miss-loumagazine.com

Natchez, Miss.
Postings Daily

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

Hot air balloons and top bands

The Natchez Balloon Festival runs Oct. 17-20. Live entertainment will perform on the grounds of Rosalie Tickets are available at the Historic Natchez Foundation and at natchezballoonfestival.com. (Friday $20, Saturday $35 ($40 at the gate), Weekend $40 ($50 at the gate), VIP  Saturday Only $130 ($155 at the gate), VIP Weekend $325 ($375 at the gate). Weekend VIP passes include dinner and open bar on Friday night, private and shaded VIP area with seating overlooking the beautiful Mississippi River, private air-conditioned bathrooms, and a private cash bar on Saturday night! 

Adams deputies arrested Adrianna V. Murphy, 27, of Natchez, for felony malicious mischief of $1000-$5000 in value. She will be released on bond of $2500. If convicted, she faces up to $5000 in fines and up to 10 years in jail. She was charged with aggravated assault earlier this year, with her case remanded to the file.

Early voting begins

Louisiana Early Voting runs Oct. 18-29 for the November election. Voters can call the parish registrar of voters to request a mail-in ballot or vote in person at the registrar’s office.

The contractor will begin repairs and improvements on the Canal St. bridge project as soon as this week. Expect traffic delays. 

Adams deputies arrested Jordan J. Stewart, 18, of Natchez, for possession of drugs with intent to distribute. He’s been arrested before with minor amounts. This time, he had more. He remain in jail.   

Stores closing

Channel Control Merchants has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and says it will close all its Dirt Cheap and Treasure Island stores, including the Dirt Cheap in Natchez. Most of the stores are expected to run “Going Out of Business” sales. 

Natchez has placed a second marker on the Mississippi Freedom Trail, located at Donnan’s Barbershop, the birthplace of the Deacons for Defense and Justice in Natchez in the 1960s. The Deacons for Defense and Justice was organized in Natchez in 1964 in response to increasing violence against civil rights activists and the lack of protection for Black communities. The Deacons aimed to provide armed protection for civil rights workers and the Black community against the Ku Klux Klan.

Adams deputies arrested Byleigh Rayborn, 24, of Natchez, and Sunshine Robertson, 22, of Ferriday, for aggravated assault, after they struck and beat their female victim, causing injury. Video of the assault has been turned over to law enforcement. Bond was set at $50,000 each. Rayborn posted bond and Robertson is still in jail.

Chief Cal Green

Natchez Police Chief Caroline Green gave a report to aldermen that serious crime is decreasing in 2024 compared to 2022-2023. Green provided statistics that showed complete tallies for 2022 and 2023 and statistics for January through September of this year. The chart she provided for city leaders compared nine months of statistics for 2024 to 12 months of statistics for 2022 and 2023. That left Alderman with the impression that crime is down more than it actually is. The Chief said there’s been 546 crimes so far this year. At the present pace, criminals will commit 728 serious crimes by the end of the year. That would be a decrease of 90 crimes for 2024 compared to 2022. Of course, no one knows what exactly will happen in terms of the total number of crimes between October and December of this year. Green is confident that her department is doing a good job and the coordination with the sheriff’s office is resulting in more arrests. The police department keeps track of homicides, rapes, robberies, aggravated, and simple, assaults, burglaries, grand and petit larcenies, and arsons. City leaders commended Green and her department for their good work. However, with three months of statistics still to be tallied for 2024 the congratulations, well deserved for the first nine months of this year our premature considering the year is not over. Natchez’s worst epidemic in crime in recent memory was during the early 1990s, when the crack epidemic took hold. However, crime increased again in the period of 2010 to 2021, when shooters, gangs and drug dealers ran wildly over the city, and many break-ins and burglaries occurred. Police and sheriff’s deputies have made more 4000 felony arrests in the last four years, a consequence of the upswing in violence and criminal activity. Green is confident the worst is behind us. 

APAC-MS of Ridgeland submitted a $1.4 million low bid to asphalt eight streets in Vidalia. Aldermen accepted the bid. The streets to be repaved include North Oak, Florida, Georgia, South Spruce, Debra, Lynn, Pear, Carolina and Miller. 

Kevin Samrow, CEO of Merit Health Natchez said his hospital has dramatically improved its ability to hire and retain nurses in the past two years to give the hospital the staffing it needs especially during high demand times. Samrow said Merit has invested another $3.4 million in the last two years in its equipment and facilities. The incidence of employee accidents and patient infections has decreased significantly. He also mentioned that if more progress is made in hiring, the hospital would consider opening a swing bed floor. U.S News and World Report grades 5,000 hospitals across the nation and gives Merit a grade of 3 out of 5, with 5 being excellent. The grades are compiled from patient satisfaction surveys. 

Judge Walt Brown

Judge Walt Brown is Adams County Judge and supervises two drug courts. One is for adults who have neglected or abused their kids. As part of court rules, the adults must participate in drug education, test drug free and stay clean. Many of the adults who abuse or neglect their children have problems with drugs or alcohol. The other drug court works with kids who are before the court also with drug problems. Adams County is one of the few Mississippi counties that uses a drug court as part of its family services. Judge Brown recently asked the aldermen and supervisors for a share of the opioid lawsuit settlement funds to expand his programs. Brown also supervises the court appointed special advocate program which provides trained volunteers to improve the quality of life for abused and neglected kids. 

Concordia deputies arrested Jayden L. Simpson, 17, of Ferriday, for felony aggravated battery and illegal use of a weapon. He is being held in the parish jail.

Adams County supervisors agreed to Sheriff Travis Patten’s request to purchase $100,000 worth of computer equipment as an emergency purchase. Patten said some of the office’s computers keep crashing and cannot be repaired. The emergency purchase allows the county to bypass the state’s bidding requirements. The monies for the buy will come from seized drug funds. 

NATCHEZ MONUMENT COMPANY: Love. Beauty. Craftsmanship. 601-445-5912, 680 Hwy. 61N, Natchez. Visit our website, natchezmonument.com. Since 1953, our monument company has proudly served the Miss-Lou and its families with the very important selection of memorials ensuring quality, service and affordability. We offer a one-stop solution: able to both design and create the perfect monument, as well as set it in the cemetery. Certified Memorialist. Member Monument Builders of North America and Southern Monument Builders. Brookhaven Monument, 601-833-5701807 Hwy. 51N, Brookhaven, brookhavenmonument.com. McComb Monument, 601-684-3111, 430 S Broadway, McComb, mccombmonumentco.com. 

Jordan Sanders

Jordan Sanders, 21, of Natchez, has died of injuries he suffered in an accident while riding his four wheeler on Tate Rd. Emergency personnel took him to Merit for treatment, but his injuries were so severe, he could not be saved. 

Adams County supervisors appointed Shameca Collins to replace retired Justice Court Judge Audrey Minor. As justice court judge, one of her primary tasks is to set bond on accused and repeat felons. 

The Franklin County Fair returns Thursday-Saturday, Oct . 10-12 at the Fairgrounds in Bude. Armbands will be available for $20 and can be used from 6-10 p.m. on Thursday and will cost $25 on Saturday and be eligible for use from 1-5 p.m. The Midway will be conducted by Mississippi Delta Shows. There will be homemade funnel cakes, footlong corndogs, various sweets and treats, fun, games and rides. The ticket box, games, bungee jumps and food are cash only. ATMs will be available for patrons. There will be no refunds nor rain checks on armbands or tickets. Residents are encouraged to put their talents on display at the fair by 
 exhibiting home grown vegetables (canned or free), handmade items and more. Community booths are also welcome. Exhibits will be displayed in the Exhibit Hall. Set up time for entering exhibits and community booths will be from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Oct. 9. The Exhibit Hall will be open as follows: Thursday, Oct. 10, 6-9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 11, 6-9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, 1-3 p.m. Exhibits can be picked up on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 3-5 p.m. To reserve a spot in the Exhibit Hall, or for more information, call 
 601-384-2349.

Truck driving school

Copiah-Lincoln Community College is excited to announce the opening of its new truck driving school location at Co-Lin’s Natchez Campus. Starting September 9, 2024, the program began offering both day and night options, providing flexibility for students pursuing careers in trucking. The program is committed to offering the most affordable training options in the area. Additionally, funding assistance may be available through the WIN JOB Center located on the Natchez Campus for those who qualify, making it even easier for students to achieve their career goals.Co-Lin is currently enrolling for October and November classes with future classes to be added to the training schedule.  For more information about the program, including details on funding assistance, and to register, please visit www.colin.edu/truckdrivingschool or call 601-446-1134.

Meridian Waste, headquartered in Charlotte, has purchased Arrow Services, so the Natchez household trash pickup contract has been assumed by the larger company. 

Adams deputies arrested Derrick D. Bates, 43,  of St. Joseph, La., for aggravated assault on an officer, possession of drugs with intent, and possession of drug paraphernalia, after he fled a traffic stop on foot on Sgt. Prentiss Drive. Bates was a passenger in a car that was stopped on a law enforcement traffic stop. He fled on foot toward the Walgreens parking but stumbled and was captured. As he was about to be caught, he tried to pull a pistol from a black bag and was tased. Bates had marijuana and a scale as well as the 9mm pistol. He is presently being held in jail. He also has an outstanding warrant from Tensas Parish. In 2010, he was arrested in Ferriday for accessory to murder after the fact, when he tried to hide a murderer from police. Louisiana says he owes $36,193 in court ordered back child support.

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Chuck Mayfield

Former Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield has died at the age of 71 after a long illness. Mayfield served as head of Metro Narcotics for more than 15 years and rose through the ranks to become known as a professional and conscientious law enforcement officer. Mayfield served as sheriff from 2009-2015, when Travis Patten beat Mayfield in a re-election bid. Chuck will be remembered as friendly and outgoing. He played a major role in successfully combating the cocaine epidemic in the 1990’s. Reflecting changing times, he was the first Adams sheriff to really go after animal abusers. And he worked closely with state narcotics officers to curb drug trafficking in Adams County. Prayers for Chuck and his family. 

Travion Williams, 34, of Natchez, remains in jail, having been arrested by Adams deputies for burglary of a dwelling. He had already been out in bond for accidentally shooting and killing his sister in law in 2019. For that shooting, he was charged with manslaughter with culpable negligence and possession of a firearm by a felon. In 2017, he was arrested for repeatedly punching his girlfriend in the face and head as she drove her car. He was a passenger during the assault. Due to his history and the three current felony charges pending against him, including violating the terms of his bond, it is unlikely that he will be released before trial.   

Adams deputies arrested Cartrell Harris, 67, of Natchez, for failure to register as a sex offender, felony. In 2004, he was convicted of sexual battery. In 2015, he was arrested for aggravated assault. He is being held, already on probation from MDOC.

Vidalia couple charged with child desertion

The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a Lynn Havens Dr. address in reference to multiple 911 calls coming from that address. Responding deputies found the calls to be coming from a young child who had intellectual disabilities and was nonverbal. The child was nude, dirty, emaciated, and was home alone. Due to the sensitive nature of the situation, Deputies contacted Detectives with CPSO's Special Victims Unit. The guardians of the child, identified as Laurie Maegan Stewert, 32, and Tony Curtis Williams, 27, both of Vidalia, arrived at the residence shortly before Detectives arrived. The pair became noncompliant while being interviewed and were taken into custody. Detectives contacted the Department of Child and Family Services and the child was taken into states custody. This investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected. Williams and Stewart were charged with child desertion and resisting an officer.

On Oct. 2, around 1:30 a.m., the Sandy Lake Fire Department responded to the 4200 block of Highway 923 for reports of a mobile home fire. Upon arrival, firefighters learned there had been eight people in the home at the time and that two were unable to escape. A man and toddler boy did not survive. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The 2022 Concordia Parish Police Jury Audit has just been released. The Jury had a budget of $9.9 million. Silas Simmons CPAs recommended that the Police Jury continue to provide the necessary oversight in their current internal control procedures, specifically in the areas of cash receipts, collection receipt activities, recordation of those receipts, depositing of funds collected, and review of checks written. Due to the smaller size of the bookkeeping staff, this oversight is necessary to safeguard assets, prevent fraud and maintain compliance with good accounting practices. The Police Jury's audited financial statements were not submitted to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor by the statutory due date of June 30, 2023. Several issues arose throughout the audit that required additional audit testing. The Police Jury is not in compliance with Louisiana R.S. 24.513.556 which can potentially effect state funding. The Legislative Auditor office has worked with the Police Jury by granting extensions to the Jury to remain off the noncompliance list. However, the Parish still has not remedied this problem, as it has not completed and submitted its 2023 audit by the due date of June 30, 2024.

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Miss. Roots Music Retreat

Mississippi's rich and colorful musical heritage will be celebrated and on  display during the "Mississippi Roots Music Retreat" Oct. 11-13 at Clear Springs Recreation Area in Roxie. The three-day camping event is steeped in the tradition of "old-time porch picking'." It celebrates the tapestry of Mississippi's music woven with the sounds of folk, blues, country, gospel and jazz. The gathering is open to all musicians with acoustic instruments in hand who are eager to share their love of music in a relaxed, informal setting. "This isn't going to be a festival with formal performances," said event organizer Tom Bonnette. "We want something more interactive. People can come just to listen, but we don't want a stage separating folks from the musicians. The idea is for everyone to join in however they feel comfortable." Clear Springs Recreation Area offers 22 campsites with water and electricity hookups, available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Campsites can be claimed in person, and cost $20 per night. For those not planning to stay overnight, day passes are available for $5. The campground is equipped with two bathhouses with flush toilets and hot showers, and for those seeking a more rustic experience, there's a dispersed, primitive camping area that's free of charge. For information, contact Bonnette at 423-404-1155. --- (Franklin Advocate)

Adams deputies arrested Damien L. Strickland, 30, of Natchez, for possession of a stolen firearm and possession of drugs. He is being held without bond. Adams deputies also arrested Leonard Chester Woods Jr., 55, of Natchez, for grand larceny. Likewise, he is being held without bond. Concordia deputies arrested Samuel Johnson III, of Vidalia, for battery of a dating partner and child endangerment. He has been placed on bond and released. 

Fayette police arrested a Warren County man in connection to a shooting after a homecoming celebration. Investigators said the shooting occurred on Main Street in Fayette on Sept. 21. Police said one man was shot and several vehicles and an apartment building were damaged by the gunfire. Authorities arrested Ronald Thompson III, 25, for aggravated assault, shooting into an occupied dwelling and shooting into a vehicle. He was later released on a $40,000 bond after his initial appearance in court.

Polk Park

Vidalia aldermen accepted a low bid of $1.9 million to make improvements to Polk Park. The town had expected to spend $1.5 million on the project and will trim back the wish list of upgrades to come close to the original forecast budget. The improvements will include a splash pad, outdoor fitness center, asphalt parking lot, new playgrounds and pavilions.

The Concordia School Board has honored retired Coach Robert Cade by naming the Ferriday High Gym after him. Cade was a state championship basketball coach at Ferriday. He also coached football at Alcorn and football and basketball at Natchez High and other schools, as well as serving as athletic director at Natchez. Cade retired from education to go into the ministry and now serves as Bishop for the Word of Faith Ambassadors Centers in Natchez and Ferriday. Cade is acknowledged to be one of the best coaches in the Miss-Lou to ever lead kids. A large crowd of well-wishers congratulated him at the recent honoring ceremony at Ferriday High.

The Natchez Preservation Commission has an opening on its board. Persons interested in being appointed to the volunteer position can apply through the Planning Department. Deadline to submit a letter of interest and resume is Oct. 21. Aldermen make the appointment. 

NATCHEZ COLLISION CENTER: 386 Liberty Rd., Natchez, 601-445-0473. Ben and Bubba Wroten, owners. Our team of collision and paint specialists offers you great work at a fair price. Count on us for 24-hour towing, free insurance estimates and customer satisfaction you expect. Our business has grown every year, testimony to the fact folks really trust us to do a good job. We have hundreds of repeat customers. Thank you to all our friends who have made our business successful.   See our website: www.natchezcollision.com

Charity closes

Catholic Charities has closed its operations in Natchez. The agency had provided counseling, financial support, violence shelter housing and food to aid the needy for nearly 40 years. St. Mary Catholic Church said it will take over providing food for the poor as part of its commitment to the community.   

When the feds raided the home of Kevin Singleton in Adams County in 2018, they were able to arrest the drug dealer with over $1 million in cash and several million dollars worth of heroin, ecstasy, meth and cocaine. Singleton pleaded guilty in 2021 and received 35 years in jail. A total of 10 people in the area, including dealers from Concordia and Wilkinson, were also arrested for distributing Singleton’s drugs. They received lengthy sentences, too. Now in 2024, Adams County will receive $274,000 in cash from the seized proceeds because Adams deputies participated in the investigation, seizure and arrests. The monies will be used by the sheriff’s office for drug enforcement.

The Miss. Department of Revenue starts its sales tax year in July. For the two months, July and August, city of Natchez sales tax collections have dipped 4.1 percent compared to last year. The state shares sales tax revenues with cities and towns. Here are the amounts distributed to Natchez: July-Aug. 2024 $942,000 ; July-Aug. 2023 $981,000.

