Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi

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Sunday | February 7, 2021

Letters from Art

5 alderman
Three handwritten notes connected Mississippi State
races
football legend Art Davis from the past to the present
contested
in Starkville
Mayor running
BY BEN PORTNOY
unopposed
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
after qualifying

Y deadline passes
ou remember Davis standing tall,
clutching a football in his massive right
mitt. BY ZACK PLAIR
Movie-star coiffed hair. Chiseled jawline, zplair@cdispatch.com
protruding ever so slightly as a half-smile
graces his face. The fading picture makes his Four new candi-
jersey look closer to Alabama crimson than dates qualified in
Mississippi State maroon, but there’s no mis- aldermen races on
taking Davis’ Bulldog roots. Friday, including two
The photo of Davis, taken in 1955 for a Republicans in Ward
spread in “Look” magazine, has circulated 5.
widely of late. It appeared in an article from Friday was the fi-
the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 nal day to enter the
Chaney
soon after the death of longtime MSU play-by- 2021 municipal rac-
play man Jack Cristil as part of an ode to his es.
and Davis’ lifelong friendship. Anna Chaney and
Recently, the photo reemerged as a remind- Brady Hindman both
er of days past and the harrowing realities of filed last-minute pa-
mortality. perwork before the 5
On Jan. 29, Arthur Ganong Davis died p.m. deadline. They
after a nearly four-year bout with Parkinson’s will face off in a Re-
disease. He was 86. publican primary in
Hindman
Davis’ legacy will forever be tied to his time Ward 5, where the
on the Starkville gridiron. It’s there in the Democratic primary
faded maroon tops and white bottoms that he will feature incum-
won Southeastern Conference and national bent Hamp Beatty
player of the year honors as he rushed over, and Joe Evans.
around and between would-be tacklers with Chaney, 32, is a
his hulking frame. Booneville native
But in the Cristil household, Davis holds a who has lived in
more sacred place in the lexicon of lives past Starkville for about Stubbs
and present. 10 years. She has
Shortly after her father’s funeral in 2014, served as a full-time
Kay Cristil Clouatre received a letter. Clutch- instructor of interi-
ing a piece of white stationary, she began to or design for three
read. The letter was dated Sept. 11, 2014, four semesters in the
days after her father’s death. Pressed into the Mississippi State
top center of the unexpected note in pristine University College
cursive lettering was a name: Art Davis. of Architecture, Art
“I woke up this morning thinking about your and Design. Before Ezell
daddy,” the first of Davis’ three notes to Kay that, she was an ad-
read. “So I write to you in the wee hours.” See STARKVILLE, 3A

Country boys from Clarksdale

Before Jack Cristil and Art Davis were
the Jack Cristil and Art Davis, they were two
country boys from Clarksdale.
Moving to the Delta after a spell studying
broadcast journalism at Minnesota and a stint
Two more candidates
calling minor-league baseball games around
the Deep South, Cristil took on a local radio qualify for Columbus
gig in Clarksdale. He served as the voice for
Clarksdale High School football, where Davis
carved a niche as a star running back during
elections
the early 1950s. BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com
See ART DAVIS, 5A
COLUMBUS — Two new can-
didates qualified in Columbus City
Council races before Friday’s filing
Art Davis photo courtesy of Doug Davis/Art Davis letters courtesy of Kay Cristil Clouatre deadline, an independent candidate
in Ward 3 and a Republican chal-
lenger in Ward 6.
See COLUMBUS, 5A

Dispatch advertising department takes 1st place in general excellence state-wide

DISPATCH STAFF REPORT
The Dispatch took first
place in General Excel-
lence among the largest
daily newspapers in the
state in the 2021 Missis-
sippi Press Association’s
Better Newspaper Con-
test, which was held vir-
tually on Friday.
digital ads as well as spe-
cial editions produced
throughout the year. In
total, The Dispatch won
21 awards.
Graphic designer Kelly
Ervin, who has been with
the paper for six years,
Ervin Taylor
won seven awards, includ-
Judging was based on ing first place in Color
the design of print and Retail Ad for Relentless
MMA; first place in Se-
ries of Ads for Military
Hardware; first place in
Magazine Ad for Superior
Catfish; and first place in
Magazine Ad-Institution-
al for an ad in our 2020
Graduation magazine.
Jackie Taylor, who has
worked at The Dispatch
for 20 years, won six
awards, including first paper also took first for
place for Service Ad-Col- Digital Ad; and first place
or for Columbus Home for Niche Product for Din-
Center. ing Guide, a glossy list of
The annual special to-go menus from around
section How to Choose, the area. The paper swept
which is a guide to mak- two categories: Series of
ing buying decisions Ads and Niche Product.
in the Golden Triangle, “The pandemic made
won first for Special Sec- 2020 especially difficult
tion-Advertising. The See ADVERTISING, 3A

INSIDE FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

Church 6B Lifestyles 7A 1 What Microsoft operating sys-
Thursday MEETINGS
Classifieds 4,5B Obituaries 4A tem came after Windows 8? Feb. 9: Starkville-Ok-
Comics 7,8B
Crossword 5B
Opinions 6A 2 Name all four competitive
swimming strokes.
through Saturday, tibbeha Consolidated
Dear Abby 3B 3 What metropolitan area is Feb. 25-27 School District Board
of Trustees, 6 p.m.,
home to the Neon Art Museum, ■ Virtual Magnolia
the Vincent Price Museum and Independent Film 401 Greensboro St.
the La Brea Tar Pits? Festival: The Mag in Feb 12: Board of Alder-
4 In which Cinemax series did Starkville returns with men work session, 10
Clive Owen play an early-1900s
WEATHER doctor learning to conquer new
independent films and
shorts. Visit magnoli-
a.m., mayor’s confer-
ence room.
surgical techniques and his
High 49 Low 34
Clouds and sun
demons?
5 What is the name of the
mobile missile defense system
afilmfest.com. Feb. 15: Board of Su-
pervisors, 5:30 p.m.,
chancery courthouse
Full forecast on developed by Raytehon and used Feb. 16: Board of
page 3A. in Israel? Aldermen, 5:30 p.m.,
City Hall courtroom
Answers, 5B
March 9: Starkville-Ok-
tibbeha Consolidated
School District Board
Clifton Johnson, of Columbus, of Trustees, 6 p.m.,
spends his time fishing. 401 Greensboro St.

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

ASK RUFUS

The Great Freshet of 1847

I
’ve written Here in
before Columbus,
about the The Colum-
Tombigbee bus Democrat
flood of 1847. reported on
It is consid- Dec. 18, 1847:
ered the worst
flood ever re- “Unparal-
corded along leled Freshet
the upper — Great Loss
Tombigbee. It of Property,
washed away &c. — The im-
almost the mense quan-
Rufus Ward
entire towns tity of rain
of Colbert, which we have
West Port and Nashville had recently, commencing
in what was then Lown- on the night of Thursday
des County. All the other week last and ending the
area river towns and Sunday following, has
communities, Cotton Gin caused our water courses
Port, Aberdeen, Waverly to rise to an unprecedent- Courtesy photo
and Columbus suffered ed height ... the ‘oldest On Dec. 18, 1847, the Columbus Democrat reported: “From the foot of the hill on Main Street a sheet or rather
significant damage. Addi- inhabitant,’ ...admits that miniature sea of water, is spread out to the view, unbroken except by the tall trees for miles to the west.” This
tional research, including the Tombigby never before photo during the great flood of 1892 presents a similar view from the foot of Main Street but with the 1877 bridge.
finding an account of the within his recollection rose
river and as much of it fair conjectural estimate, ing to ford Carlisle’s creek. the expense of removing
flood from an Aberdeen so high, spread so wide could not be removed in and probably never shall “A likely negro boy goods, cotton, &c.
newspaper, revealed or put on the appearance time, the water, rising have. The damage to cot- belonging to Capt. W. “Of the loss sustained
much more detail and of an inland sea as it has with unprecedented rapidi- ton stored in the different Johnson was drowned in this town (Aberdeen),
that it was not just a local done this week. … All ty, swept if off, rendering sheds is very great. … on the west side of the we are not prepared to give
disaster. the low lands have been all the efforts of the owners The stores under the hill upper cotton sheds while anything like a definite
The storm and ensu- submerged to a frightful to save it to no avail. commencing at the room attempting to float out opinion.”
ing floods of December extent. From the foot of the “Most of the bridg- beneath this office and cotton. This is the only loss
1847 stretched from the hill on Main Street a sheet es in the county have running east to McFar- of life we have heard of in The flood of 1847 had
Mississippi River to the or rather miniature sea of either been swept away lane & Co’s., were filled this neighborhood. a lasting impact on area
Ohio River Valley, to the water, is spread out to the or considerably injured. with water from sixteen “A pilot upon our river towns. Nashville and
Erie Canal to the James view, unbroken except by The Columbus Bridge is to thirty inches. The room says he never saw the Big- Colbert never recovered.
River in Virginia. Dam- the tall trees for miles to shattered a little at the occupied by this office was bee so high as far down as West Port had started
ages along the upper the west. Many families west end, but the damage inaccessible by the usual Vienna before. At Waver- to recover when anoth-
Tombigbee alone were es- who reside near the river can be easily repaired. way — the water was from ley, Colbert and Westport, er flood in 1851 again
timated at $1 million and have been compelled to The bridge east of the town 4 to 8 inches deep at the in Lowndes county, great washed the town away.
nationwide at $10 million. leave their houses, which over the Luxapalila has entrance door. The floor damage has been done by The Columbus Cut-Off on
That was a staggering the water has surrounded, been swept off. We learn of the house occupied by the water. Some planters the Tenn-Tom Waterway,
amount in 1847. filling some of them to a it has floated down the Cozart & Clarke, the Ea- whose cotton was stored that created the Island
Just how bad in other depth of many feet. The stream and lodged against gle Tavern opposite, and in sheds on the bank of the across from Columbus,
parts of the country was steamer Putman was Maj. Blewett’s bridge, in short, every floor east of river have lost their entire cut through what had
this disaster that washed able, Wednesday morning which has been in danger, them except McFarlane’s crop. It is said the loss been the town of West
away three towns along to take a new route. The if that too has not been was more or less under at Waverley is very great Port. In 1847, part of
the upper Tombigbee is engineer turned the bridge carried off. … Fortunate- water. various estimates are Aberdeen’s growing
provided by a correspon- (the 1842 bridge crossed ly, no human lives have “We learn by the Hous- given, ranging from fifty to business district was
dent for the Louisville at Fourth Street) on the been lost — at least we ton Patriot, that the rain sixty thousand dollars. Of developing beneath pres-
(Kentucky) Democrat. west side and steering heard of none.” in that neighborhood was the loss at Colbert we have ent day downtown and
Describing traveling over the old field made a very heavy, and that it was heard various estimates near the river. After, the
north on the Mississippi short cut across the bend, The flood’s impact on accompanied with severe made, ranging from 30 to flood businesses began
River during the Decem- into the main stream Aberdeen was reported winds. Several houses 50 thousand dollars We to move to the higher
ber flood, he reported: some distance above the by one of its newspapers were blown down and do not believe the total ground where downtown
“At Helena, on Saturday, bridge. Where the Putman The Mississippi Advertis- much damage otherwise damage, so far as we have now is.
the first foamy drift of the ploughed its way through er on Dec. 22, 1847: done. heard, can be covered by Thanks to Carolyn
great Ohio freshet was water ten feet was dry “A gentleman from less than a million of dol- Kaye for transcribing the
discovered, but we had land the week before. … “The late freshet in Cotton Gin informs us a lars. This includes the loss 1847 newspaper articles.
passed Memphis before At Westport alone, where our river has startled the man was drowned in that in cotton, stock, depreci- Rufus Ward is a local
we met the immense there was a large quantity ‘oldest inhabitants’ out neighborhood in attempt- ated value of property and historian.
mass of floating drift, of cotton stored away, the of their propriety … and
timber, fences, firewood, loss has been estimated at from universal testimony
wrecks of buildings, &c., from eighty to one hundred we are led to believe the
that covered the Missis- thousand dollars. What loss, sustained quadruples
sippi for nearly a hundred makes the loss greater is that of any known freshet
miles. The good strong the fact that but a small within the memory of the
boat Lafayette, thundered portion of the cotton crop ‘oldest inhabitant.’ The
and crashed over this had been shipped; most loss in this neighborhood
mass with no delay and of it was stored away at is immense; we have no
little damage.” different landings on the means of forming even a

Poll: Americans split on Trump’s impeachment

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — A
majority of Americans
say former President
Donald Trump bears at
least some blame for the
Capitol insurrection, and
about half say the Senate
should vote to convict
him at the end of his im-
peachment trial.
That’s according to
a survey from The As-
sociated Press-NORC
Center for Public Affairs
Research that also finds
many Republicans con-
tinue to believe — con-
trary to all evidence —
that President Joe Biden’s
election was illegitimate.
It’s the latest sign that
Trump’s monthslong dis-
information campaign
could have long-lasting
ramifications for Biden as
he tries to govern a frac-
tured country and under-
scores the deep partisan
divides that will outlast
Trump’s presidency. But
it also shows some de-
gree of consensus, with
even many Republicans
saying that Trump was
at least partially respon-
sible for his supporters’
deadly storming of the
Capitol on Jan. 6 in a bid
to overturn the results of
the November election.
Nearly two-thirds of
Americans believe that
Trump bears at least
a moderate amount of
responsibility for the
breach of the U.S. Cap-
itol, including half who
say he bears a great deal
or quite a bit. Just over a
third say he bears little to
no responsibility.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 3A

