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Thursday | May 7, 2020

Locally available antibody tests could show exposure to COVID

Kathleen Smith, a
registered nurse Health officials stress positive result does not
with Allegro Family
Clinic in Colum- guarantee patients are safe from virus; MSDH does
bus, prepares a
sample of blood not recommend using test to diagnose coronavirus
from a patient for
lab work at Week- BY ISABELLE ALTMAN explain it to patients when Alle-
end Plus Urgent ialtman@cdispatch.com gro started the tests about two
Care off Highway weeks ago.
45 Wednesday. Amy Bogue is reasonably con- Since then, Allegro has
Similar blood sam- fident she’s never had COVID-19. tested more than 65 pa-
ples will be tested The vice president of Allegro tients for the antibodies.
for COVID-19 Family Clinic in Columbus was At State Urgent Care, on
antibodies, which one of the first in her clinics to
help determine South Montgomery Street
if a patient has receive the SARS-COV-2IgG in Starkville, staff have
been exposed to (immunoglobulin G) test, which tested between 250 and 300
the coronavirus or examines blood for antibodies patients, said nurse practi-
similar viruses. for COVID-19. Bogue wanted to tioner Kristi Robertson.
Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff have it done so she could easily See TESTING, 6A

BUSINESS MOVES
WITH MARY
HOUSE AND YARD BEAUTIFICATION
Some area
restaurants
open dining
areas starting
today
PLUS: Columbus Belk
slated to open Friday
BY MARY POLLITZ
Biz@cdispatch.com

B
usi-
ness-
es
are moving
forward
and open-
ing their
doors.
With
Gov. Tate
Reeves
reducing
restaurant Mary Pollitz Birney Imes/Dispatch Staff
restric- Nate “No Limit” Haney balances atop a six-foot-high fence as he trims the hedge at a house near the corner of Second Street
tions, we have some hometown and Fifth Avenue South Friday afternoon. Haney, who describes his business as “house and yard beautification,” says his
eateries opening their dining areas motto is, “Your last mile is my first priority.”
to the public at half capacity over
the next week.
Some Golden Triangle favor-
ites — The Grill, Harvey’s Sweet
Peppers Deli and Bulldog Burger
— all will open in-house seating
See BUSINESS, 6A
United Way hopes to distribute food
to 750-plus households Friday
Dispatch receives $80K Anyone with ID, ident of Lowndes County and
make sure you have enough
‘We’ll be giving out food until
Facebook grant to bolster Lowndes address room in your car. we either run out or people
“I don’t want people think-
reporting during pandemic can pick up food ing they’re just going to get stop coming’
a bag of food,” said Sanders,
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT
at sheriff’s office the United Way chapter di-
Renee Sanders, director for United Way
of Lowndes County
rector. “We’re going to be
The Commercial
Dispatch has been
starting at 9 a.m. handing out a substantial the organization will provide providing traffic control, help
approved for $80,200 BY SLIM SMITH amount of food, enough for what Sanders hopes will be in with distribution and serving
in grant funds from ssmith@cdispatch.com the whole household.” excess of 750 food packages, as the staging location at its
the Facebook Journal- Thanks to an unspecified enough to feed 3,000 people. office at 527 MLK Jr. Drive in
ism Project to bolster Renee Sanders has two donation by an anonymous lo- Sanders said United Way the Sandfield Community.
its news gathering pieces of advice for those who cal company (Sanders would will offer a food drive in Nox- “United Way asked us to
efforts during the Imes participate in Friday’s United only say the donation was in ubee County later this month. partner with them,” Sheriff
COVID-19 pandem- Way of Lowndes County food excess of $20,000) and an- On Friday, the Lowndes Eddie Hawkins said. “It’s a
ic, the social media corporation an- drive distribution: Bring an other $20,000 from the Unit- County Sheriff’s Office will perfect opportunity for us to
See GRANT, 3A ID that proves you are a res- ed Way’s own fundraising, work with the United Way, See UNITED WAY, 3A

WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

1 What are de-headed, deveined and sorted MEETINGS
by size in a Laitram machine? May 11: Columbus
2 What brand of sneakers did Sly Stallone Municipal School Dis-
wear as he famously ran up the steps while trict, 6 p.m., Brandon
training in “Rocky”? Central Services Cen-
3 What American city has the largest Cinco ter, For livestream link,
de Mayo street fair in the world, measuring
a mile long? visit www.columbuscity-
Lillian McGregory schools.org/
4 What screenplay did Cameron Crowe tap
Fifth grade, Annunciation May 15: Lowndes
out, after tapping a photo of famed groupie

72 Low 54
Bebe Buell to the wall? County Board of Super-
High 5 What is the minimum number of electoral visors, 9 a.m., County
Mostly sunny
votes needed to be elected president of the Courthouse
United States? May 19: Columbus City
Full forecast on Answers, 6B
page 3A. Council, Municipal Com-
plex, 5 p.m., Stream
live at facebook.com/
INSIDE CityofColumbusMS/
June 1: Lowndes
Business 4B Dear Abby 3B
Classifieds 6B Obituaries 5A Sheri Pleasants of Columbus has been missing County Board of Super-
Comics 3B Opinions 4A her church community and attending workouts at visors, 9 a.m., County
141st Year, No. 49 Crossword 6B Planet Fitness. Courthouse

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020
Mariah Burchell walks her Labrador retriever puppy, Hazel, in Riverside Park Friday afternoon. Burchell, who is
from Arkansas, is in town visiting her boyfriend.
AP Exclusive: Admin shelves
CDC guide to reopening country
Report was supposed
to be published last Trump: COVID-19 task force not
scientists were told the dismantling, just refocusing
Friday, but agency
guidance ‘would never
see the light of day’
BY JASON DEAREN
AND MIKE STOBBE
The Associated Press
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A set of
detailed documents created by the
nation’s top disease investigators
meant to give step-by-step advice
to local leaders deciding when and
how to reopen public places such as
mass transit, day care centers and
restaurants during the still-raging
pandemic has been shelved by the
Trump administration.
The 17-page report by a Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Pre-
vention team, titled “Guidance for
Implementing the Opening Up
America Again Framework,” was
researched and written to help
faith leaders, business owners, ed-
ucators and state and local officials
as they begin to reopen.
It was supposed to be published
last Friday, but agency scientists
were told the guidance “would nev-
er see the light of day,” according
to a CDC official. The official was
not authorized to talk to reporters
and spoke to The Associated Press
on the condition of anonymity.
The AP obtained a copy from a
second federal official who was not
authorized to release it. The guid-
ance was described in AP stories
last week, prior to the White House
decision to shelve it.
The Trump administration has
been closely controlling the re-
lease of guidance and information
during the pandemic spurred by
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
A THOUSAND WORDS
Birney Imes/Dispatch Staff
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHOENIX — One day after saying that the COVID-19 task force
would be winding down, President Donald Trump said Wednesday that
it would continue indefinitely, but focus more on rebooting the econo-
my.
Trump tweeted that the panel’s focus would be on “SAFETY &
OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN.”
Trump’s reversal comes as deaths and infections rates outside of
New York, the epicenter of the coronavirus, are rising even as states
move to lift their lockdowns.
A White House official acknowledged Wednesday morning that sig-
naling that the task force was preparing to shut down sent the wrong
message and created a media maelstrom. The official, speaking on the
condition of anonymity to discuss internal thinking, said the member-
ship in the task force group would change as the nature of the crisis
evolves.
On Tuesday, Trump had praised the task force for doing a great job,
but said “we’re now looking at a little bit of a different form, and that
form is safety and opening. And we’ll — we’ll have a different group
probably set up for that.”
His tweet on Wednesday said “the Task Force will continue on indef-
initely.” He added that the White House “may add or subtract people to
it, as appropriate. The Task Force will also be very focused on Vaccines
& Therapeutics.”
a new coronavirus that scientists perts has struck many current and
are still trying to understand, with former government health officials
the president himself leading free- as dangerous.
wheeling daily briefings until last “CDC has always been the pub-
week. lic health agency Americans turn
Traditionally, it’s been the CDC’s to in a time of crisis,” said Dr. How-
role to give the public and local of- ard Koh, a Harvard professor and
ficials guidance and science-based former health official in the Obama
information during public health administration during the H1N1
crises. During this one, however, swine flu pandemic in 2009. “The
the CDC has not had a regular, standard in a crisis is to turn to
pandemic-related news briefing them for the latest data and latest
in nearly two months. CDC Direc- guidance and the latest press brief-
tor Dr. Robert Redfield has been a ing. That has not occurred, and ev-
member of the White House coro- eryone sees that.”
navirus task force, but largely ab- The Trump administration has
sent from public appearances. instead sought to put the onus on
The dearth of real-time, public states to handle COVID-19 re-
information from the nation’s ex- sponse.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 3A

Reeves: Pandemic no ‘excuse’ to release inmates Police search for four

BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — Mississippi Gov.
Tate Reeves said Wednesday that
the state will not consider early
release for prisoners during the
coronavirus pandemic, even with
inmates living in conditions that
United Way
Continued from Page 1A
make social distancing difficult.
“Unlike many other states, I do
not believe we ought to use the ex-
cuse of a pandemic to change our
sentencing structure in our crim-
inal justice system,” the Republi-
can governor said in response to
questions during a news confer-
ence.
Mississippi has one of the
highest incarceration rates in the suspects in carjacking,
police pursuit
United States. An advocacy group
for inmate safety, the Mississippi
Prison Reform Coalition, issued
an open letter to Reeves this week.
It demanded that the state release
all juveniles, elderly and medically
Suspects allegedly stole vehicle
fragile people from custody. from man who offered them ride,
later crashed it into a South
Columbus church building
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com

get more involved in the
community and provide
the services that these
families are needing at
this time.”
The East Columbus Li-
ons Club will assist with
the transportation of doz-
ens of pallets of food from
the United Way’s ware-
house to the sheriff’s of-
fice. Lions Club volunteers
also will help organize and
distribute the food.
“We do have some ex-
perience with this kind
of thing,” said Lions Club
member Andy Kalinows-
ki. “When we had the
tornado in Columbus (in
February 2019), our na-
tional foundation provid-
ed over $10,000 in food
Hawkins Kalinowski
and our club distributed
that. In fact, we used the
United Way’s warehouse.
We’ve been working with
the United Way for years
now. They’ve assisted us
with our programs and
we’ve assisted them with
theirs. We’re thrilled to
have such a good partner
as the United Way.”
Sanders said she has
88 volunteers signed up
to help with the drive but
hopes to have 100 before
the distribution begins at
9 a.m. Friday.
The goal, she said,
was to provide food for as
many people as possible.
“It’s not income-based
and you don’t have to prove
you’ve lost your job or any-
thing,” she said. “Really,
all you need is your ID.
And if you have a neigh-
bor or family member or
friend who can’t drive, if
you bring their IDs, we’ll
fill their order, too. People
can walk up, too, if they
live close by. But they may
have to make more than
one trip.”
Sanders said the
amount of food provided
will be based on the num-
ber of people living in the Columbus investigators are searching for four
household. suspects accused of carjacking and later crashing
Those who want food the stolen vehicle into a South Columbus church
should line up on Airline building.
Road, where they will be Officers received a call at about 6 p.m. Tuesday
directed by sheriff’s de- from a Columbus man who said he’d offered four
partment personnel. men a ride from Walmart on Highway 45 earlier
“We’re so excited to be that day, Police Chief Fred Shelton said. In the
able to do this,” Sanders vehicle, one of the men displayed a handgun and
said. “We appreciate the told the driver to give him $20. When the driver
donors, the sheriff’s de- told the suspects he didn’t have the money, they
partment and the Lions made him get out of the vehicle and drove away.
Club. We couldn’t do this Shelton said police located the stolen vehicle at
without their help.” about 3 a.m. on Wednesday on 12th Street South
Sanders urged people and unsuccessfully attempted to pull it over.
to arrive early. About five minutes into the chase, the vehicle
“We are going to start crashed into an area church.
at 9, but we don’t know Shelton said no one was injured and the sus-
how long we’ll be there,” pects fled on foot.
she said. “We’ll be giving Investigators used surveillance footage from
out food until we either the Walmart parking lot to identify the suspects.
run out or people stop “We have some identification, however we’re
coming.” actively pursuing them, so we’re not releasing any
names,” he said.

