Tag Archives: hurricane

Opinion, Visitation

Biloxi Lighthouse: A Beacon in the Night

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On March 3, 1847, the United States Congress authorized $12,000 for the construction of a lighthouse in Biloxi, Mississippi. The lighthouse was completed and placed in operation in 1848. The tower is 45 feet from the base to the lantern room and displayed nine lamps.

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The lighthouse is (now in the middle of Highway 90) across from the Biloxi visitors center. It is open for tours, weather permitting, every morning at 9:00 am, 9:15 am, and 9:30 am. $5 for adults, $2 for children and you get a Biloxi Lighthouse bracelet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout its IMG_8724history, the lighthouse has survived numerous hurricanes, including Camille and Katrina. Inside the lighthouse, blue lines are painted on the wall to mark historic storm surges above ‘mean sea level.’Hurricane Camille’s record of 17.5 feet was broken by Hurricane Katrina, which crested at 21.5 feet.

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The Biloxi Lighthouse is one of the most photographed sites on the Gulf Coast. The lighthouse was featured on over 2 million registered Mississippi vehicles on license plates.

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The Lighthouse uses 1-200 watt light bulb. It shines for 3 seconds and is dark for 1 second, a code unique to Biloxi. It has 3 backup bulbs if the primary bulb burns out.

In 2009, the landmark underwent a 14-month $400,000 restoration, finished in 2010.  It is the only lighthouse in the United States to stand in the middle of a U.S. Highway and is now billed as 65 feet tall. Today you can climb the Light’s 57 steps and 8-rung ladder into the light room. –Wikipedia. 

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi, a History major and enjoys exploring Mississippi’s hidden and not-so-hidden gems.

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Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal

What do Hurricanes and Legal Custody have in Common?

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Legal custody pertains to the decision making right regarding your child’s health, education and general welfare.

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Legal custody, most commonly awarded as “Joint Legal Custody,” requires that each parent keep the other informed of the child’s goings on. This includes not only health, education, and general welfare, but also school and activity schedules, medical appointments and any major matter regarding the child’s life

It requires that parents communicate and cooperate when it comes to making decision about the well-being of the child. It certainly includes informing the other parent if a move is anticipated.

Legal custody includes sharing the status of the child’s well-being and location in emergency situations.  Chancery Courts require specific language that states;

“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that in the event of a threat, disaster, or other emergency, such as  a hurricane, which causes an emergency evacuation, any party who has custody of a minor child (either physical custody or visitation) shall notify the other parent of the location and well-being of the minor as soon as reasonably possible.“

While this should be common sense, divorced parties are not always known for exercising common sense.  Hurricanes and Legal Custody require that you  keep the other parent informed on the well-being of the child.

Matthew Thompson is a Child Custody attorney in Mississippi and routinely exercises common sense and encourages you to do so as well.

Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

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Child Custody

Hurricanes and Legal Custody

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Legal custody is the decision making right regarding your child.

An article about legal custody and hurricanes posted during a hurricane, how clever. But cleverness aside it does raise a significant issue in legal custody…

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Legal custody, most commonly joint, requires that each parent keep the other parent informed of the child’s goings on. This includes, but is not limited to their health, education and general welfare.It requires that parents communicate and cooperate, within reason, when it comes to making decision about the well-being of the child. (Even if a parent has sole legal custody the other parent still has the right to be informed about the goings on of the child and has the right to access school and medical records pursuant to Mississippi law, 93-5-26)

SEC. 93-5-26. Noncustodial parent’s right of access to records and information pertaining to minor children.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, except those provisions protecting the confidentiality of adoption records and except for cases in which parental rights have been legally terminated, access to records and information pertaining to a minor child, including but not limited to medical, dental and school records, shall not be denied to a parent because the parent is not the child’s custodial parent if such parent’s parental rights have not been terminated by adoption or by a termination of parental rights proceeding.

Legal custody includes sharing the status of the child’s well-being and location in emergency situations. Madison County Chancery Court requires specific language that states;

“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that in the event of a threat, disaster, or other emergency, such as  a hurricane, which causes an emergency evacuation, any party who has custody of a mInor child (either physical custody or visitation) shall notify the other parent of the location and well-being of the minor as soon as reasonably possible.“

While this should be common sense, divorced parties and warring parents are not always known for exercising common sense.  So please let the other parent know that the children are safe, where they are and how to contact them. 

Stay safe and stay dry.

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

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