Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi
CDISPATCH.COM
BUSINESS MOVES WITH MARY
Flexsteel permanently closes Starkville facility
PLUS: Area businesses
start to reopen; new
grocery delivery in GT
BY MARY POLLITZ
Biz@cdispatch.com
T
he Flexsteel furniture manufac-
turing facility will permanently
close in Starkville as soon as
June.
Company officials announced the
Starkville plant closure on Industrial
Park Road, along with a second plant
in Dubuque, Iowa, in a press release
Wednesday morning. The release noted
the estimated June closure could come
“sooner or later based on business
conditions.”
On Tuesday Flexsteel officials
released the company’s third quarter
SHS, Columbus High plan virtual graduations; LCSD
schools ‘still holding out’ hope for big ceremony
Nyah Horsley, right, takes her graduation gown and stole from Herff Jones sales representative Marc Devenney
outside Starkville High School on Wednesday. The graduating seniors will walk across the Greensboro Center
stage from May 11 to May 13 in the presence of a few family members and be filmed receiving their diplomas for
a full ceremony video to be broadcast online May 22.
SHS and CHS will pre-record ceremonies and post them online May 22 and 23
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com
Under normal circumstances,
Starkville High School seniors
would have picked up their gradua-
tion gowns and mortarboards in the
school gym during their lunch peri-
ods on Wednesday.
Instead, a line of cars circled
slowly through the parking lot
behind the school for an hour as
masked sales representatives from
Herff Jones handed packages to stu-
dents and parents through their car
WEATHER
Alex Luccasen
Fifth grade, Annunciation
72 Low 48
High
Sunny
Full forecast on
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Thursday | April 30, 2020
earnings, which
revealed a $5.3
million net loss.
Flexsteel has
been a long-
term employer
in Starkville
since first open-
ing in 1985.
The Dispatch
previously re-
ported in 2011 it Mary Pollitz
was Starkville’s
sixth largest
employer with more than 300 workers.
Although those numbers have since
decreased, it doesn’t negate the impact
that Flexsteel had on Starkville.
The Starkville facility, which ac-
Tess Vrbin/Dispatch Staff
cording to the press release employs Flexsteel’s furniture manufacturing plant in Starkville will close as soon as June,
approximately 170 workers, primarily company leaders announced Wednesday, citing ongoing industry challenges made
manufactures furniture products for worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. The plant on Industrial Park Road employs about
See BUSINESS, 6A 170 workers.
Area circuit courts
having terms with
no trials
State supreme court
order keeps clerks
from summoning jurors
through at least May 18
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com
Oktibbeha County
Circuit Court looks
very different this
term.
Bailiffs are sta-
tioned at courthouse
entrances taking the
temperatures of ev-
Rook
eryone going in and
out of the building. Court staff, de-
fendants and other visitors are all
wearing masks, and anyone who
may have come into contact with
COVID-19 coronavirus is having to
call the circuit clerk’s office before
entering the building.
Perhaps the biggest difference,
though, is there are no trials sched-
uled, thanks to a state supreme
See CIRCUIT COURTS, 3A
Tess Vrbin/Dispatch Staff
8-year-old
Starkville boy dies
windows. Columbus High School embrace it and let’s in Hwy 25 car crash
students picked up their own mem- not get upset about BY TESS VRBIN
orabilia on Friday. it,’” McDonnall said. tvrbin@cdispatch.com
Both schools have had to reimag- “We’re going to re-
ine their graduation ceremonies member this one for- A two-vehicle wreck on Highway
due to the COVID-19 coronavirus ever, so start thinking 25 in southern Oktibbeha County
pandemic. SHS Principal Sean Mc- now (about) how we claimed the life of an 8-year-old
Donnall said plans to adapt began in can do graduation vir- Starkville boy and injured two oth-
McDonnall
March as soon as in-person classes tually.” er family members Wednesday af-
were canceled and he had to meet Both SHS and CHS will broadcast ternoon.
with senior class leadership via tele- their pre-filmed graduation ceremo- Wyatt Rodgers was pronounced
conference. nies on May 22 and 23, respectively, dead at OCH Regional Medical
“I told them, ‘Guys, I’m sorry, the days they were supposed to hold Center after the collision near the
we’re going to do as much as we can the ceremony in person at the Hum-
highway’s intersection with Craig
to make this memorable, so let’s See GRADUATIONS, 6A Springs Road, a Mississippi High-
way Patrol press release says.
See WRECK, 3A
FIVE QUESTIONS LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC
1 What was the name of the video star- MEETINGS
ring Judson Laipply performing over 30 May 1: Starkville Board
dances in six minutes that snagged 290 of Aldermen work ses-
million views in 2006? sion, 10 a.m., City Hall
2 What singer renamed a Silver Dollar City May 4: Oktibbeha Coun-
theme park in Tennessee after herself? ty Board of Supervisors
3 What McDonald’s item is known as “Le
Royal” in France? meeting, Chancery
Courthouse, 9 a.m.
4 Which actor plays Mike, who returns
May 5: Starkville Board
with the Kings of Tampa in the 2015 mov-
ie sequel “Magic Mike XXL”? of Aldermen meeting,
5 Name two of the four U.S. presidents 5:30 p.m., City Hall
who have won a Nobel Peace Prize. May 12: Starkville-Ok-
Answers, 5B tibbeha Consolidated
School District Board
of Trustees meeting, 6
p.m., 401 Greensboro
INSIDE St.
Business 4B Dear Abby 3B May 15: Starkville
Classifieds 5B Obituaries 5A Board of Aldermen work
Comics 3B Opinions 4A session, 10 a.m., City
Crossword 5B Jennifer Brady of Columbus is a huge Elvis fan. Hall
DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471
2A THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
Obituaries with basic information 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 available for a fee. Obituaries
must be submitted through funeral homes
unless the deceased’s body has been
donated to science. If the deceased’s
body was donated to science, the family
must provide official proof of death. Please
submit all obituaries on the form provided
by The Commercial 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 received no later than 7:30 a.m. for the
Monday through Friday editions. Paid notic-
es 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 information,
call 662-328-2471.
Geraldine Turman
WEST POINT — Geraldine
Bridges Turman, 89, died April
22, 2020, at North Mississippi
Medical Center in Tupelo.
A private family graveside ser-
vice was held Sunday in Green-
wood Cemetery, with the Rev.
Jeff Shannon officiating. Calvert
Funeral Home of West Point was
in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Turman was born Jan.
23, 1931, in Webster County, to
the late Preston Young and Ruby
Bridges Young. She was formerly
employed as a pharmacy clerk
and was a member of Christ Unit-
ed Methodist Church.
In addition to her parents,
she was preceded in death by
her husband, William Andrew
Turman Jr; and brother, James T.
Young.
She is survived by her chil-
dren, Stephen Turman of West
Point and Tim Turman of Pheba;
siblings, Carl Young of Shreve-
port, Louisiana and Paul Young
of Hattiesburg; and four grand-
children.
Memorials may be made to
Sally Kate Winters Children’s
Home, P.O. Box 1233, West Point,
MS 39773 or to Christ United
Methodist Church, 1230 Oak
Drive, West Point, MS 39773.
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
AREA OBITUARIES
Charles Gaskin Jr
WEST POINT — Charles
“Chuck” L. Gaskin Jr, 63, died
April 16, 2020, at his residence.
A private family graveside
service was held April 18, 2020,
in Memorial Garden Cemetery,
with the Rev. Melvin Mordecai
officiating. Calvert Funeral
Home of West Point was in
charge of arrangements.
Mr. Gaskin was born Aug.
4, 1956, in Houston, to the late
Charles Lee Gaskin Sr and Har-
riet Lorraine Turman Gaskin.
He was formerly employed as a
plant manager with West Point
Cabinet and was a member of
First Presbyterian Church.
In addition to his parents, he
was preceded in death by his
sister, Lora Galvan.
He is survived by his wife,
Deborah Gaskin of West Point;
children, Lindsey Henderson
of Lexington Park, Maryland
and Matt Gaskin of West Point;
siblings, Manuella Melton,
Angelica Smith, Jim Gaskin and
James Saylors.
Memorials may be made to
American Stroke Foundation,
6405 Metcalf Avenue; Suite 214,
Overland Park, Kansas 66202.
Yvonne Neal
COLUMBUS — Yvonne Neal,
69, died April 22, 2020, in Fort
Worth, Texas.
Arrangements are incomplete
and will be announced by Lee-
Sykes of Columbus.
Ned Whitfield
COLUMBUS — Ned Lee
Whitfield, 65, died April 26,
2020.
Arrangements are incomplete
and will be announced by Lee-
Sykes of Columbus.
Tommy Davies
WEST POINT — Tommy
Hubert Davies, 89, died April 14,
2020.
Services will be announced
by Calvert Funeral Home of
West Point.
Mr. Davies was born Nov. 4,
1930, in Seminole, Oklahoma,
to the late Thomas Henry and
Sarah Short Davis. He was a
veteran and a graduate of Mis-
sissippi State College. He was
formerly employed with Motor
Transport Company, Mississippi
State forestry Commission and
Southern Natural Gas Company.
He was a member of West Point
Church of God.
In addition to his parents, he
was preceded in death by his
sister, Patricia Davis McBryde.
He is survived by his wife,
Paulette W. Davies of West
Point; son, Christopher Davies
of Little Rock, Arkansas; and
one grandchild.
Memorials may be made to
St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place,
Memphis, TN 38105.
Elizabeth Cook
WEST POINT — Elizabeth
“Liz” Riley Cook, 97, died April
12, 2020, at he residence.
Private family graveside
services were held at Memorial
Garden Cemetery, with the Rev.
Darian Duckworth officiating.
Calvert Funeral Home of West
Point was in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mrs. Cook was born April, 19,
1922, in Okolona, to the late Dal-
ton and Rena Tacker Riley. She
was a member of First United
Methodist Church.
In addition to her parents, she
was preceded in death by her
husband, Jesse Bibb Cook; and
brother, Dave “Bud” Riely.
She is survived by her daugh-
ter, Mary Bibb Collier of Mem-
phis, Tennessee.
Memorials may be made to
First United Methodist Church,
P.O. Box 293, West Point, MS
39773 or to St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude
Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Jimmy Hatchett
COLUMBUS — Jimmy Earl
Hatchett, 54, died April 29,
2020, at Baptist Memorial Hospi-
tal-Golden Triangle.
Arrangements are incom-
plete and will be announced by
Carter’s Funeral Services of
Columbus.
See OBITUARIES, 5A

