Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi

CDISPATCH.COM FREE!
Friday | January 10, 2020

A pirate comes ashore

Mississippi State fans react to Mike Leach hiring as head football coach

Courtesy photo/Aaron Cornia/MSU Athletics

Mike Leach rings a cowbell for fans Thursday at George M. Bryan Airport in Starkville during a welcome ceremony for the newly-hired Mississippi
State head football coach. The pirate emblem on the bell is an ode to Leach’s love for pirate lore. Leach replaces Joe Moorhead, who was fired after
only two seasons leading the Bulldogs.

‘You’re the best coach on Twitter,’ one fan exclaims at airport football pants and a jersey.
An 18-year head coaching veteran who
BY BEN PORTNOY off-the-field problems than successes on it. combined for a 139-90 record between stops at
bportnoy@cdispatch.com “First beer is on me!” one fan yelled. Washington State and Texas Tech, Leach was
welcomed by fans across Starkville with gen-

A
s the maroon-striped plane carrying
new Mississippi State head football
coach Mike Leach and Athletic Director
John Cohen touched down at 3:22 p.m. Thurs-
day, a chorus of cowbells erupted.
Held off the tarmac by a spiked black fence,
droves of MSU fans surrounded the airstrip
where Leach first landed as the man tasked
with coaching a program reeling from a disap-
pointing 6-7 season that was marred by more
“You’re the best coach on Twitter,” another
exclaimed.
As the door to the plane flung open, Leach
and his wife, Sharon, stepped onto a maroon
carpet as the new coach clanged a personal-
ized cowbell bearing a pirate skull for all to
hear.
Leach, who is oft-referred to as ‘The Pirate’
for his staunch interest in pirate lore, was
personally greeted by MSU’s Bully mascot —
who added an eye-patch to his usual getup of
erally open arms Thursday as a six-day search
for Joe Moorhead’s replacement culminated at
George M. Bryan Airport.
“I’m excited,” Luanne Mashburn, a 1983
MSU graduate, told The Dispatch. “I’ve
followed Mike Leach for years from his time
at other places and I think he’ll bring a brand
of excitement we’ll see on the field that’ll be
great.”
See Leach, 6A

Police walk adoptable dogs to connect with community

Walks part of humane
society’s ‘Dog’s Day
Out’ program
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com
A group of children flocked
from the school bus to the police
officer and the dog on a leash at
Brookville Garden Apartments
Thursday afternoon.
Most of them focused on Star
Gazer, a friendly black-and-white
pit bull mix, but one child asked
Community Relations Officer
Angelica Colbert, “Who’s get-
ting arrested?”
Colbert replied that no one
was.
“They’re used to somebody
getting arrested any time one of
us is out here, so we try to get
out here on foot as much as we
can,” Colbert told The Dispatch.
Denzel Riley,
4, son of Bricy
“We’re not here to arrest some-
body. We’re just here to talk and
Green, pets
Star Gazer, a
pit bull mix from
hang out.”
the Oktibbeha
Community relations police County Humane
are responsible for interacting Society, at
with the public every day rath- Brookville Gar-
er than keeping an eye out for den Apartments
trouble, she said. One way the on Thursday.
division connects with people is Starkville Police
to ride around on Segways and Officer Angelica
hand out popsicles during the Colbert, right,
summer. More recently officers took Star Gazer
around town
have partnered with the Oktib- as part of the
beha County Humane Society’s Dog’s Day Out
Dog’s Day Out program. program to
The program, which began facilitate com-
in November, allows anyone to munity engage-
pick up a dog for a few hours and ment.
See ‘DOGS DAY OUT’, 6A Tess Vrbin/Dispatch Staff

Weather Five Questions Calendar Local Folks Public

Jaylen Williams
Fourth grade, Heritage
1 What critter is named Richard Parker in The Today meetings
Life of Pi, a novel made into a 2012 film? Jan. 14:
■ Book launch party:
2 What movie-star chimp, and perennial Starkville-Oktib-
sidekick of Tarzan in many 1930s films, died Author Kasey Van Norman
beha Consoli-
in 2011 at the age of 80? attends a book launch for
dated School
3 The plaque for what award, given to players “Nothing Wasted: God Uses
like Clayton Kershaw and Corey Kluber, has the Stuff You Wouldn’t” at District Board of
an image of a hand grasping a baseball? 6 p.m., hosted by Fairview Trustees meet-
4 What is the largest island in the contiguous Baptist Church, 127 Airline ing, 6 p.m., 401
U.S. States? Road, Columbus. Greensboro St.

68 Low 64
5 What female rapper with a lot of swagger
Jan. 17:
High was born Onika Maraj on the Caribbean
Mostly cloudy w/p.m. rain
island of Trinidad and Tobago? Sunday Starkville Board
of Aldermen
Full forecast on Answers, 8B ■ Exhibit reception: A
free West Point/Clay County work session,
page 3A.
Arts Council reception from 1:15 p.m., City
2-3:30 p.m. at the Louise Hall
Inside Campbell Center for the Jan. 21:
Arts in downtown West Point Starkville Board
Classifieds 5B Obituaries 2A
Comics 3B Opinions 4A opens an exhibit of artwork of Aldermen
Crossword 6B Religion 4B by musician and artist Joe Ashley Malone, of Columbus, meeting, 5:30
Dear Abby 3B Shelton of Columbus. loves to sing. p.m., City Hall

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020
Trump boasts Iranian general’s death was ‘American justice’
‘... When American lives were
threatened by the most dangerous
terrorist in the world, President
Donald Trump took action ...’
Vice President Mike Pence during Trump’s
Ohio campaign rally Thursday
By AAMER MADHANI
The Associated Press
TOLE-
DO, Ohio
— Presi-
dent Donald
Trump used
his first
campaign
election ral-
Trump
ly of 2020 to
argue that he served up
“American justice” by or-
dering a drone strike to
take out Iranian Gen. Qas-
sem Soleimani, while jeer-
ing Democratic leaders for
questioning his decision
to carry out the attack
without first consulting
Congress.
Trump’s remarks on
Thursday careened from
mockery of House Speak-
er Nancy Pelosi and Rep.
Adam Schiff, who heads
Iran denies missile hit Ukrainian
jetliner, calls on West to share data
Plane crashed outside Tehran, killing
all 176 passengers on board
By NASSER KARIMI
and JOSEPH KRAUSS
The Associated Press
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran
on Friday denied West-
ern allegations that one of
its own missiles downed
a Ukrainian jetliner that
crashed outside Tehran,
and called on the U.S. and
Canada to share any infor-
mation they have on the
COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
Obituaries with basic informa-
tion including visitation and
service times, are provided
free of charge. Extended
obituaries with a photograph,
detailed biographical informa-
tion and other details families
may wish to include, are avail-
able for a fee. Obituaries must
be submitted through funeral
homes unless the deceased’s
body has been donated to
science. If the deceased’s
body was donated to science,
the family must provide official
proof of death. Please submit
all obituaries on the form
provided by The Commercial
Dispatch. Free notices must
be submitted to the newspaper
no later than 3 p.m. the day
prior for publication Tuesday
through Friday; no later than 4
p.m. Saturday for the Sunday
edition; and no later than 7:30
a.m. for the Monday edition.
Incomplete notices must be re-
ceived no later than 7:30 a.m.
for the Monday through Friday
editions. Paid notices must be
finalized by 3 p.m. for inclusion
the next day Monday through
Thursday; and on Friday by 3
p.m. for Sunday and Monday
publication. For more informa-
tion, call 662-328-2471.
Isaac Langford
SHUQUALAK —
Isaac “Ike” Langford
Sr., 79,
died Jan. 1,
2020, at his
residence.
Services
will be
at 2 p.m.
Saturday
at Running Langford
Water M.B.
Church. Burial will fol-
low at Martin Cemetery.
Visitation is from noon-5
p.m. today at Lee-Sykes
Funeral Home. Lee-
Sykes Funeral Home of
Macon is in charge of
arrangements.
Mr. Langford was
born Oct. 22, 1940, in
the House Intelligence
Committee, to a sugges-
tion that he should have
won the Nobel Prize, a pre-
view of the sharp-edged
reelection campaign that
he will wage.
The president made his
comments shortly after
the Democratic-controlled
House approved a resolu-
tion asserting that Trump
must seek approval from
Congress before engaging
in further military action
against Iran.
Trump mocked Pelosi’s
mental acuity and called
Schiff a “pencil neck.” He
also tagged Sen. Bernie
Sanders as “Crazy Ber-
nie” for raising objections
to how he carried out the
strike on Soleimani.
“We got a call. We
heard where he was. He
knew the way he was get-
crash, which killed all 176
people on board.
Western leaders said
the plane appeared to have
been unintentionally hit by
a surface-to-air missile just
hours after Iran launched
around a dozen ballistic
missiles at two U.S. bases
in Iraq to avenge the kill-
ing of its top general in
an American airstrike last
week.
Area obituaries
Shuqualak, to the late
Ben Langford and Mary
Ellen Hudson-Lang-
ford. He was a U.S.
Army veteran and was
formerly employed
with the Shuqualak
Lumber Company. He
was a member of First
Running Water M.B.
Church.
In addition to his
parents, he was preced-
ed in death by his sister,
Clarice Diggs.
He is survived by his
wife, Mattie Langford of
Shuqualak; sons, David
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
House approves measure to restrain Trump’s actions on Iran
fore engaging in further military The measure will “protect Amer-
By MATTHEW DALY
The Associated Press action against Iran. ican lives and values” by limiting
WASHINGTON — Reigniting
The war powers resolution is
not binding on the president and
Trump’s military actions, Pelosi
said. “The administration must
a debate over who has the pow-
er to declare war, the Democrat- would not require his signature. de-escalate and must prevent fur-
ic-controlled House on Thursday But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ther violence.’’
approved a resolution asserting nonetheless insisted it “has real The White House called the res-
teeth” because “it is a statement of olution “ridiculous” and “complete-
that President Donald Trump must
seek approval from Congress be- the Congress of the United States.” ly misguided.”
ting there,” Trump told military action against from escalating into an all- “And in the wake of that
cheering supporters in To- Iran and would instead en- out war. attack, Iran responded,
ledo. “We didn’t have time act more sanctions against “And when American but thanks to the profes-
to call up Nancy, who isn’t the Islamic Republic. lives were threatened by sionalism of the military,
operating with a full deck.” The Iran crisis, which the most dangerous ter- we suffered no American
“They want us to tell momentarily overshad- rorist in the world, Presi- casualties and Iran ap-
dent Donald Trump took pears to be standing down.
them so they can leak it to owed Trump’s looming
their friends in the corrupt impeachment trial, has action and Qassem Solei- That’s what leadership
media,” Trump added. also opened a new front mani is gone,” Pence said. looks like.”
Last week’s killing of in the 2020 presidential
Soleimani brought long, campaign for Trump, who
simmering tensions be- in 2016 campaigned on a
tween the U.S. and Iran to promise to end American
a boil. Iran, in retaliation, involvement in “endless
fired a barrage of missiles wars.”
this week at two military Vice President Mike
bases in neighboring Iraq Pence, who joined Trump
that house hundreds of for the rally, said the pres-
U.S. troops. But with no ident deserved credit for
casualties to U.S. or Iraqi taking out a “dangerous
troops, Trump said he had terrorist” while managing
no plans to take further to keep the engagement
“What is obvious for us,
and what we can say with
box flight recorders could
take more than a month
certainty, is that no missile
hit the plane,” Ali Abedza-
and that the entire inves-
tigation could stretch into
deh, head of Iran’s nation- next year. He also said
al aviation department, Iran may request help
told a press conference. from international experts
“If they are really sure, if it is not able to extract
they should come and the flight recordings.
show their findings to the
world” in accordance with
international standards,
he added.
Hassan Rezaeifar, the
head of the Iranian inves-
tigation team, said recov-
ering data from the black
Langford of Shuqualak
Isaac Langford Jr. of
Chicago, Illinois, and
Carlous Langford of
Philadelphia; daughters,
Priscilla Hill of Shuqual-
ak and Amanda Harper
of Gainesville, Alabama;
brothers, Earnest and
Bennie, both of Omaha,
Nebraska; sisters, Ida
of Rock Island, Illinois,
Earlene, Vera and
Elnora, all of Omaha;
17 grandchildren; and
three great-grandchil-
dren.
See Obituaries, 5A
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 3A

