Local News 

Sheriff David Hedrick  See our CPSO Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CPsheriff.

The Ferriday Town Council appointed Juan King as its new fire chief. Juan replaces Corey King, who resigned to pursue business ventures.  

Vidalia has passed a new golf cart ordinance that requires golf carts, if used on roadways, to have headlights and rear brake lights, brakes, seatbelts, rearview mirrors, and a police department or Louisiana state police sticker. Drivers must have a license. Children cannot drive a golf cart on a roadway unless the child has a license. The golf cart driver must also present proof of insurance if asked. Vidalia has not been ticketing golf cart drivers in the past, well, but will do so starting now if they violate the new ordinance. Louisiana bans the driving of golf carts on state highways.

Planting

Keep Natchez Beautiful invites volunteers to help plant 1000 caladium bulbs. Meet Monday, May 18 at 9 a.m. at Memorial Park. The planting should take about three hours.

The Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office Litter Abatement Crew removed 755 pounds of trash and collected 47 bags of litter along Highway 921. Litter abatement remains a priority for CPSO as it continues working to keep the parish clean and welcoming. Items collected range from cans, plastic bottles, and fast food containers to larger debris such as old tires and damaged household items. 

As part of the Vidalia aldermen’s meeting, in-house accountant Debra Moak gave town leaders a recap of revenues and expenses for the first nine months of the budget year. She talked about cash on hand, investments, revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities. She gave all the leaders details on which departments and which expenditures were above or below targeted budget amounts. Aldermen received a hardcopy of her report. Mayor Buz then told those assembled there were several line items that needed to be adjusted before the end of the year. Louisiana has a rule that line items in a budget must be plus or minus 5% of originally forecast by the end of the fiscal year. Otherwise, aldermen must come in and revise the budget to bring it in line with state rules. This is nothing new for Vidalia. This is routine. And every month, Moak supplies the new figures and city leaders can react to the changes, the updates and what needs to be done in terms of budgeting.

NATCHEZ WATER WORKS: Online Bill Payments -- We accept payments online at www.natchezwaterworks.com. Bill Payment Portal: Payment types accepted through online bill pay are Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Electronic Checks. Have your customer number handy. Other Means: Phone payment at 601-864-1725. Payment by mail. Automatic bank draft. Payment at our Main Office. Our after-hours drop-box at the Main Office. Payment through financial institution online bill pay. Main Office: 150 N. Shields Ln., 601-445-5521. Committed to Providing Safe, Clean Water for All Our Residents

Public meeting

The City of Natchez tennis-pickleball meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the City Council Chamber Building. Aldermen invite the public to comment on what tennis and pickleball facilities the city should have and develop.

Ferriday police arrested Fernando Williams, Jr., 24, of Ferriday, for second degree murder after he shot and killed Tyran Ezell, 20, of Ferriday. The shooting took place Monday night, May 11 at Moose Discount. Ezell was critically wounded at the store and taken to Trinity Medical, where he succumbed.

The Mississippi Department of Education plans to hire an interim superintendent for the Wilkinson County schools. The job pays $135,000-$$165,000 a year with work scheduled to start July 1. Lee Coats currently holds the position. The state took over the Wilkinson County schools this year, firing the school board and previous superintendent for malfeasance in office, failing to follow state laws and regulations, poor academic performance, and financial incompetence.   

Wilkinson County Correctional Facility

Management & Training Corporation operates prisons in Meridian and Wilkinson County under a state contract. The state subsidizes prison operations so the correctional facilities can have adequate staffing to protect guards and inmates. The State Auditor found the company took the subsidy but did not hire the guards. So Shad White sent a letter to MTC demanding repayment of $6 million for the Wilkinson facility and another $1.4 million for Meridian. The Wilkinson County Correctional Facility has been the scene of many inmate injuries, guard injuries and some inmate deaths. Prison gangs had armed themselves with homemade swords and knives in the recent past.  Auditor White said the state is due the money back. MTC has not refunded the overpayment. White has turned over the collection to Attorney General Lynn Fitch. So far, she has taken no action. The Clarion Ledger noted that MTC gave Fitch a $5000 campaign contribution in 2025.   

On August 5, 2025, the CPSO Cyber Crime Unit began investigating an adult subject, who was communicating with what he believed to be a minor online for sexual purposes. The conversations took place on two popular social media applications. The 63-year-old subject had lewd and lascivious online communications with what he believed to be a 16- year-old female juvenile, discussing sexual acts they would perform. After Investigators positively identified James Timothy Sullivan, of Houston, Miss., an arrest warrant was obtained and he was taken into custody without incident by the Chickasaw County Sheriff's Office. Sullivan was extradited to Concordia Parish on May 10, 2026 where he currently is in jail on a $100K bond. Sullivan was charged with two counts of Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor and Indecent Behavior with Juveniles.

Wilkinson County supervisors will open bids this month to do asphalt overlay on Doloriso Loop, Pickneyville Rd., Macedonia Rd., Jackson Louisiana Rd. and Perrytown Rd. The county had applied to the Delta Regional Authority for a million dollar grant to redo Pickneyville Rd. but did not get the grant. Supervisors renewed an agreement with AMR for the company to provide ambulate service for 2026-2028. A landowner complained to supervisors that his timber company said he needs a bond to protect county roads from damage when hauling timber out of the woods. The landowner said he’s been cutting and hauling timber for years, never damaged a road or got a bond. So why the new rule. County Administrator David Wilkerson explained that the rule is not new, having been passed in 2014. Companies operating heavy trucks for construction, oilfield or logging must provide the county with $10,000 cash or a $10,000 bond as a protection against damage. Before the provision was in place, county roads were often damaged by heavy loads. With the bonding practice, taxpayers have some recourse to collect damages without going to court.

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WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS -- EAGLE PAWN SHOPS: 481 John R. Junkin Dr., Natchez and 1624 Carter St., Vidalia. Trusted gold and bullion dealer!  www.eaglepawnshops.com. Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat. 9-1, Finley Hootsell, owner.

Franklin graduation broadcast

Graduation ceremonies for the Franklin County High School Class of 2026 will be broadcast live and free of charge at www.franklinadvocate.com. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on May 15.   

Mayor Dan Gibson said American Cruise Lines will begin building a dock for Silver St. The dock will be constructed off site and moved here to Natchez to place on pilings. The company will spend more than $5 million on the project. American Cruise Lines will also donate $500,000 to the city for Silver Street infrastructure improvements. Gibson said the project should be completed by the end of the year. The company plans to make Natchez one of three major destination and origination points along the Lower Mississippi River, which should increase tourist traffic to the area. Aldermen approved the mayor’s travel expenses to go to Houston and back as part of opening of air service to Natchez for July 1.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said eight of his deputies have been lured to the Natchez Police Department since Lee Best became police chief a month ago. “There are no hard feelings,” said Patten, who noted higher pay is the reason some transferred to the NPD. Meeting Monday with Adams County supervisors, Patten noted his office will continue to collaborate well with the NPD. “The sheriff’s department is not going to miss a beat,” he said. Among the deputy sheriffs now a Natchez police officer is Shane Daugherty, who was Patten’s chief deputy. He’s now a NPD commander for Best, who was also with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office before joining the NPD in 2024. Patten said he has lost half of his command staff. Some deputies resigned for various reasons, but “the rest of them left for money. They get paid a lot more” working for the city, Patten said.That was not the case in past years when the Adams County board-approved budget provided higher salaries, but the Natchez Board of Aldermen has allocated more funds in recent years to increase the pay scales for Natchez police officers. Best, who became police chief April 1, noted recently that he’s hired nine certified law-enforcement officers as he works to improve the NPD’s patrol division by having five officers on duty per shift.

