LUY-Development

Category: Local News

  • Path provided to appeal higher Adams County property taxes

    NATCHEZ, Miss. – The higher taxes Natchez-Adams County property owners owe are due in two weeks, but amounts could be subsequently reduced if they can persuade the county Board of Supervisors that properties were erroneously valued or levied.

    “If there’s an error, they can come before the board,” said Scott Slover, the supervisors’ attorney.

    Meeting Tuesday, the board did reduce or eliminate taxes mistakenly imposed on about 10 property owners, mostly elderly or disabled residents. The county tax assessor blames the errors on computer glitches, administrative oversights or outdated information about the properties.

    Properties in Natchez and Adams County were reassessed in 2025, causing values to increase and account for inflation and other contributing factors. Tax bills were sent out early this month revealing the resulting higher taxes.

    Property owners can attempt to get the taxes lowered by appealing first to county Tax Assessor Larry Hughes’ office, Slover said. If the tax assessor agrees a parcel was overvalued, he can recommend the Board of Supervisors make an appropriate adjustment to the taxes owed. If the tax assessor disagrees that the property was overvalued, the owner can challenge that by asking the five county supervisors to reduce the amount. However, the owner must have two real estate appraisers backing his case that the parcel was erroneously valued, Slover said.

    The appeal process can continue past the first of February deadline for taxes to be paid, he said.

    The tax bills local parcel holders received earlier this month are the combined total of what’s owed to the city of Natchez, Adams County and the Natchez-Adams School District.

    A state-mandated reassessment process has resulted in property values rising due to inflation and other contributing factors. Property tax values are calculated based on several factors, including how the property is used, its construction and the current market value. The Mississippi Department of Revenue requires counties to reassess property values every four years to reflect changes in the market and ensure tax equity.

    MDOR-guided changes made in this process resulted in the 2025 increases that accumulated into the tax bills that caused sticker shock for many Natchez-Adams County property owners. “It was a lot at one time,” said Wayne Herring, a professional appraiser who’s been assisting Adams County in recent years evaluating properties. 

    Adams County supervisors said Tuesday they didn’t realize last year when setting the county budget that the property valuation changes would cause such high taxes. If they had known, the board could’ve reduced the tax millage rate that generates revenues necessary for funding county operations. “When you don’t know, you can’t do that,” said Supervisor Ricky Gray.

    Board President Angela Hutchins acknowledged she and other supervisors have been feeling heat from constituents angered by their tax bills. 

    To view Adams County property tax information that includes how much is owed for each parcel, go online to www.deltacomputersystems.com/ms/ms01/plinkquerym.html

    To contact the Adams County tax assessor’s office, phone 601 442-6732. 

  • From the Mayor’s Desk: Celebrating Freedom – The Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    From the Mayor’s Desk: Celebrating Freedom – The Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    On August 28, 1963, a thirty-four year old minister standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC captured the hearts of the world as he shared his dream for freedom and equality in America. Included in his impassioned speech, more a sermon really, was a 36-word prayer for our beloved state: “I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.”

     

    When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke those words, it was indeed sweltering – unusually humid in our nation’s capital and sweltering in the summer heat of Mississippi. I find it no coincidence that Dr. King used the word “sweltering”, defined as “oppressively hot” in his famous address. Conditions in the Magnolia State and in other states across the south had become hot with the oppression felt by so many black Americans during their growing struggle to be treated equal and for their country to live up to its long-standing commitment to the ideals of freedom and equality.

     

    Jefferson had first penned the words in our Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The 14th Amendment to the Constitution, adopted in 1868, had solidified the promise: “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” And the American Creed, passed by the US House of Representatives in 1918, expressed faith in a government “established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.”

     

    During his historic address to the American people in 1963, Dr. King exposed the failure of America to live up to its promises – promises for which countless black Americans had “sacrificed their lives and fortunes”. From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, from the Spanish American War to World Wars I and II, these patriots had given their “last ounce of devotion”, and yet black veterans and the descendants of those who had served were still being denied justice and freedom.

     

    In 1963, Dr. King also spoke hope – and I can only imagine the wave of hope that swept across many citizens in the Magnolia State on that humid summer day. For once, a national audience was listening – and the dream of a better America was implanted in the hearts of millions. Though in the years to follow, the heat of injustice would become even more sweltering

    with violence engulfing communities all over our country, hope that America would finally live up to its promise of freedom kept hope alive – and in time change would come.

     

    Things are far from perfect in Mississippi, and in America for that matter, but we have come a long way since that hot summer day in 1963. While there is still more work to be done, we as Americans should forever be grateful to a man who spoke truth and gave his life in the pursuit of freedom and justice. May the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. be celebrated not just today as we commemorate his birthday, but every day as we strive to live up to the challenge of “the dream” – for all to live in peace. Because Natchez, America, Deserves More.

