COON RAPIDS, Minn. — State officials say a leak of hydraulic system lubricant from the Coon Rapids Dam created two sheens on the Mississippi River last week.

They said the substance can come into contact with food and not cause harm and that drinking water is still safe.

“Three Rivers Park District, which operates the dam, has reported to the Minnesota Duty Office that during the adjustment of a dam gate Tuesday morning, a valve malfunctioned and released the substance into the river. The park district estimated about 30 gallons of lubricant spilled,” according to a statement released by Michael Rafferty, spokesperson for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

The first sheen was reported Tuesday, Aug. 20, between Coon Rapids and Fridley. It was about 25 feet wide at one point and stretched for nearly two miles.

A second, smaller sheen was detected Wednesday morning, Aug. 21, near Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, formerly known as Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park.

Responders used booms to try to keep the sheens away from water intakes for both Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Both have since dissipated. Additional samples are being tested as a precaution, but state pollution control agency officials say they are not concerned about the safety of drinking water from that part of the river.

RIDGELAND, Miss. (WLBT) – Ever since Cariel Ellis was 7 years old, she had a soccer ball at her feet and now her lifelong dream of being a professional player is coming true.

“I always prayed and hoped that I would go pro,” Cariel Ellis said. “My parents and all the coaches I had growing up from club always believed in me so I had to continue to believe in myself.”

Ellis might be overseas playing soccer for Melbourne City Football Club in Australia but her journey started right here in Mississippi at Madison Central.

“I enjoyed every single moment of it and I just learned a lot on and off the field,” Ellis said describing her time at Madison Central. “Especially perseverance, to keep going and keep pushing and just prepare myself for the next level.”

The next level for Ellis out of high school was right around the corner at Holmes Community College.

“The girls were sweet, nice, and kind,” Ellis said while talking about her visit to Holmes. “That drew me in but I could also tell that the coaches were really genuine. There really was no place like Holmes.”

Ellis played for Westley Noble while at Holmes and he saw so much potential in her.

“She came here and she worked extremely hard and she was unbelievable for us,” Noble said. “You could see from day one that she really wanted what she’s getting now and it’s a byproduct of the work she’s put into it.”

After her two years at Holmes Community College, finding a new school to call home wasn’t the easiest. There were many upsets, downs, and bumps in the road but none of it pushed her away from the game. Ellis moved out of Mississippi and found her home away from home at Lamar, and they helped her speak her dreams into reality.”

“It was just all around a great culture and a great environment,” Ellis said. “They definitely prepared me for the next level because they always said Cariel you’re going to go pro you’re gonna go pro.”

Now that she’s reached the professional level, Coach Noble has retired her Holmes jersey just to show how proud he is of her and her hard work.

“We wanted to show her how much she meant to us and give her the thanks that she always gives to us,” Noble said. “It’s a gesture from us to show her that we’re proud of her and will forever be proud of her”

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – Dozens of athletes from a half dozen states were in the Hub City Saturday, taking part in a competition that tested both arm strength and skill.

It was all part of the Mississippi State Armwrestling Championship held at Brewsky’s.

More than 120 professional and amateur competitors from Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas and Tennessee participated in several different weight classes, for first-, second- and third-place medals.

Competitors up to 75 years of age were part of the event.

“It’s more technique than it is power,” said Sean Boom Hancock, Professional Armwrestling League-USA president/ International Federation of Armwrestling world champion. “I tell people it’s like a mixture of chess and drag racing,

“There’s a counter-move, an offensive move and a defensive move for everything that these guys do on the table and it’s got to be done instantaneous, like drag-racing, or you’ll lose the match.”

The state championship has been held every year in the Hub City since 2017.

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