Five candidates running for West Point mayor

All but one incumbent selectman will face a primary challenger
BY TESS VRBIN Point, were put to use by past
tvrbin@cdispatch.com administrations.
“I know my ideas are feasi-
WEST POINT — The race
to succeed outgoing West Point
ble, and that’s
been proven be-
Mayor Robbie Robinson, who is
cause my ideas
retiring, grew to five candidates
have been used,”
before Friday’s qualifying dead-
he said.
line, and all but one member of
He worked
the board of selectmen will face
as the campaign
a challenger.
manager for his
Homer Rylan Jr. qualified
this past week as an indepen- father, Homer Ry- Rylan
lan Sr., who was a
dent candidate for mayor. He
and Jennifer Renee Harper, who selectman for 20
years, and he has
qualified last week as a Consti-
also worked as an
tution Party candidate, will pro-
ceed to the general election and engineer at Steel
will not appear on the primary Dynamics in
ballot. They will face the win- Lowndes County.
ner of the Democratic primary Parkerson co-
between Rod Bobo, Cole Bry- owns J. Parker- Parkerson
an and new candidate Tammy son Jewelers in Starkville with
Parkerson, who also qualified her husband, Jamie, and owns
within the last week. Image Makers Hair Salon in
Rylan has run for mayor of West Point, according to her
his hometown before and said Facebook page.
several of the ideas he outlined She did not return calls from
in his previous campaign, such The Dispatch by press time.
as bringing Peco Foods to West Primary elections are April
Point that he has
not seen over the
ture someday, and we’ve kept
our kids inside for about a year.
6. The general election will be years. In addition Not only is it bad for them men-
June 8. to his job as an tally, but physically too.”
electrical jour- Pennington said he also
wants the city’s government
Selectmen primary challenges neyman lineman
at Mississippi to communicate more actively
The Democratic incumbents
State Universi- Gandy with the public.
in Wards 2, 3 and 5 all received
ty in Starkville, “Whether it’s what they want
primary challengers in the week
he is a longtime to hear or not, I want to be trans-
before the filing deadline. Ward
volunteer coach parent and open with people be-
2 Selectman William Binder
cause we’re working for them,
will face Bryson Gandy, Ward 3 for several youth
and people deserve to know
Selectman Ken Poole will face sports and said
what’s going on at these board
Jonas Robinson and Ward 5 he wants the city
Selectman Jasper Pittman will to make a stron- meetings and what’s happening
in the city,” he said.
face Colby Pennington. ger investment
Robinson, the outgoing may- in young people’s Robinson Gandy could not be reached
or’s 45-year-old nephew, cited a futures. for comment by press time.
desire to serve his hometown West Point
and make it a better place for closed its parks Other races
his children as his reasons for last year due to Additionally, Ward 1 Select-
running. the COVID-19 woman Leta Turner faces a
“I want to work with other pandemic, and challenge from fellow Democrat
elected officials to help West Pennington said Linda Hannah, who previously
Point prosper and continue on the city should held the seat. The winners of all
the path it’s going and to bring come up with a Pennington four competitive primaries will
jobs and industry to West Point,” plan to reopen automatically win the seats in
said Robinson, a carpenter with them. June.
Harrell General Contractors. “It seems every board meet- Ward 4 Selectman Keith Mc-
Pennington, 30, said he ing, it’s pushed to the side,” he Brayer is unopposed for re-elec-
wants to effect change in West said. “Our youth will be our fu- tion.

Starkville
Continued from Page 1A
junct instructor and de-
signed commercial furni-
ture for Flexsteel.
She holds a bachelor’s
degree from MSU and a
master’s from Ball State
University, both in interi-
or design.
Chaney said she had
not even considered seek-
ing public office until re-
cently, after some of her
neighbors convinced her
to run.
“I’m far from a politi-
cian, but I think that’s a
good thing because I can
look at our ward through
an unbiased lens,” she
said.
As alderman, Chaney
said she would focus on
being a voice for all of her
constituents and making
sure her ward was seeing
an equitable return for
its residents’ tax dollars.
She also will advocate for
a “more transparent” city
government.
“If we have learned
anything over the past
year, it’s the role of true
transparency in govern-
ment,” she said.
Chaney said she wants
to promote recruiting
private investment in re-
developing the Highway
182 corridor that will see
the area flourish without
increasing taxes.
Hindman, 28, is the
owner of the Commodore
Bob’s Yacht Club restau-
rant and Bob’s Bottle
Shop liquor store, both
in the Cotton District.
The West Point native has
lived in Starkville for sev-
en years.
While he said he wants
the city to keep unneces-
sary spending to a min-
imum, he would like to
emphasize public safety
and increase public park-
ing options.
“I’m just ready to make
a difference in my com-
munity,” Hindman said.
“I want to keep people
informed of what’s going
on and give people a voice
instead of them just being
ignored.”
Party primaries are
April 6. The general elec-
tion is set for June 8.
Brice Stubbs
runs in Ward 2
Brice Stubbs qualified
Friday as a Republican in
Ward 2, making him the
third candidate to enter
that race.
In the general election,
he will face the winner of
the Democratic primary
between incumbent San-
dra Sistrunk and Jimmy
Joe Buckley.
Stubbs, 39, has lived in
Starkville for more than
20 years and is the retail
sales manager at Triangle
Drywall Supply. He volun-
teers extensively with the
Scouts of America.
He said there are is-
sues, such as water and
sewer upgrades and ad-
equate leadership at the
parks, that were deferred
for many years before fi-
nally being addressed in
recent years. Still, there
are more things that need
to be done, especially in
addressing aging infra-
structure.
“It’s a lot of simple
things that are adding
up as far as affecting degree from Southern she said. “I want to make races for which qualifi-
the quality of living in Mississippi in sociology sure all of our communi- ers filed before Friday
Starkville,” he said. and a master’s from Delta ty members have access include Democrat Mike
“We’ve been knowing State in community devel- to what Starkville has to Brooks and Republicans
these problems have ex- opment with an emphasis offer.” Austin Check and Kevin
isted for a long time. Our on sustainability. Ezell said she also
Daniels running in Ward
citizens deserve better As alderman, she said wants to “be there” for the
4; and Republican incum-
than that. … Our ward she would focus on “qual- citizens of her ward.
needs a voice that’s more “I’m a public servant bent Ben Carver facing
ity of life” issues, specif-
apt to its needs.” first,” she said. “I think Democrat Christine Wil-
ically developing “walk-
Stubbs said he wants able, bikeable, livable that’s important for Ward liams in Ward 1.
to promote safe neigh- communities.” 6 and the rest of the com- Mayor Lynn Spruill,
borhoods, small business “Since COVID has munity to see.” Ward 3 candidate Jeffrey
growth and youth involve- happened, I think it has Rupp and Ward 7 incum-
ment. He believes the city built a greater sense of Other races bent Henry Vaughn, all
should form a commit- community in our city,” Other competitive went unopposed.
tee that works with the
police chief to develop a
multi-faceted approach to
combating juvenile crime.
“There’s not just one
way to fix that, but we
sure as heck ought to try,”
he said.
Santee Ezell challenges
Perkins in Ward 6
Santee Ezell quali-
fied in Ward 6 and will
face seven-term Demo-
crat Roy A. Perkins, who
serves as vice mayor, in
the April primary. The
primary winner will claim
the seat, since there is no
Republican or indepen-
dent running.
Ezell, 33, is a Calhoun
City native who has lived
in Starkville for eight
years. She works at MSU
in the Department of
Health Promotion and
Wellness overseeing do-
mestic violence preven-
tion. She founded the
nonprofit Black Girls
Rock of MS, which sup-
ports young girls through
workshops, outreach and
community service.
She holds a bachelor’s

Advertising
Continued from Page 1A
for our ad staff to connect with clients, so the fact that they were recognized as No.
1 in general excellence last year makes me exceptionally proud,” Dispatch Publisher
Peter Imes said. “One of our missions is to help promote area businesses through
effective marketing, and Ad Director Beth Proffitt and her team are doing a remark-
able job of that.”

AROUND THE STATE

Jackson mayor orders curfew
for youth as crime surges
JACKSON — The mayor of Mississip-
pi’s largest city has ordered a curfew for
young people in a bid to curb crime.
The curfew for all Jackson residents
under 18 went into effect Thursday
night, The Clarion Ledger reported.
The curfew means it’s unlawful for
young people to remain on public streets
or in other public places from 10 p.m. to
5 a.m. The mayor’s plan calls for the cur-
The curfew is aimed at promoting
health and safety amid rising gun vio-
lence in the city, the mayor’s office said
in a statement.
“I am concerned for our city and I am
worried for the safety of all of our resi-
dents,” Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba
said.
“Keeping our youth off the streets
during these late hours is intended to
keep them out of harm’s way,” he said.
“It is for their protection. We must make
all efforts for the health and welfare of SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates

few to last nearly a week. our city.” peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Sun. Mon.
Major 9:10p 10:11p
Minor 5:01a 6:05a
Major 9:41a 10:41a
Minor 3:17p 4:17p
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

