Mississippi
87-year-old nears end of record-breaking journey down Mississippi River – L’Observateur
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87-year-old nears finish of record-breaking journey down Mississippi River
Printed 1:33 am Sunday, September 4, 2022
HAHNVILLE — At 87 years previous, Dale “Gray Beard” Sanders is simply days away from reclaiming the Guinness World File for being the oldest particular person to ever paddle all the size of the Mississippi River.
Sanders handed by means of the River Parishes Wednesday on day 79 of his 2,350-mile journey down the river. Pulling as much as the shore in St. Charles Parish, he was greeted by college students from the Satellite tv for pc Heart’s Lodge, Restaurant & Tourism program earlier than being handled to a sizzling lunch courtesy of Birdies Meals & Gasoline. Chef Pat Phelan and the culinary arts college students ready a scrumptious pineapple the wrong way up cake for dessert.
Craig Howat, HRT teacher on the Satellite tv for pc Heart, stated Sanders’ journey can train college students lots about how one can set objectives to attain their desires. The assembly was an opportunity not just for the scholars to listen to his story, but additionally to use what they’ve realized about hospitality and tourism.
The HRT class labored with Kiki Mannear of Louisiana’s River Parishes Vacationer Fee to satisfy Sanders throughout his “supply to sea” paddle.
“He’s principally a vacationer coming to St. Charles Parish, simply by boat,” Howat stated as the category waited by the shoreline for Sanders to reach. “He can share some tales about his trials and tribulations, and we will welcome him to the parish.”
Sanders’ adventures over the previous 5 years have included traversing the Grand Canyon from rim-to-rim and finishing a 10-month hike by means of 14 states alongside the Appalachian Trial.
Sanders started his journey on at Lake Itasca in Minnesota on June 14, the day of his 87th birthday. He hopes to finish the record-setting journey in 87 days.
This journey down the Mississippi River has included among the harshest situations Sanders has ever encountered. This previous week particularly has introduced overbearing winds and torrential downpours over the river, and Sanders has at instances requested himself, “Why am I doing this?”
The reply to that query goes deeper than setting a Guinness World File or having movie crews comply with him to create the Gray Beard documentary.
The final time he paddled the Mississippi River in 2015, he impressed a lady who was advised she would by no means stroll once more not to surrender on herself. He desires to supply that very same inspiration to others.
“My foremost motive is that so many instances, I’ve been advised by folks, ‘I need to be similar to you. How can I keep wholesome similar to you?’” Sanders stated. “I just like the fanfare that comes with it. I like being a task mannequin.”
Sanders stated it was fantastic seeing the scholars and having an opportunity to share his story. Whereas so many attempt to discover the components to be blissful, he’s realized that his personal private happiness includes staying energetic, being outdoors, and having a very good religious life.
This journey has allowed him to expertise the massive hills and quaint cities of the Iowa and Wisconsin shoreline. Even the South Louisiana thunderstorms have offered a silver lining when he finds secure havens of shelter alongside the best way.
On Wednesday, Sanders began the day at river mile 149 and traveled 26 miles to achieve Hahnville round lunchtime. He ended the day in Kenner. As of this weekend, Sanders is within the ultimate stretch of reaching the mouth of the Mississippi and tasting the saltwater of the Gulf of Mexico.
Sanders grew to become the oldest particular person to journey the Mississippi River at age 80 in 2015 and held the title for 5 years. His file was damaged in 2020 by 81-year-old Stan Stark, a private good friend who Sanders refers to as a “teenager.”
Whereas Sanders believes Stark will battle to reclaim the file when he turns 87, he’s adamant that that is his ultimate time touring down the Mighty Mississippi. Even his T-shirt bears the phrases, “The Final Nice River Paddle.”
“There are too many different rivers to paddle and too many trails to hike to repeat one thing at this stage in my life,” Sanders stated.
Sanders will be adopted with the spot tracker at https://maps.findmespot.com/s/T5G5/TS#historical past/property, and extra details about his travels is accessible at www.greybeardadventurer.com.
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Mississippi
MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota
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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. —It winds 650 miles, rushing past the cities, industries and landscapes that make up Minnesota.
However, the Mississippi River has never gotten this type of attention from water quality professionals.
For the first time ever, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is testing the entirety of the river, from Itasca to Iowa, in a single year.
The governor’s office wants the river to be swimmable and fishable, but right now, parts of the river are polluted.
The MPCA says the upper Mississippi is largely healthy up north, but quality drops south of St. Cloud where metro development and tributaries from agriculture muddy the waters. The National Park Service says stretches of the river exceed water quality standards for things like mercury, bacteria and sediment.
Think of the testing like a checkup for one of our state’s most valuable and powerful resources. Researchers will check temperature, transparency and levels of pollutants like phosphorus, nitrogen and ammonia.
Crews also check fish for those contaminants and collect insects to test in a lab to identify any concerning trends.
