Deep-sea sub Alvin in Gulf of Mexico, including 4th anniversary look at ... - Daily Journal

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GULFPORT, Mississippi — As the fourth anniversary of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill approaches, the Navy research sub called Alvin will be taking researchers down for a look at the ocean floor.

The research vessel Atlantis was scheduled to carry scientists and Alvin out Monday for the smaller vessel's first research trip since renovation added space for a third scientist.

Researchers from the University of Georgia, Florida State University, the University of North Carolina and Coastal Carolina University plan 22 dives, The Sun Herald (http://bit.ly/1faj7zL) reported.

Marine science professor Samantha "Mandy" Joye of the University of Georgia, chief scientist for the voyage, said they'll be checking sites they sampled in 2010 to see whether there's been recovery.

"In the dives in the submarine, we'll actually be able to see the diversity of animals on the bottom and compare this to what a natural soft bottom community would look like," she said Saturday during a media day.

The sub also has high-definition cameras and can collect water, sediment and biological samples from the seafloor.

"Our work is aimed at understanding the long-term impacts of the 2010 blowout and sites within 20 to 100 nautical miles of the wellhead," Joye said.

The well owned by BP PLC blew wild April 20, 2010, killing 11 crew members, and continued to spew oil until it was capped July 15, 2010.

About 300 pounds of tar balls from the spill recently washed onto Mississippi's barrier islands.

The National Science Foundation is covering most of the cost. The Gulf Research Board is paying for three dives.

The Atlantis will be at sea until April 22.

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Information from: The Sun Herald, http://ift.tt/12vv2Uy

Family needs help escaping neighbor's home after Biloxi River flood - The Republic

GULFPORT, Mississippi — A family of three and their three dogs needed help from Gulfport rescue teams to get out of a neighbor's home where they were stranded due to heavy rains.

Gulfport Battalion Chief Chris Henderson told The Sun Herald (http://bit.ly/1hlP5dm ) that the Fire Department received a call about 5:30 a.m. Saturday about a north Gulfport family stranded at a neighbor's home on the Biloxi River.

It took the department's Swift Water Rescue Team until about 7 a.m. to free the family members, who had taken refuge on a second-floor deck on their neighbor's home after the river overflowed its banks.

Officials in south Mississippi said Saturday that they don't anticipate more precipitation for several days, but the Coast is expected to experience a ripple effect from two days of heavy rainfall. Officials and people living along or near area rivers should watch for flooding.

As of 10 a.m., the Biloxi River had crested at 14.5 feet, 2.5 feet above its flood stage, and the water level was beginning to decrease.

The Wolf and Tchoutacabouffa rivers are expected to continue to rise.

Meteorologist Shawn O'Neil with the National Weather Service in Slidell, Louisiana, said the Wolf River — with an 8-foot flood stage — was at 10.6 feet and should continue to rise to about 12 feet by midnight and should be flooded until Monday evening.

The Tchoutacabouffa River has a flood stage of 8-feet and is expected to crest around 7.7 feet by midnight.

Harrison County Director of Emergency Management Rupert Lacy said he wasn't anticipating a high number of issues resulting from rivers flooding.

"Our people who live on the rivers love it and they understand that this time of the year we have floods and they have to pay attention," he said. "Once warnings or watches come out, you need to heed those so that you don't get caught off guard."

---

Information from: The Sun Herald, http://ift.tt/12vv2Uy

Former Navy workers sentenced in fraud scheme in Gulfport, Miss. - Daily Journal

GULFPORT, Mississippi — Two former Navy workers have been ordered to make restitution for their roles in a false travel-claim scheme that federal prosecutors said involved tens of thousands of dollars.

Richard Stephen Bellock, 43, of Alquippa, Pennsylvania, received a prison term of 70 months and three years' probation at his sentencing in federal court Tuesday.

The Sun Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1frh5Z1) U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden also ordered Bellock to help others repay $163,749.25.

Bellock also was indicted on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft involving a travel voucher filed in another person's name and paid to his account. Those charges were dismissed in exchange for his plea.

The judge sentenced Iralen Jewell, 33, of Grand Junction, Colorado, to help others repay $10,196.89. The judge fined Jewell $500 and ordered three years of probation.

Court papers show Jewell repaid more than $500 in 2010.

A federal grand jury indicted Bellock, Jewell and two others in June.

Bellock and Jewell had a rank of logistics specialist 1st class when they were stationed at the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport.

They were among at least nine servicemen prosecuted in related cases involving illegal payments while they were assigned to NMCB 74 between October 2006 and August 2011.

Deep-sea sub Alvin in Gulf of Mexico, including 4th anniversary look at ... - Daily Journal

---

We also have more stories about:

(click the phrases to see a list)

Subjects:

• Oceanography (46)


• Science (529)


• Environmental concerns (532)


• Environment and nature (1962)


• Accidents and disasters (2998)

Places:

GULFPORT, Mississippi — As the fourth anniversary of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill approaches, the Navy research sub called Alvin will be taking researchers down for a look at the ocean floor.

The research vessel Atlantis was scheduled to carry scientists and Alvin out Monday for the smaller vessel's first research trip since renovation added space for a third scientist.

Researchers from the University of Georgia, Florida State University, the University of North Carolina and Coastal Carolina University plan 22 dives, The Sun Herald (http://bit.ly/1faj7zL) reported.

Marine science professor Samantha "Mandy" Joye of the University of Georgia, chief scientist for the voyage, said they'll be checking sites they sampled in 2010 to see whether there's been recovery.

