Vicksburg — The city of Vicksburg may be pulling its support for the Vicksburg Tallulah Regional Airport.
The city currently owns 25 percent of the airport in Mound, La., and shares expenses for basic operations with Warren County, Tallulah and Madison parishes in Louisiana. However, a 25-year contract signed by the local governments in 1983 expires this year.
Participation has cost each owner $20,000 to $30,000 per year. Most of the regional airport’s operating income is derived through fuel sales, hangar rentals and user fees.
Instead of renewing the contract, the city may reduce its commitment to the airport to about 10 years, said Mayor Laurence Leyens.
“My objective is to walk away from VTR and focus on Vicksburg Municipal ... unless (VTR) can come up with a comprehensive business plan and show me what kind of economic development benefits we are getting out of the deal,” Leyens said.
The city has speeded up work at Vicksburg Municipal Airport, which was restored to the Federal Aviation Administration’s list of airports eligible for grants last year. Along with a new fire station, city officials plan to remodel the airport terminal in the next 18 months.
Benny Terrell, Vicksburg’s appointee to the VTR board, said another meeting is being arranged with the four owners about the Vicksburg’s desire to shorten the term of the contract.
Construction of VTR, about eight miles west of Vicksburg, grew out of a study on whether Vicksburg Municipal could be improved. That study revealed FAA grants were available for new construction of regional facilities, and elected officials then saw it as an opportunity to get an all-new, expandable airport to replace Vicksburg Municipal, built in 1950.
Local News
Miss. city may pull support of Mound, La. airport
- Local News
-
-
SAFETY DAY
Picayune Police officers made a visit to the First Baptist Church of Picayune’s preschool class for their Community Helpers Safety Day. During the event the kids got to meet police officers and trigger lights and sirens in patrol vehicles.
- Escapee caught in county Pearl River County Sheriff’s deputies have captured the inmate who escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody on Friday after attending his father’s wake in Picayune.
- Council discusses which funds to spend first On the same day as the ground breaking for the addition to the historic City Hall, city council members discussed which funds to spend first in its construction.
-
Poplarville aldermen honor Holliday, get audit report briefing
The city board of aldermen honored former District Three Supervisor Hudson Holliday at its Tuesday night meeting.
Mayor Billy Spiers presented Holliday with a framed resolution of appreciation for his dedication and service to the city while serving as county supervisor.
-
MRI INSTALLED
This $1.2 million Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment was installed at the new location of Highland Community Hospital.
-
Hall suspected of robbery after escaping
A man who escaped from jail after attending his father’s wake is suspected of having carried out an armed robbery on the Texas-Arkansas state line. Johnny Hall escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody on Friday while attending his father’s wake in Picayune.
-
City Hall expansion groundbreaking held
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday at the construction site for the expansion of the historic Picayune City Hall. “You can see our future when you look down Goodyear Boulevard. You see Chimney Square, our high school, The Link at First Baptist Church, Jack Read Park and then our historic City Hall.
-
PRC athletic director says he’ll recommend random drug testing
Pearl River Central athletic director Andy Kivlan told the school board at its Monday night meeting that he will most likely recommend that students participating in extracurricular activities, including band and ROTC, be subject to random drug screening.
-
Supervisors adopt resolution encouraging more economic development in South Miss.
Following a short presentation by State Sen. Tony Smith (R-Picayune), the board of supervisors adopted on Monday a resolution encouraging state officials and agencies to exercise “fairness and parity” regarding location of new industries in Mississippi.
-
MDEQ wants comprehensive waste disposal plan from county
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has told Pearl River County it wants a comprehensive waste disposal plan for the county. Supervisors indicated at their Monday meeting that they are not happy with the request.
- More Local News Headlines
-






