Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi
CDISPATCH.COM
3 new COVID-19 deaths in Golden Triangle
Gov. Reeves extends shelter in place order until April 27
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT
The Lowndes and Oktib-
beha county coroners con-
firmed three deaths from the
COVID-19 coronavirus Thurs-
day, bringing the death toll in
the Golden Triangle up to four.
A man at Baptist Memorial
Hospital-Golden Triangle died
of COVID-19 Thursday morn-
Supes add
$92K to budget
for LCSO,
delay action on
storm shelters
Lowndes sheriff’s office
to get new uniforms,
bulletproof vests
BY YUE STELLA YU
syu@cdispatch.com
Lowndes supervi-
sors on Wednesday
added $92,000 to
the Lowndes Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Office
budget, including
$65,000 for new uni-
forms and $27,000 to
Hawkins
match a federal grant
to buy bulletproof vests.
The board voted Wednesday to
amend the budget to cover the new
costs. New uniforms for all LCSO
employees will total about $85,000,
said Sheriff Eddie Hawkins, but
the department has $20,000 in its
budget for uniform purchases.
Some employees will have three
sets of everyday uniforms where-
as others will receive class-A uni-
forms, which are for occasions
such as court appearances, Haw-
kins told The Dispatch. Currently,
employees wear clothes of different
colors to work, he said.
“The problem that I have right
now about uniforms is there’s noth-
ing uniform about it,” Hawkins said
during the meeting. “What I’m try-
ing to do is to build morale and a
more professional department.”
Supervisors also made budget
See SUPES, 3A
Area municipal util-
ities are grappling
with mounting delin-
quent bills during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
At Columbus Light and
Water, General Man-
ager Todd Gale said
about 1,000 customers
are behind. While the
state’s shelter in place
order persists, those
customers are protect-
ed from disconnection.
Gale said once that or-
der is lifted, customers
could set up 12-month
payment plans to catch
up on their bills.
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Friday | April 17, 2020
not immediately release further
details about either patient.
ter in place order for seven
more days, while taking some
ing, marking Lowndes Coun- Center were the second and An 89-year-old woman died new steps to help Mississippi-
ty’s first death from the virus. third COVID-19 deaths in the at OCH on April 5 and was the ans mentally and financially,”
Lowndes County Coroner Greg county. first COVID-19 death in both Reeves said. “We are easing the
Merchant did not identify the One man, age 62, died Oktibbeha County and the brakes on ‘non-essential’ busi-
individual but said he was an Wednesday night and had come Golden Triangle. nesses. I wanted to announce
“elderly” man. He did not imme- to OCH from a long-term care Gov. Tate Reeves announced that we can all ease up and re-
diately release further details. facility, Hunt said. The second in a Facebook Live broadcast open today, but we can’t. We are
Oktibbeha County Coro- man was 63 years old and died this morning he had extended still in the eye of the storm.”
ner Michael Hunt confirmed Thursday morning. the state’s shelter in place order The briefing was ongoing at
Thursday afternoon that two Both men had underlying until April 27. press time.
men at OCH Regional Medical medical conditions. Hunt did “I have to extend the shel- See COVID-19, 3A
African Americans in Mississippi
disproportionately affected by COVID-19
‘It’s hard to undo decades of mistrust and concern about cost’
BY YUE STELLA YU
syu@cdispatch.com
Customers walked around her, COVID-19 Deaths
coughing.
Rubbing alcohol and gloves by Race through
were in short supply. The masks
she wore, she made April 15 in Mississippi
herself. Some of her INSIDE
n OUR VIEW:
coworkers, scared, We know Black or African American
had stopped coming blacks are
to work. But not her. heavily affect-
Beyond five sick ed by COVID
but why?
66 percent
days a year, she said,
“everything is up
Page 4A White
in the air” as far as
paid leave if she becomes ill with 34 percent
COVID-19.
Deemed essential, however, the
retail store worker — who request-
ed anonymity out of fear of losing
her job — has to help make ends As of Wednesday evening, African Americans accounted for 56 percent
meet for her family of three, even of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state and 66 percent of the state’s
COVID-19 deaths, state data shows. The ethnic group only accounts for 38
when that means she needs to gam-
percent of the state’s population, according to the latest data from the U.S.
ble with her health during a pan- Census Bureau. — Information from the Mississippi Department of Health
demic that has killed tens of thou-
sands nationwide. experts and community leaders. cent of confirmed COVID-19 cases
“Basically, either you work or State-level statistics show black in the state and 66 percent of the
you could lose your job,” she told Mississippians account for a higher state’s COVID-19 deaths, data from
The Dispatch. “So I feel like I have rate of confirmed coronavirus cases the Mississippi State Department of
to go. … I’m scared every day.” and deaths compared to whites. Health shows.
She is one of many black Mis- A combination of factors appears But the ethnic group accounts
sissippians who must work front- to contribute to those numbers — for only 38 percent of Mississippi’s
line jobs to make a living amid the economic disadvantage, mistrust of population, according to the latest
coronavirus outbreak. In the store
institutions, a higher rate of under- estimate from the U.S. Census Bu-
where she works, she said, all of her
lying health conditions and limited reau. In Columbus, they accounted
coworkers are black.
access to health care. for 63.5 percent of the city’s popula-
The prevalence of contact-inten-
sive work among black Americans tion in 2018.
helped lead to a disproportionately ‘Whopping, lopsided mortality’ “It’s been a whopping, lopsided
heavy impact the pandemic has on As of Wednesday evening, Af- mortality when we look at Afri-
the state’s black communities, said rican Americans made up 56 per- See AFRICAN AMERICANS, 6A
CLW deals with mounting delinquencies
Municipal utilities looking for individual customers
who could suffer discon-
at plans for ‘returning nection due to delinquent
payments. Currently, 8
to normal’ after pandemic percent — more than 1,000
customers — are at risk of
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
being disconnected.
While that order is in Gale
Columbus Light and Water leaders al- place, CLW and other util-
ready are forming plans to return to nor- ities across the state are not disconnect-
mal after the COVID-19 pandemic. ing utilities for lack of payment, but the
During Thursday’s virtual board of di- bills are racking up.
rectors meeting, General Manager Todd Gale described a plan — which, he told
Dispatch file photo Gale addressed the idea of arrangements See CLW, 6A
FIVE QUESTIONS A NOTE LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC
1 What “Born in the U.S.A.” rocker published a ON NEWS MEETINGS
kids’ book about a bank-robbing baby in 2014? ■ Many April 20: Oktibbe-
2 For decades, what birds returned every year COVID-19 corona- ha County Board
on March 19 to Mission San Juan Capistrano in virus related sto- of Supervisors
California from their winter home in Argentina? ries are changing meeting, Chancery
3 What company boasts a distinctive green croc- extremely quick- Courthouse, 9
odile logo that proudly appears on its clothing?
4 What is traditionally hidden in a Mardi Gras ly, sometimes a.m.
as soon as we April 21: Starkville
king cake — a hot pepper, a tiny plastic baby
publish a print Board of Aldermen
doll, or a small crown?
5 What puppet and Conan O’Brien guest often edition of the meeting, 5:30
visits events like the MTV Video Music Awards
and Republican National Convention?
paper. We want p.m., City Hall
to assure our May 1: Starkville
Answers, 6B readers that we Board of Aldermen
are making every work session, 10
attempt to print a.m., City Hall
accurate, timely May 4: Oktibbe-
INSIDE news. Online sto- ha County Board
Classifieds 6B Obituaries 5A ries are updated of Supervisors
Comics 3B Opinions 4A throughout the meeting, Chancery
Crossword 2B Religion 5B day at cdispatch. Sylvester Jones, of Starkville, loves Courthouse, 9
Dear Abby 3B com. playing football. a.m.
DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471
2A FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Trump gives governors options

on how to reopen the economy
New guidelines are aimed at easing restrictions three-phase gradual reopening of
businesses and schools.
in areas with low transmission of virus, while In phase one, for instance, the
plan recommends strict social dis-
holding the line in harder-hit locations tancing for all people in public.
Gatherings larger than 10 people
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS low transmission of the coronavirus, are to be avoided, and nonessential
while holding the line in harder-hit travel is discouraged.
WA S H I N G T O N locations. They make clear that the In phase two, people are encour-
— President Donald return to normalcy will be a far lon- aged to maximize social distancing
Trump has given gov- ger process than Trump initially and limit gatherings to no more
ernors a road map envisioned, with federal officials than 50 people unless precautionary
for recovering from warning that some social distanc- measures are taken. Travel could
the economic pain of ing measures may need to remain resume.
the coronavirus pan- in place through the end of the year Phase three envisions a return to
demic, laying out “a Trump to prevent a new outbreak. And they normalcy for most Americans, with
phased and deliber- largely reinforce plans already in a focus on identification and isola-
ate approach” to restoring normal the works by governors, who have tion of any new infections.
activity in places that have strong primary responsibility for public Trump said recent trends in some
testing and are seeing a decrease in health in their states. states were so positive that they
COVID-19 cases. “You’re going to call your own could almost immediately begin tak-
“We’re starting our life again,” shots,” Trump told the governors ing the steps laid out in phase one.
Trump said during his daily press Thursday afternoon in a conference “They will be able to go literally
briefing. “We’re starting rejuvena- call, according to an audio record- tomorrow,” Trump said.
tion of our economy again.” ing obtained by The Associated The guidelines recommend that
He added, “This is a gradual pro- Press. “We’re going to be standing states pass checkpoints that look at
cess.” alongside of you.” new cases, testing and surveillance
The new guidelines are aimed Places with declining infections data over the prior 14 days before ad-
at easing restrictions in areas with and strong testing would begin a vancing from one phase to another. Is Estate or
Long Term Care
Planning Necessary
to Protect Your
Facebook to warn users who ‘liked’ coronavirus hoaxes Family’s Future?
BY BARBARA ORTUTAY claims about COVID-19 Tech platforms have sent page Thursday.
AND AMANDA SEITZ after they have been re- home human moderators The company dis- • Do you have a Will, Power of Attorney, and Advanced Health Care
The Associated Press moved by moderators. who police the platforms, closed Thursday that it Directive?
• Are you certain that your assets will be distributed according to your
The alert, which will start forcing them to rely on au- put more than 40 million wishes at your death?
Facebook will soon let appearing on Facebook in tomated systems to take warning labels in March
you know if you shared • Are you confused by the ever changing estate and gift tax laws?
the coming weeks, will di- down harmful content. over videos, posts or arti- • Are you worried that one day you may not be able to care for yourself
or interacted with dan- rect users to a site where They are also up against cles about the coronavirus or make the necessary decisions to remain independent and in your
gerous coronavirus mis- the World Health Organi- people’s mistrust of au- that fact-checking organi- own home?
information on the site, zation lists and debunks thoritative sources for zations have determined At Dunn & Hemphill, we can create a plan tailored to fit you
the latest in a string of virus myths and rumors. information, such as the are false or misleading. and your family’s needs. Contact us at (662) 327-4211 to
aggressive efforts the so- Facebook, Google and WHO. The number includes du- discuss your estate and long term care planning options.
cial media giant is taking Twitter are introducing “Through this crisis, plicate claims — the la-
to contain an outbreak of
viral falsehoods.
stricter rules, altered al-
gorithms and thousands
one of my top priorities
is making sure that you
bels were based on 4,000
fact checks.
Dunn & Hemphill, P.A.
The new notice will be of fact checks to stop the see accurate and authori- Facebook says those 214 Fifth Street South | Columbus, Mississippi
sent to users who have spread of bad misinfor- tative information across warning labels have 662.327.4211 | www.marketstreetlaw.com
clicked on, reacted to, or mation online about the all of our apps,” Facebook stopped 95 percent of us- Offering Peace of Mind, One Client at a Time.
commented on posts fea- virus. CEO Mark Zuckerberg ers from clicking on the W. David Dunn | Christopher D. Hemphill
turing harmful or false Challenges remain. wrote on his Facebook false information. you call to get a free 30 minute
Estate or Long Term Care Planning Consultation!
*Background information available upon request.
© The Dispatch

