Mississippi

‘It’s pretty crazy.’ Checks from MS church destroyed by tornado found 80 miles away

Published

1 year ago

January 3, 2025

Press Room

‘It’s pretty crazy.’ Checks from MS church destroyed by tornado found 80 miles away

‘It’s just a reminder of how powerful these storms are and how far they can carry things and drop them off. It gives a whole new meaning to Air Mail, doesn’t it?’

A Mississippi church was flattened on Dec. 28 as an outbreak of tornadoes passed through parts of the state and some of the contents of the church were found scattered in Rankin County up to about 80 miles away.

“There was a confirmed EF1 (tornado) that touched down within a mile of me,” said Ricky Flynt of Brandon. “We had some pretty intense winds for a minute or two.

“It didn’t get to us until about 10 minutes after seven o’clock. I think it came through Meadville about five.”

Flynt had been monitoring the weather as the deadly storms passed through Mississippi killing two people and injuring another 10. However, he didn’t know there was a connection between the weather that struck his area and the storm that struck the Meadville area and flattened a church until the next morning.

Tornado drops check from 1984 in Brandon, MS resident’s driveway

“I came out the next morning after it was light just to confirm any damage and to look around,” Flynt said. “Right there in my driveway was this folded-up, cancelled check.”

The check was from the now-flattened O’Zion Baptist Church located near Meadville and was written to the Franklin County Baptist Association in 1984. It had travelled just over 80 miles and wasn’t the only cancelled check found in the area.

“Since, I’ve heard about five or six checks landing in the Brandon area,” Flynt said. “It’s pretty crazy. Whatever was in that church got up into the atmosphere and was deposited in the Brandon area.”

MS man finds tornado-blown check while scouting for deer

John Beggerly of Florence found another check on Wednesday just east of Byram while scouting for a place to hunt on his family farm. It was written in 1982.

“That was one of the craziest experiences I’ve ever experienced,” Beggerly said. “I was on the edge of the woods in a pasture on our farm. I saw a piece of paper and it was sticking up.”

He said he picked it up and realized what it was because he’d seen a social media post about the check Flynt had found.

“It’s amazing how far stuff can travel,” Beggarly said. “I think it was 60 1/2 miles from the church to where I found it — pretty wild.”

Tornadoes can carry objects hundreds of miles

Pretty wild it is. According to Latrice Maxie, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson, debris can go remain aloft high in the sky for very long distances.

“They’re probably getting pulled up hundreds of feet, for sure,” Maxie said. “The circulations are much higher, but the tornadoes themselves can loft debris a couple of hundred feet in the air.”

In long-track tornadoes, Maxie said she’s heard of letters being found hundreds of miles from where they originated.

“It’s not uncommon for (tornadoes) that stay on the ground for a while,” Maxie said.

That was the case in spring of 2023 when a tornado struck the home of Susan Perry in Rolling Fork and scattered photos and other items of hers over a 200-mile track.

“It’s unbelievable that people are finding this,” Perry told The Clarion Ledger at the time. “It just amazes me that these things can travel so far.”

Pastor of MS church destroyed by tornado wants to use checks to tell story of event

Lance Moak is the pastor of O’Zion Baptist Church and said the checks were stored in the church on shelf above filing cabinets. He said everything on the shelf is gone, but checks keep showing up.

“I had one gentleman call me from Florence at 10:50 on Monday night,” Moak said. “He’d found a check from 1990 made out to one of our former pastors.

“It’s just a reminder of how powerful these storms are and how far they can carry things and drop them off. It gives a whole new meaning to Air Mail, doesn’t it? “

Like Flynt and Beggerly, the caller said he’d return the check. Those checks and others will serve as somewhat of a memorial.

“He’s actually going to mail that check back so we can put it up in the new church to tell about the history of this happening,” Moak said.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for those wishing to provide financial aid to rebuild O’Zion Baptist Church.

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

Source link

Click to comment

Mississippi

Where is Lipscomb? Mississippi State baseball’s opponent in Starkville Regional

Published

10 hours ago

May 29, 2026

Press Room

Where is Lipscomb? Mississippi State baseball’s opponent in Starkville Regional

Mississippi State baseball is facing Lipscomb in the first game of the Starkville Regional in the NCAA Tournament on May 29 (1 p.m., ESPN+).

The Bulldogs (40-17) are the host and No. 14 national seed, and Lipscomb (29-24) is the No. 4 seed in the regional. It is the fourth time they’ve played each other this season, with MSU sweeping a March series at Dudy Noble Field.

