LUY-Development

Category: Local News

  • City Officials Hear Complaints About North Natchez Park Conditions

    NATCHEZ, Miss. – The mayor and aldermen fielded complaints Tuesday about conditions at North Natchez Park and its historic renovated Youth Center.

    “We’ve been neglecting the park for a while now,” said Alderman Billie Joe Frazier. While he insisted the Youth Center “is in shambles,” Mayor Dan Gibson said he received “a glowing review” from those who’ve recently used it.

    Discussions about North Natchez Park were prompted by grievances initiated by James Jones during Tuesday’s meeting of the mayor and Board of Aldermen. Complaints about park conditions come three years after the city renovated its Youth Center at a cost of nearly $1 million. New playground equipment was also installed at the park located by Martin Luther King and Wilson roads.

    However, Frazier and Alderman Valencia Hall expressed concerns about water-plumbing problems, overgrown weeds and grass there. While Gibson said city recreation staffers will assess the park conditions, he noted maintenance can be performed only as the budget and priorities allow. 

    North Natchez Park’s amenities include the new playground along with tennis and basketball courts, a large pavilion for gatherings and the renovated Youth Center. That century-old structure has been listed by the state Department of Archives & History as a Mississippi Landmark also known as the Anchorage Farm House.

    The park site was originally part of Anchorage Plantation, then sold as a livestock farm to Melchior Beltzhoover around 1915, according to historical accounts compiled by city officials and state historians. The structure was likely built then to serve as the farm manager’s residence.

    “The circa 1915 farm house is the last known (existing) building of the Anchorage Stock Farm, a cattle farm that pioneered Mississippi’s modern cattle and dairy industry,” states a Department of Archives & History report.

    “Beltzhoover was pivotal in the early promotion of cattle farming in the state. In 1922, Beltzhoover’s son inherited the Anchorage Stock Farm. Due to the close proximity to Natchez, and trying to mimic the success of Brookhaven’s dairy industry, Beltzhoover spearheaded a movement to open a creamery for the city. While this creamery venture didn’t come to fruition, it did spark statewide interest and increased local dialogue in regard to the benefits of cattle and dairy farming. Beltzhoover eventually lost the farm in 1936, but it continued in operation until 1958.”

    The park site became the property of the Natchez-Adams County school system in 1959 to build the old Anchorage school campus for Blacks. In 1974, the property was divided – giving the city control of the park property and Youth Center building with the school board maintaining the school building. During segregation, the park and former farm house served as a popular gathering spot for the Black community that was barred from other public venues. The building over time fell into disrepair until its 2023 restoration.

    For more information and photos of the North Natchez Youth Center building, log onto the Department of Archives & History’s website:

    www.apps.mdah.ms.gov/upload/rptdocs/prop/2145910970/ML%20Anchorage%20Farm%20House%20report%2001-08-2024.pdf

  • Congressional funds in the works for Canal Street bridge

    NATCHEZ, Miss. — The city’s congressional lobbyist said legislation is “in the hopper” for the U.S. Congress to give Natchez about $2.4 million to rebuild the Canal Street bridge. Noting “it’s not a done deal yet,” Gregg Harper said the allocation still has more steps to take before the House and Senate send it to the president for his approval.

    The mid-1900s bridge is deteriorating and projected to have only about four years left of life.

    While Congress and the Mississippi Legislature earlier this year provided Natchez $2.5 million to replace the bridge, about $3.3 million more is needed, according to estimates provided to city officials. The old bridge is near the Natchez visitors center on Canal Street, a key transportation artery for the city. 

    Meeting Tuesday with Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson and Board of Aldermen, Harper expressed hope Congress will provide the additional dollars.

    A former U.S. congressman who represented Natchez for 10 years, Harper has been the city’s hired legislative lobbyist since leaving the House in 2019. He’s helped the city get funds from both Congress and the state Legislature. That includes the $2 million Congress appropriated in February and the $500,000 the Legislature earmarked in April for the Canal Street bridge. “I think there’s more to come,” Harper said Tuesday.  