Preservation society’s goals go beyond historic home tours

Novotny believes local historic tourism
has untapped potential as economic driver
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com
COLUMBUS — Kathy No-
votny is fine with being known
as the woman who lives in Dixie
Butler’s house.
Novotny was inspired to
buy Temple Heights, an ante-
bellum home on Ninth Street
North in Columbus, after she
restored a home she inherited
in Woodville, she said at Thurs-
day’s Columbus Exchange Club
meeting at Lion Hills Center.
Butler wanted the next owners
of her house to keep it open to
the public as an educational op-
portunity.
“I am so thankful that she
did, because it has been the
most rewarding thing that
we’ve done,” Novotny said.
Novotny and other Colum-
bus Spring Pilgrimage Tour
homeowners formed the Pres-
ervation Society of Columbus in
September, hoping to take over
the Pilgrimage from the Colum-
bus-Lowndes Convention and
Visitors Bureau and the Colum-
bus Cultural Heritage Founda-
tion. A private nonprofit funded
through CCHF, the Pilgrimage
began in 1940 and is an annual
tour of pre-Civil War homes and
churches held over several days
in late March.
PSC sent a letter to CVB and
CCHF asking to be allowed to
help stage the 2020 Pilgrimage,
then assume full responsibility
for the event in 2021. The let-
ter also asked that CVB turn
over $117,000 annually — the
amount CVB provided to CCHF
for the 2016 Pilgrimage, based
on CCHF’s 2016 tax documents.
CCHF voted in October to
hand over operational control
of Pilgrimage immediately and
noted that there were no addi-
tional CCHF funds available to
provide to PSC. However, PSC
did not ask for additional funds,
Novotny told The Dispatch —
only for CCHF to transfer the
$117,000 it received from CVB.
PSC is still trying to get an
audience with CCHF to deter-
mine who is going to run the
Pilgrimage this year, Novotny
said. She detailed the organiza-
tion’s brief history and how the
members believe it will benefit
Columbus, both culturally and
economically.
How PSC formed
The seeds of PSC were
planted when Beth Miller, the
head of the interior design de-
partment at Mississippi State
University, created a program
for a master’s degree in pres-
ervation, the first of its kind in
the state. Her idea was for his-
toric homeowners in Columbus
to allow MSU students in the
master’s program to use their
homes and neighborhoods as a
lab, where they could help peo-
ple place their homes on histor-
ic registers and educate them
about the benefits of preserva-
tion, Novotny said.
Novotny decided to educate
herself on preservation so she
could recruit Pilgrimage home-
owners at Miller’s request, and
she found Natchez to be a per-
fect example of how historic
preservation can drive a city’s
economy. Tourism is the prima-
ry industry in the city of about
16,000 people, and the Historic
Natchez Foundation has more
than $7.5 million in assets, she
said. Other civic organizations
amassed their own millions
that contribute to preservation.
“We found millions of dol-
lars that we’re not doing, that
we could be doing,” Novotny
said.
The Pilgrimage homeown-
ers looked into grants and oth-
er fundraising options before
voting unanimously to form
PSC, which aims to hold heri-
tage and cultural events in ad-
dition to historic home tours,
she said.
“Our mission statement is to
conserve and preserve build-
ings and places that include all
cultures, all neighborhoods, all
memories that define our past,
present and future, and we’re
going to do this through sto-
rytelling, advocacy and educa-
tion,” Novotny said. Tess Vrbin/Dispatch Staff
She restored her Woodville Preservation Society of Columbus board member Kathy Novotny
house with tax credits, and she outlines the PSC’s origin story and goals at the Columbus Exchange
Club on Thursday. Columbus Pilgrimage Tour homeowners voted
said she was surprised to learn
unanimously to form the PSC and hopes to take over operation of
during her research that the the annual Pilgrimage in 2021, but the group is still trying to get an
majority of those tax credits go
audience with the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation to decide
to low-income areas. A house who will run it this year.
has to produce income if an
owner uses the tax credits to throwing babies into a river and the money to create an online
restore it, she said. screaming for help from the database of Columbus’ histor-
PSC wants to preserve more community to stop it. ic homes, tracking donors, tax
than just pre-Civil War homes “She’s our community orga- credits, which homes are being
like Temple Heights — Colum- nizer,” she said. “She impacted renovated and for how much
bus has a variety of old homes her community by saving those money, among other things.
from small cottages to larger babies. But when they went up- PSC is planning a second,
Victorian houses and “mid-cen- stream to see what was happen- Disney-themed fundraiser at
tury modern” houses, and all ing, it takes courage. The moral the house across the street
are worth preserving, Novotny of this story, and the symbolic from Temple Heights once
said. part for us, is that those babies occupied by Josh Meador, a
“Preservation in my mind floating down the river are our Disney animator and an im-
was always antebellum, but economic development dol- pressionist landscape painter,
that’s not what preservation lars, our tax dollars, our social Novotny said.
is,” she said. “Preservation is of impact dollars. We have to go She said Natchez is proof
the past, and one curator at the upriver and find why we’re not that a city can survive on tour-
getting those.” ism alone and gives Columbus
Smithsonian defines the past as
The PSC’s community or- an incentive to build on the his-
what happened yesterday.”
ganization efforts had strong tory and educational opportuni-
start with a recent membership ties it has to offer.
‘The sleeping beauty drive and gala at the Riverview “Our town is different from
of the South’ Mansion that raised $40,000 most other towns in at least
Novotny supplemented her — $30,000 in cash and $10,000 North Mississippi,” Novotny
talk with a story about a wom- in in-kind donations, Novotny said. “We are considered the
an finding an ogre repeatedly said. The nonprofit will use sleeping beauty of the South.”

Buxton takes over as interim principal at Sale Elementary

Kimberly Blunt resigns from F-rated campus mid-year last three years as assis-
tant principal at Cook
“This is a challenge
I’m not afraid to accept,
Mrs. Buxton as the inter-
im principal at Sale Ele-
By Zack Plair the building where I start- making it one of two Elementary. Before that, and the staff here isn’t mentary,” Labat said. “...
zplair@cdispatch.com ed school,” Buxton said. failing schools in the she served two years as afraid to accept it either,” She has worked diligently
During an agenda re- district (the other is Co- the district’s professional Buxton said. “This school during the winter break
COLUM- view meeting Wednes- lumbus Middle School). development, parental in- has great potential, and I to analyze data and build
BUS — day, Columbus Municipal Mississippi Department volvement and gifted pro- expect to see great things relationships with her
Robyn Bux- School District’s board of of Education assigns let- gram coordinator. happen. ... There is so new staff. ... The faculty
ton roamed trustees named Buxton ter-grade accountability Since taking the reins much room for growth at has been very receptive
the halls of interim principal at Sale ratings to public school at Sale, Buxton has al- this school, and we can’t
and focused on improving
Sale Ele- Elementary. She replaces districts and their cam- ready implemented an ad- do the things we’re want-
mentary as student outcomes. This is
Kimberly Blunt, whose puses each year based ditional computer lab for ing to do without a great
a wide-eyed a critical time for student
Dec. 20 resignation left on a number of factors, students, she said, as well staff. This staff is amaz-
Buxton development, and we will
first grad- one of the district’s low- primarily student per- as a “power hour” pro- ing.”
er in 1971, est performing schools formance on end-of-year gram to assist students Superintendent Cherie continue to stay focused
probably at that time with in need of a leader for the state benchmark exams. with any learning deficits. Labat, who recommend- on student achievement.”
no desire to ever be in the spring semester. Buxton’s 25-year ca- She said she and her staff ed Buxton for the interim Buxton has not decid-
principal’s office. Sale’s 2017-18 state reer in education includes also are focusing hard on principal position after ed whether to apply for
Now, that’s exactly accountability rating of two decades with Lown- testing data to help give Blunt’s resignation, said the permanent principal
where she wants to be. C fell to an F for 2018-19, des County School Dis- them a better chance to she is confident in Bux- position at Sale but she
“It is a unique experi- the biggest drop among trict and five years with succeed on the upcoming ton’s leadership. said she hasn’t ruled it
ence to be the principal at CMSD campuses and CMSD. She’s spent the benchmarks. “We have embraced out.

Mississippi, lacking guards,

sends inmates to private prison
90-day contract to house inmates ing moved. Paloma Wu,
a lawyer for the South-
at Tallahatchie County Correctional ern Poverty Law Center
who tried to visit clients
Facility would cost more than $2M at Parchman on Wednes-
day, said large numbers
By JEFF AMY spokeswoman Grace Sim- of state troopers were
The Associated Press mons Fisher declined to posted up and down U.S.
provide a copy of the con- 49W between Parchman
Mississippi’s prison tract and directed The and Tutwiler, apparently
system signed a 90-day Associated Press to file a to provide extra security
contract to shift 375 in- formal public records re- while inmates were being
mates from the Missis- quest. shifted. The department
sippi State Penitentiary Gov. Phil Bryant re- said relatives of trans-
at Parchman to a nearby leased a copy of a Monday ferred inmates would be
private lockup, saying it letter declaring an emer- notified.
doesn’t have the guards to gency and allowing the “While the department
safely keep the inmates in state to sign a contract has challenges, keeping
state custody in the wake without soliciting bids. staff and the inmates
of recent violence. The state and CoreCiv- safe is always our priori- SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
The state and CoreCiv- ic, based in Nashville, Ten- ty,” outgoing Corrections peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Day Day
ic announced the contract nessee, say the contract Commissioner Pelicia Major 12:34a 1:32a
Minor 6:39p —
Thursday, a day after it could be extended for 180 Hall said in statement. Major 1:03p 2:02p
was signed. The inmates more days, and allows for State law says Mis-
Minor 8:26a 9:21a
Courtesy of Mississippi Department

were being shifted after vi-

of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
the state to send more sissippi can house up to

olence led to three deaths
at Parchman and an un-
known number of injuries.
Some inmates were earlier
moved into a closed-down
cell block to separate
clashing gang members.
The department said
the 90-day contract to
house inmates at the Tal-
lahatchie County Correc-
tional Facility in Tutwiler
would cost more than
$2 million. Department
prisoners.
“We are pleased to be
able to assist the state of
Mississippi due to signif-
icant challenges in their
correctional system,”
CoreCivic CEO Damon
Hininger said.
CoreCivic said it would
house close-custody pris-
oners, those requiring
high security.
The state wouldn’t say
when inmates were be-
The Dispatch
1,000 prisoners at the
Tallahatchie County pris-
on, but says it must pay at
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
least 10 percent less than Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
the cost of housing an in- Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
mate in a state-run pris- POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
on. An April report set The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Website: cdispatch.com/help
the state’s cost at $53.72 Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc.,
516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
a day, meaning the target
cost for private prisons is
$43.34 per inmate. The
cost for the Tallahatchie
inmates would be more
cdispatch.com
than $60 a day.
Opinion
4A FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

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

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

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

Letter to the editor Cartoonist View

Voice of the people

Doesn’t like ‘blue collar’ references in
sports stories
Why do you refer to MSU as “blue collar?”
I believe that means factory workers. I can
assure you we have many who wear “white
collars,” professional people.
Maybe you should say “red neck,” refer-
ring to farmers who are in the sun, as we are
certainly more an agricultural school than one
who trains factory workers.
Otherwise, I enjoy your articles.
Gretchen Passons
Starkville

Other Editors
The problem
of loneliness
Here’s a grim report to start the new year
from The Washington Post on the social and
emotional well-being of Americans:
“According to the health-insurance company
Cigna, loneliness and social isolation are ram-
pant in the United States today.
“About half of Americans report sometimes
or always feeling alone, Cigna found in a 2018
study of more than 20,000 U.S. adults. Barely
State of the nation
more than half say they have meaningful daily
in-person social interactions. Studies by the
Kaiser Family Foundation and AARP have also The culture war comes to the Old Dominion
S
reported widespread American loneliness.”
ince 1969, whites of all sexes and line against the demographic
By any measurement, this should not be
“Virginia Is for ages in an aimless changes that have seen Old
happening. It truly is easier than ever to contact
Lovers” has been terrorizing of South- Dominion voters usher in a new
other people today.
the tourism and travel hampton County in the era of Democratic leadership in
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, for
slogan of the Com- southeastern corner of recent elections.
example, loves to talk about his mission of
monwealth of Virginia. Virginia. “A Nevada-based group called
connecting the world (as opposed to making
Advertising Age called “The poor twisted the Oath Keepers said it is send-
gobs of money), but Post columnist Arthur C.
it “one of the most icon- creature could hardly ing training teams to help form
Brooks writes that it’s clear social media and its
ic ad campaigns in the have found a worse posses and militia in Virginia.
smartphone offspring are great contributors to
past 50 years.” time to sharpen South- The leader of a Georgia militia
the problem.
But the Virginia of ern fears of a slave ris- called Three Percent Security
Brooks contends that fewer conversations
2020 seems to be an- ing.” Turner was tried Force has posted videos and calls
with strangers also are fueling this isolation: Patrick Buchanan
other country than the and hanged and, that to arms on Facebook, urging ‘pa-
“Not so long ago, strangers talked to each other
friendly commonwealth winter, writes Furnas, triots’ to converge on Richmond.”
a great deal in public — in buses, at the airport,
to which this writer moved four “The Virginia legislature voted Still, the divisions among Vir-
in line at the bank. Why? Because there was not
decades ago. down by a narrow margin a bill ginians are not only over history,
much else to do.
Charlottesville, home to for gradual extinction of slavery.” heroes and guns, they are also
“The emergence of smartphone technology,
Thomas Jefferson’s University of Nat Turner’s terrorism had set moral and religious.
promising to connect the world and end social
Virginia, has become famous as back emancipation. A year ago, Northam said he
isolation, has achieved the opposite result.”
the site of a 2017 Klan-Nazi clash Let me go out on a limb: If the supported abortion through all
Brooks believes that people who are glued
with antifa over the removal of Virginia General Assembly votes nine months of pregnancy, and
to their phones in public are trying to avoid
a statue of Robert E. Lee from a to replace Robert E. Lee in the beyond, if an abortion were un-
intrusions. He says that stems from a mistak-
municipal park. During the clash, U.S. Capitol with a statue of Nat successful.
en belief that solitude is more pleasant than
protester Heather Heyer was run Turner, it will not be the unifying Here is Northam, in his own
talking to a stranger, but he cited research that
over and killed. event Wexton imagines. words, on the rights of the un-
says the opposite is more often true.
There followed the inaugura- But the Assembly will be born:
Another factor in reduced contact, he wrote,
tion of a new Democratic Gover- dealing soon with measures even “(Third trimester abortions
is the country’s political polarization: “When
nor, Ralph Northam, in 2018 and are) done in cases where there
we politically curate our networks and friend-
ships, most of us have fewer opportunities for
a new attorney general. Both, it Let me go out on a may be severe deformities. There
was learned, had masqueraded may be a fetus that’s nonviable.
new social interactions. If I am unwilling to
interact with people who hold ... the opposing
in blackface in their college days. limb: If the Virginia So in this particular example,
And two women accused their col- if a mother is in labor, I can tell
viewpoint from mine, I have cut way back on
the number of people with whom I might make
league, new Lieutenant Governor General Assembly you exactly what would happen.
Justin Fairfax, with rape. ... The infant would be delivered.
a meaningful human connection.”
To put it another way, a lot of people don’t
Resignations were demanded. votes to replace The infant would be kept comfort-
But all three hunkered down, able. The infant would be resus-
want to hear opinions that are different from
their own. If that is true, this problem has been
and the crisis abated. Now a new Robert E. Lee in the citated if that’s what the mother
cultural issue has emerged. and the family desired. And then
brewing for a lot longer than smartphones have
First-term Congresswoman U.S. Capitol with a a discussion would ensue between
been around. It’s all but certain, for example,
that every person reading this has used their
Jennifer Wexton, from the D.C.
suburbs, has denounced Virgin-
statue of Nat Turner, the physicians and the mother.”
Unlike the seven states of the
TV remote to change the channel from a politi-
cal program he or she dislikes.
ia’s representation in the U.S.
Capitol by statues of George
it will not be the Deep South, Virginia did not vote
to secede and leave the Union
Brooks said he’s doing two things to reverse
this trend. He’s going to try to talk to a stranger
Washington in the Rotunda and
Robert E. Lee in the crypt a floor
unifying event Wexton until President Lincoln issued
his call to arms to put down the
every day. He hopes this will show him a num-
ber of interesting things “in the real world, not
below. Both statues have repre-
sented Virginia for more than a
imagines. rebellion after the Confederates
fired on Fort Sumter.
the digitized one.”
century. more volatile. Then the state of Virginia
Also, he won’t let politics keep him from
Wexton wants Lee replaced by On Jan. 20, “Lobby Day” at the seceded from the Union as the
talking to others, reasoning that, “There is a
an African American hero from Assembly, thousands of gun ad- colony of Virginia had seceded
person under that MAGA hat (or in that Bernie
a list that she and Rep. A. Donald vocates, many openly armed, will from Great Britain at Philadelphia
T-shirt) who might be interesting to get to
McEachin reportedly submitted. be coming to Richmond to protest 84 years before.
know.”
Two names on their list are un- new gun laws Northam and his Today, it appears a new seces-
The bottom line in the battle against lone-
familiar figures from the deseg- new Democratic majority cam- sion is underway. Virginians are
liness comes down to something our parents
regation days of the 1950s. The paigned on and are determined to separating from each other over
suggested: Just get out once in a while. Or, to
third is better known: Nat Turner. deliver. issues as deep and divisive —
use 2020 terminology, put down your smart-
In “The Americans: A Social Already, 110 towns, cities and such as who can take innocent life
phone.
History of the United States,” pub- counties in Virginia have created and when — as those that divided
Greenwood Commonwealth
lished in 1969, author J. C. Furnas “Second Amendment sanctuar- us in 1861.
describes the deeds of the man ies” where new state laws that As are the rest of their country-
Wexton and McEachin would be restrict gun rights will not be men in this time of Trump.
pleased to see replace Robert E. enforced by local authorities. Patrick J. Buchanan, a nation-
Our View: Local Editorials Lee: As the Washington Post writes, ally syndicated columnist, was a se-
Local editorials appearing in this space represent “In August 1831, Nat Turner, “Virginia is a former Con- nior advisor to presidents Richard
the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board: Pe- paranoid slave preacher and cun- federate State with strong rural Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald
ter Imes, editor and publisher; Zack Plair, managing jur man, led his superstition-fud- traditions and lax gun laws. Guns Reagan. His website is http://bu-
editor; Slim Smith and senior newsroom staff. To dled followers to kill fifty-five represent the strongest, reddest chanan.org/blog.
inquire about a meeting with the board, please con-
tact Peter Imes at 662-328-2424, or e-mail voice@
cdispatch.com.
THE STAFF OF THE DISPATCH
Voice of the People
We encourage you to share your opinion with read- EDITOR/PUBLISHER Luther Shields Deanna Tess Vrbin
Evie Vidrine Robinson-Pugh Stella Yu PRODUCTION
ers of The Dispatch. Peter Imes William Hudson
Submit your letter to The Dispatch by:
Jamie Morrison
E-mail: voice@cdispatch.com PUBLISHER EMERITUS BUSINESS OFFICE NEWS MAILROOM Anne Murphy
Mail: P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Birney Imes Lindsey Beck Isabelle Altman Christina Boyd Tina Perry
In person: 516 Main St., Columbus, or 101 S. Debbie Foster Theo Derosa Joseph Ellis Rodney Shows
Lafayette St., No. 16, Starkville. Mary Ann Hardy Matt Garner Jeffrey Gore Sydney White
All letters must be signed by the author and must ADVERTISING Eddie Johnson Garrick Hodge Katrina Guyton
include town of residence and a telephone number Amber Dumas Jennifer Mosbrucker Doris Hill
for verification purposes. Letters should be no Kelly Ervin CIRCULATION Zach Plair Quaylon Jones
more than 500 words, and guest columns should Melissa Johnson Christopher Dumas Ben Portnoy Marquisto Miller
be 500-700 words. We reserve the right to edit Beth Proffitt Michael Floyd Slim Smith Bobby Williams
submitted information. Mary Jane Runnels Courtney Laury Jan Swoope Timothy Wilson

