Several stories captured the attention of The Daily Leader readers across the 366 days of 2024. In a year that included fires, a 15-storey cross, the loss of an officer, and a presidential election, the top stories in our pages and online were all about local impact, both negatively and positively.

Following are some of those stories. Some are shortened here, but the full articles can be read by following the links. Looking back over the past year, The Daily Leader looks forward in 2025 to another year of bringing local news to our readers. — Ed.

 

Historic Stahl-Urban building destroyed by fire (February)

Fire destroyed the former Stahl-Urban Company building on Main Street in Brookhaven Monday night.

A Lincoln County deputy spotted the flames toward the rear of the building and called it in about 6:30 p.m. Monday, and then the calls started flooding in, officials said. The fire moved quickly, sweeping through structure, feeding on heart pine and birdseye maple floors.

Though the city’s fire department responded quickly, there was no saving the historic landmark where hundreds of residents had worked in its four-plus decades of producing military uniforms, as well as pants, shirts and jackets.

Brookhaven Fire Department Chief Jeff Ainsworth said the blaze was the largest square-footage fire he had ever worked — more than 20,000 square feet.

Just one year earlier ¬— on Feb. 26, 2023 — fire ripped through and destroyed the Brookwood Apartment Complex on East Chippewa Street, resulting in two deaths. As far as fire and safety officials knew Tuesday morning, no one had been inside the Stahl-Urban building when it burned, and no injuries were sustained by anyone who responded to the blaze.

Volunteer fire departments from across Lincoln County were called in to assist, and anyone who could respond with their respective departments pitched in.

“I would put our VFDs up against any county’s,” said Ainsworth. “They come whenever we call, and in numbers. They work hard. We have worked together so many times. They know what we need, and they provide it. A big thank you to them.”

Ainsworth said crews worked throughout the night to contain the fire, keeping it from spreading to nearby structures.

One “jump” did take place, with the periodically gusting wind carrying enough burning embers half a mile westward, where they settled on dry logs by Rex Lumber’s pellet mill. That fire was still burning after 8 a.m. Tuesday. A Mississippi Forestry Service fire crew had trenched around the area, and Rex fire crews were keeping watch.

The remains of Stahl-Urban were still smoking through Tuesday morning. Later, firefighters will look through the debris to insure no one had been inside during the blaze.

“It’s too hot for us to get in there, still,” Ainsworth said. “But once it’s cool enough, we’ll go through and search the area.”

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is expected to investigate the cause of the blaze.

 

Retired teacher dies in early morning fire (December)

BROOKHAVEN — A woman died in an early Wednesday morning fire according to Brookhaven Fire Chief Jeff Ainsworth. The Mississippi State Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating the fire. 

Ainsworth said units were dispatched to the fire at Jackson Square Apartments located at 740 North Jackson St. around 5:44 a.m. and arrived on scene at 5:47 a.m. Upon arrival, firefighters found a single-story structure on fire and quickly extinguished the blaze. 

“That’s when they discovered the victim inside. It is really tragic,” Ainsworth said. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

Lincoln County Coroner Blake Wallace said the victim was Barbara Nelson Smith and the family has been notified. She was a resident at the apartment complex and was a beloved school teacher. 

Brookhaven School District Superintendent Rod Henderson said Smith was a retired teacher. She actually taught him, he added. Smith spent most of her years in the school district at Alexander High School, which later became Alexander Junior High. 

“She will be missed, she was a good teacher and very influential in her student’s lives,” Henderson said. 

Brookhaven Fire Department cleared the scene at 8:44 a.m. 

 

Wesson man gets 360 years in jail for child sexual abuse (September)

A Wesson man has been found guilty of multiple counts of sexual battery, and sentenced to 360 years in prison.

Fifty-three-year-old Robert Earl Sanders, of 3022 Cress Lane, was found guilty Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in the Circuit Court of Lincoln County after a two-day trial on 12 counts of sexual battery. The charges stemmed from an investigation after the victim came forward and disclosed that Sanders had been molesting her since 2012. Now 22 years old, the victim detailed to the jury the years of abuse committed against her.

After the jury returned its verdict, Judge Michael Taylor sentenced Sanders to 360 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, to serve the first 350 years day-for-day. This means Sanders cannot be eligible for parole or Earned Release Supervision.

 

NWS: Two tornadoes confirmed Saturday, O’Zion Baptist Church Meadville destroyed (December)

Cell phones lit up with alarms and information at least three times Saturday as the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for Lincoln County and the surrounding areas. Tornado sirens echoed through the City of Brookhaven warning of expected dangerous weather.