Grant
Continued from Page 1A
nounced this morning.
The Dispatch will be
one of 144 local news-
rooms in the U.S., and one
of three in Mississippi, to
receive Local News Relief
Funds from Facebook.
The Local Media Associa-
tion and Lenfest Institute
for Journalism led the
process to vet more than
2,000 grant applications,
and nearly 80 percent of
recipients are family- or in-
dependently-owned news
operations. More than half
the recipients are publica-
tions by or for communi-
ties of color.
Grants ranged from
$25,000 to $100,000.
“We are extremely ap-
preciative to the Facebook
Journalism Project and
their partners, The Local
Media Association and
The Lenfest Institute for
Journalism for their focus
on independently-owned
news rooms,” said Peter
Imes, publisher for The
Dispatch. “This grant will
allow us to tackle multiple
large projects that will help
modernize our digital ef-
forts and better inform our
readers.”
With the funds, Imes
said, The Dispatch will fo-
cus news gathering efforts
for the COVID-19 crisis,
develop and implement
a marketing campaign
to raise awareness of the
newspaper’s work and re-
place the current website
with a more modern, mo-
bile-friendly site.
“While our newsroom
has done an exceptional
job reporting COVID’s ef-
fects on our community,
there are three focus areas
we feel will further estab-
lish our credibility as a re-
gional news organization
and respond to our read-
ership’s specific needs,”
Imes wrote in the grant
application. “The first is
COVID’s disproportionate
impact on African Amer-
icans, who make up more
than 40 percent of our cov-
erage area’s population.
Secondly, we intend to
analyze the ways in which
businesses are adapting
during COVID: their suc-
cesses, failures and les-
sons learned. This report-
ing will also chronicle the
ever-changing working
conditions and opportuni-
ties for employees across
our readership’s diverse
workforce.
“And lastly, we will ... vi-
sually document the ways
in which COVID is affect-
ing our coverage area,”
he wrote. “These images
will accompany our jour-
nalists’ stories and stand
The suspects will likely at least be charged
with carjacking and attempted robbery, Shelton
said.
He advised the public to continue to be cau-
alone in print and digital tious and report suspicious activity to Columbus
photo galleries.” Police Department.
The Dispatch will sup- “Continue to be vigilant,” he said. “We’re out
port this journalism with a there. If you see crime, report it.”
new regional multi-media
marketing campaign, Imes
said. The goal is to raise
awareness of the newspa-
per’s work and build on the
net increase in print and
digital subscriptions The
Dispatch has seen since
early March, he said.
The website upgrade is
the final piece of the plan,
according to Imes, with a
portion of the grant fund-
ing earmarked for hiring
a consultant to plan and
launch a new site that will
better serve readers, more
than half of whom use mo-
bile devices to access The
Dispatch.
Dispatch employee
Lindsey Beck assisted in
writing the grant applica-
tion.

MARRIAGES AND DIVORCES

Lowndes County an Poss; April 12
Marriages
■ Noah Dart and Sophia Allen;
April 1
■ Colton Bailey and Hanna
Robinson; April 1
■ Thomas Williamson and
Belle Keopraseut; April 1
■ Anthony Frison and Wilyetta
Wilder; April 2
■ Zachary Weathers and Madi-
son Hooper; April 3
■ Johnathan Redding and
Linda Williams; April 3
■ Logan Turner and Alanna
Thomas; April 4
■ Weston Lowery and Blake
Elliott April 4
■ Michael Perrigin and Re-
bekah Goff; April 9
■ Renaldo Sterling and Han-
nah Hintay; April 10
■ Thomas Bonner and Virginia
Bell-Golden; April 11
■ Kennie Chandler and Mege-
■ Rico Harvill and Marcenia
Polite; April 14
■ Eric McPherson and Larisa
Frederick; April 16
■ Jadalivin Spencer and Chel-
sea Wells; April 17
■ Daniel Symonds and Pamela
Robinson; April 18
■ Brady King and Haley Ben-
son; April 18
■ Samuel Sneed and Fredritta
Lewis; April 20
■ Treyvontae Fordham and
Kayley Headley; April 21
■ Kevin Parker and Lindsey
Johnson; April 21
■ Tommy Clayborn and Beverly
Johnson; April 22
■ Lee Levesque and Ashley
Charboneau; April 22
■ Clifton Miles and Patricia
Brewer; April 24
■ Brodi Owens and Alayna
Friesen; April 25 and Joseph Donnell Gibson;
■ Oliver Black and Tanzania April 20
Rupert; April 27 ■ Paul Chain and Kimberly
■ Randy Holmes and Heather Chain; April 23
Jordan; April 28 ■ Cotesia Michelle Jones and
Marlos Monte Jones; April 22
Divorces ■ Thomas Lawrence Lee Jr
■ Joe Young and Debra Young; and Joann Abrams Lee; April
April 7 28 Visit us
on the web at
■ Cody Young Fowler and ■ Johnny Selestine Shields
Christopher M Thrash; April 9 and Bridget Shanta Shields;
■ Benjamin Sala and Amanda
Kaye Sala; April 9
April 27 cdispatch.com
■ Lance Clardy and Sherry
■ Terri Lynn Collums and Larry Clardy; April 27
Edgar Collums; April 16
■ Leslie Dean Huffman and
Jason Andrew Huffman; April
15
■ Mack Jackson and Lonna
Caroka Jackson; April 15
■ Williams and Williams; April
21
■ Ron Robinson and Nancy
Elizabeth Robinson; April 21
■ Catoris Lakeisha Gibson

BUILDING PERMITS
City of Columbus
April 27-30, 2020
■ Boys & Girls Club; 1823 14th Avenue North;
Demolition; Construction Risk Services
■ Huckleberry Rentals Inc; 3933 Highway 45
North; Slab and detail shop; Weathers Con-
struction Inc.
■ Graham & Garrett LLC; 2500 Military Road,
Suite 9; Sign for Silver Oak Securities; Econo
Signs of Tupelo
■ Mellette & Christine Hofler; 323 Forest Glen
Road; reroof; Wheeler Roofing
■ William & Jacque Edwards; 401 12th Street
North; reroof; Wheeler Roofing
■ Minnie Irene Fulton; 1103 5th Street South;
reroof; Wheeler Roofing
■ S&R Property Company LLC; 2604 6th Ave-
nue North; Plumbing; P&H Plumbing
■ Benny Shelton; 924 3rd Avenue North;
Plumbing; Truesdale Plumbing
■ Chelsea Boulware; 1407 Briarwood Circle;
Plumbing; R&D Plumbing
■ Maxine Allen; 251 Madeira Drive; Plumbing;
Browning Plumbing
Lowndes County
May 5,2020
■ Scott Shelton; 2241 Stanley Road; Construct
pool; Sunrise Pools
■ Rene Reed; 184 Tenneco Drive; addition to
s/f residence; owner
■ Johnnie Wright; 3391 Yorkville Road South;
SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.

■ Suzy Jago; 1601 Johanna Fairway; reroof; addition to s/f residence; McNees Construction Thur. Fri.
1:51a
Major 12:56a
Wheeler Roofing ■ Brian & Debby Mims; 247 Hillwood Drive; Minor 7:41p 8:49p
construct storage/shop; owner Major 1:23p 2:19p
■ Maureen & Barry Craig; 1815 Pine Knoll 7:45a
Minor 7:02a
Drive; reroof; Wheeler Roofing ■ Chris Carter; 145 Grady Hogan Road; con- Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
■ Susan D Neyman; 1914 Old Aberdeen Road; struct pool; Sunrise Pools

reroof; Wheeler Roofing
■ Johnny Will Latham; 1710 22nd Street North;
Fence; Same
■ Sarah W Collie; 807 18th Street North; New
single-family residence; Construction Risk
Services
■ Mike Yeager; 78 Fox Run Curve; Electrical;
Absolute Power
■ Brandon Dozier; 129 Lee Street; Plumbing;
R&D Plumbing
■ Daniel Danner; 1889 Land Road; Construct
barber shop; owner
■ Brent Lochala; 663 Wiley Road; construct s/f
residence; Michael Scott Swain
■ Scott Swain; 259 Yellow Brick Road; con-
struct s/f residence; Michael Scott Swain
■ Tommy Brown; Neighbors way; construct s/f
residence; Michael Scott Swain
■ Reva Phillips; Bo Drive; construct s/f resi-
dence; owner
The Dispatch
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Website: cdispatch.com/help
Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc.,
516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
Opinion
4A THURSDAY, MAY 7, 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