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Two killed in Vidalia

On Sunday, May 10, at approximately 12:37 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a one-vehicle crash at 518 Minorca Road. The crash claimed the lives of 17-year-old Michelle Baity of Natchez, MS, and 19-year-old Jacob Bonnette of Vidalia. The initial investigation revealed that a 2001 Infiniti QX4, driven by 18-year-old Gregory Steele of Vidalia, was northbound on Minorca Road. For reasons still under investigation, Steele lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, and overturned. teele, who was not restrained, sustained minor injuries. Baity and Bonnette, who also were not restrained, sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead on the scene. An additional passenger, who was also not restrained, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Toxicology samples were obtained and submitted. Impairment is a suspected factor in this crash. As a result of the investigation, Troopers placed Steele under arrest for vehicular homicide (2 counts), underage driving while intoxicated, vehicular negligent injuring, and careless operation. Steele was processed at the Concordia Parish Detention Center. This crash remains under investigation. Louisiana State Police would like to remind all motorists that if you feel differently, you drive differently. Alcohol, prescription drugs, and other drugs have many effects on the body that negatively affect driving skills. These drugs can impair visual ability, alter the sense of time and space, impair fine motor skills needed to operate a motor vehicle, and decrease reaction times. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and designate a sober driver. Not doing so can have deadly consequences.

Over the weekend of May 8-10, NPD investigated a report of an incident that occurred downtown. Local business owner Sammy Atkins provided full cooperation in what turned out to be a misunderstanding among friends. Chief Best met with Tron and Sammy, who have been like family for many years and said, "Tron is a lifelong resident of Natchez, loved by all, and will be treated with the same dignity and respect as any other citizen or visitor."  Chief Best appreciates all the tags, calls, and messages bringing attention to this matter, which has now been resolved.   

Magnolia Bluffs Casino donated $2,500 to the Downtown Natchez Association to assist in the association's promotional activities.  

When Louisiana voters go to the polls May 16, candidates for Congress will be on the ballot. Since the Governor has temporarily suspended the Congressional elections due to the Supreme Court’s ruling on race based districting, you may go ahead and vote, but the votes for Congress will not be counted. The Legislature has the authority to reset the date for the Congressional primaries for a later date. If the Legislature does not act, the Congressional primaries may occur in July. The May 16 primaries include contests for U.S. Senator, State Supreme Court, State Elementary and Secondary School Board, Public Service Commission and local and state ballot amendments. Those votes will be counted.

ROGERS LAWN & GARDEN EQUIPMENT: Sales, Service, Parts. The ROGERS FAMILY continues their tradition of offering the best equipment and service at fair prices. EXMARK, STIHL, HUSQVARNA. See our line-up of 2026 EXMARK RIDING MOWERS for the backyard, small or medium sized acreage, and pro models for commercial landscaping services. Our Quest, Radius and Lazer Series are Miss-Lou favorites, with ZERO TURN RIDERS, stand-on, walk-behind and electric models all engineered for durability, long life, ease of maintenance and repair. 

It's a great time to buy, because Rogers offers Exmark financing through its credit partners, with 0% financing for up to 24 months, with approved credit. 236 Hwy. 61 South, Natchez, 601-442-9183, M-F 8a-5p.  

Toney Edwards

Sheriff Toney Edwards issued this statement following the DOJ arrest of some of his deputies. "Good afternoon. I’m Sheriff Toney Edwards of the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office, and I appreciate the opportunity to address the citizens of Catahoula Parish today. I want to assure the people of this parish that every action possible is being taken to ensure the safety and security of our community, our employees, and every individual housed within the correctional facility. The Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office remains fully operational, secure, and committed to carrying out its duties with professionalism and integrity. With more than 140 employees serving this office, no organization is immune from situations where policies or directives may not always be followed exactly as intended. However, when concerns arise, they are addressed immediately and appropriately. Accountability and enforcement are essential parts of maintaining a professional law enforcement agency, and that is exactly what has taken place. Since the beginning of this investigation in 2024, the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office has fully cooperated with the FBI and all appropriate authorities. We have provided any records, documentation, and information requested throughout the course of the investigation, and we will continue to cooperate fully moving forward. At no time have I been named a person of interest in this investigation. I and my department have been transparent through the investigation. As stated under the FBI news release, An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. All CCC/CPSO employees listed in these indictments are suspended until this matter is resolved by the courts. At this time, I cannot comment further regarding any ongoing investigation. Every individual involved is entitled to due process and their day in court, and I will not do anything that could compromise or interfere with those proceedings. What I can say is this: under my leadership, the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office is committed to operating within the laws of the State of Louisiana and according to all applicable standards designed to protect the public and ensure the proper care and humane treatment of those incarcerated in our facility. To the families of inmates currently housed at the correctional facility, I want you to know that your loved ones are safe, and this administration will not tolerate inappropriate conduct or unlawful behavior of any kind. If wrongdoing is discovered, it will be addressed appropriately and according to the law. As a Louisiana Sheriff, I understand the responsibility that comes with maintaining a safe parish, a secure correctional facility, and the public’s trust. That responsibility is something I take seriously every single day, and I want the citizens of Catahoula Parish to know that everything humanly possible is being done to protect this community and uphold the integrity of this office. Please keep our department at CCC and CPSO, the officers, and inmate families in your prayers. Thank you, and may God bless Catahoula Parish."

Your VIDALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT continues to provide excellent service. We protect life and property, maintain law and order, prevent and respond to crime. This is accomplished through a variety of means, including expanded patrolling, responding to emergencies, investigating crimes, and accepting anonymous tips. VPD enforces traffic, and all local and state laws, making arrests, and testifying at trials. VPD cooperates with area sheriffs' departments, state police and federal agencies. Vidalia has one of the best police departments in the state because we are able to hire and retain experienced, professional officers, who help us lead and motivate newcomers to our force. Our officers and staff have built a strong rapport and respect within the community. And we hope to improve even more in the future. For Emergencies, call 911. For our offices, call 318-336-5254. 202 Vernon Steven Blvd., Vidalia, La. 71373. CHIEF OF POLICE JOEY MERRILL.

See our Facebook page. ttps://www.facebook.com/VidaliaLouisianaPoliceDepartment.

