The Mudcat Report: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community News & Guests

The Mudcat Report Episode 11:  Executive Session 

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, ClarkCastPodcast Host, Director for the Harrison County Senior Services

GUESTS:

• Jim Simpson - Former State Representative District 120, Long Beach Municipal Court Judge, Pass Christian city attorney, Long Beach School Board Attorney
• Mike Thompson - District 48 State Senator (Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Bay St. Louis, Waveland), Chair of AET 

The Mudcat Report Episode 10:  Roads & Bridges 

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:

• Dr. Marlin Ladner, Harrison County District 3 (Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport) Supervisor -served since 1999, former Long Beach School District superintendent
• Long Beach Alderman-at-Large Donald Frazer - served for 9 years since 2017, served on the planning commission for 4 years previously

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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:

• Justin Wetzel - Harrison County Circuit Clerk, Elected in 2023
• Becky Payne - President, Harrison County Election Commissioners, District 2

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:

• Pass Christian Ward 3 Alderman Kirk Kimball - Served since 2021, former 2024 SPCA King Christian, Organizer for Blessing of the Fleet
• Pass Christian Ward 1 Alderman Barry Dreyfus - Served since 2025, CEO of US Marine, Inc.

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:

• District 95 (Gulfport, Pass Christian, Diamondhead) Mississippi State House Representative Jay McKnight McKnight is the Vice Chair of the Public Utilities Committee and has served since 2020.
• Real Estate Agent/Associate Broker Dr. Chuck Wood of Amy Wood Properties LLC.  Dr. Wood has been a real estate agent since 2012.

The Mudcat Report Episode 6 Guest List

The Mudcat Report was an idea developed a few years ago from the Mississippi flathead catfish with a little tradition put into this about the blues, government and local community news.  Decades of experience will be given to adopt the idea created in this podcast.  

  Over the last few decades, Americans have been increasingly doubtful about the outlook of government and the quality of the local community's reaction to it.  The creation of the Mudcat Report is an evaluation of the local government, so the community has a realistic acknowledgement.

HOST:  Hunter Dawkins -  Owner/Publisher of the award-winning newspaper - The Gazebo Gazette, SuperTalk Mississippi News contributor, Congressional Staffer, 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:

• Pete McGoey - Long Beach Ward 6 Alderman
• Kenny Torgeson - Pass Christian Mayor

The Mudcat Report, Episode 5:  Taxes

HOST:  Hunter Dawkins -  Owner/Publisher of the award-winning newspaper - The Gazebo Gazette, SuperTalk Mississippi News contributor, Congressional Staffer, 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:

• District 48 (Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Bay St. Louis) State Senator Mike Thompson.  Senator Thompson is Chair of the Accountability, Transparency, and Efficiency Committee and has served since 2020.  
• Harrison County Tax Collector Sharon Barnett.  Barnett has served in the Tax Collector's Office for 24 years and was elected in the main role in 2020.
• Harrison County Chancery Clerk Angela Thrash.  Thrash has served the office for 28 years and was elected in the main role in 2023.

The Mudcat Report, Episode 4:  Guest List

The Mudcat Report was an idea developed a few years ago from the Mississippi flathead catfish, with a little tradition put into it about the blues, government, and local community news.  Decades of experience will be given to adopt the idea created in this podcast.  

  Over the last few decades, Americans have been increasingly doubtful about the outlook of government and the quality of the local community's reaction by them.  The creation of the Mudcat Report is an evaluation of the local government so the community has a realistic acknowledgement.

HOST:  Hunter Dawkins -  Owner/Publisher of the award-winning newspaper - The Gazebo Gazette, SuperTalk Mississippi News contributor, Congressional Staffer, 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:

• District 119 (Gulfport) State House Representative Jeffrey Hulum III.  Representative Hulum is Vice Chair of the Marine Resources Committee.  Hulum has served since 2022.  
• Long Beach School District Superintendent Dr. Talia Lock.  Lock has served as superintendent since mid-2021, previously serving as principal of the high school and graduating in 1995.  
• Devna Bose.  Mississippi Today Education Reporter.  Bose, an Ole Miss graduate, covers Education for Mississippi Today.

HOST:  Hunter Dawkins -  Owner/Publisher of the award-winning newspaper - The Gazebo Gazette, SuperTalk Mississippi News contributor, Congressional Staffer, 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:

• District 46 (Pass Christian, Diamonhead, Kiln) State Senator Philman Ladner.  Senator Ladner is Chair of the State Library Committee and a Member of the Public Property Committee.  Ladner is serving in his first term.
• President of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors and District 1 Supervisor Dan Cuevas from Biloxi.  Cuevas is serving in his first term.  
• Independent Insurance Agent and Alderman-at-Large for the city of Long Beach Donald Frazer.  Frazer has served as the Mayor Pro-Tem for the last four years while being elected in July 2017 for the Friendly City.

The Mudcat Report Episode 2 Guest List:  The Friendly City Outlook

The Mudcat Report was an idea developed a few years ago, inspired by the Mississippi flathead catfish, with a touch of tradition added about the blues, government, and local community news.  Decades of experience will be given to adopt the idea created in this podcast.  

HOST:  Hunter Dawkins -  Owner/Publisher of the award-winning newspaper - The Gazebo Gazette, SuperTalk Mississippi News contributor, Congressional Staffer, 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:

• District 120 (Long Beach, Gulfport) State Representative Richard Bennett.  Representative Bennett is Chair of the Public Property Committee and has served since 2008.
• Long Beach Mayor Tim Pierce was elected in March 2025.  Former NASA Stennis Space Center employee, 1998-2025.  Former Long Beach School Board President for 20 years.
• Elvis Gates, Long Beach State Farm Insurance Agent.  Worked for State Farm for over 40 years, represented the Mississippi Gulf Coast out of his office since 2001.