SLIMANTICS
Tabertha Hardin’s no-good, terrible, awful day
T
imes are
hard. Nerves
are shot.
Tempers flare. Our
moods are subject
to wild swings at a
moment’s notice.
All of us, to some
degree, have been
negatively affected
by the hardships of
COVID-19.
But no matter Slim Smith
how bad your day
may be, take comfort: It’s prob-
ably not a Tabertha Hardin bad based on a witness statement
day.
Hardin is a corporal in the
Columbus Police Department
and Tuesday was a very, very
bad day for her.
That night, during exec-
utive session, the Columbus
City Council suspended
Hardin for three days without
pay for an incident connected
to a recent visit to a Columbus
residence.
CPD Chief Fred Shelton
recommended the suspension,
but the council was dead-
locked at 3-3, Mayor Robert
Smith broke the impasse and
Hardin will now forfeit the
bulk of a week’s pay because of inappropriate language when
the incident.
Because the matter was
discussed only
during the exec-
utive session, the
public will likely
never know any-
thing but the most
basic of details of
the incident that led
to the suspension.
But what we
do know is plenty
enough to think
Hardin got a pretty
raw deal.
Hardin’s suspension was
that Hardin used inappropri-
ate language when she was
attacked by a dog during a call.
The witness also said Hardin
threatened to kill the dog, but
didn’t follow through.
We don’t know the extent
of Hardin’s injury, but it was
enough to send her to the
hospital for treatment. Oh, and
then she got suspended.
And I think to myself,
“What a wonderful world.”
I’ve got a lot of questions
about this, but the one ques-
tion I keep turning over in my
mind is this:
Is there any such thing as
being attacked by a dog?
Having never been attacked
by a dog, for me this remains
a hypothetical question. The
closest I’ve been to that expe-
rience is watching K-9 demon-
strations, where a police dog
is turned loose on somebody
wearing a big padded suit,
kind of like the inflatable sumo
wrestler suits you sometimes
see at parties.
On command, the K-9
dog pounces on the padded
perpetrator, knocks him to the
ground and begins sinking his
teeth into the padding in a vain
but earnest attempt to dismem-
ber the bad guy. Even with the
padding, I cannot imagine this
is a pleasant experience, al-
though I bet the dog probably
gets a great deal of satisfaction
out of it.
I think we can safely
assume that Hardin was not
wearing a padded suit during
this confrontation. We also
don’t know what kind of dog it
was (other than angry). It may
have been a pit bull. It may
have been a Chihuahua But
operating on the theory that
there is no such thing as a lit-
tle, harmless dog when you’re
the one it’s trying to chew on,
I can understand if Hardin’s
language grew a bit colorful,
given the circumstances.
I suppose Hardin could
have said, “Please, doggie,
desist from chewing on my
ankle.”
She might have said,
“Violence is never the answer,
Spot.”
Perhaps she might have
said, “I can see that you are
upset, Rover, but if you will
kindly remove your teeth from
my ankle, perhaps we can
arrive at some mutually agree-
able resolution.”
Instead, Hardin likely went
with the old standard: “Get
your #%$#$@! teeth out of my
*$&#@#$! ankle, you little
$#$(#$@$@!~”
I put myself in her shoes.
I’m fairly confident that I
would have exhausted every
swear word in my considerable
arsenal of invective and in-
vented a few more on the spot
before proceeding to speak in
tongues.
On this subject, I’m with
Mark Twain, who wrote:
“Under certain circumstances,
urgent circumstances, desper-
ate circumstances, profanity
provides a relief denied even to
prayer.”
As for threatening to kill
the dog, I do not know I would
have been content to stop even
there. I would have likely not
only threatened to kill the dog,
but hide all the treats, burn
down the dog house and give
all its toys to a cat.
Apparently, though, the
Columbus Police Department
has much higher standards for
behavior when being bitten
by a dog. It’s probably in the
police manual somewhere.
Officers must be careful not to
hurt dogs’ feelings with intem-
perate language even while
being attacked. Nor can an
officer threaten to kill a dog
unless, perhaps, it is cleverly
disguised as an unarmed black
person.
I suspect the dog got over
the bad language and threats
long before Tuesday evening.
Dogs are pretty resilient
that way. Five minutes later,
Fido was probably out in the
backyard licking himself like
nothing had ever happened.
But for Hardin, Tuesday’s
suspension is literally adding
insult to injury.
She got bit by a dog and sus-
pended without pay to boot..
How’s your day?
Slim Smith is a columnist
and feature writer for The
Dispatch. His email address is
ssmith@cdispatch.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Voice of the people
Responds to letter-writer’s explanation
Do you know the first thing that most
white people say when someone points out
their actions as racist? They say, “I have
black friends!” The second thing they say is
“I voted for a black politician.” For future ref-
erence, these two defenses that make most
African American cringe! When a white
person feels the need to announce they have
black friends and voted for black politicians
it makes the case that you obviously see a
difference. Friends are just that, friends:
They should not be put in categories. Press-
ing charges against white people does not
absolve you of anything. It does not make
your actions in this case any less bias and in
my opinion, racist!
There is nothing to be admired about this
disinformation campaign you call research.
Ok, you say you do not follow county politics
and you insert that the fact that I have “full
access to Mr. Brooks” (to imply what, that
because he is black, we talk) and should
investigate Harry Sanders and the white
majority for appointing a white individual to
a position without advertising it. So, I guess
you are not concerned enough about your
tax dollars when the people who are spend-
ing them are white?
The fact that you would surmise I am de-
fending Mr. Edwards because you say he is a
diamond member of the NAACP is offensive.
Our local chapter does not have any dia-
mond memberships, hence another fact that
you have used The Dispatch as a platform
to spew misinformation. The fact that you
would try to look up his affiliation with this
organization and tie it to my defense of him
says more about you and your obsession with
this man than that I could ever say. For the
record, when Dr E. J. Stringer started the
Lowndes County Chapter of NAACP, he and
the other 17 people who started the chapter
were the only Gold Lifetime members in the
history of our chapter, and this was before
my time. However, while you are attempting
to research his affiliation, did you happen to
read what the organization was about? The
NAACP is a civil rights organization, the
acronym stands for The National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People. It
was established in 1909 by a bi-racial (black
and white people) group. It was created to
abolish segregation, and discrimination in
housing, education, employment, voting, and
transportation and to oppose racism. I am
defending Mayor Robert Smith, Mr. Scott
Colom, Mr. Jabari Edwards, and Mr. Kabir
Karriem, Chief Andrews and any other Afri-
can American that you attack because I feel
that your attacks on them are bias, without
merit and are motivated by the color of their
skin.
Lavonne Latham-Harris
President, Lowndes
County Branch, NA ACP
A letter to the editor is an excellent way to
participate in your community. We request the
tone of your letters be constructive and respect-
ful and the length be limited to 450 words.
While commentary on national issues is always
welcome, we limit candidate endorsements to
one per letter-writer. We welcome all letters
emailed to voice@cdispatch.com or mailed to
The Dispatch, Attn: Letters to the Editor, PO
Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703-0511.
STATE OF THE NATION
You can choke on schadenfreude
D
uring Justice Brett Journal’s Bill McGurn a decades’ old accusation is nearly
Kavanaugh’s con- noted the discomfort impossible to verify? Did they not
firmation hearings, of figures like Senator protest that Kavanaugh’s whole adult
some conservatives, Kirsten Gillibrand and life, which contained not a hint of
including supposedly actress/MeToo heroine scandal, was evidence that he was not
Donald Trump-despising Alyssa Milano, who have a sexual predator?
ones, declared themselves stood by Biden only to In 2019, Reade claimed that Biden
“radicalized.” “Kavana- take arrows from other had made her “uncomfortable” by
ugh snapped something progressives. (Milano has touching her neck and shoulders 27
in me,” Sohrab Ahmari wobbled.) years ago. But in March of this year,
tweeted. The Democrats Andrew Sullivan Reade, a Bernie Sanders acolyte,
had demonstrated their recalled that it was none suddenly changed her story to one of
depravity, they said. On Mona Charen other than Joe Biden who criminal sexual assault. Her Twitter
the strength of this revela- took the lead, during the feed revealed a highly suspicious mo-
tion, they ran into the arms of Trump. Obama administration, in revising tive. In response to Ryan Grim, who
What is the logic of that response? standards of proof in sexual assault speculated that a match-up between
If the Democrats and progressives cases on college campuses. “Biden Sanders and Biden would bring extra
resorted to irresponsible character is now claiming simply that he never scrutiny to Biden, she tweeted “Yup.
assassination, trafficked in loose did what Tara Reade said he did. Let’s Timing... wait for it....tic toc.” So
accusations and failed to respect due posit that he didn’t. Too bad. If he many details of her account strain
process, how is the correct response were to attempt to defend himself, by credulity. In her telling, the sexual as-
to do exactly the same thing to them? his own campus logic ... he would be sault took place after she had already
“He is a liar and a cheat; therefore I barred any knowledge of what he was filed a sexual harassment claim. So
must be one?” If that is the standard, precisely accused of.” we are expected to credit that Biden,
then we are consigned to an endless But hold on, doesn’t it matter if knowing this, still elected to push her
cycle of slander, with each side point- Biden is actually innocent? Yes, he up against a wall and reach into her
ing to the other’s previous outrage to was part of an administration that underwear — in a public place.
justify itself. tore down some crucial protections Biden has been rebuked for being
And let’s not mince words; the for the accused. Yes, Democrats too physically affectionate with
left has a large store of grievances, entertained absurd allegations women and men. But in his long
too. As Amanda Carpenter notes, about Justice Kavanaugh. Yes, they career, he has never been accused
the Republican Party impeached Bill condemned Bob Packwood while of sexual misconduct of any kind.
Clinton for perjury and all-around excusing Teddy Kennedy. Yes, Demo- As with Kavanaugh, this is critical
smuttiness, yet is wedded to the seri- crats filleted Clarence Thomas while evidence. Predators don’t pounce just
al sexual abuser in the Oval Office. It giving Bill Clinton a pass (or many), once. Reade is a woman with a weird
has even backed a credibly accused and yet, what have we become if we Vladimir Putin fixation, a clear mo-
child molester for a senate seat. are indifferent to actual innocence in tive to damage Biden and a story full
Enter Tara Reade, a former Biden our rush to settle scores? of holes. Conservatives were right
staffer with a dubious story of abuse. As a policymaker, Joe Biden needs to object that the “Believe women”
The right is gorging on schaden- to be held accountable for his poor mantra, if taken as categorical, leads
freude. “MeToo Hypocrites Who’ve judgment about standards of proof in to terrible miscarriages of justice. Of
Gone Silent for Joe Biden” huffed a sexual misbehavior cases. It’s quite a course, some women lie. But if con-
New York Post columnist. Minority different matter to say that he person- servatives are sincere, they will see
Leader Kevin McCarthy called Nan- ally should face a false accusation to that Biden is the Kavanaugh here,
cy Pelosi a hypocrite. “She endorsed achieve poetic justice. and that injustice is injustice.
Joe Biden after knowing the Tara Did conservatives not object, Mona Charen is a Senior Fellow at
Reade situation.” And The Wall Street fairly, in the Kavanaugh case that the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

