Local Headlines

Dry Weekend; Flooding Threat Next Week

By Michael Haynes | February 8, 2020 at 7:41 AM CST – Updated February 8 at 7:41 AM

A clear, calm, and seasonably chilly start this morning; temperatures are running in the upper 30s to lower 40s. A good deal of sunshine throughout the day and slightly warmer as highs reach the lower 60s. The warming trend kicks in Sunday; despite dipping to the 40s tonight, highs surge into the lower 70s by afternoon. Unfortunately, the warmer weather is happening in advance of our next storm system that will bring widespread rain Monday through Wednesday night, including a significant risk for flooding. On average, we’re expecting 4-6 inches in Central Mississippi with the potential for locally higher amounts. Stay with WLBT and Fox 40 for the latest forecast updates.

First Alert Forecast: Dry Weekend; Heavy Rain Next Week

Northshore Spillway construction resumes after delays

Northshore Spillway Construction

February 7, 2020 at 8:30 PM CST – Updated February 7 at 8:30 PM

BRANDON, Miss. (WLBT) – Callers to 3 On Your Side were voicing complaints about the lack of work being done of the Northshore Parkway Spillway road construction project.

Friday, Hemphill Construction was back on the job, paving lanes, but they have been absent in recent months.

County officials say recent wet weather has held the project up.

Northshore Spillway road construction (Source: David Kenney)

There’s also provisions in the MDOT contract that only requires the construction company to work five days a month from December through February.

The delay in work had made the area dangerous to drive through because the orange barrels often fell into lanes of traffic.

Mike Harrison, Rankin county road manager said, “There’s some guidelines and this is a LPA project which is a local project which is monitored by MDOT which states MDOT we have to follow MDOT guidelines and everything on that it does stretch the project out a little longer.”

Construction work will continue including on weekends as long as the weather stays dry.

County road officials overseeing the work now say they hope to have the project completed by the first of April.

NWS confirms two EF-1 tornadoes in Leake County

By China Lee | February 7, 2020 at 6:00 PM CST – Updated February 7 at 6:08 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Severe storms touch down in the central Mississippi Wednesday, and the National Weather Service is surveying the damage.

The National Weather Service confirmed two more EF1 tornadoes in Leake County bring the state count to 9.

The first tornado crossed Highway 25 and moved along the Pearl River Bottom snapping several trees. It moved northeast to Pleasant Hill Road where is caused a chicken house to collapse. Estimated winds peaked at 100 mph.

The second tornado touched down along Highway 488 and snapped tree limbs. It moved northeastward to Charley Springs Road where is caused a mobile home to break from tie downs completely destroying the home. The maximum estimated wind speed was around 100 mph.

Car crashes, damages 2 apartment buildings

News

By Jacob Gallant | February 7, 2020 at 5:56 PM CST – Updated February 7 at 5:56 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A car crashed into a Jackson apartment building Friday afternoon.

The damage left behind after the crash. (Source: WLBT)

The car caused damage to two buildings at Windsor Apartments around 4 p.m.

The driver was taken to the hospital with non-critical injuries.

It’s unclear what led up to the crash.

Man arrested for illegal water connection

Top Story

By Jacob Gallant | February 7, 2020 at 5:03 PM CST – Updated February 7 at 5:03 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Jackson police arrested a man accused of stealing water.

According to police, 40-year-old Frederick Carson had an illegal connection at his home.

Carson is charged with grand larceny. Police expect more arrests to be made.

JPD searching for teen who ran away from south Jackson home

By China Lee | February 7, 2020 at 4:39 PM CST – Updated February 7 at 4:39 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Jackson Police are searching for a young girl who may have run away from home.

Sylvia Williams was last seen on Grandview Circle in Jackson on Feb. 1, 2020.

She was wearing a black shirt, brown pants and flip flops. She’s 4′5″ and 118 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair.

If you see Williams call Detective Sharon Jordan with JPD’s Special Victim’s Unit at 601-960-2328 or Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS.

