The Vicksburg Daily News Write Off Contest Winner is:

We want to thank everyone for their efforts in writing their stories for the Vicksburg Daily News Write-Off Contest.

The stories were well-read and well-written. Of course, there can only be one winner and we want to congratulate Allison Smith for her story, The House on China Grove Road. 

Allison, in addition to the fame and glory, will receive a check for $250.

Allison Smith, writer

Her story was the tale of Mary Franklin and her house on China Grove and the things that happened there. Here’s an excerpt:

“There once stood a house on China Grove Road, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, that has always captivated my imagination. I first learned of the house when I was a teenager, out riding the back roads with my friends, late one Saturday night. As we drove past the little house that was slightly off the paved road, my friend asked me if I had ever heard of Mary Franklin. I had not, and he proceeded to tell me that the house was once home to Mary Franklin, an elderly woman that went missing from the home in 1986. The rumor around town is that a teenager came forward saying that he and 3 other people had murdered Mary and buried her body at the county landfill. The landfill was searched, but no one ever found Mary’s remains, and no one was ever charged with her murder. She remains missing to this day.”

We hope you enjoyed her story and the other stories that were submitted. Here is a link to the other stories:

My Vicksburg Experience by Bridgett Lee

Growing up on Mulberry Street by Jeanie McVoy

The Sentry of Grove Street by Sidney Courtney