Circuit courts
Continued from Page 1A
court order last month
mandating clerks not call
jurors to the courthouse
before May 18.
“In other words, no
cases will go to trial this
term,” Oktibbeha County
Circuit Clerk Tony Rook
said. “That is a significant
distinction between this
term and ordinary terms
of court.”
The supreme court
emergency administra-
tive order was one of sev-
eral issued in the wake of
the COVID-19 coronavi-
rus pandemic as judges
around the state attempt
to minimize the num-
ber of people gathering
at courthouses. It also
gave judges discretion to
control their dockets and
postpone trials, and said
attorneys, witnesses and
other parties should con-
tact clerks before coming
to the courthouse if there
is a possibility that they
have come into contact
with the virus.
Oktibbeha County’s
circuit court term began
Monday and lasts two
weeks, and each term
sees an average of 275
cases, Rook said. In a typ-
ical term, the majority of
those defendants, as well
as their attorneys, would
be at the courthouse at
some point during the
two-week period. In tri-
als, the defendant and
attorneys would be there
along with jurors, wit-
nesses — who often trav-
el from outside the county
— and family members.
The lack of trials and
Wreck
Continued from Page 1A
Brad Murphy, 36, of Philadel-
phia rear-ended the vehicle driv-
en by Jamie Rodgers, 34, at about
4:15, the release says. Rodgers’
passengers included his wife, Hol-
ly, 25, and sons Wyatt and 5-year-
old Maximus
Both Holly Rodgers and Max-
imus Rodgers were taken from
OCH to a Jackson hospital to be
treated for their injuries, and Mur-
phy and Jamie Rodgers were un-
injured, MHP Public Information
Officer Sgt. Derrick Beckom said.
Wyatt was a second-grader
at Henderson Ward Stewart Ele-
mentary, and Maximus is a pre-K
student at Sudduth Elementary,
according to a Wednesday night
Facebook post from HWS.
“It is with a heavy heart the
HWS family shares tonight that
we have lost one of our little yellow
jackets,” the post reads.
BUILDING PERMITS
City of Columbus
April 20-23, 2020
■ Sarah W Collie; 807 18th
Street North; New single-fam-
ily house; Construction Risk
Services
■ Ron and Angela Verdell;
2002 College Street; Fence;
Same
■ Eddie Sparks; 614 Pine
Street; Electrical; Jimmie
Chism
■ Gapati 16 LLC; 2246 Mili-
tary Road; Electrical; Weldon
Electric
■ Huckleberry Rentals LLC;
3933 Highway 45 North; Elec-
trical; Weldon Electric
■ Smith L Sherrod; 1504 22nd
Street North; Electrical; Jimmie
Chism
■ Andy Lawrence; 1009
Gardener Boulevard; Electrical;
Livingston & Sons
■ Columbus-Lowndes Habitat
for Humanity; 105 Curtis Road;
Mechanical; Patterson HVAC
Whitehurst Lucious
The following arrests
were made by the Oktib-
beha County Sheriff’s Of-
fice:
n Blake Whitehurst,
23, was charged with an
indictment and aggravat-
ed domestic assault.
A courtroom at the Oktibbeha County courthouse is mostly empty Wednesday morn-
ing. Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Mississippi Supreme Court or-
dered circuit clerks not to summon jurors to the courthouse before May 18, meaning
there will be no criminal trials during the current two-week term of Oktibbeha County
Circuit Court.
the general need to keep
as many people out of the
courthouse as possible
led to defense attorneys
filing about 70 requests
for continuance on the
first day of term alone,
said Rook — a signifi-
cant number “consider-
ing where we are in this
term.”
“Those cases primar-
ily consist of attorneys
whose clients are already
out on bond,” Rook said.
Attorneys have shifted
their attention this term
to pre-trial hearings and
plea agreements, espe-
cially for those charged
with minor felonies that
tend to result in little time
in prison or none at all.
“The focus is working
on the cases that don’t
A white Chevrolet pickup rear-ended a car with a Starkville family of four
in it on southbound Highway 25 near Craig Springs on Wednesday. Both
drivers were uninjured, but an 8-year-old boy was killed and two others were
injured in the crash.
■ Jason Patrick Sims; 706
Alabama Street; Mecanical;
Patterson HVAC
■ Jalis Company; 1921
Highway 45 North; Plumbing;
Bowen Backhoe
■ Huckleberry Rentals LLC;
3933 Highway 45 North;
Plumbing; Vernon Plumbing
■ Santana Gunn; 821 Cannon
Trace; Plumbing; Browning
Plumbing
Lowndes County
April 29, 2020
■ Caleb Pounders; 4809 New
Hope Road; construct s/f resi-
dence; G & G Remodeling
■ Michael Langley; Colbert Dr.;
set up mobile home; William-
son Electric
■ Michael Langley; Colbert Dr.;
move mobile home; Regional
Enterprise
■ Trevor Johns; 726 Wood
Road; construct storage/shop;
owner
AREA ARRESTS
Jenkins Jamison
n Dontavious Lucious,
18, was charged with sex-
ual battery.
n Jaquan Jenkins, 18,
was charged with tres-
passing.
n Bryan Jamison, 60,
was charged with receiv-
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
require trial,” District
Attorney Scott Colom
said. “We have a lot of cas-
es where
we figure
out a plea
ag reement
… like a
case where
the person
might get
p r o b a t i o n Colom
or pre-trial
diversion or drug court.
Those cases are usually
easier to resolve without
a trial.”
Meanwhile, the court’s
having to continue most
cases involving more se-
rious and violent charges.
“Without the possi-
bility of a jury trial, it’s
typically very difficult to
get people incentivized
■ Ronnie Herrington; 262
Golden Horn Road; construct
s/f residence; owner
■ Ellsworth Turan; 88 Beth-
lehem Road; addition to s/f
residence; owner
■ Darrel Wigley; 121 Main St.;
construct storage/shop; owner
■ Howard Smart Jr.; John
Smart Road; set up mobile
home; Jessie James
■ Howard Smart Jr.; John
Smart Road; move mobile
home; Columbus Homes LLC
■ Michael Miller; Lost Lake
Hills; Construct s/f residence;
owner
■ Jay Gallop; 491 Herchel
Gallop Road; construct s/f
residence; owner
■ Jerry Mullet; 320 Whispering
Pines Road; set up mobile
home; owner
■ Jerry Mullet; 320 Whisper-
ing Pines Road; move mobile
home; Mars Mobile Home
■ Sammy Crawford; 452
Beard Minton
ing stolen property and
shoplifting.
n Dalton Beard, 21,
was charged with armed
robbery.
n Gordale Minton, 19,
was charged with bur-
glary of a vehicle.
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020 3A
cent term, which lasted and 350 cases per term,
from April 6-17, proceed- Barksdale said.
ed without any trials, Co- On the first two days of
lom said, and the order term, all defendants are
will affect at least the first expected to report to the
week of Lowndes Coun- courthouse, along with
ty’s term, which begins attorneys and court staff.
May 11. Even without potential
Lowndes County Cir- jurors, the crowd typical-
cuit Clerk ly well exceeds the max-
T e r e s a imum recommended by
Barksdale the Centers for Disease
said she Control and Prevention
plans to while the pandemic is on-
meet with going.
Sheriff Ed- “Court will still be go-
die Haw- ing on, but we have not
kins, judges Barksdale come up with a game plan
and other for the first or second
court security over the day,” Barksdale said.
Tess Vrbin/Dispatch Staff next week to put in place Lowndes County’s
policies to limit the num- term lasts until May 29,
ber of people at the court- past the May 18 date in
house. the supreme court’s or-
It’s a bigger issue for der, but Colom said area
Lowndes County than it circuit judges may still
to accept ... a significant is in Oktibbeha County. decide not to summon
prison sentence,” Colom Lowndes County’s term any jurors until Lown-
said. “If somebody’s out lasts three weeks and des County’s next term,
on bond and they’ve got a handles between 300 which begins in August.
serious charge that’s go-
ing to likely result in pris-
on time, it can be difficult
to get them to plead guilty
knowing that there’s not a
possibility of a jury in the
interim period. That’s just
the reality.”
He said the issue goes
beyond the supreme
court’s order not to sum-
mon jurors. Mississippi
Department of Correc-
tions is temporarily not
accepting new inmates
into its facilities in light of
the pandemic.
It’s not just Oktibbe-
ha County affected by
the supreme court order.
Clay County’s most re-
Courtesy photo/Kirk Rosenhan
Lakeover Dr. W; Remodel s/f
residence; Stan Rector Con-
struction
■ Robert Taylor; 600 Riverside
Dr.; Construct pole barn; owner
SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Thur. Fri.
Major 7:11a 7:41p
Minor 12:56p 2:04p
Major 7:11a 8:08a
Minor 2:31a 3:17a
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
The Dispatch
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Website: cdispatch.com/help
Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc., Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
Opinion
4A THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

