December 31, 2007

Weather during the week of Christmas and the last full week of 2007 in Vicksburg had something in common with Santa: It offered a mixed bag of good and not-so-good offerings. Christmas Day, for example, was crisp and clear, with a high of 58 degrees and a low of 26. Before that came one day as warm as 72 degrees. Days following were marked with brisk winds and rainfall.

After rising rapidly for a week, the Mississippi River moderated on the Vicksburg gauge. Readings for the week were still up by nearly 5 feet, from 23.8 feet to 28.6 feet. The forecast was for a reading of 27.5 feet today.

Carl Flanders, who will leave his District 4 seat on the Warren County Board of Supervisors as a result of November elections, will return to his previous work as a classroom teacher. Flanders will lead a Career Discovery curriculum for the Vicksburg Warren School District.

A new State Farm insurance agency was opened with Becky Lampp, Kathryn Blue, Shannon Huie and Robyn Lea as the staff.

Towanna Anderson was among those getting the good news that their applications to become Habitat for Humanity homeowners had been approved. Their home is nearing completion on Stadium Drive.

Reed Mosher and David Horner of the federal Engineering Research and Development Center in Vicksburg were awarded Bronze Order of de Fleury medals, signifying their accomplishments as Army engineers.

The Washington Street building that housed Goldie’s Trail Bar-B-Que was torn down. Ameristar purchased the property and the restaurant moved into a new structure on South Frontage Road this year.

Five teens are the first to graduate from Jacob’s Ladder, a school for mentally challenged youths, and have gotten their first jobs and paychecks at local businesses. Will Conway, Matthew Grogan and Robin Smith work at McAllister’s Deli, Mathew McKay works at County Market and Porcia Taylor is on the staff at McDonald’s.

The Michael Koestler family celebrated a special Christmas due to the recovery of Katie, a high school student, from a brain hemorrhage. Her parents credited the community’s prayers for what doctors called a miracle.

First Lt. Dawn Harrison was named the first woman to serve as company commander in the Vicksburg-based 412th Engineer Command of the U.S. Army Reserve. Harrison said she will take the responsibility seriously. Colleagues said she had repeatedly proved her abilities, including on a deployment in Iraq.

While patrolling, Deputy Sheriff Jason Bailess discovered several people stealing fireworks from a stand on U.S. 61 North. Those taken into custody with about $1,000 worth of holiday goods face charges of business burglary.

Since Lake Forest subdivision has been “lakeless” due to a dam blowout about four years ago, the resulting marsh has become home to a wide array of birds and plants. That’s fine with Chris Olsen, whose deck overlooks the 20-acre lake site, which is now refilling. She has enjoyed watching the creatures enjoy the change in conditions.

Sen. Mike Chaney of Vicksburg, soon to be state commissioner of insurance, said his opinion is the job should be appointive, but he has no plans to ask the Legislature to make changes in the elective post. His earlier statements about seeking the change were misconstrued, he said.

Tom Pharr, owner of the antebellum mansion Anchuca on First East Street, noted that an evolution of the area is continuing with more investment, including his, in homes large and small. The area north of the courthouse and extending to Glass Bayou was part of the city’s original 1825 survey.

Deaths during the week included Lottie June Blakely, Winifred Watson Holaday, Bertha Jean Flagg, David T. Wadsworth, Lillian B. Jackson, Burton Duke Brown Jr., Leon C. Plump Jr. and Paul Edward Walker.