Deputies Assist Grenada During Bridge Closure
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WATER VALLEY – Yalobusha County deputies will assist the Grenada County Sheriff’s Department answer calls in an isolated area in the neighboring county after the bridge that spans the Yalobusha River was closed on May 14.
The Graysport Crossing bridge was closed last month following an inspection and the closure isolates a portion of Grenada County located between the Skuna and Yalobusha rivers, creating a lengthy detour for residents who live between the rivers and travel back and forth to the City of Grenada. The closure also creates a lengthy response time for law enforcement calls responding from Grenada County, while Yalobusha County deputies can easily access the area from the north side.
Yalobusha County Sheriff Jerimaine Gooch told supervisors during a recessed meeting held May 14 that Grenada County Sheriff Garrett Hartley reached out to him for help. Gooch said initially the plan was to execute a memorandum of understanding between the two counties, but Board Attorney Shannon Crow advised that an agreement is likely not needed.
Supervisors were strongly in favor of assisting Grenada County after Yalobusha County received similar assistance from Grenada agencies while the Gums Crossing Bridge in Yalobusha County was closed from February, 2019, until October, 2024.
“We need to return the favor, those folks helped us for the last five years,” Board President Cayce Washington noted. “We need to do the right thing and help our neighbors.”
The Gums Crossing bridge closure isolated a portion of Yalobusha County between the Skuna River and Yalobusha River on the backwaters of Grenada Lake. When the Gums Crossing was closed, Grenada County deputies could easily access the area from the south side.
“Our guys can respond to the area in around 10 minutes, it will take them 45 minutes,” Washington added.
A new bridge is under construction at Graysport Crossing that will run parallel to the old bridge. The completion date has not been announced.
