Author: Imported Author 1852163

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Home with Heroes will host the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 13, at the Natchez National Cemetery. The annual event is part of a nation-wide program in which millions of people pay tribute to U.S. military Veterans by placing wreaths on their graves.

Saturday’s program is free and open to the public.

“As a veteran and the widow of a veteran, Wreaths Across America is more than just a patriotic act—it’s a deeply personal way to honor the veterans who have passed,” said retired Army Major Gabi Crousillac. She is the vice president of Home with Heroes and chair of the Mayor’s Veterans Task Force.

Retired Army First Sergeant Ben Tucker participates each year in the Wreaths Across America program. For him, it is more than a tradition.

“I do it because I am a soldier, a retired soldier,” he said. “I understand the contributions the soldiers have made to this country and the future we all share. It’s more than worth the sacrifice.”

Tucker is a board member of Home with Heroes, and he also serves on the Mayor’s Veterans Task Force. He is the first vice commander of the VFW Post 9573.

Crousillac said the day’s ceremony will be held on the old side of the Natchez National Cemetery at the Committal Service Shelter. It will open with a prayer by Vietnam-era Army veteran Doug McAlister and the welcome by Mayor Dan Gibson.

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Herman Curry, Jr. will serve as the guest speaker. Curry is the instructor of the Natchez High School’s AFJROTC program. The ceremony will include a presentation of wreaths by Boy Scout Troop 158.

Crousillac said members of the local Dirt Broke motorcycle group, many of whom are veterans, will also attend the ceremony. “Taps” will be performed by McAlister, who is president of the Point Man International Ministries of the Miss-Lou.

Crousillac will serve as the Mistress of Ceremonies.

Following the ceremony, over 200 wreaths will be laid on the graves of the veterans.

This year, Crousillac will place a wreath on the grave of her husband, Brad Cromie, who died in 2024. He served in the Marine Corps. She said the volunteers will also be sure to lay a wreath on the grave of G. Mark LaFrancis, the founder and former president of Home with Heroes — and energetic promoter of the Wreaths Across America program. LaFrancis passed in June 2024 following a long battle with cancer.

Speaking last year, retired Army Lt. Col. Larry Smith, former president of Home with Heroes, praised LaFrancis for his contributions to the Natchez community. “Mark lived his life with purpose, providing support to local veterans and their families, as well as to the broader community, through his writing and his filmmaking, he said. “His example has been an inspiration to us all.”

LaFrancis was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. His wife, Eileen Mary Maher, died in August. Her name appears on the opposite side of LaFrancis’ headstone.

As a child, I always cherished watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on TV. Seems like my mother never got to enjoy this tradition, however. She was always busy getting the turkey ready, making sure her cornbread dressing was perfect, and getting us all off to a special Thanksgiving service at church. Yes – Thanksgiving growing up was a busy day! Busy that is – until the meal was finished and dishes all clean and put away. Then it was nap time.

 

I remember several perpetual details of the Macy’s parade. First was the reenactment of the pilgrims and that first Thanksgiving when the native Americans and new settlers came together to give thanks for the harvest. Second were the large inflatables, especially those of my favorite cartoon characters. And then of course everybody’s favorite: the arrival of Santa Claus! Looking back, I don’t think it fully registered to me how poetic it was that the last float of the historic parade was “The Jolly Old Elf”. Indeed, Thanksgiving is a celebration of all we as Americans hold dear. It is a time to give thanks, for truly we are blessed. It is also a celebration of the beginning of the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, for Christmas is right around the corner – and it seems to come faster with every passing year!

 

This year in Natchez, this is truly the case. And oh what a Christmas season awaits! If you haven’t already marked your calendars, now is a good time. There is much to do, and it’s time to get ready for some Yuletide Cheer! Below are just a few suggestions – there really are too many to list!

 

Visit Natchez Events – As always, the Natchez Events Calendar is loaded with great Holiday Happenings, from historic tours to special parties and celebrations, you don’t want to miss out. Christmas cocktail parties at Linden, a Christmas play at the Natchez Little Theater, Christmas musicals at various venues, art shows, a book signing, the Saturday Farmer’s Market… the list goes on and on, and I know I will likely get in trouble for leaving some things out! Visit https://visitnatchez.org/events/ for more information.

 

Christmas in Natchez – Saturday’s Lighting of the Natchez Christmas Tree will take place on Main Street November 29 at 6:30 pm. But come early for children’s activities starting 3 and a special choir performance and caroling around the tree beginning at 6. The Natchez Christmas Parade will take place the following Saturday evening, December 6, downtown. And the American Cruise Lines European Christmas Village will be taking place every weekend with special times for ice skating and movies on The Bluff. Visit https://www.christmasinnatchez.org/events for more information.

