Latest news with #LafayetteCounty
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
1 killed, hundreds without power after Lafayette County storms
LAFAYETTE COUNTY, Miss. — The severe weather has moved out this weekend, but people in North Mississippi are now cleaning up the damage left behind. In Lafayette County, one person has died and 800 people in that area remain without power. There are also many fallen trees following the storm. Officials told WREG that the first round of storms impacted the county the most. Beau Moore, the Public Information Officer for Lafayette County's Emergency Management team, said the first round of severe weather made landfall early on Saturday and it knocked out power and downed trees. 2 women killed, 3 minors injured in Lafayette County crash Moore said the southeast section of the county got hit the hardest since that's where most of the storm damage is. Governor Tate Reeves said that a person died after a tree fell on a car near Delay Road. Although hundreds of people in Lafayette County still don't have power, officials said the utility company is working around the clock to get the lights back on for everyone. 'We don't have an estimate yet from North East. They do have some larger transmission lines that are down, but they're working to restore in the southeast section,' Moore said. 'So, we don't have an estimate on that, but what I can tell you is, North East has got all hands on deck, working through the night and this morning and this afternoon to get the power restored as soon as possible.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
2 women killed, 3 minors injured in Lafayette County crash
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two women were killed after a crash in Lafayette County on Saturday morning, the Mississippi Highway Patrol confirmed. At approximately 8:43 a.m., the MHP responded to a crash on Highway 30 in Lafayette County. A 2013 Ford Expedition, driven by a 44-year-old woman, was traveling east on Highway 30 when it collided with a 2015 Dodge Ram driven by a minor traveling west. The woman suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene. MS Dollar General catches fire The Mississippi Highway Patrol said the minor sustained moderate injuries and was taken to a local hospital. A 32-year-old woman also sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. Two other minors suffered moderate injuries and were taken to the hospital. The Mississippi Highway Patrol said this crash is still under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Wife, tattoo studio in Oak Grove mourn loss after motorcycle crash
OAK GROVE, Mo. — A motorcyclist died earlier this week from injuries in a crash on U.S. 24 highway in Lafayette County. The family of the motorcyclist who was killed confirmed that the victim is Chris Melchert, a tattooist from Bates City. Eight-car crash reported on I-635, two hurt, Kansas Highway Patrol says His wife, still grieving his loss, is using the crash to remind everyone to be safe around motorcycles. On Saturday, FOX4 stopped by his shop, the Purgatory Tattoo Studio in Oak Grove, where the community is still remembering their friend and husband. 'Legendary, epic,' Meg Melchert said as she described her husband, Chris. 'I said earlier that he's everyone's best friend and he really was everyone's best friend to them in some way. The world will never have someone in it again like him. He was epic.' The Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to a crash involving a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on June 2. According to the highway patrol's crash log, the motorcyclist was headed west on U.S. 24 when a Ford F-250 tried to cross the highway. The truck hit the Harley-Davidson, and the motorcyclist died from the injuries June 3. Meg confirmed to FOX4 that Chris was the motorcyclist. 'How I am feeling is guttural,' she said. 'I mean, it is stressing me to my core and I never knew that a living person could feel this pain and not die themselves.' Chris's station at Purgatory Tattoo is now filled with flowers and cards, teddy bears and notes from friends and family. The shop became a community, rather than just a place for tattoos and piercings. 'It's a culture here,' Meg said. 'And when I say we always joke and we call it a 'framily' — friends that have turned into family — and it's true.' She noted that Purgatory Tattoo had different hours than most tattoo shops so the artists could spend time with their children and family. Being open early in the morning, as early as 6:30 a.m., helped Chris create that 'framily.' 'This was a place for people to come and converse and people just come hang out,' Meg said. 'Sometimes nothing was said. They were just here. Your laborers to your factory workers, your police, your firemen, doctors, our tow truck drivers. You know, our 5 a.m. was their 5 p.m. So, we captured all those morning people.' Meg said her husband's death should serve as a reminder for everyone to look twice for motorcyclists. 'My husband was doing everything right,' she said. 'He was wearing bright colors. He had a helmet on. He had boots on, he had jeans on, he had a headlight on. He was going the speed limit and someone just blew through a stop sign for whatever reason.' She said that extra caution around motorcycles could be the difference in someone's life. 'Fifteen seconds of that guy waiting would've changed my husband's life. Fifteen seconds of a stop. Motorcycles can't stop as fast as cars can, and they don't have airbags. And give space for riders. And if you think you can beat them across the road, just don't, just wait. Just wait. Give them a minute,' Meg said. Meg and her family are inviting everyone who has a tattoo by Chris to join them at his celebration of life on June 29 at the Fieldhouse in Oak Grove. They plan on taking pictures of all of Chris's work for an album that will stay at the shop. 'Forty one years as a tattooist in this area is a long time,' she said. 'He's tattooed so many people in this community. I don't care if your tattoo is 41 years old, I don't care if it's a full back piece. I don't care if it's a ladybug on your thumb. Come and let's take a picture, because the bigger that book is, the bigger the memory.' Those wishing to participate in his celebration of life can also leave a note with pictures online here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
One killed after tree falls on vehicle in North Mississippi
LAFAYETTE COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – One person was killed after a strong line of storms moved through North Mississippi. Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) said the fatality was reported in Lafayette County on Saturday after a tree fell on a vehicle near Delay Road. The governor said 23,000 people were without power. 'The state of Mississippi remains in close contact with local emergency managers and will continue to respond as necessary,' Reeves stated. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