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

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

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

OUR VIEW

State’s portion of federal funds should be used to expand testing

A
lot of attention has been
focused on Congressio-
nal efforts to stabilize
the economy through the $2.1
trillion CARES ACT. As part
of that act and an subsequent
allocation, $610 billion has
been set aside to help compa-
nies keep their employees off
the unemployment rolls and
their businesses operational
through a program called
Paycheck Protection Program
(PPP).
The loans are forgivable,
provided the funds are used for
certain expenditures such as
payroll, utilities and rent.
There is another funding
effort that has, until now,
received far less attention — a
$340 billion allocation to help
states recover from the impact
of COVID-19. This money can
only be used to cover costs in-
curred because of the virus. It
can’t be used to help the state,
cities or counties cover lost tax
revenue, which — in Mississip-
pi - dwarfs the costs associated
with fighting COVID-19.
Mississippi’s share of the
pie comes to $1.25 billion and
there’s a fight brewing over
who will decide where that
money goes. Gov. Tate Reeves
has said he has the authority to
disperse those funds. The Leg-
islature, scheduled to resume
the 2020 session on May 18,
disagrees and may reconvene
soon — perhaps as early as
Monday — to pass legislation
that would give the Legislature
the authority to disperses the
funds. Right now, leaders in
both chambers are counting
heads to see if they will have
enough votes not only the pass
that legislation, but to override
the Governor’s veto that is sure
to come.
But the bigger question is
how much of that $1.25 billion
the state will be able to spend
regardless of who gets to
decide how those funds are
dispersed.
Although we have no esti-
mate of how much the state
has spent on combating the vi-
rus, it’s likely the spending has
been a fraction of the money
allocated.
Under this “use or lose it”
scenario, this represents a
real opportunity to use every
penny to protect the health of
Mississippians.
One of the best uses of
that money would be greatly
expanding COVID-19 testing.
As of now, only people who
are showing symptoms of the
virus are eligible to be tested,
even though medical experts
say there are many people
who contract the virus without
showing symptoms. In a very
real sense, these undiagnosed
carriers are the biggest threat
to public health because they
can pass along the virus with-
out anyone knowing.
Many scientists, includ-
ing those at the University
of Washington’s Institute for
Health Metrics and Evaluation,
say expanded testing must
go hand-in-hand with efforts
to relax social distancing. It’s
important that we put systems
in place now to ensure the
outbreak in Mississippi doesn’t
worsen.
We believe testing should
be ramped up on a massive
scale — starting with test-
ing every person who is in
a confined setting in close
proximity to others. Every
nursing home resident should
be tested, as well as every
incarcerated person. As of
today, fewer than 100 people
in the Mississippi Department
of Corrections, including staff,
has been tested.
There are close to 19,000
people currently being held in
our state’s jails and prisons,
people who — because of their
confinement — cannot be
self-quarantined or take other
measures to avoid contracting
the virus.
Once those people have
been tested, funds should be
used to provide widespread
testing for asymptomatic
people.
The governor and the Leg-
islature can squabble over who
gets to disperse that money.
But for the reset of us, it’s
more important that the funds
be used efficiently and exclu-
sively to help make us safer.
If, at the end of this, the
balance sheet doesn’t show a
zero, our state has missed an
opportunity to prevent sick-
ness and death.
That’s what we should be
focused on, isn’t it?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Voice of the people
Applauds city for cuts
I stayed up last night and
watched the city council in special
session pertaining to cutting the
pay for city employees. The audio
was poor, but that is what we seem
to get. I applaud the Mayor and the
entire city council for cutting their
pay by 25 percent for three months.
This is something I asked for in a
letter weeks ago. They also cut the
public works down to 30 hours per
week. So if you have a small project
you need public works to perform,
it will take a little longer than usual.
I still have a ditch needing digging
from four years ago after I met with
the Mayor, Casey Bush and Ward
6 Councilman Bill Gavin. I was
promised it would be done. I’m still
waiting, so please don’t hold your
breath. This financial situation will
get worse before it gets better. I
hope they have seen the light and
will not attempt borrow the $6.5
million for paving.
I hate this for the fire and police
departments as once again these
cuts will impact these departments
the worst. There is a freeze on all
hiring and all promotions, so morale
STATE OF THE WORLD
will continue to drop as these he-
roes deal with this again this year.
The one item I did not see as I
Rebuilding economy and society
T
reviewed what the city was giving he massive eco- and Democratic parties middle class has declined. Real wages
up is I never heard mention of the nomic destruction alike championed “free in the U.S. have stagnated, labor force
$7,500 per month J5, Jabari Ed- being wrought by the trade” as a global wealth participation contracted, and the
wards is getting from the city. I COVID-19 epidemic and builder, with America’s free wealth gap has widened to the largest
would be very angry if I were a city the government’s attempt markets leading the way. it has ever been.
employee and he made that much to mitigate the impact on But there has been While it is convenient to blame
money in the first place. But I would American families and a growing disconnect China’s predation for America’s woes,
be infuriated if I had to give up part businesses raises a funda- between the notion of the real culprits lie much closer to
of my wages and he still gets his. mental question: Is the sum nation and markets. Donald home. Americans consume far more
I hope this was overlooked by our total of America’s greatness Trump’s election marks than we produce and because we have
frugal council. measured by its markets or the first time in over a the world’s biggest credit card — dol-
Less than one out of a thousand by its people? generation that a Repub- lar-backed U.S. treasuries — we have
people in Lowndes County have Americans have served Armstrong Williams lican president has urged believed that we could consume our
been diagnosed with COVID-19. the world, and particularly trade protectionism rather way out of persistent economic stag-
This whole thing has been over- the developing world, as than global expansion as nation. This has proven to be a false
blown. I would suggest next time the largest consumers of goods and a cure for stagnant domestic growth. narrative and the chickens are finally
the government not get the state services of any nation on earth. Entire To many, Trump’s call to close the bor- coming home to roost.
health department folks to give civilizations have risen from the dust ders and cut off trade seemed weirdly As the U.S. government prepares
us the numbers. They have been — notably China — on the back of alarmist given America’s interdepen- to take on massive amounts of debt to
wrong on everything. I would sug- the American consumer. In return for dence with both its immediate neigh- try and stave off the economic conse-
gest they get a good sports bookie, opening its markets to foreign goods bors, notably Mexico, and its distant quences of the COVID-19 pandemic,
and I feel like the results will be and services, America has been able trading partners, notably China. the problem becomes even more
better. to consistently borrow money from As if to further illustrate the stark. That debt is not being taken on
As we watch businesses reopen abroad to finance its insatiable appe- problem with confusing capitalism to fund productive projects — such as
please support local. Local busi- tite for more stuff. Most Americans, with democracy, China has become sorely needed national infrastructure.
nesses pay a lot of taxes you would in fact, equate consumerism with the increasingly more capitalist over the Nor is it being invested in plants and
not even imagine they have to pay. American way of life. past 30 years, while also becoming in- equipment that fuel industrial produc-
Local also provides many jobs to To put the notion of America as a creasingly autocratic. When President tion. Rather, it is being placed directly
our people. Once local is gone all market in some historical perspective, Nixon initiated the Cold War detente in the hands of the consumer, who is
that tax liability will be passed to it bears mentioning that today’s Amer- with China, his primary aim was to being urged to go out and spend their
you. ica started out as a group of mercan- reduce the Soviet Union’s influence on newly minted government cash on
Kerry Blalock tile colonies of England, France, the Asia. But in opening up relations with — you guessed it — imported goods
Columbus Netherlands and Spain. Traders, in the world’s most populous country, he that have been produced in China and
search of foreign markets for resourc- was also seeking markets for Amer- other foreign nations.
es and labor engaged in a triangular ica’s goods and services, assuming If this state of affairs seems coun-
trade for slaves, sugar and rum — as that trade between China and the terintuitive, and perhaps counterpro-
Voice of the People well as textiles, spices and other sta- U.S. would be free and fair. However, ductive, that’s because it is. Ameri-
We encourage you to share your opinion ples of the time. The mercantile class China has proven to be a tough market cans might be far better off if instead
with readers of The Dispatch. became so successful in colonial-era for U.S. businesses to enter, while on of trying to spend our way out of a
Submit your letter to The Dispatch by: Europe, in fact, that they ultimately the contrary, the U.S. is flooded with looming recession we attempted to re-
E-mail: voice@cdispatch.com supplanted the royal classes in both Chinese goods — including those vive our productive capacity and work
Mail: P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS wealth and power. Modern America most critical during the COVID crisis, our way out. It will take time to do
39703 and modern Europe are the direct medicine and medical supplies. this, but if we can manage to secure
In person: 516 Main St., Columbus, or results of the rise of global commerce. While America became the world’s just a modicum of the self-initiative
101 S. Lafayette St., No. 16, Starkville. Over the past decades, American largest consumer, China became its and industriousness that made our
All letters must be signed by the author politicians have declared that “free largest producer. In 2002, China’s nation great in the first place, it will be
and must include town of residence and
a telephone number for verification pur-
markets” are synonymous with “free- middle class constituted a mere 4% well worth the sacrifice. Just ask the
poses. Letters should be no more than dom.” In fact, the two have become so of its population. In 2020, more than Chinese.
500 words, and guest columns should intermingled in the American lexicon, 30% of its citizens — some 420 million Armstrong Williams is an American
be 500-700 words. We reserve the right that one tends to conflate capitalism people — enjoy middle-class incomes. political commentator, entrepreneur,
to edit submitted information. with democracy. Both the Republican Over the same time period, America’s author, and talk show host.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020 5A

Obituaries
Continued from Page 2A

Marguerite Stafford Gibson of West Point; merly employed as the She is survived by Funeral Home. Only of St. Louis, Missouri,
WEST POINT — children, Wendell Gib- administrator for Lown- her daughter, Barbara 1o visitors at a time. Bobby Isaac of Fair-
Marguerite E. Stafford, son and Jeffrey Gibson; des Chancery Court D. Crowell-Sharp of Viewers must wear view Heights, Illinois,
86, died April 11, 2020, sister, Nancy Labon; and and was a member of Memphis; siblings, masks. Century Hair- Kelvin Isaac of Ocean
at Dugan Nursing Home five grandchildren. Vibrant Church. Billie L. Asberry of Co- ston Funeral Home of Springs, Jamara Isaac
in West Point. Memorials may be She is survived by lumbus and Mary Neal Starkville is in charge of of Newman, Georgia,
A private family made to LeBonheur her husband, Larry of Dallas, Texas, six arrangements. Alvin Isaac, Herschel
graveside service was Children’s Medical Cen- Hall; son, Alex Hall; grandchildren; and 16 Mrs. Isaac was Isaac, Sheleatha Isaac,
held in McPherson ter, 50 Dunlap Street, step-children, Tracey great-grandchildren. born May 14, 1943, in Shonequa Isaac all of
Cemetery, with the Rev. Memphis, TN 38103 Sanders and Stacey Starkville, to the late Starkville and Karen
Doran Henry officiating. or to Trinity Baptist Sanderd; siblings, Gwen Rebecca Isaac Eddie Isaac and Maggie Isaac of Columbus;
Calvert Funeral Home Church, P.O. Box 1075, Cotton Burroughs, STARKVILLE — Hodges Isaac. She was siblings, Mary Laura
of West Point was in West Point, MS 39773. Wanda Cotton Gray Rebecca Isaac, 76, died formerly employed as a Tate, Maggie Williams
charge of arrangements. and Greta Cotton Wills; April 19, 2020. domestic worker. both of Starkville, Eddie
Mrs. Stafford was Billy Coleman one grandchild; four Graveside services She is survived by C. Isaac of Gulfport
born March 31, 1934, in HOUSTON — Billy step-grandchildren; and will be at 2 p.m. Sat- her children, Edward and Jimmy Lee Isaac of
Cario, to the late Em- Wayne Coleman, 71, two great-grandchil- urday, at Austin Com- Isaac of Chicago, Illi- Carrolten, Georgia; 35
mett Sr and Sara Felder died April 8, 2020, dren. munity Cemetery in nois, Charles Isaac, She- grandchildren; and 29
Edwards. She was at Baptist Nursing Pallbearers were Les Sessums, with the Rev. lia Isaac Gillespie both great-grandchildren.
formerly employed as Home-Calhoun in Cal- Gray, Christian (Boo) Gregory Marstella of-

