Fletcher CoxBy JOFFRE WASHINGTON
For the Herald

Much of the news out of Philadelphia surrounding the Eagles this season hasn’t been positive to say the least. After finishing 4-12 and at the bottom of the NFC East, the Eagles were one of several teams to fire their head coach (Andy Reid) earlier this week.
There is, however, one piece of news that is refreshing and it has to do with Yazoo City native Fletcher Cox.
After a standout 2012 rookie campaign in which he led all Eagle defensive linemen with 65 tackles (46 solo, 19 assists), Cox was named to the All-Rookie Team on Thursday.
“One of my goals was to start strong and finish strong and get better as the season went on,” said Cox. “I could really tell as the season progressed that I was learning and getting better. I could tell that I was more comfortable at becoming a professional athlete.”
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By JAMIE PATTERSON
Managing Editor

A Yazoo City woman died this week after as a result of injuries related to New Year’s Eve automobile crash.
Mary “Mandy” Williams, 37, of Carson Drive, died Wednesday at the University Medical Center in Jackson.
Yazoo County Coroner Ricky Shivers said Williams was the passenger of a one-vehicle accident on Miss. Highway 3 on Dec. 31.
Shivers said Williams was not wearing a seat belt.
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Bentonia Crosses top story of 2012

By JASON PATTERSON
Editor & Publisher

The top story of 2012 in Yazoo County was the town of Bentonia being forced to remove lighted crosses from a water tower by the American Civil Liberties Union and the effort to erect new crosses on private property.
The normally quiet town of Bentonia received national attention after the ACLU threatened legal action to force the removal of the lighted crosses. The issue attracted many supporters, and also some detractors, most notably a group known as Freedom From Religion.
Hundreds of supporters signed a petition that was published in The Yazoo Herald in support of the crosses. Eventually a group stepped forward to lead a fundraising effort to erect taller and brighter crosses on private property. Construction of those crosses is expected to begin early this year.
Other top stories included:
Fletcher Cox drafted
After a remarkable football career at Yazoo High School and Mississippi State University, hometown hero Fletcher Cox was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. Crowds gathered at home to watch the live broadcast of the NFL draft.
Ed Dew dies, Jayne Dew elected
Ed Dew died this year after serving as District 4 supervisor for 20 years. One of the most spirited local campaigns in recent memory ensued, with Dew’s wife Jayne Dew winning to become the first female supervisor in Yazoo County history.
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Standing in front of the altar where Hillcrest Baptist Church collected nearly $38,000 in its Birthday Gift to Jesus campaign are (from left) Rev. Jeff Dixon, Rosalind Dixon, Melody Collins and Scott Collins.By JAMIE PATTERSON
Managing Editor

Hillcrest Baptist Church knows what it is like for a community to come to one’s aid.
The local church burned to the ground in 1998. Then in 2010 the deadly Yazoo tornado ripped through it, leaving a pile of rubble behind.
But the community arrived immediately to bring the church up from the destruction from both the fire and Mother Nature.
“People just reached out to this church tremendously,” said Pastor Jeff Dixon, who began to lead the church last August. “We owe a tremendous amount of thanks to the people around us. God has been so good to us.”
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