Local News - Miss-Lou Magazine

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

On Nov. 3, in Franklin County, in the Chancery Court District 4 Place 3 race, incumbent Debbra K. “Debbie” Halford is facing challenger Ashunda Hampton. In the race for School Board District 5, incumbent Kristen A. Temple is facing Lindsay Smith Priest.

The Nov. 3 election features heated contests for U.S. Senate and House seats. Miss. US Senate: Cindy Hyde Smith, Scott Colom; Miss. US Congress 2^nd Dist: Bennie Thompson, Ron Eller; La. US Senate: Julia Letlow, Jamie Davis; La. US Congress 5^th Dist: Stewart Cathey Jr., Misti Cordell, Oscar Dantzler, Michael Echols, Gabe Firment, Austin Magee, Don McKay, Patricia Moore, Antonio Wilson

Adams deputies arrested Clarence Wilson, 51, of Roxie, for burglary and damage to property. Bond was set at $250,000. In a separate arrest, deputies charged Samuel Evans, 43, of Jonesville, with aggravated domestic assault, a felony. He is currently being held in jail.

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Details on part-time workers

To calculate the number of part-time versus full-time employees in Adams County. Miss-Lou Magazine pull extra numbers from MDES, the Census and the Federal Reserve Adams County has 9255 persons with jobs. Approximately 22 percent are employed part time, 2036. That percentage varies slightly for month-to-month, with April through June and October through December reporting a slightly higher percentage of part-time. Those are also the quarters that have the highest employment year to year. This provides some extra explanation as to why local median households incomes are so far below the state average. Median household income is $37,000 in the city and $44,000 countywide. Mississippi median household income is now $59,000, up substantially in the last two years.

Employment stats for September have been released. Concordia had 5881 persons with jobs, 60 fewer jobs than last year. The jobless rate was 5 percent. Catahoula reported 3,355 employed, with 49 more jobs than last September and a jobless rate of 4.5 percent.

Mississippi has recognized that chronic absenteeism is a problem in its schools, with students failing to learn necessary skills simply because they do not attend school. The state is requiring school districts to reduce absenteeism by meeting with students and parents, using guidance counselors and school resource officers to get students in class. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 18 days of schooling per year, 10 percent of the school year. Absenteeism rates: Wilkinson 36.7%, Franklin 36.5%, Amite 33.5%, Claiborne 32.3%, Natchez 26.3%, Jefferson 17.6%.

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Wilkinson County report

Wilkinson County Administrator David Wilkerson reported to supervisors that the county will get two victim coordinators for service within the chancery court district. The two receive salaries of $75,000 each. But the county only pays $12,000 of the cost. Wilkerson asked supervisors to approve an application for a $357,000 grant that would repair the courthouse dome, gutters and roof in need of work due to leaks. The county match would be $71,400. Supervisors approved applying for the money. Wilkerson also asked supervisors to approve a grant application to overlay Sligo Street for $374,000. The county match would be 20%. Supervisors approved the request. The county administrator said the COA has finished the 2024 audit and submitted it to the state. He said the audit showed the county continues to have bookkeeping and accounting errors, with many of those errors the same as in years past. Wilkerson said there were fewer errors than in past years, which shows some improvement.

Mississippi counties are losing state funding because they fail to keep complete records on who is getting Homestead Exemption. The property owners still get their exemption but the counties don’t get the funds they should due to their sloppy records. Wilkinson should have gotten $41,000. But it only received $12,800 due to its poor records. Tax Assessor Jeremy Ephion said he was not aware of the state’s new and more detailed requirements.

Mayor Dan Gibson believes Louisiana will soon authorize some funds to help light the Miss-Lou bridges. Gibson said the Louisiana Legislature may take up the idea this coming Spring. The mayor has been working with Buz Craft, C. Travis Johnson and Delbert Hosemann to coordinate both Louisiana and Mississippi funding for the lighting project.

Professional and expert work, Free estimates, Serving the Miss-Lou: Neil Smith.

Dr. Sara Lee

Dr. Sara Lee, formerly of Ferriday, has died. She served as a primary physician for many families in Concordia and Catahoula for more than 30 years and also served as parish coroner. Dr. Lee is remembered for her bedside manner and her devotion to patients. She was 76.

Mississippi and Louisiana voters go to the polls N ov. 3 to vote for U.S. Senators and Congressmen. County and district judges are also on the ballot in Mississippi.

After 50 years of service, Golda Ensminger, Concordia’s Registrar of Voters, says she will retire after the Dec. 12 election. She will serve until the end of the year.

Justice Court Judge Danny Barber held court and arraigned Leonard Gaines Gibson, 44, of Fayette, on two counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Bond was set at $300,000. Adams deputies and the Miss. Bureau of Narcotics officers made the arrest.

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Crazy drivers

Mayor Dan Gibson said he is getting noise and litter complaints every day. Gibson said residents are tired of cars and trucks with no mufflers or loud mufflers and loud music. He said people are also speeding at 60-70 mph on downtown streets. Alderman Billie Joe Frazier said police officers have the authority to write tickets. But the officers need to examine cars for legal equipment and actually catch the speeders on radar to make a ticket stick.

Natchez aldermen debated whether the city should grant the demolition of a derelict building on Franklin at MLK Street. The preservation commission has already granted the owner the authority to demolish the building because it is so far gone as to be unsafe. While aldermen debated what the city’s role should be in saving buildings, Alderwoman Valencia Hall correctly pointed that due to Judge Carmen Drake’s ruling, aldermen have no role in approving or rejecting the preservation commission’s rulings, since the city code does not give the aldermen the power to oversee preservation commission decisions. The aldermen could act as they had in the past, as an appeals board to the commission. But to do so, they would have to pass enabling language to the code. Aldermen did vote to temporarily close the street so the building debris can be removed safely and efficiently. Mayor Dan Gibson said it was shameful that so many historic property owners have let important properties deteriorate so badly. ‘The owners should fix their properties or sell them,’

Trinity Medical will ask the Legislature to allocate $2.2 million in capital outlay funds for a new MRI. Its current MRI is 20 years old and is leased at $18,000 a month. A new MRI provided by the state would cut hospital overhead and would give improved images.

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Jaden Barnes

The Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office was contacted Thursday, October 22, by a detective with the Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children task force about an arrest warrant issued for Jaden Barnes of Vidalia, LA. The charges include Indecent Behavior with Juveniles and Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor, stemming from a larger operation aimed at identifying suspected online predators. Upon receiving the warrant notification, CPSO Patrol Division arrived at Barnes's residence. Deputies made contact with him and confirmed his identity. After informing Barnes of the arrest warrant, he was detained and booked into the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility before being transferred to the Pointe Coupee Parish Detention Center on October 23, 2026.

Natchez aldermen have agreed to discuss finances once per month in a special one hour meeting before the regular meeting begins. Aldermen did not direct the city clerk’s office to prepare any special reports for those meeetings, so it’s uncertain what exactly will be discussed. City leaders need a monthly recap and year to date figures for expenses, revenues, cash balances, accounts payable, accounts receivable and short and long term debt @to be able to guide the city and understand where the city stands. Alderwoman Sarah Carter Smith said the aldermen abandoned the practice of having a special finance committee meeting years ago because the information in the finance committee meeting was exactly the same as discussed in the public meeting.

Alderwoman Valencia Hall caught Mayor Dan Gibson in a faux pas when the city purchased an ad in a promotional magazine saluting the retirement of employee of the Miss. Development Authority. MDA Director Bill Cork retired from his Mississippi job to take a higher paying job in Texas. And the ad saluted his retirement. The amount of purchase was not disclosed. The city has the legal authority to purchase ads that directly benefit the city. But it’s really a stretch to say this ad benefited the city. And Cork really didn’t “retire” though he’s eligible for state retirement. He moved to Texas to start his new job there Nov. 1. Hall said the ad purchase was not legal. The mayor said under certain conditions it might be. The mayor said in his defense, he would investigate further. Gibson was so uncertain in his answer. He did not say who purchased the ad, nor why it was purchased nor how such an ad could benefit the city of Natchez, since the MDA director in Jackson now lives and works in Texas.

VIDALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, 202 Vernon Stevens, Blvd., 318-336-5254. We protect the community, Chief of Police Joey Merrill. Life and Property Protection: Safeguarding individuals and community assets from harm, theft, or damage. Law Enforcement: Investigating suspected crimes, gathering evidence, identifying and arresting offenders, and preparing cases for prosecution. Public Order & Safety: Managing traffic accidents, controlling crowds at public events, mediating disputes, and restoring peace during disturbances. Crime Prevention: Deterring illegal activity through routine patrols, community engagement, and public education. Emergency Response: Answering calls for service and providing immediate assistance or first aid during crises, accidents, or disasters.https://www.facebook.com/VidaliaLouisianaPoliceDepartment

Illegals captured

On Monday, October 26th, a CPSO patrol deputy stopped to assist a disabled vehicle on Highway 84, east of Ferriday, Louisiana. The disabled vehicle was a large passenger van towing a utility trailer. Upon further investigation, it was found that there were twenty individuals in the van, and the trailer was loaded with luggage. Two of the twenty individuals were able to provide legal documentation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted and took over the scene. Eighteen people were detained and transferred to detention facilities.

NPD Code Enforcement Officer Anjanette Kelly says the demolition of the old Mexican restaurant on D’Evereux Drive is underway. The owner and contractor have a six month permit for demolition and are in compliance.

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Fewer jobs

Adams County now has 9,255 persons with jobs, down 190 jobs from a year ago. The jobless rate is 4.9 percent. Number of jobs: 2025 9,445, 2024 9,456, 2023 9,342, 2022 9,406. Job figures have not recovered to their 2011-2019 levels. In 2011, Adams County had 11,580 jobs. In 2019, 10,370 jobs. In the last 15 years, the community has lost a little over 2,300 jobs.

