself know, including Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music under the tag The Mudcat Report. Signing out, this is Hunter Dawkins, the host of the Mudcat Report. And now you know the rest of the local story. Good night.