Mississippi

There she is: Vicksburg well-represented in 2025 Miss Mississippi, Miss Louisiana – The Vicksburg Post

Published

8 months ago

July 5, 2025

Press Room

There she is: Vicksburg well-represented in 2025 Miss Mississippi, Miss Louisiana

Published 4:30 am Saturday, July 5, 2025

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Vicksburg’s Sarah Randolph is crowned Miss Mississippi State University and was a preliminary winner at the 2025 Miss Mississippi Competition. (Submitted photo)

Miss Vicksburg 2025 Morgan Nelson was a preliminary winner at the 2025 Miss Mississippi Competition. (Submitted photo)

Miss Vicksburg’s Teen Belle Spires performs at the 2025 Miss Mississippi’s Teen Competition in Vicksburg. (Blake Bell/The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg’s Gabrelle McLeod took home the title of Miss Louisiana in June. (Photo courtesy of Steven Palowsky, official photographer of Miss Louisiana)

For anyone who watched the Miss America Pageant decades ago, they will recall that signature song “There She Is, Miss America” most notably sung by master of ceremonies Bert Parks, from 1955 to 1979, to each winning contestant as they were crowned.

Since 2012, this iconic song has not been sung after a contestant is crowned — instrumental music is used instead.

This is but one of the several changes the Miss America Organization has gone through in its recent history. Another has been the addition of a teen competition and the implementation of the Teen and Miss contestants all having to have a community service project that they promote during their reigning year. This year, Vicksburg has had four women who were crowned through the Miss America Organization — Miss Vicksburg’s Teen Belle Spires; Miss Vicksburg Morgan Nelson; Miss Mississippi State University Sarah Randolph and Miss Louisiana Gabrelle McLeod.

In highlighting all our local winners, the Vicksburg Post asked each one what they are most wanting to accomplish through their CSI for their remaining reign.

Miss Vicksburg’s Teen Belle Spires, whose Community Service Initiative is Music4Life, a platform to encourage adults and children to make sure music is a part of their lives, said, “Music is beneficial across the entire spectrum of one’s life: developmentally, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. That’s why I have visited schools to speak to children and teachers and even addressed our Vicksburg Warren School District School Board to encourage them to support the fine arts just as much as they do athletics. As an upcoming freshman at Warren Central High School, I will be a member of the Big Blue band and Madrigals. Ultimately, I just want everyone to have the opportunity to love music as much as I do. It’s that good for you!”

Miss Mississippi State University Sarah Randolph’s Community Service Initiative is Big Sis Me. And during her times as the University’s representative she said, “Mississippi State University has been such big part of the woman I’ve become, and it’s been such an honor to have the opportunity to represent the university and the people I love so much. I know exactly how this university has transformed my life, and my main goal through my year of reign was to be a glimpse of light to make a positive impact on others’ lives going through this journey. I wanted to make every single person I interacted with to feel like they were seen, heard, and valued because my motto in life is to make everyone feel like a somebody. As I get ready to crown the next woman that gets this amazing opportunity, I hope the legacy that I left behind is just that.”

Miss Louisiana Gabrelle McLeod’s Community Service Initiative “Head In the Game,” which focuses on youth athleticism and well-being. McLeod could not be reached for comment due to the rigorous schedule of Miss Louisiana’s responsibilities.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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Mississippi

Mississippi Top Reads for week of March 15, 2026

Published

11 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Mississippi Top Reads for week of March 15, 2026

Staff Reports
| Special to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Sunday, March 15, 2026

1. (tie) “The Irish Goodbye,” Beth Ann Fennelly, Norton; and “Vigil,” George Saunders, Random House

2. “Theo of Golden,” Allen Levi, Atria Books

3. “The Widow,” John Grisham, Doubleday

4. “The Correspondent,” Virginia Evans, Random House

5. “When It’s Darkness on the Delta,” W. Ralph Eubanks, Beacon Press

6. “Eradication,” Jonathan Miles, Doubleday

7. “Neptune’s Fortune,” Julian Sancton, Random House

8. “The Dean,” Sparky Reardon, The Nautilus Publishing Company

9. “Kin,” Tayari Jones, Random House

10. “Brawler,” Lauren Groff, Riverhead

Children and young adults

1. “The Bear and the Hair and the Fair,” Em Lynas, Little Brown

2. “The Hybrid Prince,” Tui T. Sutherland, Scholastic Press

3. “One Mississippi,” Steve Azar,Sarah Frances Hardy (Illustrator), The Nautilus Publishing

4. “If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone,” Gideon Sterer, HarperCollins

5. (tie) “Fancy Nancy: Besties for Eternity,” Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator), HarperCollins; and “The Dark is For,” Jane Kohuth, Simon and Schuster

Adult events (Sunday, March 15–Saturday, March 21)

Amy McDowell in conversation with Jodi Skipper for “Whispers in the Pews,” 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Off Square Books, 129 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2262

Tayari Jones on Thacker Mountain Radio Hour for “Kin,” 6 p.m. Thursday, Off Square Books, 129 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2262

Children’s events (Sunday, March 15–Saturday, March 21)

No Cap Book Club (kids 10-13) will be reading “A Kid’s Book About…,” 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207

Storytime, “Clifford: Dream Big,” 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207

Chapter Captains Book Club (kids 6-9) will be reading “Princess in Black: Bathtime Battle,” 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207

Storytime, “What a Small Cat Needs,” 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207

Story Time, “Very Hungry Caterpillar” Day! 10 a.m. Saturday, Lemuria Books, 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson, 601-366-7619

— Sales and/or Events Reported by Lemuria Books (Jackson); Lorelei Books (Vicksburg); Square Books (Oxford).

