Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi

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Friday | December 4, 2020

Main Street roundabout near completion

The roundabout
located across Stafford: Road could be open by January,
from Harvey’s on
Main Street in
downtown Colum-
will make the Second Street intersection safer
bus should be BY TESS VRBIN spokesman Joe Dillon said.
finished by the tvrbin@cdispatch.com “It’s a new, fresh, beautiful entrance
end of Decem- into the city, and it’s something we’ll be
ber or January, If all the stars align, the roundabout very proud of,” Dillon said.
according to city at Main and Second streets in Colum- The roundabout was planned as a
engineer Kevin bus could be complete and open by the
Stafford. The traffic calming measure to slow down
end of the month, city engineer Kevin drivers traveling in and out of town at
$761,000 project
began in July and Stafford said. high speeds, since roughly 60 percent
is aimed at slow- If not, it will be open early in 2021, of the accidents along the corridor hap-
ing traffic coming possibly in January, and the intersec- pen at the intersection, Stafford said in
into downtown. tion will be much safer for both drivers July.
Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff and pedestrians, both Stafford and city See ROUNDABOUT, 6A

MSMS showcases outreach, distance Golden Triangle

learning programs to legislators COVID cases
spike along
with state
Lowndes County sees
largest increase; school
data varies due to
holiday week
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com

Lowndes County
saw the Golden Tri-
angle’s largest spike
in positive COVID-19
cases in a week’s
time since the pan-
demic began, with 283 from Nov.
25 to Wednesday, according to Mis-
sissippi Department of Health data.
As of Wednesday at 6 p.m., the
most recent update to the MSDH
website by press time, Lowndes
County had 2,611 confirmed cases
of COVID-19, Oktibbeha County
had 2,599, Clay County had 971 and
Noxubee County had 742.
Oktibbeha County had 164 new
Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff cases in the past week, Clay Coun-
Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science Executive Director Germain McConnell and distance learning coordinator ty had 72 and Noxubee County
Alison Alexander speak with state legislators about the school’s outreach and distance learning programs during a presenta- had 42. Mississippi as a whole saw
tion by MSMS staff at the school on Mississippi University for Women’s campus on Thursday. McConnell gave the legislators 11,654 new cases in the same time
a list of three priorities he would like the Legislature to consider for the school in the upcoming fiscal year, including $18.5
million to renovate the residential halls and an additional $500,000 annually to increase student enrollment. period.
The most recent case numbers
See COVID, 3A
Director asks for $18.5 million from
Legislature to help fund residence hall
renovations; wants more funding for
new facilities in coming years Grinch Fest
outreach program to reach
called off due to
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com younger students through-
out the state. Parents or
Every Wednesday for
10 weeks after school be-
gan, Mississippi School for
teachers could sign up their
children for the sessions,
which were led by Zarando-
COVID concerns
Mathematics and Science DISPATCH STAFF REPORT
na’s 11th and 12th graders.
math teacher Lauren Zaran-
dona and several of her “First graders on Zoom
is a really special expe- Today’s “Grinch
students spent hours after Fest in Whoville”
school on Zoom meetings rience that I never want Courtesy image
to do again, personally,” This courtesy image shows a rendering of a connector building event has been called
with first- through sixth-
Zarandona said laughing Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science officials hope off after new recom-
grade students throughout
during a presentation by to build to connect the student residence halls for MSMS’s high mendations by the
the state working on math
MSMS teachers and ad- school students on Mississippi University for Women’s campus. state’s health officer,
problems. MSMS Executive Director Germain McConnell said the plans
Zarandona called the ministrators to a handful Main Street Colum-
have not been approved by Mississippi Department of Archives
program Weekly Wednes- of state legislators at the bus Executive Direc- Bigelow
and History, which wants to retain the historic look of the resi-
day Workouts — “math to school’s Columbus campus dence halls, though McConnell said he hopes the department tor Barbara Bigelow
get your mind moving” — on Thursday. “My students will reconsider. The connecting building is one of several facili- announced Thursday afternoon.
and it was part of MSMS’s See MSMS, 3A ties and renovations planned for MSMS. See GRINCH FEST, 3A

WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

1 What continent was the site of the 2017 discovery of an Today MEETINGS
“almost-edible,” 106-year-old piece of cake, on Cape Adare? Dec. 7: Oktibbe-
■ Grinch Fest canceled: Due to
2 What British pop star was revealed to have donated to chil- ha County Board
dren’s causes and other philanthropic efforts for decades, most recent COVID-19 recommen-
of Supervisors
before his 2016 death? dations, Grinch Fest from 5-8 p.m.
meeting, 9 a.m.,
3 Which profession was reportedly listed on Al Capone’s today in downtown Columbus has
Chancery Court-
business card — accountant, furniture dealer or mortician? been canceled in the interest of
house
Kameron Wright 4 How many Little Free Libraries, free book exchanges usual- community health. Main Street
ly the size of a birdhouses, had been built as a 2016 — 500; Dec. 8:
Third grade, Annunciation Columbus, 662-328-6305.
5,000; or 50,000? Starkville-Oktib-

50 Low 33
5 What Ghostbusters-esque goop became a schoolyard beha Consoli-
High craze in 2017, with kids making their own DIY creations Sunday dated School
Some sun
thanks to YouTube? ■ The Art of Hospitality: The District Board of
Answers, 6B Columbus Arts Council presents Trustees meet-
Full forecast on
page 3A. Ralph Null, Sarah Labensky, Terry ing, 6 p.m., 401
Conerly and Jason Sims sharing Greensboro St.
INSIDE advice on entertaining with wines,
food and flowers, 1-4 p.m. at the
Dec. 11:
Starkville Board
Classifieds 6B Obituaries 2,5A Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main of Aldermen
Comics 4B Opinions 4A St. Bid on table arrangements, work session,
Crossword 5B Religion 5B fine wines and art. Tickets $50. Caledonia resident Gail Chrest 10 a.m., City
Dear Abby 4B columbus-arts.org, 662-328-2787. loves cooking and baking. Hall

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020
COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
Obituaries with basic informa-
tion including visitation and
service times, are provided
free of charge. Extended
obituaries with a photograph,
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tion and other details families
may wish to include, are avail-
able for a fee. Obituaries must
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tion, call 662-328-2471.
Sammie Roland
COLUMBUS —
Sammie Lee Roland,
60, died
Nov. 23,
2020, at his
residence.
Grave-
side ser-
vices will
be at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Roland
in Sand-
field Cemetery, with
Leroy Jones officiating.
Visitation is from 2-6
p.m. today, at Carter’s
Funeral Services.
Carter’s Funeral
Services of Columbus
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Roland was born
July 2, 1960, in Colum-
bus, to the late James
Hill and Lille Roland.
He was a member of
Elbethel M.B. Church.
In addition to his par-
ents, he was preceded
in death by his brother,
Bobby Roland.
He is survived by
his daughter, Precious
Hughes of Jackson; and
siblings, Vicky John-
son, Barbara Roland
and Debra Roland all of
Columbus and Robert
Roland of Tupelo.
Lance Sykes
COLUMBUS —
Lance Antwan Sykes,
25, died
Nov. 30,
2020, at
UMC of
Jackson.
Grave-
side ser-
vices will
be at 2 p.m.
Sykes
Saturday,
in Brick M.B. Church
Cemetery, with Metyor
Harris officiating. Vis-
itation is from 2-6 p.m.
today, at Carter’s Fu-
neral Services. Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Columbus is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Sykes was
born June 21, 1995, in
Columbus, to Johnnie
B. Sykes and Angel
Williams Sykes. He at-
tended Columbus city
schools and was for-
merly employed with
Yokohoma. He was a
member of Shilo Full
Gospel M.B. Church.
In addition to his
parents, he is survived
by his sister, Tatiana
Williams of Columbus.
Pallbearers will be
Kent Webb, Davonte
Grant, Tyler Erby,
Jamel Grant, Joshua
Thomas and Tevin
Williams.
Earline Stinson
COLUMBUS ‚
Earline B. Stinson, 87,
died Nov. 29, 2020, at
Trinity Healthcare.
Graveside services
will be at 11 a.m. Sat-
urday, in Brick M.B.
Church Cemetery, with
the Rev. Everett Little
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
AREA OBITUARIES
officiating. John Thomas She is survived by was formerly employed and Marie Cotton of
Visitation her children, Bryan with Continental Can Lansing, Michigan; and
COLUMBUS — John
is from 2-6 Earl Thomas, 56, died Holliness and Marlon Co. He was a member of step-children, Ralph
p.m. today, Nov. 25, 2020, at Baptist Griffin both of Colum- St. Paul U.M. Church. Purnell, Jaquelynn Pur-
at Carter’s Memorial Hospi- bus; siblings, Eddie In addition to his ness, Laina Alexander
Funeral tal-Golden Triangle. Holliness and Elaine parents, he was pre- and Vanessa McCaskill
Services. Graveside services Mosley both of Colum- ceded in death by his all of Illinois.
Carter’s Stinson will be at 11 a.m. Satur- bus; and two grandchil- wife, Dora Anderson; Pallbearers will be
dren. step-daughter, Nira Marlon M. Windham
Funeral day, in Pleasant Grove
Services of Columbus Full Gospel Baptist Pallbearers will be Harris; and siblings, Sr., Marlon M. Wind-
is in charge of arrange- Church Cemetery, Eddie Holliness Jr., Ka- David Anderson, ham Jr., Fermerlandis
ments. with Barbara Thomas leb Holliness, Quaylan Joseph Anderson and Winham, Timothy
Mrs. Stinson was officiating. Visitation is Jones, Marlon Griffin, Pearl Anderson. “Tim” Ivy, James Otis
born May 7, 1933, in from 2-6 p.m. today, at Quinton Bell, Lowrent He is survived by his Ivy Jr and John McMil-
Columbus, to the late Carter’s Funeral Ser- Gaines and Justin siblings, Maggie Doyle lian.
Emmitt Cobb and vices. Carter’s Funeral Mosley. of Chicago, Illinois See OBITUARIES, 5A
Melisa Allen. She was Services of Columbus
formerly employed is in charge of arrange- Callie Bennett
with Johnston Tombig- ments. MACON — Callie C.
bee Furniture Compa- Mr. Thomas was Bennett, 57, died Nov.
ny and TG Owens and born Aug. 31, 1964, in 28, 2020,
Sons Floral. She was a
Columbus, to James at Aurora
member of Brick M.B. Thomas and Annie Health and
Church. Thomas. He was a Rehabil-
In addition to her graduate of Motley itation
parents, she was High School. He was Center.
preceded in death by formerly employed Services
her husband, James as a truck driver with will be
Stinson II; children, Bennett
Bigbee Transportation, at 1 p.m.
Eufen Stinson and with Sanderson Plumb- Saturday,
Henry Joe Stinson; ing, Avett Trucking, in Wahalak Cemetery of
and siblings, Emmitt and as a bus driver Shuqualak, with Ronald
Cobb, Mitch Cobb, Mal with Lowndes County Murray officiating. Lee-
Cobb, Sam Frazier, J.D. School District and a Sykes Funeral Home of
Summerville, Charles touring company. Macon is in charge of
Armstead and Joyce He was preceded in arrangements.
Ann Cobb. death by his siblings, Mrs. Bennett was
She is survived by Ogerita Coley and Dor- born July 1, 1963, in
her children, James othy Williams. Shuqualak, to the
Stinson Jr. and Johnny In addition to his late Johnny Dale and
Stinson both of Colum- parents, he is survived Francis Hunt. She was
bus; siblings, William by his siblings, Mary a member of Old Shiloh
Cobb of Phoenix, Valentine, Sharon Missionary Baptist
Arizona and Eartha Boyd, James Thomas Church.
Jamison of Columbus; Jr., Alfonzo Thomas, In addition to her
and grandchildren; and Paul Thomas and parents, she was pre-
great-grandchildren. Dennis Sherrod all of ceded in death by her
Columbus. brother, Harold Ben-
Curtis Gray nett.
CR AWFORD — Elizabeth Holliness She is survived by
Curtis Lee “Blow” COLUMBUS — Eliz- her husband, Antho-
Gray, 47, died Nov. 29, abeth Ann “Liz” Holi- ny Bennett; children,
2020, at his residence. ness, 57, Latoya Singleton and
Graveside services died Nov. Darryl T. Walton Jr.;
will be at 11 a.m. 26, 2020, at siblings, Lendsey
Saturday, in Greater Piedmont Hunt, Joe Davis Senc-
Mt. Olive M.B. Church Rockdale er, Robert Burrage,
Cemetery, with Bennie Hospi- Stanley Bennett, Errol
Coleman officiating. tal-Co- Bennett, Janie Hunt,
Visitation is from 2-6 nyers, Cindy Lewis, Mildred
p.m. today, at Carter’s Georgia. Holliness Hunt, Frances Hunt and
Funeral Services. Grave- Cathy Davis; and four
Carter’s Funeral side services will be grandchildren.
Services of Columbus at 2 p.m. Saturday, in
is in charge of arrange- Memorial Gardens, Johnny Anderson
ments. with the Rev. Stanley Columbus — Johnny
Mr. Gray was born McCrary officiating. “Jack” Bernard Ander-
Oct. 15, 1973, in Visitation is from 2-6 son, 77,
Macon, to the late Leo p.m. today, at Carter’s died Nov.
Harris and Catherine Funeral Services. 28, 2020, at
Gray Harris. He was Carter’s Funeral his resi-
formerly employed as a Services of Columbus dence.
laborer with Gulf State is in charge of arrange- Grave-
and Hollis Roofing. ments. side
In addition to his fa- Mrs. Holiness was services
Anderson
ther, he was preceded born March 6, 1963, in will be at
in death by his wife, Columbus, to the late 2 p.m. Sat-
Shelia Gray. Hattie Holliness. She urday, in St. Paul U.M.
In addition to his was formerly employed Cemetery in Macon,
mother, he is survived as a custodian with with the Rev. Robert
by his children, Kyesha Columbus High School Scoot officiating. Lee-
Gray, Khywon Gray and was a member Sykes Funeral Home of
both of Starkville, of Friendship M.B. Macon is in charge of
Areshai Walker of Church. arrangements.
Aberdeen and Cur- In addition to her Mr. Anderson was
taves Gray-Latham of mother, she was pre- born Feb. 26, 1943, Send in your church event!
Columbus; siblings, ceded in death by her in Macon, to the late Email editorialassistant@cdispatch.com
Shemekia Askew of son, Ryan Holliness; Joseph and Pricilla Subject: Religious brief
Canton and Leaukia and siblings, Calvin J. Williams Anderson. He
Gray of Columbus; and Holliness and Charlie was a graduate of B.F.
one grandchild. Holliness. Liddell High School and
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 3A