Lady Gloria Ann

the manager of South- houn City. Gray, Anthony (Amp) ficiating. Visitation will
ern Inn. A private family Willis, Paden Willis, be from 4-6 p.m. Friday,

Hawkins
In addition to her graveside service was Bryan Gilbertson, and at Century Hairston
parents, she was pre- held in Wesley Chapel Kenny Hall.
ceded in death by her Cemetery in Houston,
husband, Charles L. with the Rev. Randy Mattie Crowell Lady Gloria Ann Hawkins,
Stafford Sr. Rinehart officiating. COLUMBUS — Mat- 64 of Columbus, MS made her
She is survived by Calvert Funeral Home tie Pearl Crowell, 78, transition from labor to reward
her children, Lewis was in charge of ar- died Aprill 22, 2020, at on Thursday, April 23, 2020, in
Stafford, Cliff Stafford, rangements. Saint Francis Hospi- Meridian, MS.
Mark Stafford and Steve Mr. Coleman was tal-Bartlett in Memphis, She was born in Columbus,
Stafford; siblings, Mary born Dec. 4, 1948, in Tennessee. Mississippi on August 20, 1955,
Miller Fancis and Jim- Pittsboro, to the late J.B. Private graveside to the union of James and Betty
my Edwards; 14 grand- and Annie Card Cole- services will be at 11 Wilson.
children; 17 great-grand- man. He was a veteran a.m. Friday, at Bigbee A Private Graveside Service
children; and three of the United States Church Cemetery of will be held on Saturday, May 2,
great-great-grandchil- Army and was formerly Aliceville, Alabama, 2020, 11:00 A.M. at Memorial Gardens Cemetery
dren. employed as a truck with James A. Boyd in Columbus, MS, with Elder Cordell Wilson
Memorials may be driver. He was a mem- officiating. Visitation is Officiating. Visitation will be Friday, May 1,
made to Siloam Baptist ber of Parkway Baptist from 2-5 p.m. today at 2020, 12-4:00 P.M. at Peter’s Rock Temple Family
Church, 2686 Highway Church. Carter’s Funeral Ser- Worship Center COGIC, 223 Martin Luther King
47, West Point, MS In addition to his par- Charles Young
vices. Carter’s Funeral Incomplete Jr. Drive, Starkville, MS. Final Arrangements
39773. ents, he was preceded Services of Columbus 2nd Ave North Location has been entrusted to Carter’s Funeral Services
in death by his siblings, is in charge of arrange- of Columbus, MS.
Jessie Gibson Mary Akins and J.W, ments. Lady Gloria attended Lee High School. Later,
WEST POINT — Coleman. Mrs. Crowell was she studied nursing at Mississippi University
Jessie Rowena Gibson, He is survived by his born April 25, 1941, in for Women in Columbus, MS and Wright State
76, died April 11, 2020, wife Judith Coleman; Memphis, to the late University in Dayton, OH. She was an honor
at North Mississippi children, Angela C. Johnny M. Asberry and student throughout her academic career. Because
Medical Center of West Langford and Stephen Mary E. Asberry. She of the devotion and love for her husband, she
Point. Wayne Coleman; sib- was formerly employed ended her academic pursuit and traveled with
A private family lings, Virgina Gillespie, with Sanderson Plumb- him during his military career.
Sarah Shurden and memorialgunterpeel.com
graveside service was ing and was a member On April 13, 1974, after four wonderful months
held in Providence Cem- Donna Walker; and four of dating, she married Joseph Hawkins. They
of Zion Gate M.B.
etery in Maben, with grandchildren. were blessed to have three children. In February
Church.
Mike Smith officiating. 1975, she accepted Christ as her Savior at the
Calvert Funeral Home Linda Hall 15th Street Church of God in Christ (COGIC)
of West Point was in
charge of arrangements.
WEST POINT —
Linda Cotton Hall, 62,
died April 8, 2020, at her
Dental Insurance under the leadership of the late Elder George
Copprue. Lady Gloria left Mississippi in 1976 and
Mrs. Gibson was Get the dental care you deserve with dental moved to Clovis, New Mexico with her husband.
born Feb. 24, 1944, in residence. insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance There she accepted her call into the ministry
Webster County, to Private family grave- Company. It can help cover the services you’re at the First Church of God in Christ, under the
the late Nora Nell and side services were held most likely to use — leadership of the late Bishop W.C. Green.
Elmer Lee Palmer. She at Antioch Cemetery in Lady Gloria’s marriage to an Air Force
was formerly employed Ripley, with Ron Delga- man allowed her to travel extensively. She was
as a cosmetologist and do officiating. Calvert Cleanings X-rays Fillings Crowns Dentures blessed to travel to 30 states and eight foreign
was a member of Trinity Funeral Home of West countries. During this time, she began a career
Baptist Church. Point was in charge of Preventive care starts right away as a government employee. She worked for the
In addition to her par- arrangements. Helps cover over 350 services U.S. Government for 15 years before retiring in
ents, she was preceded Mrs. Hall was born Go to any dentist you want – but save 2002, as a Contract Specialist at Columbus AFB,
in death by her brother, Oct. 1, 1957, in West more with one in our network Columbus, MS.
James Lee Palmer. Point, to the late A.L. No deductible, no annual maximum She faithfully assisted her husband in ministry
She is survived by Jr and Bettie Jo Box as 1st Lady at the Ft. Amador COGIC, Republic
her husband, Billy Cotton. She was for- of Panama; Woensdrecht Gospel Service,
Call now to get this FREE Woensdrecht, Holland; Worlington COGIC
Information Kit! Worlington, England and Peter’s Rock Temple
Family Worship Center COGIC, Starkville,
1-866-883-1569 MS. Lady Gloria was an awesome speaker and
dental50plus.com/colcom served in different capacities in ministry. At
Peter’s Rock Temple Family Worship Center
COGIC she served as Sunday School Teacher;
New Believers/New Members Class Instructor;
Assistant President of the Women’s Department;
Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider.
President of the Women’s Department; as well as
Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete
details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-888-799-
a member of many church committees.
4433 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150
(GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). Rider kinds B438/B439.
Although she did not receive a degree in
6154-0120 medicine; she was self-taught. She was lovingly
known around Peter’s Rock as the “Internet

Lila Kirkland Elizabeth Vaughn

Lila Katherine Yonce Kirkland passed away
peacefully on April 27, 2020, at her residence. She
was the wife of the late Marvin L Kirkland . They
shared 68 years of marriage. Born in Graniteville,
South Carolina she graduated from Leavelle
McCampbell High School. As a mature student,
she received a degree from East Mississippi
Community College and worked there for several
years as a secretary. She was proud to have been
the spouse to a career serviceman and WWII
veteran of both the US Marines and the US Navy.
She was a devoted mother, grandmother
and great grandmother. She was a member of
Fellowship Baptist Church and a studious reader
of her bible. Nothing pleased her more than
entertaining and being around her grandchildren
and later her great grandchildren. She was an
accomplished cook and loved to share recipes
particularly those that originated around the
South Carolina area where she was raised.
She is survived by her daughter, Abbie Misso
(Rick) of Starkville; son, Brent Kirkland of
Graniteville, SC; grandchildren, Kirk Misso and
Griff (Audra) Misso of Mathiston; and great-
grandchildren, Briley and Alena.
She was preceded in death by her husband;
parents, Clarence and Elsie Mullis Yonce; sister,
Grace Yonce Lowe; and brother, C W Yonce, Jr.
A private graveside service will be held on
Thursday, April 30 at New Hope Cemetery. Rev.
Dickey Bryan will conduct the service.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be
made to Fellowship Baptist Church, 545 Frye Rd,
Starkville, MS 39759.
You can leave the family a condolence at: www.
welchfuneralhomes.com.
Paid Obituary - Welch Funeral Home
Doctor”. She was blessed to have knowledge and
understanding of medicine far beyond her formal
education.
Elizabeth Vaughn, 77 of On Thursday, April 23, 2020, Lady Gloria Ann
Columbus, MS passed away Hawkins went from labor to reward. The Lord
Sunday, April 19, 2020, at her took Lady Gloria by the hand and escorted her
residence. into His Kingdom.
A family visitation will be Lady Gloria was preceded in death by her
Friday, May 1, 2020, from 4:00 parents, James Ollie and Betty Wilson and one
PM to 6:00 PM at Lowndes brother, James Ollie Wilson, Jr.
Funeral Home, Columbus, She leaves to cherish her memory, her
MS. A family graveside service husband of 46 years, Pastor Joseph Hawkins;
will be Saturday, May 2, 2020, three children, Ecole Hanks of Columbus, MS;
at 1:00 PM at Memorial Gardens, Columbus, Shaywen Hawkins (Fred) of Mableton, GA
MS with Rev. William Vaughn officiating and and Joseph Hawkins II of Columbus, MS; nine
Lowndes Funeral Home directing. Friends grandchildren, Daquan Hanks, Baylee Johnson
may view the service the following day at www. (Avery), Javondae Congious (MeMe), Jaron
lowndesfuneralhome.net. Thompson, Jaden Hayes, Daria Hanks, Jaycee
Mrs. Vaughn was born March 31, 1943, to Hawkins, Joseph Webber and Andrew Webber;
the late John and Mary Little Binion in Noxubee four great-grandchildren, Noah Congious,
County, MS. She attended Armstrong MB Naomi Congious, Javondae Congious Jr. and
Church, Columbus, MS. She enjoyed doing Easton Johnson; one brother, Charles Wilson
puzzles, watching her soap operas and westerns, (Rosie), Crete, IL; and seven sisters, Maxine
Tyler Perry movies and spending time with her Cooper (Cyrus) Los Angeles, CA, JoAnn Butler,
many grandchildren. Northport, AL, Annette Sherrod (Jimmy),
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Vaughn was Columbus, MS, Shelia Cooper, Jackson, MS,
preceded in death by her daughter, Brenda Jacquline Morales (Miguel), Fayetteville, NC,
Evans. Pamela Graham (Jermaine), Riverdale, GA and
Mrs. Vaughn is survived by her husband, Tyonda Wilson, Dallas, TX. She also leaves to
Roger Vaughn, Columbus, MS; sons, Calvin cherish her memory a special cousin, Ann Bluitt
Binion, Meridian, MS, Lydell Evans, Columbus, (Perry) of Columbus, MS; sisters-in-love, Margie
MS, Nathaniel Evans, Jr., Columbus, MS and Wilkens and Creasie Coleman; brothers-in-love,
Donell Evans, Columbus, MS; daughter, Priscilla Pete, Glen, Allen and Curtis Hawkins. In addition
Evans, Columbus, MS; sister, Catherine Binion; to a host of nieces, nephews and cousins, Lady
25 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Gloria leaves many adopted daughters and sons
Memorials may be made to American Heart that affectionately called her “Mom and Nana”, as
Association, P.O. Box 16808, Jackson, MS 39236. well as the Peter’s Rock Family Worship Center
Family.
Compliments of She is already greatly missed.
Lowndes Funeral Home Paid Obituary - Carter’s Funeral Services
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
6A THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Graduations
Continued from Page 1A
phrey Coliseum on Mis-
sissippi State University’s
campus.
Each student will walk
across the stage in the
CHS gym or Starkville’s
Greensboro Center and
receive a diploma in front
of a set maximum of fam-
ily members or guests —
three for CHS and four
for SHS — in order to ad-
here to social distancing
protocols. Both schools
will also pre-record the
national anthem, the
valedictorian and salu-
tatorian’s speeches and
remarks from administra-
tors.
CHS will film its stu-
dents walking on Monday
and Tuesday, possibly
Wednesday if necessary,
and SHS will film its stu-
dents from May 11 to May
13.
CHS Assistant Princi-
pal Craig Chapman said
it takes a lot of planning
to ensure the virtual cer-
emony will be done both
quickly and safely.
“We wanted to make
sure it was something
more memorable than
what we’re facing,” Chap-
man said. “It was very
good for our hearts to
make sure we had some-
thing for our students,
and we’re still working on
some small things to let
them know we appreciate
everything, all their ac-
complishments and what
they’ve done for Colum-
bus High School.”
Meanwhile, Lowndes
County School District is
“still holding out” for its
three high schools to have
in-person commence-
ment ceremonies in June
or July, but “the more we
move toward the summer,
the less likely it looks (to)
happen,” Superintendent
Sam Allison said.
LCSD is now con-
sidering other options,
including a virtual cere-
mony like the other two
districts have planned.
Counselors and adminis-
trators at all three schools
are receiving feedback
from students about what
they want graduation to
look like if they cannot
hold a traditional ceremo-
ny, Allison said.
“We need closure
for those students, and
we wanted to give them
something knowing that
they’re all going to be do-
ing something different,
whether they’re going to
college or going to work
or doing something else,”
he said. “This pandemic
has taken so many things
from those kids.”
New Hope High School
has about 200 graduating
seniors, Caledonia High
School has about 130
and West Lowndes High
School has about 30, Alli-
son said. All three grad-
uation ceremonies were
initially scheduled for
May 23.
Columbus High will
graduate 214, the same
number of students that
started the semester as
seniors, Chapman said.
Six of them also will
graduate with associates
degrees from East Missis-
sippi Community College.
Not all of the rough-
ly 290 SHS seniors are
guaranteed to graduate at
the moment but have the
opportunity to get their
grades up in time, and
the pandemic has actually
allowed some students to
graduate who previously
had not met the qualifica-
tions, McDonnall said.
“We had a whole list
that weren’t going to grad-
uate because they hadn’t
passed the state tests yet,
but now (the state Depart-
ment of Education) has
waived those and said,
‘We’ll just give them the
benefit of the doubt and
say they were going to
pass,’ even though we’re
not getting them,” Mc-
Donnall said. “So with
that, we shouldn’t have
too many not graduating.”
He added that it’s “very
heartbreaking” that the
seniors cannot celebrate
the end of their high
school careers in person
with each other.
“My heart goes out to
these kids for having the
carpet yanked out from
under them in the last
nine weeks of their senior
year,” McDonnall said.
“They will be remem-
bered for a long time here
at Starkville High School
for having endured it and
made the best of it.”

