January 2 – Rural Education and Leadership (REAL) Christian Foundation, Inc. presented scholarship money to three local schools serving Simpson County. Genesis One Christian School, Grace Christian School of Mt. Olive and Hope Christian Academy in D’Lo each received $5,000.
January 9 – On Saturday, December 28, 2024 an EF 1 tornado ripped through Mendenhall and Simpson County leaving a wake of destruction. Because of massive power outages several residents, churches, Big Jim’s Meat Market, Rho Iota Zeta and others came together to feed the community and linemen.
January 16 – New Simpson County School District (SCSD) board members Thomas Ray Floyd and Terra Mallette were sworn in during the January 8 meeting.
January 23 – Simpson County Academy student Lilly Overby, cross country athlete, was named a Gatorade Player of the Year, the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom and the community.
January 30 – During a recessed meeting The Simpson County Board of Supervisors (BOS) unanimously approved a proclamation presented by Supervisor Wayne Womack in memory of the three men who died during the construction accident on the Strong River Bridge in October 2024.
February 6 – The City of Magee had several candidates qualify for the upcoming municipal elections including mayor and aldermen. Four mayoral; Ward 1 three candidates; Ward 2, two candidates; Ward 3, four candidates; Ward 4, three candidates; and, at large unopposed. The City of Mendenhall had only incumbents qualify for office.
February 20 – Repairs began to the bridge on State Route 28 at the Copiah/Simpson County that was severely damaged in 2024 after being struck by an over height vehicle.
Magee Police Department Officer Becky Freeman graduated from the National DARE program and was assigned to Magee Elementary School to teach drug resistance classes.
February 27 – The first annual Magee Mardi Gras Parade was held February 20 sponsored by Main Street Magee.
March 6 – Brett Favre, pro football Hall of Famer, and WJTV meteorologist Ken South participated in SCSD Read Across America event.
Long time branch manager of Magee Public Library Frances Meadows retired at the end of February. She spent 26 years serving patrons in Magee.
March 13 – The City of Mendenhall welcomed James Walker as its new Chief of Police following the retirement of Chief Candy McCullum.
Dr. Paul Lawrence announced his retirement at the SCSD March meeting, effective June 30, 2025.
March 20 – A political forum was held at Magee Community House giving City of Magee municipal candidates five minutes each to introduce themselves and state why they are the best candidate for the position. The remaining time was devoted to a question/answer session. The forum was sponsored by The Magee Courier/Simpson County News.
The City of Mendenhall Mayor and Board of Aldermen passed resolutions to dispense with upcoming primary elections and general elections, April 1, 2025, and June 3, 2025, respectively as there was no opposition to any city offices.
March 27 – The Outstanding Business award was given to Rankin Accounting Service during the 65th annual Mendenhall Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Curtis and Etta Boyte received the Outstanding Citizen Award.
Keep Simpson County Beautiful sponsored the Great Simpson County Cleanup March 22.
April 3 – A comparison was made on costs of SCSD per pupil expenditures (PPE) from school year 2020-2021 to 2022-2023, the last complete figures available. It indicated an increase of approximately $2,000 per pupil. A detailed breakdown of expenditures per school within the district for the 2023-2024 year was not available in the current data on the MDE MS Succeeds Report Card, though the trend seems to be toward increased spending for public education.
The Magee Volunteer Fire Department was selected as Business of the Year at the 69th annual Magee Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Magee VFD celebrated 75 years in operation.
April 10 – Simpson County Academy hired John Shows as its new headmaster following the departure of former Headmaster Nick Lee. Shows is a Simpson County native.
Election results were confirmed for the Magee Municipal Republican Primary Election. Mark Grubbs secured the nomination for mayor, defeating Joe Worrell. Allyson Berch won against Chris Craft and Duane Simmons for Ward 1 Alderman. Incumbent Lawana Thompson defeated challenger Beth McCall Moore in Ward 2. Suzie Bourn defeated Lane Steele for Ward 3 Alderman by ten votes. At Large Alderman Sue Honea ran unopposed.
April 17 – The Magee Consolidated McLaurin Vocational Attendance Center committee received a $10,000 donation from the City of Magee to help with restoration efforts to the McLaurin Vocational Attendance Center.
The Mendenhall High School Archery Team won the AIMS Bullseye Archery State Championship that qualified them for nationals. The team won the tournament with a score of 3203.