Prisoner abuse

On May 7, a federal grand jury in Shreveport returned a thirty-four count indictment charging several former managers of the Catahoula Parish Correctional Center (“CPCC”) with crimes relating to the use of an electrified riot shield to shock and crush 13 handcuffed, non-resisting prisoners: Jeremy Wiley, 44 of Harrisonburg, the former Warden of CPCC, was charged with 13 counts of abuse of rights under color of law for using the electrified riot shield to shock and crush the 13 handcuffed, non-resisting prisoners. Gary Allen, 57 of Winnsboro, CPCC’s former Assistant Warden, William Savage, 57 of Monroe, CPCC’s former Colonel, and James Wathen, 37 of Jonesville, CPCC’s former chief of security, were charged with 13 counts of abuse of rights for their failures to intervene to stop the assaults. Chad Littleton, 45 of Harrisonburg, a former Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Deputy, was charged with one count of abuse of rights for striking a prisoner in the head and genitals. All five men were also charged with conspiring to violate the rights of the prisoners as well as falsifying reports about the incident. Allen also faces one count of witness tampering. In addition, on April 14, Carl Michael Williamson, 40 of Jonesville, a former CPCC transportation officer, pleaded guilty in a related case to one count of abuse of rights under color of law for striking one of the inmates in the head and one count of falsifying a report which covered up the abuse of the 13 prisoners. The defendants face up to ten years imprisonment on the abuse of rights and conspiracy counts, and up to twenty years imprisonment on the false report and witness tampering offenses. “The facts as alleged dishonor the men and women who put their safety on the line every day to maintain order in our prison system, and they are a disgraceful abuse of the trust that we place in them to treat people in prison with dignity and respect,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “The Department of Justice will zealously investigate and prosecute any officer—no matter their title or rank—who tarnishes the badge worn by the brave men and women of Louisiana’s law enforcement community.” “The FBI will not tolerate law enforcement officers’ criminal abuse and mistreatment of prisoners in their custody,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “We will diligently investigate allegations such as these and hold the perpetrators accountable. The FBI is grateful for its law enforcement partners and especially the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana for its work on this case.” According to court documents, on February 1, 2024, then-Warden Wiley used an electrified riot shield to shock and crush 13 men in the custody of CPCC while they were handcuffed, compliant, and subdued by pepper spray in a CPCC recreation yard. Allen, Savage, and Wathen, who were high-ranking supervisors at the facility, had the means and opportunity to stop the abuse but instead chose not to intervene. Littleton and Williamson continued the assault by also striking prisoners. All six of the men wrote false reports to cover up what happened, and Allen continued the obstructive activity by tampering with a witness. Before the assault, the 13 prisoners had been housed in “Cell 12,” a cell containing six beds, for several days. The prisoners were transported to the rec yard where the assault occurred shortly after they started a non-violent protest regarding their overcrowded living conditions. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Johnson and LaDonte Murphy with assistance from Legal Assistant Tanya Broussard. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for United States v. Jeremy Wiley et al. is 26-CR-00190, and the case number for United States v. Carl Williamson is 26-CR-00127.

680 Highway 61  North, Natchez, 601-445-5912.  www.natchezmonument.com

Natchez man killed

A 68-year-old Natchez man was killed during a crash in Jefferson County. The crash occurred at the intersection of Highway 33 and U.S. 61 around 8:30 p.m. on May 6. Jefferson County Sheriff James Bailey identified the man as Charles Patrick Fields. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by Jefferson County Coroner Ricky McDonald. Bailey said weather conditions may have played a contributing role in the crash. Heavy rain and reduced visibility were reported in the area around the time of the accident.

Schools are closed Thursday, May 7 while power crews and emergency officials work to help bring life back to some level of normalcy after Franklin County was hammered by at least one possible tornado along various severe storms Wednesday night. In early evaluations, Franklin County appeared to be the hardest hit among the counties suffering damage as a line of severe thunderstorms followed mostly Highway 84 from the Louisiana to Alabama state lines. As the storm traversed the state it weakened, causing less and less damage along the way. According to reports, a possible tornado struck Garden City, damaging homes throughout that area. Emergency Management Agency officials said multiple homes were destroyed as a result of the severe storms. Road closures and related issued forced the closure of schools in the Franklin County School District Thursday. Schools are expected to reopen at normal time on Friday. Multiple power lines were down Wednesday night and portions of Highway 98 were closed between Berrytown and Fenn's Grocery. Trees were also reported down in multiple areas of the county. Emergency personnel were hampered Wednesday night as conditions were considered too dangerous to allow them out on the roads until the storm passed. Once the "all clear" was given, crews began to deploy to various parts of the county where there were reports of damage. Crews were expected to be working the area on Thursday to assess damage and help with clean up efforts. Utility crews were also out trying to restore power. Residents are asked to remain off roads if at all possible so that emergency and utility crews can work. In addition, Franklin County EMA officials need to assess the damage quickly in order to submit reports to the state for possible assistance. Officials from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency are also expected to be in the county at some point to assess the damage.

Tornado hits

A major tornado tore through the area near Garden City and Bude in Franklin County, leaving behind widespread destruction and reports of people trapped inside damaged homes, according to emergency officials. The Franklin County Emergency Management director said multiple homes have been destroyed as severe weather moved through the area. Emergency officials said there are reports of residents trapped, but dangerous conditions are slowing response efforts. The full extent of the damage and possible injuries was not immediately known. Franklin County schools will be closed Thursday. Power outages affected more than 500 homes in Adams and Franklin counties. Trees were down in both counties.

Ferriday is expected to begin building its new municipal complex this spring and summer. The $19.5 million project will include a town hall, police station and fire station. State capital outlay funds will pay for the new complex. 

Natchez aldermen voted to buy Netlink Voice services. The internet services company has an email service that is less prone to hackers and virus threats. Aldermen met in special session today to act quickly to use the service, especially since Adams County’s computers have been down for several weeks from a ransomware attack. The county has already spent more than $260,000 in software and consulting fees to correct the damage done by the attack. Netlink is based in Flowood and has been in business since 2007, serving businesses, industry and government. 

CATAHOULA SHERIFF'S OFFICE: 100 Pine St., Harrisonburg, 318-744-5411; CATAHOULA CORRECTIONAL CENTER, 499 Old Columbia Rd., Harrisonburg, 318-744-2121. Protecting the People and Property of Our Communities. Our deputies and investigators welcome anonymous tips. Let us know if you see a crime in progress or know of ongoing criminal activity. Sheriff Toney Edwards. The sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer for the Parish and he and his staff are responsible for: investigating crimes, making arrests, enforcing traffic regulations on parish roads, serving writs, collection and distribution of court fines, tax collection, communicating with other law enforcement agencies, operating the correctional center and other duties authorized by the State of Louisiana.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581905912893

Student scholarship winners (Franklin Advocate photo)

A dozen students from Franklin County High School and the Franklin County Career and Technical Center were awarded scholarships during the Build Mississippi High School Awards Luncheon. Students recognized were Cam’ron Barnes, Tyranny Timmons, Derrion Wilson, Tristan Wallace, Tyson Windom, Omari Williams, Xavier Jackson, Riley Ednes, Zaikeyuon Cole, Luke Parons, Donovan Wilson and Chris Pernell. Wilson was also recognized as a Build Mississippi Student of the Month. --- Franklin Advocate 

Stew Anderson has been hired as the new Adams County Deputy Fire Coordinator, to the Emergency Management staff. 

MLSC (Miss-Lou Soccer Club) gears up for Fall with its "Player Placement." Players in these programs can expect: Training led by certified, experienced coaches; two practices per week focused on skill development and game understanding; league play against other clubs; and traveling tournaments for additional competition and growth. The pre-competitive program is a great starting point for players who are ready for more than rec but aren’t quite ready for full competition yet. Competitive teams are a bigger commitment and designed for players who are ready for that next step. And don’t worry, recreational soccer isn’t going anywhere. The club will continue to offer a strong rec program and will be sharing more details next month. The fall season is planned to start in mid-September. If you’ve been thinking about it or have questions, send the club a message or check out the website for more info! www.misslousoccerclub.org

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Water grades

The La. Department of Health grades the state’s water systems each year. About two thirds of the state’s water systems earn a grade of A or B. Local grades earned this year include: Vidalia A, Lake St. John A, Concordia A, Monterey B, Ferriday D, Ridgecrest F, Clayton F. The state evaluations include reviews of compliance with state and federal regulations and laws, operations and maintenance, financial stability, occurrence of secondary contaminants, infrastructure and customer satisfaction. 

Gov. Tate Reeves has scheduled a special legislative session for later this month to discuss redistricting Supreme Court districts. It’s unlikely the legislators will consider redistricting of congressional districts, state representative and state senate districts, since the session is only scheduled for two days. That means Adams County, Franklin County and Wilkinson County will remain in special gerrymandered districts that give Democrats more power than they should have. Republicans voted to put Southwest Mississippi in the grip of Democrats to placate that party and give it some more black representation, moving the core of the districts eastwards to I-55.

