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Thursday | December 31, 2020

2020: Year in Review

Pandemic changes school, business, life;
debate arises on replacing lake dam after near breach
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com

T
he COVID-19 pandemic was
the biggest, but far from
the only, change to shake
Starkville and Oktibbeha County
in 2020. Since March, business and
social activities have been limited
and citizens have worn face masks,
hoping to curb the spread of the
virus.
However, the city and county also
witnessed the conclusion of a five-
year legal battle between the con-
gregation and leaders of a Starkville
church, the county lake dam in
danger of breaching and flooding
the surrounding neighborhood,
and a racial justice protest in which
thousands marched through down-
town Starkville. The public school
district opened a new building, and
the western and southern parts of
the county sent a new state senator
from Starkville to Jackson.
Here are some of the top head-
lines from Oktibbeha County in
2020.
See YEAR IN REVIEW, 6A

In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting schools, businesses and lives in Oktibbeha County, 2020 also saw racial justice demonstrations, an ongoing
church dispute concluded in court and the near breach of the Oktibbeha County Lake dam result in a plan to replace it. ­— Dispatch file photos

West Oktibbeha Bluecutt businesses to appeal Yo’ Bar’s move to area

shooting leaves Nine area plaintiffs filed notice of appeal in circuit court commission meeting and the city coun-

5-year-old girl in
cil meeting, all we’re trying to do is, one,
to halt bar’s relocation to neighborhood that is currently grow our business and, two, bring revenue
into the city. ... It’s like a win-win for every-

critical condition home to doctor’s offices, real estate agencies

Juvenile accidentally
shoots victim; adult was
in house at the time
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT
A 5-year-old Oktibbeha County
girl is in critical condition after an-
other juvenile accidentally shot her
in the head Wednesday afternoon,
authorities confirmed this morning.
The victim was taken to OCH
Regional Medical Center and then
flown to the University of Mississip-
pi Medical Center in Jackson, OCH
Director of Emergency Services Mi-
See SHOOTING, 6A
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
body.”
The notice of appeal claims the com-
mission’s and council’s decisions were
venue with more parking. The area is
ialtman@cdispatch.com zoned C-1 commercial-residential, mean- “arbitrary and capricious” and that there
was “no proof that any of the conditions set
ing any building occupants must obtain a
Several businesses and
individuals are appealing a
permitted land use variance from the city forth in the Zoning Ordinance had been
Planning and Zoning Commission to build met.”
Columbus City Council de-
cision allowing a permitted a bar, which the commission granted in a Per the city’s zoning ordinance, a bar/
5-2 vote over the objections of nearby busi- restaurant/lounge locating in a C-1 area
land use variance for local
bar and restaurant Yo’ Bar ness owners on Dec. 14. The next day, the must be “harmonious” with buildings and
to relocate to a building on city council upheld the commission’s deci- businesses already in the area. Bluecutt is
Bluecutt Road. sion in a 4-2 vote. currently home to medical practices, real
Yo’ Bar owners Mignon M. Isaac Last week, Oxford-based attorneys estate agencies and other small business-
and Ledrico Isaac, whose Pope Mallette and Paul Watkins Jr. filed es, and was formerly home to a bar that
current location is a 99-ca- a notice of appeal in Lowndes County Cir- closed in 2009.
pacity building on Highway cuit Court on behalf of nine plaintiffs ob- During the commission and council
45 with limited parking, jecting to the variance, even as the Isaacs meetings, representatives from some
leased the former Colum- have continued with renovations to turn nearby businesses — including Real-
bus Boat Gallery building the Bluecutt building into a bar with a tor Doris Hardy, of CENTURY 21 Doris
from Magnolia Enterprises seating capacity of 160. Hardy and Associates, and Columbus
earlier this year to move “It’s very, very frustrating,” Mignon attorney Rod Ray, who represented Lee
the restaurant to a bigger L. Isaac Isaac said. “As we said at the planning See YO’ BAR, 6A

WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS DISPATCH LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

1 “Glamping” is an upscale version of what HOLIDAY MEETINGS
activity? Jan. 4: Oktibbeha
2 What international airport is the second SCHEDULE County Board
busiest in the world as of 2016 and goes by of Supervisors
the code PEK? ■ The offices
meeting, 9 a.m.,
3 The reality show “Married at First Sight,” of The
which arranges marriages between strang- Chancery Court-
Dispatch will house
Mills Harrison ers, airs on what network — Lifetime, E! or
Bravo? be closed and Jan. 5: Starkville
Second grade, Heritage Aca.
4 What is the name of the day when Comic no newspaper Board of Alder-

68 Low 64
Relief raises funds for children by having will be printed men meeting,
High people buy a piece of clown costuming?
5 What tenor has been called “King of the on Friday, 5:30 p.m., City
Chance of strong storms Jan. 1 for Hall
High Cs”?
Full forecast on Answers, 6B New Year’s Jan. 12:
page 3A.
Day. The Starkville-Oktib-
Dispatch beha Consolidat-
INSIDE offices will also ed School District
close at noon Board of Trustees
Business 5B Dear Abby 3B meeting, 6 p.m.,
Classifieds 6B Obituaries 2,5A on Thursday, Marie Dendy, who lives in Ackerman, loves
Comics 3B Opinions 4A Dec. 31. making customized quilts after she retired as 401 Greensboro
Crossword 6B Religion 4B a nurse. St.

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

China OKs 1st homegrown vaccine

as COVID-19 surges globally
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEIJING — China authorized
its first homegrown COVID-19
vaccine for general use Thursday,
adding another shot that could see
wide use in poorer countries as the
virus surges back around the globe.
The Sinopharm vaccine had al-
ready been given to groups such
as health care professionals and
essential workers under emergen-
cy-use guidelines as part of China’s
program to inoculate 50 million
people before the Lunar New Year
holiday in February. But the go-
ahead should allow it to be supplied
more broadly at home and moves
Beijing closer to being able to ship
it abroad. It comes one day after
British regulators authorized As-
traZeneca’s inexpensive and easy-
to-handle vaccine.
Both shots have been closely
watched by developing countries,
many of which have been unable
to secure the Pfizer and Moderna
doses being snapped up by rich na-
tions. Pakistan’s science minister
said Thursday that his government
will buy 1.2 million doses of a Sino-
pharm shot, two days after its death
toll topped 10,000.
The greenlight came a day af-
ter the state-owned company an-
nounced that preliminary data from
last-stage trials had shown it to be
79.3% effective. That announcement
did not detail the size of the control
group, how many people were vac-
cinated and at what point the effica-
cy rate was reached after injection,
and experts have cautioned that tri-
al data needs to be shared.
Officials have said the vaccine
standards were developed in “close
cooperation” with the World Health
Organization. Securing WHO’s so-
called pre-qualification could go
some way toward assuring the rest
of the world about the quality of Chi-
nese vaccines, which already face
a reputation problem back home.
It would also open the path for the
shots to be distributed in the global
vaccine consortium, COVAX, and
potentially in countries that don’t
have their own regulatory agencies.
China is eager to ship its vac-
cines globally, driven by a desire
to repair the damage to its image
caused by the pandemic that start-
ed a year ago in the central city of
Wuhan.
Technically, China granted con-
ditional approval for the vaccine,
meaning that research is still on-
going, and the company will be
required to submit follow-up data
as well as reports of any adverse
effects after the vaccine is sold on
the market, Chen Shifei, the deputy
commissioner of the National Med-
ical Products Administration, told a
news conference. Final proof of its
effectiveness will depend on publi-
cation of more data.
Sinopharm, which has another
shot under development, is one of
at least five Chinese developers that
are in a global race to create vac-
cines for the disease that has killed
more than 1.8 million people. While
the Pfizer and Moderna shots have
been greeted with much fanfare
in the West, those shots must be
stored at ultra-cold or freezer tem-
peratures, complicating distribu-
tion.
The Sinopharm vaccine, like the
AstraZeneca one, could be easier
for countries around the world to
handle since they can be stored at
normal fridge temperatures.
Both shots, as well as Russia’s
Sputnik, are expected to be supply
much of the developing world. That
means the cost will also be import-
ant. AstraZeneca is expected to
cost about $2.50 a dose, while Rus-
sia has said its doses will be priced
at $10 for the global market. Pfizer’s
vaccine costs about $20, while Mod-
erna’s is $15 to $25, based on agree-
ments with the U.S. government.
Chinese officials declined to
name a particular price and gave
conflicting statements about it. One
official said it would be affordable
for the Chinese public, but anoth-
er jumped in to clarify that it will
be free. President Xi Jinping had
previously vowed to donate a Chi-
nese-made vaccine as a public good
to the world.

THE NATION
Nashville bombing
spotlights vulnerable
voice, data networks
PHOENIX — The
Christmas Day bombing
in downtown Nashville led
to phone and data service
outages and disruptions
over hundreds of miles in
the southern U.S., raising
new concerns about the
vulnerability of U.S. com-
munications.
The blast seriously dam-
aged a key AT&T network
facility, an important hub
that provides local wireless,
internet and video service
and connects to regional
networks. Backup genera-
tors went down, which took
service out hours after
the blast. A fire broke out
and forced an evacuation.
The building flooded, with
more than three feet of
water later pumped out of
the basement; AT&T said
there was still water on the
second floor as of Monday.
The immediate reper-
cussions were surprisingly
widespread. AT&T custom-
ers lost service — phones,
internet or video — across
large parts of Tennessee,
Kentucky and Alabama.
There were 911 centers
in the region that couldn’t
take calls; others didn’t
receive crucial data asso-
ciated with callers, such as
their locations. The Nash-
ville police department’s
phones and internet failed.
Stores went cash-only.
At some hospitals, elec-
tronic medical records,
internet service or phones
stopped working. The
Nashville airport halted
flights for about three
hours on Christmas. Rival
carrier T-Mobile also had
service issues as far away
as Atlanta, 250 miles away,
because the company uses
AT&T equipment for mov-
ing customer data from
towers to the T-Mobile net-
work.
SOURCE: AP

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Hattie Davis
NOXUBEE — Hattie
B. “The Love Lady”
Davis, 73, died Dec. 28,
2020, at Baptist Memo-
rial Hospital-Golden
Triangle.
Services will be at
11 a.m. Sunday, at True
Worship
Holiness
Church,
in Brooks-
ville,
with Earl
Stewart
officiating.
Burial will Davis
follow at
the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from
noon-5 p.m. Saturday,
at Carter’s Funeral Ser-
vices. Carter’s Funeral
Services of Macon is
in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mrs. Davis was born
June 8, 1947, in Noxu-
bee County, to the late
AREA OBITUARIES
Jessie Hood and Mary
Stewart. She was a
member of True Wor-
ship Holiness Church.
In addition to her
parents, she was pre-
ceded in death by her
siblings, Eula Stewart,
Johnnie B. Conner,
Willie James Hood, and
Bobby Dale Stewart.
She is survived by
her husband, Robert
Sanders of Cleveland,
Ohio; children, Tiffiney
Davis Lynn, Robert
Davis, and Shane Sand-
ers, all of Cleveland;
siblings, Laddie Grath-
ree of Chicago, Willie
Hood, Mary Silivers,
Albert Stewart and Earl
Stewart, all of Macon,
Helen Pippins of Brook-
lyn, New York, Charlie
Hood of Pickensville,
Alabama, Donnie of Eu-
clid, Ohio, and Emmitt
Stewart of Artesia; and
four grandchildren.
Daniel Davis
STARKVILLE —
Daniel Davis, 64, died
Dec. 26, 2020, in West
Point.
Graveside services
will be at 10 a.m. Satur-
day, at Sixteen Section
Cemetery. Burial will
follow. Visitation is
form 1-4 p.m. Friday,
at Hairston and Hair-
ston Funeral Home.
Hairston and Hair-
ston Funeral Home of
Starkville is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Davis was born
March 28, 1956, in
Starkville, to the late
Azzie Lee Collier and
William Austin. He was
formerly employed as a
factory worker.
He is survived by his
siblings, John Henry
and Lucille Harben,
both of St. Louis, Mis-
souri, Jerry Lee Austin,
Betty Young, Minnie
Lindsey, and Donna
Austin, all of Starkville,
and Emma Lee Mitch-
elle of Pasadena, Cali-
fornia.
Charles Hill
ST. LOUIS, Mo. —
Charles R. Hill, 69,
passed away.
Services will be at 2
p.m. Sunday, at Mt. Ma-
riah Methodist Church
Cemetery, in Macon.
Visitation will be from
4-6 p.m. Saturday, at
Kimberly Lewis Profes-
sional Memorial Ser-
vice. Kimberly Lewis
Professional Memorial
Service of Shuqualak
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Pietra Pruitt
COLUMBUS — Pi-
etra Pruitt, 52, died
Dec. 25, 2020, at her
residence.
Graveside services
will be at noon Sunday,
at Tabernacle CME
Church Cemetery, in
Ethelsville, Alabama,
with the Rev. Richard
McKay
officiating.
Visitation
will be
from noon-
4 p.m.
Saturday,
at Carter’s
Pruitt
Funeral
Services.
Carter’s Funeral
Services of Columbus
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mrs. Pruitt was born
April 1, 1968, in Co-
lumbus, to Wilderdean
Pruitt and the late
George D. Pruitt. She
was formerly employed
as a deli cook with
Sunflower and was a
member of Tabernacle
CME Church.
In addition to her
mother, she is survived
by her children, Mary
Pruitt-Watkins and
Aleah Harris, both of
Columbus; siblings,
Tiffany Pruitt, Chanta
Pruitt, Stanley Pruitt,
George Pruitt Jr., Eric
Pruitt, and Durell Sum-
erville, all of Columbus,
Marlon Pruitt of West
Point, and Jarvis Pruitt
of South Carolina; and
three grandchildren.
Vernessa Pate
COLUMBUS — Ver-
nessa Ross Pate, 59,
died Dec. 24, at her
residence.
Graveside services
will be at 2 p.m. Satur-
day, at Union Cemetery,
with Edward Yeates
officiating.
Visitation
is from
noon-4
p.m. today,
at Carter’s
Funeral
Services.
Carter’s Pate
Funeral
Services of Columbus
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mrs. Pate was born
Aug. 6, 1961, in Colum-
bus, to the late Ollie
James Ross and Maran-
da Davis Ross. She was
a member of Maranatha
Faith Center.
In addition to her
parents, she was
preceded in death by
her siblings, Ollie Mae
Ross Tuggle and Rolly
George Ross.
She is survived by
her children, Christina
Lowe, Antonio Ross,
and Jessica Ross Goins,
all of Columbus, and
Genifer Ross of Rich-
mond, Virginia; sib-
lings, the Rev. Tommie
Ross, William Lewis
Ross, Joe Lee Ross,
Willie George Ross,
Shelia Ross, Earline
Ross Stubbe, Carant
Ross Stevenson, Eliz-
abeth Ross Blackwell,
Dorothy McDavis,
Arveta Bishop, and
Rosellar Ross; and six
grandchildren.
See OBITS, 5A