COVID
Continued from Page 1A
from local school districts
vary since not all districts
collected data during the
week of Thanksgiving,
but some schools report-
ed their cases to MSDH
during that time.
School districts are re-
quired to report the num-
ber of COVID-19 cases
among staff and students
to MSDH weekly. When
schools report fewer than
five confirmed COVID-19
cases in a week, MSDH
lists the number as be-
tween one and five.
Starkville-Oktibbeha
Consolidated School Dis-
trict had five positive stu-
dent cases and seven pos-
itive staff cases as of Nov.
20, according to its week-
ly reporting at https://
w w w.starkvillesd.com/
c o v i d 1 9/n u m b e r s / i n -
dex/. SOCSD also had
between one and five
cases at Partnership Mid-
dle School, according to
MSDH data from Nov. 23
to Nov. 27.
Lowndes County
School District had 29 to-
tal student and staff cases
during the week of Nov.
16 to Nov. 20, according
to its weekly reporting
at https://www.lowndes.
k12.ms.us/. There were
also between one and five
cases each at two LCSD
schools — therefore rang-
ing from two to 10 new
cases — from Nov. 23
to Nov. 27, according to
MSDH data.
Columbus Municipal
School District collected
data during the holiday
week and had seven pos-
itive student cases and
eight positive staff cases
as of Nov. 27, Superinten-
dent Cherie Labat told
The Dispatch.
West Point Consolidat-
ed School District report-
ed one to five new cases in
two buildings — two to 10
new cases — from Nov. 23
through Nov. 27, accord-
ing to the MSDH website.
Noxubee County
School District currently
has two positive COVID
cases, Superintendent
Rodriguez Broadnax told
The Dispatch.
The only private
schools in the region to
report case data to MSDH
during the holiday week
were Magnolia Christian
School and South Haven
Mennonite School in Nox-
ubee County. Magnolia
had between one and five
new cases.
Mississippi State Uni-
versity had 97 positive
cases, 84 among students
and 13 among employees,
as of Thursday, accord-
ing to data updated on its
website daily. MSU had
109 student cases and five
employee cases Nov. 25.
Mississippi University
for Women has seen eight
new cases since Nov. 20,
five students and three
employees, according to
the daily case update on
its website. None of the
COVID-positive individu-
als were on campus with-
in a week before being
diagnosed.
Mississippi has had
159,036 cases as of
Wednesday, with 2,168
new cases between
Tuesday and Wednes-
day alone, the second
consecutive day of more
than 2,000 new cases.
The 2,457 new cases from
Monday to Tuesday broke
the state’s previous one-
day record of 1,972 from
Nov. 19 to Nov. 20.
Additionally, the state
reported 1,040 hospital-
izations Tuesday, the sec-
ond time that the number
of hospitalizations has
exceeded 1,000 since
the pandemic began in
March.

MSMS
Continued from Page 1A
took care of it. Some of
them really have a heart
for the younger kids, and
that’s awesome.”
The program has
worked well enough that
MSMS teachers plan to
expand it to include sci-
ence and engineering
sessions next semester,
she said.
Weekly Wednesday
Workouts grew out of
other outreach and dis-
tance learning programs
that MSMS teachers
have implemented over
the past couple of years,
from statewide math and
science competitions the
school has hosted for
younger students to train-
ing programs for teachers
from underserved dis-
tricts. MSMS teachers
gave an overview of those
programs, along with the
school’s engineering pro-
gram, to the legislators
Thursday.
“We can’t serve every
school in Mississippi.
We’re just
too small,”
M S M S
Execut ive
Director
Germain
McC on nel l
said. “But
our focus McConnell
is: how do
we help those under-re-
sourced areas, those ar-
eas where you have kids
who need to be in those
more advanced level
classes? Even in those
schools that have resourc-
es, it’s hard to find teach-
ers to teach those upper
level classes, so that’s
what we want to do.”
He said partly thanks
to a $270,000 appropria-
tion from the state Leg-
islature last year, MSMS
hired teachers to con-
duct online programs
and classes with students
from around the state,
such as students from
Choctaw Tribal Schools,
which works closely with
the school’s distance
learning coordinator Al-
ison Alexander, another
math teacher.
Alexander said the
online classes began last
year with 52 students
from the Choctaw Tribal
Schools enrolled in Alge-
bra I, Geometry, Algebra
II and Algebra III classes.
This year, it expanded to
more than 100 Choctaw
and Columbus Municipal
School District students
in those classes, plus AP
Calculus and AP Statis-
tics. Since both Choctaw
and Columbus’ districts
have moved to online or
hybrid models during
the COVID-19 pandemic,
Alexander said, it’s been
relatively easy to imple-
ment those classes for the
districts’ more advanced
students.
“They’re exception-
al students,” she said.
“They know what they’re
supposed to do and they
do everything asked of
them, and that’s because
they started in Algebra I
in eighth grade.”
Legislators said they
were impressed with the
teachers’
presenta-
tion, with
Rep. Ja-
son White
(R-Koscius-
ko), who
serves as
S p e a k e r White
Pro Tempo-
re, saying MSMS could
help other school districts
around the state imple-
ment online learning
during the pandemic.
“There may be a role
for the School of Math
and Science to play in
furthering those efforts,”
he said. “They’re obvious-
ly ahead of the game as
compared to most other
school districts through-
out the state, and with
their excellent teachers, it
just kind of makes sense
to try to promote that and
spread it throughout the
state.”
Renovation
and new facilities
McConnell also used
the presentation as the
opportunity to ask the
legislators for funding
and policy changes that
will help MSMS improve
its facilities and serve
more students.
The school’s first pri-
ority is obtaining $18.5
million to renovate the
school’s residence halls,
which need a new, ener-
gy-efficient HVAC system
as well as some plumbing
and lighting updates, said
Leann Alexander, direc-
tor for Student Affairs.
MSMS has also hired Tu-
pelo-based Architecture
South to draw plans for
a connector building be-
tween the two halls which
will include a kitchen and
common study areas and
game rooms. Current-
ly, students have to use
dorm rooms for things
like practicing musical in-
struments and studying.
McConnell said the
designs have not yet been
approved by the Missis-
sippi Department of Ar-
chives and History, which
must approve changes
to historic buildings on
Mississippi University
for Women’s campus,
including the residence
halls. Currently, he said,
there is some concern
from MDAH officials that
the connector building
will change the historic
facade, but he hopes to
continue working with
them to get the design ap-
proved.
McConnell and Leann
Alexander also said the
school needs $200,000 to
plan a new two-story aca-
demic building called the
Hooper Annex. McCon-
nell said the school has
not hired a firm to design
the building yet, but he
thinks it will end up cost-
ing roughly $10 million to
$12 million.
McConnell’s second
priority was asking leg-
islators to change edu- that the dorms need work adds to the state.
cational policy so that because of, like I said, “It’s so much more
MSMS can save any ex- when my daughter was than just the students
tra funding it has left at here, so I really would that we serve on our cam-
the end of its fiscal year. like for the facilities to be pus,” he said. “… That
While most school dis- improved,” she said. “But means hopefully inspir-
tricts throughout the for other students, and ing the next STEM lead-
state are legally required lesser-served communi- ers across this state, the
to carry a certain fund bal- ties, I would love for them next entrepreneur. It’s
ance, MSMS and Missis- to be able to have the fac- not just about recruit-
sippi School for the Arts ulty to increase that dis- ment for us. It’s about
both act more like tra- tance learning and teach- really impacting students
ditional government de- er training for teachers in or doing something or
partments, and any mon- other, lesser-served com- saying something that’s
ey they receive must be munities.” going to impact them to
spent that fiscal year. Mc- McConnell said he change their direction or
wanted legislators to un- be more motivated while
Connell said he doesn’t
derstand the value MSMS they’re in school.”
want to be required to
have a fund balance —
almost all the funding
MSMS receives from the
Legislature, alumni foun-
dations and other income
sources is spent by the
end of each year — but
he also doesn’t want to be
required by law to spend
all the school’s funding
when some of it can go to-
ward future expenses.
His last request was
an additional $500,000
annually to expand stu-
dent enrollment to 300
residential 11th and 12th
graders. Right now, the
Legislature appropriates
about $4.85 million to
MSMS every year, which
allows MSMS to accept
240 students.
“I think these last cou-
ple years, we could have
brought in about 35 to 40
additional students that
would make good stu-
dents,” McConnell said.
Rep. Dana McLean
(R-Columbus) said she
wants to at
least help
s e c u r e
funding for
residence
hall renova-
tions. Her
daughter
g r a d u a t e d McLean Help us help them,
from MSMS The Humane Society
in 2017, and some of the
662 327-3107
facilities needed renova-
tions then, she said.
“I would like for them
to be able to have a larger
student body, and I know

Grinch Fest
Continued from Page 1A
The event was sched-
uled for 5-8 p.m. tonight
in the old Fashion Barn
building at Fifth Street
and Main, an alteration
of Main Street Colum-
bus’ annual Wassail Fest,
where the public visited
participating downtown
merchants to sample was-
sail and register for priz-
es after normal business
hours. The new format
was implemented to lim-
it potential exposure to
coronavirus by holding
the main event at a cen-
tral location where masks
and social distancing
were mandatory.
On Wednesday, howev-
er, new recommendations
from Dr. Thomas Dobbs,
the state’s health officer,
led to the decision to can-
cel the event. The recom-
mendation came the same
day the state health de-
partment reported 2,457
new COVID-19 cases, the
highest single-day num-
ber of new cases reported
since the start of the pan-
demic in Mississippi in
March.
“I think we’re heading
into the darkest period
of the coronavirus for
Mississippi,” Dobbs said
in announcing the new
guidelines.
“Due to the most re-
cent Executive Order
from Governor Tate
Reeves and Wednesday’s
safety recommendations
from Dr. Dobbs, we feel
it would not be in the best
interest of the communi-
ty to host an event in our
downtown at this time,”
Bigelow said in a pre-
pared statement Thurs-
day. “Please know this
decision was not easy and
every possible option was
considered. However, the
safety of our community
is, and shall remain, our
highest priority.”
Tonight’s planned
showing of the movie
“How the Grinch Stole
Christmas” at the Prin-
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Opinion
4A FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 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

OUR VIEW

The Shameful Generation

A
s early as March, the
COVID-19 pandemic
was compared to war.
President Trump called him-
self a war-time president as
the nation battled an insidious,
invisible enemy on our own
soil.
In the time of another great
war — World War II — Amer-
icans turned to newspapers
and radios each day with one
overriding question in mind,
“How is the war going?”
Nine months into our cur-
rent war, if we are honest with
ourselves the answer to the
question is clear:
We are losing.
In keeping with the vernac-
ular of war, as of Thursday,
we have suffered 14.2 million
injuries (cases) with more
than 276,000 killed. On Thurs-
day alone, 2,857 Americans
died, more than the number
of those killed in the attack
on Pearl Harbor, an act that
galvanized support for the war
effort almost 80 years ago.
The bitter irony is our current
war dead have not galvanized
America, but divided it, even
as health experts say the
worst of the suffering is still
ahead of us.
In World War II, both sides
looked forward to technology
to put an end to the carnage.
For the Allies, it was the atom-
ic bomb; for the Axis powers,
the V2 rocket.
In the meantime, the grim
and determined fighting
continued with no concessions
made to that yet-to-be-realized
“miracle weapon.”
Today, we look forward
to our own technological
super-weapon - a vaccine.
Although two vaccines await
approval, it may be early
summer before it is widely
available.
An earlier generation rec-
ognized the hard fight had to
continue.
Why should it be any differ-
ent in our generation?
Ah, but how the times have
changed.
In the 1940s, we dressed
our young men and women
in military uniforms and sent
them to fight in Europe and
the South Pacific. Today, our
troops are dressed in hospital
scrubs, and the battlefields
are found in every hospital,
every medical clinic and every
long-term care facility across
the country.
Let’s be clear on one
important thing here: It is
not our doctors, nurses and
care-givers who are losing
this war.
We are losing the war in the
White House and our gover-
nor’s mansions, where lead-
ership has proven unequal to
the demands of leadership and
unwilling to pro-actively exer-
cise Constitutional authority
for fear of criticism. It is the
definition of cowardice.
But we are also losing the
war in our towns, our neigh-
borhoods, our workplaces and
yes, even in our bars, restau-
rants and churches, because
we are too often failing to
make the sacrifices necessary
to support our troops.
When we stubbornly refuse
to wear masks, when we fail
to engage in social distancing,
when we ignore pleas to avoid
crowds, when we continue to
gather with those outside our
immediate households, we are
giving aid and comfort to the
enemy.
An earlier generation
accepted far greater sacri-
fices and proudly bore those
hardships as a show of solidar-
ity with those brave soldiers
fighting on the front lines,
determined that their sacrific-
es would not be made in vain.
For those individual acts of
patriotism — both on the field
of battle and at home — those
Americans are today honored
as “The Greatest Generation.”
But what do you call a gen-
eration that will not make even
small sacrifices to protect and
preserve its own countrymen?

