Mississippi

16-year-old from Guatemala killed at Mississippi poultry plant where three workers have died since 2020

Published

12 months ago

July 20, 2023

16-year-old from Guatemala killed at Mississippi poultry plant where three workers have died since 2020

A 16-year-old boy was killed at the Mississippi poultry plant where he worked — despite underage labor laws restricting the factory from employing anyone under 18 over dangerous work conditions.

Duvan Tomas Perez, a middle schooler who migrated to the US from Guatemala six years ago, died Friday at the Mar-Jac Poultry plant in Hattiesburg after he got caught in a machine he was cleaning, according to the New York Times.

“Two times he began to scream, ‘Help! Help!’” a coworker told NBC News.

“I knew he had died.”

It remains unclear exactly how Perez was killed. An autopsy report will be released next week, Forest County Coroner Butch Benedict told the Guardian.

Labor laws in Mississippi restrict children under 18 from working at poultry plants due to the associated dangers. Following Perez’s death, the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have launched investigations into the Mar-Jac plant, according to NBC.

Mar-Jac could face more than $30,000 in fines if found guilty of violating child labor laws.

Duvan Tomas Perez, 16, was a middle schooler in Hattiesburg, Mississippi who came to the US from Guatemala six years ago.

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The accident was the third death at the plant in as many years.

In December 2020, a 33-year-old man died after he was injured “while horse-playing with machinery in the facility,” according to the Hattiesburg American.

A 48-year-old died after being injured by heavy equipment at the plant in June 2021.

“Our employees are our most valuable asset and safety is our number one priority,” Mar-Jac Poultry plant manager Joe Colee told NBC in a statement. “We strive daily to work as safely as possible and are truly devastated whenever an employee is injured.

“Any issues identified in the investigation will be corrected immediately,” he added.

Three workers have died at the Mar-Jac Poultry plant since 2020. The plant is under investigation since Perez's death — Three workers have died at the Mar-Jac Poultry plant since 2020 and the plant is under investigation since Perez’s death.

The company did not respond to requests for comment from The Post.

Perez’s family were devastated by his death.

“We’re very sad,” a relative told NBC.

“He was generous, smiley and very fun and very responsible at work.”

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Mississippi

Mississippi probation officer arrested on seven counts of embezzlement

Published

2 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi probation officer arrested on seven counts of embezzlement

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A probation officer was arrested on seven counts of embezzlement.

Lacosta Lee is accused of receiving court-ordered fines and fees from those on probation and using them for her personal use.

She is a contracted probation officer for Court Programs, Inc.

Lee was served with a $7,558.50 demand letter at the time of her arrest.

She faces up to $5,000 in fines and 20 years per count if convicted.

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Mississippi

Mississippi River not cooperating, but Riverfest will still Riverfest in La Crosse

Published

10 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi River not cooperating, but Riverfest will still Riverfest in La Crosse

The river parts of Riverfest near downtown La Crosse won’t be happening this year. Well, there’s just one part, really.

The River City Water Ski Team had to cancel its part of the show, because the Mississippi River is too high and will actually crest at 15 feet Wednesday, the opening day of Riverfest.

Past events on the river haven’t happened in a few years, including flyboarding — where water jets on your feet simulate floating — and pole vaulting off a barge in the Mississippi.

“We actually have trouble finding a barge that we can rent, basically that business has taken off exponentially,” Riverfest board member Brad Pitel said. “So, when the barges are being used, we don’t have that opportunity.”

Cancelling events hasn’t happened often, and sometimes they’re not even river related. In 2018, the July 4 fireworks had to happen on July 5.

“There was a massive storm that blew through with like 60-70 mph winds right through La Crosse,” Pitel said.

Riverfest opens at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Riverside Park and runs through Saturday night, with multiple big musical acts.

Josh Ross, Drake Milligan and Blue Collar 40 kick things off. The finale Saturday night is Country Line Drive. Check the full schedule of events here.

The stage is coming together on July 1, 2024, two days before the start of Riverfest in downtown La Crosse at Riverside Park (PHOTO: Rick Solem)

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Mississippi

Mississippi River in La Crosse reaches moderate flood levels

Published

17 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi River in La Crosse reaches moderate flood levels

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – La Crosse, Vernon, and Houston Counties are under warnings due to flooding along the Mississippi River.

Impacted areas around La Crosse include Riverside Park and Goose Island Campground. Campground owners say about 60 percent of the campsite is uncampable and they’ve had to deny multiple reservations.

National Weather Service Forecaster Mike Kurz says the recent weather has been a huge factor in the flooding.

“We’ve had a very active severe weather pattern and heavy rain pattern over the last couple months. All that accumulation of heavy rain in the river basins across the area have been gradually draining into the Mississippi River basin,” says Kurz.

The National Weather Service says the rivers will crest at nearly 15 feet.

“That will be kind of heading right into the 4th of July holiday. It’s continuing to increase right now it’s about 14.7 feet, so it’s slowly increasing. Because of all the water in the system right now, it’s expected to be a prolonged crest. It’ll take a long time for the water to gradually recede as we get out of the crest period later this week,” says Kurz.

National Weather Service forecasters add that these water levels are unusual this time of year.

“For La Crosse, this is the latest in the calendar year that we’ve had river levels this high approaching 14.9 feet. The most recent would have been 1993 in the end of June, where it crested just above 14 feet,” says Kurz.

The National Weather Service says they do not expect water levels to rise much higher than 15 feet, which means the area record of 17.9 feet will stay.

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