Mississippi 2020 top stories: Virus, flag, prisons, storms
The Associated Press
JACKSON — More
than one in every 1,000
Mississippi residents died
of COVID-19 during 2020.
And as the U.S. faced
widespread protests over
racial injustice, Mississip-
pi legislators voted under
pressure to retire a Con-
federate-themed state
flag that had been used
for 116 years.
COVID-19
Mississippi detected
its first coronavirus cases
in March, and the pan-
demic shook the econ-
omy, disrupted schools
and scrambled people’s
routines. Unemployment
claims rose sharply as
people lost jobs. Some
could work from home,
but many still had to re-
port to factories or other
places requiring in-per-
son labor. Republican
Gov. Tate Reeves set a
statewide mask mandate
for several weeks during
the summer, but at other
times set county-by-coun-
ty mask mandates in plac-
es with the fastest spread
of the virus. The state
health officer, Dr. Thom-
as Dobbs, repeatedly
implored people to wear
masks, keep distance
from others and skip non-
essential gatherings.
Racial injustice
Mississippi legislators
voted in late June to sur-
render the last state flag
in the U.S. with the Con-
federate battle emblem.
They did so under pres-
sure from sports leagues,
religious groups, busi-
ness leaders and young
activists who said the flag
failed to represent a state
with a 38% Black popula-
tion. A commission later
recommended a flag with
a magnolia, and voters ap-
Lowndes considering extending its COVID-19
employee leave policy into new year
First CARES act expires Dec. 31;
new federal bill doesn’t include
off-time protections
BY SLIM SMITH
ssmith@dispatch.com
On Wednesday, Lown-
des County supervisors
spent most of their last
meeting of 2020 talking
about how the county
will handle employee sick
leave related to COVID-19
in 2021.
County Administra-
tor Jay Fisher informed
supervisors of a need to
change the COVID-19
policy because of changes
included in the new relief
package passed by Con-
gress and signed by the
president on Sunday.
“Under the CARES Act
that expires on Dec. 31,
the federal government
provided for 80 hours of
paid time off for people
CPD seeks suspects in fatal Southside shooting
Shots rang out Wednesday night
after argument on 12th Avenue South
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com
One person has died
and another is injured
after a shooting in South
Columbus Wednesday
night.
Lowndes County Cor-
oner Greg Merchant
identified the victim as
Frank Edwards, 20, of Co-
lumbus. Edwards was visit-
ing friends on 12th Avenue
Local journalism matters
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proved that design in No-
vember. The flag change
was part of a widespread
reckoning over racial in-
justice. In July, a Confed-
erate soldier statue was
moved from a central spot
on the University of Mis-
sissippi campus to a ceme-
tery that’s still on campus
but is more remote — a
change that was years in
the making. Confederate
monuments at courthous-
es also came under scru-
tiny, with supervisors in
a few counties voting to
move them and supervi-
sors in a few other coun-
ties voting to keep them.
Mississippi voters updat-
ed the state constitution
by erasing a complicated
system for electing state-
wide officials; the system
that had been set during
the Jim Crow era.
New officials
Mississippi inaugurat-
ed state officials in Jan-
uary, with Republicans
Tate Reeves, Delbert
Hosemann and Lynn
Fitch moving into new
roles — Reeves from
lieutenant governor to
governor, Hosemann
from secretary of state to
lieutenant governor and
Fitch from treasurer to
attorney general. Reeves’
year was dominated by
the pandemic response.
The third-term House
speaker, Republican Phil-
ip Gunn, went to court to
challenge Reeves’ partial
veto of budget bills, and
the state Supreme Court
sided with Reeves. Weeks
after the presidential elec-
tion, Fitch joined a lawsuit
by the Texas attorney gen-
eral that sought to over-
turn presidential election
results in swing states
won by Democrat Joe
Biden. All three of Mis-
sissippi’s Republican con-
gressmen — Trent Kelly,
Michael Guest and Steven
that were either infected
by the virus or exposed
to someone with the virus
and had to quarantine,”
Fisher said. “We were
hopeful that part of the
act would be renewed,
but the new act does not
include that protection.
Right now, our policy mir-
rors the policy we had.
Now that’s changing as
of Friday, we’re going to
take some kind of action.
Fisher recommend-
ed that the board agree
to change the policy to
continue providing 80
hours for COVID-related
absences among its em-
ployees. District 5 Super-
visor Leroy Brooks said
the Mississippi Legisla-
ture passed legislation
before the federal CARES
South and was shot in the
front yard following an ar-
gument with two people in
a vehicle, Merchant and Co-
lumbus Police Chief Fred
Shelton said.
Another man outside the
car was shot and treated for
his injuries and released
from Baptist Memorial
Hospital-Golden Triangle,
Shelton said. The shooting
occurred just after 9 p.m.,
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Palazzo — supported the
effort. The U.S. Supreme
Court dismissed the law-
suit.
Prison problems
The U.S. Justice De-
partment announced in
February that it was in-
vestigating Mississippi’s
prison system, weeks
after violent outbursts
killed some inmates and
injured others. The sys-
tem has struggled for
years with short staffing
and tight budgets. Burl
Cain, a former warden of
Louisiana’s Angola pris-
on, became the new cor-
rections commissioner in
Mississippi and said he
would improve prisons
with “good food, good
praying, good playing and
good medicine.”
Human Services
scandal
Former Mississippi
Department of Human
Services director John
Davis and the others were
indicted on state criminal
charges in what Audi-
tor Shad White called a
“sprawling conspiracy.”
White said in February
that investigators believe
at least $4 million in fed-
eral welfare money was
stolen. The money was
meant to help the needy,
but at least $48,000 paid
for a luxury drug rehabil-
itation program for a for-
mer pro wrestler, accord-
ing to the indictments,
which also alleged a polit-
ically connected nonprofit
administrator and her son
took money. White said
in May that former NFL
quarterback Brett Favre,
who lives in Mississip-
pi, had repaid $500,000
that the Department of
Human Services paid for
multiple speeches where
Favre didn’t show up; he
owed another $600,000.
Act was passed that al-
lowed local governments
to pay employees with
COVID-related absences
without requiring employ-
ees to use their sick days.
“The other thing is
that, at some point during
my tenure on the board,
there was a policy that al-
lows employees to donate
their sick time to other
employees,” Brooks said.
Fisher acknowledged
that possibility, but raised
the question of whether it
was fair to all employees.
“Let’s say someone got
coronavirus in November
and the federal govern-
ment provided 80 yours
of time off.” Fisher said.
“That person didn’t have
to use his sick time or va-
cation time. The govern-
ment provided it.
“Now, another person
gets coronavirus on Jan.
4,” he continued. “Am I
going to tell that person,
‘Sorry, but we’re not go-
ing to provide those 80
according to a Columbus
Police Department press
release.
CPD investigators are
still searching for the sus-
pects in the shooting, the
release said. The driver of
the car, a small four-door
Mazda, is described as a
“heavy-set” African Amer-
ican male, the release said.
Anyone with informa-
tion about the shooting is
asked to call Golden Tri-
angle Crime Stoppers at
800-530-7151 or use the P3
phone application to send a
tip to CPD.
Favre was not facing
criminal charges.
Severe weather
More than a dozen tor-
nadoes blasted through
Mississippi on Easter,
killing at least 14 people
and damaging about 1,400
homes and 80 businesses.
The National Weather
Service said one of the
tornadoes was the widest
ever recorded in the state;
it was 2 miles (3.2 kilome-
ters) wide and stayed on
the ground for about 68
miles (109.4 kilometers),
from Jefferson Davis
County to Clarke County
in the southern part of the
state. The storms were
part of a wider outbreak of
severe weather across the
South. Mississippi had
some deaths and damage
during an active hurri-
cane season, but was not
hit as hard as Louisiana or
Texas.
Senate rematch
Voters on Nov. 3 chose
incumbent Republican
incumbent Cindy Hyde-
Smith over Democratic
challenger Mike Espy for
a six-year Senate term.
It was a rematch of a
2018 special election that
Hyde-Smith also won.
The first race was to finish
a term started by Republi-
can Thad Cochran, who
resigned in early 2018 be-
cause of health concerns.
Hyde-Smith was the first
woman to serve as Missis-
sippi agriculture commis-
sioner, and then-Gov. Phil
Bryant appointed her to
temporarily succeed Co-
chran. That made her the
first woman to represent
Mississippi in Congress.
During the 2018 election,
Hyde-Smith praised a
supporter by saying she
would attend a public
hanging if the man invited
her. Espy seized on that to
say that Hyde-Smith was
hours of time off. You’re
going to have to use your
own personal time or sick
time just because of the
timing of when you got
the virus?’ My recom-
mendation is that we mir-
ror what we have now and
carry it forward to 2021.
I realize there may be
other ideas, though, and
that’s why I’m bringing it
to your attention now so
that we can make a deci-
sion at our next meeting.”
The board took no ac-
tion, but agreed that it will
adopt a policy to address
the issue at Monday’s
board meeting.
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Published daily except Saturday.
Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703
Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc.,
516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
ill-equipped to represent
a diverse state. In 1986,
Espy became Mississip-
pi’s first Black congress-
man since Reconstruc-
tion. He later served as
U.S. agriculture secre-
tary under President Bill
Clinton. During the 2020
campaign, Hyde-Smith
declined to debate Espy.
Medical marijuana
Mississippi voters on
Nov. 3 approved a medical
marijuana initiative over
objections from many
state officials and public
health leaders. The ini-
tiative specified that the
state Health Department
has until mid-2021 to es-
tablish a program. But
Madison Mayor Mary
Hawkins Butler filed a
lawsuit that could threat-
en the program before
it is created. Her lawsuit
argues that Initiative 65
improperly landed on the
ballot because of the way
signatures were gathered.
The Mississippi Constitu-
tion says no more than
one-fifth of the signatures
for an initiative may come
from any congressional
district. That was writ-
ten when Mississippi had
five districts, but now has
four. An attorney gener-
al’s opinion had said an
equal number of signa-
tures should come from
each of the four districts.
The lawsuit argues that
the initiative process in
the constitution must be
updated.
Curtis Flowers
Mississippi Attorney
General Lynn Fitch an-
nounced in September
that she would not seek a
seventh trial against Cur-
The Dispatch
Answers to common questions:
Phone: 662-328-2424
Website: cdispatch.com/help
Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
3A
tis Flowers, who was freed
from prison in December
2019. A district attorney
put him on trial six times
in the 1996 killing of four
people at a Winona furni-
ture store. Flowers was
convicted multiple times,
but the U.S. Supreme
Court threw out the most
recent conviction in June
2019, citing racial bias in
jury selection. American
Public Media’s “In the
Dark” podcast investigat-
ed the case and recorded
an interview with a wit-
ness who recanted his
own testimony against
Flowers. The attorney
general’s office said in
September that prosecu-
tors no longer had cred-
ible witnesses. Flowers
said in a statement: “To-
day, I am finally free from
the injustice that left me
locked in a box for nearly
twenty three years.”
Yazoo pumps
The U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers took steps
to revive a flood-control
project that proposes
massive pumps to remove
water from the Missis-
sippi Delta. The Corps
reversed its own previous
stance that pumping out
floodwater would harm
wetlands. It said pumps
would decrease the depth
and duration of flooding
in the rural Yazoo Back-
water Area, and that rain-
fall would keep this part
of the Delta from drying
out. Conservation groups
criticized efforts, saying
the project would hurt the
environment to help agri-
business. The project has
bipartisan support in Mis-
sissippi’s congressional
delegation.
SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Major
Thur.
2:01a
Fri.
2:56a
Minor
Major
—
2:28p
8:04p
3:23p
Minor 9:54a 10:41a
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
Opinion
4A THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

