In 1991 a small group of friends went on vacation and began talking about forming a new Mardi Gras krewe. Within a very short time the Mystic Krewe of Alpheus was formed and an executive board and board of directors elected.

The name of the Krewe comes from Greek mythology. Alpheus is the god of rivers and Arethusa is his love. Since Natchez was built on the mighty Mississippi, the new board believed that Alpheus, the god of rivers was a perfect fit. On the Krewes doubloon, Alpheus is depicted pouring water from a pitcher into the Mississippi River.

The founding members decided to make their new krewe a mystic krewe. It was decided that membership would be limited and that the parade would be held at night with flambeau carriers, lighted floats and masked revelers on the Krewe float. They also decided to keep the King and Queen a secret until they were unmasked at the Grand Ball.

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the krewe. In celebration of this the krewe has decided that it will announce the king and queen at its Twelfth Night party on Saturday, Jan. 6, and it has increased the number of participants in the royal court.

This year’s theme is &uot;The Wild, Wild West.&uot; Characters depicted will include Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty of Gunsmoke; Woody and his cowgirl Jesse, from Toy Story II; a riverboat gambler and his floozie; Wild Bill Hickock and Annie Oakley of Wild West show fame; Miss Lilly Langtry, the Lilly of the West; a great Indian Chief; and from Dallas, J.R. and Sue Ellen Ewing.

King Alpheus IX Chuck Fields and Queen Arethusa IX Edie Christian will announce the 2001 Royalty to the Krewe and present them with their royal baldricks.

This years royal court includes the following:

Karen Marie Brady, originally from Baton Rouge, La., has lived in Natchez for two years. Brady is the daughter of Virgil and Theresa Brady of Baton Rouge. She works for The Natchez Democrat as a graphic designer and also is a freelance web designer. Brady is responsible for the Mystic Krewe of Alpheus Web page and is co-owner of Desktop Success, a home-based desktop publishing business.

She graduated from Redemptorist Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, attended Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond and Louisiana Technical College in Baton Rouge.

Brady has served as a Special Olympics volunteer, is a supporter of the Humane Society through the United Way and works in the annual Chili Cook off which benefits the Natchez Children’s Home.

As a professional graphic artist and designer, she is a member of the Graphic Arts Committee of the Multistate Academic and Vocational Curriculum Consortium (MAVCC).

In her spare time, Brady enjoys playing tennis, reading Harry Potter, and working with computers and anything that challenges her creatively. Brady lists her Dachshunds, Idgie, Rudy and Casey, as her children.

Theresa Renee Cantu of Natchez is the daughter of Harold and Lucille Stegall of Bude and formerly of Natchez. She is married to Raul &uot;Pete&uot; Cantu and has one daughter, Kayce Cotten, 18, who is attending Millsaps College in Jackson.

After graduating from South Natchez High School, Cantu continued her education at Copiah-Lincoln Junior College and Alcorn State University School of Nursing. Today she is co-owner of the Flower Station in Natchez.

Cantu is a member of the Natchez Women’s Business Owners’ Association, Natchez Chamber of Commerce and the Mississippi Floral Association. She is a past member of the Natchez Jaycees, Natchez Jaycettes, and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Through these organizations she has been involved with the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, the Natchez Chili Cook-off and other events for the Natchez Children’s Home.

Her favorite hobby is traveling. She also enjoys entertaining friends and family and reading.

Kathy Scott Pollard of Natchez is the daughter of Jack and Katherine Scott of Natchez. She is married to Bill Pollard. She has two sons, Will, 17, and Scott, 12.

Pollard is a second grade teacher at Morgantown Elementary School. She Kathy received her diploma from South Natchez High School and then graduated summa cum laude from Alcorn State University in Lorman with a degree in elementary education.

She a member of Parkway Baptist Church where she teaches Sunday School. She has been active in the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, St. Jude’ s Children’s Hospital Math-a-thon, the Cathdedral Fall Festival and the Natchez Blues Festival. She also participates in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life every year.

She serves as historian for Alpha Delta Kappa, a teachers sorority and has served as a board member for the Mystic Krewe of Alpheus. and last year served as the chairman of the 2000 Grand Ball.

