Mississippi

87-year-old paddles the Mississippi River for Guinness Record – Magnolia State Live

Published

2 years ago

August 28, 2022

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87-year-old paddles the Mississippi River for Guinness Record – Magnolia State Live

87-year-old paddles the Mississippi River for Guinness File

Revealed 7:30 am Sunday, August 28, 2022

He rubbed his eyes. Initially, the thought was he was drained.

However after additional commentary, it was clear that 87-year-old Dale “Greybeard” Sanders was dabbing away tears as he recollected on the previous seven years of his life.

Since 2015, Sanders started chasing and setting information because the oldest man to realize insurmountable feats and this previous Saturday he made a cease in Vicksburg whereas on his strategy to changing into the Guinness E-book of World File’s oldest individual to paddle down the Mississippi River, a document he beforehand held.

It was throughout this cease and after sharing a narrative a few lady he met whereas in a contest to cross Minnesota’s Lake Pepin, that Sanders turned emotional.

“It’s (Lake Pepin) a really troublesome lake to get throughout. It’s massive and the wind blows. We have been making an attempt to get out one morning,” Sanders stated.

However due to the wind, he stated he and his crew had been compelled to attend it out for a extra opportune time.

And due to the delay, the lady, who Sanders stated was all the time a day behind him, was capable of “catch” him and in doing so shared with him how he had impacted her life.

The lady, Sanders stated, instructed him she had been in an accident and had sustained a extreme again harm; so extreme that the docs instructed her she would by no means stroll once more and would want a wheelchair to get round.

However after seeing Sanders at 80 years outdated and paddling down the Mississippi River, the lady instructed him she determined to rethink her dire prognosis.

“She stated she instructed herself, ‘I’m going to do what he’s doing. I’m going to work, and I’m going to start out strolling once more,’” Sanders stated. And since she “put her coronary heart into it and lived it, ate it and slept her restoration,” the lady stated it had solely been a matter of months earlier than she was strolling once more.

“And I cried. I couldn’t maintain again the tears,” Sanders stated.

Paddling the Mississippi River

“Most individuals suppose you will die if you happen to get on the market in a small boat and paddle the Mississippi,” Sanders stated. “I’ve had so many individuals inform me if I paddle it, I’m going to die.”

But when one makes use of “good widespread sense,” Sanders stated, paddling in a small boat — like his 15-foot canoe — could be pleasurable.

“It’s not the monster river that everyone says it’s. It’s a pleasure and surprisingly comforting to paddle,” he stated, including the Mississippi River has a few of the most “excellent” sand bars on the planet.

And whereas there’s magnificence and luxury in Previous Man River, that doesn’t imply you don’t have to concentrate on the environment. The Mississippi River has sand boils and, after all, river visitors.

For Sanders, he stated, “Barges break up the routine and if you happen to avoid them, they may avoid you as a result of they’ll’t transfer very quick both.”

Nonetheless, as a result of he doesn’t put on his listening to assist whereas within the water, Sanders stated he does look behind typically since he can not hear engines downriver.

“I can’t hear them (the barges) coming,” he stated.

Additionally, as a security measure, Sanders has movie crews touring together with him in addition to Dan Faust, Matt Briggs and Iraq Struggle veteran Matt Taylor.

Each Taylor and Sanders stayed the evening on the dwelling of Paul and Donna Ingram, who’re on the River Angels’ listing to offer help to paddlers alongside the Mississippi.

Taylor, who known as Sanders one of many final nice explorers, stated, “It’s an honor” to journey with him.

Further accomplishments and information

In 2016, Sanders turned the oldest individual to ever full the Missouri American Water MR340, which is an endurance race throughout the state of Missouri.

Sanders stated solely about one-third of the rivals end the race.

“However I completed it at 81 it and have become the oldest individual to finish the race with out getting kicked out due to time. In different phrases, I stayed awake for 82 hours, principally. As a result of if you happen to cease to sleep you aren’t going to make the time,” he stated.

In 2017, Sanders accomplished a “Via-Hike” on the Appalachian Path and holds the document because the oldest individual to ever hike the complete 2,190 miles.

“It took me 10 months (to complete),” Sanders stated.

In 2018, Sanders stated he took a automobile journey and adopted the Louis and Clark path all the best way from St. Louis to Portland, drove down the Oregon coast after which returned dwelling.

“That’s no document,” he stated, however he admitted the Oregon Coast is one among his favourite locations to be.

In 2019, Sanders hiked the Florida Nationwide Scenic Path/Florida Path and holds information of being the oldest man that has performed each.

In 2020, Sanders earned a Guinness File when he turned the oldest man to do the Rim to Rim to Rim — R2R2R — which is a hike from the south ridge of the Grand Canyon to the north ridge and again.

In 2021, Sanders stated he had deliberate to hike the remainder of the Japanese Continental Path, which might have began on the northern finish of the Appalachian Path and ended at Belle Isle, Newfoundland, however as a consequence of COVID-19, Canada had closed its borders.

Why Sanders retains going

It’s the pleasure he has skilled, just like the story Sanders shared of the lady, and it’s the gratification in understanding he has had a constructive affect on others’ lives that retains him going.

“It’s good to get a Guinness File. It’s good that I’ve two skilled movie crews following me (throughout his 2022 trek down the Mississippi River), however the primary purpose why it’s satisfying for me to do each single one among these age information that I’ve performed is due to what number of instances that I’ve been instructed, ‘I wish to be identical to you after I get outdated or your age’ or one thing like that,” Sanders stated.

“So many individuals are impressed, and so they inform me I’ve impressed their life. I’m a job mannequin for older folks and being a job mannequin for his or her life’s ambition to remain wholesome is actually, actually, actually motivational (for me). I’d even exit and do one thing once more subsequent 12 months.”

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Mississippi

MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota

Published

2 hours ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota

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.

Erin Hassanzadeh

Erin is back home in the Twin Cities after stops in South Korea and Omaha. The Jefferson High School grad (Go Jags!) is excited to get back to storytelling in the community that raised her.

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Mississippi

Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)

Published

9 hours ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)

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.

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Mississippi

‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations

Published

16 hours ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations

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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