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Friday | January 8, 2021

Columbus councilman apologizes after weed citation

Pierre Beard says he will still run for Ward 4 seat
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com
A city councilman public-
ly apologized Thursday after
being issued a citation for pos-
sessing a misdemeanor amount
of marijuana over the weekend.
Ward 4 Councilman Pierre
Beard was the passenger in a
vehicle that was pulled over for
speeding near the intersection
of Jess Lyons Road and Military
Road on Sunday, Sheriff Eddie
Hawkins told The Dispatch.
When the deputy who pulled
the vehicle over smelled mar-
ijuana, he conducted a search
and found less than one ounce.
Beard claimed the marijuana
belonged to him, not the driver.
“He was issued a citation in-
stead of being arrested, and the
driver was cited for speeding,”
Hawkins said.
Beard sent messages to me-
dia outlets, including a letter to
The Dispatch, and posted an
apology Thursday evening on
Facebook, though he did not
mention the marijuana or the
traffic stop in those apologies.
“I hold full responsibility for
my actions and I would like to
personally and wholeheartedly
apologize!!” he says in the post.
“I will not go into full details
on the matter due to it being a
personal issue!! My hope and
prayers are for us to not forget
yet to forgive me
for making such a
careless mistake.
I’ve enjoyed rep-
resenting all of
you and will con-
tinue to represent
Ward 4 to the best Beard
of my ability!!
“No I am not exempt from
the law as you can tell…” the
statement goes on to say. “Let
us continue to work with each
other and build each other up.
We all have flaws!!!”
Beard told The Dispatch he
does plan to run for re-election
to his council seat in this year’s
municipal elections, though he
had not qualified with the City
Registrar’s Office by press time
Friday.
He declined to comment on
the traffic stop or citation other
than to say: “I can tell you it’s
blown up bigger than what it
was.”
He said he has not yet been
given a court date.
The fine for misdemeanor
possession of marijuana is up to
$1,000.

KEEPING FIT Former

Lowndes deputy
accused of
sexual assault
of a child
Defendant indicted
on felony child abuse,
sexual battery; crimes
allegedly occurred while
he worked for county
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT

A former Lown-
des County deputy
has been indicted
for allegedly sexu-
ally abusing a small
child.
Michael Dulaney,
Jr., 31, is facing
charges of sexual Dulaney Jr.
battery and felonious abuse and/
or battery of a child, according to
Lowndes County Circuit Court doc-
uments.
See DULANEY, 3A
Tess Vrbin/Dispatch Staff
Joseph Campbell exercises Thursday at J.L. King Park in Starkville. He canceled his gym membership in 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic and now comes to the park almost every day to work out, he said, although Thursday’s cold and rainy
weather made it difficult at first to find the motivation.

Douglas qualifies for

Ward 4 council seat
Murder charges dropped against Eddie Lee Howard Challenger running
for seat for second time
After two convictions based on bite marks, no DNA evidence presented in the
previous trials. as embattled incumbent
evidence suggests Howard was at scene of 1992 murder Those were among the
same reasons District At- has yet to qualify
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN ruling Howard should not have rep- torney Scott Colom said BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com resented himself in the case, again in he filed a motion to dis- ialtman@cdispatch.com
2000. miss the case after the
A judge has signed an In both trials, the physical evidence supreme court remanded A familiar face has
order dismissing the case Colom
prosecutors used to place Howard at the it to Lowndes County Cir- thrown her hat into
against a Lowndes Coun- scene was forensic bite mark evidence cuit Court. the Columbus City
ty man who spent more after forensic odontologist Dr. Michael “After reading the supreme court’s Council elections.
than 20 years on death West testified that bite marks he found opinion, reading the trial transcripts Pat Fisher Doug-
row for a wrongful convic- on Kemp’s body matched a dental mold from the two trials, reviewing the in- las, 68, has qualified
tion. taken of Howard’s teeth. However, both vestigative files and case files of the as a Democrat for the
Prosecutors formally Howard West and forensic odontology have case, I decided that we didn’t have even council representing
dropped a murder charge Douglas
come under fire in recent years, and the remotely close to sufficient evidence to Ward 4. Douglas, a
against Eddie Lee Howard, 67, who was American Board of Forensic Odontol- convict Mr. Howard beyond a reason- retired educator from Lowndes
first arrested in 1992 for the death of ogy has revised its guidelines prohib- able doubt,” Colom said. “Therefore, County School District, previous-
Georgia Kemp, 84. Howard was con- iting the use of testimony like West’s under my legal, ethical responsibilities, ly ran in a special election for the
victed twice for the murder, first in 1994 in criminal trials. The supreme court I had no choice but to dismiss the case.” same seat in 2019, but lost to cur-
and then, after the Mississippi Supreme overturned the conviction based on that Kemp’s body was found in her burned rent Councilman Pierre Beard.
Court overturned that conviction after and the lack of DNA evidence and other See HOWARD, 3A See DOUGLAS, 8A

INSIDE FIVE QUESTIONS LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC MEETINGS

Classifieds 7B 1 A blob called a “scoby” is Jan. 12: Starkville-Oktibbeha
Comics 5B used to make what popular Consolidated School District
Crossword 6B health drink? Board of Trustees meeting, 6
Dear Abby 5B 2 The layout of Washington, p.m., 401 Greensboro St.
Obituaries 4A D.C. was modeled after which Jan. 14: Starkville-Oktibbeha
Opinions 6A European city?
3 What is the birth name of sing- Consolidated School District
Religion 6B Board of Trustees meeting, 6
er and actress Miley Cyrus —
Diamond Dallas, Robin Ophelia p.m., 401 Greensboro St.
or Destiny Hope?
WEATHER 4 In 1910, about what percent-
Jan. 15: Starkville Board of
Aldermen work session, 10
age of Americans aged 25 or
45 Low 28
a.m., City Hall
over had college degrees — 3,
High 10 or 16 percent? Jan. 19: Oktibbeha County
Mostly cloudy 5 What brand of broom did Board of Supervisors
Full forecast on Harry Potter receive in the book meeting, 9 a.m., Chancery
page 3A. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Courthouse
Stone”? Jan. 19: Starkville Board
of Aldermen meeting, 5:30
Answers, 7B
p.m., City Hall
Jan. 29: Starkville Board of
Emily Lesley, of Starkville, is a lifelong Aldermen work session, 10
resident and enjoys shopping downtown. a.m., City Hall

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Trump finally faces reality —

amid talk of early ouster
Discussion growing of
impeaching president a
second time or invoking
the 25th Amendment to
oust him from office
BY JONATHAN LEMIRE
AND ZEKE MILLER
The Associated Press
WA S H I N G T O N
— With 12 days left
in his term, President
Donald Trump has
finally bent to reality
amid growing talk of
trying to force him
out early, acknowl-
edging he’ll peace- Trump
fully leave after Con-
gress affirmed his defeat.
Trump led off a video from the
White House Thursday by con-
demning the violence carried out in
his name a day earlier at the Capitol.
Then, for the first time on camera,
he admitted his presidency would
soon end — though he declined to
mention President-elect Joe Biden
by name or explicitly state he had
lost.
“A new administration will be in-
augurated on Jan. 20,” Trump said
in the video. “My focus now turns
to ensuring a smooth, orderly and
seamless transition of power. This
moment calls for healing and recon-
ciliation.”
The address, which appeared de-
signed to stave off talk of a forced
early eviction, came at the end of
a day when the cornered president
stayed out of sight in the White
House. Silenced on some of his fa-
vorite internet lines of communica-
tion, he watched the resignations
of several top aides, including two
Cabinet secretaries.
And as officials sifted through
the aftermath of the pro-Trump
Police officer’s death intensifies
Capitol siege questions
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — A police officer has died from injuries sustained as
President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol, a violent siege
that is forcing hard questions about the defeated president’s remaining
days in office and the ability of the Capitol Police to secure the area.
The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement that Officer Brian D. Sick-
nick was injured “while physically engaging with protesters” during the
Wednesday riot. He is the fifth person to die because of the melee.
The rampage that has shocked the world and left the country on edge
forced the resignations of three top Capitol security officials over the fail-
ure to stop the breach. It led lawmakers to demand a review of operations
and an FBI briefing over what they called a “terrorist attack.” And it is
prompting a broader reckoning over Trump’s tenure in office and what
comes next for a torn nation.
Protesters were urged by Trump during a rally near the White House
earlier Wednesday to head to Capitol Hill, where lawmakers were sched-
uled to confirm Biden’s presidential victory. The mob swiftly broke
through police barriers, smashed windows and paraded through the
halls, sending lawmakers into hiding.
One protester, a white woman, was shot to death by Capitol Police,
and there were dozens of arrests. Three other people died after “medical
emergencies” related to the breach.
mob’s siege of the U.S. Capitol, riots and said, “If something else
there was growing discussion of happens, all options would be on
impeaching him a second time or the table.”
invoking the 25th Amendment to Democratic House Speaker Nan-
oust him from the Oval Office. cy Pelosi declared that “the presi-
The invasion of the Capitol dent of the United States incited an
building, a powerful symbol of the armed insurrection against Ameri-
nation’s democracy, rattled Repub- ca.” She called him “a very danger-
licans and Democrats alike. They ous person who should not continue
struggled with how best to contain in office. This is urgent, an emer-
the impulses of a president deemed gency of the highest magnitude.”
too dangerous to control his own Neither option to remove Trump
social media accounts but who re- seemed likely, with little time left in
mains commander in chief of the his term to draft the Cabinet mem-
world’s greatest military. bers needed to invoke the amend-
“I’m not worried about the next ment or to organize the hearings
election, I’m worried about getting and trial mandated for an impeach-
through the next 14 days,” said ment. But the fact that the dramat-
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham ic options were even the subject of
of South Carolina, one of Trump’s discussion in Washington’s corri-
staunchest allies. He condemned dors of power served as a warning
the president’s role in Wednesday’s to Trump.

Race double standard clear

in rioters’ Capitol insurrection
‘When white people attempt a coup, attempt a coup, they are
met by an underwhelming
of the democracy in the
blood and secession of
they are met by an underwhelming number of law enforce-
ment personnel who act
the American Revolution,
white people’s destructive
number of law enforcement personnel powerless to intervene,
going so far as to pose for
and obstructionist con-
duct has been couched in
who act powerless to intervene ...’ selfies with terrorists,” it patriotism. It’s been a fun-
Statement from the Black Lives Matter Global said. damental part of a national
Network Foundation Broad and bipartisan myth about whose dissent
condemnation of the in- and pursuit of redress for
BY AARON MORRISON was overwhelmingly surrectionist mob came grievance is justified, and
The Associated Press white Americans who sup- swiftly as they had a near- whose is not.
port outgoing President ly unhindered, hours-long Newly sworn-in St.
NEW YORK — Black Donald Trump’s baseless run of the Capitol build- Louis Rep. Cori Bush, who
Lives Matter protests, claims of election fraud. ing complex, the Senate was among the protesters
2020: Overwhelming force chamber and the House to face down police and
The violent breaching
from law enforcement in speaker’s office. The or- National Guardsmen in
of the halls of power on
dozens of cities. Chemi- deal drew expressions of 2014 after police killed Mi-
Capitol Hill by the insur-
cal dispersants. Rubber bewilderment and disbe- chael Brown in Ferguson,
rectionist mob on Wednes-
bullets and hand-to-hand lief from some observers Missouri, told The Associ-
day, which left one woman
combat with largely peace- who believed such a dis- ated Press that the race of
ful crowds and some un- dead of a police gunshot
play was impossible in a the Capitol rioters played a
ruly vandals and looters. wound, represents one of
democracy as revered as big part in their ability to
More than 14,000 arrests. the plainest displays of a America’s. breach the congressional
The U.S. Capitol, Jan. racial double standard in However, the response fortress.
6, 2021: Barely more than both modern and recent to the mayhem is consis- Had the mob been
a few dozen arrests. Sev- history. tent with a long pattern of Black, “we would have
eral weapons seized, im- “When Black people society’s coddling of rac- been laid out,” Bush said.
provised explosive devices protest for our lives, we ists and downplaying the “The thing is, these
found. Members of a wild- are all too often met by Na- violent white supremacist are the same people who
ing mob escorted from the tional Guard troops or po- ideology that routinely called us terrorists,” Bush
premises, some not even lice equipped with assault places the grievances of continued. “Confederate
in handcuffs. rifles, shields, tear gas and white people above those flags, ‘don’t tread on me,’
The key difference? battle helmets,” the Black of their Black, often dis- ‘blue lives matter’ flags,
The first set of protest- Lives Matter Global Net- enfranchised and down- the Trump flags — all of
ers were overwhelmingly work Foundation said in a trodden countrymen and it symbolizes the same
Black Americans and their statement. women. thing. It symbolizes rac-
allies. The second group “When white people Since the founding ism and white supremacy.”

Stay or go? After Trump-fueled riot, aides debate early exit

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — A
steady stream of Trump
administration officials
are beating an early path
to the exits as a protest
against the deadly siege of
the U.S. Capitol this week
even as others wrestling
with the stay-or-go ques-
tion conclude that they
owe it to the public to see
things through to the end.
Some of Trump’s crit-
ics don’t give those in the
early-exit caucus much
credit for walking away
from their jobs with less
than two weeks left in
the administration, see-
ing it as little more than a
face-saving effort.
“Nobody is fooled
by these last-second,
come-to-Jesus conver-
sions,” said Rick Wilson,
co-founder of the Lincoln
Project, a group of Repub-
licans fiercely critical of
Trump.
Trump’s education and
transportation secretar-
ies, his acting chairman of
the White House Council
of Economic Advisers and
deputy national security
adviser are among at least
nine senior administra-
tion officials who have
announced their resigna-
tions since Wednesday’s
attack by Trump support-
ers on the Capitol.
Serving under Trump
has been a test for many
aides who have abided
some of the president’s
most provocative actions,
including his embrace of
authoritarians, a habit of
coarsely belittling polit-
ical adversaries and the
ease and frequency with
which he’s deployed false-
hoods for personal bene-
fit.
Several White House
and agency officials still
on the job Thursday said
they were deeply conflict-
ed about whether to re-
sign, fearing what would
transpire if Trump was
left surrounded in his fi-
nal days on the job only by
those who encouraged his
worse instincts.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 3A

Lowndes County approaching 5,000 COVID cases

State sees record for new cases in a day
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com
COVID-19 cases in the Gold-
en Triangle continue to pile up
in light of the holiday season,
with Lowndes County still in-
creasing at the highest rate.
Lowndes County has 4,761
cases as of Wednesday, the
most recent update to the Mis-
sissippi State Department of
Health website. The increase of
633 cases in a week and a half,
since Dec. 26, outpaces the 621
new cases between Dec. 16 and
Dec 26.
Oktibbeha County saw an
increase of 376 cases from Dec.
26 to Wednesday for a total of
3,618. Clay County saw an in-
crease of 162 cases for a total
of 1,430, and Noxubee County
saw an increase of 118 cases
for a total of 1,018, passing the
1,000-case threshold.
Lowndes County has seen 97
deaths of COVID-19, Oktibbeha
County has 78, Clay County has
30 and Noxubee County has 20.
Some area school districts
have seen new cases, while oth-
ers have not updated their pub-
licly available data since before
winter break.
Two students and 11 employ-
ees at the Columbus Municipal
School District tested posi-
tive for COVID-19 over winter
break, from Dec. 19 to Jan. 9,
Superintendent Cherie Labat
told The Dispatch.
Two staff at Noxubee County
School District tested positive
for COVID-19 on Monday, ac-
cording to data on the NCSD
website. The data only depicts
the previous three days in a row.
Lowndes County School Dis-
trict and Starkville-Oktibbeha
Consolidated School District
had not updated the data on
their websites as of press time.
Both districts’ most recent data
reflects the week of Dec. 7-11,
when they reported 24 and 26
cases, respectively.
The West Point Consolidated
School District, as well as area
private schools and Mississip-
pi School for Mathematics and
Science, report their case data
to MSDH weekly, but MSDH
has not published data more
recent than the week of Dec.
14-18.
WPCSD reported between
three and 15 new cases among
faculty and staff and between
10 and 26 new cases among stu-
dents that week. If a number of
cases is lower than five, MSDH
reports it as 1-5.
South Haven Mennonite
School and Annunciation Cath-
olic School reported no new
cases the week of Dec. 14-18.
No other area private schools
reported for the week.
Mississippi State Universi-
ty has 26 active cases, 17 stu-
dents and nine employees, as
of Thursday, according to the
MSU website.
Mississippi University for
Women has had 10 new cas-
es, six students and four em-
ployees, between Monday and
Thursday, according to the
daily case data on the MUW
website.
Mississippi has had 231,490
cases and 5,061 deaths as of
Thursday, according to the
MSDH Twitter account. The
3,255 new cases on Thursday
set a new record.
The U.S. reported a record
4,033 deaths of COVID-19 on
Thursday, and the 7-day av-
erage number of deaths has
reached a record 2,750.

CPD officer on administrative leave after indicted for exploiting vulnerable adult
Holder accused of taking more than $37K from victim Novem -
ber 2017
more than $250 worth of
the victim’s property in
under certain protections
from the Civil Service
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT multiple counts of ex- documents. and Janu- February 2019. Commission.
ploitation of a vulnerable The indictment says ary 2018, Holder was hired as Columbus Police Chief
A Columbus police of- adult. Holder transferred more $15, 316. 33 a patrol officer July 24, Fred Shelton did not re-
ficer was put on admin- between 2017. Human Resourc- turn calls from The Dis-
A Lowndes Coun- than $37,000 from his
istrative leave with pay Febr ua r y es Director Pat Mitchell patch about Holder’s sta-
after being arrested for ty grand jury indicted victim’s credit card to and July confirmed he is on admin- tus by press time.
Jameson Holder, 27, of his own personal account Holder
allegedly stealing thou- 2018, and istrative leave with pay, Holder has been re-
sands of dollars from four counts of exploita- between November 2017 $2,500 between July and adding that he could not leased from Lowndes
a vulnerable adult and tion of a vulnerable adult, and August 2018, includ- August 2018. The indict- have been dismissed be- County Adult Detention
served an indictment for according to circuit court ing $20,028.80 between ment said he also took cause, as an officer, he is Center on $20,000 bond.