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COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
Obituaries with basic informa-
tion including visitation and
service times, are provided
free of charge. Extended
obituaries with a photograph,
detailed biographical informa-
tion and other details families
may wish to include, are avail-
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AREA OBITUARIES
p.m. for Sunday and Monday
publication. For more informa-
tion, call 662-328-2471.
Sarah Hayden
COLUMBUS — Sar-
ah Hayden, 78, died
April 8, 2020, at her
residence.
A private family only
graveside service will
be at 2 p.m. Saturday,
at Mt. Olive Baptist
Church Cemetery in
Millport, Alabama, with
Billy Turner officiating.
Visitation is from 2-5
p.m. today, at Carter’s
Funeral Service. Car-
ter’s Funeral Service of
Columbus is in charge
of arrangements.
Ms. Sarah Hayden
was born June23, 1941,
in Columbus, to the
late Willie Hayden and
Sallie Hayden. She was
formerly employed in
housekeeping with
Holiday Inn.
In addition to her
parents, she was pre-
ceded in death by her
siblings, Mary Shelley,
Billy Hayden, Cebell
Jones, Albert Hayden,
Willie G. Hayden and
Harvey Hayden.
She is survived by
her siblings, Magalene
Hayden of Columbus
and Rosie Mason of
Kankakee, Illinois.
Infant Jayden Morris
COLUMBUS —
Jayden Amir Kage
Morris, 3 months, died
April 10, 2020.
A graveside service
will be at noon Satur-
day, at Union Ceme-
tery. Carter’s Funeral
Service of Columbus is
in charge of arrange-
ments.
Infant Jayden was
born Dec. 13, 2019, to
Quinton Morris and
Riquala Dora.
In addition to his
parents, he is survived
by his sister, Sariahh
Morris.
Steve Collins
JACKSON — Steve
Collins, 59, died April 8,
2020.
Funeral services
will be Saturday, at
West Memorial Funer-
al Chapel. Burial will
follow at St. Paul M.B.
Church Cemetery. Vis-
itation is from 4-6 p.m.
today, at the funeral
home. West Memo-
rial Funeral Home of
Starkville is in charge
of arrangements.
He is survived by his
wife, Milette M. Collins;
children, Stephanie
Collins and Courtney
Collins; mother, Eliza-
beth Collins; siblings,
Bobby Collins, James
Collins, Darlene Collins
and Evelyn Collins.
See OBITUARIES, 5A
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020 3A

Reeves: Economic woes from virus are ‘insane’

Mississippi processed more than 129,500 because of the high demand.
“It’s now a 14,000 percent
operations, have furloughed
workers.
with existing health problems,
the highly contagious virus
jobless claims between March 14 and April 11 increase in lost Mississippi
jobs. Many more still can’t get
The state Health Depart-
ment said Thursday that Mis-
can cause severe symptoms
and be fatal.
BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS Mississippi processed more through because of the surge,” sissippi had at least 3,624 con- The Mississippi Department
The Associated Press than 129,500 unemployment Republican Reeves said Thurs- firmed cases and 129 deaths of Corrections said Thursday
claims between March 14 and day on Twitter. “This is insane from the coronavirus as of that four inmates have tested
JACKSON — — the bleeding has to stop. Wednesday evening. That was
April 11, according to numbers positive for the coronavirus.
Mississippi Gov. Lives depend on this as well. an increase of 264 cases and
released Thursday by the U.S. The first of those cases was
Tate Reeves said Please pray for wisdom as we seven deaths from the previous
Employment and Training Ad- announced earlier this week —
Thursday that consider all options. Our peo- day. The state’s population is
economic prob- ministration. Reeves has said an inmate who had been in the
ple can’t take much more.” about 3 million.
lems caused by the usual number is no more State Penitentiary at Parchman
Grocery stores, pharmacies Cases have been confirmed
the coronavirus than 1,000 a week. and several other types of busi- in at least 65 long-term care fa- and died in a hospital. After his
pandemic are The Mississippi Department nesses that are considered es- cilities, such as nursing homes, death, a test confirmed he had
“insane” as the Reeves of Employment Security is on a sential have remained open un- the department said. COVID-19. One of the other in-
state — like other parts of the seven-day-a-week schedule and der Reeves’s order. Restaurants For most people, the corona- mates who tested positive is in
U.S. — continues to see steep has brought in extra workers to are allowed to offer drive-thru virus causes mild or moderate Parchman. The other two are
increases in the number of peo- process claims, but people are or carry-out services. Many symptoms, such as fever and in a regional facility, but the de-
ple filing for unemployment still having trouble reaching businesses, including automo- cough. But for others, espe- partment did not disclose the
benefits. the agency to apply for benefits tive and tire manufacturing cially older adults and people location.

Death toll rises for 2-day outbreak of storms in the South

Storm Prediction Center: Long-range forecast shows Forecast teams check-
ing for damage found 105
mined Alabama had the
most twisters, 21 begin-
as, where six were con-
firmed, to Maryland,
another risk of severe weather across the region Sunday storm tracks that totaled ning on Easter Sunday where survey teams de-
more than 770 miles in all. afternoon, but no one was termined two weak twist-
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Thursday reported two The acting U.S. secre- The worst storm was an killed in the state. An- ers struck.
additional deaths. tary of homeland securi- EF-4 tornado that was on other 20 tornadoes were The long-range fore-
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. The National Weather ty, Chad Wolf, is traveling
— The death toll has risen the ground for nearly 68 confirmed in neighboring cast from the Storm Pre-
to at least 36 from the two- Service said more than to south Mississippi on miles and claimed several Georgia, where eight peo- diction Center shows
day outbreak of strong 100 tornadoes struck the Friday to look at tornado lives in southeastern Mis- ple died. there is another risk of
storms that pounded the South on Sunday and damage in the Pine Belt sissippi, a report showed. Tornadoes reached severe weather across the
South, as Mississippi on Monday. region. Forecasters deter- from the west in Tex- region Sunday.

Supes
Continued from Page 1A
room for $27,000 to match
a 50-50 federal grant for
the bulletproof vests.
Some vests the depart-
ment uses are wearing
out, Hawkins said.
Board of Supervisors
President Harry Sanders
told The Dispatch Thurs-
day he thinks the money
is needed to protect the
safety of the county’s en-
forcement officers.
“I think that’s a
no-brainer that we fur-
nish them with all the
protective items we can
to protect our police offi-
cers anyway that we can,”
he said.
It’s also important for
the sheriff’s department
to wear matching uni-
forms, Sanders said.
But the supervisors
were reluctant to give the
greenlight to a $28,000
purchase of three storm
shelters for road depart-
ment employees across
the county following the
Sanders Smith
Easter Sunday tornado,
which swept through
Mississippi and caused
12 deaths statewide. The
board postponed the deci-
sion until its first meeting
in May.
The road department
has six stations across
the county, but only three
are furnished with storm
shelters, District 4 Su-
pervisor Jeff Smith said.
Workers at the other
three stations in Caledo-
nia, Crawford and on Jess
Lyon Road, he said, do not
have a place to shelter in
threatening storms.
“Those (shelters) are
essential for the county
workers who respond
to any weather event we
may have in the commu-
nity,” he said.
Smith told The Dis-
patch the three 8-by-12-
foot shelters would each
cost roughly $5,000,
according to the quotes
County Emergency Ser-
vices Director Cindy Law-
rence received from local
vendors. With additional
costs for installation and
transportation, the pur-
chase would not exceed
$28,000, he said.
The money could
come from amending the
budget of the board or the
road department, he said
during the meeting.
Sanders suggested
Wednesday the road de-
partment could build
storm shelters them-
selves and therefore re-
duce the cost.
“They do all kinds of
constructions already,”
he said.
Sanders told The Dis- shelters in the east part of But, he said, the mon-
patch Thursday the board the county, he said, “we ey, which he said could
will vote to buy the storm are pretty much at the reach hundreds of thou-
shelters at the next meet- mercy of the Lord.” sands of dollars, would
ing if the road department Sanders suggested need to be budgeted and
cannot build them. Wednesday that the board phased out in the next
“If we can do it cheap- could work to set up shel- three or four years.
er, we’ll do it ourselves,” ters in every community “You are talking
he said. “If we can’t do center and volunteer fire about probably $50,000
it cheaper, we’ll buy the departments across the or $60,000 per shelter,”
(prefabricated shelters).” county, which he told The Sanders said. “And if you
During the meeting, Dispatch totals about 20 are going to have 20 shel-
the board also discussed locations. ters … that’s $1 million.”
the necessity of building
storm shelters across the
county for the general
public, especially when
there is only one such
shelter in the county west
of the Tombigbee River.
The Easter Sunday tor-
nado, Smith said, could
have ripped through
Crawford where hun-
dreds of mobile homes
reside.
“It did turn,” Smith
said. “But that could
have been devastating for
Lowndes County.”
Aside from the storm

COVID-19
Continued from Page 1A
Mississippi State De-
partment of Health report-
ed on its website Thurs-
day morning that there
have been 129 deaths
from the virus statewide.
However, those numbers
are only through Wednes-
day night and did not in-
clude the Lowndes Coun-
ty or Oktibbeha County
deaths.
MSDH reported there
are at least 3,624 con-
firmed COVID-19 cases have been more than
in Mississippi, including 600,000 confirmed cases
42 in Oktibbeha County, and nearly 30,000 deaths
30 in Lowndes County, 21 from the virus.
in Clay County and 18 in
Noxubee County.
Nationwide, there

SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Fri. Sat.
Major 9:23a 9:46p
Minor 4:25a 4:59a
Major — 10:08a
Minor 3:24p 4:19p
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

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POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
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516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
Opinion
4A FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

Dispatch
The
BIRNEY IMES SR. Editor/Publisher 1922-1947

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

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MICHAEL FLOYD Circulation/Production Manager
MARY ANN HARDY Controller

OUR VIEW

We know blacks are heavily affected by COVID but why?

“W
hat?” is almost al-
ways followed by
another question:
“Why?”
Once we are made aware of
something — the what — we
want to understand it — the
why.
The more significant the
what, the more urgent the need
to know the why. And when
that answer is slow in coming,
speculation often rushes in to
fill the void.
Last week, data from
COVID-19 testing revealed
black Mississippians are
disproportionately impacted by
the virus both in terms of con-
tracting the virus and dying
from it as well.
According to the Mississip-
pi State Department of Health,
there were 3,624 confirmed
cases of COVID-19 and 129
deaths in the state as of
Wednesday. Blacks make up 38
percent of the state’s popula-
tion, yet comprise 56 percent of
COVID-19 cases and a whop-
ping 66 percent of the deaths.
And Mississippi is not
unique in this regard. Black
populations around the
country are being infected
and dying in disproportionate
numbers.
That’s the what.
But why? Perhaps at some
point, scientists will be able
to explain exactly why certain
populations are hit harder by
COVID-19. At this point, we do
know that blacks have higher
rates of chronic conditions
such as asthma, diabetes and
heart disease, all of which am-
plify the effects of the disease.
Another plausible expla-
nation is tied to socio-eco-
nomics. To some extent, in
Mississippi at least, black
citizens are more likely to be
low wage-earners. Indeed,
the poverty rate among black
Mississippians is 31.2 percent,
more than twice as high a
rate as that of white Missis-
sippians, according the 2017
Census data.
As it is with almost every
crisis, history has shown
us that the poor are almost
always more vulnerable. They
are more likely to suffer and
more likely to have more
severe consequences.
The poor often work and
live in vulnerable environ-
ments and have less access
to preventive health care —
meaning illnesses are often
detected at a more advanced
stage.
One of the best measures
available to reduce these
health trends in the black com-
munity is expansion of Medic-
aid, but the Governor and key
members of the Legislature re-
main rigidly opposed, leaving
as many as 300,000 working
poor — black and white alike
— without access to compre-
hensive medical care.
The case for Medicaid
expansion was strong even
before COVID-19. The virus
only serves to emphasize the
need for expansion.
No doubt, black citizens will
look at this information and
recognize it as a call for extra
vigilance, which is a proper
response. As for other races,
that information should not be
taken as a reason for people to
let down their guards.
What we do know is that no
one is exempt from contract-
ing the virus.
We do not know all the
answers to many of the “why”
questions and may not have
clarity on them for some time.
But we do know the larger
“what” — that COVID-19 is a
threat to us all.
For now, that may be all we
really need to know.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS CARTOONIST VIEW

Voice of the people

Appreciates paper’s efforts
All of us in Columbus should be proud of our
newspaper. Under unprecedented strain, The Com-
mercial Dispatch staff continues to cover the city’s
and county’s public events that shape the long term.
At the same time, we get imaginative coverage of the
virus and its immediate effects. Doing this work, with
so much personal contact, can’t be easy.
I will mention Slim Smith, criticized personally
as well as professionally, in a recent letter. When the
reporting and writing have to get done, Slim will get
them both done.
Thank you to everyone at The Commercial Dis-
patch for your tremendous efforts.
George Hazard
Columbus