Obituaries
Continued from Page 2A
Rechion Randle and Brayden Gatson of
STARKVILLE — Atlanta, Georgia; step-
Rechion Tamar Randle, children, Precious Love
32, died Dec. 30, 2019, and Kaelea Pruitt, both
in Starkville. of Chicago, Illinois;
Services will be at siblings, Valerie Jack-
11 a.m. Saturday at son and Keona Blue of
Johnson Creek M.B. Katy, Derrick Gatson of
Church in Pheba. Burial Savannah, Georgia, and
will follow at the church Khaleel Gatson-Bey of
cemetery. Visitation is Mt. Juliet, Tennessee;
from 3-6 p.m. today at and four grandchildren.
West Memorial Funeral Pallbearers will
Home. West Memo- be Deandre Wright,
rial Funeral Home of Maurice Jackson,
Starkville is in charge of Javon Dean, Marquise
arrangements. Haynes, Vincent Harris
He is survived by and Christopher White.
his wife, Alexis Randle;
children, Taylor and Jack Anthony
Alana Randle; father, CRAWFORD — Jack
Earl Randle Jr.; mother, Curtis Anthony, 57,
Angela Ivy; stepfather, died Jan.
Jimmy Ivy; sister, Latae 4, 2020,
Randle; and brothers, at Baptist
Jimmy Ortiz Ivy, Nyt- Memorial
roria Randle, Monique Hospi-
Randle and Reshard tal-Golden
Randle. Triangle.
Services
will be at 1 Anthony
Trenidell Christian p.m. Satur-
SULLIGENT, Ala. —
day at Charity Mission
Trenidell Jackson Chris-
Full Gospel Baptist
tian, 69, died Jan. 3,
Church, with Bobby L.
2020, at her residence.
McCarter Sr. officiat-
Services are at noon
ing. Burial will follow
today at Otts Funeral
at Memorial Gardens.
Home Chapel, with the
Visitation is from noon-
Rev. Andre Evans offici- 6 p.m. today at Carter’s
ating. Burial will follow
Funeral Service. Car-
at the Gilmer Addition ter’s Funeral Service of
of Sulligent City Cem-
Columbus is in charge
etery. Visitation is one of arrangements.
hour prior to services
Mr. Anthony was
at the funeral home. born Sept. 21, 1962, in
Otts Funeral Home of
Crawford, to the late
Sulligent is in charge of Curtis Collins and Tilda
arrangements.
Mae Anthony-Tate. He
Ms. Trenidell was was formerly employed
born May 28, 1950, in
as a truck driver and
Sulligent, to Morris a member of Fairview
Glenn and the late Full Gospel Baptist
Virginia Mae Jackson.
Church.
She attended Todd
In addition to his par-
High School and was
ents, he was preceded
formerly employed with in death by his brother,
Detroit Slacks and as Jim Anthony.
a caregiver. She was He is survived by
a member of Greater his wife, Diane Smart
Victor Church of God. Anthony of Crawford;
In addition to her children, Christopher
mother, she was pre- Wrench of Columbus,
ceded in death by Travion Barney of
her brother, Curly B. Huntsville, Alabama,
Jackson; and sisters, Eulise Barney and John
Evon Bobo and a host Barney, both of Flor-
of others. ence, Kentucky, and
In addition to her Kelly James of Birming-
father, she is survived ham, Alabama; siblings,
by her sons, Tony Myrtle Tucker and Law-
Jerome Jackson and rence Anthony, both
Tracey Jackson, both of Crawford, Chekita
of Sulligent; daughters, Harris, James Anthony
Gloria Denise Jackson and Robert Anthony,
and Retonyia Jackson, all of Columbus, Lamar
both of Sulligent; sister, Mills, Katie Young,
Gwen Eva Stewart Nathan Jefferson and
of Sulligent; and one Bobbie Jefferson, all
grandchild. of West Point; and five
grandchildren.
Harold Gatson Jr. Pallbearers will be
KATY, Texas — Har- Marty Smart, Antonio
old “Poochie” Gatson Miller, Travion Barney,
Jr., 54, died Eulise Barney, John
Dec. 24, Barney and Cory Cole-
2019, at man.
Memorial
Herman Bobby Eatmon Sr.
Hospital in MILLPORT, Ala. —
Katy. Bobby Dale Eatmon Sr.,
Services 72, died Jan. 8, 2020.
Gatson Jr.
will be at Services will be at
11 a.m. Sat- 1 p.m. Wednesday at
urday at Fairview Full Holly Grove Baptist
Gospel Baptist Church
Church. Burial will
in Crawford, with the follow at Holly Grove
Rev. Earnest Dunlap Cemetery. Visitation
officiating. Burial will will be one hour prior to
follow at the church services at the church.
cemetery. Visitation is Dowdle Funeral Home
from 1-7 p.m. today at of Millport is in charge
Carter’s Funeral Ser- of arrangements.
vices Chapel. Carter’s Mr. Eatmon was born
Funeral Service of July 6, 1947, to the late
Columbus is in charge Hilda Rice and Odell
of arrangements.
Eatmon.
Mr. Gatson was born In addition to his
Feb. 5, 1965, in Chica- parents, he was pre-
go, Illinois, to Harold ceded in death by his
Gatson Sr. and Estel- sister, Brenda Eatmon;
la Gatson. He was a and brother, Walter Lee
member of Second Mt. Neal.
Vernon M.B. Church.
He is survived by his
In addition to his wife, Josephine Eatmon
parents, he is survived of Millport; daughters,
by his children, Harold Cynthia Hill of Lithonia
Gatson III of Kansas and Mary Sturdivant
Send in your News About Town event.
email: community@cdispatch.com
Subject: NATS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 5A
of Millport; sons, parents, he is survived p.m. today at Chandler Mae McReynolds. She
Bobby Dale Eatmon by his wife, Iniece Gary Funeral Home Chapel, was formerly employed
Jr. of Stone Mountain, Witherspoon; sons, with Kevin Sudduth and as an administrative
Georgia, Sammy Sturdi- Kendrick Gary of Olive Jimmy Lann officiating. assistant and was a
vant of Fayette, Shawn Branch, Vaccarick With- Burial will follow at member of Corinth
Eatmon of San Diego, erspoon of Amory and Furnace Hill. Visitation Baptist Church.
California, and Orlando Rickell Witherspoon of is two hours prior to She is survived by
Eatmon of Hampton, West Point; daughters, services at the funeral her husband, Bill Jor-
Georgia; sisters, Bar- Corri King Bradley of home. Chandler Funer- dan of Vernon; daugh-
bara Ann Strawbridge Smyrna, Georgia; broth- al Home of Vernon is ters, Sheila Walker of
of Millport and Sherry er, Gerald Witherspoon in charge of arrange- Vernon and Tammy
Tucker of Montgomery; of West Point; sisters, ments. Huff of Winfield; broth-
10 grandchildren; and Phonecia Witherspoon Mrs. Jordan was er, Bud McReynolds;
11 great-grandchildren. of Olive Branch, Kim- born July 11, 1943, in four grandchildren; and
berly Witherspoon of Vernon, to the late Rob- three great-grandchil-
Dorothy Wamble Jonesboro, Georgia, ert Leon and Dorothy dren.
ACKERMAN — Dor- and Anitra Witherspoon
othy “Kay” Wamble, Cooper of Jackson; five
75, died Jan. 9, 2020, at grandchildren; and one
the Choctaw Nursing great-grandchild.
Center.
A graveside service Cinda Young
will be held at 2 p.m. MACON — Cinda
Sunday at Memorial Young, 61, died Jan.
Garden Park. Welch Fu- 2, 2020,
neral Home is in charge at North
of arrangements. Mississippi
Ms. Wamble was Medical
born June 6, 1946, in Center in
Aberdeen, to the late Tupelo.
Dout and Dot Wamble. Services
will be at
She was a graduate of
Starkville High School 11 a.m. Young
and Mississippi State Saturday
University. She was at Pine Grove Baptist
formerly employed with Church. Burial will
Starkville Public Library follow at Pine Grove
and formerly owned Cemetery. Visitation
and operated Books is from 1-5 p.m. today
and Things. She was at Lee-Sykes Funeral
also employed with the Home Chapel and one
library at First Baptist hour prior to services
Church. at the church. Lee-
In addition to her par- Sykes Funeral Home of
ents, she was preceded Macon is in charge of
in death by her brother, arrangements.
Ed Wamble. Ms. Young was born
July 20, 1958, to the late
Samuel Eaves Harrison Grayer and
LOUISVILLE — Clara Young.
Samuel Thomas “Sam”
Eaves, 31, died Dec. 30, Elaine Moore
2019. STARKVILLE —
Services will be at 2 Elaine Moore, 54,
p.m. Sunday at Butler died Jan. 3, 2020, in
Pentecostal Church in Starkville.
Shuqualak. Burial will Services will be at 2
follw at Butler Ceme- p.m. Saturday at New
tery. Visitation will be Zion U.M. Church. Buri-
from 6-8 p.m. Saturday al will follow. Visitation
at Cockrell Funeral is from 1-6 p.m. today at
Home. Cockrell Funer- West Memorial Funeral
al Home of Macon is Home. West Memo-
in charge of arrange- rial Funeral Home of
ments. Starkville is in charge of
Mr. Eaves was born arrangements.
Aug. 18, 1988, in Me- She is survived by
ridian, to Kenneth and her daughters, Shequita
Toni Etzkorn Eaves. Moore and Brittany
He was a graduate of Moore; sons, Jerria
Nanih Waiya School and Moore and Anthony
attended Mississippi Moore; sister, Len
State University. He was Carpenter-Swift; and
formerly employed as brothers, Frank Staples,
a sheet metal foreman Jessie Carpenter and
with Graham Roofing. Roger Moore.
In addition to his par-
ents, he is survived by Joan Jordan
his son, Liam Thomas VERNON, Ala. —
Eaves of Louisville; and Mary Joan Jordan, 76,
brother, Tyler Eaves of died Jan. 7, 2020, at her
Macon. residence.
Memorials may be Services are at 2
made to St. Jude Chil-
dren’s Research Hospi-
tal, 262 Danny Thomas
Place, Memphis, TN
38105.
Ricky Witherspoon
WEST POINT —
Ricky Rydell Wither-
spoon, 57, died Jan. 6,
2020, at his residence.
Services will be at 11
Minnie Armour
a.m. Saturday at Third
James M. Reeves
Mt. Olive M.B. Church, Visitation:
with Phonecia Wither- Friday, Jan. 10 • 1-2 PM
spoon officiating. Burial 2nd Ave. North Location Minnie Starnes Armour, 74, passed away on
Services: Wednesday, January 08, 2020, at Baptist Memorial
will follow at London Friday, Jan. 10 • 2 PM
Chapel Cemetery. 2nd Ave. North Location Hospital Golden Triangle in Columbus.
Burial A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday,
Visitation is from 3-6 Vaughn Cemetery
p.m. today at Carter’s Steens, MS January 11, 2020, from 2:00-5:00 PM at Lowndes Fu-
Mortuary Services neral Home. Private interment will be held at a later
Chapel. Carter’s Mor- Ann I. Palmer date at Wyatt Cemetery, Hornsby, TN.
Visitation: Ms. Armour was born August 30, 1945, to the late
tuary Services of West Saturday, Jan. 11 • 10-11 AM
Point is in charge of The Earlene Robertson Room of
Lamar and Lois Baker Starnes. Ms. Armour was Bap-
arrangements. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church tist by faith. She was deeply devoted to her family,
Memorial Service: a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother
Mr. Witherspoon was Saturday, Jan. 11 • 11 AM
born Nov. 15, 1962, in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and “Adopted Mother” to many. She will be truly
West Point, to Cleophus College St. Location missed by all her knew and loved her.
Witherspoon and Mary In addition to her parents, she is preceded in
Theo Burns death by her husband, Boyd Armour, Jr.; and daugh-
Lee Witherspoon. He Incomplete
was formerly employed ter, Amanda Armour Otts.
2nd Ave. North Location
in the Civil Engineering She is survived by son, Boyd Armour III; daughter,
Laura Armour (David) Burton; grandchildren, Hanna
industry. Kuydgalyn McClusky Otts, Bridget Otts, Justin (Salem) Barksdale, Lauren
In addition to his Incomplete
2nd Ave. North Location Otts Cummings and Jarod Barksdale (Hope Walk-
er); great-grandchildren, Amara, Karsyn, Chevvy,
Todd Waldrop Brantley and Scotlynne Rose; brothers, Lamar (Alice)
Incomplete Starnes and Dale Robertson; and sister-in-law, Jean
2nd Ave. North Location Armour Hodge.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that me-
morials be made to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center,
memorialgunterpeel.com
Houston, TX, at mdanderson.org.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
6A FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Leach
Continued from Page 1A

