NATCHEZ &045; County supervisors have said the midnight-to-4 a.m. curfew they put in place isn’t meant to deter people from going to and from work and other businesses.

Darrell Cox, owner of Dimples bar on Main Street, said that doesn’t matter. If people believe, correctly or not, the curfew applies to them, they won’t go out to businesses during that time frame.

&uot;It’s killed business downtown. The lights are off at 10:30 p.m.,&uot; Cox said. &uot;If someone’s cruising the neighborhoods or doing something else they’re not supposed to do, that’s for the police or the sheriff to deal with Š on a case-by-case basis.&uot;

He’s one of several business owners Mayor Phillip West said have called about the curfew in recent days.

West reiterated Tuesday he doesn’t believe a countywide midnight-to-4 curfew is needed and said county supervisors instituted it for political purposes.

&uot;There has been no criminal activity to justify it,&uot; West said. &uot;And you don’t impact businesses in a negative way without sound evidence to back it up. You don’t cry wolf for political purposes.&uot;

When Hurricane Katrina hit, the Adams County Board of Supervisors imposed a midnight to 4 a.m. curfew they said was intended to ensure the safety and well-being of people in the community.

That curfew will be lifted only when the state of emergency in Adams County ends, and that date is not yet known, supervisors President Darryl Grennell said Tuesday.

During the weekend, supervisors attorney Bob Latham cited a 1994 attorney general’s opinion that stated county supervisors can implement a curfew that includes their entire county, including its cities.

But West said Tuesday that opinion does not apply in this case.

&uot;That opinion does not address what happens if the city objects to the curfew. It depends on how you ask the question.&uot;

For his part, Grennell reiterated the curfew was put in place to prevent criminal activity and keep lives and property &045; of local citizens and evacuees &045; safe.

&uot;And as far as politics are concerned, implementing a curfew isn’t exactly a politically popular thing to do,&uot; Grennell said.

What about cooperation in the future?

&uot;With this kind of attitude, I don’t see how we can have the kind of cooperation that’s needed,&uot; West said. &uot;I’ve never seen one government try to challenge the authority of another. But I’ll do my best to move forward.&uot;

&uot;Every individual, in government or not, is entitled to their opinion,&uot; Grennell said. &uot;It shouldn’t affect the relationship between governments when it comes to serving the people. I don’t have anything against any city officials.&uot;

Grennell cited governmental boards who, although their members don’t always vote alike, much come together to serve the people.

&uot;You might not always agree, but you don’t have a falling out,&uot; Grennell said. &uot;You move on.&uot;