Today in Tippah County is about four things: unseasonable heat through Wednesday, a windy and dry Friday with fire danger, a burn ban that runs through Oct. 18, and the end of a very good run for Walnut volleyball. There is also a nursing-student story out of Blue Mountain and a workforce grant for northeast Mississippi.
Heat Midweek, Then a Windy, Dry Friday
If it feels more like August than October, that is not your imagination. Alcorn County News reports that the National Weather Service in Memphis expects heat well above normal through Thursday, with Corinth’s forecast highs around 91 on Wednesday and 92 on Thursday. NWS also flagged a possible triple-digit heat index in parts of the Mid-South on Tuesday and Wednesday, so drink water and take it easy outdoors in the afternoon.
Tippah News’s own forecast report, drawn from WCBI, calls for a high near 93 today and about 94 Wednesday, with a very small chance of an isolated afternoon shower in northern counties. A dry but strong cold front then arrives Thursday into Saturday and should knock highs down by roughly 20 degrees.
The front brings its own problem. Friday looks windy, with gusts up to 30 mph, and the Corinth forecast shows afternoon humidity of 30 to 40 percent. NWS Memphis warned that fire conditions could turn volatile that day. Avoid anything that throws sparks, put out cigarettes properly, and follow burn rules. Highs for Corinth are listed at 76 on Friday, 66 on Saturday and 72 on Sunday, so plan on jackets for Friday night football.
Burn Ban Still in Place
That fire warning matters because the area is deep in a dry spell. Alcorn County News says Tippah County’s burn ban runs through Oct. 18, while neighboring Itawamba County’s runs through Oct. 21. Alcorn County’s own ban was set to expire at midnight Monday, and 18 Mississippi counties were on the Forestry Commission’s list as of Monday. Before you burn anything, check the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s list or call your county fire service. More on this at our Tippah County burn ban coverage.
Walnut Volleyball Falls in the North State Final
The Walnut Wildcats’ bid for a repeat ended Monday night in Ellistown. East Union, unbeaten at 37-0, won the Class 2A North State final 3-0, with set scores of 25-17, 25-13 and 25-21, according to the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal as reported in our match story. Walnut, the reigning 2A champion, finishes 31-5 after a 12-match winning streak, in its fourth straight North State final.
Molly-Kate Rolison led Walnut with 12 kills and Vivian Brown had 22 assists. East Union’s Ann Fleming LeFlore had 20 kills. East Union coach Josh Blythe credited Walnut and coach Kelley Hopper with setting the standard in 2A. Our TippahSports.com preview has more on the matchup, and East Union now plays for the 2A title at noon Thursday in Clinton.
Nearby, Alcorn County News reports that Kossuth swept Belmont for its first-ever North Half title in Class 3A.
Blue Mountain Nursing Students Handle a Simulated Emergency
Blue Mountain Christian University shared photos Monday of nursing students working through a simulated crisis, as covered in our BMCU story. The students treated a high-tech patient mannequin showing trouble breathing and a low heart rate, while a professor played the doctor. They traced the symptoms to medication side effects and helped stabilize the patient. The university praised their teamwork and composure. It is the sort of practice that helps keep rural hospitals across north Mississippi staffed with nurses trained close to home.
Workforce Money for Northeast Mississippi
Magnolia Tribune reported that AccelerateMS has awarded $556,200 to the Three Rivers Planning and Development District, the first recipient of the Mississippi Industry Experience Program. The money is meant to fund about 180 paid industry experiences across 27 northern and northeastern Mississippi counties, in fields such as advanced manufacturing, construction and healthcare. The report did not list the counties, so it is unclear whether Tippah is included. See our write-up for what is known.
Around the County This Week
Falkner’s boys golf team had a division match in Booneville at 8:30 a.m. today, and the girls head to the state meet in Brookhaven Oct. 19-20. On Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m., Falkner visits Ashland, Walnut hosts Hamilton and Ripley travels to Byhalia. Kickoff times are from the TippahSports.com schedule, so check with your school if plans change.
In DeSoto County, DeSoto County News reports the sheriff’s office is seeking Zachery Pitcock in an aggravated assault case and considers him armed and dangerous.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
