Outdoors men and women can feel a bit safer along the Pearl River now that there are mile markers along the southern section of the waterway in Pearl River County.
Pearl River County Emergency Management Director Danny Manley said the idea to install the mile markers came as a result of several search and rescue missions where boaters and hunters had gotten lost, but could not relay a landmark concerning their location.
Manley said while the area is heavily used by locals, who are familiar with the nicknames of landmarks, such as government ditch, visitors and newcomers don’t know the nicknames.
The situation is increased when the water level is up, such as it is now after Tuesday’s storm brought heavy rains. Manley said the high water opens up alternate routes where boaters can get lost.
Now, 20 markers have been installed along as many miles of the Pearl River, starting seven miles south of Walkiah Bluff and proceeding 13 miles north.
The mile markers can also allow family members to keep track of their loved ones when they don’t return home as expected. Since most hunters like to keep their favorite spots secret to decrease competition, Manley said the hunter can tell their family what mile marker they will be hunting near and if they don’t return at the predetermined time rescuers have a place to begin their search.
The cost to install the mile markers was minimal, $230, because reclaimed posts were used for the signs, Manley said. Additionally, Manley, John Albert Mitchell and the Pine Grove Volunteer Fire Department volunteered their time to install them, saving the county man-hours. Manley said it took about 3 three weekends to install all 20 markers.
Ideally, Manley would like to see the surrounding counties follow suit and provide mile markers in their area, all the way from the mouth of the Pearl River in Hancock County up through Marion County. About 70 miles of the Pearl River runs through Pearl River County. Manley said he focused on the southern end because of the number of search and rescue situations that have occurred along that section of the river.