Telapex, Inc., the parent company of C Spire and Franklin Telephone Company,  has donated a former operations center building in Meadville to the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance, marking a significant investment in the future of Franklin County and the surrounding region. The donated building will serve as a multi-purpose asset supporting economic development and community initiatives across southwest Mississippi. Scenic Rivers Development Alliance focuses on advancing economic opportunities and recreational development across five counties in the region, including Franklin County. 

Bennie Thompson

Rep. Bennie Thompson said on CNN that he’s willing to vote again the shut down the government, including stopping the paychecks of federal employees, “to preserve democracy.” He also said the financial pain of the employees was “necessary” and part of the process. Congressmen continue to get their pay during a shutdown when other federal employees do not. 

The Woodville-Wilkinson County Main Street Association has received a $414,000 state grant to preserve the Odd Fellows Building on Main Street. The building was constructed in 1931 and needs a new roof, improved electrical wiring and structural repairs.

The Natchez Festival of Music presents Legends in Time: 100 Years of Iconic Jazz celebrates Miles Davis and John Coltrane’s revolutionary music. From smoky ballads to electrifying improvisations, this concert honors their artistry that redefined American music. Performed by world-class musicians Sam Buton, David Pellow and Larry Panella, it’s a bold, soulful, and mesmerizing journey through jazz history. Date: Thursday, May 7, 7:00 p.m. at the Father David O’Conner Family Life Center, 613 Main St., Natchez. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/legends-in-time-100-years-of-iconic-tickets-1740175605079?aff=oddtdtcreator

Lee Best

Natchez Police Chief Lee Best said he has brought on nine certified law enforcement personnel to help fill vacancies. That should bring the number of street cops on a shift from 2-3 to 4. Best has the city divided into six patrol beats. Eventually, each patrol beat should have one officer per shift plus a supervisor for guidance over the six beats. He has been meeting with law enforcement leaders around the state to get more ideas to improve policing in Natchez. He has also started reporting local crime and arrest statistics to the national incidence based reporting system. The police department received and responded to over 1000 calls in the last 30 days, making 88 felony and misdemeanor arrests.   

Donald Wayne Myers, president of the Catahoula Parish Police Jury issued a statement about trash pick-up problems. He said, "I am informing all residents that I have been in touch with Hometown Waste. I am aware that there have been some issues with trash collection, and I apologize for the inconvenience. Hometown Waste has assured me that they will be back on schedule starting next week. Although collections did take place today, it appears that some areas were missed. I understand that this situation is frustrating, and I want to assure you that we are working to resolve the issue. Please bear with us as we navigate this situation together. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your trash collection, please do not hesitate to contact me." 

The Mississippi Highway Patrol stopped Audrea Pernell, 37, of Natchez, for speeding in Adams County. In addition to no insurance, suspended license, DUI and speeding, she had drugs in the car and so she was charged with possession as well as felony child endangerment, since she had a child in the car. She’s being held in jail pending a bond hearing. 

Bids awarded

Woodville aldermen met to consider town business. They accepted a low bid of $7815 by Wilk-Amite Heating and Cooling to purchase and install a new air conditioning system in town hall. They agreed with Police Chief Lemuel Rutledge to hire private security for the fall homecoming parade. The Woodville Police Department only has three employees, including the Chief, and town leaders want to make sure there’s plenty of security for the event. Alderman also gave a $58,000 award to KC’s Lawn Care to maintain the city cemeteries for a year. KC’s was the only bidder. The price is the same as last year for the service. The municipal building roof is now leaking since some shingles have blown away. The town has not heard back from its insurance company as yet, but repairs will have to be made soon.   

Alvin Jackson Jr. was charged with the August 2022 murder of Derrick Wells in Wilkinson County. Jackson allegedly shot and killed Wells as Wells and three friends were riding in car. Jackson was also charged with aggravated assault for attempting to kill the three friends of Wells. During a two day trial in Wilkinson County, the jury heard evidence from both the prosecution and defense. Two of the three friends refused to testify, fearing retaliation. The jury found Jackson not guilty of murder. And after the two victims refused to testify, Judge Carmen Drake dismissed the aggravated assault charges.   

Former Woodville town employee Benjamin Davis died in March. When Woodville aldermen met in April, they passed a resolution and issued a proclamation to honor Davis for his 25 years of dedicated service to the town and its residents. 

Volunteers needed

The Harrisonburg Volunteer Fire Department will hold a community meeting on Tuesday, May 5th at 6:00 PM at Town Hall.  The meeting is open to the public. Ideas are needed to increase community involvement, recruit more volunteers, and improve overall organization.  A more active department not only helps in working towards a better fire rating, which can lower homeowners’ insurance, and ensures there are dependable people ready to keep the community safe.

Village Green Apartments in Natchez being converted to low income apartments. Sign of the times. To qualify for low income housing incentives , the owner will be rehabbing the apartments and upgrading the facility. With the low income prameters, only poor people will be allowed to live there because of the federal tax credits the landlord will receive.   

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office  announced that Joseph Edwards, one of Adams County’s Most Wanted, has been successfully apprehended. Edwards was wanted in Adams County for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, a serious violation under Mississippi law. He was taken into custody earlier today during a traffic stop in Vidalia, Louisiana, by the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office. 

Andy Lewis

Andy Lewis of the Woodville Republican continues to publish local news. His paper is celebrating 202 years of continuous service to Wilkinson County. The paper is one of the best small town papers in Mississippi and Louisiana. The April 23 edition was appropriately labeled Volume 202, Number 1. 

Louisiana has Early Voting scheduled for May 2-9, but Republicans will delay their congressional primaries. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that legislators cannot district or redistrict by race. They must use other factors such as geography, city parish boundaries or economic regions to draw district lines. That could make Louisiana’s current district lines invalid and illegal. The current and revised ballot contains primary voting for the US Senate as well as five amendments. Adams County’s racially drawn supervisor districts are illegal. The Supreme Court ruled officials can’t use race as a determinant for districting. It means the district lines should be drawn on population centers, economic regions and geography. Adams County’s supervisor district lines were gerrymandered years ago to give whites safe seats in Districts 1 and 2 and blacks safe seats in District 3 and 4 and District 5 to go either way. The obscene lines were slightly twiddled once again in 2022 to reaffirm the status quo. Now those corrupt district lines should be redone, because they were almost solely done to protect race based districts.

Ransomware attack

Adams County’s computer system was attacked by ransomware, forcing a weeklong shutdown of nearly all the county’s computers except for the sheriff’s office. Supervisors had to spend more than $250,000 on software and security upgrades this week to get back online.   

Adams deputies arrested Nena R. Brown, 44, of Pearl, for assaulting a law enforcement officer, a felony. She remains in jail. 

Natchez police said a four-year-old wandered into a pool and drowned at a home on Creek Street Wednesday. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and the child was taken to Merit Health, but the doctors and nurses could not save the child.

The Village of Ridgecrest is talking about eliminating its government and rolling its functions into the police jury. The village has been suffering financial losses for years and is unable to run its water-sewer system profitably because it has so few customers. The village is so small and has such puny revenues, it cannot maintain the roads and ditches as it should. If Ridgecrest government ceased to exist, then the police jury would be responsible for providing governmental services to the residents. Both Ridgecrest voters and the police jury would have to approve the dissolution, and the jury would assume all municipal debts.   

Derelict properties

Natchez aldermen adjudicated nine properties for blight, lack of care and poor maintenance. The city has the option of cleaning those properties and charging clean up fees to the owners or going to court to assess penalties. While the city has no budget for cleanup, the adjudication is largely ceremonial and without consequence. Many of the properties adjudicated is recent years are abandoned by heirs. Others are owned by persons without the money or inclination to clean up the sites. The city has been adjudicating property for more a decade, affecting scores of properties. A recent survey by Apex, Inc, showed Natchez has more than 900 properties affected by urban blight, lack of care and are in a partial or fully deteriorated state. In many rust belt cities across the U.S, communities end up bulldozing the structures after waiting years for owners to take action. 