April 24 – At a regular meeting of the City of Magee Mayor and Board of Aldermen Police Chief Denis Borges informed the board that parents of three juveniles responsible for damage to City Park bathrooms agreed to share equally the cost of repairs that totaled about $2,900.
May 8 – The Simpson County Development Foundation named Strong River Villa and Lakeview Place assisted living facilities Business of the Year. They are owned and operated by Faith Kennedy.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services selected Magee General Hospital as one of 10 additional hospitals across the country chosen to participate in the rural community Hospital Demonstration Program. MGH is one of three in Mississippi.
May 15 – The Simpson County BOS announced that county road crews will begin shoulder shaving and ditching operations beginning the third week in May. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to maintain and preserve the integrity of the county’s road infrastructure.
May 22 – Governor Tate Reeves was guest speaker at the annual Simpson County Fallen Officers Memorial, paying homage to ten local fallen officers. He echoed words inscribed at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.: “It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, but it’s how they lived.” Reeves added, “Truer words have never been spoken.”
A huge crowd came out for the annual Mendenhall in May to enjoy good food, vendor sales, a car show and more. Young and old enjoyed the day-long event.
May 29 – Magee Mayor Dale Berry announced he will not seek re-election citing serious health concerns. He revealed that recent heart issues, along with medical advice from his cardiologist, led to his difficult decision to exit the mayoral race. Berry stated that he would serve out the remainder of his term that ended June 30.
Keep Magee Beautiful was awarded a grant from The Southern Pine Members Helping Members program in the amount of $8,600 for beautification of Magee City Park.
June 12 – The SCSD Board of Trustees, by a unanimous vote, appointed Robert L. Sanders, Ph.D., as the district’s next superintendent, effective July 1, 2025.
During the regular meeting on June 3, 2025 of the Magee Mayor and Board of Aldermen board members, after lengthy discussion, voted four to one to deny recreational vehicle parks in Magee.
Voters in the City of Magee elected Mark Grubbs as their new mayor over his opponent, Jim Snider. Ward 4 elected Julian Harper as their new alderman. He defeated Melinda Green.
June 19 – At a meeting of the SCSD, board members voted to officially rescind a motion passed by the previous board to build a consolidated high school. It passed with a majority vote; two members voted against the measure.
Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson threw his cowboy hat into the ring for governor in 2027. He is a former state lawmaker, a lawyer and Baptist minister. Gipson is also a Simpson County native and resident.
June 26 – On June 16 Mayor Dale Berry and Alderman Patrick Brown were honored at a retirement reception held at Magee First Baptist Church Family Life Center. Both were given plaques recognizing their many years of service to the City of Magee. Guest speaker was former mayor Jimmy Clyde.
July 3 – Electrical distribution transformer and technology products manufacturer Howard Industries is expanding operations across its Mississippi facilities in Simpson, Clark and Jones counties. The project is a $236.95 million investment and will create a total of 450 jobs.
July 10 – Mayor Mark Grubbs, Alderwoman Ward 1 Allyson Berch, Alderwoman Ward 2 Lawana Thompson, Alderwoman Ward 3 Suzie Bourn, Alderman Ward 4 Julian Harper, and Alderwoman-at-large Sue Honea were sworn in as the new Magee Mayor and Board of Aldermen by Circuit Court Judge Stanley Sorey on July 1.
In Mendenhall, Mayor Todd Booth, Alderwoman Ward 1 Judy Lee, Alderman Ward 2 Robert Mangum, Alderwoman Ward 3 Janna Miller, Alderman Ward 4 Arthur Walker, and Alderwoman-at-large Vickie Everett were sworn in as the Mendenhall Mayor and Board of Aldermen by Justice Court Judge Charles Savell on July 1.
July 17 – Dirt work began on the new Magee City Park in preparation for new playground equipment to arrive in the coming weeks.
At the regular July 8 meeting Simpson County Board of Supervisors (BOS) heard from Pat Brown, Simpson County Economic Development Foundation (SCDF) executive director, expressing concern that the lack of a work-ready local labor force may have contributed to the county missing out on a new physical plant. Brown suggested collaboration between the supervisors and Simpson County School Board to align strategies and efforts for workforce development.
Plans are in place to close the Highway 540 and Highway 49 intersection in Mendenhall, commonly referred to as the “caution lights” for safety concerns due to limited visibility from atop the hill. The crossing has been the scene of several traffic accidents over the years.
