From impressive sport highlights among local young athletes to a collection of hard-hitting news that swept through the community to major milestones from local leaders, the Yazoo community had its share of top stories over the course of 2025. Unfortunately, the community also experienced much loss with the passing of many beloved figures. But the future looks promising with several young future leaders already in the works.
Here’s a look at the top stories and highlights from 2025.
January
• The new year arrived with the miraculous story of the premature arrival of Brady and Jordan Walker’s son. On paper, the medical diagnosis of their son, Casen, was not hopeful. He was delivered at only 28 weeks into Jordan’s pregnancy. He arrived weighing only two pounds, 14 ounces. Complications during the delivery left physicians believing he would not be able to fully use the limbs on the right side of his tiny body. But the Great Physician had other ideas. God showed that He had the power to change every medical diagnosis on paper. Cason is now at home surrounded by his family with no complications, a contagious smile and spirit…a miracle baby.
• The first major crime reported in 2025 was a nine-hour standoff at a Yazoo County apartment complex. The standoff finally reached its conclusion with the escape of two female hostages and the later arrest of a male suspect. Zedrick Grady Jr. was charged with two counts of kidnapping and trespassing.
• A Yazoo City shooting that led to the arrest of at least two juveniles and left a male victim under hospital care with multiple gunshot wounds took a turn with the victim passing away. Wiltavious Knox passed away at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. One of the juveniles suspected in the Yazoo City shooting was arrested by Jackson authorities. It was reported that Azarian Hatcher, 17, and others are allegedly involved with the Yazoo City incident.
• Manchester Academy celebrated Presley Trammell’s 1,000 career varsity points on the basketball court.
• The body of Edgar Muse was recovered by firefighters at a house fire at 46 South Monroe Street in Yazoo City. Fire Chief Ricky Harris said the victim was blind and home alone at the time of the fire.
• The Benton Academy Lady Raiders and Raiders and the Manchester Academy Lady Mavericks were crowned District Champions, marking the end of three successful seasons on the hardwood.
February
• A Yazoo City man died from gunshot wounds in what police officials believe was an ambush shooting at a local apartment complex. Andrew Jackson, 28, suffered from two gunshot wounds after a deadly shooting at Yazoo Estates apartment complex.
• Manchester Academy’s Anna Riley Kelly scored her 1,000th point in basketball action.
• The nation and Yazoo County celebrated native son Kenny Gainwell and the Philadelphia Eagles on their victory in 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
• The Manchester Academy Boys’ Soccer team brought home the MAIS Division III State Championship Title.
• Yazoo City High School’s Jacquarious Nelson, Amarion Brown and Emarri Johnson sign to continue football careers on a collegiate level; Nelson to Hinds Community, Brown to Jackson State and Johnson to Mississippi Delta Community.
• Manchester Academy’s Rivers Wells heads to Southern Mississippi as a member of the Golden Eagles Cheerleading Squad.
• Signing Day at Yazoo County includes Cameron Williams, East Mississippi Community; Dontarrius McGee, Holmes Community; Dewayne Brown, Holmes Community; Jarrett Jasper, Mississippi Delta Community; Maliikh Brown, Pearl River Community; TJ Rials, Coahoma Community; Treyson Nelson, Coahoma Community; and TJ Boddy, Mississippi Delta Community.
• Yazoo County High School Band baritone Richard Session joins the Blue Wave Show Band at Copiah Lincoln Community College.
• Cora Bell Sanders celebrated 100 years with a celebration, surrounded by family and friends.
March
• Lindsey Hogue, a student at Benton Academy and member of the Yazoo County 4-H, was awarded a scholarship at the Annual Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions.
• Manchester Academy’s Ethan White and Mary Michael Druey signed to play soccer at East Central Community.
• The Yazoo community mourns the loss of a beloved activist, politician and friend to this region with the recent passing of Robert G. Clark Jr., a state legislator who represented Yazoo County for 36 years.
• A lifelong Yazooan and former emergency management director Joey Ward passed away this week as the community remembers his caring spirit and dedication to his fellow man.
• Benton Academy’s Sara Bailey Jackson will continue cheerleading at Mississippi Delta Community.
• Yazoo County fire officials reported momentum with the county’s newest formed volunteer fire department in the Pea Ridge community in rural Yazoo County. Jack Willingham, the county’s emergency management director, said the Dover Volunteer Fire Department has been incorporated as an individual department.
