Category: News

 

VIDALIA, La. — Vidalia lost a long-time town attorney, town judge, all-around “great man” and public servant last weekend.

Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft said he was saddened to learn that George Murray Jr. had passed away over the weekend after he had recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

He was “just a great man” who dedicated over 40 years to serving the town in both his official capacity as a judge and as a volunteer in civic organizations such as the Lions Club, Craft said.

Murray was also an avid LSU fan who led a quiet private life but always greeted everyone with a smile.

“That one hurt,” Craft said of the loss of Murray. “When he reached out to me to say he wouldn’t be able to continue on working for the town, I thanked him for all the service he did and offered my prayers. He felt fine but knew what he had ahead of him.”

Murray had been working as the Town Attorney for six or seven years before his diagnosis made him unable to continue, Craft said. On July 1, he appointed Smith Taliaferro & Purvis of Jonesville, Louisiana, to represent the town.

“(Murray) has always been a positive, happy guy and an outstanding attorney,” Craft said. “He served in the armed forces and was a joy to work with. If he told you something, you could count on it and take it to the bank, so to speak. I can’t recognize him enough for the contributions he has made to our town.

“He was also a judge for over 40 years. He commanded respect from everybody and it was well deserved. He’s going to be missed and our prayers are with his family and friends. I count myself as one of those friends. We talked a lot and I can’t say anything negative about him.”

Family members of Murray said he radiated love and kindness and was never dishonest.

This made him a wonderful Town Attorney and Judge as he always acted with fairness and integrity for Vidalia.

He also had a strong faith and love for his family.

“His daughters and grandchildren were his pride and joy,” his niece Jennifer Morris shared. “He just beamed with love when they were around. He loved family fiercely and welcomed everyone from the minute he met them. He was the life of the party without being loud or obnoxious. He impacted so many lives, and he will truly be missed.”

The post ‘A Great Man’: Longtime Vidalia judge Murray dies 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 — A new funding formula that Mississippi legislators have put in place for kindergarten through 12th-grade public education will increase funds to Natchez Adams School District by approximately $390,000.

Starting July 1, a new funding formula went into effect for Mississippi’s K-12 public education system as a result of HB 1823 which replaced the former Mississippi Adequate Education Program, or MAEP.

MAEP has only been fully funded for two years since it was enacted in 1997.

The idea for the new funding structure called the Mississippi Student Funding Formula, was to ensure that the school districts in most need received additional monies.

Extra money is calculated for students who live in poverty, those with special needs, those in gifted programs, those with dyslexia or those who are learning English as a second language.

Total increased funding statewide comes to just under $240 million.

Governor Tate Reeves signed the bill into law on May 8.

Based on information from the Mississippi Department of Education, Natchez-Adams School District will receive increases to educational funding as well as increases to teacher pay, health insurance and state retirement contributions in PERS.

Natchez-Adams School District is slated to receive $18,024,203.63 from MSFF in Fiscal Year 2025 as well as a PERS increase of $61,040 and a health insurance increase of $90633 for a total of $18,175,876, which is an increase of $389,944 over the $17,785,932 received in Fiscal Year 2024.

The Natchez Democrat has reached out to NASD Superintendent Zandra McDonald-Green for comment on this story.

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

 

NATCHEZ — When students moved out of the former Robert Lewis Middle and Joseph Frazier Elementary schools, vandals moved in.

Superintendent Zandra McDonald-Green addressed the vandalism issue at the schools during Tuesday’s meeting of the Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees.

The schools have been empty for two years starting when the district consolidated its high school and middle schools on adjacent campuses at the old and new high school buildings.

Starting July 29, students of the same grade level will be combined at the same school buildings, a move made necessary by a shrinking student population and shortage of certified teachers.

Green said Tuesday that there have been vandalism problems at the empty schools since the consolidation.

The school security supervisor, “Officer (Melvin) Davis was on the coast at a conference when I had to call him and say that law enforcement had to go through our property,” Green said. “We’re continuously working to address that.”

Green added officials reached out to project NOLA, which provides discounted surveillance cameras with non-profit funds that are monitored in real-time by police officers.

Green said she has been working with Tim Byrd, the District’s Business and Finance Manager, to see if the purchase of cameras could be worked into the budget and the cameras be placed at those two schools.

