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Tuesday | April 28, 2020

Private, homeschool students make up 13 percent at GTECHS

CMSD president argues students from
private schools should not be accepted at all
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com
Between 2017 and 2019,
about 13 percent of area eighth
graders who applied to the
Golden Triangle Early College
High School on East Mississip-
pi Community College’s May-
hew campus did not come from
public schools.
Those students — who in-
cluded 14 from private schools
and 15 from homeschool situa-
tions in Lowndes, Oktibbeha,
Clay or Noxubee counties —
were accepted to the school at
roughly the same rate as public
school students, making up just
over 12 percent of rejections
from the program.  GTECHS, which allows high
But the fact that private
school students are accepted
at all has caused superinten-
dents in some school districts
Savely Spears
to end their relationships with
school students to take col-
lege level courses and gradu-
ate with an associate’s degree.
Both Columbus Municipal and
Starkville-Oktibbeha Consoli-
dated school districts’ boards
voted earlier this month not to
renew a memorandum of un-
derstanding with GTECHS and
EMCC to send students — and
the accompanying Mississippi
Department of Education fund-
ing — to the early college high
school.  North Carolina.
Founded in 2015, GTECHS
accepts between 50 and 70
students per year — mostly
from CMSD, SOCSD, Lowndes
County, West Point Consolidat-
ed and Noxubee County school
districts — and particularly
students who struggled socially
or academically in their home
schools. Though students and
their families fill out applica-
tions and go through an inter-
view, the final selection is made
by a random lottery through
a program at the University of
The school has been funded
over the last five years by Mis-
sissippi Adequate Education
Plan funds. MDE allocated
funds to LCSD, which had been
See GTECHS, 3A

Employees,
Area organizations still helping hungry, homeless customers
required to wear
masks as Starkville
businesses reopen
Mask requirement,
continued curfew both
in place until May 11
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com

Ann Younger, Sandra DePriest, Cindy Cranford and Clarissa Dodson spent Monday distributing sack lunches at
Loaves and Fishes. Monday’s meals were a collaboration by three churches — Good Shepherd Episcopal Church,
Seventh Day Adventist Church and Pleasant Grove Church. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Loaves and Fishes has
been providing approximately 60 sack lunches a day.
While meal volume is down in Columbus, costs for providing them have risen
BY SLIM SMITH
ssmith@cdispatch.com
The nightly news brings images
of hundreds of cars waiting in line
to pick up food items as COVID-19
continues to disrupt normal life
across the country.
It is a scene that hasn’t been du-
plicated in the Golden Triangle. The
anticipated crush of demand at soup
kitchens and food pantries caused
by COVID-19 has yet to materialize.
“I’m not sure if that’s a good thing
or a bad thing,” said Ann Sparkman,
co-president of Loaves and Fishes,
which provides free lunches up to
five days per week at its Columbus
facility. “I’m hoping it’s just because
people are staying home and may-
be someone is providing meals for
them. I hope that’s the case. What I
do know is that we’re not serving as
many people as we did before (the
virus).”
Sparkman estimates Loaves
and Fishes is providing about 60
bag lunches per day since clos-
ing its kitchen and ending its hot
meal service because of the city’s
COVID-19 ordinance that went into
effect a month ago — which tempo-
Some Starkville
businesses are al-
lowed to reopen with
restrictions under
Gov. Tate Reeves’
new executive order
that took effect Mon-
day, but all employ-
Spruill
ees and customers
over the age of 6 are required to
wear protective face masks from 8
a.m. today until 8 a.m. May 11 to
curb the spread of the COVID-19
Slim Smith/Dispatch Staff coronavirus, the board of aldermen
decided Monday with a 5-2 vote at a
special-call meeting.
The resolution requires busi-
nesses to “provide adequate super-
vision, including door monitors” to
make sure no one enters without a
mask.
The city will also keep its 10 p.m.
rarily limited operations at essential
to 5 a.m. curfew in place until May
businesses and closed businesses 11, a measure that Starkville Police
deemed non-essential, and banned
Chief Mark Ballard said is neces-
gatherings of more than 10 people,
sary.
among other things.
See ALDERMEN, 3A
Prior to that, the facility had fed
100 to 150 people daily.
Loaves and Fishes relies on a
group of 30 local organizations,
primarily churches, who assume
responsibility for preparing and Starkville police arrest
serving lunches at least one day per
month. two men for shelter in
“We have had a few churches
See FOOD PANTRIES, 6A place violation, one
for kidnapping
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com

Keenum: MSU will receive $17.8M from CARES Act Two men have been charged
with shelter in place violations and
Classes
MSU will offer a wider variety of summer courses for a lower cost wrapped up
at least one has been charged with
kidnapping a juvenile after they
BY TESS VRBIN The COVID-19 coronavi- ment for the rest of the semes- We d n e s d a y, tried to run from Starkville police at
tvrbin@cdispatch.com rus pandemic started to force ter. students are a driver’s license checkpoint Friday
the cancellations of school, “These past eight weeks or taking final ex- night.
The second week of March sports and other gatherings so, I can truly say, have proba- ams this week Larry Simon, 31, of Jackson, and
seems like it was a year ago, on March 11, during MSU’s bly been the most trying time and MSU will Quincy Smedley, 32, of Laurel, were
Mississippi State University spring break. The university of my life,” Keenum said. “It’s hold a virtual Keenum in a car that nearly hit a police offi-
President Mark Keenum told extended its break by a week like the days run into weeks, graduation cer- cer after failing to stop at the check-
the Starkville Rotary Club at but soon had to convert all and a day feels almost like a emony on Friday at 2 p.m., point at the intersection of Louis-
its virtual meeting Monday. classes to an online environ- week.” See KEENUM, 6A See ARRESTS, 6A

WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

1 What relative does a Russian call MEETINGS
“babushka”? May 1: Starkville Board
2 In the comedy film “Kingpin,” who plays of Aldermen work ses-
Roy Munson, a former bowler who trains sion, 10 a.m., City Hall
an Amish protége? May 4: Oktibbeha Coun-
3 What country split into two in the “Vel- ty Board of Supervisors
vet Divorce”?
4 Where does the Muffin Man live, ac- meeting, Chancery
Joseph Portera Courthouse, 9 a.m.
cording to the song?
Fifth grade, Annunciation May 5: Starkville Board
5 Which Canadian raised $30 million for

79 Low 62
the ASPCA by singing her song “Angel” in of Aldermen meeting,
High a gut-wrenching 2007 TV pitch featuring 5:30 p.m., City Hall
Increasing clouds
homeless cats and dogs? May 12: Starkville-Ok-
Full forecast on Answers, 6B tibbeha Consolidated
page 3A. School District Board
of Trustees meeting, 6
p.m., 401 Greensboro
St.
INSIDE May 15: Starkville
Classifieds 6B Dear Abby 3B Vyusti Yadav, a student at Starkville Academy, Board of Aldermen work
Comics 3B Obituaries 5A is from India. She loves painting murals and has session, 10 a.m., City
Crossword 6B Opinions 4A one in Tupelo. Hall

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

HOSPITAL APPRECIATION PARKING LOT PARADE

Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff

Jessie Keyes, left, and Nikole Moffett wave to cars making up the Hospital Appreciation Parking Lot Parade out-
side Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle Monday night. People from around the community held up home-
made signs and thank you cards, honked horns and rang cowbells as they drove around the hospital to thank
hospital workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keyes works in Baptist’s occupational therapy department, and
Moffett works in security.

Health officials ready new

guidelines as restrictions ease
CDC recommendations could still be revised
before White House unveils plan to the public
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Businesses
should close break rooms. Restau-
rants should consider disposable
menus and plates. Schools should
have students eat lunch in their class-
rooms.
These are some of the recommen-
dations offered in new federal plans
designed to help restaurants, schools,
churches and businesses safely re-
open as states look to gradually lift
their coronavirus restrictions.
The draft guidance from the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Preven-
tion has been sent to Washington
but still could be revised before the
Trump administration unveils it to
the public. The recommendations
were obtained from a federal official
who was not authorized to release
them publicly.
The CDC put together so-called
“decision trees” for at least seven
types of organizations: schools,
camps, childcare centers, religious
facilities, mass transit systems, work-
places, and bars/restaurants.
White House officials previously
released a three-phase reopening
plan for the nation that mentioned
schools and other organizations that
come back online at different points.
But it hadn’t previously offered more
specific how-to guidelines for each
kind of entity.
The new guidance still amounts
to little more than advice. State and
local officials will be the ones to adopt
and enforce them. Some state and
local governments have already put
rules in place for businesses that are
operating.

Small business loan program restarts, runs into snags

BY JOYCE M. ROSENBERG
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK — The
second round of loan ap-
plications for the govern-
ment’s small business
relief program has been
slowed by computer is-
sues at the Small Business
Administration.
Lenders complained
Monday that they couldn’t
get their applications into
the SBA system known as
ETran that processes and
approves loans. The agen-
cy said it notified lenders
Sunday that it was limit-
ing the number of appli-
cations any lender could
submit at once.
The SBA began accept-
ing applications at 10:30
a.m. Eastern time for $310
billion in funding. The
program’s initial $349 bil-
lion was exhausted in less
than two weeks after more
than 1.7 million loans were
approved. That first round
was also slowed by com-
puter issues at the SBA,
Banks had thousands
of applications ready to go
Monday. Richard Hunt,
president of the trade
group Consumer Bank-
ers Association, said the
SBA’s announcement on
application limits was too
last-minute — bankers
had already sent large
batches of applications to
the agency, not knowing
that a new procedure was
being planned.
“We learned at the
11th hour that SBA had
changed its process.
They could have told us
well ahead of time,” Hunt
said. He said the agency’s
computers weren’t able to
accept even the reduced
number of applications per
hour that it had planned.
The ETran system
normally handles under
60,000 applications in a
year and wasn’t built to
handle the volume of ap-
plications it has been re-
ceiving this month.

Pelosi, top House progressive give Biden twin endorsements

BY BILL BARROW
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — Demo-
cratic presidential candi-
date Joe Biden renewed
his party unification ef-
forts Monday with book-
end endorsements from
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and
the leader of the House
progressive caucus that
sometimes battles the
speaker from the left.
The twin announce-
ments from Pelosi and
Washington Rep. Pramila
Jayapal highlight Biden’s
effort to avoid a repeat
of the 2016 presidential
election, when tensions
between establishment
Democrats and the par-
ty’s progressive flank
hobbled Hillary Clinton
in her loss to President
Donald Trump.
Pelosi, a longtime
friend of Biden’s, is a
face of the Democratic
establishment and boasts
perhaps the widest net-
work across the party’s
wealthiest donors. Jay-
apal, who had previously
backed Bernie Sanders
for president, is co-chair
of the Congressional Pro-
gressive Caucus, whose
members want sweeping
expansion of the feder-
al government’s role in
the economy, notably
through a single-payer
“Medicare for All” insur-
ance plan that Biden and
Pelosi do not favor.