CORRECTION
■ In the Tuesday edition, The Dispatch incorrectly identified the city where
the Southern Poverty Law Center is based. The center is based in Montgomery,
The Dispatch
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
Alabama. We regret the error. 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 strives to report the news accurately. When we print an The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Website: cdispatch.com/help
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516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
email news@cdispatch.com.
4A SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021
COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
Obituaries with basic informa-
tion including visitation and
service times, are provided
free of charge. Extended
obituaries with a photograph,
detailed biographical informa-
tion and other details families
may wish to include, are avail-
able for a fee. Obituaries must
be submitted through funeral
homes unless the deceased’s
body has been donated to
science. If the deceased’s
body was donated to science,
the family must provide official
proof of death. Please submit
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submitted to the newspaper
no later than 3 p.m. the day
prior for publication Tuesday
through Friday; no later than 4
p.m. Saturday for the Sunday
edition; and no later than 7:30
a.m. for the Monday edition.
Incomplete notices must be re-
ceived no later than 7:30 a.m.
for the Monday through Friday
editions. Paid notices must be
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the next day Monday through
Thursday; and on Friday by 3
p.m. for Sunday and Monday
publication. For more informa-
tion, call 662-328-2471.
Richard Hazelwood
WEST POINT—
Richard B. Hazelwood,
99, died Jan. 26, 2021.
A memorial service
will be held at a later
date. Calvert Funeral
Home of West Point is
in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Hazelwood was
born Aug. 31, 1921, in
West Point, to the late
Claude and Lallie Hazel-
wood. He was a gradu-
ate of West Point High
School and a veteran of
the United States Army.
He was formerly em-
ployed as a cabinetmak-
er and was a member of
First Baptist Church.
In addition to his par-
ents, he was preceded
in death by his brother,
John Ralph Hazelwood.
He is survived by his
wife, Bobbie Jean Hazel-
wood; daughter, Carla
Dobbs of Bainbridge,
Georgia; siblings, Caro-
lyn Jones and Claudette
Sansing both of West
Point; one grandchild;
and one great-grand-
child.
Eugene Hairston
CRAWFORD— Eu-
gene Hairston, 69, died
Feb. 4, 2021, at Baptist
Memorial Hospi-
tal-Golden Triangle.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Columbus.
Rocksand Gandy
COLUMBUS—
Rocksand Gandy, 51,
died Feb. 2, 2021, at
North Mississippi Medi-
cal Center in Tupelo.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Columbus.
Ann Thomas
COLUMBUS— Ma-
hala Ann Thomas, 73,
died Feb. 5, 2021, at
North Mississippi Medi-
cal Center in Tupelo.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Memorial
Gunter Peel Funeral
Home and Crematory,
Second Avenue North
location.
William Dantzler
MACON— William
“Billy”
Dantzler,
69, died
Jan. 30,
2021, at his
residence.
Funeral
services
will be Dantzler
at 1 p.m.
Monday, at New Hope
UM Church, with Kori
Bridges officiating.
Visitation is from 1-4
p.m. today, at Lee-Sykes
Funeral Chapel. Lee-
Sykes Funeral Services
of Macon is in charge of
arrangements.
AREA OBITUARIES
Mr. Dantzler was
born June 29, 1951,
in Noxubee County,
to Marjorie Dantzler
and the late William
Dantzler, Sr. He was a
graduate of B.F. Liddell
“Eagles’’ High School
and attended Mott
Community College. He
was formerly employed
as a plant manager with
Halo Burger and with
Chevrolet Metal Fab di-
vision of General Motor
Corporation. He was a
member of New Hope
UM Church.
In addition to his
father, he was preceded
in death by his brother,
Earnest L. Dantzler.
In addition to his
mother, he is survived
by his children, Tam-
mie Dantzler, Yolanda
Collins and Billie Marie
Dantzler all of Flint,
Michigan; siblings, Cal-
vin Dantzler of St. Lou-
is, Missouri, Anthony
Dantzler of Pearl, Joyce
Young of Memphis, Ten-
nessee, Sadie Campbell
of Kalamazoo, Michi-
gan and Brenda Gibbs
of Hampton, Virginia;
and six grandchildren.
Martha Childress
WEST POINT—
Martha Lorane Chil-
dress, 73, died Feb. 6,
2021, at NMMC-Tupelo.
Graveside services
will be at 11 a.m.
Tuesday, at McPherson
Cemetery, with the Rev.
Maxine Kimbrel offici-
ating. Robinson Funeral
Home of West Point is
in charge of arrange-
ments.
She is survived
by her husband, Bob
Childress; children,
Timothy Wayne Kim-
brel of West Point and
Terry Lynn Kimbrel of
Columbus; and three
grandchildren.
Thurman Langford
WEST POINT—
Thurman L. Langford,
86, died Feb. 4, 2021.
A private family
celebration of life will be
held at a later date. Rob-
inson Funeral Home of
West Point is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Langford was
born Feb. 15, 1934,
in Dancy, to the late
Alfie and Effie Wooten
Landford. He was a
graduate of Cumberland
High School and was
formerly employed as a
supervisor with Bryan
Foods and with his auto
Sharon Beatty
Visitation:
Sunday, Feb.7 • 1-1:45 PM
2nd Ave. N. Location
Graveside Services:
Sunday, Feb. 7 • 2 PM
Memorial Gardens
Burial
Memorial Gardens
2nd Ave. N. Location
memorialgunterpeel.com
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
parts business. ford; and four grandchil-
In addition to his par- dren.
ents, he was preceded Memorials may be
in death by his siblings, made to Sanctuary
A.C. Langford, Charles Hospice House, 5159
Langford and L.W. West Main St. Tupelo,
Langford. MS 38801 or the West
He is survived by his Point/Clay County
wife, Ella Weese Land- Animal Shelter 5122 Old
ford; children, Rhonda Tibbee Rd West Point,
Spruill and Vince Lang- MS 39773.
Daniel Finn
Daniel Thomas “Danny”
Finn, age 72, passed away
February 4th, 2021, at his
residence in Carrollton, AL.
Services will be 2:00 P.M.
Sunday at Skelton Funeral
Home Chapel in Reform,
AL with Rev. David Blakney
officiating. Burial will follow
at Carrollton City Cemetery
with Skelton Funeral Home of Reform directing.
Visitation will be immediately following the
service at the funeral home.
Danny was preceded in death by his father,
Charles Edward Finn and stepfather, Carl
Sisson. He is survived by his loving wife of
45 years, Donna Skelton Finn; his mother,
Terri Sisson of Ft Pierce, FL; his sons, Chuck
McPherson (Fairy) of Pungoteague, VA and
Doug Capps (Shelly) of Coldwater, MS; his twin
brother, Tom Finn (Kathy) of Tulare, CA; his
sister, Elizabeth Trachtman of Ft. Pierce, FL;
his aunt, Reta Johnson of Ft. Pierce, FL; and
grandchildren, Dalton Capps of Jackson, MS,
Brandon McPherson and Katie McPherson of
Pungoteague, VA; and two step-grandchildren,
Ethan and Alexis; and his beloved dog, Buddy.
Danny was born on July 24, 1948, in Lawrence,
Mass. He was a member of the Catholic faith and
was a United States Navy Veteran of the Vietnam
Era, where he served as a diver and ship’s
accountant.
His many joys in life were flying, golf, diving,
fishing, and cooking. Danny had a keen mind
for mathematics, computer technology and
he developed a computer accounting software
program. As a restauranteur and amazing chef,
Danny was involved with many area restaurants
and served as past President of the Golden
Triangle Regional Restaurant Association
and served on the board of the Mississippi
Association of Restaurants. His many restaurants
included: The Red Barn in Carrollton, Pizza Hut
in Birmingham, The Lodge in Pickensville, The
Depot Restaurant in Columbus, MS, Summit
Landings in Sebastian, FL, The Cove in Eleuthera,
Bahamas and Big Misters in Starkville, MS.
Danny retired after working several years with
the Pickens County Sheriff’s Department as a
Corrections Officer and department head of the
kitchen.
Honorary Pallbearers will be other family
members and all his friends.
Paid Obituary - Skelton Funeral Home
Karen Jackson
Karen Rene Jackson, 55, of Columbus, MS
passed away Thursday, February 4, 2021, at her
residence.
A visitation will be on Sunday, February 7, 2021,
from 2-3 PM at Border Springs Baptist Church. A
funeral service will follow at 3:00 PM with Bro.
Dan Louman officiating. Interment will be in
Lone Oak Cemetery, Steens, MS with Lowndes
Funeral Home, Columbus, MS directing.
Mrs. Jackson was born on May 31, 1965, in
Columbus, MS to Shirley Taggart Delk and the
late Douglas Raper. She was a member of Border
Springs Baptist Church and she loved her church.
Mrs. Jackson loved baking cakes, spending time
with her family, daughter, her grandchild, and
she was an avid lover of her dogs- Alex, Rusty,
and Kyia.
In addition to her dad, Mrs. Jackson is preceded
in death by her other dad, Charles Delk.
Mrs. Jackson is survived by her husband, David
Jackson of Steens, MS; daughter, Kayla (Louis)
Alexander; grandchild, Madison Alexander; and
her mother, Shirley Taggart Delk.
Pallbearers will be Ricky Hardin, Alex Sims,
Lee Jaynes, Shawn Dvorak, Ricky Moore and
Kenny Jaynes.
Honorary pallbearers will be Employees of
Baptist Hospice, Alice Naquin, Dr. Lance Bush,
Dr. Joel Butler, Baptist EMS and Lamar EMS.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations
be made to Columbus Lowndes Humane Society
P.O. Box 85 Columbus, MS 39703.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
Darrol Wayne Fry
With great sadness the
family of Darrol W. Fry shares
his passing on January 16, 2021,
in Atlanta, GA.
Born April 13, 1920 in
Mishawaka, IN, Darrol reached
the 100 year old milestone in
2020 celebrating with friends
and family via Zoom including
recognition on NBC Today
Show’s Smucker Jar segment. His 73-year
marriage to Helen Jane Fry included raising
three children anchoring 57 years of family life
in Columbus, MS.
Darrol served in the Marines during WWII
subsequently pursuing positions in the tool
and die industry while furthering his education
via Indiana University & Purdue University’s
Extension system courses. His education and
experience evolved into Industrial Engineer
positions with Bendix/Bendix Aviation and
Studebaker in Indiana. In 1958 Darrol moved
the family to Columbus where he enjoyed a long
career with American Bosch/United Technology
retiring in 1987. Darrol traveled as an AMBAC
liaison scouting manufacturing equipment
throughout the Midwest, Atlantic states, and New
England. He received numerous recognitions for
electric motor housing design during his career
with AMBAC.
Darrol was a dedicated and active member of
Wesley United Methodist Church in Columbus.
He loved his church and church family. His broad
and untiring service to faith ranged from Sunday
School teacher, Bible Study leader, numerous
church leadership roles and often assisting with
church maintenance. As an extension of his
faith, humility, and sense of duty to the human
condition Darrol volunteered over 5,000 hours of
time to Contact Ministries, a faith-based crisis
counseling initiative facilitated by the Contact
Crisis Intervention Hotline. He particularly
enjoyed woodworking and furniture restoration
projects. Darrol had an exceptional ear bridging
all genres of music. Rolling down the road
shuffling Yoyomah, Dave Brubeck, Delbert
McClinton and spiritual hymn cds was common.
Darrol loved to sing and dance. He traveled the
US extensively visiting all things historic.
Darrol was also noted as a ‘tinkerer’. He kept
and tinkered with two family ‘heirloom’ cars
for many years. A 1958 yellow Edsel station
wagon became his signature transportation
in Columbus until the late 1970s. Many still
speak of it as synonymous with ‘Mr. Darrol’. A
1970 Pontiac LeMans convertible circulated
intrafamily. He fostered and sported around
in it from the 1980s through early 2000s. The
‘LeMans’ continues to be family fostered today
thanks to his stewardship.
Darrol’s transition to Atlanta, GA was
graciously embraced by his new church family
at Peachtree Road United Methodist and his new
residence community at Lenbrook. A new world
of friends and care givers selflessly assisted him
through a new milestone of life. His family will
be forever grateful to all who sincerely welcomed
him with warm considerations and attention.
Darrol is survived by his three children, Mary
Jane Piazza (John) of Atlanta, GA, Carrie Lynn
Striepe (Denis) of Winter Springs FL and John
Fry (Liz) of Ossining, NY. Seven grandchildren
and seven great-grandchildren provided much
joy and pride in Darrol’s life. Extended family
includes nieces and nephews residing in Arizona
and Indiana.
Predeceased family incudes his spouse, Helen
Jane Dawson Fry; parents, Russell L. Fry and
Cleo Long Fry of Mishawaka, IN (later relocating
to Columbus, MS); sister, Helen Elizabeth Fry
Beyrer; and nephew, J. Timothy Beyrer.
Due to the pandemic, a memorial service will
be planned at a later date.
In recognition of his faith, memorials may
be made to Wesley United Methodist Church,
Columbus, MS or Peachtree Road United
Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA.
Paid Obituary - McDonald & Son Funeral Home
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 5A

Art Davis
Continued from Page 1A
There was a close
camaraderie between do-
it-all half-
back and
vivacious
play-by-play
man. For
years, Cris-
til spoke
on Davis’
behalf. He Cristil
said he was
among the grittiest and
most prolific runners
he’d ever seen. Davis
long reminisced on the
importance of Cristil, just
nine years his senior, in
his own life.
“Your daddy’s name
and voice were synony-
mous with Mississippi
State,” Davis wrote in his
initial letter. “And how
proud we all were to be
associated with that name
and voice.”
Kay was always aware
of her father’s and Art’s
ebbing and flowing
relationship. It’s part of
why she felt compelled to
write Davis back.
As a ninth-grader,
she recalled boarding a
chartered plane to the
Bulldogs’ 1974 Sun Bowl
date with North Carolina
in El Paso, Texas. Kay
and Davis sat next to
each other on the trip,
chatting the whole flight.
Three years later,
Kay was an undergrad
at MSU. She crossed
paths with Davis outside
the student union. Kay
always introduced herself
in any conversation. This
time was no different.
“Mr. Davis, I’m
Kay Cristil. I’m Jack’s
daugh—” she said, forced
to stop mid-word.
“OK, yeah!” Davis
responded through his
all-American smile. “How
are you doing? So good to
see you.”
“All I could think
about was telling Mama
and Daddy I ran into
Arthur Davis,” Kay said
later. “That made my
day.”
As the years went on,
so too did Davis’ and
Cristil’s professional
lives. After injuries cut
his NFL career short, Da-
vis worked at the Missis-
sippi School Supply Com-
pany and as the director
of MSU’s Development
Foundation. He later took
on public relations posts
for United Southern Bank
and First National Bank
of Clarksdale.
Cristil became a
fixture in Starkville and
across the SEC, honing
his skills as a play-by-play
man. His time calling
Bulldog sporting events
spanned 11 presidencies,
58 years and 636 football
games.
Davis and Cristil were
two towering Mississippi
figures. One was driv-
en by his otherworldly
strength between the
tackles. The other was
known for his boom-
ing yet calming voice.
Neither could escape the
inevitability of mortality.
On Feb. 23, 2011, Cris-
til signed off one final
time following an MSU
men’s basketball game
against Tennessee. Three
years later, the longtime
Bulldog commentator
died in Tupelo, his body
ravaged by kidney dis-
ease and cancer and his
voice grown a touch more
gravelly since his youth.
“In my opinion,” Davis
wrote, “Jack Cristil’s
name will forever be one
of the most recognized and
respected names in our
school’s history. I’m proud
to say he was my life-long
friend.”
‘Life is a struggle’
Kay unfurled a yellow
piece of legal pad paper.
Dated Feb. 23, 2019,
the two pages’ worth of
cursive lettering was im-
perfect. Eraser smudges
appeared in the first sen-
tence and four of the five
paragraphs. The writing
was recognizable and
legible, but the crispness
had tailed off.
One hundred and
twenty-four words into
the letter, she learned
why.
“Kay, I have Parkin-
son’s,” Davis wrote, “and
life is a struggle.”
After moving to Ore-
gon with his wife Francis
to be closer to their son
and grandchildren in
2001, Art’s condition
deteriorated in his later
years. He was diagnosed
with Parkinson’s, a neu-
rodegenerative disorder
that affects the brain, in
late 2017, though his son
Doug said he’d shown
some symptoms prior to
that.
Age took its toll. The
once sturdy, powerful
tailback grew weaker.
Simple tasks, like writing
a letter, became increas-
ingly difficult as Parkin-
son’s-induced tremors
persisted.
A devout painter
throughout his life, Art
took his first class while
living in Starkville in
Art Davis, who starred at Mississippi State in the mid-1950s, was enshrined in the Ring of Honor at Davis Wade
Stadium in 2018. It was the second-to-last time he would be in Starkville before his death last week.
A watercolor painting by Art Davis.
the mid-1970s. As he
grew older, it became
his outlet. He toyed with
acrylics and oils, but
watercolors were his
weapon of choice. With
sweeping brush strokes
and brilliant colors, he
painted lighthouses and
landscapes, barns and
boats. He was a talented
painter, perhaps as talent-
ed an artist as he was a
football player.
Doug helped him set
up a website for his work.
Art Davis Art. Some
paintings sold; others
didn’t. It didn’t matter.
The site was a source of
pride for Art.
“Just something on
the internet he could go
visit and say, ‘Hey that’s
my stuff. That’s kind of
neat,’” Doug explained.
Nine months after Kay
received news of Davis’
diagnosis, a Thanks-
giving card came in the
mail. It was from Art. On
the cover was a print of
Courtesy of Kay Cristil Clouatre
one of his paintings, “Au-
tumn Fishing Village.”
Inside was a scripted
message printed onto the
cardstock. A personal-
ized note was penned in
blue ink below the etched
inscription, but the
handwriting wasn’t Art’s.
A small sticky-note sized
piece of paper was also
packaged in the letter.
“Since my painting
days are behind me, I
wanted to let you know
this will be my last one
with original artwork,”
the note read. “I have
loved sharing them with
you. Have a wonderful
holiday season and thank
you for your lasting friend-
ship. Art.”
Last link in the chain
Wandering through
the varying storefronts of
Tupelo in early January,
Kay felt a sudden tug in
her mind. She owed Art
a letter back. It had been
nearly two months since
his last note, and she felt
time fleeting. “Next time
I’m out,” she assured her-
self, “I’ll get that letter
written for Mr. Art.”
That letter never
arrived.
“I certainly told him in
(my) Christmas card that
I wanted to make sure
that when COVID had
passed through, and we
were all done with it, that
I wanted to go visit with
him,” Kay said. “And, of
course, I didn’t have the
chance.”
In 2018, Davis made
his second-to-last trip to
Starkville to see his name
enshrined in the Ring
of Honor at Davis Wade
Stadium. On the flight
in, as the plane crossed
the Mississippi River, the
family enjoyed a 30,000-
foot view of Clarksdale.
At George M. Bryan
Airport, Davis sat on the
tarmac in a wheelchair,
a product of his illness.
Surrounded by friends,
family and signs cele-
Photo courtesy of Doug Davis
brating his arrival, he
posed for pictures. Even
as Parkinson’s waged war
on his health, his mil-
lion-dollar smile fought
back.
Tuesday, Davis, a
son of the Delta, was
laid to rest in his colle-
giate hometown at Odd
Fellows Cemetery. He’s
buried alongside Francis,
who died in November
2014, and just a stone’s
throw from the stadium
that bears his name on its
interior; the same stadi-
um in which Jack Cristil
made his first touchdown
call on a 38-yard Art Da-
vis carry 67 years ago.
In Starkville, Art
will forever be remem-
bered as the strapping
all-American on the
pages of “Look” Maga-
zine. To the Cristils, he’ll
forever be family.
“He’s like the last
link in the chain to that
generation,” Kay said. “...
That’s my last connection
to my daddy.”