Emanuel Jones and Jeromy Stewart arrested

Adams County deputies arrested Emanuel Jones, 24, of Natchez, who shot at Jeromy Stewart at a residence on Myrtle Drive. Jones was charged with aggravated assault. The victim was injured when he dodged bullets but was not struck by the bullets themselves. Stewart as also arrested because he had outstanding warrants in Concordia. Jones was shot and wounded multiple times at his residence on Myrtle Drive in 2021 in an attack that wounded Jones and another man. Jones returned fire, shooting at his assailants but did not hit anyone. Stewart has an arrest record that includes assault and grand larceny.

Natchez aldermen voted for raises. Mayor Dan Gibson wiil now earn $94,500 and City Clerk Megan McKenzie 90,000. Aldermen increased their own pay to $23,760. Alderman Billie Joe Frazier receives half of what the other aldermen receive because he is on state retirement, having served as a Natchez police officer. The aldermen voted 5-1 for the raises, with Felicia Irving voting against. The administration packaged the raises with an increase in pay for public works employees. Starting pay in public works had been $10 per hour. Now it will be $13.75 per hour. All current public works employees received pay increases as well. 

Vidalia aldermen decided to rebate 50 percent of the electricity bills of the past year to utility customers. A total of $2.8 million will be sent back to business and residential customers. 

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More moisture in harvest

The remains of Hurricane Francine did affect the quality of the harvest of cotton, soybeans and rice in the Miss-Lou area. Harvested crops with too much moisture bring a lower price to the farmer. 

Natchez police and the county coroner recovered the very decomposed body of a man from the woods next to Natchez High. Authorities believe the man was living in the woods before his death. An autopsy will be performed. 

A man’s cousin has been charged after the victim was shot in the upper body area. According to authorities, the shooting occurred in the McNair community of Jefferson County. When deputies got to the scene, they found LaJhavian Clark, 20, with a gunshot wound. Ezekial King, 26, Clark’s cousin, has now been charged with aggravated assault. 

New radar may curb speeding

Natchez aldermen are thinking about contracting with Intellisafe to provide officer assisted and computerized radar enforcement in school zones to slow drivers down. With Intellisafe, the officer reads the passing motorist’s tag with a computer linked radar gun. If the motorist is speeding, the computer software remotely captures a picture of the license plate. The offender gets his ticket in the mail. If the offender does not pay, then his license is suspended by the state. The program has already been in place in Hattiesburg, slowing drivers down in school zones and generating enough revenue to pay for the system and the officers assigned to this duty. While Mississippi bans automated speed traps, since the device is officer assisted, it is legal. However, the officer probably could not claim in court that he saw that driver speeding, as he would be too far away from the offender to positively identify the driver in most cases. Dozens of people in Hattiesburg report they got tickets even though it was family members, friends and employees driving their vehicles. Hattiesburg city leaders say the pilot program has cut speeding in school zones dramatically. 

The Louisiana opioid settlement fund will provide $140,000 this year for Concordia Parish. The money will be used to support the sheriff’s office, public defender’s office and the district judges’ office. 

Franklin County Supt. of Schools Chris Kent acknowledged the disappointing accountability scores earned by the district this year. Franklin dropped from a B to C. The high school dropped to a B, the middle school earned a C and the lower and upper elementary schools fell to a D. Kent did not say specifically what caused the precipitous decline, but did say some changes have been made that should improve grades in the coming year.

https://www.theluckypup.org   

Employment numbers improve

Adams County has 10,150 people with jobs, up from 9,870 employed a year ago, an increase of 280 jobs. The August figures are the best of the past year. The jobless rate is 4.4 percent.

The Natchez Music Festival celebrates the legendary Henry Mancini in a night of iconic jazz with The Sam Bruton Jazz Ensemble, featuring special guests John Christopher Adams and Maryann Kyle. Timeless hits like “The Pink Panther” and “Moon River” will be performed Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Natchez Civic Center. Get your tickets for $30 each at www.natchezfestivalofmusic.com

Adams County deputies arrested Terence King, 35, of Natchez, for failure to comply with the sex offender registry law, a felony. He served three years in a Texas jail for aggravated assault of a child. Penalty upon conviction can bring up to five years in jail and up to a $5000 fine. 

Utility rebate coming

Vidalia aldermen meet Tuesday, Sept. 25 to discuss dog pound rules and policies, the expansion of Polk Park and setting the amount of the annual utility rebate. The rebate has been as much as 50 percent of the annual electricity bill in recent years.   

Miss. circuit clerk offices are open Monday-Friday 8a-5p for services including absentee voting for the November election. The offices will also be open Saturday mornings 8a-noon on 10/26 and 11/2, so voters can cast absentee ballots.

Adams deputies arrested Sonya I. Robertson, 43, of Natchez, for car theft. She was released on a bond of $10,000. In 2018, she was charged with assault, after she stabbed her boyfriend with a sword and threatened to do the same to deputies. In 2009, she was arrested with two men in Concordia Parish, after she and her friends burglarized camps and homes, stealing guns, cash and jewelry.   

Escapee captured

Accused murderer Jaccory Carr, 26, of Woodville, escaped from the Wilkinson County Jail Wednesday but was recaptured Thursday. Carr was charged in 2022 for shooting and killing of Gerrit Decody and wounding of Carr’s own girlfriend, as well as shooting at the Centreville police chief. He will stand trial in Wilkinson and escape charges will added. 

Natchez aldermen will open bids Oct. 22 for a separate paving and striping project for Homochitto and Canal streets. The work should be completed by the end of the year. 

Co-Lin Natchez Homecoming Maids have been selected. They are Jada Stampley and Kia Anderson. 

Annitta Taylor arrested for murder

Natchez police investigated the Thursday death of Pete Taylor, 77, as a homicide. Taylor died from blunt force trauma to the head at his home. An autopsy has been ordered. Police have arrested Annitta Taylor, 31, his granddaughter, for the murder.

The Concordia Chamber of Commerce announced its award winners: Joey Martin (Concordian of the Year), Concordia Sheriff’s Office (Large Business), Book’s Pharmacy (Small Business), Rushing Boots (50 Year Service Award), Ples Arthur (Farmer of the Year), Ronnie Calhoun (Guy Murray Volunteer), Matt Taunton (First Responder) and Jonathan Willard (Young Professional Under 40). 

Two vehicles traveling Hwy. 547 in Claiborne County hit head-on the morning of Sept. 18. One of the drivers, Shanetra Johnson, 44, of Pattison, was killed in the accident. The other driver was seriously injured. Johnson was a Port Gibson teacher, known for her dedication to her students.

12 homes on tour

Natchez Fall Pilgrimage runs Sept. 19-Oct. 19. Homes on tour include: Longwood, Stanton Hall, Rosalie, The Burn, Concord Quarters, Green Leaves, Myrtle Terrace. Holly Hedges, Lansdowne, Rip Rap, Sweet Auburn and. Propinquity. Tickets may be purchased online at or at the door of each home, at natchezpilgrimage.com or by calling (601) 653-0919.

Richard Hudnall, 58, of Natchez, was arrested for felon in possession of a weapon and possession of methamphetamine. With guilt determined, Circuit Judge Debra Blackwell considered the appropriate sentence. Both are felonies. The weapons charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $5000. The drug charge brings up to 8 years, even more if the amount of drug seized is over 10 grams.  Despite his history of felonies and criminal history, he was given probation.

Concordia PAWS has received a land donation that will allow dogs at the animal shelter a place to play and run. No more kennels will be built. But the extra space will improve the quality of life for the dogs. The property was donated by Hal Samuels and Betty Claire Pasternak Samuels. Linda Huffman fenced the space in honor of her father, Raymond Huffman.

Eola Hotel

Hayes Dent, the public relations person for the Eola Hotel project provided an update on progress. He said, "Currently, Rob Lubin owns the building, and there will be a new group of owners (along with Rob) in the spring of 2025 when there is a master closing and commencement of work. We are very busy into predevelopment with our design, ID, architect, and construction folks on the ground in Natchez just last week for a couple of days. We are busy in design and are meeting multiple times a week with these groups preparing for construction."

Adams Justice Court Judge Danny Barber has bound over Hollis L. Green, 33, of Natchez, to a grand jury. Green shot at a state trooper multiple times while trying to escape in his car in August. He is charged with aggravated assault on an officer, felony fleeing and possession of a weapon by a felon. Bond is set at $1.5 million.

Approximately 325 runners and walkers participated in Watson Strong 5K Color Run in Vidalia. The event was dedicated to the memory of Watson Calhoun who died from a rare brain cancer last summer. 

Judges want jurors

It is likely that Adams County judges will start issuing bench warrants for the arrest of persons who do not honor summons to show up for jury duty. The county is having difficulty forming jury pools for trials, because so many people fail to show up. The penalty for not reporting is a fine of up to $500, up to three days in jail and community service or a combination of all three. 

Four people have qualified to run for School Board positions in Franklin County this year. School board members will be chosen during the Nov. 5 election. The candidate with the most votes will take office in January. In District 3, Theresa Bee will challenge incumbent Tywanna Lee-Reed for that post. In District 4, Charles Chapman will challenge incumbent Joyce Calcote. In the three Election Commissioner races, all three candidates are running unopposed. Gloria Bonds is running in District 1 unopposed, as is Margie McNair in District 3 and Janet Coleman in District 5.

Adams County supervisors passed a $40 million budget with no employee raises and no millage increase. Property taxes can still rise if a home, land or business is reassessed. The new budget starts Oct. 1.   

Accountability scores

The Natchez School District earns a grade of C again this year. Math proficiency increased from 27 to 33 percent. English proficiency improved from 33 to 34 percent. 19.2 percent of local students were chronically absent. The only school that declined a grade was Natchez Middle from last year’s C to a D this year. The graduation rate remains above state average. College and career readiness remains very poor at 22 percent despite many kids taking accelerated courses. It’s a mixed report including some successes and improvements and some obvious failures. The best news is that math and English proficiency is improving, though at a snail’s pace, meaning a few more students are performing at or above grade level.

Adams County supervisors went into executive session to discuss possible litigation with United Infrastructure, the company that handles county trash pickup. Supervisors already sent a letter to the company asking for a meeting with the company to discuss the poor service. But the company has not responded. Supervisor Kevin Wilson believes service is so bad that United has breached its contract, should be sued and a new garbage company chosen. Supervisor Ricky Gray would like to fine United, but let it continue with service, hoping for improvements. Supervisors have not announced what action they will take, if any, since United has not responded to the county’s letter asking for a meeting. 

On Oct. 7, Adams County supervisors will consider appointing an interim Justice Court Judge for the Northern District to replace Audrey Minor, who has resigned. Supervisor Ricky Gray suggested that supervisors should violate federal law and only consider black candidates for the position. Gray said no white candidates should be considered because the Northern District is majority black. Gray comments revealed he does not want to uphold federal civil rights law. Qualified candidates must be residents of either the Northern or Southern District since the judge serves countywide and have a high school diploma or GED.

Mike Bunn

Mike Bunn, director of Historic Blakeley State Park in Spanish Fort, Ala., will give a lecture at the Tuesday, Sept. 24 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. His topic is, “Fourteenth Colony: The Forgotten Story of the Gulf South during America's Revolutionary Era.” Bunn’s presentation is part of a lecture series that is funded by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council through funding by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The program will be held at Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 S. Commerce St., Natchez. It will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. and Bunn’s presentation at 6:00 p.m. It is free to the public. All are welcome, members and non-members alike."The Gulf South played an important part in America's revolutionary period, though most of us are not as acquainted with this chapter of regional history as we perhaps should be,” Bunn said. “I'm excited to share my research into this important era of our past in historic Natchez, a place which has its own special connection to this remarkable story." The forgotten 14th colony of the America's Revolutionary era was “the British colony of West Florida―which once stretched from the mighty Mississippi to the shallow bends of the Apalachicola and portions of what are now the states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana,” noted Bunn. His presentation will include a discussion of the affairs in Natchez during the Revolutionary era.Bunn is the author or co-author of several books, including “Fort Stoddert: American Sentinel on the Mobile River, 1799-1814; “Fourteenth Colony: The Forgotten Story of the Gulf South During America’s Revolutionary Era,” and “The Assault on Fort Blakeley: ‘The Thunder and Lightning of Battle.’”Bunn is the editor of Muscogiana, the journal of the Muscogee County (Georgia) Genealogical Society. He is a recent recipient of the J.Y. Sanders Research Scholar Award presented by The Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies of Southeastern Louisiana University.As a historian, Bunn has worked with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Historic Chattahoochee Commission, and the Columbus (Georgia) Museum.In addition to chairing the Baldwin County Historic Development Commission, Bunn is treasurer of the Friends of Old Mobile, and a member of the board of the Alabama Historical Association.Bunn is a resident of Alabama. He holds an undergraduate degree from Faulkner University and two master’s degrees from the University of Alabama.For more information on the society’s Sept. 24 meeting, call 281-731-4433 or 601-492-3004 or send email to info@natchezhistoricalsociety.org.

Adams deputies arrested two men for burglary in separate, non-related incidents. George Thompson, 59, of Natchez, was charged with burglary of a dwelling. Jake K. Jones, 38, of Vidalia, was arrested for burglary of a business.

Brandon Trahern, 29, of Natchez, has been arrested by Adams deputies for felony false pretense. Bond was set at $10,000. In April 2023, he tried to escape from Adams and Concordia deputies, being wanted for felony aggravated domestic violence and parole violations. Adams deputies arrested his girlfriend, Audrey L. McCurdy, 27, of Natchez, for felony credit card fraud. Bond was set at $10,000. She was arrested in April 2023 for felony hindering prosecution, harboring a fugitive and possession of meth with intent to distribute.

Daniel Feibus 

The CEO of Vidalia Mills said his company did not pay its employees last week as required. He pledged to give workers an extra bonus because they’re waiting for their checks. CEO Daniel Feibus said the company currently employs 135 workers, less than the 300 it promised to have within its first two years of operation.

Hurricane Francine came ashore as a strong Cat. 2 storm, but tracked east of the Miss-Lou area, leaving Natchez with light winds of 10-20 mph and a good rainfall. Most schools closed as a precaution.   

Vidalia will use a $30,000 grant and add $165,000 to it and build an outdoor fitness facility with activity stations at Polk Park. 

Joe Fortunato

The late Joe Fortunato of Natchez has been nominated for the National Football Hall of Fame. Fortunato played for the Chicago Bears and was active for decades helping scholar-athletes get a college education. He died at age 87 in 2017.   

The 2024 Miss-Lou Job Fair will be held Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Natchez Convention Center. The fair is open to the public and more than 20 employers will participate, looking for employees.   

State Rep. C. Travis Johnson asked the Concordia Parish police jurors to consider changing parish government to a home rule charter. Jurors aren’t interested. Johnson was unable to convince jurors to study the matter. And they, more or less, rejected the idea out of hand. 

Arsonist wanted

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said an arsonist tried unsuccessfully to burn a house down with the family inside in Montebello subdivision in Natchez on July 26. If you have any info, contact Crimestoppers. A $3000 reward is offered. 888-442-5001.

Natchez police arrested Jamarii White, 17, of Natchez, after shot and killed a 31-year-old woman at a home on George F. West Blvd. on Sunday. The teen and and another male adult were involved in an argument when the teen used a modified shotgun to attack the man. The teen shot and killed the woman instead. Dambrell L.. Thomas was identified as the murdered victim. 

Tremesha Corey, 22, is being held in the Concordia jail, charged with aggravated assault, after she purposely used her vehicle to back into a parish deputy, slightly injuring him. Corey tried to flee in her car but deputies and Vidalia police captured her near Sprint Mart and Logan Sewell Road. A woman had called police saying Corey was chasing after her in a vehicle. Deputies directed the frightened woman to the sheriff’s office parking lot for safety. When deputies tried to intervene to protect the woman, an angry Corey struck the deputy with her car to escape. She has also been charged with battery, felony flight and traffic violations. 

Congressman Bennie Thompson and Xavier Hawkins

Congressman Bennie G. Thompson welcomed new Case Manager and Field Director, Xavier Hawkins to his Natchez Office which serves Adams, Amite, Franklin, and Wilkinson Counties. Xavier is a distinguished graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and a 2016 honors graduate of Cathedral High School. He holds a double major in Marketing and Political Science, and his academic journey is marked by numerous accolades. As an undergraduate, he was a Luckyday Scholar, a recipient of over twenty scholarships, awards and endowments within his college of business and liberal arts department and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. His commitment to leadership and excellence was further recognized when he became a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Emerging Scholar- Alumni. Hawkins interned with Congressman Steven Horsford of Nevada, the state’s first African American Congressman. During his high school and college years, he gained valuable experience as a two-year intern with the Adams County Chancery Clerk’s office, working under Brandi Lewis. Upon graduation, Hawkins joined the campaign of former Mississippi Congressman Mike Espy, who ran for U.S. Senate in 2020, where he served as the Assistant Digital Coordinator. His work in political strategy and digital correspondence extended to working during the 2021 gubernatorial campaign in Georgia.