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

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

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

SLIMANTICS
The year of unfinished business
This is my last Models predicted gets laughed out of court, three finished business in 2021. flag, which bore the image
column of 2020 and another 200,000 more silly suits seem to take its We should not be surprised of the Confederate flag in its
like most things American deaths by place. at this point. canton. Our new flag replaced
in 2020, I’m ready February. The main argument is the We’ve seen the trend here at the Rebel flag with the image
to be done with it. So, no, we’re Atlanta Falcons’ argument. In home too. of a Magnolia flower, which
(the year, not the not finished with the 2017 Super Bowl, Atlanta We couldn’t even get a lawn figures to be a big blow to KKK
column, I mean). COVID, not by a led by 19 points at halftime, but ornament removed from the iconography.
On the macro long shot. New England scored 19 points Lowndes County courthouse It only took 115 years and
level, 2020 will be On a related in the second half to tie the before year’s end, even though two months in the summer of
remembered most note, health officials game, then won in overtime. supervisors took up the matter 2021 to do that, lest we get too
of all as the year of started telling us That’s pretty much the same in July. proud of the achievement.
the great pandemic in March to wear argument Trump uses now. Folks have been trying to I’m sure there are some
and a presidential Slim Smith masks, stay six feet Trump held a lead early, but get rid of county supervisor other things that started in
election. away from others the lead evaporated as mail-in Harry Sanders since June. But 2020 and actually finished in
But on the micro level, 2020 and not congregate in large ballots were counted. by year’s end, Stonewall Harry 2020, but I’m hard-pressed to
will be recalled as the year we groups and are still telling Trump folks said that’s is still sitting in the board- recall them.
couldn’t get finished with much us that now, another piece of mighty suspicious. room. The monument may be On a personal level, I went
of anything, which is true unfinished 2020 business. That’s it. That’s the whole bigger, but Harry has proven into the year with the goal of
almost everywhere you look. Then, there is the matter of argument. Seriously. I’ll go on to be a much heavier lift. So, losing 20 pounds.
We’ll start with the coro- the Presidential election, which record as saying the election as we enter 2021, we still have I didn’t quite finish that,
navirus, which started in was held Nov. 4. Almost two outcome is about as suspicious two relics of the Confederacy either, although I am within 25
February. We certainly aren’t months later, President Trump, and unfair as New England firmly ensconced at the court- pounds of that goal.
finished with that, not even who lost by seven million votes scoring all those second-half house. Maybe that’s the good thing
after more than 332,000 nationally and by 74 Electoral points. My suggestion is to cut our about 2021: We have a helluva
American died. Health officials College votes, still refuses to Trump will be gone soon, of losses and put Harry in the lot to look forward to.
believe the toll of the virus concede. Trump supporters course. It’s inevitable. spot vacated by the monument. Slim Smith is a columnist
may get worse as the new year have launched an endless I think I’ll miss his quiet The lone outlier, as best I and feature writer for The
begins, even as we embark on array of lawsuits contesting dignity most of all. can recall, is that somehow we Dispatch. His email address is
a massive vaccination program. the election. When one suit The 2020 election will be managed to get rid of the state ssmith@cdispatch.com.

THE NATION

Another stimulus:
Better late than never
According to a recent study
by the Aspen Institute, up to 40
million Americans faced eviction
towards the end of this year, no
doubt due to the financial impact
of COVID-19. As federal resources
for unemployment and additional
stimulus came to a complete halt,
millions of Americans and small
businesses are fighting to survive
amid this widespread, govern-
ment-mandated lockdown. To make
matters worse, nearly 100,000 Armstrong Williams
businesses that temporarily shut
down because of the pandemic are now permanently out of
business.
While Congress fell into the dark abyss of hyperpartisan
bickering, Americans of every race and political party affil-
iation continued to struggle. Their communities have been
forever changed by the businesses that closed their doors.
For some, it has been a recurring nightmare that never
ends no matter how hard you pinch yourself. However, even LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
the self-imposed demi-gods that we call our congressmen
and congresswomen should have a moment of mercy. That my husband that they would expected in January. Among
mercy comes in the form of another COVID-19 relief pack-
Poetic response to frequent be taking care of this eyesore. the richer countries, only the
age to help struggling Americans and small businesses. letter-writer Merry Christmas! Nothing has United Kingdom is experienc-
The original proposed bill, which was over 5,000 pages As a conservative I always been done. Well, let me correct ing a higher per capita death
long, included $600 stimulus checks for Americans, $300 stand back, that. Thanks to Mother Nature, rate than the United States and
in weekly unemployment supplements and $284 billion When Paul Mack goes on his the weeds are dying down, but we will likely overtake them
in small business loans, also known as the PPP program, attacks. that doesn’t excuse the horrible once the more infectious strain
which helped keep many small businesses afloat following Though his facts are for real, condition of the house. Siding is they are already dealing with
the initial lockdowns in early 2020. While the PPP stimulus Does he know the whole falling off, and there is a hole in there spreads more widely in
is certainly helpful for small businesses, President Trump deal? the roof. There was a tarp on it our country.
voraciously objected to the $600 stimulus amount and And he usually lacks brevity several years ago, but hey, noth- The President has left the
demanded for $2,000 checks. House Republicans initially and tact. ing lasts forever. It has disinte- golf course in Florida and is now
rejected the measure, but they have now come around to Kathie Baeuerlin grated! The front door stands headed back to the capitol early
Trump’s demand and have joined their Democratic col- Columbus ajar. Someone who actually but not to redouble his efforts
leagues in passing the amended bill. With the bill headed ventured inside the house said to combat the virus. No, that’s
to the U.S. Senate, all eyes are on Majority Leader Mitch Response to Leslie Sorrell’s there is mold everywhere. the states’ problem in his mind.
McConnell, who has started to break rank from Trump. letter concerning dilapidated In my first letter to the Instead, he is returning early
Hopefully, however, this will be a victory for Trump and, owner, I suggested if they
most importantly, a victory for millions of American fami- houses didn’t want to spend the money
to continue his ridiculous coup
attempt, still backed by no justi-
lies. I certainly feel your pain
concerning dilapidated housing on repairs (and that would be fying evidence whatsoever. And
There remains one question: What happens when extensive), possibly they could we have at least one less than
this money runs out? With the threat of a new strain of situations.
We live in the city, as ap- contact the fire department and scrupulous senator to thank for
COVID-19 from the U.K., one that doctors already warn they could use it as a training the continuation of this farce.
could be lurking in the U.S. undetected and awaiting dis- parently you do. However, my
husband owns property in the site. Just a thought. Get involved with Congress
covery in some unfortunate soul, mass panic could result As property owners (who ac-
county, District 2 to be exact. to push the $2,000 checks you
and another shutdown of the U.S. economy could occur, tually pay their taxes and keep
We have been trying to get claim you want? Push for more
putting us closer to the brink of economic collapse. up their property) we should
something done about a dilapi- aggressive vaccination efforts to
While Americans are thankful for relief, I can’t help but have some rights. After awhile
dated house directly across the compensate for the woeful un-
wonder how long it will last. There are so many, particular- you begin to wonder. We would
street from his house which he derperformance by your team?
ly those in our rural and urban areas, who are truly going appreciate hearing any sugges-
to have a difficult time. Some will be forced to stretch funds now rents. No, that’s somebody else’s
The owner is an LLC out of tions that would help us cope problem, too.
while looking for work from businesses that might other-
town. However, that doesn’t with this situation. We hate it for If you were not already
wise have hired them, businesses that are now fighting
eliminate them from being our renter who has to look at it convinced that Donald Trump is
to stay afloat and doing everything to keep their current
responsible for property in their every day! incompetent at being president
employees on the payroll.
name. We began May 2019 Sarah Studdard how could you not be now? The
Perhaps this is a spiritual dilemma; perhaps COVID-19
with a certified, return receipt Columbus next three weeks could not pos-
is a test to our national and global humanity. Is there some-
thing that we should learn at this moment? I believe firmly requested letter to the owners. sibly go by fast enough for me.
that there is, and as we prepare for the possibility that They signed for the letter about Final 2020 thoughts on Trump I would much rather be saying
things could get worst, we must humble ourselves to our four days letter, and this notice As bad as 2020 has been as goodbye to him tonight than to
vulnerability as human beings. Perhaps before COVID, that was returned to us. When we a year, Donald Trump has been 2020.
was easier said than done, but I think that the recent ram- had first contacted the owner, an even worse president, in my Paul Mack
pant loss of life has humbled us all. How can anyone take we sent a copy of this letter to view, leaving damage behind Columbus
life for granted after what we’ve gone through, especially the Board of Supervisors of that will be evident far longer
with the looming possibility of more. This reality should Lowndes County. Another letter even than the damage done by A letter to the editor is an
force us all to our knees to give praise, thanks and glory to was sent in June, again with a COVID-19. excellent way to participate in
the almighty. copy going to the board. After President Trump’s willful but your community. We request
As you move forward with a second round of relief from this we just decided to deal with inept leadership has dramati- the tone of your letters be con-
Congress, preserve what you can and stock up on essen- the local board itself. A lot of cally increased the damage we structive and respectful and the
tials because it’s possible that the worst is yet to come. It’s good that did! all suffer – and will continue length be limited to 450 words.
possible that while the relief is better late than never, we We won’t call a name, but to suffer – from this virus; we We reserve the right to edit letters
could realize that it’s not enough. We may soon realize that the supervisor did finally call will likely never know just how for clarity, grammar and length.
some resources aren’t as finite as we once thought. But the my husband and talk with him. much. Yesterday’s death toll, in We welcome all letters emailed to
question again, as I’ve alluded to throughout this column is: After another letter, he agreed case you missed it, was 3,903, or voice@cdispatch.com or mailed to
Are we ready, or is it too late? to meet with him and someone 1.3-times 9/11’s. We now have a The Dispatch, Attn: Letters to the
Armstrong Williams is an American political commenta- else from the county to look cumulative total of approximate- Editor, PO Box 511, Columbus,
tor, entrepreneur, author, and talk show host. at the situation. They assured ly 341,000 with another 100,000 MS 39703-0511.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 5A

Obits
Continued from Page 2A

R.J. Johnson Services of Macon is Home. Mary Barnes dition of Sulligent City and Mississippi State
CALEDONIA — R.J. in charge of arrange- Lee Sykes ALICEVILLE, Ala. Cemetery. Visitation University. He was
Johnson, 74, died Dec. ments. Funeral — Mary Susie “Kitty” will be one hour prior a veteran of the U.S.
27, 2020, at Baptist Me- Mrs. Franklin was Home of Barnes, 66, died Dec. to services. Otts Funer- Army. He was formerly
morial Hospital-Golden born Jan. 29, 1971, in Colum- 23, 2020, at Northport al Home of Sulligent, employed in the com-
Triangle. Noxubee County, to bus is in Medical Center. Alabama is in charge of mercial credit field, as
Funeral services will Martha J. Brooks and charge of Graveside services arrangements. a salesman, with Carter
be at 2 p.m. Saturday, the late L.G. Brooks. arrange- Brown will be at 11:30 a.m. Mrs. Cantrell was Equipment Company,
at Carter’s Funeral She was formerly ments. Saturday, at Magnolia born March 16, 1950, as owner of an auto
Services, with David employed as the owner Mr. Brown was born Gardens Cemetery, in Pickens County, body repair shop, with
O. Williams officiat- of Christian Housing to the late Zack and with the Rev. Willie J. Alabama, to the late Waters Truck and Trac-
ing. Visitation will Development Inc. and Gertrude Brown. He Fulgham officiating. Buster Vails and Fannie tor, and in the logging
be two hours prior to was a member of New attended R.E. Hunt Visitation will be from Mae Woods. She at- equipment business. He
services at the funeral Hope M.B. Church. School. 12:30-3 p.m. Friday, at tended Pickens County was a member of First
home. Carter’s Funeral In addition to her fa- In addition to his Lavender’s Funeral Ser- High Schools and was Baptist Church.
Services of Columbus ther, she was preceded parents, he was preced- vice. Lavender’s Funer- formerly employed with In addition to his par-
is in charge of arrange- in death by two sisters. ed in death by several al Service of Aliceville, Chromalox. ents, he was preceded
ments. In addition to her siblings. Alabama is in charge of In addition to her in death by his siblings,
Mr. Johnson was mother, she is survived arrangements. parents, she was Thomas Elmer Green
born Nov. 25. 1946, in by her husband, David Emmaline Williams preceded in death by and Charlene Green
Franklin III; children, COLUMBUS — her daughter, Cassie Taylor.
Columbus, to the late
Fredricus Brooks, Willie Young Sizemore; and siblings,
Ofie Williams and Ar- Emmaline Burgin WEST POINT — He is survived by his
gusta Williams. He was Vadaesha Franklin, Williams, 79, died Dec. Truman Vails, Carl Ray wife, Clara W. Green;
Chelsey Franklin, Asia Willie Young, 72, died Vails, and Gaybe Allen.
formerly employed as a 24, 2020, at Dec. 27, 2020, at Baptist children, Kimberly
mechanic with Phillips Franklin, and Lap- her resi- She is survived Moore of Macon and
rincess Taylor, all of Memorial Hospi- by her children, Dan
Contracting. dence. tal-Golden Triangle. Lee Green of Ocean
In addition to his Brooksville, Jadaquise Cantrall and Shannon Springs; sister, Ibby
Services Graveside services
parents, he was pre- Liddell of Columbus, Utter; siblings, Dewin
will be will be at 11 a.m. Fri- Morris of Oxford; two
ceded in death by his Xavier Franklins and Vails and Rachel Ponds;
at noon day, at Sykes Cemetery, grandchildren; and one
wife, Alice M. Johnson; Joshua Franklin, both six grandchildren; and
Sunday, in Monroe County, great-grandchild.
and sibling, Ofie Lee of Crawford; siblings, three great-grandchil-
Termeeka Brooks and at Unit- Williams with the Rev. Randy L.
Williams. dren.
He is survived by his Leterra Brooks, both of ed Faith Conley Jr. officiating. Beverly Moore
Columbus, and Lerenzo Interdenominational Visitation will be from COLUMBUS — Bev-
children, Dena Stever- Ministries, with Johnny 10:30-11 a.m. prior to Charles Green erly Moore, 83, died
son of Elizabethtown, Brooks of Caledonia; MACON — Charles
and six grandchildren. Durrah officiating. services at the ceme- Dec. 30, 2020, at her
Kentucky, Ronald J. Burial will follow at tery. Carter’s Mortuary Lee Green, 79, died
residence.
Johnson of Steens, Services of West Point Dec. 29, 2020, at his
Phillip Stripling Prairie Chapel M.B. Arrangements are
and Dino Johnson of is in charge of arrange- residence.
NORTHPORT, Church Cemetery. Vis- incomplete and will be
Saint Ansgar, Iowa; ments. Graveside services
Ala. — Phillip Dean itation is from noon-5 announced by Lown-
siblings, Sarah Ann Mr. Young was born were held Wednesday,
Stripling, 68, died Dec. p.m. Saturday, at Lee- at Cooksville Cemetery, des Funeral Home of
Williams, Willie Mae Nov. 17, 1948, in Mon-
30, 2020, at Weaver Sykes Funeral Home. with Steve Galloway Columbus.
Henry, and Betty Ann roe County, to the late
Blair, all of Columbus, Group Home of North- Lee Sykes Funeral officiating. Cockrell
Home of Columbus is Leroy “Roy” Young Steven Vanasselt
Bessie Pear Williams of port, Alabama. Funeral home of Macon
in charge of arrange- and Geraldine Carter COLUMBUS — Ste-
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Graveside services is in charge of arrange-
ments. Young. He was formerly ven L. Vanasselt, 68,
Mattie Mae Williams will be at 2 p.m. Satur- ments.
Mrs. Williams was employed as a diesel
of Jonesboro, Arkan- day, at Springhill Cem- Mr. Green was born died Dec. 30, 2020, at
born Sept. 13, 1941, in mechanic.
sas, Vera Tate of South etery of Tuscaloosa, July 31, 1941, in Louis- Baptist Memorial Hos-
Columbus, to the late In addition to his
Carolina, Sylveter Alabama. Dowdle Fu- ville, to the late Thom- pital-Golden Triangle.
Clara Ellis-Gholston parents, he was preced-
Williams of Columbus, neral Home of Millport, as Elmer and Lucy Arrangements are
and Alfred Given. She ed in death by his wife,
and Clarence Williams Alabama is in charge of Isabelle Fraley Green. incomplete and will be
attended Mitchell Emma J. Poe Young;
of Vernon, Alabama; 10 arrangements. He was a graduate of announced by Memori-
and siblings, Ricky
grandchildren; and 11 Mr. Stripling was Memorial Elementary Macon High School al Gunter Peel Funeral
Simmons, Leroy Young
great-grandchildren. born in Fayette County, and Hunt High School and attended East Mis- Home and Crematory,
Jr., Bernice Johnson,
Alabama, to the late and was a graduate of sissippi Junior College College Street location.
and Betty Webber.
Marzine Robinson William B. Stripling Lewis University. She
He is survived by his
LOWNDES COUN- and Gertie Hayes was formerly employed
Stripling. children, Ernest Young,
TY — Marzine Robin- with Midway Cap Darius Gill, Michael
son, 69, died Dec. 25, In addition to his par- Company. She was a
ents, he was preceded Young, and Amber
2020, at Rush Specialty member of Good Hope Young Holliday; sib-
Hospital of Meridian. in death by his siblings, M.B. Church and
Rose Marie Stripling, lings, Sherman Young,
Funeral services attended United Faith Tyrone Young, Lillie
will be at 2:30 p.m. Dorwood Stripling, Inter-Denominational
Vernie B. Stripling, J.B. Outlaw, Ava Mosely,
Saturday, at New Hope Ministries Church. Shelia Henley, Monica
United Methodist Stripling, William Re- In addition to her
ese Stripling, and Lloyd Clay, Alfreda Hall, and
Church of Macon, with parents, she was Linda Bradshaw; 15
Kori Bridges officiat- Reese Stripling. preceded in death by
He is survived by his grandchildren; and one
ing. Burial will follow in her husband, George great-grandchild.
the church cemetery. siblings, Velma Hartley,
Burgin R. Williams;
Visitation is from noon- Dennis Stripling, and
and son, the Rev. Rone Sandra Cantrell
4 p.m. today, at Carter’s Doug Stripling.
Burgin Sr. GARDENDALE,
Funeral Services of She is survived by Ala. — Sandra Vails
Macon. Mark Brown her children, Brenda Cantrell, 70, died Dec.
Mr. Robinson was COLUMBUS — Smith and Tanna Fed
Mark A. Brown, 79, 28, 2020, at Magnolia
born Sept. 12, 1951, of Chicago, Illinois; ad- Ridge Nursing Home.
in Noxubee County, died Dec. 28, 2020.

