News

Miss. group will personally deliver donated items to tornado victims

Submitted by Michael Clark on Wednesday, May 22nd, 6:02 pm

SOUTHAVEN, MS- (WMC-TV) - As the clean up efforts continue in Oklahoma, many of you are looking for ways to help the victims.

With their hands full, people from all over Mississippi showed up at the Landers Center in Southaven to drop off items that will be taken to the tornado victims in Moore, Oklahoma.

"My heart just went out to them, just prayed for them. That's all you can do, and gather supplies," said Jessica Roberson.

Small items, but important ones, that show the victims some 500 miles away, that people everywhere are praying.

"I just can't imagine everything being gone, one minute you're fine, and the next minute it's all gone," said Carole Hedrick.

Hedrick and some of her church friends started with a plan to personally deliver help. They took the plan to Facebook, where the call for help continues to be shared.

"People are starting to bring in items, diapers, wipes, water, Gatorade, personal items," she said.

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Southaven declares state of emergency after flooding

Submitted by Michael Clark on Wednesday, May 22nd, 5:00 pm

Water remains in clothes and on carpets.

DESOTO COUNTY, MS- (WMC-TV) - The city of Southaven declared a state of emergency after flooding in the area Tuesday.

Many frustrated people spent Wednesday cleaning up water covered areas. They are asking Southaven leaders to find a solution.

Tonya Lee's family is busy doing some spring cleaning after floodwaters filled their home.

"Five feet or so, or maybe six feet on the outside, and on the inside of the house it got up as much as four feet," said Lee.

Water remains in clothes and on carpets.

"You can see how high it came up with the dirt filling right there," said Lee.

Lee said it happened several times before. She blames the lack of drainage from the area that includes a ditch near her house.

Mayor Greg Davis' office was bombarded with phone calls from people with similar problems.

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Mayor Luttrell continues family life series with Just Care Family Network

Submitted by Jerica Phillips, JCFN Social Marketing Coordinator

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013, 12:14pm

Mayor Luttrell continues family life series with Just Care Family Network

Shelby County Government continues to partner with faith-based organizations and other groups to host Mayor Mark Luttrell’s Family Life Series. Representatives from Shelby County Government and other agencies will speak at Keel Avenue Baptist Church during a five month series of presentations.

On May 16, the CDC issued its first comprehensive report on children's mental health describing federal activities that track children’s mental disorders in the United States.

Tonight’s series, led by Just Care Family Network Executive Director Dr. Altha Stewart, will aim at “Helping Children and Youth Affected by Crime and Violence”

“Just Care Family Network is honored to be a part of this series.

Memphis residents released balloons with messages of hope at a recent Just Care Family Network community block party during awareness month

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Rain-swollen creek floods Horn Lake community

Submitted by Jason Miles, Reporter

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013, 8:13am

Neighbors blamed the rapidly rising Cowpen Creek for much of the flooding, which longtime residents had not seen in years.

Horn Lake, MS- (WMC-TV) - Firefighters escorted several families from their flooded homes in Horn Lake after a rain-swollen creek rose beyond its banks Tuesday.

The firefighters offered piggyback rides to children to help evacuate parts of the swamped DeSoto Village neighborhood.

Neighbors blamed the rapidly rising Cowpen Creek for much of the flooding, which longtime residents had not seen in years.

"Forty years ago, about '73, this happened," said resident Benny Meter.

Horn Lake police blocked traffic after several cars got stuck in water covered areas.

John and Jenna Pridgette have family in Oklahoma, and suddenly dealt with their own weather-related emergency Tuesday.

"I was at that mailbox ... trying to get my babies out of the car, and the current alone took me down the gutter," said Jenna.

John said he has called the city multiple times a week to report bad runoff in the area.

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Southaven resident: My backyard is an 'ocean'

Submitted by Michael Clark on Tuesday, May 21st, 11:49 pm

SOUTHAVEN, MS- (WMC-TV) - A flood frustrated resident in a Southaven neighborhood called her backyard an ocean after severe weather Tuesday.

Inside Louise Rinhart's home is not much better.

"Carpet and I got hardwood flooring over there, everything is ruined," she said.

Neighbors in the Trinity Lakes subdivision in Southaven dealt with flooding after heavy rains. They had water escaping a retention pond turning ditches into streams.

'I'm sitting there on the couch reading my book, and I started to get up and put my feet down on the floor, and it was wet ... I said, 'Where's that coming from?' I got to looking, and it was everywhere already," said Rinhart.

Flooding was the theme all Tuesday afternoon in the city. Streets closed off with water too deep for cars to pass.

Carriage Hills neighbors again fell victim to the downpour. Central Park was shut down early because of flooding inside.

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Results available for Southaven Republican runoff

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 9:20pm

(WMC-TV) - The results are available for the runoff for the Republican nomination for Southaven Mayor.

Darren Musselwhite wins the nomination with 62 percent of the vote after netting 1,600 votes.

He was up against candidate Jerald Wheeler, who ended up with 37 percent of the vote or 952 votes.

Nine people wrote in candidates.

For results in other Mississippi races click here.

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DeSoto County plans school safe rooms

Submitted by Michael Clark on Tuesday, May 21st, 6:48 pm

DeSoto County Superintendent Milton Kuykendall said the storm in Oklahoma is a reminder of how powerful mother nature can be.

DESOTO COUNTY, MS- (WMC-TV) - The aftermath of an Oklahoma tornado tearing up everything in its path including an elementary school has some DeSoto County making plans for storm shelters in their schools.

Hernando Elementary is one of six schools in DeSoto County that will eventually get safe rooms in the event of severe weather. The schools are waiting on approval from state and federal emergency agencies to begin work on six safe rooms for elementary schools.

DeSoto County Superintendent Milton Kuykendall said the storm in Oklahoma is a reminder of how powerful mother nature can be.

"This is a fear every school employee has. [It} is something of a disaster happening and have some child lose their life," said Kuykendall.

Grant money is expected to pay for 95 percent of the project, which is being headed up by A2H architects in Lakeland. Stewart Smith expects the go ahead from officials within months.

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