Columbus
Continued from Page 1A
Jacqueline DiCicco will
face incum-
bent Ward 6
Councilman
Bill Gavin in
the Republi-
can primary
in April. The
winner will
automatical- DiCicco
ly have the
seat, since there are no
Democratic or third-par-
ty candidates running in
Ward 6.
DiCicco, 71, has been a
professional esthetician in
the Golden Triangle since
2000 and has owned and
operated a spa, Jacqueline
DiCicco Skin Care Cen-
ter, in northern Columbus
since 2005. She grew up
in Caledonia and holds a
bachelor’s degree from
Mississippi University for
Women and a master’s
from Mississippi State
University.
DiCicco is also a past
member of the Colum-
bus-Lowndes Chamber of
Commerce, the Associa-
tion for Quality and Par-
ticipation, the Columbus
Exchange Club and the
Mississippi University for
Women Alumni Board.
She told The Dispatch
she is running for office
with the goal of creating
change in the city.
“I had hoped someone
else from Ward 6 would sermons on his Facebook incumbent Mayor Robert
come forward,” she said. page, and he is a Lowndes Smith; Democrat Tommy
“When I saw that was not County native and an East Jackson and independent
the case, I felt it was up Mississippi Community Kallie Phillips challeng-
to me to do my part and College graduate. ing Ward 1 Councilwom-
serve my city. I want to Bridges did not answer an Ethel Taylor Stewart, a
be a part of the solution. I an email from The Dis- Democrat; and Democrats
want Columbus to live up patch by press time. Pat Fisher Douglas and
to its potential.” former councilman Mar-
Primary elections are ty Turner challenging in-
April 6. The general elec- Other races cumbent Pierre Beard, an
tion will be June 8. Other competitive rac- independent, in Ward 4.
es for which qualifiers Councilmen Joseph
Ward 3 race filed before Friday include Mickens of Ward 2 and
Kori Bridges is the independent candidates Stephen Jones of Ward 5
third candi- Montrell Coburn and are unopposed for re-elec-
date in the Keith Gaskin challenging tion.
Ward 3 race,
and as an in-
dependent,
he will not
be on the
primary bal-
lot in April. Bridges
The race
also includes Republican
Rusty Greene and Dem-
ocrat Sally Brown Tate.
All are vying to succeed
Councilman Charlie Box,
who is not running for
re-election.
Bridges is pastor of
two local United Method-
ist churches: New Hope
UMC just north of New
Hope and St. Michael’s
UMC in Macon, accord-
ing to the online clergy di-
rectory for the Mississippi
Conference of the United
Methodist Church. He
posts videos of his Sunday

cdispatch.com
Opinion
6A SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021
OUR VIEW
Roses and thorns
A rose to candidates for the
upcoming municipal elections in
the Golden Triangle. A late surge
in qualifying on Thursday and
Friday has ensured that there will
be competitive races in 15 of the 21
elections in Columbus, Starkville and West Point
while Caledonia, which selects its aldermen in an
at-large format, will feature nine candidates vying
for 5 positions. The mayor’s races in Columbus,
West Point and Caledonia will also be contested.
We congratulate those candidates who will assume
positions because they face no competitor. That
list in includes incumbent Starkville Mayor Lynn
Spruill, incumbent Starkville Ward 7 alderman
Henry Vaughn, Starkville Ward 3 candidate Jeffrey
Rupp, incumbent Columbus Ward 2 councilman
Joseph Mickens, incumbent Columbus Ward 5
councilman Stephen Jones and incumbent West
Point Ward 4 selectman Keither McBrayer.
A rose to the Columbus Municipal
School District for its handling of
a proposal that would change the
school calendar to shorten the sum-
mer break and create more breaks
during the fall, winter and spring.
Support among the superintendent and the trust-
ees for what the district calls a modified schedule
appears strong. In fact, the board could vote to
adopt the modified schedule as soon as Monday
during its regular board meeting, but that does
not rule out the possibility of waiting to get more
feedback from stakeholders. No matter what or
when the board takes action on the school calendar
proposal, we commend the district for its efforts
to raise awareness of the idea and seed feedback,
especially among parents. The district has used a
survey to collect parents’ view on the proposal and
has also held virtual public meetings to provide
information on what a modified schedule would
look like and how it would affect students and their
families. We applaud the district’s efforts to make
sure parents’ voices are heard.
Another rose to CMSD for all the
work that has gone into the upcom-
ing celebration of Franklin Acade-
my’s bicentennial. Franklin’s found-
ing in 1820 represented the birth
of public education in Mississippi.
Recognizing this achievement and celebrating it as
an important moment in the history of both Colum-
bus and the state is important and something we
should be proud of. The event will be held Friday
and will be streamed on the district’s YouTube
channel. Details are available on CMSD’s website.
A rose to Baptist Memorial
Hospital Golden Triangle for its
recent donation of CPR and first aid
teaching equipment to the Lowndes
County School District Career and
Technical Center. Four adult CPR
mannequins, four baby CPR mannequins and two
automated external defibrillators, valued at more
than $1,000, were donated to the career tech cen-
ter after the hospital purchased new equipment.
The equipment will be of great use for students in
the career tech center’s Health Science program.
The career tech center also offers student training
in construction, culinary arts, engineering/robot-
ics, industrial maintenance, teaching and welding.
We hope companies in those fields will be inspired
to follow Baptist’s lead in finding ways to support
these programs.
TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Sunday, Feb. 7, the 38th day of 2021.
There are 327 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Feb. 7, 1962, President John F. Kennedy
imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba.
On this date:
In 1812, author Charles Dickens was born in
Landport, Portsmouth, England.
In 1931, aviator Amelia Earhart married pub-
lisher George P. Putnam in Noank, Connecticut.
In 1943, the government abruptly announced
that wartime rationing of shoes made of leather
would go into effect in two days, limiting consum-
ers to buying three pairs per person per year.
(Rationing was lifted in October 1945.)
In 1948, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower resigned
as U.S. Army chief of staff; he was succeeded by
Gen. Omar Bradley.
In 1964, the Beatles arrived at New York’s John
F. Kennedy International Airport to begin their
first American tour.
In 1984, space shuttle Challenger astronauts
Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went
on the first untethered spacewalk, which lasted
nearly six hours.
In 1985, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was kidnapped
in Guadalajara, Mexico, by drug traffickers who
tortured and murdered him.
In 1991, Jean-Bertrand Aristide (zhahn behr-
TRAHN’ ahr-ihs-TEED’) was inaugurated as the
first democratically elected president of Haiti
(he was overthrown by the military the following
September).
In 1998, the Winter Olympic Games were
opened in Nagano, Japan, by Emperor Akihito.
Dispatch
The
MISSISSIPPI VOICES
Remembering Leland Speed and
the value of movers and shakers
One of the great game to see how long
privileges of being it will take to produce
the publisher of the “saddlebags,” the huge
Northside Sun for 30 stains of underarm
years has been getting sweat soaking through
to know the big time the Egyptian cotton
movers and shakers of pinpoint dress shirt of
Jackson. the victim, as he panics
Some I have known from the psychological
as good acquaintances. assault.
But many I have gotten Leland regaled me
to know personally, with stories and advice
especially when they Wyatt Emmerich from his business
needed the Northside career, especially all
Sun to help achieve a community the times he was on the ropes and
goal they supported. nearly faced ruin. All the times he
One of those movers and shak- hunkered down and persevered,
ers was Leland Speed, who passed finally to become a Mississippi
away last week. To say he will be business legend, founding not one,
missed is a huge understatement. but two, Mississippi companies on
There is a reason movers and the New York Stock Exchange.
shakers are movers and shakers. At the end of our conversation
They move and shake. In doing so he asked, “Are you covering your
they touch an innumerable num- interest?” I said yes but not the
ber of lives. principal payment. “What’s your
In the year 2008, I was desper- interest coverage ratio?” I said
ate. I had taken on a huge amount about 1.5 to 1. Leland laughed.
of debt to keep the family newspa- “Boy, that is nothing. I would have
per company together when vari- given my right arm for that back
ous relatives wanted to cash out. when I was on the ropes.”
The nation was undergoing a fi- After the pep talk was over, I
nancial meltdown, the worst since walked him to the door. Leland
the Great Depression. Banks were beamed that huge smile that was
worried, advertisers had cut back, so real and so infectious to every-
the Internet was rising and my one who witnessed it. “Remember,
profits were not enough to service son, no saddlebags.” And he was
my debt. gone.
I picked up the phone and called From that moment on, I swore
Leland. He could hear the concern to myself that there would be no
in my voice. more self pity, no more moan-
“Are you at your office,” he ing and groaning, no more bad
asked? When I said “yes,” he re- attitude. I was going to project
plied, “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” an image of absolute confidence,
Leland came in and shut the even if I was going down. If Leland
door. He then proceeded for the could do it, then so could I.
next three hours to tell me his Needless to say, since I am writ-
business life story, full of close ing this column, I made it through.
calls and panicked moments.
“Don’t ever let them see you
It wasn’t easy and there were close
calls. There are still close calls,
sweat,” he warned me. but Leland’s words kept me going.
“Buy nice clothes. Go on a vaca- Had my father been alive, he
tion. Get a nice tan. Stay vigorous would have given me the support
and healthy. You have to project an I needed. But my father was gone
image of strength and confidence, and Leland stepped into his shoes
even when you have none,” he said. for that afternoon and many more.
“Have you read, ‘A Man in Full’ For that, I will always remember
by Thomas Wolfe?” Leland asked. Leland like a son remembers his
I said yes. “Do you remember the father.
part about the saddlebags?” What is amazing though is
It’s a great scene from the that my story is just one story out
book. The main character Charlie of hundreds, thousands. Leland
Croker, a successful real estate touched so many lives it is beyond
mogul, is invited to a breakfast count. My heart goes out to his
meeting with his bankers. Little family. When a man like that pass-
does he know, he is the prey. The es, it leaves a big hole. Don’t ever
bankers have planned in advance forget that we will all be reunited
to lower the boom on Croker. It’s a in heaven.
THE STAFF OF THE DISPATCH
EDITOR/PUBLISHER Theo DeRosa
BUSINESS OFFICE Matt Garner
Peter Imes Debbie Foster
Garrick Hodge
Mary Ann Hardy
Eddie Johnson Zack Plair
ADVERTISING Ben Portnoy
Claudi Arrington Courtney Laury
Slim Smith
Kelly Ervin Jan Swoope
Melissa Johnson CIRCULATION Tess Vrbin
Michael Floyd
Beth Proffitt
Kadee Holmes
Mary Jane Runnels
Luther Shields Deanna Robinson-Pugh MAILROOM
Christina Boyd
Jackie Taylor
Joseph Ellis
NEWS Jeffrey Gore
Isabelle Altman
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003
BIRNEY IMES SR. Editor/Publisher 1922-1947
ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor
BETH PROFFITT Advertising Director
MICHAEL FLOYD Circulation/Production Manager
MARY ANN HARDY Controller
It is men like Leland who really
define a city like Jackson. These
powerful movers and shakers
leave families who are rooted to
their communities. These families
become extended families who
become the fundamental fabric of
a community, giving it richness,
character and history.
We seem to have two cultures
in our country existing side by
side. One is a corporate culture of
promotion transfers and mobility.
Individual allegiance is with a
company or a career track. The
individual city is of no significance
other than a staging ground for
the next career step up the ladder.
I call that the mobility culture.
Then there is a rooted culture.
These people are from a town, city
or community. That is where their
loyalty rests. That is what gives
them their identity. They may
change jobs or even careers, but
they are rooted geographically.
I feel blessed that I have been
able to put down roots and have
a place called home. Part of the
blessing is getting to know people
like Leland Speed.
Speaking of culture, I am wit-
nessing a certain negativity about
our country and our culture that
has increased over recent years.
People are believing all sorts of
conspiracy theories about power-
ful elites manipulating the system
and doing bad things.
I have lived and worked for over
five decades in this country and
culture. Nobody has ever threat-
ened me or tried to bribe me. I
have criticized our local, state and
federal government, sometimes
vigorously, yet never has that led
to retribution or coercion in any
way at any level.
No thug or mobster has tried
to bully his way into my business.
My family has never been harmed
or even threatened. I have had full
freedom of speech, press, reli-
gion and travel. I consider myself
a completely free man living in
a free country surrounded by
great people who are making a
difference and pushing humanity
forward.
Accordingly, I find all this neg-
ativity short sighted and unwar-
ranted.
Wyatt Emmerich is the editor
and publisher of The Northside Sun,
a weekly newspaper in Jackson. He
can be reached by e-mail at wyatt@
northsidesun.com.
Katrina Guyton
Doris Hill
Quaylon Jones
Marquisto Miller
Bobby Williams
PRODUCTION
Roderick Bell
William Hudson
Mike Lindsey
Jamie Morrison
Anne Murphy
Tina Perry
Lifestyles LIFESTYLES EDITOR
Jan Swoope: 328-2471
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 n 7A

‘ We need to talk’
Courtesy photo Libraries help inspire
“Sammy’s Garden,” by Starkville
artist Betty Jane Chatham, is conversations about
among her artworks currently on
display in the lobby of The Partner- race relations during
ship at 200 E. Main St.
Black History Month
Chatham’s BY JAN SWOOPE
jswoope@cdispatch.com

artwork featured
A
s Youth Services Librarian
Jayme Evans selected books

in SAAC exhibit to highlight in February at

West Point’s Bryan Public Library,
she kept in mind that Black History
Retrospective show by Month should mean more than
simply knowing the names of some
Starkville artist now famous black people and being able
to memorize a quote by Martin
open for viewing Luther King Jr. Among other goals,
this designated month is an oppor-
SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH tunity to learn about contributions
of African Americans in fields rang-