    Repairs to the old bridge a year ago restored its capacity for buses and fire trucks, but Natchez officials continue to ban 18-wheelers from the span. All large vehicles were prohibited from crossing the much-traveled bridge in December 2023, when inspectors discovered corroded undergirdings that rendered it unsafe for heavy weight.

    “The bridge is expected to last another four years while we raise remaining funds, “ Gibson said in April.

  • Natchez downtown developments include new director, restaurants and park

    Natchez downtown developments include new director, restaurants and park

    NATCHEZ, Miss. – Chesney Doyle has met with the Natchez mayor and city aldermen many times in recent years as a leader in the redevelopment of downtown Natchez, but she addressed them Tuesday for the first time as the newly appointed executive director of the Downtown Natchez Alliance.

    Noting she’s “looking forward to working with all of you again,” Doyle said she’s “excited to be here working in an official capacity with the city and the staff and the community at large.”

    She comes “especially well-prepared to lead us into the next chapter,” said  DNA President Elizabeth Greer.

    Doyle led the creation of DNA, which was organized as a spinoff from the 2018 master plan that city officials adopted for revitalizing downtown Natchez. A Natchez native, attorney and documentary producer, she served as DNA board president in its early years.

    Now as executive director, Doyle will manage the day-to-day operations of the the city-subsidized nonprofit association formed to enhance the downtown area by encouraging commercial and cultural developments, the renovation of historic buildings and the beautification of the city’s streetscape.

    She replaces Leah Hunter, who resigned in April after one year as executive director. The Downtown Natchez Alliance since 2022 has endured administrative turnovers with the resignation of four executive directors. After Hunter resigned, Greer said the association “will not miss a beat” as it continues its mission. 

    Greer said yesterday that Natchez is actually “seeing major forward movement in buildings and businesses across downtown.” She recited a list of new developments that include:

    – the Natcheesian pizza parlor and daiquiri bar on Franklin and Commerce streets that had a soft opening Saturday to serve nearly 600 people;

    – a new restaurant set to open nearby at the Center City building on Commerce Street in late fall or early winter; 

    – another restaurant – The District on Main – planning to occupy the building where the Rolling River eatery was on Main Street;

    – the soon-to-open Sugar Emporium on Franklin Street by Steampunk with a soda fountain and ice cream parlor; 

    – a winery and event venue in the old car dealership garage behind Pig Out Inn on Canal Street;

    – the “Kings Tavern Complex” that’s to be refurbished for two tenants.

    A major project the city and DNA are planning is landscaping around the historic Natchez train depot on Broadway Street. With $362,000 in state funds received earlier this year, the grounds and plaza are being enhanced into a park-set setting,The circa 1915 passenger train station reopened in 2024 as a Natchez visitors center with public restrooms and meeting space after a decade-long renovation process costing about $1 million. 

  • From Vision to Runway: Years of Planning Lead to July 1 United Airlines Launch

    From Vision to Runway: Years of Planning Lead to July 1 United Airlines Launch

    NATCHEZ, Miss. – When a United Airlines regional jet touches down at the Natchez-Adams County Airport on July 1, it will mark the culmination of years of work by Mayor Dan Gibson, the Adams County Board of Supervisors, Airport Director Carl Beasley and numerous business and tourism partners who have pushed to restore commercial air service to Southwest Mississippi.

    With less than a month remaining before the inaugural flight arrives, representatives from the City of Natchez, Adams County, Visit Natchez, the Natchez Area Chamber of Commerce, SkyWest Airlines and dozens of local businesses gathered Wednesday morning at the Natchez Convention Center to discuss preparations for what many believe could become one of the most significant economic development milestones in recent city history.

    The new service will connect Natchez directly to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport through United Airlines’ partnership with SkyWest Airlines, providing residents and visitors access to hundreds of domestic and international destinations through United’s global network.

