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Wednesday | June 24, 2020

Colom vows transparency in future officer-involved cases

In light of Ball dismissal, DA explains about-face
from former policy of referring certain cases to AG
BY YUE STELLA YU
syu@cdispatch.com
Two press conferences. Two vastly
different conclusions.
Speaking to a crowd gathering out-
side Lowndes County Courthouse in
July 2016, newly elected District Attor-
ney Scott Colom announced he would
make a standard practice of deferring
cases that involved the potential for
prosecuting law enforcement over to the
Attorney General’s Office, starting with
the high-profile fatal shooting of Ricky
Ball by Columbus police officer Canyon
Dispatch file photo
District Attorney Scott Colom speaks during a press conference at Lowndes County Boykin.
Courthouse on May 29. Ward 4 Columbus Councilman Pierre Beard, left, and Colum- Four years later, after standing out-
bus Police Chief Fred Shelton listen. side the same courthouse to express
dissatisfaction with how the Ball case
ended, Colom concluded he would never
do that again.
State prosecutors, working under
then-AG Jim Hood, landed a manslaugh-
ter indictment for Boykin, who shot Ball
after a traffic stop on Northside in Oc-
tober 2015. The prosecutors also fought
off over four years several motions from
Boykin’s attorneys to dismiss the case.
But just four months into new AG
Lynn Fitch’s tenure, her office abruptly
dismissed the case with prejudice, push-
ing Colom to decide he would prosecute
such cases himself moving forward.
“If I were to refer a case to the AG
See COLOM, 3A

Unemployment ‘IT’S BEEN AN ADVENTURE’

drops in May, still
more than pre-
pandemic levels
Area leaders cautiously
optimistic as threat
of second pandemic
wave looms
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com

Unemploy ment
rates were down sig-
nificantly in May in
Columbus, Starkville
and West Point as
part of a statewide
decrease, according
to preliminary statis-
tics released Tuesday McBrayer
by the Mississippi Department of
Employment Security.
But local officials stressed that
numbers aren’t back to pre-pan-
demic terms just yet. Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff
In Clay County, for example, Amanda Cody casts a line at the Sam D. Hamilton National Wildlife Refuge in Starkville recently. Cody came out to the refuge
unemployment dropped from 23.6 on a whim. She made the hour and a half drive from Pontotoc, where she lives. “I’m glad I came out here. It’s been an adven-
percent of the labor force in April to ture,” she said.
14.6 percent in May.
See UNEMPLOYMENT, 8A

Mississippi sees highest-ever daily

OCH nurses working
overtime to handle increase of COVID cases
COVID-19, return State health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs: ated Press on
Tuesday eve-
ic people to their older rela-
tives.
uptick driven by community transmission ning. “As peo- “If you drive around and
of other patients of the virus from younger, asymptomatic
ple have tried
to embrace
look at how younger people
are having social gatherings,
BY TESS VRBIN normal, but they’re crowding into bars,
tvrbin@cdispatch.com people to their older relatives unsafe normal, it’s just not safe,” Dobbs
it is permitting said. “People are not comply-
Michelle Weland- BY LEAH WILLINGHAM The announcement came the virus to Dobbs ing, people are not wearing
er thought $20 The Associated Press/ Report as the Mississippi Senate spread. We’re really going to masks. It’s not a joke. Really
per hour would be for America is working to limit lawsuits end up paying the price for bad things are going to hap-
enough of an incen- by customers who say they it.” pen.”
tive. As Mississippi saw its were exposed to COVID-19 The Mississippi Depart- Dobbs said a big concern
The chief nursing highest single-day increase at businesses or medical of- ment of Health reported 611 of his is the stress the new
officer at OCH Re- in coronavirus cases Tues- fices. new cases and 11 deaths cases are putting on Missis-
gional Medical Cen- day, the state health officer “We’ve been seeing this Tuesday. Dobbs said the up- sippi’s heath care system. He
Welander
ter offered “crisis said he is not “remotely sur- trend evolving over weeks,” tick is driven by community said it’s already testing the
pay” to try to fill shifts, and some prised” and expressed con- Dr. Thomas Dobbs said in an transmission of the virus state’s hospital bed capacity.
See OCH, 3A cern for the future. interview with The Associ- from younger, asymptomat- See COVID, 8A

WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

1 Which book, compiled by two brothers, was originally MEETINGS
named “Children and Household Tales,” but was meant for June 25: Clay
an adult audience? County Board of
2 The Maillard reaction occurs when amino acids react with Supervisors, 9 a.m.
which ingredient giving browned food its tasty flavor? Courthouse
3 After improbably reaching the 2015 World Cup quarterfi- June 30: Lowndes
nals, what 34th-ranked country’s Viking clap performance
went viral? County Board of Su-
Hutch Clemons pervisors meeting,
4 Which London cathedral has a U.S. Memorial Chapel,
Fifth grade, Annunciation 9 a.m., Lowndes
dedicated to the Brits’ brothers-in-arms who lost their lives

79 Low 68
in World War II? County Courthouse
High 5 Which Netflix series stars Steven Van Zandt as Frank July 6: Lowndes
Mostly cloudy, chance p.m. storm
“the Fixer” Tagilano, a mobster hiding out in Norway? County Board of Su-
Full forecast on Answers, 8B pervisors meeting,
page 3A. 9 a.m., Lowndes
County Courthouse
July 7: Colum-
INSIDE bus City Council,
Classifieds 7B Food 4B Jeffrey Keys lives in Columbus. He loves Municipal Complex,
Comics 3B Obituaries 4A his family, travel and volunteering. “It’s all 5 p.m., facebook.
Crossword 8B Opinions 6A about making time for what you really want com/CityofColum-
141st Year, No. 89 Dear Abby 3B to do,” Keys said. busMS/

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Baptists and Walmart criticize

rebel-themed Mississippi flag
Mississippi Baptist Convention: ‘While some may
see the current flag as a celebration of heritage, a
significant portion of our state sees it as a relic
of racism and a symbol of hatred’
BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — The Confeder-
ate-themed Mississippi flag drew
opposition Tuesday from two big
forces in the culturally conserva-
tive state: Southern Baptists and
Walmart.
Walmart said it will stop display-
ing the Mississippi flag while the
state debates whether to change
the design. The Mississippi Baptist
Convention said lawmakers have
a moral obligation to remove the
Confederate battle emblem from
the state flag because many people
are “hurt and shamed” by it.
“We believe it’s the right thing
to do, and is consistent with
Walmart’s position to not sell mer-
chandise with the confederate flag
from stores and online sites, as
part of our commitment to provide
a welcoming and inclusive experi-
ence for all of our customers in the
communities we serve,” company
spokesperson Anne Hatfield said.
The announcements increase
pressure for change in a state that is
slow to embrace it. Protests against
racial injustice across the U.S. are
focusing new attention on Confed-
erate symbols.
Mississippi has the last state flag
that includes the Confederate battle
emblem: a red field topped by a blue
X with 13 white stars. The NCAA,
the Southeastern Conference,
prominent business organizations
and other religious groups have al-
ready called for the state to adopt a
more inclusive banner.
The conservative-leaning and
majority-white Mississippi Baptist
Convention has more than 500,000
members at more than 2,100
churches. Mississippi’s population
is about 3 million, and 38 percent of
residents are African American.
“While some may see the current
flag as a celebration of heritage, a
significant portion of our state sees
it as a relic of racism and a symbol
of hatred,” the Baptist group said in
a statement. “The racial overtones
of this flag’s appearance make this
discussion a moral issue.”
White supremacists in the Mis-
sissippi Legislature embedded the
symbol in the upper left corner of
the state flag in 1894, amid back-
lash to political power that African
Americans gained during Recon-
struction.
During a 2001 state election,
voters chose to keep the design.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has
said that if the flag is going to be
changed, it should be done by an-
other statewide election.
Legislators are trying to finish
their annual session in the next
few days. A bipartisan group has
been trying to gather enough votes
to change the flag, but it’s a tough
task. Some lawmakers don’t want
change. Others want to kick a de-
cision to a statewide election be-
cause they think changing the flag
could endanger their own political
careers.
Members of the Mississippi Leg-
islative Black Caucus on Tuesday
renewed their longstanding calls
for the Legislature to remove the
Confederate symbol, saying anoth-
er statewide election would be bit-
ter and divisive.
In 2000, the Mississippi Su-
preme Court ruled that the flag
lacked official status because leg-
islators didn’t include the design
when they updated other state
laws in 1906. That meant the Con-
federate-themed design had been
used for nearly a century by tradi-
tion rather than by law. Then-Gov.
Ronnie Musgrove, a Democrat, ap-
pointed a 17-member commission
to study flag design in 2000 and to
make recommendations to the Leg-
islature.
Democratic state Rep. Ed Black-
mon of Canton served the commis-
sion, which held public hearings in
late 2000.
“You have no idea of the vitriol,
the hatred and pronouncements of
evil that were bestowed upon those
of us who were present,” Blackmon
said Tuesday. “It brought out the
worst in Mississippians.”
Legislators chose in early 2001
to put the issue on the ballot rather
than decide it themselves. Voters
rejected a design that would have
replaced the Confederate symbol
with a blue field topped by a cluster
of white stars representing Missis-
sippi as the 20th state.