Face masks make a political statement in era of coronavirus
‘There’s such a strong culture of individualism that, even
if it’s going to help protect them, people don’t want the
government telling them what to do’
BY WILL WEISSERT
AND JONATHAN LEMIRE
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — ald Trump — he didn’t
The decision to wear a
mask in public is becom-
ing a political statement
— a moment to pick sides
in a brewing culture war
over containing the coro-
navirus.
While not yet as load-
ed as a “Make America
Great Again” hat, the
mask is increasingly a
visual shorthand for a de-
bate pitting those willing
to follow health officials’
guidance and cover their
faces against those who
feel it violates their free-
dom or buys into a threat
they think is overblown.
That resistance is fu-
eled by some of the same
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-
able for a fee. Obituaries must
be submitted through funeral
homes unless the deceased’s
body has been donated to
science. If the deceased’s
body was donated to science,
the family must provide official
proof of death. Please submit
all obituaries on the form pro-
vided by The Commercial Dis-
patch. Free notices must be
submitted to the newspaper
no later than 3 p.m. the day
prior for publication Tuesday
through Friday; no later than 4
p.m. Saturday for the Sunday
edition; and no later than 7:30
a.m. for the Monday edition.
Incomplete notices must be re-
ceived no later than 7:30 a.m.
for the Monday through Friday
editions. Paid notices must be
finalized by 3 p.m. for inclusion
the next day Monday through
Thursday; and on Friday by 3
p.m. for Sunday and Monday
publication. For more informa-
tion, call 662-328-2471.
Jimmy Hatchett
COLUMBUS —
Jimmy Hatchett, 54,
died April 29, 2020, at
Baptist Memorial Hos-
pital-Golden Triangle.
Visitation is from 2-5
p.m. today, at Carter’s
Funeral Services.
Carter’s Funeral
Services of Columbus
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Poll: Pandemic especially
tough on people of color
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DETROIT — People of
color have not only been hit
harder by the deadly coro-
navirus than have Amer-
icans overall, but they’re
also bearing the brunt of
the pandemic’s financial
impact, according to a re-
cent survey from the The
Associated Press-NORC
Center for Public Affairs
Research.
The financial picture is
especially grim for Hispan-
ic Americans, while some
African Americans face
the dual burden of being
disproportionately affect-
ed by the virus itself while
also struggling to pay bills
due to the economic fallout.
The poll found that
61 percent of Hispanic
Americans say they’ve
experienced some kind of
household income loss as
a result of the outbreak, in-
cluding job losses, unpaid
leave, pay cuts and fewer
scheduled hours. That’s
compared with 46 percent
of Americans overall. Thir-
ty-seven percent of Latinos
Linsey Marr, a Virginia Tech engineering professor
people who object to
other virus restrictions.
The push back has been
stoked by President Don-
wear a mask during a
Tuesday appearance at a
facility making them —
and some other Repub-
licans, who have flouted
rules and questioned
the value of masks. It’s
a development that has
worried experts as Amer-
icans are increasingly re-
turning to public spaces.
“There’s such a strong
culture of individualism
that, even if it’s going to
help protect them, people
don’t want the govern-
ment telling them what
to do,” said Linsey Marr,
a Virginia Tech engineer-
ing professor with expe-
rience in airborne trans-
AREA OBITUARIES
Mr. Hatchett was
born March 30, 1966, to
the late Charlie Hatch-
ett and Rosie Lee. He
was formerly employed
as a farmer and was
a member of Jackson
Chapel in Bruce.
In addition to his
parents, he was pre-
ceded in death by
his siblings, Johnny
B. Hatchett, Johnny
“Hump” Hatchett and
Dorothy Robinson; and
one grandchild.
He is survived by his
children, Kisha Jami-
son, Anthony Hatchett
both of Columbus, Pris-
cilla Webb of Macon
and Demarcus Huff of
Houston; siblings, Jerry
Hatchett of Ackerman,
Charles Hatchett of
Bruce, Robert Hatchett
of Houston, Fred Hatch-
ett of Okolona, Annie
Doss of Coffeville,
Clara Peet of Tupelo,
Ella Robinson, Annie
McComb and China
Phillips all of Eupora;
and five grandchildren.
Charles Atkins
COLUMBUS — Dr.
Charles E. Atkins, 78,
died May 6, 2020, at
UAB Medical Center in
Birmingham, Alabama.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Memori-
al Gunter Peel Funeral
Home and Crematory
Second Avenue North
location.
and 27 percent of black
Americans say they’ve
been unable to pay at least
one type of bill as a result of
the coronavirus outbreak.
Only 17 percent of white
Americans say the same.
“If our policies do not
adequately address these
shortfalls and the racial
disparities in income,
wealth, employment and
wages, then we’re going
to see the same pattern
that we have seen histori-
cally,” said Valerie Wilson,
director of the left-leaning
Economic Policy Institute’s
program on race, ethnicity
and the economy.
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
mission of viruses.
Inconclusive science
and shifting federal guid-
ance have no doubt mud-
died the political debate.
Health officials initially
said wearing masks was
unnecessary, especially
amid a shortage of pro-
tective materials. But
last month, the Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention began recom-
mending wearing cloth
masks in public to prevent
transmitting the virus to
others.
Whether Americans
are embracing the change
may depend on their polit-
ical party. While most oth-
er protective measures
like social distancing get
broad bipartisan support,
Democrats are more like-
ly than Republicans to say
Jimmie Jones
ALICEVILLE, Ala.
— Jimmie D. “Bread
Hunter” Jones died
May 4, 2020, at DCH
Regional Medical Cen-
ter in Tuscaloosa.
A graveside home
going celebration will
be at noon Saturday, in
New Cemetery. Visi-
tation will be from 3-6
p.m. Friday, at Laven-
der’s Funeral Service.
Lavender’s Funeral
Service of Aliceville is
in charge of arrange-
ments.
Floyd Keith
STARKVILLE —
Floyd Edward “Papa
Floyd” Keith, 90, died
May 2, 2020, at his
residence.
A memorial service
will be held at a later
date. Welch Funeral
Home of Starkville is
in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Keith was born
June 12, 1929 to the late
Daisy Mae Love. He
was a Marine veter-
an. He was formerly
Betty Phillips
Graveside Services:
Thursday, May 7 • 2 PM
Friendship Cemetery
Burial
Friendship Cemetery
College St. Location
Martha Halbert
Incomplete
2nd Ave. North Location
Chad Kingsbury
Incomplete
2nd Ave. North Location
Dr. Charles Atkins
Incomplete
2nd Ave. North Location
memorialgunterpeel.com
they’re wearing a mask
when leaving home, 76
percent to 59 percent, ac-
cording to a recent poll
by The Associated Press-
NORC Center for Public
Affairs Research.
The split is clear across
several demographics
that lean Democratic.
People with college de-
grees are more likely
than those without to
wear masks when leaving
home, 78 percent to 63
percent. African Amer-
icans are more likely
than either white people
or Hispanic Americans
to say they’re wearing
masks outside the home,
83 percent to 64 percent
and 67 percent, respec-
tively.
The notable exception
is among older people,
a group particularly vul-
nerable to serious illness
from the virus. Some 79
percent of those age 60
and over were doing so
compared with 63 percent
of those younger.
employed as a lock-
smith, heavy equipment
operator and owner of
Old Dry Dock Catfish
House.
He is survived by his
wife, Doris Irene Keith
of Starkville; children,
Willie Edward Warn of
Vernon, Ralph Tedward
Warn of Mathiston,
James Douglas Keith
Sr. of Ottisville, New
York and Lisa Keith
Jenkins of Marietta,
Georgia; four grand-
children; and one
great-grandchild.
Memorials may be
made to Welch Funeral
Home, 201 W. Lamp-
kin St., Starkville, MS
39759.
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 5A
“Who knows what
the truth is on masks?”
many people at risk be-
cause you did not want to
asked Republican Ken-
tucky Sen. Rand Paul,
wear a mask?”
Effectiveness aside,
who, unlike some of his politicians of both parties
colleagues, went with- are clued into the pow-
out a mask Tuesday in erful symbolism of the
the Senate. Paul already mask, and many Ameri-
contracted the virus and cans take their cues from
believes he is no longer the president.
contagious. Trump was barefaced
His comments were a when he spoke to masked
long way from New York journalists, workers and
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Secret Service agents at
moral argument for the the Arizona factory Tues-
mask a few days earlier. day. He later said he brief-
“How people cannot ly wore a mask backstage
wear masks — that to me but took it off because fa-
is even disrespectful,” cility personnel told him
Cuomo said. “You put so he didn’t need it.
Margie Atkins
Margie Lucille Snyder Atkins
passed away on Monday, May 4,
2020, at the age of 91. She was
a native of Morehead, MS and a
resident of Kenner, LA.
Beloved wife of the late
Arthur Rubin Snyder by first
marriage and the late Dorris
Atkins by second marriage.
Loving mother of Frank Snyder
(Mia), Charles Snyder (Darlene), Tommy
Snyder (Cynthia), Mark Snyder (Cindi) and
Linda C. Scallan (E.J.). Stepmother of Phillip
Atkins (Linda), Elaine Rzanca (Rick), and Terri
Barksdale (Junior). Daughter of the late Bessie
Whitaker Suggs and Vander D. Suggs. Sister
of the late Samual “Bill”Suggs, Cecil Suggs,
William Suggs, Vander Suggs, Ruth O’Dilly,
Grace Hughs and Ethel Suggs. Also survived by
11 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and
fivestep grandchildren.
Margie was a caring and loving Mother,
Grandmother and Great Grandmother to all of
her family. She was full of compassion and love
for anyone she would meet. She was a member
of First Baptist Church of Kenner for twenty plus
years.
The family would like to thank the staff of
Ormond Care Center and Saint Catherine’s
Hospice for all the care and compassion that she
received in their care.
As a result of present circumstances a
Memorial Service will be planned at a later date.
Please consider sharing your thoughts, favorite
memory or condolences at www.muhleisen.com
Paid Obituary - L.A. Muhleisen & son
6A THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Testing
Continued from Page 1A
“This is checking
for the presence of
the antibody for the
specific virus related
to COVID-19,” Rob-
ertson said. “So if
someone gets their
test results back and
it is antibody nega- Bogue
tive, that is saying that within at
least … the last four weeks or lon-
ger, they have not had the virus or
been exposed to the virus. Verses
if it comes back positive, it is saying
that they have likely either been ex-
posed to it or could have had a case
of it.”
Bogue compared it to testing for
mononucleosis.
“If you’ve ever had mono before
and then you get an antibody test
(for that disease) later on, you’re
always going to show that you had
mono. It’s the same thing with the
virus,” she said. “A lot of people
were really sick in December or
January before we knew what this
was, so that’s where they’re kind
of curious. They’re like, ‘Well, did
I have it?’”
Both Allegro and State Urgent
Care have tested patients who
were sick in December or earlier
this year before health care pro-
fessionals were easily recognizing
COVID-19 symptoms, but who test-
ed negative for flu, strep and other
common respiratory illnesses. The
patients have their blood drawn,
the blood samples are sent to a lab-
oratory and the results come back
within about two days.
The results come in a range of
numbers from about 0-8, but any-
one who tests lower than 1.4 is con-
sidered negative, and anyone who
tests higher is considered to be pos-
itive for the antibodies, Bogue said.
However, Bogue and Robertson
both said there are caveats.
“We’re still learning more about
this every day,” Robertson said.
“We don’t know exactly how much
benefit having the antibodies are at
this point. We don’t know if it’s go-
ing to give protection against get-
ting it again ever or getting it again
for the next few months. We just
don’t know that yet. They’re still
studying that.”
‘It’s not a green light’
Bogue said the test is “a little
iffy and almost controversial” in
an email to The Dispatch, because
there’s a risk some people will try to
use it to diagnose COVID-19, which
health care officials do not recom-
mend.
Neither do the Mississippi State
Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff
Nurses at Allegro Family Clinic Adrianna Sykes, LPN, and Kathleen Smith,
RN, demonstrate how nurses draw blood from patients for the SARS-COV-
2IgG test, which tests for COVID-19 antibodies, at the Weekend Plus Urgent
Care off Highway 45 Wednesday. Hundreds of people in the Golden Triangle
have received the test from Allegro, State Urgent Care in Starkville or other
clinics offering the test to determine whether they have been exposed to
COVID-19, but health experts stressed a positive test result does not mean
patients are immune and can stop practicing health and safety measures
recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Department of Health nor the U.S. who previously tested positive for
Food and Drug Administration. COVID-19 have seen results in the
7-8 range in their antibody tests —
“There could be use in clinical
an extremely high positive result.
settings to determine if an individ-
Bogue, who has never thought she
ual has been exposed,” said MSDH
had COVID-19, tested less than 0.1
Office of Communications Director
— an extremely negative result.
Liz Sharlot in an email to The Dis-
Bogue and Robertson both
patch, “but that is still a little un-
urged patients to check with their
clear.”
clinics or health care providers if
On its website, FDA recom-
they are interested in taking the
mends health care providers use an-
test. Many health insurance com-
tibody tests, just not to definitively
panies will cover the cost of testing,
diagnose patients with COVID-19.
though Bogue said patients who
Bogue and Robertson both em-
phasized a positive result does not want to pay cash can call Allegro.
guarantee a patient will be safe State Urgent Care is charging $100
from COVID-19 now or in the fu- for patients who don’t have insur-
ture. ance.
“It’s not like it’s a green light to While the test is not a guarantee
do whatever,” Robertson said. “You of safety from COVID-19 and most
still have to wash your hands, wear patients are just taking it out of cu-
your mask, (practice) safe distanc- riosity, Bogue said, it’s still interest-
ing, all those types of things, be- ing to see the results.
cause there’s just still so many un- “It’s neat to watch,” she said.
knowns at this point.” Allegro staff ask patients who
Bogue added it’s possible some are interested in being tested call
positive test results actually indi- one of their four Lowndes County
cate a patient has been exposed to clinics between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
a different strand of SARS respi- Monday through Friday. For the
ratory illnesses, which have been New Hope location, call 662-329-
around “forever,” she said. 1488; for the Allegro Plaza location,
“Don’t think you’re the Hulk and call 662-570-4770; for the North
just can go out and do whatever you Columbus clinic, which closes at
want,” she said. “We don’t know noon on Fridays, call 662-328-9702;
what it means. We still need you and for the East Columbus location,
to take just as many precautions as which is also open Saturday until 1
everybody else because … there’s p.m., call 662-329-3808.
other things that it might pick up.” State Urgent Care allows walk-in
However, she said, from what patients to be tested. The clinic’s
she’s seen at Allegro so far, the hours are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ev-
test is a good indicator. Patients ery day.