Business
Continued from Page 1A
recreational vehicles and
hospitality customers.
During a conference
call Wednesday, Flexsteel
executives discussed
the company’s decision
to terminate its RV and
hospitality divisions.
They credited business
changes coupled with
the worldwide COVID-19
pandemic for the “painful
decision” to permanently
close the two facilities.
“It has become clear
that what was thought
to be a short-term hit to
these two already chal-
lenged businesses will
now extend well into the
future and will likely not
return to pre-pandemic
levels for some time,”
Flexsteel CEO Jerry
Dittmer said in a press
release. “These decisions
were extremely difficult
and in no way reflect
the dedication or perfor-
mance of our employees
at the Dubuque and
Starkville manufacturing
facilities. This pandemic
has been unforgiving
to too many companies
including ours, and we
find ourselves with heavy
hearts in making these
hard decisions as we
attempt to navigate these
unchartered business
conditions.”
The release said the
furniture manufactur-
er headquartered in
Dubuque will shift its
focus primarily on home
furnishings, e-commerce
and workspace solutions.
“The speed and depth
of the impact COVID-19
is having on business-
es such as Flexsteel
is unprecedented and
painful and has required
the Company to make
sobering decisions to
enable the organization
to weather the storm,”
Dittmer said in the press
release. “The one thing
we know is that the
organization will look
different coming out of
the pandemic when it
entered.”
Flexsteel officials did
not return calls to The
Dispatch by press time.
With Gov. Tate Reeves
easing restrictions Mon-
day, a portion of previous-
ly shuttered businesses
have started reopening.
The stay at home order
has been lifted and
replaced with a “safer at
home” order.
Although most restau-
rants have remained
open for carry-out orders,
Umi closed both the
Columbus and Starkville
locations in March. This
week, Umi announced
its grand reopening, and
judging from Facebook
traffic, the Japanese
hibachi restaurant has
certainly been missed.
Columbus and
Starkville locations will
offer curbside pick-up
only with a limited menu.
Hibachi orders will no
longer offer soup and sal-
ad but will offer an extra
heap of fried rice. Check
out its social media page
for the limited menu and
call ahead to order. For
Columbus orders, call
662-570-4769 or 662-570-
9618 and Starkville call
662-323-5258 or 662-617-
3994.
Also in Columbus, the
Cajun-Asian restaurant
Breaux Bridge reopened
this week. Remember to
stay in your cars while get supplies. I started
waiting for your order. thinking how I could
Keep up with the Breauxs sell some food and extra
and their menu on its cleaning products I could
social media page. get. Basically, all the
Juva Juice in Co- things going off the shelf
lumbus reopened on at the grocery store, we
Wednesday. Employees have.”
will wear masks and
Business has steadily
gloves while serving
increased but our lucky
pressed juice and healthy
smoothies that I know readers will get $5 off
you guys have missed their first order with the
out on. Juva is only open coupon code: Commer-
with its drive-thru for the cial Dispatch. If you’re
time being and will only not feeling well, trying
accept card payments at to stay indoors or just
this time. can’t find toilet paper and
Moving to Main Lysol, check out Delivery
Street in Columbus, MS on its website and
Park Place Boutique and Facebook page.
Salon also opened this
week. Remember, social
distancing still applies
and all employees at Park
Place will wear masks
and have hand sanitizer
and gloves on hand for its
customers.
In the midst of
COVID-19, Matt Rose
saw a problem the public
was encountering almost
everywhere. Rose,
who owns the Island
Cantina restaurant in
Iuka, decided to open a
grocery delivery service
for customers throughout
the Golden Triangle.
Delivery MS offers
meat, paper products,
cleaning products,
produce and more that’s
delivered straight to your
door. Simply go online at
deliverms.com and place
your order. Groceries are
delivered Monday and
Thursday each week.
“The whole premise
was when they started
the shutdown, stores
kept running out of toilet
paper,” Rose said. “I can

cdispatch.com
Sports COLLEGE SPORTS
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
B
SECTION

NCAA MOVING FORWARD WITH NAME,

IMAGE AND LIKENESS LEGISLATION

Bruce Thorson/USA TODAY Sports

Mississippi State Bulldogs center fielder Jake Magnum (15) gestures in the seventh inning against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the 2019 College World Series at TD Ameritrade
Park on June 19.

BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARK VILLE — The
NCA A is embracing
change.
Wednesday, college
sports’ governing body
announced that its board
of governors will move
toward players being
able to benefit off their
name, image and like-
nesses in the forms of
endorsements and pro-
motions. In this model,
athletes would be al-
lowed to identify by their
sport and school, but the
use of trademarks and
conference and school
logos would not be per-
mitted.
The board also not-
ed a university should
not pay players for their
name, image or likeness
at any point.
“Throughout our ef-
forts to enhance support
for college athletes, the
NCA A has relied upon
considerable feedback
from and the engage-
ment of our members,
including numerous
student-athletes, from
all three divisions,” Mi-
chael V. Drake, chair
of the board and presi-
dent of Ohio State, said
in a news release. “Al-
lowing promotions and
third-party endorse-
ments is uncharted ter-
ritory.”
Locally, Mississippi
State Athletic Director
John Cohen issued the
following statement to
The Dispatch on the sub-
ject:
“We recognize and
appreciate the important
efforts by the NCA A’s
Federal and State Leg-
islative Working Group
in its report today on
the topic of name, im-
age and likeness for stu-
dent-athletes. We will
continue to support the
best interests of our stu-
dent-athletes, and the
working group’s report
See NCAA, 2B

