Gov. declares State of Emergency
Gov. Haley Barbour declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday for Lafayette County after severe storms ripped through the area, destroying homes, businesses and claiming the life of an Oxford man. Organizations have mobilized to the affected areas, offering food, clothing and comfort. (April 28, 2011, Page 1)
Knowing first hand how helpful the Red Cross is
Just the smell of smoke from a structure fire is enough to give Staff Writer Alyssa Schnugg flashbacks to the night years ago when her house caught fire. She and her family got out safely, and it was the Red Cross volunteer who showed up to help them through the first hours and days of the tragedy that she remembers as she urges everyone to support, and get involved with, their local Red Cross unit. (March 4, 2011, Page 4A)
Red Cross asks community’s help to help others
The local chapter of the American Red Cross is asking community members to “adopt” a fire family for $1,200 which will cover shelter, clothing and food for one family of four for a few days during its Friends of Fire Families campaign that runs through January.
The Lafayette County-based Red Cross chapter recently lost national funding to help families who are burned out of their homes. For more information on the program or to donate money, call 236-1282. (December 6, 2010, Page 3A)
Katrina left some positive marks on Oxford
Five years ago Sunday, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast, New Orleans and surrounding Gulf areas, killing about 2,000 and displacing more than 250,000 people from their homes.
In Oxford, evacuees flooded local hotels and bunked in with family and friends. Law enforcement and emergency management officials say things ran smoothly due to having emergency plans in place. (August 27, 2010, Page 1A)
Local Red Cross gets more responsibility
Red Cross is cutting its 13 chapters in Mississippi down to five due to financial strain over the past two years but the change benefits Oxford by turning the local service station into one of the headquarters for the newly formed Northwest Mississippi Red Cross Chapter. Bebo Howell, the executive director of the local Red Cross office, said many details of the restructuring haven’t been determined. (June 24, 2010, Page 1a)
Shelters, Pantry receive grant money
Four local organizations that offer emergency food and shelter have been awarded grant money by the local Emergency Food and Shelter Program Board that is made up of local representatives from several nonprofit agencies. (June 18, 2010, Page 1A)
Home lost in morning fire
Smoking is likely the cause of a Tuesday morning fire in the College Hill Heights subdivision that destroyed a two-story home, according to fire officials. (March 31, 2010, Page 1)
CPR/AED/First Aid Class
The American Red Cross will offer an Adult, Child and Infant CPR/AED/First Aid community class from 5:30 to 9 p.m. April 26. The class is $35. All classes are held at the Red Cross Office, located at 106 Skyline Drive. Interested participants should contact the Red Cross office at 236-1282 to register. Pre-registration is required for the class. (March 29, 2010)
CPR/AED/First Aid Class
The American Red Cross will offer an Adult, Child and Infant CPR/AED/First Aid community class from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 27. The class is $50. All classes are held at the Red Cross Office, located at 106 Skyline Drive. Interested participants should contact the Red Cross office at 662-236-1282 to register. Pre-registration is required for the class. (March 8, 2010)