    Speaking to stakeholders, Gibson described the upcoming arrival as another major achievement in the city’s ongoing “Natchez Renewal” effort, which began nearly seven years ago.

    “What a great way to celebrate the seventh year beginning than to have a commercial jet landing in Natchez, Adams County, July 1,” Gibson said.

    Gibson credited a collaborative effort between the city, county and airport leadership for helping bring the project to fruition. He specifically praised Adams County Board President Angela Hutchins, Supervisor Wes Middleton, County Administrator Mitzi Conn and Beasley for their work throughout the process.

    “People ask me all the time about the airport, and I remind them all the time, it’s a team sport,” Gibson said. “The real leader in our team is the county.”

    For years, community leaders have argued that expanded transportation options were essential to attracting investment, supporting tourism and improving access to the region. The upcoming United Airlines service will provide travelers with direct access to one of the nation’s largest airline hubs, allowing passengers to connect to destinations throughout the United States and around the world.

    Beasley provided an update on the extensive renovations and improvements made at the airport to prepare for commercial service. Upgrades have included terminal renovations, Transportation Security Administration screening facilities, new signage, passenger amenities and operational infrastructure needed to accommodate airline operations.

    “The county has done a Herculean job of making this happen,” Beasley said while showcasing the transformation of the airport terminal and grounds.

    Representatives from SkyWest Airlines and the consulting team that helped secure the route emphasized that while obtaining commercial air service was a major accomplishment, maintaining it will require continued support from residents, businesses and visitors throughout the region.

    Officials discussed ongoing marketing efforts designed to encourage travelers from Southwest Mississippi, Central Louisiana and neighboring communities to choose Natchez as their airport of departure rather than driving to larger regional airports.

    During the question-and-answer session, attendees asked whether all of the new jobs associated with commercial air service had already been filled. Beasley said both the Transportation Security Administration and the airport itself are still actively recruiting employees ahead of the July 1 launch.

    “As far as I know, TSA is still seeking employment. You go to USAJobs.gov and they are still hiring,” Beasley said. “I am hiring. I’m looking for linemen out there to work the airport, fuel the aircraft, marshal the aircraft, cut the 672 acres of grass, maintenance. So yes, there are jobs to be had.”

    Beasley said the airport continues to seek workers for a variety of operational and maintenance roles as preparations continue for the arrival of United Airlines service next month.

    The inaugural flight is scheduled to arrive July 1, when city and county officials plan to host a public celebration welcoming passengers to Natchez.

    For Gibson, the significance extends beyond aviation.

    “We’ve been saying it all along,” he told attendees. “It’s happening in Natchez.”View the meeting below:

  • Natchez Songwriters Festival: Successful Weekend Sees 90+ Songwriters Perform Across Downtown Natchez

    Natchez Songwriters Festival: Successful Weekend Sees 90+ Songwriters Perform Across Downtown Natchez

    NATCHEZ, Miss. — The 2026 Natchez Songwriters Festival brought more than 90 songwriters and performers to Downtown Natchez this weekend. The festival spanned three days, wrapping up late Saturday night, and filled 12 venues across the historic Downtown with live music, celebrating over thirty local songwriters, and welcoming over 60 from out of town and out of state.

    In addition to performances throughout downtown businesses and venues, festival attendees enjoyed outdoor performances at the bluff bandstand and adjacent to the Natchez Visitor Center, creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout the weekend.

    The event attracted artists from five states, with solo, duo, and even full-band performances, featuring all original music.

    In addition to the performances, artists gathered for a number of after-hours “Pickin’ Parties”, promoting collaboration and networking.

    While the festival was clearly a hit with locals, it made quite an impression with visiting artists as well.

