Local News

The ice has melted, the snow is gone, and things are starting to get back to normal in parts of Washington County where some residents were nearly two weeks without power. Utility workers are nearing the end of the job of getting the lights back on, and local residents have workers from various parts of the nation to thank.

Lee Hobson and a group of workers from Pontotoc Electric Power Association from Pontotoc, Miss., were among those who came to help restore power to Washington County.

Snow in June? Incredibly enough, that’s what several viewers could find on their televisions if they have not completed the switch to digital by the June 12 federal cutoff. Digital TV is almost here, and like it or not, there are some things you must do before you can continue to receive free signals through the air.

Washington County is still debating the bulky item cleanup program in the county. The effort to clean up after the ice storm may cause a delay in the program, but fiscal court members received nothing but positive feedback from residents in favor of the program. Since state storm cleanup will take 60 days, the county is considering putting off the bulky item cleanup until the storm cleanup is complete, possibly some time in April.

“We’ll just have to wait and tough it out.”

Offus Lewis of Mackville had that outlook on things Thursday afternoon as he and his family settled into the emergency shelter at the Opera House in Springfield. Lewis, with his wife Sheila and their two children, had been without power since Tuesday, as had much of the county. He said they tried to wait things out, but finally, decided to seek shelter.