Strong back to school retail sales pushed Natchez forward in sales tax collections for August, while July and September were slack. But overall, the quarter showed a slight gain in 2026 compared to 20 July-September 2025 $1,390,000 July-September 2026 $1,393,000 +$3,000 The small gain is not adjusted for inflation. The State of Mississippi collects sales tax and diverts some of the monies collected back to cities and towns on a monthly basis. The monies sent back to municipalities are based on those communities local taxable sales.

The Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office was contacted Thursday, October 22 by a detective with the Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children task force about an arrest warrant issued for Jaden Barnes of Vidalia, LA. The charges include Indecent Behavior with Juveniles and Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor, stemming from a larger operation aimed at identifying suspected online predators. Upon receiving the warrant notification, CPSO Patrol Division arrived at Barnes's residence. Deputies made contact with him and confirmed his identity. After informing Barnes of the arrest warrant, he was detained and booked into the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility before being transferred to the Pointe Coupee Parish Detention Center on October 23, 2026.

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Tanner Cotton Gin fire

A large amount of cotton caught fire Oct. 25 at the Tanner Frogmore Cotton Gin. Firefighters from Concordia and Catahoula responded to the scene, working hard to bring the fire under control and get it extinguished. The fire was under control but stillsmoldering a day later.

Vidalia Police busted an active dog fight at 606 N. Spruce Street on Oct. 22 at approximately 3:15 p.m. Officers observed several subjects watching two dogs fight in an area visible to the public. As officers approached the area, approximately six individuals fled on foot through the neighborhood. One subject, Thomas Dotson, 37, of Vidalia, was detained on scene. Dotson was identified as the person living on the property where the dogs were being allowed to fight and the person in possession of several dogs on this property. The fleeing felons led police officers on a foot chase from N. Spruce Street to the Vidalia City Cemetery on Riverside Drive. Within an hour, officers were able to locate and detain three of them. Those arrestees were identified as Derrick Johnson, 23, Antonio Swanson, 31, and Laquintay Kelly, 36, all of Ferriday. Officers discovered approximately 18 dogs on the Dotson property, four of which were left in locked vehicles. Another five dogs were found at another property associated with Dotson. At that location, Curtis Randall, 59, and Sidney Smith, 68, both of Vidalia were arrested. Dotson was charged with 21 counts of cruelty to animals, one count of aggravated cruelty to animals and one count of dog fighting. Johnson and Swanson were each charged with one count of cruelty to animals and dog fighting. Kelly was charged with three counts of cruelty to animals and one count of dog fighting. Randall and Smith were each charged with five counts of cruelty to animals.

Several Jonesville organizations received a combined $13,000 in community awards from a class-action settlement involving Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. Chuck Norris of Norris Law Firm presented the checks, which were prepared by Bourgeois Bennett LLC. The Jonesville Police Department and Jonesville Fire Department each received $4000, the Jonesville Library received $3000, and Pure Light Baptist Church received $2000. Bourgeois Bennett also made a separate $1000 donation to the church.

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Tournament for mission work

First Baptist Vidalia is hosting a pickleball tournament on Sunday October 25 @ 2 PM to raise money for our mission trips. Both to London and the Dominican Republic. We have amazing teams that go out, preach the gospel, feed the hungry, etc. We have space for 20 more teams I believe. Or local businesses can sponsor a sign, donate monetary or prizes! Below is the info. How to sign-up? •Church Office •Sunday Morning Foyer •Text (318) 614-7635 •QR Code Link • https://forms.gle/q5WGvxkdkDBPXnMe6 How to pay? •Venmo- Lesleyphughes •Church Office •FBC-Vidalia App (Note for PBT).

Mississippi will use federal monies to support its “rural transformations” program for healthcare. The Big, Beautiful Bill funding for Mississippi includes: Merit Health Natchez, $405,000 for specialist physician recruitment Franklin County Hospital, $150,000 for workforce training and educational development Jefferson County Nursing Home, $181,000 for workforce training for nursing certifications Claiborne County Hospital, $784,000 for healthcare professionals recruitment and retention, improved access to services, maintenance of hospital operations Both our Senators voted for this bill, Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde Smith. Congressman Benny Thompson voted against the bill.

The Homochitto River Festival returns to Downtown Meadville, Oct. 2, with music, food, crafts vendors from 10a to 8:30p. Performing will be: Charlie Worsham, Danica Hart, The Band, Thomas Sanders and The Bandits, Ransakk, Band interrupted, Clint & Baleigh, Maggie Brown and The Vagabonds, Crossin’ Dixon, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

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Back the Blue

The Sixth Annual Back the Blue Open Car Show and Barbecue Competition will be held Oct. 23–24 at the River View RV Park. The barbecue competition serves as the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) Louisiana State Championship, with the Grand Champion qualifying for the national competition. This year’s BBQ event features $10,000 in cash and prizes. Vidalia Police Chief Joey Merrill said 31 teams are currently registered, but he expects that number to reach 40. Travis McCready, the former lead singer of Bishop Gunn, will headline the event and perform at 1 p.m. at the BBQ festival. Attendees can participate in judging with the People’s Choice Award Tasting Kit, which includes one fork and three voting tickets. Tasting begins at 1:45 p.m. The Back the Blue Car Show takes place Saturday, Oct. 24, at the RV park. Car show registration runs from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., with awards presented at 3 p.m. The registration fee is $20 per vehicle. The show is open to antique cars, trucks, race cars, rat rods, and motorcycles. Awards will feature first, second, and third place for pre-2000 models across the antique car, truck, race car, and rat rod classes, as well as first, second, and third place for modern models built in 2000 or later. The motorcycle division will feature Best in Class and Best of Show Overall awards. Proceeds from both events support the Vidalia Police Department’s annual Shop With a Cop program, which provides holiday gifts and support for local youth. (Concordia Sentinel)

Adams County supervisors and the Natchez mayor and aldermen never told local voters that the new airline required $2 million in subsidies per year to pay SkyWest. SkyWest also gets the revenues from ticket sales. Supervisors have pledged to pay SkyWest more than $500,000 per quarter for its service. 68 percent of the monies will come from the feds. 13.5 percent from the city and 18.5 percent from the county. While the county has agreed to added another $290,000 the airport budget, that’s in addition to the $2 million. $100,000 of the $290,000 will be used to pay a second administrator in addition to the airport director. The federal and state governments have already spent more than $7 million on upfront and terminal construction costs. City and county leaders have talked about going to the Legislature to ask for a special local sales tax just to fund the increasing costs of the airport.

Adams County, Franklin County and Catahoula Parish have issued burn bans due to dry conditions.

Poverty

Due to de-industrialization and job losses, the percentage of poor has risen in Natchez. There haven’t been enough new jobs created and more jobs lost than found. These two factors have contributed to a higher percentage of poor. 2000: 28.6%, 2010: 31.2%, 2020: 29.6%, 2026: 33.7%. The most startling insight Miss-Lou Magazine discovered, when studying figures from the census, the State of Mississippi and the federal reserve, was that the economy recovered slowly after the 2020 pandemic shut down, but the poor in Natchez did not share in that recovery. Their incomes grew exceptionally even more slowly. So today, six years after the pandemic shutdown and six years after the shutdown ended, Mississippi’s median household income is $55,000, whereas Natchez’s is only $37,000. That means that 50% of households in Natchez have an annual income of $37,000 or less.

Adams County supervisors admitted their budget process is broken and have extended the consultant contract of Chuck Lambert to help Tuwanna Williams both fix the budget and the process. Lambert is being paid $2000 a month and is expected to be kept on board at least six months. The county’s budget woes should have been fixed by the September 15 deadline for passing the 2026-2027 budget. But Williams said the budget categories and line items are so inaccurate and uncertain, it may take a year to correct the situation. New county administrator Williams has faced difficulties because some line items have been posted incorrectly or not at all. And the budget estimates and actual spending are miles apart. Revenues are often misstated, too. Supervisors have consistently failed to get monthly revenue, expenditure, cash balance, accounts receivable, accounts payable and debt service reports. That means they never have any idea where they stand financially and are at risk of running huge deficits because some department heads are not careful with spending. Supervisors themselves are prone to spending above the budget because of special requests during the year. If you remember, just three ago, supervisors failed to monitor spending which led to a massive multi million deficit and an immediate 15 percent tax increase.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office confirms that 36-year-old Robert Belton Jr., who was wanted in connection with the October 16 shooting incident in the Lagrange Community, voluntarily turned himself in to authorities. Belton was wanted on a charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon following an exchange of gunfire that occurred Friday afternoon.

Natchez fire

On Saturday, October 17, at approximately 11:53 p.m., an Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputy was working an off-duty security detail at Bowie’s Rabbit Hole, located at 100 Main Street in Natchez, when he observed an individual, later identified as 57 year old Victor A. Boudreaux of Ferriday, Louisiana, exiting the women’s restroom. According to the incident report, Boudreaux appeared to be heavily intoxicated. The deputy notified the bartender that Boudreaux should no longer be served alcohol and subsequently instructed Boudreaux to leave the establishment. As Boudreaux was leaving, he reportedly became verbally confrontational toward the deputy. Despite being instructed multiple times to leave the premises, Boudreaux allegedly struck the deputy in the chest. The deputy immediately took action to restrain Boudreaux and placed him under arrest. Boudreaux was transported to the Adams County Jail, where authorities reported that he continued displaying aggressive and violent behavior toward detention personnel. During the booking process, Boudreaux allegedly attempted to assault jail staff, resulting in detention officers deploying pepper spray to gain control of the situation. Due to Boudreaux’s continued combative behavior, jail personnel were initially unable to complete the booking process safely. Boudreaux has been charged with Simple Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer under Mississippi Code § 97-3-7(1)(b). The incident involving detention personnel is currently under administrative review, and additional criminal charges may be forthcoming pending further investigation.