Comments on life
Cleanliness is pure and holy. Hygiene is a personal
responsibility if you are morally, mentally and socially
stable. If not, those whom accountability and respon-
sibility has been granted should do their job. This is a
reference to vulnerable adults and children, etc.
Uncleanliness is a sin. Your body is the temple of
the Holy Ghost. Your mind is properly located in your
head. Emotions run wild. Be renewed (transformed)
by the renewing of your mind. Stop the negativity and
think positive. Together we will and we can overcome
our present situations. Stop hanging with negative
people. Evil communication corrupt good manners.
I am the parent of three adult children. I was co-re-
sponsible for their wellbeing and educational devel-
ELECTION 2020
Vote by mail, just this once
opment (spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially,
economically, residentially, financially).
My grandparents raised me. Grandpa was of Afri-

W
can decent and Grandma was of Indian decent. I have ho among
my Grandpa’s work ethics: early rise, early to bed. us, know-
Grandpa took care of us. ing what
Working is not a sin. Parents were responsible we know now about
for shelter, food, clothing and enforced church and COVID-19, doesn’t
school attendance. I’m 67 years of age. My lunch, wish we could roll
books and whatever it took for my development, back the clock to Jan.
Grandpa stepped up and worked and paid the expen- 1, 2020 and make
ditures. He was a real man. very different deci-
We weren’t on welfare. Columbus Brick Company sions about testing,
was our welfare. If we were poor, I didn’t know it. We contact tracing, PPE
loved each other, ate together, worked together. I and social distancing?
started cooking at age 12. Well, we are star- Mona Charen
So middle-class, upper-class why should poor ing at another possi-
people, public schools pay for your education? Stop ble disaster bearing
stealing and taking taxpayers money while their eyes down on us. I refer to the Nov. 3
are closed with ignorance or stupidity. election. There is still time to act identifying information like
Columbus School District is right. Starkville is wisely, but not much time.
right. Covenant is different from a contract. Covenant In the midst of coronavirus,
is a bond from the heart. Contract is paperwork — pa- we simply cannot conduct elec-
per dollars. Marriage is a bond before God and man, tions in the usual way. In-person
with God as the head. voting represents a threat to the
Repent and tell the truth. Truth sets us free. All health of poll volunteers (most
students are important. of whom are over age 60), and
Pat Fisher Douglas to voters themselves. We cannot
Columbus ask people to risk their lives
to exercise the right to vote.
In response to a recent letter Wisconsin’s recent mess — with
Lee Roy Lollar recently stated: I see how easy it thousands disenfranchised
is to lose some of our basic rights: oversight erased, because they didn’t receive their disadvantages Republicans.
Supreme Court hijacked, Trump has turned the presi- mail-in ballots in time, and peo-
dency into a dictatorship. ple waiting in lines spaced out by that, and plenty of evidence to
Joe Biden says the soul of this nation will be at 6 feet for multiple hours — is a
stake in the 2020 election. flashing warning light.
In the course of three days, beginning last Friday Except November would
night, Trump fired an IG for telling the truth, at- be far worse than Wisconsin,
tacked another for exposing the truth of a healthcare because an in-person election
pandemic and removed another in an effort to avoid held nationwide would throw
being held accountable for how trillions of dollars will the legitimacy of the results into
be allocated. doubt. At a time when we are a)
All this money going through hands of politicians bitterly divided; b) deeply dis-
will corrupt the process with no accountability. The trustful; and c) facing a pandem- of mail-in voting in Colorado
Republicans said the Obama administration was the ic and economic depression, a
most corrupt in history. Where is the accountability disputed election might be more
now? stress than we can stand.
Trump’s attacks on accountability are a threat to Fortunately, alternatives to
democracy. in-person voting are not that
The Supreme Court has delayed hearing cases, difficult to achieve with a little
including three on lawsuits involving Trump’s tax and advanced planning. Vote-by-
financial returns. mail is already widespread. In
Trump is bad for America, but a vaccine for it won’t the last election, 25% of votes
be available until November. were mailed in. Five states —
James Hodge Washington, Oregon, Colorado,
Steens Utah and Hawaii — already vote
almost entirely by
mail. Every regis-
tered voter receives
a ballot at home.
Twenty-eight others
permit mail-in ballots
upon request, and 17
states permit mailed
ballots but require
an excuse like travel,
out of state study or
disability.
To prevent fraud,
states take a number
of steps like signa-
ture matching, requiring other
the last four digits of a person’s
Social Security number and
using bar codes for each ballot.
A study by the National Vote At
Home Coalition found that of
100 million votes cast in Oregon
since mail-in voting was adopted
in 2000, there were only 12 cases
of fraud.
President Donald Trump has
thrust a stick into the spokes
by suggesting that vote-by-mail
But there is no data to support
the contrary. For one thing, the
voters who would be most wary
of in-person voting in the age
of COVID-19 are the elderly. In
2016, voters over 65 were more
likely to vote than any other
age cohort and they gave 53% of
their votes to Donald Trump. As
Rachel Kleinfeld reports, studies
and Utah found that turnout
increased by about 2%, but nei-
ther party got a boost. A newly
published report from the De-
mocracy and Polarization Lab at
Stanford gathered mail-in voting
data from California, Utah and
Washington state since 1996 and
found that voting by mail does
not affect either party’s share of
the electorate nor their percent-
age of the vote. It did modestly
increase turnout.
So Trump’s worry that a
vote-by-mail option would
mean “you’d never have anoth-
er Republican elected in this
country again” is misplaced. The
Republican secretary of state of
Ohio, Frank La Rose, rejected
that thinking, saying: “We’re
fortunate that we’ve been doing
vote-by-mail for a long time. We
know how to do it, and we know
how to get it done securely.”
Besides, the six swingiest of the
swing states — Pennsylvania,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona,
Florida and North Carolina —
already permit absentee ballots
upon request without the need
for an excuse. Just ask Trump,
who votes absentee himself in
the Sunshine State.
Voting by mail will require
money (Congress already
appropriated $400 million in
the CAREs Act), manpower
and time. States that require an
excuse could easily adopt a one-
time change to the law permit-
ting COVID-19 to suffice as an
excuse for 2020. States can also
provide secure drop-off sites
for ballots, as well as drive-thru
options. Extending early voting
(generally a terrible idea) makes
sense when we are dealing with
a new system for 75% of voters,
and when poll workers will likely
be scarcer than usual.
Standing in line with your
neighbors to vote in your local
school or church is a civic ritual
that ranks with fireworks on the
Fourth of July. It’s part of the
pageant of patriotism. But this
year, we’ll need to make other
arrangements. We cannot risk
a crisis of political legitimacy
on top of everything else we’re
saddled with. The slogan for
November should be: Mail it in!
Mona Charen is a Senior
Fellow at the Ethics and Public
Policy Center.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020 5A

Obituaries
Continued from Page 2A

Kessler Malone
COLUMBUS — Kes-
sler Chantez Malone,
24, died
April 9,
2020,
at UAB
Hospital in
Birming-
ham.
A fam-
ily only Malone
private
graveside service will
be at 11 a.m. Saturday,
at Memorial Gardens
Cemetery, with the Rev.
James Rice officiating.
Visitation is from 3-6
p.m. today, at Carter’s
Funeral Service. Car-
ter’s Funeral Service of
Columbus is in charge
of arrangements.
Ms. Malone was
born Oct. 16, 1995, in
Columbus, to Leroy
Malone and Denise
Malone. She was a 2014
graduate of Caledonia
High School. She was
formerly employed
with American Power
Source and was a mem-
ber of Union Chapel
M.B. Church.
In addition to her
parents, she is sur-
vived by her fiancé,
Leavy Terry of Ft.
Wainwright; and sister,
Annetta Staples of
Batesville.
Roxie Taylor
STARKVILLE —
Roxie Anna Hogan
Taylor, 86, died April
11, 2020.
Services will be at 11
a.m. Saturday, at Griffin
U.M. Church, with the
Rev. Ozell Landfair
Sr. officiating. Burial
will follow in Rock Hill
Cemetery. Visitation
is from 1-5 p.m. today,
at Century Hairston
Funeral. Century Hair-
ston Funeral Home of
Starkville is in charge
of arrangements.
Mrs. Taylor was born
July 5, 1933, to the late
Albert Hogan and Mar-
tha Lou Evans. She was
formerly employed as a
domestic worker.
She is survived by
her children, Lawrence
Bishop, Linda Hogan
both of St. Louis, Mis-
souri, Carleen Sherman
and Dan Hogan both
of Starkville; brother,
Melvin Hogan; nine
grandchildren; and 15
great-grandchildren.
Mary Lewis
SHUQUALAK —
Mary Jane Oates Lewis,
Funeral Tomlinson of Starkville, Mississippi Department as a factory worker. She is survived by
Chapel. Charlyne Schoolar and of health and as senior In addition to his her children, Cynthia
Lee-Sykes Art Buchanan both of pastor of True Believers parents, he is survived Bell Kellogg and Harry
Funeral Hatley; brother, Lee in Christ M.C, Church by his children, Mon- Carlton Bell III; four
Home of Childers of Wren; 16 of Jackson. trell Demond Turner, grandchildren; and
Macon is grandchildren; and 13 He is survived by Heather Tate, Amber nine great-grandchil-
in charge great-grandchildren. his wife, Josie Eli- Benson all of Crawford, dren.
of arrange- Lewis Pallbearers will be zenberry; children, Steven Harris and
ments. Bruce Schoolar, Pat- Shanta Elizenberry, Stephanie Harris both
Mrs. Lewis was born rick Schoolar, Dixon Allen Elinzenberry Jr., of Columbus; siblings,
Feb. 13, 1961, in Noxu- Tomlinson, Brandon LaKeecha Elinzenberry Mary Harris Lagrone
bee, to the late Charlie Schoolar and Charles Jones, Robert Anthony and Rufus Harris both
Thomas and Mamie W. “Chaz” Buchanan Elizenberry and Connie of Columbus; and seven
L. Oates Brandy. She III. Watford-Jones; siblings grandchildren.
was a member of the Sallie Butler, Mary
Kingdom Hall. Allen Elizenberry Sr. Hayden and Andy Eli- Betty Bell
In addition to her COLUMBUS — Rev. zenberry; nine grand- WEST POINT —
parents, she was Dr. Allen Elizenberry children; and three Betty Foley Bell, 94,
preceded in death by Sr. passed great-grandchildren. died April
her husband, James away. 15, 2020, at
Curtis Lewis; and Services Leonard Harris her daugh-
siblings, Wilbert L.
Oates, Jimmy D. Oates,
will be at COLUMBUS — ter’s home Robert Clarke
2 p.m. Sat- Leonard Harris, 54, in West Services:
Carl Thomas, LeDan urday, at died April Point. A memorial service will be held.
Clarke Home
Matthews and Shirley Lee-Sykes 13, 2020. A pri- 2nd Ave. North Location
Seabrum. Funeral Grave- vate family
She is survived by Elizenberry Sr.
Home. side ser- graveside Bell Dr. William Gates
her children, Kend- Burial will vices will service A private family graveside
rick Lewis of Marion, service will be held.
follow at Friendship be at noon will be held at Odd- Friendship Cemetery
Alabama, Curtis Oates, Cemetery. Lee-Sykes Saturday, fellows Cemetery in 2nd Ave. North Location
Rafeal Lewis and Funeral Home of Co- at Turn- Starkville, with Ben
Krystal Lewis; siblings, lumbus is in charge of er-Hair- Harris
Rosenkrans officiat- Betty Courtney
Bonnie Peoples of arrangements. ston Cem- ing. Robinson Funeral Incomplete
Detroit Michigan, Patsy College St. Location
Dr. Elizenberry was etery in Crawford, with Home of West Point is
Shield of Shuqualak,
Johnny Oates, Derome
born in Columbus to Bobby L. McCarter Sr. in charge of arrange- Raymond Lowe
the late Anthony and officiating. Visitation is ments. Incomplete
Mosley of Shuqualak Josie Elizenberry Mor- from 1-5:30 p.m. today, Mrs. Bell was born 2nd Ave. North Location
and Robert Stevenson gan. He was a graduate at Century Hairston Nov. 3, 1944, to the late
of Queens, New York; of R.E. Hunt High Funeral Home. Cen- Colonel James McCor-
and two grandchildren. mick Foley and Ailene
School, Mississippi tury Hairston Funeral
University for Women Home of Columbus is Maddox Foley Everest.
Cynthia Perrigin and New Foundation in charge of arrange- In addition to her
BONIFAY, Fla. — Theological Seminary. ments. parents, she was pre-
Cynthia Diane Perrigin, memorialgunterpeel.com
He was a veteran of Mr. Harris was ceded in death by her
41, died April 12, 2020. Vietnam War. He was born June 14, 1954, in husband Harry Carlton
Arrangements are formerly employed with Crawford, to Walter Bell Jr.
incomplete and will be Occidental Chemical C. Harris and Mattie
announced by Lown- Corporation, as a health Hairston Harris. He
des Funeral Home of program specialist with was formerly employed
Columbus.
Shirley Price
AMORY — Shirley
Temple Childers Bu-
chanan Price, 82, died
April 15, 2020, at North
Mississippi Medical
Center-Gilmore of
Amory.
Private graveside
services will be held
Saturday, at the Amory
Historical Cemetery. Reba Hall
Cleveland-Moffett Fu-
neral Home is in charge Reba Hall of Alexandria, LA, former resident
of arrangements. of Columbus, MS, passed away peacefully on
Mrs. Price was April 15, 2020, at the age of 95.
born Feb. 7, 1938, to She was born on September 19, 1924, in
James Arville and Nora Webster, KY, to George St. Clair and Lula Parks
Lee Welch Childers. St. Clair of Brandenburg, KY. Reba is reunited in
She was a graduate heaven with them; her husband, Ralph; grandson
of Itawamba Commu- ,James Conroy; son-in-law, Jim LaBroad; and
nity College and was many of her loved ones.
formerly employed in Reba and Ralph were high school sweethearts
the family furniture in Brandenburg, KY and were married on
business. She was a October 19, 1942, over 70 years before his
member of Wren Pres- passing in 2013. Moving many times during
byterian Church. her husband’s 21 years of military service to
In addition to her our country allowed her to have many different
parents, she was pre- career opportunities. She worked for Kentucky
ceded in death by her Vital Statics, billing, payroll, and maintenance
husband, Charles W. departments; but her passion for the American
Red Cross Organization was the highlight of her