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Questions Dispatch’s
statement on voting fraud
Do the editors of The Dis-
patch still stand behind its stated
position that there is no evidence
of fraud in the recent election?
What about all the evidence that
has surfaced this week? Multiple
whistle-blowers coming forth
with sworn affidavits of illegal and
criminal acts. And the surveillance
camera video of Fulton County,
Georgia election headquarters tak-
en after poll watchers were told the
counting was ended for the night
and sent home. But the counters
didn’t leave. They proceeded to
remove suitcase after suitcase,
ostensibly filled with illegal ballots,
from beneath a table for continued
counting. Can you dismiss this as
non-evidence?
Joe Biden had no more chance
of winning Georgia than local
FDR-era Democrats had of influ-
encing the vote in this area.
Stan Boden
Columbus
Editor’s note: There is no
evidence of widespread voter fraud,
and we stand by that statement. U.S.
Attorney General William Barr has
announced the same after autho-
rizing his department to investigate
credible claims of fraud. The Fulton THE WORLD
County, Georgia Elections Director
has given a detailed timeline of the
“suitcase” incident, which clearly ex-
plains the non-fraudulent activities
Ignoring the war risks of red lines
I
seen in the mentioned video. n early August 1990, to Iran or its proxies, will ment to fight to defend Manila’s claims
Iraqi dictator Saddam result in U.S. action against to shoals, reefs and rocks in the South
Appreciates Hardees Hussein invaded and oc- Iran itself. China Sea. Earlier this fall, Manila
cupied Kuwait and declared A general of the Irani- announced plans to restart oil and gas
worker and a correction it to be his nation’s lost 19th an Republican Guard has exploration around Reed Bank.
I wish I’d known of the effort to province. reportedly warned Iran’s O’Brien said bluntly of the territo-
collect money for Sonya Baldwin – Said George H. W. Bush, militia allies in Syria, ries around Reed Bank:
I’d surely have donated. Count me “This will not stand!” Lebanon and Iraq to hold “They belong to the Philippine
as another of the many, many peo- Translation: Get out of off any attack on Americans people. They don’t belong to some
ple whose day Sonya has selflessly Kuwait, Saddam, or we will so as not to give Trump an other country that just because they
brightened countless times. come over there and throw excuse to launch a war. may be bigger than the Philippines
Also, I made yet another you out. Other red lines have they can come take away and convert
mistake in my letter published on Six months later, after Patrick Buchanan lately been drawn. the resources of the Philippine people.
December 3: I reported a number a five-week air assault on In a Nov. 12 phone call That’s just wrong.”
of daily deaths for December 2 that Iraq, a U.S.-led army of with Prime Minister Yoshi- O’Brien added: “Any armed attack
was significantly higher than any 500,000, in a 100-hour ground war, sent hide Suga, Joe Biden apparently agreed on Philippine forces aircraft or public
other estimate I could find – by Saddam’s legions back up the road to that the U.S.-Japan security treaty of vessels in the South China Sea will trig-
about 400 deaths. I reported 3,144 Basra and Baghdad. 1960 covers the Senkaku Islands con- ger our mutual defense obligations.”
– in double-checking today all the President Bush was a serious man. trolled by Japan but claimed by China. Beijing is visibly angered by the U.S.
numbers I could find were between A decade later, Barack Obama Almost every day of 2020, China has assertions that they have no legitimate
2,700 and 2,850. My first impulse warned Syria’s Bashar Assad that if he sent ships into the waters around the claim to the Senkakus in the East Chi-
was to play it safe and report the used chemical or biological weapons in Senkakus. na Sea or to the Manila-claimed islets,
lower number, but then I failed to his civil war, this would cross his “red Said Suga, “President-elect Biden reefs and rocks in the South China Sea,
do so. Poor decision on my part. line” and Obama would respond. gave me a commitment that Article 5 of and that the U.S. military will take the
Paul Mack Thus, when chemical weapons were the US-Japan security treaty applies to side of Tokyo and Manila in a collision
Columbus used, allegedly by the regime, Obama the Senkaku Islands.” with China.
prepared to make good on his warning. If taken literally, this means the Red lines are, at root, war guaran-
A letter to the editor is an Unfortunately for Obama, Ameri- U.S. would treat a Chinese attempt to tees. And, often, the result of issuing
excellent way to participate in your cans arose in protest against his taking seize these rocks as we would treat a such war guarantees is that they are
community. We request the tone us into Syria’s civil war and Congress Chinese attack on the Japanese Home called in and lead to wars that are
of your letters be constructive and balked at authorizing an attack, though Islands. sometimes fatal to the great powers
respectful and the length be limited Secretary of State John Kerry plead- The newest red line was drawn that issue them.
to 450 words. We reserve the right ed and promised that the U.S. strike by Trump’s national security adviser In 1914, Kaiser Wilhelm issued his
to edit letters for clarity, grammar would be “unbelievably small.” Robert O’Brien. famous “blank check” to his Austrian
and length. We welcome all letters When America did nothing after A year ago, a Chinese ship smashed allies to punish the Serbs for complicity
emailed to voice@cdispatch.com Obama’s red line was crossed, U.S. up a wooden trawler with two dozen in the assassination of their archduke.
or mailed to The Dispatch, Attn: credibility suffered. Filipino fishermen aboard near Reed Austria’s attack on Serbia led to World
Letters to the Editor, PO Box 511, In April 2018, after Assad alleged- Bank in the South China Sea. Fortu- War I, and the end of the Kaiser’s Ho-
Columbus, MS 39703-0511. ly used chlorine gas in his civil war, nately, the Filipinos were rescued by a henzollern dynasty.
Trump joined our NATO allies in Vietnamese fishing boat. Reed Bank is In late March of 1938, Neville
launching 120 cruise missiles. also claimed by China. Chamberlain gave an unsolicited war
Presumably, U.S. credibility was On a trip to Asia, O’Brien told guarantee to Poland, to come to its
reestablished. Philippines officials that the U.S. does defense if the Polish colonels refused to
Our View: Local Editorials Of late, Joe Biden and Donald not recognize the Chinese claim, and negotiate with Berlin over the German
Local editorials appearing in this Trump’s foreign policy team have both they should go ahead and exploit the port of Danzig.
space represent the opinion of the been drawing red lines and warning resources around Reed Bank. And if How did that one work out for the
newspaper’s editorial board: Peter
Iran and China not to cross them or Philippine vessels come under attack, Brits?
Imes, editor and publisher; Zack Plair,
managing editor; Slim Smith and se- they’d face U.S. military action, even at our mutual security treaty dating to the Patrick J. Buchanan, a nationally
nior newsroom staff. To inquire about risk of a wider war. 1950s will be invoked and America will syndicated columnist, was a senior advi-
a meeting with the board, please Trump has reportedly put out word come to the defense of the Philippines. sor to presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald
contact Peter Imes at 662-328-2424, that any killing of an American any- What this sounds like, indeed, ap- Ford and Ronald Reagan. His website is
or e-mail voice@cdispatch.com. where in the Middle East, traceable pears to be to Beijing, is a U.S. commit- http://buchanan.org/blog.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 5A

Obituaries
Continued from Page 2A

Richard Jones Dowdle Funeral Home West Memorial Funeral of Seguin, Texas.
MACON — Richard of Millport is in charge Home. West Memo- Pallbearers will be
“Richie” Jones, 52, died of arrangements. rial Funeral Home of Charles Luker, Phillip
Nov. 22, Mr. Vail was a veter- Starkville is in charge Luker, Tommy Luker,
2020. an of the Army and was of arrangements. Gelbert Luker, Edward
Grave- formerly employed as He is survived by Luker and Lance Luker.
side an airplane mechanic his wife, Vanessa Page;
services with the Columbus Air daughter, Lily Rose Polly Livingston
will be at Force Base, as a me- of Saltillo; siblings, COLUMBUS — Pol-
11 a.m. Sat- chanic with Texaco and Marcus Page, Trenton ly Sue Livingston, 81,
urday, in Earl Shaw’s Tire Center Page, Demetrius Plair, died Dec. 1, 2020, at
Friendship Jones and as owner of H & L Lasondra Page and Baptist Memorial Hos-
Commu- Texaco. Keyanna Page. pital-Golden Triangle.
nity Cemetery, with He was preceded in A private family ser-
Maurice Etheridge death by his parents; James Pitts vice will be held. Lown-
officiating. Lee-Sykes and his wife, Charlotte COLUMBUS — des Funeral Home of
Funeral Home of Vail. James H. “Jim” Pitts, Columbus is in charge
Macon is in charge of He is survived by his 79, died Dec. 3, 2020, at of arrangements.
arrangements. son, Jimmy Vail; sister, his residence. Mrs. Livingston was
Mr. Jones was born Doris Hudson; one Arrangements are born June 11, 1939, in
July 31, 1968, in Pat- grandchild; and two incomplete and will be Sulligent, Alabama, to
erson, New Jersey, to great-grandchildren. announced by Memori- the late Tezzie Wilis
Lora and Harry. He at- Pallbearers will be al Gunter Peel Funeral and Marl Carr.
Terry Fields, Danny Home and Crematory,
tended Church of God’s In addition to her
Shaw, Walker Shaw, Second Avenue North
House of Deliverance. parents, she was pre-
Brandon Shaw, Lynn
In addition to his location. ceded in death by her
Shaw and Earl Shaw.
parents, he is survived husband, Dan Living-
by his wife, Frances;
Latisha Selvie Michael Luker ston.
step-son, Ronaldo NEW CANEY, Texas She is survived by
STARKVILLE —

Jimmy Elkin
Kendricks Sr.; and two — Michael Sidney her children, Frankie
grandchildren. Latisha Selvie, 42, died McDaniel and Debra
Luker, 58, died Nov.
Pallbearers will be Dec. 2, 2020, at OCH. Milliern; four grand-
24, 2020, at Focus Care
Ronaldo Kendricks Arrangements are children; and three
Facility in Baytown, Jimmy Lynn Elkin, 85, of Columbus, MS,
Sr., Nakeil McCloud, incomplete and will be great-grandchildren.
Texas. passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at Bap-
Addaryl Edwards, Lush announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of Tisdale-Lann Memo- tist Memorial Hospital-Oxford.
Chandler Jr., Landies rial Funeral Home of A funeral service will be held Friday, Decem-
Chandler and Lee An- Columbus.
Aberdeen is in charge ber 4, 2020, at 11 AM at Lowndes Funeral Home
drae Chandler. of arrangements. Chapel, Columbus, MS, with Bro. Sammy Craw-
Timothy Leech Mr. Luker was born ford officiating and Lowndes Funeral Home di-
Jimmie Lowe-Verner JACKSON — Tim- July 24, 1962, to the late recting.
COLUMBUS — Jim- othy Leech, 49, died Melvin Durance Luker Mr. Elkin was born August 12, 1935, in
mie Ella Lowe-Verner, Dec. 2, 2020. and Letha Louise Posey Walthall, MS, to the late Ruby Mitchell Elkin
86, died Arrangements are Luker. He was formerly and Ernest Elkin. He served as a deacon, chior
Nov. 26, incomplete and will be employed as a mechan- member, usher and a Sunday School teacher at
2020. announced by Carter’s ic and heavy equipment Fairview Baptist Chuch. He served in the Unit-
Grave- Funeral Services of operator. ed States Air Force as a TSGT for 20 years. Mr.
side Columbus. Elkin was with the Lowndes County deputy sher-
In addition to his par-
services ents, he was preceded iffs for over 27 years as an auxiliary officer. he
will be at Bobby Irions in death by his brother, enjoyed fishing, rabbit hunting, traveling and
11 a.m. Sat- COLUMBUS — Bob- Tim Luker. coaching baseball in the park.
Lowe-Verner by “A.D.” Irions, 68,
urday, in He is survived by Mr. Elkin is survived by his wife, Sarah Hen-
Hopewell died Dec. 3. 2020, at his his wife, Lillene En- ley Elkin of Columbus, MS; sons, Gary (Scarlett)
residence. Jim Pitts
Missionary Baptist bank Luker; siblings, Incomplete
Elkin of Columbus, MS, Donnie Elkin of Tupe-
Church Cemetery, with Arrangements are Billy Luker, Charles 2nd Ave. N. Location lo, MS and Ronnie (Emily) Elkin of Amory, MS;
Terry Johnson officiat- incomplete and will be Luker, Phillip Luker, grandchildren, Jessica, Lacey, Mitchell, Blake,
ing. Lee-Sykes Funeral announced by Carter’s Joe Luker, Helen Lee, Sydney, Perrin and Callan; great-grandchildren,
Home of Columbus is Funeral Services of Wanda Fay Schrock all Colyn, Emma, Chad, Bryce, Sawyer and Amos.
in charge of arrange- Columbus. of Aberdeen, Edward Memorials may be made to Fairview Baptist
ments. Luker of Mantachie, Church, 127 Airline Road, Columbus, MS, 39702.
Mrs. Lowe-Verner William Bonner Chester Luker of New Compliments of
was born Sept. 26, STURGIS — Wil- Caney, Texas, Bonnie Lowndes Funeral Home
1934, in Columbus, liam L. Bonner, 96, www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
Sue Luker of Tupelo,
to the late Thomas T. died, Nov. 29, 2020, in Judy Elanine Wise of memorialgunterpeel.com
Lowe Sr. and Jimmie Tupelo. Smithville, Nadine
Lee Troupe. She was
a member of Hopewell
Missionary Baptist
Graveside services
will be at noon Satur-
day, in Boyd Chapel
Posey of New Caney,
Texas and Roxy Luker Otis Pritchett
Church. UM Cemetery, with Otis T. Pritchett, 88, of
In addition to her the Rev. Marty Boyd Ethelsville, AL passed away
parents, she was pre- officiating. Visitation Tuesday, November 24, 2020, at
ceded in death by her is from 1-5 p.m. today, Baptist Memorial Hospital, GT.
husband, William Earl at Hairston and Hair- A funeral service will be
Verner; daughter, An- ston Funeral Home. Saturday, December 5, 2020,
gela Verner; siblings, Hairston and Hair- at 1:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral
Thomas T. Lowe and ston Funeral Home of Home Chapel, Columbus, MS
William Dale Lowe; and Starkville is in charge with Bro. Steve Lammons
one grandchild. of arrangements. officiating. Interment will be in
She is survived by Mr. Bonner was born Pleasant Hill Cemetery with Lowndes Funeral
her children, Ruby March 7, 1924, in Stur- Home directing. Due to COVID restrictions,
Ferrow, Renee Verner gis, to Rafe and Rosie the funeral service will be limited to immediate
both of Columbus, Barron. family, however the service will be streamed on