AROUND THE STATE

Group commits $1M for
Mississippi computer
science education
RIDGELAND — An
organization announced
Thursday that it is com-
mitting $1 million to help
Mississippi school dis-
tricts start computer sci-
ence classes.
The money is coming
from C Spire Foundation,
a charity connected to
the Mississippi-based
telecommunications and
technology company C
Spire.
A C Spire news release
said the company will
ask Mississippi legisla-
tors this year to consider
making computer sci-
ence classes available in
all elementary schools,
middle schools and high
schools by 2024-25. The
release said 48 percent of
Mississippi high schools
currently teach computer
science.
“Now more than ever,
we need to be equipping
all of our children to
master the digital tools
of the 21st century and
providing them with ed-
ucational opportunities
to hone their knowledge
and skills on the building
blocks of meaningful and
relevant learning that will
form the foundation of our
state’s economic future,”
Hu Meena, president and
CEO of C Spire, said in
the statement.
The release said that
Mississippi employers
have more than 1,475 un-
filled jobs because of a
shortage of trained, qual-
ified information technol-
ogy and computing work-
ers.
C Spire has been pro-
moting computer science
education in Mississippi
since 2015 with coding
challenges, coding acad-
emies and accelerated de-
gree programs.
US attorney in south
Mississippi resigning
Jan. 19
JACKSON — The U.S.
attorney for the southern
half of Mississippi said
Thursday that he will step
down the day before Joe
Biden becomes president.
Mike Hurst’s last day
on the job will be Jan. 19.
U.S. attorneys are
nominated by the pres-
ident and confirmed by
the Senate. It’s common
for the federal prosecu-
tors to leave their jobs
when there’s a change of
administration.
Hurst was nominat-
ed by President Donald
Trump in June 2017 and
was confirmed by the
Senate that October.
Hurst had run unsuccess-
fully for Mississippi attor-
ney general in 2015.
“I have tried to do ev-
erything within my power
to make our neighbor-
hoods safer, support our
law enforcement, engage
and empower our commu-
nities and citizens, pro-
tect victims, prevent and
reduce crime and uphold
our constitutional rights,”
Hurst said in a news re-
lease.
Clerical error causes
1-month revenue drop
in Oxford
OXFORD — A clerical
error by the Mississippi
Department of Revenue
caused a steep drop in
one month’s sales tax rev-
enue in Oxford.
The Oxford Eagle re-
ported that the city saw
a 42 percent decrease in
sales tax collections from
September to October.
The mistake showed up in
money the city received
from the state in Decem-
ber.
Mayor Robyn Tanne-
hill said that even with
the economy affected by
the coronavirus pandem-
ic, she wondered why the
decrease was so large.
City officials contacted
the Department of Reve-
nue, and the department
found its error.
Each month, the de-
partment sends cities
their share of money from
sales taxes collected two
months earlier. Oxford re-
ceived its October share
in December.
Vicksburg gets deal
on land to develop
downtown dog park
VICKSBURG — A Mis-
sissippi city is on track to
develop two downtown
dog parks.
The Vicksburg may-
or and aldermen agreed
Monday that the city will
accept a parcel of land
that’s next to the existing
Crawford Street park.
The Vicksburg Post
reported that the city will
pay $685 for the lot — the
amount owed for property
taxes on it.
Mary Jane Wooten said
she is transferring the
land to the city because
she believes in expanding
parks and she wants to
provide green space for
downtown residents who
have pets.
A decorative fence has
already been installed
around a separate down-
town space that will be-
come a dog park. When
all the work is done,
Vicksburg will have three
dog parks. The first one
opened in 2018 near a
community garden a few
miles from downtown.
Angie Thomas Writers
Scholarship to be
awarded for 2nd time
JACKSON — A private
university in Mississippi
is preparing to award a
second scholarship to an
incoming freshman who
will major in creative writ-
ing.
The Angie Thomas
Writers Scholarship will
cover tuition, room and
board at Belhaven Univer-
sity in Jackson. The pro-
gram might also provide
smaller scholarships to
other students.
Belhaven established
the scholarship to hon-
or Thomas, who earned
her degree there in 2011.
She wrote the bestselling
novels “The Hate U Give”
and “On the Come Up.”
Her new novel, “Concrete
Rose,” is being published
this month.
“The pandemic has af-
fected so many families
financially, and suddenly
many students may not
know how to pay for col-
lege,” Thomas said in a
Belhaven news release
Friday. “I’m thankful that
the Angie Thomas Writ-
ers Scholarship exists so
that it’s no longer a con-
cern for a young person
and their family.”
Scholarship applica-
tions are due March 15
and the winner will be se-
lected April 15.

Howard
Continued from Page 1A
trailer in February 1992. Medical exam-
iner Steven Hayne examined the body
and ruled that Kemp had been stabbed
to death, but it wasn’t until after Kemp’s
body was buried and exhumed that West
claimed to find bite marks on her arm,
neck and breast. West’s testimony had
also been evidence presented in the
cases of Noxubee County men Kennedy
Brewer and Levon Brooks, both of whom
had been convicted of separate murders
in the early 1990s. DNA evidence later
found that the two men had been wrong-
fully convicted, and they were exonerat-
ed.
come and I shoot whoever you want me
to shoot,’” Kesler said during closing ar-
guments in the trial, referencing a tele-
vision show from the late 1950s about
a gun fighter. “Well that’s exactly what
Dr. West is. He’s just a modern day gun-
fighter who has chosen that he wants to
always work for law enforcement.”
The Mississippi Innocence Project,
an organization of attorneys and other le-
gal professionals who use DNA evidence
to look at old cases and, in many cases,
exonerate those wrongfully convicted,
ordered a DNA test of evidence in How- SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates

Even at the 2000 trial, defense attor- ard’s case in the mid-2000s and found peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Fri. Sat.
ney Thomas Kesler objected to West’s that male DNA found at the scene did not Major
Minor
8:31p
3:49a
9:26p
4:59a
being accepted as an expert witness in match Howard. The Innocence Project Major 8:48a 9:54a
Minor 2:58p 3:42p
the case and claimed he was a “hired also took on Brewer’s and Brooks’ cases. Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

gun,” according to a transcript of the tri- Howard was released from Mississip-

The Dispatch
al. pi Department of Corrections custody on
“‘If you need a gunfighter, hire me, I his personal recognizance in December.
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Answers to common questions:

Dulaney
Continued from Page 1A
Sheriff Eddie Haw-
kins confirmed to The
Dispatch that Dulaney
was a deputy at Lowndes
County Sheriff’s Office
but said he resigned prior
to Hawkins taking office
in January 2020. County
Administrator Jay Fisher
said Dulaney was em-
ployed by the county from
2012 to Jan. 5, 2020.
The indictment says
the abuse occurred in Jan-
Published daily except Saturday.
Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Website: cdispatch.com/help
Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc., Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
uary 2019. The victim was
younger than 5 years old.
Dulaney has been re-
leased from custody at
Lowndes County Adult If you don’t read The Dispatch, how are you gonna know?
Detention Center on
$50,000 bond.
4A FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021
COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
Obituaries with basic informa-
tion including visitation and
service times, are provided
free of charge. Extended obit-
uaries with a photograph, de-
tailed biographical information
and other details families may
wish to include, are available
for a fee. Obituaries must be
submitted through funeral
homes unless the deceased’s
body has been donated to
science. If the deceased’s
body was donated to science,
the family must provide official
proof of death. Please submit
all obituaries on the form
provided by The Commercial
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per no later than 3 p.m. the
day prior for publication Tues-
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Monday through Thursday; and
on Friday by 3 p.m. for Sunday
and Monday publication. For
more information, call 662-
328-2471.
Bobby Jones
COLUMBUS — Bob-
by Jones, 84, died Jan.
2, 2021, at
his resi-
dence.
Grave-
side
services
will be held
at 9 a.m.
Jones
Saturday,
at Sardis
Cemetery, in Hamilton.
Burial will follow. Visi-
tation will be from 8:45-
9 a.m. prior to services,
at the cemetery. Lee-
Sykes Funeral Home of
Columbus is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Jones was born
Aug. 28, 1936, in Kos-
ciusko, to the late Char-
lie and Ethel Jones.
He was a member of
Seventh-Day Adventist
Church.
In addition to his
parents, he was pre-
ceded in death by his
sisters, Mattie Wells
and Sophie Delaney;
and brother, Charlie
Jones.
He is survived by
his wife, Dr. Yolander
Jones; sons, the Rev.
Sedrick Harris, Alix
Bailey, and Steve
Billups; daughters, Dr.
Pam Lacy and Brandie
L. Smith; sister, Gen-
evia Larrie of Miami,
Florida; and a host of
grandchildren.
Katherine Hawkins
COLUMBUS —
Katherine Jones
Hawkins, 74, died
Jan. 3, 2021, at Baptist
Memorial Hospital, in
Memphis, Tennessee.
Services will be at 2
p.m. Saturday, at Oak
Grove M.B. Church,
with the Rev. Therman
Cunningham officiat-
ing. Carter’s Funeral
Services of Columbus
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mrs. Hawkins was
born March 4, 1946,
in Columbus, to the
late George Taylor and
Arie Brooks. She was a
member of Oak Grove
M.B. Church.
She is survived by
her children, Tabitha
Terry, Sandy Whitfield,
and Leroy Lacy, all of
Columbus; siblings,
Leroy Brooks, Dorothy
Brooks, Walter Brooks
Jr., Clara Brooks,
and Gloria Moultrie,
all of Columbus; six
grandchildren; and six
great-grandchildren.
Betty Taylor
COLUMBUS — Bet-
ty Jean Cheeks Taylor,
85, died Jan. 2, 2021, at
her residence.
Graveside services
will be at 1 p.m. Sat-
urday, at Memorial
Gardens, with the Rev.
Richard Morgan offici-
ating. Burial will follow.
Visitation is form 2-6
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
AREA OBITUARIES
p.m. today, Truck and Tractor Sup- In addition to his Jethrow and Georgia member of New Shiloh
at Carter’s ply and the Budweiser parents, he is survived Ballard Jethrow. She MB Church.
Funeral Company. He was a by his wife, Lena was formerly employed In addition to his
Services. member of Charity Mis- Puckett of Sulligent; as an executive assistant father, he was preceded
Carter’s sion Full Gospel Baptist son, Matthew Puckett with Delott, in Washing- in death by his sister,
Funeral Church. of Hamilton; daughter, ton, D.C. Annie Katherine.
Services of In addition to his Chelsea Goude of An- She is survived by In addition to his
Columbus B. Taylor father, he is survived drew, South Carolina; her brothers, Earnest mother, he is survived
by his siblings, Derrick brother, Mark Puckett
is in charge Ballard, Bobby Lee by his wife, Doro-
of arrangements. Gray and Frederick of Chelsea; sister, Shei- Ballard, Willie Jethrow thy Spann; children,
Mrs. Taylor was Williams, both of Craw- la Hester of Malvern, Jr., and Yarnell Jethrow; Distress Stewart of
born Oct. 11, 1935, in ford, and Norlishia Arkansas; and four and sisters, Sally Ste- Blytheville, Arkansas,
Columbus, to the late Williams of Columbus. grandchildren. venson, Ethel Jethrow, Meliesha Alexander
Luster Cheeks and Pallbearers will be Georgia Ann Davis, Lori of Naperville, Illinois,
Lucille Cheeks. She David Artz Tim Puckett, Donald Murray, and Carolyn Tangie Spann of New
was formerly employed COLUMBUS — Da- Puckett, Mitchell Puck- Fields. Orleans, Louisiana
with United Technolo- vid Wallace Artz, 71, ett, Joel Puckett, Keith and Chavis Spann of
gies and as a cafeteria died Jan. 7, 2021, at Vann, Chris Johnson, Robert Vaughn Blytheville, Arkansas;
manager with Hughes Windsor Place. Aaron Hester, and Seth TUPELO — Robert siblings, Johnnie Earl
Elementary School. Arrangements are Hester. Vaughn died Jan. 7, Rucker, Charlie Rucker,
She was a member of incomplete and will be Memorials may be 2021, at North Missis- Julius Binion Jr., Mon-
made to the Trinity
Mt. Zion M.B. Church. announced by Memori- sippi Medical Center of trell Rucker, Carolyn
In addition to her al Gunter Peel Funeral Youth Camp, 1835 Tupelo. Arnold, Nancy Relliford,
parents, she was pre- Home and Crematory, Co. Hwy. 3, Guin, AL Arrangements are Brundia Jones, Anita
cede in death by her Second Avenue North 35563. incomplete and will be Spann-Hill, Jeanette Bin
husband, Jimmy Taylor; location. announced by Lown- Relliford and Lena Pip-
sons, Larry Taylor and Emil Lovely des Funeral Home of er; eight grandchildren;
Michael Taylor; sister, Rena Rogers STARKVILLE — Columbus. and one great-grand-
Lula Butler; and broth- STARKVILLE — Emil Lloyd Lovely, 81, child.
ers, Lester Cheeks Jr. Rena Mae Rogers, 83, died Jan. 3, 2021, in McCray Spann See OBITUARIES, 5A
and Troy Cheeks. died Dec. 31, 2020, in Starkville. SHUQUALAK —
She is survived by Starkville. Graveside services McCray “Cray” Spann,
her daughter, Dorothy Graveside services will be at Odd Fellow 62, died
J. Washington of Co- will be at 11 a.m. Satur- Cemetery. Burial will Jan. 2,
lumbus; brother, Walter day, at Plair Cemetery. follow. Visitation is 2021.
Cheeks of Columbus; Burial will follow. Vis- from 1-5 p.m. today, Funeral
three grandchildren; itation is from noon-6 at Hairston and Hair- services
and five great-grand- p.m. today, at West Me- ston Funeral Home. will be
children. morial Funeral Home. Hairston and Hair- at 2 p.m.
West Memorial Funeral ston Funeral Home of Saturday,
Mary Taylor Home of Starkville is Starkville is in charge at Taberna- Spann
CALEDONIA — in charge of arrange- of arrangements. cle Baptist
Mary Richards Taylor, ments. Mr. Lovely was Church, with Montrell
64, died She is survived by born July 15, 1939, Rucker officiating.
Dec. 28, her children, Frank in Starkville, to the Visitation is from 1-5
2020, at St. Rogers Jr., Wilburn late James Lovely and Nancy Campassi
p.m. today, at Lee-Sykes Funeral Mass:
Dominic Rogers, and Lisa Amanda Collier. He was Funeral Home. Lee- Friday, Jan. 8 • 11 AM
Rogers Hendrix all formerly the owner of a Annunciation Catholic Church
Hospital, in Sykes Funeral Home of Burial
Jackson. of Starkville; sisters, Jiffy Lube franchise in Macon is in charge of Friendship Cemetery
Grave- Linda Hayes and Chicago, Illinois. arrangements. College St. Location
side ser- Elaine Weeden, both He is survived by his Mr. Spann was
vices will M. Taylor of St. Louis, Missou- wife, Billie Lovely of David Artz
born Feb. 16, 1958, in Incomplete
be at noon ri; brother, Aaron Starkville; sons, Kirk Macon, to Anna Lee 2nd Ave. N. Location
Sunday, at Faith Har- Plair of St. Louis; 15 and Emil Lovely Jr.; and Spann-Rucker and
vest Church Cemetery, grandchildren; and 26 four grandchildren. the late Julius Binion.
in Steens, with Hugh great-grandchildren. He was a graduate of
Dent officiating. Burial Johnny Pattman Jr. Noxubee County School
will follow. Visitation is Jaylon Davis FT. WORTH, Texas District and was for-
from noon-5 p.m. Satur- TUPELO — Jaylon — Johnny Earl Pattman merly employed in the memorialgunterpeel.com
day, at Carter’s Funeral Hope Davis, 25, died Jr., 64, construction and electri-
Services. Carter’s Jan. 1, 2021, in Tupelo. died Dec. cal industry with Jordan
Funeral Services of Graveside services 31, 2020, Construction. He was a
Columbus is in charge will be at 11 a.m. in Fort
of arrangements. Saturday, at Memorial Worth.
Mrs. Taylor was born Garden Park. Burial Ar-
April 9, 1956, in Colum- will follow. Visitation range-
bus, to the late Dick is from 3-5 p.m. today, ments are
Richards and Julie Mor- at Peter’s rock Church incomplete Pattman Jr.
ton. She was a member of God in Christ. West and will be
of Faith Harvest Baptist Memorial Funeral announced by Hairston
Church. Home of Starkville is and Hairston Funeral
In addition to her in charge of arrange- Home of Columbus.
parents, she was pre- ments.
ceded in death by her She is survived by Eugene Sanders
siblings, Gladys Colis- her parents, Joseph and COLUMBUS — Eu-
ter, Frank Richards, Lula Davis; sister, Faith gene Sanders, 62, died
and Otis Richards. Davis; brother, Joe Wil- in Colum-
Bonnie Coleman
She is survived by liams; and fiancé, Mark bus.
her husband, N.S. Tay- Bridges. Grave-
lor of Caledonia; chil- side
dren, Robert Taylor and Ronald Coffey services Bonnie Jean Coleman,
Ella Patman, both of STARKVILLE — will be at 92, passed away on Friday,
Columbus, and James Ronald Coffey died Jan. 11 a.m. January 1, 2021, at her home, in
Patman of Caledonia; 4, 2021, in Starkville. Saturday, Louisville, Mississippi.
siblings, Peggy Ann Graveside services at Piney Sanders Funeral services will be at
Jones of Shaw, Frances will be at 2 p.m. Sat- Grove 11:00 AM Friday, January 8,
M. Richards of West urday, at Church Hill M.B. Church Cemetery, 2021, in Nowell-Massey Funeral
Point, Ethel M. Colister Cemetery, in Eupora. with the Rev. Michael Home Chapel, in Louisville,
of Sauk Village, Illinois, Burial will follow. West Reed officiating. Burial with Rev. Tim Hisaw officiating.
the Rev. Willie Lee Memorial Funeral will follow. Visitation is Interment will immediately
Richards and Willie Home of Starkville is from 1-5 p.m. today, at follow at Memorial Cemetery.
James Richards, both in charge of arrange- Hairston and Hairston Bonnie was born December 4, 1928, to Jessie
of Columbus; and eight ments. Funeral Home. Hairston and Willie Grace Fuller Hisaw. She was a graduate
grandchildren. and Hairston Funeral of Ellison Ridge High School and a member of
Douglas Puckett Home of Columbus is in First Baptist Church of Louisville. Bonnie was
Maurice Williams SULLIGENT, Ala. charge of arrangements. an excellent seamstress who made beautiful
CRAWFORD — — Douglas Edward Mr. Sanders was items and did alterations as needed. She retired
Maurice James Wil- Puckett, 56, died Jan. 5, born March 21, 1958, after working many years at Sunflower. Bonnie
liams, 42, 2021, at North Missis- in Columbus, to the enjoyed walking. She was at her best when
died Jan. 3, sippi Medical Center, in late Strout Sanders and serving others by running errands for shut ins,
2021, at his Tupelo. Lucinda Sanders. taking folks for doctor visits, cooking or simply
residence. Services are at 3 He is survived by his spoiling her grandchildren. She loved being the
Grave- p.m. today, at Otts brothers, Dell, Henry, neighborhood “mom” for many kids in her large
side Funeral Home Chapel, Willie, Mark, Charlie, backyard.
services with Heath Webb and Robert, and Malcolm; Bonnie is survived by her son, Billy Coleman
will be at Bradley Long officiat- and sisters, Louise, and wife, Cathy, of Columbus, Mississippi; and
Williams Mary, and Catherine. her sister, Naomi Ming of Pearl, Mississippi. One
11 a.m. ing. Burial will follow
Saturday, at Cooper Cemetery. of her greatest joys was being “Mammaw” to her
at Turner-Hairston Visitation is two hours Bertha Ballard four grandchildren: Tyler (McKinley) Coleman,
Cemetery, with Bob- prior to services. COLUMBUS — Anna Claire Coleman, Tifton (Madison)
by L. McCarter Sr. Otts Funeral Home of Bertha Lee Ballard, Coleman, and Michael (Amanda) Coleman. She
officiating. Burial will Sulligent is in charge of 64, died Jan. 5, 2021, at is also survived by a special friend and her angel,
follow. Visitation is arrangements. Baptist Memorial Hospi- Vanessa Fisher, who so lovingly cared for Bonnie.
from 2-6 p.m. today, at Mr. Puckett was tal-Golden Triangle. She is preceded in death by her husband,
Carter’s Funeral Ser- born Dec. 12, 1964, Graveside services William E. “Bill” Coleman; her parents; and her
vices. Carter’s Funeral in Amory, to Edward will be at 3 p.m. Sat- son, David Michael Coleman.
Services of Columbus Puckett and Patsy Ann urday, at Memorial Serving as pallbearers are Michael Coleman,
is in charge of arrange- Otts. He was a 1982 Gardens Cemetery, Tifton Coleman, Tyler Coleman, Jay Coleman,
ments. graduate of Liberty with the Rev. Al Lathen Jim Ray, and Blake Phillips.
Mr. Williams was Christian Academy and officiating. Burial will Memorial contributions in honor of Bonnie
born April 27, 1978, in Bevill State Communi- follow. Visitation is may be given to First Baptist Church, Home
Lowndes County, to ty College and attended from 1-5 p.m. today, at Bound Meal Program, P.O. Box 547, Louisville,
Charlie James Williams the University of Ala- Hairston and Hairston MS 39339.
and the late Annie bama and Mississippi Funeral Home. Hairston Services are under the direction of
Ruth Hairston. He was State University. He and Hairston Funeral Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North
a 1996 graduate of was formerly employed Home of Columbus is in Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories
Noxubee County High with PSI, in Florence, charge of arrangements. and condolences may be shared with the
School and was former- and was a member of Ms. Ballard was born family by signing the guest register at www.
ly employed as a truck New Centerpoint Free- Nov. 12, 1956, in Nox- nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.
driver with Water’s will Baptist Church. ubee, to the late Willie Paid Obituary - Nowell-Massey Funeral Home
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 5A