On Saturday, October 17, at approximately 5:09 p.m., emergency personnel were dispatched to a reported fire at 33A Cedar Lane in Adams County. According to information gathered at the scene, the property owner stated that he had been burning leaves and trash in his backyard before going inside his residence. Shortly afterward, he heard a noise, went to investigate, and discovered that his tool shed was on fire. The flames quickly intensified, engulfing the shed and spreading into nearby vegetation, creating a dangerous situation as firefighters worked to prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding property. The Natchez Fire Department responded and worked diligently to battle the flames, while the Adams County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene. Entergy was also notified due to nearby electrical utilities. Residents should use extreme caution when burning leaves, trash, or other materials outdoors. Fires can spread rapidly, particularly when dry vegetation and nearby structures are involved. Never leave an outdoor fire unattended, and always ensure it is completely extinguished before leaving the area.

Special Victims Detectives within the Special Investigations Group, Alexandria field office, conducted an investigation which resulted in the arrest of 57-year-old William Dennis Boyd of Jonesville. In September 2026, Detectives received a complaint from the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office in regards to potential sex crimes involving one of their employees. As a result of the investigation and information obtained, arrest warrants were acquired for Boyd. The arrest warrants were issued for sexual battery of a juvenile (two counts) and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. On October 16, 2026, Boyd was arrested and processed into the Catahoula Parish Detention Center. The investigation remains active and ongoing. It will be submitted to the Catahoula Parish District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution. No further information is available at this time. “We believe in transparency, accountability, and preserving the public’s trust. The arrest of an employee at Catahoula Correctional Center serves as a reminder that no one is above the law,” said Sheriff Toney Edwards. “We hold our employees to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct. Any allegations of misconduct will be taken seriously and addressed appropriately. We remain committed to upholding the law, cooperating fully with all investigations, and protecting the integrity of Catahoula Correctional Center and the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office.”

Shots fired

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has arrested one individual and issued an arrest warrant for another following an exchange of gunfire Friday afternoon in the Lagrange Community. On Friday, October 16, at approximately 4:19 p.m., Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the area of James Brown Avenue and Lagrange Road after receiving reports of shots fired. During the investigation, deputies learned that an altercation had occurred between 19 year old Jadavis Galtney of Fayette, Mississippi, and 36 year old Robert Belton Jr. The confrontation reportedly began as a verbal disagreement between the two individuals before escalating into a physical fight. Investigators determined that following the initial confrontation, Galtney allegedly left the area, traveled to a residence on Lotus Drive, retrieved a firearm, and returned to the Lagrange Community, where gunfire was exchanged between Galtney and Belton. Deputies responding to the scene recovered 22 spent shell casings, indicating that multiple rounds had been fired during the incident. Investigators were able to identify both individuals involved. While deputies were processing the crime scene, Galtney returned to the area in a gold Toyota Camry and was detained. Following an interview with investigators, Galtney was arrested and transported to the Adams County Jail. ARRESTED: Jadavis L. Galtney, 19 Fayette, Mississippi Charge: Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Bond: No Bond — Awaiting Arraignment WANTED: Robert Belton Jr., 36 Charge: Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon An arrest warrant has been issued for Belton.

Former Ferriday Police Chief Lakisica Bowman, 28, was arrested for disturbing the peace and second degree battery following a fight at the Jonesville homecoming festivities. She was placed in the Catahoula Parish Jail. Her mother, Laronda Bowman, 52, of Jonesville, was also arrested for the fight and jailed. Chief Bowman allegedly pushed the victim into hot grease used to fry fish. The victim was hospitalized with burns.

While Natchez is celebrating with its balloon festival, Vidalia will hold its annual Big River Fall Festival Oct. 16-18 on the riverfront. With food trucks, skydiving, music, carnival, flea market. Petting zoo and dog shows. Admission is free.

Mississippi school districts are graded on a point system that rates student proficiency and performance, student progress, graduation rates and career readiness. New grading results include: Franklin County: 612 points, C Jefferson County: 611 points, C Amite County: 587 points, C Natchez Adams County: 572 points, C Claiborne County: 563 points, D Wilkinson County: 503 points, F The most improved was Jefferson County, which is now in the number 2 position, rising above Natchez for the first time since the point system was established. Of the Natchez schools, McLaurin, West, Natchez High and Natchez Middle earned a grade of C and Morgantown earned a grade of D. The state says it has adjusted its computations for both elementary and secondary schools to establish a new baseline, which was required by legislative mandate. It says not to compare 2025 results to 2026 results because the grading and point systems are different.

Derelict properties

Ferriday aldermen are thinking of revising their ordinance to up fines on the owners of blighted, dilapidated and unkempt properties. Discussion includes raising the fines to $500 on homeowners and $1000 for businesses that refuse to comply.

Adams deputies arrested Jakiya Terrell, 21, of Natchez, for embezzlement. Her bond was set at $100,000.

The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call on Monday, October 12th, at 9:39 PM regarding a shooting at a residence in Clayton, LA. When deputies and investigators arrived at the scene, they discovered that a male adult and a female juvenile had both sustained gunshot wounds. The two individuals were transported for medical attention and have since been transferred to a hospital in Baton Rouge for further care. Currently, CPSO investigators have two individuals in custody, and additional arrests are likely. This is an ongoing investigation, and more details will be provided as they become available. If you have any information about the incident, you are encouraged to call the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-336-5231 (911) or use the “Submit A Tip” feature on the Concordia Sheriff Mobile App to leave an anonymous tip. Sheriff David Hedrick warns that individuals who engage in such senseless acts of violence in Concordia Parish will be held accountable. “This agency will do everything possible to ensure that those who harm others in Concordia Parish are brought to justice,” said Hedrick.

Alderman Billie Joe Frazier said he’s worried that voters will be purged from the voting rolls if they don’t show up for jury duty. Mississippi law prohibits this. The Election commission is supposed send you a letter asking for confirmation of your existence in the precinct if you have not voted in eight years. If you do not respond to the letter, the commission may remove you from the rolls. If you go to the polls and your name does not appear on the computer sheets the poll workers have, you can ask for a challenge or affidavit ballot. It is a paper ballot. You fill it out. And the election commission will determine whether your ballot is legally cast when they’re counting absentee votes and rechecking machine tallies. There have been times in Adams County where precincts did not have affidavit ballots on hand, as they should.

Valencia Hall

Alderwoman Valencia Hall said Natchez needs to step up its law enforcement on golf carts. The carts are being driven faster than 20 mph, the legal limit. Drivers and passengers are drinking alcohol, riding with two many passengers on board and going through wrong way on one way streets. The city has specific rules fir the legal use of golf carts on roadways, including carts must be operated by licensed drivers; the carts must have insurance; and the carts must have brakes, lights, turn signals, windshield and seat belts. Each cart used on a city street must be registered with the city and the appropriate decal placed on the left rear fender

Natchez aldermen will buy seven bulletproof vests at a little over $1000 each for police officers. A DOJ program will pay half the costs. The city wants to do erosion work at Cambridge Heights Apts. and Oakland Ave. for $324,000 with an $81,000 local match. But the aldermen tabled the idea until it’s known whether the apartment owner will participate in the local match. Aldermen voted to lease seven new patrol cars from Enterprise Leasing and renew leases on three cars already in service. The new vehicles are replacing vehicles that are worn out. The expense was already budgeted. Public Works Director Justin Dollar said a number of oak trees need trimming at the city auditorium at a cost of $7700. The expense was already budgeted, so aldermen approved. Aldermen approved spending $9000 to hire a contract employee for public works who has engineering and administrative experience to help Dollar’s department during the coming year. The city will spend $93,000 to remove some temporary striping and put permanent striping on several streets. The leaders approved a deal where Baton Rouge will buy the old City of Natchez Christmas tree on a lease purchase basis for $15,000 paid over three years. The city will use he money to buy more Christmas decorations.

During the early morning hours of October 12, a Natchez Police Department FLEX officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by Timothy Hooker for a traffic violation on Covington Road. During the course of the stop, officers discovered that Hooker was in possession of a loaded Ruger .45-caliber handgun, approximately 260 grams of cocaine hydrochloride (HCL), and approximately 18 grams of crack cocaine. Hooker was taken into custody without incident and subsequently charged with Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance (Cocaine HCL) with Intent to Traffic and Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance (Crack Cocaine) with Intent to Sell or Distribute. Officers also seized $2,096.00 in currency from him. Both charges carry sentence enhancements due to the offenses occurring within 1,500 feet of a school or church and because Hooker was in possession of a loaded firearm at the time of the offenses. Chief Best explained that the FLEX unit is a proactive unit that concentrates on street-level crime and assists all divisions within the Police Department on cases as needed. The unit consists of two full-time officers and one part-time officer. They have made several good arrests and seizures since the unit was formed last month.

Clayton gator

Concordia deputies removed an unwanted gator from a residence near Clayton this week. Most of their animal calls range from loose livestock, horses, and dogs, but occasionally they get a call for a nuisance gator. This is not the first time this CPSO deputies have been responsible for wrangling a gator in a residential area. Gary Sims and Tyler White removed an unwanted gator from a residential property in April, 2025. The gators were safely relocated to their natural habitats, and no injuries were reported.

