Our Hearts Go Out To The Grey Ferris Family

We at Cotton Mouth have a great respect for the work and life of Grey Ferris. At his center was a good and Godly man who loved his state and worked tirelessly to improve it for his fellow citizens.

I won't bring up past fights, but I can say that my family's votes for him in his race for Lieutenant Governor in the 1999 primary are some of our proudest.

He was a decent human being and I have little doubt that at this hour he stands with his Savior. God bless him and his family.

Ronnie Musgrove, by whose side Ferris fought for education, has this comment:

“The passing of former Sen. Grey Ferris is a sad day not only for me but for all of Mississippi. My heart goes out to his wife, Jann, their two children and the rest of his family,” Musgrove said.

“Grey was a man of great character and compassion, whose legislative love was education. He was universally respected by everyone he met, whether his colleagues on the floor of the Senate or his friends and neighbors in Warren County. It has been an honor to call him my friend.”

Mississippi Democratic Party Chair Wayne Dowdy:

“Grey Ferris was a dedicated public servant who worked tirelessly with members of both political parties for the benefit of Mississippi, our residents and our children. Sen. Ferris will forever be remembered as a staunch supporter and advocate of public education, a state lawmaker who helped promote public schools while serving in the state Senate from 1992 to 2000.

“One of the senator’s greatest legacies was the fact that he, along with state Sen. Hob Bryan, were the lead authors of the Adequate Education Program – landmark legislation that revamped the public school funding formula to allow all schools to meet education standards. My sympathy and prayers go to Sen. Ferris and his family.”

He is already missed.

Mississippi River to crest by Friday

For those who haven't seen the images, the Mississippi River is flooding out many people in and around Vicksburg, and it's still rising.

Click here for a link to an article in the Vicksburg Post "Residents pack up now, and think about 35 years ago."

Mayor And Businessman Not On Their Best Behavior In Vicksburg

From the Associated Press:

A local businessman filed a simple assault charge against Mayor Laurence Leyens after a tussle at a restaurant.

Leyens and Trey Gordon III, owner of Gordon Roofing Co., exchanged words at El Sombrero on Monday night before Leyens called 911, Police Chief Tommy Moffett said.

Gordon and a man dining with the mayor were taken by Vicksburg police to headquarters, where both were charged with simple assault. Both were released without bond.

Before leaving the police department, Gordon signed an affidavit charging Leyens with simple assault.

"There is no indication that the mayor physically attacked anyone," the chief said.

Each of the parties said the other provoked an argument.

Leyens told The Vicksburg Post that Gordon put his hands around the mayor's neck. Gordon told the newspaper that he never touched the mayor.