     

    Authors’ Note: Please be sure to join us as we celebrate in music the life of Dr. King. Sunday, January 18, 5 – 7 p.m., Beulah Baptist Church, 710 B Street, Natchez.

  • Mississippi House Narrowly Passes School Choice Bill After Hours-Long Debate

    Mississippi lawmakers debated for hours at the State Capitol before narrowly approving a major education reform proposal that would allow public education dollars to be used for private schooling.

    House Bill 2 passed the Mississippi House by a 61–59 vote, reflecting deep divisions among lawmakers over the future of public education and school choice in the state.

    The most controversial provision of the bill would create education scholarship accounts, often referred to as school vouchers, that would allow families to use public funds to pay for private school tuition. Supporters argue the measure expands parental choice, while opponents say it would weaken already struggling public school systems.

    House Speaker Jason White, the bill’s chief supporter, emphasized that the legislation is not intended to undermine public education.

    “This is not an attack on public schools,” White said. “We can have great public schools and give our parents some options in 2026 in Mississippi. And I’m excited that our House members took that first step today.”

    Critics strongly disagreed. Rep. Jeffrey Harness warned that voucher programs divert resources away from public schools, particularly in rural areas where schools serve as community anchors.

    “School voucher bills are not about choice,” Harness said. “They are about abandoning public education. In Mississippi, public schools are not just buildings. They are the anchors of our communities. They are often the largest employers in the rural counties. They are where children eat, learn, grow, and have stability. When you drain money from public schools, you don’t create opportunity. You create collapse.”

    Democratic lawmakers also raised concerns about accountability, arguing that private schools accepting public funds should be held to the same academic and transparency standards as public schools. Supporters countered that participating private schools would be required to administer nationally recognized standardized tests.

    The vote did not fall strictly along party lines. Seventeen Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the bill, underscoring the contentious nature of the proposal—even within the majority party. House Bill 2 represents the Speaker’s top legislative priority for the current session.

    Despite its passage in the House, the bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate. The Senate Education chairman has indicated that the upper chamber is only willing to consider school choice legislation that allows transfers between public schools, not the use of public funds for private education.

    As the debate continues, the fate of House Bill 2 will likely hinge on whether lawmakers can bridge the divide between expanding parental choice and protecting Mississippi’s public school system.

  • Natchez workforce development program in transition

    Natchez workforce development program in transition

    NATCHEZ, Miss. – The city’s workforce development director program will continue despite the recent resignation of director Tuwanna Williams, who Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson praised as being “irreplaceable.”

    Williams has moved on to a similar job at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, but Gibson envisions her still administering the city’s four-year-old workforce training program with other local governments in southwest Mississippi.

    Gibson last week got the Natchez Board of Aldermen to “begin the process of moving toward a collaboration partnership for workforce development with Copiah-Lincoln Community College for the entirety of the Natchez-Miss-Lou area and southwest Mississippi with Tuwanna Williams as the director.”

    Williams was hired in 2021 to be Natchez-Adams County workforce development director, a newly created position to strengthen local efforts to train people and attract more businesses.

    In that post, she established and led the city’s first workforce development department and secured more than $2 million in state-federal funds to support various training initiatives based at Co-Lin Community College’s Natchez branch. 

    Williams designed and launched the first building-trades program in the Miss-Lou area in more than 25 years to teach skills in construction, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, masonry and heavy-equipment operations, according to details provided by Co-Lin. She also organized employer advisory councils involving more than 170 employers associated with 22 industries to align workforce training with regional labor-market needs.

    “It’s been a real success story,” Gibson said of the Natchez workforce development program.

    Williams began her new assignment last week as executive director of workforce education at Co-Lin, where she worked six years prior to taking the city job in 2021. 

    Gibson envisions Natchez’ workforce training program continuing under Williams’ direction at Co-Lin, which is partially funded by Adams County and six other southwest Mississippi counties. However, Natchez aldermen last Thursday hired Debbie Germany to oversee transitioning the city’s partnership with Co-Lin and other local governments. Aldermen discussed this with Gibson in a session they closed to the public.

    Germany formerly led the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce and has subsequently been contracted by the city officials to search for grants for various services and programs. She’s also assisted the Adams County Board of Supervisors as it decides whether to build a new jail.

    Prior to last week’s closed-door session with aldermen, Gibson said hiring an interim workforce development administrator is needed for a few months to manage grants and help get the various partnerships in place. The mayor said he wants to collaborate with Adams County supervisors and Natchez-Adams school board members “so we will all be on the same page” for workforce training.    