T
he Starkville Area Arts Coun-
cil’s first AiPP (Art in Public
Places) exhibit of 2021 is a
retrospective of art by Betty Jane
Chatham. This hybrid exhibit is on
display for in-person viewing in the
lobby of The Partnership, 200 E.
Main St. in downtown Starkville,
during business hours through
April 5. The exhibit is subject to
mask requirements and social
distancing guidelines. The online
gallery is viewable on the SAAC
website. No opening reception is
currently planned.
The show features nearly 35
works in oils, watercolors, mono-
print and pencil by the Starkville
artist. Chatham has painted since
high school. A graduate of The W,
she continued her studies in paint-
ing at the Memphis Academy of
Art, Delta State University and Mis-
sissippi State University. Chatham
has had several one-woman shows,
including one at the Lauren Rogers
Museum of Art in Laurel, and the
Germantown, Tennessee, Munici-
pal Art Gallery.
As part of SAAC’s AiPP series,
works may be listed for sale. SAAC
collects and pays sales taxes on be-
half of the artist for any work sold,
and the artist keeps 80 percent of
the proceeds.
Now in its third decade, the
SAAC sponsors the Cotton District
Arts Festival, runs various art
education initiatives and awards al-
most $25,000 each year throughout
Starkville and Oktibbeha County
in its mission to build a strong,
creative, connected community
through the arts. SAAC appreciates
See CHATHAM, 8A
ing from agricultural innovation to
scientific research, from civil rights
to world renowned entertainment.
At its best, it’s an opening for con-
versation about race in America,
conversation that seems needed
now as much or more so than ever
before.
Libraries in the Golden Trian-
gle play a role in facilitating the
dialogue. It’s a particular challenge
this year due to COVID-19.
“We have had to get really cre-
ative with how we’re
getting information
out and celebrating
this month,” said
Columbus Lowndes
Library Systems
Director Erin Bus-
bea. “Every library
is struggling with Busbea
this because we are
so used to having
people here in the building, having
programming in person, seeing
people’s reactions to the informa-
tion we’re providing.”
Pandemic-induced restrictions
continue to keep area libraries
operating at limited capacity. Like
so much else in 2020, and now
into 2021, libraries are relying on
virtual connections to stimulate the
discussion. One way the Colum-
bus Lowndes Public Library is
doing that is by streaming on its
Facebook page “We Need to Talk,”
a previously-broadcast five-part
news segment on race in America,
presented by NBC News.
“Uncomfortable conversations
Courtesy photo
Youth Services Librarian Jayme Evans arranges selected books for a
Black History Month display at the Bryan Public Library in West Point. Even
though local libraries are unable to present their usual expanse of in-per-
son programming as in years past due to COVID-19 precautions, they are
taking some observances virtual to help encourage discussion about not
only black history, but about race relations in America.
are often the most meaningful con- livelihoods.” Busbea said.
versations,” reads the event flyer.
“There are people talking, but are ■■■
we hearing each other?”
The library aired the open- At Mississippi University for
ing segment Feb. 4; subsequent Women’s Fant Memorial Library,
segments are Feb. 11, 18, 25 and topics of diversity and inclusion
March 4, at 7:30 p.m. are not confined to
Less intense, the Columbus February.
facility is also posting a daily social “Black history
media slide that brings attention and the history of
to a different black individual most our university and
people have probably never heard our students is what
of, spotlighting his or her accom- we do all year, every
plishments. year,” said Professor
“Even if we can’t have our and Dean of Library Powers
normal programming we still Sciences Amanda
want to make sure we’re educating Powers. “We look forward to Feb-
our community and celebrating ruary because it gives us a chance
the month and the phenomenal to stop and dig even deeper into the
African-Americans that do not history of black students, staff and
get enough recognition for their faculty at The W.”
contributions to our world and See BLACK HISTORY MONTH, 8A

IN THE GARDEN WITH FELDER

MSU African
Tips from a prune-aholic horticulturist American Studies
I program hosts 28
got plant scientist I understand it doesn’t
clip-happy harm plants. Really. Like it or not.
on a sunny Just as I make up my bed every
day this
week, whack-
morning, and, in spite of having
shoulder-length gray hair, regularly
Days of Service
ing on shrubs
and trees to
get ready for
trim my beard into a neat goatee, I
exert control in my otherwise natu-
ralistic garden by tightly shearing
challenge
another sum- my one boxwood into a big green MSU OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
mer of flow- meatball. And a yaupon holly tree is

ers and fruit,
and rooting
some of the Felder Rushing
cuttings.
Lots of
folks prune willy-nilly whenever they
urge, and for the most part the plants
survive through the rejuvenative mar-
vels of plant physiology. Worst that
can happens is lost flowers or fruit.
Or neighbors talking.
But this old clip-happy prune-ahol-
ic loves to prune. And, in spite of
teaching the tree- and shrub-care
arboriculture class at MSU, I often
override my formal training to do
things that would give palpitations to
more staid horticulturists.
For example, I ignore self-appoint-
ed tastemakers who clutch their
pearls over how people prune crape
myrtles into “fists on sticks.” It’s
called pollarding, and I know, from
my travels in Japan and Europe, and
even the headquarters of the Amer-
ican Horticulture Society, that it is a
perfectly acceptable style. And as a
poodled into green balls atop long
bare trunks.
They bring order to an otherwise
chaotic scene. To keep new growth
tight I shear these two plants in the
late spring and again in late summer,
and neaten them up after growth has
stopped in the fall.
Lots of folks keep azaleas, spiraea
and even repeat-flowering gardenias
trimmed tightly, but there are a cou-
ple of tricks to keep them flowering
well. Spring flower buds are formed
in the late summer and fall, so other
than neatening a few wayward stems
in the autumn, it’s best to prune as
hard as you want in the late spring
or early summer — even down to a
couple of feet tall — and leave them
alone after July. Other plants that
need pruning only after they flower
and left alone past the end of include
blueberries, once-flowering roses and
berry-making nandinas, hollies and
pyracantha.
This is sorta true with hydran-
geas, figs, wisteria and muscadines
Felder Rushing/Courtesy photo
This poodled shrub provides some
quirky neatness in the garden.
as well. They flower on new growth,
with an unusual twist: If you prune
them really hard they will sprout
back out, but unless you leave stubs
of last year’s growth they won’t have
flowers or fruit. So the first thing I
do on those is remove really tall or
cluttered stems, then on what is left I
follow each branch from the tip ends
down to where it started growing last
spring, and leave stubs of that.
See FELDER, 8A
T
he African American Stud-
ies program at Mississippi
State University is sponsor-
ing a 28 Days of Service challenge
to enhance community engage-
ment and inspire students, faculty,
staff and others to participate in
service projects and assist commu-
nity organizations.
During Black History Month,
the AAS program is encouraging
participants to meet as many of the
following weekly goals as possible.
Participants are encouraged to
tag the African American Studies
program in social media posts doc-
umenting their community service.
Follow on Facebook @MSUAAS
and Instagram @msu_aas.
n Week 1 — Identify the needs
of your community; Get involved
with a service organization and
project in your community; Encour-
age friends to join you in service.
n Week 2 — Post a video about
what service means to you; Tag lo-
See CHALLENGE, 8A
8A SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Black History Month

Transitions: Continued from Page 7A
Throughout the month, Fant archivist Vic Jones students and activism on the MSU campus. On

Area Weddings, is sharing records and images from The W’s Beulah
Culbertson Archives and Special Collections via the
university’s social media accounts. In addition, the
designated dates, presentations on the impact of
black music, and on the history of black fashion are
also interspersed with a drive-in movie, a discussion

Engagements
library’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessi-
bility Committee (IDEA) is sponsoring its ongoing
book club, currently convening through Zoom. The
Black History Month selection is the graphic novel
on blacks in the military and an MSU TV keynote
address at 3 p.m. Feb. 24 by Kiese Laymon.
Search Black History Month events at MSU, or
call 662-325-2033.

and Anniversaries
adaptation of “Kindred,” by Octavia Butler and John
Jennings.
“The ‘Kindred’ discussion will be Feb. 24, and we
invite the community to read it with us,” Powers said.
“You can find out more at libguides.muw.edu/IDEA/
BookClub.”
Find more book recommendations focused on
Black History Month on all Fant Library social media
platforms.
■■■
More than 20 black history-related events — many
virtual, a few in-person and socially distanced — are
planned on Mississippi State University’s campus
this month, noted University Archivist Jessica Smith
of Mitchell Memorial Library. They explore the Afri-
can American experience, past and present, and urge
honest discussion about where society finds itself
now in this period of racial reckoning,
Thought-provoking sessions include a panel dis-
cussion with local law enforcement, a virtual day-long
black business expo and a virtual talk on teaching
black history and anti-racism post George Floyd.
“Nothing New Under the Sun” is an exhibit,
co-curated by Smith, examining the history of black
“Black History Month observances within the
Starkville-Oktibbeha County Library System are still
being finalized,” said Director Phillip Carter.’
■■■
The conversations have begun, with libraries
doing their part to educate their respective communi-
ties, provide a platform and inspire talking points.
Back at the Bryan Library display in West Point,
Evans assembled not only biographies on African
Americans and books on culture — music, movies,
folk stories, hair and food. She also focused on issues
within the African American community, includ-
ing police relations, mass incarcerations, systemic
racism.
“We wanted to showcase both the beauty of Afri-
can American history as well as further an educated
discussion on the issues the African American
community faces daily,” Evans said. “The library is
a temple of knowledge and a coliseum of entertain-
ment. The only way to keep up the majesty that is the
public library is by showcasing both the accomplish-
ments of people as well as continuing to discuss what
and how we can continue to understand and resolve
the issues that befall each and every one of us.”

Felder
Continued from Page 7A
Like pruning sum-
mer roses, crapes and
Nick Hodges and Gayla Reeves vitex, this is best done in
winter — late December
through mid-February;
trusting the plants to
the spring I wait to see As a bonus with ing is a timely practice;
what flowers, then “tip” winter-pruning my keep it floriferous and
prune new nonflowering roses and figs, I stick fruitful.
growth and suckers pencil-size or smaller Felder Rushing is
coming up from the cuttings into good a Mississippi author,
ground, so it will bush flowerbed soil between
columnist, and host of the

Hodges/Reeves
sprout farther down,
ignore buds near the tips
that are starting to swell.
On blueberries I re-
move the tall stuff right
after harvest, and in
Candice Wise of Washington, D.C. announces the
out instead of shooting pansies and violas, and
back up overhead. And, they root before beds “Gestalt Gardener” on
like azaleas and climb- need replanting with MPB Think Radio. Email
ing roses, no pruning summer flowers. gardening questions to
past the end of July or More than out of an rushingfelder@yahoo.
so. urge for neatness, prun- com.

Challenge
engagement her daughter, Gayla Jean Reeves, to Dr.
Nick Aaron Hodges, the son of Eddie and Robin Hodg-
es of Madison. The bride-elect is also the daughter of
the late Randoll Reeves. Continued from Page 7A
She is the granddaughter of Bonnie Logan Wise cal organizations in your Alexander, MSU AAS tor, at 662-325-0587 or MSU’s African Ameri-
and the late Gaylon Wise of Bartahatchie, Shirley community; Post a video public relations and mea190@msstate.edu. can Studies program at
Lockhart Reeves of Bartachatchie, and Ralph and about the importance of programming coordina- Learn more about msstate.edu.
Bobbi Reeves of Amory. service; Challenge
She is a graduate of Hamilton High School and local businesses to
received a Bachelor of Science degree in business donate to a cause in
administration from the University of Southern Missis- your community; Tag
sippi. local businesses that
She is currently employed as the BIM designer for are already giving
Arup Engineering in Washington, D.C. back.
The prospective groom is the grandson of John and n Week 3 — Share
Dorothy Hodges of Canton and Howard and Pauline community organi-
Raper of Arkansas. zations in your area;
He is a graduate of Madison High School and re- Inspire others to
ceived a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi serve and tag friends
State University and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree who are serving; Post
in biomedical engineering from Tulane University. a video about how
He is currently employed as the National Science serving has impacted
Foundation Scholar-in-Residence with the Federal you.
Drug Administration in Washington, D.C. n Week 4 — Sup-
The couple will exchange vows in November, in port local and/or
New Orleans, Louisiana. Black-owned busi-
nesses and tag them
on social media; Cre-
ate service projects

Chatham
Continued from Page 7A
the support of the City of
Starkville and the Greater
Starkville Development
Partnership, Oktibbeha
County, National Endow-
ment for the Arts, Missis-
sippi Arts Commission,
Visit Mississippi, Del Ren-
and initiatives.
For more informa-
tion on the 28 Days
of Service initiative,
don Foundation, 4-County contact Morgan
Electric Foundation,
SOAR, ATMOS Energy,
and various local busi-
nesses and individuals.
Additional information cdispatch.com
about SAAC can be found
at starkvillearts.org.
Sports
MISSISSIPPI STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021
B
SECTION

MSU ends road slate on a high note, taking down South Carolina
BY GARRICK HODGE
ghodge@cdispatch.com
An otherwise gruel-
ing four-game South-
eastern Conference
road slate ended on a
positive note for Missis-
sippi State Saturday.
After dropping the
first three road contests
to Alabama, Tennessee
and Arkansas, the Bull-
dogs salvaged the finale
of their long road trip,
taking down South Car-
olina 75-59 in Columbia,
S.C.
“Our backs were
against the wall,” MSU
forward D.J. Stewart
said. “We were hitting
rock bottom, so the only
way we could go is up.” olina’s offense the en-
Some big picture tire night, limiting the
questions remain, sure. Gamecocks to 31.1 per-
One game after commit- cent shooting from the
ting a season-high 26 floor and a whopping
turnovers, MSU (11-9, 5-of-25 beyond the arc
5-6 SEC) was still slop- while winning the re-
py with the ball, com- bounding battle 46 -30.
mitting 21 giveaways. “D.J. was phenomenal
But Stewart made the today,” MSU coach Ben
turnovers moot, set- Howland said. “You nev-
ting a new SEC-career er want to take him for
high with 29 points on granted.”
a 10 of 17 shooting per- After having to pause
formance that included all basketball activities
four 3-pointers. Stewart three times this season
was three points shy because of COVID-19
of matching his career safety protocols, South
high, which he notched Carolina (5-7, 3-5) had
in a 32-point effort finally got some consis-
against Dayton earlier tency going, playing six
this season. MSU also
South Carolina athletics
straight contests with- Mississippi State’s Derek Fountain scored a career-high nine points in 29 minutes
suffocated South Car- See MSU, 2B of action against South Carolina Saturday. The Bulldogs won 75-59.

