Week of August 5, 2002

Summer weather bore down on the area during the week with highs ranging from 91 to 95 degrees. Lows were 69 degrees to 74. A trace of rain was reported one day.

The Mississippi River rose from a reading of 11.3 feet on the Vicksburg gauge to 11.6 feet before resuming its fall and ending the week at 10.4 feet. Forecasters said predicted 9.4 feet for today.

Vicksburg Warren School District officials said the district will have 15 new buses on the roads when school opens Monday. The cost for the 2003 models totaled $736,000.

Billy Wilson, superintendent of the U.S. 80 Bridge for 24 years, retired. He will be succeeded by Herman Smith.

Officials of Good Shepherd Community Center announced the free medical clinic would reopen. An opinion from the Attorney General’s Office said it and its volunteer doctors were immune from malpractice suits. The clinic had been closed July 16 because of fears the doctors were vulnerable to lawsuits and the center could not afford malpractice insurance.

City officials and members of the community participated in a dedication ceremony for the new Jackson Street Center. The center is on the lot formerly occupied by the Jackson Street YMCA which was fondly recalled by many people.

An auction firm representing Sidney Malone began an selling lots on Eagle Lake with the proceeds going to Pearl River Community College.

Many of the records being kept by the court clerks in Warren County will soon be available with the use of computer terminals.

The Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Vicksburg discussed the possibility of increasing their own salaries and planned a vote near the end of the week. The mayor is now paid $56,532 and the aldermen get $45,492 each.

Nineteen landowners appeared before the Warren County Board of Supervisors to protest the values assigned to their property by the Tax Assessor’s office. The values will be used to compute taxes will be assessed on each parcel.

Although no longer a Vicksburg police officer, Doug Arp spent two days in a trash container to call attention to the National Night Out crime prevention program. There were a number of neighborhood activities planned in conjunction with Arp’s activities.

Mayor Laurence Leyens said his job ought to be worth $80,000 a year although one of the aldermen had made a proposal that would have raised the pay to $67,032.

The fourth Vicksburg Job Fair attracted its largest number of job seekers with more than 3,000 going to the Vicksburg Convention Center for a chance to talk to the 71 companies or government agencies with booths. Officials said the turnout topped 2001 by the second hour the fair was open.

Flashing lights now call drivers’ attention to the speed limit as they approach the intersection of U.S. 61 South and Warrenton Road. The lights were installed to see if they cut the number of wrecks there.

People working under a contract with the City of Vicksburg began removing the debris from the gym that burned 12 years ago at Carr Central High School. The cost, $10,000 will be charged to owner Robert Rosenthal or will be a lein against the land’s deed.

The deadline for people to turn in applications to fill the office of Central District constable with nine applications filed with the Chancery Clerk’s Office. From that group the Warren County Board of Supervisors will pick a temporary successor to J.L. Mitchell who pleaded guilty to felony charges.

Speaking to the Vicksburg Rotary Club Thursday, Richard George, president of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, said it’s unlikely county operations will cause an increase in property taxes. He said the funding request from the Vicksburg Warren County School District, which the board has not received yet, likely will.

River Region Health System, owner of the ParkView Regional Medical Center building installed a chain-link fence around the property for security reasons. Officials said River Region is working with Alcorn State University on a possible use for the old hospital and medical clinic.

Local deaths during the week were Alberta Bunch, W.T. “Billy” Ewell, Phoebe L. Brown Freeman, Georgia L. Patton, Faye A. Stalls, Coretha E. Miller, Lucius George Hinkle, Elvin P. Walley, Laura Anderson Brown, Arthur Strong Jr., May Logue Doiron, Annie W. Jackson and Edward McMullen.