  • Repairs coming soon for Canal, Homochitto streets

    NATCHEZ, Miss. – Mayor Dan Gibson said he’s optimistic repairs will be completed soon for the city’s much-traveled Canal and Homochitto streets a year after they were poorly resurfaced.

    City officials and the street contractor were at an impasse, quarreling over what corrections are needed – a dispute that prompted Natchez aldermen’s decision last May to begin the process to sue Theobald Construction Services.

    However, Gibson said, “We are making good progress in working with Theobald, and we are very excited that we will see some improvements to the project coming soon – some very important repair items that were requested a while back that are going to be taken care of.”

    The Vicksburg-based contractor in late 2024 put inferior asphalt on Canal and Homochitto streets that soon crumbled. Theobald had “refused to correct the unacceptable work” and pay the expenses, Gibson said last year as he discussed problems associated with the $1.1 million street-overlay project.

    Deficiencies cited last year by engineers included inferior asphalt needing to be replaced and manholes too low needing to be raised.

    Meeting last Thursday with Gibson, the Natchez Board of Aldermen agreed to continue paying the engineering firm hired last year to evaluate the street-paving flaws and oversee corrections. Volkert has been paid about $84,900 so far for its work on the Canal-Homochitto street project, said Natchez Community Development Director James Johnston.

  • Three Arrested Following Home Invasion and Assault in Vidalia

    Vidalia Police arrested three individuals late Monday night following a reported home invasion and assault, according to the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

    Officers responded at approximately 11:39 p.m. after a victim reported that individuals had broken into his home and then fled the scene, possibly toward the Mississippi River Bridge. A short time later, officers located the suspected vehicle nearby and detained Antony Ionlez Knockum, 32, of Baton Rouge; Todd Williams, 25, of Baton Rouge; and Davonta Clifton Herbert, 32, of Belle Rose.

    Investigators determined the victim had been at his girlfriend’s residence, a home she had recently shared with Knockum, her ex-boyfriend. Authorities said Knockum used his key to enter the residence, where he and the two other suspects became verbally abusive toward both the victim and the woman.

    The situation escalated when the three allegedly assaulted the victim, striking him with closed fists and kicking him. After the assault, the suspects reportedly took the victim’s car keys, searched through his vehicle, and stole a firearm.

    Knockum was arrested and charged with simple burglary of a vehicle, possession of Schedule I marijuana, resisting an officer, and simple battery. Williams and Herbert were each charged with simple burglary of a vehicle, resisting an officer, and simple battery.

    “These types of calls have the potential to turn tragic very quickly,” said Vidalia Police Chief Joey Merrill. “We’re thankful this wasn’t one of those times and our officers were able to make arrests.”

    The investigation remains ongoing.

  • Adams County supervisor launches campaign for Congress

    Adams County supervisor launches campaign for Congress

    NATCHEZ, Miss. – Republican Kevin Wilson  is trying to unseat a U.S. congressman in office 33 years representing a predominantly Black, Democratic district that sprawls from the Louisiana state line northward to about 10 miles from Tennessee.

    The Adams County supervisor from Natchez said he’s eager to take on the challenge as he campaigns against an institution he says is dysfunctional.

    “We’re going county to county to county, and we don’t care if they’re Republicans, Democrats or independents. I just want this district to be better,” he said.

    Wilson on Monday held his formal kickoff to his campaign “running for Congress to bring a practical voice to Washington that puts people first.”

     “Washington is broken. It focuses too much on politics and not focused enough on people,” he said.

    The 2nd Congressional District that Wilson is campaigning in has been represented since 1993 by Democratic incumbent Bennie Thompson, Mississippi’s only Black congressman.

    However, Wilson’s first hurdle is to defeat Ron Eller in the March 10 Republican primary. The winner progresses to the Nov. 3 General Election to face the Democratic candidate. Thompson is seeking reelection but is being challenged by two Democrats in the March party primary.

    Wilson – speaking Monday evening at his campaign rally on the sunset-draped Natchez bluff overlooking the Mississippi River – cited his experience on the Adams County Board of Supervisors he was first elected to in 2019 as a political novice.  “I’m the least likely politician you’ll ever see,” Wilson said.

    In the six years serving on the county board as its only elected Republican, Wilson has been outspoken in espousing conservative views on how government should operate in curbing expenses and regulations. “Local government teaches something that Washington has forgotten.” he said.

    As a businessman, Wilson said he “built an oil company from the ground up” with hard work to make Black Jack Oil Co.  the “largest independent oil producer in the state of Mississippi.”

    Wilson’s wealth has enabled him to make large campaign donations to President Trump and Republican organizations. For example, he contributed $11,600 to the Trump Save America Joint Fundraising Committee in 2024, $3,400 to the Trump 47 Committee in 2024 and $1,000 to the Mississippi Republican Party in 2025, according to Federal Election Commission records.