The Concordia Parish Police Jury will purchase a water plant harvester for $17,000 to rid bodies of water of excessive vegetation. Unfortunately, the harvesters have very limited success, and sometimes fail completely to rid ponds, bayous, and lakes of excessive plant growth. The machines also need constant maintenance and are subject to breakdowns. Additionally, the growing season in the South is so long, from February to November, a harvester may rid a pond of a small amount of weeds, but the weeds grow back quickly. The harvesters are best used in smaller ponds rather than larger bodies of water. 

Natchez City Planner Mingo Tingle is resigning to take a better paying position with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. 

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten has been elected president of the Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association. He'll be sworn in July 28 in Orlando.

Argument escalates

The aldermen and citizens at this week’s aldermen’s meeting went from quiet discussion to argument to yelling at each other when the subject of pickleball came up. Mayor Gibson tried unsuccessfully to keep order by advising those to speak when they had the floor. Recreation Director Ryan Porter had suggested converting a few tennis courts to pickleball, because pickleball is growing as a sport and tennis is declining. However, the aldermen voted 4-2 to keep the courts as they are now, which will likely move some of the pickleball players to Vidalia as Natchez’s current pickleball courts are often filled with players. Alderwoman Felicia Irving harassed and tried to bully Ryan Porter during a heated verbal exchange between those attending. Porter kept his cool and did not respond in kind, other than to tell the board he wanted to quit and offered two week’s notice. Mayor Gibson tried to keep order during the meeting, but Irving’s outbursts encouraged more antagonism and angry comments from the aldermen and those in the audience. Irving’s normal pattern of behavior is to speak out or yell when she doesn’t have the floor, speak about topics not on the agenda, and make snide remarks, trying to interrupt the meeting and keep others from speaking. She often makes racist accusations, when race isn’t even an issue. 

The Natchez police department responded to over 1000 calls in the past month, making 84 arrests, including two felony arrests.   

A fishing tournament to benefit Fred Mahaffey will take place on Saturday, May 9 at Lake Okhissa. The grandfather of Bryce White’s wife, Mahaffey is working to cover expenses related to cancer treatments. The event will begin at the north ramp of the lake. Blast off will be at safe light, and weigh-in will begin at 2 p.m. There is a five-fish limit and a 1-over slot per boat. Cost is $65 per person, and anglers can fish as a team or individually. First, second third and Big Bass payouts will take place. Entry fees can be paid through PayPal at prestonwalters@me.com or through Venmo@prestonwalters. For more information, contact Preston Walters at 601-730-2094.

Zachary Jackson Jr. of Natchez will likely be indicted by a grand jury and face trial for murder. It is unlikely that he will be granted bond. Jackson is accused of killing his mom, Lana Bradley. He waived his rights to a preliminary hearing.  

Child safety program

As the 2025-2026 school year comes to an end, Sheriff David Hedrick would like to thank the Concordia Parish School Board and Delta Charter School's board members, administrators, teachers, support staff and students for the continued opportunity to actively engage with students and faculty through safety presentations and educational programs each school year. Sheriff Hedrick also thanks Delta Bank for continuing to sponsor school programs. Delta Bank staff shows up at each presentation and are always there to help with anything we need. This school year CPSO presented information to junior high and high school students that taught them about the dangers of online solicitation of minors and the increase of sextortion cases and how to avoid becoming a victim. This presentation also taught general safety protocols to follow online. CPSO invited NextSTEP of Central Louisiana to speak to junior high and high school students about the signs of teen dating violence and learning best practices for leaving or helping a friend leave a violent relationship. CPSO presented MBF Child Safety Matters to students in Kingergarten-5th grades. This program teaches body safety, how to identify safe adults, how to report abuse, and how to , Sheriff David Hedrick and his staff strive to find structured programs that focus on providing information that will enable students to make informed choices and keep them safe. Our goal is to build positive relationships with students and faculty, and to provide information about available resources in Concordia Parish and beyond.

A suspect wanted on kidnapping and aggravated assault charges in Louisiana was captured Saturday in Bude. According to Franklin County Sheriff Tom Tindle, his department was notified that Emmanuel James McGhee, 35, was wanted in Alexandria, La. Warrants charging him with kidnapping and aggravated assault had been issued, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations alerted Tindle that the suspect could be in the area. “Apparently, he had some connections to Franklin County and might have family living here,” Tindle said. Sgt. Taylor McMinn and Deputies Marie Clanton, Garrett Touchstone and Joel Touchstone saw a vehicle fitting the description of the one driven by McGhee in the Bude area on Saturday. They were able to take him into custody without incident. MBI agents were on scene as well. According to Tindle, the alleged female victim was with McGhee, but she was not speaking to local law enforcement. As of press time, McGhee was awaiting extradition to Louisiana. Tindle said he was facing no local charges but was simply taken into custody on behalf of Alexandria officials.

Crews from Key Construction in Madison began the paving project through downtown Meadville as part of the resurfacing project of Highway 184, with crews paving the roadway from Highway 98 all the to Five Star. The paving project is tied to the rebuilding of the bridge on Highway 98 over the Homochitto River, which Key Construction is also working on. Crews began milling road in downtown Monday and will work down to Five Star before coming back up the road to Highway 98 before actual paving starts. Officials could not provide a timetable on when the project may be finished.

Fewer jobs

As state government relies on the federal government for some of its statistical data, and the feds shutdown in the fall affected data collection, the Miss. Department of Employment Security got behind in issuing its employment reports. Over the course of several months, Adams County lost many part time and some full time jobs. Much of the gains recorded post pandemic have now been lost and the county now reports having just 9,101 jobs. The jobless rate has risen to 6 percent, the highest in three years. Concordia Parish has 5,787 workers with jobs, a small increase from a year ago when 5,742 people had jobs, an increase of 45 jobs. The unemployment rate is 6.6%. In Catahoula Parish, 3,235 people have work, as compared to 3,171 workers with jobs a year ago, an increase of 64 jobs. The current jobless rate is 5.3%.

Recent Catahoula Sheriff's Office felony arrests include: James B. Butts, 43, Harrisonburg, unauthorized entry to a dwelling, bond set at $50,000; Christopher Dodson, 39, Ferriday, possession of Schedule II drugs, driving offenses, bond set at $5,145; Emmerie K. Bird, 18, Jena, second degree cruelty to juveniles, bond set at $3,500.

Adams deputies arrested Katelon Briner, 30, of Natchez, for abandonment of a child under six, a felony, and DUI. Her bond was set at $1750. In a separate arrest, Adams deputies charged LaJessica Washington, 25, of Natchez, with grand larceny, with a value of the goods stolen between $1000 and $5000. She was arrested in March 2025 for armed robbery and aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon. She was allowed to bond out.

Rachel Carter, Elizabeth Greer, Liz Dantone

The Downtown Natchez Alliance (DNA) announces the return of Downtown Unlocked, its annual event, this Saturday, May 2, 2026, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at 326 Main Street in downtown Natchez. This free public event includes a brief award ceremony at 9:00 a.m. honoring DNA’s “Partners in Progress,” followed by a keynote presentation by Dr. Rachael Carter of the Mississippi State University Extension Service, who will share current retail market data and insights on downtown business opportunities. At 10:30 a.m., the popular Possibilities Tours will begin. The event also features the popular "Possibility Tours" which includes inside views of several available downtown properties, along with information booths designed to connect attendees with the tools, resources, and people who can help them take the next step in investing in downtown Natchez. Downtown Unlocked reflects DNA’s ongoing mission to bring new life to downtown by connecting people and businesses with available spaces. By bringing together residents, entrepreneurs, investors, property owners, and community partners, the event encourages turning ideas into action. “Every vacant building represents opportunity, and every successful downtown begins when someone decides to take that first step,” said Elizabeth Greer, president of the DNA Board of Directors. “Downtown Unlocked is where ideas meet action, and where our community can come together to imagine what’s next for downtown Natchez.” A key feature of the event is the Downtown Doorway, DNA’s real estate finder platform designed to make it easier to search for commercial and residential properties downtown. “With this simple tool, anyone can help share what’s available downtown with just one link,” said Liz Dantone, DNA board member and event chair. The Downtown Doorway connects tenants, buyers, and investors with available spaces and is offered at no charge to local realtors, as well as for sale or lease by owner. 