Lester Harris
opted daughter, Karen Funeral services will
to Lola Mae Thomas Graveside services
Williams of Columbus; be at 1 p.m. Saturday,
and the late William will be at 2 p.m. Sun-
sister, Nellie Kimble of at Otts Funeral Home,
Robinson Sr. He was a day, at Union Cemetery.
Chicago, Illinois; six with James Godsey Lester Adron Harris passed
member of New Hope Visitation will be from
1-5 p.m. Saturday, at grandchildren; and four officiating. Burial will away peacefully at his residence,
United Methodist great-grandchildren.
Lee Sykes Funeral follow in the Filmer Ad- from natural causes.
Church.
A memorial service will be

In addition to his
mother, he is survived
by his children, Taron-
da Robinson of Craw-
ford, Toomars Robinson
of Houston, Texas,
Toforrest Robinson of
Starkville, and Spen-
son Bennett of Macon;
siblings, William Rob-
inson Jr. of Macon and
Robert Randle of St.
Louis, Missouri; and 23
grandchildren.
Doris Franklin
NOXUBEE COUN-
TY — Doris Franklin,
49, died Dec. 25, 2020,
at Baptist Memorial
Hospital-Golden Trian-
gle.
Funeral services will
be at 11 a.m. Saturday,
at New Hope M.B.
Church, with Eric Rice
officiating. Burial will
follow in the church
cemetery. Visitation is
from noon-4 p.m. today,
at Carter’s Funeral Ser-
vices. Carter’s Funeral
Betty Buchanan
Graveside Services:
Friday, Jan. 1 • 2 PM
Memorial Gardens of West Point
Burial
Memorial Gardens of West Point
2nd Ave. N. Location
Steven Vanasselt
Incomplete
College St. Location
memorialgunterpeel.com
Betty Buchanan
Betty Maharrey Buchanan, age 94, of Craw-
ford, MS, passed away December 30, 2020, at
Rush Foundation Hospital in Meridian, MS.
Graveside services will be Friday, January 1,
2021, at 2:00 PM at Memorial Gardens of West
Point, with Rev. Russell Mord and Pastor Kathy
Brackin officiating. Memorial Gunter Peel Fu-
neral Home & Crematory, 716 2nd Ave. North
location, is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Buchanan was born August 17, 1926, in
Osceola, AR, to the late Bennie and Rilla Mitch-
ell Maharrey. She retired from United Technolo-
gies after many years and was a member of the
Crawford United Methodist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded
in death by her husband, Gilbert Buchanan; and
seven siblings.
Survivors include her son, Gilbert Dale Bu-
chanan and his wife, Hilda, of Crawford, MS;
daughter, Nina Brown and her husband, Chris,
of Crawford, MS; brothers, Curtis Maharrey of
Okolona, MS, and David Maharrey of Columbus,
OH; grandchildren, Richey Buchanan and his
wife, Tina, Kristy Taylor and her husband, Rob-
bie, Rodney Buchanan and his wife, Jennifer, and
Deanne Robertson and her husband, Jack; and
great-grandchildren, Paige Summerford, Brooks
Taylor, Kate Taylor, Neil Taylor, Morgan Robert-
son, Sarah Robertson, Corabeth Bobertson, Dale
Buchanan, and Brody Buchanan.
Pallbearers will be Morgan Robertson, Dale
Buchanan, Brian Buchanan, and Neil Taylor.
Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Chil-
dren’s Research Hosptial, 501 St. Jude Place,
Memphis, TN 38105.
Sign the online guest book at
www.memorialgunterpeel.com
716 Second Avenue North • Columbus, MS
at 12 p.m., Sunday, January 3,
2021, at Memorial Gardens of
Columbus.
Lester was born in Bedford,
England, to Elaine Conner and
the late Leston Harris. He held
dual citizenship in England and
the U.S.A.
He attended Caledonia High School and East
Mississippi Vocational School. Lester loved and
cared for all sorts of animals (rescuing pets from
the animal shelter; raising domestic animals,
such as chickens; and catching non-domestic
animals––as in snakes, whenever he saw them).
He planted large blooming cactus (wherever he
could) and liked doing things “his way.”
Lester had a sharp wit and could most always
be found ready to debate. He had a contagious
smile and a hearty laugh. He was one who self-
taught and expressed constant curiosity. Often,
he could be found disputing systems, especially
the more rigid ones. He enjoyed playfully testing
systems as well; once, he managed to officially
sign one of his early driver’s licenses as “Lester
A. Lester,” likely giving himself a chuckle.
Most importantly, he maintained a heart for the
down-and-out; he liked to assist any in need––be
it animals, plants, or people.
In 1998, Lester made a public declaration of
embracing the Christian faith. Considering this
fact, Scripture offers comfort to those he left
behind: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that
believes in [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life”
(John 6:47).
In addition to his mother, Lester is survived
by his sisters, Lenora Harris Hatcher (Lee) of
Columbus, MS, and Julie Harris Ellis (Corley)
of Columbiana, AL, along with nephews, a niece,
and a host of relatives in England.
Memorials may be offered to Big Oak Boys
Ranch, P.O. Box 507, Springville, AL 35146 (phone
#205-467-6227), or Bedz4Kidz Project, c/o Dream
Center of Columbus (www.dreamcenterms.org),
P.O. Box 227, Columbus, MS 39703.
Paid Obituary
6A THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Year in Review
Continued from Page 1A