59, died April 10, 2020,
at her residence.
A graveside ser-
vice will be at noon
Saturday, at Slaughter
Cemetery, with Robert
Stevens officiating. Vis-
itation is from 1-5 p.m.
today, at Lee-Sykes
Robert Clarke
Buchanan Sr.; husband,
Billy E. Price; son, working career. As a young woman, she worked
Charles W. Buchanan for the Red Cross Blood Mobile in Louisville, KY.
Jr.; and siblings, James When Ralph was assigned to Columbus AFB
On Monday April 13th, 2020, Robert “Bob” in the early 1960’s, Reba became the National
Childers, William John Clarke passed gently into the arms of the
Childers and Laura Red Cross Assistant Field Director and served in
Lord. Bob was born on September 26th, 1961, in that position for 17 years. Once she retired, she
Etta Easter. Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Northville
She is survived by continued her work as the National Red Cross
High School and served as a fireman for the Disaster Assistant for 5 years answering the call
her children, Dixie Mundy Township Fire Department for 20 years. to serve her community whenever a disaster
In 2001, Bob met his wife of 16 years Lisa Coward

Mary Newell
Mary Elizabeth Newell, 93, of Aliceville, AL
passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at DCH
Regional Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL.
A private family graveside service will be
Saturday, April 18, 2020, at 1:00 PM at Center
Hill Cemetery, Hamilton, MS, with Bro. Steve
Lammons officiating and Lowndes Funeral
Home assisting. Friends may view the service
online the following day.
Mrs. Newell was born November 9, 1926, in
Bibb County, AL. She retired from Hamilton
Garment Plant where she was a seamstress.
Mrs. Newell was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist
Church, Columbus, MS.
She was preceded in death by her father ,
Sidney Pratt Kennedy; mother. Jo Anna Simmons
Kennedy; husband, JC Newell, sisters; Kate Rice,
Bea Cummings, Cyndy Paynes, Alma “Nina”
Baker and Virginia Jones; and brother, Buddy
Kennedy.
Mrs. Newell is survived by her sons, James
(Brenda) Halverson, Pensacola, FL, Ronnie
(Elaine) Bracknell, Tuscaloosa, AL and Bobby
Halverson, Aliceville, AL; seven grandchildren,
16 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-
grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Center Hill Baptist
Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 59, Hamilton,
MS 39746.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
Clarke at the First Annual Mayberry Squad Car
Nationals of Fayette, AL. The couple married two
years later at an intimate sunset ceremony on the
gulf coast. Bob’s passions included his farm “The
Back 40” in Gladwin, MI, classic cars, HAM
radio, hunting and fishing, boating, and doting
on his grandchildren. Known affectionately
by friends and family as “Bob the Builder,” he
worked construction most of his working life.
“I always looked at him as a jack-of-all-trades,”
remembers his son Ben.
Bob is preceded in death by his mother, Mary
Wilma Nicks Clarke; and survived by his wife,
Lisa. Bob is remembered by his father, Thomas
Newman Clarke, Scottsdale, AZ; sister, Alice
(Nick) Roe, Scottsdale, AZ; son, Benjamin
(Emily) Junemann; and granddaughter, Blakeley,
Hemlock, MI; stepdaughter, Kristen (Aaron)
Budlove; and grandchildren, Brooklyn, Jude and
Sadie, Columbus, MS; stepson, Jonathan Colvin,
Aberdeen, MS; and stepdaughter, Jessica Colvin,
Atlanta, GA; and his good boy Cain, man’s best
friend.
A memorial service will be held at the Clarke
home on Friday April 17th presided by Brandon
Criswell of Sunday Local. Monetary donations
can be made in Bob’s name to the Columbus-
Lowndes Humane Society.
Sign the online guest book at
www.memorialgunterpeel.com
716 Second Avenue North • Columbus, MS
occurred.
Reba is survived by her daughters, Rosemarie
LaBroad of Pineville, LA, Linda Mentemeyer
and husband Maj Gen (Ret) Rich of Keller, TX
and Diane Conroy and husband Col (Ret) Daniel
of Goode, VA. She leaves behind many beloved
grandchildren, Mike Mentemeyer, Laura
Mentemeyer Maxfield and husband Michael and
great-grandson, Moxon, Kate Conroy Webster
and husband Brian and great-grandchildren
Connor and Abigail, Susan McCarty and husband
David and great-grandchildren Michael, Emily,
Erik and wife Noelle and great-great grandson
Ronan, Amy Lewis and husband Heath and great-
grandchildren Sydney, Ryanne and Annabelle.
Our family thanks the many wonderful
people at Canterbury House Assisted Living in
Alexandria, LA for their friendship and wonderful
care they provided Reba. She loved playing bingo
and many other games, and special events with
the residents. She considered Canterbury her
home away from home and loved all the care
providers, staff members, and the other residents
living there.
A graveside service will be held for both Reba
and Ralph, accompanied by an honor guard
for Ralph at Memorial Gardens of Columbus
Cemetery, Columbus, MS. The service will be
held at a later date, perhaps in the summer, due
to the current situation with the COVOD 19.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to
the First United Methodist Church, 602 Main
St. Columbus, MS 39701, where Ralph and Reba
attended church when living in Columbus.
Paid Obituary - Magnolia Funeral Home
6A FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020
African Americans
Continued from Page 1A
can-American folks,” said
state health officer Dr.
Thomas Dobbs during a
conference with the Mis-
sissippi Legislative Black
Caucus (MLBC) last
week.
So far, MSDH has yet
to publish county-level
data on the racial break-
down of coronavirus cas-
es. Department spokes-
woman Liz Sharlot told
The Dispatch the data
sample size is too small
for a local data release.
The racial disparity is
emerging not only in Mis-
sissippi but also among
other southern states and
across the nation. Simi-
lar racial gaps have been
found in several cities like
Chicago and Milwaukee,
as well as in the state of
Louisiana.
A recent study by the
Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention also
concluded the disease
might disproportionately
affect black citizens.
‘We can’t afford
to be off’
Working as “front-line
workers” — such as gro-
cery clerks, postal work-
ers, sanitation or fast-food
workers — during the pan-
demic increases chances
of exposure to the coro-
navirus, said Dr. Sandra
Melvin, who chairs the
Health Committee of the
Mississippi Conference of
the NAACP.
Many African Amer-
icans who work those
jobs, however, do not have
a choice.
“We’ve got to work,
that’s how we are going to
take care of
our family.
We have
to be out
there,” said
Lavonne
Latham-
H a r r is ,
p r e s i d e n t Harris
of the
Columbus -L ow ndes
branch of the NAACP.
“By being at the front
line, we are also at the low
end of the pay scale.”
African Americans in
the state are at an eco-
nomic disadvantage com-
pared to whites, Melvin
said.
Roughly 22 percent
of the state’s population
lived below the poverty
CLW
Continued from Page 1A
The Dispatch after the
meeting, will “more likely
than not” be implement-
ed once Gov. Tate Reeves
lifts Mississippi’s shelter-
in-place order — where
customers could agree to
have the amount of their
missed utilities payments
divided over the ensuing
12 months. The aver-
age monthly bill is $140
to $150, he said, which
would mean customers
three months behind
would owe less than $40
per month as they work to
make up their debt.
“The only (other) way
to recoup some of these
losses would be a rate in-
crease, and we don’t want
to do that,” Gale said in
the meeting.
CLW board chair
Brandy Gardner agreed
that a rate
increase
would be
a misstep,
voic i n g
support for
Gale’s plan.
“I think
that’s a Gardner
great start,”
Gardner said in the meet-
ing. “I think that it kind of
gives people some kind of
peace of mind.”
Gale said that as of last
Friday, CLW customers
had unpaid debts totaling
about $230,000 — a num-
ber that has continued
to rise each day. But he
stressed that the utility
remains financially stable
Tell your child a bedtime story.
line in 2017, the latest year
data available from the
American Community
Survey five-year estimate,
a survey conducted by
the U.S. Census Bureau.
About 57 percent of those
who live in poverty were
black, whereas 36 percent
were white, data shows.
Rep. Kabir Karriem
(D-Columbus), vice
chair of the
MLBC, said
the finan-
cial burden
is too hard
to bear for a
lot of black
Mississippi-
ans. Karriem
“We can’t
afford to be
off,” he said.
Addition-
ally, African
A mer ic a ns
who live in
“c rowded”
households Taylor
with chil-
dren and extended family
may not even have a place
to self-quarantine if they
start showing symptoms,
said Chris Taylor, former
president of the Oktibbe-
ha County NAACP chap-
ter.
“If they have five or 10
(people) in the house they
are living in,” he said,
“how can you self-iso-
late?”
High rate of health
conditions, limited
access to care
Patients with under-
lying health issues are
more vulnerable to the
coronavirus than healthy
individuals, Dobbs said.
Compared to whites,
blacks have much higher
rates of hypertension, im-
munocompromised con-
ditions, cardiovascular
diseases, lung diseases
and diabetes, he said. The
rate of diabetes for blacks
is about seven times high-
er than in whites, he said.
Behind the high rate
of health problems, com-
munity leaders say, is the
hardship for blacks to
access affordable health
care.
Roughly 12 percent of
Mississippians were not
insured as of 2018.
“If we break that down
by race, 13.9 percent (of
African Americans) are
and has not yet needed
to pursue loans to make
ends meet.
Chief Financial Offi-
cer Mike Bernsen said at
T hursday’s
meeting
that while
CLW ex-
pected to
break even,
it actually
made a prof-
it on electric Bernsen
services in
March. The utility’s year-
to-date estimates show a
projected deficit of rough-
ly $200,000, Bernsen said
that figure is “not too bad”
considering the pandem-
ic’s volatility.
“We always look for
bright spots in dark
times,” Bernsen said.
“... People staying at
home, they’re turning the
switches on a lot more,
and they’re running the
faucets a lot more.”
SUD monitoring
situation, weighing
action
Starkville Utilities De-
partment General Man-
ager Terry Kemp told The
Dispatch on Thursday the
utility has been regularly
hearing from customers
concerned about shutoffs
and arrangements due to
the pandemic.
SUD, unlike CLW,
hasn’t seen a large in-
crease in the number of
customers who could be
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
As of Wednesday evening, African Americans accounted for 56 percent of confirmed
COVID-19 cases in the state and 66 percent of the state’s COVID-19 deaths, state
data shows. The ethnic group only accounts for 38 percent of the state’s popula-
tion, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
without insurance in Mis-
sissippi ... compared to
10.6 percent of whites,”
Melvin said.
The lack of health in-
surance coverage, Taylor
said, is leaving a lot of
black citizens helpless
when they need medical
attention.
Mobile coronavirus
testing sites require a
doctor’s referral, for ex-
ample.
“The people not get-
ting the care, they don’t
have a personal doctor,”
Taylor said. “The majori-
ty of the whites do have a
health care provider, but
blacks have to depend on
the (emergency rooms).
And when they go to the
ER, if it’s not life and
death, they are going to
send you home.
“They can be tested,”
he added, “but they’ll al-
most be dying by the time
they do get tested.”
Mistrust
Exacerbating these
problems is a mistrust
a m o n g
African
A mericans
of insti-
tutions,
said David
Buys, state
health spe-
cialist at Buys
Mississippi
State University.
“(That) maybe leads
African Americans to …
wait until they are further
along in the disease pro-
cess before they show up
subject to disconnection
— so far, anyway, the cus-
tomers whose financial
issues predated the pan-
demic comprise the bulk
of that population.
“We’ll probably have a
better feel for what that
number is
in about
two more
weeks when
we finish
a cycle,”
Kemp said.
“But right
now, it ap- Kemp
pears that
our numbers are pretty
consistent with what they
were prior to this virus
starting. It’s the same
group, and it goes back
prior to that, and so we’ve
not seen a big spike yet.
“Our hope is that in
the near future we’ll be
able to start back on our
normal practices, but
part of that is going to be
continuing to work with
people as their needs are
identified,” he added.
He said the utility is
making a push to ensure
its customers stay caught
up with their bills, which
can tend to get out of hand
after months without
making a payment.
“If people get three,
four months behind with
no payments, that amount
can be quite large,” Kemp
said.
He said SUD — which
has not taken out loans
and does not anticipate
to people in the Afri-
can-American communi-
ty and the virus wouldn’t
have hit so dispropor-
tionately,” Karriem said.
“We have to set up test-
ing shops inside the Afri-
can-American communi-
ties … and make it more
accessible.”
District Attorney Scott
Colom said there should
be a targeted approach to
reach those who are vul-
nerable to the virus and
offer them mobile testing.
“If a person in … pub-
lic housing has the coro-
navirus, it can more easily
spread because they are
Courtesy graphic/Mississippi Department of Health
living more condensed,”
he said.
Help is already avail-
able in Mississippi, with
free, mobile testing sites
for testing and for treat- work of those “local cham- across the state. The long-
ment,” Buys said. pions” may help dispel term solution, Karriem
The retail store worker rumors and spread accu-
said, would be to expand
echoed that point. rate, useful information,
Medicaid to cover more
“We’ve been taught Buys said. Specifically,
uninsured populations.
to not trust the govern- faith groups can help, too.
ment,” she said. “We’ve But for now, chances are
“I think ministers, par-
been taught by different ticularly in African-Amer- slim.
things that have hap- Even with the mea-
pened to people over the
ican communities, carry a
sures that are already in
lot of weight,” he said.
course of time.” Some local leaders place, misinformation and
Some African Amer- also pointed to the need lack means will continue
icans in her community to offer more tests to to be a challenge, Buys
believe in conspiracy the- Mississippians in need, said.
ories, she said, and that particularly in the black “It’s hard to undo de-
the pandemic is “not real.” communities. cades of mistrust and
“(They think) it’s just “I wish testing had concern about cost,” Buys
something the media is been more available said.
putting out,” she said.
“They felt that if it was
that time the Lord wanted
to (spread) the coronavi-
rus, they were going to
get it no matter what.”
That spread of misin-
formation puts those com-
munities more at risk,
Karriem said.
“There was a pletho-
ra of misinformation …
that African Americans
couldn’t get it, that we
were immune to the coro-
navirus,” he said. “All of
that has been debunked.
We see now that anybody
can get it. It is a serious
disease and is something
that cannot be taken light-
ly.”
What can be done?
To raise awareness
among Mississippians,
Buys said community
leaders and local officials
can help “put the word
out.”
Trusted local leaders
matter, and using the net-
needing to — has no con-
crete plan like that of CLW
in terms of delinquent pay
arrangements, hoping it
will take less than a full
year for customers to be
able to pay their debts.
“Right now, we’re only
into it one month or two
months, and generally
you would look for com-
ing out of it the same
time that it took to get in,”
Kemp said.
When customers can
return to work will be a
critical point for the utili-
ty; so too will be the date
when Reeves rescinds the
state’s shelter-in-place or-
der.
“If the governor were
to lift that, I do think
that takes some of the
pressure off and creates
more flexibility as we go
forward for the people to
make those payments,”
Kemp said.
Sports MISSISSIPPI STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ANALYSIS
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020
B
SECTION