 

Natchez Music Festival – As they do every year, the great team of NMF go BIG with their annual Christmas Concert, always a sellout at the Natchez Civic Center. This year promises to be no exception! An all-star cast will rock the night away with Christmas classics, in addition to beautiful

performances of many sentimental favorites. It all happens on Friday, December 5 at 7 pm. Visit https://www.natchezfestivalofmusic.com/yule-be-rockin-1 for more information.

 

Natchez Christmas Pilgrimage – This year, in true Natchez style, many of our city’s historic mansions will be decked out to the fullest and open for special tours. Included are some truly unique experiences, such as The Jeweled Christmas at The Towers, a perpetual Top Ten on USA Today’s list of most unusual Christmas Experiences, and special events at Sunnyside, a beautiful home adorned from top to bottom in yuletide splendor. Numerous other special tours and events, including candlelight tours at some of our city’s most significant mansions, will be taking place all over town. Visit https://littleeasytours.com/christmas-pilgrimage-2025/ for more information.

 

Local Shopping, Fine Dining and Holiday Cheer – Merchants all over town, including dozens of specialty stores and antique malls and shops downtown, will be observing extended holiday shopping hours to allow for plenty of time to get that special gift. Make sure to save time for a delicious Christmas night out at some of our city’s celebrated restaurants and night-spots. Live music is certain to be happening at venues all over town!

 

Happy Thanksgiving Natchez – and welcome to the special season of Christmas! It’s time to give thanks and get ready for Yuletide Cheer. Because Natchez Deserves More.

This week we finally announced the culmination of something we have been working to accomplish since 2021: the restoration of commercial air service to Natchez for the first time in over 30 years. This is exciting news! And with service beginning in July of 2026, the sky is the limit!

When we started this journey together four years ago, many doubted we would be successful. But the word quit has never been in my vocabulary. Working together, the City of Natchez, the Adams County Board of Supervisors, and the Natchez- Adams County Airport Commission, we have accomplished what many thought to be the impossible. For the first time in decades, our beautiful and historic city will be connected to the entire world by way of commercial air service – and not just any air service. Starting in July of 2026, a 50 seat jet operated by SkyWest/ United Airlines will be flying from Natchez to Houston/George Bush International Airport every day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Air studies done by airline professionals project over 10,000 people will fly using this new service in the first year and a half, possibly more. They will be flying from Natchez to Houston in less than 45 minutes, and from Houston to any place in the world United Airlines flies. Best of all, flights from Natchez will be on United Airlines jets, “sterile to sterile”, meaning TSA clearance at the Natchez Airport without a need for additional security screens in Houston – BIG news for travelers from Southwest Mississippi and the Miss-Lou!

Words are inadequate to describe the many positive ways commercial air service will impact our region in the areas of tourism, economic development and our movie industry.

Tourism. In the very near future, Natchez’ number one industry will grow dramatically as we become more easily accessible to travelers from all over the world. Our vision to be home port to ships with American Cruise Lines will in time become a reality. Thousands of cruise passengers will fly in and out of our city, spending the night before boarding river cruises on the lower Mississippi starting as early as 2028. And conferences at our recently-renovated Natchez Convention Center are going to take off as conference goers find it easier to come to Natchez.

Economic Development. Multiple industries have considered Natchez over recent years but declined to locate here because of the challenge of getting here. This is about to change. And the ability for remote workers to choose Natchez for their home operations while still being connected to the world by air will be having a positive impact as well. We can also expect new homeowners and even part-time residents to make Natchez their city of choice, great news for our local real estate market.

The Movie Industry. Natchez has long been a hot spot for movies. Many blockbuster movies have been filmed here including just this year The Ritual starring Al Pacino. But in spite of our beautiful settings and Crooked Letter Studio, a new 100,000 square foot movie and sound stage facility, the largest in our region, difficulty of getting here from Los Angeles and other major cities has caused us to lose major projects, including recent TV series productions, to other locales. This is about to change. Reasonably-priced round-trip tickets to anywhere in the world will be putting Natchez solidly on the map of filmmakers nationwide.

Indeed now is a time for celebration. But we still have much work to do. Between now and next July, we will be doing all we can to help the airport prepare for company – because major company is coming. Let’s get ready to welcome thousands to Natchez in 2026 and beyond. Because Natchez Deserves More.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has been selected by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Mississippi Criminal Information Center (CIC) to receive a new IDEMIA LiveScan System, made possible through the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) Grant.

