Category: News

NATCHEZ— A single star shined through the cloudy night sky over a candlelight vigil honoring Ty’Keria Rogers at Natchez High School on Monday evening.

Natchez Adams School District administrators, teachers and friends and family of Rogers came to express their grief, to pray, release balloons and to shine a candle or cellphone light in her honor.

Rogers, who was 18 years old and a senior cheer captain at Natchez High, died tragically as a result of a tree collapsing on her home Saturday.

Always smiling, Rev. Robbie Cade Furdge said in life and after, Rogers’ light also shined brightly.

“Feel what you are feeling. I won’t dismiss those feelings because they are valid,” she said. “But remember, God is the answer. … In all things she was joyful. She gave so much love… and even in her transition look at the love that has poured out.”

The post Star Shining Bright: Friends of Natchez High senior who died during storm honor her memory with vigil appeared first on Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper.

This article was written by The Natchez Democrat. To view the original article on the Natchez Democrat’s site, Click Here

NATCHEZ — In the words of Natchez Adams School District Superintendent Zandra McDonald, the student who died too soon as a result of the Saturday evening storm “will be remembered as being kind, respectful, confident and full of life.”

On Saturday night, family members, friends teachers and classmates of 18-year-old TyKeria Rogers watched in tears as first responders clawed through debris trying to find her. Tragically, she did not make it. Two other people inside the Westwood Road home made it out.

McDonald said the event initially left her without words.

“I am rarely at a loss to find the right words or formulate a meaningful message suitable for a moment. But, tonight I had no words,” she said. “When my daughter told me the news that was being shared, I thought surely not TyKeria.”

McDonald said TyKeria was energetic, funny and personable. She had also been a captain on the Natchez High School cheer team.

“Last year, she started talking to me about a goal she had for this school term. She set out to achieve that goal and worked to ensure she achieved it. Her mom supported her every step, making certain I remembered even from the drive-through window at work,” McDonald said.

She asked for prayers for TyKeria’s mother who she said “loved her baby girl with every fiber of her being and worked tirelessly to give her a great life.”

Larry Hooper, NASD Principal of the Options Academy, asked for help gathering monetary donations for the family’s hotel and supplies now that they are without a place to live because of the damage to their home. He said donations to $hoopla1911 on CashApp or hoopla2001@yahoo on PayPal would go directly to the family.

“Let’s be there for TyKeria’s family during their most critical time of need,” he said. “Please keep TyKeria’s family, friends and classmates in your prayers.”

The post Natchez Adams school family remembers senior who died as tree fell through house appeared first on Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper.

This article was written by The Natchez Democrat. To view the original article on the Natchez Democrat’s site, Click Here

NATCHEZ — Perhaps no one will ever know how Marylin, a pure-bred English bulldog who had been missed by her owner in Houston, Texas for more than a year, came to be in Natchez.

Marylin was found a long way away from home.

Her mom drove more than 5 hours from Houston, Texas to the Natchez Police Department Tuesday to bring Marylin home just in time for Thanksgiving.

Natchez Animal Control Officer Ashley Sanders said the Natchez Adams County Humane Society called her on Nov. 12 for help with a dog they didn’t have a spot for, which is often the case as the shelter becomes overfull. Except this story had a happy ending, Sanders said.

As it turns out, “It was a pure-bred English bulldog and she was microchipped,” Sanders said.

However, the phone number on the chip was not correct.

They began to search for Marylin’s owner by her owner’s name on social media. A week later, Mary Griffith was found.

Marylin had vanished from her yard in Houston in July 2023, Griffith said.

“She has gotten out before but our whole neighborhood knows she’s ours,” Griffith said. “We looked everywhere for her, posted everywhere for her and nobody knew where she was. I’d lost hope, thinking someone stole her and I’d never get her back.”

When she got the message from Ashley with Natchez Animal Control asking if she bred English bulldogs, Griffith said she knew right away someone had found Marylin. Then she learned Marylin was in Mississippi and was shocked, she said.

“I was like, ‘Where?’ Girl, you traveled out of Texas! I’ve never traveled out of Texas until now.”

The pair were reunited Tuesday at Natchez Police Department, much to Marylin’s delight and to the joy of her owner, who at one point thought she’d never see her again.

“She never got off our minds while she was gone,” Griffith said. “Every once in a while, a random Facebook memory of her would pop up and it was a sad feeling.”

