Schools stay closed

Brookhaven Public Schools will remain closed until at leastThursday, according to school authorities.

Brookhaven School Superintendent Lea Barrett said this morningthat schools would not be open Tuesday or Wednesday. The schoolsare already scheduled to be closed on Monday for the Labor Dayholiday. A decision will be made Wednesday whether schools willopen Thursday.

Barrett said the availability of gasoline is a concern.

“We are concerned about teachers and school employees being ableto reach the schools on Tuesday and feel it best to let parentsknow now to allow for planning.” Barrett said.

The school system is also concerned about the availability offood for cafeteria service due to delivery schedules from theschool food service supplier.

Red Cross donations

The American Red Cross is accepting monetary donations forrelief efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

To donate, visit the Red Cross Web site at www.redcross.org orcall the charity toll-free at 1-800-HELP-NOW.

Water, food available

Brookhaven Outreach Ministries, at the corner of East CourtStreet and North Railroad Avenue, was to receive a shipment ofdrinking water and snacks at 10:30 a.m. today. The quantity due toarrive was unknown at press time. However, an official with theministry said he expected two more shipments next week.

More help needed

The Salvation Army’s Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi division isrequesting 50 more mobile feeding kitchens to be sent in thecentral Mississippi region from around the country to assist withHurricane Katrina disaster relief.

The canteens should begin arriving between Saturday and Sunday.They will then be deployed to various areas of Mississippi, Alabamaand Louisiana. As the relief effort builds, the need for additionalpersonnel is growing, the Salvation Army said.

Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the Salvation Army’sdisaster-relief efforts may call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or log ontowww.salvationarmyusa.org.

Highway closings

As of late Thursday afternoon, the following highways were stillclosed to traffic:

U.S. 90 from Waveland to Ocean Springs.

I-10 eastbound between Mississippi 57 and Mississippi 613 andsome small arteries in southern Hancock County.

The Department of Public Safety is prohibiting nonemergencytravel in areas bordered by the Pearl River from Louisiana north toColumbia, and U.S. 98 East to Hattiesburg and Mississippi 42 fromHattiesburg to State Line.

Help for students

Colleges and universities across the region are reaching out tostudents in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va., is offering free tuitionand room for the 2005 fall semester to students who have a need.The college also has created additional residential spaces forthese students if they need to live on campus.

Classes begin Monday, and enrollments will be accepted untilSept. 9.

Randolph-Macon’s admissions office may be reached at (804)752-7305.

Mississippi State University is establishing expedited processesthat will allow students currently enrolled at universitieshardest-hit by Hurricane Katrina to attend fall-semester classes onits Starkville campus.

University officials said Thursday that out-of-state studentsfrom affected institutions will be treated as in-state students inregard to tuition and fees. Tuition, fees, room, and board for allaffected students will be deferred for 30 days so that financialaid, bank accounts, and other financial arrangements can be workedthrough on a case-by-case basis.

The university is making additional residence hall spaceavailable.

Displaced students must enroll no later than Sept. 9 andbegin

classes Sept. 12.

Contact the MSU admissions office at (662) 325-2224.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham also is acceptingstudents displaced by Katrina. 1.

Students should submit an online application(www.students.uab.edu/apply) immediately. Students may also come tothe office of undergraduate admissions, located on the second floorof the Hill University Center at 1400 University Blvd. and completea paper application on site.

In all cases, students should identify themselves as someoneseeking transient enrollment and advising due to HurricaneKatrina.