GTECHS
Continued from Page 1A
the school’s fiscal agent,
based on the number of
GTECHS students. That
amount is different every
year based on MAEP’s
formula, said LCSD Su-
perintendent Sam Allison,
but last year it was about
$5,100 per student.  to work out a new agree-
Next year, fiscal man-
agement is slated to
switch from LCSD to
EMCC. CMSD Super-
intendent Cherie Labat
said MDE would have al-
located about $130,000 in
CMSD’s MAEP funds just
for GTECHS’ freshmen
class from Columbus —
an amount she called a
“conservative estimate.”
The cost is especially high
given those public funds
would have gone to pay for
some students from pri-
vate schools, she argued.
GTECHS Principal Jill
Savely said the intent be-
hind forming GTECHS
was that it would be avail-
able to all students.
“From the beginning
we wanted to make sure
that all students had ac-
cess, whether they were
coming from a public
school or a private school
or homeschool,” she said.
“So from the beginning
we have had students
from homeschool and pri-
vate school to apply.”
However, CMSD Board
President Jason Spears
said he has always un-
derstood that GTECHS is
supposed to recruit only
public and some homes-
chool students who need-
ed extra help to graduate.
“The biggest thing was
to help (the students) stay
in school,” he said. “It was
never anything to where
we’re trying to create this
incubator for children
from all areas to come to
school.”
The numbers
Between 2017 and
2019, 225 students applied
to GTECHS. Of those,
196 — or about 87 percent
of the applicant pool —
were from public middle
schools.  GTECHS — such as
Of the 225, 33 students
were not accepted, either
because the lottery didn’t
select them or they were
eliminated before then.
About 88 percent — 29
of those students — were
from public schools.
A larger discrepancy
existed between private
and homeschool students.
Aldermen
Continued from Page 1A
Violators of the curfew
or the mask order face a
fine of up to $1,000.
Reeves’ “shelter in
place” order expired Mon-
day morning after being
in place since April 3.
The new “safer at home”
order still requires people
to follow social distanc-
ing guidelines but allows
some businesses to open
with a maximum of 50
percent of their capacity
of customers at a time.
Spruill initially pro-
posed that only employ-
ees be required to wear
masks and said she
thought requiring cus-
tomers to do the same
was an overreach, but
she supported the board’s
decision to extend the re-
quirement to customers.
Ward 1 Alderman Ben
Carver and Ward 3 Alder-
man David Little were the
two dissenting votes and
said they opposed the
mask requirement.
“We’re about seven to
eight weeks into (the pan-
demic) now, and we hav-
en’t required the masks
early on,” Little said. “To
come in now, late in the
game, and apply that is
a little restrictive, and I
think it comes down to
personal choice.”
Carver agreed that
wearing a mask is a mat-
ter of “freedom of choice,”
though he also said people
who are elderly or have
health problems should
wear masks for their own
safety. He said he would
not be surprised to see a
spike in confirmed cases
GTECHS application numbers
Middle Number of
School applications
Columbus
Caledonia
New Hope
West Lowndes
BF Liddell
Armstrong
Fifth Street/West Point
Annunciation
Columbus Christian
Starkville Christian
Central Academy
Hebron Christian
Oak Hill
Starkville Academy
Homeschool
Total
While 15 homeschool stu-
dents applied, only one did
not make it through the
lottery. Private school stu-
dents, on the other hand,
made up about 6 percent
of the applicant pool but
9 percent of students who
were not selected in the
lottery.
Savely said it is not
common for students to
be eliminated before the
lottery, because the appli-
cation and interview pro-
cesses are more to ensure
potential students under-
stand what GTECHS is
than to find reasons to ac-
cept or reject applicants.
However, there have been
times in the application
process when it became
clear GTECHS wasn’t for
certain students.
“That would lead to
a conversation with the
family to see if it really
was the best placement,”
Savely said. “If kids are
really connected to the
schools that they’re in,
then that may very well
be the best placement for
them or where they’ll be
more successful.”
Some of the things
that attract students to
smaller class sizes and no
formal extracurriculars,
such as athletics — might
appeal more to students
who have been in small
private schools or home-
schools who want to try
“something different” but
don’t want to jump into a
large public school, she
said.
of COVID-19 as the state
reopens but emphasized
“personal responsibility”
for keeping the virus con-
tained.
“Personally I just don’t
have a lot of fear of this
pandemic right now,”
Carver said. “I’m not a big
mask-wearer.”
Ward 5 Alderman
Hamp Beatty disputed
Carver’s statements and
said he would feel safer
in a store if everyone was
wearing a mask. He also
reminded the board that
some people might pick
up the virus in a public
place and never show
symptoms but pass it on
to someone at serious
risk, such as an elderly
relative.
“On the surface, may-
be it is an impediment to
our personal freedoms,
what we want to do and
how we want to do it, but
these are extraordinary
times,” Beatty said. “I’m
all for personal freedoms
and constitutional rights,
but this is something
we’ve got to get a handle
on.”
Spruill told The Dis-
patch she believed the
resolution is appropriate
to make everyone com-
fortable going places if
they must during the
pandemic, even if it risks
infringing on personal
freedom of choice.
“I don’t think a two-
week requirement for
wearing masks is over-
ly burdensome,” Spruill
said. “It certainly has a
definite end in sight, but
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Number
accepted
and declined
and chose to
invitation to
attend
33 28
38 29
17 12
9 5
38 26
23 22
38 34
6 4
1 1
1 1
1 0
3 3
1 1
1 1
15 13
225 180
Savely said there
would not be an instance
when administrators
would have to choose
between a public school
applicant and a private
or homeschool applicant.
If two such applicants
both were a good fit for
GTECHS, administrators
could send both appli-
cations to the lottery for
random selection.
She said because there
are so few private and
homeschool applicants,
it’s more likely for them
to get in than for all the
public school applicants
to get in.
But Spears argued that
any private school student
accepted to the program
is still taking a slot for a
public school student.
“Under the MOU,
it should have been
100 percent (of private
school students) rejected
because they shouldn’t
have been eligible to ap-
ply at all,” he said.
District reactions
Spears argued the
original MOU outlining
the program does not
allow for private school
students to apply.
He said he’s received
multiple calls from par-
ents arguing that be-
cause parents who send
their children to private
schools still pay taxes
that fund public schools,
their children should
have the same opportu-
nity as public school stu-
I think to keep our entire
community safe, it’s an
infringement that’s worth
the risk.”
Ward 6 Alderman and
Vice Mayor Roy A. Per-
kins proposed requiring
customers as well as em-
ployees to wear masks.
“We need to do that be-
cause we are trying to en-
act every measure that is
reasonably necessary and
proper to curb the spread
(of COVID-19),” Perkins
said.
Spruill suggested re-
quiring businesses to
have extra masks on hand
for customers who do not
have one upon arrival, but
Ward 2 Alderman San-
dra Sistrunk said such
a requirement would be
“cumbersome” and the
decision should be left up
to the individual business
owner.
The entire board sup-
ported continuing the
curfew that it first enact-
ed at its April 7 meeting,
with an exception for es-
sential travel, and set to
automatically extend and
end with Reeves’ shelter-
in-place order. Oktibbe-
ha County has its own
curfew with many of the
same parameters that will
last until May 6.
Ballard asked the
board to “please stay the
course” and keep the cur-
few. He said “the streets
are relatively quiet” now
that the curfew deters
residents of other cities
and counties from com-
ing to Starkville to avoid
their own curfews.
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 3A
not know exactly how an opinion Savely shares.
his district’s relation- Initially, the board
Number
ship with GTECHS will votes at CMSD and
pan out, given CMSD SOCSD indicated all
accepted
Number not and SOCSD’s departure their GTECHS students
accepted from the agreement, and would return to their
attend that the remaining su- home districts but Labat
2 3 perintendents will have said would be left up to
Allison, since students at
2 7
ment with GTECHS and GTECHS become LCSD
5 0 EMCC administrators. students once they reach
1 3 “We all got to get to- 10th grade.
0 12 gether again and figure “I’m hoping we can
out at least what the work out a way for (Co-
1 0
program’s going to look lumbus and Starkville)
0 4 like,” he said. students who are already
0 2 Broadnax said in par- enrolled in the early
0 0 ticular that he hopes college to stay because
CMSD and SOCSD’s they have taken a risk
0 0
departure from the pro- to enroll in a school that
0 1 grams does not increase was brand new and out of
0 0 the $130,000 costs for their comfort zone, and
other districts. we want to make sure
0 0
Allison added “at the that we honor the prom-
0 0
very least” he wants ises that we made to
1 1 Lowndes County stu- them when they enrolled
12 33 dents currently attend- with us,” Savely said. 
ing GTECHS to be able Dispatch reporter Tess
to finish their high Vrbin contributed to this
dents to attend GTECHS.
school careers there — report.
But Spears said that’s
not what the MOU says
and that the board can-
not violate the MOU.
“(Parents say,) ‘Well,
it’s all tax money,’”
Spears said. “But that’s
not how it was supposed
to be applied.”
The MOU does not
specifically address pri-
vate or homeschool stu-
dents.
SOCSD Superinten-
dent Eddie Peasant de-
clined to comment when
reached by The Dispatch.
However, at the meeting
where SOCSD’s board
voted to end the part-
nership with GTECHS,
he raised concerns that
GTECHS administrators
were using public money
to fund a “private-type
setting.”
Not everyone agrees
with Peasant and Spears.
Rodriguez Broadnax,
state transformation in-
terim superintendent for
NCSD, which is under
state conservatorship,
said he plans to continue
working with GTECHS
and that, at least in Nox-
ubee County, he hasn’t
seen a problem with pri-
vate school students at-
tending.
“I think EMCC is do-
ing a wonderful job with
GTECHS,” he said.
WPCSD Superinten-
dent Burnell McDonald
did not return calls from
The Dispatch by press
time.
Allison said he does
“The average working
person from 10 (p.m.) to
5 (a.m.) is not deeply af-
fected by this curfew, but
public safety and public
health are impacted,”
Ballard said.
SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Tues. Wed.
Major 5:17a 6:15a
Minor
Major
10:50a
5:46p
11:51a
6:44p
Minor 12:42a 1:39a
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
The Dispatch
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Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
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Opinion
4A TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 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

BETH PROFFITT Advertising Director
MICHAEL FLOYD Circulation/Production Manager
MARY ANN HARDY Controller