Obituaries
Continued from Page 4A

James Harrington Lee-Sykes Earl Spann, John Earl liams of Amory; broth- siblings, Alberta Joiner, Clifford Glenn
CALEDONIA — Funeral Spann, Bryant Stever- er, Keith McCullough Hattie Neal both of MACON — Clif-
James Wallace Har- Home of son Jr., Robert Stever- of Ecru; five grandchil- Macon, Sylvester Smith ford Glenn, 61, died
rington, Columbus son, Robert Steverson, dren; and great-grand- of Macon and James Dec. 31,
71, passed is in charge Aldine Steverson, children. Howard Smith of Los 2020, at
away. of arrange- Jennie Mae Young, Angeles, California; and Noxubee
Grave- ments. Ella Wee Spann, Marie Tony Smith 13 grandchildren. General
side Ms. Clemmons Steverson Doss and Ida NOXUBEE COUN- Hospital.
services Clemmons Fae Steverson. TY — Tony Edward Lillie Gillard Grave-
will be at was born Dec. 12, 1978, She is survived by “New WEST POINT — side
11 a.m. in Columbus, to Johnny her children, Michael Orleans” Lille Lexter Calvert services
Sunday, at Harrington Clemmons and the late Steverson of Colum- Smith, 60, Gillard, 86, died Jan. 2, will be
Glenn
Sturdivant Joyce Genevia Webber bus, Russell Taylor of died Jan. 2021, at her residence. at 2 p.m.
Cemetery of Caledonia, Clemmons. She was a Macon, Donald Taylor 3, 2021, Graveside services Sunday, at Friendship
with James W. Gardner graduate of New Hope of Kileen, Texas, Telesia at Baptist will be at 11 a.m. Cemetery, in Macon.
officiating. Lee-Sykes High School and attend- Peterson, Tameka Memorial Saturday, at West Point Burial will follow.
Funeral Home of Co- ed Mississippi Univer- Shanklin both of Ma- Hospi- Memorial Gardens, Visitation will be from
lumbus is in charge of sity for Women. She son, Teresia Webber of tal-Golden Smith with the Rev. Eddie 1-4 p.m. Saturday, at
arrangements. was formerly employed Columbus and Brenda Triangle. Longstreet officiating. Lee-Sykes Funeral
Mr. Harrington was as an assistant manag- Boyd of Nashville, Graveside services Visitation will be from Home. Lee-Sykes Fu-
born Sept. 6, 1949, in er with Burger King Tennessee; 18 grand- will be at 11 a.m. Satur- 10:30-11 a.m. prior to neral Home of Macon
Vernon, Alabama, to the and was a member of children; and seven day, at Oddfellow Ceme- services Saturday, at is in charge of arrange-
late Robert Harrington Friendship Missionary great-grandchildren. tery, with the Rev. Ron- the cemetery. Carter’s ments.
and Sarah Cribbs Har- Baptist Church. dal Wilson officiating. Mortuary Services of Mr. Glenn was born
rington. He was a veter- In addition to her Betty Rutledge Visitation is from 2-6
West Point is in charge June 17, 1959, to the
an of the Army National father, she is survived AMORY — Betty p.m. today, at Carter’s
of arrangements. late Archie Glenn and
Guard. He was formerly by her siblings, Tiffany Zane McCullough Funeral Services. Car-
Mrs. Gillard was Everleana Glenn. He
employed with Lamar Nicole Clemmons, John Rutledge, 82, died Jan. ter’s Funeral Services
born April 18, 1934, in was a member of Mt.
County Road Crew and Christopher Clemmons 6, 2021. of Macon is in charge of
West Point, to the late Carmel M.B. Church.
Lowndes County Road and Tierra Jenae Clem- Services will be held arrangements.
Mr. Smith was born Walter Calvert and Ma- In addition to his
Department. He was a mons. at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, at
April 25, 1960, in Noxu- linda Wright Calvert. parents, he was pre-
member of Bethlehem Meadowood Baptist She was formerly ceded in death by his
M.B, Church. Nelia Taylor Church, with Lloyd bee County, to the late
Howard and Frances employed with Bryan son, Carlo Smith.
He is survived by MACON — Nelia Sweatt and the Rev. Foods.
Smith. He was formerly He is survived by
his wife, Essie Blevins M. Steverson Taylor, James Rutledge officiat- In addition to her par-
employed with Macon his wife, Juanita Glenn;
Harrington; daughter, 79, passed ing. A private burial will ents, she was preceded
Beacon and was a mem- son, Ricco Smith;
Lisa Blevins of Meridi- away. be held in Haughton in death by her siblings,
ber of Sylvain Ridge stepson, Stanley
an; step-children, Jessie Funeral Memorial Park. Cleve- Coolidge Calvert, Mae
M.B. Church. Smith; stepdaughters,
Howell, Terry Johnson, services land-Moffett Funeral
In addition to his par- Powell, Ora Lee Hinton Jackie Brown and Cora
Daisy McDougle, Linda will be Home of Amory is in
ents, he was preceded and Willie Mae Kilgore. Phillip; brothers, Al-
Shelly, Rosie Johnson at 1 p.m. charge of arrange-
in death by his siblings, She is survived by exander, Samuel, and
and Eddie Johnson; Saturday, ments.
Bernice Jackson, Terry her children, Charles Archie Glenn; sisters,
siblings, Lois Hampton at Spring- Mrs. Rutledge was
Taylor and Eddie Smith. Calvert and Vernita Irene Glenn, Hattie
of Oakman, Alabama, hill M.B. born Feb. 19, 1938,
He is survived by Calvert Posley both Glenn, Bertha Davis,
Carrie Harrington of Church of to Virgil and Eunice
Birmingham, Alabama, his children, Sanchez of West Point; sister, and Susie Moore; 14
Prairie Point, with Mon- Rexstraw McCullough. Susie Mae White of
Tommy Harrington of Ingram of Jackson, grandchildren; and six
trell Rucker officiating. She attended Ecru
Vero Beach, Florida Antoinette Smith, Memphis, Tennessee; great-grandchildren.
Lee-Sykes Funeral High School. She was
and Johnny Harrington Jessica Glass, Marion three grandchildren; Pallbearers will be
Home of Macon is in formerly employed as
of Hamilton, Alabama; Smith all of Columbus, five great-grand- Stanley Smith, Stan-
charge of arrange- an elementary teacher,
and step-grandchildren. Sareka Smith, Moesha children; and three ley Smith Jr., James
ments. social worker and office
Brewer and Breanna great-great-grandchil- McCloud, and Von
Mrs. Taylor was secretary.
Boykin all of Macon; dren. Skinner.
Tenesa Clemmons born June 22, 1941, In addition to her par-
COLUMBUS — Te- in Macon, to the late ents, she was preceded
nesa LaShawn Clem- Bryant and Minnie in death by her siblings,
mons, 42, died Dec. 24, Steverson. She was a Ralph McCullough and
2020. member of Springhill Jerldine Young.
Graveside services M.B. Church. She is survived by
will be at 11 a.m. In addition to her her husband, Rev.
Saturday, at Memorial parents, she was James Huey Rutledge;
Gardens, with Stanley preceded in death by children, Kirk Rutledge
K. McCrary officiating. her siblings, Willie of Iuka and Donna Wil-

Send in your church event!

Email editorialassistant@cdispatch.com
Subject: Religious brief
Opinion
6A FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

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

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

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

OUR VIEW

A call for candidates in municipal races

M
uch as it is with the
weather, citizens
often talk a great deal
about local government, but
few do anything about it.
If municipal elections
were held today in Columbus,
Starkville and Caledonia, there
wouldn’t be much of a choice to
make. In Starkville the “race”
for mayor and each of the
seven positions on the board of
alderman would feature only
one name on the ballot.
It’s even worse in Columbus,
where as of Thursday there
was one more position avail-
able than there were candi-
dates to fill the positions. Cale-
donia is in the same position.
Fortunately, as of today,
there are four more weeks for
candidates in these municipal
elections to qualify for these
positions.
In Starkville, Mayor Lynn
Spruill and incumbent al-
dermen Ben Carver, Sandra
Sistrunk, Hamp Beatty, Henry
Vaughn and Roy A. Perkins
face no opposition now. The
two aldermen positions that
will be vacated by incumbents
David Little and Jason Walker
each have one candidate.
In Columbus Mayor Robert
Smith, along with councilmen
Joseph Mickens and Stephen
Jones have qualified while
councilmen Pierre Beard and
Bill Gavin have yet to decide
if they will run again. Council
member Ethel Stewart has not
announced her intentions.
Ward 5 councilman Charlie
Box said he will not run.
As of now, there are no
other candidates in any of the
races.
In Caledonia Mayor Mitch
Wiggins will run for alderman
while alderman Quinn Parham
will run for mayor. Aldermen
Tammy McCool and Matt
Furnari will run again, but Bill
Darnell and Tyler Brock will
not.
With just one candidate
qualifying for the alderman
race, that leaves four candi-
dates running for five posi-
tions.
It’s unimaginable that can-
didates for all these positions
will not emerge before the Feb.
5 qualifying deadline. Even so,
the question is how many of
these 21 races will actually be
contested. Half? Two-thirds?
Whatever the number, it’s
likely that some of these races
won’t really give voters any-
thing resembling a choice.
We believe in healthy com-
petition. Voters should have
a real choice to make. Candi-
dates with a fresh outlook and
new ideas often pump new
energy into local government.
It forces incumbents to make
their cases and be accountable.
There are qualified, pub-
lic-minded people in all three
cities who could perform a
great public service by running
for these offices.
Now is the time for those
people to come to the aid of our
communities by running for
these officers.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Public apology from Columbus councilman
To my family, the city, and any other person I offend-
ed, especially the Constituents of Ward 4, I hold full
responsibility for my actions, and I would like to person-
ally and wholeheartedly apologize! I will not go into full
details on the matter due to it being a personal issue. My
hope and prayers are for us to not forget yet to forgive me
for making such a careless mistake. I’ve enjoyed repre-
senting all of you and will continue to represent Ward 4 to
the best of my ability. To everyone who has garnered sup-
port I appreciate you. You guys rock! No, I am not exempt
from the law as you can tell. Let us continue to work with
each other and build each other up. We all have flaws! To-
gether we can continue to see great changes in our ward
and in our city! Again I apologize!
Ward 4 Councilman Pierre D. Beard Sr.
Columbus
Editor’s note: Coverage of the incident referred to in this
letter can be found in today’s edition of The Dispatch.

Feels Mississippi’s congressional delegation

doesn’t represent entire state
We have seen White America at one of its highest lev-
els of hate this past Wednesday. I knew it was just a mat-
ter of time before the pot would boil over. Trump was only
the igniter, the fuse has been there waiting for the right
spark. There are no words that can undo what happened
at the U.S. Capitol. Trump and his followers are quick
to condemn the BLM peaceful protest, which includes
those local Trumpicans. I am sure his followers are at
ease and nothing significant has happened. Mississippi-
ans are represented by a few Trumpicans, Cindy Hyde-
Smith (my Yorkie is more qualified than she is); Steven
Palazzo; Michael Guest is in the same boat. My belief is if
it quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Maybe one day the res-
idents of this state will vote for a person who is qualified
to hold offices not because of their race. It’s plain to see
the individuals I have named are not representing all of
Mississippi. I did not see Roger Wicker’s name on the list
that was opposing the Presidential elections.
Mississippians will continue to suffer as long as
unqualified people are elected to political offices. We
can not prosper. Why do our children leave the state for
better opportunities? Mark my word, when the majority
of the state is no longer color blind, the future will shine.
Andrew Whitten
Columbus
Believes actions in DC temporarily harm country’s
standing as democracy leader
What happened Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol is a
black mark on the term “democracy” that may take years
to disappear. Prestige of the United States as a world
leader in democratic way of life is now in shambles. Re-
fusing to accept democratically elected officials, calling
the elections fake and exciting the people to disrupt a
democratic process by no one other than the head of a
state is unheard of in any civilized nation. Today, author-
itarian regimes like China and fragile democracies like
Pakistan are smiling and feeling proud of themselves
and may be patting on their own backs, looking at the
instances that took place at the temple of democracy in
Washington DC. It is now a tough task for the incoming
administration to repair the damage done to our democ-
racy and democratic credibility. It will be hard for the
next administration to rise and give lectures to other
countries on democracy. However, the democratic roots
are so strong in this country that democratic institutions
will rise again soon, and the USA will remain an unshak-
en leader of the free world.
G.D. Heda
Columbus
God Bless America
I did not feel like writing to try and capture where we
are in America, the greatest nation in the world. Howev-
er, I wanted to express my state of mind, even if it means
through the words of someone else.
God Bless America
“While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free.
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer:
God Bless America land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam
God Bless America
My home sweet Home.”
Lowndes District 5 Supervisor Leroy Books
Columbus
OTHER EDITORS
Trump’s final days
T
he lodestar of these columns is the U.S.
Constitution. The document is the durable
foundation protecting liberty, and this week
it showed its virtue again. Despite being displaced
for a time by a mob, Congress returned the same
day to ratify the Electoral College vote and Joe
Biden’s election. Congratulations to the Presi-
dent-elect, who will be inaugurated as the Consti-
tution stipulates at noon on Jan. 20.
nnn
That still leaves Wednesday’s disgrace and what
to do about the 13 days left in Donald Trump’s
presidential term. Democratic leaders Chuck
Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are demanding that
Mr. Trump be removed from office immediately—
either by the Cabinet under the 25th Amendment
or new articles of impeachment. There’s partisan
animus at work here, but Mr. Trump’s actions on
Wednesday do raise constitutional questions that
aren’t casually dismissed.
In concise summary, on Wednesday the leader
of the executive branch incited a crowd to march
on the legislative branch. The express goal was to
demand that Congress and Vice President Mike
Pence reject electors from enough states to deny
Mr. Biden an Electoral College victory. When
some in the crowd turned violent and occupied the
Capitol, the President caviled and declined for far
too long to call them off. When he did speak, he
hedged his plea with election complaint.
This was an assault on the constitutional
process of transferring power after an election.
It was also an assault on the legislature from an
executive sworn to uphold the laws of the United
States. This goes beyond merely refusing to con-
cede defeat. In our view it crosses a constitutional
line that Mr. Trump hasn’t previously crossed. It is
impeachable.
Mr. Trump’s many opponents are crowing in
satisfaction that their predictions have been prov-
en right, that he was never fit to be President and
should have been impeached long ago. But Mr.
Trump’s character flaws were apparent for all to
see when he ran for President.
Sixty-three million Americans voted to elect
Mr. Trump in 2016, and that constitutional process
shouldn’t be easily overruled as Democrats and
the press have demanded from nearly his first
day in office. You don’t impeach for anticipatory
offenses or for those that don’t rise to the level of
constitutional violations. This week’s actions are a
far greater dereliction of duty than his ham-hand-
ed Ukrainian interventions in 2019.
nnn
The related but separate question is whether
impeachment or forced removal under the 25th
Amendment now is in the country’s best interests.
The latter seems unwise unless Mr. Trump threat-
ens some other reckless or unconstitutional act.
After Wednesday he has promised to assist an “or-
derly transition” of power. A Cabinet cabal ousting
him would smack of a Beltway coup and give Mr.
Trump more cause to play the political victim.
Impeachment has the virtue of being trans-
parent and politically accountable. If there were
enough votes to convict in the Senate, it would also
seem less partisan. The best case for impeach-
ment is not to punish Mr. Trump. It is to send a
message to future Presidents that Congress will
protect itself from populists of all ideological
stripes willing to stir up a mob and threaten the
Capitol or its Members.
But impeachment so late in the term won’t be
easy or without rancor. It would further enrage Mr.
Trump’s supporters in a way that won’t help Mr.
Biden govern, much less heal partisan divisions.
It would pour political fuel on Wednesday’s dying
embers.
All the more so because Democrats aren’t likely
to behave responsibly or with restraint. They are
already stumping for impeachment articles that
include a litany of anti-Trump grievances over
four years. Mrs. Pelosi’s ultimatum Thursday that
Mr. Pence trigger the 25th Amendment or she’ll
impeach also won’t attract GOP votes.
Democrats would have more impeachment
credibility now if they hadn’t abused the process
in 2019. A parade of impeachers that includes Rus-
sian-collusion promoters Reps. Adam Schiff and
Jerrold Nadler would repel more Americans than
it would persuade. The mission would look like
political revenge, not constitutional enforcement—
and Mr. Trump would play it as such until his last
breath. Mr. Biden could gain much goodwill if he
called off the impeachers in the name of stepping
back from annihilationist politics.
nnn
If Mr. Trump wants to avoid a second impeach-
ment, his best path would be to take personal
responsibility and resign. This would be the
cleanest solution since it would immediately turn
presidential duties over to Mr. Pence. And it would
give Mr. Trump agency, a la Richard Nixon, over
his own fate.
This might also stem the flood of White House
and Cabinet resignations that are understandable
as acts of conscience but could leave the govern-
ment dangerously unmanned. Robert O’Brien, the
national security adviser, in particular should stay
at his post.
We know an act of grace by Mr. Trump isn’t
likely. In any case this week has probably finished
him as a serious political figure. He has cost
Republicans the House, the White House, and
now the Senate. Worse, he has betrayed his loyal
supporters by lying to them about the election and
the ability of Congress and Mr. Pence to overturn
it. He has refused to accept the basic bargain of de-
mocracy, which is to accept the result, win or lose.
It is best for everyone, himself included, if he
goes away quietly.
Wall Street Journal (Jan. 7)
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 7A