Here is what to know about Lipscomb University.

Where is Lipscomb University?

Lipscomb is a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. It is about a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Starkville.

Lipscomb University mascot

Lipscomb’s mascot is the Bisons.

What conference is Lipscomb in?

Lipscomb is in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Lipscomb University enrollment

According to US News, Lipscomb has an undergraduate enrollment of 3,006 students and a 68% acceptance rate.

Lipscomb baseball coach

Jeff Forehand is Lipscomb’s baseball coach. He’s in his 20th season and has led Lipscomb to all four of its NCAA Tournament appearances in program history.

Starkville Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA baseball tournament

All games at Dudy Noble Field; double elimination format; game times in Central

Friday, May 29

Game 1: Mississippi State vs. Lipscomb, 1 p.m. on ESPN+
Game 2: Cincinnati vs. Louisiana, 6 p.m. on ESPN+

Saturday, May 30

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m., TBA
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m., TBA

Sunday, May 31

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m., TBA
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m., TBA

Monday, June 1

Game 7 (if necessary): TBA

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

Source link

Mississippi

Can Mississippi State softball avoid WCWS elimination vs Texas? Our prediction

Published

22 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Press Room

Can Mississippi State softball avoid WCWS elimination vs Texas? Our prediction

OKLAHOMA CITY — Hoping to extend its season, Mississippi State softball will play No. 2 seed Texas in its second game at the Women’s College World Series.

The Bulldogs (43-20) will take on the reigning NCAA champion Longhorns (47-12) on May 29 (6 p.m. CT, ESPN) at Devon Park. The loser of the game will be eliminated from the tournament.

Mississippi State made it WCWS debut by falling 8-0 to No. 11 seed Texas Tech in five innings. Texas lost its opener 6-3 to No. 7 seed Tennessee.

Here’s what to know about the matchup.

Texas’ Katie Stewart was SEC’s Player of the Year

Texas’ Katie Stewart was selected as the best player in the SEC during 2026 and helped the Longhorns to a conference title. Stewart, catcher Reese Atwood and pitcher Teagan Kavan were named a second-team NFCA All-American.

Stewart ranks third in the SEC in batting average (.428), fourth in RBIs (72) and second in home runs (27) and on base percentage (.551).

Stewart was ineffective in the Longhorns’ WCWS loss to Tennessee. She went 0-for-3, striking out once and grounding out twice.

Atwood, who’s hitting .337 with 18 home runs and 59 RBIs, fared better against the Lady Vols, finishing 1-for-3 and scoring a run.

Texas’ Teagan Kavan has struggled in recent outings

Teagan Kavan (24-6, 2.54 ERA) has been one of the top pitchers in the nation in each of her three seasons at Texas, but she hasn’t quite looked like herself in some recent appearances.

Kavan started Games 1 and 2 of the super regionals against Arizona State and allowed 11 hits and six runs with four walks and five strikeouts in seven innings. She recovered to shut the Sun Devils out despite allowing five hits in Game 3.

Kavan again started for the Longhorns against Tennessee. Her outing lasted three innings and she gave up three hits and three runs.

Citlaly Gutierrez (9-3, 2.38 ERA) is Texas’ primary reliever and has appeared in four of the Longhorns’ seven NCAA Tournament games. She threw four innings vs. Tennessee, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts.

Does Mississippi State have an ace up its sleeve?

Mississippi State elected to start Alyssa Faircloth (16-8, 2.61 ERA) in its WCWS opener and use Peja Goold (15-11, 2.45) in relief. Faircloth threw just 1⅓ innings, while Goold pitched for three.

Both could be options for the game against Texas, or Mississippi State could turn to breakout star Delainey Everett (3-1, 0.69 ERA).

Everett’s lone start this season was against Oklahoma in Game 3 of the super regionals. She gave the Sooners their first shutout since 2019 and held them to three hits.

Everett pitched four innings in Game 2 of last year’s regular season series against Texas. She gave up one run on two hits with four strikeouts in four innings as the Bulldogs’ starter in the 7-3 loss.

Mississippi State softball vs Texas WCWS prediction

Texas 3, Mississippi State 2: Even if the Bulldogs’ pitching staff can limit Texas, MSU’s offense seems to have cooled down considerably from its showing against Oklahoma in the super regionals.