On Sunday, NWS had confirmed two tornadoes had moved through the area. One fatality was reported in Adams County and another in Lowndes County. At least 10 people were injured by the severe weather in Franklin, Simpson and Wayne counties.

O’Zion Baptist Church in Meadville, Franklin County, was destroyed by what NWS said was likely an EF-2 tornado. Two people had taken shelter in a bathroom of the church and were able to ride out the storm there. They were unharmed.

“When you climb up and look the only place you can clearly see the floor is the place where the two individuals had hunkered down,” said Pastor Lance Moak. “There is no debris in the area where they were at.”

Built in 1917, the church was destroyed by a tornado May 5, 1934, as well. The church members met outside under a tree for services the following Sunday. On Sunday, Dec. 29, members met outside the rubble and worshiped together once again, grateful that no one lost their lives.

From Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, 38 tornadoes were reported in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. 

 

1 killed, 5 injured in Copiah explosion (January)

One person has been killed and five others injured after an explosion at a Copiah County home.

Sheriff Byron Swilley said the incident happened Sunday afternoon at a home on Wilderness Road. He said the cause of the explosion is under investigation, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office will assist in the case.

Three people who were seriously injured were airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, one from the scene and two from Copiah County Medical Center, according to Emergency Management Director Scott Barnes.

Loyd Star Volunteer Fire Department and Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Chris Reid were on scene assisting units there.

 

Woman arrested in connection with double shooting (December)

BROOKHAVEN — A woman was arrested in connection with a double shooting last week. Brookhaven Police Chief Kenny Collins confirmed the arrest and provided some context to the shooting. 

As previously reported by The Daily Leader, two people were shot in a neighborhood near Alexander Junior High School on Dec. 19, 2024. The Brookhaven Police Department with the assistance of Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the incident. 

Collins said they received a call of shots fired with two subjects down around 4 p.m. on Dec. 19. Two ambulances and a police car flew through downtown Brookhaven around 4 p.m. Thursday en route to the call.

Vivian Lockwood was arrested and charged with conspiracy in connection to the shooting. 

Collins said Thursday the shooting appears to have been the result of a domestic disturbance. He added the shooting remains under investigation.

 

Cross becomes a new landmark for the Home Seekers Paradise (February)

“We lost a landmark last night, but gained one this morning.”

Mayor Joe Cox made the comment Tuesday morning standing near the 150-foot-tall metal cross that had just been erected on the Hwy. 84 property of Easthaven Baptist Church. Monday night, he had watched the historic Stahl-Urban building on Main Street collapse under waves of fire.

Crews from Mike Rozier Construction used a crane and lifts to raise the upper portion of the cross and guide it into place. Work on the placement began just before 8:30 a.m. and took about 45 minutes. Hundreds of people had gathered to watch, with cars filling the parking lots of Easthaven Baptist Church, as well as lined up along the roadway entrance to the church campus, and on Hwy. 84.

Officers with Brookhaven Police and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office directed traffic, ensuring the spectacle would not become a problem with traffic flow or accidents.

Members of the Rozier crew gathered near the base of the cross prior to the raising, joined by EBC pastor Dr. Hal Kitchings, and prayed together. When the cross was lowered firmly in place and workers had stepped back, signaling the joining was complete, cheers and applause erupted from onlookers.

One week earlier, when construction began, Kitchings expressed his hope for what the 50-yard-high cross could accomplish — “I’m hopeful. I pray it will reach people we’ll never know this side of heaven. But God knows, and that’s what counts.”

 

Miss Mississippi Teen USA Addie Carver is crowned 2024 Miss Teen USA (August)

Miss Mississippi Teen USA Addie Carver was crowned Miss Teen USA Thursday.

The field of 51 candidates was first narrowed during the live broadcast Thursday night to the Top 20 — Nebraska, Illinois, District of Columbia, Maryland, Texas, South Dakota, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Utah, Arizona, Montana, and New York.

… The top five were: West Virginia’s Olivia Travis, Tennessee’s Townsend Blackwell, Georgia’s Ava Colindres, Arizona’s Rachael Mclaen, and Mississippi’s Addie Carver.

Each teen was asked one interview question, which they had to answer live in 30 seconds or less: What is the biggest challenge facing young people today, and how do we overcome it?

Carver said the biggest challenge was mental health.

“When I was just 13, my dad passed away from cancer. As you can imagine, that was not easy and my mental health struggled severely. But I was able to find hope again, and that was through the art of dance,” she said. “Which is why I created my own organization, called Dance to Empower, which is founded on bringing the joy of dance to everyone; and as the next Miss Teen USA, I want to make it my mission to know that every little girl who is just like me once is never alone”

During the “final look” walk of the Top 5 across the stage, video vignettes were shown from each contestant about what Miss Teen USA meant to them. During her time, Carver said this experience would change her life, and that’s exactly what she wanted to use the platform to do — change lives, “showing everyone that no matter what challenges you may face in your life, the sky is never the limit — it’s just the starting point.”