Black leaders cheer Georgia

success, push for more progress
The political vision
of flipping Georgia blue Republican Loeffler concedes
grassroots organizations to Warnock in Georgia runoff
rested largely with
BY KAT STAFFORD
AND AARON MORRISON
The Associated Press
What started as a day of celebra-
tion for Black organizers, voters and
other Georgians who helped deliver
two historic Senate runoff victo-
ries was overshadowed Wednesday
when a violent, mostly white mob of
President Donald Trump’s support-
ers stormed the U.S. Capitol.
But Black leaders and organizers
say the rioters’ insurrection won’t
deter the momentum achieved after
the hard-fought victories of Georgia
Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rapha-
el Warnock. Instead, it serves as a
harsh reminder of the work that lies
ahead for the nation to truly grapple
with white supremacy and racism,
which Trump’s presidency embold-
ened.
“It’s a little bit bittersweet be-
cause on one hand it feels like vin-
dication that if we invest in our com-
munities and our organizations, then
amazing things can happen,” said
Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black
Voters Matter, which estimates
that it reached 2.8 million individ-
uals in Georgia through text and
phone banking campaigns, digital
and social media advertising, door
knocking and street outreach, and
billboards.
“But then you come around the
next day and people are literally
swarming the Capitol in the name
of overturning an election and try-
ing to take away the power of Black
voters,” Albright said. “So while it’s
a victory that’s worth celebrating ...
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA — Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler on Thursday conceded
to Democrat Raphael Warnock in one of two Georgia Senate runoffs
that will give control of the U.S. Senate to Democrats.
Loeffler, who was appointed to the position a year ago to replace out-
going Sen. Johnny Isakson, posted a video to social media Thursday
evening saying that she had called Warnock to congratulate him.
With his victory in Tuesday’s election, Warnock becomes the first
African American from Georgia elected to the Senate.
“Unfortunately we came up slightly short in the runoff election,”
Loeffler says in the video. “Earlier today I called Rev. Warnock to con-
gratulate him and to wish him well in serving this great state.”
A spokesman for Warnock’s campaign confirmed that Loeffler had
conceded but declined to comment further.
Democrat Jon Ossoff beat Republican David Perdue in Georgia’s oth-
er Senate runoff. Perdue has yet to concede. In a statement released
early Wednesday, his campaign vowed to “mobilize every available re-
source and exhaust every legal recourse.”
it’s still in this wider context of what Britney Whaley, a political strate-
our larger struggles are and we’ve gist for the Working Families Party,
got a long way to go.” said keeping up this level of voter en-
Despite the challenges ahead, gagement among Black Georgians
there’s hope that the Georgia vic- and Black voters in general requires
tories could serve as a blueprint to a commitment to them beyond these
transform the Southern political nationally important elections.
landscape, which has been a Repub- “Sure, Black people saved the
lican stronghold for decades. day,” Whaley said. “My question
“The beauty of what happened
then becomes: What next? What
in Georgia is that by knocking on
have you learned? How do you thank
people’s doors, by sitting on people’s
them? It is not in lip service. It’s in
front porches, by putting money and
energy into really hearing people and policy. It’s in changing material con-
giving them a voice in their commu- ditions for people who are in need.”
nity, it has awakened a generation of The political vision of flipping
folks who never would have thought Georgia blue rested largely with
that this was possible and that’s em- grassroots organizations that
powering and it’s contagious,” said knocked on doors and traveled from
Nadia Brown, a Purdue University city cores to more rural areas to di-
political science professor. “And it rectly interface with Black voters
doesn’t stop at the borders of Geor- who have long felt ignored by both
gia. It’s going to spill over.” political parties.

Biden introduces Merrick Garland as attorney general pick

President-elect: Garland’s loyalty Beyond those issues,
Garland would be tasked
Wednesday’s assault on
the Capitol as a conse-
would rest not with the president, but with repairing the Amer-
ican people’s broader
quence of failing to do so.

with the law and Constitution distrust in the Justice

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WILMINGTON, Del.
— President-elect Joe
Biden introduced his
pick for the nation’s top
law enforcement official
on Thursday, turning
to experienced judge
Merrick Garland to help
de-politicize the Justice
Department and restore
the rule of law after what
the incoming president
Constitution, the rule of
law, clear in everything
he has done,” Biden said,
vowing a dramatic shift
in his administration.
“More than anything, we
need to restore the honor,
the integrity, the indepen-
dence of the Department
of Justice that’s been so
badly damaged.”
If confirmed by the
Senate, which is likely,
Garland would take over
Department, fomented
during a tumultuous four
years under Trump’s
leadership. The Republi-
Have you checked the
Classifieds?
can president regularly
meddled in the depart-
ment, most notably firing
FBI Director James Com-
ey while his agency was
investigating Russian
interference in the 2016
presidential election.
Biden vowed that Gar-
land’s loyalty would rest
not with the president,

described as four years of
lawlessness under Presi-
dent Donald Trump.
Biden also described
the pro-Trump mob that
as the U.S. attorney gen-
eral at a critical moment
for the country and the
agency. He would inherit
EmploymEnt
but with the law and Con-
stitution.
“You don’t work for
me,” Biden charged as he

stormed the Capitol on
Wednesday as “domestic
terrorists” and assailed
the Republican president
urgent challenges relat-
ed to policing and civil
rights, an ongoing crim-
inal tax investigation
BUSInESS
introduced Garland.
Facing the public for
the first time at Biden’s
side, Garland promised

for inciting the siege.
“The past four years
we’ve had a president
who’s made his contempt
for our democracy, our
into Biden’s son Hunter
and Democratic calls to
pursue criminal inqui-
ries into Trump after he
leaves office.
REntalS
to restore an equal com-
mitment to law and or-
der and integrity to the
nation’s top law enforce-
ment agency, pointing to

Order to turn off bodycams part of Andre Hill investigation
BY ANDREW WELSH-
HUGGINS AND
FARNOUSH AMIRI
Report for America/The
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
ing on the garage floor,
an officer can be heard
demanding all the other
officers turn their body
cameras off.
“I need everyone to
REal EStatE
question that’s under in-
vestigation—an answer
GaRaGE SalES
mERchandISE
today we simply do not
yet have.”
Columbus Police Chief
Thomas Quinlan has

Whether an officer who
instructed other officers
to turn off their body
cameras in the aftermath
turn their camera off,”
the officer said. An officer
asks, “On?”
The officer responds,
“No. Off.” Then the video
VEhIclES
promised a full investi-
gation into Hill’s death,
including the fact that no
one helped Hill afterward
as he lay moaning on the

of Andre Hill’s death vi-
olated policy is part of a
wide-ranging investiga-
tion into Hill’s killing, a
city spokesperson said
ends.
Officers serve differ-
ent roles at crime scenes,
some requiring cameras
commUnIty
garage floor. Quinlan has
said Hill would be alive if
officers had stepped in.
In the moments after

Thursday.
The instruction was
captured on another of-
ficer’s body camera foot-
and some not, said Glenn
McEntyre, a spokesper-
son for the Columbus De-
partment of Public Safety,
which oversees the divi-
SERVIcES
Hill was fatally shot, ad-
ditional bodycam footage
shows two other Colum-
bus officers rolled Hill
over and put handcuffs

age the day of the shoot-
ing and was included in
several more copies of
videos released by the
city Thursday.
As officers begin to ar-
rive to the scene early on
the morning of Dec. 22,
with Hill’s body still lay-
Tell your child a bedtime story.
sion of police.
“It is possible that
some officers were in a
position where their cam-
eras were not required
to be on,” McEntyre said
Thursday in an email.
“Who complied with pol-
icy and who did not is a
lEGalS
on him before leaving
him alone again. None
of them, according to
the footage released last
week, offered any first
aid even though Hill was
barely moving, groaning
and bleeding while laying
on the garage floor.
ads.cdispatch.com
662-328-2424
8A FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

WIFI HOTSPOT IN CLAY COUNTY

Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff

4-County Electric Power Association spokesperson Brad Barr talks with Clay County Board of Supervisors Presi-
dent R.B. Davis at a wifi hotspot 4-County set up outside Mike’s Kountry Kwik convenience store on Highway 50
in West Point Wednesday. 4-County set up the hotspot through its new subsidiary company FASTnet as part of
its plan to roll out internet to rural parts of its coverage area, including western Clay County. Students and other
residents can access the hotspot from any parking lot at the intersection of Highway 50 West and Highway 47.
“The people out here will really appreciate it and they’ll utilize because it’ll be a great benefit for the children,
education, businesses (and) people that work from home,” Davis said. “It’s just a ... win-win all around.”

Mississippi schools chief:

Ease mandates on some tests
‘I do believe this needs to be a year of grace for our schools’
BY EMILY
WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACK-
SON — the end of third grade.
Mississippi
high school
students
will take
e n d - o f -
course ex-
ams and Wright
third graders will take
mandated reading assess-
ments this spring, state
Superintendent of Edu-
cation Carey Wright told
lawmakers Wednesday.
But, she said, the
state should waive the re-
quirement that students
pass those tests because
school routines have been
disrupted by the corona-
virus pandemic.
“I do believe this needs
to be a year of grace for
our schools,” Wright told
members of the Senate
Education Committee.
State Superintendent of Education Carey Wright
Under a Mississippi
law that’s been in place
several years, students
are required to pass a
reading assessment at
Those who don’t pass are
supposed to be held back.
The Legislature could
tweak the law to waive
the passing requirement,
or Gov. Tate Reeves could
do it through an execu-
tive order.
After the first corona-
virus cases were found
in Mississippi in March,
Reeves ordered all public
schools to stop in-person
instruction for the final
weeks of the 2019-20
school year. For the cur-
rent school year, each
school district could
choose whether to have
classes in person, online
or both. Most have had
at least some in-person
classes.
Mississippi gives an-
nual letter grades, like a
not request a specific
amount of money but said
in response to questions
report card, to show how after the meeting that she
well schools and school would be happy with “as
districts are meeting ac- much you can give me.”
countability standards. “When you’ve got a
Wright said Wednesday state next door that’s
that she is recommend- dumping $150 million
ing that schools and dis- into early childhood —
tricts will keep the same states around the United
letter grade for the cur- States are doing that,”
rent academic year that Wright said. “Early child-
they for 2018-19, the last hood is a proven, given,
full academic year before workforce development
the pandemic started. issue.”
Wright said school
districts could consider
expanding or creating af-
ter-school programs, Sat-
urday school or summer
school for students who
need extra academic help
because of the pandemic
disruption.
She also asked law-
makers to consider put-
ting more money into pre-
kindergarten programs
called early learning
collaboratives. Mississip-
pi puts little into those
programs compared to
other states. Wright did

Douglas
Continued from Page 1A
Douglas said she is concerned about
crime in her ward and “incompetence”
in the city administration.
“We don’t need those kind of people
in office,” Douglas said Thursday. “... We
need a change in Columbus. ... I’ve never
seen what’s going on now, never before
in my life in Columbus.
“If you keep putting the same people
in office, then there’s no change,” she
added. “... We need a new perspective
here in Columbus.”
Beard has not qualified for re-elec-
tion and previously told The Dispatch he
was waiting to announce his candidacy.
Beard was also recently cited for posses-
sion of a misdemeanor amount of mari-
juana in Lowndes County Justice Court.
The only other candidates who have
qualified for Columbus elections thus
far are incumbents Mayor Robert Smith,
Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens and
Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones.

Titans to honor officers who

responded to Christmas bombing
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NASHVILLE, Tenn.
— The six first respond-
ers who evacuated resi-
dents before the Christ-
mas Day bombing in
downtown Nashville will
be the “Honorary 12th
Titans” for Tennessee’s
home game on Sunday
against the Baltimore Ra-
vens.
“While we can nev-
er thank these officers
enough for their heroic
acts, it is an absolute priv-
ilege to have the opportu-
nity to honor them at the
game on Sunday,” said
Titans president and CEO
Burke Nihill in a state-
ment.
According to a news
release, the six men and
women — Officers Bren-
na Hosey, Tyler Luellen,
Michael Sipos, Amanda
Topping, James Wells and
Sergeant Timothy Mill-
er — will not only attend
the game but also plunge
a sword into the field to
mark the countdown to
kickoff.
Titans players will
continue to done the “615
Strong” helmet decal
during the game, in a nod
to the city’s area code.
The number six is colored
in Titans light blue to hon-
or the six officers.

Get promoted? Win an award? Send us your business brief.

news@cdispatch.com
subject: Business brief
Sports
PREP BASKETBALL
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021
B
SECTION

West Lowndes defends home court against Caledonia

BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
Fredrick Rice Jr. was
tired of missing free
throws.
Frustrated with his “on
and off” shooting at the
foul line, the West Lown-
des High School junior
walked into the gym at
noon Tuesday with a sin-
gular purpose entrenched
in his mind: getting it
right.
In a critical moment
Thursday, Rice showed
that the work he had put
in had already paid off.
He buried all four of his
free throws — breaking
a career high of three —
in the final minute of the
Panthers’ home game
against Caledonia to lift
West Lowndes (4-4) to a
75-72 win over the Cava-
liers (4-8).
“It made me feel good,
personally,” Rice said of
his role in the victory.
“But it made me feel the
best knowing that I’m
helping the team out.”
Rice put the Panthers
ahead by a point with his
first pair at the line with 46
seconds to go and made a
second set when he was
fouled intentionally with
just 16.7 remaining. Cale-
donia missed a 3-pointer
on its final possession as
it sought to tie the game
at 75-all.
It was West Lowndes’
second straight win after
a hard-fought 66-57 win
Tuesday at McAdams — a
“homecoming” for Pan-
thers coach Michael Huff-
man at a school where he
previously coached girls
basketball.
“We got in a war there,”
Huffman said. “Tonight,
I knew, was going to be
a war with Caledonia. I
knew they were going to
come out hard. They have
a great ballclub.”
The Panthers had
emerged the victors in a
back-and-forth game that
saw the Cavaliers pull
ahead early, a big sec-
Theo DeRosa/Dispatch Staff
ond-quarter run by West Caledonia senior Jarvis Leigh (5) passes the ball while surrounded by three West
Lowndes and a furious Lowndes defenders during the first quarter of Thursday’s game at West Lowndes.
See PREPS, 4B The Panthers beat the Cavaliers 75-72.

Mega deal: MISSISSIPPI STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Indians trade
star Lindor,
Carrasco to Jessika Carter dominates as Bulldogs
N.Y. Mets
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND —
eke out road win over Florida
The Indians drafted and
developed Francisco
Lindor, who blossomed
into an All-Star short-
stop and one of base-
ball’s best all-around
players.
Cleveland chased a
World Series title with
him.
They’ll now do it
without Lindor.
Knowing they could
never meet his price,
the Indians dealt the
four-time All-Star and
pitcher Carlos Carrasco
to the New York Mets,
who have a new owner
willing to spend at base-
ball’s highest levels in
order to get his fran-
chise back on top.
The cash-strapped
Indians sent Lindor
and Carrasco to the
Mets on Thursday
for young infielders
Andrés Giménez and

See LINDOR, 4B

Ole Miss
women hang Photo courtesy of Florida Athletics
Mississippi State’s Jessika Carter (4) goes for the block of Florida’s Faith Dut (25) during Thursday’s game in Gainesville, Florida. Carter
on for win is averaging 18.1 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per game in the Bulldogs’ seven wins so far this season. “This is just getting her
ready for those games,” coach Nikki McCray-Penson said of Carter’s outing Thursday. “She’s got to be consistent every night. It doesn’t
over Auburn matter who it is. Whether it’s Kentucky, Alabama, South Carolina, she’s got to be a dominant force for us every night.”

FROM SPECIAL REPORTS

OXFORD – Ole Miss

women’s basketball sur-
vived a late scare and
rode a dynamic outing
from Shakira Austin to
triumph over Auburn, 62-
58, to snap its SEC regu-
lar season winless streak
at The Pavilion on Thurs-
day night.
Ole Miss (7-1, 1-1
SEC) was again tested
with lack of depth with
only eight available on
the court, but the Rebels
proved resilient against
a fierce Auburn (5-6, 0-3
SEC) defense as they
claimed their first SEC
win since Feb. 14, 2019
(vs. Vanderbilt, 65-60)
and their first wire-to-
wire SEC win since top-
pling Florida on Jan. 20,
2019 (76-66).
“Grateful for the win,”
said Ole Miss head coach
Yolett McPhee-McCu-
in. “I’ve been wanting
a conference win for a
long time. We’ve been
building something for
years to get these wins. It
wasn’t the prettiest win,
but I’ll tell you this, this is
going to help us tremen-
See OLE MISS, 4B
Junior puts up 25 points, 15 rebounds as MSU wins in Gainesville
BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
Jessika Carter is Mississippi
State’s forgotten all-American.
On a team in which sopho-
more forward Rickea Jackson
receives the bulk of headlines,
Carter’s dynamism is some-
times lost in the day-to-day. But
in Thursday’s 68-56 win over a
scrappy Florida team, Carter led
MSU offensively with a 25-point,
15-rebound display that helped
the Bulldogs through a sloppy
close in Gainesville.
“Coach Nikki (McCray-Pen-
son) wanted them to get the ball
inside, and that’s what they did,”
she explained postgame. “I took
a lot of forced shots on the out-
side, and I should’ve stayed in
the paint — it was working for
me in the paint.”
While Carter was largely
dominant Thursday, it was an-
other chapter for the ever-per-
plexing player in how effective
she can be when clicking yet
how inefficient she’s been when
challenged with stiff competi-
tion over the past year-plus.
Squaring off mostly with
6-foot-4 Gators forward Faith
Dut, Carter was aggressive in
getting to the hoop for much of
Thursday’s contest after a slow
first quarter. She forced her way
into opportunities for layups
while grinding off errant shots
to earn MSU extra possessions
en route to her fifth double-dou-
ble of the year.
Yet as was the case in mea-
ger efforts past, Carter got her
points, sure, but it was anoth-
er night in which her numbers
might have skyrocketed had
she not found herself fading
away from the rim and failing to
use the size advantage former
head coach Vic Schaefer plead-
ed with her to use more often a
year ago.
Rather than attacking Dut
possession after possession,
Carter settled early. She clanked
free throw-line jumpers off the
front of the iron or bricked them
entirely as she ebbed and flowed
with her offensive aggression.
Postgame, the Waverly Hall,
Georgia, product donned an
ear-to-ear grin as she conceded
Thursday’s contest turned for
her when she began listening
to head coach McCray-Penson’s
insistence that she get deeper in
the post. With one of the more
shy, more guarded personalities
on MSU’s roster, it was a refresh-
ing, albeit momentary, glimpse
into how Carter is evolving un-
der her new head coach.
“She was like ‘Coach, if I set-
tle for my fadeaway, get me,’ and
I got her,” McCray-Penson said.
“I’m sure you probably heard
me.”
In all reality, Thursday was
a game MSU and Carter should
have dominated. The Bulldogs
have won eight straight games
against the Gators — a streak
that dates back to the 2012-13
campaign — while Carter has
flashed an all-American level
of play against inferior compe-
tition all winter. But Thursday
also served as a reminder of
how necessary her dominance
is to MSU’s success.
During the Bulldogs’ loss to
Kentucky, Carter finished with
14 points and 13 rebounds on
5-of-12 shooting, but stalled in
a 1 of 7 start from the field in a
matchup that, on paper, she had
every advantage over Wildcats
forward Dre’Una Edwards.
To a further extent, Car-
ter was downright invisible in
MSU’s Southeastern Confer-
ence Tournament final loss
to South Carolina last spring,
where she notched just five
points and eight rebounds as
she was largely locked up by
then-Gamecocks freshman Ali-
yah Boston.
In losses to Kentucky and
No. 21 South Florida, Carter
averaged 14.5 points and 11 re-
bounds per contest. Over MSU’s
seven wins? She’s averaging an
astounding 18.1 points and 9.4
rebounds per game.
Thursday, Carter looked the
part of the all-SEC candidate
she was pegged as in the presea-
son. In upcoming games against
No. 5 South Carolina and No. 8
Texas A&M later this month,
she’ll have to carry that play
throughout for the Bulldogs to
have a chance at challenging for
SEC supremacy.
“This is just getting her
ready for those games,” Mc-
Cray-Penson said of Thurs-
day’s performance. “She’s got
to be consistent every night.
It doesn’t matter who it is.
Whether it’s Kentucky, Ala-
bama, South Carolina, she’s
got to be a dominant force for
us every night.”
2B FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