New Hope ‘That’s My Cousin’

boys finish
undefeated
district run
Mississippi State softball’s Aquana Brownlee
with win over
Columbus
has special rooting interest in Super Bowl LV
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com

NEW HOPE — Ty
Crowell stood under the
basket, transfixed, wait-
ing for an answer.
The New Hope High
School junior already
knew he’d drawn a foul
on his third-quarter
layup attempt against
Columbus High School
on Friday, but he and
his teammates stood
and watched as the bas-
ketball circumnavigat-
ed the rim again and
again.
When it finally
dropped, after an inter-
minable pause, the Tro-
jans’ side of the bleach-
ers leapt to life. Crowell
directed his fingers at
the ground in a “count
it” motion. Head coach
Drew McBrayer even
snuck in a fist-pump.
New Hope had wait-
See BASKETBALL, 3B

Braves
bring back
Ozuna on
$65 million,
4-year deal
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA — Mar-
cell Ozuna is return-
ing to Atlanta, with or
without the designated
hitter.
The Braves re-
claimed Ozuna’s power
bat for the middle of
their lineup on Friday
night by signing the
slugger to a $65 million,
four-year contract.
The Braves an-
nounced the deal for the
2020 National League
home run and RBI
leader less than two
weeks before pitchers
and catchers are set to
report for spring train-
ing. The deal includes
a fifth-year club option
for $16 million with a $1
million buyout.
The Braves made the
major commitment to
Ozuna despite having
no assurance there will
be a DH in the NL in
2021. He flourished in
the role in 2020, help-
ing the Braves win the
NL East and come with-
See BRAVES, 3B
Mississippi State sophomore infielder Aquana Brownlee is related to Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones through her half-siblings.
Brownlee will be cheering on Jones and the Chiefs again in Sunday’s Super Bowl LV.
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
Normally, when Aquana
Brownlee tells somebody
she’s from Houston, they as-
sume she means Houston,
Texas.
It’s a fair assumption: the
Lone Star State’s Houston,
the fourth-largest city in the
country, is home to nearly
2.15 million people.
Brownlee’s hometown of
Houston, Mississippi, is a fair
bit smaller, ranking as the
86th-biggest city in the state.
Its population? Just 3,371.
Oh, and one Lombardi Tro-
phy.
That belongs to Kansas
City Chiefs star defensive
tackle Chris Jones, Brown-
lee’s cousin, who won Super
Bowl LIV last February while
Brownlee watched with ex-
citement in her dorm. And on
Sunday, the Mississippi State
sophomore softball player will
be watching as Jones vies to
bring home another trophy for
their shared hometown.
Houston through and
through
Technically, Brownlee and
Jones aren’t blood related. But
that’s never mattered.
The two forged a connec-
tion through Brownlee’s fa-
ther A.Q., whose first wife was
a first cousin of Jones’ mother,
Mary Woodhouse. With both
families growing up around
each other, it was automati-
cally “What’s up, cousin?” be-
tween Brownlee and Jones.
“We’ve always claimed
each other,” she said.
Houston has
claimed Jones, too, even
always
though his family moved 45
minutes northeast to Nettle-
ton for a few years when he
was young. That, Brownlee
said, engendered some small-
town jealousy when Jones be-
gan to succeed in the NFL.
Brownlee recalled Nettle-
tonites’ rejoinder to Houston’s
claim to fame: “He’s really
from Nettleton. Houston’s just
taking all the credit.”
But Jones is Houston
through and through, star-
ring in basketball as well as
football with the Hilltoppers
of the city’s lone high school.
Brownlee remembers
those basketball games where
Jones’ family section was as
large as his legend in the town
had become.
“He was putting on a show,”
she said. “He was a big man
dunking.”
Once, A.Q. gave Jones a
ride from football practice to
Jones’ and his grandmother’s
house on Church Street. As
soon as Jones got in, he imme-
diately started cracking jokes,
getting Brownlee and her fa-
ther howling.
“He’s going to laugh,”
Brownlee said of Jones. “He
doesn’t care what you do.”
Keeping it going
As Jones’ reputation with-
in Houston got bigger and
bigger, so did his national
recruiting profile. Brownlee
said seeing coaches flock to
the small city to see her cous-
in was actually her introduc-
tion to the whole operation.
“Before I even knew any-
thing about the recruiting
process, I was hearing, ‘Yeah,
there’s a coach here to watch
Chris today,’” she said.
Mississippi State’s Dan
Mullen was one of the coach-
es who often made the drive
up Highway 389. Eventually,
Jones — by then a five-star
recruit — picked the Bulldogs
over in-state rival Ole Miss.
He wasn’t the first person
from Brownlee’s hometown
to attend MSU, either. An-
other cousin, Brittany Gates,
played softball for the Bull-
dogs from 2009-12. So many
of Brownlee’s family mem-
bers and schoolmates headed
Austin Perryman/Mississippi State Athletics
to Starkville that it was almost
too much.
“There was a point in time
that I didn’t want to go here
just because a lot of people
from Houston who finally
made it came to Mississippi
State,” Brownlee said. “I just
wanted to go to a different
school so they wouldn’t be
like, ‘They all go to Mississip-
pi State.”
Denver McQuary, a base-
ball player who Brownlee re-
membered as being as bois-
terous as Jones could be, went
from Hilltopper to Bulldog be-
fore transferring to West Tex-
as A&M. Current Mississippi
State catcher Luke Hancock
also calls Houston home.
“He was always the quiet
kid,” Brownlee said of Han-
cock. “I was never the quiet
kid.”
In high school, Brownlee
was friends with stalwart of-
fensive lineman Calvin Mc-
Millian. Together, they took
part in small-town staples:
hanging out at the car wash,
congregating at the Piggly
Wiggly.
Now, both are Bulldogs.
MSU was one of the first
schools to bring Brownlee on
campus for a recruiting visit
after watching her play travel
See BROWNLEE, 3B
2B SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021
Storylines galore as Brady, Mahomes command Super Bowl stage
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Someone will make
history Sunday in a Super
Bowl so filled with sto-
rylines it would fill a sea-
son of TV programming.
Tom Brady, already
the true Game of Thrones
king, going for a seventh
ring. Patrick Mahomes,
the apparent heir to the
quarterbacking summit,
seeking a second in a
row with Kansas City —
something no team has
done since Brady led New
England to the double in
the 2003 and ’04 seasons.
Brady, 43 is in his 10th
NFL title game, but with
a new outfit, the Bucca-
neers — who happen to
call Tampa home. Yes,
Tampa, Florida, where
the Super Bowl is being
played this year. Pirates
of the Caribbean make
port: No host team has
ever played in the big one
in its home stadium.
“There’s a lot that
comes along with the Su-
per Bowl,” says Rob Gron-
kowski, the three-time
champion tight end who
came out of retirement
to reunite with Brady.
“There’s a lot that comes
along with this week. I’ve
MSU
Continued from Page 1B
out interruption. Never-
theless, the Gamecocks
have played eight less
games than MSU.
After opening a scoreless for a stretch
12-point lead in the
closing minutes of the
first half, MSU allowed
the Gamecocks to close
the half on a 6 -0 run en
route to taking a 36 -30
lead into halftime. The
Bulldogs held South
Carolina to 29 percent
shooting in the period,
but turned the ball over
13 times.
Midway through the
second half, the Bull-
dogs took firm control
Vols capture district title
BY DISPATCH STAFF
Starkville Academy
notched a district champi-
onship Saturday evening,
taking down Leake Acad-
emy 56-40 in the MAIS
Class 4A, District 2 (2-4A)
tournament final at Win-
ston Academy.
Randall Futral had 12
points, while Jawon Yar-
brough and Jarius Jordan
chipped in 10.
Starkville Academy will
play at 4A North State at
Pillow Academy next week.
Other scores
Prep Girls Basketball
Central Holmes Christian
77, Oak Hill Academy 68
In the MAIS Class 3A,
District 2 (2-3A) tourna-
ment final, Oak Hill Acade-
my came up just short, fall-
ing 77-68. Carley Wooten
and Morgan Dabbs led Oak
Hill with 15 points, while
Mary Beth Briggs chipped
been there before. I’ve
experienced it all before.
But just having it at home,
cutting out the travel,
knowing where you can
stay, where your friends
can stay, where you fam-
ily can stay, it just makes
it a lot easier to have it at
your home stadium, big
time.”
Add in two sixty-some-
thing head coaches, Kan-
sas City’s Andy Reid and
Tampa Bay’s Bruce Ari-
ans, both offensive mas-
terminds as comfortable
with today’s high-scor-
ing, creative NFL attacks
as all those kid coaches
who are all the rage.
“There’s nobody that
would ever say a bad thing
about B.A., he’s just so en-
dearing to everybody and
I think everyone wants
to win for him,” Brady
says of Arians, the kind
of praise the quarterback
rarely used about his pre-
vious head coach.
“He’s got almost like a
father figure kind of role
in the building and it’s be-
cause everyone loves him
so much,” Chiefs unan-
imous All-Pro tight end
Travis Kelce says of Reid.
“He’s got an unbelievable
with a 14-0 run that ex-
tended their lead to 64-
49. The MSU defense
held South Carolina
that lasted about 6 min-
utes.
“Our defense has
been very consistent
over the last five games.
We’re playing as good
of defense as we’ve
played since I’ve been
the coach at Mississippi
State,” Howland said.
Iverson Molinar was
the other Bulldog in
double figures, scoring
16 points on a 5 of 11
shooting effort. For the
in 14, Dovie Suggs scored
12 and Raylee Craven
notched 10 points.
Oak Hill will begin play
in the Class 3A north state
tournament next week at
Kirk Academy.
Columbus 52, West Point
36
The Columbus High
girls basketball team took
down West Point 52-36 Sat-
urday afternoon. Makayla
Rieves and Charity Yeates
each had 16 points and
eight rebounds apiece for
the Falcons. Columbus will
play the Green Wave again
in the MHSAA Class 5A,
Region 2 tournament semi-
final at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
East Rankin Academy
38, Starkville Academy 31,
MAIS Class 4A, District 2
(2-4A) third-place game.
West Lowndes 59, Noxa-
pater 33, Friday
Prep Boys Basketball
Heritage Academy 69,
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
way of getting the best
out of everybody that is
relating to all different
aspects and all different
forms of life.”
Don’t forget the de-
fenses, which could easily
be ignored with all the dy-
namism on both offenses.
Tampa has probably the
best set of linebackers in
the NFL with Shaq Bar-
rett, Lavonte David and
Devin White, studs up
front in Ndamukong Suh
and Jason Pierre-Paul,
and an ever-improving
secondary.
KC has All-Pro safety
Tyrann Mathieu, linemen
Frank Clark and Chris
Jones — and a coordina-
tor, Steve Spagnuolo, who
doesn’t back off.
“I’ve played for a lot of
coaches in high school
and college,” Clark notes,
“and I’m not saying they
were bad, but I’m not say-
ing their intentions were
to bring out the best in
players. I can say that for
sure with coach Spags.
His intentions are not
negative or anything like
that. His intentions are
solely to have the best de-
fense on that field.”
All of this at the end of
second straight contest,
freshman forward Der-
ek Fountain found him-
self playing an extended
stretch of meaningful
minutes. Fountain had a
career-high nine points
on four shots in 29 min-
utes of action.
“I’m just thankful
coach gave me an oppor-
tunity,” Fountain said.
“I’m trying to take ad-
vantage of it.”
MSU is back in action
at 8 p.m. against LSU at
Humphrey Coliseum.
DAWG NOTES: A
small skirmish between
both team’s benches
Lamar School 56
In the 2-4A third-place
game at Winston Academy,
Heritage Academy defeated
Lamar School 69-56. Trey
Naugher led the Patriots
with 18 points, while Jack
Ketchum chipped in 15.
West Lowndes 99, Noxa-
pater 58, Friday
NOXAPATER — Dar-
rell Brooks scored 31 points
as the West Lowndes boys
beat Noxapater 99-58 in Fri-
day’s road game.
Brooks added seven re-
bounds and six steals for
the Panthers. Fred Rice
Jr. had 22 points and nine
rebounds, Jaylon Sherrod
had eight points, five steals
and three assists, and Josh
Franklin had seven points,
three rebounds and a whop-
ping 10 steals.
The Panthers will play
Nanih Waiya on Monday in
the first round of the Region
1-5A tournament
Carroll Academy 51, Oak
Hill Academy 42
a season played during hand for some games. get back on the field and
a pandemic, yet not de- Their paths to the write the final chapter to
layed, with no games championship game have an unfathomably atypical
canceled, and each of the been divergent, though. season.
Super Bowl participants The Bucs (14-5) finished “You don’t get these
experiencing relatively second in the NFC South
opportunities every year
few COVID-19 setbacks. to the Saints, sending in the NFL to be in the
“I think with the pan- them on the wild-card
Super Bowl and to be in
demic and the sacrifices route. That meant trips
these games,” Mahomes
they have all made for to Washington, New Or-
leans and Green Bay. And says, thought it sure
each other, they go to
work and go home,” Ari- now, staying home. seems as if Brady has a
ans says. “They don’t get The Chiefs (16-2) had Super Bowl habit, and
to sit and eat together, the top seed and lone bye Mahomes is developing
in the AFC, then outlasted one. “So you don’t want
don’t get to have conver-
Cleveland with Mahomes to look back and have re-
sations, it is amazing to
sidelined for nearly half grets on how you played
me how close they are. It
the game before routing
is the commitment they or how you went about the
Buffalo.
made to each other to week before preparing to
Of course, with the
beat the virus.” go out there to play your
The NFL and Florida week off between the best football.
health officials have ap- conference title matches “When the end of your
proved about 22,000 fans and the Super Bowl, each
career is done, then you
and all will be required side should be well rest-
can kind of look and see
to wear masks. Raymond ed. The only perceivable
where those moments
James Stadium normally edge might be the Chiefs
were in your career
has a capacity of 75,000 needing a plane ride to
where you could’ve had
fans. the game site while the
something or that you ex-
Playing before real Bucs could drive over to
people rather than just RJS. ecuted and you did go out
cardboard cutouts — oh, By Sunday, they will there and achieve your
there will be plenty of be as eager as possible to dreams.”
those, too, with proceeds
donated to local chari-
ties — has been rare in
the NFL all season. But
both the Chiefs and Buc-
caneers were among the
few teams to have fans on
broke out pregame, but
MSU freshman Keon-
dre Montgomery was
charged with a techni-
cal foul for throwing a
basketball at a South
Carolina player. “What
happened was, we were
getting ready to come
over to the bench, and
one of their players
walked into the huddle
of our players,” How-
land explained post-
game. “Our freshman
made a critical error by
throwing the ball at him,
which was not smart and
not something we con-
done.”
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 3B

