The Week in Vicksburg
Published 12:00 am Monday, February 13, 2006
February 12, 2006.
The weather during the week tended toward generally mild days and cool to cold nights with no rain to speak of until Friday morning, too late to record. The daytime temperatures ranged from 51 to 66 degrees while at night they varied from 29 degrees to 43.
The Mississippi River continued to fall during the week, dropping from a reading of 29.8 feet on the local gauge to 24.0 feet. Forecasters said the fall should continue and the river should reach 23.1 feet by today.
A strong band of thunderstorms moved through the Vicksburg bringing with it rain and hail in some areas. Emergency Management Director L.W. Callaway said the storm was accompanied by wind gusts that may have reached 50 miles per hour.
Vicksburg police charged Darrah Williams with three more of the business burglaries reported in January. The burglaries were at CDS Home Care and Dr. Robert Sadler’s office.
Tourism officials said the number of visitors coming to Vicksburg in 2005 was down compared to the year before. Most blamed Hurricane Katrina for at least part of the drop.
Like many areas in the Southeast, the number of Hispanics in Vicksburg is increasing. One member of the community, Marie Thompson, helped begin a program to bring education to the community.
In a special dispatch from Iraq, Executive Editor Charlie Mitchell talked to Barney Davis of the Nashville District of the Corps of Engineers. Davis. Davis said he volunteered for the civilian duty so he could advise others volunteering on what to expect once they get there.
Warren County law enforcement officers arrested Dierra T. Gaines of Port Gibson on grand larceny charges. Gaines was suspected of stealing some 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel from a Super Jr.
With three weeks to go, planners of Vicksburg’s Mardi Gras parade are asking for more people and organizations to sign up to participate. As of last reports, only 23 floats were scheduled compared to the 40 last year.
Local police and local court officials are learning Spanish to help cope with the burgeoning Hispanic population in Warren County. Circuit Court Judge Frank Vollor learned a few key phrases so he can ask Hispanic defendants if they have a lawyer and if they understand their rights.
Tedda Jane Kelly of Bentonia died in a crash on the Clear Creek bridge on Interstate 20 when the 18-wheeler driven by her husband landed in the creek bed. Officials said the wreck happened when the driver, Ronnie Edward Peters Jr., apparently fell asleep at the wheel.
The Warren County Board of Supervisors adopted an organizational chart for county government after it had been discussed in other meetings. The chart was adopted over the objection of Carl Flanders, board president and District 4 supervisor.
In another action by the Warren County Board of Supervisors, Bowie Road was changed to Oak Ridge Road. The change was needed when the old T-intersection at Bowie and Oak Ridge was eliminated.
Vi Vicksburg officials approved two issues during a meeting of the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Vicksburg. One will help low income people with the down payment on a house and the other increased control of transient vendors.
The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi recommended the support for All Saints Episcopal School be increased 10 times due to the demands placed on the school by Hurricane Katrina. They also recommended each parish in the diocese begin contributing $1 a year for each member.
The Vicksburg Board of Zoning Appeals agreed on a 4-2 vote to allow Arc-up Welding and Automatic Transmission Service to move from Lucy Bryson and Washington Streets. The businesses want to move to North Frontage Road but two of the board members were concerned about the nearness to a hospital and residences.
If a bill passes the Mississippi Legislature Warren County will be one of 28 counties in Mississippi that will be able to monitor vehicle speeds with radar. The bill has passed the Senate and now must gain house approval before going to Gov. Hayley Barbour.
The Warren County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to make repairs on certain roads and bridges in the county. The projects will be funded by both county and state funds.
Following the cancellation of another meeting of the Vicksburg Municipal Airport Board, President Kimble Slayton said he wants to ask the city to reduce the number of board members or appoint new members who will make meetings.
Doug Kamien, who has been reassigned from a senior position in the planning and project management division, defended the Corps’ efforts in cleaning up after Hurricane Katrina. He said the Mississippi Coast cleanup was a big job with a lot of controversy.
American Commercial Barge Line will get a bill from the Vicksburg Bridge Commission if a pier of the Old U.S. 80 Bridge has been damaged. A tow being pushed by an ACL boat struck the bridge Saturday evening.
Responding to a request forwarded to them from Dr. James Price, school superintendent, Warren County Supervisors said they probably won’t dip into their share of casino tax money to help the school district. District 1 Supervisor David McDonald said the county would have to raise taxes if it dipped into the gaming tax money.
Ronald Wayne Shugart of Texas was found guilty in a federal court of the kidnapping of two Vicksburg teenagers from a Vicksburg National Military Park overlook. He and a co-defendant will be sentenced in April.
Local deaths during the week were Cleophus Brown, Richard Brown, Jessie Willis Neal, Curline Williams Brown, Mable D. Screws, Dorothy Mitchell and Letitia Jones Warren.