Business
Continued from Page 1A
Monday, giving the staff
enough time to sanitize
and prepare for the cus-
tomers they’ve missed.
Zachary’s owner,
Doug Pellum said he’s
not opening the dining
area until at least Mon-
day. After suffering from
a restaurant fire more
than a year ago, Pellum
reopened this week and
is offering its full menu
for to-go orders.
One of Starkville’s go-
tos, 1883 Smokehouse,
will open today for indoor
seating and will even
have the restaurant’s
famous salad bar, which
will be manned by 1883
employees with masks
and gloves, available from
4 p.m. to close Friday,
Saturday and Sunday.
Get your Cajun tastebuds
ready because Oby’s will
be serving up po-boys in-
house starting today.
Ty Thames of Eat
Local Starkville said
Restaurant Tyler, Bin 612
and The Guest Room will
reopen their dining areas
starting Friday.
We’ve also got West
Point news! No Way Jose
in West Point opened
at its new location this
month at 6715 US 45
Alt., the former Cathy’s
restaurant.
The new location
opening comes just in
time to celebrate Siete
De Mayo! No Way Jose in
Starkville and West Point
are both opening their
dining areas for custom-
ers to dine in today, just
a few days past Cinco De
Mayo.
With businesses and
restaurants starting to
open their doors, it’s time
to give back. I’ve seen
posts on social media,
I’ve heard it on the phone
and it’s true. It’s time
to support the sponsors
of our children’s soc-
cer teams, the person
who sits on your pew at
church, the business on
the corner of Main Street
with a new owner. It’s just
simply time to give back
to those who have always
supported us.
Slowly and surely,
businesses will be back. Facebook, I’ve received
Good news for Co- calls and messages
lumbus folks, Belk also from plenty of folks, but
is reopening Friday. The unfortunately it appears
department store closed crowd favorite TJ Maxx
in mid-March due to still remains closed. TJX
COVID-19, but the North Companies CEO Ernie
Carolina-based company Herrman announced in
is opening the Columbus a press release Satur-
store’s doors! day that the stores are
Belk will have limited preparing to open, but
hours for the time being, the Columbus location
so enjoy safe-shopping remains closed for the
from noon-6 p.m. If time being.
you’re not comfortable Please send business
roaming the aisles of tips and spotlights to
Belk, be sure to take
biz@cdispatch.com. We
advantage of curbside
look forward to hearing
service the store now
about the opening of local
offers!
favorites and any incom-
Dick’s Sporting Goods
in Columbus is also open ing businesses headed
Monday through Satur- our way.
day 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. and
Sundays from 10 a.m.-7
p.m.
Crafters galore,
Hobby Lobby in Leigh
Mall reopened last week.
And the shopping news
boom continues with the
Columbus and Starkville
Tuesday Morning stores
reopening as well.
I’ve seen pleas on

Suspect identified, charged in Wednesday morning standoff

DISPATCH STAFF REPORT Nicholas Vaughn, 24, When law enforcement
of Columbus, has been arrived, Vaughn was in-
Author - charged with aggravated side the residence and
ities with assault and burglary of an refused to come out, the
L owndes automobile, according to release said. Lowndes
C o u n t y an LCSO press release. County SWAT team was
Sher i f f ’s Deputies arrested Vaughn called to the scene and,
Office have Wednesday after respond- at 6:39 a.m., convinced
ident i f ied ing to a call about a poten- Vaughn to surrender.
and charged tial shooting on Jess Lyons No one was injured in
a man who Vaughn Road at about 3:20 a.m. the incident.
barricaded himself in a The victim, identified only Vaughn is currently in
Jess Lyons Road residence as a 27-year-old man, had custody at Lowndes Coun-
for more than three hours been “assaulted but not ty Adult Detention Center,
during a standoff with dep- shot,” the press release according to the release.
uties Wednesday morning. said. His bond has not been set.
Sports MISSISSIPPI STATE FOOTBALL ANALYSIS
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020
B
SECTION

BREAKING DOWN MSU’S LINEBACKER CORPS

Bryan Lynn/USA TODAY Sports

Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker Erroll Thompson (40) tackles Tennessee Volunteers running back Tim Jordan (9) during the first half at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 12.

BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — With
spring commencement at
Mississippi State now of-
ficially passed, summer
has arrived in Starkville.
And while the MSU
football team has yet to
endure its usual regimen
of spring practices due to
the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic, there remains
a growing optimism a
2020 football season will
be played — though when
that would happen and
the logistics behind such
an occurrence remain un-
known.
Over the next week-
plus, we’re going to dive
into the Bulldogs’ depth
chart heading into the
summer and what it
might look like once com-
petition is allowed to be-
gin. With that said, let’s
keep things going with
the MSU linebackers.
Like in the defensive
backfield, MSU must
replace an underclass-
man-turned-pro in the
center of its defense.
Following a junior year
that was marred by sus-
pension for his role in
the academic misconduct
scandal that saw a tutor
complete coursework for
10 football players and one
men’s basketball player,
coupled with a reported
fight with freshman quar-
terback Garrett Shrader,
Starkville native Willie
Gay Jr. opted for the NFL
draft rather than return
for his senior season.
Gay, who played with
as much speed and te-
nacity as anyone on the
Bulldog defense a year
ago, was not only a vocal
standout but one who re-
corded a 93.9 coverage
grade from Pro Football
Focus since 2017 — the
best mark among 2020
draft-eligible linebackers.
But with the former
Yellow Jacket now off to
Kansas City after being
selected in the second
round by the defending
Super Bowl champion
Chiefs, new defensive
coordinator Zach Arnett
must make use of a roster
that boasts a solid base
for the 3-3-5 defense he’ll
bring with him from San
Diego State.
“You want to get into
a four-down look? Well,
you put a linebacker at
the line of scrimmage,”
Arnett said in February
describing his defensive
scheme’s fit at MSU. “You
want to get another line-
backer down in there?
You drop a safety down,
then he becomes a line-
backer. It’s not so much
some strict, ‘Hey, there’s
three (defensive) line-
men; there’s always three
linebackers right here.’
It just allows us the most
multiplicity.”
Of those returning at
linebacker in 2020, none
is more valuable than se-
nior Erroll Thompson. A
team captain as a junior
under Joe Moorhead’s re-
gime, Thompson finished
the 2019 season with 84
tackles, one forced fum-
ble and one fumble recov-
ery.
After flirting with an
early NFL draft entry,
the Florence, Alabama,
native will return for his
final season in Starkville
as a leader in the middle
of the Bulldog defense.
And though Thompson
profiles more as a thump-
See MSU, 2B