Braves
Continued from Page 1B

in one win of advancing
to the World Series.
The Braves lost to the
Los Angeles Dodgers in
Game 7 of the NL Cham-
pionship Series after
leading the series 3-1.
Ozuna’s value to the
team, in the clubhouse
and as lineup protection
for 2020 NL MVP Fred-
die Freeman, was cru-
cial to the team’s hopes
of winning a fourth
straight NL East title
and making another run
for the World Series.
Ozuna, who has
played with three teams
over the past four sea-
sons, said he was glad to
settle down in Atlanta.
“Since I was a kid I
would dream about this
day,” he wrote on his In-
stagram account. “The
day that I could call a
place home. Through
ups and downs I’ve
maintained my faith in
this moment. Today I
can officially say I’M
BACK!!”
The deal drew im-
mediate approval from
Freeman, who posted
on his Twitter account
“love this!! Let’s go!”
The 30 -year-old Ozu-
na signed an $18 mil-
lion, one-year free agent
deal with Atlanta last
year, and then put to-
gether his best offensive
season during the pan-
demic-shortened cam-
paign. He batted .338
with 18 homers and 56
RBIs, narrowly missing
out on a Triple Crown.
He started all 60 games,
posting a career-best
1.067 OPS and finishing
sixth in NL MVP voting.
“It’s a year we won’t
ever forget but now it’s
all about 162!” Ozua
wrote. “It’s about Win-
ning!!”
Ozuna invigorated
the Braves with his var-
ious celebrations, which
included the “mix it up”
twirling of his hands
after big hits and tak-
ing a “selfie” of himself
rounding the bases af-
ter a homer in the NL
wild card series.
“My power came
because I’m healthy,”
he said after the sea-
son. “I just came ready
and give my best to my
teammates and let’s go
play.”
Ozuna was respected
and liked by teammates,
including Ronald Acuña
Jr. and Ozzie Albies.
“I’m a guy that’s got
a couple years in the big
leagues and they give
much respect to me and
I give respect to them,”
Ozuna said. “We have
respect together. We
have success. It’s not
because they are Latin
guys. It’s because they
are my teammates.”
Ozuna would open
the season as Atlanta’s
projected starter in left
field if the DH is not re-
instated.
The NL adopted the
DH last year as part of
baseball’s health and
safety protocols for play-
ing through the pandem-
ic. Ozuna made 39 starts
as Atlanta’s primary DH.
Major League Base-
ball proposed renewing
the universal DH in talks
with the players associa-
tion last week, but the
union rejected the pro-
posal, which also would
have delayed the start of
the regular season and
expanded the postsea-
son field. It’s still pos-
sible the sides agree to
restore the DH this year,
or during negotiations
for a new collective bar-
gaining agreement after
this season.

Brownlee
Continued from Page 1B
ball for the Mississippi
Bombers and Alabama
Sparks. After a bit of
maturation, she realized
her family had done well
at Mississippi State and
that she could continue
that legacy.
“I want to come here
and keep that going,”
she told herself.
‘That’s my cousin!’
When the Chiefs se-
lected Jones with the
37th pick of the 2016
NFL draft, Brownlee
got emotional as Jones
hugged his parents on
his way up to the stage.
“I kind of felt how
he felt,” Brownlee said.
“He finally made it from
Houston, Mississippi.”
Brownlee, compet-
ing for a starting spot at
second base for the Bull-
dogs, feels like she’s
made it, too. While that
feels good, she said, it’s
almost expected with
some people.
So maybe it was no
surprise when Jones
and the Chiefs finally
broke through last sea-
son, reaching the Super
Bowl in Miami against
the San Francisco
49ers.
Brownlee watched
the game from the ath-
letic dorm, Deavenport
Hall, elated as her cous-
in represented their
hometown.
“I was just so hap-
py that someone from
Houston that I was relat-
ed to was in it,” she said.
“In the dorm the whole
time, I was like, ‘That’s
my cousin! There he go!
There he go!”
“Y’all see them
talking about him,” she
added to her friends,
referencing the FOX
broadcast. “They talk
about him more than
the quarterback. That’s
Houston for you.”
After the win, Brown-
lee made a congratu-
latory Facebook post
about Jones’ role in the
and shared posts about
the game on Instagram.
She didn’t reach out to
her cousin, though, fig-
uring she’d spare him
another message on a
day full of them.
“His inbox is proba-
bly blowing up,” Brown-
lee told herself. “He’s
not even going to recog-
nize my name.”
Jones has even made
Chiefs fans of Housto-
nians who professed
loyalty to another team,
including Brownlee.
She’s never been to an
NFL game but wants to
watch Kansas City play
— unless Drew Brees is
still under center for the
Saints, she said.
Her father, A.Q., who
played football at Mur-
ray State, is a devoted
Steelers fan — unless
the Chiefs are on.
“Anytime Chris is
playing, he’s going for
Chris’ team,” Brownlee
said.
That includes Sun-
day, as Jones and Kan-
sas City put Houston,
Mississippi, on the map
once more.
“It’s great to have a
guy like Chris to repre-
sent the town,” Brown-
lee said.

Basketball
Continued from Page 1B
ed long enough.
It took the Trojans a
while to get going, just
like it took Crowell’s
shot several seconds to
fall through the net, but
both seemed to happen
at just about the same
time for New Hope in a
54-40 home win over Co-
lumbus on Friday.
“I felt like that was
kind of the one that
sealed it for us,” Mc-
Brayer said. “To hear
the gym come alive, it’s
great for the kids.”
The Trojans (17-2,
6 -0 MHSA A Class 5A,
Region 2) pulled away
from the Falcons (9-7,
3-3) in the third quarter,
fueled by balanced scor-
ing and a stalwart defen-
sive effort. New Hope
held Columbus to just 14
points in the second half
and kept the Falcons
scoreless for nearly the
length of an entire quar-
ter to earn the win.
“I thought we did a
much better job in the
second half of taking
the easy stuff away from
them,” McBrayer said.
Meanwhile, an equi-
table effort on offense
helped the Trojans ex-
tend their lead after go-
ing into the half ahead
29-26. Sophomore LJ
Hackman had 13 points,
junior Caleb Parr had
12, and Crowell had 11.
“That’s what makes
good teams,” Parr said.
“When I’m not having a
good night or they’re not
having a good night, we
pick each other up.”
Parr carried the
weight on the defensive
glass, limiting second-
and third-chance points
for the Falcons, as he
helped New Hope gain
a “competitive edge”
against its crosstown
rival by sweeping Co-
lumbus for the second
straight regular season.
“We struggled of-
fensively in the second
half — couldn’t really
make shots, gave up
a lot of offensive re-
bounds,” Falcons coach
Phillip Morris said. “I
told them those types of
things show who wanted
it more at the end of the
day.”
That proved to be
New Hope, which took
off on a 12-0 run begin-
ning midway through
the third quarter to go
up by 14 points. The Tro-
jans fought their way in-
side for layups and open
jumpers rather than
settling for contested
3-pointers, and their ag-
gression paid off.
“We came out push-
ing the ball, everybody
swinging, everything
just good,” said Hack-
man, who scored six of
his points in the third
quarter.
Columbus, mean-
while, didn’t score again
until just more than
three minutes remained
in the game. The Fal-
cons’ first bucket made
it 48-36, and Columbus
only scored twice more
before the final horn.
“We just couldn’t get
the ball in the basket
for a certain point in
the game,” Morris said.
“When it gets like that,
it’s just hard on you.”
Columbus will take
on Grenada in the Re-
gion 2-5A tournament,
which the Falcons will
host, at 6:15 p.m. Mon-
day. The Falcons and
Chargers split their two
matchups this season.
New Hope, the dis-
trict’s top seed, will
face fourth-seeded West
Point at 4 p.m. Monday.
While the Trojans fin-
ished their regular sea-
son with a 17-2 record,
it’s no longer relevant,
McBrayer said.
“Guess what? Your re-
cord’s 0 -0 now,” he told
his players in the locker
room after Friday’s win.
“All that matters is next
week and next game.”
Columbus girls 33,
New Hope 22
Columbus coach
Yvonne Hairston didn’t
miss a beat when an
errant pass from point
guard DJ Jackson sailed
right to her spot on the
sideline during the third
quarter.
Hairston neatly
snagged the basketball
and tossed it behind her
back to an official on the
baseline in one fluid mo-
tion.
Perhaps it was a sign
that Hairston and the
Falcons are finally find-
ing a lasting rhythm.
Columbus played
its second game in as
many nights since re-
turning from its second
COVID-19 quarantine
period of the season, but
the defending MHSA A
Class 5A champions
were good enough to put
up a 33-22 win over New
Hope on Friday.
“They’re just resil-
ient,” Hairston said.
“They just keep pushing
— just figuring out a way
to win the ballgame.”
Friday night, that
was through standout
defense as neither team
could score with ease.
Myra King had all eight
of her points in the first
half as the Falcons led
22-10 at the break, and
Makayla Rieves had a
double-double with a
team-high 11 points and
10 rebounds.
“We knew it was go-
ing to be difficult, but
we just felt like if we kept
pounding, kept pound-
ing, then we would win
the ballgame,” Hairston
said.
The Falcons, who
last played Jan. 15 be-
fore the pause, brought
back some of their play-
ers on Monday. The rest
returned to practice on
Thursday, just hours be-
fore a rescheduled home
game against Grenada
— a 62-33 Columbus
win.
And though the Fal-
cons allowed fewer
points to the Trojans
than they did the Char-
gers, Hairston said her
team’s defense wasn’t
quite as sound Friday.
“Last night, we
moved effectively on
defense,” Hairston said.
“Tonight, our legs were
a little tired.”
New Hope coach
Nick Christy said his
team helped the Falcons
out by taking too many
difficult shots and miss-
ing the ones that should
have been easy.
“We got looks,” he
said. “We didn’t hit
them.”
Christy praised his
team’s defensive ef-
fort against Columbus,
something he thinks
will serve New Hope
well in its district tour-
nament opener at 6:15
p.m. Tuesday against
Grenada. Although the
Trojans and Chargers
split their two matchups
this year, New Hope beat
Grenada in last year’s
district semifinal on the
Chargers’ home court,
and Christy hopes
things will be similar on
a neutral floor at Colum-
bus High.
The Falcons will host
West Point, whom they
saw Saturday morning
in one final resched-
uled game, in the other
semifinal at 4 p.m. Tues-
day. Hairston said her
team is tired but ready
to make another playoff
push.
“We’ve just got to try
to finish this thing up,”
she said.