John Shepherd
Milinda Cush of Lowndes Funeral Home website.
Anaheim, California Melvin Hargrove Mr. Pritchett was born on February 26, 1932,
and Derina Hinton of COLUMBUS — Mel- in Eutaw, AL to the late Levie McCool Pritchett
Haslet, Texas; siblings, vin R. Hargrove, 58, John David Shepherd, 84, and William Pritchett. He served in the United
J.W. Lowe, Jimmy O. died Dec. of Brandon, MS passed away States Airforce and retired in 1971 as an Aircraft
Lowe, Thomas L. Lowe, 2, 2020, Friday, November 20, 2020, at Mechanic after serving 20 years. Mr. Pritchett
Jimmy D. Lowe, Donnie at Baptist his residence. then worked as a loan officer at the Bank of
G. Lowe, Roy C. Lowe, Memorial A graveside service will be Mississippi for 19 years. He was a member of
Odell Lowe, Charles Hospi- Sunday, November 6, 2020, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. He enjoyed going
McMath, Juanita Ghol- tal-Golden 3:30 PM at Union Hill Cemetery, hunting, fishing, needlepoint, and reading. In
son, Barbara Hallivay, Triangle. Dekalb, MS with pastor Wilson addition to his parents, Mr. Pritchett is preceded
Loretta Hollivay, Annie officiating and Lowndes Funeral in death by his wife of 61 years- Barbara McCrary
Grave-
Thomson, Alice Lowe side Hargrove Home, Columbus, MS directing. Pritchett; daughter- Pamela Joyce Pritchett
and Mary McMath; and services Mr. Shepherd was born on October 1, Pevey; granddaughter- Susan Lynn Masek;
19 grandchildren. will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, 1936, in Gholson, MS to the late Ethel Marie great-granddaughter- Joanna Stricklin; brothers-
in Memorial Gardens. Nester Shepherd and Willie M. Shepherd. He Milford Pritchett, Leon Pritchett, and Robert
attended Dekalb High School, East Mississippi Pritchett; and sisters- Clarice Pritchett Stokes
Leo Vail Lee-Sykes Funeral
Community College, and Belhaven University and Eloise Pritchett Mills.
MILLPORT, Ala. — Home of Columbus is
in charge of arrange- where he recived a Bachelors’s degree in Business Mr. Pritchett is survived by his daughters,
Leo Vail, 95, died Dec. Terry Ann (Tom) Pritchett Thompson of
1, 2020, at his resi- ments. Administration. Mr. Shepherd served in the Army
National Guard at Camp Shelby and later in life he Columbus, MS, Charlotte (Bob) Pritchett Masek
dence. of Murfreesboro, TN and Sharon (Scott) Pritchett
owned JDS Creative Construction Company. He
Services will be at 2 Michael Page was a longtime member of Southside Assembly Warf of Manchester, TN; 13 grandchildren; 26
p.m. Saturday, at Dow- STARKVILLE — Mi- great-grandchildren; sister, Anna Catherine
dle Funeral Home, with of God in Jackson, MS and he attended “Word of
chael R. Page, 33, died Pritchett Richardson of Erwin, TN.
Max Bobbitt officiating. Life” of Brandon, MS his last year of living there.
Dec. 4, 2020, in Tupelo. Pallbearers will be Wes Carlisle, JC Leaphart,
Burial will follow in He was a dedicated Christian, whom always put
Graveside services Blake Holliman, Daniel Gott, Jason Stricklin and
Springhill Cemetery. God first. A devoted husaband and an amazing
will be at 11 a.m. Chris Farwick.
Visitation will be one father and grandfather. Those who knew John
Saturday, in Rock Hill Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Masek and
loved him dearly. He will be missed by many.
hour prior to services Cemetery. Visitation is Larry Feagans.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Shephard
at the funeral home. from 4-6 p.m. today, at Memorials may be made to USO, P.O. Box
is preceded in death by his brothers, Willian
Shepherd and Brooks Shepherd; sisters, Deloris 9680 Washington, DC 20077-7677, or any
McMullen, Carolyn Rester and Cherry Dailey. organization or charity of your choice in memory
Mr. Shepherd is survived by his children, of O.T. Pritchett.
Melinda Kim (John) Whelan, David Shepherd Our family would like to especially thank
and Debra (Ian) Cranfield; grandchildren, John the personnel at Encompass Hospice and the
wonderful COVID nurses at Baptist Memorial
Get promoted? J. Whelan Jr., Rebecca Marie Whelan and Levi
Hospital who have chosen to care for citizens
Cranfield; brother, Kline Shepherd; sisters,
Win an award? Opal McBryer, Madge Fields, Sallie Henderson, with COVID. We especially want to thank two
Send us your business brief. Gloria Jean Bynum and Fay Coleman. ICU angels, Sylvia and Tory. We are very grateful
news@cdispatch.com Pallbearers will be Ronnie Bellamy, Jonathan for their loving care. Due to COVID restrictions,
subject: Business brief Richy, Cleve Coleman, Martin Coleman, Greg the funeral service will be limited to immediate
lane and Ricky Hartness. family.

Compliments of Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
6A FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

SPEARS SPEAKS ON FRANKLIN BICENTENNIAL

Theo DeRosa/Dispatch Staff

Columbus Municipal School District board president Jason Spears reminded Columbus Exchange Club members
about the importance of Franklin Academy’s bicentennial celebration, set for 2021, during Thursday’s meeting
at the Lion Hills Center and Golf Club. The school was chartered Feb. 10, 1821, becoming the first public school
in Mississippi. Currently, it serves between 240 and 250 students from kindergarten to fifth grade. “As we go
in and we celebrate, it seems like, ‘Oh, well, it’s just another milepost that we go by. We just keep on going,’”
Spears said. “But I think this community should really realize the true value: We are the cradle of public educa-
tion in the state of Mississippi.”

Roundabout
Continued from Page 1A
Construction began in Harvey’s owner John and get T-boned, and
July after the city council Bean said city officials thank God that never hap-
approved the $761,000 have communicated well pened,” Cole said.
project in April. The with him throughout the Meanwhile, the round-
Mississippi Department project. about under construction
of Transportation is re- “I think when it’s over, at the intersection of Mil-
sponsible for 80 percent it will be a nice improve- itary Road and Highway
of the cost, or $668,000, ment,” Bean said. 82 will be complete be-
Dillon Stafford
while the city covers the Farm Bureau Insur-
fore Christmas, with the
remaining $172,000. who wish to access Har- ance across the street has
final striping and touch-
Phillips Contracting vey’s or the gas station seen less walk-in traffic
of Columbus is working than it did before the proj- up planned for next week,
across the street from it.
on the roundabout, and Meanwhile, the detour ect started, agency man- project manager James
Neel-Schaffer Engineer- route the city set up via ager Bubba Cole said, but Gill said.
ing is in charge of con- Second Avenue North has it was worth it to make “The week of the 14th,
ducting inspections and worked out well, since the intersection safer. we should be done with
testing at the site. drivers adjusted to it af- “Somebody was even- everything,” he said.
One of the final steps ter about a week, Stafford tually going to cross in
of the project is to apply said. front of another vehicle
a “friction surface treat-
ment” to minimize fric-
tion and accidents on the
road, and this can only be
done after the asphalt has
set for 28 days, Stafford
said. The curing period
started in mid-November,
and the friction surface
treatment can only be ap-
plied if the weather stays
above 50 degrees for a
few days, he said. The
final step is striping the
road 10 days after apply-
ing the friction surface
treatment.
Construction workers’
schedules and contracts
are also variables in the
timing of the project’s
completion, especially
during the holiday sea-
son, so there is no guar-
anteed end date for the
project, but Stafford said
it is “95 percent done.”
Crosswalks are being
built in all four directions
at the intersection to offer
better connectivity for
pedestrians so employees
of Harvey’s — who park
across Main Street from
the restaurant — will no
longer have to run across
the busy thoroughfare
unprotected to get to and
from their vehicles. The
four-lane roadway on
Main Street east of the
intersection will turn into
three lanes, including
two through lanes and a
central turn lane for those

Buckle up...
and your child, too
Sports
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020
B
SECTION

Unprecedented year can end in typical fashion for West Point

BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
Not much about the
2020 season has been
normal for coach Chris
Chambless and the West
Point football team.
The COVID-19 pan-
demic has threatened
health and safety, delay-
ing football season two
weeks and jeopardizing
further gameplay ever
since. And West Point
hasn’t been its typi-
cal dominant self: The
Green Wave went an un-
characteristic 7-3 in the
regular season, includ-
ing back-to-back losses
to Lake Cormorant and
Grenada. In the past
four seasons, West Point
has never lost more than
one game in a single
campaign.
“It’s been a weird
year,” Chambless said.
“I think every coach in
the state of Mississippi
will tell you that it’s not
been normal. Nothing
about it’s been normal
except Friday nights
when you get to play.”
But come this Satur-
day night, one thing, at
least, will look familiar:
West Point taking the
field with a state cham-
pionship on the line.
Vying for a record
12th MHSA A crown, the
Green Wave (10 -3) face
West Jones (11-2) in the
Class 5A title contest at
7 p.m. Saturday at Mis-
sissippi Veterans Me-
morial Stadium in Jack-
son. With a chance to
win their fifth straight
Class 5A championship,
West Point can tie South
Panola (2003-2007)
for the longest streak
among Mississippi pub-
lic schools.
“It’s always an hon-
or and a pleasure to be
able to get to go play for
a state championship,”
Chambless said.
After West Point
rolled to the past four
Class 5A crowns, Cham-
Theo DeRosa/Dispatch Staff
bless is certainly speak- West Point running back Cameron Young (2) scores a 12-yard touchdown in the
ing from experience. fourth quarter to put the Green Wave ahead 35-28 in an MHSAA Class 5A first-round
See WEST POINT, 3B playoff game at Holmes County Central in Lexington on Nov. 13.

MSU FB adds MISSISSIPPI STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK

Charlton to
2021 class
after being Molinar ready for season debut,
kicked off
team at UCF
BY BEN PORTNOY
Post making contributions
bportnoy@cdispatch.com

STARK VILLE —
MIssissippi State has
added another defen-
sive lineman to its 2021
class.
Former UCF stand-
out Randy Charlton
announced his commit-
ment to MSU via Twitter
on Thursday afternoon
with the caption, “Yea
it’s official.” In parts of
three seasons in Orlan-
do, Charlton played in
26 games for the Gold-
en Knights, totaling 68
tackles and four sacks.
While the talent
is there, he heads to
Starkville under murky
circumstances. Charl-
ton was one of four
players kicked off the
team at UCF in October
following his role in a
police incident in which
teammate Antwan Col-
lier was arrested and
See MSU, 3B