Patchwork decisions throw wrinkle in college football plans
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
There are 130 major
college football teams,
spread across 41 states
and competing in 10 con-
ferences, save for a hand-
ful of independents.
The goal is to have
all those teams start the
upcoming season at the
same time — whether
that’s around Labor Day
as scheduled or later —
and play the same num-
ber of games.
With each passing day
it is becoming apparent
the COVID-19 pandem-
ic is going to make that
goal difficult to achieve.
Despite the best inten-
tions of conference lead-
ers, the possibility exists
of college football being
played in SEC country
before it begins in Pac-12
territory — or something
else entirely.
“I can’t say enough
about the extent to which
they’re working closely
together, spending time
together, communicat-
ing with each other,” No-
tre Dame athletic direc-
tor Jack Swarbrick said.
“And I think that’s the
most important thing.
It gives us a chance to
come up with an overar-
ching policy and an abili-
ty to start together.
“Having said that, I
think we all recognize
that there is a significant
chance that that may not
be possible,” he said.
The coronavirus is af-
fecting different regions
of the country in differ-
ent ways, prompting a
wide range of responses
to fight the spread and
revive economies.
Some state such as
Georgia and Florida have
already begun to re-open
businesses. Others such
as California and Wash-
ington are going more
slowly. Where that leaves
them all four months
from now is hard to pre-
dict and the uncertainty
is reflected across col-
lege sports.
College sports lead-
ers have repeatedly said
there can be no college
sports without campuses
being open to students.
And those decisions will
be made with guidance
from state and local pub-
lic health and govern-
ment officials. Tennes-
see came out Wednesday
with perhaps the most
definitive statement
yet from a school about
re-opening in the fall.
The NCAA football
oversight committee has
agreed on a six-week
plan for teams to pre-
pare to start the season.
Teams would ideally be
on campus by mid-July
for the season to start on
time.
Beyond that, the
NCA A has little influ-
ence on the logistics
See FOOTBALL, 2B
Favre repaying $1.1 M
for no-show speeches
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS after White released an
audit of spending by the
JACKSON, Miss. Mississippi Department
— Former NFL quar- of Hu-
terback Brett Favre is man Ser-
repaying $1.1 million vices that
in welfare money that showed
he received for multiple Favre had
speeches where he did
been paid
not show up, the Missis-
by Missis-
sippi state auditor said
sippi Com-
Wednesday.
m u n i t y Favre
Auditor Shad White
Education
said his office received
$500,000 from Favre on Center, a nonprofit group
Wednesday, plus a com- whose former leader
mitment that Favre will has been indicted in a
repay the other $600,000 welfare embezzlement
in installments over the scheme.
next few months. Mississippi is one of
Favre’s effort to repay the poorest states in the
the money came two days See FAVRE, 2B
2B THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020
Football
Continued from Page 1B
of college football. The
conferences are mostly
in charge, with commis-
sioners leading the way.
The commissioners
of the Atlantic Coast
Conference, Big Ten,
Big 12, Pac-12 and
Southeastern Confer-
ence say they have been
in almost constant con-
tact since the NCA A
men’s basketball tour-
nament was canceled on
March 12.
“Based on the very
positive and close col-
laboration among the
leaders in college foot-
ball and discussions
with schools, other
leagues and the medical
community, at this point
in time we are planning
to start the football sea-
son on time and togeth-
Favre
Continued from Page 1B
U.S., and the communi-
ty education center had
contracts with Human
Services to spend money
through the Temporary
Assistance for Needy
Families program, also
known as TANF.
“I want to applaud
Mr. Favre for his good
faith effort to make this
right and make the tax-
payers and TANF fami-
lies whole,” White said
in a statement Wednes-
day. “To date, we have
seen no records indi-
cating Mr. Favre knew
that TANF was the pro-
gram that served as the
source of the money he
was paid.”
The audit released
Monday said the center
paid Favre Enterpris-
es $500,000 in Decem-
ber 2017 and $600,000
in June 2018, and he
was supposed to make
speeches for at least
three events. The au-
ditor’s report said that
“upon a cursory review
of those dates, auditors
were able to determine
that the individual con-
tracted did not speak
nor was he present for
those events.”
Favre, who lives in
Mississippi, faces no
criminal charges. The
audit report lists the pay-
MSU
Continued from Page 1B
er than the versatile
athletes that the 3-3-5
breeds, he’s far and away
the most experienced
player at the position.
Beyond Thompson,
things get bare quickly
for a position that was a
strength of last season’s
defense. In addition to
Gay’s departure, seniors
Tim Washington, Leo
Lewis and Sh’Mar Kil-
by-Lane have all gradu-
ated. Behind them, Aar-
on Brule and Nathaniel
Watson saw limited play-
ing time but impressed
in spurts as freshmen.
Brule, who redshirted
during the 2018 season,
should thrive in Arnett’s
new versatile system
given the athleticism
that made him a football
and basketball standout
at Archbishop Rummel
in Metairie, Louisiana.
After seeing time in all
13 games last season
behind Gay and Lewis
at the WILL linebacker
spot, he should slide into
the position with ease.
99.49%
The Dispatch
er on a national basis,”
Pac-12 Commissioner
Larry Scott said.
But can that plan
hold?
An interview SEC
Commissioner Greg
Sankey did last week
with a Jacksonville,
Florida, radio station
became a headline when
he said: “There is room
for different confer-
ences to make different
decisions.” In an inter-
view with the Big Ten
network, Commissioner
Kevin Warren suggest-
ed something similar.
Penn State coach
James Franklin won-
dered if even within con-
ferences schools would
be uniform in their re-
turn to play.
“Say you have six
ments to him as “ques-
tioned” costs, which
White said means “au-
ditors either saw clear
misspending or could
not verify the money had
been lawfully spent.”
In a Facebook post
Wednesday night, Favre
said he didn’t know the
payments he received
came from welfare funds
and noted his charity
had provided millions
of dollars to poor kids
in his home state of Mis-
sissippi and Wisconsin,
where he played the
bulk of his Hall of Fame
career with the Green
Bay Packers.
“My agent is often
approached by differ-
ent products or brands
for me to appear in one
way or another. This re-
quest was no different,
and I did numerous ads
for Family First,” Favre
wrote.
“I have never received
moneys for obligations I
didn’t meet. To reiterate
Auditors White’s state-
ment, I was unaware
that the money being
dispensed was paid for
out of funds not intend-
ed for that purpose, and
because of that I am re-
funding the full amount
back to the state of Mis-
sissippi.
Other names to watch
include Copiah-Lincoln
Community College im-
port Tyrus Wheat and
incoming freshman Rod-
ney Groce Jr.
Wheat joins fellow
Co-Lin standout Jordan
Davis (more on him
in the coming days) in
Starkville and should
give MSU another col-
lege-ready option in the
middle of the field. The
No. 1 junior college line-
backer in the country
according to 247 Sports,
Wheat played safety as a
high schooler and boasts
comparable athleticism
to Brule that should al-
low him to play both in
coverage and as a stand-
up blitzer off the edge
when the scheme calls
for it.
Groce was initially
committed to Nebraska
but flipped his pledge
to Mississippi State in
December. The Pleasant
Grove, Alabama, native
was rated the No. 24 in-
side linebacker in the
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schools in your confer- number of schools can- Subdivision conference to fill schedules. No-
ence or eight schools not play it might not stop commissioners. tre Dame has a sched-
in your conference that everyone else. Swarbrick said a lack uling agreement with
all are able to open, and “What’s the critical of uniformity could the ACC for five games
there are one or two mass? I don’t have that make it impossible to per season; Swarbrick
that can’t. Are you go- number. I don’t think have a normal season. said he is confident the
ing to penalize all these there is a need to predict “How many games Fighting Irish would be
schools not being able to that now. In fact, I don’t do you need to have in a fine.
reopen?” Franklin told even have to answer that regular season to have a Swarbrick said he has
reporters. now because we have an playoff?” he said. “What encouraged conferences
In an interview with asset of time,” Sankey might a re-engineered to consider, if neces-
the AP on Tuesday, said. schedule do to the post- sary, a scheduling mod-
Sankey noted the im- Notre Dame is a season and the bowl el for a truncated season
portance of nonconfer- member of the ACC for games? What about that allows teams to pro-
ence games the SEC has most sports, but one records? What about tect traditional noncon-
scheduled such as Ar- of six independents in Heisman trophies? Is a ference rivalries like
kansas at Notre Dame, major college football. team whose schools de- Florida-Florida State
Colorado at Texas A&M The Fighting Irish hold cides it can’t participate and Clemson-South Car-
and Southern California unique status, with their credited with a forfeit? I olina.
vs. Alabama in Arling- own multimillion-dol- hope not.” “But I’m not con-
ton, Texas. lar television contract If there is an abbrevi- cerned about our ability
“There is a motiva- with NBC for football. ated season that prior- to have a challenging,
tion to remain connect- Swarbrick is part of the itizes conference play, robust schedule even if
ed,” Sankey said of the College Football Playoff independents such as the conferences go to a
Power Five. management committee BYU, Army and UMa- conference-only model,”
He also said if a small along with the 10 Bowl ss could be scrambling he said.
“I have spent my en- leased months after a was one of the people ed two groups that re-
tire career helping chil- former Human Services indicted; another was ceived grants, the Mis-
dren through Favre 4 director and five other Nancy New, who was di- sissippi Community
Hope donating nearly people were indicted on rector of the Mississippi Education Center and
$10 million to under- state charges of embez- Community Education Family Resource Cen-
served and underpriv- zling about $4 million. Center. Davis, New and ter of North Mississip-
ileged children in Mis- They have pleaded not the others indicted have pi, to spend money with
sissippi and Wisconsin. guilty and are awaiting pleaded not guilty and certain other people or
It has brought a ton trial in what White has are awaiting trial.
of joy to my life, and I groups, the auditor’s re-
called one of Missis- AP left a phone mes- port said.
would certainly never do sippi’s largest public sage Wednesday at Mis-
anything to take away White said the those
corruption cases in de- sissippi Community Ed- two nonprofit groups
from the children I have cades. ucation Center’s Jackson
fought to help! I love received more than $98
“If there was a way office with questions
Mississippi and I would million in Department of
to misspend money, about the payments to
never knowingly do any- Human Services grants
it seems DHS leader- Favre. There was no im-
thing to take away from during the three years
ship or their grantees mediate response.
those that need it most.” that ended June 30. Most
thought of it and tried The auditor’s report
White said the money of the money came from
being repaid by Favre it,” White said. said Human Services
John Davis was direc- leaders, particularly Temporary Assistance
will be sent to the De- for Needy Families.
partment of Human Ser- tor of the Department of Davis, “participated in
Human Services from a widespread and per- The audit will be sent
vices.
January 2016 until July vasive conspiracy to to the U.S. Department
Favre has not re-
turned multiple text 2019, appointed by then- circumvent internal con- of Health and Human
messages sent to him by Gov. Phil Bryant — a trols, state law, and Services, and feder-
The Associated Press Republican who also ap- federal regulations” al officials will decide
since Monday. His man- pointed White to office to direct grant money whether to sanction the
ager, Bus Cook, told AP when a previous auditor to certain people and state for misspending,
on Wednesday: “We’ve stepped down. Davis groups. Davis instruct- White said.
got nothing to say.”
In an audit, White
said his employees iden-
tified $94 million in
questionable spending
by the agency, includ-
ing payments for sports
activities with no clear
connection to helping
needy people in one of
the poorest states of the
U.S.
The audit was re-
country and finished his
senior season with 134
tackles — including 34.5
tackles for loss — 14.5
sacks, nine pass break-
ups, 21 quarterback hur-
ries, four forced fumbles,
one interception and one
fumble recovery.
With an improved
strength program run by
Washington State import
Tyson Brown combined
with Arnett’s 3-3-5 base
formation, the MSU line-
backing corps stands to
be as versatile as it has
been in decades. It’s just
a matter of giving the
youthful unit game reps.
“I’ve been incredi-
bly impressed with how
the guys have been ap-
proaching the workouts
because, you know, our
strength coaches, he’s
working them now,” Ar-
nett said in reference to
the MSU defense in Feb-
ruary. “And you know it’s
fun as a coach when you
get to be around players
like that in your pro-
gram.”
of our customers
customer satisfaction.
662-328-2424