Impact of COVID-19
Two confirmed cases of
COVID-19 on March 22 were the first
in Oktibbeha County. Thirteen days
later, an 89-year-old woman became
the first COVID-19 fatality in both
the county and the Golden Triangle.
As of Tuesday, Oktibbeha County
has seen 3,360 positive cases and 73
deaths from COVID-19, according to
the Mississippi State Department of
Health website. The virus was at its
deadliest in the county in May, with
14 deaths that month.
The spread of the virus spiked
in midsummer with nearly 500 new
cases in July, and cases spiked again
at the end of the summer, with 278
new ones from Aug. 29 to Sept. 12.
December saw another spike with
more than 150 new cases per week
for three weeks in a row and more
than 800 overall. The intensive care
unit at OCH Regional Medical Center
reached capacity for the first time
since the pandemic began, with some
patients being treated in the emer-
gency room.
On Dec. 1, Gov. Tate Reeves
added Oktibbeha County to the list
of more than 60 counties under a
mask mandate, assigned to individual
counties in which COVID-19 cases
are continuing to increase. Both the
county and Starkville implemented
mask mandates of their own in July,
with Starkville’s still in place.
Non-essential businesses such
as gyms, salons and dine-in restau-
rants were temporarily closed under
Reeves’ “shelter-in-place” order in
April. Reeves gradually allowed these
businesses to reopen in May, but the
pandemic economy shuttered some
businesses permanently.
The pandemic also affected local
schools, which closed in March and
transitioned to online learning. The
Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated
School District delayed the start of
the fall semester and gave students a
choice between online and in-person
learning in hopes of preventing the
spread of the virus in schools.
For the fall semester, Mississippi
State University rented two hotels
in Starkville, the Comfort Suites on
Russell Street and the Hampton Inn
on Blackjack Road, and 40 rooms
with the option of 45 more at Fair-
field Inn and Suites in Columbus to
house students in quarantine due to
COVID-19 exposure.
In December, OCH received 100
doses of the Moderna COVID-19
vaccine, the first such vaccines to be
received in the Golden Triangle, and
administered the doses to hospital
staff most likely to come in contact
with COVID-positive patients.
Racial justice rally draws
thousands; aldermen change
spontaneous assembly ordinance
In the wake of George Floyd’s
death under the knee of a white
Minneapolis police officer in May,
Starkville activists banded together
to organize a racial justice march and
rally in less than a week.
Organizers predicted at least a few
hundred people would show up, but
the actual turnout on June 6 exceed-
ed 2,000. The protestors started at
Unity Park, wearing masks and car-
rying signs, and marched down Main
Street and University Drive, across
Highway 12 to the MSU Amphithe-
atre, where students, government
officials and religious leaders took
the stage for an hour and a half.
The protest was one of thousands
nationwide after Floyd’s death
reignited the Black Lives Matter
movement. Some protests resulted in
the destruction of property by rioters,
but Starkville’s protest was peaceful,
a goal the organizers emphasized
throughout the process.
Starkville Stand Up, the activ-
ist group that formed to organize
the protest, also aims to create a
citizen-led police review board and
implement cultural sensitivity train-
ing for all employees of the city and
SOCSD.
The quick turnaround meant
Starkville Stand Up could not obtain
a special event permit from the city’s
board of aldermen on short notice,
largely because it could not secure
an insurance provider. The board of
aldermen proceeded to reevaluate
its ordinances that allow freedom
of assembly, protected by the First
Amendment. There are now no insur-
ance requirements or any other costs
for First Amendment events to occur
in Starkville.
Oktibbeha County Lake Dam
shows signs of breaching
Severe storms in January put
enough pressure on the levee at the
Oktibbeha County Lake Dam that
County Engineer Clyde Pritchard
found signs of an “imminent” breach.
A crack had formed on the slope
of the dam due to water seepage
between the dam and the bedrock
underneath it, pushing sand boils to
the surface.
The dam held steady as county
officials installed pipes that siphoned
water over the levee, closing Coun-
ty Lake Road for several weeks. A
breach would have flooded 17,500
surrounding acres and forced 250
people to evacuate 130 homes in
northern Oktibbeha and southern
Clay counties.
The Oktibbeha County Board of
Supervisors voted 3-2 in February
to authorize Pritchard to draw up
plans to replace the dam. Pritchard
estimated that project could cost up
to $8 million.
Second Baptist Church
leaders held liable
after five-year civil case
A decade-long dispute between
leadership and the board of trust-
ees at Second Baptist Church in
Starkville came to a conclusion in
November after a 12-day trial in Ok-
tibbeha County Circuit Court.
A jury unanimously found Pastor
Joseph Stone and Head Deacon Terry
Miller responsible for negotiating a
May 2013 contract with Long Beach-
based TCM Construction to build a
new sanctuary without the church’s
board of trustees’ approval and
withholding money collected through
church offerings from the trustees.
The trustees paid TCM’s owner, Don-
ald Crowther, more than $454,000
for the work he was supposed to do,
but all that was ever completed was
preliminary dirt work, and the project
has not been touched since 2015.
Crowther pleaded guilty in July
to a longstanding fraud charge for
preparing and submitting false invoic-
es, and is scheduled to be sentenced
in January. Miller and Stone were
ordered to pay a combined $500,000
in damages to the church for conspir-
acy and breach of fiduciary duty, and
Stone will pay an additional $30,000
in damages for unjust enrichment.
Jackson retires, Williams
succeeds him after runoff victory
State Sen. Gary Jackson (R-French
Camp) retired in June after represent-
ing District 15, which includes parts
of Oktibbeha, Choctaw, Montgomery
and Webster counties, for almost 17
years, citing health concerns.
Bart Williams, owner of Security
Solutions Inc. in Starkville, received
the most votes in September’s special
election to replace Jackson. Williams
garnered 33.6 percent of the vote in
the four-candidate race, resulting in
a runoff between the top two candi-
dates in order to guarantee a majority
winner.
He then won 53.6 percent of the
vote to Joyce Meek Yates’ 46.4 per-
cent in the runoff in October.
Long-awaited Partnership Middle
School completed,
open on MSU campus
The $30 million Partnership Mid-
dle School, a collaboration between
the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidat-
ed School District and Mississippi
State University, welcomed students
in August after years of construction
delays.
In addition to serving grades
6-7 in SOCSD, PMS also serves as
a training lab for MSU’s College of
Education, allowing MSU students to
observe classroom teaching and mak-
ing university faculty a resource for
SOCSD teachers and administrators.
The middle school classrooms have
desks outside where MSU students
will sit and observe, and teachers can
block the younger students’ view of
their observers if need be.
The 123,000 square-foot building
was originally scheduled to open
in August 2018 before rain delays
pushed it to November 2018, January
2019, August 2019 and finally August
2020. The project was funded by a
local $16 million bond, a $10 million
allocation from the Mississippi Leg-
islature and cash and land donations
by MSU.
Armstrong Middle School pre-
viously housed grades 6-8. SOCSD
renamed it Armstrong Junior High
School, which now houses grades 8-9,
moving grade 9 from Starkville High
School.
North Star Industrial Park
development continues to grow
The North Star Industrial Park,
under construction northeast of
Highways 389 and 82, might include a
project that seeks to establish itself in
all three counties in the Golden Trian-
gle with an investment of $3 billion --
$1 billion per county, Golden Triangle
Development LINK CEO Joe Max
Higgins announced in January.
The project, codenamed Project
Trinity, would create 100 to 150 tech-
nical jobs for six-figure wages and has
its eye on the entire west end of North
Star as its Oktibbeha County location.
Another planned occupant, Project
Royal, would create 200 jobs in the
textiles and advanced manufactur-
ing industry for an average wage of
$35,000, though Higgins said in Jan-
uary that he would prefer the wages
be higher.
So far 230 acres of the 360 at
North Star have potential or con-
firmed occupants, and construction
of a 500,000-gallon water tank near
the park’s entrance began in August.
The new home of Garan Manufac-
turing, North Star’s first confirmed
tenant, will be complete by February
2021. Garan is relocating to the indus-
trial park from its longtime location at
the corner of Highway 12 and Indus-
trial Park Road in Starkville.
The construction of a 50,000
square-foot “speculative building,” or
an empty building with the goal of at-
tracting a new business to an existing
structure, near the entrance of North
Star will start in 2021 at the request of
Agracel, the Illinois-based property
development company that partnered
with the LINK to build it. The pad, or
plot of land prepared for building, for
the structure was initially supposed
to be built by the end of the summer
but was delayed due to the pandemic.

Yo’ Bar
Continued from Page 1A
Enterprises and the Lee
Foundation, which has
several business offices
on Bluecutt — said they
were concerned about
the bar increasing traffic,
trash and police calls to
Bluecutt.
Mignon Isaac said she
doesn’t feel those criti-
cisms are fair. The Isaa-
cs plan to designate staff
members to clean up any
trash in the parking lot.
As for traffic, Mignon
said, while the restaurant
will open at 11 a.m., the
vast majority of their pa-
trons visit the restaurant
at nights, and especial-
ly weekends, when the
surrounding businesses
have all closed, so there
should be no little overlap
between traffic to Yo’ Bar
and traffic to the other
businesses.
Ray told The Dispatch
he reached out to Mal-
lette and Watkins to help
area businesses appeal
the council’s decision, but
declined to comment fur-
ther on the matter. Hardy
said while she didn’t feel
comfortable speaking
about the legal process
of the appeal, she has the
same concerns about Yo’
Bar’s relocation to Bluec-
utt that she raised at the
council meeting.
She argued that the
fact that Yo’ Bar has secu-
rity guards, a 160-capac-
ity and designated staff
members to pick up trash
and direct traffic on cer-
tain busy nights makes it
inherently incompatible
with the other businesses
on Bluecutt.
“I told (Mignon) Isaac
that I genuinely, sincere-
ly respect your entrepre-
neurship and the success
that you’ve achieved, and
I applaud and have best
wishes for your continued
growth and success, but
not on Bluecutt,” Hardy
said. “It has nothing to do
with the establishment, it
has nothing to do with the
people, it simply has to do
with the guidelines of C-1
neighborhood zoning.”
Mallette and Watkins
did not return messag-
es from The Dispatch by
press time.
Conflict disclosure: The
Dispatch has hired Ledrico
Isaac for freelance photog-
raphy work in the past.

Shooting
Continued from Page 1A
chael Hunt told The Dispatch.
Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office responded at about 3
p.m. to a report of shots fired at a residence on Oswalt Road
in the western part of the county, Lt. Jon Davis said. The
shooting is considered an accident, and since the person
who fired the weapon is a juvenile, OCSO will not release
the person’s name, Davis said.
Authorities do not yet know how the juvenile acquired
the gun.
An adult was present in the house when the shooting
occurred and could possibly face charges, Davis said, but
the incident is still under investigation.
Sports
MISSISSIPPI STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
B
SECTION

Smith helps Bulldogs to win over Georgia in SEC opener

BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
Iverson Molinar knew
it wasn’t over.
When the Mississippi
State sophomore guard
picked up his second foul
less than two minutes into
Wednesday’s Southeast-
ern Conference opener at
Georgia, he left the floor
but kept the faith.
“It wasn’t the end of the
game,” Molinar told him-
self.
Deivon Smith made
sure of that.
While Molinar stayed
positive on the bench, the
freshman who replaced
him immediately helped
pace the Bulldogs to a big
lead early, scoring all 13
of his points in the first
half.
Molinar chipped in
16 in the second half as
Mississippi State (6-3,
1-0 SEC) weathered a late
comeback attempt and
passed its first conference
test with an 83-73 win
over Georgia (7-1, 0-1) in
Athens, Georgia.
But it was Smith, who
grew up 45 minutes west
in Loganville, who stole
the show for Mississippi
State.
“I thought Deivon came
in and was brilliant,” MSU
coach Ben Howland said.
“It was his best game as a
Bulldog.”
Howland said Smith
used a lot of the tickets
given to each player in
order to bring his family
to Stegeman Coliseum
in big numbers Wednes-
day. Promptly subbed in
when Molinar commit-
ted his second foul with
18:01 remaining in the
first half, Smith — who
suffered a concussion on
a fall during Saturday’s
practice and only re-
turned to full contact in
practice earlier Wednes-
day — put on a breakout
performance for those in
attendance.
He made all three of
his 3-point attempts — all
Photo by Tony Walsh
“huge shots,” Howland Deivon Smith suffered a concussion in practice Saturday but had a breakout
said — in the game’s first performance Wednesday at Georgia. Smith made all three of his 3-point attempts
See SMITH, 3B en route to a 13-point first half as the visiting Bulldogs took home an 83-73 win.

The Dispatch’s MISSISSIPPI STATE FOOTBALL

top 10 sports
stories of 2020
BY GARRICK HODGE,
BEN PORTNOY AND
How Walley became a blue-collar star at MSU
THEO DEROSA
sports@cdispatch.com

