After a brief warm-up, cold temperatures returned to the area at the end of the week as temperatures fell about 50 degrees Wednesday from a high in the 70s to a nighttime low in the upper 20s and a wintry mix.

The Mississippi River was at 18.54 feet Feb. 28. The stage Friday was 25.16 feet. Flood sage is 43 feet.

For the second time in as many weeks, severe wintry weather brought activity in Vicksburg and Warren County to a standstill as an artic front packing cold temperatures, high winds and a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow caused icing conditions on roads and highways. The storm’s severity forced city and county offices and public and private schools to close Wednesday.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors approved a $519,558 contract with Unicon of Pearl to correct erosion problems along a section of Haining Road at the Port of Vicksburg. The supervisors also instructed board president Bill Lauderdale to seek money from the Mississippi Development Authority for the project, which is being funded by a mix of MDA-administered state grants and money remaining from a Katrina-related Community Development Block Grant to clean city bayous.

In other county news, the Board of Supervisors approved using a buyback option to eliminate three motor graders with a total of 5,000 hours and will advertise for new ones.

A broken 100-year-old, 24-inch storm drain was the cause of a sinkhole that forced city officials to close National Street Monday. The hole was discovered by a city sewer department employee as he was driving in the area.

In other city news the Planning Commission gave its OK the city’s new comprehensive plan, recommending the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approve the document, which is expected to serve as the city’s guide for development an growth for the next 25 years.

City officials are waiting for an application by Portofino Resort LLC for a special exception that will allow the company to build a land-based casino on 11.5 acres of land by the Portofino Hotel. Getting the special exception is one of the steps required to get a state gaming license for the casino, a Portofino Resort official said.

Officials with Merit Health River Region said work orders and furniture for its new annex on the hospital’s grounds off U.S. 61 North have increased the project’s cost by $3.7 million, from $13.2 million to $16.9 million. When complete, the building will medical services such as pediatrics, sports medicine, pain management, urology and rheumatology.

U.S. Army Col. Jeffrey R. Eckstein retired as commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District Commander, closing 30 years of service in the Army.

The Sisters of Mercy were honored at a reception at St. Michael Catholic Church for order’s service to Vicksburg, Warren County and Central Mississippi for 155 years.

Local deaths included Katie Thelma Cranfield, Doris Ann Davidson, Walter D. Seid, Ruth Sessums Hobson, Althea Stewart Baldwin, Jennie B. Bolden, Janice M. Thomas, Kenneth “Kenny” Brooks, Robert M. “Bob” Engler and Roy Clyde Hearn.