A NEW RESORT: Developers plan $30M luxury RV resort for Adams County
NATCHEZ — Ground was broken south of Natchez on Tuesday morning for a $30 million investment that will turn 275-plus acres into a luxury RV resort development. Natchez Inc. and the developers of Unwind Resorts announced the venture today on-site at 177 Southwind Drive, Natchez. Developers Cody Martin, Jonathan St...
Apr 30, 2024
Unwind Resorts begins construction on the Magnolia Trace RV Resort in Adams County
Natchez, Inc. joins the developers of Unwind Resorts today as they announce the beginning of construction of a new luxury RV resort - Magnolia Trace. Developers Cody Martin, Jonathan Starns and Brandon Dodson will transform a 275+ acre site in South Adams County into a resort attraction filled with high end RV lots, a ...
Apr 30, 2024
Natchez inmate dies in Concordia Parish Correctional Facility
NATCHEZ — A Natchez man who has been an inmate in the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility has died. Blarrington Ashley, 53, of Natchez, was indicted by a grand jury for shoplifting more than $1,000, said Natchez Police Chief Cal Green. Because of the unsafe conditions in the Adams County Jail, the Adams County...
Apr 29, 2024
Natchez man arrested, charged with felony child abuse
NATCHEZ — A Natchez man was arrested Friday for felony child abuse. Taj Minor, 26, allegedly abused a 3-year-old. The mother of the child, who is a juvenile, may also be charged in the case. Natchez Police Chief Cal Green said her department was notified of the incident by Child Protective Services. She said when...
Apr 29, 2024
Couple, vehicle get stuck in water on roadway; Sheriff warns against ignoring road closure signs
NATCHEZ — A Natchez couple ignored road closure signs and got stuck on an underwater road in Adams County Friday evening. Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said cars continue to drive on Pintail Road, off York Road in the St. Catherine Creek Wildlife Refuge. “This is federal property. People need to know t...
Apr 29, 2024
Ferriday elects Garrison as mayor
NATCHEZ — The town of Ferriday, Louisiana, elected a new mayor on Saturday. Democrat Alvin Garrison garnered 643 votes or 75 percent to Democrat Joey Bazile III’s 219 or 25 percent of the votes. District B elected Devonte M. Schiele as its alderman. Schiele, who claims no party affiliation, received 116 vot...
Apr 28, 2024
Thompson presents funds for Forks to Freedom project
NATCHEZ — At a press conference Friday at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bolton, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson announced a number of community project fundings in Mississippi’s Second Congressional District. Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson and Ward 2 Alderman Billie Joe Frazier were at the conference to receive a $...
Apr 27, 2024
Renovation plans for Natchez meeting venues move forward
NATCHEZ, Miss. - The Board of Aldermen has approved a contractor's $1 million bid for renovating Natchez' City Auditorium, the assembly hall built in 1938. This phase of construction by Smith Painting & Contracting will involve various upgrades, such as new seats, restrooms and ceilings and cleaning the exterior. A...
Apr 25, 2024
State Legislature pays tribute to former Natchez mayor Brown
NATCHEZ, Miss. - The Mississippi Legislature has formally recognized the public service of former Natchez mayor Butch Brown, who died a year ago today. In a resolution the state Senate and House of Representatives passed last month, lawmakers noted Brown "was a man of vision, and that and his undaunted energy brou...
Apr 25, 2024
Natchez-Adams County boards' arrangements remain unsettled for E911, fire and pool
NATCHEZ, Miss. - City aldermen have a proposal drafted for Adams County supervisors to continue the joint emergency-dispatching operations that Natchez and the county have jointly operated since 2017. Adams County supervisors have advanced plans to move the E911 call center from the basement of the county jail to a bui...
Apr 25, 2024
State Legislature passes bill to help Adams County finance new jail
NATCHEZ, Miss. - The Mississippi House and Senate have agreed to authorize Adams County to enter into a lease-purchase agreement for a new jail. House Bill 4090, requested by Adams County supervisors, passed the Senate on Wednesday after clearing the House of Representatives earlier this month. It now goes to the gover...
Apr 25, 2024
Municipal election day is Saturday for Ferriday, Monterey Fire Protection District No. 1
FERRIDAY, La. — This Saturday, the April 27 Municipal General Election will determine the next mayor of the Town of Ferriday and two aldermen seats. Monterey Fire Protection District No. 1 also has two propositions to vote on that would benefit the fire service. The deadline for a registrar of voters to receive a...
Apr 24, 2024
Natchez seeking federal funds for deteriorating State Street support structure
NATCHEZ, Miss. - Federal funds are being sought to rebuild what buttresses an imperiled section of State Street between Martin Luther King and Arlington streets. "If the infrastructure there fails, it would cripple all of downtown," said Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson, who noted the deteriorating structure is by Fi...
Apr 24, 2024
More Natchez streets to be patched up
NATCHEZ, Miss. - The mayor and city aldermen are planning to repair several downtown streets that include Main, Franklin, Canal and Homochitto. They agreed Tuesday to seek proposals from contractors on how much it'll cost to do the work. This is an addition to the $6 million resurfacing project that began last August f...
Apr 24, 2024
Judge finds Natchez woman guilty of misdemeanor trespassing at proposed landfill site
NATCHEZ — An Amite County Justice Court Judge found Millicent Graning guilty of misdemeanor trespassing on Tuesday. Graning was arrested on March 29 by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office after a warrant for her arrest was signed and issued by Arnold on March 13. Kevin Wilson filed an affidavit with Adams Cou...
