Week in Vicksburg
Published 12:01 am Sunday, August 1, 2010
Highs peaked at 99 degrees, but several days saw the heat broken by scattered clouds and showers. Lows were all in the middle 70s. Small amounts of rain were measured on four days with the total less than a half-inch.
The Mississippi River fell much of the week, starting at a reading of 30.5 feet and ending up at 29.7 feet. The forecast for today was a reading of 30 feet.
Meeting in Jackson, trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History delayed a decision on whether to list the old plantation house at the Ceres industrial park as a Mississippi Landmark. Warren County Port Commission members want the structure removed from the park or torn down.
About 25 cyclists participating in the Push America Journey of Hope crossed the river bridge on their coast-to-coast journey.
A book-signing was set for Dr. George E. Abraham. The local physician’s work is called “Delta Diet.”
On a 3-2 vote, trustees of the Vicksburg Warren School District selected Dr. Elizabeth Duran Swinford of Baton Rouge, La., as new superintendent of the Vicksburg Warren School District. She succeeds Dr. James Price, who retired during the summer.
Workers in Vicksburg’s summer youth employment program completed several tasks, including assessing the city’s playgrounds and then performing needed painting and other work.
Cooper Lighting was the only firm to seek a property tax exemption for an expansion or improvement, a fact seen by Tax Assessor Richard Holland as a sign of lean economic times.
The advent of two-a-day practice sessions signalled the approach of football season at area high schools.
The Vicksburg organization confirmed it will go along with the national decision to abbreviate the YMCA name to the Y. A new logo is part of the change.
To bring awareness to the role of citizens in crime prevention, retired police officer Doug Arp spent the week in a swimming pool. Arp is nationally known for his innovative awareness campaigns.
Merchants prepared for Mississippi’s second 48-hour sales tax holiday. The 7 percent levy is waived on clothing and shoes as school days near.
A seven-year local law enforcement officer, London Williams, 40, was among people indicted by the Warren County Grand Jury. Williams was charged with sexual battery and incest.
Former city employee Barry Graham, 56, was given probation and ordered to pay restitution and costs after pleading guilty to embezzlement. He was manager of Vicksburg’s government-access TV channel and had been on unpaid leave during the investigation.
In their summary report, members of the grand jury recommended girls in public schools be instructed on the state’s statutory rape laws.
Deaths during the week included Ruth Sheppeard Harris, LouWanda Miles, Jerald Winfred Warrick, Louise Moore Larson, Carla Nadler Simpson, David Anderson Jr., David Hunt Dabney, Ida Moffett, Travis Maurice Bell Jr., Isabelle Grace Allen and Irene Breland Martin.