As Griffith hugged her “Mer-Mer,” Marylin’s short tail wagged happily. Watch a video of this happy reunion above.

Marylin appeared to have had puppies and was missing patches of fur since she last saw her mom, but had since been fixed by Spay Neuter Natchez and is otherwise healthy.

“I’m just hoping whoever had her all this time didn’t mistreat her. It looks like she had been used for puppies,” Griffith said. “Since I got her back, she hasn’t been able to stop staring at me, like she is afraid to fall asleep. Maybe she thinks I’ll disappear if she does.”

Griffith said Marylin never had puppies while she was with her.

“I can’t imagine what she’s been through but she’s finally going home,” Sanders said.

Griffith said she looks forward to the reunion of Marylin and her six children, and husband, who all love her. Marylin was Griffith’s birthday present three years ago.

“She will be four on July 14, which is my birthday, too,” she said. “I’d been looking for a while and found her and knew right away she was meant to be my dog. Now she has made her way back to me.”

The post Home for the Holidays: Lost bulldog found in Natchez, reunited with Houston owner after a year appeared first on Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper.

This article was written by The Natchez Democrat. To view the original article on the Natchez Democrat’s site, Click Here

NATCHEZ — The Natchez Mayor and Board of Aldermen will hear an update Tuesday on the renovation of the Natchez City Auditorium and the Natchez Convention Center from Natchez architect Johnny Waycaster.

The city meeting is at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Council Chambers, 115 S. Pearl, across from City Hall.

Renovations have been under way on the projects since this summer. They are being funded by a $5.35 million bond approved in July 2022. Of those funds, $3 million was earmarked for the convention center, $2 million for the city auditorium, and $350,000 for the civic center.

In other business expected on Tuesday, James Johnston, community development director, will discuss the Downtown Natchez Farmers’ Market and a Solid Waste Assistance Grant.

Parks and Recreation Director Ryan Porter will seek approval for the Duncan Park Trail System, and Carla Monroe, senior center director, will provide an update on that department.

Aldermen will have an opportunity to provide reports on their wards and committees.

City Attorney Jack Lazarus is expected to seek permission to offer for sale 2.02 acres of property near Cooper Street, which is an abandoned gravel road. Lazarus said the city does not need the property for municipal purposes. He will also discuss a contract for professional service with Southwest Mississippi Planning.

City Clerk Megan McKenzie will ask aldermen for permission to pay the city’s bills. The aldermen are also expected to hold a closed session to discuss personnel issues and potential or pending litigation.

The post Convention center, city auditorium update expected at Tuesday’s city meeting appeared first on Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper.

This article was written by The Natchez Democrat. To view the original article on the Natchez Democrat’s site, Click Here

NATCHEZ – Yvonne Lewis Day, a noted writer and researcher, will talk about the collision and loss of the steamboat Monmouth at the Tuesday, November 26 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society.

Day’s topic is, “Who Will Sing My Name? The Loss of the Steamboat Monmouth.” She will discuss the loss of the steamboat, which occurred on October 31, 1837, just north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of about 400 Muscogee/Creek Indians who were being forcibly transported to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.

“The wreck of the steamboat Monmouth in 1837 is a tale of mystery, intrigue, and shame,” said Day.  “The loss of 400 lives on that fateful night was the greatest death toll in a single incident on the Mississippi until the final days of the Civil War.  Though my research has added new information, the story of the Monmouth remains without a final chapter, as of yet.”

The Trail of Tears, in this case, was by water and not land, Day noted.

Day’s presentation will be given at the Historic Natchez Foundation, at 108 S. Commerce St. It will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m., followed by the presentation at 6 p.m. The program, which is free to the public, 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.

Day said her illustrated presentation incorporates her original research conducted over the last decade. She will also share copies of archival materials relating to the 1837 tragedy. Her work has received recognition by representatives of the Muscogee Creek Nation, she said.

A recognized authority in several fields, Day is a local historian and genealogist. She is also a prolific writer and editor of works in the scientific and academic fields. According to her biography, she has been a keynote speaker or workshop leader at more than 900 local, state, national, and international conferences.

Day is a native of New Orleans. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Louisiana State University, where she pursued graduate studies in linguistics. She is also author of numerous publications, including a noted series on the cemeteries in Tangipahoa Parish and multiple volumes on family, state, and local history.