No. 8 Wisconsin outlasts Indiana in double overtime

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MADISON, Wis. — Veter-
ans and young players made
crucial contributions to keep
No. 8 Wisconsin near the top of
the Big Ten standings.
D’Mitrik Trice scored 21
points and Tyler Wahl made
consecutive 3-pointers in the
second overtime to spark Wis-
consin to an 80-73 victory over
Indiana on Thursday night.
Wahl finished with a ca-
reer-high 12 points as Wiscon-
sin (10-2, 4-1 Big Ten) won for
the seventh time in its last eight
games. Nate Reuvers added 14
points and Micah Potter had 10.
Trice, a fifth-year senior,
said Wahl puts in extra work to
improve his game.
“We’re the last two players
in the gym after shootaround,”
Trice said. “(Assistant) coach
(Alando) Tucker is always
working with him on catch and
shooting. He does that after ev-
ery shootaround.”
Coach Greg Gard said he
expects Wahl, a sophomore, to
keep working hard.
“The one thing with young
players is it’s always about con-
fidence, and he needs to contin-
ue to rep his shooting, hit the
routine and release (his shot)
consistently,” Gard said.
Wahl had been 2 of 9 on
3-point attempts before Thurs-
day.
The Badgers have won 18
consecutive games at the Kohl
Center against the Hoosiers.
Trice said the hard-fought
victory will yield benefits head-
ing into a difficult trip next
week to No. 10 Michigan and
No. 15 Rutgers.
“Getting this win in double
overtime is a big help and mo-
mentum booster for us to get
back where we need to be,”
Trice said. “We just know that
we’re a hard-nosed, gritty team.
We’ve got to continue to play
Wisconsin forward Micah Potter (11) and guard D’Mitrik Trice (0) grab a rebound from Indiana guard
Rob Phinisee (10) during the first half Thursday at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin defense, and that’s
what’s going to get the job
done.”
Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Da-
vis scored 23 points on 10-of-16
shooting. Aljami Durham add-
ed 15, Jerome Hunter had 12
and Rob Phinisee 10 for the
Hoosiers (7-5, 2-3).
Jackson-Davis, who entered
the night averaging 20.3 points,
scored 16 in the second half.
But he had only one point in the
extra sessions.
Durham made a layup and
free throw to complete a three-
point play and put Indiana
ahead at 69-67 with 27 seconds
left in the first overtime.
Trice hit a step-back jumper
with 7.7 seconds left to tie the
game.
The Hoosiers failed to get a
shot attempt in the closing sec-
onds as Wisconsin’s Brad Davi-
son forced a jump ball.
Davison’s 3-point attempt
rolled off the rim at the buzzer
in regulation.
The Hoosiers were with-
out sophomore guard Armaan
Franklin, who rolled his left
ankle in the team’s victory over
Maryland on Monday. Frank-
lin, who traveled to Madison, is
averaging 12.7 points per game.
Jackson-Davis didn’t spend
a single minute on the bench.
Hoosiers coach Archie Miller
said exhaustion impacted the
star player down the stretch.
“He ended up playing 49 min-
utes in a double-overtime game,
so fatigue is definitely going to
Mary Langenfeld/USA TODAY Sports
play a role,” Miller said. “He did
a great job all game long.”
Jackson-Davis contributed
three blocks and four assists.
He scored his last field goal
with 6:47 to go in regulation,
and when Gard configured Bad-
gers players in what he called a
“defensive lineup,” Jackson-Da-
vis didn’t make another basket.
Big picture
Indiana: The Hoosiers fed
the ball inside throughout the
game to stay in contention.
They scored 44 points in the
paint.
Wisconsin: Trice has shown
time and again that he can
come through in clutch situa-
tions. Trice hit a floater in the
lane to tie the game at 61 with
21 seconds left in regulation.
He had a jumper with 1:42 left
in the second overtime to give
the Badgers a 79-70 lead.
No. 12 Illinois 81,
Northwestern 56
EVANSTON, Ill. — Illinois
coach Brad Underwood went to
talk to his team at halftime and
saw exactly what he needed to
see.
The 12th-ranked Illini were
angry and disappointed — and
they took it out on Northwest-
ern.
Kofi Cockburn scored 13 of
his 18 points in the second half,
and Illinois rallied to beat the
overwhelmed Wildcats 81-56 on
Thursday night.
“This team has a fight and
a competitiveness that I love,”
Underwood said.
That was on full display
during a historic second half.
Illinois (9-3, 5-1 Big Ten) out-
scored Northwestern 53-13 af-
ter it trailed by 15 at the break.
The Illini limited the Wildcats
to just two field goals and forced
nine turnovers in the final 20
minutes of their biggest victory
at Northwestern since a 63-30
blowout on Feb. 19, 2000.
According to STATS, Illi-
nois became the first team to
outscore a major conference
opponent by at least 40 points
in a single half since Kentucky
outscored Vanderbilt by 43 in
the second half of a 106-44 win
on March 5, 2003. The Illini
are the only Division I team in
the last 25 seasons to trail by at
least 15 points at halftime and
come back to win by 20 or more.
“I’ve never been (a part) of
anything like that,” Cockburn
said. “You saw it, man. You
saw how we reacted to it. I was
in awe. Just being on the floor,
watching it happen, being a
part of it, it was a really good
feeling.”

Kispert’s 23 points lead No. 1 Gonzaga past rival BYU

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SPOK ANE, Wash. —
Jalen Suggs put up plen-
ty of impressive num-
bers for No. 1 Gonzaga
against BYU, but after
the game, his coach and
teammates wanted to
talk about something
that doesn’t always show
up on the stat sheet —
his passing.
Suggs had 16 points,
five rebounds, five as-
sists, four steals and
a blocked shot as the
Zags beat BYU 86 -69 on
Thursday.
“He has so many gifts
and one of his greatest
gifts is his vision,” coach
Mark Few said. “You
have to be very confident
to be able to execute
passes like that.”
Suggs, a freshman
who played quarterback
in high school, acknowl-
edged that he takes pride
in long, highlight-reel
passes. He threw one
nearly the length of the
court that allowed Joel
Ayayi to score.
“I love throwing
passes,” Suggs said. “It
makes not playing foot-
ball a little easier.”
Suggs also shut down
BYU leading scorer Alex
Barcello, holding him
to nine points on 3-of-11
shooting.
“You always have a
chance to impact a game
by shutting down the
other team’s best play-
er,” Suggs said.
Corey Kispert scored
23 points as Gonzaga
jumped to an early lead
and coasted to victory
in a hastily scheduled
game after both teams
lost their original oppo-
nents to COVID-19 is-
sues.
Drew Timme and An-
drew Nembhard added
12 points each for Gonza-
ga (11-0, 2-0 West Coast
Conference), which won
its 45th consecutive
home game, the longest
streak in the nation.
Matt Haarms and Ca-
leb Lohner each scored
13 points for BYU (9-
3, 0-1), which had not
played since Dec. 23 af-
ter a pair of WCC games
were postponed because
of COVID-19. BYU was
hurt by poor shooting
most of the game.
Gonzaga was sup-
posed to play Santa Clara
on Thursday and BYU
was scheduled to play
Pacific. But both those
teams had to drop out
because of COVID-19
protocols, so Gonzaga
and BYU decided to play
each other a month ear-
ly.
BYU’s long layoff
was evident early, as
the Cougars committed
five turnovers in the
first four minutes to fall
behind 16 -2. Gonzaga
made seven of its first
nine shots.
The Cougars made
only two of their first 12
shots to trail 30-7 with
just over nine minutes
gone in the first half.
BYU finally found
its shooting touch and
Haarms scored seven
points as the Cougars
got within 32-16.
Lohner’s 3-pointer
capped a 10-2 run and
brought BYU within 39-
26 with four minutes left
in the first.
Gonzaga replied with
a 13-0 run and led 52-29
at halftime, after hold-
ing BYU to 33% shooting
and forcing 11 turnovers
in the first. Five Zags
scored at least eight
points in the first, led by
Kispert’s 11 points.
Kispert scored six
points during an 11-2
second-half run that lift-
ed Gonzaga to a 73-42
lead.
“On the defensive end
we played 30 minutes
of really, really solid
basketball,” Few said.
“They’re a good offen-
sive team. ... We ball-
hawked really well and
swarmed to the ball real-
ly well.”
BYU coach Mark
Pope did not speak to re-
porters after the game.
Depth perception
Five different Gonza-
ga players have won the
WCC Player of the Week
award in the first six
weeks of the season. The
latest is Ayayi, who re-
corded three double-dou-
bles last week.
Hot shots
The Zags scored 85
or more points in each of
their first 11 games of the
season. Gonzaga is the
first team since Arkan-
sas in 1993-94 to score 85
points in each of its first
10 games. That Arkansas
team won the national ti-
tle.
Poll implications
This was supposed
to be one of the tougher
games remaining on Gon-
zaga’s schedule and the
Zags should remain on
top of the poll if they win
Saturday at Portland.
Big picture
BYU: The Cougars
are one of the few WCC
teams that have enjoyed
some success against
Gonzaga in the past de-
cade. Gonzaga’s last loss
was at BYU last February.
In 2017, BYU beat Gon-
zaga at home to end the
Bulldogs’ 29-0 start.
Gonzaga: The Bull-
dogs are among the last
10 unbeaten teams in the
nation, and one of four
teams that have at least 10
wins ... Gonzaga leads the
nation in scoring offense
(95.1 points per game)
and field goal percentage
(55.4%) ... Kispert leads
the WCC in scoring (21.6
points) and shooting
(63.4%) ... The Bulldogs
have won 32 of their past
33.

All Wright: Senior leads Colorado to win over No. 17 Oregon

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOULDER, Colo.
— McKinley Wright IV
wound up with a knot on
the back of his neck from
sliding into a courtside
chair.
All the crash did was
ignite him.
Wright recovered from
the scary fall to score
21 points, including a
game-sealing scoop layup
with 27 seconds left, and
Colorado held off No. 17
Oregon for a 79-72 win on
Thursday.
“Big-time win for us,”
Wright said.
The senior point guard
was fouled driving to the
basket late in the first
half, slid out of bounds
and banged his neck on
a seat along the baseline.
He pounded the floor in
pain before joining the
team on the bench and
returning to the floor to
shoot free throws. Strug-
gling before the fall,
Wright caught fire after
it — scoring all of his
points.
“It was a tough start for
me,” Wright said. “I tried
to stay aggressive. My
teammates kept believing
in me.”
Wright had five assists
to move five away from
breaking the school re-
cord of 562 assists held by
Jay Humphries (1980-84).
Wright also grabbed a
season-high 10 rebounds.
“I’m in awe of him on
the court,” said Colora-
do big man Evan Battey,
who had 12 points and 10
rebounds but also picked
up a technical for his
emotions after an offen-
sive foul call. “I’m in awe
but I’m in the play as it’s
being ran. So it’s kind of
special to watch and to be
in awe, while you’re in the
action.”
Grad transfer Jeriah
Horne added 17 points
for the Buffaloes (8-3, 2-2
Pac-12), who improved to
10-0 against the Ducks (8-
2, 3-1) all-time in Boulder.
Chris Duarte, the
reigning Pac-12 play-
er of the week, scored
27 points for an Oregon
team that saw its eight-
game win streak halted.
Eugene Omoruyi added
18 points.
“We’re in this together
and we all have our share
of blame,” Oregon coach
Dana Altman said. “Ball
movement was really
poor. We had some bad
turnovers.”
The Buffaloes led 71-61
with 2:26 remaining when
Oregon made a late surge.
The Ducks trimmed it to
four on Duarte’s 3-pointer
with under 2 minutes left.
But Eli Parquet drove to
the hoop and Oregon was
called for goaltending to
restore some breathing
room. Wright then sealed
it with his layup.
Moments like that are
precisely why he returned
this season.
“I want to win,” said
Wright, whose team was
spurred by a 14-2 run
to start the second half.
“Coach put me in the po-
sition to win.”
Colorado coach Tad
Boyle’s teams are re-
nowned for knocking off
ranked opponents. Under
Boyle, the Buffs are 20-34
against teams appearing
in the polls. That accounts
for 31% of the program’s
victories over ranked
teams since 1949-50.
“It’s a testament to our
players,” Boyle said. “We
had the opportunities and
we’ve taken advantage of
it 20 times. The 34 I don’t
like. But when you play
a ranked team it’s hard
to win. ... Colorado bas-
ketball, I don’t think gets
enough national respect
or recognition. The only
way that’s going to hap-
pen is to win games like
this, against teams like
Oregon.”
Big picture
Oregon: The Ducks
had a plus-7.5 rebound
margin this season. They
were outrebounded by
Colorado 40-28.
Colorado: Under
Boyle, the Buffs have
proven tough to beat at
home. They’re 144-27 at
CU Events Center since
he took over in 2010.
Long range
The Buffaloes finished
7 of 26 from 3-point range.
They entered with the
highest 3-point field goal
percentage in the league.
Quick numbers
Oregon had 42 points
in the paint. ... Colorado
was 14 of 15 at the free
throw line. ... The Buffs
spent 28 minutes, 25 sec-
onds in the lead. Oregon
led for 9:43.
Up next
Oregon: The Ducks’
game at Utah was moved
up from Sunday to Satur-
day.
Colorado: The Buf-
faloes were scheduled
to play Oregon State on
Saturday, but it was post-
poned due to COVID-19
protocols within the Bea-
vers program. Colorado
faces Utah in Salt Lake
City on Monday.