• Yazoo County is well represented in the Motocross world with Jase Blackwell, better known as “Jumpin’ Jase.” Blackwell, 9, was recently crowned the 2024-2025 Midsouth Arenacross Champion for the 50cc Open and 50 cc Sr. Class.
• Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Singleton celebrated 60 years of marriage.
• Two years ago, the community was torn apart with a wave of juvenile violence, school disruptions and gang activity; some related, some not. But the community was quite impacted with the shooting death of Jalen Littleton, 16, who was shot multiple times while heading to a basketball game. Closure arrives with the conviction of suspects James Bank Jr. and Kendrick Myers with murder. They were later sentenced to life behind bars.
• Mattie Richardson certainly left a mark within the local community with her kind spirit, her positive attitude and professional confidence. Joining the Yazoo City Police Department in 1976, she was hired as the department’s first policewoman. For decades, she served her community, particularly its youth, with respect and dignity. The community mourns her passing with reflections of her commitment and service to Yazoo City.
April
• State fire officials continue to investigate what could have caused the devastating fire that destroyed the Bentonia Volunteer Fire Department station over the weekend. No major injuries were reported during the structural fire, and firefighters were able to contain the blaze from spreading throughout the main strip of the town of Bentonia.
• A Yazoo County jury found Johnny Lee House guilty of manslaughter and aggravated assault in connection to a 2022 dice game that escalated to bloodshed. Christopher Turnage, 27, died during surgery for a gunshot wound at the University Medical Center following the 2022 shooting. He was later sentenced to 30 years behind bars.
• The Yazoo County Panthers baseball team are recognized as one of the top ten teams in Class 3A.
• Former Yazoo City Police Chief Jay Winstead has been charged with capital murder. Timothy Byrd, 45, was found dead at his home on Rose Hill Road, off Dover Road.
• Davis Gary celebrates 104 years with a celebration surrounded by his family.
• Two more juveniles have been charged with capital murder in connection to the death of Wiltavious Knox, who was murdered on Jackson Avenue earlier this year. Demontavious Duffie, 14, and Montavious Mayes, 16, have been charged with capital murder, home invasion, robbery, kidnapping and grand larceny.
• Benton Academy’s Lindsey Hogue has signed a cross-country scholarship with Delta State University.
• Yazoo County wrapped up a historic season in the second round of baseball playoffs. The team’s 18 wins marked the most in a season in school history.
May
• Three arrests have been made in connection to Yazoo City’s most recent deadly shooting, including one suspect charged with murder. Johnathan Townsend was charged with murder in connection to the shooting death of Abieon Earl Taylor. And Deandra Johnson and Demarcus Ray were charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence.
• A fourth juvenile has been charged with capital murder in connection to the death of Wiltavious Knox, who was murdered on Jackson Avenue earlier this year. Eric Shinall Jr., 17, was charged with capital murder, home invasion, robbery, kidnapping and grand larceny.
• Manchester Academy’s tennis team brings home the gold in the MAIS Class AAAA Championship.
• Yazoo City High School’s E’kemii Johnson wins gold in the MHSAA 5A Long Jump.
• The Benton Academy Lady Raiders track team wins the MAIS 3A Championship.
• Portions of Yazoo City were inundated with floodwater over the weekend as officials report that a tremendous amount of rainfall combined with flooded river stages contributed to what has now been declared a local state of emergency.
• Yazoo County native and Southern Miss pitcher JB Middleton brings home the 2025 Ferriss Trophy, presented by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and Pearl River Resort. The award is given annually to the most outstanding college baseball player in Mississippi.
• Yazoo City High School’s Caleb Crozier, Jacolby Little, E’kemii Johnson and Torletta Johnson have all signed basketball scholarship to continue play at a collegiate level.
• Yazoo County High School’s Jamariah Barton and Tylen Greer have signed track scholarships with Barton heading to the Mississippi University for Women and Greer to Belhaven University.
June
• A new bell arrived at St. Francis, located at 735 E. Powell Street, and rang upon the community on Pentecost Sunday. The new bell has become a reality thanks to Pastor Tony Stratton, director of Inspired Heights Ministry, who arrived in Yazoo City about three years ago at the historic site.
