[6/27/03]It will be “quiet on the set” inside and out Saturday night as the Miss Mississippi Pageant concludes.

In a special, called meeting, Vicksburg officials voted to block streets in the area of the Vicksburg Convention Center from 6:45 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday to keep outside noise down during the broadcast of the pageant finals.

South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman said closing the streets during the last night of the pageant has become routine over the last few years because of complaints when the streets were left open to traffic.

Beauman said trains may continue to operate on nearby tracks, but won’t blow their whistles. Instead, “Officers will be at each street corner to keep people from crossing” if a train is approaching.

Gerald Cantrell, trainmaster for Kansas City Southern, said nine railroad crossings will be affected. “For the last several years we’ve worked with the police department,” Cantrell said. “And we’ve come through quiet as a mouse.”