Tippah County News Today, Sept. 19: Burn Ban, Heat and Football

Saturday’s Tippah County news is really four stories in one: a burn ban request tied to a fast-deepening drought, another day near 100 degrees with no rain relief until midweek, a rough Friday night on the football field for Walnut, and a strong start to Southern States Athletic Conference play for Blue Mountain Christian’s volleyball and soccer teams.

Burn ban requested as drought deepens

The Tippah County Board of Supervisors and the county’s volunteer firemen have asked the Mississippi Forestry Commission for a 30-day burn ban, and residents are being asked to stop all outdoor burning immediately while the request is processed, Tippah News reported Friday. As of Friday morning, Tippah County had not yet been added to the commission’s official list, so compliance for now is voluntary — but county officials are treating it as effective immediately.

The county was free of drought as recently as mid-August. By the commission’s most recent reading, released Sept. 15, all of Tippah County was rated abnormally dry and 65% was in moderate drought. Fourteen Mississippi counties, including neighboring Benton, already carry active bans; Benton’s runs through Oct. 8. Anyone who knowingly violates a burn ban once it’s approved can face a misdemeanor charge and a fine of $100 to $500, enforced locally by the sheriff’s department. Residents with questions should contact the Board of Supervisors or their local volunteer fire department.

Heat holds through the weekend; rain arrives midweek

There’s no quick break in the weather behind the burn request. The National Weather Service in Memphis has kept a heat advisory in effect for the Ripley area into Saturday evening, with highs near 100 and heat index values pushing past 105. Sunday looks much the same, around 99 degrees, before a weak cold front brings the season’s first real rain chances Monday night and Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to ease into the low 90s and eventually the 80s by midweek.

The National Weather Service’s Memphis office, which also covers Alcorn County, is holding a free virtual SKYWARN storm spotter class on Sept. 24 for anyone who wants to learn how to report severe weather, AlcornNewsMS.com reports; registration is at weather.gov/meg/skywarn.

Walnut falls 6-0 at Alcorn Central; Ripley hosts East Webster

Walnut’s offense couldn’t find the end zone Friday night, and Alcorn Central’s defense made it stand up in a 6-0 win that dropped the Wildcats to 2-2. Alcorn Central improved to 2-2 as well, having now won two of its last three games after opening the season with five straight losses. Walnut returns home to face Myrtle Friday at 7 p.m.

Ripley hosted unbeaten East Webster Friday night looking to snap a two-game skid and even its record at 2-2. A final score wasn’t available by the time this roundup was posted; check TippahSports.com’s Tippah County coverage for the result once it’s confirmed. Falkner is idle this week and returns Sept. 25 at home against East Union.

Blue Mountain Christian opens SSAC play in style

Blue Mountain Christian’s volleyball team swept Andrew College 25-18, 25-7, 25-19 on Thursday inside Tyler Gymnasium to open Southern States Athletic Conference play, TippahSports.com reported. The Toppers hit .341 as a team and got 10 kills apiece from Valeria Velez and Marissa Gerleman, plus nine kills from Salice Speed. Brenyn Wilbanks ran the offense with 18 assists, and Blue Mountain led every major statistical category, including blocks (8-5) and digs (44-26). The Toppers were scheduled to return to action Saturday against Faulkner University in another conference match.

The Toppers’ soccer team also picked up an SSAC win Thursday, shutting out Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 3-0 at The Summit to move to 2-1 in conference play, Tippah News reported. Daniela Nieto, Nayelli Aguayo and Alba Hernandez each scored, and goalkeeper Kiana Gordon posted her first clean sheet of the season. Blue Mountain was set to host Wesleyan College Saturday.

Earlier in the week, Falkner’s volleyball team swept Thrasher behind seven aces from Brenlee Walker, improving to 6-12 overall and 4-2 in district play. The Eagles next visit Biggersville on Monday.

Cross country teams from Blue Mountain, Pine Grove and Walnut were entered in Saturday’s Ingomar Invitational at BNA Tennis Park in New Albany, with girls’ varsity racing around 9 a.m. and boys following. Ripley’s runners competed Friday at Saltillo High School.

Around Ripley

Ripley Main Street is looking for a food-truck operator to become a regular presence at The Cut-Off downtown as Chula’s moves on to its next venture, with plans for the space to also host movie nights, markets and live music. Interested operators can email ripleymainstreet@gmail.com or call 662-512-0226. North Mississippi Primary Health Care’s next Walnut food pantry distribution is set for 9:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Walnut Fire Department, limited to three families per vehicle while supplies last.

For more on what’s happening around the county, visit Tippah News’ Tippah County News and Ripley News category pages.