Live entertainment at the Natchez Balloon Festival includes: THE CHEE-WEEZ | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 Friday night is about to get LOUD The Chee-Weez are kicking off the 41st Annual Natchez Balloon Festival! Get ready for a high-energy night of music, dancing and one unforgettable weekend on the Mississippi River. Who’s coming?! TONIC | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 You know the songs. Now hear them LIVE in Natchez. Tonic is taking the stage Saturday, October 17 at the 41st Annual Natchez Balloon Festival! Grab your friends, get your tickets and get ready to sing along! JOURNEY FROM THE HEART | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 Journey From The Heart is bringing the songs you know and love to the Natchez Balloon Festival! Come sing along with us October 17. TERRANCE SIMIEN & THE ZYDECO EXPERIENCE | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 Get ready to DANCE, Natchez! Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience are bringing Louisiana rhythm, energy and plenty of zydeco to the Natchez Balloon Festival stage Saturday, October 17! MATHIAS LATTIN | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 The blues are coming to the bluff. Mathias Lattin takes the stage Saturday, October 17 at the 41st Annual Natchez Balloon Festival! Great music, hot air balloons and those Mississippi River views! It doesn’t get much better. SAMMY QADAN & THE SECOND HAND SMOKERS | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 Local music + festival weekend = the perfect combination. Sammy Qadan & The Second Hand Smokers are jalso scheduled.

The Natchez Chamber of Commerce has hired Lynsey Gilbert as its new Director of Operations. Gilbert previously worked as Interim Director for Visit Natchez.

Money for airport

Natchez Airport Director Carl Beasley originally asked supervisors for an extra $800,000 to cover increased costs and operating losses due to the new air service. Normally, the county subsidizes the airport with approximately $250,000 a year to cover losses. Beasley came back to supervisors with a revised and lower request of an additional $290,000, which supervisors approved. That means the county subsidy will increase to $540,000 for this budget year. While the airport gets extra traffic from the SkyWest passengers, it makes its money from fuel sales not passengers. The passenger jet service brings people not revenues to the airport. Beasley said the commercial air service has already brought 2000 passengers to the community.

James Ducote, a 14 year old white male, was reported missing from Vidalia at approximately 10am, Sunday October 11. He has been found and is safe.

What began as a late-night report of a missing juvenile ended with the juvenile being safely located, a stolen firearm recovered, and one individual behind bars, thanks to the outstanding work of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division and Investigative Unit. On Sunday, October 11, 2026, shortly after midnight, deputies responded to a residence on Duck Pond Road regarding a missing juvenile female. After gathering information from family members, deputies immediately began investigating her disappearance, checking possible locations and notifying surrounding law enforcement personnel to be on the lookout. At approximately 12:50 p.m. that same day, an alert ACSO patrol deputy observed a red Chevrolet Camaro stopped along Lower Woodville Road. While checking on the vehicle and its occupants, the deputy recognized the passenger as the juvenile who had been reported missing earlier that morning. Further investigation revealed that the driver, 23-year-old Cortez Hunt of Brookhaven, Mississippi, had reportedly picked up the juvenile in Brookhaven and transported her back to Adams County. During the investigation, deputies received information about a firearm inside the vehicle. A handgun was subsequently recovered from a backpack and confirmed through law enforcement databases to have been reported stolen. Hunt was arrested and charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm. He was transported to the Adams County Jail without incident. The juvenile was safely recovered and transported to the appropriate juvenile facility.

Thomas Sanders

The Homochitto River Festival returns to Meadville October 24. Live enterntainment includes: DANICA HART - Mississippi’s Own Danica Hart, a dynamic singer-songwriter and electric personality, is a former member of the country music trio, Chapel Hart. Known for her powerhouse voice and joyful spirit, Danica infuses energy, faith, and fire into every performance! CHARLIE WORSHAM is going to be inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry very soon after his appearance at the Homochitto River Festival! He is both the 2024 CMA Musician of the Year and CMA Touring Musician of the Year, a two-time ACM Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year, and is currently nominated for the 2026 CMA Musician of the Year Award! And not only can he play, he is also one of country music’s newest and finest singers! THE BAND LOULA - Logan Simmons and Malachi Mills are North Georgia natives and longtime friends. They are a country music and folk duo signed to Warner Records Nashville. And – for your information – they’re also bringing their outstanding band with them to Meadville! Described as one of country music’s most compelling new acts, their soulful approach to music offers a very real, very now sound. CROSSIN DIXON has chosen the Homochitto River Festival to be a stop on their 2026 REUNION TOUR! A Southern rock-infused modern country band hailing from North Mississippi, known for their dynamic live performances and compelling vocal harmonies, Crossin Dixon rose to Nashville's attention in the mid-2000s on the strength of their live act. All Music stated Crossin Dixon’s music is similar to Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, and Clint Black. They were influenced by Alabama and The Marshall Tucker Band and their stage performances sound boisterous, energetic, uplifting, confident, and exciting! Don’t miss this show! Now presenting the 2026 HRF Supporting Entertainment Acts! THOMAS SANDERS and THE BANDITS, RANSAKK, BAND INTERRUPTED, CLINT & BALEIGH, and MAGGIE BROWN & THE VAGABONDS. The 2026 Homochitto River Festival is set to be one of Southwest Mississippi’s don’t miss events of this fall.

The Concordia School Board made permanent Gov. Landry’s stipends of $2000 a year for teachers and $1000 a year for support staff. The stipends were to have ended, without additional local support. The extra monies will cost the district a little over $1.2 million a year.

Westwin has paid Adams County option money on the Belwood site of a little over $100,000. Once construction begins, Westwin will pay $250,000 a year in lease payments for two years and and $300,000 a year once production begins. While the company is fully committed to the Adams County deal, it’s still owes money to Lawton, Oklahoma, forlease payments there on the land it is using for its demonstrator plant. The town had given the company extra time to come up with the $2 million it owes in back due rent. The company says it has raised $70.5 million toward the Natchez project in hopes of raising up to $125 million in the short term. It says the entire investment needed is $502 million.

Regional finalist

T-Mobile is running a nationwide 5G promotion that will award $250,000 to four schools or $1 million to one high school in the country to improve its athletic facilities and programs. Students and friends are asked to go to the company’s Friday Night 5G Lights page to cast a vote for their school. Natchez High was chosen as one of 40 regional finalists, first $5,000 and then $25,000. The school was chosen as a finalist for several reasons, including the school spirit of its students. https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/friday-night-5g-lights

Adams deputies arrested Theodore Hill Jr., 61, of Natchez, for failure to register as a sex offender. He is currently being held in jail.

On Friday, October 9, agents with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group (SOG), working alongside the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), executed a search warrant at 16 Beaumont Street in Natchez, Mississippi. During the operation, agents encountered 88-year-old Prentiss Green inside the residence. A search resulted in the discovery of marijuana, several digital scales containing white rock residue that tested positive for crack cocaine, and three loaded firearms, including two 9mm handguns and a loaded .22-caliber long rifle. Green was taken into custody and charged with: * Sale of Crack Cocaine * Possession of Drug Paraphernalia * Possession of Marijuana * Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon (3 Counts) Green was transported to the Adams County Jail for processing.

Auburn

The Historic Natchez Foundation has been awarded a $750,000 Semiquincentennial Grant from the National Park Service to fund critical preservation and safety improvements at Historic Auburn. Auburn is owned by the City of Natchez and managed by the Historic Natchez Foundation. The grant will allow the Foundation, in partnership with the City, to make significant improvements to the historic property, including installation of a new fire suppression system, new electrical wiring, and an advanced security system with cameras, as well as other necessary repairs. “This is an extraordinary investment in the future of Auburn,” said Carter Burns, Executive Director of the Historic Natchez Foundation. “We are grateful to the National Park Service for recognizing Auburn’s importance and for providing the resources necessary to protect this remarkable historic property for generations to come.”

Adams deputies arrested Kelvin Stogner, 38, of Natchez, for failure to register as a sex offender. He is currently being held in jail.

Agents with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group responded to multiple citizen complaints concerning suspected illegal drug activity at a residence located at 311 South Shields Lane in Natchez, Mississippi. Agents made contact with individuals at the residence. During their encounter, agents obtained signed consent to search the property. That search resulted in the discovery of approximately 7.1 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded syringe containing heroin, and several plastic pipes that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. As a result of the investigation, four were arrested: Dustin McKlemurry, 55, of Natchez, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Heroin Possession of Methamphetamine; Corey Latham, 34, of Natchez, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Methamphetamine; Christina Posey, 37, of Natchez, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Methamphetamine; and Sandra Latham, 58, of Natchez, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. All four individuals were taken into custody and brought to jail.

Rain and no wind for Natchez

Hurricane Isaisis should come ashore Saturday as a Category 1 or 2 storm with top winds of 100 mph. Landfall will be along the Florida Gulf Coast near Pensacol.

Natchez Little Theatre presents the play, “1984.” Shows are set for October 8-10 at 7:30 PM and October 11 at 2 PM. Tickets are $20 and available by calling 601-442-2273 or online at natchezlittletheatre.com.

Multiple gunshots were reported at Ferriday High on Tuesday night, October 7, coinciding with the conclusion of a junior high football game between Ferriday and Madison. Police and deputies responded but did not find the shooter. No one was injured.

New rural health funding was included in the big, beautiful bill. Trinity Medical will get $608,000 for two ultrasound machines, one of which will be portable.

New plant possible

Westwin Elements says it will build a $500 million nickel processing refinery at the Belwood Industrial Park, adding 134 jobs to the local economy. The company currently has a demonstration plant in Lawton, Oklahoma. Westwin is still a startup operation without a track record of production or revenues. However, it says it has secured advance contracts for its Natchez plant that make the company and the Natchez project viable. The company says it has secured $70.5 million in venture capital in advance funding to begin the project, hoping to raise $125 million. As it is a privately held company, no actual financial reports are available. The plant would process mined nickel, which is used in electric car batteries. Westwin first planned to put its nickel processing plant in Bryan County, Georgia. But that county’s economic development development agency decided not to issue $230 million in bonds to help the company. When Bryan County said no, Westwin moved its plans to Natchez. Westwin says it has $70.5 million already raised of the initial $125 million it needs. And the company’s total price tag for the Natchez project is $502 million, so it needs a lot more money to make the dream come true.