The NCHIP grant, awarded to the CIC in 2022, funded the purchase of 40 advanced LiveScan systems, each bundled with a five-year maintenance plan, to be distributed among law enforcement agencies statewide. Adams County is among the select few chosen to receive this cutting-edge technology.

The IDEMIA LiveScan System includes:

• A hybrid cabinet and TP-5300-ED fingerprint scanner

• TPE software for rapid digital processing

• A digital mugshot and iris capture device

• A duplex printer, monitor, and PC

• A comprehensive five-year warranty and maintenance package

This new system will enhance the Sheriff’s Office’s capabilities in processing arrests, verifying identities, and sharing vital data with state and federal databases in real time. Its advanced biometric features, including fingerprint, mugshot, and iris recognition, are expected to streamline booking operations while improving both accuracy and efficiency in criminal history reporting.

Sheriff Travis Patten praised the addition as a major technological advancement for local law enforcement.

“This new LiveScan system represents a major step forward for the Adams County Sheriff’s Office,” Patten said. “It will allow our deputies and investigators to process individuals more efficiently, reduce paperwork, and improve the speed and accuracy of criminal record submissions. The integration of iris and digital fingerprinting technology helps ensure that no suspect slips through the cracks. We are deeply grateful to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Criminal Information Center for selecting Adams County as one of the recipients of this equipment. This investment will have a lasting impact on public safety in our community.”

Patten also emphasized that the upgrade will strengthen collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies—enhancing the overall criminal justice response across Adams County.

The Sheriff’s Office extended its appreciation to Governor Tate Reeves, Commissioner Sean J. Tindell, Director Jason McElhenney, and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety for their continued commitment to modernizing law enforcement operations throughout the state.

Abdul Rahman Ibrahima Sori, the African prince who spent 40 years enslaved on Thomas Foster’s plantation, now has a historical marker that commemorates his life and legacy.

The marker was unveiled Friday, October 24, near Historic Jefferson College, on the corner of Jefferson College Street and Highway 61 North.

Over 50 people turned out for the event that was hosted by the Natchez Historical Society, the organization that sponsored the marker acquired through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Michael Morris, historian and director of the Two Mississippi Museums, served as the guest speaker. He said the story of Ibrahima is one of the most important in American history.

“There are many connections between Ibrahima and Jefferson College, the state’s first institution of higher learning and Mississippi’s birthplace,” he said. “Understanding this story is key to understanding nineteenth century Mississippi. I’m thankful to the Natchez Historical Society for sponsoring this marker to recognize Prince Ibrahima.”

The ceremony attendees included descendants of the prince, historians, MDAH staff, and Alderwoman Valencia Hall, among others.

“What a historic day to honor a man forgotten by the very city that enslaved him, yet by today’s actions he will live in perpetuity,” said Hall after the ceremony. “What a testament to the power of humanity where the descendants of not only Prince Ibrahima were present for this historic moment, but the descendants of Dr. Cox and Mr. Foster standing together as One. A true testament of what it means to bridge races, religions and ethnicities into one through time and healing. Live on Prince Ibrahima!”

Karen Hill, past president of the Natchez Historical Society, shared opening remarks at the event. She said the story of the prince is fascinating and deserved recognition.

“This is the first historical marker honoring the prince. … Many people in this area are familiar with him while others know very little about his life” she said. “His story is one of tragedy and triumph.  If this event stirs interest in him and much more, we have succeeded.”

Hill said the day’s ceremony promoted a sense of community, something that is good for everyone.

David Dreyer, local historian and genealogist, commented on the location of the marker. “We come here today to mark the place where a seemingly improbable meeting occurred,” he said. “Two-hundred-and-eighteen years ago in 1807, Abdul Rahman, the enslaved son of King Ibrahima Sori of Futa Jallon, an independent nation in West Africa, came to the marketplace here to sell sweet potatoes and recognized a man he met 26 years earlier in 1781 at his father’s home in Timbo because he had a patch over one eye.”

The ceremony also featured remarks by Adams County Supervisor Warren Gaines, District 5; and Cheri Young Burkhalter, descendant of Dr. John Coates Cox, whose name appears on the marker.

Dr. Artemus Gaye, a descendant of the prince, was scheduled to speak, but could not attend the event. His remarks were presented by Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez and president of the Mississippi Historical Society.

Rev. Clifton Marvel, pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, gave the invocation and benediction.

“This historical marker of the prince is a testimonial on these grounds here at Jefferson College that freedom comes with responsibility,” said Gaye. “Freedom has in its letters: Fidelity, Respect, Earnestly, Encouragement, Duty, Obligation, and Mutuality.”