    “Every out of town artist we spoke to just loved Natchez, and the same for their family and friends. Natchez made a very positive impression on a lot of people this weekend” – said festival organizers

    Early impressions indicate strong attendance across the festival’s venues

    “We saw substantial turnout at pretty much all of the venues, including the bluff, and we’re just really grateful to these locations for helping make this possible, and to the community for embracing this celebration of songwriting”

  • Natchez pickleball controversy bounces onto Adams County board

    Natchez pickleball controversy bounces onto Adams County board

    NATCHEZ, Miss. –  Adams County supervisors were undecided Monday on whether to join Natchez officials in building pickleball courts near the city-county swimming pool at Liberty Park.

    The Natchez Board of Aldermen voted last week to pursue this after turning down plans advocated by Mayor Dan Gibson for pickleball courts at Duncan Park.

    Alderman Valencia Hall – the most outspoken opponent of having pickleball at the city-owned Duncan Park – asked the Board of Supervisors to consider helping fund an alternative venue at the county-owned Liberty Park. However, the supervisors were noncommittal.

    County board President Angela Hutchins said the board would discuss it further later. Supervisor Ricky Gray said he wants to hear Natchez pickleballers’ opinions about whether they’d be OK with relocating their play away from Duncan Park, where they currently hold court on a makeshift basis at its tennis center. However, Supervisor Wes Middleton said Duncan Park is the best place for pickleball.

    After heated debate and a public hearing in May, Natchez aldermen voted 4-2 against the popular racket sport being played at Duncan Park’s tennis courts. Hall said the proposed plan to split up three Duncan Park tennis courts into the smaller pickleball courts would be at the expense of tournaments’ need for all existing 10 tennis courts. However, Gibson and others say pickleball’s growing popularity demands having courts dedicated exclusively for it at the city’s main recreational park.

    A possible alternative has emerged with Beau Pre Country Club converting some of its tennis courts for pickleball, but Hall said such a venue should be available for the public and not exclusively for private club members. She said state or federal grants could potentially be available to help build the Natchez-Adams County pickleball venue along with local funds and subsidies from national pickleball associations.

    Middleton expressed annoyance at Hall for asking supervisors to help construct pickleball courts after she and other aldermen declined in the past to help the county fund softball fields or repair tornado sirens located in the city.

  • Supervisors Discuss Next Steps in Search for County Administrator

    Supervisors Discuss Next Steps in Search for County Administrator

    NATCHEZ, Miss. — Adams County Board President Angela Hutchins said the county plans to begin interviewing applicants for the county administrator position before the current administrator leaves next month.

    County Administrator Mitzi Conn, who was hired in April 2025, has submitted her resignation and plans to leave the position on July 8. Hutchins and Conn said Monday morning they were uncertain how many applications have been received for the position, which carries a posted salary of $100,000 per year.

    Conn said her planned departure date comes one week after the start of commercial passenger air service at the Natchez-Adams County Airport. As county administrator and previously as an airport board member, Conn has been involved in efforts related to the return of passenger jet service to the airport.

    United Express is scheduled to begin daily jet service at Hardy-Anders Field on July 1. The service will connect Natchez and Houston through United’s regional partner, SkyWest Airlines.

    Conn was hired as county administrator in 2025 following the resignation of Stephanie Washington. The county administrator oversees day-to-day county operations and budget management under the direction of the five-member Board of Supervisors.

    Conn’s resignation was disclosed in May following a closed session meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

    The Board selected Conn from a pool of approximately 20 applicants.

    Before Conn’s appointment, Board Attorney Scott Slover briefly served as county administrator following Washington’s resignation in March 2025. Prior to that, Adams County Chancery Clerk Brandi Lewis served as interim administrator. Lewis assumed the role after Angie King left the position in January 2022. King had been appointed in 2020 following the retirement of Joe Murray, who served as county administrator for 10 years.

