With two weeks to go until the Mississippi River is expected to crest at 57.5 feet at Vicksburg, the rumor mill is making planning difficult, Sharkey County officials said.

“I got 91 incoming calls yesterday (Tuesday) on my cell phone, and I would guess that 70 percent of them came from the rumor mill,” said Bill Newsom, Sharkey County board president.

A meeting Wednesday in Rolling Fork drew about 1,000 and aimed to dispel rumors that have panicked the area’s 2,486 people, he said.

“I think we offered some comfort,” Newsom said. “I guess Facebook, the Internet and texting are great, but for…something this important, please use the official source.” False reports of closings and evacuations had circulated in Sharkey, he said.

Information is available daily from the Sharkey County Chancery Clerk, 662-873-2755, or Newsom, 662-907-1498.

In Vicksburg, Mayor Paul Winfield has been using the Internet. “We are going to be updating information through social networking and through Facebook and our web site where our citizens will have access to GIS mapping, which will allow them to take a prediction on whether their area, their home or business will be affected,” Winfield has said.

In Warren County, official information regarding flood and river stages is available at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District website, or river stages, Corps spokesman Kavanaugh Breazeale said. Also, call the City of Vicksburg’s action line at 601-636-3411.