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Voice of the people
Feels letter-writer’s
perspectives are driven by race
The last few days I’ve patiently
waited for Kerry Blalock’s letter to the
editor criticizing the Lowndes County
Board of Supervisor’s majority decision
to hire Jay Fisher as county adminis-
trator without advertising the position
or considering other applicants. Surely,
this would elicit one of his vicious
tirades against local corruption and
cronyism. As much as he accuses the
Mayor and Jabari Edwards of having a
corrupt relationship, he would obvious-
ly have a lot to say about the friendship
between Supervisor Trip Hairston and
the new county administrator.
Personally, I, of course, don’t know
if Hairston and Fisher are friends. But
that doesn’t matter to Kerry Blalock. He
rarely has evidence for his accusations.
It’s all conspiracy and conjecture, such
as the city purchased LED lights just
so the mayor could have the brightest
one in front of his house or constantly
implying that the mayor and J5 have a
pay for play relationship.
He loves to mention what certain
city leaders owe in taxes but I don’t
recall him ever criticizing the President
for refusing to release his taxes or the
many times his businesses filed for
bankruptcy. I wonder why not? May-
be it’s because he sees the world as
different racial groups. For example,
in one of his letters he claimed District
Attorney Scott Colom and State Repre-
sentative Kabir Karriem want to “bring
their folks back home” because each
supported addressing the prison crisis.
In this remarkably racist statement, Mr.
Blalock not only assumes all people in
prison are black but accuses Mr. Colom
and Mr. Karriem of wanting to help
them simply because they are black.
That tells us a lot more about how Mr.
Blalock sees the world than it does Mr.
Colom or Mr. Karriem.
But the rest of us (including The Dis-
patch) should remember the dangers
of Mr. Blalock’s thinking. Our country
enslaved blacks for hundreds of years
based on the belief Africans were in
a different group as Americans. Fifty
years ago, in the lifetime of this paper,
racism lynched more blacks in Missis-
sippi than any other state. It’s prevented
blacks from voting, from attending the
same schools as white or from even
drinking from the same faucet. This
is why Mr. Blalock’s thinking must be
called out. The NAACP has no objec-
tion to scrutiny of our city leaders. But
NAACP, the paper, and the community
can’t ignore the obvious motives behind
Mr. Blalock’s letters or the fact that he
is not a journalist, yet he is given a plat-
form to spew hatred at a certain sector
or people. Those motives are danger-
ous. They’ve done enough damage to
us all. Let’s continue to rid ourselves of
them.
Lavonne Harris
President, NA ACP, Lowndes
County Branch

OUR VIEW

Restrictions are not

unprecedented in
times of crisis
W
hen the Starkville Board of Aldermen
announced a change in its COVD-19 reg-
ulations to accommodate the opening of
most retail stores in the city during a special call
meeting Monday, some citizens began howling in
protest, a predictable, if unfortunate, response.
The primary condition attached to retail shop-
ping stipulated that all customers and employees
must wear protecting mouth and nose covering,
a measure health experts say will help prevent
spread of the virus.
Those who defy the ordinance will face a $1,000
fine.
For most citizens, the requirement is reason-
able, despite relatively small, passionate protests
have at state capitols around the country, includ-
ing Mississippi, The protesters are loud. They are
visible. Yet they represent only a small percentage
of Americans.
Support for shelter-in-place and other precau-
tions have support across political party lines.
STATE OF THE NATION
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s
polling, 61 percent of Republicans agree that these
measures are appropriate, Among Democrats, the
Why people will leave —
support is 94 percent and among Independents,
it’s 84 percent.
In our politically polarized nation, you’ll seldom
and stay — in the big cities
T
find anything that has that kind of broad agree- he coronavirus the adults. where you want to live in a world
ment. has rearranged Meanwhile, grown- still stalked by COVID-19 and vi-
For the small minority who protest this mea- American life. ups working from ruses to come. If infected, would
sures, it means ignoring the real threat posed by Mask wearing and so- their bedrooms have you rather be in a rural county
the virus — almost a million cases and almost cial distancing is still learned to appreciate without a single ICU bed — or in
as many deaths (56,259) in two months as in the required in the stores, the home comforts a place with war-hardened hospi-
entirety of the 10-year Vietnam War. gyms and restaurants more. And with that tals now expert in the nature of
That seems to mean little to the protesters, now open, or set to be, they may want more of the beast? (And don’t think the
though. They see these restrictions as an attack across the nation. a home. virus isn’t everywhere.)
on the individual liberties enshrined in the U.S. But what about the Why not live where Frankly, if a million people
Constitution. big, crowded cities? there’s more space at were to leave New York, there’d
That’s a fundamental misunderstanding of New Orleans, Chica- less cost and restau- be over 7 million left. That’s still a
those rights. The truth is, our nation has suspend- go, San Francisco and, Froma Harrop rants and basic cultur- lot of people. Just saying.
ed certain rights during periods of national crisis of course, New York al amenities are still There are no wrong answers
almost from the start. The U.S. Supreme Court have become the virus hotspots offered? That somewhere could here. Families who don’t have to
has consistently ruled that the state does have the mainly because they put people in be the suburbs or smaller cities be a subway ride from the opera
right under the Constitution to suspend certain close quarters with other breath- away from the coasts, places like and would like a backyard with
rights provided A, they do not target a specific ing people. That’s how infection Columbus, Pittsburgh or Omaha. a barbecue might make a sage
group, B, they are temporary and C, they serve a spreads. But here’s the “on the other decision in moving to a so-called
compelling state interest. In hard-hit New York City, hand.” There are people who “livable” city or town. Tulsa,
The current restrictions check every box. residents of means grabbed their thrive on urban density. They Oklahoma, is offering $10,000 to
Most people understand this and are willing kids and left for second homes love the electricity, being part of remote workers who move there,
to forfeit certain rights for the common good in or moved in with family outside a civic culture high on drama. and it’s apparently getting takers.
times of emergency. town. Though stay-at-home Throughout the coronavirus But those who don’t care to
It’s part of being a good citizen. orders have done a remarkable crisis, New Yorkers have joined drive, have jobs requiring in-per-
In the case of Starkville’s new rules, it’s very job of bringing down the city’s together to broadcast love for the son collaboration and want high
likely that the city will show great restraint in terrible numbers, real estate ex- medical workers risking their culture on a Wednesday night
enforcement. The goal isn’t the slap people with a perts think some of these urban lives in the intensive care units. may choose to live in the big city.
fine as much as it is to remind citizens of the rule. refugees will not come back. Evenings at 7, they emerge on fire Everyone has a vote.
At a recent “Open the Economy” protest in And they’re probably right. escapes and balconies, or lean The thing to bear in mind
North Carolina, a photo of an SUV bore the mes- That’s because for many, the vi- out of windows, to cheer for the is that daily life will not be the
sage on its rear window: “Your health is not more rus was not the one thing pulling hospital staffs. same for quite some time — and
important than my liberties.” them away. It was the last straw. Many a New Yorker who lived not just in the city. Whether in a
That is a summation of the attitude not only The sky-high housing costs through Sept. 11 was moved at crowded urban bodega or a hair
in North Carolina, but in parts of Starkville, too, were already propelling many the sight of firefighter heroes salon on a strip outside town, we
apparently. New Yorkers to consider the cheering on the medical heroes. will be at risk for coronavirus
alternatives. The city had been When volunteers from other infection if we don’t do what we
losing population for the three parts of the country started leav- should.
years B.C. (before coronavirus). ing the hospitals to head home, Froma Harrop, a syndicated
Now that New York has closed they were surrounded by lines of columnist, writes for the Provi-
Our View: Local Editorials playgrounds and restaurants, applauding locals. This is commu- dence (Rhode Island) Journal. Her
Local editorials appearing in this space represent the families find themselves with no nity at an intense level. e-mail address is fharrop@gmail.
opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board: Peter Imes, slides for the kids and no bars for There’s also the question of com.
editor and publisher; Zack Plair, managing editor; Slim
Smith and senior newsroom staff. To inquire about a
meeting with the board, please contact Peter Imes at
662-328-2424, or e-mail voice@cdispatch.com. THE STAFF OF THE DISPATCH
Voice of the People EDITOR/PUBLISHER Mary Jane Runnels Hunter Perrigin Tess Vrbin
PRODUCTION
We encourage you to share your opinion with readers of Peter Imes Luther Shields Deanna Yue Stella Yu
Robinson-Pugh Steve Bogan
The Dispatch.
William Hudson
Submit your letter to The Dispatch by: PUBLISHER EMERITUS BUSINESS OFFICE MAILROOM Jamie Morrison
E-mail: voice@cdispatch.com Birney Imes Lindsey Beck NEWS Christina Boyd Anne Murphy
Mail: P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Debbie Foster Isabelle Altman Joseph Ellis Tina Perry
In person: 516 Main St., Columbus, or 101 S. Lafayette Mary Ann Hardy Theo Derosa Jeffrey Gore Sydney White
St., No. 16, Starkville. ADVERTISING Eddie Johnson Matt Garner Katrina Guyton
All letters must be signed by the author and must in- Claudi Arrington Courtney Laury Garrick Hodge Doris Hill
clude town of residence and a telephone number for ver- Amber Dumas Zack Plair Quaylon Jones
ification purposes. Letters should be no more than 500 Kelly Ervin CIRCULATION Ben Portnoy Marquisto Miller
words, and guest columns should be 500-700 words. Melissa Johnson Christopher Dumas Slim Smith Bobby Williams
We reserve the right to edit submitted information. Beth Proffitt Michael Floyd Jan Swoope Timothy Wilson