  • The Countdown is On… United Airlines Coming July 1! – From the Mayor’s Desk

    The Countdown is On… United Airlines Coming July 1! – From the Mayor’s Desk

    The countdown is on, and it’s time to get excited! We are now just one month away from the historic launch of commercial jet service between Natchez and Houston – United Airlines lands its first jet at our airport on July 1. Unlike the commercial, small plane service Natchez enjoyed over 30 years ago, this service will feature a 50-seat jet – the first time jet service has ever been available in our area. This will connect Natchez daily to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, one of the largest international hubs in America, opening doors of opportunity for tourism, economic development, business recruitment, healthcare access, and regional growth.

     

    As we prepare to take flight, we want the public to be informed, engaged, and excited about what this means for our community. This is why I want to personally invite citizens, business leaders, tourism partners, elected officials, healthcare providers, and community stakeholders to take part in an informational meeting on Wednesday, June 3, at the Natchez Convention Center. The meeting will be held in the Louisiana Suites, 2nd floor, starting at 9:30 am, and all are welcome.

     

    At our meeting, we will hear updates and presentations from key airline executives and aviation leaders involved in bringing this historic service to Natchez. Attendees will receive information on the July 1 launch, flight schedules, ticketing details, economic impact, marketing efforts, and ways the community can help support the success of the new service. We will also discuss what this opportunity means for the future growth and competitiveness of Natchez and the surrounding region.

     

    July 1 will be a major milestone for Natchez. This is something we have been striving toward for several years, and it is quickly becoming reality. Working together, many have invested countless hours and resources to make this achievement possible – words are inadequate to express the gratitude we share for all who believed in our vision and helped move this forward. The city and county working together, along with the airport and countless community, state and corporate partners, have accomplished what was thought to be the impossible. As a result, July 1 will be a significant step forward, not just for our airport, but for the future of our entire region.

     

    Having United Airlines connecting Natchez to the rest of the world, via Houston, can be transformational, but only if we support it together. Successful air service depends on community involvement and regional support. If we use it, promote it, and rally behind it, this can become a long-term asset that benefits generations to come.

     

    Starting July 1, there will be many reasons to choose Natchez over any other airport. First, it is local – no commute is needed to cities several hours away. Also, it will feature “No Hassle Parking”, the ability to park just steps from the terminal and walk straight in and easily board a jet. Once in flight, passengers can enjoy “One Stop to Anywhere”, one quick connection making the entire world a lot closer to home. A brand new, state-of-the-art terminal is in the final stages

    of completion and will offer TSA-baggage handling onsite, making it even easier to connect to additional flights in Houston, avoiding long lines. With flights every day, getting where you want to go will become a whole lot easier!

     

    So get ready Natchez! In one month, history will take flight – and the sky is the limit! I hope you will join us on June 3 at the Natchez Convention Center as we prepare for this exciting new chapter together. Because Natchez Deserves More.

     

    To book your flight from Natchez to anywhere in the world, and to read more about this historic new jet service, click here: www.flynatchez.com.

  • Natchez aldermen continue wrestling with place for pickleball

    Natchez aldermen continue wrestling with place for pickleball

    NATCHEZ, Miss. – City aldermen clashed again Tuesday over the pickleball controversy as they voted 4-2 against the popular racket sport being played at Duncan Park’s tennis courts. However, they did agree to pursue a plan for pickleball courts being built near the Natchez-Adams County swimming pool at Liberty Park.

      

    The Board of Aldermen voted to solicit cost proposals for resurfacing courts at the city-owned Duncan Park and North Natchez Park exclusively for tennis. As proposed by Alderman Valencia Hall, they could not be lined for pickleball — as some tennis courts are now at Duncan Park on a makeshift basis.

     

    However, the board voted 4-2 against Alderman Sarah Carter Smith’s motion to let two current Duncan Park tennis courts be divided up solely for pickleball. 

     

    As an alternative, Hall persuaded aldermen to initiate future discussions with Adams County supervisors to jointly build a city-county pickleball facility near the Natchez-Adams County Aquatic Center and soccer fields. They’re at the county-owned Liberty Park.