“As we know (the schools) have historical value and we don’t want to see them be destroyed,” Green said.

She added that some of those behind the vandalism problem, juveniles, were already caught.

Juvenile Court Judge Walt Brown is working with the school district by ordering the juveniles to community service hours to clean up the properties as restitution, Green said.

The post School board seeks cameras to solve vandalism issue in vacant school buildings 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 — With the help of a Natchez High School alumnus, Natchez Adams School District is supplying every student with customized book bags at no cost to families.

Public engagement coordinator Tony Fields said the school district is afforded the opportunity to provide students with backpacks through federal programs, not district funds, but is typically unable to fund customization options.

However, the district has partnered with Nikesha “Nikki” Guice-DuPlessis, a 2000 graduate of Natchez High School and owner of D IX Couture design company, who is supplying the district with 2,800 clear bags at approximately $60,000, or just over $21 per bag. Fields said that this is the cost they would’ve been without customization with school colors and the NASD bulldog logo.

“We have provided backpacks before, but not of this quality,” Fields said. “They are good quality and very durable. … Our kids like to be fashionable and she brought in some designs for bags shed done. We were blown away by the quality and customization. She is being gracious to us. We can provide backpacks and things but we cannot do the customizations. Her being an alumnus, she is doing that portion for us.”

Fields said middle and high school students are required to have clear backpacks but they are optional for pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade students.

“What we wanted to do, since we’re requiring those things, is provide them to students so families won’t have to come out of pocket for so much,” he said. “We are going to provide some school supplies as well. Whatever we can do to help our students, we’re trying to do. We’re making a great effort this year to ensure our students have everything they need in the classroom to be successful.”

Backpacks will be delivered to each school for the start of the new school year, Fields said.
“We’re asking a lot of our parents and students because of the reorganization of our district but we’re reorganizing in the best interest of the students’ success by trying to ensure that they have a highly qualified teacher. We’re putting our best foot forward in making sure that they have good teachers and all the materials that they need and we hope to carry momentum throughout the school year. Our theme is still ‘one team, one vision and one goal’ but we’re adding to that ‘stronger together.’”

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

 

NATCHEZ — The Natchez Adams School District on Tuesday approved its Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget with a request for a 1 percent increase, or approximately $138,000, in ad valorem tax contributions.

The district is now operating with a budget of $80,393,790, which is inflated by Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief money allocated by the federal CARES Act which can only be expended according to strict federal guidelines. Of the total budget, 16 percent or $14,246,155 is obtained through ad valorem taxes. Next fiscal year’s budgeted revenue is expected to increase to $88,594,329. Of that amount, 16 percent or $14,384,162 is proposed to be financed through ad valorem taxes, which may result in an increase in the ad valorem tax millage rate.

Ad valorem taxes are paid by county residents for their homes, automobile tags, business fixtures and equipment and rental properties.

The millage rate is adopted by the Adams County Supervisors and the school district is legally allowed to request up to a 7 percent increase in finances from the prior year.

A public hearing on the budget was held on Tuesday, June 25.

The school district claims to have avoided requesting an increase in taxes since 2021, but said that in 2022 the district received approximately $340,000 less from the county than the requested tax levy of $14,237,156 due to an accounting error that the county made.

Therefore, when the district requested $14,246,155 for 2023, taxes increased.

ESSER Funding was earmarked in three phases.

The district received and expended all of $2,449,411 from ESSER I and received and expended all of $10,162,066 from ESSER II.

The school district has until a Sept. 30 deadline to obligate $12 million remaining from the $22,348,664 included in ESSER III funds or risk missing out on the federal funding.

Their priorities for the remaining funds are HVAC and restroom renovations at Morgantown and Gilmer McLaurin and Susie B. West elementary schools for $4.5 million; renovation of the Steckler multi-purpose building for a fine arts school for $6.7 million; replacing all exterior doors at the elementary schools and equip each of the schools with access controls, safety; and security improvements for $800,000 with supporting grant funds.