Even in a pandemic,
there was no shortage of
compelling sports stories
in The Golden Triangle in
2020.
But The Commercial
Dispatch was up to the
challenge of narrowing
down the top 10 stories
of 2020 as 2021 creeps
around the corner.
Multiple aspects of
each particular story
were considered, such as
newsworthiness, future
impact, proximity and
precedent. The following
stories were voted on by
the newspaper’s staff,
with each member vot-
ing for what they deemed
the top 10 stories of the
year. The first story a
writer picked received 10
points, the second story
nine points, and so on.
Plenty of subjectivity
was to be expected, as ev-
ident by the variety of sto-
ries on each participating
staff member’s ballot.
Nevertheless, here
are our top 10 stories of
the year along with a few
honorable mentions.
— Mississippi State
football beats LSU in Ba-
ton Rouge
— Ron Polk returns to
Mississippi State
— Mississippi State
softball sees historic start
to its season before shut-
down
10. West Lowndes
girls basketball goes
undefeated in regular
season, loses in state
semis, 2 points
It was a dream regu-
lar season for the West
Lowndes girls basketball
team.
The Panthers took a
25-0 record into the MH-
SAA Class 1A final four in
Jackson, where their bub-
ble was burst by eventual
champion Pine Grove.
Still, West Lowndes
was more than happy
with its first-ever unde-
feated regular season.
The Panthers posted two
wins over the likes of
Noxubee County, West
Point and New Hope in
their non-district play
and easily overpowered
their district foes. They
won one game against
Noxapater by a score of
93-15.
And though their sea-
son ended two wins short
of what they strove for,
West Lowndes was ec-
static to make it so far.
“I thought it was a
great season,” coach Ta-
keea Bozeman said. “The
See TOP 10, 2B
Mississippi State wide receiver Jaden Walley makes a touchdown catch against Missouri on Dec. 19 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville.
BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — Jaden Wal-
ley was no more than a year old
when he muttered his first word.
“Ball!” he said through the
slurred and drooly speech only
a months-old baby could muster.
The eldest of three boys,
Walley was always surrounded
by sports. From birth, he had a
soccer ball, football and basket-
ball within reach. As he grew,
he excelled on the football and
baseball fields.
Athletics ran in the family
too. Younger brother Justin is
a 2021 Minnesota football sign-
ee, while his mother, Kandice
McCann, earned scholarships
in softball and basketball at
Jones College. His father, Oli-
ver Walley, also played on the
basketball team and ran track
at Greene County High School
during his prep days.
“He was never quiet,” Mc-
Cann said of Jaden’s personality
as a kid. “Whenever the teach-
ers needed something, he was
always the one they picked.”
A converted quarterback
from his time at D’Iberville High
School, Jaden, now 19 years old,
is in the midst of the best fresh-
man campaign of any first-year
Mississippi State receiver in
program history. Teaming with
quarterback and classmate Will
Rogers, the pair have been the
wizards behind the curtain in
MSU’s late-season surge from
offensive ineptitude to suddenly
competent and, at times, dan-
gerous.
But Walley is far from the
melodramatic, arrogant ste-
reotype big-time receivers can
often fit. Rather, he’s a home-
body who FaceTimes his moth-
er every single day. He enjoys
hunting and fishing, even if he
only comes across a single deer
during a day in the woods. He
dons work boots and backwards
ball caps around town.
In short, he’s the perfect fit
for the blue-collar program ooz-
ing with potential in Starkville.
“I knew that I’d get a few
snaps and all, but it’s been a sur-
prise that I’m playing as much
as I have and getting the oppor-
tunity,” Walley said in mid-No-
vember. “I just feel blessed to be
able to step up and fill and play
this role.”
nnn
Jaden Walley never intended
to leave Greene County High
School.
Having spent his fresh-
man year quarterbacking the
Leakesville based-Wildcats, he
enjoyed the acclaim a 1,200-
yard passing and 1,000-yard
rushing season brings. Just a
few months into high school,
Walley was the big man on
campus in a town and at a high
school for which his parents pre-
viously competed. That quickly
changed.
Walley and his family moved
to D’Iberville after his fresh-
man year. Jaden was none too
pleased with the idea. He even
asked his father if he could stay
behind at Greene County while
the rest of the family departed.
“It hurt me,” Oliver said.
“That was tough, there. I hated
to take him out of a place where
he felt so comfortable, but it
worked out for the best.”
Success had always followed
Jaden in his youth. From his
time as a Pee Wee football
standout to learning to ride a
bike without ever attaching a set
of training wheels, he excelled
in anything and everything.
Ever an extrovert, Jaden
found his footing at D’Iberville
in sports. After earning a dy-
namic reputation on the field at
Greene County, the accolades
that came with it had suddenly
vanished. His new surround-
ings forced him into a renewed
work ethic.
Taking over as the head
coach at D’Iberville ahead of
Walley’s senior year, Larry
Dolan first encountered the do-
it-all athlete outside the school
field house. Peering onto the
baseball diamond, Dolan was
greeted by Walley push-mowing
the field in shorts, a backwards
hat and a pair of work boots. A
quick conversation ensued. The
pair traded thoughts on football,
at first, before the discussion
devolved into hunting and fish-
ing banter.
Their marriage, Dolan
thought, would work out just
fine.
In his lone year under Dolan’s
guidance, Walley offered flash-
es of the all-world ability that
made him a star in Starkville
this fall. Shifting in spells from
quarterback to wing back and
receiver in hopes of sparking
the D’Iberville offense, Wal-
ley and the Warriors lined up
around their own five-yard line
against eventual MHSAA 4A
runner-up Poplarville in Week 3
Photo by Jared Thomas
of the 2019 season. Dashing off
the line and past his defender
on the outside, Walley secured
a reception on a fade route, blew
by the rest of the Poplarville de-
fensive backs and sprinted for a
90-plus-yard score.
Three weeks later, Dolan
employed a double pass against
Ocean Springs. Catching the
ball on the outside, the deep
route Walley was supposed to
hit after his initial reception
was bottled up. Instead, he re-
versed fields, dipped and darted
through the Greyhounds de-
fense and scampered downfield
for a 60-yard touchdown.
“Your normal kid would
have pouted and probably quit,”
Dolan said in reference to Wal-
ley’s shifting positions as much
as he did as a senior. “But Jaden
Walley is the kind that when he
said, ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to
win,’ he really meant it.”
nnn
For all the accolades Walley
has accrued in his initial season
in Starkville, there have been
layers to the experience.
After moving him into his
dorm in June, McCann con-
cedes she cried the entire ride
back to southern Mississippi.
Jaden, too, had his bouts with
homesickness early, and he still
FaceTimes his mother daily.
“I can say to people all day,
but I can’t describe the feeling
I got inside,” McCann said of
Jaden’s transition to college.
“It’s like I knew he could do it,
but to see it actually happen and
See WALLEY, 2B
2B THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
Walley
Continued from Page 1B
happening every day is
amazing.”
As Walley transitioned
off the field, teammates
and coaches began
to see glimpses of his
game-changing ability to-
ward the latter part of fall
camp. Oliver Walley says
Jaden’s comfort manifest-
ed after MSU’s 41-0 throt-
tling at the hands of No. 1
Alabama. Put bluntly, he
felt like he belonged.
Following a two-week
break after MSU’s Nov.
7 win over Vanderbilt,
Walley notched four
straight 100-yard receiv-
ing games, broke Mardye
McDole’s four-decade old
Top 10
Continued from Page 1B
best we’ve ever had.”
9. West Point’s
dream of a five-peat
ends in Class 5A state
title game, 9 points
The West Point foot-
ball team’s “drive for five”
came up one turn short.
On Dec. 5, the Green
Wave were turned away
by West Jones, 33-27,
in the MHSAA Class
5A championship game
as they sought a public
school-record 12th title
and a record-tying fifth
consecutive crown.
There were signs early
on that this year’s West
Point team might not
match the accomplish-
ments of past seasons’
squads. The Green Wave
dropped their opener at
Starkville and lost back-
to-back games against
Lake Cormorant and Gre-
nada.
But West Point roared
back to beat Holmes
County Central, Grenada
and Ridgeland on the road
in the playoffs and reach
the title game against
West Jones.
Unfortunately for the
Green Wave, though, a
fifth title just wasn’t in the
cards.
8. Starkville boys
basketball wins back-
to-back state champi-
onships, 13 points
Greg Carter knows
winning never gets old.
When his Starkville
High School boys basket-
ball team won this year’s
MHSAA Class 6A cham-
pionship, Carter had the
same euphoric feeling he
did after last season’s ti-
tle.
So did the Yellow Jack-
ets, who went 27-2 and
beat Jackson Murrah 58-
51 in the championship
game. They finished off
a playoff run that includ-
ed wins over Clinton, Ol-
ive Branch and Harrison
Central.
Starkville improved
throughout the year,
turning a new, fresh No-
vember squad into a state
champion in the space of
just four months.
“When we started this
season, the first thing I
told them was, ‘This team
hasn’t done anything,’”
Carter said. “‘This team
hasn’t won anything. If
you want something,
you’ve gotta go win it.’”
The Jackets sure did.
T6. Columbus girls
basketball captures
first-ever state title, 20
points
A surprise loss to New
Hope in the district tour-
nament final shook things
up a bit for the Columbus
High School girls basket-
ball team this winter.
But the Falcons re-
solved to come out even
better.
They surged through
the MHSAA Class 5A
playoffs, beating Holmes
County Central and La-
fayette in tight games
and blowing out Laurel
in the state semifinals.
Then, the Falcons held
off Brookhaven 55-51 to
claim the first state cham-
pionship in girls basket-
ball in school history.
“This goes out to all
our girls in the Lady Fal-
con program who have
single-season freshman
receiving record and
helped the Bulldogs to a
thrashing of Missouri in
the Dec. 19 regular sea-
son finale.
For Oliver Walley,
Jaden’s all-time freshman
year has offered remind-
ers of the past. Having
coached Jaden from four
years old until he was
12, he saw the growth of
his eldest child on the
field. Jaden’s one-handed
catch along the sidelines
in a narrow miss against
in-state rival Ole Miss
caught the attention of ev-
eryone from local media
members to national pun-
worked so hard to get
here but were not able to
accomplish what we’ve
accomplished,” coach
Yvonne Hairston said.
“We’re just celebrating all
of them and all of us, and
it’s just a great feeling.”
Columbus star Aniya
Saddler, who had the win-
ning shot in the quarter-
finals against Lafayette,
moved on to Mississippi
Gulf Coast Community
College, but DJ Jackson
is leading a Falcons team
hoping to follow up what
last year’s historic squad
accomplished.
T6. MSU’s Robert
Woodard II, Reggie
Perry drafted; Wood-
ard II becomes first
pro Columbus player
drafted since 1980s, 20
points
Robert Woodard II
made history for both
the Columbus communi-
ty and Mississippi State
men’s basketball program
on Nov. 18.
After the Memphis
Grizzlies selected Wood-
ard II 40th overall in the
2020 NBA draft then later
traded him to the Sacra-
mento Kings, he became
the first Columbus-born
player taken in the NBA
draft since Sedric Toney
in 1985. Woodard II also
was the first MSU player
to be drafted since his
former collegiate team-
mate Quinndary Weath-
erspoon was selected by
the San Antonio Spurs in
2019 (No. 49 overall). The
Columbus native made
his NBA debut on Dec.
27 and scored a basket
against the Phoenix Suns.
Meanwhile, Woodard’s
college teammate, Reggie
Perry, was drafted by the
Brooklyn Nets with the
57th overall pick in the
draft. Perry made his pro
debut on Dec. 22 against
the Golden State Warriors
and scored his first career
NBA basket.
5. MUW Athletic Di-
rector Jason Trufant re-
lieved of duties after in-
vestigation, reassigned
to another role within
the university, 22 points
In a five-month inves-
tigation, The Dispatch
spoke with one current
MUW employee, two for-
mer student athletes and
six former athletic de-
partment employees who
described a toxic and bul-
lying culture cultivated
by Athletic Director Jason
Trufant that was largely
ignored by higher-rank-
ing administration.
In the initial inves-
tigation, The Dispatch
uncovered numerous ac-
cusations of bullying, ho-
mophobic statements and
verbal abuse by Trufant.
The now-former athletic
director vehemently de-
nied any of the claims,
while MUW President
Nora Miller contended
the school had done ev-
erything it needed to in
relation to an investiga-
tion into Trufant’s behav-
ior in August of 2019.
Just over six weeks af-
ter The Dispatch’s find-
ings hit newsstands, Tr-
ufant was relieved of his
duties and shifted into a
role as a special adviser
to Miller. Softball coach
Buddy Foster, who has
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
dits. That he held onto the
catch through the emphat-
ic shoulder crunch from
Ole Miss defensive back
Jalen Jordan elicited vivid
memories of Jaden being
throttled by a pair of tow-
ering defensive linemen
in a travel football game
in Jacksonville, Florida,
that left a chunk of turf in
his face mask. But as he
did as a pre-teen, Jaden
picked himself off the turf
in Oxford and raced back
toward the huddle, ready
for the next play.
Jaden, too, remains the
humble, yet successful
child his parents raised
on manners and polite-
a long history of work in
athletic administration,
was tabbed as the interim
athletic director on Dec.
17.
4. Longtime MSU
women’s basketball
coach Vic Schaefer
leaves for Texas; Nikki
McCray-Penson hired
as a replacement, 25
points
2020 was a year of
coaching turnover in
Starkville.
While Joe Moorhead’s
firing was less surprising,
Vic Schaefer’s departure
from MSU to Texas was a
seismic shift of epic pro-
portions around the wom-
en’s college basketball
world. After taking twice
taking the Bulldogs to
the precipice of their first
team national title in any
sport, Schaefer headed
back to his home state to
take over as the new head
coach in Austin.
With Schaefer out,
MSU administrators
turned to former Old Do-
minion head coach and
one-time Pat Summitt dis-
ciple Nikki McCray-Pen-
son to lead the Bulldog
women’s basketball pro-
gram.
Having spent 10 years
on Dawn Staley’s staff at
South Carolina as an as-
sistant coach and a two-
time all-American and
SEC player of the year at
Tennessee, McCray-Pen-
son is plenty familiar with
her new surroundings
and is in the midst of her
first season leading a tal-
ented but youthful group
through conference play.
T2. Joe Moorhead
fired after 6-7 season;
Bulldogs bring in the
pirate, Mike Leach, 32
points
What an ending, eh?
After a wild Egg Bowl
that saw Ole Miss receiv-
er Elijah Moore imitate
a peeing dog in the end
zone and a missed Luke
Logan extra point, then-
MSU head coach Joe
Moorhead proclaimed
that doubters would have
to drag his “Yankee ass”
out of Starkville. And so
they did.
After a lackluster Mu-
sic City Bowl loss to Lou-
isville, Moorhead was
fired and replaced with
the ever-eccentric Mike
Leach.
In eight seasons at
Washington State and
a decade prior at Texas
Tech, Leach had made a
habit of winning at some
of college football’s most
remote outposts. The jury
is still out on the Pirate
after a 3-7 finish to his in-
augural regular season in
Starkville, but at the very
least it’s been entertain-
ing.
After concluding his
MSU tenure with a 14-
12 record and two wins
over Ole Miss, Moorhead
spent this past season as
the offensive coordinator
at Oregon, helping the
Ducks to a Pac-12 title.
T2. Kylin Hill tweets
ultimatum if no action
is taking regarding Mis-
sissippi state flag, later
receives key to the city
of Columbus, 32 points
It all started with a
tweet.
In mid-June, a debate
ness. Despite his recent
success, he’s quick to
congratulate teammates
on the sidelines and per-
sistently shifts praise on
others in postgame me-
dia sessions when asked
about his own game.
Today, he’ll be a focal
point of an MSU offense
looking to close a forget-
table 2020 campaign on
a high note in the Armed
Forces Bowl against No.
24 Tulsa.
Nearly 18 years ago,
Walley muttered the word
“ball” for the first time.
Today, his ability to catch
them has plenty of others
talking about him too.
regarding the status of
Mississippi’s state flag
bearing a Confederate
emblem was raging in the
Mississippi state legisla-
ture. Exterior pressure
to remove the flag was
put on the state from var-
ious sources, such as the
NCAA when it announced
it would no longer allow
Mississippi to host NCAA
postseason events in an
escalation of its previous-
ly developed Confederate
flag policy.
Mississippi State’s star
running back, Kylin Hill,
became one of the most
outspoken supporters of
demanding a new flag
when he went to social
media to issue an ultima-
tum to state legislators on
June 22. His tweet read:
“Either change the flag
or I won’t be representing
this State anymore & I
meant that .. I’m tired.”
Hill was met with im-
mediate feedback. Some
positive. Others, not so
much. After more than
100 years of flying the
state flag bearing the
Confederate emblem, the
Mississippi Legislature
voted in late June to re-
move it. In late July, Hill
was awarded the key to
the city in his hometown
from Columbus Mayor
Robert Smith.
“I took a risk,” Hill said
at the ceremony. “I know I
took a risk.”
1. COVID-19 rocks
the world, sports in-
cluded, 40 points
What else could the
top story be?
A worldwide pandem-
ic that killed more than
300,000 Americans also
had a tremendous impact
on the sports world. In
the middle of the year, se-
rious doubt crept in that
sports, both college and
high school, would even
be played. When they
eventually resumed, post-
ponements, cancellations
and last-minute schedule
changes were ever pres-
ent.
COVID-19 made its
first significant sports-re-
lated impact in the Gold-
en Triangle on March 12,
when the Southeastern
Conference canceled the
SEC men’s basketball
tournament. The NCAA
tournament followed later
that day, and the spring
baseball and softball sea-
sons weren’t far behind.
High school athletics fol-
lowed suit.
Despite the Big Ten
and Pac-12 electing to
shut down their fall foot-
ball seasons (with both
leagues later revoking
those decisions), SEC
commissioner Greg San-
key pressed forward with
plans for a 10-game con-
ference-only schedule.
Meanwhile, MHSAA
canceled the first two
weeks of its fall football
season but completed a
full slate across six class-
es. The same can be said
for its other sports. MAIS
started and finished the
year as scheduled.
As 2020 ends, the pan-
demic still rages, but both
college and high school
basketball are continuing
their seasons.