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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for the Monday through Friday
editions. Paid notices must be
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the next day Monday through
Thursday; and on Friday by 3
p.m. for Sunday and Monday
Poll: Cost makes nearly 1 in 10
leery of seeking COVID care
‘Without
widespread
testing, it will be
problematic to lift
the restrictions’
John Auerbach, head
of the nonpartisan Trust
for America’s Health
BY RICARDO
ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — As
states gear up to reopen,
a poll finds a potential ob-
stacle to controlling the
coronavirus: nearly 1 in 10
adults say cost would keep
them from seeking help if
they thought they were in-
fected.
The Gallup-West Health
Healthcare Costs Survey
out Tuesday finds that 9
percent of those age 18
and over would avoid seek-
ing treatment because of
concerns about the cost of
care, even if they thought
they were infected with the
coronavirus.
A significantly higher
number, 14 percent, would
avoid seeking treatment
because of pocketbook
worries if they had fever
and a dry cough, two wide-
ly publicized symptoms of
COVID-19.
Although Congress and
President Donald Trump
have made coronavirus
testing free to patients, and
some insurers are waiving
copays and deductibles for
treatment within their net-
works, the survey suggests
publication. For more informa-
tion, call 662-328-2471.
Waymon Stokes
REFORM, Ala. —
Waymon Edd Stokes,
75, died April 25, 2020,
at his residence.
A private family
graveside service will
be held at 11 a.m., at
Macedonia Cemetery,
in Millport, with Scott
Stokes officiating.
Dowdle Funeral Home
of Millport is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Stokes was born
to the late William
“Bill” Stokes and Dora
Stokes. He was for-
merly employed with
Nature’s Earth Pellets.
In addition to his par-
ents, he was preceded
in death by his brother,
Levert Stokes; and
sister, Lavoy Smith.
He is survived by
his wife, Mildred
Stokes; daughter,
such messages may not be
getting to the public.
The survey delivers
“important and distress-
ing information,” said John
Auerbach, head of the non-
partisan Trust for Amer-
ica’s Health. “I hope that
policy makers take note.”
With so many reluc-
tant to seek care, “it could
pose problems in testing
people,” Auerbach added.
“Without widespread test-
ing, it will be problematic
to lift the restrictions.” Au-
erbach’s group works with
government at all levels to
strengthen public health,
and was not involved with
the poll.
Experts say that to
succeed, the nation’s re-
opening has to be based
on three pillars: testing,
tracing those who came in
contact with infected peo-
ple and treatment for those
who become ill.
If people who may be
sick are reluctant to come
forward, that could create
a blind spot for governors
and public health officials
trying to calibrate reopen-
ing plans to quickly con-
tain potential virus flare-
ups.
The survey found that
members of minority
groups, younger people,
those with less than a col-
lege degree and people
making less than $40,000
a year were more likely
to say they would avoid
treatment for economic
reasons.
Fourteen percent of
nonwhite poll respondents
said they would avoid
treatment even if they sus-
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 5A
AREA OBITUARIES
Melissa Thompson; of arrangements. In addition to his Lonnie Red of Aber-
sons, Chris Stokes, Mr. Red was born parents, he was pre- deen and Roy Gentry
Patrick L. Stokes and Aug. 29, 1940, in ceded in death by his of Wren; sister, Martha
Donnie Murphy; seven Arkabutla, to the late wife, Joan Little Red; Sykes of Aberdeen;
grandchildren; and two Herbert Ray Red and sister, Loretta Red; brothers, Gene Red of
great-grandchildren. Mary Louise Davis brother, Aubrey Red; Aberdeen, Leon Red of
Red. He was formerly and one grandchild. Okolona, and Thomas
Sallie Webb employed with St. Joe He is survived by Red of Hamilton; six
NOXUBEE — Sallie Paper Company, Cul- his daughter, Ginger grandchildren; and
Mae Webb, 81, died lum Brothers, and Uni- Berford of Milling- three great-grandchil-
April 25, 2020. man. He was a member ton, Tennessee; sons, dren.
Arrangements are of Friendship Baptist
Elizabeth Ann Green
incomplete and will be Church in Aberdeen.
announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Macon. Elizabeth Ann Green, 86, of
Columbus, MS, passed away
Jimmy Red Friday, April 24, 2020, at The
ABERDEEN — Jim- Arrington Assistive Living, Co-
my Ray Red, 79, died lumbus, MS.
April 27, 2020, at North A family graveside ser-
Mississippi Medical vice was held Monday, April
Center in Tupelo. 27, 2020, at Rowan Cemetery,
A graveside service Steens, MS, with Bro. Phillip
will be held at 2 p.m. Morris officiating, and Lown-
today at Friendship des Funeral Home directing.
Cemetery, with Rick Friends may view service online at www.lown-
Burton officiating. desfuneralhome.net the next day.
Tisdale-Lann Memo- Mrs. Green was born August 5, 1933, to the
rial Funeral Home of late Audley Emmett and Lorene Wilson Swanzy,
in Lowndes County, MS. She retired in 1956 from
Aberdeen is in charge Deborah Williams South Central Bell as a phone operator. She was a
Memorial Service:
Held At A Later Date member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Columbus,
College St. Location MS, loved playing bingo and caring for others.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Green was
preceded in death by her husband, Chauncey
Green; and sister, Mary Linn.
Mrs. Green is survived by her daughter, Lore
Ann (Truman) Pearson, Sharpsburg, KY; son,
Larry (Gale) Green, Kathaleen, GA; grandchil-
dren, Nicole Reasner, Trevor Green, Chance
Green, Shelby Pearson, Ryan Pearson, Ashley
pected they had the coro-
navirus, compared with
memorialgunterpeel.com Watford, Shane Hawk and Adam Hawk; and 13
great-grandchildren.
6 percent of whites citing Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s
costs. Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis,
TN 38105.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
Harry Lee Rodgers Jr.
Columbus, MS — Mr. Harry Lee Rodgers
Jr., 74, passed away, on April 24, 2020, at his
residence, in Columbus.
Harry was born on April 14, 1946, in West
Point, the son of the late Harry Lee Sr. and Ivah
Coburn Rodgers. He was a Veteran of the United
States Navy, where he received the National
Defense Service Medal. He was a proud graduate
of Mississippi State University. He loved being
outdoors and enjoyed, in his own words, all of
God’s critters. He loved his family, extended
family, and his church family, at East End Baptist
Church, in Columbus. He was a loving husband
and married his high school sweetheart, Martha
Manning Rodgers, on July 19, 1966, in Columbus.
Due to current health concerns, a private family
graveside service will be held on Tuesday, April
28, 2020, from Greenwood Cemetery, in West
Point, with Reverend Byron Benson officiating.
A Memorial Service to celebrate his life will be
scheduled at a later date. Calvert Funeral Home
of West Point is honored to be entrusted with the
arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Martha Manning
Rodgers of Columbus: one brother, Jeffrey G.
Rodgers of West Point; and two nieces, Whitney
Thompson and Michelle Sesser.
Honorary Pallbearers will be his nephews,
Riley Manning, Charles Manning, Drew
Manning, Will Staggers and Michael Thompson.
Memorials may be made to East End Baptist
Church, P.O. Box 8480, Columbus, MS 39705
or to Columbus Lowndes Humane Society, 50
Airline Road, Columbus, MS 39702.
Friends may leave an online condolence at
www.calvertfuneralhome.com.
Paid Obituary - Calvert Funeral Home
6A TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Health
HEALTH TIP
n Certain vegetable oils should be avoided:
Sunflower, soybean, and corn oil contain large amounts
of omega-6 fatty acids. Studies suggest that a high
intake of omega-6 fatty acids — relative to omega-3 —
increases low-grade inflammation in your body.
Source: www.healthline.com

Health tips from Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen

Why solid food too soon is risky
for your child’s health
Hooded seal mothers make 22
liters of breastmilk a day — and
their thirsty pups are weaned in just
four days, as they super-grow from
55 to 110 pounds. A black bear mom
feeds her cubs for two years, but
she sleeps through the first three
months of breastfeeding.
These cases make human breast-
feeding seem pretty middle-of-the-
road: It’s recommended moms do
it exclusively for six months; then
add solid food while continuing to
breastfeed for 12 months or longer.
Unfortunately, according to
the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, only 47 percent of
babies are exclusively breastfeeding
at 3 months, and about 25 percent
are exclusively breastfeeding at 6
months.
That’s risky for your child’s
health. Researchers at Johns Hop-
kins Bloomberg School of Public
Health have discovered that when
babies are given solid foods at or
before 3 months of age it changes
the mix of bacteria in their gut bi-
ome. That throws off metabolic and
immune functions and increases the
child’s risk of obesity, eczema, asth-
ma and allergies to specific foods,
pollen and more.
So, if possible, breastfeed exclu-
sively for six months — or supple-
ment with formula — only introduc-
ing solid food after that. Don’t use
work as an excuse. Most employers
MUST provide a safe, clean area
for you to pump breastmilk, which
can be placed in an insulated cooler
with ice packs for up to 24 hours.
It can be refrigerated at home for
four days. Not going to use it in four
days? Freeze it in 2- to 4-ounce sin-
gle-serve containers. After thawing,
don’t microwave or refreeze.
Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The
Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen,
M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and
Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleve-
land Clinic. To live your healthiest,
tune into “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit
www.sharecare.com.

Keenum
Continued from Page 1A
“the most unique com-
mencement exercise in
the 142-year history of our
university,” Keenum said.
It will be livestreamed
on the MSU website and
broadcast live by WCBI.
The federal Corona-
virus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security Act
(CARES Act) alloted
more than $14 billion for
higher education institu-
tions, and MSU’s share
is $17.8 million, Keenum
said. The university has
already received half, or
$8.9 million, and it has to
go directly to students, he
said.
“We’re still working
with the U.S. Department
of Education, getting
more specific guidelines
on how we can award
those grants to address
student needs who have
been impacted by this vi-
rus as far as their finances
(go),” Keenum said.
The other $8.9 million
will be used to cover the
university’s costs related
to the pandemic, he said.
“Whatever they pro-
vide us, it won’t be enough,
but we’re going to be in as
good of a position as any
other college or university
in the state financially to
meet this challenge,” he
said.
MSU announced in
March that all summer
classes will be taught on-
line. More courses will
be offered than usual and
the prices of those courses
have been lowered in what
Keenum called the “Sum-
mer Advantage.”
“Many students have
summer jobs or intern-
ships or co-ops, but for
many of our students,
those opportunities are
not going to be there,”
Keenum said. “So take
advantage of this Summer
Advantage to continue
your education and do it
in an affordable manner,
and take courses that you
would normally not be able
to take because we’re go-
ing to have a much broad-
er offering.”
MSU’s emergency op-
erating guidelines are in
place until May 11: all em-
ployees must stay at home
until they have coordinat-
ed their return with their
supervisor, and those who
can work remotely should
do so, according to a Mon-
day press release from
the MSU Office of Public
Affairs. Employees who
must work on campus are
limited to gatherings of 10
people or fewer and “are
strongly encouraged to
use personal protective
equipment,” the release
states.
Whether students can
come back to campus in
the fall is still to be deter-
mined, but MSU has been
able to contribute resourc-
es to help frontline health
care workers fight the pan-
demic in the meantime,
Keenum said.
A team with MSU’s
Paul B. Jacob High Voltage
Laboratory worked with
Taylor Machine Works in
Louisville to convert more
than 550 battery-powered
ventilators to automatic
current power, meaning
they can be plugged into a
wall, and sent them to the
University of Mississippi
Medical Center in Jackson
earlier this month.
Shortly afterward, the
College of Veterinary
Medicine provided two
ventilators to OCH Re-
gional Medical Center.
Keenum said he does not
know if OCH has used
the ventilators but is “very
proud” that MSU could
provide them.
Faculty, staff and stu-
dents have used 3-D print-
ers to make face masks
for healthcare providers,
primarily in Meridian and
Lauderdale County, which
“have been hit very hard”
and asked MSU for re-
sources, Keenum said.
He said he is confident
that MSU will bounce back
from the pandemic while
continuing to help those in
need however it can.
“Our state is going to
get past this at some point,
and I can promise you
that Mississippi is going
to need a strong, vibrant
Mississippi State to help
our state move forward,”
Keenum said. “I’m com-
mitted to doing every-
thing in my ability to make
sure that Mississippi State
continues to be strong and
vibrant and important, to
meet our needs for our
state’s future.”