Used ESSER funds were expended on HVAC, restroom and health and safety improvements at each of the remaining schools. Early spending used to mitigate COVID-19 spread included air purification systems, desk guards and clips to ensure safe distancing among students in classrooms and cafeterias, disposable face masks, backpack sprayers to deep clean classrooms and offices, and bottled water for students after water fountains were disabled and later updated with water bottle fillers. The district also funded COVID-19 staffing needs including an additional school nurse and two technology coaches to support teachers with providing digital instruction. Social workers have also been deployed to schools to address students’ emotional needs on top of their academic needs.

Funds were also used to provide professional development for teachers and administrators, to purchase new curriculum and instructional resources to target accelerating learning for students and to provide an after-school tutoring program to reduce COVID-19-related learning loss and provide social services for students.

The post School board approves budget with increased tax request 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 – James Biglane, founder of United Mississippi Bank and Natchez businessman and developer, has died.

Biglane’s death was announced Monday morning by family members and UMB on social media.

“James Biglane established UMB in 1973 with a vision to become a community bank that would serve all citizens of the City of Natchez,” the UMB post reads. “Through his unwavering dedication and leadership, UMB has left an indelible mark on the banking industry not only in the Miss-Lou community but also throughout Southwest Mississippi.

“James Biglane’s commitment to excellence and innovation has been the cornerstone of our institution, guiding us through decades of growth and success. His legacy will continue to inspire and shape the growth and future of UMB.”

This is a developing story and will be updated throughout the day.

 

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

 

NATCHEZ — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has a new deputy, and he’s only 7 years old and will lick your face if you let him.

The new deputy’s name is Benjie. He’s a Golden Doodle and is thought to be the first therapy dog to be included in a K-9 unit in Mississippi.

His handler is ACSO Deputy Michelle Martin, who has had Benjie since he was 10 weeks old.

The sheriff’s office will use Benjie in various ways, including comforting young and old victims of crimes and making them feel at ease.

“He looks like a big, ol’ Teddy bear,” Martin said. “He loves to roll around on the floor and play. The sheriff’s office has adopted him now, and he is part of the K-9 group.”

Benjie goes to work with Martin for each of her 12-hour shifts. “He’s right there with me. I will get him out during the shift, exercise him, and go over his commands. I’ve worked with him since he was a baby.”

Benjie completed his training at Louisiana Capital City Obedience Training.

“Our goal with him is to be able to work with victims. It’s proven that he can come in and bring those people comfort and restore trust during times of high stress and trauma,” she said.

Martin is crisis intervention certified and expects Benjie to assist her on various calls.

“If someone is having a bad day or a psych episode, he can love on them and help calm them. He also breaks that barrier so they feel more comfortable talking when he is there. The same thing happens with victims of crime. He will help build a rapport with them by loving on them and giving them kisses and helping them relax.”

Benjie will be beneficial with child victims.

“He can shake and give them five. Interaction with him will bring stress levels down,” she said.

Benjie will also frequently visit Adams County schools, churches, vacation Bible schools, neighborhood watch meetings, and nursing homes.

“Once children play with him and become comfortable, we are more likely to get them to listen to the information we need to provide to them, whether that is about drugs or cyber crimes or any other issues,” she said.

Martin has 20 years of experience as a law enforcement officer. She came to the sheriff’s office after Sheriff Travis Patten approached her about working with Benjie as a therapy dog on his team.

“Right now across the nation, law enforcement agencies are implementing wellness programs to help officers and victims,” Patten said. “The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is one of those agencies. We have sent officers off to be trained in peer support. We currently pay any medical bills concerning counseling. We have implemented a wellness app and are taking it one step further with the therapy dog, which will help victims and officers during bereavement, grief, and stress.”

He said national law enforcement agencies, like the FBI, are pushing hard for ways to support victims and officers because of results they have seen in their agencies.

“We like to be on the forefront, not behind the curve. Hiring Michelle Martin and her therapy dog is part of that support effort. We are excited about the potential.

“We look forward to Benjie showing much love to victims, officers, and the public. I think both are a great addition to the sheriff’s office,” the sheriff said.

“Without going into details, I had some trauma. I met a lady who is now a friend of mine who had a therapy dog. She knows Benjie is like my heart. She told me I should train him as a therapy dog. I decided I wanted others to be able to love him as much as I do,” she said.