No. 8 North
Carolina State
women beat
No. 1 South
Carolina
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBIA, S.C. —
North Carolina State
coach Wes Moore chan-
neled two-time Super
Bowl-winning coach
Bill Parcells after the
Wolfpack’s landmark
victory over No. 1 South
Carolina.
Raina Perez hit a
go-ahead 3-pointer
with 3:07 left and Kay-
la Jones had 16 points
and 12 rebounds and
the eighth-ranked Wolf-
pack ended the Game-
cocks’ 29-game win-
ning streak with a 54-46
victory Thursday night.
Moore, like his play-
ers, was happy with the
victory in the road open-
er. But it’s far too early
for anyone to think the
Wolfpack can now coast
through the season.
“Parcells used to talk
about, ‘Big game, next
game,’” Moore said.
“We’re going to have to
make sure we’re ready
to play on Sunday. But
we’re going to enjoy this
one for about 24 hours.”
See SC, 3B
Texas State Bobcats guard Shelby Adams (4) handles the ball while defended by Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Quinten Post (32) and
guard D.J. Stewart Jr. (3) during the first half at Humphrey Coliseum.
BY GARRICK HODGE
ghodge@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — For the
first time this year, Iverson
Molinar will suit up for the Mis-
sissippi State men’s basketball
team. The 6-foot-3 guard will
make his season debut in the
team’s 7 p.m. contest against
North Texas Friday at Hum-
phrey Coliseum.
MSU coach Ben Howland
confirmed Molinar missed the
team’s first three games after
testing positive for COVID-19,
but noted the sophomore guard
was asymptomatic. After get-
ting bloodwork done Tuesday,
Molinar participated in half of
the Bulldogs’ practice Wednes-
day and for a majority of the
team’s workout on Thursday.
While freshman guard Dei-
von Smith is expected to make
his fourth straight start at point
guard, Howland said Molinar
will play a significant amount
of minutes, probably between
25-30.
In his freshman season, Mo-
linar averaged nearly six points
per contest and shot 37 percent
from beyond the arc.
“He looked really good for a
guy had not done anything in
10 days. It was kind of amazing
but that is the kind of athlete
he is,” Howland told reporters
Thursday. “He adds one of our
top three scorers back to the
lineup. Not only that but expe-
rience to the backcourt, which
we are lacking without him.
Even though his experience is
lacking at 15 minutes a game
(last year), he made one of the
biggest jumps in improvements
between his freshman and
sophomore year that I’ve seen
in about 10-12 years. I think he
is really going to be good for us
this year and I think he is going
to have a great year.”
The sixth-year MSU coach
mentioned Molinar was the
best conditioned athlete on
the team stamina-wise before
testing positive and said his
addition to the lineup should
bolster the Bulldogs’ perimeter
shooting.
“He’s great at attacking the
basket, great on the pull-ups off
the dribble and then creating
and jumping back,” Howland
said. “He has a 46-inch vertical,
running vertical. He is really
good at the line and he gets
fouled a lot. There’s no question
he will be one of our top three
scorers when the dust settles at
the end of the year.”
Post playing a larger role for
the Bulldogs
Howland said when his ro-
tation is finalized, he hopes to
play nine players consistently.
One of those athletes he may
count on is 7-foot forward Quint-
en Post. Post, who played 21 to-
tal minutes in 2019-2020, stayed
on the floor for a career-high 16
minutes Monday in MSU’s 68-
51 victory over Texas State. The
sophomore forward from the
Netherlands scored nine points
and grabbed five rebounds
while attempting four 3-point-
ers. Post was on the court for a
long duration largely because
of the foul trouble surrounding
starting center Abdul Ado, but
he made the most of his playing
time.
“It really helped that I was
out there longer than a few min-
utes,” Post said of his increased
playing time after Monday’s vic-
tory. “In the second half, I think
Matt Bush/USA TODAY Sports
things clicked a little more of-
fensively. I felt good.”
Scouting North Texas
In their second home contest
of the season, the Bulldogs (1-
2) will have to contend with a
North Texas team that went 20-
11 overall and won Conference
USA with a 14-4 record in con-
ference play in the 2019-2020
season. Conference USA Player
of the Year Javion Hamlet, who
averaged 14.6 points per con-
test a season ago, will be a focal
point for the MSU defense. In
two games this season, North
Texas is 1-1 after dismantling
Mississippi Valley State 116-62
and dropping a 15-point contest
to Arkansas.
“They are going to be a tough
game for us and they are very
well-coached,” Howland said.
“They are very patient, offen-
sively, and it is a grind-it-out
affair. They averaged 50 or so
shots a game last year and play
very good defense, really good
half-court man-to-man. They
will switch ball screens one
through five and they are physi-
cal, strong and quick. It is a very
difficult opponent.”
2B FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Anything goes in wacky Big Ten

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Big Ten’s delayed,
shortened season has
proved to be an unpredict-
able, day-to-day adven-
ture.
From the first day
of practice in October,
when the players and
coaches donned masks
to plod carefully through
a pandemic, there was no
guarantee things would
chug along smoothly. And
they haven’t. Between the
numerous cancellations,
the inexplicable collapse
of several traditional
contenders and North-
western’s rise from last
to first, pretty much any-
thing goes.
“As we all know,
change is the one thing
that is inevitable in 2020,”
Maryland coach Michael
Locksley said. “We’ve em-
braced that. That’s part
of what this season is all
about, being able to adjust
and make changes on the
fly. Our team has done a
real good job of it, for the
most part.”
Having already had
two games canceled in
November by an outbreak
of COVID-19 that claimed
Locksley and a host of
players, the Terrapins
were preparing to face
Michigan this Saturday
before a rash of positive
tests among the Wolver-
ines forced the cancella-
tion of the game. To this
point, Maryland has split
four games, had three
canceled and played just
once at home — without
any fans in the stands, of
course.
It’s even worse at
Wisconsin, which has
lost only once but won’t
reach the minimum of
six games deemed by the
conference to qualify to
play in the Big Ten title
game. The Badgers are
2-1 after sandwiching the
Oct. 23 opener and two
more last month around
three cancellations.
“You’re going through
that mental preparation,
the physical preparation,
and all of a sudden, it
either gets canceled be-
cause of your team having
an outbreak or the other
team,” Wisconsin safety
Collin Wilder said. “It’s a
mental toll on everybody.
It’s just the era that we’re
living in right now.”
It’s a time when North-
western is assured a spot
in the conference title
game after going 3-9 last
year, 1-8 in the Big Ten.
The Wildcats earned the
division title this week
without even taking the
field. When Northwest-
ern’s game this Saturday
against Minnesota was
canceled because of the
Golden Gophers’ ongoing
bout with COVID-19, the
Wildcats were in because
they’re 5-1 and own the
tiebreaker over Iowa (4-2
with a loss to Northwest-
ern).
And so it goes in this
wacky 2020 season.
Michigan, Michigan
State and Penn State all
have losing records and
unbeaten Ohio State must
play its final two games to
qualify for the title game
after have three games
wiped out by COVID-19.
“It isn’t fun. Nothing
about this is good,” said
Buckeyes coach Ryan
Day, who tested positive
last week before Ohio
State canceled its game
against Illinois. “But I
guess it’s going to make
us stronger.”
Rutgers didn’t win a
Big Ten game last year,
and now it’s got victories
over Michigan State and
Purdue to go with narrow
defeats against Michigan
and Illinois. The Scarlet
Knights have made the
best of a trying situation,
though it’s been anything
but easy.
Back in March, all the
Big Ten football teams
were preparing for spring
practice. Then things
started to go awry, and
the situation remains as
unstable as a leaf hang-
ing from a tree in a wind-
storm.
“I don’t know any oth-
er year that’s challenged
us more than in this
year, the day to day, the
ups and downs,” Rutgers
coach Greg Schiano said.
“I don’t give myself the
luxury of reflecting very
much, but if you look back
at spring break, I’m in the
room where I was having
a team meeting and I got
the text that our basket-
ball team was removed off
the floor for (the Big Ten
Tournament) during war-
mups. And that was the
beginning.”
From that point, things
got really strange.
“You can go all the way
back to springtime. We’re
supposed to start spring
ball when we get back
from break and boom,
COVID really kicked in
and everything was shut
down,” Wisconsin wide
receiver Kendric Pryor
said. “Then the season
getting canceled, you get
to go home and then all
of a sudden the season’s
back on.”
The season, as it
turned out, is a stop-and-
go affair.
“You play one game,
two games get canceled,
you play another one,
and another one gets can-
celed,” Pryor noted. “So
it’s difficult, I’ll definite-
ly say that, but it teaches
you how to fight through
adversity.”
Ignoring it is almost
impossible, but Indiana
coach Tom Allen is giving
it a try.
“I understand there’s a
lot going on, but it’s ear-
muffs and blinders And
it’s crazy,” he said. “You
look across the coun-
try and you never know
what’s going to happen
from week to week.”
Maryland-Michigan
canceled; Wolverines’
AD sounds off
Michigan athletic di-
rector Warde Manuel
strongly rebuked any no-
tion that the Wolverines
would try to avoid facing
rival Ohio State in the
regular-season finale,
calling the notion “ridic-
ulous” and infuriating
in a scathing statement
Wednesday.
Manuel spoke hours
after Michigan’s game
against Maryland this
weekend was canceled
because of an outbreak
of COVID-19 in the Wol-
verines’ program. The
outbreak could also
threaten Michigan’s
annual rivalry game
against Ohio State on
Dec. 12 — and the Buck-
eyes’ chances to play for
a Big Ten title.
Ohio State had to can-
cel its game last week
at Illinois because of
a spike in COVID-19
cases in its program. It
was the second game
the Buckeyes (4-0) have
lost from their regu-
lar-season schedule.
One more would leave
them unable to reach a
con ference -ma ndated
minimum to be eligible
for the Big Ten champi-
onship game.
Earlier this week,
ESPN analyst and former
Buckeyes quarterback
Kirk Herbstreit apolo-
gized after saying he
thought Michigan would
wave a “white flag” and
potentially avoid fac-
ing the Buckeyes, who
would be heavily favored
in their matchup with
the Wolverines.
In a video released by
Michigan, Manuel fired
back, although he didn’t
mention Herbstreit by
name.

Anthony Davis agrees to

5-year deal to return to Lakers
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES — An-
thony Davis finalized a
five-year contract worth
up to $190 million to re-
turn to the Los Angeles
Lakers on Thursday.
One day after LeBron
James agreed to a two-
year, $85 million contract
extension with the Lakers
through 2022-23, Davis
committed to the Lakers
through the 2024-25 sea-
son. Agent Rich Paul of
Klutch Sports, who rep-
resents both Davis and
James, confirmed the
terms of both deals to The
Associated Press.
General manager Rob
Pelinka announced both
of his All-NBA first-team
superstars had agreed to
new contracts Thursday
night without disclosing
their terms. James and
Davis won an NBA cham-
pionship in the first sea-
son of their partnership,
and Los Angeles is back
to work in training camp
this week with a solid
chance to repeat.
“In the Orlando bubble,
Anthony Davis proved he
is one of the game’s most
complete and dominant
two-way players,” Pelinka
said in a statement. “Now,
Lakers fans get to watch
AD continue to grow and
lead our franchise for
years to come.”
Pelinka also called
James “a transcendent
basketball player and hu-
man being. LeBron put
his trust in the Lakers in
2018, and now this con-
tract extension paves the
way for LeBron to further
solidify his legacy as an
all-time Lakers great.
We could not be more
honored by this commit-
ment.”
Davis’ deal includes an
early termination clause
prior to the fifth year,
but the lengthy contract
is still a clear declaration
that the 27-year-old Davis
sees his long-term future
with the 17-time NBA
champions.
The Lakers acquired
Davis in a trade less than
18 months ago, shipping
most of their young core
to New Orleans to acquire
one of the best big men
of his generation. Davis
made the All-NBA first
team three times and
earned six straight All-
Star selections with the
Pelicans, but only reached
the second round of the
playoffs once.
With Klutch clients
James and Davis at their
center, the Lakers imme-
diately built a champion-
ship contender around
them last season. The
6-foot-10 Davis swiftly
clicked alongside James,
who molded himself into
a point guard and led the
NBA in assists to maxi-
mize the talent of Davis,
who earned his seventh
straight All-Star selection
and his fourth All-NBA
first-team nod.
James and Davis re-
teamed in the bubble
in central Florida and
led Los Angeles to the
title. The Lakers had
missed the playoffs for six
straight seasons before
their dynamic duo trans-
formed the franchise into
champions again, beating
the Miami Heat in six
games in the NBA Finals.
While James won his
fourth NBA champion-
ship, Davis became the
eighth player in basket-
ball history to win an
NCAA championship, an
Olympic gold medal and
an NBA ring.
“Watching AD and
LeBron, everything they
did was together,” said
Dwight Howard, who won
a ring with the Lakers
before moving on to Phil-
adelphia as a free agent
last month. “They worked
out together, they ate to-
gether, they rolled dice
together. We called them
The Brothers. They were
always together, playing
video games, doing some-
thing.
“Even though there
was games where LeBron
was having triple-dou-
bles, he made sure he fed
AD and AD got off,” How-
ard added. “I just think
when you have two guys
like that who are willing
to do whatever it takes to
win, it brings up the mo-
rale of the team. They put
everything on their shoul-
ders. They knew they had
guys around them, but it
was, ‘OK, LeBron. OK,
AD. We’ve got to do this.
It starts with us. We’ve got
to be on the same page at
all times.’ They did a real-
ly good job with it.”
The Lakers are return-
ing with a roster around
James and Davis that
looks even better than
last season’s champion-
ship squad. NBA veterans
Marc Gasol and Montre-
zl Harrell have replaced
Howard and JaVale Mc-
Gee to keep Davis out of
the center spot during
the regular season, while
Wesley Matthews re-
placed inconsistent Dan-
ny Green on the wing and
gifted point guard Dennis
Schröder arrived to take
ball-handling pressure off
James.
Davis was never ex-
pected to leave the Lakers
after he declined a $28.7
million player option to
become a free agent last
month, but many league
observers thought Davis
would go for a shorter
contract to maximize his
mobility, as is the pref-
erence of many modern
stars and Klutch clients.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 3B

SC
Continued from Page 1B
There was plenty to enjoy.
Along with Jones, Jakia Brown-Turn-
er had a double-double with 11 points
and 12 boards. And during crunch
time, the Wolfpack outscored South
Carolina 11-2 over the final five min-
utes.
The Wolfpack (3-0) beat a top-
ranked opponent for the first time
since knocking off Duke in the 2007
Atlantic Coast Conference Tourna-
ment.
South Carolina (3-1) lost for the
first time since falling to Indiana on
Nov. 28, 2019, and the first time at
home since a 68 -64 loss to Mississippi
State in the regular-season finale two
seasons ago.
The Gamecocks were ice-cold
throughout, shooting 28% from the
field.
“In my 21 years (coaching), I’ve
never felt like I did during the game,”
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley
said. “Uncoachable. Untameable. Self-
ish play.”
Elissa Cunane added 14 points, five
rebounds and four blocks, and Perez
finished with 11 points.
Cunane made two foul shots to put
the Wolfpack ahead 48 -44 with less
than two minutes left. But Zia Cooke’s
steal and layup drew South Caroli-
na within a basket with 53.4 seconds
to go. After a timeout, the Wolfpack
worked the ball around to a wide-open
Jones for a 3-pointer.
When LeLe Grissett was called for
a charge on the next possession, the
celebration was underway with 15 sec-
onds left.
Cooke and Laeticia Amihere led
the Gamecocks with 11 points apiece.
Amihere also had 15 rebounds.
Jones believed North Carolina
State’s victory showed it will be a
team to be reckoned with this season.
“I feel like it’s a huge win,” she said.
“I thought we could compete with any-
one.”
Both teams locked in on defense in
the opening half, making it a defensive
struggle to find points.
The Wolfpack shot 25%, but that
was better than South Carolina, which
was 8 of 37 and missed 14 consecutive
shots.
Moore said there’s a lot to clean up,
especially on offense. But he’s happy
he gets to teach those lessons after a
victory for the ages.
“It’s not March,” he said. “But it’s a
game we can definitely build on.”