Food pantries
Continued from Page 1A
who’ve had to drop out,” Sparkman said.
“The volunteers they use are older peo-
ple, and they were just too vulnerable to
continue.”
To compensate, other churches had
added additional days, Sparkman said.
“Most weeks, we serve at last three
or four days per week and a lot of weeks
we serve every day, Monday through Fri-
day,” she said.
While the number of meals has gone
down, the expense associated with the
meals has not, she said.
“I know at St. Paul’s, which is the
group I serve with, when we were serv-
ing hot meals it cost us $100, maybe $200
to serve meals,” Sparkman said. “Now
that we’ve gone to pre-packaged meals,
I think the last time it was our turn, we
spent more than $400.”
In Starkville, The United Way of
North Central Mississippi has been
sponsoring food drives to help supply
the 15 food pantries it supports.
Joe Schmidt, director of the St. Jo-
seph Catholic Church food pantry, said
his group will hold its first distribution
since February on Saturday.
“We didn’t distribute (in April) be-
cause of the (state) shelter in place regu-
lations,” Schmidt said. “Right now, we’re
stocked pretty well, thanks to the work
of the United Way. We’ll have 288 bags of
food ready to go on Saturday. We’ll give
them out until people stop coming in or
we run out of food.”
St. Joseph distributes food one Satur-
day per month. Smith said a typical dis-
tribution will provide food for 150 to 180
families.
“We’re prepared to do more than that
since we missed last month,” he said.
The threat of COVID-19 has led to a
change of strategy at Columbus Com-
munity Outreach, which helps provide
assistance for low-income and homeless
people, said director Glenda Richardson.
“Before this, our approach with home-
less people who came to us for help was
focused on getting them a hotel room
for a night or two until they could find
more permanent residences,” Richard-
son said. “Now, we’re working more with
Rapid Rehousing, a national group, that
finds long-term housing. This is not new:
It’s something we’ve done before, but
given the situation, it’s something we’re
doing a lot more of now.
“The homeless are more vulnerable
because they can’t shelter in place,” she
added.
Richardson said her office has put six
people through the program in April.
“Before this, we probably would
do that many people in two or three
months,” she said.

Arrests
Continued from Page 1A
ville Street and Industrial
Park Road, according to a
Starkville Police Depart-
ment press release. The
two men and a third indi-
vidual, a 16-year-old, left
the car and tried to flee on
foot when they reached the
Emerson Family School.
Police caught Simon
and Smedley immediate-
ly and caught the juvenile
after searching the area.
SPD Public Information
Officer Brandon Lovelady
Simon Smedley
said she is from Jackson
and that Simon is charged
with kidnapping her.
In addition to the shel-
ter in place violation and
kidnapping charges, Si-
mon was charged with fel-
ony fleeing because he did
not stop when police sig-
naled, and possession of a
weapon by a felon, accord-
ing to the press release.
Smedley was charged
with simple assault of a
police officer in addition
to the shelter in place vio-
lation.
Both are being held in
the Oktibbeha County Jail,
and bond has not been set
as of press time.
Sports ANALYSIS
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020
B
SECTION

MISSISSIPPI STATE PRODUCES NFL TALENT,

BUT IT HASN’T SHOWN IN RECORD BOOKS

Michael Clevenger/USA TODAY Sports

Former Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead talks to his players during the first quarter against Louisville in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 at Nissan Stadium in
Nashville, Tenn. Moorhead produced plenty of NFL players in his tenure, but didn’t rack up enough wins.

BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — For
a program that had just
16 players selected in the
NFL Draft between 2000
and 2010, Mississippi
State’s recent production
of professional talent is
profound.
Since Dan Mullen took
over the program in 2009,
36 former Bulldogs have
been selected to play at
the next level — including
12 first and second round
draftees.
But for all the NFL tal-
ent MSU has churned out
over the past few years,
the Bulldogs haven’t
reached the heights fans
and administrators have
hoped.
Over the past three
years, 14 former Bulldogs
have been selected in
the NFL Draft — includ-
ing three first rounders
in 2019. The program is
also one of just six teams
in the country in the past
two drafts to have at least
seven players selected in
the first three rounds. De-
spite that, MSU compiled
a meager 23-16 record
and a 1-2 mark in bowl
games during that span.
By comparison, the
other five schools to
record seven or more
players in the first three
rounds over the past two
years were Alabama,
LSU, Clemson, Ohio State
and Oklahoma — a group
that combined for an 119-
13 record and each of the
past two national champi-
onships.
So why has MSU so
consistently struggled
to piece together win-
ning seasons with ample
professional talent in its
arsenal? The answer is
complex.
For one, the coach-
ing change from Mullen
to the now-departed Joe
Moorhead is a major com-
ponent of the Bulldogs’
perpetual underachieving
over the past three sea-
sons.
After spending nine
years in Starkville, Mul-
len parlayed his extended
stay at MSU into the head
coaching job at Florida
where he notched 10-win
seasons in each of his first
two years in Gainesville.
As for Moorhead, he
came to MSU lecturing
on ring sizes at his first
Southeastern Conference
Media Days after spend-
ing two years guiding a
record-breaking Penn
State offense. But instead
of championships, his
two years overseeing the
Bulldogs were met with
underperforming records
and a decade’s worth of
off the field controversy.
An academic miscon-
duct scandal in which a
tutor completed course-
work for 10 football play-
ers, among others, left
those involved suspended
for eight games last sea-
son — including starting
linebacker Willie Gay Jr.
and defensive tackle Lee
Autry. A reported fight
between Gay and fresh-
man quarterback Garrett
Shrader also left the latter
with a broken nose and
unable to play in MSU’s
lowly effort against Lou-
isville in the Music City
Bowl, further muddying
Moorhead’s future in
Starkville.
“I coached long enough
myself to know wins and
losses matter -- Joe did
win 14 games,” MSU Ath-
letic Director John Cohen
said of why he fired Moor-
head back in January. “In
this case, it goes a little
bit beyond just wins and
losses. Although, I want
to state for sure that wins
and losses matter. There
were some other issues at
stake here that we had to
consider.”
And while coaching
is a major component of
MSU’s failure to rack up
wins with its NFL tal-
ent, strength of schedule
helps to paint a broader
picture of where the Bull-
dogs stack up against
teams that churn out a
similar number of profes-
sional players.
Since 2019, both MSU
and Oklahoma have had
seven players selected in
the first three rounds of
the NFL Draft. Over that
same span, OU’s strength
of schedule has never
dipped below 14, and av-
eraged out to No. 11 na-
tionally as the Sooners
compiled a 24-4 record
according to TeamRank-
ings.com.
In MSU’s case, it aver-
aged a strength of sched-
ule of 14.5, aided massive-
ly by its No. 6 ranking in
2019, while finishing a
meager 14-12 in that time.
If not Oklahoma, take
See MSU, 2B

Mississippi State softball honors COMMENTARY

DeRosa: I tried MSU’s

Alex Wilcox with Wall Sit Challenge
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
Alex Wilcox wasn’t
coming off the wall.
As trainer Marissa Ro-
bles and director of soft-
ball operations Jessica
Cooley approached the
Mississippi State fresh-
man, ready to pull her out
of her wall sit exercise
against the fence at Nusz
Park.
“‘Why don’t you come
off the wall?’” they asked
Wilcox. “‘Why don’t you
take a break?’”
Wilcox, just back from
her chemotherapy treat-
ment from ovarian can-
cer, turned and gave her
coaches a look that said,
“‘Don’t you dare. I’m gon-
na finish this.’”
She did just that,
wrapping up a 4-min-
See WILCOX, 2B
Wall Sit Challenge in
honor of Alex Wilcox.
Here’s how it went.
BY THEO DEROSA ficult, but you can make
tderosa@cdispatch.com it happen.”
It’s Friday, and Mock
Stephanie Mock has is telling me about the
plenty of tips for sit- Mississippi State soft-
ting on a
ball team’s Wall Sit
wall for 4 Challenge, created af-
minutes
ter freshman Alex Wil-
and 28 cox’s legendary 4-min-
s e c onds , ute, 28-second wall sit
but one right after treatment for
of them ovarian cancer. Wilcox
stands out died in June 2018, and
above the DeRosa the Bulldogs created
rest. the challenge that fall
“Just remember to honor her memory
you’re doing this for a and spread awareness
great cause,” Mississip- of the disease. On Tues-
pi State’s head Olympic day — April 28, or 4/28,
Courtesy of Mississippi State Athletics sports strength and con- it’s back: The team is
A bulldog statue with Alex Wilcox’s No. 8 — in the shape of a teal ribbon — sits in ditioning coach said. “I
Mississippi State’s weight room. “I wanted to make sure that she was remembered challenging athletic pro-
think that’s extremely grams nationwide to film
in a facility such as mine,” head Olympic sports strength and conditioning coach
Stephanie Mock said of Wilcox.
important. It will be dif- See DEROSA, 2B
2B TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Four Mississippi State softball seniors will return for 2021 season
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
The Mississippi State softball team saw
a promising 2020 season end early due to
the coronavirus pandemic, but the Bull-
dogs are poised to run it back next year
with many of the same key contributors.
On Monday, four of the team’s five se-
niors announced that they will be return-
ing for the 2021 season, using the extra
season of eligibility the NCAA is set to
award them.
First baseman Fa Leilua, pitcher Alys-
sa Loza, pitcher/outfielder Candace Denis
and outfielder Christian Quinn will all be
back in 2021.
“To have them back for another year is
a tremendous feeling,” head coach Saman-
tha Ricketts said in a release from Mis-
sissippi State athletics Monday. “They’ve
each been an integral part of our program.
Who they are as women and as leaders
has been such a blessing for this coach-
ing staff. They are the foundation of this
team.”
Leilua, who along with junior catch-
er Mia Davidson formed the SEC’s best
home run-hitting duo with 48 long balls
in 2019, will come back for a sixth year of
college. Leilua, who was hitting .384 and
had a team-leading nine home runs and
a slugging percentage of .791 through 28
games in 2020, sat out the 2018 season
after transferring from Arizona State, but
she said there was never a doubt: She was
coming back.
“I have the blessing of being offered
another chance to restart,” Leilua said in
a Twitter post Monday morning. “Without
hesitation, I decided to take that chance
and take one last ride with my Dawgs.”
Loza, who followed Leilua from Tempe
to Starkville, will join her on the field again
next year. On Monday, Loza announced
her decision to return for 2021 as well.
“Given that this season was cut short,
I feel the best thing I can do to support
my teammates and to repay the faith that
Mississippi State softball has had in me
is to give it one more year of devotion,”
Loza tweeted Monday. “Softball has been
a driving force in my life, and this MSU
Bulldog team has become my family.”
Loza had a 1.26 ERA in 16.2 innings
pitched in 2020, striking out 14 batters.
Denis was the first Bulldog to announce
she was staying, tweeting that “(i)t is with
utmost joy to say that I get to wear maroon
and white for another year and complete a
lifelong journey the right way.”
She pitched to a 2.33 ERA in three in-
nings this spring and hit .295 with eight
doubles and two home runs as a starting
outfielder for the Bulldogs.
Quinn tweeted that before the 2020
season she was sure it would be her last,
but she soon found out that wouldn’t be
the case.
“To say I am blessed is an understate-
ment, and getting to represent this univer-
sity for another year is a privilege,” Quinn
said in a tweet Monday announcing her
return. “ ... Here’s to another year!”
Quinn, who started 11 of Mississippi
State’s 28 games, hit .207 but got on base
at a .361 clip this season.
Senior second baseman Lindsey Wil-
liams is the only member of the Bulldogs’
senior class not to return, saying Monday
that 2020 was her final season. Williams,
who started 21 games, hit .295 with two
home runs, driving in 10 runs on the sea-
son.
“As disappointed as I am that my se-
nior season ended this way, I know there
comes a time when you just have to move
on,” she tweeted Monday. “ ... Everything I
experienced at Mississippi State made me
into the person I am today, and I will forev-
er be grateful for this opportunity.”

