Last week, we sat and watched as our version of a blizzard rolled through Vicksburg.

Just outside my window at the newspaper, I watched as an unfortunate driver failed to navigate the large hill on North Frontage Road properly and slid helplessly off the road.

An 18-wheeler that lost control on westbound I-20 near the Indiana Avenue exist and snarled traffic for hours left me with a scary image in my memory.

It also brought about a phrase that is somewhat of an inside joke in Vicksburg.

“It’s snowing in Rolling Fork,” popped up everywhere on my social media newsfeeds.

And while I am sure Rolling Fork got a little bit of the winter weather, it did not appear what happened there necessitated Facebook memes and social media “warnings.”

“Watch out Vicksburg. It’s snowing in Rolling Fork.”

As I soon learned, the genesis of the saying is a little murky but it all dates back to the days before online weather radar and weather apps on phones.

It goes back to when schools were asked if children would be let out early because of winter weather. Why? Because “it’s snowing in Rolling Fork.”

Are local officials closing any roads? Why? Because “it’s snowing in Rolling Fork.”

Trust me when I say I felt much better knowing that I was now, in the know and, that I should routinely check Rolling Forks’ weather forecast as often as I check Vicksburg’s forecast.

The other inside joke I have become quite familiar with is the one involving the idea of a new sports complex.

Just this week, The Post reported a feasibility study was done on the idea of a facility and it showed the economic impact for Vicksburg from such a complex would be in the tens of millions of dollars.

But the joke revolves around how long such a facility has been discussed and how long it has been planned.

I have heard the comments, and I have shared in the laughs. I have also had the opportunity to review — as others were Monday evening — some of the details laid out in the feasibility study; a study that projected how many thousands of visitors it would attract and the number of jobs created, either directly or indirectly.

It has been no secret that I have been an advocate for the sports complex. I believe a quality facility not only adds to the coffers of the city, but also adds to the overall quality of life for its residents.

The plan laid out offers softball, baseball and soccer fields, a walking track and recreational facilities Vicksburg currently does not have.

I have also been one who has vocally questioned the Fisher Ferry Road location picked by city officials and backed up by the feasibility study.

And while I do not live in that area of town, or even travel that road regularly, I had my reservations. I had my reservations on the ability for that road to handle weekend tournament travel and stand up to the wear and tear of what we hope will be a tremendously successful and busy facility.

But while my fears and worries were not quashed Monday, they were calmed by the news that an additional road may serve the sports complex and that upgrades are planned to Halls Ferry and Fisher Ferry roads.

Maybe the investment in the infrastructure leading to the park will make all the difference in the world to those residents who live in the area and our guests who will travel to and from the park.

I am sure plenty of inside jokes out there exist that I need to learn about, but it would be nice to finally put one of those to rest in the eventual construction of a sports complex.

Now, excuse me while I check out the weekend forecast in Rolling Fork.
Tim Reeves is publisher of The Vicksburg Post. He can be reached at tim.reeves@vicksburgpost.com.