Dear Abby

D
EAR ABBY: I have a friend
of 20-plus years I’ll call
“Gladys.” We enjoy walking
our dogs and talking about
relationship issues. Sometimes
it’s just me counseling her. She
often regales me about these
wonderful times she has —
get-togethers with her other
friends that I’m not invited to.
She loves going into detail about
how wonderful her excursions
are, etc. I have always made
excuses to myself about it — I’m
more boring and straight-laced
than her other friends, not as
rich, not as smart. (It’s true. I
don’t party much. I’m a total
lightweight.)
Also, I’m one of her only friends who hasn’t centered on herself and insensitive about how
met her boyfriend of more than a year, and
believe me, she has confided in me about their
relationship the whole time. I
have been concocting in my mind
a way to address this with her
without driving a wedge. (She can
be very sensitive and defensive.)
My boyfriend doesn’t like how she
treats me, but she’s never been
anything but kind and sweet with
me, generally. She just doesn’t in-
clude me in her social circle. What
is your take on this? — STRANGE
FRIENDSHIP IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR STRANGE FRIENDSHIP:
My “take” is that over the last
20 years you have fulfilled one
particular function in Gladys’ life,
Dear Abby being her therapist and dog-walk-
ing chum. Period. Your boyfriend
has a point. She appears to be
her confidences have made you feel. In my
opinion, what she has been doing isn’t kind
and sweet; it is clueless. Ask Gladys (and her
boyfriend) to go out for a social activity. It’s
worth a try. If you really want to know why you
have never been included in her social circle,
I don’t think it would be rude to ask why — IF
you are prepared for the answer. It’s a fair
question.
DEAR ABBY: My grandson-in-law seems to
have no motivation to take advantage of his VA
benefits after just having completed his mili-
tary service and not having been trained to do
anything in civilian life. He’s married and has a
toddler. They have moved in with his parents,
who babysit the child while his wife works. He
wastes every day and doesn’t seem to want to
find a job or get training (paid for by the VA).
My granddaughter is frustrated and at her
wits’ end. We have offered suggestions and
sent emails for virtual job fairs for veterans,
but he doesn’t seem interested enough to
apply for anything or follow up on the one or
two interviews he has had. She has even filled
out job applications for him. What can we do to
encourage her or him? Frankly, I feel like she
would be much better off leaving him. Any sug-
gestions? — GRANDDAD-IN-LAW IN FLORIDA
DEAR GRANDDAD: Your granddaughter’s
husband appears to need more help than
being steered toward job fairs. He may need
to be medically and mentally evaluated. Could
he suffer from PTSD, drug addiction or an
undiagnosed mental illness? And what do his
parents have to say about this? Once your
granddaughter knows what she is dealing with,
she will have a better idea of what to do about
it. Right now the most helpful thing you could
do is discuss with her what I have written and
provide emotional support until she has some
answers.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren,
also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded
by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear
Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440,
Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 7). You’re a
shooting star in the shape of a person. The
massive energy that propels you is a reactive
process having to do with timing, chemistry
and a lack of environmental resistance. You’ll
land in a new place, and then the real work
begins, putting together feel-good routines and
establishing your role in the territory. Libra and
Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
5, 21, 33, 38 and 40.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Because there
is only one of you in all time, you were born with
the responsibility of bringing that precious rarity
to task, contributing the gem of your you-ness
as purely as you can.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). As the investor
of your time and money, you’ll put it all into
goodness, and in this, you cannot go wrong.
Whether it pays dividends or it’s a sunk cost,
you’re fortified. Right is might.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It’s not the
fight that defines you; it’s your grace in the
fight and, hopefully, your perseverance. Do not
personalize the ups and downs. Events are not
your identity. How you teach yourself to react is
closer to who you really are.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Systems
matter more than goals. Most goals can’t be
accomplished without them. And yet it’s pretty
pointless to figure out a system that has no
goal. The goal and the system need each other,
so don’t set one without the other.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). If you think you’re
happy, you probably are. If you think you’re rich,
you definitely are. If you think you’re in love —
also a no-brainer. But if you think you’re wise,
get humble (the wise always are).
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The action that
is most involving, satisfying and fruitful is that
which is in the service of others and on their
behalf. You’ll be most successful when you
remind yourself of this several times a day.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). At times, you
have been resistant to feedback for various
reasons: you didn’t trust the source to have
the knowledge you needed, their style was
mismatched to your receptivity, etc. That’s
changed. Today’s feedback is golden.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Here comes
the uncanny feeling that you’ve attracted the
same person with a new face. You could be
right. There’s an anchor that keeps pulling you
back to the dynamic. There’s a chain to be
broken.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Even the
most beautiful dream can look uninspiring in
dreary weather. Take a breath. Put on the happy
music, and deal with the day-to-day while the
sun burns off these low clouds.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There are
three simple rules to follow that will keep you in
good energy. 1). No complaining, only figuring it
out. 2). No fighting reality. Accept what is and
go from there. 3). Lighten up. Lighter things
rise.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Events that
call up your inner fire are not the sort you’re
keen to welcome, and yet they are very much
the sort you look back on and thank your lucky
stars it happened to you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Looking back
at the “bad old days,” you’ll take particular
notice of the remarkable hero of the story who
carried you out of danger and pushed you into
new circumstances. That hero was you, and it
won’t be the last time.
Classifieds
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 n 4B

Apts For Rent: West Houses For Rent: North Houses For Sale: Other

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

Rentals
bath townhouses. $650 to
Call us: 662-328-2424 Call us: 662-328-2424 $750. 662−549−9555.
Ask for Glenn or text.
Legal Notices General Help Wanted Apartments & Houses
Mobile Homes for Rent
NOTICE OF STORAGE
CONTENTS SALE
THE COMMERCIAL
DISPATCH seeks a motiv-
1 Bedrooms
2 Bedroooms
3BR/2BA MH in New Hope.
ated, contracted carrier for $650 dep + $650/mo.
THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUAL IS
IN DEFAULT OF PAYMENT ON
THEIR STORAGE AT MCCON-
the Caledonia area. Excel-
lent opportunity to earn 3 Bedrooms No pets, quiet area. Leave
voicemail with full name &
NELL BROTHERS TRANSFER money for college. Must Furnished & Unfurnished message, 205−712−6697.
AND STORAGE, 2406 HWY 69 have good transportation,
SOUTH, COLUMBUS, MS
39702. THE CONTENTS OF
valid driver's license & in-
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THIS STORAGE WILL BE AUC- Sunday morning and Mon- Lease, Deposit CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
TIONED ON 2/18/21 AT 10:00
& Credit Check
Fri afternoons. Apply at The Utilities & cable included,
A.M. from $145/wk − $535/mo
Commercial Dispatch, 516
James Henley – Unit 18 Main Street in Columbus. viceinvestments.com Columbus & County School

327-8555
locations. 662−242−3803
No phone calls please. or 601−940−1397.
Fred Hughes – Unit 15

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Apts For Rent: North

2−3BR/1BA DUPLEX,
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COLEMAN
RENTALS Houses For Sale: New Hope
for goods
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TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS

1 BEDROOM Storage House converted

into a small house.
2 BEDROOMS Plumbing and Electrical
3 BEDROOMS already installed.
Small kitchenette and
bathroom. $6,000.
LEASE,
© The Dispatch

678−368−0631
DEPOSIT
AND
CREDIT CHECK
Lots & Acreage

1.75 ACRE LOTS: Good/

Find it in the
662-329-2323
Bad Credit Options. Good
credit as low as 20% down,
$499/mo. Eaton Land, classifieds!
2411 HWY 45 N 662−361−7711.

COLUMBUS, MS

Government
Find the perfect home.
Service Directory
Promote your small business starting at only $25
General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping Sitting With The Sick / Elderly

A & T TREE SERVICES

Bucket truck & stump
removal. Free est.
Serving Columbus
since 1987. Senior
citizen disc. Call Alvin @
242−0324/241−4447
"We’ll go out on a limb for
you!"
BANKRUPTCY JESSE & BEVERLY’S
LAWN SERVICE
I am a Caregiver for the
elderly seeking a daytime
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$545 plus Filing Fee Bush Hogging offered. Call or leave msg,
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CHAPTER 13
BANKRUPTCY Painting & Papering
All Attorney Fees Through The Plan

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Local delivery, 14 yd truck.
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HANDYMAN−CERTIFIED IN
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All credit cards accepted.
Payment plans. Will trade
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Jim Arnold, Attorney QUALITY PAINTING
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Please visit our website: Free Estimates. Ask for
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SULLIVAN’S PAINT Grow your
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service directory.
Interior & Exterior Painting.
Advertise here! 662−435−6528
Automotive Services

NEWELL’S PLUMBING &

HANDYMAN SERVICE
Licensed with over 20 yrs
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 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 5B

Houses For Sale: Other Lots & Acreage

NEW HOPE AREA:

+/− 1 acre. Open land with ON THE WEB
water & electricity nearby.
$17,900. Call or text, Visit www.cdispatch.com
662−435−0401.
for a printable copy of
these puzzles.
Merchandise
Ads starting at $12
Burial Plots

4 PLOTS @ FRIENDSHIP
CEMETERY: Lot #78,
grave spaces 1, 2, 3 & 4.
Will sell separately.
Call for more info,
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Sporting Goods

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3 Los Angeles

4 “The Knick”

5 Iron Dome
Auctions

ACROSS
1 List of candi-
dates
6 Seaport setting
11 Spiral shape
12 Egypt’s Sadat
13 Cove
14 Zigzag
15 “Sure thing!”
17 Tab, for one
18 Make mis-
takes
19 Close-fitting
jackets
22 Old auto
23 Houston team
24 Skating figure
DOWN 25 Go carousing
25 Malay island
1 Black eye 26 Punctual
27 Airport
2 Poe’s love 27 Autocrat
screening org.
3 Top NFL player 28 Sofa’s kin
30 Ballpark
4 Layer 29 Evaluate
figure
5 Blackmailing 30 Ship staffs
31 “You betcha!”
6 Cornfield cry 34 Verdi piece
32 Gallery fill
7 Common bill 36 Stock holder
33 Kicks off
8 Come to 37 Canine
35 Fleet makeup
9 Frugal folks command
38 Furious
10 Low cards
39 Marisa of “My
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Cousin Vinny”
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40 Low cards in
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41 Used up
24 Memorable
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One call will bring you results. 662-328-2424

6B SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Religion
Stop putting off until tomorrow and do it today
E
very day we we realize it, weeks, Instead, we should give readily us from being lazy and pushing but one thing I do, forgetting
see things months, and even and at once, and not make any things to another day. “Take a those things which are behind
that we need years have passed excuses or delays. “Do not lesson from the ants, you lazy- and reaching forward to those
to do, but we keep us by, and we still say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and bones. Learn from their ways things which are ahead.” (Phi-
putting them off haven’t complet- come back, and tomorrow I will and become wise!” (Proverbs lippians 4:13) NKJV
until tomorrow. Let ed the project we give it,’ when you have it with 6:6) NLT So be encouraged today and
us start today by started. When this you.” (Proverbs 3:28) NKJV A lot of us are still holding
doing the things we always remember: “Don’t put
happens to us, we Oftentimes we put things on to the hurts and disappoint-
need to do because it off; do it now! Don’t rest until
have to stop putting that we don’t want to deal ments from our past. However,
tomorrow is not you do.” (Proverbs 6:4) NLT
things off until to- with off for another day. It we have to stop putting off
promised to any of Minister Sherry Ivy is a
Sherry Ivy morrow and put our could be emails we don’t want until tomorrow and put these
us. “Do not boast Minister of The New Providence
faith to work today.” to send, calls we don’t want to things behind us today. What’s
about tomorrow, Even so faith, if it hath not make or cleaning that needs done in our past, we can’t go M. B. Church (Healing & Yoke
for you do not know what a day works, is dead, being alone.” to be done. The longer we put back and change it. So let us Destroying Ministry) in Macon
may bring forth.” (Proverbs (James 2:17) KJV things off, the more they will accept it, learn from it and Mississippi, under the lead-
27:1) NKJV If someone in need comes accumulate. That’s why we let it go. Once we do this, we ership of her husband, Pastor
Some of us have a habit of up to us and asks for help, we should stop putting things off can move forward with our Willie J. Ivy Sr. You can contact
starting a project and quitting shouldn’t put them off until until tomorrow and do them to- lives. “Brethren, I do not count her via email at minsivy@
before we get finished. Before tomorrow if we have it today. day. By doing this, it will keep myself to have apprehended; yahoo.com

For our complete church directory listing, visit us online at www.cdispatch.com/religion

Churches likely have modified service types and hours. Please contact a church before attending a service due to changing COVID restrictions.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is F eatured C hurch

“There is Liberty”
Ke nne th Mo ntg o m ery www.memorialgunterpeel.com
Proudly serving our community 716 Second Ave. N. • Columbus, MS • 662-328-4432
for over 30 years 903 College St. • Columbus, MS • 662-328-2354

2500 Military Road Suite 1

Columbus, MS
662-328-7500 WEST REALTY COMPANY
westrealtycompany.com
Don West, Broker/Owner

CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH — 295 Dowdle Dr. Sunday School 9:30 a.m., Worship 10:30 a.m.,
Adult Choir rehearsals and Discipleship Training 5 p.m., Worship 6 p.m., Wednesday 6:15 p.m.
Rev. Ralph Windle, Interim Pastor. 662-328-6741

If you would like your church to be the featured church of the week,
submit a photo by emailing it to community@cdispatch.com.
Photos should be horizontal and high quality.
• RECYCLING SINCE 1956 •
Specializing in industrial accounts The Dispatch will publish photos at no charge as space permits.
662-328-8176 973 Island Rd. 1-800-759-8570

R Free Estimates
LER OO 1721 Hwy 45 N
EE FIN Licensed
& Insured Columbus, MS
W H INC. G ®

COMMERCIAL 662.848.0919
“A Family Business Since 1946” RESIDENTIAL Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm
662-328-3625 • 662-328-7612 In Style. In Reach. Sunday 1pm-5pm

Support Our Community Churches When Caring Counts... SHELTON’S TOWING, INC. TRINITY PLACE
by advertising here.
Call Beth, Mary Jane,
Since 1960 RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
or Luther to
24 Hour Towing Offering independent living apartments, personal
care/assisted living suites, and a skilled nursing home
schedule your ad. FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY 1024 Gardner Blvd. 300 Airline Road • Columbus, MS • 327-6716
328-2424 1131 Lehmberg Rd., Columbus • 662-328-1808 328-8277 “Our Bottom Line Is People”

Hunting • Fishing
Northeast Exterminating Working Or Stepping Out — We Have A Complete
Line Of Clothing For You And Your Family
If it Jimmy Linley • Richard Linley
LLC
Oktibbeha County Co-Op
crawls, Columbus
Check Out Our Boot & Cap Section
662-323-1742
call... 662-329-9992 201 Pollard Rd., Starkville

BRISLIN, INC. Insurance Services:

Young
Sales • Service • Installation Shelton Cleaners Personal
Auto Insurance Agency
Residential • Commercial • Industrial Home GEORGE F. YOUNG
Since 1956 3189 Hwy 45 N. • 328-5421 Commercial Office-662.570.1688
www.brislininc.com Final Expense Cell-662.251.3563
1702 6th St. N. • 328-5361 gfyoung08@gmail.com
4051 Military Road • 662-328-5814 1205 Gardner Blvd.,Columbus, MS

APAC-MISSISSIPPI, INC.
Michael Bogue & Employees
Lake Norris Rd. 328-6555

INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC The McBryde Family

Hwy. 45 Alt. N., West Point n 662-494-4344
www.hydrovaconline.com Hwy. 182, Starkville n 662-546-4201 1120 Gardner Blvd. • 328-5776

Jarrett’s Towing This ad space can be yours

Wrecker Service for only $10 per week.
5209 N. Hwy 182 E. • Columbus, MS 39702
329-2447 We unlock Telephone: 662-327-1467 Call today 328-2424
If no answer 251-2448 cars P.O. Box 1278 • 1616 7th Ave. S., Columbus, MS 39703 to schedule your ad.

If you need to change your church’s online listing or would like to add
your church information, call 328-2424 or email changes to tinap@cdispatch.com
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 7B

SSunday
unday CComics
omics
8B SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Puzzles