Javontrics Murphy, 27, of Natchez, a hospital security guard employed by the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office since March 2024, has been arrested and terminated from his position with CPSO. Murphy has been charged with three counts of malfeasance in office, three counts of first-degree rape, obstruction of justice, and simple battery. On August 30, the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office received a criminal complaint alleging misconduct by Murphy. Murphy was placed on administrative leave and the investigation was referred to the Louisiana State Police for review. Upon completion of the investigation, Murphy was arrested and terminated from his position with CPSO. He has been charged with three counts of malfeasance in office,  three counts of first degree rape, obstruction of justice and simple battery.  

Natchez aldermen are expected to increase their pay to just above $24,000 a year. With retirement, social security and health benefits, total compensation will be around $32,000. The mayor’s salary is expected to be increased to around $75,000. Extra funds have been put in the new budget for the increases, though the exact amount the city officials will earn has not been announced. 

Groundbreaking held again

Officials representing Natchez and Adams County, as well as representatives from associated construction companies, celebrated groundbreaking Sept. 5 on the Belwood site. This site was once home to Belwood Country Club, and is now beginning development by Velocys to become a state of the art plant specializing in the production of sustainable aviation products termed "Bayou Fuels". The project is estimated to create over 100 new jobs at the plant itself, and 200-300 forestry jobs, according to Natchez, Inc. Velocys was purchased in Dec. 2023 for approximately $5 million by Madison Bidco, a consortium of investment companies. Bidco put up another $40 million to keep the Velocys research and planning operations going. Bidco took Velocys private, which means financial reports are no longer available.

Natchez aldermen plan on a new budget of $37.5 million for the coming fiscal year, with no increase in millage. Property owners that have holdings that are reassessed upwards will see an increase in their city, county and school tax bills. The new budget starts Oct. 1. 

Preliminary reports said Justice Court Judge Audrey Minor will resign her position and will retire as judge for the Northern District of Adams County. The Commission on Judicial Performance held a hearing June 5 in Jackson concerning allegations the Judge Minor did not behave according to judicial standards. Testimony was given that Minor falsely accused employees of justice court of misconduct. The judge has decided to retire due to health reasons.

Catahoula drug and weapons bust

Catahoula and Avoyelles narcotics officers used a search warrant to enter a home in Enterprise, arresting Jennifer Lachney, 28, Mark Harrison, 59, both of Marksville, for possession of Schedule I and Schedule II drugs, possession of weapons by a convicted felon, possession of stolen weapons and stolen items. Both remain in the Catahoula jail. 

Vidalia city government will get tougher on littering. Police catching violators can issue a ticket that costs the offender $210. Officers have the option of issuing a warning first. Mayor Craft said the city will intensify its efforts to clean up blighted properties working with property owners and tearing down dilapidated structures. 

Natchez aldermen plan on a new budget of $37.5 million for the coming fiscal year, with no increase in millage. Property owners that have holdings that are reassessed upwards will see an increase in their city, county and school tax bills. The new budget starts Oct. 1. Velocys was purchased in Dec. 2023 for approximately $5 million by Madison Bidco, a consortium of investment companies. Bidco put up another $40 million to keep the Velocys research and planning operations going. Bidco took Velocys private, which means financial reports are no longer available. 

Rashon M. Ellis

Ferriday police arrested Rashon M. Ellis, 48, of Ferriday, on two counts of attempted second degree murder after he shot at a couple sitting in their car at Adams Grocery #2 on Louisiana Avenue. The woman in the car was wounded. The man in the car was not wounded, but later arrested for resisting police. Ellis and the couple had exchanged words in the parking lot. Ellis retrieved a gun from his car and started shooting. His bond was set at $150,000. 

Concordia Parish has 6,684 people with jobs, up 56 jobs from a year ago. The jobless rate is 6 percent.   

Franklin County supervisors are expected to pass a budget of $6.6 million at their Sept. 13 meeting. The new budget starts Oct. 1 and should not require any millage increase.

Project begins

Work on Morgantown Road should begin in October. The $4.2 million project will include drainage improvements as well as repaving. The contractor is Dozier, Inc. Expect traffic delays.

A new training center in Natchez is expected to open in September to teach people computer skills. One of five such centers operated by the Mississippi Coding Academies, the Natchez branch will be located here at Alcorn State University’s School of Business. Mississippi Coding Academies is a non-profit organization that provides tuition-free education to underserved communities in Mississippi. The Jackson-based organization’s mission is to train people for high-wage, high-demand technology jobs. The Natchez Board of Aldermen on Tuesday approved an agreement with MCA that Mayor Dan Gibson noted is being largely aided by a $443,600 federal grant the city received last year for workforce development. Provided by the federal Delta Regional Authority, the money is being programmed to train 125 people a year in partnership with local businesses specifying what skills they need for their workers. Gibson said the academy will be particularly helpful for training people to work at Loss Prevention Services, the automobile debt-servicing company in Natchez that employs more than 200 workers and needs more. (from ListenUpYall.com)

Vidalia police arrested Ronald Scott Smith, 62, of Natchez, for burglary and theft. He remains in the parish jail.

Angelety House

Natchez aldermen will open bids Oct. 1 for exterior repairs to the Angelety House. The city owned property will get new roofing, a handicap ramp and repairs to the wood trim and window shutters. 

Concordia deputies arrested Jlandrick Davis, 23, of Natchez, for second degree battery. He was arrested in Adams County with two fellow conspirators for burglarizing at least eight vehicles in Beau Pre subdivision in 2021. The trio of thieves committed a series of auto burglaries in Baton Rouge as well. Home video showed the men were armed when they committed their crimes. In 2023, the Miss. Department of Corrections released him from jail. For now, Davis is being held in the parish jail.

The Miss. Department of Employment Security said Adams County now has 10,120 workers with jobs. Figures for previous years include: 2023: 9,820, 2022: 9,920, and 2021: 9,720.   

Tayler Weatherly, Tamberlynn Reed

Concordia jailers and deputies are vigilant about catching those who bring drugs and contraband into the parish jail facilities. Visitors and those detained are searched and their possessions searched for illegal items. Deputies arrested Tayler Weatherly, 31, of Crowley, and Tamberlynn Reed, 27, of Lake Arthur, for the introduction or carrying of Schedule II drugs in or out of a penal institution. Reed was arrested for second degree cruelty to children in 2018. Both have been placed in the parish jail. 

Adams deputies and Natchez police are searching for a hit and run driver, who struck a deputy’s patrol car at Susie B. West Apartments and later struck a telephone pole, escaping on foot in the Saragossa-Lower Woodville Rd. area. The name of the wild driver has not been released.

Natchez police arrested Reginald D. Rogers, 23, of Natchez, for assault, domestic violence and attempted murder for the shooting at Duncan Park where he wounded his cousin. He was arrested in 2023 for drug possession.

Adams County teen missing

Jasleen Chaves, 17, is reported missing from Adams County. She was last seen at the Deluxe Inn on John R Junkin Dr in Natchez around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday today and was believed to be heading to the Vidalia area. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie with a dinosaur on the front, a khaki skirt and was carrying two backpacks. Please call the Adams County Sheriff’s Office at  601-442-2752 or the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-336-5231 with any information regarding the whereabouts of this missing teen. 

Kevin Meirs of the Downtown Natchez Alliance said his group has received 37 applications from downtown businesses applying for the $160,000 in total grant funds available for street-facing building improvements. The DNA will score the applications to determine which businesses get a grant. Funding comes from the American Rescue Act.

Richard Nelson, director of the Natchez-Adams County airport, said his agency will meet with eight airlines in October to discuss the possibility of providing air service in and out of Natchez. Nelson believes that eventually at least one airline will be secured in 2025. He also mentioned that in preparation for TSA coming in and additional private and public flights, the airport would be improving security measures, so airport personnel know who is on premises at all times. Nelson said the airport commissioners have requested proposals to lease 19 acres of vacant land near the airport for a business concern. However, they do not have any business in mind but are simply requesting proposals that could possibly generate extra revenue.   

Eola Hotel project ongoing

Hayes Dent owns a Jackson public relations firm. One of his clients is the unnamed partner group of the Eola Hotel project. Dent says the cost of renovating the Eola has risen to $31 million and that construction will start in March 2025. Dent’s job includes securing pubic support including taxpayer subsidy for the rebuild. Dent is listed as manager of Eola Holdings III, LLC with the Miss. Secretary of State. Eola Holdings business address is 975 North Street, Suite 206, Jackson, Miss., the same address as Dent's public relations office.

Natchez police arrested Charles E. Dye, 41, of Natchez, on charges of burglary, all but dwelling, and two other misdemeanors. Bond was set at $15,000 on the burglary offense. He has a criminal history that includes drug possession.

The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office said the two Adams County Sheriff’s deputies acted appropriately and were justified in shooting and killing Charoyd Bell at his home on Old Hwy. 84 in July 2023. Bell pointed a gun from his front porch and began shooting at his girlfriend, who was standing beside the deputies. Bell was moving toward deputies shooting, when they fired in self-defense. The suspect had threatened to kidnap and kill his girlfriend. Bell had a history of criminal behavior, including dog fighting and stealing dogs and had served time.

Road rage shooting

A 58-year-old Natchez man became enraged while driving on Hwy. 61 North near Selma Estates shooting out through an open window in his vehicle. Troopers tracked him down in Jefferson County and arrested him for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors but did not arrest him for the gunplay. Apparently, he did not shoot at anyone in particular. He was just angry. 

One person is in custody and the investigation into a weekend shooting in Bude is continuing. According to Bude Police Chief Reginald “Reggie” Cain and Franklin County Sheriff Tom Tindle, the shooting wounded one person. “Two people got into an altercation on B Street,” Cain said. “One of the subjects was shot in the leg and airlifted to Jackson. The victim is possibly in critical condition and still in ICU.” One of the people involved in the incident was taken into custody and the investigation is continuing. “If anyone has any information regarding the shooting, please contact the Bude Police Department,” Officer Lee Turner said. Information can be submitted by calling the Bude PD at 601-384-2626.

Adams County deputies arrested three locals for an Azalea Lane house burglary. Andra Lucas, 41, Christopher Owens, 52, and Travion Williams, 34, were charged with burglary. Lucas was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Williams was already out on bond for manslaughter for accidentally shooting his sister-in-law after illegally handling a weapon. He is a convicted felon and should not possess a firearm. He was convicted of burglary in 2014. Sheriff Travis Patten said deputies talked to the victim and developed leads that led to the arrest of the trio over a three-day period.

Black bear season

The black bear hunting season will take place from Dec. 7-22 in Bear Management Area 4, covering Tensas, Madison, East Carroll, West Carroll, and parts of Richland, Franklin, and Catahoula parishes. A total of 10 permits will be issued for the 2024 lottery. Possession of a valid black bear hunting license is required to apply for the General and the WMA Black Bear Lottery. Successful applicants will also need to complete an LDWF bear hunter-training course that will take place on Nov. 2 or Nov. 14 (LDWF encourages attendance on the Nov. 2 course if possible). For full details, go to https://buff.ly/3T4ArPU.

Mississippi plans to ask the federal government to extend the deadline for submitting American Rescue Act plans until 2026. The feds must approve the extension. The Natchez School District has more than $20 million in projects at stake, including replacing all exterior elementary school doors with security doors, remodeling the Steckler Center as a performing arts center, and replacing air conditioning and renovating restrooms at West, Morgantown and McLaurin elementary schools. 

Natchez Inc. wants county supervisors to increase their annual subsidy from $165,000 to $225,000 to help economic development. Supervisors have taken the request under advisement. Chandler Russ said his agency gets a $100,000 annual appropriation from the city and another $120,000 in private donations from Natchez Now.

Lawrence Baker

Lawrence Daniel Baker, 45, of Adams County, got lost in the woods and his cell phone died. He wandered for early two days in rural area of the county, finally finding his way out. He needed medical care for dehydration and is recovering.

The body of Jose Luis Galindo, 19, of Hammond was recovered from the Homochitto River in Franklin County Aug. 25.  Authorities confirmed that he drowned.

Concordia Parish has 6,684 workers with jobs, up 56 jobs from a year ago. The unemployment rate is 6 percent.

Adams County is under a burn ban through Sept. 5. 

Concordia deputies arrested Wesley Sherod, 64, of Vidalia, for aggravated assault with a firearm. He has been released on bond. In a separate arrest, deputies arrested Hunter Nathaniel Lee Chandler, 21, for felon in possession of a weapon, theft of a firearm, theft and possession of stolen things. He has been released on bond.

Natchez firefighters responded to a house fire at 87 Gaylor Rd. Friday night. The fire had completely engulfed the home by the time crews arrived, and it burned to the ground. No one was injured.

More jobs

Adams County has 10,080 people working, up 250 jobs compared to a year ago. The jobless rate is 4.6 percent. 

Adams Sheriff Travis Patten has asked supervisors to consider purchasing used jail pods from CoreCivic and rehabbing them to build a new Adams County jail. Supervisors asked Patten to provide more information. Despite the need for improved jail facilities, supervisors know their current arrangement of parking prisoners in Concordia is less expensive than building and operating a new jail. And a new jail in any form and rehabbing the old jail for offices would mean a major tax increase plus extra operating funds the county doesn’t have.    

As part of commemorative activities around the 60th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, Natchez National Historical Park and the Historic Natchez Foundation have partnered to offer a special talk about an unsolved local Civil Rights murder. The lecture by former Concordia Sentinel editor Stanley Nelson on Thursday, August 29 will be held at the Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 South Commerce Street, Natchez, at 6:00 pm. In July of 1964, 24-year-old Joseph “Joe-Ed” Edwards disappeared, his car found abandoned along a Concordia Parish highway. For the last 60 years, details have emerged indicating that Edwards was targeted and abducted by Ku Klux Klansmen and their police allies, including deputies and a police chief. Edwards spent the final weeks of his life as an employee at the Shamrock Motel in Vidalia, Louisiana, just across the Mississippi River from Natchez. There, during late spring, a secret Klan cell known as the Silver Dollar Group was founded by coffee-drinking Klansmen in the café. Although Edwards was not an activist, he told friends and relatives around the time of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that he believed the world was changing and he planned to live his life his own way. Allegations surrounding the drowning of a white child and a white woman’s claim that Edwards kissed her against her will at the motel placed him in the crosshairs of the Klan and police. During the middle of the night in July 1964, a witness saw a Buick, which was later identified as Edwards’, being pursued and stopped by what appeared to be an unmarked white police car with a flashing light on the dash. Edwards hasn’t been seen since. His body is believed to have been discarded somewhere in Concordia Parish. More than 100-plus unsolved Civil Rights-era murders were reinvestigated by the FBI and Justice Department beginning in 2007, including the disappearance of Edwards and the murders of Black men from Concordia Parish, LA, and Adams, Franklin and Wilkinson counties in Mississippi. Edwards’ case is the only one in which the body has never been found. Nelson spent years before he retired in 2021 as editor of the Concordia Sentinel searching for details on the disappearance and the location of Edwards’ body. In recent years, student reporters with the LSU Cold Case Project have worked with him on the case. During his talk, Nelson will provide new details on the final weeks of Edwards’ life. He’ll also share the stories of the people he tracked down who were directly or indirectly impacted by the events at the Shamrock leading up to the abduction and murder of Edwards. The National Park Service is also currently displaying a special exhibit about 1964 Civil Rights activities in the center room of the Melrose South Slave Cabin. It will remain on view through September 2024. The Melrose grounds and outbuildings are open free of charge from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information about park sites and activities, visit www.nps.gov/natc or call 601-446-5790.

Janice Jarvis

Co-Lin has recognized five of is employees at the three campuses as outstanding educators. The Natchez honoree is Janice Jarvis. Jarvis is director of the SOAR program. SOAR is a federally funded program to help lower income and at risk students with financial aid, advising and support, improving academic performance and retention. 

Natchez police are expected to arrest Reginald Rogers of Natchez for aggravated assault after he shot and wounded his first cousin at a family party at Duncan Park on Saturday. Rogers left the scene after the shooting. The victim suffered serious injuries and was transported to Jackson for surgery. Current condition of the victim is unknown. 

The newly renovated Ferriday branch of the Concordia Parish Library will celebrate a grand re-opening Aug. 28 from 10-11:30 a.m. The public is invited. 

Cleanup plans coming

Natchez city officials will sponsor a Beautification Kickoff Campaign Aug 26 from 4-5 p.m. at the Natchez Grand Hotel. Mayor Dan Gibson and other speakers will have info on clean-up efforts, an Eola Hotel update and plans for St. Catherine St. improvements. The public is invited. 

Shannon Melton has been named the Natchez Board of Realtors 2024 Realtor of the Year.

The Natchez Planning Commission voted 5-3 to deny the appeal of New Hope MBC and denied permission for the children's home as a children's home again. The church could appeal the decision to the aldermen.