On October 4, a Natchez Police Officer’s proactive enforcement efforts during a traffic stop led to the discovery of suspected illegal narcotics and the arrest of two individuals. The officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation. During the interaction with the driver and passenger, the officer developed probable cause to search the vehicle. During the search, the officer located a container containing a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine, along with several baggies containing a clear, crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. Additional suspected illegal substances and drug paraphernalia were also discovered. As a result of the officer’s attention to detail, Denzel O’Neal and Lauren Baisden-Dow were arrested and charged with: • Possession of a Controlled Substance — 11 to 30 grams • Possession of a Controlled Substance — Less than 2 grams or 10 dosage units • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group arrested four individuals Monday evening following an investigation into citizen complaints concerning suspected illegal activity at a residence located at 204 Dana Road in Natchez. Agents received several complaints from citizens regarding possible drug activity and prostitution occurring at the residence. Agents responded to investigate and made contact with the homeowner, Tyler Brown. While speaking with Brown, agents detected the odor of marijuana coming from the residence. The property was secured while agents obtained a search warrant. Before the search warrant was obtained, Tracey Burr fled from the rear of the residence in an attempt to evade agents. Burr was also wanted by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office on five outstanding warrants. His attempt to flee was short-lived, as agents quickly apprehended him. Burr subsequently complained of chest pains, and American Medical Response was called to the scene. He was transported to Merit Health for evaluation, later released, and taken to the Adams County Jail for processing. During the execution of the search warrant, agents located multiple methamphetamine bongs and pipes that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Agents also located evidence described in the investigative report as consistent with the citizen complaints that initiated the investigation. The following individuals were arrested: Tyler Brown, 51 — Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Tracey Burr, 50 — Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Disorderly Conduct/Failure to Comply; and five outstanding warrants Casey Stutzman, 42 — Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Lorri Hall, 50 — Possession of Drug Paraphernalia All four were transported to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office Jail for processing.

Oct. 1-11

The Cathedral Fall Festival takes place on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, 2026 at the Cathedral Catholic School located at 701 N. Martin Luther King Jr. St. Admission/Cost: Free admission; individual costs apply for food, games, bingo, raffles, and auction. It is the school's largest annual fundraiser. Saturday, October 10: Midway Games & Family Fun: Features a petting zoo, cakewalk, mechanical bull, inflatable basketball, face painting, and concession stands (hamburgers, hot dogs) alongside a tailgate and beverage tent. Festival Sales: Open in the multi-purpose room for scratch cakes, soups, casseroles, arts & crafts, and homemade candy. Adult Night & Live Music: Saturday, October 10, at 6:00 PM — Gumbo and pizza by County Pie starting at 6:00 PM in the cafeteria, featuring live music by Charlie Hugg and "The Paddle Wheel" auction prize drawings at 7:00 PM. Sunday, October 11: Midway & Concessions: Sunday, October 11, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM — Continuing family games and festival sales. Fried Chicken Lunch: Sunday, October 11, 2026 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

A Roxie man was killed and a Liberty man was injured in a Sunday morning crash in Amite County, the Mississippi Highway Patrol reported. The wreck occurred around 10:40 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 24 and Berwick Cassels Road when a 2008 GMC Sierra driven by William Neyland Jr., 58, of Liberty, collided with a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Sean Anderson, 46, off Roxie. MHP officials said Neyland was traveling eastbound on Highway 24 and Anderson was northbound on Berwick Cassels Road. Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, while Neyland was taken to a hospital with injuries.

On October 4, deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office arrested Christopher T. Stephens, 39, of Natchez, after receiving outstanding felony warrants from the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office and a request for assistance in locating and apprehending him. The warrants, issued through the 7th Judicial District Court, Parish of Concordia, State of Louisiana, charge Stephens with one count of Simple Burglary and one count of Possession of a Firearm or Carrying a Concealed Weapon by a Person Convicted of Certain Felonies. The charges stem from an alleged incident occurring on or about September 6, 2026. After receiving the warrants and information regarding Stephens’ possible location, ACSO Patrol Deputies immediately responded to 1 Cindy Lane. Deputies located Stephens at the residence and took him into custody without incident. Stephens was transported to the Adams County Jail, where he will be held in connection with the Louisiana warrants pending the appropriate extradition proceedings.

Stolen

Tate Hobdy, owner of Natchez Dairy Queen, reported his advertising inflatable, Boo Belle, was stolen. The inflatable was located in Baton Rouge and will be returned

Justice Court Judge Danny Barber held court Oct. 2 in Adams County. Richard Washington Jr was arraigned on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with physical evidence, resisting arrest, and possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. Bond was set at $551,000. Kedric D. Smith was arranged on possession of schedule II drugs, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, felon in possession of a firearm and trafficking of drugs. His bond was set at $600,000.

Lance Harris, CEO of visit Natchez, issued a note today explaining how Visit Natchez helps promote local events through local groups. Visit Natchez is committed to supporting the community in an effort to drive visitation and promote our partners and their efforts. To learn more about the opportunities and process, visit here: https://visitnatchez.org/resources/marketing-assistance-guidelines-application/. We encourage applicants to fully understand and meet the guidelines to achieve the best results in the process. The annual amount varies based on the received requests but generally seems to average around $80,000 per year. You will find a list of FY 2026 recipients below.

Natchez Powwow $5,000.00
Songwriter's Festival $2,500.00
Natchez Antiques Showcase $2,000.00
Natchez Kite Festival $2,500.00
Bluff City Open $5,000.00
Living History Natchez Spring Events $1,000.00
Natchez Concours d'elegance $2,500.00
Live at Five - Spring Series $4,000.00
Natchez Food and Wine Festival $5,000.00
Natchez Garden Club Year Round Tours $2,000.00
Live at Five -4th of July $6,000.00
Calm Productions $1,500.00
Saint Catherine Street: Yesteryear and Today $964.00
John Banks House $1,625.00
8th Annual Biker's Weekend on the Bluff $3,000.00
Natchez Balloon Festival $10,000.00
Y'all Means All $4,000.00
Live at Five - Fall Series $5,000.00
Stay Tuned Music Festival $2,000.00
Natchez Bicycle Classic $3,000.00
Norman Puckett Golf Classic $2,500.00
Freedom Season 2026 $3,000.00
SERA Rodeo $2,000.00
Junkin on the River $1,000.00
Living History Natchez Dickens Christmas $2,000.00

Monies for the agency come from a special restaurant and bar sales tax and lodgings tax.

Dan Gibson

In his State of the City address, Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said his administration is working hard for jobs to keep young families from moving away, to give people a chance to earn good pay and attract more people to the city. Gibson said his economic development efforts have included the rebuilding of Tracetown, the recruitment of a possible new shopping center near Walmart, a revitalized downtown and job training programs for those who need careers. The mayor has previously said that the city has added 400 jobs, but now says the city has actually added 525 jobs during his six years in office. However, the administration has offered no proof of its numbers, which contradict state figures.

On October 27, the Natchez Historical Society will feature Natchez native, Corrine Randazzo, who was a child in 1927, the year of the Great Flood. Ms. Randazzo's story includes pictures and a description of the enormous task she took on, in collaboration with Katherine Calhoun, to inventory the houses moved. The great flood of the Mississippi River in 1927 remains the most destructive flood in United States history, changing forever the ways in which man has attempted to control the river and keep it within its banks during high water. The flood inundated the town of Vidalia, causing residents to live in tent camps on the surviving levees or take the ferry across the river to higher ground in Natchez. In 1938 and ’39, town leaders and the US Corps of Engineers decided to move Vidalia a mile west to higher ground. The Corps’ decision to create a levee setback and widen the channel would leave Vidalia underwater. Rather than abandon their community, residents literally picked up their town and moved it, slowly and methodically, to its present location. Using manual jacks, they lifted the houses and set them on massive timber skids and heavy wooden beams and dragged them down dirt roads using tractors and mule teams, traveling at a walking pace. They moved over 100 structures, including two-story homes, stores, churches and the town school. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m.with a social meet and greet with refreshments at 108 South Commerce Street, followed by the program at 6:00 p.m. Ms. Randazzo's program is part of the Grace MacNeil Lecture Program. Natchez Historical Society programs are free and open to the public.

Mississippi evaluates school district performance by several dozen parameters. One of these is the four-year graduation rate. For Natchez public schools, the rate for females is 97.7 percent, which the state recognizes as excellent. But the graduation rate for Natchez males is only 82.8 percent, which is considered quite subpar.

Join the fun and great food this October: KCBS LOUISIANA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Oct. 23-24. Sponsored by the Vidalia Police Department. Register your Cook Team now online at https://www.cityofvidaliala.com/bbqteam. CASH POT OVER $10,000! Cook Team campsites available at Riverview RV Park, 318-336-1400. Campsites are not included in competition registration. Craft and food vendors. CAR SHOW: (Antique vehicles before model year 2000); Antique Car, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place; Antique Truck, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place; Race Car/Rat Rod, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place; New Models (model year 2000 or newer) 1st,2nd, 3rd place; Motorcycle Best in Show; Best of Show Overall (Registration $20 day of event). For more information on this exciting KCBS Championship and all events, call 318-336-5254, email gberry@vidaliapd.com or afoster@vidaliapd.com.

Bike rally

8th Annual Biker’s Weekend, Rally on the Bluff, will be held October 2–3 in Natchez. Natchez puts its bluff over the Mississippi to use for a weekend built around the parade rather than a fairground. Friday opens with a biker photo shoot in the afternoon and a meet-and-greet at the Magnolia Bluffs Casino parking garage that takes in sports cars, old-school trucks and slingshots as well as motorcycles. Saturday has a blessing of the bikes at noon by the Christian Motorcyclists Association, a reenactment of the original Buffalo Soldiers in the afternoon, and at half five the parade of bikers rides through the city itself. The rally is coordinated with Visit Natchez.