Smith
Continued from Page 1B
10 minutes, finishing with 13 points,
three rebounds, two assists and a steal
in the first half.
“It was really sweet,” Smith said. “I
feel like I’ve been trying to find myself
all season, and I feel like that boosted
my confidence a lot.”
His performance helped boost the
rest of the Bulldogs, too. Mississippi
State made a whopping eight 3s in the
first half, including two apiece by Mo-
linar and Louisiana transfer Jalen John-
son, to take a 41-27 lead at the break.
Of course, holding Georgia to 23.7
percent from the field in the first half
was integral, too.
“I thought our defense in the first half
was as good a defense as we’ve played
since I’ve been here at Mississippi
State,” Howland said. “I thought we did a
terrific job in that respect.”
In the second half, though, the vis-
iting Bulldogs’ defending faltered, and
the home team began to heat up. Twice
with roughly six minutes gone in the
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
period, Georgia cut the lead to 10, but a
layup by Abdul Ado and a 3 by Johnson
stretched out Mississippi State’s advan-
tage each time.
In fact, Georgia didn’t get the lead
down to single digits until there were 68
seconds left to play, a welcome sight for
Howland and his coaching staff. The red
and black Bulldogs had trailed North-
eastern by 13 at the half in their previ-
ous game, only to outscore the Huskies
44-13 in the second half and win by 18
points.
“We knew they weren’t going to fold
up their tent,” Howland said. “We knew
they were going to come at us hard, and
they did. We really withstood a number
of challenges.”
Molinar was a big reason why. His
16-point half gave him 24 points for the
game on 8-of-14 shooting and helped
Mississippi State hold off a previously
undefeated Georgia team that had just
recently remembered how to score.
“Iverson had a great second half and
FAMILY CIRCUS
really got us off to a great start offen-
sively with some tough shots,” Howland
said.
D.J. Stewart scored 18 points on an
8-for-20 shooting performance, while
Johnson added 12 points on a 3-of-11
night.
“Anytime you win a game in the SEC,
it’s special, let me tell you,” Howland
said. “And it’s hard to do.”
Mississippi State will strive for more
of the same at 5 p.m. Saturday at Hum-
phrey Coliseum against a suddenly reel-
ing Kentucky team. The Wildcats are off
to a 1-6 start to the season.
Other scores
Prep Girls Basketball
Heritage Academy 44, Canton Acade-
my 27
CANTON — The Heritage Academy
girls claimed a 44-27 win over host Can-
ton Academy on Wednesday at the Can-
ton Christmas Classic.
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
I’m an Ameri-
can man who
was adopted as
an infant. Several
years ago, I found
my birth parents.
They are not
from America. My
mother came here
to give birth and
left. Sometime
later she married
my father and had
more children. I’m
in touch with the
entire family, but Dear Abby
mainly my birth
parents.
My biological siblings are
jealous of my success in life
and make it plain they don’t
approve of much that I do.
They also make sure I know I’m
not REALLY part of the family
because we didn’t grow up
together (although we are, by
blood, 100% siblings).
I deal with this the best I
can, but now I’m getting flak
from them because of my po-
litical views. (They saw a photo
of me at a political fundraiser.)
When my sister turned 40 this
year, I sent her a card, a Face-
book post and a text message. I you have every right to back off
turned 50 at the same time and
heard not a word from her.
Although my siblings are not
Americans, they feel the need
to trash our country, our gov-
ernment and our way of life. I’m
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec.
31). Normally, you wouldn’t con-
sider the pursuit of pleasure a
top priority, but this year shows
you reordering your internal
organization and becoming
richly fulfilled. The surprise for
you will be in how much your
happiness contributes to the
happiness of others. You’ll cash
in an unusual bestowal. Scorpio
and Aquarius adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 40, 25, 1,
17 and 36.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
Relationships, just like any
other endeavor, will roll much
easier once momentum kicks
in. This never happens from a
still position. Things have to be
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 3B
Reagan Merchant and Chloe Boyd
had 11 points apiece to lead the Patriots.
Lucy Sharp scored eight, Taylor Wheel-
er had six, Ellie Dawson had five, and
Caroline Peal had three.
Heritage Academy’s next game is
Tuesday at Starkville Academy.
Prep Boys Basketball
New Hope 83, West Lowndes 55
NEW HOPE — The New Hope boys
beat West Lowndes 83-55 at the Trojan
Holiday Classic on Wednesday.
Eric Caldwell led the host Trojans
(7-2) with 19 points. Jorden Edwards
scored 17, Caleb Parr and Ty Crowell
each had 12, and Chris Allen had nine.
Fredrick Rice Jr. led West Lowndes
with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Decam-
by Willis had 14 points and nine boards,
and Darrell Brooks had 13 points.
Columbus 42, Sipsey Valley (Ala.) 37
— at Trojan Holiday Classic
tempted to cut relationship with my girlfriend,
ties with them. who is 18. I love her to the
There is little re- moon and back, but I feel like
spect coming my she only stays with me because
way, and I think I can buy her things. She gets
I’ve had enough. upset with me when I don’t get
I value your opin- them for her. She says I value
ion, which is why I my mother and others before
am writing to you her.
now. I love her so much, and
BTW: I had an I want to marry her. I’m a
amazing set of minister at a church. She thinks
(now deceased) she should take priority before
parents and my bills and taking care of my
wonderful siblings mother, who can barely walk.
growing up. I just What do I do? — UNEASY IN
wish I had a bet- NEW JERSEY
ter relationship DEAR UNEASY: From what
with my biological you have written, it appears you
family. — DISAPPOINTED AND are involved with an 18-year-
EXCLUDED old self-involved gold digger
DEAR DISAPPOINTED: Your who does seem to be with you
family is the family that raised only because of what you give
and nurtured you. I, too, am her. She hasn’t yet learned (1)
sorry you don’t have a better That a gift should be voluntary
relationship with these jealous, and appreciated, rather than
judgmental people. You are extorted, and (2) the way a man
related by blood — nothing treats his mother is the way he
more. They do not have the will treat his wife.
right to criticize your political Since you asked my advice,
views or your lifestyle, any here it is: Close your wallet and
more than you have the right ditch this “girl.”
to criticize theirs. (And I doubt DEAR READERS: Well,
you would.) Because you are 2020, a year like no other in
neither respected nor included, recent memory, has drawn to
a close! I join you tonight in
and head in a different, more toasting a 2021 that will be
positive direction. Frankly, I less challenging for all of us. If
suspect you will feel better as you’re celebrating this evening,
soon as you do. please take measures to pro-
DEAR ABBY: I’m a 26-year- tect your health and the safety
old male in a long-distance of others. — LOVE, ABBY
moving to get moving. Perhaps there are objective
TAURUS (April 20-May standards to be met but they
20). The words “I love you” are boring compared with the
translate nicely, though not complex metrics your heart
directly. Anyway, you know when searches to satisfy.
you’re loved. You could tell LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll
them when it happens and that mentally scan through your
would be a more accurate and recent history, which will lead
evidence-based approach. to a broad array of feelings in-
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). cluding (but not limited to) pride,
It’s as though, sign of the twins, satisfaction, gratitude, hunger,
you are two people, one being compassion, tenderhearted-
perpetually surprised at what ness and ambition.
the other wants and equally im- VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
pressed by what both are willing You’re self-driven. You still
to do to get it. have to answer to people, but
CANCER (June 22-July ultimately, they are getting the
22). You wanted it to be very sense that this protocol, while
beautiful, and so you saw it as you may follow it, means little
very beautiful. And so it was. to you. Your assessment is the
only one that matters.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
You may be particularly sensi-
tive to stress triggers, but when
you take extra precautions to
make yourself feel comfortable
and safe, you become quite
impervious.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
All this talk about expressing
one’s authenticity and yet
many don’t realize that each
person contains multitudes.
You embrace your complexity,
which affords you flexibility of
expression.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). Where you used to have
very few choices, you now have
options aplenty. So many, in
fact, that many are paralyzed by
seemingly endless possibilities.
Not you. You’ve an uncanny
sense for finding your perfect fit.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). Maybe you’re not con-
sciously willing to let go of your
old way of doing things in the
name of trying to form a new
bond with someone, and yet
that is exactly what will happen.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). You’ll make a difference by
bringing awareness to issues
that matter. Yours is a gentle
wake-up call, like an alarm clock
that chirps rainforest sounds at
progressively higher volumes.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). You’re serious about
getting what you want — once
you know what that is. Right
now, there’s no way to tell. You
haven’t tasted enough of the
sample platter yet, but you will
in the days to come.
Trot out the same excuse
SOLUTION:
4B THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

RELIGIOUS BRIEFS
55th Anniversary
Zion Gate will celebrate the
55th Anniversary of Rev. Dr.
James A. Boyd and First Lady
Sis. Kathrene Boyd Dec. 20.
Live stream will be at 8 a.m.
with Rev. Dr. Vernon Swift,
pastor of Elizabeth Baptist
Church of Tuscaloosa, Ala-
bama bringing the message. A
drive-by parade will be held at
2:30 p.m.
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
Grief Support Group
The Oil of Joy for Grief
and Mourning offers a grief
support group at 6 p.m. every
second Thursday of the month
at United Christian Baptist
Church, 232 Yorkville Road
East. “Making your grieving
journey easier.” For more in-
formation, call 662-327-0604
or e-mail unitedchristian@
cableone.net.
Celebrate Recovery
Celebrate Recovery, the
nation’s largest Christian
recovery program, meets Tues-
days at 6:00 p.m. at Mead-
owview Church, 300 Linden
Circle in Starkville. Millions
have found help, healing, and
support for hurts, habits, and
hang-ups using our popular
Biblical 12 step program.
Recovery Room
New Life Assembly, 4474
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., Columbus,
holds prayer service Thurs-
day nights 5-6 p.m. Contact
Marie Nabors, 662-549-4322. Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER

for ecclesiastical purposes New Hope Road (near Dollar

Church service times: Sunday
school 10 a.m.; Sunday Sudoku
Sudoku is a number-
placing puzzle based on
Yesterday’s answer
only. We accept transcripts General) hosts Recovery Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 5 4 2 6 1 8 7 9 3
worship 11:15 a.m.; Tuesday
and your life experience also Room, at 6:30 p.m. each Sun- ber-placing
given numbers.puzzleThe object 9 8 1 5 7 3 6 4 2
Bible study 7 p.m. For informa-

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

can also be used for degree day. Find help, healing, and
tion, call Pastor District Elder based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 6 7 3 2 4 9 1 8 5
granting purposes. For further support for any hurt, habit, or Lou Nabors, 662-329-1234. grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 2 9 7 3 5 1 8 6 4
information feel free to call hang-up using our Christ-cen- given
so that numbers.
each row, eachThe 1 3 5 4 8 6 2 7 9
662-425-8443 tered 12 steps. object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place box
Fitness numbers
contains the1same to 9 number
in 8 6 4 9 2 7 5 3 1
3 1 9 8 6 2 4 5 7
Fellowship Dinner, Prayer for Youth Transformations the empty spaces so
only once. The difficulty
that each row, each 4 2 6 7 3 5 9 1 8
The Transformational level increases from
Youth Service Every second and third
Church, 2301 Jess Lyons
column and each
Monday
7 5 8 1 9 4 3 2 6
Pleasant Ridge Faith Cen- Saturday, Pleasant Ridge Faith 3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 12/31

ter, 923 Ridge Road, hosts a
fellowship dinner and youth
service every third Sunday.
Gospel Book Club
Friendship M.B. Church,
1102 12th Ave. S., invites the
public to join its Community
Gospel Book Club from 6-7
p.m., on the fourth Friday of
each month, to study and
share views of the Holy Bible.
Open to all ages and ethnic-
ities. For more information,
call Barbara Mattison or Lillian
Murray, 662-570-5595.
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
fifth Saturday. For information,
contact Jesse Slater, 662-
328-4979.
Radio Program
Apostles Patrick Perkins
invites the public to tune in to
Road, hosts boxing lessons the same number only once. The difficulty level
Mondays and Wednesday from increases from Monday to Sunday.
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. Transporta-
tion available. For information,
call Iris Roberson, 662-295-
7456.

TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Thursday, Dec.
31, the 366th and final day
of 2020.
Today’s Highlight
in History:
On Dec. 31, 2019,
the health commission in
the central Chinese city
of Wuhan announced that
experts were investigating
an outbreak of respiratory
illness and that most of
the victims had visited
a seafood market in the
city; the statement said 27
people had become ill with
a strain of viral pneumonia
and that seven were in
serious condition.
On this date:
In 1775, during the
Revolutionary War, the
British repulsed an attack
by Continental Army gen-
erals Richard Montgom-
ery and Benedict Arnold
at Quebec; Montgomery
was killed.
In 1862, President
Abraham Lincoln signed
an enabling act paving the
way for Virginia’s western
counties to become the
state of West Virginia,
which took place in June
Send in your church event!
1863.
In 1904, New York’s
Email editorialassistant@cdispatch.com
Times Square saw its first
New Year’s Eve celebra-
Subject: Religious brief
tion, with an estimated
200,000 people in atten-
dance.
SOURCE:
The Associated Press

FRIDAY’S PUZZLES ACROSS

1 Bring close to
The Dispatch will not publish a Friday, January 1, 2021, newspaper, due to the holiday. boiling
The Jumble, Word Warp, Crossword, Sudoku and Cryptquote puzzles that would have 6 Irritate
appeared in that edition are printed below. 11 Track horse
12 To — (per-
fectly)
13 Sports setting
14 Iron output
15 Pigeon sound
16 Guest’s bed
18 Hydrocarbon
suffix
19 Pole worker
20 Arles article
21 Greek conso-
nants Thursday’s Answer
Thursday’s Cryptoquote: 22 Irish brew 44 Medicine 9 Oberon orbits
24 Kid amounts it
25 Helping 45 Out of 10 Tangle
27 Pesky insect practice 17 Golfer’s cleek
29 “Yes in- DOWN 23 Wee worker
deedy!” 1 Keyboard bar 24 Steady run
32 Farm butter 2 King of music 26 Remade
33 Zeus or 3 It might be half 27 Like Parme-
Apollo of 21 in blackjack san
34 Go astray 4 Cariou of “Blue 28 1998 Winter
35 Before today Bloods” Games site
36 Music’s Yoko 5 Blood count? 30 Hot dish
Thursday’s 37 Vacuum lack 6 Edit menu holder
38 Passionate choice 31 Solar system
dance 7 “Addams model
40 Enthusiasm Family” cousin 33 Merchandise
42 Stopped 8 It might be half 39 “My word!”
43 Diner patron of 21 in blackjack 41 Seine water