Rep. Angela Cockerham was able to secure a legislative appropriation of $500,000 so that Centreville could buy a new fire truck. Mayor Demetria Hudson thanked Cockerham for the funding and said the new fire truck will give the town the ability to put two fire trucks on the road in case of an emergency. 

A male black bear was killed in a collision with a vehicle on US Highway 61 N. near Woodville and the Piney Creek Bridge earlier this month. In October 2025, a 379-pound male bear was killed on Highway 61 just north of Cherryfield Road.

Audit finds problems

A CPA audit finds $18,000 misappropriated from the Concordia Council on Aging. The discrepancy has been turned over for further investigation and prosecution to D.A. Brad Burget. Tywanna Carter Crockett, director of the agency, is no longer employed. Her mileage reimbursements were allegedly fraudulent and unsubstantiated, the in-house bookkeeping and accounting was a mess. The CPA could not issue a firm opinion as to whether other monies were spent and documented appropriately. The audit revealed that Crockett and her directors did not have in place the necessary accounting controls to prevent misspending, misappropriation and mismanagement of funds.

The FBI came to the Catahoula Correctional Center on April 24. One agent was working an open investigation and wanted to see three specific areas of the prison. She, along with the federal prosecutor, and two other agents arrived as scheduled to inspect the facility. Sheriff Edwards was transparent and cooperative in granting them access to the facility. The sheriff signed consent forms for the feds to see requested areas. They came into the prison and were escorted by Edwards and staff to throughout the facility. Edwards and administrative staff were able to answer all questions and encouraged them to fully inspect the areas and take pictures and videos. No documents were served on any employee and no one was arrested.

A home caught fire at 85 Old Meadow Rd. on Adams County on April 24. According to the homeowner, he was notified of the fire by his sister, who had been contacted by a neighbor reporting that the home was on fire. The homeowner advised that upon his arrival, the residence was fully engulfed and ultimately burned to the ground. At this time, the cause of the fire is unknown. No injuries have been reported in connection with this incident.

Mihael L. Goods

On April 24, at approximately 6:35 a.m., deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Jones Lumber and Sawmill located at 33 Vaughn Drive in reference to an armed robbery and vehicle burglary. Upon arrival, deputies learned that an unknown suspect, dressed in all black and wearing a ski mask, had burglarized a vehicle by breaking a window and stealing a firearm. Shortly after, the suspect approached an employee and robbed him at what appeared to be gunpoint, taking a wallet containing personal identification and approximately $270 in cash. The suspect then fled the scene on foot. Surveillance footage confirmed the sequence of events, showing the suspect burglarizing the vehicle before immediately committing the armed robbery. At approximately 7:27 a.m., Sheriff Travis Patten was notified of the incident, and the suspect description was quickly disseminated to surrounding law enforcement agencies. At approximately 9:26 a.m., Sheriff Patten observed an individual walking on State Street near the Adams County Sheriff’s Office who matched the suspect’s description. Upon making contact, the individual exhibited suspicious behavior, including keeping both hands in his pockets and appearing increasingly nervous. As deputies arrived on scene, the suspect attempted to flee. Sheriff Patten immediately engaged the suspect, taking him into custody after a brief struggle. During the encounter, the suspect actively resisted and attempted to retrieve an object from his pocket. After being secured, the suspect initially stated that he had discarded a firearm in nearby bushes. However, while being escorted across the street, a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 .380 fell from his person. The firearm, along with additional stolen property, was recovered on scene by Major Ruston Cavin. The suspect was identified as Michael Goods, 35, of Natchez. A review of the suspect’s criminal history revealed multiple prior felony and misdemeanor offenses, including: Aggravated Burglary (Felony) – Guilty plea, Felon in Possession of a Handgun (Felony) – Guilty plea, Evading Arrest (Multiple Offenses), Unlawful Carrying/Possession of a Weapon, Assault Causing Bodily Injury. Additionally, Goods is currently wanted out of Houston, Texas (Harris County Sheriff’s Office) for Assault, with confirmation that the warrant remains active but they will only extradite him within the state of Texas. Michael Goods has now been charged with: Armed Robbery, Burglary, Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon. Bond has been set at $200,000.

A 62-year-old man was killed in an Adams County crash that also injured a 77-year-old woman and a 6-year-old child. At about 3:50 p.m. Wednesday, a 2024 Nissan Sentra was traveling west on Highway 84 when it collided with a 2009 Nissan Versa that was traveling north on Highway 61, according to Mississippi Highway Patrol officials. MHP said Charles E. Buie, of Fayette, who was a passenger in the Versa, was pronounced dead at the scene. Virginia Morgan and the 6-year-old child were taken to a hospital where they were treated for injuries. MHP is investigating the cause of the crash.

Adams deputies arrested Amilynn Arceneaux, 38, of Natchez, for grand larceny, a felony, and false pretense.

Vidalia audit

The Town of Vidalia has submitted its 2025 Silas Simmons audit to the Legislative Auditor. There were no negative findings. Bookkeeping and accounting practices met or exceeded federal and state law and prescribed accounting guidelines. The town benefits greatly from its hydro revenues. Currently it has $37 million in cash, of which $33 million is from the hydro plant. In governmental activities, the town reported $39.2 million in revenues and $24.5 million in expenses, for a large surplus of $14.7 million. And in its business type activities, which include water, gas, sewer, and electric, the town had $19.6 million in revenues and $15.3 million in expenses, for another surplus of $4.3 million. The town currently carries $2.7 million in debt, which is very marginal, considering the size of its resources, revenues and expenditures. The CPA found no problems whatsoever in the bookkeeping and accounting of the town. Even the town’s budgeting month-by-month and year-to-year was accurate and complete, showing the competency of the in-house staff.

Kristina Carter of Natchez has been selected as the Mississippi Parent of the Year for her dedication to the public schools and schoolchildren.   

Southern Tire Mart has over 340 locations in the United States, with 13 in Louisiana and 13 in Mississippi. It plans to build a new service center in Vidalia across from Walmart on a six acre parcel. The center will offer retail, commercial, auto and big truck vehicle repairs, as well as tire sales and service. 

Gospel singing

Nashville’s MaHarrey and Hinson families headline free Joe Cook Memorial Sing April 25 at 6 p.m. at Harrisonburg High School, offering an evening of Southern gospel music and fellowship. Admission to the event is free, though donations will be accepted. Snacks and drinks will also be available during the evening. For more information about the event, contact Kim Cook at 318-403-1544 or Anita Cook at 318-403-1983.

Syrah Technologies said it plans to expand its workforce in Vidalia from 105 to 200 workers. The plant takes natural graphite mined in Mozambique and fashions it into anode precursor material to be used in lithium automobile batteries. The company believes it has a good future, because it is one of the few companies outside of China that both mines and fabricates natural graphite successfully. Despite the promise, the company has had difficulties and challenges. Syrah and Tesla have been involved in a several year dispute, with Tesla claiming Syrah hasn’t kept its schedule of production, nor is the quality of the processed graphite delivered to Tesla acceptable. Both companies have been negotiating and working together to try to solve the problem. Syrah is an Australian company and in 2025, it had revenues of $50 million but losses of $150 million. It has long term debt of $198 million. And stockholders have invested $434 million in The company. While Syrah officials are optimistic about a turnaround by 2028, customer receipts fell from $82 million in 2023 to $42 million in 2025. Syrah Technologies shares sell for 11 cents a share.   

