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
Private jail plans presented to Adams County supervisors as option
NATCHEZ, Miss. - The Adams County board has received a proposal for a privately owned jail being built to replace the county's deteriorating facility. Adams County would rent the jail to house inmates and not be responsible for the new building's maintenance. "You would never have that headache of that maintenance...
Apr 02, 2024
Adams County board begins review of proposed oil waste dump
NATCHEZ, Miss. - The Adams County board is getting its engineer to review plans for the oil-waste dump being proposed by Supervisor Kevin Wilson as his fellow supervisors determine whether it can operate. The four other supervisors haven't decided whether to permit the landfill, but they apologized Monday to Wilson's m...
Apr 02, 2024
City officials working to get garbage contractor to take Natchez residents' bulky trash
NATCHEZ, Miss. - City officials continue working out final details of a new contract with Natchez' garbage collector to include curbside pickups for bulky yard debris, appliances and other large items currently not hauled away. The Board of Aldermen on Tuesday affirmed its previous selection of Arrow Disposal Servic...
Mar 29, 2024
Alcorn to host art exhibition and forum on race and history
NATCHEZ, Miss. - An art exhibition and conversation on race and history will be held on Wednesday, April 3, at Alcorn State University, Lorman, in Belles Lettres Hall. The program is hosted by the Alluvial Collective, Mississippi Humanities Council, and Alcorn State University's Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture...
Mar 28, 2024
Ribbon-Cutting Unveils New Jordan Carriers HQ in Natchez
Natchez, MS - Jordan Carriers and Jordan Logistics have officially opened their new corporate headquarters on Highway 61 South in Natchez, Mississippi. The new facility spans over 27,000 square feet and is equipped with modern amenities including state-of-the-art conference rooms, breakrooms, and an outdoor courtyard d...
Mar 28, 2024
City officials working to get garbage contractor to take Natchez residents' bulky trash
NATCHEZ, Miss. - City officials continue working out final details of a new contract with Natchez' garbage collector to include curbside pickups for bulky yard debris, appliances and other large items currently not hauled away. The Board of Aldermen on Tuesday affirmed its previous selection of Arrow Disposal Service a...
Mar 28, 2024
Kindness Starts with You - Pass it On - From the Mayor's Desk
Years ago, when I was very involved in music ministry, including outreach programs, prison ministry, and weekend retreats such as "Walk to Emmaus", time and time again we would sing a favorite hymn, a 1969 Spiritual called "Pass it On". The first verse was especially catchy, "It only takes a sp...
Mar 22, 2024
Adams County supervisors seek to revive disbanded swimming pool commission
NATCHEZ, Miss. - County supervisors are seeking people to appoint to the commission that oversees the Natchez-Adams County swimming pool. The city and county boards suspended the commission last year because it was dysfunctional. The Board of Supervisors on Monday agreed to solicit commission candidates wanting to b...
Mar 22, 2024