GRENADA, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi town has taken down a Confederate monument that stood on the courthouse square since 1910 — a figure that was tightly wrapped in tarps the past four years, symbolizing the community’s enduring division over how to commemorate the past.

Grenada’s first Black mayor in two decades seems determined to follow through on the city’s plans to relocate the monument to other public land. A concrete slab has already been poured behind a fire station about 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) from the square.

But a new fight might be developing. A Republican lawmaker from another part of Mississippi wrote to Grenada officials saying she believes the city is violating a state law that restricts the relocation of war memorials or monuments.

The Grenada City Council voted to move the monument in 2020, weeks after police killed George Floyd in Minneapolis. The vote seemed timely: Mississippi legislators had just retired the last state flag in the U.S. that prominently featured the Confederate battle emblem.

The tarps went up soon after the vote, shrouding the Confederate soldier and the pedestal he stood on. But even as people complained about the eyesore, the move was delayed by tight budgets, state bureaucracy or political foot-dragging. Explanations vary, depending on who’s asked.

A new mayor and city council took office in May, prepared to take action. On Sept. 11, with little advance notice, police blocked traffic and a work crew disassembled and removed the 20-foot (6.1-meter) stone structure.

“I’m glad to see it move to a different location,” said Robin Whitfield, an artist with a studio just off Grenada’s historic square. “This represents that something has changed.”

Still, Whitfield, who is white, said she wishes Grenada leaders had invited the community to engage in dialogue about the symbol, to bridge the gap between those who think moving it is erasing history and those who see it as a daily reminder of white supremacy. She was among the few people watching as a crane lifted parts of the monument onto a flatbed truck.

“No one ever talked about it, other than yelling on Facebook,” Whitfield said.

Mayor Charles Latham said the monument has been “quite a divisive figure” in the town of 12,300, where about 57% of residents are Black and 40% are white.

“I understand people had family and stuff to fight and die in that war, and they should be proud of their family,” Latham said. “But you’ve got to understand that there were those who were oppressed by this, by the Confederate flag on there. There’s been a lot of hate and violence perpetrated against people of color, under the color of that flag.”

The city received permission from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to move the Confederate monument, as required. But Rep. Stacey Hobgood-Wilkes of Picayune said the fire station site is inappropriate.

“We are prepared to pursue such avenues that may be necessary to ensure that the statue is relocated to a more suitable and appropriate location,” she wrote, suggesting a Confederate cemetery closer to the courthouse square as an alternative. She said the Ladies Cemetery Association is willing to deed a parcel to the city to make it happen.

The Confederate monument in Grenada is one of hundreds in the South, most of which were dedicated during the early 20th century when groups such as the United Daughters of the Confederacy sought to shape the historical narrative by valorizing the Lost Cause mythology of the Civil War.

The monuments, many of them outside courthouses, came under fresh scrutiny after an avowed white supremacist who had posed with Confederate flags in photos posted online killed nine Black people inside the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015.

Grenada’s monument includes images of Confederate president Jefferson Davis and a Confederate battle flag. It was engraved with praise for “the noble men who marched neath the flag of the Stars and Bars” and “the noble women of the South,” who “gave their loved ones to our country to conquer or to die for truth and right.”

A half-century after it was dedicated, the monument’s symbolism figured in a voting rights march. When the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders held a mass rally in downtown Grenada in June 1966, Robert Green of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference scrambled up the pedestal and planted a U.S. flag above the image of Davis.

The cemetery is a spot Latham himself had previously advocated as a new site for the monument, but he said it’s too late to change now, after the city already budgeted $60,000 for the move.

“So, who’s going to pay the city back for the $30,000 we’ve already expended to relocate this?” he said. “You should’ve showed up a year and a half ago, two years ago, before the city gets to this point.”

A few other Confederate monuments in Mississippi have been relocated. In July 2020, a Confederate soldier statue was moved from a prominent spot at the University of Mississippi to a Civil War cemetery in a secluded part of the Oxford campus. In May 2021, a Confederate monument featuring three soldiers was moved from outside the Lowndes County Courthouse in Columbus to another cemetery with Confederate soldiers.

Lori Chavis, a Grenada City Council member, said that since the monument was covered by tarps, “it’s caused nothing but more divide in our city.”

She said she supports relocating the monument but worries about a lawsuit. She acknowledged that people probably didn’t know until recently exactly where it would reappear.