An exciting hire freshman cornerback Jar-

While Leach’s hiring
was made official at 2
p.m. Thursday, the news
continued to spread
across town into the early
evening.
Perched on a railing
outside Bin 612, MSU
senior Olivia Benner of-
fered her thoughts on the
school’s decision to make
a new coaching hire.
“It’s definitely a mood
booster,” Benner said.
“When the school is hap-
py about sports, they’re
really happy; and when
they’re not, they’re really
not. So I think (hiring
a new coach) is a huge
advantage just going for-
ward with the fanbase.”
At Moe’s Original
BBQ on East Main
Street, Christopher
Walrath sat at the bar
with a full whiskey glass
to his right as the blaring
analysis of late-afternoon
sports talk shows em-
anated from the televi-
sions before him.
A Starkville High
School graduate, Wal-
rath, 46, has long been in
tune with MSU’s football
program. Originally
from Pittsburgh, Penn-
sylvania, he sympathized
with Moorhead — a
Pittsburgh-area native
himself. But as poor
on-field results coupled
with off-the-field issues
— most notably the
academic misconduct
scandal in which a tutor
completed coursework
for 10 football players and
a fight between junior
linebacker Willie Gay Jr.
and freshman starting
quarterback Garrett
Shrader left Shrader un-
able to play in the Music
City Bowl — he was OK
with the change.
That said, Walrath is
less convinced Leach’s
Courtesy photo/Aaron Cornia/MSU Athletics
New Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach
signs autographs for fans gathered Thursday at George
M. Bryan Airport after Leach arrived in Starkville. He
has previously served as head coach for Washington
State and Texas Tech.
high-flying “Air Raid” of-
fensive attack, and noto-
riously porous defenses,
will fit well in the South-
eastern Conference.
“The problem is: how
many great defenders or
defenses have come out
of the PAC-12?” he said.
“Almost every game is
48-37. Moorhead want-
ed to have a 65 percent
(pass) completion
percentage, but when
you’re playing Alabama
and LSU and Auburn,
especially this year, you
have to have a defense
like we did in Moorhead’s
first year.”
“I don’t know how his
air attack differs from
Coach Moorhead,” Bobby
Wilson, a December 1974
MSU graduate, added.
“So that’s going to be
interesting to see the dif-
ference in the two if there
is a difference there.”
‘We will win the press
conference every day’
While Leach’s
schemes have their
detractors, the hiring
was met with an over-
whelmingly optimistic
tone at the airfield. Never
one to mince words, the
former Washington State
and Texas Tech coach
has earned a reputation
for his outspokenness in
postgame press confer-
ences, both good and
bad.
Of note, he was uncer-
emoniously fired at Texas
Tech in 2009 following
accusations of player
mistreatment that Leach
continues to deny, while
more recently he called
his players “fat, dumb,
happy and entitled” after
his Washington State
team fell 38-13 to Utah on
Sept. 28.
“We will win the press
conference every day,”
Mashburn said. “I think
he’s entertaining and he’s
got personality that you
don’t always get with foot-
ball coaches. He’ll call
out his players, he’ll call
out his coaches and you
don’t often see that.”
Once on the tarmac,
Leach greeted several
current players — in-
cluding Shrader, junior
running back and Colum-
bus native Kylin Hill and
rian Jones. After a brief
exchange, in which Jones
quipped Leach needed to
ditch his plain black New
Balance shoes for a pair
of his rainbow-colored
Adidas Yeezy’s, Leach
made his way around the
fence — shaking hands
and signing autographs
with each ensuing step.
After a nearly 20-min-
ute trek across the lot,
Leach boarded a black
SUV and exited the air-
port. Behind him, Cohen
too was greeted by hand-
shakes from enthusiastic
fans.
That contradicted the
anxiety starting to show
from a coaching search
that had brought to the
fore names like Lafayette
head coach Billy Napier,
Alabama offensive coor-
dinator Steve Sarkisian
and MSU alum/former
New England Patriots
special teams coach (now
New York Giants head
coach) Joe Judge.
“I think the fanbase is
glad it’s all over,” Wilson
said. “I think you’ve got
to put your faith and
trust in John — he’s done
a great job. He knows
more than any of us will
ever know about who
was there and who was
the No. 1 (choice) or No.
3 (choice) — this guy
may have been the No.
1 choice. John’s done a
super job, so we trust that
he got the best (coach)
for us.”
“I think last year we
had higher expectations
and it was very disap-
pointing and we just
need to build back up,”
J.B. Shank, a 22-year old
senior at MSU added.
“And when we build back
up with a year or two
or maybe a few, I think
coach (Leach) can do
this for us.”

‘Dogs Day Out’

Continued from Page 1A
take it on a walk or anoth-
er outing. Colbert took a
brown pit bull named Lola
around town with her on
Wednesday, from police
headquarters to Main
Street and a few neighbor-
hoods, she said.
“Lola isn’t your typi-
cal law enforcement ca-
nine, so (people thought),
‘What’s an officer doing
with a pit bull?’” Colbert
said. “She was really
sweet and she would work
well in any home.”
Dog’s Day Out “has
worked wonderfully” in
helping the shelter dogs
get adopted, OCHS direc-
tor Sarah Akins said. It
also helps socialize the an-
imals before they find new
homes.
“Star Gazer was very
timid and very scared
when he first got here, and
he’s come out of his shell
a whole lot,” said Akins,
who was an animal con-
trol officer with SPD for
12 years before she joined
OCHS in July 2019.
Community relations
is not the only division of
SPD that has participated
in Dog’s Day Out. Two
animal control officers,
Vittoria Hammer and
Brandy Johnson, spent a
few hours with an elderly
dog named Gracie in De-
cember to promote SPD’s
“angel tree” supply drive
for OCHS, according to a
Facebook post.
OCHS sometimes re-
ceives stray animals from
police officers, and not
just the animal control di-
vision, Akins said.
“Several will not hes-
itate to put an animal in
their car and bring them
up here just to make sure
that they’re safe,” she said.
A conversation starter
Colbert is a self-de-
scribed “huge dog per-
son” and has two canines
of her own, 2-year-old
labrador-beagle mixes
named Yogi and Kuma, as
well as a cat and a guinea
pig.
“(The dogs) don’t like it
when I get home because
they smell this other dog
all over me,” Colbert said
with a laugh.
The kids at Brookville
Garden, on the other hand,
surrounded Star Gazer to
pet him and asked Colbert
questions about him, like
what breed he was and if
he was a police dog.
Before the bus arrived,
Colbert and fellow officer
Kenya Bibbs walked the
length of the complex with
Star Gazer and greeted
the residents that were out
and about, some of whom
they knew.
Colbert stopped to chat
with two young men play-
ing basketball and three
more who were leaning
against a car. She encour-
aged one of the latter
group to consider adopt-
ing a dog.
“You’d have some re-
sponsibility and it’d give
you something to do,” she
said.
After meeting the chil-
dren that got off the bus,
Star Gazer jumped into the
front seat of Colbert’s car,
which sometimes resulted
in him pressing buttons,
Colbert said.
“On the way over here, I
didn’t know he had pressed
a button on my radio, and
I’m wondering why these
cars are being weird in
front of me, and it’s because
they thought I was going to
pull them over,” she said.
She drove them a few
blocks to Henderson
Street, where they met
with Community Relations
Lt. William Durr before
Colbert took the dog back
to OCHS.
Durr said he expected
people to be more recep-
tive to an officer walking an
adoptable dog.
“The walls people have
up, it disarms those and
helps us get to know people
better,” Durr said.

Are You Ready

to Discuss Your
Long Term
Care Options?
Are you struggling to provide care for a loved one?
Are you concerned about long term care costs?
Do you have questions about how to protect your
assets if you need long term care?
Are you confused by Medicare and Medicaid
and their requirements?
At Dunn & Hemphill, we can help you answer these and many
other difficult questions by creating a plan tailored to fit you and
your family’s needs. Contact us at (662) 327-4211 (ext.#0)
to discuss your long term care planning goals.

Dunn & Hemphill, P.A.

214 Fifth Street South | Columbus, Mississippi
662.327.4211 | www.marketstreetlaw.com
Offering Peace of Mind, One Client at a Time.
W. David Dunn | Christopher D. Hemphill
Mention this ad when you call to get a free 30 minute
Estate or Long Term Care Planning Consultation!
*Background information available upon request.
© The Dispatch