Sudoku Thursday’s Answer

Sudoku is a num- 5 4 2 6 1 8 7 9 3
ber-placing puzzle based 9 8 1 5 7 3 6 4 2
2020 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

on a 9x9 grid with sev-

eral given numbers. The 6 7 3 2 4 9 1 8 5
object is to place the
numbers 1 to 9 in the
2 9 7 3 5 1 8 6 4
empty squares so that 1 3 5 4 8 6 2 7 9
each row, each column 8 6 4 9 2 7 5 3 1
and each 3x3 box con-
tains the same number 3 1 9 8 6 2 4 5 7
only once. The difficul-
ty level increases from 4 2 6 7 3 5 9 1 8
Monday to Sunday. 7 5 8 1 9 4 3 2 6
Difficulty Level 12/31

Business
BUSINESS MOVES WITH MARY
Eyebrow threading salon reopens
in Starkville and Columbus
PLUS: Libby Story in
Starkville closes doors
BY MARY POLLITZ
biz@cdispatch.com
After more than two years,
Deepa Bhattarai is finally back to
business.
Bhattarai, a Mississippi Uni-
versity for Women graduate from
Nepal, has reopened two eye-
brow-threading spas in Starkville
and Columbus.
In 2019, Bhattarai filed a federal
lawsuit against the Mississippi
Attorney General’s Office and state
Board of Cosmetology arguing
against the alleged unfair restric-
tions that led to her businesses
being shut down.
Deeva Brows and Beauty
officially opened back up in No-
vember. The Columbus location,
909 Alabama St., is open Monday
through Wednesday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
and Thursday through Saturday 11
a.m.-8 p.m. The Starkville location,
325 A University Drive, is open
by appointment only every day 8
a.m.-8 p.m.
Although the lawsuit is still
pending, Bhattarai said she said
she received an injunction to con-
tinue and reopen her businesses.
As for Bhattarai, she’s just excit-
ed to continue sharing her Nepali
culture with Mississippians.
“I’ve always been really pas-
sionate about threading,” she said.
“This threading is a cultural expe-
rience and I wanted to give Missis-
sippi a piece of that culture. … It’s
a way of life where I come from.
As an undergrad, I watched my
BUILDING PERMITS
City of Columbus
Dec. 21-23, 2020
n Jerry Wrench; 802 20th St. N.; Reroof
entire house; Excellent Roofing
n Pettys Rental House LLC; 614 17th St.
S.; Renovation and repairs; Same
n Rosie Mae McCottrell; 2307 Washing-
ton Ave.; Remove chimney/repair roof etc.;
Same
n Kenneth Brian Boyd; 74 Briarbend Dr.;
Install 12’x16’ storage building; Same
n C & R Company of Columbus LLC; 973
Island Road; Electrical; Guerry Electric LLC
99.49%
of our customers
receive their paper on time.
(Believe us. We track these things.)
If you are unhappy with your delivery
please let us know. Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction.
Call customer support at:
662-328-2424
The Dispatch
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
friends get
their brows
waxed and
I started
the natural
service of
threading
for fun.
There’s no
chemicals
or blades.
It’s just
Mary Pollitz natural.”
Between
2017 and 2018, Bhattarai had two
locations open in Columbus and
Starkville that were closed down
due to stringent licensing require-
ments, which included 600 hours
of training. Many of those hours,
according to previous Dispatch
reporting, were not required to
practice eyebrow threading.
Customers can reach out
to Bhattarai to receive eye-
brow-threading, facial threading
and even tinting.
Moving on, there is now a prime
Starkville property up for lease.
Earlier this year, Libby Story
in Starkville announced it would
close its doors.
The boutique was located at 308
University Dr. and is now empty
and has a for lease sign hoisted in
the window.
Owner, Libby Story, announced
the business decision on the com-
pany’s Facebook page.
She said Libby will be featured
on a newly launched platform
that has been nearly a year in the
making.
“Due to the demands on my
time of this new amazing oppor-
tunity, we have decided not to
n Danny Mullins; 1601 6th St. N.;
Electrical; Absolute Power Solutions
n Durrell Properties LLC; 113 Brown St.
Electrical; Guerry Electric LLC
n Waverly Enterprises; 605 Leigh Dr.;
Plumbing; Billy Pape Plumbing Inc.
n Curtis & Stephanie Williams; 220
Conway Dr.; Plumbing; Same
n Julia Brown; 1905 3rd Ave. N.; Plumb-
ing; Tabor Plumbing
n Emad H. Mohamed; 75 Reeves Dr.;
Plumbing; Bowen Backhoe
n Lisa Hughes; 317 13th Ave. S.;
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 5B
reopen our Starkville location,” she
posted. “Although we are saddened
to no longer be a part of Starkville
we feel it is best for Libby Story at
this time. Thank you so much for
your support.”
If you frequented Libby Story,
you can still shop at the Ridgeland
location, libbystory.com, the Libby
Story app or you can sign up on
Virtual Styling.
In a year that has been unprece-
dented by every means necessary,
we are almost done. Maybe 2021
is going to be better, but let’s
approach everything cautiously
and safely. Speaking of safety,
New Year’s parties always get out
of hand. There’s always someone
who tests the limits and has one
too many, thinks they can drive but
definitely shouldn’t. If you decide
to drink, just remember to be safe.
With various apps, taxis and other
options available, there’s no reason
to get behind the wheel of a car
after a night of drinking.
In fact, in Columbus Champi-
onship Towing is giving us all an
opportunity to keep ourselves and
those on the road safe. You have no
excuse.
The towing company is offering
“Tipsy Tows” starting 6 p.m. today
until 6 a.m Friday. Guys, they are
doing this for free in the city limits.
Put your keys down and pick your
phone up and call them. If you live
in Lowndes County, they’re offer-
ing tows outside the Columbus city
limits for just $40.
I know we’re all glad to see 2020
end, but make sure we start 2021
well: with good decisions, prefer-
ably with a mask and with a clean
slate. Happy New Year, everyone.
Plumbing; Roto Rooter
Lowndes County
Dec. 30, 2020
n Reagan Ford; 210 Lincoln Dr.; Renova-
tion; Owner
n Herod Granderson; Gipson Lane; Con-
struct s/f residence; Owner
n Andrew Cotton; 120 Hope Springs Dr.;
Construct s/f residence; G & G Remod-
eling
n Rivers Griffin; 344 Drake Cir.; Addition
to s/f residence; Owner
LOCAL GAS PRICES
Source: gasbuddy.com
COLUMBUS
1.97 TEXACO
2246 Military Rd.
1.95 SPRINT
3115 US-45 N
1.95 SPIRIT
1450 Jess Lyons Rd.
STARKVILLE
1.78 MURPHY USA
1012 MS-12
1.87 MARATHON
301 MS-12 W
1.79 STRANGE BREW
605 MS-12 W
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Apts For Rent: West Houses For Rent: North

Employment Rentals Garage Sales

VIP
COLONIAL TOWNHOUSES.
2 & 3 bedroom w/ 2−3

Call us: 662-328-2424
Customer Service
LOCAL LAW FIRM is seek-
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helpful but not necessary.
Computer skills a must.
Email resume to:
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General Help Wanted
CARPENTER NEEDED w/ at 24−HOUR CAMERA
least 4 yrs. of experience. SURVEILLANCE. Benji &
Ideal candidate will have an Ashleigh, 662−386−4446.
eye for detail, be depend-
able, have good communic-
ation skills, reliable trans-
portation & basic tools. We
specialize in home remod-
els & new construction.
Call 662-312-3130 for info.
Rentals
bath townhouses. $650 to
Ads starting at $25 $750. 662−549−9555. Two free signs
Ask for Glenn or text.
Apts For Rent: North Apartments & Houses Auctions
Houses For Rent: Caledonia
FOX RUN APARTMENTS 1 Bedrooms 3BR/1.5BA, small house
2 Bedroooms
1 & 2 BR near hospital.
$595−$645 monthly. for small family. NO DOGS.
3 Bedrooms
Military discount, pet area, NO HUD. Caledonia School
pet friendly, and furnished Dist. 8155 Hwy 12 near
corporate apts.
Furnished & Unfurnished
Old Country Store.
24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL Available 1/5/21. $775/
1, 2, & 3 Baths
GYM. ON SITE SECURITY. mo + $775 dep. 662−245
ON SITE MAINTENANCE. −1191 or 662−549−9298.
ON SITE MANAGEMENT. Lease, Deposit
& Credit Check Mobile Homes for Rent
viceinvestments.com 3BR/2BA MH in New Hope.
327-8555 $650 dep + $650/mo. No
pets, quiet area. Leave full
Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
name & message,
It’s a classified Sudoku
Sudoku is a number- Yesterday’s answer
Apts For Rent: Other 205−712−6697.
placing puzzle based on
rule-of-thumb: RENT A CAMPER!
CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 1 3 8 6 4 2 7 9 5
ber-placing
given numbers.puzzleThe object 4 9 2 5 8 7 6 1 3
We tell readers

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

Utilities & cable included,
from $145/wk − $535/mo based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 7 6 5 1 9 3 4 2 8
what they need Columbus & County School grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 2 4 1 3 5 9 8 7 6
locations. 662−242−7653 given
so thatnumbers. The
Read local. to know to buy or 601−940−1397.
object
each row, each
column and each 3x3 the
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ads.cdispatch.com that each row, each
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Real Estate Too much

the same number only once. The difficulty level
increases from Monday to Sunday.

Ads starting at $25 STUFF?

Houses For Sale: East

FSBO: 4BR/2BA. New roof,

COLEMAN
new paint, fenced
backyard, driveway leads
RENTALS behind house. $128,000.
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
662−889−1443.

1 BEDROOM Lots & Acreage

2 BEDROOMS 1.75 ACRE LOTS: Good/
3 BEDROOMS Bad Credit Options. Good
credit as low as 20% down,
LEASE,
© The Dispatch

$499/mo. Eaton Land,

662−361−7711.
DEPOSIT
AND
CREDIT CHECK Start your
662-329-2323 de-cluttering by
2411 HWY 45 N
placing a garage
COLUMBUS, MS
Looking for a new home?
Let us help, shop here. sale ad today!
Ads starting at...
1 day $10
3 day $18
6 day $34
Price includes 4 lines of text;
$1/line after base cost.

Merchandise
Ads starting at $12
General Merchandise ACROSS
1 Finish off
Roper Dryer, standard size, 6 Sink feature
good condition, $200. 11 Stood
662−312−6617.
12 Before dawn
13 Stopwatch
Sporting Goods button
14 Early Mexican
ED SANDERS GUNSMITH 15 Item of little
Open for season!
Tue−Fri: 9−5 & Sat: 9−12 value
Over 50 years experience! 17 Morse bit
Repairs, cleaning, refin− 19 Chiding
ishing, scopes mounted & sound
zeroed, handmade knives.
Located: Hwy 45 Alt, North 20 Mrs., in
of West Point, turn right on Marseilles
Yokahama Blvd, 8mi & turn 23 Banishes
left on Darracott Rd, will 25 Get better
see sign, 2.5mi ahead
shop on left. 26 Traditional
662−494−6218. New Year’s Eve 44 Rx amounts 20 Grace peri-
site DOWN ods?
28 Lofty poems 1 Spoil 21 Opera’s
Five Questions: 29 Not private 2 Vein contents Callas
30 Ballot mark- 3 When races 22 Put in office
ings start 24 “—
1 Camping 31 Squeezing 4 Manual reader Misérables”

Service Directory
snake 5 Some dresses 25 Wheel part
— Glamorous 32 Skin art, for 6 Traded 27 Showed fear
short 7 Tear down 31 New Year’s
+ camping = 33 Twisty pasta 8 Gallery fill games
35 Raucous bird
glamping
9 — de France 33 Foray
38 Succotash 10 Where the 34 Baja boy
Promote your small business starting at only $25 beans IRT runs 35 Spring month
41 Be of use 16 Hard-to- 36 Director
2 Beijing
Air Cond & Heating General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping
42 First month, please sort DuVernay
RAPID TEMP Heating & WORK WANTED: Licensed TERRA CARE in Madrid 17 Addict’s 37 Road sight
cooling. Home & RV. & Bonded. Carpentry, minor LANDSCAPING L.L.C. 43 Rushing program 39 Verb for you
Service & install. electrical, minor plumbing, Phone: 662−549−1878 amounts 18 Rust, for one 40 Call for help
Free estimates.
Call 602−736−4880.
insulation, painting, demo−
lition, gutters cleaned,
Landscaping, Property
Clean Up, Plant Care, 3 Lifetime
pressure washing, land− Bush Hogging,
scaping, cleanup work. Herbicide Spraying
General Services
4 Red Nose
662−242−3608.
Painting & Papering
Day
A & T TREE SERVICES
Bucket truck & stump Lawn Care / Landscaping
removal. Free est. QUALITY PAINTING.
Serving Columbus JESSE & BEVERLY’S Ext/Int Painting.
since 1987. Senior LAWN SERVICE Sheet Rock Hang, Finish &
5 (Luciano)
citizen disc. Call Alvin @ Fall Cleanup, Tree Cutting, Repair. Pressure Washing.
242−0324/241−4447 Landscaping, Sodding & Free Estimates. Ask for

Pavarotti
"We’ll go out on a limb for Bush Hogging specials! Larry Webber,
you!" 662−356−6525 662−242−4932.

Buy. Sell. Discover. In the Classifieds section.

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