Manley says storm not much threat to area; Poplarville softball team honored
Published 8:20 pm Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Pearl River County Emergency Management Director Danny Manley told supervisors on Monday that no emergencies had been declared covering Pearl River County in connection with Tropical Storm Ida, but he said local residents should take precautionary measures, such as securing lawn furniture and potted plants that could be damaged by high wind gusts.
“That’s all we are advising,” he said.
The storm was supposed to make landfall early Tuesday.
He said wind gusts were expected up to about 45 miles per hour and heavy rainfall could hit the area, too. Some forecasts call for as much as 4 inches of rain in some nearby areas.
However, he said the storm was so disorganized that it did not represent a big threat to Pearl River County.
Late Monday, forecasters said the storm was supposed to come ashore early today near Mobile. However, wind gusts extend out 200 miles from the center of the storm.
Manley’s remarks were made in response a question by Supervisor Anthony Hales.
Poplarville School Supt. Carl Merritt told the Item that the school board’s regularly scheduled Monday night meeting had been postponed until next Monday because of the storm.
Merritt was at the supervisors meeting in conjunction with the supervisors honoring the Poplarville High School Slow Pitch Lady Hornet softball team with a resolution after they won the state 4A championship on Oct. 17 and were also named the No. 1 overall team in the Jackson Clarion-Ledger’s state ranking.
Manley said he knew of no area school closings, although some schools along the Mississippi Gulf Coast were scheduled to have a shortened day on Monday because of the storm.
“The storm is losing its punch because of a cold front and because of cool Gulf waters, and that was expected. That is good for us,” he told supervisors.
He said Pearl River County’s greatest danger from the storm might be flooding in some low-lying areas. He said forecasters had predicted anywhere from one to four inches of rain from outlying storms associated with the weather system.
In other matters, the supervisors adopted a resolution honoring the Poplarville High School Lady Hornets Slow Pitch Softball team for winning the class 4A state championship, and also for being named the overall No. 1 girls’ slow pitch softball team in the state by the Clarion-Ledger.
“It is a great honor that you will value even more as you grow older and look back on your accomplishment,” Hales told the 18-member softball team and their five coaches, who were sitting in the audience during the adoption of the resolution.
Asst. coach Gary Malley told supervisors that the girls’ overall grade point average is 3.6. He said 4.0 is perfect. “They are not only good athletes but are great students academically, too,” Malley said.
Supervisor Sandy Kane Smith presented the team and head coach Jonathan Ray a plaque from supervisors, honoring their accomplishment.
Team members include Branda Northrop, Alyssa Graeter, Janessa Dedeaux, Ashton Rogers, Faith Campbell, Rachel Breland, Çhelsey Barrett, Pepper Baker, Kayla Fendlason, Sam Gentry, Kayla Ross, Tori Fairchild, Rachel Hickman, Paige Miller, Nicole Smith, Kelly Ladner, Micah Davis and Miranda Fazende.
Coaches include head coach Jonathan Ray, assistants Drue Ross, Gary Malley and Chelley Carpenter and student assistant Alexis Gupton.
The resolution honoring the team was signed by all five supervisors.
In other business, supervisors:
— Authorized the publication of the final settlement for contract for project No. LSBP 5513.
— Okayed the completion documents for project no. SAP-55(11)M.
— Approved the $85,000 payment No. 3 to Huey Stockstill for debris removal.
— Requested reimbursement for the eorsion control measures from NRCS.
— Approved poll worker checks for Nov. 3.
— Approved the tax sale strike, a reduction of assessment, an addendum to the delinquent mobile home report, disposal of records and acknowledgment on file with the clerk of the board for state tax commissions audits.
— Approved travel costs for the election commissioners to attend the 2009 ECAM annual seminar in Philadelphia, Miss., Jan. 24-29, 2010.
— Went into an executive session with Mike Harris, president of the Pearl River Central Water Assoc., to discuss a matter. Supervisors did not say what the matter covered.
Supervisors are under state law allowed to go into executive sessions when the matters under discussion cover personnel, litigation or the sell of property, and a few other matters.
— Recessed to Monday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m.