Mississippi bill would ban abortion for race, sex, genetics

State House voted 91-25 Tuesday
to pass the final version of the bill
BY EMILY
WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — Missis-
sippi Republican Gov.
Tate Reeves is expected
to sign a bill that would
ban abortion based on the
race, sex or genetic anom-
alies of a fetus, possibly
setting up another lawsuit
by abortion-rights groups
in a state that already has
some of the strictest laws
in the U.S.
The state House voted
91-25 Tuesday to pass the
final version of the bill,
which cleared the Sen-
ate by a wide margin last
week.
Supporters said the bill
would prevent abortion
for Down syndrome or
other conditions. Oppo-
nents said it would inter-
fere with private medical
decisions in a state with
one abortion clinic.
“This unconstitution-
al restriction adversely
affects poor women who
do not have the means
to seek assistance else-
where,” said Beth Orlan-
sky, advocacy director for
the Mississippi Center for
Justice.
Sue Liebel is state pol-
icy director for Susan B.
Anthony List, a group that
opposes abortion. She
praised Mississippi law-
makers for passing the
bill.
“Abortions carried out
because of a baby’s sex,
race, or potential disabil-
ity, such as Down syn-
drome, constitutes mod-
ern-day eugenics,” Liebel
said Tuesday.
Nine states ban abor-
tion because of the sex
of the fetus, two ban it
because of race and two
ban it because of genetic
anomaly, according to the
Guttmacher Institute, a
research group that sup-
ports abortion rights.
Missouri is the only state
that has banned all three.
Kentucky’s ban on all
three reasons has been
put on hold by court order.
The Mississippi bill
would set a prison sen-
tence of up to 10 years
for any physician or other
health care worker who
knowingly violates the
ban. It specifies that the
woman getting the abor-
tion would not be pun-
detected, which can be at
about six weeks — before
ished, and the ban would
not apply if the woman
some women know they
are pregnant. A judge
faces a medical emergen- blocked the restriction
cy because of the preg- from becoming law.
nancy.
With the addition of
conservative justices to
the U.S. Supreme Court
in recent years, several
states have enacted abor-
tion restrictions. Some
laws are aimed at spur-
ring court challenges
seeking to overturn Roe
v. Wade, the landmark
1973 Supreme Court rul-
ing that legalized abor-
tion nationwide.
Mississippi has long
required a 24-hour wait-
ing period for abortions.
Minors also must obtain
permission from their
parents or a judge.
In 2018, Mississippi
tried to ban most abor-
tions at 15 weeks. The
state’s only abortion clin-
ic sued, a federal district
judge blocked the law and
a federal appeals court
agreed with his ruling.
State officials have asked
the U.S. Supreme Court
to consider the case.
In 2019, Mississippi
legislators voted to ban
most abortions once fetal
cardiac activity can be

Removal of slavery advocate statue begins in S. Carolina

BY MEG KINNARD
The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, S.C.
— Several hundred peo-
ple gathered in Marion
Square, in the historic
South Carolina city of
Charleston, early Wednes-
day to watch the removal
of a statue of former vice
president and slavery ad-
vocate John C. Calhoun.
Officials voted unan-
imously Tuesday to re-
move the statue from the
downtown square, the
latest in a wave of actions
arising from protests
against racism and police
brutality against African
Americans.
Some onlookers grew
restless just after 1 a.m.
and began to leave just
before crews used bucket
trucks to soar more than
100 feet in the air to the
top of the statue to make
preparations for its re-
moval. Another piece of
equipment that appeared
to have pulleys attached
was being raised to the
height of the statue from
Calhoun Street, the road-
way that marks the south-
ern border of the square
where the statue sits
and also bears his name.
Crews also appeared to be
removing the plaques that
adorn the four sides of
the pedestal on which the
monument and statue sit.
Council members ap-
proved the measure 13-0
at a late-day meeting. The
resolution authorized the
removal of the statue of
the former U.S. vice pres-
ident and senator from
South Carolina.
City officials said even-
tually that the Calhoun
statue will be placed per-
manently at “an appropri-
ate site where it will be
protected and preserved.”