MSU
Continued from Page 1B
Clemson. The Tigers
have reached the nation-
al championship in four
of the last five years and
have become a stalwart
at the top of the polls un-
der coach Dabo Swinney
during his tenure. But for
all the maligning the At-
lantic Coast Conference
receives, Clemson still
hasn’t had a strength of
schedule worse than No.
4 nationally since 2018.
In the nearly four
months since Moorhead’s
firing, former Washing-
ton State coach Mike
Leach has taken the helm
in Starkville. Long known
for his ability to win with
less, Leach has perpetu-
ally outkicked his cover-
age in the wins column
at both Washington St.
and Texas Tech — a trait
Cohen lauded in his intro-
ductory press conference.
“We didn’t solely hire
Mike Leach because he’s
a visionary and a pioneer
in the modern game of col-
lege football, but indeed
he is,” Cohen said on Jan.
10. “We hired Mike Leach
because he’s a discipli-
narian. We hired Mike
Leach because he’s a bril-
liant tactician. Most of
all, we hired Mike Leach
because he’s a proven
winner. He’s won in some
places, quite frankly, that
are very difficult to win.”
To date, Leach’s tenure
has yet to really begin giv-
en the ongoing COVID-19
crisis, but it will be his
task to take the NFL tal-
ent MSU has produced
in recent years and prove
that the program is more
than just encouraging
numbers on draft night.

Wilcox
Continued from Page 1B
ute, 28-second wall sit
through the pain of che-
mo and the burn in her
legs that spring day in
2018. And, according to
current head coach Sa-
mantha Ricketts, Wilcox
didn’t think anything of
it.
By the time the Bull-
dogs faced Ole Miss in
mid-April, Wilcox was
back in the hospital. She
died June 25, 2018, in
her hometown of Brant-
ley, Alabama.
That fall, her team-
mates approached Rick-
etts and former head
coach Vann Stuedeman,
never having forgotten
the resilience Wilcox
showed as she stayed
there on the wall.
“All the other girls on
the team understood: If
someone had the mental
capacity and strength to
get through a wall sit as
they’re going through
chemo, why can’t we?”
said Stephanie Mock,
head Olympic sports
strength and condition-
ing coach at Mississippi
State. “I think she really
pulled the team togeth-
er in that sense — that
everything can be over-
come.”
On Oct. 2, 2018, the
Wall Sit Challenge was
born: The Bulldogs
taped themselves doing
a wall sit in their indoor
facility for 4 minutes and
28 seconds and sent it
out on social media with
the hashtag #428Wall-
SitChallenge, hoping
other softball programs
around the country
would follow suit to hon-
or Wilcox’s memory and
spread awareness of
ovarian cancer.
“Everybody remem-
bers her for her story
and her overall fight and
drive to be out on the
field and with her team,”
Ricketts said of Wilcox.
“I think the Wall Sit
Challenge is a specific
example of time and also
shows just how strong
she was, physically and
mentally, to go through
a moment like that.”
The challenge went
viral beyond Ricketts’
expectations, making
its way through 230 col-
lege softball teams and
42 high school, club and
professional teams. The
Provo, Utah, fire and
rescue department even
got in on it.
Two years later, the
challenge and Wil-
cox’s legacy persist. On
Tuesday — April 28, or
4/28 — the Bulldogs
are issuing the Wall Sit
Challenge to softball
programs across the na-
tion, asking participants
to film themselves per-
forming the wall sit and
tag three friends to join.
“‘OK, here’s an actual
challenge that Alex went
through that we can all
participate in togeth-
er,’” Ricketts explained.
“I think it’s just a really
good way to unite a lot
of people and feel may-
be just a little bit of what
one of her struggles
was.”
Wilcox’s memory
won’t be forgotten soon
at Mississippi State,
where a Bulldog statue
sits near the wall. Below
it, her number 8 — in the
shape of a teal ribbon —
is featured prominently.
Except for basketball
and football, which have
their own weight rooms,
Bulldogs of every sport
will always see the trib-
ute.
“I wanted to make
sure that she was re-
membered in a facility
such as mine,” Mock
said of Wilcox. “Every
time the student-ath-
letes come in the weight
room, they see it, so
she’s never forgotten.”