“It’s tucked back in the woods, and it’s not visible from even pulling behind the fire station,” Chavis said. “And I think that’s what got some of the citizens upset.”

The New Orleans Pelicans are the latest NBA team to establish a new media rights deal that allows fans to watch games for free, including in Mississippi.

The Pelicans announced Tuesday a deal with Gray Media that will provide free over-the-air television broadcasts starting with the 2024-25 season. The new station, Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network (GCSEN), will reach 4.1 million households across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, according to a news release.

Pelicans games previously were broadcast on Bally Sports New Orleans, but the Pelicans recently parted ways due to financial struggles with Bally Sports’ parent company, Diamond Sports Group. 

In Mississippi, there will be affiliate stations in Hattiesburg, Jackson, Biloxi and Meridian.

The full broadcast schedule hasn’t been revealed, but according to the announcement, fans “will be able to watch all non-exclusive nationally televised Pelicans games.”

The preseason begins Oct. 7 at Smoothie King Center against the Orlando Magic. The Pelicans’ first regular-season game is Oct. 23 at home against the Chicago Bulls. 

The Pelicans made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed last season and were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. The core group of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray return, though Ingram is in the final season of a max contract that pays him $36 million in 2024-25.

All that’s necessary to watch the Pelicans is a TV with an antenna. These are the four stations that will carry Pelicans games:

• Biloxi (WTBL, 51.3)
• Hattiesburg (WLHA, 18.2)
• Jackson (WLBT, 3.3)
• Meridian (WOOK, 15.5)

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

Mississippi is dirt cheap. It is often ranked as the most affordable state for retirement in America, with a cost of living 14% lower than the national average. This means retirees will easily manage their utility bills, grocery costs, and car fill-ups. Whether one settles down along the state’s frolicsome Gulf Coast — or in the quiet, peaceful countryside — life will not be much of a hassle. Plus, Mississippi towns can be warm and welcoming. If seeking specific recommendations, try Ocean Springs — or the rest of the towns listed below. They are the most welcoming towns to retire in Mississippi.

Ocean Springs

A thriving historic downtown. Family-friendly Mardi Gras parades. A nationally accredited art museum. And the nearby Grand 18 D’Iberville Theatre (take note of the word “Grand.”). These — and more — are why retirees love Ocean Springs to bits. Of course, there is the beach. And Gulf Hills Golf Club. And most of all — the Davis Bayou, the quietest place for miles. Moreover, a retiree here is within smelling distance of Merit Health Biloxi. Alternatively, Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, feted with America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgery Award, is a short drive away. In July 2024, the median listing home price in Ocean Springs was just $315,000. What’s more? Empty nesters aged 60 and above comprise 27% of the population, meaning one will not feel out of place.

Pascagoula

There is little chance for a retiree to get bored in Pascagoula. Pascagoula Beach Park, for example, with its trails, pier, and picnic pavilion — can be a fantastic diversion. It also has lots of places to sit, lounge on the beach, or people-watch. The sunsets are beautiful, the people are kind, and the town is so full of charm. That said, water is the main theme here. You have the Singing River, Pascagoula River, Krebs Lake, and Lake Yazoo. Something else: Realtor has ranked Pascagoula as the most affordable place to buy a beach house in the nation — not just in Mississippi. The median listing home price in Pascagoula was just $145,500 in July 2024. This is a steal, even by Mississippi standards. For that stubborn fever, the highly-rated Pascagoula Hospital is right in town. An empty nester will not be without a social circle, either. Pascagoula residents aged 60 and above comprise 20% of the town’s population.

Pass Christian

A warm, supportive culture coupled with amazing beaches and a relaxing atmosphere earns Pass Christian a spot among the most welcoming towns to retire in Mississippi. War Memorial Park is a fantastic place for a morning walk and has a nice splash pad for grandkids. This town celebrates Mardi Gras — and has been doing that as far back as the late 1800s. Bacchus On The Beach, a gusty Cajun hub for oysters, serves the best pork chops for miles. For the religiously inclined, Gospel Singers of America, established in 1957, is the only school in America built solely for teaching gospel music. On the financial side, the median listing home price in Pass Christian was $429,900 in July 2024. If worried about healthcare access, the award-winning Memorial Hospital at Gulfport should keep you at peace. Finally, Pass Christian residents aged 60 and above comprise 28% of the population.