"In the dives in the submarine, we'll actually be able to see the diversity of animals on the bottom and compare this to what a natural soft bottom community would look like," she said Saturday during a media day.

The sub also has high-definition cameras and can collect water, sediment and biological samples from the seafloor.

"Our work is aimed at understanding the long-term impacts of the 2010 blowout and sites within 20 to 100 nautical miles of the wellhead," Joye said.

The well owned by BP PLC blew wild April 20, 2010, killing 11 crew members, and continued to spew oil until it was capped July 15, 2010.

About 300 pounds of tar balls from the spill recently washed onto Mississippi's barrier islands.

The National Science Foundation is covering most of the cost. The Gulf Research Board is paying for three dives.

The Atlantis will be at sea until April 22.

---

Information from: The Sun Herald, http://ift.tt/12vv2Uy

Family needs help escaping neighbor's home after Biloxi River flood - The Republic

GULFPORT, Mississippi — A family of three and their three dogs needed help from Gulfport rescue teams to get out of a neighbor's home where they were stranded due to heavy rains.

Gulfport Battalion Chief Chris Henderson told The Sun Herald (http://bit.ly/1hlP5dm ) that the Fire Department received a call about 5:30 a.m. Saturday about a north Gulfport family stranded at a neighbor's home on the Biloxi River.

It took the department's Swift Water Rescue Team until about 7 a.m. to free the family members, who had taken refuge on a second-floor deck on their neighbor's home after the river overflowed its banks.

Officials in south Mississippi said Saturday that they don't anticipate more precipitation for several days, but the Coast is expected to experience a ripple effect from two days of heavy rainfall. Officials and people living along or near area rivers should watch for flooding.

As of 10 a.m., the Biloxi River had crested at 14.5 feet, 2.5 feet above its flood stage, and the water level was beginning to decrease.

The Wolf and Tchoutacabouffa rivers are expected to continue to rise.

Meteorologist Shawn O'Neil with the National Weather Service in Slidell, Louisiana, said the Wolf River — with an 8-foot flood stage — was at 10.6 feet and should continue to rise to about 12 feet by midnight and should be flooded until Monday evening.

The Tchoutacabouffa River has a flood stage of 8-feet and is expected to crest around 7.7 feet by midnight.

Harrison County Director of Emergency Management Rupert Lacy said he wasn't anticipating a high number of issues resulting from rivers flooding.

"Our people who live on the rivers love it and they understand that this time of the year we have floods and they have to pay attention," he said. "Once warnings or watches come out, you need to heed those so that you don't get caught off guard."

---

Information from: The Sun Herald, http://ift.tt/12vv2Uy

Former Navy workers sentenced in fraud scheme in Gulfport, Miss. - Daily Journal

GULFPORT, Mississippi — Two former Navy workers have been ordered to make restitution for their roles in a false travel-claim scheme that federal prosecutors said involved tens of thousands of dollars.

Richard Stephen Bellock, 43, of Alquippa, Pennsylvania, received a prison term of 70 months and three years' probation at his sentencing in federal court Tuesday.

The Sun Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1frh5Z1) U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden also ordered Bellock to help others repay $163,749.25.

Bellock also was indicted on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft involving a travel voucher filed in another person's name and paid to his account. Those charges were dismissed in exchange for his plea.

The judge sentenced Iralen Jewell, 33, of Grand Junction, Colorado, to help others repay $10,196.89. The judge fined Jewell $500 and ordered three years of probation.

Court papers show Jewell repaid more than $500 in 2010.

A federal grand jury indicted Bellock, Jewell and two others in June.

Bellock and Jewell had a rank of logistics specialist 1st class when they were stationed at the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport.

They were among at least nine servicemen prosecuted in related cases involving illegal payments while they were assigned to NMCB 74 between October 2006 and August 2011.

Deep-sea sub Alvin in Gulf of Mexico, including 4th anniversary look at ... - Daily Journal

---

We also have more stories about:

(click the phrases to see a list)

Subjects:

• Oceanography (46)


• Science (529)


• Environmental concerns (532)


• Environment and nature (1962)


• Accidents and disasters (2998)

Places:

GULFPORT, Mississippi — As the fourth anniversary of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill approaches, the Navy research sub called Alvin will be taking researchers down for a look at the ocean floor.

The research vessel Atlantis was scheduled to carry scientists and Alvin out Monday for the smaller vessel's first research trip since renovation added space for a third scientist.

Researchers from the University of Georgia, Florida State University, the University of North Carolina and Coastal Carolina University plan 22 dives, The Sun Herald (http://bit.ly/1faj7zL) reported.

Marine science professor Samantha "Mandy" Joye of the University of Georgia, chief scientist for the voyage, said they'll be checking sites they sampled in 2010 to see whether there's been recovery.

"In the dives in the submarine, we'll actually be able to see the diversity of animals on the bottom and compare this to what a natural soft bottom community would look like," she said Saturday during a media day.

The sub also has high-definition cameras and can collect water, sediment and biological samples from the seafloor.

"Our work is aimed at understanding the long-term impacts of the 2010 blowout and sites within 20 to 100 nautical miles of the wellhead," Joye said.

The well owned by BP PLC blew wild April 20, 2010, killing 11 crew members, and continued to spew oil until it was capped July 15, 2010.

About 300 pounds of tar balls from the spill recently washed onto Mississippi's barrier islands.

The National Science Foundation is covering most of the cost. The Gulf Research Board is paying for three dives.

The Atlantis will be at sea until April 22.

---

Information from: The Sun Herald, http://ift.tt/12vv2Uy