West Point
Continued from Page 1B
The Green Wave went 58-3
from 2016 -2019 to claim the
eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th
state championships in school
history.
And that means West
Point’s opponent Saturday
night will be a familiar one.
The Green Wave have only
played the Mustangs once,
but both teams remember the
contest well — it was for the
2018 title. Final score: West
Point 27, West Jones 12.
“It was a tough challenge,”
Chambless said.
Perhaps it will be even
tougher Saturday when the
Laurel-based Mustangs ride
into Mississippi’s capital city.
Many of the players who took
the field for West Jones two
years ago in Hattiesburg will
do so again, and they’ll do so
with the “revenge factor” bur-
ied somewhere in the back of
their mind.
“There’s a lot of guys who
were on that team who are
playing for them now,” Cham-
bless said. “We know they will
present a huge task for us.”
Chief among them? Quar-
terback Alan Follis, who has
improved considerably since
facing the Green Wave as a
sophomore. Follis is a con-
ventional pocket passer but
has been known to take off on
designed runs behind strong
lead blockers and a staid of-
fensive line when the situa-
tion calls for it.
“He’s a better runner now,”
Chambless said. “He’s obvi-
ously got a stronger arm. He’s
making better reads. He’s a
better all-around quarterback
than he was two years ago, for
sure.”
West Jones running back
Kentrel Pruitt is another
weapon at the Mustangs’ dis-
posal, and Chambless knows
what he provides — a steady
presence in the run game
with the ability to make a
home run play.
“They need three yards, he
gets four,” Chambless said.
“He takes care of the football
and keeps the chains moving
when they need him to.”
And when they line up
across from players like Follis
and Pruitt, the Green Wave’s
plan of attack on defense
won’t change.
“We’ve got to tackle well,
and we’ve got to control the
line of scrimmage,” Chamb-
less said.
After all, why mess with
success when that plan has
gotten West Point to five
straight state title games?
What the Green Wave do is
working, and even in a (rela-
tively) down year, it’s gotten
West Point to the precipice of
where it hoped to be.
That, of course, is on high
school football’s biggest
stage, under the lights —
even in a season that has been
so improbable.
“That’s our goal every
year,” Chambless said.
Why not this one?

MSU
Continued from Page 1B

charged with carrying a concealed
firearm and driving with a suspend-
ed/revoked license, according to Or-
ange County Clerk court records.
Body cam footage of the scene also
showed multiple players at the scene
shouting insults toward officers.
“I’m not going to get into specif-
ics with how the decision was made,”
UCF head coach Josh Heupel said at
the time. “At the end of the day, you’ve
had an opportunity to see the video.
There’s a way we need to represent
our program and our university, and
that’s why the decision was made.”
Multiple sources told The Dispatch
on Thursday the staff in Starkville is
aware of the circumstances in which
Charlton left the program.
“I believed my actions that trans-
pired that night were actions of a con-
cerned brother under the team law,
‘One Team One Heart Beat,’” Charlton
wrote on Twitter on Nov. 4. “I know
some words that was used was not ac-
ceptable and not up to the team stan-
dard held for me, so I will take full re-
sponsibility for those things and I will
apologize for that. I owe to my family,
friends, fans and most importantly to
myself to grow from this situation and
not let it define the person I am.”
With Charlton aboard in the 2021
class, it brings an end to a string of de-
commitments over the past few weeks
for MSU. Three former Bulldog pledg-
es — three-star receiver Brandon
Buckhaulter, three-star defensive
back Brendan Toles and three-star
Starkville running back Amariyon
Howard — all backed off their com-
mitments over the past three weeks,
though it’s understood they are set to
be replaced in the class.
MSU’s 2021 class currently ranks
No. 38 nationally and No. 10 in the
Southeastern Conference according
to the 247Sports composite rankings.
With 18 commits on the docket includ-
ing Charlton, it’s expected the Bull-
dogs could add as many as 25 or 26
players in this class. The Early Sign-
ing Period in which football commits
nationwide can sign their national
letters of intent runs from Dec. 16 to
Dec. 18.

ON THE AIR Prep Roundup

Today
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
1 p.m. — North Carolina
(Greensboro) at Louisville,
ACCN
2 p.m. — St. Peter’s at
Maryland, BTN
4 p.m. — Detroit Mercy at
Michigan State, BTN
4 p.m. — Kennesaw State
at Creighton, FS1
5 p.m. — Kent State at
Virginia, ACCN
6 p.m. — Valparaiso at
Purdue, BTN
6 p.m. — Wisconsin at
Marquette, FS1
6 p.m. — Jacksonville at
Georgia, SECN
7 p.m. — Stetson at
Miami, ACCN
7 p.m. — North Texas at
Mississippi State, SECN+
8 p.m. — North Dakota at
Minnesota, BTN
8 p.m. — Troy at Texas
Tech, ESPN2
8 p.m. — Oregon vs.
Seton Hall, Omaha, Neb.,
FS1
8 p.m. — South Alabama
at Auburn, SECN
Saturday
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
11 a.m. — Texas at Kan-
sas State, FOX
11 a.m. — Texas A&M at
Auburn, ESPN
11 a.m. — Ohio State at
Michigan State, ABC
11 a.m. — Arkansas at
Missouri, SECN
1:30 p.m. — Syracuse at
Notre Dame, NBC
2:30 p.m. — Florida at
Tennessee, CBS
2:30 p.m. — Tulsa at
Navy, ESPN2
2:30 p.m. — Indiana at
Wisconsin, ABC
3 p.m. — Vanderbilt at
Georgia, SECN
3 p.m. — Stanford at
Washington, FOX
6 p.m. — Oregon at Cal,
ESPN
6:30 p.m. — South Caroli-
na at Kentucky, SECN
6:30 p.m. — Clemson at
Virginia Tech, ABC
7 p.m. — Baylor at Oklaho-
ma, FOX
7 p.m. — Alabama at LSU,
CBS
7 p.m. — Miami at Duke,
ACCN
DISPATCH STAFF host Madison-Ridgeland
Academy on Saturday.
Prep Girls Basketball
Heritage Academy 42, Prep Girls Soccer
Oak Hill Academy 28 New Hope 11, Columbus
The Heritage Academy 0
girls basketball team beat NEW HOPE — The
Oak Hill Academy 42-28 New Hope girls soccer
on Thursday in Colum- team routed Columbus
bus. 11-0 in Thursday’s home
Lucy Sharp had 12 match.
points for the Patriots. Reagan Greenhaw had
Chloe Boyd had 10, Tay- four goals for the Trojans.
Caleigh Carter had three,
lor Wheeler had nine, and
and Nicole Padron had
Reagan Merchant had six.
two. Bree Younger and
For the Raiders, Mary
Cassie Zamora each add-
Beth Briggs had eight
ed goals for New Hope.
points. Carley Wooten had
The Trojans’ next
five, and Kate Wheeler match is Monday at Pon-
had four.
totoc.
Oak Hill will host Can-
ton Academy on Friday in
West Point. Prep Boys Soccer
New Hope 10, Columbus
0
Prep Boys Basketball NEW HOPE — The
Heritage Academy 70, New Hope boys beat Co-
Oak Hill Academy 33 lumbus 10-0 on Thursday
The Heritage Academy in New Hope.
boys beat Oak Hill 70-33 Christian Juarez had
in Thursday’s game in Co- three goals to lead New
lumbus. Hope, and Trey Parnell
Jonathan Peel scored had two. Caden Perrigin,
16 for the Pats. Trey Brant Smith, Cole Craw-
Naugher had 14, and Drew ford, Rylin Lloyd and
Huskison had 11. Andrew Chism each had
Heritage Academy will goals for New Hope.
Contacting the
Sports Department
If you need to report game scores or statistics,
you can call us at 662-327-2424 ext. 126. If you need
to reach sports editor Garrick Hodge, email him at
ghodge@cdispatch.com. If you need to reach sports
writer Ben Portnoy, email him at bportnoy@cdis-
patch.com or sports writer Theo DeRosa, email him
at tderosa@cdispatch.com.
High school football coaches who don’t speak to a
reporter from The Dispatch are asked to email infor-
mation to the sports department from their games.
The Dispatch will include its prep football coverage in
Sunday’s edition, so we will contact coaches Friday
night or Saturday to get details. Coaches, please let
us know what is the best time for us to contact you.
cdispatch.com
4B FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020
No. 1 Alabama primed to prolong its primacy at LSU
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BATON ROUGE, La.
— The way top-ranked
Alabama has been rolling
over opponents, coach Nick
Saban likely could spend
another week or more re-
covering from COVID-19 at
home without jeopardizing
the Crimson Tide’s national
title hopes.
Saban, however, has
left little doubt about his
intention to be back on the
sideline in Tiger Stadium
on Saturday night, when
unbeaten Alabama (8-0, 8-0
SEC) visits rebuilding LSU
(3-4, 3-4).
“I’m feeling great,” said
Saban, who had to watch
Alabama’s lopsided Iron
Bowl victory over Auburn
from home last weekend.
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
“l fully expect to be able to
coach this game on Satur-
day.”
There’ll be a couple of
streaks at odds in this 85th
edition of an SEC rivalry
dating back to 1895.
Alabama has won 96
consecutive games against
unranked teams since the
end of Saban’s first season
in 2007.
LSU, which fell at Texas
A&M last week, has not lost
two straight since coach
Ed Orgeron took over four
games into the 2016 season.
Odds makers have made
it clear which streak they
expect to continue, listing
Alabama as four-touch-
down favorites.
For the most part, 2020
has been a year to forget
for LSU — one season after
FAMILY CIRCUS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
the Tigers won everything.
In 2019, LSU broke an
eight-game losing streak
in its series with Alabama
en route to a 15-0 record
and national championship.
Then came the loss of 14
prominent players taken in
the NFL draft, followed by
several more opting out of
this pandemic-altered sea-
son.
Nearly one year after Joe
Burrow became the first
LSU quarterback to win the
Heisman Trophy, Alabama
QB Mac Jones arrives in
Baton Rouge as a leading
candidate for that same
award, having completed
76.2% of his passes this sea-
son for 2,728 yards and 23
touchdowns.
The Tigers’ task only got
tougher when their leading
receiver, Terrace Marshall
Jr., decided on Sunday to
opt out for the rest of the
season. His departure
leaves LSU without a 6-foot-
3 target who’d caught 48
passes for 731 yards and
10 touchdowns in seven
games.
Still, Orgeron and his
players sound enthused to
see this matchup resched-
uled after it was initially
postponed from Nov. 14 by
a COVID-19 outbreak at
LSU.
“We’re playing Ala-
bama at home. That’s all
we need to hear,” Orgeron
said. “Playing Alabama is a
great rivalry for us, a great
game over the years for us,
a tremendous challenge.
They’re the No. 1 team in
the country coming to Ti-
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
I woke up
crying this
morning. The
holidays are fast
approaching, and
many of them I
spent with my
younger sister
“Leyla” and her
family. It has
been a tradition
because our
parents are no
longer living, and
my sisters live on
the mainland. Dear Abby
Leyla’s fiance
doesn’t care for
me, so last year’s celebration
wasn’t very fun, although I did
enjoy my family. Her fiance and
I have never had an argument
nor have I ever said anything
negative to him. He’s insecure
and wants Leyla to himself.
I was gone for the holidays
in 2018 because I was caring
for our elderly father. I hadn’t
been to their home for almost
two years before that. During
that time he had my sister all to
himself. The last time I visited
he wasn’t nice to me. It didn’t
feel good.
Now, with this upcoming
holiday season, I know I won’t
be invited to join them, which
makes me sad and mad at the
same time. My sister doesn’t
deal with life like I do. I am very contacted a neighborhood kid
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec.
4). If in a year’s time you had to
give a Yelp review of experienc-
es in 2021, it would be full of
rich details of excellent high-
lights that add up to a resound-
ing five stars. Your optimism
and openness will pave the way.
In one instance, you’ll turn a
small opportunity into a big deal
and include loved ones in your
good fortune. Leo and Scorpio
adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 5, 39, 22, 9 and 13.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
Your values are such that you
can watch the same television
show as the person next to you
and see something completely
different. If you’re also able to
discuss that civilly, then you’re
ger Stadium. Let’s play.”
Or as Tigers receiver Ja-
ray Jenkins put it: “We still
have a chance to shock the
world.”
Encore performances
It’s hard enough to beat
Saban’s Alabama teams
once, much less doing it
again the next time.
The Tide has lost 23
games during Saban’s ten-
ure and faced 19 of those
teams again. Alabama is
17-2 in the rematch, falling
twice in a row only to LSU
(2010-11) and Mississippi
(2014-15).
Saban said he usually
doesn’t try to use that to
motivate his team.
“But I think nobody likes
to get disrespected, and I
think when you lose a game
family-oriented,
and I would never
let a man come
between us. It
breaks my heart
knowing I won’t
be a part of their
lives this year for
the holidays. I’m
65, and Leyla is
61. We shouldn’t
be dealing with
this kind of thing
in our lives. What
should I do? —
SAD ISLAND
LADY
DEAR SAD:
Discuss this with
Leyla and find
out whether you will be invited
to visit this year. Many families
are distancing not because
of personality conflicts but
because of COVID. It may be
possible to see your sister via
Zoom or outside her home if
you arrange to stay elsewhere.
If that isn’t possible, make
plans with friends and/or other
relatives. Many people will be
celebrating Christmas and New
Year’s differently this year. You
will not be alone in that.
DEAR ABBY: My 16-year-old
son passed away unexpectedly
a month ago. Because he was
short for his age, he had been
bullied during middle and high
school. After a minor argument
with my husband and me, he
with the right person.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
Be there a while without trying
to make sense of it. Life resists
being forced to conform with
one theory or another. When it
does, something tangible will
be lost, which does not even
compare to the intangible loss
sustained.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
When you’re in the mood and
you put your mind to it, the en-
ergy you create around yourself
is magical. Now, you’ll do this
when you’re not in the mood
and create the same effect.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
Should you let the other person
go on in a wrong belief unchal-
lenged? Maybe not much would
you feel that way to some
degree,” he said. “I think
it’s human nature to try to
make it right. I do think that
is a motivating factor for
most human beings.”
Holding the line
Orgeron largely deflect-
ed blame from freshmen
LSU QBs TJ Finley and
Max Johnson for the Ti-
gers’ offensive struggles in
last week’s 20-7 loss. The
coach says the protection
was the problem.
“The scheme has to be
better,” Orgeron said. “Too
many free blitzes hitting
our young quarterbacks.
Our execution has to be
better on run blocking.
We did not control their
front or blitzes.”
who sold him powerful painkill-
ers. This was, to my knowledge,
the first time he did this, and I
don’t think he realized how dev-
astating the effects could be.
(We had previously discussed
the dangers of prescription
drugs, but it seems this was an
impulsive decision.)
My husband and 19-year-old
daughter are reeling from this
tragedy, and we’re all in therapy
now. I need to know if you have
any advice on how to grieve.
I’m feeling so lost and still in
shock, and I have appreciated
reading your advice over the
years. — STILL IN SHOCK IN
COLORADO
DEAR STILL: Please accept
my deepest sympathy for the
tragic loss of your beloved son.
The circumstances of his death
make it even more difficult
to understand and cope.
Fortunately, there is help and
support for families who have
lost a sibling or a child.
The Compassionate Friends
is a group I have mentioned
before in my column. Founded
50 years ago in England and in-
corporated in the United States
in 1978, it exists to provide
friendship, understanding and
hope to parents who are going
through the natural grieving
process. To find a chapter near
you, contact them online at
compassionatefriends.org or by
calling 877-969-0010. Please
don’t wait.
happen in the short term, but
what will happen if you continue
to do so over time?
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22).
Without good leadership, it is
possible that everyone does a
small piece of a job and the end
result is hundreds of small piec-
es instead of one finished job.
This is why you want to know
both the leader and the plan.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
You have your ways of making
order out of disorder, but it’s
fun to try new ones, too. You
may find that you can have
and notice more of what you
like just by organizing it a little
differently.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
The journey gets more pleasur-
able when you focus not only
on the end result but also, and
often, on the little milestones
you hit and benefits you pick up
along the way.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). Not everything that’s on
the surface is superficial. In this
material world, certain objects
resonate deep within you as
though they fit into some sort of
inner form. This magnetism will
be a source of good fortune.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). You get the sense that
you are armoring up for all of
the battles, not just one. True,
you are in it for the long haul
and committed to doing what
it takes today, tomorrow, next
year and beyond.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). In the way that Gothic
architecture was built ever-taller
as though to reach the heavens,
you are building something im-
pressively up and up, aspiring to
sail it right over the rainbow.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). It may feel as though
you’re dealing in two different
worlds. However, everything
you’re dealing with in one world
is linked to the other, and by
more than just your presence in
both worlds. Look for correspon-
dences.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). If you have to think about
something or make a decision
about it, then you are using will-
power. How can you extract the
extraneous thought processes
out of the task, thereby more
easily turning it into a habit?
Bone of contention
SOLUTION:
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 5B