WITH SCHOLARSHIPS TO FILL, HERE’S WHO MSU AND

MCCRAY-PENSON COULD HYPOTHETICALLY TURN TO

Keither Lucas/ODU Athletics

Nikki McCray-Penson was introduced as MSU’s new coach in a press conference Tuesday.
BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — Nikki Mc-
Cray-Penson is looking for fit.
Heading into her first offsea-
son as the head coach at Mis-
sissippi State — albeit a rather
unique one given the outbreak
of COVID-19 — McCray-Pen-
son inherits a team that was
ranked No. 3 nationally in ES-
PN’s Way-too-Early Top 25 pri-
or to Vic Schaefer’s departure
to Texas.
And while growing pains are
a given when coaching tran-
sitions occur, the former Old
Dominion coach has four schol-
arships to play with heading
into next season. With needs
at guard and in the low-post,
expect MSU to make a play for
some of the bigger names on
the grad transfer market.
With that said, here are a few
names to watch:
G Niya Beverley —
Wisconsin (Junior)
Before Vic Schaefer left for
Texas, the Bulldogs kicked
the tires with Duke graduate
transfer Kyra Lambert. Now
Lambert is joining Schaefer
in Austin and MSU could still
stand to add a guard with some
leadership and experience to its
roster.
Beverley’s numbers are al-
most identical to Lambert’s,
if not slightly better, over her
three years in Madison and
her 90 career games played are
more than any guard on MSU’s
current roster. It’s also worth
noting the Laurel, Maryland na-
tive played her high school bas-
ketball in the same conference
as rising sophomore guard Ali-
yah Matharu.
McCray-Penson also has ties
to the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia
area given her time at Old Do-
minion and that could factor in
here should Beverley be inter-
ested.
G Destiny Slocum — Oregon
State (Grad transfer)
Of all the players on this list,
Slocum is probably the least
likely to end up at MSU. By all
accounts, there’s been little if
any indication the former Or-
egon State product has had
any contact with the new staff
in Starkville, but should MSU
need an instant-difference mak-
er she fits the bill.
After spending her freshman
season at Maryland, Slocum av-
eraged 15.2 points, 4.6 assists
and 3.2 rebounds per game for
the Beavers. The former Mc-
Donald’s All-American also
boasted a 1.75 assist-to-turn-
over ratio.
Originally from Meridian,
See WBB, 2B