DeRosa
Continued from Page 1B
themselves doing a wall sit
for 4 minutes, 28 seconds
in Wilcox’s honor and pub-
lishing it with the hashtag
#428WallSitChallenge.
Mock, who joined Mis-
sissippi State in July 2018,
says that’s easy — for her,
anyway.
“I could go forever, let’s
be honest,” she said.
How about for me?
“It will be difficult,”
Mock told me. “I do prom-
ise you that.”
That’s right, I’m going
to try this challenge —
though I am absolutely not
going to film it — for the
purposes of this column.
To do that, I asked Mock
for some tips to survive
268 seconds on the wall.
Getting started
Find a flat-surface wall
with nothing sticking out
of it. Place your feet shoul-
der-width apart and make
sure they’re flat on the
ground. Slide down to a
90-degree angle at the hip
and at the knee, like you’re
sitting in a chair. Make
sure your head, shoulders
and lower back are flat
against the wall — the lat-
ter allows you to keep your
pelvis tilted forward and
keep your core engaged,
Mock said.
Just breathe
One key to surviving
the wall sit is deceptively
simple.
“Make sure throughout
this extremely long wall
sit that you are breathing,”
Mock said. “Do not hold
your breath the whole
time — you will pass out.”
That’s good enough for
me.
Sing along?
Four minutes and 28
seconds is a long time, so
while you’re breathing,
Mock recommends sing-
ing a song to pass the time
and distract yourself.
According to teammate
Carter Spexarth, Wilcox’s
favorite songs included
Mississippi Girl by Faith
Hill, Meant to Be by Bebe
Rexha feat. Florida Geor-
gia Line and Neon by
Chris Young. Pretty much
any country music would
do.
I’m thinking I’ll go with
R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of
the World as We Know It.”
I don’t expect to feel fine.
How to make it easier
By the end of the Bull-
dogs’ original Wall Sit
Challenge video in Oc-
tober 2018, now-head
coach Samantha Ricketts
couldn’t keep her body at
the 90-degree angle Mock
described as optimal —
and she wasn’t the only
one.
Mock acknowledged
sliding up a bit on the wall,
ending up a little above 90
degrees, will take pres-
sure off your lower leg as
the wall sit continues.
Additionally, Mock
said, starting slow and
building up to the full time
will help if you’re out of
shape — like I am.
But managing to make
it through can be a mental
thing as much as a physi-
cal thing, Mock said, so
prepare your mind as
much as you can before-
hand.
“I think there’s a big
mental capacity that goes
into it, too,” Mock told
me. “You will start to feel
a burn, so where are you
at from a mental stand-
point?”
Well, I’m about to find
out. Here we go.
On the wall — a sec-
ond-by-second account
0:01: Four minutes, 28
seconds? How hard could
that be?
0:12: OK, yeah, this is
hard.
0:28: For the first time,
I remember to breathe.
0:50: I need to exer-
cise more.
0:57: Still trying to
breathe. Realizing this
will be a lot harder than I
think.
1:24: Had to straighten
up a lot. A lot.
1:45: Afraid of inflict-
ing long-term damage to
my legs.
2:02: Straightened up
again.
2:17: Almost fell down.
2:38: Grabbed nearby
doorknob for help; really
feeling the burn
3:05: Actually fell
down.
3:44: Finding it hard to
stand back up after nearly
falling over.
4:15: How did Alex
Wilcox and her teammates
do this?
4:18: Stood up briefly
for the last time
4:28: Freedom!
5:28: Still breathing
a little hard; legs a little
sore.
8:10: Wobbled into
kitchen for water.
8:55: Thighs appear to
be cramping. I didn’t know
that could even happen.
11:34: We’re good …
for now. I’m going to the Y
as soon as it reopens.
Retrospective
I’m pretty sure I cheat-
ed a couple times. But
faced with a choice be-
tween letting my legs give
out and jettison me onto
the floor or briefly stand
up and take the pressure
off, I took the easy way
out.
Really, though, doing
this — if I can truly say I
did it — just gave me add-
ed respect for Alex Wilcox
and her teammates. This
isn’t easy under normal
circumstances, let alone
right after chemotherapy.
It takes some kind of men-
tal and physical strength
to do that — a strength I’m
not ashamed to say I do
not have.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Tech companies, like college athletes, eager to cash in
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS earning potential for that to $120,000 a year,” Law- in. And having those plat-
imaginary quarterback rence said. “You can see form relationships in place
Imagine a major-col- based on the QB having how the math adds up will almost surely be a re-
lege quarterback with a 40,000 followers on Twit- pretty quick in terms of cruiting tool for schools.
sizable social media fol- ter and 50,000 on Insta- opportunities for high “There’s going to be a
lowing who posts enter- gram. The co-founder and level student-athletes to whole industry springing
taining and informative CEO of athlete market- earn a significant sum of up around NIL,” or name,
updates about his life on ing platform Opendorse money from activating image and likeness, Law-
and off the field. based his projection on their social and digital rence said. “There is an
Now imagine a restau- a popular college athlete media presence on behalf ecosystem forming, and
rant hiring him as its having a market value of sponsors in the local the incumbents are jos-
pitchman and paying him approximate to that of a community.” tling and developing dif-
$500 or $1,000 each time retired, well-known pro While autograph sign- ferent types of tools and
he posts content with its athlete; active pros com- ing and public appearanc- technology, and it’s going
messaging. mand higher fees. es have been traditional to be wild.”
That scenario could Lawrence said it would ways for professional ath- Opendorse and IN-
become reality as soon be reasonable to assume letes to make extra mon- FLCR (pronounced “In-
as 2021 as the NCAA the quarterback would ey, most opportunities fluencer”) will be major
figures out the details of sign separate deals with now are tied to social me- players to start, and an-
how college athletes can 10 local businesses and dia. The bridge between other company, Greenfly,
be compensated for the post a total of 60 to 120 athlete and sponsor will plans to establish more of
use of their name, image sponsored content mes- likely be content delivery a presence in the college
or likeness. sages a year on one of his platforms — a cottage market.
Blake Lawrence social media accounts. industry of sorts eager All three have con-
crunched the numbers on “So quickly it’s $60,000 to link the two and cash tracts with pro teams and
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
I have a
problem I
can’t fix. I have
been married for
54 years. For the
last 20 we have
slept in different
bedrooms. I get no
affection from my
wife, and every-
thing has to be her
ZITS way. We no longer
have anything in
common except
our children and
grandchildren
who, for the most Dear Abby
part, come to me
only when they need something.
Over the years, we have
drifted apart, and there is no
longer anything we enjoy doing
together. I have told her many
times that for my mental health
we should part ways. She
laughs and shrugs it off. Basi-
GARFIELD cally, to her I am a paycheck.
She thinks we don’t have a
problem. Her parents lived pret-
ty much the same way. I need
someone who will sit with me
when we go out to dinner, hold
hands in public, have a couple
of similar interests, share the
same bed, etc.
I have met a woman online
who seems to care and who
wants to be with me. I haven’t
followed through, but every time
I’m verbally abused, it’s pushing
me more and more toward her.
CANDORVILLE
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (April
28). You brighten people’s lives
and they let you know, reward-
ing you with special position,
invites and opportunities. Your
plans come to fruition a little
differently than anticipated, but
they’re even more satisfying.
There’s a material purchase
that represents years of hard
BABY BLUES work. A reunion will make you
wonder how you ever were
apart. Aries and Gemini adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 4,
21, 6, 39 and 49.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
Your close friends have earned
their place. For someone new to
become dear to you at this very
busy time in your life, they will
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
FAMILY CIRCUS
leagues as well as college
athletic departments.
They store and manage
content — game photos
and videos, for exam-
ple — that athletes can
share on their personal
social media accounts.
The photos and videos
are provided by the teams
themselves and through
agreements with media
organizations.
Athletes can access
the content and share it
with their followers. The
pros use it to promote
brands and supplement
their income; college ath-
letes will be able to do the
same once they get the
green light.
“Will some athletes
make less than $1,000
(per year)? Yes. Can some
Help. — UNHAPPY
IN PENNSYLVANIA
DEAR UNHAP-
PY: Tell your wife
you are making
an appointment
with a licensed
marriage and
family therapist
to discuss your
marital situation.
It may be the
wakeup call she
needs to get her
to quit laughing
and pay attention
to the fact that
you are seriously
unhappy. Ask
her to go with you, but if she
refuses, follow through and go
without her. It may help you
emotionally as you disengage
from this marriage.
If you do end the marriage,
recognize there will have to be
a fair distribution of any assets
that accumulated and be pre-
pared to discuss your options
with more than one lawyer. A
word of caution, however: Do
NOT immediately rush into
a romantic relationship with
someone you know only through
the internet. It is crucial that
you take the necessary time to
detoxify and regain your balance
after you exit this marriage.
DEAR ABBY: My mom
passed away a year and a few
months ago. My parents were
married for 38 years.
need to fulfill a specific need
or want.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
Charming people, delicious
food, jaw-dropping information
— these are all on offer for you
today, though not in the typical
ways you would go about experi-
encing such things.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
You will influence others with
integrity. The best part is, you
won’t come off sounding pushy
in the least, because you don’t
have to push at all when you’re
just right.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
It is said that you can never go
back because even if you do,
it’s just not the same. That’s
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 3B
athletes make more than
$100,000? Yes,” INFLCR
founder and CEO Jim
Cavale said. “Are any
millionaires going to be
made off this? Very few,
if any.”
Opendorse, based in
Lincoln, Nebraska, has
contracts with 75 colleges
in addition to deals with
the PGA Tour and players’
unions for the NFL and
Major League Baseball,
among other entities. IN-
FLCR, based in Birming-
ham, Alabama, has 100-
plus colleges as clients as
well as NBA and NFL play-
ers, NASCAR drivers and
other pro athletes. Green-
fly, based in Santa Moni-
ca, California, has worked
mostly with professional
sports, notably baseball.
Dad started a whirlwind
romance with a lady about
nine months after Mom’s
death. Their relationship lasted
three months, and they were
supposed to get married. She
blindsided him by breaking the
engagement a month before the
wedding. The breakup was be-
cause she still has feelings for
an ex-husband and had nothing
to do with my dad.
He keeps talking to her “as
a friend,” but he is miserable
because he’s in love with her.
Ever since the breakup, she gets
nasty and criticizes him about
small things. She is not even a
good friend.
I want my father to be
happy and find someone who
will love him. But he continues
to call and text this woman,
even though it makes him sink
deeper into depression every
day. He keeps thinking she’ll
take him back, but I don’t see it
happening. How can I convince
Daddy to cut off all contact with
her? — WHAT’S BEST FOR DAD
IN GEORGIA
DEAR WHAT’S BEST: I’m
not sure you are the person to
do that. It might be better to
enlist the aid of a male relative
or close friend — someone who
knows what has been going
on. Your father might be more
receptive to that message if he
hears it from a contemporary.
If not, he may have to learn his
lesson the hard way
what makes today so incredible.
You’ll get as close to “back” as
possible.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22).
You’re open-minded. You don’t
require perfection or familiarity
in order to give something a
chance. For this reason, you’ll
become an early adopter of a
novel solution.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
The worse time to think of the
best thing to do is when you’re
already doing it. Good plans
make for a good life. You can
always choose to follow or not
follow your plan, but you can
only give yourself that option if
you have a plan.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
You think that you’re reasoning
your way into a decision, but
actually you decide based on
a feeling before you are even
aware that there is a decision to
be made. Something has to feel
right before it can make sense.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). There are things you can
see yourself doing and things
that are so far out of character
for you that you can’t even
picture them. Place your imagi-
nation well because your life will
follow it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). You’ll have an impact on
your environment. You’ll apply
yourself in such a way that
things will get lighter, brighter,
fresher and more fun when
you’re around.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). You will sing the unsung.
Being able to see what’s unique
and interesting about people is
a talent that makes life more
enjoyable for all. Everyone gets
a lift.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). Staying on the path of
least resistance means that
when you do meet resistance,
you just go another direction.
The shift can be made without
alarm or emotion. Much can
happen when things move
easily.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). You have many options,
and it would be overwhelming
indeed to have to account for
them all. Narrow it down to
three, and then pick the one
that’s easiest for you right now.
I’m in the mood for love
SOLUTION:
4B TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 5B

65+
years
young?
You’re at higher risk.
If you’re 65 or older, you are at higher risk of getting very sick
from the coronavirus. You must take extra care of yourself.

Stay home if you can.

Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least
20 seconds.
Avoid touching your face.
Disinfect frequently touched objects.
Wash up after being in public spaces.
Stay about six feet away from others.
If you’re sick, stay home and away from others.
If you have symptoms of fever, dry cough and shortness
of breath, call your health care provider before going to
their office.

We are all at risk, and some more than others. In challenging times, the
choices you make are critical. And their impact is significant. Help slow
the spread of coronavirus.

Visit Coronavirus.gov for the latest tips and information from the CDC.

TOGETHER, WE CAN HELP SLOW THE SPREAD.

Classifieds
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n TUESDAY, APRIL 28 , 2020 n 6B

Houses For Rent: Other Houses For Sale: East General Merchandise

LEGALS Rentals HOUSE NEAR MUW W/

APARTMENT. 323 13th St.
2BR/1BA @ 1521
Shepherd Rd.
WANTED FREON R12.
We pay CA$H.
N. 3 Blks from MUW. LR, Sold as is, needs work. R12 R500 R11.
Call us: 662-328-2424 Ads starting at $25 DR, 2/3BR−3BA, lg den w/ Serious inquiries only, Convenient.
fire place, kitchen, laundry, 769−274−4110. Certified professionals.
Legal Notices Apts For Rent: West outside fenced patio, 312−291−9169
screened side porch & Houses For Sale: New Hope RefrigerantFinders.com/ad

VIP
UNITED STATES DISTRICT work room & ATTACHED
COURT APARTMENT: 1BR/1BA, 16 WIDNER IN NEW HOPE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF living room/kitchenette