Adams County supervisors have appointed attorney Paul Sullivan to serve as public defender for justice court.

Clean Up Day and Shop the Block

Bude may be the place to be on Saturday, April 25, if you’re civic minded while wanting to take advantage of various deals. That’s because the area will be busy with a flurry of activity during the Annual Bude Clean Up Day and the Annual Shop the Block event The Town of Bude and Bude Community Foundation are teaming up once again to host the Fourth Annual Earth Day Clean Up Day on Saturday. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. with two locations this year to drop off trash and items. Drop off points will be the Bude Community Foundation Center, located at 270 Main Street N. in Bude, and Bude City Hall, located at Railroad Avenue in Bude. The event is also being sponsored by Franklin County Solid Waste. All Bude residents who schedule a pick up and have items removed will receive a gift card and will be eligible for a drawing for one grand prize of $500. The annual event is hosted in an effort to clean up the Town of Bude of old appliances, tires and general trash and litter. Everyone is encouraged to pick up and clean their area during the day. Volunteers are also welcome. For more information, call the Bude Community Foundation at 601-384-2008. The Annual Bude Shop the Block event will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday. The event will take place in the lot next to the Bude Thrift Store, which will also be open during the same time period. There will be crafts and food booths available, and vendors will be set up to allow local shopping on Main Street. There is no booth fee required. For more information or to reserve a booth space, contact Brother Wes Arnold at 318-230-0626

The Concordia Sheriff's Office "Love The Boot" event kicked off April 21. Volunteers and SO employees will continue to pick up trash in the parish through the week.

An April 19 accident in Lincoln County took the life of a Meadville man. At approximately 8:09 a.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a crash on Highway 583 in Lincoln County. A 2014 Nissan Maxima driven by 44-year-old Randall Hunt of Meadville was traveling south on Highway 583 when the vehicle ran off the left side of the highway, overturned and collided with a tree. Hunt received fatal injuries from the crash. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

Woodville Baptist Church will hold its Reignite 2026 Revival, Sunday, April 26-Wednesday, April 29. Sunday services are at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday services at 7 p.m. The revival wil feature Rev. Bill Britt and Rev. John Newman. A nursery will be provided.

Mayor Dasn Gibson and Jimmy Smith

Natchez developer Jimmy Smith said today his Tracetown Shopping Center project will include tenants Bed, Bath and Beyond, Shoe Dept, Ulta, TJ Maxx, a restaurant, beauty shop and ice cream shop. It will take about 12 months to build out the store space. Smith is working with his partners, Noon Real Estate, of Chattanooga, Tenn.

Adams County supervisors debated Ricky Gray and Angela Hutchins’ travel to Hawaii at this week’s supervisors’ meeting. Gray at first denied they were going, but then Hutchins admitted they were going. Supervisor Kevin Wilson called the traveling duo dishonest. Harsh words were exchanged. No motion was made to rescind the travel, as Warren Gaines was in favor of the trip. And without his vote to rescind, the motion to cut off the trip would fail.

Two large grass fires broke out in Franklin County last week. On April 14, a fire on the north side of Highway 84 on the westbound side resulted in roughly eight spot fires between the Bude and Meadville exits. It was believed that a vehicle pulling a trailer had a chain dragging that started the fires along the road. Bude and Meadville VFDs were called to the scene and were able to put out all but two locations before those two spots got into the woods. The fire departments were unable to reach the areas in the woods, so the Mississippi Forestry Commission came out to assist, using a dozier to plow a lane around the two areas before the fire was contained and under control. Another fire on River Road was battled over the weekend. A tree knocked down a power line and sparks ignited the blaze.

April Alexander

Natchez police arrested April Alexander, 27, of Natchez, for attempted second degree murder, after she threatened to kill her infant son. Alexander posted a photo on social media showing her infant under the wheel of a car with Alexander’s foot on the baby’s stomach. She also communicated her threats to the father of the child. The child has been placed with the state for protection. Police also arrested two of Alexander’s friends for trying to hide her from authorities. Dandridge Coats, 33, and Jessica Griffin, 22, were charged with hindering prosecution and rendering criminal assistance. Alexander, Coats and Griffin are currently in jail, pending bond hearings.

Jefferson County deputies responded quickly to a shooting in Lorman on April 3 that critically wounded a man. Deputies promptly arrested Cornelious Carr, 42, for aggravated assault. Deputies were then surprised they received no emergency calls when five people were shot and wounded, three of whom were critically injured, at a dogfight in Union Church, Saturday night, April 18. The wounded were treated at Franklin County Hospital and Merit Health. Deputies found out about the shooting Sunday morning and started investigating to find the assailants.

Vidalia had a major leak on one of its water wells on the riverfront on April 20. The repair took a few hours.  And the town was able to maintain service during the leak. 

Jimmy Smith

Tracetown Shopping Center developer Jimmy Smith is expected to announce new businesses have agreed to locate in his shopping center. Smith and Mayor Dan Gibson will hold a news conference Tuesday, April 21, at 1 p.m. at Tracetown with details. The public is invited.

The last leg of the 87th Annual Reunion of the Descendants of the Jersey Settlers takes place from April 24-April 26, with a full itinerary of events from genealogy workshops to L\luncheons at Magnolia Hall. The 87th Annual Reunion promises a meaningful weekend of fellowship and celebration, honoring the legacy of the Jersey Settlers while creating new memories for generations to come. The Descendants of the Jersey Settlers of Adams County, Mississippi, is a non-profit organization with no dues or fees for membership, supported entirely by contributions and donations. Membership is extended to all descendants of the Jersey Settlers and their families and friends. There are four main purposes of the organization: Perpetuate the memory of our ancestors who were part of the Jersey Settlement at Kingston; to maintain the burial grounds of the original settlers in the Kingston area; to encourage historical and genealogical research; and to meet annually to renew our ties with descendants and friends of the Jersey Settlers. For media inquiries, itinerary, to join, or for additional information or questions, please contact Kaelin Daye Russell, the Vice President of Publicity, at kaelindaye@gmail.com.

Adams deputies arrested Brandon O’Neal, 34, of Natchez, for domestic assault. He remains in jail. O’Neal is a Natchez police officer and has been placed on administrative leave because of the charge. In a separate incident, Adams deputies arrested Johnny Seals, 40, of Natchez, for grand larceny of property worth $1000-$5000. He remains in jail. In August, he was arrested for distributing a controlled substance and released on bond.

Water pressure

Natchez Water Works continues to additional checks of water pressure around town after it received reports of high water pressure from customers. Some customers said they had leaks, pipe failures and appliances damaged from the high pressure. The utility says its spot checks have revealed no system problems that would cause leaks or blowouts. The utility said its engineering consultants will be in town next week to do additional monitoring. Older water pressure regulators often fail. And a spike in pressure could cause damage if your regulator is not working. Homeowners can buy a pressure gauge at the local hardware store and screw it into an outside faucet to check pressure. Pressure should be under 80 psi (pounds per square inch.)  Most homes and businesses have their regulators located on the customer side of the meter, in a basement or crawlspace or next to the water heater itself. In some communities, the regulators are actually buried in ground next to the water meter or closer to the house. Since it is possible that a water regulator can fail after only 8 to 10 years of use, locals should contact a plumber if they are unsure about the safety of their systems.   