For New Hope softball, heartbreaking Video chats to home

workouts, NFL draft
end to ‘dream season’ is still sinking in
BY THEO DEROSA
prospects get it done
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS visits, Kelley and other
tderosa@cdispatch.com prospects had to do “vir-
UCLA running back tual” visits with teams.
Charly Clanton had been Joshua Kelley was look- Their conversations with
dreaming of it since sev- ing forward to visiting coaching staffs took
enth grade. various NFL teams, place on video confer-
For five years, the New checking out their facil- encing technology like
Hope High School short- ities and meeting coach- Skype, Zoom and Face-
stop couldn’t wait for all the es before the COVID-19 Time.
fireworks her senior season pandemic changed the On the positive side,
was going to bring: Senior pre-draft process. the absence of visits
night. Playoffs. A chance to “I think that would’ve gave players more time
play for a state champion- been really dope be- to work out.
ship for the final time. cause I’ve been a fan of “You take calls from
And through the first 10 the NFL for so long and coaches and then you
games of Clanton’s senior to get a chance to actual- have the rest of the day
year with the Trojans, all ly be in a facility and see to train,” Kelley said.
those things looked like what goes on would’ve “You’re not flying on a
they were on the horizon. been really cool,” Kelley plane. You’re not in ho-
New Hope improved to 5-0, said. tels. It’s an extremely
Dispatch file photo
6-0, 7-0. The team earned The New Hope softball team finished the 2020 season at 8-2 and earned the No. 1 Instead, because the different process right
the No. 1 ranking in one ranking in Class 5A at one point. The Trojans’ outstanding season came to an official NFL on March 13 barred now.”
See NEW HOPE, 2B end Wednesday due to the coronavirus pandemic. all in-person pre-draft See NFL, 3B
2B FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020
New Hope
Continued from Page 1B
MHSAA Class 5A poll.
“This was our season,”
Clanton said.
It is theirs no longer.
On Wednesday, when
the MHSAA announced
the cancellation of all
spring sports and activities
due to the COVID-19 coro-
navirus pandemic, Clan-
ton and the Trojans had to
come to terms with the fact
that their “dream season”
was over for good.
“It really was challeng-
ing to take in that I wasn’t
gonna have my senior night
or my last game,” said se-
nior second baseman Kate-
lyn Humphreys, who said
she sincerely believes New
Hope would have won this
year’s Class 5A champion-
ship. “This team has put in
a lot of work, and it’s just
difficult to see that we ar-
en’t gonna get to finish it.”
New Hope coach Ca-
sey Finch Halford said the
abrupt end to a season in
which “the stars were just
aligned” was a stroke of
bad luck her team is still
trying to wrap its head
around.
“The Lord has a sense
of humor,” Finch Halford
said. “He has a way of
teaching us patience.”
She and the Trojans
were patient, though. They
waited more than a month
after what would be their
final game for a final de-
cision from the MHSAA,
knowing what it would
be but holding out hope
regardless for a postpone-
ment to the summer or
another way their season
could survive.
They didn’t get lucky.
“Ultimately, our hearts
are still broken, but at least
they did try to see if there
was anything else they
could do,” Finch Halford
said.
WBB
Continued from Page 1B
Idaho, it’s fair to assume
she sticks out West in
another Pac-12 or Big 12
program, but should MSU
be able to join the mix for
her services, she’s a sure-
fire All-American candi-
date next season.
G DiJonai Carrington —
Stanford (Grad transfer)
Like Slocum, Car-
rington could end up
staying on the West Coast
with another high-major
program, but MSU could
stand to benefit from the
fifth-year senior.
An All-Pac-12 honoree
in 2019, the San Diego
product missed all but five
games in 2020 due to inju-
ry. That said, Carrington
averaged 14 points and 7.5
rebounds per game as a
junior — her first season
as a full-time starter.
Rising junior Myah
Taylor and rising soph-
omore JaMya Min-
go-Young are both tal-
ented enough to run the
point for McCray-Penson
and Matharu’s scoring
upside at shooting guard
is seemingly limitless,
When the decision
came down Wednesday af-
ternoon, the team’s group
message began to blow up,
as New Hope’s underclass-
men told the team’s seniors
— Clanton, Humphreys,
Reagan Cook and Gabbi
Manning — they loved and
appreciated them. Parents
of players on the close-knit
squad sent their condolenc-
es.
“We were really hoping
that it wouldn’t happen,”
Cook said of Wednesday’s
ruling, all but inevitable
after Gov. Tate Reeves
announced Tuesday that
public schools in the state
would remain closed for
the rest of the school year.
“We had a really good shot
this year. We were on top.”
New Hope finished its
abbreviated 2020 season
with an 8-2 record, winning
its first six games before a
trip to Gulf Shores, Ala-
bama, for a major tourna-
ment on what proved to be
the season’s final weekend.
While the Trojans whipped
Hunters Lane (Tennessee)
31-0 and beat New Site 11-1,
they suffered their first two
losses of the season to host
Gulf Shores and to Walker
Valley (Tennessee).
But even in that final
game, a 3-0 shutout loss
to Walker Valley, New
Hope continued to show
improvement. Late in the
five-inning contest, as
pitcher Natalie Pruitt set-
tled into a groove against
the Trojans, Finch Halford
directed her on-deck hitter
to watch Pruitt’s grip as
she held the ball against
her stomach rather than in
her glove. Once it was clear
whether the pitcher was
about to throw a rise ball,
a fastball or a curveball,
New Hope’s on-deck hitter
would tell the batter.
but the former Cardinal
would give MSU an ex-
perienced piece who has
competed in one of the
top conferences in the
country.
G Zaay Green — Tennes-
see (Sophomore)
MSU has plucked
transfers from fellow
Southeastern Conference
squads as recently as
2019 when the Bulldogs
landed Anriel Howard
from Texas A&M, while
now-departed guard Jor-
dan Danberry was also a
one-time Arkansas player.
If McCray-Penson
continues that trend, she
could reach into her roots
in Knoxville and take a
long look at Green. De-
spite being a consensus
five-star product as a high
schooler, MSU wasn’t
heavily involved in her re-
cruitment.
That said, Green
earned SEC All-Fresh-
man honors during the
2019 season as she aver-
aged 9.6 points and four
rebounds per game before
a torn ACL derailed her
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
The Trojans began
stringing together hits
against Pruitt; they didn’t
score, but Cook said they
would have likely tied the
contest had it lasted one
more inning.
“We found so many
great things even in that
one game,” Finch Hal-
ford said. “Them learning
things that fast and being
able to help each other, it
was just so many ‘aha’ mo-
ments that were just excit-
ing.”
Cook and Humphreys
both credited a lot of New
Hope’s success to Finch
Halford, a former coach
at East Mississippi Com-
munity College and West
Point High School in her
first year at the helm for
the Trojans.
“We have an amazing
coach that’s gonna take
this team far, time and time
again,” Humphreys said.
She expressed her op-
timism for the Trojans’
future seasons as long as
they have Finch in the dug-
out and talented players
the coach can develop.
“We have legends on
this team to come,” Hum-
phreys said. “We have sev-
enth, eighth graders that
are putting the ball in play;
they’re making the plays
that I knew I couldn’t make
being that age.”
The Trojans’ own leg-
ends — their four seniors
— will be moving on.
Clanton is committed to
play softball at Northeast
Mississippi Community
College, but her fellow
upperclassmen have seen
the pandemic affect their
ability to catch the eye of
college recruiters. Hum-
phreys hopes to play for
EMCC, but the National
Junior College Athletic As-
sociation has suspended
sophomore campaign.
Her measurables are
comparable with rising
sophomore Rickea Jack-
son and incoming five-
star freshman Madison
Hayes, but her past suc-
cess in the SEC coupled
with McCray-Penson’s
ties to Tennessee as a
player could put MSU in
play for the former Mc-
Donald’s All-American.
F Birna Benonysdottir
— Arizona (Freshman)
Starkville isn’t exact-
ly a Nordic hotspot, but
the Bulldogs could stand
to add Benonsysdottir to
a front court that will be
thin heading into next
season.
MSU does return sec-
ond team All-SEC per-
former Jessika Carter,
junior college product
Yemiyah Morris — who
came on strong in the
tail end of last year —
and former five-star re-
cruit and Michigan State
transfer Sidney Cooks,
but another big body
could do wonders.
Stuck in a logjam in
in-person recruiting; Man-
ning is hoping for a spot on
Meridian Community Col-
lege’s roster.
Cook has made plans
to attend the Mississippi
University for Women,
where she wants to go into
nursing; she’s still unsure
whether her softball career
ended with Wednesday’s
ruling.
“I’m not sure softball is
gonna be in my future,” she
Sudoku
said. “I really want it to, but YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
I’m still debating that.”
For now, she’ll have the
memories of the final game Sudoku
Sudoku is a number-
placing puzzle based on
Yesterday’s answer
she played. How her team- Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis a several
with num- 3 7 8 2 5 9 4 6 1
mates began to cry as the ber-placing puzzle
given numbers. The object 4 9 6 1 7 8 2 5 3
2020 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
reality of what could hap- based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 2 1 5 6 3 4 7 8 9
pen sunk in. How Finch grid with several
1 to 9 in the empty spaces 7 6 2 4 8 1 9 3 5
took the team aside to given
so that numbers. The
each row, each 8 3 9 7 6 5 1 4 2
tell them she loved them, object
column isandtoeach
place
3x3 the
box 1 5 4 3 9 2 6 7 8
numbers
that they’d overcome a lot, contains the1same
to 9 number
in
that they’d done well, that the empty spaces so 9 4 3 5 2 6 8 1 7
only once. The difficulty 5 8 1 9 4 7 3 2 6
they’d learned new things. that each row, each
level increases from
“‘This is it,’” Clanton column and each 6 2 7 8 1 3 5 9 4
Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday.
thought to herself. Difficulty Level 4/16
the same number only once. The difficulty level
Had she known for
increases from Monday to Sunday.
sure, though, Clanton said
she would have taken her
final game more seriously,
focusing more and putting
more heart into it.
Humphreys said she
would have savored the fi-
nal minutes, hanging out
with her teammates one
more time had she known
what was to come.
And instead of rush-
ing off the field that Sat-
urday afternoon, already
impatient for a road game
against Columbus High
School that coming Tues-
day to open district play,
she wishes the Trojans
had lingered on that field
in Alabama where they
came together for the fi-
nal time.
“We would have just
stayed in the moment a
little longer,” Humphreys
said.
Tucson, Benonysdottir
saw time in just 10 games
this season, hitting 3-of-7
shots while adding six re-
bounds and four assists.
Playing time aside, the
Keflavik, Iceland native
has proven her worth at
the international level
where she averaged 12.4 ACROSS
points and four rebounds 1 Dr. visit
at the under-20 European 5 Game callers
9 Bogged down
Championships in 2019.
Throughout last sea- 11 Begat
son, Schaefer raved about 13 Make amends
Cooks’ ability to step out 14 Self-con-
and hit 3-pointers and Be- tained
nonysdottir offers some 15 Plop down
ability there, but the for- 16 Heist
mer Wildcat is a dynam- 18 Garden
activity
ic talent who would give
20 History
MSU some added length
stretch
on the interior. 21 “Rob Roy”
writer
Other names to watch: 22 Fight me-
G Rokia Doumbia — mento
Arkansas 23 “My country DOWN 24 Face, in slang
F Natalie Kelly — Au- — of thee” 1 Stockpile 25 Cuff site
burn 24 Young fox 2 Feels sorry for 26 Virgil hero
G Jaden Owens — 25 “Hold on!” 3 Import oppo- 27 Demented
UCLA 27 Short skirts nent 28 Justice
F Iho Lopez — Florida 29 Old auto 4 Top rating Antonin
State 30 Clerical robe 5 Putting to work 30 Move furtively
32 Viscera 6 Fancy fur 31 Patellae
G Dara Mabrey — Vir-
34 Photographer 7 Movie theater places
ginia Tech Goldin worker 33 Poker pay-
35 Paris sight 8 Lady of Spain ment
36 Writer Zola 10 Owed 37 One of the
38 Designer’s amounts Stooges
asset 12 Exclude
39 Historic 17 Small worker
riveter 19 Encouraging
40 Dance bit words
41 Cockpit 22 Confession
guesses list
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
NFL
Continued from Page 1B
Of course, training more access to equip- local park where they’ve Tulane wide receiver
schedules had to be dras- ment. Some have less. shown up and found it Darnell Mooney said he
tically altered because Space at home can be locked up. We’ve heard runs four miles a day
players can’t go to gyms an issue, depending on of guys literally work- with his dog and works
or use their school’s fa- where they’re living. ing out in fields. Some out at home. He goes
cilities. Kelley’s agent, “What we’ve been of them are working out outside to do positional
Molly McManimie, said able to do is create a cou- in their homes or in their drills.
she had to scramble to ple of different programs yards or in the street, “It’s not a big thing for
find 50-pound dumbbells and send them directly,” running in the street.” me because I’m always in
for her client to use at said Brent Callaway, pro Boston College run- the house,” said Mooney,
home. sports director at Exos ning back A.J. Dillon who ran a 4.38-second,
“You get super cre- in Dallas. said he misses the 40-yard dash at the com-
ative,” McManimie said. Going outside has weight room and work- bine.
“That’s where your been the biggest chal- ing with trainers in per- While this crop of
grit and determination lenge for players. son. He’s doing sit-ups prospects doesn’t know
comes in. Bottom line is, “Athletes who are try- and push-ups at home what a typical pre-draft
this is a good example of ing to go to local high and running. process looks like,
how you’re going to face school field are being “This is my only draft, teams have had to make
adversity. There’s going told that they can’t go so this is my normal,” many adjustments from
to be things in your ca- out in that field or have Dillon said. “I’m making their normal routine.
reer that aren’t perfect. someone come up and the most of it, everybody New York Giants gener-
But if you want it bad run them off that field,” is. Obviously the biggest al manager Dave Gettle-
enough, you’ll make it Callaway said. “If there’s difference is the visits, man said the ability to
work.” a place nearby, they’ve the team meetings. I’ve chat with players on vid-
Some players have tried it, whether it’s a done a bunch on Zoom.” eo is “pretty beneficial”
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY: I
was married
for more
than 20 years
and am recently
divorced. I should
have done it
years ago, but
my son, “Nicky,”
begged me not
to. He’s 22.
I am now dat-
ZITS ing a gentleman,
“Clyde,” and am
very happy to be
in this relation-
ship. Clyde treats
me like a queen.
Dear Abby
I have known
him longer than I’ve known
my ex-husband. He and his
family (including his ex-wife)
are close friends.
Before we started dating,
Clyde called my ex, told him
we were going to start seeing
each other and that he wanted
GARFIELD my ex to hear it from him, not
through the rumor mill. My ex
said he was fine with it and
thanked him for letting him
know.
We then informed Clyde’s
kids and my son. Everyone
was fine with it except Nicky.
He’s upset that we started
dating three months after
my divorce. Mind you, my
marriage to Nicky’s father
was over years ago. Clyde had
nothing to do with it. Now my
son has an “attitude” with
CANDORVILLE Clyde. He hardly speaks to
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (April
17). It’s a year of fun twists and
unexpected encounters. Col-
leagues will become like family,
and family will support your
work in some way. You’ll invest
in yourself, which will pay huge
dividends six months from now.
At the end of 2020, you’ll be
the recipient of an award, bonus
BABY BLUES or gift of gratitude. Sagittarius
and Gemini adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 9, 7, 39, 20
and 18.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
You’ve been thinking about
how to get what you want, and
it’s clear you’ll need to make a
special request. Timing is ev-
erything. It will be better to ask
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
FAMILY CIRCUS
because “you can see the
guys.”
“I’m a city kid and a big
believer in body language
and all this and that,”
Gettleman said. “It’s not
great, it’s not perfect, it’s
OK. For me, what we miss
is watching them interact,
watching them in your fa-
cility. By not having pro
days, you also miss that
personal contact. Watch-
ing guys among their
peers and how they oper-
ate, how they’re received.
That tells a lot when you
just watch a kid in those
circumstances.
“Obviously, when we
would go to workouts, a
lot of times the night be-
fore, our coach and scout
that would be at the pro
day would take one, two
him and never
spends time with
us.
I have always
been there
for Nicky. His
actions hurt.
He can’t seem
to accept that
I’m happy and
that Clyde and
I are more than
friends now. Be-
fore we started
dating, Nicky and
Clyde had a good
relationship.
How do I get my
son to come
around? — SECOND CHANCE
IN MICHIGAN
DEAR SECOND CHANCE:
Nicky may be hoping that you
and his father might one day
reconcile and regard Clyde as
an interloper. Explain to him
that the divorce may seem
recent to him, but for you and
his dad, it was the final step in
disengaging from a marriage
that had been over for years.
Tell him you love him and are
sorry he is upset, but it’s
no excuse for treating Clyde
badly, and you expect him to
treat Clyde with respect, if
not affection. Then go on and
enjoy your life because you
deserve it.
DEAR ABBY: My children
attend a school where they
are in three different buildings.
One is in high school, one in
after nightfall or tomorrow.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
You are mysterious and all the
more attractive for your secrets.
You’ll be nudged, and down-
right bothered, to reveal them.
Resist. There’s more power in
keeping them to yourself.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
You’ll have a heightened aware-
ness of what arises from your
subconscious, whether it be in
the form of dreams, creativity or
the assimilation of subtle clues
you’ve picked up along the way.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
Life has its own set of naviga-
tional rules. To understand it,
you have to look backward; to
live it, you can only go forward.
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020 3B
or three of the players
out to dinner and have
some conversation that
way. We have the visual
touchpoint, but we’re real-
ly missing out on the per-
sonal touchpoint, when
you can smell or feel a
guy.”
Baltimore Ravens GM
Eric DeCosta said one of
the biggest challenges
with lack of visits is as-
sessing injured players.
“We’ve had to really
work with our training
staff and with the college
training staffs to get as
much updated informa-
tion as possible,” DeCosta
said.
Agents are helping
players post videos on so-
cial media because they
missed out on pro days.
middle school and the young-
est is in elementary. Recently,
the married elementary school
principal had an affair with a
married teacher’s assistant. A
few years before, the married
middle school principal had an
affair with a married teacher.
My concern is that the
administration knows this
but does nothing about it. I
have addressed them with my
concerns. I believe there was
an abuse of power. If they are
willing to sweep this under
the rug, what else have they
swept? Should I mind my own
business or pursue the issue
further? — MOM ON PATROL
IN NEW YORK
DEAR MOM: Because of
the litigious environment we
live in, many businesses and
educational institutions have
policies that discourage frat-
ernization. What you consider
an abuse of power may be a
relationship between consent-
ing adults. You say you have
brought this to the attention of
school administration. I think
you have done enough. From
now on, stay out of this unless
you have absolute proof there
is coercion involved.
Dear Abby is written by
Abigail Van Buren, also known
as Jeanne Phillips, and was
founded by her mother,
Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear
Abby at www.DearAbby.com or
P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles,
CA 90069.
Also, you can only feel what it’s
like to be inside it when you’re
standing still.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22).
There was a time you didn’t
believe that you could actually
change your circumstances by
merely observing them differ-
ently. Now you believe it, and
you do it on a daily basis. Today
brings proof.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
The messiness of life is the
best part. Maybe it won’t make
the edit for social media, and
that’s why the insider’s view
is always the best. Intimacy is
about knowing another person’s
mess.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
It’s like you’re trying to move a
couch into a room with a small
door. Once inside, everything
will work out nicely. But getting
through this tight squeeze will
take some doing. What needs
to be released in order to move
forward?
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). Visualizing alone can’t
make things true, but it can
motivate action that feels
natural and familiar instead of
labored and difficult. As you
visualize the future, you lay its
groundwork.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). The ancients believed that
the soul resides in the area
between the heart and the
solar plexus. The soulfire in you
radiates a sense of warmth and
anticipation from this space
today.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). You’ve been generous and
that generosity boomerangs
back to you today in the form of
unexpected help that allows you
to accomplish more than you
thought possible.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). Why return to projects that
were not enormously successful
the first time around? You’d
rather move on, and move on
you will, after a brief bit of busi-
ness is handled. Dive in and get
it done.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). Just because something
goes unspoken doesn’t mean
it’s unspeakable. Words will be
like the keys to a cage. You’ll
communicate and free yourself.
Short end of the stick
SOLUTION:
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020 5B

