October 22, 2006.

Rainfall was reported on four days during the week and resulted in a total of 8.25 inches of water officially measured. Daytime highs ranged from 72 degrees to 89 while the lows varied from 41 degrees to 65.

The Mississippi Ricer dropped from a reading of 10.9 feet on the Vicksburg gauge to 9.5 feet by the end of the week. Forecasters said the river should be at about 9.3 feet by today.

Porters Chapel Academy athletic coach Chris Busby surprised his girlfriend Mitzi Smith by proposing to her at a PCA pep rally which Smith’s two children were attending. Reportedly, she said yes.

Medical officials announced that a vaccine for the human papiloma virus was now available in Vicksburg. The vaccine is designed to protect many women from cervical cancer.

Brig. Gen. Robert Crear, a Vicksburg native and commander of the Mississippi Valley Division, was appointed by President Bush to be the president of the Mississippi River Commission. The seven-member commission oversees the massive Mississippi River and Tributaries project to provide flood control in the huge river valley.

A series of stories touched on the increasing use of credit and debit cards in transactions instead of cash or checks. The stories also touched on the use of similar cards at schools so students can pay for their lunches without cash.

About 1,000 people attended Mississippi Celebrates the Birthplace of America’s Music. Music for the event included performances of blues, gospel and country as well as workshops and an induction ceremony for the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame.

Officials of the City of Vicksburg announced plans for a public hearing to air the plans they have for the revitalization of the Oak Street Corridor. Mayor Laurence Leyens said more than 400 public and private parcels will be involved in the massive project.

An extension of the bids for the widening of the Yazoo Diversion Canal until January saved the project from oblivion as the federal and local entities try to gather up the money to pay for the work. 4H Construction agreed to extend its bid for another 90 days.

Rain fell all day Monday and resulted in flooding, mudslides and other damage in the Vicksburg area. The stormed dropped 6.1 inches of water on the area in a 24-hour period.

District 2 Supervisor William Banks tried once again to appoint Bobbie Bingham Morrow to the board of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau but his efforts died for lack of a second. This was the first time Williams tried to appoint Morrow since the Warren County Board of Supervisors received an opinion from the Attorney General’s Office saying an individual supervisor makes the nomination but a majority of the board must agree on the appointment.

The newly formed association of restaurant and hotel owners and operators in Vicksburg said they won’t support the idea of increasing the 1 percent local sales tax to support the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau. Their objection was the tax had been proposed and discussed without some representing the group on the VCVB board.

William F. Lauderdale Jr. formally announced he planned to run for the seat on the Warren County Board of Supervisors he formerly held. Lauderdale was defeated for the District 4 post by Carl Flanders.

Williams and Gloria Strong said they have a drainage problem on their Roseland Drive property every time it rains. They want the City of Vicksburg to do something to alleviate the situation.

Anthony Lane has filed an appeal of the decision of the Vicksburg Civil Service Commission upholding his firing from the Vicksburg Police Department. The appeal was filed in Warren County Circuit Court.

Officials of the Warren County Port Commission said the reason they decided end its participation in the Community Alliance was not a turf battle. The contend they are the lead economic development agency since the are the ones mandated by the state to do it.

Heavy rain, but not as heavy as previously, soaked the Vicksburg area again, causing flooding and electricity outages. The storms had the potential of affecting school bus transportation but the things settled down before that happened.

Officials of the Vicksburg National Military Park and he Vicksburg Police Department were looking for the car that hit and damaged a brick fence at the National Cemetery. If found the driver could be made liable for the repairs to the wall.

Discussions at the informal meeting of the Warren County Board of Supervisors may lead to the county trash officer getting the authority to go on private property to help curb illegal dumping. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has been pushing for the authority.

The City of Vicksburg and Warren County will cooperate to repair a retaining wall damaged by heavy rains. The wall is located between the Vicksburg Municipal Auditorium and the Warren County Supervisors Office Building.

Local deaths during the week were Dora Stewart, Clyde Burns, Irma Black, Troy Gaines, Paul Willingham Jr. and Grace Cunard Wilson.