July 24 – Copiah-Lincoln Community College Simpson Center celebrates two decades of success in Simpson County.
July 31 – Resident and former mayor of Magee Dale Berry, 68, died on July 28 from heart complications. He was hospitalized at the University of Mississippi Medical Center after leaving office at the end of June, waiting for a heart transplant.
Mendenhall Mayor Todd Booth shared his four year vision for the city’s future that includes focusing on infrastructure expansion, economic development, public safety, and beautification efforts.
August 7 – Simpson Central School teacher Taylor Brown has been named to the prestigious Curriculum Associates’ *Extraordinary Educators Class of 2025*, an honor awarded to only 29 teachers nationwide. This recognition celebrates her excellence in the classroom, her leadership among peers, and her commitment to student growth.
The Simpson County BOS heard from Michael Allan of the Magee Fire Department during their regular meeting on August 4. His proposal was for a fire grading district aimed at lowering insurance rates for county residents. The board approved the district pending legal review and a required public hearing, according to Board Attorney Danny Welch.
Braxton Fire Department received a new fire truck.
August 14 – The Magee Fire Department began fire inspections of local businesses August 11. The inspections are required for compliance with the International Fire Code.
August 21 – A combination of quick action, training, and a touch of luck saved a man’s life at the Magee Walmart Thursday morning, August 14. The efforts of Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper Darius Brown, and Magee Police Department Officers Michael Allan and Vance Hamilton saved an individual who was bleeding profusely from the wrist. Chief Denis Borges stated, “Had we not acted immediately, the individual likely would not be here today.”
SCDF Executive Director Pat Brown appeared before the Simpson County School District board meeting on August 14 with a formal request to purchase the property the school board previously bought from Phillip Davis as the potential site for a consolidated high school, which has since been voted down by the school board. Brown offered to pay the exact amount the district originally paid for the property. School board member Thomas Ray Floyd made a motion to sell the property, but no action was taken.
August 28 – The Magee Courier/Simpson County News marked the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a special section. It featured in-depth stories on the storm’s impact in Simpson County, personal accounts from survivors who lived through those harrowing days, and a closer look at how the lessons of Katrina changed the way the nation responds to disasters.
September 4 – The Mendenhall Tigers lost their football season opener to Ridgeland, 21-13. The Simpson County Academy Cougars also lost their season opener to Leake Academy, 26-29. The Magee Trojans beat opponent Mt. Olive in their first game of the season, 16-0.
September 11 – The Magee Trojans fell to the Mendenhall Tigers in the annual Simpson County Super Bowl played at Tiger Field. The final score was 47-14.
September 18 – Simpson General Hospital broke ground on an extensive renovation project with physical plant upgrades and additions. The construction process will take a year to complete.
September 25 – The Simpson County Farm Bureau hosted its Annual Meeting, drawing a strong turnout from local members and community leaders. The highlight of the evening was the keynote address delivered by Congressman Michael Guest, who spoke about the role of farmers in keeping America fed and the importance of agriculture to Mississippi’s economy.
The City of Mendenhall adopted a $3.26 million budget for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, balancing revenues and expenditures across the general fund, special funds and enterprise funds.
October 2 – The Mississippi Department of Education released its 2025 accountability results, and the Simpson County School District posted a “C” rating overall, with an accountability score of 551 and a district graduation rate of 84.1%. While the district held steady in mid-range performance, the data shows significant variation among individual schools in Magee, Mendenhall and Simpson Central.
October 9 – The Mendenhall High School Band delivered a show-stopping performance at the Copiah Marching Festival, earning all-superior ratings across every judged category. The band swept top honors, taking home First Place Best in Class awards for Color Guard, Percussion, Drum Major and Best Band.
October 16 – The Simpson Academy Lady Cougars Fast Pitch Softball Team won the 2025 AAAA Division 1 Championship after defeating Parklane Academy two games to one in the best of three series.
October 23 – Congressman Michael Guest visited the Simpson County E911 Center to tour the facility and hear from county leaders about plans to expand it into a fully functioning Emergency Operations Center. Simpson County does not currently have a dedicated Emergency Operations Center.
The Simpson County School Board opened a regular meeting in October recognizing all elementary students who scored “advanced” or “proficient” on their MAAP (Mississippi Academic Assessment Program) tests. They praised the students’ hard work and the teachers’ commitment to academic excellence.
