Jeremy Weldon

Batesville and Panola County were relatively quiet during the Thanksgiving Day holiday and weekend, with only the normal number of incidents – ranging from vehicle crashes to purse snatchings – reported.

“It’s been a lot worse before that’s for sure,” said Sheriff Dennis Darby. “One of the biggest complaints I had last week was from these phone scams. Even with all the information we’ve put out, people are still being bothered with these scams, especially the ones that make them believe something is wrong with their electricity.”

Darby said other than the usual number of DUI and reckless driving offenses, there were no major vehicle incidents. About a dozen accidents were worked in the county, and a few people were airlifted to hospitals, but there were no reported auto fatalities.

Burglaries of vehicles and other offenses were reported in the county, but deputies made no major drug arrests or worked any violent crimes, Darby said.

In Batesville, Asst. Police Chief Kerry Pittman said patrolmen issued citations for a number of moving violations, but there were no life-threatening accidents during the holiday period. Pittman said officers worked a home burglary on MLK Dr., with the items reported stolen worth about $30.

Pittman and Darby both urged residents to be careful during the coming Christmas season and take all the standard precautions issued by law enforcement this time of year. Those include keeping all doors and windows locked and not leaving boxes from new televisions and computers on the roadside for trash pick-up. Thieves will target thoses houses, lawmen say.

Batesville Fire Chief Tim Taylor said his department responded to a few car accidents for backup and answered some false alarms, but had no serious fires in the city limits. Panola County Emergency Operations Director Daniel Cole said there were a few runs by volunteer firemen across the county during the holiday period, but no major fires or emergency incidents.

“We made it through pretty good other than a few trees down from the high winds Sunday afternoon and night,” Cole said. “We stay ready for anything but it’s good for everybody when we don’t have those kinds of calls during a holiday time.”