LUY-Development

Category: The Natchez Democrat

  • Medgar Evers receives posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom

     

    Medgar Wiley Evers will be posthumously receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

    Evers, a World War II veteran and civil rights leader was assassinated on June 12, 1963, in the driveway of his home in Jackson.

    The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest U.S. civilian honor awarded to individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” Awardees are selected by the president.

    President Harry S. Truman selected the first Medal of Freedom recipient in 1946.

    After returning home from World War II, Evers held several leadership roles in civil rights groups. He recruited volunteers, led demonstrations, and organized voter registration drives.

    In recognition of his role in the Civil Rights Movement, he was posthumously awarded the NAACP Spingarn Medal for outstanding achievement and he is featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

    The Mississippi Delegation has expressed its support for this award to President Biden.

    “This is a powerful way to honor Medgar Evers’ life and legacy. The fact that he is receiving this award sixty years after his death is proof that he has inspired the generations that followed. His work did not die with him in 1963. I am grateful to the president for selecting this native son of our state for this well-deserved distinction,” said U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.

    “Medgar Evers, who is already remembered for his pursuit of equality and justice as part of the civil rights movement, now joins a most distinguished group of Americans who are forever singled out for their life’s work. I applaud the award of this Presidential Medal of Freedom, which I hope will renew our commitment to strive for the values for which Medgar Evers gave his life,” said U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss.

    U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., whose Second District includes Natchez, praised the recognition. “The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a testament to Medgar Evers’ enduring impact on not only Mississippi but also the nation. Over 60 years after his death, his tireless pursuit of equality for African Americans in our state continues to resonate throughout generations. As someone deeply influenced by his legacy, I am honored to witness this recognition. I extend my gratitude to President Biden for acknowledging Medgar Evers’ pivotal role in our history and bestowing upon him this well-deserved honor.”

    “Medgar Evers has earned and deserves to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His devotion to civil rights will always be remembered,”U.S. Representative Trent Kelly said.

     “The life of Medgar Wiley Evers was one of determination and conviction. With his service on the battlefield of World War II and his work in the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi, Evers showed his fellow Mississippians the power of serving others. His life was tragically cut short with his assassination in 1963, but he is still remembered today for the contributions he made to the Civil Rights movement. I’m thankful to see Evers selected to receive the Presidential Medal of Honor posthumously,”U.S. Representative Michael Guest said.

     “Medgar Evers’ work to secure equal rights has made a lasting impact on not just our state, but our entire nation. I was glad to join the full delegation in calling for him to posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and I am proud to see him receive this recognition for his legacy and his work,” U.S. Representative Mike Ezell said.

    Mississippi natives who have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom include: civil rights activist James Earl Chaney (2014); Representative G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery (2005); Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise (1970); historian Dumas Malone (1983); musical artists Leontyne Price (1964) and B.B. King (2006); writers Eudora Welty (1980) and Tennessee Williams (1980); and media mogul Oprah Winfrey (2013).

    The post Medgar Evers receives posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom 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

  • 2024 Relay For Life of the Miss-Lou is Friday

     

    VIDALIA, La. — After closely monitoring weather conditions, the 2024 Relay For Life of Miss-Lou scheduled for Friday, May 3, at the Vidalia Municipal Complex will go on as scheduled, organizers said.

    The main event is from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. with a Survivor Reception before the big event from 5 to 7 p.m.

    “Dozens of teams will be setting up fundraising booths with food, fun and so much more,” organizers said.

    Highlights of the relay is a luminaria ceremony, where hand-decorated lanterns honor loved ones whose lives were touched by cancer, and the survivor walk around them.

    A portion of funds raised this relay support patients of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center with lodging needs if they need overnight assistance or are too weak after treatments to travel.

    Learn more and make donations at relayforlife.org/msloums.

     

     

    The post 2024 Relay For Life of the Miss-Lou is Friday 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

  • In event of rain, National Day of Prayer service in Natchez will be moved indoors

     

    NATCHEZ — Today Miss-Lou churches and community members will be joining others nationwide for the observance of  National Day of Prayer.