She enjoys reading, cooking, swimming, playing tennis, and spending time with her family and friends. Her favorite activity is to attend her childrens sporting events.

Stacey Copeland Strong has lived in Natchez for 10 years. She is the wife of Tony Strong and they have two children, Shelby and Ryan Strong.

She is the daughter of Mayor Hyram Copeland and his wife Sandra Copeland of Vidalia, La.

She graduated from Adams County Christian School and Copiah-Lincoln Community in Natchez. She is presently student teaching at Morgantown Elementary School in the Natchez-Adams School District and will graduate from Alcorn State University at Lorman in December with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education.

Strong attends Immanuel Baptist Church in Natchez. She is a member of Natchez Garden Club and is currently serving on the pageant committee. She is also an active member of the Trinity Parent League.

Her favorite activity is to go to the beach with her family and friends.

Tabitha Michelle Wroten of Natchez, has also lived in Jackson and Hattiesburg. She is the daughter of Mitchell and Sybil Wroten of McCall Creek. Her grandparents are Ena Wroten and the late S.E. Wroten of McCall Creek, Marie Cothran of McCall Creek and Ernest and Francis Hall of Brookhaven.

She graduated from South Natchez High School and attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. She received a bachelors of science degree in nursing from Alcorn State University at Lorman. She currently holds a real estate license and an administrator’s license.

Wroten is the mother of Christian Nicholas Wroten, 3. They attend Morgantown Baptist Church.

She has been a team captain for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. She is active in providing medical screening for elderly groups at various churches in the Miss-Lou area. Wroten is an active supporter of the Salvation Army with year round projects and is active in the Cystic Fibrosis Fund Drive.

Her club and professional memberships include Woodsman of the World, Mississippi Nursing Association, Natchez Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi Board of Realtors, and the Natchez Summer Bowling League.

At Co-Lin Community College, she served as president of the Co-Lin chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the junior college scholastic honorary society. She was honored as sophomore maid in the Co-Lin Community College homecoming court. She remains an active member of the Co-Lin Community College Alumnae Association. At Alcorn State University, she served as vice-president of the student council and remains a member of Alcorn State University Alumnae Association.

Her hobbies include water sports, going to the beach and traveling.

Kimberly Dozart Falkenheiner of Vidalia is the wife of Charles Falkenheiner, also represented in 2001 Royalty. She is originally from Eunice, La., and is the daughter of Alice and Everette Dozart of Eunice.

She is the mother of two daughters, Nicole, 16, a junior at Cathedral High School, and Katelynn, 6, a kindergartner.

Falkenheiner graduated from Basile High School in Basile, La. She furthered her education with an associate degree in criminal justice from Louisiana State University at Eunice and received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from McNeese State University at Lake Charles, La.

She is a communicant at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Vidalia where she is a member of the Ladies’ Altar Society.

She is employed as assistant manager at Main Stream Fitness in Natchez. For the last three years has volunteered as the sponsor of the Cathedral High School Emerald Tide Drill Team.

Falkenheiner is a member of the Pilgrimage Garden Club and the Cathedral High School Athletic Association. Her hobbies include swimming, fishing, shopping and she enjoys cooking. Her favorite pastime is spending time with her family and supporting their endeavors.

Charles J. Falkenheiner of Vidalia is married to Kim Dozart Falkenheiner. He is the father of two daughters, Nicole, 16, a junior at Cathedral High School, and Katelynn, 6, a kindergartner. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Falkenheiner of Vidalia.

He is a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Vidalia. He graduated from Cathedral High School in Natchez and from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in the agri-business field. Currently, he is an inspector for Bryant Hammett and Associates and also farms.

Falkenheiner is an supporter of the Cathedral High School Athletic Association.

His hobbies include hunting, fishing, working on the farm and outdoor activities. He also loves music, especially the guitar.

His favorite pasttime is spending time with his wife and children and being supportive of their activities.

Thomas Lynn Bailey Jr. of Natchez is the son of Thomas Lynn Bailey Sr. and Linda Smith Bailey of Natchez.

He graduated from Cathedral High School and attended the University of West Alabama at Livingston. He is a communicant of St. Mary Basilica.

