As DeSoto County continues recovering from the recent winter storm, members of the community are stepping up to thank the county employees and first responders who worked around the clock to keep residents safe. On Tuesday, local restaurateur James Lasapio provided lunch for Road Department, Emergency Management Agency and Environmental Services crews in recognition of their work during the storm.
Among those efforts was Lasapio, owner of several restaurants in DeSoto County and Memphis, including Dale’s, Lucky Dog Tavern and Junior’s. He provided meals to crews and first responders as they worked long shifts in dangerous conditions.
“Today we fed the DeSoto County Road Department and other first responders because it was important for me to recognize those guys,” Lasapio said. “The minute I got on the road that weekend, I realized the county had the snowstorm under control. The roads were cleared and easy to drive on.”
Lasapio said those conditions allowed him to support essential workers and helped his own employees continue working.
“I was able to feed doctors, law enforcement officers, and crews keeping the runways clear at Memphis Airport,” Lasapio said. “Because of what the road crews did, my employees were able to work. I have many single moms who live paycheck to paycheck, and they were able to pay rent and buy food.”
“I’d be out at 4 a.m. and see those crews already on the roads,” he added. “They were sacrificing their home life and their safety to make sure the roads stayed clear for everyone who needed to be on them.”
Residents also voiced appreciation for the county’s response. Robert Schueller, who lives in Board President Jessie Medlin’s district, said he was impressed by how quickly crews responded.
“I’ve lived in a lot of northern states, and I’ve never seen a response to a winter storm like what DeSoto County did,” Schueller said. “People don’t realize how lucky they have it. I know it’s frustrating when some subdivisions aren’t cleared right away, but that happens up north too. The county made sure the main and secondary roads stayed clear around the clock. It’s amazing what they accomplished, especially in an area that doesn’t usually get winter weather like this.”
County leaders said the work performed by road crews, emergency personnel and deputies went beyond clearing roads. It helped save lives.
Crews worked in sub-zero temperatures to clear a 22-truck pileup on Interstate 22, assisted motorists stranded on frozen highways and helped emergency responders reach patients trapped by icy conditions. Deputies, EMA, EMS and road crews coordinated to ensure nurses, doctors and other medical professionals could reach hospitals, and teams also helped critical dialysis patients access life-sustaining treatment.
Supervisor Mark Gardner said the response from county employees stood out across the region.
“I want to thank our road department for the dynamic and wonderful job they did,” Gardner said. “From the phone calls I’ve received, we had the best response. I can’t say enough good things about our people.”
Supervisor Lee Caldwell praised the countywide coordination that took place during the storm.
“These crews worked around the clock in extremely dangerous conditions to clear roads and assist residents who were stranded,” Caldwell said. “Our EMA teams were out checking on people stuck on the highways while the road department helped clear the way. Our EMS and deputies helped doctors and nurses get to the hospital and connect residents to critical medical care when they needed it most. It was an extraordinary, countywide effort.”
Supervisor Ray Denison said the Road Department’s work made a critical difference for residents and emergency services.
“Given the amount of ice and snow we were dealing with, our Road Department did an incredible job getting the main roads cleared as quickly as possible,” Denison said. “Their work made it possible for emergency services, essential workers and residents to move safely again.”
Supervisor Robert Foster said the storm reinforced the importance of continuing to invest in equipment and preparedness.
“Right after I got on the Board, we had a major winter storm, and it became clear we needed plows, and we got them,” Foster said. “Now we have more coming. We have to make sure the county has everything it needs so it won’t shut down during events like this.”
Supervisor Jessie Medlin, who has served on the Board for more than three decades, said the storm was among the most challenging the county has faced.
“In some ways this storm was worse than the one in 1994,” Medlin said. “In 1994 we had terrible power outages, but the snow melted quickly. We’ve never had ice and snow on the ground for this long. It shows how important it is to be prepared and how much our crews stepped up for the community.”
Supervisors said the response demonstrated the strength of coordination between county departments and the community and the difference residents and local businesses can make during emergencies.
“Support from people like Mr. Lasapio means a great deal to our crews,” Caldwell said. “It reminds them that the community sees their work and appreciates their sacrifice.”
County leaders said they also plan to conduct a post-storm review with the Mississippi Department of Transportation and local cities to assess what went right, what challenges were encountered, and how response efforts can be improved for future winter weather events.