    This is a time of prayer and meditation where communities lift up their local, state and national leaders, their schools, their public safety departments, military and more.

    Prayer services in both Natchez and Vidalia begin at noon.

    In the event of rain, Natchez’s prayer service organized by the Natchez Ministerial Alliance will take place at the Natchez Grand Hotel instead of outdoors around the bandstand on the bluff.

    Vidalia will have a prayer service at the town council chambers inside Vidalia City Hall led by Rev. Troy Thomas of Bethel Church.

    The post In event of rain, National Day of Prayer service in Natchez will be moved indoors 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

  • City kicks-off Crime Camera Participation month; Over 50 new crime cameras to be installed this summer

     

    NATCHEZ — May is Crime Camera Participation Month, and in the Miss-Lou a new website seeks to help add 50 new cameras.

    At the new website, www.RiverCitiesCCP.com, Miss-Lou residents will be able to join the crime camera program by purchasing a camera, sponsoring a camera or registering a camera they already own.

    City of Natchez officials invited neighbors and law enforcement partners in Adams County, Vidalia, Louisiana, and Concordia Parish to announce the launch of a campaign to install more Project NOLA cameras, which have cloud storage and are accessible in real-time by law enforcement agencies to help solve crimes.

    In February 2020, near the end of Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell and Police Chief Walter Armstrong’s administration, it was announced that the City of Natchez would receive a U.S. Department of Justice grant to enhance public safety with the creation of a community crime camera program.

    The nearly  $150,000 grant came from the Gulf States Regional Law Enforcement Technology Assistance Initiative.

    “This grant was applied for and received a few years ago under the prior administration. Because of COVID, change of administration and other delays, we never got the cameras actually up,” Mayor Dan Gibson said. “We were able to reinstate the program just a year ago and we’re at the point where we need citizen participation.”

    The goal of the crime camera program is to install more than 50 new crime cameras in high crime areas over this summer, Gibson said. Because of population and need, these cameras will likely be placed inside the Natchez-Adams County area, Gibson said. To do this the city needs community participation to identify where the cameras are needed most, he added.

    To the neighboring residents in the Town of Vidalia, Mayor Buz Craft said, “Citizens of Vidalia do not need to try and get one of the 50 that Natchez is trying to get. We’re in good shape but we are going to be adding more. We’re looking at strategic areas in our neighborhoods to do that and we’re not going to put that on the citizens to get these cameras. Our IT department has worked hard to establish the fiber going throughout the town that’s required to get these cameras up and running.”

    Community members can participate in the program in a number of ways.

    They can register their existing cameras to help the city develop a directory of camera locations to enhance the expediency of criminal investigations.

    They can also purchase cameras to have installed at their homes or businesses. These cameras will be accessible by both city and county law enforcement.

    “Some of our most dire cases have been solved using camera footage. It prevents people from being involved in things they otherwise would not want to be involved in. Plus, if we have camera footage, there is no denying that the person actually did the crime,” Natchez Police Chief Cal Green said. “The more cameras we are able to get up, the better we will be able to police crime in our community.”

    The federal grant also enables the city to provide crime cameras at no cost to residents in high-crime neighborhoods. Approximately 45 cameras will be given out. This includes installation and two years of fully monitored cloud storage, officials said.

    Requests for the grant-funded cameras can be submitted via the website www.RiverCitiesCCP.com.

    Finally, residents can “adopt a camera” to have installed on a home or business in a high-crime neighborhood, officials said.

    “We encourage everyone to go to that site,” Gibson said. “The deadline is May 31. We have to have all requests by that date.”

    Green said not everyone who requests a camera will receive one. Only those who are in an area of need will be considered. Also, the location must have WiFi and electricity for a camera to be installed.

    Partners in this community crime camera program include the City of Natchez and Town of Vidalia with the Natchez and Vidalia police departments, the Adams County and Concordia Sheriff’s Offices, Project NOLA, Envisage Research and Analytics and eSouth Technologies.

    The post City kicks-off Crime Camera Participation month; Over 50 new crime cameras to be installed this summer 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

  • A NEW RESORT: Developers plan $30M luxury RV resort for Adams County

     

    NATCHEZ — Ground was broken south of Natchez on Tuesday morning for a $30 million investment that will turn 275-plus acres into a luxury RV resort development.

