FEBRUARY 15-21
Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 22, 2009
Highs covered a 30-degree range from 51 degrees to 81 during a week of variable weather. Lows were similar, varying from 27 degrees to 56. A small amount of rain was recorded one day.
The Mississippi River rose most of the week, starting at 21.4 feet on the Vicksburg gauge and ending at 28.3 feet. A reading of 29.7 feet was forecast for today.
A retired Vicksburg nurse was killed when her car crossed the Interstate median and collided with a vehicle driven by a man and wife from Texas, who were hospitalized. Bernice Taylor Kuhnert was 85.
The main Vicksburg office of Trustmark was robbed by a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Authorities released surveillance photos of the robber, said to have remained in the bank less than two minutes.
Helen Sink, a resident of Shady Lawn Nursing Home, was crowned queen in one of several area Valentine’s Day events.
A tally obtained from police showed citations increased 47 percent to 9,558 during 2008. Police Chief Tommy Moffett said the numbers showed that officers were doing their jobs, a fact he said was also reflected by a decrease in traffic fatalities.
A new brochure available from Vicksburg National Military Park locations maps a wider area of Civil War conflict, specifically pinpointing key events in the Steele Bayou Expedition, an initial approach of Union troops to Vicksburg.
AARP volunteers continued to have plenty of takers for the free income tax preparation assistance they offer annually at the public library.
As many as 60 volunteers answered a request by the Warren County Sheriff’s Department to help search for Benjamin “Ben” Bearrick, missing since Jan. 25. Bearrick had taken a tenant on his Warriors Trail property to the hospital on Jan. 23 with knife wounds in his neck. The tenant, Shawn Sponholz died and authorities believe the homicide and the disappearance may be connected. A day after the search, a corpse was retrieved from a Big Black River slough, but was later determined not to be human.
Clients who prepaid for vaults and other merchandise at Green Acres Memorial Park appear to have lost that money, state investigators told local funeral directors. Deeds to plots in the commercial cemetery remain valid and, for the time being, prepayments for grave opening and closing services will be honored. Otherwise, though under court orders due to missing trust funds, the cemetery is open for business as usual.
The home of Maxim and Carol Dornbusch and two previous generations in their family was damaged by fire that gutted the second level. The rest of the house at 1223 Forest St sustained water damage.
Shana Stanton of Vicksburg High signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Meridian Community College.
Tommy Wright, a convenience store owner, said he will join three others who have filed to seek the Democratic nomination for mayor of Vicksburg.
Exhibits and events at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center and at St. Mary’s Center were related to Black History Month.
A simmering dispute between Police Chief Tommy Moffett and Vicksburg Housing Authority Director James Stirgus Sr. erupted when Moffett appeared before commissioners of the public housing program, suggesting they need to provide more oversight. The men have been at odds before, but their disagreement was piqued by the December arrest of a key VHA manager on cocaine trafficking charges.
Sixteen students at St. Aloysius High School were tapped for membership in the National Honor Society.
Supervisors entered a contract for hourly services from Randy Sherard as board attorney. The rate will be $150 per hour, the same paid to Paul Winfield, former board attorney.
Informally, the county board agreed to a 10 percent cut in donating tax money to charities, the first step in a series of cuts expected through 2009.
United Way of West Central Mississippi volunteers gathered to present awards in the wake of raising $1.4 million. Executive Director Barbara Tolliver said that although corporate gifts declined, individual giving rose.
Corps of Engineers technician Webb Mason received the Defense of Freedom Medal for his service in Afghanistan. Mason was wounded in a rocket attack while performing civilian relief work.
In addition to Mrs. Kuhnert, deaths during the week included Annie Mae Washington Goodman, Parsha Kathleen Metzenberg, Frank Pittman, Robert Watkins Jr., Gracie Walker and Joseph O. Wilson Sr.