• When Katherine Utoff was named valedictorian at Yazoo County High School in 2017, little did she know that she was the beginning of a future trifecta at the local high school. Her sister Alaina Parker followed in her footsteps in 2021. And this year, sister Hannah Parker completed the “threepeat” as Yazoo County High School’s valedictorian of the Class of 2025.
• Julez Hampton Jordan is a shining example of talent, discipline and promise within Yazoo City, representing his community on a national scale this summer. As the upcoming senior at Yazoo City High School heads to Washington D.C. to represent the state at Boys Nation, his story is one of hope and inspiration.
• Veteran actress and Yazoo City native Alzenia “Lynn” Hamilton-Jenkins, best known for her role as nurse Donna Harris on the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son, has passed away at the age of 95.
July
• The Yazoo Herald was singled out for General Excellence as the leading newsroom within its state division during the annual Better Newspaper Media Contest presented by the Mississippi Press Association. The Herald earned a total of 22 awards with 11 first place honors. Editor and Publisher Jamie Patterson won the Bill Minor Prize for General News Reporting for weeklies. Patterson, a multiple-award winner for this prize in the past, reported on the cold case death of a Yazoo County man. This year’s honor marks the seventh time she has brought the Bill Minor Prize home to Yazoo County.
• Joey and Barbara Greco celebrated 50 years of marriage.
• The Yazoo community mourns the passing of veteran law enforcement officer and former county tax collector Tommy Irvine.
Benton Academy’s JB Middleton was drafted by the Colorado Rockies with the 45th overall pick after an outstanding junior season at the University of Southern Mississippi.
• Always smiling. Kind. Happy. Joyful. The Steak Man.These were the words shared by those who knew and loved Rob Saxton upon hearing of his passing after a tragic vehicle accident.
• The 8U All Stars finish fourth in the Little League World Series.
• City leaders have declared a state of emergency at the main fire station on Washington Street with the building literally falling to pieces in some areas.
August
• Two Yazoo County horse riders returned home with quite the hardware following the National Barrel Horse Association Youth and Teen World Championship. Lynlee Martin and Charlee Kate Peterson recently headed to Perry, Ga. to compete against 1,326 riders in a national championship that hailed competition against ten countries and 2,286 competing horses. With such a wide range of competitions, only 209 entries made it back to the finals.
• Clementine Davis celebrates her 97th birthday.
• The Board of Aldermen of the Town of Bentonia intended to consider a proposed adoption of a Zoning Ordinance during its regular board meeting last Thursday. But that consideration was removed from the table following the public hearing. Bentonia town leaders declined to vote on the proposal, opting to consider the suggestions of the present residents, who were allowed to mark the map available to the public. Over 40 people filled the board room, filling out into the hallway.
• Brad Phillips was recently named the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish’s 2025 Mississippi Catfish Farmer of the Year. Phillips runs his family’s catfish farm in Yazoo City with hands-on passion and purpose. A proud husband, father, and Mississippi State alum, Phillips brings energy to both the industry and his family, whether he’s leading a board meeting or fly fishing with his kids.
September
• It’s a business that has remained a staple on the corner of Canal and Main Street. It helped rebuild the community after the devastating fire of 1904. It adjusted its business model through the years while keeping the successful tradition of customer service with quality products. It is a Yazoo icon that has kept its doors open for over a century. And for one family, it is more than a business; it’s a calling that has warmed their hearts for over seven decades. Gilbert’s Lumber and Home Center celebrated its 75th anniversary this year with owners Bill and Molly McNair.
• Only seven months after his arrival, Yazoo City’s building inspector submitted his resignation. Arnold Woods, the city’s building inspector and code enforcement officer, resigned from his position effective immediately.
• A Yazoo City man was charged in connection with armed robbery after he allegedly beat and robbed a truck stop cashier in Carroll County earlier this week. Charlie Terrell Jones, 40, was charged with armed robbery and booked into the Carroll County Regional Correctional Facility. Additional charges of possession of a weapon by a felon and failure to register as a sex offender are also pending.
• The Yazoo City High School Indians took the 16-6 win over the Yazoo County High School Panthers to take the Y-Team Trophy, snapping Yazoo County’s four-game winning streak in the Yazoo Bowl.
October
• The community was left in shock and grief following the murder of a young mother and the apparent suicide of her alleged killer. The manhunt for the suspect involved in a murder ended about eight hours following the deadly shooting with the suspect being located deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Erwin Barnes was located by authorities in Hinds County. However, he was deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Kenlanda Burns, 35, was gunned down near her apartment home during the early morning hours of Sept. 23 with the suspect identified as Barnes.
