Temperatures dropped early in the week with highs in the 50s and 60s and lows in the 40s and 30s after a cold front that moved through the area Monday. Temperatures began warming up by mid-week and were expected to stay on the warm side through the weekend.
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The Mississippi River was at 32.82 feet April 12. It was at 38.08 Friday. Flood stage is 43 feet.
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Heavy rain and high winds dropped about 7 inches of rain on Warren County, causing flash flooding road closures. A home on Road Runner Road as flooded with an inch of water. High winds were responsible for damage to a boathouse and a home and truck in the Shell Beach Road/Catfish Alley area of Eagle Lake, and downed trees in several areas of the city and county. The downed trees and limbs blocked roads and caused scattered power outages. At one point, about 2,500 people were without power in the area.
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Hinds County Chancellor Dewayne Thomas on Thursday continued Warren County Circuit Clerk Shelly Ashley-Palmertree’s civil trial until October after hearing four days of testimony. The trial began Dec. 2 and then stopped to allow both sides to work out a settlement through arbitration, which failed. Palmertree is suing the county and State Auditor Stacey Pickering over whether she owes the county $671,751.75 in excessive salary above the state-set cap for circuit and chancery clerks. Palmertree also faces criminal charges accusing her of inappropriately transferring funds into a personal account.
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The Board of Mayor and Aldermen gave its blessing to the demolition of the Oak Street Apartments, 2427 Oak St., under the city’s slum clearance ordinance. The building was condemned in October after gas and water meters were pulled because the building’s owner had not paid the utility bills.
In another matter, the board learned the city’s nuisance complaint against the Sweet Olive, which took tourists on tours of the Mississippi River for nine years, will be heard in Community Court in May. The boat has been moored at the City Front boat landing since the business closed in 2012, and Community Development Director Victor Gray-Lewis said his office has been receiving complaints about it.
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Broadcaster Ron Anderson, known as the “voice of Vicksburg” died Wednesday at Promise Hospital. He was 62. Anderson, who hosted the “Hometown Morning Show” for radio station River 101.3, retired in 2009 after 36 years as a broadcaster, citing health problems.
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Eleven vehicles were reported stolen from River City Auto Sales, 520 U.S. 80, Tuesday. Warren County sheriff’s deputies later recovered six of them in different areas of the county, including one that was burned on Stinson Road south of the dealership.
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A juvenile was detained by school officials Wednesday after he brought a gun to Vicksburg Junior High School.
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Seven new officers have joined the Vicksburg Police Department after completing the 12-week training program at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Academy in Pearl. The officers are undergoing a 10-week field training program with the department.
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The 103-year-old Monte Carlo Building on Washington Street has been nominated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Owner Linda Fondren said she has also applied for Mississippi Landmark status for the building. Nancy Bell, executive director for the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation, said the designations would allow Fondren and her husband, James, to apply for grants to renovate and develop the building as a museum and interpretive center.
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“Where to Retire” magazine listed Vicksburg as one of its top retirement towns. The city was selected by the Houston-based magazine because it had qualities important to today’s retirees. The magazine also listed Vicksburg’s location on the Mississippi River, art galleries, coffee shops, museums and flood wall murals as part of the city’s charm.
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Local deaths included Lillie Lewis, Gordon de France Surguine Jr., Ryan Wesson, Laura Stewart, Clara Louise Mayfield Miller, Freda Jean Brown, Elnora Galloway, Mary Pettaway Giles, Mary Louise Grimes, Victor Dynell Elisha Quinn, Judith L. Dildine, Laura Stewart, Gordon Bruce Annis and Naomi R Caldwell.