    Natchez Inc. and the developers of Unwind Resorts announced the venture today on-site at 177 Southwind Drive, Natchez.

    Developers Cody Martin, Jonathan Starns and Brandon Dodson, all from the south Louisiana area, plan to create Magnolia Trace RV Resort, which will include high-end RV lots, a clubhouse, cabins, a lazy river and other amenities that will be attractions for couples and families.

    The developers purchased the property from the Nolan Biglane family.

    Chandler Russ, executive director of Natchez Inc. said Martin, Starnes and Dodson bring a long history of experience in luxury RV resort development to Adams County and look forward to the positive impact the resort will have on the Natchez and Adams County economy.

    “We are excited to bring this unique high-end amenity RV resort with a spacious rural feel to this area and anticipate our guests will fall in love with the charm of the City of Natchez, just like we have,” Starns said.

    He said he expects construction to begin this summer and the first phase of the development to open in the second quarter of 2025.

    Starns said Magnolia Trace RV Resort has been in the planning stage for three years and thanked Russ and Aimee Guido of Natchez Inc., Mayor Dan Gibson and Adams County Board of Supervisors President Kevin Wilson for their help, cooperation and patience.

    “On behalf of the Adams County Board of Supervisors, we are excited to locate this upscale RV resort along with the sizable capital investment and jobs in Adams County. We wish them success as they work to add more tourists and travelers to our economy,” Wilson said.

    In Natchez on Tuesday for the groundbreaking was Danielle Morgan, executive director of the Mississippi Tourism Association. She said the resort would be the first of its kind in the region and offer “another great reason to visit Mississippi.”

    “We are extremely excited to be here,” Starns told the 50 or so city and county officials and Natchez Now partners gathered at the site for the groundbreaking.

    “I feel like I am a lifelong visitor of Natchez. I have spent many days outdoors here growing up and obviously have witnessed the scenery and growth that has happened in downtown Natchez and have eaten some of the best food I’ve ever had here in Natchez,” said Starns, who grew up in Baton Rouge and continues to live there.

    “This is a dream that has been in process for quite some time. Me and my partners — Cody Martin and Brandon Dodson — started (this) as a concept vision five or six years ago. About three and a half years ago, the concept started to gain some legs and we began thinking about where we want to go and what we want to do. In my heart, I always knew Natchez, Mississippi, was the spot. Through that and with the blessings of our wives, who allowed us to chase our dreams, we are extremely blessed and fortunate. We proceeded to do the right thing by hiring people who are smarter than ourselves, to come in and do feasibility studies. Ultimately, they came back to tell us what we already knew, which is that Natchez, Mississippi, is the perfect place for an RV resort,” Starns said.

    Russ said the Magnolia Trace RV Resort is set to become a premier destination for travelers who seek a blend of comfort and natural beauty. This new camping and park facility will bring approximately 40 new jobs to Adams County during its peak season. Day passes will be available for local residents to enjoy the park’s amenities when the park is not full, he said.

    The post A NEW RESORT: Developers plan $30M luxury RV resort for Adams County 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 inmate dies in Concordia Parish Correctional Facility

     

    NATCHEZ — A Natchez man who has been an inmate in the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility has died.

    Blarrington Ashley, 53, of Natchez, was indicted by a grand jury for shoplifting more than $1,000, said Natchez Police Chief Cal Green.

    Because of the unsafe conditions in the Adams County Jail, the Adams County Board of Supervisors and the City of Natchez contract with the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office to house inmates.

    Ashley was found unresponsive one day last week in the Concordia Parish facility. Brandy Spears, a spokesperson for the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, would not release any information about Ashley’s death pending autopsy reports and a complete investigation.

    The post Natchez inmate dies in Concordia Parish Correctional Facility 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 man arrested, charged with felony child abuse

     

    NATCHEZ — A Natchez man was arrested Friday for felony child abuse.

    Taj Minor, 26, allegedly abused a 3-year-old. The mother of the child, who is a juvenile, may also be charged in the case.