Providing Our Clients Expertise With

Over 50+ Years Of Combined Experience
Sports
Leach hired as next football coach at MSU
Former Washington State head coach Mike Leach will be introduced as Mississippi State’s 34th head football coach at a press conference at noon Friday.
Former Washington State head coach will take charge of the Bulldogs
By Ben Portnoy
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — Missis-
sippi State has its next football
coach.
Just six days after Joe Moor-
head was fired following a 38-28
loss to Louisville in the Music
City Bowl, Washington State
head coach Mike Leach is set
to become the new head coach
in Starkville per a source with
immediate knowledge of the
situation.
“I can’t tell you how excit-
ed I am to be the head football
coach of the Mississippi State
Bulldogs,” Leach said in a news
release. “I loved Washington
COMMENTARY
Ahoy! MSU hired a charismatic pirate as its football coach. Now what?
By GARRICK HODGE
ghodge@cdispatch.com
This column needs a dis-
claimer right off the bat. I have
no idea if Mike Leach is going
to be successful at Mississippi
State.
But good lord am I excited to
listen to him talk.
The former Washington
State play caller committed to
being the Bulldogs’ 34th coach
in program history Thursday
morning and will be introduced
at noon
t o d a y
with a the Cougars had an identical
p r e s s
confer-
ence at
the Leo
Seal Jr.
Football
C o m -
plex.
May-
be he’ll Garrick Hodge
beg i n
his introduction to the fanbase
by talking about dragons. Or
going over which Southeastern
Conference mascot would be
victorious in an all-out battle
royale. Getting marriage ad-
vice from Leach won’t be off the
table, nor is a long rant about
the need for the College Foot-
ball Playoff to expand out of the
question.
MISSISSIPPI STATE FOOTBALL
State, but I am excited for the
next chapter in the SEC. It’s a
privilege to be a part of the MSU
family, and we look forward
to getting down to Starkville
shortly.”
An 18-year head coaching
veteran, Leach has compiled a
139-90 record between stops
at Washington State and Texas
Tech. He has also reached 11
wins twice in his career. Most
recently, he guided Washington
State to a 6-7 record and an ap-
pearance in the Cheez-It Bowl.
The news comes just 24
hours after a source close to
the situation told The Dispatch
on Wednesday that Leach was
“not off the table” after he re-
These sound bites are all
on his greatest hits list, and he
might replay some Friday after-
noon, but Leach also may just
want to discuss his opinion on
the latest Star Wars movie or
something else totally new and
unforeseen.
That’s the thing about
Leach: every press conference
is off the rails, entertaining and
the amount of actual football
talk fluctuates from day to day.
If his teams are losing, that
kind of stuff might irk the fan-
base. It probably did in Pull-
man, Washington, considering
record to MSU and finished
6-7 in 2019. But think of it this
way: a down year will at least
be entertaining, as opposed to
constantly hearing about upper-
and lower-body injuries every
five minutes.
This is all to say, hiring
Leach is the exact opposite of
playing it safe. After dismiss-
ing the laid back and typically
collected Joe Moorhead on Jan.
3, MSU Athletic Director John
Cohen essentially put his future
in the hands of college football’s
biggest wild card. Is it going to
work? Again, not a clue. But I
can promise it will be incredibly
entertaining either way.
Leach wasn’t Cohen’s first
choice. Sources close to the sit-
uation have told The Dispatch
portedly met with MSU Athlet-
ic Director John Cohen for an
interview in Key West, Florida,
earlier this week.
A staunchly different of-
fensive mind than Moorhead,
Leach will bring his pass-heavy
air raid attack and its gaudy
passing numbers to Starkville.
Over the past two seasons,
Leach’s Washington State
teams led the nation in passing
offense and finished second
in 2017. By contrast, MSU fin-
ished the 2018 and 2019 sea-
sons ranked No. 109 and 112 in
passing offense, respectively.
And though the on-field suc-
cess has been there, the former
Kentucky assistant does come
that MSU was ready to move
forward with former New En-
gland Patriots special teams
coordinator Joe Judge, but then
the MSU graduate signed a
five-year contract for $7 million
a year with the New York Gi-
ants earlier this week instead.
Alabama offensive coordinator
Steve Sarkisian and Florida
defensive coordinator Todd
Grantham seemed to be logical
fallback options.
Nope.
You have to give Cohen cred-
it in one aspect, he wanted to
make a splash. This is MSU’s
answer to Ole Miss’ hire of
Lane Kiffin. Think about that
for a second. This Thanksgiv-
ing, Leach and Kiffin will be
going head to head in the Egg
Bowl. It’s only January, but I’m
already thankful.
In what was essentially his
state-of-the-program press con-
ference a week ago, Cohen said
he was determined to find the
right fit for Mississippi State.
From a fit perspective, Leach is
a perplexing candidate.
Leach, a self-proclaimed pi-
rate and the author of the book
“Swing Your Sword,” is a walk-
ing Pandora’s box of charisma,
but he’s also a loose cannon.
After his Cougars lost 38-13
to Utah last September, Leach
didn’t hold back in his post-
game presser, calling his play-
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020
with some baggage. Leach was
unceremoniously fired at Texas
Tech after he was accused of
mistreating a player, though he
remains steadfast he’s innocent
of any wrongdoing.
“Mike Leach is a proven
winner who has established a
culture of excellence for nearly
two decades as a head coach,”
MSU Athletic Director John Co-
hen said in a news release. “An
offensive genius and two-time
national coach of the year, he
has a track record of building
programs to national promi-
nence with accountability and
a blue-collar approach. We are
thrilled to welcome him and his
family to the Mississippi State
ers “fat, dumb, happy and entilt-
ed.” That rubbed a lot of people
the wrong way.
On the field, his football
teams score a lot of points. They
also give up a lot of points. Look
at two scores from a season ago:
a 67-63 loss to UCLA, and a 54-
53 win over Oregon State.
He’s been a two-time Na-
tional Coach of the Year and
won a WSU program-record 11
games in 2018 with mostly two-
and three-star recruits. He’d
have to follow a similar path in
Starkville. Leach went 55-47
overall at WSU but compiled a
43-22 record over the last five
years.
From a recruiting stand-
point, it’s unclear how much
success Leach will have. He
loves the air raid offense, and
will throw the ball anywhere
from 50 to even 65 times a
game. If you got annoyed with
how little Moorhead ran the
ball, do I have some bad news
for you.
Now, I don’t know if you
watched MSU’s receivers and
quarterbacks play a year ago,
but this type of offense doesn’t
exactly project success with the
team’s current personnel. So re-
cruiting is going to be crucial in
Leach’s first few seasons. The
same can be said for what assis-
tants, primarily what defensive
coordinator, he surrounds him-
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
B
SECTION
Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
family and look forward to
watching our football program
grow under his leadership.”
“I want to commend Athlet-
ics Director John Cohen and his
staff for conducting a very thor-
ough and true national search,”
MSU President Mark Keenum
added. “In Coach Mike Leach,
that search produced a charis-
matic leader who has proven he
can both win football games at
a high level and motivate teams
to play up to their potential. I’m
excited about the future of our
football program.”
Leach will be formally intro-
duced at a press conference at
noon today at the Leo Seal Jr.
Football Complex.
self with.
In the months leading up to
his first season, there’s a good
chance the narrative around
the team will center on the
Leach show 100 percent.
Some players might not like
that, but ironically, I had a dis-
cussion about Leach about a
year ago from someone who
knows him well enough to have
an opinion: Washington State
legend and ESPN commenta-
tor Ryan Leaf (yes, insert your
NFL bust joke here). When
asked about how Leach runs his
program, Leaf’s eyes lit up.
“He’s one of a kind,” Leaf
told me last April. “Washington
State needs individuals like that
because it’s difficult to recruit
there. For the longest time,
people were talking more about
Mike Leach than the team, but
because they did, people now
pay more attention to the team.
And the team is doing really
well. He’s taken it in the right
direction.”
I’m fascinated by this hire.
Time will tell how it plays out.
Noon today can’t get here
soon enough. Neither can Au-
gust, for that matter. The pirate
ship has arrived in Starkville,
and it’s going to be an enter-
taining voyage.
2B FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

briefly Prep BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

Men’s College Basketball Columbus sweeps Grenada
Southern Miss drops road contest with UTEP By Theo DeRosa East Rankin Academy to-
Texas-El Paso made a second-half surge and shot 34 of 37 from the free throw tderosa@cdispatch.com day.
line to beat Southern Miss 74-62 on Friday in El Paso, Texas.
Gabe Watson led the Golden Eagles (4-12, 0-3 Conference USA) with 20 points GRENADA — The Co-
on 7-of-16 shooting. Leonard Harper-Baker scored 14 points, and LaDavius Draine
lumbus boys and girls bas- Columbus Christian
scored 13. New Hope product Tyler Stevenson was scoreless on 0-of-6 shooting for
Southern Miss, which will face Texas-San Antonio on the road at 3 p.m. Saturday. ketball teams both posted Academy boys 91,
wins at Grenada on Thurs- Calhoun Academy 73
Smith helps EMCC hang on for win over Holmes day night. The Falcons STEENS — Lawson
Jakorie Smith scored 21 points to help the East Mississippi Community College boys won 69-61 behind 20 Studdard led the way with
men’s basketball team hang on for a 70-66 home win over Holmes Community points from Eric Caldwell, 33 points as the Columbus
College on Thursday in Scooba.
14 from Tre Dismuke and Christian Academy boys
The Lions improved to 9-4 on the season and 2-0 in the MACJC North division
with the victory. 10 from Blake Burnett. beat Calhoun Academy
Smith made 9 of his 12 shots and grabbed six rebounds for EMCC; Donte Pow- 91-73 at home Thursday.
ers had 14 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the free throw line as well as six rebounds
and six assists, and Arecko Gipson Jr. scored 10 points.
Columbus girls 68, For the Rams, Will
Teague scored 21 points,
The Lions will host Coahoma Community College at 7:30 p.m. Monday Grenada 27 and Dakota Shaw scored
GRENADA — The
13.
Columbus girls beat the
Women’s College Basketball Chargers 68-27 thanks to
CCA will travel to face
Ole Miss blown out by No. 23 Tennessee Kemper Academy today.
31 points, 10 rebounds,
The Ole Miss women’s basketball team exhibited major scoring struggles in
seven steals and four as-
Thursday’s home loss to No. 23 Tennessee at the Pavilion in Oxford.
The Rebels (8-8, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) lost 84-28, failing to score more sists from Aniya Saddler. Columbus Christian
than 12 points in a single quarter. Ole Miss scored six points in the first quarter, eight Sercora Tate added 10 Academy girls 68,
in the second, 12 in the third and two in the fourth.
Dominique Banks scored 12 points for Ole Miss, and Jayla Alexander scored
points for Columbus. Calhoun Academy 11
nine. The Rebels are dealing with the departure of guard Valerie Nesbitt, who left the STEENS — Kylie Em-
program earlier in the week. Starkville Academy girls erson scored 21 points as
Ole Miss travels to face LSU (12-3, 2-1 SEC) at 2 p.m. Sunday.
29, Choctaw County 28 the CCA girls beat Cal-
STARKVILLE — The houn Academy 68-11.
Southern Miss falls at home to UTEP Starkville Academy girls Cayden Harding add-
The Southern Miss women lost Thursday’s home game to Texas-El Paso 89-72 ed 12 points, and Audrey
at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg. team edged Choctaw
The Golden Eagles fell to 9-4 and 1-1 in Conference USA with the setback. County 29-28 on Thurs- Foreman scored 11.
Shonte Hailes had 28 points for Southern Miss in the defeat; Kelsey Jones day in Starkville.
scored 12, and Liz Gibbs scored 10.
“They’re very good. They’re very poised,” Southern Miss head coach Joye
Meri Laci Archer and Other scores
Lee-McNelis said of UTEP in a news release from the school. “They run everything Caroline Wood each West Lowndes boys 50,
like it’s a machine. They don’t make a lot of mistakes, so you have to force them to scored eight points to lead Nanih Waiya 42
make one. They’re making a turnaround from where they were a year ago with all the Volunteers in victory. Choctaw County boys
those injuries. Their freshmen have really bought into Kevin Baker’s culture and to Starkville Academy hosts 44, Starkville Aca. 40
what he expects. Any time a team struggles and makes a comeback, I’m proud of
them. Hats off to him; they very well may be the best team in the league.”
Southern Miss will host Texas-San Antonio at 4 p.m. Saturday at Reed Green
Coliseum. PREP SOCCER ROUNDUP
Strong defensive effort leads EMCC to win over Holmes
The East Mississippi Community College women’s basketball team locked in on
defense Thursday to defeat Holmes Community College 55-36 in Scooba.
Caledonia girls play to
a draw at Starkville
The Lions improved to 11-2 with the victory and have a 2-0 record in the MACJC
North.
Tye Metcalf led EMCC with 19 points Thursday. Freshman Ja’Mia Hollings
from West Point High School had her seventh double-double with 10 points and 10
rebounds. Maddie Riley had 10 points and 12 rebounds.
The Lions will host Coahoma Community College at 5:30 p.m. Monday. By Theo DeRosa worked hard, but in the
tderosa@cdispatch.com end we just didn’t put
SOURCE: From Special Reports
away the chances that we
STARKVILLE — The did have.”
CALENDAR Caledonia and Starkville The Blue Waves will
High girls soccer teams host St. Andrew’s today.
Today played to a 2-2 draw in
Prep Girls Soccer Thursday’s match at
Winona at New Hope, 5:30 p.m. Starkville. MSMS girls 7, Philadel-
St. Andrew’s at MSMS, 5:30 p.m. Claire Benson and Jane phia 0
South Pontotoc at Caledonia, 5:30 pm. Claire each scored for the PHILADELPHIA —
Prep Boys Soccer Confederates. Tierah Macon had a hat
Winona at New Hope, 7 p.m. Caledonia will host trick as the MSMS girls
St. Andrew’s at MSMS, 7 p.m. Pontotoc on Tuesday, and beat Philadelphia 7-0 on
South Pontotoc at Caledonia, 7:15 p.m. Starkville will host South Thursday in Philadelphia.
Prep Girls Basketball Panola on Monday. For the Blue Waves
New Hope at West Point, 6 p.m. (5-3-1, 2-2 district), Man-
Choctaw County at Noxubee County, 6 p.m.
Heritage Academy at Lamar, 6:30 p.m.
Grenada girls 8, dy Anderson scored and
had three assists, Emily
East Rankin Academy at Starkville Academy, 6 p.m. Columbus 0 Berry scored twice, and
Meridian HomeSchool at Starkville Christian, 6 p.m. GRENADA — The Co- Chloe Jackson scored.
Winona Christian at Oak Hill Academy, 6 p.m. lumbus High girls soccer Goalkeepers Amyria Kim-
Columbus Christian Academy at Kemper Academy, 6 p.m. team fell to 6-9-1 on the ble and Camille Newman
Prep Boys Basketball season with an 8-0 loss at each had three saves in
New Hope at West Point, 7:30 p.m. Grenada on Thursday. the shutout.
Choctaw County at Noxubee County, 7:30 p.m. The Falcons trailed 2-0 “We were pleased with
Germantown at Starkville, 7:30 p.m. at halftime, but the Char- the effort and the growth
Heritage Academy at Lamar, 7:30 p.m. gers scored six goals in as a team we’ve seen after
East Rankin Academy at Starkville Academy, 7:30 p.m. the second half, including our long winter break,”
Meridian HomeSchool at Starkville Christian, 7:30 p.m. two penalties. head coach Chuck Yarbor-
Winona Christian at Oak Hill Academy, 7:30 p.m. Goalkeeper C’Asia ough said.
Columbus Christian Academy at Kemper Academy, 7:30 Grayer saved seven shots
for Columbus.
p.m.
Men’s College Basketball The Falcons will host Starkville Academy
Pensacola Christian at MUW, 7 p.m. New Hope on Tuesday. boys 6, Magnolia
Heights 1
Saturday Philadelphia boys 2, STARKVILLE — Bro-
Prep Girls Basketball MSMS 1 dy Pierce recorded a hat
trick as the Starkville
Jackson Academy at Heritage Academy, 3 p.m. PHILADELPHIA —
Houston at Caledonia, 5 p.m. The Mississippi School Academy boys team beat
Okolona at West Point, 6 p.m. for Math and Science Magnolia Heights 6-1 in
Noxubee County at Potts Camp, 6 p.m. boys soccer team lost Tuesday’s home match.
Prep Boys Basketball Tuesday’s road match to Grant Smith, John
Jackson Academy at Heritage Academy, 4:30 p.m. Philadelphia, 2-1. Dylan Miller and Isaac
Houston at Caledonia, 6:30 p.m. Cameron Wright Lepard each chipped in
Okolona at West Point, 7:30 p.m. scored the only goal for a goal for the Volunteers
Noxubee County at Potts Camp, 7:30 p.m. the Blue Waves (3-5, 1-3 (2-2).
Men’s College Basketball district). The Vols will play in
Mississippi State at LSU, 7 p.m. “The boys fought hard the St. Joe Tournament on
Arkansas at Ole Miss, 5 p.m. and battled in an extreme- Saturday in Greenville.
Prep Girls Soccer ly difficult environment,
New Hope at Amory, 11 a.m. and I was so proud of Other scores
Prep Boys Soccer their perseverance and Starkville boys 2, Cale-
New Hope at Amory, 1 p.m. work ethic,” head coach donia 0
Starkville Academy, Columbus at St. Joes Winter Classic Tim Wood said in a news Grenada boys 3, Co-
(Greenville), TBA release from MSMS. “We lumbus 0

on the air
Today
GOLF
6 p.m. — PGA Tour: The Sony Open, Second Round, Hono-
lulu, GOLF
NBA BASKETBALL
6:15 p.m. — New Orleans at New York, ESPN
8:45 p.m. — LA Lakers at Dallas, ESPN