“Benjie lived a very spoiled life for five years. He stayed at home while I worked. I was initially torn, wondering how he would take coming to work with me every shift. However, he thrives when he is with people. It is bred into them to work and have a purpose other than lying around the house and sleeping. My friend was totally, completely, 100 percent correct. He loves meeting people. He loves getting out and seeing people. Everybody loves loving on him and petting him, and he loves it!”

One thing Martin wants to make clear is that Benjie will not be working to capture any criminals.

“He is not going to go chasing anybody!” she said.

The post New ACSO deputy offers comfort and kisses 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

 

FERRIDAY, La. — For newly elected mayor Alvin Garrison, a brighter future for the Town of Ferriday means “putting Ferriday back to the way it used to be.”

That means working to see that “citizens are safe, bills are paid on time and fiscal and financial management is back in place,” Garrison said.

Garrison, who took his oath of office Monday, said to help make that happen new officials were appointed, including a new Police Chief Clearance “C.J.” Hall Jr., Fire Chief Danny Cupit, Town Clerk Becky Albert and Town Attorney Jay Boyd after the previous officials resigned and moved to new positions.

New Town Clerk Becky Albert has previously worked for the town as the Municipal Court Clerk, Garrison said. Jay Boyd replaces Philip Letard as the attorney after he has filled that seat since 2020 and retired, Garrison said.

“(Boyd) is a local guy and I think will do a good job,” Garrison said.

CJ Hall comes from Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office to lead the Ferriday Police Department

“He’s a good guy and had a good interview” out of three of four candidates considered, Garrison said. The Democrat has reached out to Hall for further comment on this story, who could not be reached before presstime.

Vidalia Firefighter Danny Cupit takes the helm of the Ferriday Fire Department as the Fire Chief after Interim Fire Chief and Ken White, who has been in that position since former Fire Chief Carmen Evans moved away in July 2023.

“My goals are to improve the quality of fire service in the Town of Ferriday and provide more training for firefighters on staff and also to provide certification opportunities to the firefighters,” he said. “For a long time, they’ve operated without certified firefighters and I want to give them the opportunity to get properly trained.”

Cupit said he has come full circle from starting out at Ferriday Fire Department as a rookie firefighter eight years ago under Chief Joe Sontoyo’s administration and now leading the department while continuing to work full-time as a firefighter in Vidalia.

Another of Cupit’s goals is to be a leadership role model, increase community involvement, educate the community on fire safety and recruit more firefighters.

Cupit included, Ferriday is serviced by four firefighters on staff and he will be hiring four more, Cupit said.

Ferriday, while it has its financial challenges, is a great place for new recruits to learn and get the experience they need just as he did, Cupit said.

“We’ll be taking on experienced firefighters or newbies. We’ve got a lot of work to do as far as finances and being able to make sure employees are properly paid but I would say our most competitive part about this job is the learning aspect. It’s a great place to get experience.

“(Chief Sontoyo) taught me the basics and everything I needed to advance my career. He was a very good leader and good teacher and it was a privilege to learn under him.”

With eight total candidates initially on the ballot, Garrison said that running for mayor “wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.”

“We had a good feeling,” he said of being elected. Garrison thanked “the people of Ferriday” for supporting him to lead the town. “If I call names, I’m going to miss someone,” he said.

The post Officials seek to improve financial order, public safety for Ferriday 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

 

CHURCH HILL—Christ Episcopal Church, Church Hill, will hold an evening prayer service at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 14.

Music will be provided by Dr. Pat Doherty, organist.

The service will include prayers of thanksgiving for Christ Church, the “mother church” of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi.

The congregation was founded in 1820 and is now a Partner-in-Mission with Trinity Episcopal Church in Natchez.

The service is also a once-in-a-lifetime way to witness major work in progress at the current church building, which dates to 1857-58.

The church is 19 miles north of Natchez by way of US 61 and Mississippi Highway 553.

Since the original church pews have been removed for restoration, service participants will use folding chairs set up near the scaffolding.

Other planned interior work includes indirect electrical lighting and new altar rail cushions.

Recently completed renovations include central air and heat, a new roof and paint on the exterior, exterior lighting, restored stained glass windows, and an updated sacristy.

Wear casual clothing and sturdy shoes. Bring a face mask and your camera.

Be a part of Christ Church’s history.

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