“If we find the fish community is suffering — maybe the water is too warm and maybe there’s a thermal pollution source upstream or maybe it’s too much runoff — that sort of stuff. Temperature is an important indicator especially for sensitive species,” Isaac Martin with the MPCA said.
Also for the first time, the agency is looking for PFAS contamination with money from an Environmental Protection Agency grant to identify and stop the forever chemicals from streaming into the Mississippi.
PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals for industry and consumer products that don’t break down in the environment. While research is ongoing, the EPA says exposure to the chemicals can cause human health issues. It’s why the federal agency just lowered the amount allowed in drinking water.
“They go to parts per trillion, which is incredibly sensitive. You get that low, you’re talking drops in an Olympic swimming pool,” Martin said. “Part of the reason why it was chosen is because it’s a primary drinking source or potentially could be a primary drinking source. We’re just finding them in places we never expected to find them. We’re finding them almost everywhere and being that it is new, there’s just a lot of ‘I don’t know’ that goes with it.”
It’s too early to know what this complete snapshot will reveal, but we know this powerful river is part of our community, economy and health.
“Maybe you don’t use the resource yourself, but maybe you know someone who does or future generations of your own will,” Martin said. “In Minnesota, we’re just trying to be the best stewards we can be.”
The data from this testing will be available early next year. Researchers will use that data and compare it to 10-year pollution averages to determine which parts of the river are improved or impaired.
A full report will be released in 2026.
Mississippi
Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)
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Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Mississippi high school Athlete of the Week for August25-31. Read through the nominees and cast your vote. The poll will close Sunday at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email Tyler@scorebooklive.com. For questions/issues with he poll, email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.
Editor’s note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
Kohl Bradley, DB, George County: Racked up 17 tackles and returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown in a 33-7 win over East Central.
DaJuan Colbert, DB, Natchez: Recorded 15 tackles, forced one fumble and returned another one 75 yards for a touchdown in a 58-50 win over Hancock.
Garrison Davis, QB, Holmes County Central: Completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts for 375 yards and three touchdowns in a 20-6 win over Vicksburg.
Xzavion Gainwell, DB, Yazoo County: Recorded nine tackles, an interception and an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 20-16 win over South Delta.
Elijah Jones, RB, West Jones: Had 24 carries 226 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-6 win over Laurel.
Kingi McNair, WR, Pearl: Caught four passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-20 win over Neshoba Central.
Ashton Nichols, DB, Clinton: Recorded six tackles to go with two big pass breakups, a blocked punt and a return for a touchdown in a 26-20 win over Warren Central.
Ethan Prater, RB, Pisgah: Rushed for 132 yards on 27 carries with three scores and caught a 60-yard touchdown pass in a 33-32 win over North Forrest.
Glen Singleton, RB, Madison Central: Rushed for 174 yards on 18 carries with all four touchdowns in a 27-20 win over Ocean Springs.
Damarius Yates, RB, Kemper County: Rushed for 193 yards on 17 carries and returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown in a 38-15 win over Kosciusko.
Mississippi
‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations
![‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations ‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations](https://gray-wlbt-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3KMJQZPKGBHNRCT7NENQ3O72YY.png?auth=8e7e3183f489f41a63616389bdae4dd45efc187856d208138265c67183c736b4&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – It’s been one month since Thalia Mara Hall closed its doors due to a mold outbreak.
Innovation Arts and Entertainment is the company responsible for bringing Broadway productions to Jackson.
Representatives from the company visited Jackson after hearing the building had been closed.
CEO Adam Epstein says the City of Jackson did not inform them of the news.
“We did not find out from anybody within the city. We found out by reading news clippings forwarded to us by other people in Jackson,” Epstein said.
Certified Industrial Hygienic Testing reported visible dirt, debris, and suspected mold growth on many surfaces.
Epstein fears this could change the possibility of bigger shows coming to the capital city.
“They’re going to skip over us because of this mess. We need to show as a community that Jackson cares about this valuable asset and that we demand our elected leaders to support and treat this really, incredibly valuable asset with the TLC it deserves,” he said.
Thalia Mara Hall is the only venue in the state that can host a Broadway production due to the technical needs and accommodations required.
“Touring theatrical shows. If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all,” he said.
Broadway in Jackson is not only a great source of entertainment in the city, but it’s also beneficial economically.
“Those other businesses don’t benefit. The city doesn’t earn tax revenue from events that we present. They don’t earn rental income from the events we present. They don’t earn facility fees from the events we present. This is a real tragedy. It’s unacceptable.”
The well-being of the potential audience is the company’s main priority.
“I will not risk our ticket buyers’ health and safety and comfort. Our shows can and will cancel before we’d ever put somebody in jeopardy. We’ve issued a 100% guarantee of a full refund if the venue is not given a clean bill of health,” Epstein said.
All shows will be canceled on a case-to-case basis.
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