… Carver was crowned Miss Teen USA.

She mouthed, “Thank you, God!” as she was crowned, and tearfully waved as she took her victory walk.

 

‘Gone from this earth but forever in our hearts,’ local hero laid to rest (August)

The stories about Brookhaven resident Troy Floyd carried from the speakers of a Lincoln County District 3 truck down Bethel Road Tuesday afternoon. Floyd was shot and killed in the line of duty in Summit on Aug. 8 and buried Tuesday afternoon. 

District 3 Supervisor John David Hart said he had known Floyd a long time. His death was the only way Floyd would have been at the Bethel Temple Church cemetery Tuesday. Hart said anyone who knew Floyd knew he hated cemeteries, something echoed over and over again by speakers at the funeral and his friends. A livestream of the funeral was broadcast on Facebook Live with over 850 live viewers. 

Hart said Floyd accomplished his greatest mission in life. When his funeral started at 2 p.m. at Bethel Temple Pentecostal Church off of US84 it was likely the most people who have ever been in that church, Hart said. They would all hear the good news. While Floyd’s life on earth was over, his faith in Jesus Christ’s atoning death meant he was in heaven. 

About the same time, a speaker got up and talked about a Bible and an interaction with Floyd. The speaker quoted from Romans Chapter 8 and said it gave him great comfort Friday morning. 

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose,” Romans 8:28 states. 

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And to those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:29-30). 

The speaker said he wanted his “light to shine as bright as Troy’s did.”  

Mounted patrolmen from Mississippi Highway Patrol Mounted Division saluted as a motorcade of honor guard, law enforcement, friends and family made their way to the cemetery Tuesday afternoon. The procession passed about 55 flags on East Lincoln Road along the path from US84 to the cemetery. 

MHP honor guard members solemnly removed Floyd’s casket, an American flag draped over it. Law enforcement and veterans saluted as his body was carried over to the grave side. Several bouquets of flowers were a backdrop to those final private moments. A blue cross stood out in the foreground as people gathered. 

Silence was interrupted by a 21-gun salute for Floyd followed by the playing of taps. A man playing the bagpipe belted out “Amazing Grace.” One last call was made by McComb Central Dispatch. 

“McComb Central to Summit 7, McComb Central to Summit 7, McComb Central to Summit 7. Officer Troy Floyd thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice and for serving 27 years. Copy Summit 7, 10-7 for the last time. Gone from this earth but forever in our hearts. We will take it from here.” 

 

Young man’s last wish comes true (October)

In the parking lot of Home Depot, Game Wardens with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks swore in a 15-year-old boy to join their ranks Sunday morning. Ashton Kemp was given a game warden’s hat, jacket, badge and an arrowhead as one of his last wishes came true. 

Copiah Wildlife Management Area Manager Med Palmer pushed Kemp around in a wheelchair to a shady area to be sworn in.  

Kemp was diagnosed with stage 4 genetic metastatic melanoma. He received the diagnosis when he was 13 and went through radiation, chemo and other medications. The family reports the cancer is terminal. A recent scan revealed Kemp had a few days left to live and a week if he was lucky. 

A retired game warden told Kemp his badge number 529 was special. John David Southerland of Meadville previously wore the badge number 529 until he retired. He was known as “Tubb,” by his colleagues. Southerland died in 2020. 

“He is smiling right now. He would have been here and been leading the charge,” a warden said. “He was a wonderful man and a Christian.”

Officers gathered around Kemp and prayed before they left to go on a special hunt. 

Kemp was loaded into a Whitetail Properties Real Estate truck and escorted by game wardens and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office to a hunt this afternoon. His other last wish is to kill a special deer. Wardens told The Daily Leader he will have the chance to hunt an Axis Deer at an enclosure outside of Caseyville.

MDWFP Lt. Sheila Smith said the officers who were there to help with making the wishes come true were there because they wanted to be there. 

“That is what makes me proud to be an officer and proud of my guys, they truly care,” Smith said. “Even the deputies. I called the sheriff just so he would know what was going on with that many trucks and his guys volunteered to come as well.”

 

Some of the other top stories of 2024 were:

• 18-year-old killed in Sunday wreck; Driver charged with DUI death

• Brookhaven man identified in fatal Friday night crash

• Electrical fire closes Popeyes

• Search continues for woman missing in Franklin County

• 4 detained, suspects sought in connection with Monday shooting 

• Police working two Friday shooting scenes