The NBA is proceeding with extreme caution
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The NBA says some
players can voluntarily re-
turn to their team practice
facilities starting Friday,
with some very specific
conditions and only in plac-
es where local and state
governments have signed
off on such openings.
It’s unclear how many
players will be back on
the floor Friday when the
league ban gets lifted. Mi-
ami is allowed to open its
doors for the first time in
six weeks but won’t until
at least Monday while it
works out certain logisti-
cal details. Orlando isn’t
going to welcome players
back immediately either.
Same goes for Utah, the
first NBA team to deal with
the coronavirus after Rudy
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
Gobert tested positive
March 11 and the league
shut down almost immedi-
ately. And most teams ar-
en’t allowed to open yet to
because of local rules.
Basketball hasn’t been
played in two months and
the league, the teams and
the players still seem to
have a universal desire to
get back to work, finish
this season and crown a
champion. But, perhaps
mindful of challenges oth-
er leagues have faced in
their efforts to resume play
amid a coronavirus pan-
demic that has shut down
the sports world, the NBA
seems to be moving with
extreme caution.
“The biggest goal is to
have the confidence of the
players and the staff that
FAMILY CIRCUS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
they can enter the facility
safely,” Utah general man-
ager Dennis Lindsey said.
Simultaneously, every-
body wants to play, and
everybody wonders if it’s
safe to play. It’s like all par-
ties involved know that a
major misstep now could
doom any realistic chance
of playing anytime in the
next few months.
“Our task force at the
league is studying how do
we get back to playing bas-
ketball again, following the
data, looking at every pos-
sible model,” Magic CEO
Alex Martins said this
week while addressing an
Orlando-area economic
forum.
And opening the prac-
tice courts is only Phase
One.
Phase Two, who knows
when that will come. It’s
not imminent.
Games are not close.
Getting players back into
facilities is not a precursor
to games being played,
it’s more about keeping
them out of public gyms
and playgrounds that are
starting to reopen. Posi-
tive tests during individual
training or practices could
delay or destroy plans for
games.
There are some reasons
for hope. The NBA is still
working toward a plan to
test players if the season
resumes. It has exchanged
data with leagues across
the world, and there have
been some success stories.
Baseball is being played
again in South Korea. MLS
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
I am a teen-
age girl in
an average family.
I started getting
interested in
LGBTQ+ and other
social justice
topics when I was
in fifth grade.
Since then,
I have realized
that, among
other things, I’m a
lesbian, a liberal
and an atheist.
This wouldn’t be
a problem, but my
Dear Abby
father hates many
of the things I am or stand for.
He’s an extremely conservative,
Christian, gun-rights person,
and he wants me and my
brothers to join the military. He
constantly pushes me to be
the best that I can be, and I try,
but his idea of “best” is very
different from mine.
I have several mental
problems, which resulted in
me getting special privileges in
school. I use them whenever
I can, but it is never enough
for him. He keeps searching
through my grade book until
he finds something new for me
to do, regardless of the date it
was assigned or whether it can
be graded anymore.
I have various restrictions
on my use of technology, so I
can barely contact my friends.
It has gotten to the point that I
am worried about when I come
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (May
7). Inspiration and insight
strike. Through effort and care,
you’ll start moving like you
couldn’t before, your physical
self invigorating other systems
in your life. It will be a win for
your group in August followed
by a lucrative personal victory.
What a relief in September,
when a complicated arrange-
ment finally gets hammered out.
Cancer and Virgo adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 11, 50,
3, 20 and 16.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
Without a jovial touch, people
get bored and touchy. That’s
where you come in. You pos-
sess an unusual talent, which
you will use to help, amuse and
teams returned to fields
Wednesday for workouts
with restrictions. Germa-
ny’s top soccer league has
allowed players to return
to training facilities, even
though some staff and
players have tested posi-
tive.
It’s the NBA’s turn
to start seeing where it
stands.
“There’s been this un-
precedented collabora-
tion and communication
among scientists across
the world right now,”
said Dr. John DiFiori, the
NBA’s Director of Sports
Medicine. “What’s going
on sports medicine sort of
parallels that at a much dif-
ferent level of course. But
there is an awful lot of that
going on across the world
out and looking
forward to college
just so I can get
away. Please tell
me what to do
in the meantime
because college
is five years away.
— WAITING IN
VIRGINIA
DEAR WAIT-
ING: You and your
dad have very
different outlooks
on life, and that’s
OK. That said,
you must live
under his roof
for the next five
years, so be diplomatic and
keep some of your opinions to
yourself as long as possible.
You may think your father
is heavy-handed in parenting
you, but has it occurred to you
that when he goes through your
grade book, he’s trying to make
sure you know how to work
all the problems in it? Placing
restrictions on a minor’s use
of technology is intelligent
parenting, at least for someone
just entering her teens. Please
try to cut him some slack. Rec-
ognize there is a bright future
ahead of you if you concentrate
on your studies to the best of
your ability and buckle down
now.
DEAR ABBY: My 32-year-old
son, “Jerry,” wanted to propose
to his girlfriend, but didn’t have
money for a ring. My hus-
band offered him my original
delight others.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
While it is possible to be any-
thing you want to be, it generally
takes time. Meanwhile, you can
dabble in whatever tone, feeling
or mood you want to take on
in an instant if you know the
mental route to the place.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
More sunsets are caught than
sunrises because a greater
number of people are awake in
the evening than are watching
for the break of dawn. Get on an
early tract. There’s something
spectacular in it for you.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
Relationships will have a feeling
that is greater than the sum of
their parts. Just as there’s a
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 3B
right now. It’s at least daily
communication in one way,
shape or another with col-
leagues across the world in
all these different leagues,
because we’re all learning
from each other.”
The rules that NBA
teams will have to adhere
to when they resume even
the voluntary workouts are
like none previously put in
place. A 12-feet buffer be-
tween everyone, one play-
er per basket, one ball per
basket, no more than four
players in the facility at
once. Everyone must wear
masks and gloves, the lone
exception being players
while they work out. Ev-
ery player must undergo
cardiac screening before
resuming voluntary work-
outs.
engagement ring, assuming for
some reason (or maybe just not
thinking) that my old ring didn’t
hold sentimental value to me,
although I wore that 1/3-carat
diamond every day for 32 years
before getting a new, larger
one.
After the ring was offered,
I felt forced to let him have
it. I knew it wouldn’t fit his
girlfriend, and I also didn’t think
she would settle for such a
small diamond, but I figured he
would have the diamond put
into a setting that fit her. I got
over my feeling of loss knowing
he would use the ring.
Well, he didn’t. He gave her
MY ring, and then they went out
and charged a nice-sized en-
gagement ring that she select-
ed. My original ring now hangs
on a chain in her jewelry box.
Should I ask for my ring back?
— MEANS A LOT IN TEXAS
DEAR MEANS A LOT:
Because your first engagement
ring is not being used as intend-
ed and was only a place holder
until your son’s fiancee got
what she really wanted, I see
no reason why you shouldn’t
ask, and I also see no reason
why she shouldn’t graciously
comply.
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.
certain dynamic present in
togetherness, there’s also a
dynamic present in apartness.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Goal
setting doesn’t always work
for everyone or every situation.
Right now it’s enough to be
on a certain kind of path. Your
motivation and momentum are
slowly picking up. Trust the
journey.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
The teacher/student relation-
ship is cyclical. The teacher
is always learning from the
student and vice versa. And yet
it is important to keep the roles
intact today. That’s what makes
the relationship work.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
In all your dealings, seek first
to position yourself well. Where
you are coming from matters
big time. Get a firm footing and
take a posture of readiness
and strength right from the
beginning.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). Prioritizing becomes a chal-
lenge when everything coming
your way seems to be a high
priority. You’ll have to ask more
questions to learn the truth and
decide what to participate in
and what to skip.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-
Dec. 21). Being rigid with your
rules only leads to frustration.
Regardless of what’s both-
ering you, there’s more than
one solution. Stay agile and
open-minded and you’ll create
advantageous conditions for
yourself.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). To stay calm and objective
through everything that occurs
is a sign of maturity and a
quality of power players. It’s
also what robots do. Temper
your strategic calm with great
empathy and a drop of desire.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). One way to catch fish is to
stir up the water and get them
moving, jumping and showing
themselves out in the open.
Stay calm and scoop them up.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). When you’re in a posi-
tion of power, you don’t have
to observe the protocol that
others do, and yet it is a sign of
respect and high character to
do so anyway.
A hard nut to crack
SOLUTION:
4B THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020
Business
LOCAL BUSINESS VOICES
Comeback
BY MACAULAY WHITAKER
E
verybody loves a
comeback. It’s a
compelling story
when anyone sets a goal
and achieves it. Other-
wise, why would there be
so many Rocky movies?
Seriously. There are six.
If you’re unemployed
right now, have a job but
you’d like to move ahead,
or simply want a change,
there are lots of oppor-
tunities in the Golden
Triangle to stage your
own comeback.
All of our local
educational institutions
are quickly adapting to
provide more accessible
distance methods and of-
fer online options for ex-
isting and new programs.
Most of these programs
can be completed while
still working.
Here are some places
to find out more informa-
tion:
EMCC
EMCC’s Workforce
Services division offers
several programs in a
combination online and
lab-based format, for flex-
ibility, for anyone wishing
to enter the healthcare
field. Courses starting
in July include Pharma-
cy Technician, Medical
Coding, Phlebotomy
and Certified Nursing
Assistant. Contact EMCC
Workforce Services at
662.243.2686.
For manufacturing
programs with a quick
turnaround, the Work-
force Services division
offers a number of cer-
tifications and courses.
These programs are de-
Mississippi delays income tax
filing deadline until July 15
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSON — For the
second time this year,
Mississippi is delaying
the deadline to file state
income tax returns.
The state Department
of Revenue said Wednes-
day that July 15 is the new
deadline for individual,
corporate, franchise and
fiduciary income tax re-
turns. That’s the same as
the deadline for filing fed-
eral income tax returns.
Get promoted? Win an award? Send us your
business brief. news@cdispatch.com
subject: Business brief
signed to supply existing
manufacturers and have
flexible online and hands
on training options. Man-
ufacturing Skills Basic,
Composites, OSHA Certi-
fications, GEDs and more
industry-specific options
are available. Contact
the Communiversity at
662.243.1803.
MUW
The W’s Office for
Education and Outreach
offers courses for anyone
interested in entering
the teaching profession.
Mississippi has suspend-
ed testing requirements
for teacher licenses until
next year. People with
degrees or credit towards
degrees may now be
qualified for a teaching li-
cense in Mississippi with-
out taking the PRAXIS or
any required exam, and
can work towards their
certification. Call 662-
329-7191 or visit www.
muw.edu/teacher.
The W also offers
a number of online or
blended options rang-
ing from professional
business certificates to
doctoral nursing degrees.
For more information on
MUW’s online programs,
visit https://www.muw.
edu/online.
Mississippi State
University
MSU is offering their
Summer Advantage
Online program, where
they’ve streamlined
online course offerings
from nearly every disci-
pline in their institution.
For more information,
visit https://www.ms-
The state and federal
tax filing deadline is usu-
ally April 15. The Inter-
nal Revenue Service an-
nounced weeks ago that
the federal deadline is
delayed by three months
because of the coronavi-
rus pandemic.
Mississippi officials
originally delayed the
state filing until May 15.
The Department of Reve-
nue set the second delay
after discussions with leg-
islative leaders.
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Field Examples Average Annual Wages one to move into your old
job. Achieving your own
Construction Roofer, Driver-Operator, Cost Estimator $42,063
goals also paves a way for
Educational Services
Teacher Assistant, Secondary
$38,362 someone else to follow
Education, Post-Secondary Instructor the same path forward.
Health Care and Moving people up the
CNA, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner $43,576
Social Assistance wage ladder is what we’re
Manufacturing Technician, Supervisor, Electrician $58,681 trying to do every day by
creating opportunities
Data source: JobsEQ, 2019 Q4
that provide stable, long-
term careers.
state.edu/summer. chart above shows some If you’ve been consid- If you’re still not sure,
MSU recently signed
agreements with a num-
average pay data for a few ering moving up, now watch Rocky IV. That
of the major employment may be the time to get should do it.
ber of community col- sectors in the Golden some extra help starting. Macaulay Whitaker is
leges, including EMCC, Triangle for which pro- When you move into a the chief operating officer
to offer a Bachelor of grams and training are better job, you also create for the Golden Triangle
Applied Science degree. available. an opportunity for some- LINK.
This pathway is intend-
ed for adults who have
completed a technical as-
sociate’s degree program
through a community col-
lege or the military and
need additional education
to advance their careers.
This degree can be
earned through distance
or in-person classes, with
the flexibility to keep
you on track no matter
where you’re learning.
Visit www.msstate.edu/
students/bachelor-of-ap-
plied-science to learn
more.
There are scholarship
options for all of these
programs utilizing exist-
ing WIOA funds and new
funds from the Educa-
tion Stabilization Fund
created by the CARES
Act. There is a tremen-
dous amount of support
available in the form of
scholarships, grants and
dedicated staff whose
passion it is to help peo-
ple reach their potential.
Many of these programs
are offered at no cost to
the student.
And just for a little
added motivation, the
LOCAL GAS PRICES
Source: gasbuddy.com
COLUMBUS
1.59 CHEVRON
488 US-45 S & Frontage Rd.
1.62 EXXON1225 Main St. & 13th St. N.
1.65 LOVE’S
525 Tuscaloosa Rd.
STARKVILLE
1.42 MURPHY USA
1012 MS-12
1.47 SPRINT
308 Hwy 12 E.
1.49 SHELL101 Academy Rd.
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 5B
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 THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 n 6B

Apts For Rent: Other General Merchandise

Employment COLEMAN Merchandise WANTED FREON R12.

