Week in Vicksburg
Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 21, 2010
Snowmen, some decked out in Valentine’s apparel, dotted Vicksburg’s landscape in the aftermath of at least 5 inches of wet, fluffy flakes that were also great for snowballs. Otherwise, lows were at or below freezing every night during the week and highs ranges from 35 degrees to 56.
The Mississippi River fell, albeit slowly, from a late winter crest at 41 fee to 40 feet by week’s end. A drop to 38.4 feet is expected by today.
South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman reported that his granddaughter, Avery Bell, was recovering satisfactorily after undergoing heart surgery. The 8-month-old infant has Turner Syndrome.
In something of a contrast, thousands of people left their snowbound homes and made their way to downtown Vicksburg for a Latin Carnivale. Organizers were determined not to let the weather interfere with this year’s Mardi Gras theme,
After a traffic stop, Warren County deputies charged two teens with possession of a stolen rifle.
Mario Doyle and Alexa Jeffers were the winners of the Knights of Columbus free-throw contest.
Fourteen young women were presented at the 38th annual Les Soeurs Charmantes ball.
A tally of how local government entities have spent or expect to spend federal stimulus money showed funds spent for calculators for high school math students, parade barricades and renovations to the historic Shirley House in the Vicksburg National Military Park. The $787 billion recovery package was passed by Congress a year ago.
Derrick Stamps Jr. was shot several times and killed in the parking lot of the Exxon station at Clay and Mission 66. He was 18. Hours later, Dominic Rashad Turner, also 18, surrendered to Vicksburg police. He was charged with murder and his bond was set at $250,000. It was the first homicide of the year in the city.
Principals in First National LLC said they were ready to begin converting upper floors of the Trustmark building at Clay and Washington streets into 62 luxury residences. A law firm that has been the top-floor tenant since the building was erected in 1905 said it would be moving to new offices in the BancorpSouth building.
The Lady Vikes ended their basketball season with a 17-10 record, bowing out of basketball playoffs with a loss to Horn Lake.
Warren County Port Commission members said they would consider two proposals to tear down the plantation house on the county’s Ceres industrial property, but not a proposal to use the house as the centerpiece of a 19th century village to be developed on the site as a tourist attraction.
Vicksburg Warren School District trustees accepted the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. James Price to adopt a calendar for 2010-2011 without including days between nine-week session for remediation of lagging students. Price said not enough students have availed themselves to justify continuing the experimental program.
Kevin West, an 18-year-old college student, was tapped for the Casper Troopers drum and bugle corps, following the footsteps of his father, Brian, who played with the group 30 years ago.
Charles Borrello, who operated the Italian-themed Borrello’s Restaurant in Vicksburg from 2002 until 2009, was killed in a one-car wreck in Pearl River County. Also killed in another wreck was former resident Tiffany Martin McLain. She died near Carthage.
Vicksburg residents who signed up for the city’s CodeRED automated phone alerts were asked to reregister and clarify what type alerts they wish to receive.
The Vicksburg Homecoming Benevolent Club named Deputy Sheriff Tom Wilson, police Sgt. Johnnie Ray Edwards and fire Lt. Derrick Gardner officers of the year. Wilson’s award was posthumous. He was killed in a 2009 car wreck.
In addition to Derrick Smith Jr., deaths during the week included Claudia Jean Funches, S. Jeanette Jerls, Webber E. Brewer, Jessie Mae Anderson, John Edmond Sr., Clarence Rawlings III, Joseph Eugene Wash Sr., Clifton Leo Thornell Jr., Gregory Massey and Bobbie Jenkins Swanier.