Shooting arrests

Ferriday police ended up arresting three 17-year-old males for shooting into an occupied dwelling following an attack earlier this week. Two of the three teens were from Ferriday and one from Natchez. Police said Quinnton Webber, Charles E. Davis and Davonta D. James are being held in the parish jail, charged with aggravated assault and criminal damage to property. 

Ferriday Mayor Alvin Garrison reminded aldermen that a 4.72 mill tax levy was about to expire and that the city needed that money to operate. Aldermen will hold a public hearing and then put the renewal on the November ballot.

Adams deputies arrested Ashley French, 36, Jordan Adams 28, and Jake K. Jones, 38, for burglary, all but dwelling. They are residents of Vidalia.

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Offices:
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Peter Rinaldi, publisher
Clarisse Washington, editor emerita

City of Natchez 2023 Audit Highlights Accounting Problems

by Peter Rinaldi

The City of Natchez released its 2023 Silas Simmons audit, with city officials and subsequently, The Democrat, saying the city received a "clean" audit. This was a false statement, as the CPAs noted problems in bookkeeping and accounting for which the mayor, aldermen, city clerk and staff are responsible. The six major problems and findings are quoted verbatim from the audit report. 

Problem 1: Some City bank accounts are not being properly reconciled to the general ledger accurately or in a timely manner. This internal control deficiency is causing the City's general ledger balances to be incorrect throughout the year. When accounts are not reconciled, it increases the likelihood that a misstatement will occur and not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. Timely reconciliation of bank accounts to the general ledger is a key component of any adequate system of internal control. Reconciliations should be prepared to ensure that (1) all cash receipts, disbursements, and transfers are recorded; (2) checks are clearing the bank in a reasonable time; (3) reconciling items are appropriate and are being recorded; and (4) the reconciled cash balance agrees to the general ledger cash balance. 

Problem 2: In some instances, transactions are not being recorded to the City's general ledger in a timely manner. In some instances, transactions recording and other accounting errors are not identified in a timely manner. Transactions should be recorded to the City's general ledger at the time of initiation. General ledger account balances and general ledger transaction detail should be reviewed on a timely and ongoing basis. 

Problem 3: A subsidiary record of all interfund transfers, interfund loans, and interfund advances not maintained by the City's accounting department. An accurate schedule of all of interfund activity that reconciles to the general ledger is necessary for City management and the Board of Aldermen to know the financial resources available for each fund. 

Problem 4: During the process of obtaining an understanding of internal control in planning the audit, assessing control risk, and assessing fraud risk, a lack of segregation of duties was noted. Specifically, it was noted that the City Clerk was responsible for initiating, recording, authorizing, and reconciling cash transactions pertaining to the fiscal year. Segregation of duties is a key component of any internal control environment, with the primary objective being the prevention of fraud and errors. The objective is achieved through the separation of the functional responsibilities of a financial transaction among different individuals. Ideally, no single individual should be able to initiate, record, authorize, and reconcile any one transaction. 

Problem 5: The City's Single Audit was not filed with the Federal Audit Clearinghouse by June 30, 2024. Criteria In general, 0MB Circular A-133 requires any nonfederal entity that expends $750,000 or more in federal awards in a fiscal year to have a Single Audit. The Single Audit must be completed and submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse within nine months of the end of the entity's fiscal year. In addition to the Single Audit requirement, 0MB Circular A-133 requires an audit of the entity's financial statements for the same fiscal year as the Single Audit. 

Problem 6: We noted instances of adjusting journal entries recorded in the City's accounting records that lacked an adequate description and proper documentation. Further, the City does not have a formal set of policies and procedures in place to track and account for adjusting journal entries. Criteria Adjusting journal entries are prepared for transactions that have not been recorded in the accounting records through another process or to correctly restate an account balance or previously recorded transaction. Policies and procedures specific to adjusting journal entries are necessary to ensure that any journal entries posted to the City's general ledger are properly prepared, documented, reviewed, approved, and recorded.

Editor's note: The city says it will fix these problems, which occur year after year, every year since the current administration took office. The city says its 'turnover in accounting staff, limited accounting staff, and accounting staff with limited training and experience resulted in these problems,' and the City Clerk will prevent these problems from occurring in the future.


The Baby Boomers

by Peter Rinaldi


El Salvador, Natchez and Crime

by Peter Rinaldi

For more information, go to https://www.bcbsms.com/


Positive Economic News for Natchez-Adams County

by Peter Rinaldi


District Attorney Tim Cotton

by Peter Rinaldi


Local Tax Policy

by Peter Rinaldi

Industry and families look at property tax rates when locating in a community. The lower the millage rate the better. But the method of determining assessed value is equally important. Alabama has the second lowest property taxes in the nation which has contributed to a boom in development. 

What are relocating businesses and families looking for? 1) An already growing job market 2) Access to good, new housing, both for rental and purchase. 3) A skilled or semi skilled workforce large enough to support new industry and new commercial ventures. 4) access to highways and railroads. 5) Good public schools. 6) Good community cultural activities and recreation. 7) Access to medical care including specialists. 8 Low crime. 9) Favorable government including good services (police, fire, streets, utilities.) and 10) modest taxes. 

Look at the prevailing millage rates. These millage rates do not include city taxes. Lincoln 108 mills, Copiah 112 mills, Warren 117 mills, Adams 126 mills, Pike 136 mills. 

 Adams and Pike counties have already priced themselves out of the market. And when you add in the other aforementioned factors, it makes Adams disadvantaged. Only in category 6, in recreation and cultural activities, does Adams outshine its immediate and nearby competitors. 

Adams is not just in competition with Southwest Miss. but the entire South, including NC, FL, AL. Even in our own state, places like DeSoto, Rankin, Madison, Lafayette and our Gulf Coast counties are growing quickly, while we have lost more than 20 percent of our jobs and people in recent years. 

People get so frustrated with agencies like Natchez Inc., because honestly, it’s not possible for it to bring an economic revival because of all the factors necessary to recruit new jobs. So Natchez Inc. lies about its success or lack of to keep political support and funding. When a community like Adams has higher taxes, it guarantees that those looking for new locations will take a more in depth look at other communities. A higher millage rate combined with the current punitive reassessment program absolutely guarantees that those within your community with good resources will look elsewhere for a better quality of life as well as a lower tax bite. 

About 30 percent of Adams County residents are below the poverty line. Higher millage and assessments impact the poor even more greatly, increasing their housing and vehicle costs. Current Adams County tax policy, which includes the city tax structure on top of the county millage, is truly detrimental to living with some level of economic security for poor folks. Half of our households earn less than $37,000 a year. That’s rough. Hard to raise a family of two, three or four on less than $37,000. 

Combined with a job market than pays less than the going rate compared to other parts of the South, you can see why the outflow of residents, including those with the lowest incomes, has been so pronounced since the 1980’s. By itself, restructuring tax policy will not turn a declining community into a growing one. However, punitive taxes always make things worse not better. Reassessment and millage increases have pushed the Adams County budgets, including city, county and schools beyond $170 million, up 50 percent in five years. This increase in revenue includes huge federal and state COVID subsidies that will be disappearing. Then what will local governments do? Tax citizens even more?


Natchez History and Tourism


by Peter Rinaldi 

My first experience studying Mississippi goes back to 1972-1973, when I was in college in Maine and studied black history in Mississippi during the Civil War and Reconstruction extended into the Jim Crow era 1861-1890. I had never lived south of Connecticut when I actually moved to Natchez in 1978. What surprised me when I got here is that tourism was so successful based on an anti-historical and romanticized view of the era of the planter society pre-Civil War.

The hoopla and hoopskirts, Confederate uniforms and fancy Pilgrimage dresses seemed to satisfy the tourists. By the mid-1990s, it was obvious that tourists’ desires were changing. The bus tours had fallen away due to overregulation and competition from other Southern markets. There was a need to deal with that change, which included a realistic view of the history itself. That was not provided. It was still hoopskirts, Confederate uniforms and pageants forever! So the pageants began to fail, Fall Pilgrimage started falling apart and even Spring Pilgrimage declined.

It wasn’t until the 2000’s that Natchez decided it might throw in some black history, and that was done haphazardly, without much money and done by people who actually had practically no knowledge of our black history. But of course, while history can be separated into segments for study, such as planter society or slavery history by itself, it actually occurs in one big jumble all together at once and the different segments are interdependent and interrelated.

There are three major occurrences in travel in the 1990’s and 2000’s that affected Natchez that did not bring rewards. First, Americans got incredibly wealthy as a society, which meant there was much more travel with that growth in income. Second, Natchez replaced its outmoded and antiquated hotel facilities with new, modern hotels that were equal to competitor cities. And third, many of the old homes changed ownership. Rich outsiders came in, spent millions and millions on redoing their homes and gardens. Those properties are now in the best state they’ve ever been in. But still the tourism isn’t what it used to be. Why is that? I would suggest that Natchez had been slow to tell its real historical story to travelers, which should include the heyday of planter society, slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim Crow era and even the civil rights struggle of the 1960’s.   

People and tourists want the real deal, real history. And the historical experience should also be interactive. While much of the U.S. has developed interactive historical experiences, Natchez generally has not. There is good reason why our cemetery tour with locals acting as the costumed persons buried there is so successful and yet guided tours of fancy houses are actually seeing fewer and fewer numbers.  

Also, we have segregated the history experience. White folks generally run the whitey Pilgrimage and black folks generally run the black history offerings, with the real history often lost. That’s one thing the Natchez National Park does not do. And it’s one reason why the Park is the number one draw in town. But as you know, the locals and the National Park don’t really work together. It’s almost as if they are in separate worlds.  

As witness to our current predicament, we’ve had no visitors or welcome center operating for nearly a year. The new Depot Center is open just six days a week and there is practically no signage or online presence to announce its operation. The garden clubs, their tour agencies and Visit Natchez do not coordinate their message or activity. And the new emphasis on black history is done in such amateurish fashion to be inconsequential. And the National Park Service continues to operate in its own universe. While the fixes to these problems can be debated, the problems at the very least, are more than obvious. As a minor suggestion, I would venture that the Natchez visitor experience should be based on actual history versus fantasy and that the historical experience must be interactive not just passive.


Truth Lounge Debacle

Truth Lounge

by Peter Rinaldi

The Natchez Planning Commission will discuss Truth Lounge at its meeting this week in light of a shooting that occurred at a nearby parking lot during bar hours. The Franklin at South MLK area has become a hang out spot since the lounge opened. More than a dozen shots were fired and one person wounded recently. Law enforcement has ignored loitering, drug use, illegal drinking, trespassing, illegal parking, noise violations , blocking roadways, and the area has turned into a late night festival for weekend bad behavior. 

The city had generally taken a hands off policy since the bar owners filed suit against public officials. The Planning Commission can put restrictions on the bar’s operations and the aldermen can review, adopt or reject the Commission’s rulings. 

During the Grennell and Gibson administrations, the mayor and aldermen haven’t done that much about fighting the violent crime wave other than change police chiefs four times in eight years. General policy has been the same at Truth Lounge as in other parts of the city: Whatever happens, just happens. 

Some city residents claim that the black-owned bar with mostly black patrons has been singled out for unfair and racist treatment. But actually, the incidence of stabbings and shootings in Natchez-Adams County bars have occurred in bars that have a majority black customer base. 

Both Sheriff Patten and Police Chief Green have previously expressed their concerns about law breaking and violence at and near Truth. The sheriff and chief are both black and unlikely to discriminate against black entrepreneurs and their customers. But both their departments have scaled back their enforcement near the bar following the filing of lawsuits. 

When Judge Debra Blackwell was asked to intervene to protect public safety, she declined to do so, instead allowing the city and bar owners to work out any solution they saw fit. 

As a result of the passive attitude toward safety, crowd misbehavior has made it difficult for businesses near Truth to operate safely. And a number of residents noticed bullet holes in their vehicles and bricks or woodwork struck by bullets after the last violent outbreak. 

While many defenders of Truth say the owners are not responsible for how people misbehave outside the bar itself, there were very few incidents of law breaking in the last decade on upper Franklin and MLK toward the fire station, that is, until the bar opened and the big crowds arrived.


Prosecutorial and Judicial Improvement

Bad guys catching it

by Peter Rinaldi

There’s been a dramatic change for the good since Tim Cotton has come on as DA and Danny Barber has returned as Justice Court Judge. Tim is spearheading the indictments of scores of serious felony criminals who have been in jail or out on bond. Nearly 200 have been indicted this year so far. 

Most of these guys are repeat offenders, many charged with shootings, killings and sex crimes. The volume of work coming from the DA’s office has been magnificent, especially in comparison to his lousy predecessor. Over the course of the next year, I expect many of these indictments to be resolved in trials and convictions. 

As Justice Court Judge, Danny oversees the setting of bond for felony offenders, binding them over to the grand jury to see if the offenders should be indicted. Danny had been setting appropriate bonds and no bonds for some, based on community threat, flight risk and the arrest and conviction history of the accused. The laxity of his predecessor is history. Danny is responding to the threats caused by repeat felony offenders. 

Both men deserve credit for this dramatic shift in performance from their offices. As a result, we’re safer. The news is good.


Adams County Audit Hits Circuit Clerk and Tax Collector

Accounting problems

by Peter Rinaldi

Bridgers CPAs of Vicksburg was not able to finish the Adams County 2022 audit on time, being more than six months late, because the county did not collect its data and pass it to the CPAs in a timely fashion. Findings included as follows: 

1. The county did not always follow state purchasing rules. The county paid a few invoices without the proper documentation. In response to the error, supervisors appointed a new purchasing clerk. 

2. Purchases from the road department were authorized by persons other than the road manager. The county says it will correct this problem. 

3. Bank reconciliations were out of balance by small amounts. Circuit Clerk Eva Givens had assigned a lower level clerk to handle this, and that clerk was unable to figure out why there were discrepancies. Additionally, the fee account was not reconciled for an entire month. 

4. Circuit Clerk Givens did not deposit excess funds into the county's general fund on a timely basis. Givens failed to make her annual financial report on time. Once filed, she also claimed an expense of $16,805 that was not allowable. Unfortunately, it was a lower level clerk that made the reporting error. Additionally, there were math errors in computing retirement contributions. The CPAs said Givens should re-file the report with the appropriate corrections. Givens did not respond to the problems herself. But the unnamed clerk said she would correct the errors. The CPAs pointed out that these statute responsibilities belong to Givens herself as the elected official. 

5. Tax Collector Terrence Bailey showed an overage of $526,000. The Tax Collector kept his own manual accounting system on spreadsheets, instead of using the Delta software used by county offices for many years. He did not know how to use the software, despite being in office for four years. As a result, it was not possible for the CPAs to verify his accounting procedures and tallies as necessarily accurate. The Tax Collector's Office has repeatedly not performed bank reconciliations since 2018. The audit showed he did not compare reconciled cash with booked cash. And the amounts were different. Additionally, the lack of accurate bookkeeping made it uncertain as to whether Adams County, the City of Natchez and Natchez-Adams School District got the proper amounts due. The CPAs concluded the lack of controls over cash could result in the loss or misappropriation of funds. The CPAs did not feel confident that the stated cash figures from Bailey's office were accurate or could be substantiated, so they left those figures out of their report. Bailey responded saying he has passed on all collections to the various entities required, including state and local. He arranged for Delta consultants to come and teach him about the software in Fall 2023. Whether that training was successful is unknown. And whether he has corrected the glaring bookkeeping and cash control problems is unknown.


Natchez Mall and Local Retail

Outlook assessed

by Peter Rinaldi

While quite a few folks expressed concern on my FB pages about the mall’s idea to convert the interior of the mall to a storage facility, such a sale of the property and conversion is unlikely and would be very expensive. Natchez being such a mini market, the need for such large storage is questionable. It is more likely that the mall will remain as is, with a few stores operating that have their own individual outside entrances. Tabani had been more fortunate than some malls. It has been able to lease some space, whereas many malls have closed completely.   

The retail prospects of Natchez have declined precipitously in the past generation, as we’ve lost 25 percent of our population and approximately 30 percent of our residents are living below the poverty line. The possibilities for growth of retail products and services for middle and upper income consumers here are very slim. Most entrepreneurs and chain operations want to locate in communities that are growing quickly not declining. And the near “destruction” of the mall, Tracetown and Magnolia Mall are signs that the retail market is declining. Fortunately, there are a few companies, like dollar stores, that like poor communities, since poor customers are their target consumers.   

Downtown has again become more important, as several dozen local entrepreneurs have opened in the last three years. Most will blow away in the normal 3-5 year business cycle, but quite a few of their buildings have been rehabbed and will find new business tenants when the first crop plays out.


A Year Remembered

The crime abyss

by Peter Rinaldi

Natchez-Adams County occasionally places criminal penalties of time to be served or fines to be paid for commission of misdemeanors. 

But very often, cases are dismissed, remanded to the files or suspended sentences awarded. Sometimes a small fine is assessed, but with it comes some sort of deal. The penalties actually earned are watered down. A pat on the fanny and let go. Shoplifting, drug possession, theft, simple assault. Misdemeanor offenders are filling city and justice court, with many of the same faces seen year in, year out. 