CALENDAR
Today
Prep Girls Basketball
Starkville at Germantown, 5 p.m.
Columbus at Grenada, 6 p.m.
Lamar School at Heritage Academy,
6 p.m.
West Point at New Hope, 6 p.m.
West Lowndes at Nanih Waiya, 6
p.m.
Columbus Christian Academy at Amo-
ry Christian Academy, 6 p.m.
Oak Hill Academy at Winona Chris-
tian, 6 p.m.
Carroll Academy at Hebron Christian,
6 p.m.
Starkville Academy at East Rankin
Academy, 6:30 p.m.
Prep Boys Basketball
Starkville at Germantown, 6:40 p.m.
Carroll Academy at Hebron Christian,
7 p.m.
West Point at New Hope, 7:15 p.m.
Columbus at Grenada, 7:30 p.m.
Lamar School at Heritage Academy,
7:30 p.m.
West Lowndes at Nanih Waiya, 7:30
p.m.
Columbus Christian Academy at Amo-
ry Christian Academy, 6 p.m.
Oak Hill Academy at Winona Chris-
tian, 7:30 p.m.
Starkville Academy at East Rankin
Academy, 7:45 p.m.
Prep Girls Soccer
Nettleton at New Hope, 5 p.m.
Caledonia at Itawamba Agricultural,
5 p.m.
Tishomingo County at West Point, 5
p.m.
Grenada at Columbus, 5:30 p.m.
Starkville at South Panola, 5:30 p.m.
Prep Boys Soccer
Starkville Academy at St. Joe Tourna-
ment, Greenville, TBA
Nettleton at New Hope, 6:30 p.m.
Grenada at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Caledonia at Itawamba Agricultural,
7 p.m.
Starkville at South Panola, 7 p.m.
Tishomingo County at West Point, 7
p.m.
ON THE AIR
Today
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
5:30 p.m. — Ohio at Toledo, CBSSN
6 p.m. — Youngstown State at Wright
State, ESPN2
6 p.m. — North Texas at Texas (San
Antonio), ESPNU
6 p.m. — Purdue at Michigan State,
FS1
8 p.m. — Dayton at Davidson,
ESPN2
8 p.m. — Utah State at New Mexico,
FS1
NBA BASKETBALL
6:45 p.m. — Charlotte at New Orle-
ans, ESPN
9:05 p.m. — LA Clippers at Golden
State, ESPN
Saturday
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
11 a.m. — Alabama at Auburn,
ESPN2
11 a.m. — St. John’s at Creighton,
FS1
11 a.m. — Richmond at George
Mason, CBSSN
11 a.m. — George Washington at St.
Bonaventure, NBCSN
Noon — Texas at West Virginia, ESPN
Noon — Mississippi State at Vander-
bilt, SECN
1 p.m. — Tennessee at Texas A&M,
ESPN2
1 p.m. — Seton Hall at DePaul, FS1
1 p.m. — Rhode Island at VCU,
CBSSN
1 p.m. — Fordham at Duquesne,
NBCSN
2 p.m. — Baylor at TCU, ESPN
2:30 p.m. — Georgia at Arkansas,
SECN
3 p.m. — Texas Tech at Iowa State,
ESPN2
3 p.m. — Tulane at Houston, ESPNU
3 p.m. — Nevada (Las Vegas) at
Colorado State, FS1
3 p.m. — UConn at Butler, CBSSN
3 p.m. — La Salle at Massachusetts,
NBCSN
3:30 p.m. — Oklahoma at Kansas,
CBS
4 p.m. — Kentucky at Florida, ESPN
5 p.m. — Oklahoma State at Kansas
State, ESPN2
6 p.m. — Clemson at North Carolina,
ESPN
6 p.m. — Santa Clara at Saint
Mary’s, CBSSN
7 p.m. — Georgetown at Syracuse,
ESPN2
7:30 p.m. — LSU at Missouri, SECN
8 p.m. — UCLA at Arizona, ESPN
8 p.m. — Nevada at San Diego
State, CBSSN
NFL FOOTBALL
12:05 p.m. — Indianapolis at Buffa-
lo, CBS
3:40 p.m. — L.A. Rams at Seattle,
FOX
7:15 p.m. — Tampa Bay at Washing-
ton, NBC
Sunday
NFL FOOTBALL
12:05 p.m. — Baltimore at Tennes-
see, ABC/ESPN
3:40 p.m. — Chicago at New Orle-
ans, CBS
7:15 p.m. — Cleveland at Pittsburgh,
NBC
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
NFL prospects everywhere in Alabama-Ohio State title game
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former LSU linebacker Pat-
rick Queen is a good example
of how a huge performance in
a national championship game
can help a player boost his NFL
draft stock.
Queen was a rising prospect
throughout last season and
capped it by being the defen-
sive MVP of the College Foot-
ball Playoff championship vic-
tory against Clemson. About
three and half months later,
Queen was selected in the first
round by the Baltimore Ravens
at No. 28 overall.
No. 1 Alabama and No. 3
Ohio State head into the na-
tional title game Monday night
with a slew of future NFL play-
ers. The matchups will not only
determine who wins a cham-
pionship, but could also influ-
ence where some of their stars
are drafted.
“You do want to look into a
player’s ability to play in the
clutch and in the big moments
because obviously when you’re
putting together a football
team, an NFL roster, your goal
is to be playing in the playoffs,”
said Jim Nagy, Senior Bowl
executive director and a for-
mer NFL scout. “So you want
to look at the consequential
games. The games that really
matter.”
Alabama center Landon
Dickerson, who is out with a
knee injury, and guard Deonte
Brown have already accepted
invitations to the Senior Bowl
on Jan. 30, Nagy said. Heisman
Trophy-winning receiver
DeVonta Smith, star running
back Najee Harris and tackle
Alex Leatherwood have also
been invited.
For Ohio State, center Josh
Myers, running back Trey Ser-
NFL
Favored Saints brace for Bears team with ‘nothing to lose’
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS — Saints
linebacker Demario Davis’
largely productive NFL career
also has had its share of disap-
pointing, teachable moments.
Losing seasons with the
New York Jets and Cleveland
Browns helped Davis cherish
recent postseason opportuni-
ties with New Orleans. And in
the playoffs, Davis has experi-
enced excruciating losses in
each of the past three seasons
— with the decisive score com-
ing on each game’s final play.
So as the four-time NFC
South champion Saints (12-4)
embark on yet another playoff
run, starting Sunday against
the recently resurgent Chicago
Bears (8-8) in the Superdome,
Davis is imploring teammates
to narrow their focus and stay
in the present.
“The only thing that we’re
promised is this moment. That
is the only clock that you could
be looking at,” Davis said. “It
isn’t like, as a team, you’ve
got so many opportunities to
be here. The only moment we
have is right now and it’s all
about what we do with it right
now.”
For the Saints, the stakes
are high because their quarter-
back is 41-year-old Drew Brees,
who has become synonymous
with New Orleans during the
past 15 seasons. Brees brought
the football-obsessed commu-
nity it’s lone major pro sports
championship 11 seasons ago,
and became the NFL’s all-time
leader in yards passing. Brees
will turn 42 on Jan. 15 and
hasn’t committed to playing be-
yond this season, so each game
could be his last.
Falcons interview Hackett, Brady for head coaching job
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA — The Atlanta
Falcons have interviewed a
pair of offensive coordinators,
Nathaniel Hackett of the Green
Bay Packers and Joe Brady of
the Carolina Panthers, for their
head coaching job.
The Falcons conducted a
virtual interview with Hack-
ett on Thursday, one day after
meeting virtually with Brady.
The 41-year-old Hackett has
been with the Packers since
2019 on the staff of former Fal-
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
mon, linebackers Tuf Borland
and Barron Browning, and de-
fensive end Jonathon Cooper
plan to take part in the Senior
Bowl, Nagy said. Invitations
have also been extended to de-
fensive tackle Haskell Garrett
and linebacker Pete Werner.
There are perhaps 20 play-
ers who could potentially be
drafted in April after playing
for the Crimson Tide and Buck-
eyes.
Quarterbacks
Ohio State’s Justin Fields
was amazing against Clemson,
throwing six touchdown pass-
es and showing off accuracy
and arm strength all over the
field. He also displayed poise
and toughness, playing most of
the game after taking a nasty
hit to his side.
That came after an inconsis-
tent and truncated season that
has called into question Fields’
status as the best available QB
behind Trevor Lawrence.
“There’s a lot of buzz around
the league about (BYU’s) Zach
Wilson being the No. 2 pick in
the draft behind Lawrence,”
said Dane Brugler, a draft an-
alyst for The Athletic. “Fields,
with what he did, it changed
that a little bit. He’s making
teams kind of go back and re-
consider.”
The Alabama defense has
had some bumpy moments,
but it is still the most talented
group Ohio State has faced,
starting with SEC defensive
player of the year Patrick Sur-
tain III. The junior will prob-
ably be the first cornerback
drafted if he declares.
Plus, Fields will be tested by
Alabama schematically.
“Give (Tide coach) Nick Sa-
ban 10 days to figure you out
and to find your weaknesses,
Asked if he’d decided wheth-
er this season would be his last,
Brees said only: “I’ve made a
decision about being the best I
can be this week so we can go
win this game so we can keep
playing.”
Brees is in his ninth postsea-
son with New Orleans and 11th
in his career.
Bears quarterback Mitch
Trubisky, now in his fourth
NFL season, is in the playoffs
for just the second time after
what was a turbulent 2020 for
him.
Trubisky was benched earli-
er this season and has started
just nine games. But the Bears
went 6-3 in those games, with
three victories in four games
to close the regular season and
sneak into the playoffs.
“We got nothing to lose. We
know everybody is overlook-
ing us,” Trubisky said. “We’ve
got to come in playing smart
and play disciplined football,
but that doesn’t mean coming
in being uptight. I think, go in
and play free.”
Tried and true strengths
While Brees has been the
star of some prolific passing
offenses that simply outscored
opponents under coach Sean
Payton, the veteran quarter-
back takes comfort in the fact
the Saints have thrived this
season in the running game
and on defense.
The Saints’ 2,265 yards
rushing are the most since the
Payton era began 2006. The de-
fense ranks fourth and tied for
the NFL lead in interceptions
with 18.
“The best teams can run
the football and play great de-
fense,” Brees said. “Those are
cons assistant Matt LaFleur,
after previously serving as of-
fensive coordinator for Buffalo
and Jacksonville.
The son of former NFL and
college coach Paul Hackett
received a lofty endorsement
from Packers quarterback Aar-
on Rodgers, one of the leading
contenders for the MVP award.
“I think one of the (prereq-
uisites) to being a good head
coach is presence in front of
a room,” Rodgers said. “You
have to have kind of a unique
that’s terrifying,” said Matt
Miller of NFL Draft Scout.
Alabama quarterback Mac
Jones is among the second tier
of quarterbacks in the upcom-
ing draft that includes Florida’s
Kyle Trask and maybe SMU’s
Shane Buechele.
Jones has been superb, but
he doesn’t have athletic traits
comparable to Fields and Law-
rence. Jones is surrounded by
top-end talent, and offensive
coordinator Steve Sarkisian
has done a good job of schem-
ing receivers open and creat-
ing mismatches.
“He’s a very, very difficult
evaluation because how do
you separate him from just an
elite situation,” Brugler said of
Jones.
Especially on the heels of
former Alabama star Tua Ta-
govailoa’s rookie NFL season,
which was solid but far from
spectacular.
Wade’s world
Ohio State cornerback
Shaun Wade made the
All-America team, but that was
a generous evaluation based on
reputation and last year’s play
when he was a nickelback and
slot corner.
His move to the outside this
season has been spotty at best
and indicative of Ohio State’s
cornerback play in general.
Now, he gets to face Smith,
a sure first-rounder, and the
gemstone of Alabama’s prolific
passing game.
“If I’m Alabama and Steve
Sarkisian, I’m getting DeVonta
Smith on (Wade’s) side of the
field as much as humanly pos-
sible because no one has been
able to stop him,” Miller said.
Brugler said Wade’s future
might still lie at safety.
“At the same time, if he goes
kind of the two core things that
you look at with any team that
has staying power, that has the
ability to play anywhere, any-
time and overcome anything
and sustain.”
The takeaway
The Bears will likely need a
dynamic performance from a
defense that ranked among the
top 10 for much of the season
if they’re going to knock out
the high-powered Saints. The
problem is that group isn’t pro-
ducing momentum-changing
plays as much as it would like.
The Bears tied for 25th in
the NFL in takeaways with 18
and were middle of the road
in sacks with 35, 17th in the
league.
Two-time Pro Bowl safety
Eddie Jackson had no intercep-
tions for the first time in his
career after picking off 10 pass-
es over his first three seasons.
Khalil Mack, a three-time All-
Pro, had nine sacks — his sec-
ond straight year in single dig-
its. And Robert Quinn had just
two sacks, down from 11 1/2
for Dallas last season.
“It’s just one of those years,”
safety Tashaun Gipson said.
“Sometimes you might have a
year where everything is click-
ing and every single pass that
touches your palms, you catch,
and then there’s years like
this.”
Dynamic trio
Brees, receiver Michael
Thomas and running back Al-
vin Kamara could all be back
on the field together on Sunday
— something circumstances
have largely prevented this sea-
son. Thomas has missed nine
charisma and an ability to cap-
tivate your audience and part
of that captivation is in the way
you talk, your cadence, your
inflection, story telling ability,
and I think those are underrat-
ed qualities that a coach can
have.
The 31-year-old Brady is
a popular name in coaching
searches after only one season
as an NFL coordinator. The
Chargers and Texans also have
received permission from the
Panthers to interview Brady.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 3B
out there and performs at a
high level against Smith, then
all of a sudden that’s a different
conversation,” Brugler said.
“But based on what we’ve seen
from Shaun Wade this year, it
just doesn’t seem like a realis-
tic possibility.”
In the trenches
Alabama defensive tackle
Christian Barmore is a third-
team All-American and a third-
year sophomore, so he is no
sure thing to enter the draft.
The 310-pounder has not
played at a consistently high
level that would make him a
lock first-rounder. Still, Brugler
said the defensive line class is
thin at the top of this draft and
Barmore has a chance to be
best of the bunch.
Barmore will face a good
test in Ohio State’s interior
line. All-America guard Wyatt
Davis and Meyers are likely
Day 2 draft picks with bottom
of the first-round potential.
Sermon delivers
Ohio State running back
Trey Sermon has gone on a
remarkable late-season tear
with 636 yards rushing in his
last three games. He should
expect to see a lot of lineback-
ers Dylan Moses and Christian
Harris, the top two tacklers for
the Crimson Tide.
Nagy said Sermon looked
like a potential starting NFL
running back before injuring
his knee last season while at
Oklahoma.
“He’s gotten his opportunity
these past few weeks there for
Ohio State and he’s taken full
advantage of those, but to do it
against a Nick Saban defense in
a national championship game
would just be that next level for
him,” Nagy said.
games, largely because of an
ankle injury. Brees has missed
four games with rib and lung
issues. Kamara was out last
week because of COVID-19.
They haven’t all played to-
gether since Brees was injured
in Week 10.
“That’s hard to believe,”
Brees said. “I’m excited to have
Mike back. Excited for Alvin
with what he’s gone through
recently, and just for our whole
squad.”
While Thomas, the 2019 AP
Offensive Player of the Year,
has returned to practice, Ka-
mara is not scheduled to return
to the team until game day and
won’t practice all week.
But Brees insisted that “Al-
vin’s going to be just fine.”
Eyeing A-Rob
Bears star receiver Allen
Robinson went from matching
a career high with 10 recep-
tions in a win over Jacksonville
to catching a season-low two
passes for 37 yards in the loss
to Green Bay last week.
Considering his dominant
form for much of the season,
the Bears would like to get
him more involved — if he’s
healthy. The Bears listed Rob-
inson as missing some practice
time this week because of a
hamstring injury.
Robinson’s 102 receptions
this season were a career high.
And his 1,250 yards were sec-
ond only to the 1,400 he had
with Jacksonville in his 2015
Pro Bowl season — his second
year in the NFL.
“I trust in the plan that they
have, that they’re going to put
together,” Robinson said. “It’s
just my job to execute.”
Brady moved to Carolina
last season after helping lead
LSU to a national champion-
ship. His role as LSU’s passing
game coordinator with quarter-
back Joe Burrow, the Heisman
Trophy winner, was a key to the
Tigers’ championship.
The Falcons have inter-
viewed five candidates for head
coach. Dan Quinn was fired
after the team started the sea-
son with five straight losses.
Raheem Morris went 4-7 as the
interim coach.
4B FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021
Preps
Continued from Page 1B
fourth-quarter Caledonia
comeback.
West Lowndes led by
eight points after a Tadd-
arious Washington put-
back with four minutes
left only to watch Caledo-
nia pull ahead with two
straight fast-break bas-
kets off turnovers.
“It’s exciting when
they turn it over; when we
do it, it hurts,” Rice said of
a back-and-forth stretch
in which neither team
could seem to keep a solid
handle on the ball.
Huffman pointed to
the inexperience of play-
ers like stellar sophomore
Darrell Brooks (who led
West Lowndes with 28
points) as a reason for
West Lowndes’ giveaway
issues Thursday.
“I’ve got young guards,
and they’re going to have
growing pains,” Huffman
said. “Unfortunately, they
may have growing pains
when you don’t want them
to have growing pains.
But that’s the only way
they’re going to get bet-
ter.”
But Caledonia’s
ball-handling problems
proved more important
Thursday at the worst of
times for the Cavaliers.
Caledonia’s Tre Bohan-
non turned the ball over
with 35.6 seconds to go,
and when the Cavs got
the ball back on a trav-
el, senior Jarvis Leigh
couldn’t secure a high
inbounds pass, and Wash-
ington took possession.
He found Rice under the
basket, and the senior put
the Panthers up three.
With about six seconds
to go, Ja’von Hopkins
missed a straightaway
3-pointer with a chance
to tie the game, and West
Lowndes dribbled out the
clock.
“It got rough, but it
made me feel proud that
all of us kept our head up,
kept playing,” Rice said.
The Panthers were
helped Thursday by an
11-0 run to kick off the
Lindor
Continued from Page 1B
Amed Rosario, and
two minor league pros-
pects: right-hander
Josh Wolf and outfield-
er Isaiah Greene. It’s a
move Cleveland hopes
can keep it competitive
and capable of ending
baseball’s longest title
drought.
The Indians knew
this day was coming.
That didn’t make it any
easier.
“They’re special peo-
ple in addition to special
players,” said Chris An-
tonetti, the team’s pres-
ident of baseball oper-
ations, adding he cried
when informing the
players they were New
York bound. “Trades
like this are really, real-
ly hard to make. But at
the same time, we feel
it’s the right thing to do
for us.
“Hopefully this will
be — as painful as it
is right now — a trade
that positions us to be
successful moving for-
ward.”
Dealing Lindor, who
is eligible for free agen-
cy after the 2021 sea-
son, will cut roughly $30
million off the Indians’
Ole Miss
Continued from Page 1B
dously. We found a way to
win, and that’s means a
lot or our young team.”
Austin was the catalyst
from the jump, making
up for a slow first half vs.
LSU on Jan. 4 with a quick
start en route to 25 points
and 10 rebounds, her 17th
career double-double and
second in an Ole Miss
uniform. Austin was cru-
cial for the Rebels down
the stretch, scoring nine
points in the fourth quar-
ter alone as Ole Miss
clung on for victory. Aus-
tin is the first Rebel to
score at least 20 points in
West Lowndes senior Averi Sanders (2) is defended by Caledonia senior Libby McMurphey (4) during the third
quarter of Thursday’s game at West Lowndes. The Panthers won 58-46.
second quarter after
trailing 20-17 to start the
period. After Caledonia
fought back a bit, a 9-0
stretch to close the first
half got West Lowndes’
lead back up to 40-30.
But Hopkins made a
jumper to give the Cavs
the lead back with 1:40
left in the third quarter,
and the two teams trad-
ed scores for several
minutes. Leigh, who led
Caledonia with 33 points,
banked a 3 in from the
left corner while falling
down, then stole the ball
and sank a layup to put
Caledonia on top.
West Lowndes scored
the next nine points and
soon led 66-59 with 3:24
to go, but the Cavaliers
got within a point at 69-
68 and took the lead on
a Jeremy Emerson layup.
Decamby Willis and Bo-
hannon traded buckets as
payroll and allow them
to rebuild.
For the Mets, the
acquisition is another
sign owner Steve Cohen
means business.
“They did not come
cheaply,” Mets presi-
dent Sandy Alderson
said of Lindor and Car-
rasco. “What we’re try-
ing to do is create a new
reality rather than deal
with perception.”
A billionaire hedge
fund manager, Cohen
bought the team on
Nov. 6 from the Wilpon
and Katz families and
pledged to increase
spending. One of his
next big-ticket items fig-
ures to be trying to sign
Lindor to a long-term
contract, something the
Indians couldn’t do.
Lindor, who will be
playing in a far different
spotlight than he expe-
rienced in Cleveland,
impacts the game with
his bat, glove and legs.
A two-time Gold Glove
winner, he’s a career
.285 hitter and averaged
29 homers, 86 RBIs and
21 steals in his six ma-
jor league seasons — all
with the Indians, who
four consecutive games
since Bianca Thomas did
so twice during the 2009-
10 season.
“If I’m gonna lose a
game, I’m gonna lose it
with Shakira. If I’m gon-
na win a game, I want
to win it with Shakira,”
McPhee-McCuin said. “I
think that she is a special
player who is growing
into who she is going to
be as a future pro. So be-
ing here learning how to
lead, learning how to take
over games is something
that’s going to help her
as she continues to build
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Caledonia clung to a one-
point lead.
Then Rice was fouled
with 45.9 seconds remain-
ing. As he walked to the
free-throw line, he looked
calm.
A couple minutes lat-
er, the Panthers’ bench
and the home bleachers
could exhale, too. West
Lowndes had finished an
important win.
“It shows that we’re
getting better,” Huffman
said. “We’re growing.”
West Lowndes girls 58,
Caledonia 46
Averi Sanders leapt in
the air to snag the basket-
ball and took off down the
court.
The West Lowndes se-
nior has always thrived
on making big plays on
defense for the Panthers,
and Thursday’s game
drafted him in 2011.
He’s been the face of
the Indians’ franchise,
with an infectious smile
and joy for playing that
has made him one of
Cleveland’s most pop-
ular athletes. But he’s
gone now, leaving the
Indians without their
best player and the
team’s fans grumbling
about owner Paul Dolan.
Cleveland had run
out of options. Lindor
has turned down numer-
ous long-term contract
offers from the Indians,
betting on himself and
knowing he could get
more money from a ma-
jor-market team when
he becomes a free agent.
It may seem unfair,
but Antonetti has long
acknowledged the Indi-
ans don’t have money to
throw around.
“What we have to do
is deal with the reality
of what the system is,”
he said. “In this case,
we had a top pick, got
a really good player, he
developed into a star, we
made multiple attempts
to try to sign him. That
didn’t happen and now
he’s transitioned to
her draft stock and help
us get to where we want
to go. I know she took to
heart that last game, so
this was for her a way to
show the team that she
has them.”
Snudda Collins added
nine points and a career
high seven rebounds.
Her three scores beyond
the arc marks the fourth
game this season to do
so, adding to her status
as the SEC leader among
freshmen in three-point
shooting this season.
Mimi Reid (5 points) and
Donnetta Johnson (7
against Caledonia was no
exception.
Sanders’ steal with a
few seconds to go in the
first quarter Thursday
led to an easy layup that
stretched the Panthers’
early lead from one point
to three, and West Lown-
des (4-4) got things roll-
ing from there to beat
Caledonia (3-10) by a
score of 58-46.
“She’s our defensive
general,” Panthers coach
Takeea Bozeman said of
Sanders. “Any time she
has a good night on de-
fense, it’s a good night all
around.”
Nenah Young led West
Lowndes with 19 points,
but Sanders was right be-
hind with 14 as the Pan-
thers grabbed an import-
ant win ahead of Friday’s
game at Nanih Waiya in
Louisville.
The diminutive but ac-
another organization.
That’s just the reality of
the professional base-
ball landscape right
now.”
Carrasco is one of the
game’s best comeback
stories, overcoming leu-
kemia to become one of
the AL’s steadiest start-
ers. The 33-year-old
righty has an 88-73 ca-
reer record with a 3.73
ER A.
Beyond his stats, Car-
rasco was a team leader.
But with an abundance
of young pitchers, in-
cluding Cy Young Award
winner Shane Bieber,
the Indians were in posi-
tion to move a player of
Carrasco’s caliber to fill
more holes.
Carrasco can be re-
placed. Finding some-
one to fill Lindor’s shoes
will be much tougher.
The 25-year-old Ro-
sario is a good start. He
was New York’s primary
shortstop the past three-
plus seasons, though he
struggled at the plate
last year and lost play-
ing time to Giménez.
“We think he has a
chance to help our major
league team either as a
points) each contributed
six assists apiece to help
pad the Rebels’ lead atop
the SEC leaderboards in
assists per game.
As a squad, the Rebels
shot 45 percent from the
floor while having a 34-28
advantage on the boards
and a 26-16 edge in the
paint.
Ole Miss made their
presence felt on the de-
fensive end early, forcing
three turnovers within
the first three minutes of
the game to jump out to a
quick 7-0 lead and a 12-2
edge by the first media.
Theo DeRosa/Dispatch Staff
tive Sanders was a critical
part as she repeated her
first-quarter play early in
the second period for an-
other steal and layup to
cap a scoring streak that
put West Lowndes up 18-
10.
“I can get stops, they
won’t score, and we score
and go ahead on the
scoreboard and just try
to win games,” Sanders
said.
By the half, the Pan-
thers’ lead had risen to 12
at 31-19, and West Lown-
des wasn’t done adding to
it. An and-one basket by
Young put the Panthers
up 46-26.
Then Caledonia sud-
denly came roaring back.
The Cavaliers scored 13
straight points to cut into
the West Lowndes lead
significantly, getting as
close as seven points at
46-39.
shortstop or as a player
that could play multiple
positions, or settle at a
different defensive po-
sition,” Antonetti said.
“But, a guy with great
ability.”
Lindor is signed for
only one more season,
so the Mets will have to
get to work quickly on
locking him up for the
long term.
“We’ve had one con-
versation with him and
no conversations with
his agent,” Alderson
said. “We acquired
Francisco because of his
present ability and the
possibility that he could
be a Met long term.
There’s no guarantee of
that. It’s something that
we will approach, you
know, in the next few
weeks.”
Cohen is hoping to
turn around a franchise
that has not won a World
Series since 1986, and
been overshadowed by
the crosstown Yankees.
Cohen intends to change
that, with Alderson and
new general manager
Jared Porter running an
overhauled baseball op-
erations department.
Austin and Reid chipped
in five points each in a
messy first frame where
both teams combined for
14 turnovers and nine
steals, which by quarter’s
end saw Ole Miss with a
16-8 lead.
The Rebels would
use that early cushion to
maintain a manageable
lead until the Tigers cut
the Ole Miss lead 23-17
thanks to a three-point-
er from Kiya Patton (6
points) with under four
minutes to go in the first
half. Snudda Collins used
a pair of three-point bas-
“I feel like my kids,
they just continued to
fight and scrap,” Caledo-
nia coach Ame Walker
said. “I was proud of their
effort after halftime. They
stuck to the game plan.”
But Bozeman switched
her defense from man-to-
man to a zone, and senior
Tydajasha Hood and Sand-
ers each buried layups to
give the Panthers some
necessary breathing
room. A few minutes later,
West Lowndes finished
off its 12-point win.
“We played well,”
Sanders said. “I felt like
we could have played bet-
ter. We could have played
more defense.”
Walker said Thurs-
day’s loss was far from
crushing for a struggling
Cavaliers team against
a Panthers squad that
played in the MHSAA
Class 1A semifinals last
season. Caledonia, she
said, showed encourag-
ing signs.
“Sometimes it’s a win
even when it’s not a win,”
Walker said.
Other scores
Prep Girls Basket-
ball
Leake Academy 66,
Heritage Academy 36
The Heritage Acade-
my girls basketball team
suffered a 66-36 loss to
powerhouse Leake Acad-
emy on Thursday in Co-
lumbus.
Lucy Sharp led the Pa-
triots (5-8) with 21 points.
Heritage Academy is
right back at it tonight
against Lamar School in
Columbus.
Prep Boys Basket-
ball
Heritage Academy 77,
Leake Academy 48
The Heritage Academy
boys beat Leake Academy
77-48 in Thursday’s home
game.
Whit Altmyer had 28
points for the Patriots.
Carrasco is signed
at $12 million for each
of the next two sea-
sons, part of a deal that
includes a $14 million
team option for 2023
with a $3 million buy-
out. The option would
become guaranteed if
he pitches 170 innings
in 2022 and is found to
be healthy for the 2023
season.
Since Cohen’s take-
over, the Mets learned
pitcher Marcus Stro-
man accepted an $18.9
million qualifying offer
and signed right-hand-
ed reliever Trevor May
to a $15.5 million, two-
year contract and catch-
er James McCann to a
$40.6 million, four-year
deal. New York also
signed injured right-
hander Noah Synder-
gaard to a $9.7 million,
one-year deal, avoiding
arbitration.
The team hopes Syn-
dergaard can return
from Tommy John sur-
gery in June.
“We’re closer to one
player away,” Alderson
said.
kets to get Ole Miss in the
locker room up 32-23, the
first time Ole Miss has
had back-to-back SEC
halftime leads since 2017.
Ole Miss shot 48 per-
cent from the floor and 50
percent from three in the
first half with 12 points
coming from beyond the
arc.
The Rebels will trav-
el to Starkville this Sun-
day ( Jan. 10) to take on
rival No. 14 Mississippi
State. Tipoff is set for 5
p.m. CT and can be seen
on the SEC Network.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
NBA
Nets, without Irving and Durant, beat NBA-leading 76ers
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS “Obviously it’s a total- sonal matter. LeVert said for the whole group that
ly different team when Irving texted his team- when we play connected
NEW YORK — The those guys are out here,” mates before the game and we have that fighting
Brooklyn Nets couldn’t guard Caris LeVert said, and they supported his spirit, we give ourselves a
put Kyrie Irving and “but I think we’ve done a absence. The Nets said Ir- great chance every night
Kevin Durant into those great job of having a next- ving would not travel with no matter who’s avail-
throwback blue tie-dye man-up mentality, guys the team to Memphis on able,” he said.
jerseys from 30 years ago. stepping into those roles Thursday night. The 76ers came in
The NBA’s leading and fulfilling what we The Nets already knew at 7-1 and off their best
team still couldn’t come need as a team.” they’d be without Durant performance of the sea-
close to beating them. LeVert had 22 points, for a second consecu- son, when they shot an
Joe Harris scored a 10 assists and seven re- tive game because of the NBA season-high 61.7%
season-high 28 points and bounds, and Jarrett Allen NBA’s health and safety in a 141-136 victory over
the Nets shook off the
added 15 points and 11 protocols. Nash said Du- Washington on Wednes-
absence of their two su-
boards for the Nets. rant would be able to re- day.
perstars to beat the Phil- turn Sunday if he contin-
Irving was ruled out But they couldn’t dupli-
adelphia 76ers 122-109 on Thursday afternoon for ues to test negative for the cate that, with Joel Embi-
Thursday night. personal reasons, though coronavirus until then. id starting slowly before
Brooklyn jumped out coach Steve Nash said Nash said he didn’t finishing with 20 points
quickly and had a dou- before and after the game think the strong perfor- and 12 rebounds. Shake
ble-digit lead for much of he hadn’t spoken to his mance without them sent Milton had a season-high
the second half while win- point guard and didn’t a message to the rest of 24 points in his first start
ning its second straight, know the reason for his his players. of the season in place of
both without Durant. absence, calling it a per- “I think the message is Seth Curry, who had a
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
I have
been in a
relationship with
a wonderful man,
“Andy,” for two
years. I couldn’t
ask for a better
partner. We are
both divorced
with children, and
they get along
ZITS like brothers and
sisters.
Even though
our marriages
ended, mine Dear Abby
wasn’t an ordeal.
My ex and I
both knew it wasn’t working
anymore, and we still get along
pretty well. But Andy and his
ex-wife never got along and
argued for 18 years, and herein
lies the problem. He gives me
no space — ever.
I have discussed it with
GARFIELD him numerous times, and
his response is, “Well, I have
never been this happy, and I
love spending time with you.”
I enjoy our time, too, but I feel
controlled without him acting
controlling. He wants to be with
me every minute. I look forward
to going to work to escape!
How can I get him to listen? —
JOINED AT THE HIP
DEAR JOINED: The next
time you have “the conversa-
tion,” and he tells you he has
CANDORVILLE
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan.
8). How are you putting your
skills out there? This is the
year that amplifies what you are
good at, lifts your effervescent
spirit into the ether and calls
into the beauty of your kindreds.
Together, you will be like a wave,
providing a voyage, a ride, a mix-
up of energies and processes.
You’re a proud pulse in the
beautiful swell. Aquarius and
Pisces adore you. Your lucky
BABY BLUES numbers are: 8, 40, 22, 19 and
38.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
What happens all of the sudden
is exciting for several reasons,
the foremost being that you
don’t have time to think. Your
animal self takes over, and you
do what you were designed to
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
FAMILY CIRCUS
sore left ankle, but Ben
Simmons was limited to
11 points, four rebounds
and two assists.
Milton said he didn’t
believe the Sixers had a
letdown because of the
Nets’ absent stars.
“I don’t think that was
it at all,” he said. “It’s the
NBA and it was a back-
to-back, but guys in the
NBA know they can play.
So if you don’t come out
and you’re not on top of
your game and you’re not
ready to go, not mental-
ly locked in, you can get
beat by anybody.”
The Sixers quickly fell
into a 20-8 hole, but re-
covered to move into the
lead early in the second
quarter. The Nets broke
to be with you
every minute
because he loves
spending time
with you, remind
him that there
are two of you in
this relationship.
Then inform him
that with no time
for yourself or
friends, you feel
claustropho-
bic, which isn’t
healthy for you or
the relationship.
Healthy
relationships are
those in which
both parties allow each other
the space to be individuals.
If you don’t draw a line and
insist that he accept it, he will
smother you.
DEAR ABBY: You always give
great advice on how to respond
to people. My husband had a
stroke 2 1/2 years ago. We
ventured out for the first time
to a store. He was holding onto
the cart and stopped to rest.
A man behind us, who was
obviously following too close,
threw up his hands in disgust.
Evidently we weren’t moving
fast enough for him, so he
made a snide remark; I replied
that my husband is recovering
from a stroke.
Unfortunately, a week ago
he suffered another stroke.
do.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
When the student is ready, the
master appears. You feel ready,
and yet there is still a piece you
haven’t committed to yet. You’ll
read it, work it or do whatever
needs doing. Then your teacher
will arrive.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
Make a decision and stick with
it for three days. There is no
such thing as a perfect choice.
Don’t waste energy trying to
find it. You don’t know who is
watching your bravery, but later,
this will be significant.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
Add heat or time and you’ll no-
tice that the reduction of things
is unique to the object. Some
things become more concen-
FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 5B
away again late in the pe-
riod, going up by 16 be-
fore taking a 65-51 lead to
the locker room, and were
never seriously threat-
ened afterward.
Tip-ins
76ers: Dwight How-
ard had an eventful night,
totaling nine points, 12
rebounds and six fouls in
just 16 minutes.
Nets: Brooklyn was
also without G Tyler John-
son because of the health
and safety protocols.
Up next
76ers: Host Denver on
Saturday.
Nets: Visit Memphis
today.
How can I respond to people
who are rude to those who
might be slow or disabled? —
PATIENCE IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR PATIENCE: I think you
handled the situation beau-
tifully. All you can do is hang
on to your temper and try to
calmly educate people like the
impatient (and rude) individual
you encountered that day.
DEAR ABBY: My fiancee
and I will be moving in together
soon, and we’re looking forward
to a pet-filled life. The concern
we both share is that my moth-
er and hers are allergic to ani-
mals and will probably never be
able to visit because of it. We
love each other’s parents and
would like to have them in our
lives as much as possible. Are
there rules of etiquette for pets
and families with allergies? —
PET LOVER IN GEORGIA
DEAR PET LOVER: If your
parents are highly allergic,
putting your pets in another
room or outside won’t work
because their hair and dander
would be in your carpets and
on your furniture. In a case like
this, your parents should talk
to their doctors and ask if they
can get vaccinated to lessen or
alleviate their allergies. If that
isn’t an option, you and your
fiancee may have to visit THEM,
wearing freshly laundered
clothes so you won’t bring any
allergens with you.
trated, some less, the universal
principal being that everything
changes.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22).
They love you, but they don’t
know how to show you. This is a
bittersweet theme that you can
make all sweet by telling them
what you want and need and
making it easy for them to give
it to you.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Asking for help when you need it
isn’t a sign of weakness; rather,
it’s the picture of effectiveness.
Strength is the result of a willful
force coming up against a wor-
thy adversary.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
Different forums have different
structures. Sports favor the one
with the most points. Entertain-
ment favors the ones with the
most followers. In the forum
you’re navigating today, charm
wins, so you have the home-
team advantage.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
There are so few people in the
world who are actually funny.
You discount the gift because
you were born with it and it is
common to you. You won’t dis-
count it today. Your humor helps
people, and you’ll share it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). You don’t need to reinvent
the wheel here. Figure out what
you did right back there, and
just do more of that. It’s not
hard to spot. What’s harder is
taking the time to be with your-
self, recognize and note it.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). Your people are coming
out of the woodwork. When you
think about it, that is a slightly
creepy concept, and yet it is the
most fitting image. You’re an
organic creature calling to the
same.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). You thought you had the
time to work things out, and
maybe you misjudged that. It’s
a common problem. Things
can be worked out. Just know
that everything you do is being
counted.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). Test it. Go there. Some-
thing is going to happen —
something uncomfortable, may-
be even painful for a moment.
But what if this is your one and
only life? Whatcha got?
Alternating Current
SOLUTION:
6B FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Hiring likely weakened in