Coronavirus robs biblical

Bethlehem of Christmas cheer
Hotel association head:
Bethlehem received
some 3M tourists in 2019
BY JELAL HASSAN
The Associated Press
BETHLEHEM, West Bank —
The coronavirus has cast a pall over
Christmas celebrations in Bethle-
hem, all but shutting down the bib-
lical town revered as Jesus’ birth-
She kept her 25 workers on staff
for several months but ultimate-
ly couldn’t continue to pay them.
Al-Arja, who herself was infected
with the virus, said she has been
forced to close the hotel and lay
off the entire staff because there is
no sign of the pandemic ending or
tourists visiting anytime soon.
“We had 351 tourist groups
booked in our hotel this year, each
one 150 people,” she said. “But they
all canceled.”
opened one floor in hopes that some
local visitors may want to come cel-
ebrate in the coming weeks.
Mahmoud Tarman, the hotel’s
receptionist, said the Ambassador
has brought back eight of its 60
workers to serve local guests. But
with the West Bank’s economy dev-
astated by repeated lockdowns, it
remains unclear how many people
will come.
“At this time of the year, this
empty hotel would be bustling with Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER

place at the height of the normally

cheery holiday season.
Elyas al-Arja, the head of the
city’s hotel association, said Bethle-
life. But as you see, there is no life,
not even a Christmas tree yet,” he Sudoku
Sudoku is a number-
placing puzzle based on
Yesterday’s answer
hem received some 3 million tour- said as he pointed at the empty lob- Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis a several
with num- 1 7 9 2 5 4 8 6 3
Missing are the thousands of
ists in 2019. With Israel, the main by. ber-placing puzzle
given numbers. The object 6 5 2 9 3 8 1 7 4

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

international pilgrims who normal-
entry point for international visitors The Palestinian Authority, which based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 8 4 3 6 7 1 9 5 2
ly descend upon the town. Restau-
to the region, banning tourists be- administers parts of the Israeli-oc- grid with several
1 to 9 in the empty spaces 4 3 6 5 8 9 2 1 7
rants, hotels and souvenir shops are
cause of the coronavirus crisis, and cupied West Bank, this week im- given
so that numbers. The
each row, each 9 1 5 3 2 7 6 4 8
closed. The renowned Christmas
the West Bank’s border crossing posed a new nighttime lockdown to object
column isandtoeach
place
3x3 the
box 2 8 7 1 4 6 3 9 5
tree lighting service will be limit-
with Jordan closed to foreigners, help contain a spike in coronavirus numbers
contains the1same
to 9 number
in
ed to a small group of authorized the empty spaces so 7 2 1 8 6 5 4 3 9
people, as will church services on that number is close to zero this cases. People must remain indoors only once. The difficulty
that each row, each 5 6 8 4 9 3 7 2 1
Christmas Eve. year, he said. from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m., and Beth- level increases from
column and each 3 9 4 7 1 2 5 8 6
“Sixty percent of the city relies lehem is included in the lockdown. Monday
“Bethlehem is dead,” said Mary- 3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 12/03

ana al-Arja, owner of the 120-room
Angel Hotel on the outskirts of
Bethlehem.
The hotel was the site of the
West Bank’s first coronavirus out-
break — when a group of Greek
tourists came down with the virus
last March.
on tourism, and their income dis-
appeared when the tourists disap-
peared,” said al-Arja, a cousin of the
Angel Hotel owner.
The Ambassador Hotel, which is
located near the Church of the Na-
tivity, built on the site where Chris-
tians believe Jesus was born, has re-
Officials say the lockdown could
the same number only once. The difficulty level
be extended through Christmas
increases from Monday to Sunday.
and into the new year if the infec-
tion levels don’t come down. The
Health Ministry has reported a to-
tal of about 65,000 coronavirus cas-
es in the West Bank, and over 620
deaths.

Mississippi State
School Ministry
Mississippi State School
of Ministry will be taking ap-
plications for enrollment into
their online degree granting
program. Earn your Certifica-
tion, Associates, Bachelor,
Master and Doctoral Degree in
Religious Studies. We are an
accreditation School of Minis-
try authorized through State
of Mississippi and Federal
Government. Our degrees are
for ecclesiastical purposes
only. We accept transcripts
and your life experience also
can also be used for degree
granting purposes. For further
information feel free to call
662-425-8443
RELIGIOUS BRIEFS
fifth Saturday. For information,
contact Jesse Slater, 662-
328-4979.
Radio Program
Apostles Patrick Perkins
invites the public to tune in to
WTWG, radio 1050 AM for Per-
fecting the Saints Broadcast,
Wednesdays 8:30 a.m.
Women Prayer,
Worship Service
Church of the Eternal
Word, 106 22nd St. S., holds
a prayer and worship service
every Thursday from 5-6 p.m.
Call Marie Nabors, 662-549-
4322 or 662-329-1234, for
prayer requests.
Prayer Ministry
New Beginning Everlasting
Outreach Ministry invites the
public to call in with their
prayer requests at 662-327-
9843.
Prayer Service
Church of the Eternal
Word, 106 22nd St. S., Co-
lumbus, holds prayer service
Thursday nights 5-6 p.m.
Contact Marie Nabors, 662-
549-4322. Church service
times: Sunday school 10 a.m.;
Sunday worship 11:15 a.m.;
Tuesday Bible study 7 p.m.
For information, call Pastor
District Elder Lou Nabors,
662-329-1234.
Fitness
Transformations
The Transformational
Church, 2301 Jess Lyons
Road, hosts boxing lessons
Mondays and Wednesday from
5-7 p.m., weight-loss boot
camp Tuesdays and Thursdays
5-7 p.m. and both on Satur-
days 9-11 a.m.
Youth Fellowship
The Transformational
Church, 2301 Jess Lyons
Road, hosts Youth Fellowship
from 7-8:30 p.m. every Tues-
day. Games, prayer, service,
food, and more. Transportation
available. For information, call
Iris Roberson, 662-295-7456.

Fellowship Dinner,
Youth Service
Pleasant Ridge Faith Cen-
ter, 923 Ridge Road, hosts a
fellowship dinner and youth
service every third Sunday.

Gospel Book Club ACROSS

Friendship M.B. Church, 1 Page of music
1102 12th Ave. S., invites the 6 Green strokes
public to join its Community 11 Pale
Gospel Book Club from 6-7 12 Patriot Allen
p.m., on the fourth Friday of 13 Bearings
each month, to study and 14 “Superman”
share views of the Holy Bible. star
Open to all ages and ethnic- 15 Bud
ities. For more information, 16 Sky sighting
call Barbara Mattison or Lillian 18 Garden visitor
Murray, 662-570-5595. 19 Swelled head
20 Set afire
Grief Support Group 21 Bruins legend
The Oil of Joy for Grief 22 League
and Mourning offers a grief newbie
support group at 6 p.m. every 24 Ages and
second Thursday of the month ages 45 Dandling 10 Derisive looks
at United Christian Baptist 25 Relatives spots 17 Lord’s domain
Church, 232 Yorkville Road 27 Flue filth
East. “Making your grieving
DOWN 23 Model buy
29 Sioux people 1 Indulge 24 Caribou’s kin
journey easier.” For more in-
32 Sandy’s bark 2 Crumbly 26 Chicago
formation, call 662-327-0604
or e-mail unitedchristian@
33 Stir-fry pan cheese suburb
cableone.net. 34 Gift tag word 3 Dusty Spring- 27 Learned one
35 Kilmer of field hit 28 Stump figure
“The Doors” 4 Wallet bill 30 Perfectly
Celebrate Recovery 36 Little rascal 5 Pancreas 31 Protects, in
Celebrate Recovery, the
nation’s largest Christian re-
37 Hurried flight product a way
covery program, meets Tues- 38 Island ring 6 Candidate of 33 Estate papers
days at 6:00 p.m. at Mead- 40 O’Connor’s 1996 39 Director
owview Church, 300 Linden successor 7 Salt Lake City Spike
Circle in Starkville. Millions 42 Writer’s work player 41 Cariou of
have found help, healing, and 43 Allude 8 2014 animated “Blue Bloods”
support for hurts, habits, and 44 Grove movie
hang-ups using our popular makeup 9 Pub
Biblical 12 step program.

Recovery Room
New Life Assembly, 4474
New Hope Road (near Dollar
General) hosts Recovery
Room, at 6:30 p.m. each Sun-
day. Find help, healing, and
support for any hurt, habit, or
hang-up using our Christ-cen-
tered 12 steps.

Prayer for Youth

Every second and third
Saturday, Pleasant Ridge Faith
Center hosts a prayer for the
youth from 2-3 p.m.

