Mississippi

Tour of the Mississippi Delta was eye-opening – The Vicksburg Post

Published

9 months ago

July 17, 2025

Press Room

Tour of the Mississippi Delta was eye-opening

Published 6:51 pm Thursday, July 17, 2025

When I first moved to Vicksburg way back in 2014 to take a job across the river in Louisiana, someone described it as a “nice little Delta town.” I really didn’t know what that meant back then, and after getting my own little tour of the area known as the Mississippi Delta earlier this month, I realize I still didn’t fully grasp its significance.

I think the idea of the Mississippi Delta really began to come into focus for me the first time I heard the quote attributed to writer David Cohn that said, “The Mississippi Delta begins in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis and ends on Catfish Row in Vicksburg.”

By that time, I was already working here at The Post, so I knew what Catfish Row meant. I had also recently taken my kids for a quick weekend in Memphis, where we stayed at the Peabody and got to witness the famous ducks in the lobby. So, I had more of an idea of at least the geographical borders of the area.

But a quick trip with the girlfriend over the Fourth of July weekend really opened my eyes to so many things I had only heard about, and plenty of others I had no idea existed.

In Cleveland, for example — a place I have driven through countless times when the kiddos still went to school in Tate County — I had never ventured farther from the highway than Walmart or Kroger. So, boy was I surprised when we turned the opposite direction off Highway 161 and suddenly there was the GRAMMY Museum and Delta State University. Did you know Mississippi has the most Grammy winners per capita of any state? Did you know Delta State’s unofficial mascot is the Fighting Okra? Because I didn’t. But I do now!

Headed north, we came to a town I had at least driven through once — Greenville —- although it had been a quick trip to drop something off at the newspaper there. The girlfriend having grown up in Greenville, I got to see how much more the town has to offer, including what I now understand to be a not-so-hidden gem in Doe’s Eat Place. If you haven’t made the trip to this nondescript cinder-block building where you enter through the kitchen, sit within inches of other people’s tables and have some of the absolute best food of your life in the process, I obviously recommend it highly. Again: who knew? Apparently a lot of folks, because it was packed.

Yet another stop that taught me something I didn’t know about Delta culture was a visit to McCarty’s Pottery in Merigold. I won’t pretend to be a person that knows much about art. I’ve been told that whatever art you like is good art. If that’s the case, McCarty’s is really good art. Aside from the wide variety of pottery, the winding building it is housed in and the accompanying grounds alone are worth the trip.

At the northernmost point on our trip, I finally had the chance to step foot into Clarksdale. Being a big music fan, people who know me are always shocked when they find out I haven’t visited. Well, now I have, and from the famous crossroads where Robert Johnson supposedly sold his soul to the Devil to become an amazing guitar player to the Ground Zero Blues Club owned by Morgan Freeman, I was able to check several things off my Mississippi travel bucket list.

And I guess we picked an appropriate time to make the trip. We made it home just as the movie “Sinners” was making its debut on streaming. And if you missed Mississippi Today’s glowing review of the film’s precise portrayal of the Mississippi Delta, it’s worth the watch. Even for someone newly educated on the area, it was neat to see and seemed a historically accurate depiction of the region, aside from the vampires, that is. We didn’t see any of those.

Maybe next time.

Blake Bell is the general manager and executive editor of The Vicksburg Post. He can be reached at blake.bell@vicksburgpost.com.

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Mississippi

No. 13 LSU Set for Final Home Slate Against Alabama, Mississippi State

Published

29 minutes ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

No. 13 LSU Set for Final Home Slate Against Alabama, Mississippi State

BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 10 LSU women’s tennis team hosts its final regular-season home matches this week, opening against Alabama on Thursday, Apr. 2, at 5:00 p.m. CT, before closing with a Senior Day matchup against Mississippi State on Saturday, Apr. 4, at 11:00 a.m. CT.

According to the latest official ITA rankings (Mar. 31), LSU ranks No. 13 in the dual season team rankings.

Last time out, the Tigers suffered two setbacks at home against No. 7 Texas, 4-2, and No. 3 Texas A&M, 4-1. Freshman Addison Lanton led the way, going a combined 3-1 in singles and doubles over the weekend.

Attendance at all LSU matches at the LSU Tennis Complex is free. Attendees will be required to comply with the university’s clear-bag policy.

LSU holds a 12-7 record on the season and has clinched the doubles point in 11 of its matches. The Tigers own a 49-29 singles mark and a 28-19 doubles record.

The Tigers feature three ranked singles players in No. 34 Cadence Brace, No. 64 Kayla Cross, and No. 122 Addison Lanton in the latest ITA rankings. Furthermore, LSU has three ranked doubles pairings: No. 11 Cross and Ella McDonald, No. 51 Kenna Erickson and McDonald, and No. 82 Brace and Cross.

Cross holds a 3-1 singles mark on the season. The sophomore holds two ranked victories on the campaign, highlighted by taking down Auburn’s then-No. 50 Ekaterina Khairutdinova, 6-4, 0-6, 6-0.

Brace holds a 5-3 mark on the top spot, behind three ranked victories, highlighted by taking down Vanderbilt’s No. 33 Bridget Stammel, 6-3, 6-1.

McDonald checks in with a 5-3 singles mark. She posted a ranked victory to clinch the match win against Florida’s No. 26 Gabia Paskauskas, 6-2, 6-3.

Against NC State, McDonald and Cross struck up a partnership to take down NC State’s then-No. 2 Broadfoot/Victoria Osuigwe, 7-6(6). Since then, the duo has a 3-1 record this season, all against ranked opponents.

Beyond teaming with Cross, McDonald has earned five doubles wins on the season with Erickson. Likewise, Erickson has collected four singles victories, riding a two-match winning streak, on the third and fifth courts this season.

