KCS ordered to pay for trestle’s rebuilding|[05/21/08]
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 21, 2008
From staff reports
Kansas City Southern Railway must pay $19,277 within 60 days to the incoming owner of rail lines over the partially dismantled Glass Road rail trestle to finance rebuilding the structure.
A two-part unanimous decision Tuesday by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board allows for used bridge materials from Texas to be shipped to Vicksburg in order for Maryland-based short-line rail operator James Riffin to re-establish service on the long-neglected, 85-year-old structure. Independent analysis as to the parts’ quality must be provided before delivery, the board added.
Warren County road crews dismantled parts of the bridge in January to allow better access to such emergency vehicles as ambulances and fire trucks. Work stopped a week later when railroad officials told county supervisors the low-slung bridge had not been officially abandoned.
Federal regulators have not held Warren County in violation of any laws, saying only KCS – as owner of the trestle at the time of its attempted demolition – is free to sue the county over the matter if they deem necessary.
In March, Riffin and Foam Packaging president Raymond B. English were approved to purchase 1.9 miles of a 4.25-mile section of rail eyed by the Vicksburg-based company to continue shipping in raw materials to its plant off U.S. 61 South. The lower portion was OK’d for Riffin to purchase at a separate figure, for which Riffin faces a Thursday deadline to close officially.
The decision capped closing proceedings on a 4.25-mile section to be abandoned by the railroad. Discussions began in December when the federal railroad regulatory board ruled Foam Packaging retained first rights to buy the line under federal law stipulating rail service be preserved when willing offers are available.
Before the ruling, the City of Vicksburg had announced a deal with operators of a planned casino by Lakes Entertainment to own some of the right of way. If development did not progress, city officials were to seek ways to convert the acreage to a bicycle trail. The casino still needs financing approval from the Mississippi Gaming Commission and the trail concept was held in abeyance by the federal agency.
Board commissioners also threw out an offer from Riffin and English to jointly purchase the entire line, on the grounds that the two previously had not established a corporate affiliation.
Two VWSD teachers to be assistant principalsThe Vicksburg Warren School District is transferring two local teachers to assistant principal positions beginning next school year.
Randy Broome, the former theater/drama instructor and baseball coach at Warren Central High School, will become assistant principal at Vicksburg High School.
Deowarski McDonald, formerly an English instructor at Vicksburg High School, also has been promoted to the position of assistant principal, but the school has not been decided.
“There’s still a few positions being figured out, and we won’t know exactly which schools they’ll be at until next week,” said Superintendent Dr. James Price.
The announcement was made at the VWSD meeting on May 15. The next meeting will be June 26.
Claiborne’s Sheriff Davis to direct Alcorn police forceClaiborne County Sheriff Frank Davis has been named interim chief of police for Alcorn State University, a release from the college said this morning.
Davis replaces current chief Bernadette Wilson.
A onetime high school teacher, the eight-term incumbent was the first black sheriff in Claiborne County upon his election in 1979.
Among other posts he has held in more than 40 years of public service are assistant chief of police in Port Gibson and Claiborne County Civil Defense director. Davis was also the first black elected president of the Mississippi Sheriff’s Association.
Davis, who will continue as sheriff, is a member of the National Organization for Black Law Enforcement Officers and the NAACP. He serves as a mentor for Mississippi Action for Progress and has set up a TRIAD program in Claiborne County.
He served two years in the U.S. Army and is an Alcorn State University graduate. He is pursuing an MBA from the Lorman university.