October 30 – The Town of Braxton received a major paving project that transformed nearly every major street in town. Mayor Michael Arinder said the work marked a milestone for the community, with the assistance and funding support from Representative Price Wallace and State Senator Andy Berry.
November 6 – The Magee Courier/Simpson County News launched a new article series for November featuring military veterans and their years in service to the United States.
The Magee Trojans Football Team lost to the Seminary Bulldogs 30-27 but will move into the playoffs as a No. 3 seed. Mendenhall Tigers won the season’s last regular game, shutting out the Raymond Rangers 33-0. They advanced to the first round of playoffs as a No. 3 seed. Simpson Academy lost their final game of the season to Madison-Ridgeland Academy Patriots, 35-12 but will still advance to the MAIS Division 3 playoffs as the No. 4 seed.
November 13 – The City of Magee partnered with Main Street Magee to honor servicemen and women with a Veterans Day Parade on Tuesday, November 11, followed by a program and meal at the Community House.
Co-Lin Simpson Center held its third annual Veterans Day Breakfast for the Brave, honoring veterans in Simpson County and surrounding counties. Guest speaker was State Senator Andy Berry.
A partnership between Copiah-Lincoln Community College, the Simpson County School District and the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District (CMPDD) launched a first of its kind workforce training program. It is designed to help high school seniors and recent graduates gain skills and credentials needed for high-demand creers in construction, HVAC and fiber fusion splicing.
The Magee Trojans won the first round of state footbalk playoffs, defeating Quitman Panthers 23-16 to move on to round two. The Mendenhall Tigers and Simpson Academy Cougars lost in the first round of playoffs, eliminating them from further play.
November 20 – Simpson General Hospital received a $10,000 grant from Healthcare Providers Insurance Company (HPIC) to purchase four new transport wheelchairs for the hospital.
First Lady of Mississippi Elee Reeves visited Pre-K students at Simpson Central, where she shared story time with them while receiving handmade ornaments crafted by the class. The ornaments will be displayed at the Governor’s Mansion as part of this year’s Christmas theme, “A Season of Success.”
At a meeting November 13 the Simpson County School Board received an extensive facilities update covering three buildings in need of renovations at a cost of $20.1 million. The financial breakdown to scover these renovations include $5M from district maintenance; $2M from 16th Section funds; $7.5M from District Infrastructure; and, $5.6M from the Capital Projects 3-mill account. The board approved the proposal.
The Magee Trojans ended their playoff hopes with a loss to the Franklin County Bulldogs, 23-20.
November 27 – Kim Maddox of Magee was chosen to participate in this year’s annual White House Christmas decorating that occurs during Thanksgiving week in Washington, D.C. She was one of 145 people across the United States selected.
December 4 – Magee police arrested Jordan Jamal Brinson in connection with the killing of Daryious Collins, ending a two-day manhunt that had residents of the Goodwater community on high alert.
December 11 – The Mendenhall Business Women’s Club held an inaugural event, Holiday Magic, at the Simpson County Courthouse in conjunction with the annual Tour of Homes. Holiday Magic was created as a fundraiser to help families in need in the Mendenhall area at Christmas. It was supported by local merchants and community residents, raising $3,400.
Magee General Hospital held a ribbon cutting/open house to celebrate the completion of a $4M renovation funded by a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The hospital broke ground on the project on February 26, 2025. Interior and exterior renovations were made.
At a regular meeting of the Magee Mayor and Board of Aldermen, public comments were made by three residents, Angie Von Seutter, Hannah Berry May and Chris May. All three referenced a fence torn down by the city at a property owned by Von Seutter. On the following Friday, Penny Aguirre, zoning director, and Duane Simmons, building inspector, were notified of their terminations via phone calls by Mayor Mark Grubbs.
December 25 – The Simpson County BOS held a regular meeting on December 15 with a full agenda that included a discussion of the current county rubbish pit, which is nearing capacity and expected to close within the next three weeks. The Rubbish Board approved the purchase of six dumpsters to help manage waste during the transition. Chancery Clerk Tim Gray stated that construction on a new pit is underway and expected to take about a year to complete. The board approved a contract for the six dumpsters at a cost of $600 each per month, which includes transportation to Ellisville for disposal.