Right lane cleared after multi-car crash on I-55 at Waterworks Curve

Traffic

By China Lee | February 7, 2020 at 3:57 PM CST – Updated February 7 at 4:14 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The right lane is back open on I-55 near the Fortification Street/Waterworks Curve area after a multi-car crash.

MDOT estimated about 45 minutes for clean up. There was a backup that extended to the High Street exit but traffic is now moving smoothly.

It’s unclear if anyone was injured in the crash.

School district holds ‘Jean Day’ fundraiser for Natchez family who lost son

By China Lee | February 7, 2020 at 3:14 PM CST – Updated February 7 at 3:14 PM

ADAMS COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) – The Natchez-Adams School District held a fundraiser Friday for the family of a young boy that passed away this week.

Dajon Prater was a student that attended the Mississippi School of the Blind. The district said that anyone who came in contact with Dajon knew that he was a happy and joyful young man who didn’t let his disability stop him in any way.

Friday they held a Jean Day Fundraiser.

Students were able to pay $1 to wear jeans to school and staff members paid $2. But there was no limit to the amount they were allowed to donate.

A GoFundMe has been created for the family also if you would like to help.

WATCH: Madison officers sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ to girl during high school visit

By WLBT Digital | February 7, 2020 at 2:50 PM CST – Updated February 7 at 2:58 PM

MADISON, Miss. (WLBT) – Madison police officers made a trip to Germantown High School to spend time with the kids there.

While the officers were there, a sweet moment was captured on camera.

We had a fabulous time with the SuperMavs from Germantown High School today. Wholly Smokes catered for all of us and we had a great time with the kids. We sang Happy Birthday to Lakesha and Neil Diamonds Sweet Caroline to a precious girl named Caroline. Thank you to everyone who came by the Police Department today to fellowship. Thank you to the Teachers Kelly McIntosh, Robnee Toler, Andrea Taylor, Julie Cader and Pat Shelton. We appreciate the efforts it took to have the kids come to our location.

Posted by Madison (MS) Police Department on Friday, February 7, 2020

The officers belted out a rendition of “Sweet Caroline” to a young girl named Caroline.

They also sang Happy Birthday to another student named Lakesha.

Georgetown residents want the Freedom Corner monument to rise again

By Roslyn Anderson | February 6, 2020 at 8:01 PM CST – Updated February 7 at 11:46 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Freedom Corner in Jackson, at the intersection of Martin Luther King Junior Drive and Medgar Evers Boulevard no longer stands.

For the west Jackson community, the crash took out a source of pride in the African American community.

“I cried, because I felt like a part of Georgetown was destroyed,” said Barbara Ramsey.

The widow and mother of three sons has lived in Georgetown for 70 years.

She is saddened by what is now a heap of bricks at Freedom Corner.

Until recently destroyed in a single car crash, it was a monument that symbolized for people in this community the civil rights effort and the men who died to make it happen, Medgar Evers and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“It means freedom,” said Ramsey. “It means that we are still struggling. We’re not out of the struggle and it gives us hope to know that we can survive and we will survive”.

The 83 year old retired City of Jackson employee sees it as a fallen monument to the past.

In the 1960′s her sister and brother were arrested and imprisoned at the State Fairgrounds for demonstrating.

Her father, Jessie Travis, hosted white Freedom Riders during the Civil Rights Movement.

“They would go to his house and he would let them stay and mayor Allen Thompson made sure that the police did not bother them while they were at his house,” added Ramsey.

The intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Medgar Evers Boulevard has been the site of Civil Rights marches, parades and rallies hosted by Jackson City Councilman Kenneth Stokes.

“People come from all over the world when they come to Jackson Mississippi,” said Stokes. “They come right here and visit this monument again Freedom Corner, Martin Luther King Drive and Medgar Evers Boulevard. The only intersection in the world is right here in Jackson Mississippi”.

Stokes hopes to have funds to rebuild the monument by Dr. King’s assassination date April 4th.

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