Historic Church
Homecoming Canceled
Historic Mt. Pleasant
Methodist Church, Wright
Road, Caledonia, MS Annual
Homecoming on May 10, 2020
has been canceled due to the
current Coronavirus Pandemic
shutdown orders and it has
not been rescheduled.
School of Ministry
Enrollment
Mississippi State School
of Ministry is now taking ap-
plications for enrollment. Earn
a certification, associates,
bachelor, master or doctoral
degree in divinity. For more
information, call Dr. Michael T.
Boyd, 662-425-8443.
CANCELED UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE
Forgive and Live
Forgive and Live meets
from 6-7 p.m. every 2nd and
4th Tuesday of each month
in the downtown YMCA Board
Room and every 3rd Wednes-
day at Vibrant Church Cafe.
Inquire and seek informa-
tion to succeed spiritually,
physically and financially and
be eager to be a blessing to
the community, churches and
families through the Word of
God. The public is invited to
attend. For more information,
call Pat Fisher Douglas, 662-
251-5899.
Fellowship Dinner,
Youth Service
Pleasant Ridge Faith Cen-
ter, 923 Ridge Road, hosts a
fellowship dinner and youth
service every 3rd Sunday.
Gospel Book Club
Friendship M.B. Church,
1102 12th Ave. S., invites the
public to join its Community
Gospel Book Club from 6-7
p.m., on the fourth Friday of
each month, to study and
share views of the Holy Bible.
Open to all ages and ethnic-
ities. For more information,
call Barbara Mattison or Lillian
Murray, 662-570-5595.
Grief Support Group
The Oil of Joy for Grief and
RELIGIOUS BRIEFS
Mourning offers a grief sup-
port group at 6 p.m. every 2nd
Thursday of the month at Unit-
ed Christian Baptist Church,
232 Yorkville Road East.
“Making your grieving journey
easier.” For more information,
call 662-327-0604 or e-mail
unitedchristian@cableone.net.
Celebrate Recovery
The Assembly Church,
2201 Military Road, and
Meadowview Church, 300 Lin-
den Circle in Starkville, host
Celebrate Recovery at 6 p.m.
every Sunday at The Assembly
Church (next to Lowe’s) and
at 6 p.m. every Tuesday at
Meadowview Church. Get help,
healing and support for any
habit, hurt or hang-up using
the Christ-centered 12 steps.
Divorce Recovery
The DivorceCare Recovery
support group meets from
4:30-6 p.m. each Sunday
beginning Jan. 12-April 5 at
Meadowood Baptist Church,
1512 Hatley Road in Amory.
Child care provided through
5th grade. Standalone
seminar sessions topics are
“Facing My Anger”, “Facing My
Loneliness”, “New Relation-
ships”, and “Forgiveness”.
For more information, call
Meadowood Baptist Church,
662-256-5616, or email
meadowoodamory@gmail.
com.
Prayer for Youth
Every 2nd and 3rd Sat-
urday, Pleasant Ridge Faith
Center hosts a prayer for the
youth from 2-3 p.m.
Prayer, Free Coffee
Mount Zion Missionary
Baptist Church, 2221 14th
Ave. N., hosts free coffee and
a prayer community outreach
service from 8-9 a.m. every
5th Saturday. For information,
contact Jesse Slater, 662-
328-4979.
Radio Program
Apostles Patrick Perkins
invites the public to tune in to
WTWG, radio 1050 AM for Per-
fecting the Saints Broadcast,
Wednesdays 8:30 a.m.
a.m.; Tuesday Bible study 7
Women Prayer, p.m. For information, call Pas-
Worship Service tor District Elder Lou Nabors,
Church of the Eternal 662-329-1234.
Word, 106 22nd St. S., holds
a prayer and worship service
every Thursday from 5-6 p.m.
Fitness
Call Marie Nabors, 662-549- Transformations
4322 or 662-329-1234, for The Transformational
prayer requests. Church, 2301 Jess Lyons
Road, hosts boxing lessons
Prayer Ministry Mondays and Wednesday
from 5-7 p.m., weight-loss
New Beginning Everlasting
Outreach Ministry invites the boot camp Tuesdays and
public to call in with their Thursdays 5-7 p.m. and both
prayer requests at 662-327- on Saturdays 9-11 a.m.
9843.
Youth Fellowship
Prayer Service The Transformational
Church of the Eternal Church, 2301 Jess Lyons
Word, 106 22nd. St. S., Co- Road, hosts Youth Fellowship
lumbus, holds prayer service from 7-8:30 p.m. every Tues-
Thursday nights 5-6 p.m. day. Games, prayer, service,
Contact Marie Nabors, 662- food, & more. Transportation
549-4322. Church service available. For information,
times: Sunday school 10
a.m.; Sunday worship 11:15
call Iris Roberson, 662-295-
7456.

25 years after Oklahoma City

bombing, anxiety remains high
This year’s anniversary
ceremony was canceled
due to the coronavirus
restrictions
BY SEAN MURPHY
The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — In the 25
years since a truck bomb ripped
through a federal building in down-
town Oklahoma City and killed 168
people, the United States has suf-
fered through foreign wars, a rise in
mass shootings and a much deadli-
er act of terror, the Sept. 11 attacks.
But the April 19, 1995, assault on
a sleepy city in the nation’s heart-
land shocked many Americans out
of their sense of security and awak-
ened them to their own vulnera-
bility. Terror wasn’t just a foreign
problem, it was here. Events since
have only contributed to a shared
anxiety.
Ordinarily, survivors and vic-
tims’ families would gather Sunday
at the memorial where the Alfred
P. Murrah Building once stood to
pay tribute to the lives that were
lost and tragically altered, as they
have every year since the bombing.
But the 25th anniversary ceremony
was canceled due to the coronavi-
rus restrictions, denying the public
the chance to collectively grieve a
past tragedy because a current one
is unfolding. Instead, the Oklaho-
ma City National Memorial and
Museum will offer a pre-recorded
video that will air online and on TV
and will include the reading of the
names of everyone killed followed
by 168 seconds of silence.
“There are a lot of things to
grieve this spring, and the loss of
the commemoration in person is
one of them,” Oklahoma City Mayor
David Holt recently told The Asso-
ciated Press. “But I think we’ve ac-
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loans waiting for Congress
to approve more funding.
The Small Business Ad-
ministration said Thurs-
day that it reached the
$349 billion lending limit
for the program, after ap-
proving nearly 1.7 million
loans.
Thousands of small
business owners whose
loans have not yet been
processed must now look
to Congress to approve
a Trump administration
request for another $250
billion for the program.
Lawmakers have been
haggling over whether to
extend the program as it
stands now, or add provi-
sions that, among other
things, would help minori-
ty businesses. It’s unclear
when they might reach an
agreement that would al-
low loan approvals to con-
tinue.
Business owners left in
limbo were getting more
anxious after hearing the
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er in Ventura, California.
She applied for a loan on
April 3, the first day of the
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Meanwhile, thousands
of other businesses are
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loans when the program is
extended.
While they wait, some
banks continue to accept
and process applications
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4B FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

There’s
no place
like home
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have for slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
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information from the CDC.

#AloneTogether

TOGETHER, WE CAN HELP SLOW THE SPREAD.