For Gaines, the ceremony was a proud moment. “It’s an honor to be here and be part of this,” he said, adding Ibrahima’s story is one of hope and resilience. “It’s an honor to have this (marker) in my district and in Adams County.”

Gaines said many of Ibrahima’s descendants live in his district.

Burkhalter, the 4th great-granddaughter of Cox, said she loves the story of how Cox and Ibrahima met.

“I follow God, and I read the word,” she said. “God’s hand is so clear in this story it is amazing. What are the chances that Dr. Cox’s life would be saved (in Africa), and what are the chances that Prince Ibrahima would at least be able to die as a free man in Africa. I love the kindness and respect shown by two generations of two families.”

Speaking further, she said, “In this crazy world full of greed and cruelty, two generation of two families tried to do the right thing. They were a good, descent, respectful, loving people, and I just love that.”

This is a hard message to write. At a time when we are all so excited in Natchez about our 40th Balloon Festival and the beauty of fall in our historic city, the oldest city on the highest bluff of the mightiest river, my heart hurts for those across our state who have been affected recently by violent crime. The headlines have been spread across the front page of every newspaper in Mississippi, and the shootings at recent sporting events have jarred so many Mississippians, including many right here in our own community.

Last weekend as we celebrated many great events in Natchez, from Junkin’ on the River to Natchez Homecoming, the opening of our Downtown Pumpkin Festival to the ribbon cutting at our new Dixon Books Bookstore, I thought life couldn’t be better. That all changed Saturday afternoon when news began arriving of a very different scenario taking place in other areas of our state. I was heartbroken and couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Within twenty-four hours countless communities across Mississippi had been forever altered. Young people in the prime of promising lives had either become victims of or witnesses to horrific events. For some of those seen running or sheltering from gunfire, life will never be the same.

This should not be. In fact, no person in Mississippi should be afraid to go outside their door for fear of becoming a victim of violent crime. But for many, this is becoming more and more the case. And for some, even in certain areas of our own city, families no longer feel safe in their own homes for fear of random gunshots that may at any time pierce the quiet darkness of night.

It is past time to address violent crime in Mississippi. The time is now. I do want to applaud MS Commissioner of Public Safety Sean Tindall and the MS Bureau of Investigation on their fast response to incidents on college campuses, high schools and communities in recent days. Their fast work has been impressive – and very much appreciated. But a long-term solution is clearly needed.

“Eighty-Percentitis”. Going forward, we must do more than treat the symptoms. We must treat the cause. And I believe the culprit is a major “illness” now infecting communities across Mississippi. I call it “Eighty-Percentitis”. Local law enforcement and others across our state have told me that 80% of the violent crime affecting our communities is being perpetrated by repeat offenders, and in many cases, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat offenders. I challenge anyone to investigate recent incidents and prove me wrong.

Just this week, a retiree of the MS Highway Patrol and a former Sheriff told me something I’ll never forget. “Rarely does anyone start with shooting people. They work up to it, building confidence every time they get away with other crimes. The violent offenders are always repeat offenders.” Chilling words – and we are living with this reality today. In time, if not treated,

Eighty-Percentitis is going to kill our state. No one wants to live where they don’t feel safe. It’s just that simple.

Over the past few months, I have been urging state leaders to help us. Many of these leaders have responded with great positivity. Some even travelled many miles just a few weeks ago to meet with members of the Southwest Mississippi Mayors’ Association as we met here in Natchez, and for this I am very grateful. I am also grateful for the support of numerous colleagues across the state, mayors and other local officials who have stepped forward to help, including leadership in the Mississippi Municipal League. This is not the time for pointing fingers. We all share responsibility in the problem, and we all need to be a part of the solution.

The problem is complex. To start with, bond guidelines set by the Supreme Court need revision. Bond amounts are too low, and too much concern is given to the accused and not enough to the victim. Mississippi’s “Victim’s Bill of Rights” needs to be followed and inserted into every bond decision. And judges who release accused killers and would-be killers need to be required to provide written justification of their decisions on release and bond amounts in violent cases, just as federal judges are required to provide written justification for all of their decisions.

In addition, penalties for violent crime need to be increased and better enforced – especially those for assault on law enforcement. It is getting harder and harder to recruit police officers. They need all the support they can get. More funding is needed for Mississippi’s Crime Labs. And more funding is needed for law enforcement in general.

Let us pray that we as a state can come together with solutions. Now is the time. Because Natchez – Mississippi – Deserves More.