Worse, felonies are often plead down to misdemeanors. Crimes that should bring 3-10 years in jail are given the magic eraser, plead down to suspended sentences and small fines. The plea downs include serious violent offenses, sex crimes, shootings. 

If you ask why crime is bad, it’s because prosecutors and judges are played by defense attorneys. The judges and prosecutors are weak and ineffectual and perfectly willing to see crime committed at its current pace. A high rate of crime proves they are necessary and important and deserve the high and outlandish pay they make. 

As to defense attorneys, there are many who will sacrifice their integrity for a buck. They will most assuredly lie to the court about their client’s behavior, even if the perp is a killer. No one forces the defense attorney to lie and scheme for money. He does so willingly and is rewarded by the system for doing so. 

If you ask me who is causing the biggest problems, I’m not sure it’s the criminals. When judges and prosecutors handle 500 cases and make sweetheart deals on more than half their cases, who is making sure that we have repeat crime? If you don’t prosecute, convict and sentence appropriately misdemeanor offenders, you get more misdemeanors and more felonies. A sorry and incapable justice system that uses the magic eraser on felonies will most assuredly get more thugs running rampant around town. More violence and more property crimes are guaranteed. 

Nothing says incompetence like letting shooters bond out on very low bonds who have a history of felony arrests and convictions. This is insanity. And it happens all the time in Natchez-Adams County. 

Really, it’s just a few people in charge of this mess. Two justice court judges, two circuit judges, a municipal judge and prosecutors, county prosecutor, district attorney and assistant district attorneys. These officials and the defense attorneys that slug through court are going to determine how safe or unsafe Natchez-Adams County is and will be.

I wish it wasn’t this way. Watching our community slide into an abyss of crime 2010-2023 has been heartbreaking. But when incompetents are elected or appointed, this is the result. Sure as shootin’. Here’s to a 2024 that’s more resolved to convict and sentence the criminals who plague us.


Enshrined Failure

Public school kids deserve a better education

by Peter Rinaldi

In the past two years, nearly 20 states have dropped testing requirements for graduating students, including Mississippi. Why? Because the students would fail the tests if forced to take them. Mississippi has moved to a phony grading system where school districts that are failing their students can still earn a B or C. Natchez has a grade of B, but only 10-35 percent of its students are proficient in math or language arts, depending on the grade and subject. 

The real purpose of our public education system and our government schools is to reward employees with good pay, benefits and retirement not educate students. 

If you want a quality education in Natchez, especially if your kids are in elementary or middle school, choose ACCS or Cathedral. If your kids are smart enough to get into Natchez Early College at Co-Lin, they’ll get a good education. Otherwise, put your kids at ACCS or Cathedral. Don’t be foolish and believe the lies told by the Natchez School District as to quality. It has enshrined failure.

Treating the Mentally Ill

Mississippi's mental health treatment crisis

by Peter Rinaldi

Finding the mentally ill appropriate healthcare has always been a problem in Mississippi. Most of these patients lack good medical insurance or financial resources to pay for appropriate care. They need specialized care for their drug, alcohol and other mental illness problems. As a result, the underfunded in-patient care state system almost always has a waiting list. Chancery courts sometimes order the mentally ill to be housed temporarily or not so temporarily in jail, waiting for an opening at a state funded or private care facility. 

The cost for 30 days of in patient care can run $50,000-$100,000 per patient. And the support system needed to start an-inpatient center is more than $2-4 million minimum. So it’s impossible for small counties to start a new in patient mental health care facility. The only county that could actually afford a new center would be Hinds. So we’re more or less stuck with the system we have. 

The Legislature has never properly funded mental health care, either in-patient or outpatient. It never will. 

And mental health is differentiated just like other healthcare. We don’t treat cancer patients the same way we treat diabetics or those with kidney failure. Likewise, the treatment for alcohol and drug addicted persons is different than those with schizophrenia or patients suffering from what we used to call a nervous breakdown. This differentiation increases costs. 

Without proper funding from the state for facilities and programs, continuing inadequate private insurance coverage and the low to moderate incomes of most Mississippi families, it is a problem that simply won’t be fixed. 

I am reminded of the example of a family very close to me, whose mother suffered from both alcohol and drug addiction. The hospital in-patient and outpatient treatment costs out-of-pocket to help the mom regain control of her life and restore her mental and physical health was more than $200,000. 

The problems are great and the resources less so. The Legislature would need to appropriate $100 million a year to begin to tackle this problem. And insurance companies would have to pay more than 80 percent of a 30 day treatment plan less deductibles. Neither is going to occur. 

So some mentally ill patients will end up in jail.


Did the Trash Contract Include Bid Rigging?

Supervisors Warren Gaines Sr., Angela Hutchins and Ricky Gray

by Peter Rinaldi

Adams County supervisors wanted to award their civil engineering and trash contracts to minority contractors. Political decisions. When they did so, the cost to taxpayers rose dramatically.

It turns out that the effort by Supervisors Gaines, Hutchins and Gray to “do the good deed” and help a black contractor backfired when they chose Metro Disposal from Metairie for trash pickup, Metro did a lousy job here and in other communities they served, like Slidell and New Orleans. While other black contractors did a good job in New Orleans, Metro trucks were not maintained and broke down frequently. The company did not pick up trash as scheduled, often skipping some residences for two weeks or more. It was the same story here in Adams County. 

Eventually, service in Adams completely came to an end when Metro ran out of money, and the company filed for bankruptcy. Reorganized as United Infrastructure, the former Metro owners were given a 90 day emergency Adams County contract, but this time at more than double the normal monthly price. 

There was also the question of whether the bid was rigged by the three majority supervisors to give Metro the emergency contract. Supervisors could have offered a long term contract to attract many more potential bidders and to lower the price per month to households and the county. But they purposely offered a short term contract, so that Metro-United could be the winning bidder. 

And of course, the company is still doing a mediocre job, not running complete routes and missing pickups. 

Supervisors Middleton and Wilson have tried to point out to their fellow supervisors that the current approach to trash pickup is costing way too much, as Adams County now has the highest trash pickup rates in state plus the service issues. 

Supervisors Gaines, Hutchins and Gray haven’t dealt with budgeting the extra cost either, deferring the issue to after the elections. But the extra $600,000 has to be budgeted and paid. Trash bills to homeowners should have been more than doubled by now. But no change in billing has been made because four of the five supervisors have election opponents. 

Right now, the majority three seem perfectly content to allow both county and city residents and taxpayers to pay for this error. As of now, city residents are paying for their own trash pickup through their water bills. And city residents are also subsidizing their neighbors out in the county trash pickup through property taxes. Talk about unfair. And probably illegal. 

In past, the state and courts have ruled that utility and trash services had to be paid by the people who actually get those services. 

Please explain to me why in-city residents on Pearl or MLK Street should pay their own trash pickup and also subsidize out-in-the-county trash pickup in Cloverdale, Kingston and Cranfield. 

This whole rotten mess shows how foolish the black majority supervisors are. In an effort to bend over backwards to help a minority contractor, the three supervisors are actually harming thousands of black homeowners in Adams County by providing the most expensive and lousy trash service available. 

All three, Warren Gaines, Angela Hutchins and Ricky Gray, have made statements in the past about how difficult it is to be poor in Adams County. Well, the three are really putting it to those poor folks now. Big time.


Expect the Possible

Mayors Butch Brown, Darryl Grennell and Dan Gibson

by Reter Rinaldi

Natchez mayors and their citizens are always caught in the same trap: expecting a newly elected mayor to lead the community to the prosperity that never happens. What does happen is that by the end of the mayor’s term, many citizens become fed up with the lack of progress and the mayor loses support. This was undoubtedly true during the terms of Mayors West and Middleton as well as the more current Mayors Brown, Grennell and perhaps even Gibson. 

Here’s what occurs. The candidate wants to be elected. So he offers hope, the promise of positive change and economic revival. When the economic revival fails to arrive, the mayor tries to convince his subjects that things are in fact moving forward economically. But citizens quickly notice the mayor’s mistakes, crookedness and lies, and sooner or later, he is overwhelmed by his errors. Revival doesn’t occur and support evaporates.

The biggest error occurs right in the beginning of the campaign, when the mayoral candidate promises to turn around the course of 40 years of history that includes the decline of the wildcat oil industry, the destruction of our manufacturing base, population outflow and a demographic shift from a majority middle class white community to a majority poor black community.

None of our mayors are God or Moses. The Israelites are not being led to a land of milk and honey. 

Instead, citizens should be looking at whether the mayor does a good job running city government as an administrator. Is he wise, careful with money, hard working, honest and ethical? 

Past, current and future mayors face the same core problem. Natchez does not generate enough tax revenues to meet the basic needs of the city, including police, fire, public works, streets, lights, landscaping, tourism, seniors, transportation, facilities maintenance, city employees and community development. 

Unable to meet these needs, many mayors choose to borrow excessively and lie profusely to maintain their position. The result is always the same. The mayor is ejected from office and a new mayor chosen. The cycle begins anew. 

Perhaps Gibson will break this trend. His supporters are counting on his political skills, hard work, energy, bull throwing, butt kissing and borrowed money for big projects to change the course of events. 

To me, Gibson is the agent of change, meaning he is the mayor most likely to give us the management expertise we want to run the city bureaucracy better than it has been in the last 40 years. But I do not expect a successful economic revival led by him. 

And if he and his supporters insist on such revival, he will ultimately fail and lose his seat. 

What Natchez needs to stabilize and grow is a population that increases because there are more jobs paying higher wages than in past. That’s not going to happen. No mayor can make that happen. And actually, recent history of the last 10 years shows Natchez rapidly declining and the gap increasing between our low household incomes and the state average. 

Through the last five mayors, we’ve declined precipitously as a community. And hopes, promises, bull throwing, schemes, scams or good projects are not going to counter the path we’re on. 

So if we want to save Dan and Dan wants to save Dan, then we must adjust our unrealistic aims and concentrate on the things we can actually do with our very limited means. I’m saying we should break the cycle of failure that actually goes back to Tony Byrne’s last term, when the economy started to get shaky. 

The obvious questions are, “What should we do now and in the short term to improve city management and services without breaking the bank and borrowing huge sums? How can we, through our modest means, improve government and quality of life in town for a community that is increasingly majority black, poor and lower middle class?” 

We should break the cycle of disillusion and failure. We should change the way we think and the way city government is led.


NATCHEZ WATER WORKS:  Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8a-4p, 601-445-5521 . After Hours, Call 601-445-5521, Then Press #8. We are committed to providing safe, high quality water services to our community, while maintaining a standard of excellence in customer service and environmental conservation. 150 North Shields Lane. natchezwaterworks.com


Searching for the Truth

Crime numbers should be reported

by Peter Rinaldi

Incidents of crime are normally reported to the DOJ annually on a voluntary basis. Participation in crime reporting makes it more likely a city will get crime fighting grants from the feds.

Natchez PD had been tallying the numbers on violent and property crimes since the 1990s. For whatever reasons, the city stopped submitting those statistics at the end of 2020. There is no public info available from DOJ on Natchez for 2021 and 2022. And the PD has not made public any info it might be keeping privately.

I received repeated information from inside NPD that the 2019 and 2020 statistics were adjusted to make the city look safer. However, I was unable to confirm whether the stats were lies or truthful and simply decided to use the phrase “could be incomplete, subject to confirmation.”

It’s unfortunate that the city has decided to keep citizens in the dark. I use crime mapping software to mark where felonies occur and are reported. But I don’t have access to all the info the city and county have on calls and arrests. 

For 2022-2023, it appears that violent crime is increasing once again and that property crime may actually be decreasing a bit. But I’m not sure-sure and would need more police and sheriff’s data to come to a firm conclusion. 

When stats aren’t readily available, it allows law enforcement and politicians to lie about what’s happening. For example, Chief Daughtry claimed he had taken 150 guns off the street. But there was no arrest record to back up that wild claim. Fantasy and baloney. Bull. 

Since citizens pay for their government with taxes, they have a right to know what’s going on. Keeping accurate crime stats, participating in DOJ reporting is normal and necessary for cities of our size and larger. We should know precisely where we stand. 

Of course, if crime is getting worse or much worse, then it’s in the interest of law enforcement and the politicians to hide the facts, so they can keep their cushy jobs and mislead the peons. But it’s not in the community interest to obscure or fail to disclose the truth.


Stolen Firearms and Cute Judge Tricks

Judges should wise up

by Peter Rinaldi

One of the aspects of our local crime problem is that guns are stolen from homes and vehicles during break-ins are then sold to juveniles and young adults for prices of $35-$100. Stolen guns aren’t often traceable to the offender but often traceable to the original owner of the gun, who has usually purchased the firearm legally through a store backed by paperwork. 

Unless the perp leaves good fingerprints on the stolen gun and has a felony record, the stolen gun is the perfect tool to use in a crime, shooting, a drug deal, confrontation with an enemy or another break-in. 

Mississippi Legislators know gun trafficking and illegal possession of guns contribute to an explosion in crime. So the law says selling or transferring a stolen gun or possessing a stolen gun can earn the perp up to five years in jail. And any crime in which a gun is used can carry a five year enhancement or five year additional penalty. 

What are Natchez-Adams County judges doing? Repeatedly, they are letting those who possess stolen guns go free, no jail time, sometimes a suspended sentence, sometimes a small or moderate fine. So do the perps learn their lesson? No, what they learn is the court is weak, the judge is a fool and the felon gets away with the illegal possession. The criminal is saved from justice to commit crime at a future date. 

Another cute trick pulled by a Natchez judge occurred this week. The 18-year-old before the court did indeed possess a stolen gun. Instead of finding him guilty or binding the accused over to the grand jury, the judge retired the case to the file for one year. At the end of a year, if the young man keeps his record clean, then the case will be dismissed. 

This kind of judicial malfeasance if repeated many times over has the same result as a suspended sentence or small fine. It guarantees the criminal knows he has played the game and won and escaped justice. 

We acknowledge that repeat felony offenders are the primary cause of the death and destruction, the violent and property crime scourge destroying Natchez-Adams County. But we also admit that our judges are contributing to the continuation of our crime wave due to light sentencing. 

Those convicted of transferring or possessing stolen guns should always get jail time of up to five years as the law provides and the circumstances of the offense dictate. 

Every person who is convicted of a felony gun crime has earned jail not hugs and kisses or a stern warning from the court.


Where Are We Heading?

Natchez remains in crisis

by Peter Rinaldi

I have a great love for Natchez. But the incredible ignorance of its citizens always alarms me. The lack of good education, lack of skills and widespread drug and alcohol dependency help determine our future, and especially when you consider our lack of capital for growth and our isolated location. The growth of crime is a direct result of these negative characteristics. 

We’ve spent millions extra on our local public schools, but overwhelmingly 25-50 percent of Natchez students fail to meet grade level expectations. And 21 percent of our adults have not even graduated from high schools. Household incomes are 40 percent below state averages. We are poorer now as a community than we have been since the 1960’s. And poverty and ignorance work hand in hand. 

Thinking and analytical skills are not our strong suit, especially among our so called leaders. Our citizens elect officials who are incompetent and themselves poorly skilled and educated. You can’t expect dumb people to lead you out of a mess. They will only make it worse. 

The school system is spinning out of control. The number of jobs has declined 15 percent in a decade. And the population continues to flow outward. As almost a symbol of these manifest problems is our warped view of politics. Right now, we have only three realistic presidential candidates. And similar to 2020, who would Natchez Adams County vote for? Biden, of course. 

This love-worship of liberalism is reflected in local politics as well. The voters love big spenders and bull throwers. The politicians use reassessment of properties to move their city, county and school budgets above $130 million. Spend and take on debt. And while government gets bigger, the community gets smaller and poorer. 

Despite this sad assessment, I like you, hope for and wish for great gains and achievements that are always on the horizon but never seem to arrive. 

For me, my only recourse is to continue to write the local news and comment when things are going well or poorly. And when you are lied to or misled by the politicians for their own personal gain, those actions must be pointed out as well. 

While I respect The Democrat’s role as cheerleader for the community and a recorder of all things good and positive, I would not ever feel comfortable in the role of a pom-pom girl. I’m a conservative social, political and economic reformer. Unfortunately, I can’t change. So I remain a pain in the butt for some. But if you read my FB and website posts, you will know more about our community even if you disagree with my conclusions. 

My love and affection for Natchez-Adams County demands that I point out and analyze problems, make suggestions for improvement and be a taxpayers’ advocate. 

I invite you to follow my news and writings on FB and miss-loumagazine.com. Weigh in when the mood or issue strikes you. I always welcome comments and opinions that differ from mine. 

When I started this “news journey” more than 40 years ago, I expected our community to make significant progress. That has not happened. But I am unwilling to give up. As long as I can breathe and type, I must write what is both informative and entertaining for Natchez-Adams as well as Vidalia- Ferriday-Concordia. I’m stuck like hamster on its wheel. But it’s a good stuck. 

Your input is always appreciated.


Natchez Taxpayer's Hero Remembered

Janet and Dan Dillard

by Peter Rinaldi

It's been a shock to many of us that Alderman Dan Dillard passed away unexpectedly this week. He was a good man.

