Monday, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves added seven counties to the list of those in the state that will fall under more restrictive COVID-19 measures effective Wednesday, Oct. 21.

With cases and hospitalizations rising in the state, last week Reeves put nine counties under the stricter measures, which include a mask mandate in nearly all indoor situations other than at voting precincts.

The 16 counties are:

• Benton
• Carroll
• Chickasaw
• Claiborne
• DeSoto
• Forrest
• Harrison
• Itawamba
• Jackson
• Jones
• Lamar
• Leake
• Lee
• Madison
• Marshall
• Neshoba

The governor’s criteria for stricter measures includes more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents or more than 200 cases over a two-week period. The most recent period under scrutiny was Monday, Oct. 5, through Sunday, Oct. 18.

The measures also mandate hospitals to reserve 10% of their capacity for COVID-19 patients, and limit gathering to groups of 10 indoors and 50 outdoors.

Asked why Reeves excluded polling places from the mandates, the governor indicated he would not interfere with a citizen’s right to vote by forcing voters to wear masks. He does expect most voters to wear masks at the polls and to practice social distancing, however.

On Tuesday morning, Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. plans to recommend to the city’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen that the bar and lounge of LD’s Kitchen be allowed to reopen under new management, enhanced security features and capacity restrictions, effective Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m.

The bar and lounge portion of LD’s Kitchen, located at 1111 Mulberry St., was ordered closed by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen earlier this month following a late-night shooting Oct. 6 that left three people injured. Wade Carter, 31, subsequently died of his injuries Oct. 9.

The suspected shooter, James Earl Winters, 29, remains at large.

On Oct. 8, Flaggs announced he would seek to have the bar declared a public nuisance.

“He wanted another opportunity to keep his legacy, his business open,” Flaggs said about owner L.D. Prentiss when asked what changed his mind.

The mayor indicated that he has been in discussions with Prentiss’ attorney Marshall Sanders to come to a resolution. The agreement will avoid court and litigation costs for the city.

Prentiss, who waived the right to a hearing before the board, agreed to have someone else manage the bar portion of the business, to new hours (opening at 6 p.m.) and additional security measures. The resolution will likely be released to the public Tuesday afternoon.

In a conversation about the resolution, the mayor said South Ward Alderman Alex Montour will probably not agree to the resolution; however, the mayor expects North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield to sign off, giving Flaggs the majority needed.

Before the bar opens again, Police Chief Milton Moore will do walk through to ensure the agreement is being adhered to, Flaggs said.

“I’m willing to give him another shot at this,” he said.

Warren County has taken over repairs to a sinkhole on Mt. Alban and Culkin roads.

The sinkhole opened Friday morning caused by a water line leak. The leak was repaired and the road patched Friday afternoon by the Culkin Water District, but the repairs did not withstand the torrential rain Friday night.

County Engineer Keith O’Keefe informed the Warren County Board of Supervisors Monday morning during a work session that he and County Road Manager Jamie Cain had visited the site over the weekend and again this morning. O’Keefe said he felt County Road Management was better equipped to handle the repairs in a timely manner.

The sinkhole, and the cavern that developed under the road, was from an abandoned water line that had been leaking for an extended period. District 1 Supervisor Edward Herring expressed his concerns that there were other, similar issues throughout the district.

O’Keefe said the county crews would compact the soil and use rock on top. He added that they would allow the area to settle before repairing the asphalt.