Multiple shots were fired in downtown Natchez early on the morning of Oct. 1. Police responded to residents’ calls, but the perpetrator was not found. One downtown mom reported she woke her kids and moved them from the front bedroom of her house, fearful that bullets would penetrate the walls of her home and strike her children.

The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics arrested Kedric D. Smith, 36, of Natchez, for felon in possession of a weapon, trafficking, controlled substances, and possession of controlled substances. He remains in jail.

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.

Report methodology explained

A few readers have suggested Mississippi does not county self-employed persons as employed. But I called MDES yesterday and they said they most certainly do and sent Miss-Lou Magazine this detailed explanation. The Mississippi Department of Employment Security, as do its counterparts across the country, publishes two sets of employment statistics. One set counts people, the number of Mississippians who have jobs. This is called residence-based employment. The other counts jobs, the number of jobs at Mississippi-based employers. This is called establishment-based employment. The obvious difference between these two sets is that some people work in different states than where they live. All those folks working at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula who live in Alabama count toward Alabama residence-based employment, but also count toward Mississippi establishment-based employment. The monthly figures quoted by Miss-Lou Magazine are establishment-based. Residence-based employment counts self-employed, unpaid family, domestic and agricultural workers while establishment-based employment does not (except for some agricultural workers like veterinary and landscape workers). Also, residence-based employment only counts a person one time. Establishment-based employment counts the number of jobs, so a person holding two or more jobs will be counted multiple times. The Federal Reserve, the Congressional Budget Office, the president’s board of economic advisors and most who seek to examine the economy utilize establishment-based data because it counts jobs, which is a measure economic activity. Residence-based data is primarily used to compute the unemployment rate. Louisiana does the same . Both states adjust the number of actual employed after the month's report to correct for late filings of employment tax forms. Currently, Adams County has 9239 employed. That number could go up or down about 50 persons from what I've seen when the figures are adjusted. Establishment based data is adjusted monthly. You can be counted twice as two workers if you have a part time job at Go Mart, for example, and another job at Natchez Ford. The state collects the data and goes back to adjust the final figures. The states use Establishment based stats for the monthly figures. So when we quote the MDES figure of 9239 jobs for Adams in August, both the self employed are counted, and if you have two part time jobs, you're counted as two workers in the stats. The state says between 3.8-4.3 percent of establishment based workers have two or more jobs. That would be about 370 people in Adams County. We didn't know an employee can be counted twice in the stats, if he or she has two different part time jobs. So when the state says Adams County has 9239 employed, it's really a stretch. But that's the methodology.

Concordia Parish taxable assessments continue to increase, giving the parish more tax money. The hydro plant has the highest assessment at over $70 million. It posts nearly $5.8 million annually in property taxes. Syrah has the second highest assessment ar over $35 million. It pays $728,000 in property tax. Concordia Sentinel

Ridgecrest will hold a village meeting Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at village hall to discuss finances and water rates. The public is invited.

Respected educator passes

Dr Alice Morrison of Natchez has died. She served in the local schools for 26 years, as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent. She was known for her loving commitment to children. Morrison was 64.

The 55-year-old man killed in a car crash this weekend on Hwy. 131 in Concordia was Wesley Douglas Sr. of Vidalia. Prayers for Wesley and his family.

Meadville will operate the coming fiscal year with expected revenues at $724,000 and expenses calculated to be $714,000. The town will have a starting cash balance of a $154,000 and will show a slight surplus for the year.

The Nov 3 ballot in Franklin County includes: Chancery Court District 4 Place 2, Wayne Smith; Chancery Court District 4 Place 3, Debbra K. Halford, Ashunda Hampton; Circuit Court District 6, Debra W. Blackwell; and School Board District 5, Lindsay Smith Priest, Kristen A. Temple.

Looking for Damorn's killer

Up to $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the November 15, 2024 shooting death of 18 year old Damorn James Jr. on Collins Loop Road in Woodville. Contact the Wilkinson County SO.

Adams County Judge Danny Barber held court. Ben Thames had been arrested for attempted murder and was arraigned. Barber looked at the circumstances and decided no bond was appropriate. Andrew Lucas was arraigned on two counts of failure to register as a sex offender. Bond was set at $15,000 on each account for a total of $30,000. Hunter Guillot was arraigned on felony domestic battery and placed on a $100,000 bond and a no contact order.

Centreville recently published a list of the more than 300 people who owe fines. Citizens have until Oct. 12 to pay these past due fines. Failure to pay will mean immediate jailing for those who are stopped on roadways. Police will also work down the list to find those who haven’t paid and put the recalcitrants in jail pending payment. For more information contact Town hall at 601-645-5218.

Robert Johnson

State Rep. Robert Johnson says now is not the time to redistrict. He says state legislators and counties should wait to redistrict when the census is done in 2030 and local and state official will know what is the actual population of districts and counties, and will know the racial composition as well. He said Mississippi is suffering under the Republican super majority in the state legislature. Johnson says Mississippi has the worst health outcomes because of Republicans. Johnson has continually advocated for an expansion of Medicaid. Unfortunately, 48 percent of Mississippians are obese, the biggest factor in determining longevity and good health. Mississippi ranks number 1 or 2 in the country in obesity due to overeating.

Woodville police said there were five shootings between Aug. 8-13 in which two men were wounded. Another drive by shooting occurred Aug. 28. Thugs shot and wounded Zekeriyah Ephion, 20, as he and his girlfriend sat in his car on Main St. Officers recovered 30 spent bullet casings at the scene. No arrest has been reported. In September, Roderick Lollis, 34, shot and killed his grandmother, Clara Ross, 78, at her home on First West Street North. Lollis was charged with second-degree murder, possession of narcotics, possession of a weapon by convicted felon and possession of a stolen firearm. His bond was set at $500,000.

Wilkinson County supervisors passed a $9 million budget with $5.3 million in revenues coming from local property taxes and $2.6 million coming from state sources. The county is going through reassessment like other counties, doing 1/4 of the properties each year over a four year period. Reassessment has brought an increase of about 10% in property tax revenues, so supervisors will lower the mileage to keep property taxes about the same as last year. Wilkinson County supervisors have pledged not to increase peoples personal tax burdens if it all possible. County administrator David Wilkerson said the county will continue to lower the millage as revenues increase from reassessment, so the tax burden does not increase.

Adams County supervisors’ property insurance premium will rise from $867,000-$943,000 for the coming year. The $76,000 increase is a result of the county adding its new $7 million airport terminal to the policy.

Diana Nutter

Diana Ewing Nutter of Natchez has died at the age of 87. She and her husband, Jim, owned and operated WMIS-WTYJ for many decades, Diana taking over the AM station when her father passed. The Ewing Family founded WMIS in 1941. Jim and Diana later purchased WTYJ after a previous owner had shut down the FM station. Diana was a kind and soft-spoken person, who earned both the respect and affection of her employees and the general community. She was active in the Natchez Garden Club and a loyal member of Trinity Episcopal.

A 55-year-old man was driving along Hwy. 131 in Concordia Parish on Saturday morning, when he lost control of his Corvette, hit several trees and a fire hydrant. State Police said he was killed and his passengers injured. He was not wearing a seat belt. Police have not released his name or the names of those injured

Nicholas Jarrell of Natchez allegedly assaulted his victim in a domestic dispute at Oak Ridge Apartments on Sunday, injuring the person. Police responded to the attack but Jarrell had left the apartment grounds. They searched for him. In the meantime, he returned to the apartment to resume his attack and his victim stabbed Jarrell. Emergency personnel rendered aid, but he died at the scene. The victim has been interviewed by police and no charges have been preferred at the time. Police have not released the name of the domestic assault victim.

Albert Washington, Felicia Bates

Albert K. Washington, 47, of Natchez, has been arrested in Monroe, La., on a charge of first degree murder. Adams deputies found the the remains of Felicia Bates in woods near the Core Civic prison. Bates has been missing since earlier this month. Deputies have evidence that Washington killed her. He will be extradited from Monroe to face trial in Adams County.

The National Park Service will open a small contact station at the Visitor Center September 28. The contact station and bathrooms will be open 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM seven days a week. At least something will be open. A full restoration of the facility is expected to take another couple of years. The park service said it might reopen The Natchez Shop next to the contact station in the near future.

Delbert Hosemann will be in Natchez Monday from 2 to 3 PM at Natchez Coffee. He’s thinking about running for governor, having finished his two terms as lieutenant governor.

Data center prospect

Adams County supervisors say they’ve signed a non-disclosure agreement to not discuss the name of the company or specifics about a possible deal where a company would locate a data center on the IP-Rentech property. Chandler Russ of Natchez Inc. is working with supervisors to land the company. Supervisor Kevin Wilson said the property’s water wells may be of great advantage in helping secure the new industry, as data centers use thousands to millions of gallons of water daily to keep servers from overheating.

Natchez police plan to arrest Lisa A. McIntosh, 66, of Natchez, for aggravated DUI in the death of motorcyclist James Hilliard. Hilliard was traveling along Lower Woodville Rd. earlier this month, when he and McIntosh collided. A blood test is automatically performed on all drivers involved when there is a fatal accident on a Mississippi roadway. McIntosh’s alcohol level was above the legal limit.

Ferriday Police Chief Lakisica Bowman has been placed on administrative leave following a bout of illness. The Town Council will consider her status later when she has recovered.