Leaders chart path back to playing fields for amateur sports
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Doctors, scientists
and sports leaders are
outlining the path back
to playing fields for chil-
dren in grassroots sports
— an exercise that will
help inform major orga-
nizations on how to get
their industries up and
running as well amid the
COVID-19 pandemic.
From New Zealand to
Austria to the northwest
corner of Utah, leaders
are releasing regulations
that have potential to
impact everything from
workouts at gyms to
youth baseball leagues to
elite-level training with
an eye on the Olympics.
The U.S. Olympic
and Paralympic Com-
mittee distributed a sev-
en-page set of guidelines
of its own this week that
called on participants to
“self-monitor for symp-
Baseball Hall of Fame
cancels induction ceremony
toms of COVID-19 twice ideas about starting or groups.
daily,” as one of several resuming their seasons n Very few specta- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS of unanimous election by
steps in a multilayered in upcoming weeks. All tors, if any, will be al- the Baseball Writers’ As-
return scenario. these plans need some lowed. The USOPC also Derek Jeter, Larry sociation of America in
“In addition to the sort of signoff from health released a 13-page guide Walker and the rest of January.
logistical challenges of and government authori- about sports event plan- this year’s Baseball Hall Jeter and Walker were
returning to training ties, who themselves are ning that asks, among of Fame class will have to to be inducted with catch-
fol low i ng looking at models of what other questions, “Can wait another year for their er Ted Simmons and the
COVID- 19, sports will look like on a big moment at Cooper- late Marvin Miller, the
the financial risk be mit-
there are grassroots level — a cal- stown. pioneering players’ union
igated through means
also ethical culation that has poten- The Hall of Fame an- head who negotiated free
such as event insurance,
and socie- tial to impact decisions nounced Wednesday that agency and transformed
establishing financial
tal consid- all the way up the chain it has canceled the July 26 the sport.
impact timelines for can-
erations of sports. induction ceremony be- “Being inducted into
cellation, reschedule the
that are All entities are devel- cause of the coronavirus the Hall of Fame will be
event for a later date, or
beyond the Finnoff oping their plans with the pandemic. an incredible honor, but
negotiate a contract that
scope of knowledge that lives are Instead, the class will the health and safety of
limits negative financial
this document,” USOPC at risk and that a single be included at next year’s everyone involved are par-
impact?” induction festivities —
chief medical officer Jon- outbreak among team- amount,” Jeter said in a
n Almost every par- along with any additional statement released by the
athan Finnoff wrote in a mates or training part- ticipant will be subject to new choices — on July 25,
nod to the uncharted ter- ners has the potential to Hall.
temperature checks and 2021. “I respect and support
ritory that all sports are shut down a facility — or
some sort of verification A record crowd of over the decision to postpone
trying to negotiate. derail an entire season.
that he or she is healthy 70,000 had been expected this year’s enshrinement
The guidelines are The guidelines re-
and hasn’t been in recent this summer in an outdoor and am looking forward
being developed as some viewed by The Associ-
contact with anyone who field at the small town in to joining current Hall of
major pro leagues, in- ated Press had several
has COVID-19. upstate New York to hon- Famers, fans, staff and
cluding the NBA, target things in common:
return-to-practice dates, n All returns will n Participants will or Jeter, the former New my family and friends in
while others, such as Ma- begin with individual be grouped in “bubbles” York Yankees captain Cooperstown in 2021,”
jor League Baseball, float training or in very small See SPORTS, 2B who came within one vote he said.
2B THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

NCAA
Continued from Page 1B

offers another step in
the direction to evaluate
name, image and like-
ness opportunities. We
look forward to work-
ing to understand and
continuing to engage in
discussions related to
how the proposals will
be fairly implemented
and executed nationally,
while also ensuring the
best possible experience
and protection for stu-
dent-athletes.”
Cohen also previously
made a string of remarks
on the subject via Zoom
call with the Starkville
Rotary Club on March
30.
Speaking in reference
to the Fair Pay to Play
Act, a California law en-
acted in September that
will allow student-ath-
letes to earn money for
endorsements and spon-
sorships without losing
their eligibility, Cohen
said similar legislation
could lead college ath-
letics down a “dangerous
path.” Most notably, he’s
concerned with recruits
heading to schools that
can offer them the most
money.
“I am a huge fan of our
student-athletes being
able to express them-
selves and being able
to open businesses and
being able to creative-
ly earn a living,” Cohen
said at the time. “... My
fear with name, image
and likeness is that it be-
comes a recruiting tool
for institutions around
the country, and that’s
a real concern to myself
and to many other ath-
letic directors around
the country.”
Echoing Cohen’s
concerns, the NCA A
has mandated that any
future activity in this
realm would not reflect
a pay for play model and
that there is no school or
conference involvement,
no use of name, image or
likeness for recruiting
by schools or boosters
and the regulation of
agents and advisors.
And while there are
assuredly gray areas that
will need to be ironed
out over time and after
implementation should
everything be passed,
players in the spotlight
stand to benefit tremen-
dously. Of note, former
MSU center fielder Jake
Mangum, who finished
his time in Starkville as
the Southeastern Con-
ference’s all-time hits
leader, said he feels the
legislation is a no-brain-
er for those that have
reached the zenith of
their sports.
“In a locker room ness laws. adopt new rules by Janu-
setting, you have your n Establishing a ary and for them to take
guys that aren’t going “safe harbor” for the As- effect at the beginning
to have their faces plas- sociation to provide pro- of the 2021-22 academic
tered everywhere, and tection against lawsuits year.
it’s difficult in that re- filed for name, image “As we evolve, the As-
gard,” Mangum told The and likeness rules. sociation will continue to
Dispatch. “But I’m for it. n Safeguarding the identify the guardrails
I think if a player earns nonemployment status to further support stu-
the right to profit off of of student-athletes. dent-athletes within the
himself, I don’t see why n Maintaining the context of college sports
he shouldn’t he be able distinction between col- and higher education,”
to.” lege athletes and profes- Big East Commissioner
With the process now sional athletes. and working group co-
moving toward imple- n Upholding the chair Val Ackerman said
mentation, the NCA A NCA A’s values, includ- in a news release. “In
could run into potential ing diversity, inclusion addition, we are mind-
legal snags in the feder- and gender equity. ful of the impact of the
al government in its at- The next steps in COVID-19 pandemic on
tempts to modernize its the process sends the higher education, col-
infrastructure. As such, board of governors’ rec- lege sports and students
it released the following ommendations to the at large. We hope that
steps it will ask Con- rules-making structure modernized name, im-
gress to ensure it can of its three divisions age and likeness rules
enact its legislation: where it will be consid- will further assist col-
n Ensuring federal ered. The NCA A’s news lege athletes during
preemption over state release Wednesday said these unprecedented
name, image and like- it expects its divisions to times and beyond.”

Sports
Continued from Page 1B

— allowed to train with a Foundation. the stages of return from

specific group of people
that will not change until
restrictions are relaxed
further.
n One key facet will be
keeping track of it all — a
role that private groups
such as Utah-based Great
Coach are trying to fill by
offering apps, blogs and
other online solutions that
will help monitoring.
“The governors and
president can say what
they want, but when it
comes to kids and ama-
teur sports, the only way
it’s going to happen is
when parents feel like it’s
safe for their kids to play
again,” said Great Coach
founder Bill Kerig, who
estimates 45 million chil-
dren participate in rec-
reational sports across
America.
A few test models are
developing in Utah, where
health authorities in the
Logan area recently put
out detailed guidelines
of circumstances under
which fitness centers can
reopen, while organizers
around Park City also try
to develop scenarios for a
return to play.
“The way we approach
things is going to be
driven by governmental
restrictions and the eas-
ing of those restrictions
down to the county level,”
said Luke Bodensteiner,
who coordinates youth
sports programs as part
of Utah’s Olympic Legacy
Similar lists of best
practices are emerging
from points across the
globe, all tailored to their
specific locales and, in
some cases, to specific
sports, as well.
The U.S. Tennis As-
sociation, for example,
released a detailed list
of suggestions for grass-
roots players to return
safely to the court. Among
them: To avoid possible
contamination via ten-
nis balls, players should
use their own individu-
ally marked set of balls
to serve and should use
their racket — no hands
— to pass the other balls
back to their opponents.
New Zealand’s na-
tional sports authority
released a detailed flow-
chart last week outlining
what sports and recre-
ation would look like un-
der four “alert” levels the
country is using to define
COVID-19.
Austria’s ski team put
out its roadmap back to
training, which will in-
volve extensive health
checks and individual
training followed by work
in small groups.
But, as Finnoff wrote
in his preamble to the
USOPC training guide-
lines, there are no one-
size-fits-all answers to
any of these questions.
“As a guideline meant
to be used by sports as
varied as archery and
wrestling in locations as
diverse as Minot and New
York City ... this docu-
ment cannot be prescrip-
tive,” he said. “Rather, it
should spark thoughtful
deliberation among ath-
letes, coaches and staff,
who will use this informa-
tion to create their own
unique return to training
plan that is specific to
their situation.”

From kids to pros

we cover the field.