Lanton continues her strong freshman campaign with a team-leading 13-2 mark behind victories on the first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth courts. Lanton is also currently riding a four-match winning streak in singles. In doubles play, the freshman has earned eight total victories with four different partners.

Following ITA Kickoff Weekend, on Jan. 28, Carolina Kuhl was named the SEC Freshman of the Week. Kuhl has registered a 10-7 record in singles play.

Alabama holds a 12-7 overall record with four wins in SEC play. The Crimson Tide is represented in the ITA singles rankings by No. 71 Kristina Paskauskas, No. 73 Klara Milicevic, and No. 118 Karla Bartel. Head coach Jonatan Berhane is in his third season at the helm of the program. LSU holds a 36-17 all-time record against Alabama and is riding a two-match winning streak.

Mississippi State is 15-8 on the season with three victories in conference play. The Bulldogs hold three ranked pairings in No. 20 Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz and Chiara Di Genova, No. 32 Kempenaers-Pocz and Gianna Oboniye, and No. 52 Oboniye and Athina Pitta. Chris Hooshyar is in his third season as the program’s head coach. LSU is 36-13 in all-time matchups against the Bulldogs and rides a five-match winning streak dating back to 2021.

For more information on the LSU women’s tennis program, follow the Tigers on X @lsuwten, Instagram @LSUWTen, and Facebook.com/lsuwten.

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Mississippi

How MHSAA softball teams have found success in new classifications during 2026

Published

13 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

How MHSAA softball teams have found success in new classifications during 2026

The MHSAA announced its new reclassifications in the fall of 2024, which saw schools shift in classes based on student population for the 2025-27 school years.

As Mississippi high school softball teams begin their first season in the new classes, several teams have outperformed with the change.

The Clarion Ledger reviewed six teams that have not let a new scenery change the outcome of their season.

Caledonia

Record: 14-2, Old Class: 4A, New Class: 5A

Until a March loss to New Hope, Caledonia had not dropped a game to an in-state team. The Cavaliers have been dominant in the circle, allowing only nine earned runs all year and posting a 1.07 team ERA; the most runs they’ve given up in a game this year is seven.

Myrtle

Record: 14-6, Old Class: 1A, New Class: 2A

Myrtle would like the chance to avenge its 1A title-game loss to Stringer in 2025, and will have to do so in 2A. The Hawks have put up 154 runs as a team, with help from Ally Murphy and Mary Ella Mayer. Myrtle has taken down two 7A teams in Oxford and West Harrison this year while aiming for its third straight 20-win season.

Northeast Jones

Record: 19-4, Old Class: 4A, New Class: 5A

The Lady Tigers have settled well in their new classification. Northeast Jones looks for its first 20-win season in decades, while being led by senior Caroline Myrick at the plate and in the circle. Northeast Jones has had nine games in which it has scored 10 or more runs and has not allowed more than nine runs in a game.

Pisgah

Record: 10-6, Old Class: 2A, New Class: 3A

Pisgah has appeared in the 2A title game in consecutive years, falling to East Union both times. Now out of 2A and into 3A, the Lady Dragons aim for a third trip to a championship game. Sophomore Alyssa McMurtrey and senior Hallie McCurdy have led Pisgah at the plate with a team batting average of .334 and 90 RBIs.

Purvis

Record: 10-4, Old Class: 4A, New Class: 5A

In the 2025 season, Purvis fell in the 4A title game to Itawamba Agricultural. Now the Tornadoes have a new chance and a new look at a championship in 5A. Senior Brooxie Shepherd has a .600 batting average, leading Purvis, and hopes to lead the Tornadoes to a third straight 20-win season.

Sumrall

Record: 17-3, Old Class: 4A, New Class: 5A

After moving up to 5A, Sumrall has taken charge as one of the best teams in the class. The Lady Bobcats are led by senior Ella Robertson and junior Kynnedy Lumpkins, who are hitting above .500 with a combined 16 home runs. Sumrall’s only losses have come from 7A teams, and is outscoring opponents 257-75 this season.

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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Mississippi

MHP responds to abandoned vehicle left on side of Mississippi interstate

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

MHP responds to abandoned vehicle left on side of Mississippi interstate

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Some drivers may have seen a white van abandoned for days along I-55 south near the Old Agency Road exit. Even though it’s parked on the shoulder, it’s still close enough to passing traffic to raise safety concerns.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol, or MHP, said that stretch of interstate is actually under the Ridgeland Police Department’s jurisdiction, showing why reporting an abandoned vehicle isn’t always as simple as calling one agency.

MHP said the best thing to do if you spot an abandoned vehicle is to report it and provide as much location detail as possible, especially the mile marker, so dispatch can send the correct agency.

Trooper Darnika Mayfield, a public affairs officer with MHP, said, “Most of the time, if you see something like that, just let us know what the mile mark is… just call 911 and they can direct the correct agency that cover that area… the city and the county, they do have certain parts of the highway.”

MHP states that no matter where an abandoned vehicle is seen, it should still be reported, particularly if it’s creating a hazard.

“Notify us and let us know, especially if it’s causing a danger… just notify us and let us know so we can get that vehicle out the roadway,” Mayfield said.

Under Mississippi law, a vehicle left on a public road or highway for five days or more meets the state’s definition of an abandoned motor vehicle. That can trigger the abandoned-vehicle process, including towing.

And if you come back and your vehicle is gone, MHP said you can call to find out where it was taken.

“If your vehicle is abandoned on the side of the road, and you come back after five days… just dial *47, dial 911, and we’ll let you know what towing company has your vehicle,” Mayfield said.

We reached out to the Ridgeland Police Department to ask about its abandoned-vehicle policy and when the van along I-55 will be towed.

We’re still waiting for a response.

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