Judge Andy Magoun

Judge Andy Magoun is a new district judge for Concordia and Catahoula is is already earning good reviews from attorneys and the public for his judicial temperament. Magoun is from Ferriday and has practiced law for 24 years, also serving as an assistant district attorney. He is expected to be firm but fair. Magoun caught attention and some flak on a recent case because a Clayton defendant pled guilty to negligent homicide in a DUI death and received just a two year jail sentence. It turns out the victim’s mother requested the two year sentence, believing that the sentence best served justice in the case. Judge Magoun listened to the woman carefully and decided he should honor the mother’s wish on behalf of herself and her daughter, who was killed in the accident. I had received more than 40 text messages about the case and sentencing, people believing the sentence was too light. Once I received the update as to why Magoun sentenced as he did, I thought it was important to give a fuller picture of the sentencing.

Jodie Routon’s Catahoula Current is now in print thanks to her partnership with The Jena Times. With the News Booster discontinued, Routon stepped forward with online news through Facebook and now she’s has a print edition, too, within the Jena paper.

Absentee voting has begun this week for the November 3 election in Mississippi. Democrat Scott Colom is challenging Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde Smith for the US Senate. Republican Ron Eller is trying to replace incumbent Democrat Bennie Thompson for the 2nd District Congressional seat.

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Dan Gibson

Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson told aldermen Tuesday he will give his State of the City address October 1 at 5:30 pm from the steps of City Hall. Gibson said his administration and the city are moving forward and everyone is expecting more success. He also wants he and the aldermen to pose for an official picture after his speech has concluded. The mayor invited all citizens to to attend a special production featuring Grade 2-4 McLaurin students, on the steps of the city auditorium on Oct. 2, at 5:30 p.m. Gibson said, ‘the students will sing songs of freedom and fairness remembering the demonstrations of the 1960’s and the sit-in that led to the Parchman Ordeal, an important part of Natchez history.’

A large crowd of citizens attended the Sept. 23 Vidalia aldermen’s meeting to hear news of the data center likely to occupy the Fruit of the Loom plant. Mayor Buz Craft spoke out in favor of the new center, saying it would not pose environmental or occupational risks to the town. Craft said the town has more than enough electrical, water and sewer capacity to meet the center’s needs but Entergy would have to upgrade it’s transmission line to and from Vidalia to meet the plant’s requirements. Craft said the town could earn more than $4 million revenue just from electricity just in the first year. Approximately 60-75 permanent jobs would be added and most of those jobs would pay $70,000-$80,000 a year. If the plant is successful and its customers increase usage, Vidalia could earn as much as $10 million a year in electrical revenues. Many citizens spoke out against the project, echoing negative aspects they’ve read on the internet about data centers. Craft tried to reassure them about the safety, employment and revenue benefits the town would enjoy if the deal goes through. Casey Calhoun of Vidalia spoke in favor of the center. He said he has worked at the new Rayville data center for the past year. He said Rayville and the surrounding towns have experienced an economic boom during construction, with businesses reporting great sales. The parish has been able to resurface roads, improve recreation and schools and pay teachers big bonuses. Aldermen voted to issue an occupational license for the project and voted to give the company an option to purchase 208 acres in the industrial park.

Natchez Alderwoman Valencia Hall asked her fellow leaders to consider placing new language in the city code that would allow the city to revoke special exceptions for zoning and property use. City Attorney Jack Lazarus said a draft of that language should be ready soon. The Planning Commission has been hesitant to add any more special exceptions since Judge Carmen Drake ruled the city did not have the enabling authority within its code. The Commission has issued just two exceptions since Judge Drake issued her ruling.

Data center

When Vidalia aldermen meet Tuesday, Sept. 22, they will consider granting an occupational license for Fortalis Vidalia LLC, which would operate a data center at the Fruit of the Loom plant. The company also wants to enter a purchase agreement to buy 208 acres in the Vidalia Industrial Park.

Vidalia police are investigating a shooting that occurred early Saturday morning along the riverfront. One person was wounded and airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Officers are not certain of the details surrounding the shooting.

Adams deputies arrested Tybrionna Williams, 23, of Natchez, for simple assault against a law enforcement officer, a felony. She is currently held in jail.

In February 2023, Natchez aldermen voted to spend $4 million by directly investing in the Eola Hotel project. Additionally, the city spent about $800,000 in federal monies to remove the Fry Building and will spend another $300,000-$500,000 building a parking lot for the Eola. Hayes Dent, the public relations guy for the project, and Dale Partners Architects then announced the hotel would be a Marriott Tribute Portfolio boutique hotel. It would reopen for business in 2027 with 98 guest rooms, after 14 months of construction. Additionally, the owner of the hotel, Robert Lubin had his law license revoked in Virginia. He had voluntarily agreed to the revocation. The revocation did not include why he was being ousted as a Virginia attorney. Originally, the Eola rehab was to be funded by raising monies from immigrant investors, as part of the national TB-5 program, who agree to invest in commercial projects in economically depressed areas in return for a Green Card. Hayes said in 2026 that Lubin would be “taking a back seat” on the program now. He did not specify exactly what that meant in terms of ownership and management. I asked Dent recently if there was a new timeline for construction and opening since 2027 has almost arrived. He did not respond. However, in my previous conversation with him, he said the cost to rebuild was now over $30 million. The hotel is now owned by. NRE2, a limited partnership, with an office in San Diego. Lubin had used Neville Bilmoria in Chennai, India, to help raise funds for the project, according to a Form D filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It’s not known whether Bilmoria and NRE2 are still working together or not

Concordia Parish now reports 5,738 workers employed, 60 fewer employed than a year ago. The jobless rate is 6.5 percent. Catahoula shows 3235 workers with jobs, down 23 jobs from a year ago. The jobless rate is 5.7 percent.

The Concordia Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards dinner at the Vidalia Convention Center. Those recognized included: 50 Years of Service Award - Concordia Funeral Home; Young Professional - Mark Welch; Guy Murray/Volunteer of the Year - Jennifer Freeman; Farmer of the Year - Waylon Book; First Responder of the Year - Del’Marcus Johnson; Concordian of the Year - James Lee; Large Business of the Year - Delta Bank; and Small Business of the Year - Miss-Lou Eye Care.

Student fight

The football wasn’t enough entertainment. Kids near the refreshment stand at Natchez High stadium attacked each other and attacked police after the game Friday evening. Sept. 19. Police were able to quell the disturbance within a few minutes. Between 10-20 students were involved.

The Concordia Parish Police Jury accepted a bid of $1.1 million from Womack Construction to redo the parish’s wastewater treatment plant. A lower bid of $350,000 less was rejected because that Baton Rouge bidder had a small clerical error in its bid. The clerical error was the company mistyping its own name in one section of the bid. The jury had the option of declaring the error a minor informality and accepting the lower bid, because the typo had nothing to do with the work or the bid price. But the jury chose not to accept the lower bid and accepted the higher Womack bid. The Baton Rouge contractor pleaded with the jury to accept his bid, considering the clerical error was obvious. But the jury received advice from its attorney that it should reject the Baton Rouge bid and accept the Womack bid. While the jury did not break the law in accepting the higher bid, its decision cost local taxpayers an extra $350,000. Louisiana law allows for the acceptance of a low bid with an obvious stenographic error, as long as the words typed have nothing to do with the work to be accomplished or the price of the work.

Adams deputies arrested James Joiner, 21, of Natchez, for intent to sell drugs. Bond was set at $50,000. He is currently in jail.

More revenues for the city

Natchez city government continues to get significant revenues from Magnolia Bluffs Casino. The casino pays $1 million a year in rent to the city for the Roth Hill site, contributes $267,000 a year for community development plus 3.2 percent of its gaming revenues in tax to the city. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, the casino paid over $924,000 in gaming tax to Natchez.

The following individuals were arrested and booked into the Catahoula Parish Jail during the last week: Lori Book, 59, of Jonesville, was arrested September 4 by the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office for failure to appear. Jimmie Jerome White, 37, of Monroe, was arrested September 4 by the Jonesville Police Department for possession of CDS I with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension. William Bert Bass, 46, of Jonesville, was arrested September 5 by the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office for aggravated assault with a weapon on an officer, resisting arrest, disturbing the peace and simple obstruction of highway. Tiffany N. Morris, 43, of Jonesville, was arrested September 8 by the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office for probation violation. Robert Louis Stevenson, 45, of Jonesville, was arrested September 8 by the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office for aggravated arson.

The Concordia Parish Police Jury will consider permitting the construction of a large solar energy farm between Ferriday anf Lake St. John. Next Era Energy Resources says its project will provide 200 construction jobs and $1 million in property taxes each year for 30 years.

New dock

Natchez officials and American Cruise Lines said the company will build a $5 million dock at the end of Silver St. The commitment means the firm will maintain and extend its presence in the city, as well as making it much easier to load and unload passengers and goods and connect to utilities.

Natchez police said they have arrested an intoxicated woman driver, after she struck and killed a motorcyclist as he was riding on Lower Woodville Rd. James Hilliard, 34, of Sicily Island, was the motorcyclist. Police blocked traffic on Lower Woodville between Highland Blvd. and Briarwood Rd. for their investigation of the accident. The name of the woman arrested has not been released.

Jordan, Kaiser & Sessions engineers of Natchez has closed after 70 years of service. The company faced financial difficulties after 2021, when Adams County supervisors switched from JKS to a Jackson company for all the county's engineering needs.

Fundraising for Ferriday High

Dorothy Parker of the Concordia Parish School Board is leading the charge to raise money to buy classroom furniture for Ferriday High. Donors can purchase an engraveable brick for $150, with proceeds going towards the furnishings. The brick can feature two lines of text to remember a loved one or special friend. The school board recently finished exterior upgrades to the school and Parker thought the community would support a drive to buy some new furniture. About $12,000 has been raised so far. (Concordia Sentinel)

Natchez police said they have arrested an intoxicated woman driver, after she struck and killed a motorcyclist as he was riding on Lower Woodville Rd. Police blocked traffic on Lower Woodville between Highland Blvd. and Briarwood Rd. for their investigation of the accident. No names released yet.