December amid resurgent virus
The pandemic will likely continue to weaken the hopeful, though, that the vaccines,
once widely distributed, will propel
economy through the winter and spring as cold a broad economic rebound in the
second half of this year as consum-
weather discourages activities like outdoor dining ers and businesses resume normal
spending habits.
BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER million jobs short of the number it The $900 billion financial aid
AP Economics Writer had before the pandemic intensified package that Congress enacted last
in March. month should also help accelerate
WASHINGTON — America’s The unemployment rate is pro- the recovery, economists say. It
employers likely cut back again on jected to rise from 6.7 percent to 6.8 will provide a $300-a-week federal
hiring last month — and might even
have shed jobs — with the economy
under pressure from a resurgent
percent, which would be the first
increase since April. The rate has
jobless benefit on top of an average
state benefit of about $320. In addi- Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER

Sudoku
been held down by the millions of tion, millions of Americans stand
virus that has led many consumers Americans who have lost jobs but ar- to receive $600 payments, some as
Sudoku is a number- Yesterday’s answer
placing puzzle based on
to reduce spending and states and en’t looking for work, either because early as this week. Sudoku 7 6 4 1 8 2 3 9 5
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num-
cities to reimpose business restric- they’re discouraged by their pros- This week, Goldman Sachs up- ber-placing
given numbers.puzzleThe object 2 5 9 7 4 3 6 1 8

2021 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

tions. pects or fearful of contracting the graded its forecast for economic based onthe a 9x9 3 8 1 9 6 5 2 7 4
is to place numbers
Economists have forecast that virus. People who are not seeking growth this year to a robust 6.4 per- grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 5 1 2 3 7 8 4 6 9
employers added just 105,000 jobs cent from its previous estimate of given
a job aren’t counted as unemployed. so that numbers.
each row, eachThe 6 9 7 2 5 4 8 3 1
in December, according to data object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place
The pandemic will likely continue 5.9 percent. Its upgrade was based
box 4 3 8 6 9 1 5 2 7
provider FactSet. That would mark numbers
contains the1same to 9 number
in
to weaken the economy through the in part on the expectation that the
the sixth straight month that hiring winter and spring as cold weather Biden administration, with help the empty spaces so 9 4 6 8 2 7 1 5 3
only once. The difficulty 8 7 3 5 1 6 9 4 2
has slowed from the previous month discourages activities like outdoor from the now-Democratic Senate, that each row, each
level increases from
and the lowest job gain since May. dining. Economists and Federal Re- will support another rescue aid column and each 1 2 5 4 3 9 7 8 6
It would also leave the economy 9.8 serve policymakers say they remain package. Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 1/07

the same number only once. The difficulty level

increases from Monday to Sunday.

RELIGIOUS BRIEFS
ities. For more information, prayer requests at 662-327-
Mississippi State call Barbara Mattison or Lillian
Prayer for Youth 9843.
School Ministry Murray, 662-570-5595.
Every second and third
Saturday, Pleasant Ridge Faith
Mississippi State School
Center hosts a prayer for the Prayer Service
of Ministry will be taking ap-
plications for enrollment into
Grief Support Group youth from 2-3 p.m. Church of the Eternal
The Oil of Joy for Grief Word, 106 22nd St. S., Co-
their online degree granting
and Mourning offers a grief lumbus, holds prayer service
program. Earn your Certifica-
support group at 6 p.m. every
Prayer, Free Coffee Thursday nights 5-6 p.m.
tion, Associates, Bachelor, Mount Zion Missionary
second Thursday of the month Contact Marie Nabors, 662-
Master and Doctoral Degree in Baptist Church, 2221 14th
at United Christian Baptist 549-4322. Church service
Religious Studies. We are an Ave. N., hosts free coffee and
Church, 232 Yorkville Road times: Sunday school 10 a.m.;
accreditation School of Minis- a prayer community outreach
East. “Making your grieving Sunday worship 11:15 a.m.;
try authorized through State service from 8-9 a.m. every
of Mississippi and Federal journey easier.” For more in- Tuesday Bible study 7 p.m.
fifth Saturday. For information, For information, call Pastor
Government. Our degrees are formation, call 662-327-0604
contact Jesse Slater, 662- District Elder Lou Nabors,
for ecclesiastical purposes or e-mail unitedchristian@
328-4979. 662-329-1234.
only. We accept transcripts cableone.net.
and your life experience also
can also be used for degree Celebrate Recovery Radio Program Fitness
Apostles Patrick Perkins
granting purposes. For further Celebrate Recovery, the
invites the public to tune in to Transformations
information feel free to call nation’s largest Christian re- The Transformational
662-425-8443 WTWG, radio 1050 AM for Per-
covery program, meets Tues- Church, 2301 Jess Lyons
fecting the Saints Broadcast,
days at 6:00 p.m. at Mead- Road, hosts boxing lessons
Wednesdays 8:30 a.m.
Fellowship Dinner, owview Church, 300 Linden Mondays and Wednesday from
Youth Service Circle in Starkville. Millions
have found help, healing, and Women Prayer, 5-7 p.m., weight-loss boot
Pleasant Ridge Faith Cen- camp Tuesdays and Thursdays
ter, 923 Ridge Road, hosts a support for hurts, habits, and Worship Service 5-7 p.m. and both on Satur-
fellowship dinner and youth hang-ups using our popular Church of the Eternal days 9-11 a.m.
service every third Sunday. Biblical 12 step program. Word, 106 22nd St. S., holds
a prayer and worship service Youth Fellowship
Gospel Book Club Recovery Room every Thursday from 5-6 p.m. The Transformational
New Life Assembly, 4474 Call Marie Nabors, 662-549- Church, 2301 Jess Lyons
Friendship M.B. Church,
1102 12th Ave. S., invites the New Hope Road (near Dollar 4322 or 662-329-1234, for Road, hosts Youth Fellowship
public to join its Community General) hosts Recovery prayer requests. from 7-8:30 p.m. every Tues-
Gospel Book Club from 6-7 Room, at 6:30 p.m. each Sun- day. Games, prayer, service,
p.m., on the fourth Friday of day. Find help, healing, and Prayer Ministry food, and more. Transporta-
each month, to study and support for any hurt, habit, or New Beginning Everlasting tion available. For information,
share views of the Holy Bible. hang-up using our Christ-cen- Outreach Ministry invites the call Iris Roberson, 662-295-
Open to all ages and ethnic- tered 12 steps. public to call in with their 7456. ACROSS
1 Secure, as a
climbing rope
6 Farm machine
11 Superior
group
12 Tolerate
13 Donated
14 Chops up
15 Compass
point
17 Spring period
18 First person
20 Chef’s need
22 Holm of “The
Hobbit”
23 Lettering aid
26 Eminem 46 Hold up 18 Verdi opera
collaborator DOWN 19 Pub missile
28 High-mainte- 1 Entreat 21 Let off anger
nance 2 Yale rooter 23 Penn of “Milk”
29 Minimally 3 1973 James 24 Inkling
31 Finger count Bond movie 25 Bobcat’s kin
32 Writer Bu- 4 Group of top 27 Lucy, for one
chanan players 30 Tree’s blood
33 Cajole 5 Urges 33 Origami
34 Essence 6 Naughty creation
36 Urban oasis 7 Chisholm Trail 34 Tender
38 Southern end touches
range 8 1989 James 35 About
40 Train sup- Bond movie 37 Like a desert
ports 9 Unspoiled spot 39 Wily
43 Ordeal 10 Take a 41 Michele of
44 Bay breather “Glee”
45 Run-down 16 Youngster 42 Porker pen