Saturday
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
11 a.m. — Alabama at Kentucky, ESPN
11 a.m. — Ohio State at Indiana, FOX
11 a.m. — Georgetown at Villanova, FS1
Noon — Baylor at Kansas, CBS
1 p.m. — Louisville at Notre Dame, ESPN
1 p.m. — Creighton at Xavier, FOX
3 p.m. — Syracuse at Virginia, ESPN
5 p.m. — Georgia at Auburn, ESPN
5 p.m. — Texas Tech at West Virginia, ESPN2
5 p.m. — Arkansas at Ole Miss, SECN
7 p.m. — Mississippi State at LSU, ESPN
NFL FOOTBALL
3:35 p.m. — NFC Divisional Playoff: Minnesota at San
Francisco, NBC
7:15 p.m. — AFC Divisional Playoff: Tennessee at Balti-
more, CBS

MISSISSIPPI STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Bulldogs beat Missouri to break program record with 14th straight road win
By Theo DeRosa
tderosa@cdispatch.com
COLUMBIA, Mo. —
The Mississippi State
women’s basketball team
set a school record for
most consecutive road
wins with a 79-64 victory
over Missouri on Thurs-
day in Columbia, Missou-
ri.
The No. 13 Bulldogs
(15-2, 3-0) led wire to
wire in their third straight
Southeastern Conference
win, starting off their con-
ference slate at 3-0.
“I am awfully proud
of my team today,” head
coach Vic Schaefer said in
a news release from Mis-
sissippi State. “Give Mis-
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
souri credit. They came
out and competed like I
knew they would. I just
have so much respect for
Robin Pingeton, her staff
and that team.”
Freshman Rickea
Jackson continued a hot
stretch of play with 21
points on 9-of-15 shoot-
ing and grabbed nine re-
bounds for the Bulldogs.
Jackson credited her
success Thursday to “just
my teammates finding
me,” she said. “They trust Missouri’s Jordan Roundtree dribbles while being
in me, and they know my defended by Mississippi State’s Jordan Danberry during
game, and just personnel Thursday’s game at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
knowing each other.” points. Danberry added
Graduate guard Jordan four rebounds, three as-
Danberry had another sists and four steals.
solid game, hitting eight
of her 15 shots for 18 to find success against a
FAMILY CIRCUS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Eric Blum/Columbia Daily Tribune
Missouri team that beat
them in Starkville last
season, jumping out to a
The Bulldogs were able 44-22 halftime lead.
“I am really proud of
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
Thirty years
ago, a friend
of my husband’s
roommate passed
away of AIDS and
was cremated. His
family had ostra-
cized him. I have
no idea who they
are or where they
are. The roommate
left and later died,
also from AIDS.
He left his friend’s
ashes in his old
room in my hus-
band’s house in
Dear Abby
the San Francisco
Bay area with instructions to
scatter them in Hawaii.
The ashes have been sitting
reverently in a cardboard box on
a shelf in our several homes for
all these 30 years. We are still
together, but getting old. There
is no paperwork of any kind. All
we know about the deceased is
his name and the fact that he
was a friend.
Before I die, I would like to
resolve this problem and arrange
for the ashes to have a perma-
nent resting place, preferably
in Hawaii. I have a nephew who
lives on the Big Island, where
the scattering should take place.
How should I proceed, in light of
the no paperwork problem? —
MIKE IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR MIKE: I applaud your
caring heart and your determi-
nation to carry out this man’s
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan.
10). Presentation earns points!
You have a way of making a
package irresistible, and it
applies to how you show up in
the world and all you put into it.
You’re thoughtful; you research;
and your timing is impeccable.
You’ll be hired and entertained,
cherished and awarded, and
most delighted by the smiles
you put on other faces. Pisces
and Aries adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 8, 39, 33, 1 and
18.
ARIES (March 21-April
19). The I Ching suggests that
natural attractions are futile to
resist, though maybe resistance
itself is the problem. Your best
moments come through a state
the way we came out and
started the game,” Schae-
fer said. “It was a 9-2 run,
and they had to call a
timeout. I didn’t think we
took our foot off the gas
that entire first half.”
But the Bulldogs let
the Tigers close the defi-
cit a bit in a second half
that didn’t please Schae-
fer. Missouri got the MSU
lead down to 14 points
twice in the fourth quar-
ter.
“Just like most young
teams, we can’t piece to-
gether four quarters,” he
said. “I didn’t think we
played hard the second
half. Our young kids just
can’t piece it together and
understand the impor-
last wishes. I took
your question to
Joshua Slocum,
executive director
of the Funeral
Consumers Alli-
ance, and this is
what he told me:
“There is no
impediment to
your taking the
ashes and placing
them where you
wish since there
are no relatives
who have an
interest in them.
If you plan to
carry them on an
airplane, be sure
to have them in a scannable
container — nothing metal or
such heavy earthenware that an
X-ray scanner would be prevent-
ed from seeing inside. There is
no requirement that you carry a
death certificate, or any other
certificate, with you. You do not
need ‘papers’ to walk around
with an urn or to travel with one.
“As far as scattering goes,
people scatter ashes all the
time. Cremated remains are
sterile calcium and no threat
at all to the environment. While
public lands usually discourage,
or prohibit by rule, scattering of
ashes, it is common practice
that cannot be stopped. Use
discretion and care — there is
no such thing as ‘ashes police.”’
DEAR ABBY: I am older and
on a fixed income. At times I
still date, and I’m not sure how
of surrender and complete
welcoming.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
The same event could bring
tears or bursts of laughter.
Either way, it makes you feel
a little more alive just to know
that all these feelings are run-
ning through you, ready to find
expression.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
Knowing and trusting yourself
usually comes easily to you, but
occasionally you hit pockets
of self-doubt that cause you
to reassess. It’s all part of the
pleasure for people like you
who choose to stay fresh and
relevant.
CANCER (June 22-July
22). The event du jour comes
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 3B
tance of doing it over and
over again.”
All in all, though, it
added up to a good-sized
win for Schaefer’s squad
in a place the Bulldogs
have found tough to con-
quer in recent years.
“This has not been an
easy place for us y’all.
anybody that’s followed
us through the course
of time, this has been a
Nightmare on Elm Street
part 18. And so for us to
come in here and play like
we did tonight, I’m really
proud of our kids.”
Mississippi State will
host LSU (12-3, 2-1 SEC)
at 7 p.m. next Thursday at
Humphrey Coliseum.
to handle this. After one or two
dinners out or glasses of wine,
etc., I feel my dates are waiting
for me to treat them, and I can’t
afford it. I don’t know how to
explain that I don’t have enough
money to do that.
I’m a very giving person,
and I would love to make them
dinner if I knew them better. One
time I brought someone a huge
amount of beautiful organic veg-
etables, but that wasn’t enough.
He was really upset I didn’t buy
him wine on one of the dates.
What to do? — REALLY WISH I
COULD
DEAR REALLY WISH: The
person who was really upset
that you didn’t buy him wine on
one of those dates should have
been told that you are on a fixed
income and it wasn’t within your
budget. You should also have
told him you were reciprocating
within your ability. If he needed
a drink that badly, he could have
paid for his own. You’re lucky to
be rid of him.
In the future, TELL the man
you are seeing that after you
know him better, you would love
to treat him to some home-
cooked meals, which might
actually be nicer than what
you can afford to buy him in a
restaurant. He might appreciate
both your candor and the food.
If he doesn’t, I think you will be
lucky to be rid of him, too.
P.S. Have you considered
paying the tab for a casual
breakfast, lunch or a coffee/
pastry date instead of dinner?
with a side of nervous energy.
Consider it a cosmic treat. You’ll
have to push through to find
(and expand) the limits of your
comfort zone.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The
quickest way to give yourself a
boost is to go for a walk in the
open air. Once the endorphins
are released, so will be your cre-
ativity, and new problem-solving
ideas will flow.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
You don’t have to seek special
programs or go out of your way
to develop yourself. Everything
good in the way of building
character comes from simply
rising to the challenges of life
that present themselves.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
Among the ultimate freedoms is
a freedom from reactivity. In los-
ing your fears and triggers, you
receive life’s wide and beautiful
range of options — choices that
are only available to those liber-
ated enough to notice them.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). One mode of operating
does not fit all. If there’s one
thing that will change the
outcome, it’s the pause you
take to read the room. You’ll be
shifting gears to fit the various
moments of the day.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). All of the feelings you’ll
have today will pass, be they
good, bad, big or small. What
sticks around longer is the
narrative woven around it all.
That can be tiresome. Consider
skipping that part if you can.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). The fun part of dancing,
conversing, playing ball and
so many other things we do
in life together is the slightly
unpredictable nature of the
back-and-forth bounce. The
important part here isn’t grace;
it’s reciprocity.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). The best teacher for you
right now is one you don’t have
to pay. You can’t pay for the
subtle give and take you need.
The buy-in is done at a soul
level with negotiations that are
wordless and emotional.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). What’s broken? Nothing
and no one. Things happen,
and they need to be dealt with,
not analyzed to death. Take out
the drama and the problem just
might eject right along with it.
Rule the roost
SOLUTION:
4B FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Usher Ministry Program
New Zion Pilgrim M.B. Church,
5253 New Hope Road, hosts its
Usher Ministry Program at 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 19. Guest speaker will be the
Rev. Bernard Henry of Infant Baptist
Church in Carrollton, Alabama. The
public is invited to attend. For more
information, call 662-327-5590.
Pastor Anniversary
Sixth Avenue M.B. Church, 1519
6th Ave. N., hosts its 4th Annual
Anniversary Program for Pastor W.C.
Talley at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Jan.
19. Guest speakers will be Min. Roby
and Pastor Leroy Shelton of Green-
field Baptist Church in Brooksville.
The public is invited to attend.
Appreciation Program
Spring Hill M.B. Church, 1692
Highway 25 S., hosts its 19th Annual
Pastor’s Appreciation program for
the Rev. Montrell Rucker and Sonja
Rucker at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Jan.
19. Guest speaker will be the Rev.
Marcus Lawrence and the Rev. Obadi-
ah Clemons of Meridian. The public is
invited to attend.
Anointed Painting
Sis. Geraldine Mixon and the
Joyce Clemmons Food Pantry hosts
“Tools for an Anointed Painting, God’s
Masterpiece” at 3 p.m. Jan. 19, at
Friendship M.B. Church, 1102 12th
Ave. S. Guest speakers will be Pastor
Fredrick Shelton, Pastor Annie Hines,
Sis. Renee Sanders, Sis. Barbara
Mattison, Bro. Joe Baldwin Jr. and
Pastor Stanley K. McCrary. Special
guest artist is Lillian Murray. An artist
and speaker meet and reception will
follow in the Fellowship Hall of the
church. Colors are purple and gold.
The public is invited to attend.
Youth Choir/Mime Team
Interest Meeting
Councilman Pierre Beard Sr.
hosts an interest meeting for the City
of Columbus Youth Choir and Mime
Team at 6 p.m. Jan. 20 at Canaan
Baptist Church, 2425 Bell Ave. Spon-
sors and volunteers as musicians,
singers and choreographers are
needed. For more information, call
Councilman Beard at 662-418-7329.
MLK Celebration
Mt. Peiler M.B. Church, 840 Hwy.
389 in Starkville, hosts its Annual
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Cele-
bration at 11 a.m. Jan. 20. Special
guest will be the Rev. Joseph Stone
and the Second Baptist M.B. Church
family. The public is invited to attend.
MLK Celebration
Davidson Chapel C.M.E. Church,
136 Martin Luther King Dr. in West
Point, hosts its Annual Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. Celebration on Jan.
20. The march will assemble at
East Half Mile Street and Dr. Martin
Luther King Street, commencing at
9 a.m. The program will begin at 9
a.m. at Mary Holmes College Gym-
nasium. Guest speaker will be the
Rev. Robert James of Stone County,
President of the Mississippi NAACP.
The theme is “Make It A Day On,
Not a Day Off”. The public is invited
to attend. For more information,
call Anna Jones, 662-494-1024 or
662-494-1173, or Willie Davis, 662-
295-3245.
School of Ministry
Enrollment
Mississippi State School of
Ministry is now taking applications
for enrollment. Earn a certification,
Religious briefs
associates, bachelor, master or
doctoral degree in divinity. For more
information, call Dr. Michael T. Boyd,
662-425-8443.
Forgive and Live
Forgive and Live meets from 6-7
p.m. every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of
each month in the downtown YMCA
Board Room. Inquire and seek infor-
mation to succeed spiritually, phys-
ically and financially and be eager
to be a blessing to the community,
churches and families through the
Word of God. The public is invited
to attend. For more information, call
Pat Fisher Douglas, 662-251-5899.
Fellowship Dinner, Youth
Service
Pleasant Ridge Faith Center,
923 Ridge Road, Columbus, hosts a
fellowship dinner and youth service
every 3rd Sunday.
Gospel Book Club
Friendship M.B. Church, 1102
12th Ave. S., invites the public to
join its Community Gospel Book
Club from 6-7 p.m., on the fourth
Friday of each month, to study and
share views of the Holy Bible. Open
to all ages and ethnicities. For more
information, call Lillian Murray, 662-
570-1974.
Grief Support Group
The Oil of Joy for Grief and
Mourning offers a grief support
group at 6 p.m. every 2nd Thursday
of the month at United Christian
Baptist Church, 232 Yorkville Road
East. “Making your grieving journey
easier.” For more information, call
662-327-0604 or e-mail unitedchris-
tian@cableone.net.
Celebrate Recovery
The Assembly Church, 2201 Mili-
tary Road, and Meadowview Church,
300 Linden Circle in Starkville, host
Celebrate Recovery at 6 p.m. every
Sunday at The Assembly Church
(next to Lowe’s) and at 6 p.m. every
Tuesday at Meadowview Church.
Get help, healing and support for
any habit, hurt or hang-up using the
Christ-centered 12 steps.
Divorce Recovery
The DivorceCare Recovery support
group meets from 4:30-6 p.m. each
Sunday beginning Jan. 12-April 5 at
Meadowood Baptist Church, 1512
Hatley Road in Amory. Child care pro-
vided through 5th grade. Standalone
seminar sessions topics are “Facing
My Anger”, “Facing My Loneliness”,
“New Relationships”, and “Forgive-
ness”. For more information, call
Meadowood Baptist Church, 662-
256-5616, or email meadowoodamo-
ry@gmail.com.
Prayer for Youth
Every 2nd and 3rd Saturday,
Pleasant Ridge Faith Center hosts a
prayer for the youth from 2-3 p.m.
Prayer, Free Coffee
Mount Zion Missionary Baptist
Church, 2221 14th Ave. N., hosts
free coffee and a prayer community
outreach service from 8-9 a.m.
every 5th Saturday. For information,
contact Jesse Slater, 662-328-4979.
Radio Program
Apostles Patrick Perkins invites
the public to tune in to WTWG, radio
1050 AM for Perfecting the Saints
Broadcast, Wednesdays 8:30 a.m.
Women Prayer,
Worship Service
Church of the Eternal Word, 106
22nd St. S., holds a prayer and
worship service every Thursday from
5-6 p.m. Call Marie Nabors, 662-
549-4322 or 662-329-1234, for
prayer requests.
Prayer Ministry
New Beginning Everlasting Out-
reach Ministry invites the public to
call in with their prayer requests at
662-327-9843.
Prayer Service
Church of the Eternal Word,
106 22nd. St. S., Columbus, holds
prayer service Thursday nights 5-6
p.m. Contact Marie Nabors, 662-
549-4322. Church service times:
Sunday school 10 a.m.; Sunday
worship 11:15 a.m.; Tuesday Bible
study 7 p.m. For information, call
Pastor District Elder Lou Nabors,
662-329-1234.
Fitness Transformations
The Transformational Church,
2301 Jess Lyons Road, hosts box-
ing lessons Mondays and Wednes-
day from 5-7 p.m., weight-loss boot
camp Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-7
p.m. and both on Saturdays 9-11
a.m.
Youth Fellowship
The Transformational Church,
2301 Jess Lyons Road, hosts Youth
Fellowship from 7-8:30 p.m. every
Tuesday. Games, prayer, service,
food, & more. Transportation
available. For information, call Iris
Roberson, 662-295-7456.