    Natchez Police Chief Cal Green said her department was notified of the incident by Child Protective Services. She said when her officers began their investigation, injuries to the child were visibly evident. She said the child did not require hospitalization and is in the custody of Child Protective Services.

    Green said Minor is not the child’s biological father. Minor works as an E-911 dispatcher for Adams County.

    The post Natchez man arrested, charged with felony child abuse 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

  • Couple, vehicle get stuck in water on roadway; Sheriff warns against ignoring road closure signs

     

    NATCHEZ — A Natchez couple ignored road closure signs and got stuck on an underwater road in Adams County Friday evening.

    Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said cars continue to drive on Pintail Road, off York Road in the St. Catherine Creek Wildlife Refuge.

    “This is federal property. People need to know the road is underwater and unsafe to travel by vehicle. The car is still on that road, floating,” Patten said.

    The couple said they got lost heading to a bar in Sibley. When they could go no further, the pair called a friend for a rescue and walked back to the top of the road to him, sheriff’s deputies said. They were not injured.

     

     

    The post Couple, vehicle get stuck in water on roadway; Sheriff warns against ignoring road closure signs 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 elects Garrison as mayor

     

    NATCHEZ — The town of Ferriday, Louisiana, elected a new mayor on Saturday.

    Democrat Alvin Garrison garnered 643 votes or 75 percent to Democrat Joey Bazile III’s 219 or 25 percent of the votes.

    District B elected Devonte M. Schiele as its alderman. Schiele, who claims no party affiliation, received 116 votes or 55 percent to Devin Bryan’s 96 votes or 45 percent.

    District D elected Andre J. Keys, a Democrat, as alderman, 138 votes or 60 percent to Ashley M. Skipper’s 91 votes or 40 percent. Skipper is also a Democrat.

    Voters in Monterey’s Fire Protection District No,. 1 approved Proposition 1, which renewed for 10 years beginning in 2027 10 mills to support the district. Proposition 1 was approved 108 votes or 58 percent to No votes of 77 or 42 percent.

    However, voters turned down a proposal that would have levied a fee of $50 annually on each parcel of property in the district. That vote was 97 No to 87 yes, or 53 percent to 47 percent.

    The post Ferriday elects Garrison as mayor 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

  • Thompson presents funds for Forks to Freedom project

     

    NATCHEZ — At a press conference Friday at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bolton, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson announced a number of community project fundings in Mississippi’s Second Congressional District.

    Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson and Ward 2 Alderman Billie Joe Frazier were at the conference to receive a $1 million appropriation on behalf of Natchez that will go toward the first phase of the Forks to Freedom Park project.

    Also attending was Jacqueline Marsaw, the county liaison with Thompson at his office in Adams County.

    “It was a real honor to be there with Congressman Thompson accepting this great appropriation for Natchez,” Gibson said. “It was in a meeting with him over a year ago that we first began seeking federal funds to help us begin our Forks to Freedom Park project. And this appropriation will help now to get Phase 1 development of the green space at both Revels Plaza and the future site of the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops monument on the north end of the Bluff.”

    Gibson said Thompson announced he had saved the Natchez presentation for last.

    “He truly is excited about what we are doing to build unity by telling our whole story. Today was especially rewarding to enjoy such camaraderie with Congressman Thompson, a gentleman who truly is serving his constituents in Natchez with sincere passion and great statesmanship,” Gibson said.

    Frazier echoed those comments.

    “Congressman Thompson made a number of presentations of appropriations that will benefit not only Adams County but surrounding counties, as well,” Frazier said.

    Frazier said Thompson has been more visible in Adams County and produced more for the county than any other U.S. representative in recent memory.

    “I told Congressman Thompson we have some more projects in Natchez we need to get taken care of and he said to let him know what we need. The Congressman is truly taking care of his district,” Frazier said.

    Presentations Friday afternoon in Bolton also included funds for an art center at a high school in Kosciusko; funds for an innovation center at Alcorn State University; funds for a workforce development program for the Southwest Mississippi Community Development District; a $1 million appropriation to a special needs camp near Crystal Springs; a $3 million appropriation to Hope Financial for low-income housing, among others.

    The post Thompson presents funds for Forks to Freedom project 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