Dispatch Sports

Follow us online
www.cdispatch.com

Leading plan for NHL return includes empty rinks
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Get used to the con-
cept of pods and pucks if
the NHL is going to have
any chance of completing
its season, with the most
likely scenarios calling for
games in empty, air-condi-
tioned arenas during the
dog days of summer.
What is emerging as
the leading plan involves
bringing teams back in a
few empty NHL buildings
to complete some, if not
all, of the remaining reg-
ular-season games before
opening the playoffs and
awarding the Stanley Cup
for the 125th time in the
past 127 years.
The most aggressive
timetable would have
players returning to their
home rinks as early as
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
May 15, followed by a get games back on the ice
training camp and possi- sometime in July without
ble exhibition games in fans in attendance.
June, a person familiar “When we feel that
with discussions told The players are safe and we
Associated Press. have enough testing and
The regular season we have enough ways to
would then resume in July, get back on the ice for us,
with the Cup awarded in it’s probably going to be
September, the person contained at playing at like
said Tuesday, speaking on four or five neutral sites,”
the condition of anonym- Florida Panthers presi-
ity because plans haven’t dent Matthew Caldwell
been finalized. said. “My guess is that
Commissioner Gary we would start with either
Bettman emphasized no limited fans or empty are-
decisions have been made nas, so just the teams and
and noted that govern- their associated staffs.”
ment and medical officials One scenario calls for
will ultimately make the teams playing each other
call on when sports can at four NHL rinks around
return. Still, the league North America. Each
and NHL Players’ Associ- would play about a dozen
ation have formed a joint regular-season games to
committee to determine even out the standings and
a path forward that could determine playoff seed-
FAMILY CIRCUS
ings. Play was postponed
with 189 total games re-
maining for the 31 teams.
Edmonton captain
Connor McDavid, who is
on the NHL/NHLPA com-
mittee that meets weekly,
believes “the fairest sea-
son is a full season” but
that might not be possible.
Players must approve any
plan to return.
“Guys are preparing
to possibly having to play
in the summer,” McDavid
said, “and guys just want
to play.”
That likely means
playing in empty NHL
buildings. The minimum
league requirements
call for arenas having at
least four NHL-caliber
locker rooms, a nearby
practice facility and ho-
tel infrastructure. They
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
My husband
and I have
two sons in their
late 30s. We al-
ways thought they
got along well and
loved each other.
Over the past
year, they are no
longer speaking
with each other
because of hard
feelings over
current situations.
They live in the
same neighbor-
hood.
Dear Abby
My husband
refuses to stay at either one’s
house now when we visit from
out of town because he’s so
upset at the turn of events.
(We have been getting a hotel
room.) When I visit on my own,
I stay with our older son be-
cause there is no place to stay
with the younger one.
The disagreement between
my husband and me is I want
to continue to visit as I have,
understanding there are
differences but hoping they will
come to a solution. I refuse to
choose one over the other, and
I’m trying to be consistent with
love and be a good role model.
Both of our sons know this.
My husband is upset with
me because I don’t support his
position of not staying at either
house until they make up. This
is creating more friction in a
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (April
30). There’s no reason to fret
about the right move, because
it’s the right reason that mat-
ters most. As long as your in-
tention is clear and pure, you’re
brilliant. Common-sense moves
will be lucrative. Resist spend-
ing until and unless you’re sure.
Someone falls in love with you
when you’re unaware and not
self-conscious. Leo and Pisces
adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 1, 47, 9, 13 and 22.
ARIES (March 21-April
19). There comes a point in
every commitment when the
newness has worn off and the
grind begins. Stop and take a
walk up the proverbial mountain
also cannot be located
in a COVID-19 hot spot,
though that definition is
not clear.
“Among the scenarios
we’re looking at is poten-
tially as many as four (cit-
ies) because we need a lot
of ice,” Bettman said on
Sportsnet last week.
Bettman alluded to
playing as many as three
games a day, which would
provide much-needed
live entertainment on
NBC Sports and other
networks, many of whom
have time to fill following
the postponement of the
Summer Olympics.
No fans would be in at-
tendance and even broad-
casters might be limited
to calling games remotely.
Mike “Doc” Emrick, the
voice of hockey in the U.S.
situation that is
already break-
ing our hearts.
What do you
recommend? We
have made our
suggestions for
a resolution, but
these are grown
men who must
do the work them-
selves. — MOM
IN A DIFFICULT
SPOT
DEAR MOM: I
recommend you
continue to do
what makes you
comfortable. Your
sons both know you love them.
If your husband thinks that your
staying in a hotel — provided
you can find one during the
current shutdowns — will
somehow manipulate your sons
into settling their differences
more quickly, he is mistaken.
It hasn’t worked so far. As you
stated, your “boys” are grown
men. I agree with you that they
will have to hash this out on
their own.
DEAR ABBY: My fiance
often leaves memory cards
out on his dresser after a day
of being home alone. I was by
myself one day and looked at
them. There were photos of a
nude woman wrapped in his
bed sheet on his bed back in
2018. In them, she is posing.
We were dating when they were
taken, but not yet living togeth-
so you can look down on this
with the benefit of a sky-high
perspective.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
You’ve been through challenges
that other people can relate to.
You’ll notice a recurring theme
here. You’ve dared to want more
for yourself than was offered.
Keep believing you can have
that.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
Ask a direct question, and then
let silence be your friend. When
you don’t prejudge or put words
in the other person’s mouth,
you’ll learn something surprising
and useful.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
Nothing works with all of the
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020 3B
for NBC Sports, has done
it a few times for games
staged overseas or out-
doors.
“It was an interesting
concept,” Emrick said.
“It’s not impossible be-
cause of high-definition
now and because of the
precision that you get with
the cameras.”
The league is still ex-
ploring sites, though Bet-
tman’s criteria puts places
like Edmonton, Alberta,
and Columbus, Ohio, on
the list because practice
rinks and hotels are all
nearby. Maple Leafs pres-
ident Brendan Shanahan
said Toronto was in the
running, and Bettman
spoke to Alberta Premier
Jason Kenney last week
about Edmonton being
one of the sites.
er or engaged.
He dabbles in photography,
but never mentioned this or
informed me he was doing this
shoot. I found another set from
2017 — prior to our relation-
ship — that is not as “taste-
fully” done. Do I have reason
for concern? I thought these
things were professionally done
off-site. His bedroom, though?
— UNEASY IN NEW YORK
DEAR UNEASY: If the
photos were taken before you
and your fiance were exclusive,
I doubt you have any reason
to worry. However, rather than
ask me if you have anything
to be concerned about, any
questions you have about his
“dabbling” would be better
addressed directly to him.
DEAR ABBY: I have a grown
daughter whom my ex-husband
named “Brenda.” (It is her
middle name.) She’s married, a
mother of five and lived abroad
for quite some time. She’s
back in the U.S. now and living
50 miles away from our family.
She now wants to be called by
her first name, which is “Riley.”
The problem is, everyone here
at home knows her as Brenda.
Presently, I still call her Brenda.
How can this be resolved? — ­
NOT HAPPY IN THE SOUTH
DEAR NOT HAPPY: Resolve
this by using the name your
adult daughter prefers. If you
refuse, expect the distance
between you to become greater
than 50 miles.
people all of the time. But you’ll
learn a few techniques for deal-
ing with people that work with
most, especially with traffic. Try
something over and over until it
becomes natural.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22).
When we believe a thing, it
seems like a fact, and when we
disbelieve, we assume it’s a
theory or an opinion. Your gold-
en move today will be in being
slow to decide what you believe.
Let all the ideas entertain you.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
You want to be very aware of
your feelings, especially when
you’re having a good time. So
you prefer to keep a clear head,
free of distraction or anything
that might dull your senses to
the full effect of life.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct.
23). You’ve an unconventional
approach to a very conventional
activity. This will be a fun thing
to share with others, and you
could even become very well-
known for it.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). You’ll give of yourself,
and your kindness will elevate
anything you add it to. Add it to
words to make confidence. Add
it to moments to make profound
memories.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). Sometimes knowing the
theory behind a thing can help
you learn it more or less com-
pletely. But mostly, experience
is the best teacher. It puts
things not only into your mind
but also into your being.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). You’ll show up today in a
way you can be proud of later
when you’re telling the story.
These are, after all, notable
times. The way you play it will go
down in the history books.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). Real-life situations can
echo digital ones in that a login
is often required to get to the
good offerings. In today’s case,
setting up an account is more a
matter of checking all the boxes
that tend to the other person’s
needs.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). There’s no point to inter-
acting on autopilot. Fresh top-
ics, interesting questions and
receptive, curious interactions
will cause the spark that leads
to exciting relationships.
Look after Number One
SOLUTION:
4B THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
Business
LOCAL BUSINESS VOICES
Two steps forward
BY MACAULAY WHITAKER
You’ve heard the say-
ing, “two steps forward,
one step back.” In eco-
nomic development, this
is particularly true.
(Spoiler alert. There
will be no rainbows
and sunshine today. No
Googling necessary.)
We received word
Tuesday that a longtime
plant in our region is
closing. Indefinitely
with no current plans for
reopening.
This is the first
manufacturer in the
Golden Triangle that
has been taken down,
in part, by the effects of
the COVID-19 pandem-
ic. There is a very real
possibility that it will not
be the last.
Every single employer
in the nation is currently
faced with challenges no
one saw coming.
Hard times call for
hard decisions.
The physical, emotion-
al and economic strain
Reeves backs lawsuit protection for businesses during virus
‘I am supportive of Mississippi
providing liability protection for those
businesses that are getting back open’
BY EMILY
WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACK-
SON — in response to questions
Mississippi
Gov. Tate
Reeves said
Wednesday
that he will
ask state Reeves
l aw m a ke r s
to provide legal protec-
tion for businesses that
might be sued if they
reopen and customers
or employees become ill
with COVID-19.
“I am supportive of
Unemployment surge pushing state funds toward insolvency
BY DAVID A. LIEB
The Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY,
Mo. — A surge in unem-
ployment stemming from
the coronavirus shutdown
of large parts of the U.S.
economy is starting to
push some state jobless
funds toward insolvency.
At least a half-dozen
states already have noti-
fied the federal govern-
ment that they could need
to borrow billions of dol-
lars to pay unemployment
benefits because their
own trust funds are run-
that currently faces our
world is beyond a magni-
tude that many of us can
imagine.
This week, we con-
tinued our work with
Golden Triangle cities
and counties, attempting
to make plans and solve
problems surrounding
taxes, operations and
how to proceed in the
near and far future.
We’re watching in
real-time our govern-
ment, at local, state and
federal levels, confront
no-win situations daily
and make difficult calls.
Furloughs, lay-offs and
closures. Permanent or
not, each decision has a
trickle-down effect that
affects a lot more than
just the parties directly
involved.
Early on in our series
for the paper, we talked
about how sales taxes
are connected to our
everyday lives and why
shopping locally can buoy
necessary services in
times like these. The op-
Gov. Tate Reeves
Mississippi providing
liability protection for
those businesses that
are getting back open,”
Republican Reeves said
during a news confer-
ence. “I think that would
be a very good step for
the state of Mississippi,
and I will encourage our
leaders in the Mississippi
Legislature to pass legis-
lation to do that.”
Reeves said he does
not think he could pro-
vide liability protection
through an executive or-
der. The Legislature is
scheduled to return to the
ning out of money.
While the shortfalls
won’t prevent unemployed
workers from getting gov-
ernment aid, the federal
loans could lead to higher
taxes for businesses in
future years to repay the
debt.
U.S. Treasury data
shows California, Con-
necticut and Illinois all ex-
pect to borrow soon from
the federal government to
prop up their unemploy-
ment funds. Officials in
Massachusetts, New York
and Texas confirmed to
The Associated Press that
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
eration of our cities relies
heavily on sales taxes,
but ad valorem taxes and
special use taxes could
also be negatively affect-
ed by this crisis.
TIF (tax increment
financing) bonds that are
used to attract developers
in the retail and hotel
sector are paid through
sales tax revenue. Colum-
bus, Starkville and West
Point all have TIF bonds
for various projects and
these cities likely won’t
be able to make bond pay-
ments. It’s also likely that
local banks hold those
bonds, and now will need
to work with our cities to
restructure that debt.
Special use taxes like
the one-percent parks
and recreation tax in
Starkville to fund a $20
million park project will
be severely decreased,
putting a pause on those
improvements while the
city triages its needs.
The Columbus-Lown-
des Community Develop-
ment Tax is a 2 percent
Capitol on May 18 to re-
start its session that was
put on hold in mid-March
because of the coronavi-
rus pandemic.
Reeves was also asked
Wednesday whether Mis-
sissippi will cut off unem-
ployment payments for
people who choose not to
return to work because
they are concerned about
contracting the highly
contagious virus. The
governor said he strong-
ly encourages people to
return to their jobs when
possible. He noted that
a federal boost to unem-
ployment payments be-
cause of the virus expires
at the end of July.
“I am confident that
Mississippi’s small busi-
nesses and business own-
ers are going to work with
their employees,” Reeves
they also have notified the
federal government of
their anticipated need for
loans.
All six of those states’
unemployment funds
ranked among those at
the greatest risk of insol-
vency because they didn’t
have adequate reserves
to weather a recession,
according to a U.S. De-
partment of Labor report
released before the coro-
navirus outbreak. Many
more states also could
need federal loans given
the widespread economic
damage.
on the gross sales of hard times are coming, a job building helicopters
restaurants in the City of and they’ll leave a mark. because, “he’s home
Columbus, and it funds They will not, however, and he needs to get to
economic development, be forever. The same work.” A local restaurant
recreation and tourism day we heard about that in Columbus announced
activities for Lowndes plant closing, we notified a grand re-opening, the
County, the City of our partners and East third one in the past two
Columbus, the CCVB Mississippi Community years because you just
and the Golden Triangle College initiated plans for
can’t keep great people
Development LINK. With a rapid response program
down. Hard times call
lower tax projections, this to train and upskill those
for hard decisions. Out of
could result in a massive employees for better
loss of revenue for each those decisions, our com-
careers. We saw three
of these entities. It will employers open their munities can re-emerge
be particularly problem- plants back up Monday, leaner, focused and ready
atic for the CCVB which with plans to bring their to move into the future
relies on this tax as their entire workforce back to that this pandemic has
sole source of funding work safely in the coming opened up to us.
and the distribution of months, if business Whitaker is the COO of
this tax is prescribed by allows. We received a call the GTR LINK, the prima-
law. from a mother looking to ry economic development
Businesses, govern- find her son training for organization in the region.
ments and organizations
are looking at current
and future budgets and
making decisions to
survive.
Hard times call for
hard decisions.
We reiterated last
week our intent to be
a signal for the Golden
Triangle. Consider this
a warning shot. Very
said. “I have had the op-
portunity to talk to busi-
ness owners every single
day, and they tend to love
their employees.”
Reeves said his current
“safer at home” order, in
effect until the morning
of May 11, requires peo-
ple who are medically vul-
nerable to remain home.
He said that category of
people, and people 65 or
older, “need to work with
their employer and try to
do the right thing” about
deciding when to return
to work.
LOCAL GAS PRICES
Source: gasbuddy.com
COLUMBUS
1.62 EXXON
1225 Main St. & 13th St. N.
1.65 LOVE’S
525 Tuscaloosa Rd.
1.65 MURPHY USA
1913-A US-45 N
STARKVILLE
1.45 WALMART
105 Market St.
1.46 MURPHY USA
1012 MS-12
1.49 SPRINT
308 Hwy 12 E
Classifieds
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020 n 5B

