May 18, 2008

Cool nights and warm days plus two days of significant rain marked the week in Vicksburg. Highs ranged from 73 degrees to 88. The low for the week was a 55-degree reading, but most nights were in the mid-60s. Rain was measured on three days, with 2.3 inches recorded Wednesday and Thursday.

The Mississippi River continued to edged down from its April 19 crest at 50.9 feet. Stages starter at 43.1 feet on the Vicksburg gauge and declined to 41.7 feet by week’s end. The forecast for today was a reading of 41.5 feet.

Residents of flooded homes at a meeting were near-unanimous in their desire to return to their homes rather than participate in a buyout.

Grand jurors ruled that Brandy Wallace, 25, should stand trial for aggravated driving under the influence in the death of pedestrian John E. Parette, who was 81.

Vicksburg High’s baseball Gators edged out Tishomingo in a three-game series, setting the stage for a state 4A championship series with East Central.

Don Neumann, a registered engineer, said a sudden slough along Washington Streets bluffs is a real danger. Other civil engineers said such a slide is not impossible, but don’t belief there’s any imminent danger.

Profiled by Gordon Cotton, headstone artist T.J. Jemmerson said he doesn’t sign his own work because it belongs to his customers. He also said he has not made or designed a marker for himself.

Organizers Kristen Meehan and Mary Beth Lasseter said they were excited about the prospect of bringing a farmers’ market to City Front. Their plans, supported by City Hall, are to open on June 14.

Three people were injured in a wreck on U.S. 80.

Donna Shute Marshall, retired from Shady Lawn Nursing Home, fell from a boat and drowned while fishing in a pond near Redwood. Her family said she recently had a series of seizures.

Grand jurors ruled that a Petal man, Kevin Dale McCain, 48, should stand trial for robbery of a Trustmark bank branch.

A series of promotions during National Tourism Week included Welcome Center personnel dressing in 1850s garb to greet visitors.

Two new stores, Bath & Body Works and Perfumania, were announced as new tenants at the Outlets at Vicksburg.

Revenue-based taxes generated the smallest monthly amounts for local governments and schools since November 2006. For the fiscal year, collections are about $200,000 behind last year’s figures.

Miranda Shugars, Shelby Thum and James Poe have been accepted to attend Mississippi School for Math & Science.

Flood victims began to filter in to sign up for aid offered as a result of a disaster declaration signed by President Bush. Twenty-six people registered for assistance.

The American Queen made its first birthing in Vicksburg since April 4. High water had left the passenger vessel without a place to tie up.

River Region Medical Center said it will no longer accept non-emergency Medicaid patients from Louisiana unless that state’s lawmakers increase reimbursements to the level paid to health-care providers in Louisiana.

Faculty and staff retiring from the Vicksburg Warren School District this year were honored at a reception. Together, the 38 retiring employes had 943 years’ experience in education.

Vicksburg High’s baseball Gators headed into the weekend one game down in the state 4A championship series, having dropped the first game 13-1 to East Central.

In addition to Donna Marshall, deaths during the week included Sperry Emory Bartlett, Thomas Dewey Hart, Jadon Miller, Elizabeth H. Nelson, John Ell Sadler, William Paul Shelby, Joseph Lee Ballard, Mary Tribble Caldwell, Joshua R. Jefferson-Lindsey, Flora Mae Jones, Faye Patterson McClure, Zemetrius Darnell Ollie and Elizabeth Serio Weeks.