Bailey works as an account services representative at Cellular South. His current memberships included the Kiwanis and the Lion’s clubs. He is also a supporter of the Relay for Life and actively participates in the annual fundraiser on the Cellular South Team.

In his spare time, Bailey enjoys any outdoor activity, especially playing tennis. He also enjoys listening to music and reading.

Patrick Joel Powers of Natchez is married to the former Ruth Shumway of Natchez.

He is the son of the late Shorty and Delorese Powers.

Powers graduated of South Natchez High School, studied electronics technology at Hinds Junior College in Raymond, and also business management at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Natchez.

He is a member of St. Mary Basilica where he has served as Deputy Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus.

He is the father of two children, Sarah Virginia Powers, 15, and Charles Anthony Powers, 14. Powers is an active volunteer at his childrens school, Cathedral High School. He helps with the Fall Festival, public address system maintenance, various athletic events or any other work as needed at the school.

Powers has worked with the Natchez Junior Auxillary for the Teen Program at the Canteen at Duncan Park and has served on the board of directors of the Harvard Associates in Police Science.

Powers has a variety of hobbies and interests, which include a computers, surfing the Internet, modern real-time flight simulation and wide-screen movies. His favorite pastime is to travel with his family. Pat and his family have traveled to 33 states, Canada and Mexico.

Van Robert Phillips of Natchez has also lived in Dallas and Vidalia.

He is the manager of All-Phase Electric Company, in Natchez and for the last two years has loaned his workplace for the building of the Krewe float.

He graduated from Cathedral High School in Natchez and is a member of St. Mary Basilica in Natchez. He has two sons, Loyd William Phillips and Van Robert Phillips Jr.

Over the years, Van has participated in community services such as raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis, Multiple Sclerosis, American Heart Association, the Special Olympics and the Salvation Army. He is a member of the Restaurant Association and a past member of the Natchez Mardi Gras Association.

Phillips is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Mississippi where he has served as Exalted Ruler, leading Knight, secretary and Trustee. He is also a member of the Mississippi Homebuilders Association, the Natchez Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited and the Buck Island Hunting Club.

His hobbies include fishing, hunting, boating, cooking, and travel. His favorite thing to do is relax with friends, cook and eat.

Gene Anthony Radzewicz of Natchez is the son of Ethel Cole Radzewicz and the late Paul Anthony Radzewicz of Biloxi.

A native of Jackson, Radzewicz graduated Murrah High School and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La. with a bachelor of science degree in petroleum geology.

He is the father of two sons, Taylor Anthony, 12, and Cole Alexander, 4.

He is currently serving as vice president of Radzewicz Operating Corporation as exploration and production manager. Gene is an AAPG (American Association of Petroleum Geologist) certified petroleum geologist.

He is a member of the American Associations of Petroleum Geologist and he is a registered Mississippi Professional Geologist. He is also a member of the Natchez Geological Society, the Mississippi Geological Society and Capital Club of Jackson. He has served as past-president and board of director of the Gulf States Oil and Gas Invitational Golf Tournament.

His hobbies include fishing, hunting and playing with his children. He has passion for exploring-especially for oil and gas.

Edward Lewis &uot;Skeeter&uot; Wilson of Natchez is also serving as Mardi Gras royalty this year. He is the father of&160;Ken, Kyle, Lindy and Erinn Wilson. He is the son of the late Albert and Virginia Wilson of Cape Cod, Mass., and Natchez.

Skeeter is owner of Wilson Fabrication, also known as Skeeter’s Deer Stands. He is also a Mississippi National Gaurd Retiree.

After graduating from South Natchez House School he entered a four-year apprenticeship at International Paper in Natchez, where he is employed as general mechanic.

Wilson is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Natchez.He supports the Natchez Children’s Home, both Trinity and Cathedral’s School with gifts of deer stands for their auctions and festivals. He also supports the United Way, the Salvation Army, the Chili Cook-off and the annual River City Run.

Wilson is a member of the Elks Club, the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce, the Woodsman of the World, and Ducks Unlimited. He is currently affiliated with the Krewe of Alpheus, the Krewe of Phoenix and the Krewe of Lake St. John.

Wilson lists his favorite thing to do is spending time fishing or boating on the Mississippi River with his friends.