More than 20 barges broke loose on the Mississippi River near Natchez, forcing Adams County Civil Defense, the Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Coast Guard to scramble and find the missing barges. One barge hit the Grand Soleil gambling boat now under construction at the Adams County Port. Another hit the Mississippi River Bridge. The Coast Guard alerted river traffic to be on the lookout for the barges as a significant navigation hazard.

    The Catahoula Sheriff’s Department arrested Johnny L. Robertson, 81, of Sicily Island for the attempted murder and shooting of Ernestine Cunningham, 46. The couple lives at the same residence. Deputies say they had an argument and Robertson used his .38 caliber pistol to shoot Cunningham. She was taken to Riverland Medical Center in Ferriday and then transferred to St. Frances Cabrini in Alexandria, where she was reported to be in stable condition and recovering.

    The U.S. Wildlife and Fish Service stocked the new Okhissa Lake in Franklin County with 250 crappie. Agents said it will take about two to three years for a good-size crappie population to be established in the 2,000 acre lake.

    Asbestos has been found in the roof in the Franklin County Superintendent of Education Office. The shingles have to be removed. A contractor estimates it will cost about $20,000 to remove and properly dispose of the shingles.

    Natchez voters go to the polls for a Democratic Primary Election May 6. Contested races include: Mayor – Jake Middleton and Phillip West; Ward 1 Alderman – Paul Johnson, Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, Sonya Anderson Mars and Jim Sanders; Ward 2 Alderman – Rickey Gray, Johnny Franklin and Larry Hooper, Jr.; Ward 4 Alderman – Tony Fields, Donnell Newsome and “Bubber” West; Ward 5 Alderman – Frances Bailey, Mark Fortenbery and Tim Sessions; Ward 6 Alderman – Dan Dillard and Forrest Foster.  The runoff date is May 20.
 

    For Ward 3 Alderman, Democrat Gwen Ball is unopposed. She will meet Republican Bob Pollard in the June 3 General Election. Charles Zuccaro is running as a Republican for Ward 5 Alderman. He will meet the winner of that ward’s Democratic race in the General. The winner of the mayoral Democratic Primary battles independent candidate Chick Graning on June 3.

    
    Polling places are: Ward 1 – City Hall Council Chambers; Ward 2 – Frazier Elementary; Ward 3 – Elks Lodge, Ward 4 – Old Union Hall: Ward 5 – National Guard Armory and Ward 6 – Duncan Park Canteen. If you are not sure where you should vote, call the Adams County Election Commission at 601-445-7905.

    Rentech wants Adams County Supervisors to submit a grant application to rebuild the train trestle over St. Catherine Creek between the IP mill site and the Adams County Port. The price tag on the project might be as much as $4 million and require a $400,000 match from the county. Supervisors and IP have also agreed to pay some of the costs to release mineral rights on the mill property. Rentech said it will purchase the mill acreage, but wants those mineral rights for itself. The county and IP will pick up 2/3 of the cost.

    The Concordia Parish Police Jury will spend $150,000 in state funds to create an updated hazard mitigation plan. Bryant Hammett Engineering will prepare the plan. An updated plan that considers drainage, flooding, natural and other disasters allows the parish to apply for additional state and federal funds.

    When Natchez voters go to the polls June 3 for the General Election, they’ll also consider whether to adopt a $2 room per night tax on all hotels to finance advertising for the Natchez Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. Aldermen passed a resolution in support of the tax despite opposition from hotel owners who questioned whether the money would be spent wisely. CVB officials said the tax would raise as much as $400,000 a year, but offered no concrete plan as to how the money would be spent. The city already has a 1.5% sales tax on meals and a 3% sales tax on hotel rooms to fund the CVB. In addition, aldermen allocate monies from the general and bond funds to support the agency.

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