    Wilson’s campaign is expected to have ample cash as he competes against Eller, who had $44,000 in campaign cash last year as he prepares another bid to unseat Thompson. The Democratic incumbent defeated Eller in 2024 with 62 percent of the votes.

    Republicans face an uphill climb capturing the west Mississippi 2nd Congressional District, which is about 64 percent Black and spreads from Wilkinson County along the river into Hinds County and up to Tunica County near the Tennessee state line.

    Thompson is a senior House member and chaired the congressional committee that investigated the Trump-inspired attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters in January 2021.

    Wilson moved to Natchez as a child when his military-serving father was assigned here as a National Guard advisor. “This is where my family put down our roots,” he said.

    Wilson is among other Natchez residents who have run for the U.S. House of Representatives. Former mayor David Armstrong ran in 1984 and Gail Healy ran in 1986. The Republicans lost to then-incumbent Wayne Dowdy, a Democrat.

  • State Funds Approved for Downtown Ferriday Renovations, Infrastructure Study

    Downtown Ferriday is set to see new improvements after four local businesses were approved to receive $80,000 in state funding for storefront renovations.

    State Representative C. Travis Johnson, who serves as chair of the Downtown Ferriday Entertainment District, said the funding is intended to address blighted buildings and encourage future economic growth. Johnson made the comments in an interview with KNOE.

    “Some of the downtown buildings are eyesores,” Johnson told KNOE. “In order for this community to grow, we’ve got to improve the way downtown looks and focus on the aesthetics of our buildings so we can move forward and create better economic development.”

    Johnson added that visible improvements can help generate excitement among current and potential business owners.

    In addition to the state renovation funds, Ferriday will receive $250,000 in federal funding for a study focused on pedestrian safety and accessibility throughout the town. The study will examine possible additions such as crosswalks and improved disability access.

    Johnson said the goal is to ensure cooperation between business owners and all levels of government. “It works for business owners and local government by making sure everyone is on the same page and moving forward with a unified plan,” Johnson told KNOE.

    Local officials hope the renovations and infrastructure study will help revitalize downtown Ferriday and support long-term economic development.

  • Adams County Approves $243K Restroom Project at Chester Willis Stadium, Allows Limited Shower Access for Homeless Residents

    Adams County Approves $243K Restroom Project at Chester Willis Stadium, Allows Limited Shower Access for Homeless Residents

    Adams County supervisors have hired a contractor to build public restrooms at the Chester Willis baseball stadium at a cost of $243,000 plus more for sewer connections.

    Located at the county-owned Liberty Park, the bathrooms will complement the newly renovated baseball venue that was enhanced at a cost of more than $2 million in 2024. County supervisors on Monday awarded Phoenix Construction Co. the contract to build the bathrooms. However, more planning and work is needed for the sewer connections at a budgeted cost of about $13,000.

    The schedule is to have the restrooms ready for the spring baseball season at the 600-seat stadium.

    In a separate matter Monday, supervisors agreed to let homeless people use the showers by the Adams County Safe Room, the structure built for disaster refugees across the street from Chester Willis field. A volunteer group led by Tom McGehee asked the board for this permission.

    McGehee said two hours will be allotted on Mondays for homeless people to use the showers, which were recently built outside the county-owned Safe Room for storm evacuees temporarily housed there. The board agreed to charge the volunteer group $50 a month for use of the showers.

    McGehee, a retired Natchez police officer, said his group has been trying to determine the number of people in the area who need shelter, evaluate their circumstances and find places to house them.

     
    This comes as a state homeless law took effect in July that specifically prohibits encampments on public properties not intended to be campsites. People convicted of violating this law can be fined and jailed for up to six months.

    To enforce the new law, local officials have posted signs in known homeless encampments telling people to vacate the premises and remove their belongings and litter or face legal action.

  • 4-H Shooting Sports Sign-Ups Set for January 24 in Adams County

    4-H Shooting Sports Sign-Ups Set for January 24 in Adams County

    Adams County youth ages 8 to 18 will have the opportunity to learn more about the 4-H Shooting Sports program during a sign-up event scheduled for Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Adams County Extension Office.

    The 4-H Shooting Sports program is designed to help young people develop responsibility, self-discipline, and confidence through structured, educational involvement in shooting sports activities. The program emphasizes safety, teamwork, and personal growth while encouraging youth to become productive and self-directed members of society.

    The annual cost to participate in the program is $25 per person, which can be paid on the first day of practice. Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend the sign-up to learn more about expectations, safety guidelines, and volunteer involvement.

    For additional information or to register, contact Jason Jones at the Adams County Extension Office at 601-445-8201 or by email at j.jones@msstate.edu by Wednesday, January 21, 2026.