Apr 23, 2024
Concordia Parish Police Jury investigating possible employee misconduct
VIDALIA, La. — The Concordia Parish Police Jury is hiring a private investigator based in Shreveport to investigate potential employee misconduct. Ten minutes into the 6 p.m. regularly scheduled meeting, the Police Jury voted 8-0 to enter an executive session to discuss “employee/personnel conduct issues&rd...
Apr 23, 2024
Mayor, aldermen meet today at 6 p.m.
NATCHEZ — As agendas for the Natchez Mayor and Board of Aldermen meetings go, Tuesday’s agenda seems light. But don’t let that fool you. Reports from aldermen and the mayor often hold surprises. The Natchez Mayor and Board of Aldermen meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Council Chambers, 115 S. Pearl St., a...
Apr 23, 2024
Controversial wood-pellet producer Drax creates new fund for Gloster community
GLOSTER – The wood-pellet manufacturer at the center of controversy in Gloster is committing $250,000 to a new community fund aimed at improving the life of the town’s residents. Drax, a UK-based renewable energy company, announced the Gloster Community Fund on Tuesday, saying the fund is earmarked exclusiv...
Apr 23, 2024
Natchez doing study to improve downtown parking and traffic flow
NATCHEZ, Miss. - The mayor and city aldermen have contracted an urban-planning firm to do a traffic and parking study for downtown Natchez. An Atlanta-based urban planning and architectural firm will be paid $29,200 to do the analysis of downtown streets and make recommendations. The study will review on-street and off...
Apr 17, 2024
Plans for new Adams County jail being aided by state Legislature
NATCHEZ, Miss. - Natchez-Adams County leaders making plans for a new jail are scheduled to tour Simpson County's detention center that could serve as a model for what could replace Adams County's deteriorating facility. This comes as the Adams County Board of Supervisors advance their plans for constructing a detention...
Apr 16, 2024
Plans underway for new Natchez hospitality business; efforts continue for recruiting airline
NATCHEZ, Miss. - Plans are underway here for an announcement and groundbreaking April 30 for a new business that Natchez-Adams County's chief commercial development officer said is a "nontraditional" project related to "hospitality." More details are forthcoming, said Chandler Russ, executive direct...
Apr 16, 2024
New garbage contract calls for charging Natchez residents more for added pickup service
NATCHEZ, Miss. - City residents could see a $6 increase in their monthly garbage-pickup charge as Natchez aldermen have decided to get trash collectors to also haul away large bulky items, such as appliances and tree limbs. Raising the current $24.15-a-month household garbage fee to about $30 will help pay for "ad...
Apr 15, 2024
Wiggins to discuss his new book at April 23 meeting of Natchez Historical Society
NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Historian and retired educator James Wiggins will discuss his new book, "Outliving the White Lie: A Southerner's Historical, Genealogical and Personal Journey" (University Press of Mississippi, 2024), at the Tuesday, April 23 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. The meeting is free to ...
Apr 15, 2024
Sculptor Bob Willis receives Award of Merit for bust of Hiram Rhodes Revels
NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez, recently presented sculptor Bob Willis with the Award of Merit on behalf of the Mississippi Historical Society. Barnes, who is vice president of the society, said Willis was not able to attend the society's annual meeting in F...
Apr 13, 2024
Senate passes bill to redraw court districts for Adams and other counties
NATCHEZ, Miss. - The state Senate has approved legislation to remap judicial districts that would put Adams County with Pike County along with less populous southwest Mississippi counties. While Adams County leaders opposed the realignment of the circuit and chancery court districts, the Senate passed the bill Wednesda...
Apr 12, 2024
From the Mayor's Desk: Time to Get to Work for the People of Natchez!
This week our city held municipal elections which, despite a final election still to take place in June, effectively set the stage for what will likely constitute our city's leadership for the next four years. The mayor, judge, and three alderman races were unopposed. And three alderman races that were opposed were dec...
Apr 12, 2024
African descendants of Prince Ibrahima returning to Natchez
NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Twenty West African elders, all descendants of Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima ibn Sori, are planning a return visit to Natchez in May, according to Princess Karen Chatman, who is coordinating the event. Abdul Rahman's story is told in Terry Alford's book, "Prince among Slaves: The True Story of an ...
Apr 11, 2024
Thelma Newsome to speak at 84th commemoration of Rhythm Night Club Fire
NATCHEZ, Miss. - Thelma Newsome, a retired educator and former member of the Natchez-Adams School District Board of Education, will be the guest speaker for the 84th commemoration of the Rhythm Night Club fire of April 23, 1940. This year's event will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the Rhythm Night Club (on ...
Apr 09, 2024
From the Mayor's Desk: Vote Tuesday - And Vote for the Natchez Renewal!
Tuesday, April 9, is an important day for Natchez - it is the day that we go to the polls to vote for our city leaders - mayor, judge and aldermen. I am grateful to be unopposed, and I thank the citizens for another four years! Our city judge and three aldermen are also unopposed - an indication that we must be moving ...
Apr 05, 2024
Adams County officials oppose Senate bill redrawing judicial districts
NATCHEZ, Miss. - The Mississippi Senate has a committee-passed bill opposed by Adams County officials that would enlarge the circuit and chancery court districts that cover the county. The Adams County Board of Supervisors has come out in opposition to the legislation at the behest of District Attorney Tim Cotton, who ...
Apr 04, 2024