Rentals
Newly remodeled. 3BR/
ALABAMA area. NO HUD. Ref req. 2BA home. Approx. 1,500 WHITE POSTER
SOUTHERN DIVISION Dep req. $1075/mo. sq. ft. Has 25’x30’ wired BOARDS.
662−386−7506. metal shop w/ roll−up front 24"x23"
IN THE MATTER OF COOPER Apartments & Houses & side door. $154,500. $0.50 each
MARINE & TIMBERLANDS COR-
Mobile Homes for Rent 100 in stock
1 Bedrooms
PORATION, AS OWNER PRO 662−549−9298.
HAC VICE AND OPERATOR, OF Visit 516 Main Street
2 Bedroooms
THE BARGE BIG 505, OFFICIAL RENT A CAMPER! Lots & Acreage or call 662−328−2424
NO. 110343, PRAYING FOR EX- CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
ONERATION FROM OR LIMITA-
TION OF LIABILITY
3 Bedrooms Utilities & cable included, 1.75 ACRE LOTS.
from $145/wk − $535/mo Good/Bad Credit Options.
Furnished & Unfurnished
Vehicles
Columbus & County School
Sudoku
Good credit as low as 10%
CIVIL ACTION NO. 20-170
locations. 662−242−7653 down, $299/mo. Eaton YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS OF AC- 1, 2, & 3 Baths or 205−442−2011. Land, 662−361−7711.
Lease, Deposit
Sudoku Yesterday’s answer
TION BROUGHT FOR EXONERA- Sudoku is a number-
TION FROM OR LIMITATION OF Ads starting at $12
& Credit Check
RV/MOBILE HOME SITE
placing puzzle based on
Merchandise
LIABILITY. East or West Columbus or
Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis
Boats & Marine witha several
num- 4 2 8 5 3 7 6 9 1
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that viceinvestments.com near CAFB, Caledonia
ber-placing
given numbers.puzzle 9 5 7 8 6 1 4 3 2
327-8555
schools. 601−940−1397. The object

2020 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Cooper Marine & Timberlands
Corporation (“CMT”) as owner
Office Spaces For Rent Ads starting at $12
15FT FISHING BOAT w/ based
is to on
place a
the 9x9
numbers 1 3 6 2 9 4 5 7 8
pro hac vice/operator of the
Barge BIG 505 has filed a
motor & trailer (needs
tires). $900.
grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 6 7 1 4 2 5 3 8 9
Complaint pursuant to the pro- Apts For Rent: Caledonia OFFICE SPACE FOR Farm Equipment & Supplies 662−327−5480. given
so thatnumbers.
each row, eachThe 3 8 2 9 1 6 7 4 5
visions of 46 U.S.C. §30511for LEASE. 1112 Main St., object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place box
exoneration from or limitation 2 BR, 1 BA w/ W/D
numbers 5 4 9 7 8 3 2 1 6
contains the1same to 9 number
in
Ste. 5. 3700 sq. ft. JOHN DEERE MODEL M
of liability of all claims for any connections. Application Campers & RVs
loss, destruction or damage
Plenty of private parking.
Fee, Background and Credit 662−327−9559. TRACTOR. A set of one row the empty spaces so 8 1 5 3 4 2 9 6 7
cultivators w/ hydraulic lift, 2012 JAYCO EAGLE 5th only once. The difficulty 2 6 4 1 7 9 8 5 3
has been repainted, looks WHEEL, 39ft, 4 slide−outs. that each row, each
arising out of the alleged break- Checks required. $500.00
ing away of the Barge BIG 505 level increases from
on or about February 7, 2020,
662−436−2255
good & runs good, $3500. 2BR, 48" TV & 27" TV. column and each 7 9 3 6 5 8 1 2 4
Mondayboxtocontains
Sunday.
as more fully described in
Real Estate Call 662−436−2037. 3x3 Difficulty Level 4/27

CMT’s Complaint. Apts For Rent: Other $26,500. 662−386−9605.

All persons having such claims
must file their respective
claims, as provided in Rule F of
the Supplemental Rules for
Certain Admiralty and Maritime
Claims of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure, with the Clerk
of the United States District
Court, Southern District of
Alabama, 155 St. Joseph
Street, Mobile, AL 36602, and
must serve a copy thereof on
the same number only once. The difficulty level
General Merchandise
1ST MONTH − RENT FREE! Motorcycles & ATVs increases from Monday to Sunday.
1−2 BR Apt: $350−435 Ads starting at $25 2018 40FT Gooseneck
1−2BR TwnHm: $625−650 Trailer w/ 5ft dovetail, 12 1993 KAWASAKI
Lease, Dep, Credit Check. Houses For Sale: North ton axles, 10−4inch straps VOYAGER XII Only 25,500
Coleman Realty & tarps. $8,500. 662−251 miles. Runs & looks good.
662−329−2323 FSBO: 3BR/2BA, 3304 5th −3001. No problems. $3000 OBO.
St N. Fenced back yard w/ Can be seen local.
sm shop. Great neighbor− 501−545−7750.
hood. $110,000. 662−356 ads.cdispatch.com
−4764 or 901−848−0051.

Community
counsel for CMT on or before
the 5th day of June, 2020, or
be defaulted.

If any claimant desires to con-

test either the right to exonera-
Ads starting at $12
tion from or the right to limita-
tion of liability, he shall file and Travel & Entertainment
serve on counsel for CMT an
answer to the Complaint on or
before the aforesaid date un- PUBLIC CATFISH POND
less his claim has included an @ 130 Hillcrest Drive.
answer so designated or be de- Open Tues−Sat, 7a−5p
faulted.

Place an ad safely
Appointment Only, call
Mobile, Alabama, this 9th day 662−386−8591
of April, 2020.

CHARLES R. DIARD, JR.,

CLERK OF COURT.
By: Tammy Thornton, from home with Looking for
a new pet?
the Classifieds.
Deputy Clerk
(SEAL)

COLEMAN
Attorneys for Complainant in
Limitation, Cooper Marine &
Timberlands Corporation:
DONALD C. RADCLIFF, RENTALS
Brady Radcliff & Brown, LLP, TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
61 Saint Joseph Street,
Mobile, AL 36602, 1 BEDROOM
Telephone: 251-405-0077
Email: 2 BEDROOMS
dradcliff@brblawyers.com 3 BEDROOMS
PUBLISH: 4/14, 4/21, 4/28,
LEASE,
© The Dispatch

& 5/5/2020
DEPOSIT
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
AND
CREDIT CHECK ads.cdispatch.com Five Questions:
SIPPI

IN RE: ESTATE OF RANONG 662-329-2323

1 Grandmother
BROWN, DECEASED

KIRSTYN O’CALLAGHAN, EXEC- 2411 HWY 45 N Need a

UTRIX COLUMBUS, MS new car?
ACROSS
2 Woody
CAUSE NO.: 2020-00071-RPF
Commercial Property For Rent 1 Heaps
NOTICE TO CREDITORS

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
FOR RENT LOCATED NEAR
DOWNTOWN. 3,000 sq. ft.
Harrison 5 Ship poles
10 Billionaire
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
truck terminal, 9,500 sq. George
Letters Testamentary have ft. shop & 3,200 sq. ft.
12 Capital of
been granted and issued to the office/shop. Buildings can
undersigned upon the Estate of be rented together or 3 Czecho- Ghana
slovakia
RANONG BROWN, Deceased,
by the Chancery Court of
separately. All w/ excellent 13 Office seat
access & Hwy. 82 visibility.
Lowndes County, Mississippi, 662−327−9559. 15 Green prefix
on the 16th day of April, A.D.,
2020. This is to give notice to 16 Dissenter’s
vote
4 Drury Lane
all persons having claims
against said estate to Probate Start in the classifieds section for 17 Fall behind
and Register same with the
Chancery Clerk of Lowndes your buying and selling needs! 18 Animal suet
County, Mississippi, within
Have a rental property? 20 Flank
5 Sarah
ninety (90) days from this date.
A failure to so Probate and Re-
List it here for fast results. 21 Get smart
gister said claim will forever Ads starting at $12 for one week! 22 Go by
bar the same. ads.cdispatch.com McLachlan 23 Secret supply
This the 17 day of April 2020.
25 Blanchett of

Service Directory
43 Blu-ray item 20 Wasn’t thrifty
/s/ Kirstyn O’Callaghan “The Lord of the 24 Up-to-date, in
KIRSTYN O’CALLAGHAN
Rings” DOWN a way
PUBLISH: 4/21, 4/28, 28 Mates of 1 Useful skill 25 Fighting
5/5/2020
harts 2 Light, in a way 26 Comfortable
31 Singer 3 Baltimore 27 River of Iraq
Promote your small business starting at only $25 Redding player 29 Alaskan peak
Employment Carpet & Flooring General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping 32 Go to
34 Sister of Jo,
4 “Mazel —!”
5 Singer Gray
30 Slow movers
33 Baseball’s
Call us: 662-328-2424 A & T TREE SERVICES HILL’S PRESSURE JESSE & BEVERLY’S Amy and Beth 6 German cry Jeter
Bucket truck & stump WASHING. Commercial/ LAWN SERVICE 35 Spotted cube
removal. Free est. Residential. House, Mowing, cleanup, 7 Justice Antonin 35 Turn down
Education Serving Columbus concrete, sidewalks & landscaping, sodding, 36 Scot’s denial 8 Musical chords 38 Flying mam-
since 1987. Senior mobile washing. Free est. & tree cutting. 37 Spot for a trim 9 Privates’ mal
Teacher looking for Change citizen disc. Call Alvin @ 662−386−8925. 662−356−6525
St. Paul’s Episcopal School 242−0324/241−4447
40 Korean or bosses 39 Owned
is actively seeking a "We’ll go out on a limb for Thai 11 Lady of Spain
Preschool Director. College
degree or 5 years experi-
you!" ANNIVERSARY? SAM’S LAWN SERVICE
No lawn too large or too 41 Berry of
small. Mowing, trimming & “X-Men”
14 Tailgating
ence in the field of Early DAVID’S CARPET & RKERS CALL US! sight
DUMP TRUCK HAULING. PA weedeating. 42 Irritable
Childhood is preferred. UPHOLSTERY 19 Oxford parts
ON

Slag − $400
J.

Starting salary is $32,000 CLEANING AND Call 662−243−1694

Clay Gravel − $250
with paid health insurance DISINFECTING 1 Room Driveway & Trailer Park
and retirement package. − $50 E 100 Russell St. Painting & Papering
W ELER
J

Grating. Columbus. Call Starkville, MS

EOE. Email resume: 2 Rooms − $70 Walter, 662−251−8664. 662-268-8058
spesms.gmail.com Inter- 3+ Rooms − $30 EA SULLIVAN’S PAINT
views start immediately. Rugs−Must Be Seen SERVICE
Car Upholstery WORK WANTED: CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY Special Prices.
Cleaning Available Licensed & Bonded. $545 plus Filing Fee Interior & Exterior Painting
662−722−1758 Carpentry, minor electrical, 662−435−6528
minor plumbing, insulation, CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY
Read local. painting, demolition,
gutters cleaned, pressure
All Attorney Fees Through The Plan
Jim Arnold, Attorney
Got leaky pipes? Are you a painter?
cdispatch.com Find a plumber in the
washing, landscaping,
662-324-1666 • 601-656-6914 Advertise here!
cleanup work, moving help.
classifieds. 662−242−3608. 104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville

Buy. Sell. Discover. In the Classifieds section.

On the web: ads.cdispatch.com • Or call: 662-328-2424