Week of September 19, 2004

Moderate weather marked the week with fall’s official first day. Highs ranged from 83 degrees to 89 and lows varied from 56 to 65 degrees. No rain was recorded.

The Mississippi River rose from 12.6 feet on the Vicksburg gauge to 19.8 feet. Forecasters said the river should reach 20.2 feet today.

Morning classes at Dana Road Elementary and Vicksburg Intermediate Schools were disrupted when a grease fire broke out in the school kitchen. Warren County Volunteer Fire Coordinator Kelly Worthy said the self-extinguishing system on the fryers operated properly and put the fire out.

Warren County Deputy Sheriff Mike Hollingsworth returned to desk duty at the sheriff’s department. Seven months ago, Hollingsworth was seriously injured when a car struck him while he was directing traffic at a funeral on U.S. 80 near Glenwood Funeral Home and Green Acres Memorial Park.

The United Way of West Central Mississippi announced the names of the account managers who will help run this year’s campaign. The account managers work with companies and their employees to solicit donations.

Mayor Laurence Leyens began work on his latest renovation project in Vicksburg, a house at 901 Crawford St. He said he planned to renovate what residents refer to as the Mitchell-Davis Home for upscale apartments.

Some of the students at Beechwood Elementary School are using a computer system that helps them take tests. Melissa Rouse, one of the teachers using the system, said the video-computer system helped hold students’ attention.

Representatives from the Warren County Sheriff’s Department and the Vicksburg National Military Park spoke to the Warren County Port Commission asking for permission to use part of the Ceres Research and Industrial Interplex for a law enforcement firearms practice range. Port Commissioners asked for more information.

Two new officers and one returning to duty took oaths with the Vicksburg Police Department to bring the force to a total of 73 sworn officers. That number, officials said is still 14 officers short of the positions the department has available.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors approved resolutions that will allow the Culkin Water District to refinance the district’s outstanding bonds to save about $60,000 over the next five years. Supervisors also reappointed Fred Davis and Fred Baldwin to the district board of directors.

Following a hearing in Warren County Court, Chris Lyndell Wallace was denied bond and sent back to jail to await further proceedings in a case in which he was charges with aggravated assault and kidnapping. The incident was reported Aug. 21 and involved the beating of Sherah Smith, his ex-girlfriend.

Dr. James Price, superintendent of the Vicksburg Warren School District, spoke to the state Senate Education Committee, asking the legislators to help solve the problems of some students starting kindergarten before they are mature enough and students in upper grades who are far older than their classmates.

A fourth candidate, Shawn McKeever, qualified to run for the District 1 seat on the Vicksburg Warren School District Board of Trustees. Also running in District 1 are Jerry Boland, Steve Elwart and Brenda Theriot.

The Mississippi Court of Appeals upheld a conviction of Derrell Antonio Green of murder, rape, kidnapping and sexual battery. The conviction arose from the death of Cynthia Green in 2001.

City crews removed the remains of the steam towboat Sprague from where they have been displayed on Levee Street to a temporary home behind the Klondyke. The move was to allow Camo Construction Co. to begin work on an art park planned for the site on Vicksburg’s City Front.

Freetown Road resident Harold Simpson pointed out is has taken Warren County supervisors a year and a half to complete an “emergency” bridge project and it’s not really complete yet.

Late in the week, two more people, Bryan Pratt and Tommy Shelton, filed qualifying papers to run for a seat on the Vicksburg Warren School District Board of Trustees. Shelton qualified for the District 5 seat and Pratt qualified for the District 1 seat.

Gov. Haley Barbour chose seven teachers from Warren County to serve on his Teacher Advisory Council. The governor also appointed Sen. Mike Chaney and Jimmy Heidel to serve on Momentum Mississippi, an economic development initiative.

Local deaths during the week included Manie Johnson, J.S. Montgomery, Addie Coley Wactor, Bertha Morris Williams, Lawrence Alan Hite, John Jay Russell, Delphinia Givins Smith, Percy Coleman, Barbara A. Wright, Rachel Sanders Clark and Bertha Lee Russell.