Worker help sought to combat Super Bowl human trafficking

‘We just encourage everyone to report
anything they see that looks suspicious’
Mary Rogers, Florida’s Fontainebleau Hotel vice
president and general manager
By CURT ANDERSON
The Associated Press
MIAMI BEACH, Fla.
— To combat human traf-
ficking during the Super
Bowl, law enforcement of-
ficials said Thursday that
they need hotel workers,
ride-hailing service driv-
ers and security person-
nel to be especially alert.
These are the people
most likely to encounter
the victims and perpetra-
tors of trafficking — and
would be able to provide
authorities with tips and
evidence of the crime
taking place, Florida At-
torney General Ashley
Moody said at the “No
Room for Trafficking”
conference, held at the
Fontainebleau Hotel.
The people most like-
ly to be enslaved for sex
work are young girls, offi-
cials said. They noted that
events such as the Feb.
2 Super Bowl, with all its
attendant parties, are ripe
for human and sex traf-
ficking. They also noted
that trafficking occurs
throughout the year, not
just during major events.
“We’re enlisting people
to help law enforcement,”
said Moody, who chairs
a statewide task force on
human trafficking. “Most
of the cases begin with
anonymous tips. That’s
how we’ll catch these
guys.”
The hospitality in-
dustry is taking notice.
Cecil Staton, president
and CEO of the Asian
American Hotel Owners
Association, said it’s bad
business for people who
run hotels to allow human
trafficking.
“No honest hotelier
wants human trafficking
on their property. We are
all about collaboration,”
certed effort that never
stops,” said Chip Rogers,
ceiver Albert Wilson, who
said the human traffick-
The office of Mi-
ami-Dade State Attorney
Staton said. president and CEO of the ing issue has special res- Katherine Fernandez
Mary Rogers, vice American Hotel & Lodg- onance to him because he Rundle operates a ho-
president and general ing Association. “It will grew up with five sisters. tline for tips and reports
manager at the Fontaineb- take all of our efforts to “It can happen to any- about human trafficking:
leau, said all of the hotel’s make this happen.” one,” Wilson said. “It’s 305-FIX-STOP or 305-
employees receive regu- Representing the NFL important for me to use 349-7867.
lar training on possible at Thursday’s event was my platform to get the “You can report it so
signs of human traffick- Miami Dolphins wide re- message out.” we can stop it,” she said.
ing: rooms where people
come and go at all hours,
cash payments and young
women who never leave
their rooms.
“We just encourage ev-
eryone to report anything
they see that looks suspi-
cious,” Rogers said. “We
really, really encourage
that culture.”
Similarly, authorities
want ride-hailing services
such as Uber and Lyft, as
well as taxi drivers, to be
aware of what is being
said in their vehicles and
to recognize when some-
thing doesn’t seem right.
Moody was participating
in a training event for
Uber drivers later Thurs-
day.
“It has to be a con-

US courts rule for border walls

both public and private
The Associated Press ruling actually went
against the U.S. govern-
WASHINGTON — ment’s position.
Crews could start build- Fisher Industries, a
ing a private border wall North Dakota-based con-
in South Texas within the struction firm, wants to in-
coming days following stall 3 miles of steel posts
a federal judge’s ruling about 35 feet from the U.S.
Thursday that lifted a re- bank of the Rio Grande,
straining order against the river that forms the
the project. U.S.-Mexico border in
U.S. District Judge
Texas. The company’s
Randy Crane’s order was
president, Tommy Fisher,
the second federal ruling
wants to spend $40 mil-
in two days in favor of bor-
lion on the private border
der barriers. On Wednes-
day, the 5th U.S. Circuit wall — originally promot-
Court of Appeals lifted a ed by a pro-Trump online
lower court’s stay that had fundraising group — to
prevented President Don- prove that his company
ald Trump’s administra- can build barriers more
tion from diverting $3.6 effectively.
billion from military con- The U.S. government
struction projects to fund sued to stop Fisher on the
175 miles of border wall. grounds that building so
While the White House close to the Rio Grande
on Thursday celebrated risked changing the flow
the appeals court’s ruling, of the river and potential-
saying it rightfully lifted ly pushing floodwaters
an “illegitimate nation- into Mexico, in violation
wide injunction,” Crane’s of treaty obligations. The
U.S. attorney’s office ar-
gued the project could
shift the river and the
international boundary,
which violated the presi-
dent’s authority “to con-
duct the foreign relations
of the United States.”
Existing segments of
fencing and the small sec-
tions that the government
is currently building typ-
ically run along the Rio
Grande levee or through
property a significant dis-
tance away from the riv-
er. The U.S. is currently
working to seize private
land to build more sec-
tions of wall in Texas.
Crane issued a re-
straining order in Decem-
ber, but lifted that order
Thursday. He also de-
clined to grant a restrain-
ing order at the request
of the National Butterfly
Center, a nonprofit locat-
ed next to the South Texas
construction site.

If you don’t read The Dispatch, how are you gonna know?
Classifieds
LEGALS
Call us: 662-328-2424
Legal Notices
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
NOTICE OF SALE
WHEREAS, the following ten-
ants entered into leases with
FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES for storage space in
which to store personal prop-
erty and
WHEREAS, default has been
made in the payment of rent
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES pursuant to said
Leases is authorized to sell the
personal property to satisfy the
past due and any other
charges owed to it by the fol-
lowing tenants.
NOW THEREFORE, notice is
hereby given that FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of- Auctions will begin at 8:30
fer for sale, and will sell at auc- A.M. on the 7th day of Febru-
tion to the highest bidder for
cash all personal property in
storage units leased by the fol- continue to all FRIENDLY CITY
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 903
Alabama St. Columbus, MS.
Auctions will begin at 8:30
A.M. on the 7th day of Febru-
ary, A.D. 2020 at 308 Shoney
Drive, Columbus, MS and will
continue to all FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in drawn from the sale at any
the following sequence: 903
Alabama Street, Columbus,
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum-
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69
South, Columbus, MS. All auc- be sold is believed to be good,
tions are with reserve and
therefore all units can be with- CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
drawn from the sale at any
time by the auctioneer/man-
ager.
Title to the personal property to Annotated Section 85-7-121 et
be sold is believed to be good, seq (Supp 1988).
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
convey only such title as is ves-
ted in it pursuant to its lease
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
Annotated Section 85-7-121 et this the 9th day of January,
seq (Supp 1988).
Courtney Harrison - 477
Mandy Brackin - 485
Coty Grant - 202
Kristi Dimuske - 209
Monnrika Spann - 471
Victoria Ferrell - 466
Aisha Jones - 370
Delvin Gardner - 463
Sylvester Craddieth Jr. - 474
Lofaette Kenrell Robinson- 475
Carrilla Stallings - 32
Ruby Sunivelle - 218
Oscar Taylor Jr. - 95
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
this the 9th day of February,
A.D. 2020.
FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSES
By: P.I.
Publish: 1/10, 1/17, &
1/24/2020
Legal Notices
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
NOTICE OF SALE
WHEREAS, the following ten-
ants entered into leases with
FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES for storage space in
which to store personal prop-
erty and
WHEREAS, default has been
made in the payment of rent
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES pursuant to said
Leases is authorized to sell the
personal property to satisfy the
past due and any other
charges owed to it by the fol-
lowing tenants.
NOW THEREFORE, notice is
hereby given that FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of-
fer for sale, and will sell at auc-
tion to the highest bidder for
cash all personal property in
storage units leased by the fol-
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 44
Beatty Road, Columbus, MS.
ary, A.D. 2020 at 308 Shoney
Drive, Columbus, MS and will
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in
the following sequence: 903
Alabama Street, Columbus,
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum-
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69
South, Columbus, MS. All auc-
tions are with reserve and
therefore all units can be with-
time by the auctioneer/man-
ager.
Title to the personal property to
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
convey only such title as is ves-
ted in it pursuant to its lease
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
Damon Cruse - 41
Lenward Colvin - 18 & 19
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
A.D. 2020.
FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSES
By: P.I.
Publish: 1/10, 1/17, &
1/24/2020
The following vehicles have
been abandoned at Cole's
Wrecker Service, 1207 Gard-
ner Blvd., Columbus, MS
39702:
2013 Dodge Charger Black
VIN # 2C3CDXBG8DH502572
2013 Hyundai Genesis Silver
VIN # KMHGC4DD1DU239643
Auction will be held Jan 11 ,
2020 @ 10:00 a.m. at Coles
Wrecker Service, 1207 Gard-
ner Blvd., Columbus, MS
39702.
PUBLISHED: 1/3/2020 &
1/10/2020
All notices must be
emailed to
classifieds@
cdispatch.com.
Looking for goods
or services?
Find it in the
classifieds!
Just a click away!
Legal Notices
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
NOTICE OF SALE
WHEREAS, the following ten-
ants entered into leases with
FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES for storage space in
which to store personal prop-
erty and
WHEREAS, default has been
made in the payment of rent
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE- tions are with reserve and
HOUSES pursuant to said
Leases is authorized to sell the drawn from the sale at any
personal property to satisfy the time by the auctioneer/ man-
past due and any other
charges owed to it by the fol-
lowing tenants.
NOW THEREFORE, notice is
hereby given that FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of- convey only such title as is ves-
fer for sale, and will sell at auc- ted in it pursuant to its lease
tion to the highest bidder for
cash all personal property in
storage units leased by the fol- Annotated Section 85-7-121 et
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 4504
Highway 69 South, Columbus,
MS. Auctions will begin at 8:30
A.M. on the 7th day of Febru-
ary, A.D. 2020 at 308 Shoney
Drive, Columbus, MS and will
continue to all FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in Patty Jean Henderson - 127
the following sequence: 903
Alabama Street, Columbus,
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum-
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69
South, Columbus, MS. All auc- this the 9th day of January,
tions are with reserve and
therefore all units can be with-
drawn from the sale at any
time by the auctioneer/man-
ager.
Title to the personal property to
be sold is believed to be good,
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
convey only such title as is ves-
ted in it pursuant to its lease
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
Annotated Section 85-7-121 et
seq (Supp 1988).
Billy Ferguson - 42
Tyrone Crowell - 4
Eddie Harris - 92
Bessie Montgomery - 27
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
this the 9th day of January,
A.D. 2020.
FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSES
By: P.I.
Publish: 1/10, 1/17, &
1/24/2020
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
NOTICE OF SALE
WHEREAS, the following ten-
ants entered into leases with
FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES for storage space in
which to store personal prop-
erty and
WHEREAS, default has been
made in the payment of rent
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE- Columbus,
HOUSES pursuant to said
Leases is authorized to sell the Facsimile: (662) 328-8937
personal property to satisfy the david@lawyerowen.com
past due and any other
charges owed to it by the fol-
lowing tenants.
NOW THEREFORE, notice is
hereby given that FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of-
fer for sale, and will sell at auc-
tion to the highest bidder for
cash all personal property in
storage units leased by the fol-
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 308
Shoney Drive Columbus, MS,
at 8:30 am on the 7th day of
February, A.D. 2020 and will
continue to all FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in
the following sequence: 903
Alabama Street, Columbus,
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum-
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69
South, Columbus, MS. All auc-
tions are with reserve and
therefore all units can be with-
drawn from the sale at any
time by the auctioneer/ man-
ager.
Title to the personal property to
be sold is believed to be good,
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
convey only such title as is ves-
ted in it pursuant to its lease
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
Annotated Section 85-7-121 et
seq (Supp 1988).
Sharon Little - 276
AJ Budgins - 155 & 212
The best place for personalized
Kitty Davis - 64 & 65
Patty Jean Henderson - 127
advertising in your community.
Deanna Carter - 226
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
this the 9th day of January,
A.D. 2020.
FRIENDLY CITY
ads.cdispatch.com
MINI-WAREHOUSES
By: P.I.
Publish: 1/10, 1/17, &
1/24/2020
CUSTOMIZE YOUR AD:
Featured ads $5 Sponsored ads $3
Premium placement
on classifieds home page.
Highlight $3
Highlight your ad
with a dash of color.
WHEREAS, the following ten-
ants entered into leases with
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES for storage space in
which to store personal prop-
erty and
WHEREAS, default has been
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
made in the payment of rent
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE- dersigned upon the estate of
HOUSES pursuant to said
Leases is authorized to sell the is hereby given to all persons
personal property to satisfy the having claims against the es-
past due and any other
charges owed to it by the fol-
lowing tenants.
NOW THEREFORE, notice is
hereby given that FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of- will be forever barred.
Legal
fer forNotices
sale, and will sell at auc- Legal Notices
tion to the highest bidder for
cash all personal property in
storage units leased by the fol-
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 308
Shoney Drive Columbus, MS,
at 8:30 am on the 7th day of
February, A.D. 2020 and will
continue to all FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in David Owen (MSB#3963)
the following sequence: 903
Alabama Street, Columbus,
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum-
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69
South, Columbus, MS. All auc- Facsimile: (662) 328-8937
therefore all units can be with-
ager.
Title to the personal property to
be sold is believed to be good,
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
seq (Supp 1988).
Sharon Little - 276
AJ Budgins - 155 & 212
Kitty Davis - 64 & 65
Deanna Carter - 226
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
A.D. 2020.
FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSES
By: P.I.
Publish: 1/10, 1/17, &
1/24/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF VICKIE REED, DE-
CEASED
NO. 2019-0159-F
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters testamentary having
been granted on the 20th day
of September, 2019, by the
Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, to the un-
dersigned upon the estate of
Vickie Reed, deceased, notice
is hereby given to all persons
having claims against the es-
tate to present the same to the
Clerk of said Court for probate
and registration according to
law within ninety (90) days
from the date of the first pub-
lication of this notice, or they
will be forever barred.
THIS the 20th day of Septem-
ber, 2019.
Service Directory
RAYMOND REED, AS ADMINIS-
TRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF
VICKIE REED, DECEASED
OF COUNSEL:
David Owen (MSB#3963)
Promote your small business starting at only $25
Attorney at Law
124 5th Street North
MS 39701
Automotive Services
Telephone: (662) 328-2651
CARL HOGAN TOYOTA
PUBLISH: 1/3, 1/10, &
Robert W.
1/17/2020
Jamerson
Sales/Leasing
Professional
$200 for Every
Buying Referral!
3907 Hwy. 45 N. • Columbus, MS
© The Dispatch
Office: 662-241-6000
Cell: 708-955-3085
jamersonrobert@gmail.com
www.carlhogantoyota.com
Are you a painter?
Advertise here!
NO. 2019-0159-F
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters testamentary having
been granted on the 20th day
of September, 2019, by the
Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, to the un-
Vickie Reed, deceased, notice
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
tate to present the same to the
Clerk of said Court for probate
and registration THE DISPATCH
according to n CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 n 5B
law within ninety (90) days
from the date of the first pub-
lication of this notice, or they
General Help Wanted Apts For Rent: North
THIS the 20th day of Septem-
ber, 2019. THE COMMERCIAL DIS- FOX RUN APARTMENTS
PATCH seeks a motivated, 1 & 2 BR near hospital.
RAYMOND REED, AS ADMINIS- contracted carrier for the
$595−$645 monthly.
TRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF
VICKIE REED, DECEASED Brooksville & Macon area. Military discount, pet area,
Excellent opportunity to pet friendly, and furnished
OF COUNSEL: earn money for college. corporate apts.
Must have good transporta- 24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL
tion, valid driver's license GYM. ON SITE SECURITY.
Attorney at Law & insurance. Delivers on ON SITE MAINTENANCE.
124 5th Street North
Columbus, MS 39701
Sunday morning and Mon.- ON SITE MANAGEMENT.
Fri. afternoons. Apply at 24−HOUR CAMERA
Telephone: (662) 328-2651
The Commercial Dispatch, SURVEILLANCE. Benji &
david@lawyerowen.com 516 Main Street in Colum- Ashleigh, 662−386−4446.
bus. No phone calls
PUBLISH: 1/3, 1/10, & please.
1/17/2020 STUDIO APARTMENT FOR
RENT. Hwy. 45 between
Columbus & CAFB.
Restaurant / Hotel No pets. No smoking.
Employment
$400 rent & $400 deposit.
662−328−2340.
Call us: 662-328-2424 Apts For Rent: West
VIP
Customer Service
Rentals
FRONT DESK RETAIL
RECEPTIONIST NEEDED.
M-F 7:45-5:00
Every other Sat 7:30-12:00 Apartments & Houses
Must have valid drivers
license. Good customer 1 Bedrooms
service skills a must.
Email resume to
2 Bedroooms
lcrt@cableone.net 3 Bedrooms
Furnished & Unfurnished
LOCAL COMPANY looking
for receptionist/secretary. 1, 2, & 3 Baths
Previous experience Lease, Deposit
helpful but not necessary.
Computer skills a must. & Credit Check
Email resume to: viceinvestments.com
327-8555
job106@cdispatch.com OR
mail to: Blind Box 673, c/o
The Commercial Dispatch,
PO Box 511,
Columbus, MS 39703. Apts For Rent: Other
Rentals
1ST MONTH − RENT FREE!
General Help Wanted 1−2 BR Apt: $350−395
1−2BR TwnHome:
GARDEN CENTER $625−650
EMPLOYMENT: Ads starting at $25 Lease, Dep, Credit Check.
Sales experience, basic Coleman Realty
knowledge of plants & Apts For Rent: North 662−329−2323
landscape maintenance.
Submit work experience/ Large 1 Bedroom, upstairs
history & 3 references to: apartment for rent. $450/ SEVERAL 2 & 3 BR UNITS
AVAILABLE. Various
Blind Box 672 c/o month and $450 deposit.
The Commercial Dispatch Water, Sewer, and Trash locations−$435.00 & up.
PO Box 511 included. No Pets. No NO HUD. Call Long & Long
Columbus, MS 39703 Smoking. Located between @ 662−328−0770.
Columbus and CAFB.
$450.00. 205−243−3653.
GENERAL LABORER
needed. Valid driver's li-
cense, transportation & ex-
perience required. Will train 1BR/1BA DUPLEX APT. Have a rental property?
on the job if needed. Call
Jesse & Beverly's Lawn
1015 11th Ave. N. $300/ List it here for fast results.
mo. Water furnished. Call
Service at 662-356-6525. Doris, 662−630−0208, ads.cdispatch.com
Building & Remodeling General Services Painting & Papering
HOME REPAIRS &
MAINTENANCE
WORK WANTED:
Licensed & Bonded.
SULLIVAN’S PAINT
SERVICE Special Prices.
Work wanted. Carpentry,
concrete, electrical &
Carpentry, minor electrical,
minor plumbing, insulation,
Interior and Exterior
Painting. 662−435−6528
plumbing, shingle & metal
roofing, fascia & soffit
painting, demolition,
gutters cleaned, pressure
repairs, pressure washing washing, landscaping,
& mobile home repairs. cleanup work, moving help.
No Job Too Small.
662−549−7031.
662−242−3608.
GRAVEL
M&M Garage Door Service
Servicing and repairing
$360 per load.
Local delivery, 14 yd truck.
residential and commercial Backhoe & Dozer work.
garage doors. We also offer 662−497−1388 Grow your business
with the classified
competitive pricing on new
residential door Lawn Care / Landscaping
service directory.
installation. Serving the
golden triangle for 20 plus
years, with honesty and
JESSE & BEVERLY’S
LAWN SERVICE
integrity. Call today for Mowing, cleanup,
prices on new installs and landscaping, sodding, Read local.
garage door services. cdispatch.com
& tree cutting.
662−251−4904. 662−356−6525
Preferred placement in search
results and highlighted online.
Graphic $10.50
Enhance your ad with
an attention getter.
ADS STARTING AT
$12
6B FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Apts For Rent: Other Mobile Homes for Rent Lots & Acreage