We pay CA$H.
Community
RENTALS Ads starting at $12
R12 R500 R11.
Ads starting at $12
Call us: 662-328-2424 TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS Convenient.
Certified professionals.
Customer Service 1 BEDROOM Bargain Column 312−291−9169 Travel & Entertainment
RefrigerantFinders.com/ad
2 BEDROOMS Electric Hedge Trimmer
LOCAL LAW FIRM is seek-
ing Receptionist/Secretary. 3 BEDROOMS 18 inch stainless steel PUBLIC CATFISH POND
blade Made by weed eater. WHITE POSTER BOARD @ 130 Hillcrest Drive.
Previous experience
LEASE, 24"x23" Open Tues−Sat, 7a−5p
© The Dispatch

helpful but not necessary. Green in color. Used very

$0.50 each Appointment Only, call
Computer skills a must. DEPOSIT little. $20 firm.
662−244−5861. 100 in stock 662−386−8591
Email resume to: AND Visit 516 Main Street
job109@cdispatch.com or call 662−328−2424
CREDIT CHECK Stationary Bike Like new Pets
General Help Wanted with large soft adjustable

CALEDONIA BUSINESS
662-329-2323 seat, used only a few
times. Has led instrument. Shop Akc German Shepards
Puppies ready for pick up

Classifieds
needs General Laborer. Firm at 35.00 Must see. June 30th, with papers and
Valid driver's license,
2411 HWY 45 N 662−244−5861 1st shots, great with
transportation & experi- COLUMBUS, MS
Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
children, good protection!
ence helpful. Will train on Farm Equipment & Supplies $500.00 662−341−0862
the job if needed. Call
Vehicles
Commercial Property For Rent
Jesse & Beverly's Lawn
Service at 662-356-6525. FOR RENT LOCATED NEAR
JOHN DEERE MODEL M
TRACTOR. A set of one row Five Questions: Sudoku
Sudoku is a number-
placing puzzle based on
Yesterday’s answer
DOWNTOWN. 3,000 sq. ft. cultivators w/ hydraulic lift, Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 9 7 1 2 3 5 8 4 6
has been repainted, looks Ads starting at $12
THE COMMERCIAL truck terminal, 9,500 sq.
1 Shrimp ber-placing
given numbers.puzzleThe object 3 2 4 1 6 8 9 7 5

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

good & runs good, $3500.
DISPATCH seeks a motiv- ft. shop & 3,200 sq. ft.
Call 662−436−2037.
Campers & RVs
based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 6 5 8 7 9 4 1 3 2
ated, contracted carrier for office/shop. Buildings can grid
be rented together or 1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 8 6 9 3 5 7 2 1 4
2 Converse
the Brooksville & Macon General Merchandise
area. Excellent opportunity separately. All w/ excellent 2012 JAYCO EAGLE 5th given
so thatnumbers.
each row, eachThe 7 4 3 8 1 2 5 6 9
to earn money for college. access & Hwy. 82 visibility. WHEEL, 39ft, 4 slide−outs. object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place box
2018 40FT Gooseneck
numbers 2 1 5 9 4 6 7 8 3
contains the1same to 9 number
in
Must have good transporta- 662−327−9559. 2BR, 48" TV & 27" TV.
3 Los Angeles
Trailer w/ 5ft dovetail, 12
tion, valid driver's license
Mobile Homes for Rent ton axles, 10−4inch straps
$26,500. 662−386−9605.
the empty spaces so 5 9 6 4 8 1 3 2 7
& insurance. Delivers on only once. The difficulty 1 3 7 6 2 9 4 5 8
Sunday morning and Mon-
& tarps. $8,500. 662−251 Motorcycles & ATVs that each row, each
−3001. level increases from
column and each 4 8 2 5 7 3 6 9 1
Fri afternoons. Apply at The 4BR/2BA MH w/ private
Commercial Dispatch, 516 setting & 1.5 acres in 1993 KAWASAKI 4 “Almost Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 5/06

Famous”
Caledonia. Covered back
Main Street in Columbus.
porch. No pets, no smok− Sell idle items VOYAGER XII Only 25,500
miles. Runs & looks good. the same number only once. The difficulty level
No phone calls please. ing. Call 662−352−3205, with a quick action No problems. $3000 OBO. increases from Monday to Sunday.
leave msg if no answer.
classified ad.
5 270
Medical / Dental Can be seen local.
501−545−7750.
RENT A CAMPER!
Clinical Medical Assistant CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
We are looking for a Clinic- Utilities & cable included,
al Medical Assistant for our from $145/wk − $535/mo
fast paced OB/GYN office Columbus & County School
in Columbus, MS. Experi- locations. 662−242−7653

ence as a medical assist-
ant in an OB/GYN setting
or other clinical medical
setting is required. Re-
THERE IS
or 205−442−2011.
RV/MOBILE HOME SITE

sponsibilities will include
patient care and office sup-
port. Full job description
will be discussed at the
NO PLACE
East or West Columbus or
near CAFB, Caledonia
schools. 601−940−1397.
Office Spaces For Rent

time of interview. This is a
part-time or full-time posi-
tion. Availability needed
Monday-Friday. Benefits
offered for full-time posi-
tion after waiting period.
Email resume to
job108@cdispatch.com
LIKE HOME.
OFFICE SPACE FOR
LEASE. 1112 Main St.,
Ste. 5. 3700 sq. ft.
Plenty of private parking.
662−327−9559.

Read local. Real Estate

cdispatch.com Ads starting at $25
Lots & Acreage

1.75 ACRE LOTS.

Rentals Good/Bad Credit Options.

Good credit as low as 10%
down, $299/mo. Eaton
Ads starting at $25 Land, 662−361−7711.

Apts For Rent: West

VIP
Rentals Looking for a new home?
Let us help, shop here.
Apartments & Houses
1 Bedrooms
2 Bedroooms Garage Sales
3 Bedrooms Two free signs ACROSS
Furnished & Unfurnished
Garage Sales: Southside 1 Loudly lament
1, 2, & 3 Baths 5 Scottish lord
Lease, Deposit
& Credit Check
viceinvestments.com
MOVING SALE! Sat, 7a−
12p. 125, Yorkville Rd.
West, behind Friendship
Baptist Church. House
SHOP SAFELY WITH THE 10 Mystique
11 Makes blank
12 Sports figure
13 Feels the
327-8555
DISPATCH CLASSIFIEDS
plants, mens/womens
bikes, furn, home decor, absence of
womens sz 9 shoes, & 14 Trap to
Apts For Rent: Caledonia more. 662−889−0038. catch computer
hackers

Service Directory
2 BR, 1 BA w/ W/D 16 Less than
connections. Application
Fee, Background and Credit wonderful
Checks required. $500.00 20 Meager
662−436−2255 23 Stunned
wonder
Apts For Rent: Other
Promote your small business starting at only $25 24 Practical
1ST MONTH − RENT FREE! 25 “Tomorrow”
1−2 BR Apt: $350−435 Carpet & Flooring General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping singer compact 22 1987 Su-
1−2BR TwnHm: $625−650 27 Sturdy wood 3 Persia, today zanne Vega hit
A & T TREE SERVICES HILL’S PRESSURE JESSE & BEVERLY’S
Lease, Dep, Credit Check.
Bucket truck & stump WASHING. Commercial/ LAWN SERVICE 28 Sights 4 Prints, in cop 25 In a frenzy
Coleman Realty
662−329−2323 removal. Free est. Residential. House, Mowing, cleanup, 29 “Uh-uh” jargon 26 Boris’s
Serving Columbus concrete, sidewalks & landscaping, sodding, 32 Spot on a 5 Small singing partner
since 1987. Senior mobile washing. Free est. & tree cutting. shirt groups 28 Bay
citizen disc. Call Alvin @ 662−386−8925. 662−356−6525
242−0324/241−4447 36 Polite word 6 Must 30 Bridge utter-
"We’ll go out on a limb for SAM’S LAWN SERVICE 39 Mediocre 7 Braying beast ance
CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY
you!" $545 plus Filing Fee No lawn too large or too 40 China collec- 8 Originally 31 Rx amounts
small. Mowing, trimming & tion called 33 Cabinet part
DAVID’S CARPET & CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY
UPHOLSTERY DUMP TRUCK HAULING. All Attorney Fees Through The Plan
weedeating.
Call 662−243−1694
41 Ship storage 9 Snaky shape 34 Ibsen’s home
CLEANING AND Slag − $400
Jim Arnold, Attorney 42 Yertle’s 11 Vacant 35 Chuck of
Clay Gravel − $250 Painting & Papering
DISINFECTING 1 Room creator 15 Days gone by “Meet the Press”
Driveway & Trailer Park 662-324-1666 • 601-656-6914
− $50
2 Rooms − $70 Grating. Columbus. Call 104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville Lloyd’s Painting
43 Yankee great, 17 Put up 36 Score amts.
3+ Rooms − $30 EA Walter, 662−251−8664. For All Your Residential familiarly 18 Tot’s scrape 37 Spike of film
Rugs−Must Be Seen SKILLED CRAFTSMAN. Interior & Exterior DOWN 19 Casual tops 38 Water, in the
Car Upholstery WORK WANTED: Any kind of work! We can Painting Needs, 20 Sound of Seine
Cleaning Available Licensed & Bonded. Call Shelby Lloyd. 1 Scrub
662−722−1758 Carpentry, minor electrical,
build, paint, drywall, clean
662−836−6016 disappearing
minor plumbing, insulation,
& cut grass. Reasonable 2 Sedan or 21 Miles off
rates. Safe & Reliable.
painting, demolition, 662−386−3658. SULLIVAN’S PAINT
Got leaky pipes? gutters cleaned, pressure SERVICE
Find a plumber in the washing, landscaping, Are you a painter? Special Prices.
classifieds. cleanup work, moving help. Interior & Exterior Painting.
662−242−3608. Advertise here! 662−435−6528

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