Hattiesburg

Many retirees love college towns because of their open-mindedness, diverse culture, and vibrant rhythm. Hattiesburg hosts the University of Southern Mississippi, one of the nation’s leading research institutions — as well as William Carey University — named for the “Father of Modern Protestant Missions.” Recreational highlights include the Blue River, Leaf River, which is a Pascagoula River tributary, and Chain Park, where a retiree can walk, sit by the river, or watch birds.

Hattiesburg is also home to the African American Military History Museum, which pays tribute to the contributions of African Americans in the country’s military adventures. Plus, it gives retirees access to two hospitals: the highly-rated Forrest General Hospital and the award-winning Merit Health Wesley. In July 2024, the median listing home price in Hattiesburg was $299,500. Although Hattiesburg is particularly ideal for retirees who want to roll with a young crowd, especially because of its colleges, residents aged 60 and above still comprise 18% of the population.

Oxford

Although a bit expensive, especially by Mississippi standards, the experience of retiring in the “Cultural Mecca of the South” is worth every penny. Creatives, especially artists and musicians, will particularly fall in love with Oxford. Aside from the beautiful, tree-covered hills that define parts of the landscape, there is the University of Mississippi, one of the oldest public institutions of higher education in the southern United States. Surgeons at the University of Mississippi Medical Center performed the world’s first human lung transplant in the 1960s.

Places to kill time here include the grounds of the historic campus, the University Of Mississippi Museum, William Faulkner’s Home, Square Books (to read and enjoy a cup of coffee), and the historic Lyric Theatre, arguably the most important music venue in town. In July 2024, the median listing home price in Oxford was $550,000. This is a fair deal, considering the yummy range of amenities Oxford provides, including access to the Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi, twice feted with the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award. Before you think Oxford is only for young folks, consider that Oxford residents aged 60 and above comprise 17% of its population.

Natchez

Vibrant, homey, and walkable, Natchez has many things going in its favor. The oldest municipality in Mississippi is backdropped by the St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge, which is open year-round. It is also perched more than 200 feet above the Mississippi River, a setting that makes it appear plucked straight from a movie scene. When a retiree is not at the Natchez Museum-African American Culture — or the Magnolia Bluffs Casino — she will be touring the Stanton Hall, floating down the Mississippi River, or teeing away an evening at the Natchez Golf Club.

Any hospital around? There is Merit Health Natchez, which has been serving residents in the area since 1960. Don’t break the bank either: The median listing home price in Natchez was $349,000 in July 2024. Finally, with empty nesters aged 60 and above comprising 29% of the town’s population, a retiree here will easily find a crowd she can roll with.

Tupelo

Although it pulled out of the program, Tupelo was among a handful of towns in Mississippi designated as Certified Retirement Cities. It is safe, easy to get around, within a reasonable drive from Memphis, friendly, and boasts an enticingly robust food scene. A retiree will be enjoying rounds of golf at the Tupelo National Golf Course, spending quiet moments at Elvis Presley Lake & Campground, and having a beautiful lake to herself at the Legion State Park.

Tupelo is the birthplace of music legend Elvis Presley, and the Elvis Presley Birthplace is among the town’s best-known landmarks. The median listing home price in Tupelo is $299,900. This price point comes with doorstep access to North Mississippi Medical Center, a 2024 recipient of the Vascular Surgery Excellence Award. On the social side, Tupelo residents aged 60 and above comprise 22% of the population.

West Point

West Point is small, safe, slow-paced, calm, and mostly quiet. If you want a low-tempo retirement scene, yet with access to desirable amenities, there is no point looking further. Short of cash? The fact West Point boasts a median home listing price of just $199,000 should set you off for an urgent reconnaissance. Moreover, the North Mississippi Medical Center is right in town — as is the Old Waverly Golf Club — a phenomenal course to play. Outdoor venues include Columbus Lake, Spring Creek (and several others), and Walker Lake. West Point features a majority Black population (71%), with residents aged 60 and above comprising 26% of the population. Finally, the Prairie Arts Festival enlivens the town every summer and has been celebrating West Point’s artistic heritage for decades.

The Takeaway

You may miss the swagger of towns such as New Orleans, but nothing compares to the slow pace and laid-back ambiance of many Mississippi small towns, including Ocean Springs, where nautical charm hypnotically serenades — and can add more years to one’s life. Plus, many Mississippi communities are warm, friendly, and welcoming. For specific recommendations, check out vibrant college towns such as Oxford and Hattiesburg — or hypnotic beach towns such as Ocean Springs and Pascagoula.