3BR/2BA Trailer, New

Hope school dist. $500/
mo & $500 dep. No pets,
no drugs, no partying. Call
b/w 10a−7p. 662−386−
4292. NO TEXT MGS.
New Hope Mobile Home
Park 2 prime lots open
− BRING YOUR HOME!
Andrews Mobile Home
Park has 2 prime
mobile home/RV lots
for rent in quiet heart of
WINTER SPECIAL. 1.75
acre lots. Good/bad credit.
10% down, as low as
$299/mo. Eaton Land.
662−361−7711.
Looking for a new home?
Let us help, shop here.
Community ON THE WEB
Ads starting at $12 Visit www.cdispatch.com
Good Things To Eat for a printable copy of
THE TOMATO HOUSE these puzzles.
Vine−ripened hydroponic
tomatoes & more! Available
now! 16132 Hwy 45 N,
Macon, next to Noxubee Co
High School. 662−352−
1270 or 662−425−9116.
Pets

New Hope. Roll your
new home right in.
Availability limited, so
act fast and be a part of
our friendly established
community! Application
& references required.
Lot 1 − small lot
COLEMAN between great
neighbors, ideal for long
RENTALS −term RV. We will
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS prepare electric pole.
$175/month includes
1 BEDROOM water and sewer. First
2 BEDROOMS month free with 6
month lease and
3 BEDROOMS deposit.
Lot 6 − oversized lot
LEASE,
© The Dispatch
Garage Sales
AKC GERMAN SHEPHERD
PUPPIES. Exc. ped. Blk/
red. Vet checked, w/s,
Two free signs wormed. Ready to go! 662
−213−4609.
Estate Sales
2212 NEW HOPE RD.
LINEBACK DUN MARE
HORSE. 6 yrs. old. $200.
Indoor Garage Sale. Rain or Call 662−242−0703.
shine. All day Fri., Sat. &
Sun. Lots of shoes,
clothes, purses, tables,
dishes, jewelry, etc.
901−293−7608.
INSIDE ESTATE/MOVING

ideal for 16 x 80 or SALE

DEPOSIT
Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
double wide, $185/ 446 Merry Valley Dr.
AND month includes water
and sewer. We will
Columbus, MS
Sat., Jan. 11; 7a−until
CREDIT CHECK prepare site. First
month free with
Furniture, TVs, bass boat,
lamps, etc. Sudoku
Sudoku is a number-
placing puzzle based on
Yesterday’s answer
662-329-2323 minimum 12 month
lease. Please call Pam,
Everything Must Go!
Rain or Shine!
Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis
ber-placing
witha several
num- 3 2 7 6 1 5 4 9 8
given numbers.puzzleThe object 1 9 4 8 7 2 6 5 3

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

601−310−3528.
2411 HWY 45 N Garage Sales: North based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 5 8 6 3 9 4 7 2 1
COLUMBUS, MS grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 6 3 9 4 5 1 2 8 7
Office Spaces For Rent INSIDE SALE! Fri: 9−6 @ given
so thatnumbers.
each row, each The 7 4 1 2 8 9 5 3 6
310 24th Ave N. DR table
Commercial Property For Rent object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place box
w/ 6 chairs, armoire, pics,
numbers 8 5 2 7 6 3 1 4 9
contains the1same to 9 number
in
OFFICE SPACE FOR
linens, dishes, accessories
RESTAURANT SPACE LEASE. 1112 Main St.,
& womens scrubs. the empty spaces so 4 7 8 5 3 6 9 1 2
AVAILABLE. 1200 sq. ft. Ste. 5. 3700 sq. ft. only once. The difficulty 2 1 3 9 4 7 8 6 5
Plenty of private parking. that each row, each
$1100/mo. Serious level increases from
662−327−9559. column and each 9 6 5 1 2 8 3 7 4
Merchandise
inquiries only. 662−328−
8655 or 662−574−7879. Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 1/09

Houses For Rent: East the same number only once. The difficulty level

2BR/1BA. Gas heat &

stove. Convenient to
Real Estate Ads starting at $12 increases from Monday to Sunday.

Firewood / Fuel
shopping. 133 King St. Ads starting at $25
$525/mo. Call 662−352−
4776. FIREWOOD FOR SALE.
Commercial Property For Sale Various lengths.
662−295−2274.
3 OR 4BR/1.5BA. Newly SENSATION ADULT
renovated, w/d hookup, all
stainless steel appliances
STORE/SMOKE SHOP
For Sale. 662−549−4760.
General Merchandise
Five Questions:
included, fenced backyard. WANTED FREON R12.
Call 662−425−6954. We pay CA$H.
Houses For Sale: North
1 Tiger
R12 R500 R11.
4BR/2.5BA BRICK HOME Convenient.
located on large lot w/ 2 FSBO: 3BR/2BA, 3304 5th Certified professionals.
car garage. Fresh paint & St N. Fenced back yard w/ refrigerantfinders.com/ad
tile floors in kitchen & sm shop. Great neighbor− 312−291−9169
2 Cheetah
bathrooms. Located at hood. $110,000. 662−356
495 Emerald Dr. $1,200/ −4764 or 901−848−0051. Sporting Goods
mo + dep. Available 2/1.
770−658−7726. Houses For Sale: Caledonia ED SANDERS GUNSMITH
OPEN FOR SEASON!
Mobile Homes for Rent
FSBO: 3BR/2BA ON 2.5 9−5: Tues−Fri &
9−12: Sat.
3 Cy Young
ACRES. 1600 sqft.
Award
2BR MOBILE HOME $400 Over 50 years experience!
mo./$400 dep. In between Completely remodeled.
$178,000. 662−386− Repairs, cleaning,
West Point & Columbus on refinishing, scopes
Hwy. 50. 662−275−0666. 7113.
mounted & zeroed,
handmade knives.
2BR/2BA. All appliances
included. CH/A, water
Lots & Acreage Located: Hwy 45 Alt, North
of West Point, turn right on
4 Long Island
furnished. $450 mo. + 1 ACRE OF LAND on Sand Yokahama Blvd, 8mi & turn
$300 dep. Must have Rd. Has a mobile home w/ left on Darracott Rd, see

5 Nicki Minaj
references. 662−356− water, lights, septic tank & sign, 2.5mi ahead, shop on
6413 or 662−251−5003. elevated. 662−241−7384. left. 662−494−6218.

ACROSS
1 Use the tub
6 Light lunch
11 Broadway
worker
12 Suspect’s
story
13 Distorts
14 Thin cookie
15 Abound
17 Stiff drink
18 Ran away
20 Role for Peck
Whether you’re buying or selling a home, 22 — Gatos
23 Seriocomic

put classifieds to work for you. show

26 Set free
28 “The Godfa- DOWN formers
ther” group 1 Do restaurant 23 Profound
29 Check recip- work 24 Terrible
ients 2 Invite 25 Talks at
31 Sitcom 3 Margaret length
planet Atwood book 27 Magnetite,
32 Act sullen 4 Chopped down e.g.
33 God of war 5 Gaelic 30 Spectrum end
34 Answer from 6 Carpentry tool 33 Cartoon
the flock 7 Mobile setting genre
36 Finished 8 Margaret 34 Speedy horse
38 Talk at length Atwood book 35 Artist’s inspi-
40 Acted out 9 Third person ration
43 Texas player 10 Grime 37 Skip
44 Mirror sight 16 Spoil 39 Negating
45 Plague 18 Mess up word
46 Joint part 19 Solitary 41 Sense of self
21 Corny per- 42 Cub’s cave