Our community endured and survived the snow and ice that blanketed Warren County earlier this week, thanks in great deal to the dedicated first responders, law enforcement and road crews who worked throughout the day and night Tuesday and Wednesday to assist in the dozens of wrecks and to clear roads of ice.

The National Weather Service in Jackson reported that temperatures in Vicksburg reached a record low for Jan. 16 of 13 degrees, three degrees below the previous record and a 22-degree departure from the normal temperature for that day. Another record was broken Wednesday night when temperatures were reported in single digits and broke a record that had stood since 1977.

Two NWS measurements near Warren County reported between 1.5 inches and .5 inches of snow Tuesday.

Warren County sheriff Martin Pace said that city and county units combined to respond to 75 wrecks Tuesday.

Record-breaking low temperatures compounded the problem, but city, county and Mississippi Department of Transportation road crews were out and about Tuesday night applying slag to roadways in an effort to make them safer for drivers on the Wednesday morning commute, while first responders and law enforcement continued to respond to wrecks.

City street supervisor Carl Harris said the city used 500-600 tons of sand and 100 tons of rock salt that was covered by sand.

The extreme cold and road conditions forced Vicksburg Warren School District to cancel classes Tuesday through Thursday out of the necessity of student safety, while Vicksburg Catholic Schools and Porter’s Chapel Academy reported back Thursday after being closed the previous two days.

We are fortunate to have such committed individuals in our community who go above and beyond and we give you our thanks.