[Over the years, Day has held memberships with numerous organizations, the list of which includes the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Indians Committee. In addition to having served as past president of the Baton Rouge and Louisiana genealogical and historical societies, she served as state registrar and as chapter president and chapter registrar of the National Society of the United States Daughters of 1812.

Day has won state and national awards for her work. Her contribution to the field of history includes the 2022 donation of her collected publications and papers to Southeastern Louisiana University.

For more information Day’s presentation, call 281-731-4433 or 601-492-3004 or send email to info@natchezhistoricalsociety.org

The post Day to discuss 1837 loss of steamboat Monmouth at Historical Society event appeared first on Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper.

This article was written by The Natchez Democrat. To view the original article on the Natchez Democrat’s site, Click Here

NATCHEZ — Former Adams County Sheriff Charles R. “Chuck” Mayfield has died. He was 71.

Mayfield was elected sheriff in December 2009 and served until being unseated by current Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten in 2015.

Prior to running for sheriff, Mayfield worked under Sheriff Tommy Ferrell in the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. He ran the department’s Metro Narcotics Unit for five years.

His daughter, Kaitlyn Stevens, confirmed Mayfield’s death. He had been suffering from an illness for more than a year.

“He was a great man, and he loved this community. He was a wonderful father and husband and was loved by his whole family and had lots of friends,” she said.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

The post Former Sheriff Chuck Mayfield has died appeared first on Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper.

This article was written by The Natchez Democrat. To view the original article on the Natchez Democrat’s site, Click Here

NATCHEZ — Margaret Perkins lived for 17 years in Charlotte, N.C., before returning to Natchez to take the helm at Listen Up Y’all Media.

She frequently hiked the mountains and enjoyed the outdoor areas in Ashe County, North Carolina, which was hit hard on Thursday and Friday when Hurricane Helene’s high winds and rain created a path of destruction up through Georgia, western South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Ashe County is someplace special to Perkins and her wife, Rene Adams. So special, in fact, the two were married in the small town of Lansing in 2022. Lansing was devastated by Helene.

“Lansing is a tiny town built around recreation,” Perkins said. “The creek that runs through it became a river, barrelled down the mountain, and took everything. The entire town flooded. Buildings were under 10 feet of water.”

Perkins and Adams flew to Charlotte on Friday to visit friends.

“I kept thinking our flight would be canceled, but it wasn’t. We left Baton Rouge on time Friday, and other than rain on Friday, it was beautiful all weekend in Charlotte,” she said.

Like many others, Perkins and Adams spent much of their weekend viewing photos and videos as the devastation in other parts of the state unfolded.

“It just feels…I don’t know. We have a heart connection to this area. I used to hike and backpack there, so I knew the area well. It is an area built on recreation and the outdoors,” Perkins said.

Perkins is working with Lyn Jenkins, CEO of the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce, and others to organize help for Ashe County. Details are still in the planning stages and when they come together will be a city-wide effort.

“My thought is to adopt a town or a smaller area, like Ashe County,” she said.

Greater resources will likely be coming to areas like Asheville, North Carolina, near the Biltmore Estate, and Boone, North Carolina, where Appalachian State University is located.

Less affluent areas like West Jefferson, Jefferson and Lansing in Ashe County will likely need the most help from others in the country.

“They are going to have many needs, but I know they will need construction supplies. Those buildings were under 10 feet of water. Everything is going to have to come out of those buildings. Flooring, sheetrock, all of that has to be gutted and taken out,” she said.

Efforts are complicated by the fact that the area lacks power, internet, and infrastructure, such as power poles, roads, and bridges, which have been washed away. The area also lacks water, and most roads have been destroyed.

While details of the fundraising effort in Natchez take shape, those who want to contribute monetarily can send funds to Myron Greer, a Charlotte businessman and close friend of Perkins and Adams. Greer is organizing an effort to get supplies, including pet food, to Lansing on Friday.

“I will load on trailers and trucks provided by my business teams here in Charlotte to help with relief,” Greer said on his Facebook page. “If you need an avenue where 100 percent of your donation will go to people in need, and you will entrust me to make this happen, please join me in this effort.”

Donations can be made through Venmo to @Myron-Greer.

The post Devastation in North Carolina hits home for Natchez couple appeared first on Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper.

This article was written by The Natchez Democrat. To view the original article on the Natchez Democrat’s site, Click Here