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Colom
Continued from Page 1A
like this again, then there
would be distrust in the
outcome because of the
way this case was han-
dled,” Colom told The
Dispatch. “In that regard,
I feel like it’s better that
people feel like they are
accountable to me and I’m
accountable to them.”
In a June 4 prosecution
report, Fitch’s office con-
cluded all evidence sup-
ported Boykin’s claim he
shot Ball in self-defense,
despite contradictory evi-
dence in the case file that
may suggest otherwise.
Colom publicly re-
leased much of the case
file. The AG’s Office nev-
er gave a reason why the
case was dismissed de-
spite the other evidence,
including statements
from witnesses describ-
ing Boykin’s previous
run-ins with Ball and con-
flicting medical examin-
ers’ reports.
Fitch’s dismissal also
came days after the police
killing of George Floyd
in Minneapolis and the
national unrest that fol-
lowed, a combination that
sparked demonstrations
throughout the Golden
Triangle, especially in Co-
lumbus.
Transferring offi-
cer-involved cases to the
attorney general, Colom
said, used to be his way
to avoid the appearance
of conflict of interest. The
Mississippi Bureau of In-
vestigation (MBI) usually
conducts an independent
investigation into each of-
ficer-involved incident, he
said. Following the inves-
tigation, he would request
an AG review and hand
over the case file.
It is hard to remain im-
partial while processing
officer-involved shooting
cases through his own
office, Colom acknowl-
edged, because he and
his staff work closely with
law enforcement agencies
throughout his four-coun-
ty district.
“I have five prosecu-
tors. All of them have to
work closely with the po-
lice and investigators,” he
said. “So there’s no way
that I can have someone
that’s totally independent
to review the cases.”
However, he said, he
fears leaving the cases to
the AG would lead to pub-
lic distrust.
“People need to have
trust in the criminal jus-
tice system. If the officer
is justified for the shoot-
ing, I’ll uphold his or her
rights,” Colom said.
Moreover, he said the
office can remain trans-
parent to dial down the
potential backlash.
“In a situation where
the officer is not charged,
what we need to do is fol-
low the model that we did
after Ricky Ball, which is
provide all the informa-
tion to the public,” Colom
said. “We’ve got to have
people trusting the sys-
tem.”
Conflict of interest?
It is up to district at-
torneys to determine if
they should recuse from
certain cases, said Che-
rie Wade, president of the
Mississippi Prosecutors
Association.
Additionally, no law or
rules of ethics requires
them to recuse them-
selves from an officer-in-
volved case unless, for
example, the district at-
torney is kin to the defen-
dant, said Lowndes Coun-
ty Circuit Court Judge
James Kitchens.
“The fact that a police
officer (is involved) in any
type of crime,” Kitchens
said, “does not automati-
cally require recusal.”
Kitchens, who has
been a judge at the 16th
District Circuit Court
for 18 years, said it is not
uncommon for local dis-
trict attorneys’ offices to
prosecute such cases. He
has witnessed five offi-
cer-involved shooting cas-
es during his tenure, he
said, and four out of the
five have been processed
by the local district attor-
ney.
Other district attor-
neys across the state
told The Dispatch they
prosecute cases of offi-
cer-involved shootings
themselves. Steven Kilgo-
re of The Eighth Judicial
District — representing
Leake, Neshoba, New-
ton and Scott counties
— said his office never
transferred any case of
officer-involved incidents
to the AG and would only
consider doing so after
an officer is indicted by a
grand jury. In the 14 years
of his tenure, he said no
officer was ever indicted
in his district.
Kilgore acknowledged
the appearance of conflict
of interest with his office
handling such cases, but
he said it is his office’s
duty to prosecute any
criminal cases brought
to its attention, even offi-
cer-involved ones.
“Once a person is in-
dicted, they are entitled
to a fair trial, all the way
through,” he said. “If it
appears that it couldn’t be
fair (if) handled through
our office, then that’s
when we would consider
(transferring the case).”
The MBI investiga-
tions, Kilgore said, should
assure the impartiality of
the evidence presented
to the grand jury if neces-
sary.
Daniella Shorter,
newly-elected district
attorney of District 22 —
representing Claiborne,
Copiah and Jefferson
counties — shared Kil-
gore’s view. The prose-
cutors should look at the
evidence instead of the re-
lationship between the of-
fice and law enforcement,
she told The Dispatch.
“As prosecutors we
are supposed to be unbi-
ased in our review of the
evidence, of the law, of
the facts,” Shorter said.
“Maybe something will
be awkward, maybe not,
but you have to seek jus-
tice.”
When asked about Co-
lom’s approach to make
certain evidence public,
Kilgore said he would be
reluctant to follow suit.
“I understand the
need for transparency
but there’s also other con-
cerns about privacy,” Kil-
gore said. “I’d be hesitant
to release evidence, but I
wouldn’t 100 percent ex-
clude it.”

