Local News
Red Cross wants public to be prepared
MERIDIAN — Cheri Barry, executive director of the Key Chapter of the American Red Cross, said that while people should not panic about the potential spread of bird flu, they should be prepared to protect themselves if the flu becomes a pandemic.
Barry said that while no human-to-human cases of the avian influenza have been reported, there is a growing concern that the flu could mutate and spread rapidly from person to person. For now, Barry said, those at risk of infection are those who handle poultry.
“There’s no certainty if or when a pandemic might occur, but we should take it seriously and build our capacity to be prepared,” Barry said.
Barry said bird flu was first detected in Asia in 1997. Since then, 16 countries have seen an outbreak of bird flu, and more than 200 million birds have been affected. She said there have been 176 human cases of bird flu and 97 deaths worldwide.
“Everything is an assumption at this point, but if it mutates and infects humans, it will spread rapidly,” Barry said.
Symptoms of bird flu are similar to those of the seasonal flu, but she said the Red Cross is working to make people aware. The Key Chapter will hold classes to inform the community of ways to prevent getting the flu and what to do if bird flu comes to Lauderdale and surrounding counties.
“Ten percent of people infected will not know they have the virus, so they would be out in the community infecting others,” she said. “We just don’t know anything about the survival rate, and there is not yet a vaccine.”
Barry said the virus usually affects a young age group because those are the ones who are working with poultry.
Dr. Jim Watson, state veterinarian, said people should use good hygiene when preparing poultry.
“We are asking people to use common sense when handling poultry,” he said, adding the state is working on a plan of action in the case bird flu is detected in Mississippi.
Barry said people should prepare by making sure they have a gallon of water for each person in a household, extra medications, canned food and enough supplies to last from four days to four weeks.
She said the American Red Cross would be in charge of feeding those who may be quarantined after becoming infected with the flu.
“We will take care of the immediate needs of those who have been infected,” she said. “We continue to need volunteers because if this hits, the hospitals will be full and people will have to be prepared to stay in their homes.”
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Lauderdale resident gets celebrity wake up call
When Lauderdale resident Rose Marie Schultz answered an early morning call Wednesday, she didn't expect to hear talk show host Kelly Ripa on the other end.
"I thought my friend was calling me, because it was early – a quarter after 8," said Schultz, who is originally from Levittown, Penn. "And here it was Kelly. I said, 'Oh, my God!'"
The co-host of "Live! With Regis and Kelly" and her guest host, rapper and actor Ludacris, were calling to inform Schultz that she was selected the day's participant in "Spring Fling Trivia A Go-Go." -
Open meetings law in limbo
Last week, the Mississippi House passed a bill originally designed to give some teeth to the state's ill-enforced Open Meetings law — but that bill likely won't make it through the week.
Mississippi's Open Meetings law dictates that any public governing body —such as a city council or school board — must conduct all of their business in public. There are a few exceptions that allow a body to discuss something in an closed meeting, and those exceptions are all spelled out in the state law. -
Flash flooding possible
Some of the rainfall totals for Kemper and northern Lauderdale County Wednesday peaked over three inches even though a little more than an inch was recorded at Key Field in Meridian.
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service said flash flooding may be a problem this morning with the latest band of storms that began moving through the area early this morning. And even though forecasts said the rain should be over by mid-morning, creeks and rivers that are already inundated with water may become a problem. -
Jobless rates at 12 percent
Mississippi’s unemployment rate stood at 12 percent in January, up from 10.3 percent in December and higher than the national rate of 10.6 percent.
The state Department of Employment Security released figures Wednesday.
Unemployment ranged from a high of 23.1 percent in Noxubee and Holmes counties to 8 percent in Rankin. -
Local youth set to save lives March 24
Youth in Lauderdale and Newton County will join others across the state and nationwide on March 24 to voice their opposition of Big Tobacco during 2010 Kick Butts Day.
Kick Butts Day is an annual nationwide initiative in which kids lead the effort to snuff out youth tobacco use. As part of this year’s Kick Butts Day celebration, the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition of Lauderdale County is working with students at West Lauderdale Middle, Union Middle, Newton Middle, Calvary Christian High and Oakland Heights Elementary schools to help them educate their peers about tobacco companies’ deceptive marketing practices. -
Raising the Bar
Anderson Health and Fitness Center is raising the bar on fitness and well-being.
On Tuesday, the board of directors of Anderson Regional Medical Center ratified what is described as an "exciting new vision and direction" for the fitness facility. -
100 animals seized in Kemper County
The Humane Society of the United States and the Mississippi Animal Rescue League assisted the Kemper County Sheriff’s Department in the seizure of more than 100 dogs and several cats in Preston on Tuesday.
United Animal Nations also assisted in the rescue of animals in this case of alleged cruelty.
The animals were removed from Raven’s Hope Animal Sanctuary, a non-profit organization that claims to offer animals for adoption. The seizure is the largest known animal rescue in Kemper County. -
Police search for missing teen
Juvenile Detectives with the Meridian Police Department Criminal Investigation Division are seeking information on the whereabouts of a 16-year-old black male, Jeremiah Devontae Murray.
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School Board narrows list of candidates
The Board of Trustees for the Meridian Public Schools announced Tuesday that it had narrowed down its list of interim superintendent candidates to three, but possibly with one more.
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MPD looks for armed robbery suspects
Meridian police are looking for help in identifying suspects in an armed robbery at BP Express Lanes, located at 1019 Highway 39 By-Pass.
Police released surveillance video and still photographs of the robbery Tuesday, in hopes the public can help identify the robbers. - More Local News Headlines
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