Prayer, Free Coffee

Mount Zion Missionary
Baptist Church, 2221 14th
Ave. N., hosts free coffee and
a prayer community outreach
service from 8-9 a.m. every

Classifieds
LEGALS
Call us: 662-328-2424
Legal Notices
The following vehicle has been
abandoned at Atlas Recovery &
Towing, 4009 HWY 373,
Columbus, MS 39705:
1994 F150
VIN# 1FTEX15N4RKB67023
2011 Malibu
VIN# 1G1ZD5EU2BF144419
2003 Grand Cherokee
VIN# 1J4GX48S93C522565
IF THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT
CLAIMED THEY WILL BE PUT
UP FOR SALE ON THE 4TH DAY
OF DECEMBER, 2020 AT 6:00
A.M. AT ATLAS RECOVERY &
TOWING, 4009 HWY 373,
COLUMBUS, MS 39705.
Witnessed under my hand on
this the 24th day of November,
2020.
/s/Frank Stump
PUBLISH: 11/27 &
12/4/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
CHYNA MARCHBANKS
PLAINTIFF
VS.
CAMERON COLEMAN
DEFENDANT
CAUSE NO. 2020-0273
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
TO: CAMERON COLEMAN who
is not to be found in the State
of Mississippi on diligent in-
quiry and whose post office ad-
dress is unknown.
You have been made a Defend-
ant in the suit filed in this
Court by Chyna Marchbanks
seeking custody of the minor
child, C.C.
YOU ARE SUMMONED TO AP-
PEAR AND DEFEND AGAINST
THE PETITION FILED AGAINST
YOU IN THIS ACTION AT 9:30
O’CLOCK, A.M., ON THE 25TH
DAY OF JANUARY, 2021 IN THE
COURTROOM OF THE
LOWNDES COUNTY COURT-
HOUSE IN COLUMBUS, MISSIS-
SIPPI, AND IN CASE OF YOUR
FAILURE TO APPEAR AND DE-
FEND, A JUDGMENT WILL BE
ENTERED AGAINST YOU FOR
THE RELIEF DEMANDED IN THE
COMPLAINT.
You are not required to file an
answer or other pleading, but
you may do so if you desire.
Issued under my hand and the
seal of said Court, this 1st day
of December, A.D., 2020.
CINDY E. GOODE
Chancery Clerk of Lowndes
County, Mississippi
(SEAL)
BY: Shantrell W. Granderson
PUBLISH: 12/4, 12/11 &
12/18/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING,
LLC PLAINTIFF
V.
LARRY SMITH, MYKLE K.
SMITH, JUDY K. SMITH, DAISY
FLOWERS HAWKINS, SARAH
FLOWERS SYKES, TOMMIE LEE
FLOWER, Jr., a/k/a TOMMIE
LEE FLOWERS, Jr., EDDIE B.
SMITH, III, THE UNKNOWN
HEIRS OF EDDIE B. SMITH,
SR., DECEASED, THE UN-
KNOWN HEIRS OF EDDIE B.
SMITH, JR., DECEASED, and
THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF
PEACH FLOWERS SMITH,
Service Directory
a/k/a PEACH FLOWER SMITH,
DECEASED DEFENDANTS
CAUSE NO. 44CH1:20-cv-
00080-RPF
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
Promote your small business starting at only $25
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
TO: Tommie
Carpet Lee Flower, Jr.
& Flooring
a/k/a Tommie Lee Flowers, Jr.
15743 Basin Lane
Victorville, CA 92394
You have been made a Defend-
ant in the suit filed in this
Court by Bayview Loan Servi-
cing, LLC (the “Plaintiff”) seek-
ing a judgment in favor of the
Plaintiff for confirmation of title
and reformation of certain in-
struments in the chain of title.
Defendants other than you in
this**HOLIDAY SPECIAL**
action are Larry Smith,
Mykle4K.ROOMS − $100
Smith, Judy K. Smith,
1 Room − $50
Daisy Flowers Hawkins, Sarah
Flowers Sykes, Eddie B. Smith,
2 Room − $70
III, unknown
3 Roomsheirs −of$90
Eddie B.
Smith, Sr., deceased, un-
Carpet−Rugs−Tile−Cars
known heirs of CARPET
Eddie B. Smith,
DAVID’S & scaping, cleanup work.
Jr., deceased, and unknown
UPHOLSTERY
heirs of Peach Flowers Smith
CLEANING
a/k/a Peach Flower Smith, de-
ceased.Call for more info!
662−722−1758
You are required to mail or
hand deliver a copy of a writ-
Buy. Sell. Discover.
ten response to the Complaint
filed against you in this action
to: G. Dewey Hembree, III,
McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC,
1020 Highland Colony Parkway,
Ste 702, Ridgeland, MS
39157, the attorney for the
Plaintiff.
YOUR RESPONSE MUST BE
MAILED OR DELIVERED NOT
LATER THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS
AFTER THE FIRST PUBLISH
DATE, WHICH IS THE DATE OF
THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF
THIS SUMMONS. IF YOUR RE-
SPONSE IS NOT SO MAILED OR
DELIVERED, A JUDGMENT BY
DEFAULT WILL BE ENTERED
AGAINST YOU FOR THE MONEY
OR OTHER RELIEF DEMANDED
IN THE COMPLAINT.
You must also file the original
of your response with the Clerk
of this Court within a reason-
able time afterward.
Issued under my hand and seal
of said Court, this 9th day of
November, 2020.
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING,
LLC PLAINTIFF
V.
LARRY SMITH, MYKLE K.
SMITH, JUDY K. SMITH, DAISY
FLOWERS HAWKINS, SARAH
FLOWERS SYKES, TOMMIE LEE
FLOWER, Jr., a/k/a TOMMIE
LEE FLOWERS, Jr., EDDIE B.
SMITH, III, THE UNKNOWN
HEIRS OF EDDIE B. SMITH,
SR., DECEASED, THE UN-
KNOWN HEIRS OF EDDIE B.
Legal Notices
SMITH, JR., DECEASED, and
THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF
PEACH FLOWERS SMITH,
a/k/a PEACH FLOWER SMITH,
DECEASED DEFENDANTS
CAUSE NO. 44CH1:20-cv-
00080-RPF
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
TO: Tommie Lee Flower, Jr.
a/k/a Tommie Lee Flowers, Jr.
15743 Basin Lane
Victorville, CA 92394
You have been made a Defend-
ant in the suit filed in this
Court by Bayview Loan Servi-
cing, LLC (the “Plaintiff”) seek-
ing a judgment in favor of the
Plaintiff for confirmation of title
and reformation of certain in-
struments in the chain of title.
Defendants other than you in
this action are Larry Smith,
Mykle K. Smith, Judy K. Smith,
Daisy Flowers Hawkins, Sarah
Flowers Sykes, Eddie B. Smith,
III, unknown heirs of Eddie B.
Smith, Sr., deceased, un-
known heirs of Eddie B. Smith,
Jr., deceased, and unknown
heirs of Peach Flowers Smith
a/k/a Peach Flower Smith, de-
ceased.
You are required to mail or
hand deliver a copy of a writ-
ten response to the Complaint within ninety (90) days from the
filed against you in this action
to: G. Dewey Hembree, III,
McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC,
1020 Highland Colony Parkway, claim will forever bar the same.
Ste 702, Ridgeland, MS
39157, the attorney for the
Plaintiff.
YOUR RESPONSE MUST BE
MAILED OR DELIVERED NOT
LATER THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS
AFTER THE FIRST PUBLISH
DATE, WHICH IS THE DATE OF
THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF
THIS SUMMONS. IF YOUR RE-
SPONSE IS NOT SO MAILED OR
DELIVERED, A JUDGMENT BY
DEFAULT WILL BE ENTERED
AGAINST YOU FOR THE MONEY
OR OTHER RELIEF DEMANDED
IN THE COMPLAINT.
You must also file the original
of your response with the Clerk
of this Court within a reason-
able time afterward.
Issued under my hand and seal STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
of said Court, this 9th day of COUNTY OF LOWNDES
November, 2020.
Cindy E. Goode, Chancery Clerk been granted and issued to the
Lowndes County, Mississippi
BY: /s/ Shantrell W. Grander- as Martha Jane Halbert and
son
D.C.
(Seal)
SUBMITTED BY:
G. Dewey Hembree, III (MSB
No. 2247)
MCGLINCHEY STAFFORD, PLLC Probate and Register same
1020 Highland Colony Pkwy,
Ste 702
Ridgeland, MS 39157
(769) 524-2300; (601) 510-
5609 (fax)
Publish: November 13, 2020
November 20, 2020
November 27, 2020
December 4, 2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF DELENA R. GAVIN, DE-
CEASED
CAUSE NO.2020-0221
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters of Administration hav-
ing been granted and issued to
the undersigned upon the Es-
tate of Delena R. Gavin, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi on the 18th day of
November, 2020. This is to
give notice to all persons hav-
ing claims against said estate
to probate and register same
with the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi
within 90 days from the date of
the first publication of this no-
tice. A failure to probate and Peach Flowers Smith, De-
register this claim will forever
bar the same.
This the 23rd day of November, defend against the Petition
2020.
/s/PAMELA McGEE
PAMELA McGEE, ADMINISTRAT- Honorable Rodney P. Faver,
OR
PUBLISH: 11/27, 12/4 &
12/11/2020
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CEASED
CAUSE NO.2020-0221
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters of Administration hav-
ing been granted and issued to
the undersigned upon the Es-
tate of Delena R. Gavin, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi on the 18th day of
November, 2020. This is to
give notice to all persons hav-
ing claims against said estate
to probate and register same
with the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi
within 90 days from the date ofCourt by Tommie Flowers, Ad-
the first publication of this no-
LegalANotices
tice. failure to probate and Legal Notices
register this claim will forever
bar the same.
This the 23rd day of November, defend against the Petition
2020.
/s/PAMELA McGEE
PAMELA McGEE, ADMINISTRAT- Honorable Rodney P. Faver,
OR
PUBLISH: 11/27, 12/4 &
12/11/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF JAMES MASON WOOD- swer or other pleading, but you
ARD, DECEASED
CAUSE NO.: 2020-0225-RPF
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
Letters of Administration have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
James Mason Woodard, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi, on the 19th day of
November 2020. This is to give
notice to all persons having
claims against said estate to
Probate and Register same
with the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
first publication date of this No-
tice to Creditors. A failure to so
Probate and Register said
This the 20th day of November
2020.
/s/Kayleigh B. Woodard, Ad-
ministratrix
PUBLISH: 12/4, 12/11 &
12/18/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF MARTHA J. HALBERT,
DECEASED
CAUSE NO. 2020-0194-PDE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters Testamentary have
undersigned upon the Estate of
Martha J. Halbert, also known
Martha Jane Egger Halbert, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi, on the 5th day of Novem-
ber 2020. This is to give no-
tice to all persons having
claims against said estate to
with the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
within ninety (90) days from the
first publication date of this No-
tice to Creditors. A failure to so
Probate and Register said
claim will forever bar the same.
This the 17th day of November
2020.
/s/ Michael Eric Halbert, Ex-
ecutor
PUBLISH: 12/4, 12/11 &
12/18/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE PEACH FLOWERS SMITH,
DECEASED
CAUSE NO. 20-072
RULE 81 SUMMONS BY PUB-
LICATION
TO: ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS AT
LAW OF PEACH FLOWERS
SMITH, DECEASED
You have been made Respond-
ents in the suit filed in this
Court by Tommie Flowers, Ad-
ministrator of the Estate of
ceased, seeking a Petition to
Determine Heirs at Law. You
are summoned to appear and
filed against you in this action
at 9:00 a.m. on the 27th day
of January 2021, before the
Chancery Court Judge, in Judge
Faver’s courtroom at the
Lowndes County Courthouse,
505 2nd Ave. N, in Columbus,
MS and in case of your failure
to appear
General and defend a judg-
Services
ment will be entered against
you for money or other things
demanded in the Petition. You
are not required to file an An-
swer or other pleading, but you
may do so if you desire.
Issued under my hand and the
seal of the Court, this the 30th
day of November, 2020.
CHANCERY CLERK
BY: Shantrell W. Granderson
(SEAL)
Gerald Gaggini, MSB 99905
2500 Hickory Wood Dr.
Tupelo, MS 38801
Telephone: 601-212-3696
PUBLISH: 12/4, 12/11 &
12/18/2020
In the Classifieds section.
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE PEACH FLOWERS SMITH,
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
DECEASED
CAUSE NO. 20-072
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
RULE 81 SUMMONS BY PUB-
LICATION
TO: ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS AT
LAW OF PEACH FLOWERS
SMITH, DECEASED
You have been made Respond-
ents in the suit filed in this
ministrator of the Estate of
Peach Flowers Smith, De-
ceased, seeking a Petition to
Determine Heirs at Law. You
are summoned to appear and
filed against you in this action
at 9:00 a.m. on the 27th day
of January 2021, before the
Chancery Court Judge, in Judge
Faver’s courtroom at the
Lowndes County Courthouse,
505 2nd Ave. N, in Columbus,
MS and in case of your failure
to appear and defend a judg-
ment will be entered against
you for money or other things
demanded in the Petition. You
are not required to file an An-
may do so if you desire.
Issued under my hand and the
seal of the Court, this the 30th
day of November, 2020.
CHANCERY CLERK
BY: Shantrell W. Granderson
(SEAL)
Gerald Gaggini, MSB 99905
2500 Hickory Wood Dr.
Tupelo, MS 38801
Telephone: 601-212-3696
PUBLISH: 12/4, 12/11 &
12/18/2020
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to
Timothy Dewayne Barksdale,
Executor of the Estate of Peggy
W. Barksdale, deceased, by
the Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, on the
30th day of November, 2020.
This is to give notice to all per-
sons having claims against
said estate to Probate and Re-
gister same with the Chancery
Clerk of Lowndes County, Mis-
sissippi, within ninety (90) days
after the first publication of this
Notice to Creditors. A failure to
so Probate and Register said
claim will forever bar the same.
/s/ Timothy Dewayne Barks-
dale
Timothy Dewayne Barksdale,
Executor
OF COUNSEL:
Aubrey E. Nichols, MB # 3842
The Nichols Firm, PLLC
Post Office Box 1081
Columbus, MS 39703-1081
(662) 243-7312
PUBLISH: 12/4, 12/11 &
12/18/2020
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A qualified candidate that
possesses adequate mana-
gerial work experience but
lack some educational re-
quirements, will remain the
right of the Districts Board
of Directors to amend the
required educational quali-
fications.
Application deadline
December 18, 2020
Paper Applications must be
received prior to December
18, 2020.
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