2026 Women’s College World Series schedule

All times CT

May 28
- Game 1: Texas Tech 8, Mississippi State 0
- Game 2: Tennessee 6, Texas 3
- Game 3: UCLA vs Alabama (6 p.m., ESPN2)
- Game 4: Arkansas vs Nebraska (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
May 29
- Game 5: Mississippi State vs Texas (6 p.m., ESPN2)
- Game 6: Game 3 loser vs Game 4 loser (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
May 30
- Game 7: Texas Tech vs Tennessee (2 p.m., ABC)
- Game 8: Game 3 winner vs Game 4 winner (6 p.m., ESPN)
May 31
- Game 9: Game 5 winner vs Game 8 loser (2 p.m., ABC)
- Game 10: Game 6 winner vs Game 7 loser (6 p.m., ESPN2)
June 1
- Game 11: Game 7 winner vs Game 9 winner (11 a.m., ESPN)
- Game 12 (if necessary): Game 7 winner vs Game 9 winner (1:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Game 13: Game 8 winner vs Game 10 winner (6 p.m., ESPN2)
- Game 14 (if necessary): Game 8 winner vs Game 10 winner (8:30 p.m., ESPN2)
June 3
- Finals Game 1 (7 p.m., ESPN)
June 4
- Finals Game 2 (7 p.m., ESPN)
June 5
- If necessary, finals Game 3 (7 p.m., ESPN)

Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.

Source link

Mississippi

Schedule for Gulf Breeze alum Leila Ammon, Mississippi State in WCWS

Published

1 day ago

May 28, 2026

Press Room

Schedule for Gulf Breeze alum Leila Ammon, Mississippi State in WCWS

Check out how to watch the Gulf Breeze alum, who is part of a history making Mississippi State squad.

The Women’s College World Series begins May 28 in Oklahoma City.
Gulf Breeze alumna Leila Ammon is a pitcher for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Mississippi State is making its first Women’s College World Series appearance in school history.
The Bulldogs are the only unseeded team to advance to the WCWS this year.
Ammon has an 8-0 record this spring with a 1.85 ERA and 62 strikeouts.

The Women’s College World Series begins May 28, and the Pensacola area will be represented on the biggest stage.

Gulf Breeze alumna Leila Ammon is part of a Mississippi State squad making its first WCWS appearance in school history and has played a role in getting the Bulldogs there.

Below is how to watch Ammon play if you aren’t in Oklahoma City, as well as how Ammon is part of history at Mississippi State.

How to watch Mississippi State in the WCWS

When: May 28-June 4/5

Where: OG & E Energy Field at Devon Park, Oklahoma City

Broadcast: ABC and ESPN

Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, Fubo

Mississippi State will open up against Texas Tech on May 28 at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN. With a win, the Bulldogs will play the winner of Tennessee/Texas on May 30 at 2 p.m. CT on ABC. With a loss, they’ll play the loser of Tennessee/Texas in an elimination game on May 29 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The last two teams standing will advance to a best 2-out-of-3 championship series scheduled for June 3-5 at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN. Check this page for more information on the WCWS bracket and schedule.

Mississippi State lost to Texas Tech twice in the Lubbock regional a year ago.

How did Mississippi State make history?

The Bulldogs are the only unseeded team out of eight in the WCWS field, which means they’re the only team in the field to have to win on the road in a regional and super regional to advance to Oklahoma City.

Mississippi State was ranked No. 13 in the NFCA poll on March 29, putting them in good position to host a regional with a strong finish to the season. The Bulldogs did the exact opposite, losing four of their last five regular season series.

But they flipped a switch in the NCAA Tournament. First, Mississippi State rolled through the Eugene regional, winning all three games by a score of 12-2, to advance to just their second super regional in program history.

Up next was a trip to perennial powerhouse Oklahoma in the super regional. However. the Bulldogs weren’t fazed, winning Game 1 of the best two-out-of-three series 11-9. After the Sooners won Game 2 7-1, Mississippi State won Game 3 6-0 to clinch their first ever WCWS appearance.

What role did Leila Ammon play?

While Ammon didn’t pitch in the regional, she helped stop the bleeding in Game 1 of the Super Regional.

She entered in the bottom of the third after Oklahoma had scored five runs in the inning to take a 5-1 lead. Ammon got the final two outs in the inning, then allowed a run in the fourth and pitched a scoreless fifth before being relieved with runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the sixth.

Both runners scored later in the inning, meaning Ammon allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out three in three innings pitched.

Ammon’s gone 8-0 this spring with a 1.85 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings pitched. She spent her freshman season at Middle Tennessee State, where she was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team.

Before her college career, Ammon was the 2023 PNJ Pitcher of the Year and a 2024 First Team All-Area selection.

Source link