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Mississippi

Who finished No. 1 in Mississippi high school basketball Super 25 girls rankings?

Published

24 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Who finished No. 1 in Mississippi high school basketball Super 25 girls rankings?

The Mississippi girls high school basketball 2025-26 season has ended.

The MHSAA championships concluded March 7 at Mississippi Coliseum, while the MAIS overall tournament ended two weeks ago. Starkville finished as the No. 1 team in the final Clarion Ledger Mississippi high school girls basketball Super 25 rankings.

Two teams enter the Super 25 final rankings as Louisville joins from MHSAA 4A and East Rankin Academy in MAIS 4A.

Mississippi high school girls basketball Super 25 rankings

1. Starkville (31-3)

MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 1. Final game: Starkville 39, Harrison Central 22 in MHSAA 7A championship.

2. Laurel (31-2)

MHSAA Class 5A. Previous ranking: 3. Final game: Laurel 52, Holmes County Central 26 in MHSAA 5A championship.

3. Biloxi (30-2)

MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 2. Final game: Starkville 41, Biloxi 34 in MHSAA 7A semifinals.

4. Tishomingo County (28-2)

MHSAA Class 4A. Previous ranking: 4. Final game: Tishomingo County 64, Louisville 49 in MHSAA 4A championship.

5. Olive Branch (23-7)

MHSAA Class 6A. Previous ranking: 8. Final game: Olive Branch 58, Neshoba Central 57 in MHSAA 6A championship.

6. Harrison Central (26-7)

MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 7. Final game: Starkville 39, Harrison Central 22 in MHSAA 7A championship.

7. Neshoba Central (26-7)

MHSAA Class 6A. Previous ranking: 5. Final game: Olive Branch 58, Neshoba Central 57 in MHSAA 6A championship.

8. Madison Central (25-7)

MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 6. Final game: Harrison Central 56, Madison Central 40 in MHSAA 7A semifinals.

9. Booneville (24-4)

MHSAA Class 3A. Previous ranking: 9. Final game: Booneville 54, Belmont 31 in MHSAA 3A championship.

10. Canton (26-5)

MHSAA Class 6A. Previous ranking: 10. Final game: Olive Branch 47, Canton 41 in MHSAA 6A quarterfinals.

11. Ingomar (33-2)

MHSAA Class 1A. Previous ranking: 12. Final game: Ingomar 65, Okolona 48 in MHSAA 1A championship.

12. Northwest Rankin (24-8)

MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 13. Final game: Harrison Central 45, Northwest Rankin 42 in MHSAA 7A quarterfinals.

13. Madison-Ridgeland Academy (36-5)

MAIS Class 4A. Previous ranking: 14. Final game: MRA 37, Simpson Academy 25 in MAIS Overall championship.

14. Pontotoc (23-9)

MHSAA Class 5A. Previous ranking: 16. Final game: Laurel 63, Pontotoc 38 in MHSAA 5A semifinals.

15. Brandon (23-8)

MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 17. Final game: Biloxi 55, Brandon 39 in MHSAA 7A quarterfinals.

16. Louisville (22-8)

MHSAA Class 6A. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Final game: Tishomingo County 64, Louisville 49 in MHSAA 4A championship.

17. Morton (27-3)

MHSAA Class 4A. Previous ranking: 11. Final game: Tishomingo County 65, Morton 40 in MHSAA 4A semifinals.

18. Choctaw Central (24-6)

MHSAA Class 4A. Previous ranking: 15. Final game: Morton 48, Choctaw Central 36 in MHSAA 4A quarterfinals.

19. Holmes County Central (22-12)

MHSAA Class 5A. Previous ranking: 23. Final game: Laurel 52, Holmes County Central 26 in MHSAA 5A championship.

20. Brookhaven (25-6)

MHSAA Class 5A. Previous ranking: 18. Final game: Holmes County Central 61, Brookhaven 55 in MHSAA 5A semifinals.

21. Belmont (24-7)

MHSAA Class 3A. Previous ranking: 19. Final game: Booneville 54, Belmont 31 in MHSAA 3A championship.

22. Simpson Academy (31-6)

MAIS Class 4A. Previous ranking: 21. Final game: MRA 37, Simpson Academy 25 in MAIS Overall championship.

23. West Harrison (24-5)

MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 22. Final game: Brandon 54, West Harrison 45 in MHSAA 7A first round.

24. East Union (30-2)

MHSAA Class 2A. Previous ranking: 24. Final game: East Union 57, New Site 38 in MHSAA 2A championship.

25. East Rankin Academy (31-7)

MAIS Class 4A. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Final game: MRA 57, East Rankin Academy 43 in MAIS Overall semifinals.

Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.

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NCAA appeals to Mississippi Supreme Court, seeking to bar Trinidad Chambliss from playing in 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

NCAA appeals to Mississippi Supreme Court, seeking to bar Trinidad Chambliss from playing in 2026

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The NCAA has filed an appeal in the eligibility case of Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.

In the appeal, filed Thursday with the Mississippi Supreme Court, the NCAA argues that Chambliss has “exhausted his eligibility” to play Division I football because he has already played four seasons in a five-year period, the maximum allowed under NCAA rules.

A Mississippi judge last month granted Chambliss a preliminary injunction against college athletics’ governing body, giving him an extra year of eligibility that would allow him to play in 2026. The NCAA had previously denied Chambliss’ request for a waiver.

Chambliss began his college career at Ferris State in 2021, redshirted his first season and did not play in 2022 because of medical issues. He played two more seasons at the Division II school in Michigan, leading the Bulldogs to a national championship before transferring to Ole Miss before the start of last season.

The 23-year-old Chambliss led the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals.

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