Lots & Acreage

Rentals Real Estate 1.75 ACRE LOTS.

Good/Bad Credit Options.
Merchandise Community
Good credit as low as 10%
Ads starting at $25 Ads starting at $25 down, $299/mo. Eaton Ads starting at $12 Ads starting at $12
Land, 662−361−7711.
Apts For Rent: West Houses For Sale: East Farm Equipment & Supplies Travel & Entertainment

VIP Garage Sales

2BR/1BA @ 1521 JOHN DEERE MODEL M
Shepherd Rd. TRACTOR. A set of one row PUBLIC CATFISH POND

Rentals
Sold as is, needs work.
Serious inquiries only,
769−274−4110.
Apartments & Houses
Houses For Sale: New Hope
1 Bedrooms 16 WIDNER IN NEW HOPE
2 Bedroooms
Newly remodeled. 3BR/
3 Bedrooms
2BA home. Approx. 1,500
sq. ft. Has 25’x30’ wired
metal shop w/ roll−up front
Furnished & Unfurnished
& side door. $154,500.
1, 2, & 3 Baths
662−549−9298.
Two free signs
Garage Sales: North
HUGE SALE! 3310 John
Hancock Dr. Fri 5/1, 7am
until. Clothes, kitchen,
toys, home decor, etc.
ads.cdispatch.com
cultivators w/ hydraulic lift, @ 130 Hillcrest Drive.
has been repainted, looks Open Tues−Sat, 7a−5p
good & runs good, $3500. Appointment Only, call
662−386−8591
Call 662−436−2037.
General Merchandise
Five Questions:
2018 40FT Gooseneck
Trailer w/ 5ft dovetail, 12
ton axles, 10−4inch straps
& tarps. $8,500. 662−251
−3001.
1 “The
Sudoku
YESTERDAY’S ANSWER

Lease, Deposit
WANTED FREON R12.
Evolution of
Sudoku
Sudoku is a number- Yesterday’s answer
We pay CA$H.
& Credit Check R12 R500 R11.
Convenient. Dance” placing puzzle based on
Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 3 9 1 8 4 6 5 2 7
viceinvestments.com Certified professionals.
ber-placing
given numbers.puzzle 8 6 5 2 3 7 9 1 4
327-8555 The object
312−291−9169

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

2 Dolly Parton based onthe a 9x9 7 2 4 1 5 9 8 3 6
RefrigerantFinders.com/ad
is to place numbers
grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 4 1 9 7 2 8 6 5 3
Apts For Rent: Caledonia given
WHITE POSTER BOARD so thatnumbers.
each row, eachThe 2 3 6 4 1 5 7 9 8
object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place
3 “Quarter
24"x23"
2 BR, 1 BA w/ W/D box 5 8 7 9 6 3 2 4 1
$0.50 each numbers
contains the1same to 9 number
in
Place an ad safely
connections. Application
Pounder”
Fee, Background and Credit
100 in stock
the empty spaces so 9 4 8 3 7 2 1 6 5
Visit 516 Main Street only once. The difficulty 1 5 2 6 8 4 3 7 9
Checks required. $500.00 or call 662−328−2424 that each row, each
level increases from

from home with

662−436−2255
column and each 6 7 3 5 9 1 4 8 2
Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday.
4 Channing
Difficulty Level 4/29
Apts For Rent: Other
the same number only once. The difficulty level

the Classifieds. Vehicles Tatum increases from Monday to Sunday.

Ads starting at $12

Campers & RVs
5 Jimmy
2012 JAYCO EAGLE 5th
Carter,
WHEEL, 39ft, 4 slide−outs.
2BR, 48" TV & 27" TV. Barack
$26,500. 662−386−9605.
Obama,
Theodore
Motorcycles & ATVs

Roosevelt,
1993 KAWASAKI
VOYAGER XII Only 25,500

ads.cdispatch.com Woodrow
miles. Runs & looks good.
No problems. $3000 OBO.

Wilson
Can be seen local.
501−545−7750.

COLEMAN
RENTALS
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS

1 BEDROOM
2 BEDROOMS
Service Directory
Promote your small business starting at only $25
3 BEDROOMS Carpet & Flooring General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping

LEASE,
© The Dispatch

A & T TREE SERVICES HILL’S PRESSURE JESSE & BEVERLY’S

DEPOSIT Bucket truck & stump
removal. Free est.
AND Serving Columbus
CREDIT CHECK since 1987. Senior
citizen disc. Call Alvin @
WASHING. Commercial/
Residential. House,
LAWN SERVICE
Mowing, cleanup,
concrete, sidewalks & landscaping, sodding,
mobile washing. Free est. & tree cutting.
662−386−8925. 662−356−6525

662-329-2323
242−0324/241−4447
"We’ll go out on a limb for
ANNIVERSARY?
SAM’S LAWN SERVICE
you!" No lawn too large or too
2411 HWY 45 N small. Mowing, trimming &
DAVID’S CARPET & RKERS CALL US!
COLUMBUS, MS DUMP TRUCK HAULING. PA weedeating.
UPHOLSTERY
ON

Slag − $400 Call 662−243−1694

J.

CLEANING AND Clay Gravel − $250

Commercial Property For Rent DISINFECTING 1 Room Driveway & Trailer Park 100 Russell St. Painting & Papering
− $50 E
W ELER
J

Grating. Columbus. Call Starkville, MS

FOR RENT LOCATED NEAR 2 Rooms − $70 Walter, 662−251−8664. 662-268-8058 SULLIVAN’S PAINT
DOWNTOWN. 3,000 sq. ft. 3+ Rooms − $30 EA SERVICE
truck terminal, 9,500 sq. Rugs−Must Be Seen WORK WANTED: Special Prices.
ft. shop & 3,200 sq. ft. Car Upholstery Licensed & Bonded.
CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY Interior & Exterior Painting
office/shop. Buildings can Cleaning Available $545 plus Filing Fee 662−435−6528
Carpentry, minor electrical,
be rented together or 662−722−1758 minor plumbing, insulation, CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY
separately. All w/ excellent painting, demolition, All Attorney Fees Through The Plan ACROSS
access & Hwy. 82 visibility. Got leaky pipes? 1 Capital of Italia
gutters cleaned, pressure Jim Arnold, Attorney Find a plumber
662−327−9559. Are you a painter? washing, landscaping,
662-324-1666 • 601-656-6914 5 Lily of “Grace
Advertise here! cleanup work, moving help. in the classifieds. and Frankie”
Houses For Rent: North 662−242−3608. 104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville
11 Captain of
NORTH COLUMBUS fiction
54 Carolina Dr. 12 Galahad’s
3BR/2BA, nice yard, quiet
neighborhood. Caledonia mother
schools. $1,000/mo. 13 Wee bites
Deposit required. 14 Number in a
sum
529 Justin Circle
3BR/2BA, large corner lot, 15 Issue a
huge shop. Caledonia statement
Schools. $1,200/mo. 17 History
Deposit required. section
662−356−4764 18 Accept with-
Leave message. out question
22 Lingerie item
Mobile Homes for Rent 24 Extra DOWN 21 Singer
4BR/2BA MH w/ private 25 Earth-friendly 1 Chimed Seeger
setting & 1.5 acres in prefix 2 River from 22 Final, for one
Caledonia. Covered back 26 Contrived Pittsburgh 23 Bounce back
porch. No pets, no smok− 27 Closes 3 Planned in 28 Puget Sound
ing. Call 662−352−3205,
leave msg if no answer. 30 Plentiful detail city
32 Sum 4 Ridiculous 29 Lists of candi-
RENT A CAMPER! 33 Diner dessert 5 Blue hue dates
CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL! 34 Scheduling 6 Nostalgic 30 Clumsy one
Utilities & cable included, aid songs 31 Chops up
from $145/wk − $535/mo 38 Entirely
Columbus & County School 7 Zany 35 Bonanza find
locations. 662−242−7653 41 2017 Pixar 8 Whopper, e.g. 36 Lot unit
or 205−442−2011. film 9 Roadhouse 37 Hotel unit
42 Judged 10 Composer 38 Writer Tarbell
RV/MOBILE HOME SITE 43 Continental Rorem 39 Pay stub line
East or West Columbus or
near CAFB, Caledonia
coin 16 Cove 40 Driving site
schools. 601−940−1397. 44 Not nervous 19 Broke
45 Goblet part 20 River of
Office Spaces For Rent Russia
OFFICE SPACE FOR
LEASE. 1112 Main St.,
Ste. 5. 3700 sq. ft.
Plenty of private parking.
662−327−9559.

Read local.
cdispatch.com

Buy. Sell. Discover. In the Classifieds section.

On the web: ads.cdispatch.com • Or call: 662-328-2424
6B THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com