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce the successful apprehension of wanted fugitive Roosevelt Johnson Jr., who was taken into custody without incident on April 17, 2026. Johnson was wanted in connection with serious felony charges, including Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Shooting into a Motor Vehicle, stemming from a violent incident that occurred earlier this month in Adams County. Through the assistance of a credible tip from the public, deputies were able to quickly identify the suspect’s location on King Circle in Natchez, Mississippi. Acting on that information, patrol deputies and members of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group mobilized immediately, coordinated their response, and executed a swift and controlled approach. Upon arrival, deputies located Johnson hiding inside an abandoned vehicle, where he was safely taken into custody without incident. 

Sparklight donated $2,500 to Morgantown Elementary School in Natchez to enhance the school’s science, technology, engineering and math programs. The company’s Dream Bigger grants are given to schools in its 24-state service area. Congratulations and best wishes to all the kids and teachers.   

Lower millage

Vidalia aldermen set their millage at 3.2 mills, the lowest rate in the region. Vidalia and Concordia Parish have some of the lowest millage rates in the state.   

The Mississippi Department of Employment Security reported that January employment in Adams County dropped to 9,059 workers, a huge decline from December. The jobless rate rose to 5.6 percent.

Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said, "The notice to proceed for the final phase of the Morgantown Road project is set for April 22, with work expected to begin shortly thereafter. This long-anticipated project represents another step toward improving infrastructure and connectivity for our community. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we work to get it done right."   

Vidalia aldermen heard from one citizen who supports the feeding of the riverfront’s feral cats by volunteers. Supporters say they are helping the cats by feeding them, offering adoptions and occasionally neutering some of the animals. The city has been reluctant to use its authority to stop the feeding or clean up the dirty areas. Aldermen are afraid the “cat vote” will come out against them, if the town cleans up its feral cat problem.   

Ferriday bingo

The Ferriday Town Council plans to authorize bingo as part of its downtown entertainment district.  The Council wantsto build more traffic into downtown for revitalization.

Natchez aldermen met April 14 and put a hold on converting some tennis courts to pickleball courts at Duncan Park. Aldermen originally gave their tentative approval to the idea of doing more pickleball, since the sport has become more popular than tennis. Aldermen have now asked rec director Ryan Porter to double check with high school tennis teams to make sure the change would not degrade their ability to host tennis tournaments. Porter has said that the growth of pickleball requires more courts and would be a best use of the space. The local pickleball association has even pledged to pay some of the costs of conversion. 

Adams deputies arrested James Munroe, 68, of Natchez, for felony malicious mischief, with damages between $1000 and $5000. He is currently being held in jail.

Natchez aldermen appointed Jimmy Miller to a vacancy on the Natchez Preservation Commission. 

Adams deputies arrested Jayden C . Branning, 18, of Ruth, Mississippi, for two counts of taking away a motor vehicle, a felony. His bond was set at $50,000. 

Greg Brooking and staff

Natchez golf course manager Greg Brooking asked aldermen to raise green fees by $1. He wanted golf cart fees to increase by $5. Brooking also believes the new clubhouse should rent for $500 an event instead of $250, since it has been remodeled. Aldermen agreed and passed a motion to adopt his recommendations. Brooking said the Miss. Golf Association is sponsoring its state championship tournament in Natchez the weekend of April 17-19. 

Natchez aldermen met April 14 and put a hold on converting some tennis courts to pickleball courts at Duncan Park. Aldermen originally gave their tentative approval to the idea of doing more pickleball, since the sport has become more popular than tennis. Aldermen have now asked rec director Ryan Porter to double check with high school tennis teams to make sure the change would not degrade their ability to host tennis tournaments. Porter has said that the growth of pickleball requires more courts and would be a best use of the space. The local pickleball association has even pledged to pay some of the costs of conversion.   

Alderman Billie Joe Frazier raised the issue as to why Hope Enterprises keeps getting the award of the city bids. Both the mayor and city clerk went over the sealed bid process and said they are soliciting as many contractors as possible. But just a few actually submit bids. Hope keeps submitting the lowest bids, so it keeps getting awards.

Jerome Timmons

Jerome Timmons was sworn in yesterday as the Natchez Police Department’s Commander of Patrol. He joins Shane Daughtery and Felesha Fleming as top cops under Chief Lee Best.

On April 13, a 911 call reported a fire in the area of 35 Shieldsboro Road in Natchez. Emergency personnel observed an active fire involving debris and materials in an open area near the reported location. Natchez firefighters worked to contain and extinguish multiple burning areas, which were producing heavy smoke and visible flames and required coordinated efforts to bring it under control and prevent further spread. There were no reported injuries.

Wilkinson County has been added to the list of counties that can receive public assistance grants to cities and counties that suffered damages during the January ice storm. The FEMA grants pay for debris removal and repair to public facilities. In addition to Wilkinson, towns and counties in Adams, Jefferson and Claiborne counties are included. But Franklin and Amite are not included. 38 counties are included in the update.

Natchez fire

On April 12, at approximately 8:17 p.m., Natchez firemen went to a residential structure fire at 112 Mimosa Drive in Natchez. Deputies arrived on scene at approximately 8:24 p.m. Emergency personnel observed smoke coming from the rear portion of the residence. Fire units arrived. According to initial reports, the fire appeared to have originated in the back area of the home. Firefighters worked to contain the damage, which was primarily limited to one section of the residence. The interior sustained visible fire, smoke, and heat damage, particularly in the living area and adjoining portions of the home. Utility companies, including Entergy and Atmos Energy, responded to the scene to assist with securing the residence and ensuring there were no additional hazards. One individual was transported by AMR to a local hospital for evaluation due to the effects of smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time.   

Adams deputies arrested Christopher P. Surrena, 42, of Natchez, for aggravated domestic assault for beating his wife. He remains in jail. In 2017, deputies arrested him for shooting at his wife and beating her with a baseball bat, breaking her arm.

Vidalia Police Chief Joey Merrill said one of his officers, Daniel Lloyd, submitted his resignation immediately after an auto accident. Lloyd was arrested by La. State Police for DUI at the scene of the accident.

Volunteers have organized a Autism Awareness and Acceptance Walk for Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m. on the Natchez Bluff.

Leah Hunter

The Downtown Natchez Alliance (DNA) announces a leadership change as Executive Director Leah Hunter resigns as of April 9, after one year on the job. The DNA has not announced her replacement. DNA officers are: President, Elizabeth Greer; Vice President, T.J. Baggett; Treasurer, Kassie Dollar; and Secretary, Lori Alles.

Adams deputies are looking for now Roosevelt Johnson, 19, to turn himself in. Deputies say he took part in a shoting in Broadnmoor subdivision on Friday, April, Johnson currently has active warrants for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and shooting into a motor vehicle. Johnson is considered armed and dangerous

On April 9, at approximately 3:00 PM, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting shots fired in the area of MLK Street and Broadmoor Drive, near Broadmoor Grocery. Initial reports indicated that a Black male suspect wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans discharged multiple rounds while traveling through the area. Witness information suggested the suspect fled on foot before entering a vehicle and leaving the scene, possibly accompanied by another individual. During the course of the incident, it was reported that one individual may have been struck by gunfire. That individual was transported to a local hospital by a private vehicle prior to law enforcement arrival. Deputies and assisting agencies quickly coordinated a response, locating and stopping a vehicle matching the description provided. Through investigative efforts, two suspects have been taken into custody in connection with this incident. Preliminary information indicates multiple firearms may have been involved. Several weapons have been recovered, and further forensic analysis is underway. At this time, this remains an active and ongoing investigation. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence, conduct interviews, and determine the full sequence of events, including the roles of all individuals involved.

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