Classifieds
LEGALS
Call us: 662-328-2424
Legal Notices
The following vehicle has been
abandoned at Atlas Recovery &
Towing, 4009 HWY 373,
Columbus, MS 39705:
2007 Ford Fusion VIN
3FAHP07Z47R265331
2005 Nissan Altima VIN
1N4AL11D05N409876
2006 Nissan Altima VIN
1N4AL11D36C212200
1995 Ford Mustang VIN
1FALP42TXSF157757
IF THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT
CLAIMED THEY WILL BE PUT
UP FOR SALE ON THE 30TH
DAY OF JANUARY, 2021 AT
6:00 A.M. AT ATLAS RECOV-
ERY & TOWING, 4009 HWY
373, COLUMBUS, MS 39705.
Witnessed under my hand on
this the 5th day of January,
2021.
/s/Frank Stump
PUBLISH: 1/8 & 1/15/2021
The following vehicle has been
abandoned at Roberts Auto
Shop, 4009 Hwy 373 Colum-
bus, MS 39705.
2008 FORD F350
VIN# 1FTWW33R68EE33969
IF THIS VEHICLE IS NOT
CLAIMED IT WILL BE PUT UP
FOR SALE ON THE 30TH DAY
OF JANUARY, 2021 AT 6:00
A.M. AT ROBERTS AUTO SHOP,
4009 HWY 373, COLUMBUS,
MS 39705.
PUBLISH: 1/8 & 1/15/2021
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
NOTICE OF SALE
WHEREAS, the following ten-
ants entered into leases with
FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES for storage space in
which to store personal prop-
erty and
WHEREAS, default has been
made in the payment of rent
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES pursuant to said
Leases is authorized to sell the
personal property to satisfy the
past due and any other
charges owed to it by the fol-
lowing tenants.
NOW THEREFORE, notice is
hereby given that FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of-
fer for sale, and will sell at auc-
tion to the highest bidder for
cash all personal property in
storage units leased by the fol-
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 903
Alabama St. Columbus, MS.
Auctions will begin at 8:30
A.M. on the 5th day of Febru-
ary, A.D. 2021 at 308 Shoney
Drive, Columbus, MS and will
continue to all FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in
the following sequence: 903
Alabama Street, Columbus,
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum-
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69
South, Columbus, MS. All auc-
tions are with reserve and
therefore all units can be with-
drawn from the sale at any
time by the auctioneer/man-
ager.
Title to the personal property to
be sold is believed to be good,
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
convey only such title as is ves-
ted in it pursuant to its lease
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
Annotated Section 85-7-121 et
seq (Supp 1988).
Cetericka Walker - E247
Jennifer Overpeck - E226
Alyssa Harris - E478
Oscar Taylor Jr. - E95
Shameka Gandy - E465
LaShana C. Scott - E58, E372
Daphine Miller - E81
Stephanie Bryant - E493
Cedrick Clemmons - E1
Jerry Stockman - E246
Patricia Wilson - E360
Carletta Edwards - E245
Alisha Coleman - E207
Caroline Payne - E366
Ellihue Blackwell - E471
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
this the 6th day of January,
A.D. 2021.
FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSES
By: C.H.L.
Publish: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
CAUSE NO.: 20-0140-JNS
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
LOWNDES COUNTY
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the estate of
ALLEAN PETTY, deceased, by
the Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, on the
27th day of July, A.D., 2020.
This is to give notice to all per-
sons having claims against
said estate to Probate and Re-
gister same with the Chancery
Clerk of Lowndes County, Mis-
sissippi, within ninety (90) days
from this date. A failure to so
Probate and Register said
claim will forever bar the same.
This the 5th day of January,
2021.
/s/ SHELIA DEAR POWERS
SHELIA DEAR POWERS
PUBLISH: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
Legal Notices
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
NOTICE OF SALE
WHEREAS, the following ten-
ants entered into leases with
FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES for storage space in
which to store personal prop-
erty and
WHEREAS, default has been
made in the payment of rent
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES pursuant to said
Leases is authorized to sell the
personal property to satisfy the
past due and any other
charges owed to it by the fol-
lowing tenants.
NOW THEREFORE, notice is
hereby given that FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of- said estate to Probate and Re-
fer for sale, and will sell at auc- gister same with the Chancery
tion to the highest bidder for
cash all personal property in
storage units leased by the fol- from the first publication date
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 44
Beatty Road, Columbus, MS.
Auctions will begin at 8:30
A.M. on the 5th day of Febru-
ary, A.D. 2021 at 308 Shoney
Drive, Columbus, MS and will
continue to all FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in /s/ DAVIS B. RAY, Executor
the following sequence: 903
Alabama Street, Columbus,
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum-
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69
South, Columbus, MS. All auc- STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
tions are with reserve and
therefore all units can be with-
drawn from the sale at any
time by the auctioneer/man-
ager.
Title to the personal property to FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
be sold is believed to be good, HOUSES for storage space in
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
convey only such title as is ves-
ted in it pursuant to its lease
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
Annotated Section 85-7-121 et HOUSES pursuant to said
seq (Supp 1988).
Terry Brown - B40, B48
Robert Irwin - B62
Walter Smith Jr. - B46
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
this the 6th day of January,
A.D. 2021.
FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSES
By: C.H.L.
Publish: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF DOROTHY ALICE
HODGES, DECEASED
THOMAS S. HODGES, JR., AD-
MINISTRATOR
CAUSE NO.: 2020-0205-JNS
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
TO: All Unknown Heirs-at-Law of CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
Dorothy Alice Hodges, de-
ceased, and Any Unknown Per- ted in it pursuant to its lease
sons In Interest
Rebecca Roach
4122 Manor House Drive
Marietta, GA 30062
All Unknown Heirs-at-Law of
Helen Atkins, deceased, and
Any Unknown Persons In In-
terest
All Unknown Heirs-at-Law of
Royce Ann Butler deceased,
and Any Unknown Persons In
Interest
Tammy Bates
127 Myrtle Wood Drive
Pensacola, FL 32503
Vickie Stanley
105 Morgan Terrace
Marion, NC 28752
All Unknown Heirs-at-Law of El-
lena J. Hixson, deceased, and
Any Unknown Persons In In-
terest
Cindy Hixson Lapierre
7425 Gilbert Road
Panama City, FL 32404
You have been made a defend-
ant in the Petition to Determ-
ines Heirs-at-Law filed by the
Administrator, Thomas S.
Hodges, Jr., on December 11,
2020, seeking to determine
the heirs-at-law of Dorothy Alice
Hodges, Helen Atkins, Royce
Ann Butler and Ellena J. Hix-
son. all deceased. Other than
you, the only other interested
parties in this action are James
Hodges, Sam Atkins, Dorothy
Sawaryn Threadgill, and
Thomas S. Hodges, Jr..
You are summoned to appear
and represent your interests
against said Petition before the
Honorable Joseph N. Studdard,
Chancellor of the 14th Chan-
cery District at 9:00 a.m. on
the 2nd day of March 2021, at
the Oktibbeha County Court-
house, in Starkville, Missis-
sippi, and in case of your fail-
ure to appear your interest in
this matter will not be con-
sidered.
You are not required to file an
answer or other pleading, but
you may do so if you desire.
Issued under my hand and the
seal of said Court, this the
28th day of December 2020.
CINDY E. GOODE, CHANCERY
CLERK
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
(SEAL)
BY: Tina Fisher, D.C.
PUBLISH: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
All notices must be
emailed to
classifieds@
cdispatch.com.
Legal Notices
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF DOROTHY G. RAY, DE-
CEASED
CAUSE NO. 2020-0236-F
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
Dorothy G. Ray, deceased, by
the Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, on the
28th day of December, 2020.
This is to give notice to all per-
sons having claims against
Clerk of Lowndes County, Mis-
sissippi, within ninety (90) days
of this Notice to Creditors. A
failure to so Probate and Re-
gister a claim will forever bar
that claim.
This the 29th day of December,
2020.
PUBLISH: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
NOTICE OF SALE
WHEREAS, the following ten-
ants entered into leases with
which to store personal prop-
erty and
WHEREAS, default has been
made in the payment of rent
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
Leases is authorized to sell the
personal property to satisfy the
past due and any other
charges owed to it by the fol-
lowing tenants.
NOW THEREFORE, notice is
hereby given that FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of-
fer for sale, and will sell at auc-
tion to the highest bidder for
cash all personal property in
storage units leased by the fol-
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 4504
Highway 69 South, Columbus,
MS. Auctions will begin at 8:30
A.M. on the 5th day February,
A.D. 2021 at 308 Shoney
Drive, Columbus, MS and will
continue to all FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in
the following sequence: 903
Alabama Street, Columbus,
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum-
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69
South, Columbus, MS. All auc-
tions are with reserve and
therefore all units can be with-
drawn from the sale at any
time by the auctioneer/man-
ager.
Title to the personal property to
be sold is believed to be good,
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
convey only such title as is ves-
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
Annotated Section 85-7-121 et
seq (Supp 1988).
Bessie Montgomery - H27
Charles Mateer - H14
Natasha Kyle - H48
Michael Hollins - Park 3
Brett Johnson - H46
Wendy Blunt - H60, H104
Jennie G. Johnson - H96
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
this the 6th day of January,
A.D. 2020.
FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSES
By: C.H.L.
Publish: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
NOTICE OF SALE
WHEREAS, the following ten-
ants entered into leases with
FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES for storage space in
which to store personal prop-
erty and
WHEREAS, default has been
made in the payment of rent
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES pursuant to said
Leases is authorized to sell the
personal property to satisfy the
past due and any other
charges owed to it by the fol-
lowing tenants.
NOW THEREFORE, notice is
hereby given that FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of-
fer for sale, and will sell at auc-
tion to the highest bidder for
cash all personal property in
storage units leased by the fol-
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 308
Shoney Drive Columbus, MS,
at 8:30 am on the 5th day of
February, A.D. 2021 and will
continue to all FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in
the following sequence: 903
Alabama Street, Columbus,
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum-
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69
South, Columbus, MS. All auc-
tions are with reserve and
therefore all units can be with-
drawn from the sale at any
time by the auctioneer/man-
ager.
Title to the personal property to
be sold is believed to be good,
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
convey only such title as is ves-
ted in it pursuant to its lease
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
Annotated Section 85-7-121 et
seq (Supp 1988).
Carnell Brown - N16
Sharon D. Little - N276
Tiesha Robinson - N125
Debbie Gardner - N22
Tammy Bailey - N227
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
ager.
Title to the personal property to
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
be sold is believed to be good,
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
convey only such title as is ves-
ted in it pursuant to its lease
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
Annotated Section 85-7-121 et
seq (Supp 1988).
Carnell Brown - N16
Sharon D. Little - N276
Tiesha Robinson - N125
Debbie Gardner - N22
Legal Notices
Tammy Bailey - N227
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
this the 6th day of January,
A.D. 2021.
FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSES
By: C.H.L.
Publish: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
Employment
Call us: 662-328-2424
Customer Service
LOCAL LAW FIRM is seek-
ing Receptionist/Secretary.
Previous experience
helpful but not necessary.
Computer skills a must.
Email resume to:
job116@cdispatch.com
Please re-submit your re-
sume if sent before 12/31
General Help Wanted
PROGRESSIVE HEATING &
COOLING, INC. is seeking
duct work installers. Applic-
ant must have verifiable ex-
perience and good work ref-
erences. Apply at: 10155
Darracott Access Road,
Aberdeen, MS 39730
Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm
(662)369-3694 or
(662)328-1080
OFFICE ASSISTANT,
part-time. QuickBooks
experience preferred.
Mail resume to
Wheeler Roofing,
P.O. Box 9586,
Columbus, MS 39705
or email to wheelerroofing
@bellsouth.net
Government
Town of Millport
Police Officer
The Town of Millport has
an opening for a police
officer. Applications and
job requirements may be
picked up at the office of
the Town Clerk located
within Millport Town Hall,
920 Black Street, Millport
AL 35576. All completed
applications must be
returned to Town Hall.
Applications are due no
later than January 22,
2021. Call 205-662-4228
if you have any questions.
It’s a classified
rule-of-thumb:
We tell readers
what they need
to know to buy
what they need.
Medical / Dental
Service Directory
Promote your small business starting at only $25
Air Cond & Heating
RAPID TEMP
Heating & cooling.
Home & RV.
Service & install.
Free estimates.
Call 602−736−4880.
Carpet & Flooring
Clean in the New Year!
1 Room − $50
2 Room − $80
3 Rooms − $110
Carpet − Rugs − Cars
DAVID’S CARPET &
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING
Call for more info!
662−722−1758
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 n 7B
Houses For Rent: North Garage Sales: East
Rentals 3BR/1.5BA, clean, modern
appliances, dishwasher,
Moving Sale: 911 Tuckaho
Dr. Sat, 6am. Home decor,
central AC&heat; carport, lamps, candles & holders,
Ads starting at $25 wash/dry hookup, fenced furniture, art work & more.
back yard, 3216 Military Rd
Apts For Rent: North $800+dep. 574−8559
Too much
FOX RUN APARTMENTS Houses For Rent: Caledonia
1 & 2 BR near hospital.
STUFF?
$595−$645 monthly. 3BR/1.5BA, small house
Military discount, pet area, for small family. NO DOGS.
pet friendly, and furnished NO HUD. Caledonia School
corporate apts. Dist. 8155 Hwy 12 near
24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL Old Country Store.
GYM. ON SITE SECURITY. Available 1/5/21. $775/
ON SITE MAINTENANCE. mo + $775 dep. 662−245
ON SITE MANAGEMENT. −1191 or 662−549−9298.
24−HOUR CAMERA
SURVEILLANCE. Benji &
Ashleigh, 662−386−4446. Mobile Homes for Rent
Apts For Rent: West 3BR/2BA MH in New Hope.
$650 dep + $650/mo. No
pets, quiet area. Leave full
VIP
name & message,
205−712−6697.
Rentals
RENT A CAMPER!
Apartments & Houses CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
Start your
Utilities & cable included,
1 Bedrooms
from $145/wk − $535/mo
2 Bedroooms
Columbus & County School
locations. 662−242−3803 de-cluttering by
3 Bedrooms or 601−940−1397.
Furnished & Unfurnished
placing a garage
1, 2, & 3 Baths sale ad today!
Lease, Deposit
& Credit Check Ads starting at...
viceinvestments.com
1 day $10
327-8555
3 day $18
Apts For Rent: Other
You’ll find the best deals
6 day $34
when you advertise
and shop here!
ads.cdispatch.com Price includes 4 lines of text;
$1/line after base cost.
Real Estate Merchandise
Ads starting at $25
Ads starting at $12
Farms & Timberland
General Merchandise
203 ACRES Roper Dryer, standard size,
PRIME TIMBERLAND good condition, $200.
$270,000 662−312−6617.
Exc deer, turkey hunting
Good Investment
Sporting Goods
(615)719−8329
COLEMAN
ED SANDERS GUNSMITH
Open for season!
Houses For Sale: East
Tue−Fri: 9−5 & Sat: 9−12
RENTALS
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
Over 50 years experience!
FSBO: 4BR/2BA. New roof, Repairs, cleaning, refin−
new paint, fenced
1 BEDROOM backyard, driveway leads
ishing, scopes mounted &
zeroed, handmade knives.
2 BEDROOMS
3 BEDROOMS
behind house. $128,000.
662−889−1443.
Located: Hwy 45 Alt, North
of West Point, turn right on
LEASE, Lots & Acreage
Yokahama Blvd, 8mi & turn
left on Darracott Rd, will
© The Dispatch
see sign, 2.5mi ahead
DEPOSIT 1.75 ACRE LOTS: Good/ shop on left.
AND Bad Credit Options. Good 662−494−6218.
CREDIT CHECK credit as low as 20% down,
$499/mo. Eaton Land,
662-329-2323
662−361−7711.
2411 HWY 45 N
Read local.
Garage Sales
cdispatch.com
COLUMBUS, MS
Two free signs
Auctions Five Questions:
1 Kombucha
2 Paris
3 Destiny Hope
Cyrus
4 3 percent
5 Nimbus 2000
General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping
A & T TREE SERVICES TERRA CARE
Bucket truck & stump LANDSCAPING L.L.C.
removal. Free est. Phone: 662−549−1878
Serving Columbus Landscaping, Property
since 1987. Senior Clean Up, Plant Care,
citizen disc. Call Alvin @ Bush Hogging,
242−0324/241−4447 Herbicide Spraying
"We’ll go out on a limb for
you!" Painting & Papering
GRAVEL, $360 PER LOAD. QUALITY PAINTING.
Local delivery, 14 yd truck. Ext/Int Painting.
Sheet Rock Hang, Finish &
Backhoe & Dozer work.
Repair. Pressure Washing.
Mobile Home Pads &
Driveways. Concrete work. Free Estimates. Ask for
specials! Larry Webber,
662−497−1388
662−242−4932.
WORK WANTED: Licensed
& Bonded. Carpentry, minor Lawn Care / Landscaping SULLIVAN’S PAINT
electrical, minor plumbing, SERVICE
insulation, painting, demo− JESSE & BEVERLY’S Special Prices.
lition, gutters cleaned, LAWN SERVICE Interior & Exterior Painting.
pressure washing, land− Fall Cleanup, Tree Cutting, 662−435−6528
scaping, cleanup work. Landscaping, Sodding &
662−242−3608. Bush Hogging
662−356−6525 Don’t have time
to cut your lawn?
Are you a painter?
Advertise here! ads.cdispatch.com Find help here!
8B FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com