Natchez aldermen passed a tight budget for the coming fiscal year Spending and borrowing cots have increased in recent years. The city will finish its fiscal year with a year-end balance of just $$76,000, next to no cash.The aldermen also included a last minute $300,000 appropriation that wo7uld tie into the rehab of the Ritz Theater and a possible grant. but city leaders did not explain why they allocated taxpayer funds for private property that taxpayers don't own.

New bridge

Mississippi Department of Transportation Southern District Commissioner Charles Busby said work on the U.S. Highway 98 bridge over the Homochitto River is expected to be open to traffic in December. “We know how important restoring connectivity is to the citizens of Franklin County. “That’s why crews are working hard to expedite the remaining work on the U.S. 98 bridge with the goal of opening it to traffic in December.” (Franklin Advocate)

Sam Mims is not running for reelection to Dist. 97 in 2027. That leaves the state house seat open for a new person. The district includes parts of Adams, Franklin, Amite and Pike counties.

Adams County supervisors passed a new budget with a $4 million deficit. The deficit will be made up by using existing cash balances. The county did not cut spending and lowered millage by one mill. Supervisor Kevin Wilson, attended the meeting by phone, voted against the budget, saying spending reforms were not in place and that the budget was “the same old, same old.”Warren Gaines wants the county administrator to provide quarterly financial reports.

New dock

American Cruise lines and Natchez city officials will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Wed., Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. to celebrate the construction of a cruise boat dock. The dock will be built at the end of Silver St., where the riverboat casino was stationed. The project is expected to cost $5 million.

On Sept. 22, The Natchez Historical society will present the program, An Unholy Traffic: Slave Trading in the Civil War South with speaker Robert K.D. Colby, Ph.D. Dr. Colby will discuss his book, "An Unholy Traffic: Slave Trading in the Civil War South," which explores the survival of the domestic slave trade during the Civil War using wartime slave commerce to examine the endurance of Confederate nationalism, economic and social life during the war, and the contested onset of African-American freedom. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. with a social meet and greet with refreshments at 108 South Commerce Street, followed by the program at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Colby's program is part of the Grace MacNeil Lecture Program. Natchez Historical Society programs are free and open to the public.

As part of the budget that’s starts Oct. 1, Natchez firemen and public works employees will get a 3 percent raise.

Judges' forum

The Natchez Chapter of the NAACP will partner with the Southern Poverty Law Center for an Oct. 8 judges’ election forum at the Adams County Safe Room with supervisors’ assistance. The law center is under an 11-count indictment, alleging bank and mail fraud in its fundraising. The center also gave money to the KKK to fund demonstrations and then would use photos and stories from the events to raise more money to combat right wing extremism.

On Sunday, Sept. 13, four members of the Guedon Family of Natchez were in their R66 helicopter, taking off from the former Lady Luck parking lot just above Under the Hill, when the copter crashed within a few seconds after takeoff. No one was injured. Frank Guedon was piloting. Cause of the crash is not known. The FAA will investigate.

Jimmy June, 82, of Natchez and Ferriday, died today, after his vehicle struck another vehicle. Witnesses say he suffered a heart attack and the collision was the result of the heart attack. CPR was administered but couldn’t save him. Jimmy was a long-serving manager for Southwest Mississippi Electric Power, active in church and local affairs. He was outgoing, good hearted and caring.

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Poor audit

The Natchez School District delayed its completion of audits for 2023-2025, saying it had trouble finding a CPA. Its audit for 2023 has been completed, but audits for 2024 and 2025 have still not been submitted. The 2023 audit submitted by Novum Advisory CPAs of Madison reveals the District’s illegalities, poor bookkeeping and mismanagement. Problem 1: The District has 13 individual fund balances with deficits, totaling a massive $4 million. It is against the law for the District to have fund balances that are below zero. No explanation is given as to whether this was caused by overspending, improper moving of funds from one account to another, or just lousy bookkeeping. Problem 2: The District failed to bond all individuals that handle monies, as required by Section 25-1-12(1); and Board Policy DJEA: Purchasing Authority designates the Superintendent and Business Manager as purchasing agents; however, these employees were not bonded as such. The District bonded another employee, not designated as a purchasing agent by Board Policy, as a purchasing agent. Problem 3: During the review of the District’s financial reports, the auditor noted the required monthly financial reports were presented to the Board for approval; however, the required reports were not included in the official Board minutes. Problem 4: During the review of the District’s Unemployment Compensation Fund, the auditor noted the fund’s account balance was $80,932 less than the limitations required by statute. Problem 5: During the review of the District’s budgets and Board minutes, the auditor noted the following exceptions: The combined and combining original and amended budgets were not spread upon the Board minutes; four instances where the actual expenditures exceeded budgeted amounts; and two instances where there were unbudgeted expenditures. Problem 6: the CPA monitored PERS system contributions (for state retirement), looking at 18 forms for employees as a test and sample. On the 18 forms, the CPA found 28 significant errors. Including misreporting wages and information, incomplete reporting and not reporting at all. Problem 7: During the review of the District's travel expenditures, the auditor noted the following exceptions: Two instances where the employees were reimbursed the incorrect mileage rate; Two instances where the employees were reimbursed the incorrect meal per diem; Five instances where the cost comparison was not calculated for airfare; Two instances where the cost comparison was not calculated for rental cars; One instance where the employee was reimbursed meal per diem for meal charges to hotel bill; One instance where the agenda was not attached to the travel voucher to substantiate purpose for trip; Two instances where the employees failed to carpool as required by Board Policy; and One instance where $72 was reimbursed for parking that was not substantiated by documentation. Problem 8: During the review of the School District’s purchasing expenditures, the auditor noted the following exceptions: One instance where two or more quotes were not obtained for a purchase in the amount of $38,568: One instance where a sole source purchase was not spread upon the minutes: One instance where a other-than—lowest-bid purchase was not spread upon the minutes; and Three instances where the purchase was not paid within 45 days of the invoice being received. Problem 9: During the review of the District’s activity/athletic funds, the auditor noted the following exceptions: One instance where no ticket numbers were documented on the count sheet; therefore. Auditors were unable to verify pre-numbered tickets were used; 11 instances where deposits were not timely made; and One instance where documentation was not maintained for a football game; therefore, auditor was unable to perform testwork. Problem 10: During the review of the District’s credit cards, the auditor noted the District did not maintain all fuel receipts for the purchases made with the fuel cards.

Tyler Anthony Keith entered guilty pleas to 39 felony counts of Depicting a Child Engaging in Sexual Conduct. The Circuit Court found that Keith’s guilty pleas were knowingly and voluntarily entered and that a factual basis existed to support the charges. Senior Circuit Court Judge Debra W. Blackwell accepted the State’s sentencing recommendation and sentenced Keith to 30 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. Under the order, Keith is to serve 15 years, with the balance suspended, followed by five years of formal reporting post release supervision and 10 years of informal non reporting post release supervision. The order further states that Keith will not be eligible for parole and is required to register as a sex offender. The Court also imposed a $50,000 fine, along with assessments to the Victims of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Fund and the Mississippi Children’s Trust Fund, as well as applicable court costs and fees. Following sentencing, Keith was remanded to the custody of the Adams County Sheriff to await immediate transportation to the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Deficits

The Concordia Parish School budget will run a $8.2 million deficit in the coming year, with $53.1 million in expenses. The district can run such a large deficit because it will start the year with $44.8 million in cash. It will use $8.2 million of that cash to break even. The fiscal year starts January 1. The school board is late filing its 2025 audit, which should have been filed by the end of June 2026. It ran a deficit in 2024. It promised to do its audits on time but has not. exploitation investigations in the history of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office concluded today with a guilty plea and sentencing in Adams County Circuit Court.

Vidalia aldermen voted to use $2.8 million in hydro funds to provide rebates to the town’s electricity customers. The rebate this year will be like last year’s, 50 percent of the customer’s annual electrical bill.

Mississippi Highway officials have not yet released an absolute finish date for the Homochitto River Bridge in Franklin County. Work crews are making progress since the bridge collapsed while under construction a little over a year ago. The new bridge may open in October. (Franklin Advocate)

Natchez murder

On Wednesday, September 9, officers with the Natchez Police Department responded to a residence on Hunters Lane in reference to a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers located Wilbert Riggs, 63, who had sustained a gunshot wound. Riggs was transported to Merit Health Natchez for treatment but later succumbed to his injuries. As a result of the preliminary investigation, Jasmine Buchanan, 31, was identified as the person alleged to have fired the weapon. Buchanan has been arrested and charged with Second-Degree Murder in connection with the incident. This investigation remains open and active, and detectives are continuing to gather evidence and information. Additional information may be released as the investigation progresses. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Natchez Police Department Criminal Investigation Division.

Judge Andy Magoun delivered a lighter than expected sentence of two years for Ro’Zaven Thompson, 35, of Clayton, for the Nov. 2025 negligent homicide death of Lakita Mehta, 39, of Ferriday. Thompson was intoxicated and driving along Hwy. 84 and struck another vehicle. Mehta was a passenger in Thompson’s Malibu. She was killed, pronounced dead at the scene, and he was injured and subsequently hospitalized. Neither was wearing a seatbelt. The driver and passenger of the other car were wearing seatbelts and were not injured. (Concordia Sentinel)

Adams County Supervisor Angela Hutchins directed more than $400,000 to be spent paving part of South Palestine Road, where there are no homes or residences, just one hunting camp at the end of the road. That was her entire share of the county road budget for one year. Miss-Lou Magazine has sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors c/o Hutchins asking why so much money was spent on that one road that has no houses on it. Hutchins is president of the board.

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