Natchez city government is always beset by the fuzzy thinking and goofy ideas of its leaders. Several times in recent memory, city government has tried to spend its way into some utopia, like it's doing now.

For more than 16 years, Dan Dillard brought reason and common sense to the Board of Aldermen, challenging collective thought and a plethora of financial miscues. Dan routinely fought theft, misappropriation, alarming overspending and borrowing. He was often the first and the only aldermen to raise these issues. He was ultimately concerned that Natchez citizens get good government. Dan was an early advocate of rehabilitating the police department, city-led tourism, city clerk's office and for fair play and balance between city aldermen and county supervisors. He played a major role in budgeting and oversight management of many city departments. 

In the many years he served, he had a couple of good mayors and some good aldermen. He also had a bunch of stinkers, low-lifes and corrupt jerks to work with, too, which made his job as a conscientious aldermen much more difficult. 

I've been following the aldermen since 1978, when I moved here. I would say without hesitation that Dan was the best alderman we had. A few other notables come to mind, Al Graning, Tom Middleton, Lou Salvo Jordan, but Dan was the best of the best. 

He was like the little Dutch Boy of legend, putting his finger in the dyke, saving the community and government from being awash in a flood of red ink and haplessness. You could count on Dan to be honest, work hard and follow through. 

What a tremendous loss for his family and our city! I should have said this to him when he was alive. "Dan, you did a spectacular job. Thanks so much for your leadership and hard work to make Natchez the city it should be." 

In recent years, he suffered a great tragedy, the loss of his good wife, Janet. He recouped from her death somewhat, and resumed a normal work schedule. But the burden, loss and grief and were ever-present. He loved her so.

I would ask you to remember Dan and Janet and their kids in your prayers, as well as their extended families. God care for Dan and Janet. We miss them both. 

Dan Dillard was 67.


Three Amigos: Bias Plays Role in Waste Contract

by Peter Rinaldi

Adams County Supervisors have once again bungled their waste collection contract. Although county leaders Warren Gaines, Ricky Gray and Angela Hutchins quickly gave an OK to United Infrastructure, both Kevin Wilson and Wes Middleton objected to the high price that would saddle Adams County with the highest trash pickup rates in the state plus a guarantee of a 4.6 percent cost increase annually. That means supervisors will most likely double the trash pickup bills of residents after the election. 

Gaines, Gray and Hutchins are anxious to award the final contract to United, a New Orleans area based minority contractor, that formerly went bankrupt as Metro Services. Metro failed to pickup the trash for several weeks and did a terrible job before that, as its cash flow worsened. The Three Amigos of Trash, Gaines, Gray and Hutchins, believe they will get more brownie points with the folks if they award the final contract to a black owned firm, regardless of the price or quality of service. 

Wilson and Middleton both believe the price and service are most important and it doesn’t matter what ethnic group, black, white, or whatever gets the contract. Wilson and Middleton were in the Metro camp at first, because the company offered good service at a low price. But they soured on Metro when the company wouldn’t and couldn’t perform. 

The Amigos did the exact same thing when they dumped Jordan, Kaiser and selected a black-owned engineering firm that charges a higher price and gives much worse service than Jordan, Kaiser. 

It seems The Amigos believe many issues concerning “green” money can be solved by going “black," when the real issue is the “red” ink that the county will face as a result of their stupid decisions. 

The choice should be made based on price and service. Trying to award trash or engineering services or any other contracts based on equity, reparations or race bias is ridiculous and against the interests of ALL the people of Adams County. Especially if citizens end up paying more than double the price for garbage pickup.


Solving the Crime Problem

Downtown Burlington, Vermont

by Peter Rinaldi

Burlington is Vermont’s largest city, with 44,700 residents. It is the home of the University of Vermont, generally high income, next to Lake Champlain, pretty and probably the most liberal town in America. Socialists are welcome here. While just 4.4 percent of its citizens are black, it is the state’s most black city. 

 What Burlington has in common with Natchez and other cities across the US is growing violence, shootings committed by black males. Three in the last week alone. Doing the research on recent shootings, I found a similar pattern to what has happened in Natchez. Perps who commit felonies are given suspended and light sentences, only to come back soon to shoot up the neighborhoods and wound or kill their enemies. For Burlington, this is a new circumstance, a shock to the fiber of the community. 

For us old hands in Natchez, we’re used to black teens and young adults shooting the heck out of each other. So in Burlington, they’re talking about new social programs to curb black violence because they can’t blame the economy or poverty for a cause. Merchants are talking about hiring armed security. To Burlington’s credit, shooters are not given bond. But like Natchez, most folks don’t know why the violence is out of control. 

Of course, Natchez’s solution to the wave of black violence is easy: no bond for felony offenders who have been convicted of felonies before; no bond ever for shooters. 5 years extra sentence for use of a firearm in a crime, as provided for by law; maximum penalty for shooters and second time felony offenders; maximum penalty for possession of a stolen weapon. 

You can clean your streets and keep your community safe by putting all the thugs in jail for a long time. Or you can opt for new social programs like Burlington or say it’s just bad everywhere and put up with it like Natchez. Or you maybe accuse The Democrat of insensitive news coverage that highlights crime too much or call me a racist for pointing out the obvious truth.   Whatever option you choose and no matter how you spin the facts and theories, if you don’t put the thugs in jail for a long time, they will come back to do more and worse. And of course, the criminals will destroy your community, just like they have done in little Natchez.

Natchez Renewal

City overspending is self-destructive

by Peter Rinaldi

Part of a Natchez renewal should include a dedication to careful spending of tax dollars, proper management of city employees, a lowering of the tax burden on our generally poor population and proficient supervision of accounting and bookkeeping practices. Of course, we have seen little of the aforementioned practices in recent years. What we have witnessed is joyful and exuberant spending and excessive borrowing, surely requiring an increase in taxes now and in the future, when the grants end and the city is stuck with higher operational costs it can’t fund. 

Some proof of this error-filled approach can be seen by just a casual review of the city budget, which had long remained in the $25-37 million range. Now aldermen will spend $51.2 million this year on $49.3 million in revenues. As homes and businesses have their assessed values massively increased, the city bleeds those residents and business people for more taxes. Local government ensures that families have less money to pay their monthly bills. Government does better, much better. But families and businesses are doing worse, unless they completely sell off their property assets. This is not progress. 

Realistically, there has been no growth in the local economy but continued deterioration since 2016. Already the post pandemic recovery has ebbed, with a drop in the number of jobs and taxable retail sales up only 2 percent, far less than inflation. 

Free for all spending will not make the city better in the long term. The mayor and aldermen have taken the posture that liberal Democratic government is just what we need, that crime and poor quality education can be ignored and that a blizzard of spending will cure most evils. 

There is no escape from such philosophical foolishness, only self- destruction. Living within your means and providing sound and practical management are not just lofty ideals but extremely necessary in light of our diminishing stature in the state’s economy.


Win-Win or Lose-Lose?

Eola Hotel

by Peter Rinaldi 

Natchez aldermen have discussed in private meetings their planned roles in financing the reconstruction of the Eola Hotel project. Virginia immigration attorney Robert Lubin still owns the hotel and is working with Mississippi developer Hayes Dent and Wisconsin developer Randall Roth. Who will own what portion of the stock is unclear, as is whether ownership stakes in the hotel will be sold to foreign investors. Foreigners who invest in blighted communities can get easy access to U.S. visas. 

What is certain is that the city is moving forward on the idea of using TIF bonds to help the developer-owners. Additionally, the investment proposal would direct the Eola's sales and property taxes (except school taxes) toward repayment of the development bond. That means Natchez-Adams County taxpayers would subsidize both the construction and operation of the rebuilt hotel. While the total cost of renovating the hotel could be as much as $32 million, when finished, the hotel might only be worth $18 million, calling into question whether the investment could stand on its own feet without taxpayer subsidy and foreign investor dollars.

While Mayor Dan Gibson and the aldermen haven't discussed publicly the risks of another failed Eola project as a possibility, they have touted the scheme as a way to make the hotel a centerpiece for development downtown Natchez. No owner of the hotel has made money on its operation since the 1970's, and so far, no evidence has been presented that the new owners will make money either. Whether the Hotel would generate enough revenues to pay off its bond plus its operating expenses cannot be realistically determined, putting local taxpayers at some risk. 

Conceivably, the primary U.S. partner-developers could make money through developer, management and consulting fees, either paid in cash or as stock options, while the foreign investors would not see a return on investment and face hefty losses, while still getting their prized U.S. visas.

Mayor Gibson has been pushing and leading the discussion about the Eola within the aldermanic meetings. Alderwoman Valencia Hall has said, the project is a "win-win" for Natchez, though she did not say specifically what she meant in this case. Neither Hall nor Gibson nor the rest of the aldermen have any experience in hotel redevelopment projects. But they all understand that even an unsuccessful project could still have re-election benefits, even if the investment is a financial catastrophe. The reopening of the hotel could be touted as a political success to voters, prettying up the Natchez skyline, even if the numbers don't work. 

Aldermen voted 5-1 to begin the process of participation in the project, committing an initial $4 million. The city may also provide additional funds later on through a TIF bond.  

The mayor and aldermen are not required by law to discuss real estate projects publicly and can keep their negotiations secret, until it's time to formally commit Natchez taxpayers to the financing plan. At that time, a series of public notices would be required and open meetings for public input would be held. But by that late date, the project would be a done deal and little could be added to change the course of the city's involvement or mitigate its risk. 

Hosemann's War Against Adams County 

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann

by Peter Rinaldi

With redistricting led by Delbert Hosemann, Melanie Sojourner was purposely cut out of her state senate seat, put in a Democratic district she could not win. 

The result means Adams County no longer has a senator or representative that actually resides in Adams. Robert Johnson actually lives in Hinds County and rarely comes to Natchez. That's why you never see or hear from him.

Not only does this make our political efforts in Jackson more difficult, I cannot understand why Mayor Dan Gibson continues to praise Hosemann publicly, telling him how wonderful Delbert is as a leader and how Natchez loves and respects him, when Delbert was obviously trying to hurt our community by destroying Melanie's district. 

It's good to be courteous to any political enemy of Adams County, especially a Lt. Gov., but to publicly fawn all over him is a waste of time. He will give you only the minimum of attention, a minimum of money, because he has shown you already what he thinks of your community. You are poo-poo to him and throwing Adams into the Port Gibson based district of a Democratic senate non-entity proves that he thinks you belong in Siberia, without power, money, influence or improvement.

Delbert thinks you are nothing, worthy of nothing, so butt kissing won't do you any good. As a matter of pride and honesty, you should politely, kindly and directly tell him you know perfectly what he did to hurt us. And you don't like it or respect that behavior. And in return, you promise to be a loyal Adams County resident and Mississippian and can only support the re-election of those who actually support us, versus those who try to hurt us. The door remains open to future conversation, but the underlying principal must be that we expect state government and the Lt Gov. to help Adams County and not harm our community.

---

Note: When I posted this little commentary without the stirring headline on Del's FB page that invites public input, it was immediately deleted by his staff. Shows you, doesn't it?


Battling Crime in Natchez 

by Peter Rinaldi

Why would the mayor and aldermen believe that by simply changing police chiefs violent and property crime will decrease? Unless you change the way you police and the way you manage the department, you will get the same failure over and over again. There are many towns and cities across the US that have effective policing. And a lot of communities are very safe. But Natchez is not. 

We all know that the increase in crime and violent offenders is complex in nature, having to do with home life, immorality, evil, even wayward judges and prosecutors. But the job of police is simply to arrest perps. They’re not educators, social workers or ministers to the soul. Their job is simply to deter crime by having a large enough presence on the street, to use pre-emptive investigations to keep the criminals huddled down and afraid, and to arrest every felon who commits a serious crime. A big task. But some communities do this very successfully. 

If your mayor and aldermen do not have a solution to the police and crime management problem, then new officials are needed. If we don’t change the current situation, Natchez will have a future but a future worse than it is now. 

It’s pretty obvious that gangs, drugs, violent and property crime are out of control in Natchez and law enforcement and the politicians are unable or unwilling to deter this crime. Is it time for armed citizens to patrol their own neighborhoods? I think so. To be effective, neighborhoods would have to form their own security districts, equip and pay armed security, an expensive proposition. But if law enforcement won’t do the job, you have only two choices: armed protection or surrender to the criminals.


The Change

by Peter Rinaldi

In 2022, I noticed a significant change in the direction of the Natchez-Adams County School Board and its management. In past, the district tried to highlight its successes, while acknowledging its need to do better, especially in things like test scores and the state’s evaluation. This past year, school leaders changed direction and overblew modest improvements post Covid, trumpeting somewhat dishonest A/B/C evaluations and ignoring that only 15-35 percent of students performed at or above grade level in various subjects such as math, language arts and reading.

This change marks a reinforcement of the earlier dishonest policy when the district built a new high school when voters specifically told the bosses they didn’t want one. There remains a strong constituency within Natchez-Adams County for the repair and upgrade of our local schools, including improving the quality of teaching and student performance.

It’s strange that our nearby school districts in Catahoula and Wilkinson are engaged in lengthy discussions on how to improve their schools, discussions that include board members, administrators and the public. Weaknesses are openly discussed and hotly debated. Those districts, with far less money and resources than Natchez Adams, are dealing with these problems. They’re not lying to the public.

While Natchez-Adams supervisors and aldermen dropped the issue of an elected school board because of Philip West’s opposition, it’s now pretty obvious that he is the obstruction to change and should be removed and a new honest superintendent chosen.

In the end, the lack of positive outcomes for learning in the Natchez public schools harms the students and impairs the economic future of the community. The schools are a reflection of the community they serve. And the downhill slide of both over the last 30 years is obvious to all except the blind and corrupt insiders.

You cannot reverse outward migration of the population and a decrease in economic activity by continued poor schools, lots of crime, low-paying jobs, dilapidated housing and inferior community aesthetics. However, lying, misleading the public and failing to follow public mandates only make a bad situation much worse.

It’s sad that some black political leaders say they want our black schools to do better. But their actions reveal the truth. They want the power and money for themselves and their friends and the black kids can go to hell, if changes threaten who is at the top.

These leaders are not the champions for racial justice but the purveyors of racial injustice. So the rich and upper middle class black kids and white kids and their parents flee the Natchez public schools for AC or Cathedral or play ‘the where does the parent/kid live? game,’ and try to slip the child into the Vidalia or Franklin County schools. The failure of Natchez public schools will drive a parent manic and/or broke to save his or her kid.

Like all of us, I have more questions than answers, and solutions are easier to spout than actually enact. But I know the schools will never, ever get anywhere and succeed with dishonest leadership in charge. They will always fail and miserably so. That is inevitable.


Short Story: A Kiss from 1992

by Peter Rinaldi   

My wife and I decided to give a New Year's Eve party back in 1992, when we lived in Village Green in Natchez. 

I've never liked parties much. And whether I'm the host or a guest, I get so nervous, I can't enjoy myself. But we lived in the Village Green neighborhood for more than a decade by then, so I succumbed to my wife's request-command that we sponsor a drop-in party from 6-9 p.m. and invited neighbors and their kids and told them to bring a dish or snack or whatever.

We still had the Christmas tree up, of course. I went to Piggly Wiggly and loaded up on snacks, cheese, sandwich meats, cookies, beer and Dr. Pepper and Coke. I called Domino's and asked them to deliver four cheese pizzas at 6:30 p.m., figuring people would be just a bit late in arriving. And I stopped at the liquor store to pick up two one-gallon bottles of Gallo wine. As my wife stated and against my better judgment, it's Natchez, and alcohol is a mandatory party favor.

The party went well. Lots of families came. I had a roaring fire in the fireplace. It got so hot inside the house, I had to turn on the a/c. The kids were having fun. My older son sat at the kitchen table enjoying a card game of Uno with his friends. My younger son and his friend playfully argued over a Chinese checkers game in front of the fireplace. More kids were in the TV room in the back playing the video game Tetris. The adults were milling around, drinking very little but eating a lot and talking a lot. I had a Dave Brubeck jazz cassette playing softly on the stereo. Perfect. My anxiety lessened. About 8 p.m., I noticed our neighbors Pam and Frank sitting on the couch together. They were both in their mid 70's, and many years before, they had been married to each other and had kids, though they had been divorced at least 20 years by 1992. They still lived in the area. Pam lived on Sun Court and had remarried a guy who was a semi-professional gambler, which meant they were always broke. Frank had moved over to North Temple and married fishing. No spouse. Just he, the dog and fishing. 

I heard parts of their conversation that New Year's Eve. Pam was doing most of the talking and Frank was mostly listening. Pam was talking about her cake business, who she was making cakes for, what kind of cakes, the kind of icing and the decorations she put on the cakes. Back in those days, she was known for her made-from-scratch cakes. She had a little bakery in the Morgantown Plaza for a few years, where UMB is now, When they tore down the shopping center and built the bank, she moved her cake business to the house and never missed a lick, if you'll pardon the joke.