Classifieds
LEGALS
Call us: 662-328-2424
Legal Notices
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF BENJAMIN G. REID
SR., DECEASED
BENJAMIN G. REID JR., ADMIN-
ISTRATOR
CAUSE NO.: 2019-0164-RPF
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
TO: All Unknown Heirs-at-Law of
Benjamin G. Reid Sr., de-
ceased, and Any Unknown
Parties In Interest
You have been made a defend- IMPORTANT AND YOU MUST
ant in the Petition for Adjudica- TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO
tion of Heirs-at-Law filed by the PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.
Administrator, Benjamin G. Re-
id Jr., on March 25, 2020,
seeking to determine the heirs- and defend against the Peti-
at-law of Benjamin G. Reid Sr., tion for Termination of Parent-
deceased. Other than you, the al Rights at 9:00 o’clock a.m.,
only other interested parties in on Friday, the 15th day of May,
this action are Benjamin G. Re- 2020, in the Lowndes County
id Jr., Anita Reid Rickman and
Wanda C. Stanfield.
You are summoned to appear
and represent your interests
against said Petition before the entered against you for the
Honorable Rodney P. Faver,
Chancellor of the 14th Chan-
cery District at 9:00 a.m. on
the 27th day of May 2020, at
the Lowndes County Court-
house in Columbus, Missis-
sippi, and in case of your fail-
ure to appear your interest in
this matter will not be con-
sidered.
You are not required to file an
answer or other pleading, but
you may do so if you desire.
Issued under my hand and the
seal of said Court, this the 1st
day of April 2020.
CINDY E. GOODE, CHANCERY
CLERK
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
(SEAL)
BY: /s/ Tina Fisher, D.C.
PUBLISH: 4/3, 4/10 &
4/17/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
KIMBERLY DAVIS SANDLIN
AND JONATHAN SANDLIN
PETITIONERS
VERSUS
JOSHUA W. EGLER AND COM-
MONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
CABINET FOR HEALTH AND
FAMILY SERVICES
RESPONDENTS
CAUSE NO:2019-0258-S
SUMMONS
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
TO: JOSHUA W. EGLER, whose
whereabouts are unknown
NOTICE TO DEFENDANT
THE DOCUMENT THAT IS AT-
TACHED TO THIS SUMMONS IS
IMPORTANT AND YOU MUST
TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO
PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.
Your are summoned to appear
and defend against the Peti-
tion for Termination of Parent-
al Rights at 9:00 o’clock a.m.,
on Friday, the 15th day of May,
2020, in the Lowndes County
Chancery Court, at the Chickas-
aw County Courthouse,
Okolona, Mississippi, and in
case of your failure to appear
and defend, a judgment will be
entered against you for the
money or other things deman-
ded in said Petition.
You are not required to file and
Answer or other Pleading, but
you may do so if you desire.
Issued under my hand and seal Issued under my hand and offi-
of said Court, this 1st day of cial seal of said Court, this the
3rd day of April, 2020.
April, 2020.
Chancery Court Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi
Cindy E. Goode
By: Tina Fisher, D.C.
(SEAL)
PUBLISH: 4/10, 4/17 7
4/24/2020
Read local.
Just a click away!
ads.cdispatch.com
One call will bring you results.
Legal Notices
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
KIMBERLY DAVIS SANDLIN
AND JONATHAN SANDLIN
PETITIONERS
VERSUS
JOSHUA W. EGLER AND COM-
MONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
CABINET FOR HEALTH AND
FAMILY SERVICES
RESPONDENTS
CAUSE NO:2019-0259-S
SUMMONS
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
TO: JOSHUA W. EGLER, whose
whereabouts are unknown
NOTICE TO DEFENDANT
THE DOCUMENT THAT IS AT-
TACHED TO THIS SUMMONS IS
Your are summoned to appear
Chancery Court, at the Chickas-
aw County Courthouse,
Okolona, Mississippi, and in
case of your failure to appear
and defend, a judgment will be
money or other things deman-
ded in said Petition.
You are not required to file and
Answer or other Pleading, but
you may do so if you desire.
Issued under my hand and seal
of said Court, this 1st day of
April, 2020.
Chancery Court Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi
Cindy E. Goode
By: Tina Fisher, D.C.
(SEAL)
PUBLISH: 4/10, 4/17 &
4/24/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF LULA PEARL TURNER
LEIGH (DECEASED)
CHESTER LEIGH, PETITIONER
PETITIONER
vs
THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW
OF LULA PEARL TURNER LEIGH
(DECEASED) WHOSE STREET
ADDRESSES AND POST OF-
FICE ADDRESSES ARE UN-
KNOWN AFTER DILIGENT
SEARCH AND INQUIRY, AND
WHO ARE UNKNOWN AFTER DI-
LIGENT SEARCH AND INQUIRY
RESPONDENTS
CASE NO:18-238-RPF
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW
OF LULA PEARL TURNER LEIGH
(D),WHOSE STREET AD-
DRESSES AND POST OFFICE
ADDRESSES ARE UNKNOWN
AFTER DILIGENT SEARCH AND
INQUIRY
You have been made Respond-
ents in a Petition filed in this
Court by Chester Leigh, Peti-
tioner,
Medical seeking
/ Dental to Determine
The Unknown Heirs of Lula
Pearl Turner Leigh (d).
You are summoned to appear
and defend against said Peti-
tion at 9:00 a.m. o’clock on
the 21st day of May, 2020, in
the Chancery Courtroom of the
Oktibbeha County Courthouse
at 101 E. Main Street, Stark-
ville, Mississippi, in case of
your failure to appear and de-
fend a Judgment will be
entered against you for the
money or other things deman-
ded in the Petition.
You are not required to file an
answer or other pleadings but
you may do so if you desire.
CINDY GOODE
CHANCERY CLERK
LOWNDES COUNTY,
BY: Shantrell W. Granderson,
D.C
PUBLISH: 4/10, 4/17 &
4/24/2020
FICE ADDRESSES ARE UN-
KNOWN AFTER DILIGENT
SEARCH AND INQUIRY, AND
WHO ARE UNKNOWN AFTER DI-
LIGENT SEARCH AND INQUIRY
RESPONDENTS
CASE NO:18-238-RPF
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW
OF LULA PEARL TURNER LEIGH
(D),WHOSE STREET AD-
DRESSES AND POST OFFICE
ADDRESSES ARE UNKNOWN
AFTER DILIGENT SEARCH AND
INQUIRY
Legalhave
You Noticesbeen made Respond-
ents in a Petition filed in this
Court by Chester Leigh, Peti-
tioner, seeking to Determine
The Unknown Heirs of Lula
Pearl Turner Leigh (d).
You are summoned to appear
and defend against said Peti-
tion at 9:00 a.m. o’clock on
the 21st day of May, 2020, in
the Chancery Courtroom of the
Oktibbeha County Courthouse
at 101 E. Main Street, Stark-
ville, Mississippi, in case of
your failure to appear and de-
fend a Judgment will be
entered against you for the
money or other things deman-
ded in the Petition.
You are not required to file an
answer or other pleadings but
you may do so if you desire.
Issued under my hand and offi-
cial seal of said Court, this the
3rd day of April, 2020.
CINDY GOODE
CHANCERY CLERK
LOWNDES COUNTY,
BY: Shantrell W. Granderson,
D.C
PUBLISH: 4/10, 4/17 &
4/24/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN RE: THE ESTATE OF ROBERT
TODD WALDROP, DECEASED
CAUSE NO. 2020-0027-DE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
Letters of Administration have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
Robert Todd Waldrop, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi, on the 9th day of March,
2020. This is to give notice to
all persons having claims
against said estate to probate
and register same with the
Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, within
ninety (90) days from the first
publication of this Notice to
Creditors. A failure to so pro-
bate and register said claim
will forever bar same.
This is 23rd day of March,
2020.
Brandy Waldrop
Administratrix
PUBLISH: 3/27, 4/3, 4/10, &
4/17/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF ROSIE MAE LEWIS
CLAY, DECEASED
KIMBLER GEAN DAVIS PETI-
TIONER
CAUSE NO. 44CH1:19-pr-
00212-RPF
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
By the Chancery Court of
Lowndes County:
Letters of Administration have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
Rosie Mae Lewis Clay, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi, on the 30th day of
March, 2020. This is to give
notice to all persons having
claims against said estate to
probate and Register same
with the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
within (90) days from the first
publication date of this Notice.
A failure to so Probate and Re-
gister said claim will forever
bar the same.
THIS the 31st day of March,
2020.
/s/Kimber Gean Davis
Administrator of the Estate of
Rosie Mae Lewis Clay, De-
ceased
BRANDI E. SOPER,
MSB#105026
WEBB SANDERS & WILLIAMS,
PLLC
P.O. Box 496
TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI 38802-
0496
PH: (662) 844-2137
FAX: (662) 842-3863
Attorney for Administrator
Publication Dates: 4/3, 4/10,
4/17 & 4/24/2020
TATE OF ROSIE MAE LEWIS
CLAY, DECEASED
KIMBLER GEAN DAVIS PETI-
TIONER Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
CAUSE NO. 44CH1:19-pr-
00212-RPF The Starkville Dispatch and Online
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
By the Chancery Court of
Lowndes County:
Letters of Administration have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
Rosie Mae Lewis Clay, de-
Legal Notices
ceased, by the Chancery Court
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi, on the 30th day of
March, 2020. This is to give
notice to all persons having
claims against said estate to
probate and Register same
with the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
within (90) days from the first
publication date of this Notice.
A failure to so Probate and Re-
gister said claim will forever
bar the same.
THIS the 31st day of March,
2020.
/s/Kimber Gean Davis
Administrator of the Estate of
Rosie Mae Lewis Clay, De-
ceased
BRANDI E. SOPER,
MSB#105026
WEBB SANDERS & WILLIAMS,
PLLC
P.O. Box 496
TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI 38802-
0496
PH: (662) 844-2137
FAX: (662) 842-3863
Attorney for Administrator
Publication Dates: 4/3, 4/10,
4/17 & 4/24/2020
Good help isn’t
hard to find
if you know
where to look.
Start your
search here.
Rentals
Ads starting at $25
Apts For Rent: West
VIP
Rentals
Apartments & Houses
1 Bedrooms
2 Bedroooms
3 Bedrooms
Furnished & Unfurnished
1, 2, & 3 Baths
Lease, Deposit
& Credit Check
viceinvestments.com
327-8555
Apts For Rent: Other RENT A CAMPER!
CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
1ST MONTH − RENT FREE! Utilities & cable included,
1−2 BR Apt: $350−435 from $145/wk − $535/mo
1−2BR TwnHm: $625−650 Columbus & County School Farm Equipment & Supplies
Lease, Dep, Credit Check. locations. 662−242−7653
Coleman Realty or 205−442−2011.
662−329−2323
RV/MOBILE HOME SITE
East or West Columbus or has been repainted, looks
near CAFB, Caledonia
schools. 601−940−1397. Call 662−436−2037.
Have a rental property?
List it here for fast results.
ads.cdispatch.com
Service Directory
Promote your small business starting at only $25
Building & Remodeling
HOME REPAIRS &
MAINTENANCE
Work wanted. Carpentry,
concrete, electrical &
plumbing, shingle & metal
roofing, fascia & soffit
repairs, pressure washing
& mobile home repairs.
No Job Too Small.
662−549−7031.
General Services
A & T TREE SERVICES
Bucket truck & stump
removal. Free est.
Serving Columbus
since 1987. Senior
citizen disc. Call Alvin @
242−0324/241−4447
"We’ll go out on a limb for
you!"
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020 n 6B
Apts For Rent: Other Office Spaces For Rent Furniture
OFFICE SPACE FOR FURNITURE. Micro fabric
LEASE. 1112 Main St., sofa. $150. Two like new
Ste. 5. 3700 sq. ft. recliners. $150 ea.
Plenty of private parking. Price negotiable.
662−327−9559. Call 662−523−8662.
General Merchandise
Real Estate
WANTED FREON R12.
We pay CA$H.
R12 R500 R11.
Ads starting at $25 Convenient.
Certified professionals.
Houses For Sale: East 312−291−9169
RefrigerantFinders.com/ad
2BR/1BA @ 1521
Shepherd Rd.
Sold as is, needs work. WHITE POSTER
Serious inquiries only, BOARDS.
769−274−4110. 24"x23"
$0.50 each
100 in stock
Visit 516 Main Street
or call 662−328−2424
COLEMAN
RENTALS
Vehicles
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
1 BEDROOM
2 BEDROOMS
BARGAIN: 2BR/2BA in Ads starting at $12
3 BEDROOMS Columbus. LR, DR/KIT &
step down den. Large lot. Campers & RVs
LEASE,
© The Dispatch
Needs work but is livable.
DEPOSIT Price reduced. Must sell.
$9500. 662−574−2617. 2012 JAYCO EAGLE 5th
AND WHEEL, 39ft, 4 slide−outs.
Houses For Sale: New Hope 2BR, 48" TV & 27" TV.
CREDIT CHECK
$26,500. 662−386−9605.
662-329-2323
16 WIDNER IN NEW HOPE
Newly remodeled. 3BR/ Motorcycles & ATVs
2BA home. Approx. 1,500
2411 HWY 45 N sq. ft. Has 25’x30’ wired 1993 KAWASAKI
VOYAGER XII Only 25,500
metal shop w/ roll−up front
COLUMBUS, MS miles. Runs & looks good.
& side door. $154,500.
662−549−9298. No problems. $3000 OBO.
Commercial Property For Rent Can be seen local.
Lots & Acreage
501−545−7750.
FOR RENT LOCATED NEAR
DOWNTOWN. 3,000 sq. ft. 1.75 ACRE LOTS.
Community
truck terminal, 9,500 sq. Good/Bad Credit Options.
Good credit as low as 10%
ft. shop & 3,200 sq. ft.
office/shop. Buildings can down, $299/mo. Eaton
be rented together or Land, 662−361−7711.
separately. All w/ excellent Ads starting at $12
access & Hwy. 82 visibility.
Garage Sales
662−327−9559. Travel & Entertainment
Houses For Rent: Other
PUBLIC CATFISH POND
HOUSE NEAR MUW W/ Two free signs @ 130 Hillcrest Drive.
APARTMENT. 323 13th St. Open Tues−Sat, 7a−5p
N. 3 Blks from MUW. LR, Appointment Only, call
Garage Sales: New Hope
DR, 2/3BR−3BA, lg den w/
662−386−8591
fire place, kitchen, laundry,
GARAGE SALE Tables,
outside fenced patio,
screened side porch & clothes, chairs, shoes, etc.
work room & ATTACHED Call 901−293−7608.
2212 New Hope Rd. Fri.,
Five Questions:
APARTMENT: 1BR/1BA,
living room/kitchenette Sat., Sun., & Mon. 6a.−6p.
1 Bruce
area. NO HUD. Ref req. Free coffee & soup.
Dep req. $1075/mo.
662−386−7506.
Springsteen
Merchandise
Mobile Homes for Rent
2 Swallows
Ads starting at $12
3 Lacoste
JOHN DEERE MODEL M
4 A tiny, plastic
TRACTOR. A set of one row
cultivators w/ hydraulic lift,
baby doll
good & runs good, $3500.
5 Triumph the
Classified ads are a great form of Insult Comic
person-to-person advertising. Dog
General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping
WORK WANTED: Licensed CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY SAM’S LAWN SERVICE
& Bonded. Carpentry, minor $545 plus Filing Fee No lawn too large or too
electrical, minor plumbing, small. Mowing, trimming &
insulation, painting, CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY weedeating.
demolition, gutters All Attorney Fees Through The Plan Call 662−243−1694
cleaned, pressure washing, Jim Arnold, Attorney
landscaping, cleanup work,
662-324-1666 • 601-656-6914 Painting & Papering
moving help. 662−242−
3608. 104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville
SULLIVAN’S PAINT
SERVICE
ANNIVERSARY?
Lawn Care / Landscaping Special Prices.
Interior & Exterior Painting
662−435−6528
RKERS CALL US! JESSE & BEVERLY’S
PA LAWN SERVICE
ON
J.
Mowing, cleanup,
landscaping, sodding,
E 100 Russell St. & tree cutting.
W ELER
J
Starkville, MS
662-268-8058
662−356−6525
Got leaky pipes? Find a plumber
Buy. Sell. Discover. fast in the classifieds.
662-328-2424