     

    Tuesday’s action came after aldermen voted 4-2 last month against Mayor Dan Gibson’s plan to convert three Duncan Park tennis courts into 10 pickleball courts. The controversy prompted Gibson to conduct a May 18 public hearing that packed the City Council Chambers and displayed differing, strongly held opinions about whether pickleball should supplant three of the 10 tennis courts at Duncan Park.
     
    Hall has been the most outspoken board member against the Duncan Park pickleball proposition. She says splitting up Duncan Park tennis courts into the smaller pickleball courts would be at the expense of a sport that tennis buffs say needs the existing 10 tennis courts for tournaments.
     
    However, Gibson has said the growing popularity of pickleball justifies the need to develop courts exclusively dedicated to this avocation at the city’s main recreational park. Pickleballers have been using Duncan Park tennis courts marked up and netted on a makeshift basis for their smaller playing space.
     
    The Board of Aldermen in April rejected the pickleball plan that was tied to resurfacing Duncan Park tennis courts at a cost of $31,500 – with half to be funded by private dollars from pickleball players. The proposal also called for resurfacing North Natchez Park’s two tennis courts for $10,600.
     
    Smith, who’s White, expressed frustrations Tuesday that the six-member board was divided along racial lines: four Black aldermen against the pickleball plan and the two White members for.
     
    “This thing somehow has become racial…. I don’t understand why. It’s very sad,” said Smith, implying opposition to the Duncan Park pickleball proposal seems to be because it’s popular with Whites. “It feels racial. It feels that way to a lot of people.”
     
    However, “This is not a racial thing at all,” said Alderman Billie Joe Frazier, who’s Black. He maintained Smith’s comments are “a slap in the face” of the city’s Black community.
     
    Gibson said last week he would continue pursuing a compromise in the tennis-versus-pickleball controversy. “I’m not giving up on a solution that satisfies both sports and further unites Natchez,” the mayor said.
     
    Acknowledging the racial friction at Tuesday’s meeting, Gibson – who’s White — said he and all six aldermen are united in “working together for a better Natchez.”
     
    “We’re all part of the same city and members of the same race – the human race,” he said.  

  • Duncan Park pickleball furor sparks public debate

    NATCHEZ, Miss. – Few issues have drawn such a large crowd to the Natchez Council Chambers like the pickleball-versus-tennis furor last week at a public hearing held by the mayor and city aldermen.

    The hearing was called by Mayor Dan Gibson after aldermen voted 4-2 last month against his endorsed plan to convert three Duncan Park tennis courts into 10 pickleball courts.

    The gathering displayed the differing, strongly held opinions about whether pickleball should supplant tennis courts at the city park.

    “It was a good meeting overall. I know it was frustrating for some. But a lot of good information was shared,” Gibson said.

    Some advocates said the Board of Aldermen’s 4-2 vote should be the final decision against the pickleball plan, but Gibson said he’ll continue to pursue a compromise.

    “I’m not giving up on a solution that satisfies both sports and further unites Natchez,” the mayor said.

    While a seemingly innocuous proposition, the plan sharply divided the aldermen in April along with the crowd that packed their meeting room for the May 18 hearing. It lasted more than 90 minutes and drew at least 18 public commentators.

    Alderman Valencia Hall has been the most outspoken board member against the pickleball proposition. She said splitting up three Duncan Park tennis courts into the smaller pickleball courts would be at the expense of a sport that tennis buffs say needs the existing 10 tennis courts for tournaments.

    However, Gibson has said the growing popularity of pickleball justifies the need to develop courts exclusively dedicated to this avocation at the city’s main recreational park. Pickleballers currently use Duncan Park tennis courts marked up and netted on a makeshift basis for their smaller playing space.

    The Board of Aldermen last month rejected a pickleball plan that also calls for resurfacing Duncan Park tennis courts at a total cost of about $31,000 – with half funded by private dollars. The mayor and board are scheduled to meet Tuesday, but it’s uncertain if the issue will resurface then.