Pam was in the middle of her cake dissertation to Frank, when Frank gently reached for her hand and leaned over to Pam and kissed her on the lips, passionately and romantically. Pam started kissing him back enthusiastically. Then they hugged and kissed just a bit more. Frank then stopped and just held her hand. And I could tell she was getting emotional, and she started tearing up. They didn't talk. They just sat there on the couch, and Frank held her hand. 

No one noticed the couple kissing, other than my wife and me. All the adults and kids at the party were talking, eating and playing and didn't notice the couple at all. 

The party broke up about an hour later. People had a good time and everyone wished each other Happy New Year and went home. Pam and Frank went their separate ways to their respective homes. 

After the party, I asked my wife what she thought. "Do you think they still love each other?" I asked. "I don't know," my wife replied and added, "It was a beautiful kiss, a beautiful moment." 

Many New Year's Eves have come and gone since 1992. As the years went by, I never heard of Pam and Frank reconnecting. Pam stayed married to the gambler and Frank stayed married to fishing. Sadly, they have both passed on. Pam's husband did eventually gave up gambling. Pam did cakes until her early 90's, And Frank actually died of a heart attack while fishing at Lake St. John. A good way to go. 

I think about Pam and Frank often. I think of that party, how nervous I was in advance of the party, and how they were so affectionate with each other. Almost every New Year's Eve, the memories return. I can remember their conversation, how they looked on the couch. It seems like just a few years ago not three decades. 

There were two things I learned from that New Year's Eve party in 1992. First, Domino's cheese pizza is always popular and appreciated at a party. And second, no matter how old you are, you need love, caring and emotion in your life. The touch of a hand and a kiss can be so very important.


Top Stories of 2022

by Peter Rinaldi

Crime: Violent and property crimes continue to plague Natchez-Adams CountyConcordia Sheriff's Office arrests several dozen cyber perps and sex offendersFerriday rebuilds police department with Chief Sam KingNatchez hires Commander Cal Green as its police chiefVidalia daycare workers get long terms in jail for child abuse; Adams prosecutors and judges criticized for plea bargains, low bonds and light sentences Economic development: Miss-Lou employment rebounds from pandemic lows; Syrah Technologies announces major expansion; Vidalia pays utility customers 50% rebate, pays off entire city debt; Jordan Carriers to build new HQ; Magnolia Bluffs Casino and The Markets get new owners; Residents still moving away to get better jobs, population drops since 2020Eola Hotel rehab project stalls Infrastructure and facilities: Adams supervisors and Natchez aldermen borrow more than $12 million to fix roadsMorgantown Road repair funded though not started; Adams supervisors-sheriff struggle over jail plans without resolution; Natchez aldermen repair parks and will update convention center, auditorium; Natchez-Adams County to issue bonds for major recreation improvements; Ridgecrest ties into Ferriday water system; Natchez-Adams politicians drop the ball on E911 relocation Culture: Balloon festival one of the more successful in its history; Natchez becomes solid new venue for live concerts; Natchez aldermen will spend $1 million on Civil War troops statue Top 2 Stories: Jessica Aldridge finally gets sentenced to 20 years for shooting and killing boyfriend Joey Cupit; Accused killer Semaj Jackson indicted for shooting Jamesia Brown and Cameron Jones


Short Story: The Christmas Mailbox

by Peter Rinaldi


Mabel and Howard Smith of Franklin County gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Christmas Eve, 1951. They named their only child, Howard Jr., but everyone in the family called him “Beau.” He was simply one of the prettiest, cutest babies anybody ever saw. The Smiths live just off Hwy. 33, down one of those dirt roads in a little white frame house. Howard worked cutting timber and Mabel stayed home taking care of little Beau.        

As Beau grew, he became an avid reader. He would look at the picture books and pronounce words, asking for his mother’s approval each time he got a word right. His mother would smile and say, “You’re my smart boy!” And Beau would beam with pride. His dad would spend evenings reading the newspaper to his son, telling him truths about the world, why it’s important to be hard-working and to be good to your neighbors. 

When Beau was just shy of his sixth birthday, he said, “Momma, I want to send a letter to Santa and put it at the mailbox.” So Beau and his Mom sat down at the kitchen table and wrote a short letter. The boy asked for a baseball glove for himself, a work shirt for his dad, and a sweater for his mom. Mabel put the letter in a white envelope and wrote on the front, “To Santa – North Pole.”             

Beau and his Mom walked out to the roadside and the pipe iron mailbox to send off the letter. The boy cried, “Momma, Santa won’t see it in the mailbox. Put it on the outside between the box and the red flag.” So Mabel did as her son requested, and they walked back to the house, talking about what they could do to surprise Dad on Christmas. Mabel shared the story of the ‘letter to Santa’ with the aunts, uncles, and cousins at the Christmas dinner table.             

When Beau was almost 19, he and his mom sat at the kitchen table and remembered the time when they wrote the letter and placed it on the side of the mailbox instead of in it. They both laughed. But it was a somber Christmas that year for the Smiths, as Beau had just enlisted and was scheduled to enter the army the first week in January. “It’s my duty. Whether I end up in Vietnam or not, I’ve got to do what’s right,” Beau said quietly. He could have gone to college, gotten a deferment, but chose to serve his country instead. And both his parents were worried.             

It was early in September 1971; a rocket attack hit just north of Saigon. Beau was sitting on the edge of his jeep, talking with a buddy. In a second, it was over. Beau was killed. There wasn’t much to send home to bury, according to his platoon sergeant.

After Beau’s death, the family never seemed right again. Howard Sr. began drinking and was injured on the job. Mabel suffered from a deep depression over the loss of her son and her husband’s problems. Eventually, the couple moved away from Franklin County and the little frame house fell into disrepair. No one ever lived there again. The dad died of a heart attack in Dallas in 1980. Mabel died in nursing home in 1992.            

If you ride down Hwy. 33 and look off that dirt road where the Smiths lived, you’ll still see the mailbox standing. The house is pretty much gone. But that old rusty mailbox is still there. And every year on Christmas Eve, you can see a fresh, white envelope stuck between the red flag and the mailbox itself. Neighbors aren’t sure who tucks the envelope there, but figure it could be a relative or someone close to the family who knows the story.   

If you happen to see that person this Christmas Eve, please stop and thank him for remembering the Smith Family and Beau, even though so many years have gone by. The family has passed on, but there are still more than a few folks around who remember them, the good times they had, and the love they shared.             

This short story originally appeared in Miss-Lou Magazine in 1996.


Tracetown Shopping Center Has Seen Better Days

by Peter Rinaldi 

The decline of Tracetown is not a new thing.

When I moved our Miss-Lou Magazine offices there in 1995, the center was already in decline, as Sears had closed and about 20% of the shops were vacant. When I moved out in 2017, there were about a half dozen tenants and today maybe three or four. 

With its Winn Dixie and Sears anchors gone and excessive vacancies, the center was hugely unprofitable, with insurance, minimal maintenance and property taxes much greater than annual revenues. There was little hope of a turn around. 

Tracetown also suffers from antiquated construction design, a rolling hills parking lot and would require at least $3 million for the parking lot, lighting, a/c and roof repairs. So nothing will be done to change this. Realistically, the center has practically no market value, other than for its few rentals. Post office, rehab, nail salon...maybe $200,000-300,000 in value tops, less considering the maintenance and operational problems.

Add to that, flat and leaking roofs and overhangs, antiquated ac systems and the general decline in the Natchez economy, the center just hemorrhaged money. Many of the units are so severely damaged because of the catastrophic roof leaks. The Mobile, AL owners had also sold off their frontage lots to the bank, McDonald's and Ruby Tuesday's to get some operating cash. But selling off the front doomed the Sears property. The former Sears location had no parking left. And the building itself was in such poor shape, no smart tenant would rent it. the owners then tore down the Sears building, After thieves stole all the copper and wiring out of the theater, that building was demolished, too. 

 The Lazarus Arts-Dr. Kumi complex is separately owned and not part of Tracetown. 

The owners gave away their shopping center in Ferriday to the town to get rid of that property and operational costs. And I expect, sooner or later, the owners will approach Natchez about the same kind of deal, like the Fry Building. Politicians would tell you what a great deal it is to get a donated center or building. What they don't tell you is that the donation takes the property off the tax rolls, relieves the owner of the high maintenance costs, transfers those to taxpayers and nets the politicians some tidy campaign donations during the next election cycle.


Good Garden Clubs

by Peter Rinaldi 

One of the puzzling things about our community is how the Pilgrimage Garden Club, Natchez Garden Club and Auburn Garden Club get a bad rap on occasion. 

Most of the members of these clubs are very interested in the economic vitality of Natchez Adams. They understand that history preserved can mean more tourist dollars, more conventions, more hotel stays, more restaurant visits and more jobs. Well maintained historic properties not only bring tourists but have brought a new generation of well to do out-of-towners who have spent millions of dollars upgrading their antebellum and Victorian homes. And that investment has paid off in many jobs for people of all economic groups and all races. 

There was a time in Natchez, when some connected to the clubs used their platform to try to cement their social position above others, but the time of the so called landed gentry is long gone. I’ve often heard how the garden clubs killed off IP and Armstrong. In fact, the those closures had nothing to do with the clubs. The factories were losing so much money and had serious union problems that meant making a profit unlikely. So the factories closed and the jobs were lost. And many garden club members mourned that economic downturn like the rest of us. 

Remember that some of the old homes are not owned by garden club members. Some are also owned by men. And many of the new generation of old home owners continue to run their properties at an economic loss and do so because they have the extra money to do so and/or are committed to a better Natchez even if it costs them mega cash. Whether you’re a garden club member from downtown, Morgantown or Kingston, all share the same goal: a better city and county with more prosperity for all. Also, you’d might be surprised to know that many garden club members are actually very middle class and some less so. But regardless of wealth, the members share an interest in exterior and interior design, flowers, gardens, architecture, history and historic preservation. 

We should be proud of their contributions to our community. Some also own businesses that have little to do with history. But they understand that successful maintenance of homes and gardens and the marketing of that history and beauty to the outside world is a necessary and important task, even more so because of the decline of our industrial base over the last 35 years. 

Thank you, ladies of the Pilgrimage Garden Club, the Natchez Garden Club and the Auburn Garden Club. When you think of the garden clubs, think of the economic contributions of their members which is so vital to our present and future.

jhandjis@hotmail.com


Mayor Fibs About 2021 Audit

by Peter Rinaldi


Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson recently said the city CPA audit for 2021 showed much improvement for 2021 compared to 2020. He did not tell the truth, as the CPA's negative findings for 2021 continue to show that the city was not following acceptable accounting and bookkeeping practices. Of course, the failure to follow such good standards led to the theft of $36,000+ in funds by two city clerks. 2021 was the Gibson administration's first full year in office. You can't blame former Mayor Grennell for these errors. The responsibility lies with the city clerk and staff, the current mayor and aldermen. They are supposed to follow accepted accounting and bookkeeping principles and regulations. They did not. 

Of the 2021 City of Natchez audit, CPA Silas Simmons said: Bank Reconciliations: Bank Reconciliations were not being properly reconciled to the general ledger or in a timely manner. Accounting Records and Financial Statement: Preparation transactions were not being recorded to the city's general ledger in a timely manner. Interfund Transfers: Due To/From, and Advances lnterfund transactions were not being recorded timely or accurately. Segregation of Duties: During the process of obtaining an understanding of internal control in planning the audit, assessing control risk, and assessing fraud risk, a lack of segregation of duties was noted. Documentation of Adjusting Journal Entries: Adjusting journal entries posted to the general ledger lacked proper and adequate documentation. Single Audit The City's Single Audit was not filed with the Federal Audit Clearinghouse in a timely manner. CPA Silas Simmons then when into detailed analysis and recommendations as to how these re-occurring problems from both 2020 and 2021 should be remedied. 

Several pages of details on what to do were enumerated. If you doubt the truth as presented by both the CPA or myself, you can read the audit findings and make your own judgment. I am used to politicians lying and bull throwing. From a news point of view, I should try to verify the mayor's future claims on all subjects, as those assertions may or may not be truthful. https://www.natchez.ms.us/DocumentCenter/View/1246/2021-Audites 
See pages 85-92.



Stinking City 2020 Audit

by Peter Rinaldi

When completed, the City of Natchez 2020 audit showed that the city did not meet its legal obligation to provide sound and professional accounting of revenues earned and expenditures made. The audit findings reflect the gross incompetence of the city clerk's office under Servia Fortenberry and the lack of care Mayor Grennell and the aldermen showed for their legal responsibilities. That lack of care and oversight allowed Fortenberry and another clerk to steal more than $36,000 in funds during the Gibson administration, according to the state indictment of two clerks. Aldermen discussed this lack of competence during both the Grennell and Gibson administrations but took no action to remedy the illegalities. 

Gibson says the 2021 audit is much better and should be posted online soon. I will report on the 2021 audit as soon as its posted. The 2020 audit reflects activity during the Grennell administration through July 2020 and the Gibson administration from July-September 2020. While the onus falls on Fortenberry, Grennell and the aldermen mostly, the audit did not show any improvements made during the first three months of the Gibson administration. 

2020 Financial Statement Submission to State Auditor: The City's audited financials were not submitted to the Mississippi State Auditor's office by the statutory date required. Bank Reconciliations: Bank reconciliations were not being properly reconciled to the general ledger or in a timely manner. Accounting Records and Financial Statement Preparation: Transactions were not being recorded to the City's general ledger in a timely manner. Interfund Transfers, Due To/From, and Advances: Interfund transactions were not being recorded timely or accurately. Segregation of Duties: During the process of obtaining an understanding of internal control in planning the audit, assessing control risk, and assessing fraud risk, a lack of segregation of duties was noted. General Fund Expenditures Over Budget: The City's General Fund expenditures exceeded its budgeted amount by $1,015,773. Casino Annual Lease Fund Expenditures Over Budget: The City's Casino Annual Lease Fund expenditures exceeded its budgeted amount by $350,490. Compliance with Reporting Requirements of OMB - Single Audit: The City's Single Audit was not filed with the Federal Audit Clearinghouse in a timely manner.





Ferriday's Big, Bad Mess

 by Peter Rinaldi 

Town of Ferriday finances have been in a mess for years, mostly because the town's tax base is not adequate to meet the obligations of minimal government. Additionally, town management, through several mayors and clerks, has not done a very good job of bookkeeping and accounting, with many deficiencies and adverse findings. The town was again late submitting its records to its CPA to publish an annual audit for 2021.

 Some of the more recent problems include: 1) Old past due and non-collectible water accounts were still on the books. 2) Financial statements were not submitted to the state on time. 3) Customer utility deposits were short $22,000. The cause could be inaccurate bookkeeping, stolen or embezzled funds, or deposits may have been used illegally to pay town bills. The CPA noted the shortage but did not conduct a review to determine the exact cause or causes. 4) The town was not in compliance with state safe drinking water standards for more than 10 years, including a failure to pay state mandated fees, which amount to more than $45,000. 5) Town bookkeeping staff did not maintain reserve accounts required by issued bonds. Ferriday should have a debt service fund, reserve fund, and depreciation and contingencies funds noted in its books and balances kept as required by the bond covenants. 

Ferriday's latest audit for the year ending 6/30/21 has not been released. But Mayor Rydell Turner pledged in the last audit that the five major deficiencies noted above would be corrected. The era of bad management continues to plague this poor town. Its citizens deserve better.


Facing Our Obligation

 by Peter Rinaldi 

I have always loved writing news and working on ads for my clients. I enjoyed 35+ years of publishing Miss-Lou Magazine in print and online. In more recent years, I’ve talked to many families, mostly moms and grand moms, who have lost kids and grandkids shot to death by vicious criminals. These tearful conversations have happened far too often since 2010. 

The pain and suffering of these families never ends. And they often have to struggle against a justice system that really doesn’t care whether the murderers are punished or not. There are many things to love or dislike about our communities. But the tragedy of our young men, women and teens shot and killed (nearly all are black young people) is so troubling. I am haunted by the pictures of these kids and their families’ pleas for justice. I find myself going back to the stories and the photos of the murdered kids and again asking God to care for these victims and their crying families. There should be a special place in this universe reserved for the killers with plenty of extra seating set aside for the uncaring law enforcement officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges who do such harm to our victims’ families. 

This is one reason why I have been so adamant about politicians facing the facts about our crime wave. The politicians are supposed to be in charge of public safety. All shooter killers should get life without parole or the death penalty. We should continue to advocate for no bonds and no suspended or light sentences for shooter killers. No exceptions. Justice demands that we take these crimes seriously. We can’t bring the victims back to life. We can’t end the suffering of the families. But we can do what Mississippi and Louisiana law calls for. It is our obligation to do so.


Questions Worth Asking

by Peter Rinaldi 

If Natchez police took 150 illegal or stolen guns off the street in just six months, just how many people were arrested as a result? I haven’t noticed even 50 arrests for such. Did those with two or more guns get arrested on trafficking charges with a more serious penalty as provide by state law?  