• Senior Maid Angel Rae Carpenter was crowned the 2025 Manchester Academy Homecoming Queen.
• A year after improving its accountability ratings with the state, both Yazoo City and Yazoo County school districts have dropped a rating grade with the most recent results reported from the Mississippi Department of Education.
• Two years after accepting to lead the Yazoo City Police Department, veteran law enforcement officer Terry Gann resigned from his post as police chief to pursue his retirement.
• Senior Maid Brynn Blackstock was crowned the 2025 Benton Academy Homecoming Queen.
• Following the resignation of former police chief Terry Gann, veteran law enforcement officer Patrick Jaco III has been selected to serve as interim chief of the Yazoo City Police Department.
• Yazoo County High School crowned Senior Maid Anna Kiley Leal and Marlin Jones as the 2025 Homecoming Queen and King.
• Yazoo City’s local hospital holds a special place in Stefanie Dendy’s heart. She was born there. Through its dedicated staff, her father’s life was saved during a medical emergency. And for over two decades, she has served in a variety of roles in her professional career. And her next role is the perfect fit for Dendy as she was recently named as the CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Yazoo.
• Benton Academy wrapped up an outstanding softball season last week finishing runner up in the AA State Championship series. The Lady Raiders earned the Class 2A North State title and finished the season with a 23-8 record under first year head coach Emily Poe.
• Yazoo City High School crowned Senior Maid Joy Brown and Travis Jones as its 2025 Homecoming Queen and King.
• The Yazoo County Lady Panthers golf team captured their third consecutive District Championship.
November
• Multiple arrests and serious allegations against at least 20 law enforcement officials in several surrounding counties, including one in Yazoo, have surfaced across the Mississippi Delta as the FBI continues its “Drug Trafficking Takedown, which has been described as uncovering a “monumental betrayal of public trust.” Among those included in the raid’s indictment was Sean Williams, a resident of Yazoo City, who was employed with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
• The local community welcomed Yazoo’s newest business, Jack’s Family Restaurants, on Jerry Clower Boulevard.
• An explosion occurred at CF Industries as many within the community were preparing to head home from work. Local first responders immediately went into action following an explosion at the facility’s ammonia plant. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported to Willingham’s office.
• A special election for Yazoo County’s chancery clerk post shows an overwhelmingly decisive win with interim clerk April Adams.
• A boost in pay. An improved transportation fleet system. Updated equipment. Compensation time. These were all the demands brought before county leaders by employees with the Yazoo County Correctional Facility. But with the fiscal year budget already established, county leaders said they are limited to what they can do for the jail employees.
• Three former Yazoo County athletes are playing this season for the Lady Trojans of Mississippi Delta, including E’kemii Johnson (Yazoo City), Jakayla Washington (Yazoo County) and Torletta Johnson (Yazoo City).
• Benton Academy senior ace Maci Lowery signed a scholarship to play softball next seson at copiah-Lincoln Community College.
• Manchester Academy senior Katie Druey is headed to Holmes Community College to cheer for the Bulldogs.
December
• Renovations continue with the historic Oakes House as the community recently joined on the historic home’s front porch to admire the work that has already been completed.
• After three months of accepting applications, the city of Yazoo City has hired its new building inspector. During the recent Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, the order to hire Glen Parker as the city’s building inspector was approved with no opposition.
• Surrounded by family and friends, Yazoo City High School senior Maurice Booker announced his plans to attend Mississippi Gulf Coast Community on a football scholarship next season.
• A $2.8 million dollar contract with an energy savings group has one county supervisor skeptical, in addition to the county administrator wondering if Yazoo County can afford it without possibly raising taxes. The resolution towards an agreement with Upchurch Services LLC was recently brought in before the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors with Supervisor Willie Wright voting in opposition.
• Nineteen candidates have qualified for the upcoming Yazoo City elections, including sixteen within the Democratic party and three Independent candidates. Within the upcoming municipal election, the posts with the most interest are the mayoral post and the Ward 1 alderman seat with six candidates each vying for the posts.
• County leaders pushed forward with a resolution that will continue the momentum to finish an uncompleted levee in the Rocky Bayou area of Yazoo County.