While overall incidence of crime in Natchez reached a peak in the early 90s due to the crack epidemic, the city became more violent in recent years again. In 2018, Natchez had 12 murders in the city and 6 in the county. Property crime also increased dramatically. Since then, overall crime has lessened. In 2018, Natchez was in the bottom 1% of safe communities. Today, it is in the bottom 4%. Did Natchez actually solicit its safety award rather than get the award for community safety? The answer to this question is yes. Natchez submitted an application for the award category to the Miss. Municipal League. The award was not given out of the blue because officials around the state overwhelmingly recognized how Natchez was doing so well with safety. The city filled out an application highlighting its success. And the League awards committee then chose Natchez.

I received info from law enforcement last year, that city crime stats had been sanitized and improved at the direction of the former police chief. If true, that would mean the violent and property crime stats submitted to the FBI DOJ could be suspect. At this point, I have no way of verifying whether the allegation or stats are true or untrue. But the whole affair with seizures, the award, and crime statistics makes me somewhat wary. The mayor has already announced that new crime stats will show Natchez is much safer. Are we supposed to accept this announcement as truth or just more political bull throwing? I don’t know. 

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Apple Pork Chops

These apple pork chops are browned in butter, then simmered in the most delicious cider sauce with fresh apples and sage. These chops are the ultimate fall dinner that’s quick to make and always gets rave reviews! Serve them alongside other fall favorites such as sour cream mashed potatoes and roasted parsnips for a complete meal. 

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter divided use

4 bone in pork chops approximately 5-6 ounces each

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons apple cider divided use, fresh cider is best

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage

2 cups apples cored and thinly sliced such as Pink Lady or Honeycrisp 

Salt and pepper to taste. 

Instructions

In a large skillet melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Season the pork generously with salt and pepper; cook for 6 minutes on each side or until deep golden brown. Add 1/2 cup of cider to the pan and simmer for an additional 6 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the pork chops registers 145 degrees F. While the chops are cooking, melt the rest of the butter in another large pan over medium heat. Add the apples, and cook for 5 minutes or until the apples start to soften. 

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of apple cider to the apples, turn the heat to high and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Season the apples with salt to taste. Transfer the pork chops to a plate. Whisk the mustard and sage into the cider drippings from the pork pan; season to taste with salt and pepper. 

Place the apples on the plate with the pork and pour the sauce over the top. Serve immediately.

Anna Kotova has been cooking and baking European and American dishes for more than 40 years.

REGIONS: There's an ATM at each of our branches. www.regions.com. Member FDIC. An Equal Housing Lender.

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St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge

National Wildlife Refuge Week by James L. Cummins

This year National Wildlife Refuge Week will be observed during the week of October 13-19, 2024. If you have never visited a refuge before, this would be a great time to plan to go. The National Wildlife Refuge System helps to protect wildlife, generate jobs, provide clean air and water, reduce flooding, educate children about nature and offer protected places to fish and hike and enjoy the outdoors. 

Every state has at least one national wildlife refuge, many within an hour’s drive of most major cities. In 1964, Congress passed the Wilderness Act. The 1964 law created the National Wilderness Preservation System, which protects nearly 110 million acres of wilderness nationwide. Of those, 20 million are on refuge land. 

The wilderness is just that—wild land that is largely undeveloped and unmanaged—that can offer outstanding opportunities for wildlife observation, hiking, other non-motorized outdoor recreation, and solitude. National Wildlife Refuge Week highlights the value of national wildlife refuges to wildlife and people alike and is a great time to get outdoors and explore your local refuge. 

It provides an ideal opportunity to discover the precious legacy that refuges represent for generations to come. The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, provides vital habitat for thousands of native species, including sandhill cranes, American alligators, bison, and sea turtles. 

National wildlife refuges offer outstanding recreation, too. Refuge Week is a perfect time to see why tens of millions of Americans visit refuges each year to enjoy fishing, hunting, hiking, and wildlife watching. Wildlife refuges also add to Americans’ comfort and safety by curbing flood risk and wildfire damage, providing cleaner air and water, and supporting local communities. In carrying out the Refuge System’s wildlife conservation mission, under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, wildlife refuges pump $3.2 billion per year into regional economies and support more than 41,000 jobs. 

The Refuge System includes 570 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts covering 95 million acres of land. National Wildlife Refuge Week is celebrated at refuges with festivals, educational programs, guided tours, and other events. So find a refuge near you, mark your calendar, and go see what all the fuss is about.

LUCKY PUP BAKERY CENTER: Gourmet Dog Treat Bakery. Every dog deserves a treat that's as healthy as it is tasty. Our treats are made from the highest quality, simple ingredients and baked in small batches. No preservatives, artificial flavors or colors. Miss. Department of Agriculture Certified. Your dog will love our treats! Delivery Natchez, Vidalia, Ferriday available. Porch pick-up 903 Lindberg Ave. Natchez. Order online: www.theluckypup.org. info@luckypup.org.

James L. Cummins is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi.

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Clarisse Washington, editor emerita


The Cost of Free Money by John Stossel

Some politicians and activists are eager to give you “free” money. They call it universal basic income (UBI) — cash for everyone, no strings attached. Comedian Dave Chappelle thinks UBI would “save my community almost instantly.” 

In my new video, UBI activist Conrad Shaw agrees, “You would effectively get rid of extreme poverty immediately.” He says a UBI will help people “start businesses, fix their homes or invest in sustainable gardens.” Well, “sustainable gardens” might be nice, but someone still has to make stuff. And that requires work — often difficult work. 

When I was young, If I hadn’t needed to work to support myself, I wouldn’t have pushed so hard to overcome my fears, my stuttering and my reluctance to speak publicly. I wouldn’t have become successful. I might have stayed in bed most of the day. But Shaw disagrees. “I don’t believe you,” he says. “Nobody actually wants that … people find their passions not simply because they need to make money.” 

We could argue about this all day. It would be nice if someone ran a serious test of UBI — give a lot of people significant money for, say, three years. Would people still work? Improve their lives? Their families’ lives? It turns out that Sam Altman, the guy behind ChatGPT, helped create such a test. His big study gave 1,000 low-income people $1,000 per month for three years — no strings attached. What happened? Not the great things that were promised. After three years of getting $1,000/month, UBI recipients were actually a little deeper in debt than before. 

Why? Because they worked less. Their partners did, too. Some recipients talked about starting businesses, but few actually tried it. Most who said they did start a business waited until the third year of the study — when their free money was about to end. I’m not surprised. Give people free money, you take away an incentive to work. Incentives matter. 

Shaw argues, “We conflate the idea of work with jobs.” It’s true, people do meaningful work outside jobs. But being paid to do a job does say you’re worth that amount to somebody. “How much money are you worth to the kid you’re raising?” 

Shaw replies. “The parent who’s sick that you’re taking care of?” A lot. “But it doesn’t address that other people have to work to pay for it.” Shaw replies, “We pay taxes towards things that are better for our population, for the general welfare. It’s … something we do as a country.” “But this would pretty much double it!” I point out. “We already spend almost $2 trillion on welfare programs. You want to add to that?” Shaw says, no, UBI should “replace existing welfare programs.” 

That’s an interesting idea. “If we were to get rid of unemployment insurance, food stamps, welfare and all the other insane policies we have, and just have a moderate universal basic income,” says Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron, “I think it would be a huge improvement.” 

But that will never happen. Anytime anyone tries to cut any government program, people freak out. Imagine trying to cut all welfare. “The chances politically that will happen are probably zero,” says Miron. Progressives want to add UBI to already existing programs. 

“Adding more programs is insane!” says Miron. “It will make the entire country melt down. The people who will bear the brunt of that will be people who are poor. The rich will move to other countries … hide their assets. We will have a debt crisis like nobody’s ever seen before.” We already have a debt crisis like nobody’s seen before! Let’s not make it worse with a UBI.

You can read more of John Stossel's writing at www.johnstossel.com.

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Clarisse Washington, editor emerita


Quarantine Wolf  by Amy Alkon

I'm a guy in my 30s. Before COVID, I used Tinder to hook up with different women a few times a week. I don't recognize myself anymore. Yesterday, I was on a date, and the girl was really hot and wanted to go back to my place to have sex. I was weirdly turned off by the idea and called her an Uber home. This isn't like me, but it keeps happening. Why am I suddenly like this? --Worried 

If we hadn't gotten vaccines, we might've seen a whole new category of lingerie, a la Victoria's Crotchless Hazmat Suit. Our body's immune system protects us by mobilizing warrior cells to fight off invaders like bacteria, parasites, and viruses that cause infectious diseases. However, war is costly -- whether between nations or inside us. 

Psychologist Mark Schaller notes that our body's effort to surround and kill "pathogenic intruders" sucks up calories needed for important bodily functions. It can also be "temporarily debilitating" due to "fever, fatigue, and other physiological consequences of an aggressive immunological response." (You sometimes have to boil the village alive to save the village.) 

To avoid these costs, we need to avoid being exposed to disease in the first place. Helping us do that is the job of our "behavioral immune system." This is Schaller's term for a suite of psychological mechanisms that function as our early warning system, helping us identify signs of pathogens in our social environment and motivating us to feel, think, and behave in ways that keep us from getting invaded by the buggers. 

For example, social psychology grad student James B. Moran and his adviser, social psychologist Damian Murray, find that reminding research participants of the looming threat of infectious disease puts a damper on the appeal of casual sex and their inclination to have it down the road. Chances are this response explains your own psychological and behavioral shift: stud-turned-monk of COVID-19. 

There's no clock on exactly when you'll be back to your sexual-Wild West self. Should you get nostalgic, keep in mind that you can still dip into some elements of the hookuppy old days, such as "the walk of shame" -- though, these days, that's what we call it when you get yelled at by the old lady down the street for taking out the trash unmasked.

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601-431-2990

missloumagazine@gmail.com

Peter Rinaldi, publisher
Clarisse Washington, editor emerita

The Vidalia Conference and Convention Center is the optimal location for the event to remember. Located along the bank of the Mississippi River in Vidalia, La., directly across the river from historic Natchez, Miss., adjacent to the Clarion Suites Hotel and just north of the Riverfront RV Park. 20,000 square feet of rental space for conventions, parties, exhibits, weddings and special events. For more info, call 318-336 9934. Visit our website: www.vidaliaconventioncenter.com.

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601-431-2990

missloumagazine@gmail.com

Peter Rinaldi, publisher
Clarisse Washington, editor emerita


Stanton Hall

The Vidalia Conference and Convention Center is the optimal location for the event to remember. Located along the bank of the Mississippi River in Vidalia, La., directly across the river from historic Natchez, Miss., adjacent to the Clarion Suites Hotel and just north of the Riverfront RV Park. 20,000 square feet of rental space for conventions, parties, exhibits, weddings and special events. For more info, call 318-336 9934.  

Visit our website: www.vidaliaconventioncenter.com 

Historic Downtown: Between Main and Franklin streets is the hub of Old Natchez with tree-lined streets, old homes, plenty of places to walk and view restored historic properties. Restaurants, antique and gift shops, banks, bars. Very visitor friendly. Call the Chamber of Commerce for specific sites worth visiting, 601-445-4611.

Vidalia Riverfront: A mile-long river walk and the best views of the Mississippi River highlight this spectacular collage of scenery of new facilities including restaurants, hotels, convention center and amphitheater. The river walk is the perfect place to unwind, relax and get a touch of exercise. 

Delta Music Museum

Delta Music Museum: A restored post office in downtown Ferriday offers a glimpse into the lives of Ferriday's most famous musical natives: Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, Jimmy Swaggart, and PeeWee Whittaker. Free admission, 318-757-9999. 

Duncan Park: Nice tennis facilities and 18-rounds of golf, picnic tables, driving range, handicapped accessible playground, nice biking and walking. Golf just $29 ($24 seniors), cart included. Inexpensive recreation, 601-442-5955. 

Longwood

Longwood and Rosalie: These homes offer the best of the best tours of pre-Civil War mansions. Longwood, an unfinished octagonal house (800-647-6742), and Rosalie, with its original furnishings and beautiful gardens (601-445-4555), have great family histories. 

Antebellum Home Touring: Natchez Pilgrimage Tours offers individual and group tickets to antebellum mansions year-round. Fall and Spring Pilgrimages offer more than 30 homes on tour, all restored, beautifully furnished with priceless antiques, art and collectibles. Many homes feature exquisite gardens and landscaped grounds, 601-653-0919.

Magnolia Bluffs Casino

Magnolia Bluffs Casino: This downtown casino offer Las Vegas-style gambling, dining, and entertainment. Call the 1-888-505-5777 for info. 

Downtown Carriage Ride: The guides know just about every story about every building and the people who lived there during Natchez's historic past. Get tickets from the drivers themselves at the Canal Street Depot. Carriage rides are just $20 per person, $10 for children ages 3-10, a real value when you consider the quality and beauty of the tour. 

Grand Village of the Natchez Indians

Grand Village of the Natchez Indians: A historic site and museum commemorate the Natchez Native American culture. Mounds rebuilt, nature trail, picnic tables, tree-covered grounds. Free admission. School and civic groups welcome, 601-446-6502. 

Natchez Museum of African-American History: This museum on Main Street offers more than 600 artifacts that interpret the life, history and culture of black Americans in Mississippi from the 1890's to the 1950's, 601-445-0728. 

MMelrose

Natchez National Historic Park: The park includes two properties, Melrose and the William Johnson House. Melrose is a stately antebellum home built in 1848, situated in a lovely park-like setting. Outbuildings are preserved. Tours are offered. The William Johnson House is a three-story townhouse, once owned by a free black businessman, 601-442-7407. 

Natchez City Cemetery: This cemetery was established in 1821 and contains graves dating to the 1700's. Many of Natchez's historic figures are buried here. Tours are available, 601-445-5051. 

St. Catherine Creek Wildlife Refuge

St. Catherine Creek Wildlife Refuge: This 25,000 acre refuge, located along the Mississippi River from Cloverdale Road to the Homochitto River, offers a nature trail, fishing, hunting and wildlife watching opportunities, 601-442-6696. 

Natchez in Historic Photographs: Nearly 100 years of Natchez history is captured in photos hung on the walls of Stratton Chapel of First Presbyterian Church. More than 300 photographs from the 1850's-1950's. Free admission, donation requested, 601-442-4751. 

Beau Pre Country Club

Beau Pré Country Club: 18 holes of beautifully landscaped golf, $50-$60 with cart. One of the best courses in the state, grill and lounge, tennis, swimming. Open Tues. through Sun., www.beauprenatchez.com, 601-442-5493.

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Peter Rinaldi, publisher
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missloumagazine@gmail.com

Peter Rinaldi, publisher
Clarisse Washington, editor emerita



DUSTIN C. RINALDI, CFP®, AWMA®, CRPC®

SERVICES 

Financial Planning: Personalized plans from a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ to help you reach your financial goals

Investment Management: Custom built investment strategies developed to maximize return depending on your desired risk level.

Tax Strategy: Explore the different ways to manage, reduce, and defer your taxes. 

Business Consulting: Let us help set up the right retirement plan for you and your company. 


Financial Planner

After working for a large bank and a large brokerage firm, Dustin felt these institutions put shareholders before clients. As a result, he opened his own boutique wealth management firm more than 10 years ago, vowing to always put his clients’ needs above all else. This guiding principle was a key to success. Today, he provides wealth management services for more than 200 families. In his spare time, Dustin loves being with his family. Dustin’s wife, Lauren, is a corporate accountant, and his daughter, Jane, is a ball of sunshine. Dustin’s mother, father, brother, nephews, aunt, and uncle have all made Southwest Florida their home. 


Credentials  
  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
  • Accredited Wealth Management Advisor
  • Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor
  • FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 registrations
  • Former adjunct professor for Florida Gulf Coast University
  • Former Enrolled Agent tax advisor recognized by the Department of Treasury
  • Former expert witness for tax and investment litigation
  • Life, disability, and long term care insurance registration
  • National Social Security Advisor Certificate Holder
  • Certified Notary Public
 Education 
  • Yale CIMA online program Investment Management Theory & Practice
  • Florida Gulf Coast University CFP® program
  • University of Southern Mississippi bachelor's degree in business
  • College of Financial Planning AWMA® and CRPC® programs
 Personal 
  • Community involvement includes Super Kids, Kiwanis, Toastmasters, and the Chamber of Commerce 
  • Enjoys spending time with family, reading, traveling, boating, golfing, and watching documentaries


Rinaldi Wealth Management 

24311 Walden Center Drive, Suite 100, Bonita Springs, FL 34134

Office: 239.444.6111   Fax: 239.444.6112 

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm 

Visit our website: www.retirewithdustin.com

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Clarisse Washington, editor emerita

Contact Us image
Miss-Lou Magazine

News for Southwest Mississippi and East Central Louisiana, including Adams, Jefferson, Franklin and Wilkinson counties and Concordia and Catahoula parishes.

Offices:
15044 Blue Marlin Terrace, Bonita Springs. FL 34135
601-431-2990

missloumagazine@gmail.com

Peter Rinaldi, publisher
Clarisse Washington, editor emerita