OCH
Continued from Page 1A
nurses accepted it. But
others turned it down, she
told the hospital board of
trustees at its monthly
meeting Tuesday.
“We’re already sched-
uling them 84 hours in a
two-week period, so this
is above and beyond that,
and they just want some
time with their families
(because) they’re tired
right now,” Welander
said.
OCH has eight to
12 positive cases of the
COVID-19 coronavirus in
the building at any given
time, CEO Jim Jackson
said. As of Tuesday it had
10 cases, five of which
were in the intensive care
unit.
The ICU had 12 beds
at one point and has nine
at the moment, but the
hospital’s budget is only
equipped for four patients
and six beds, Welander
said.
“You can only push the
system so long, and we’re
just at that breaking point
right now and trying to
get back down to what we
are as an organization,
which is a six-bed ICU,”
she told The Dispatch.
OCH currently has
the space to treat more
patients than it usual-
ly does, since the third
floor was temporarily
a COVID-19 treatment
unit, and the hospital has
still “adequately” met the
challenges and demands
of the time, Jackson said.
The ability to meet
those demands earlier
in the pandemic came
from nurses who usually
work in operating rooms,
ambulances and “busi-
ness-type positions,” said
Welander, who helped
critical care and emer-
gency room nurses treat
COVID-19 patients.
Now that non-
COVID-19 patient volume
is returning to past levels,
Jackson said the hospi-
tal is redelegating staff
away from COVID-19 as-
sistance. This requires
nurses to work “a sig-
nificant amount of over-
time” to pick up the slack,
Welander said.
One standard prac-
tice that has resumed
is elective surgeries,
which OCH put on hold in
March and started to re-
vive in late May. The de-
lay cost the hospital about
$2.1 million in revenue,
Chief Financial Officer
Susan Russell said.
The hospital fur-
loughed some employees
in mid-April and start-
ed bringing them back
in phases earlier this
month. Jackson said be-
tween 80 and 90 percent
of furloughed employees
have been restored to
their previous work sta-
tus and schedule, and ev-
eryone should be back to
work by the end of July.
“The path we’ve been
on has
been get-
ting back
to a normal
mode of
operations,
but we’ve
been do-
ing that in Jackson
addition to
seeing increased num-
bers of positive COVID
patients,” Jackson told
the board. “As long as
we don’t see huge spikes
in that, I think we’re
well-positioned to sustain
that level of care.”
The Mississippi State
Department of Health
reported 611 new con-
firmed cases for a total of
22,898 as of 6 p.m. Mon-
day. make the remaining mon- graduates, so it’s going
Determining a “new ey last through Decem- to be a good three to four
normal” at OCH, includ- ber but said it “could run months before we’ll even
ing how to balance caring out quickly” without any have them adequately
for COVID-19 patients additional funding. trained,” she said. “I’m
and other patients, will Meanwhile, Welander struggling, but I believe
“take extraordinary man- is hoping that the ICU Tupelo and Columbus,
agement and foresight,” will get some relief via we’re all vying for the few
Jackson said. two recently filled nurs- applicants that are out
The state received $2.1 ing positions. there and we’re doing our
billion from the federal “They’re both new best.”
Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
and Economic Security
Act (CARES Act), and the
Mississippi Hospital As-
sociation requested $320
million to be distributed
to the state’s hospitals.
Jackson said he is not
convinced the state will
grant the request, even
though the pandemic
could go on for several
more months.
“I’m not sure state
leadership has agreed
that they’re going to give
us the (money),” he said.
“For some reason, they
think we have been made
whole by all the prior
federal money we’ve re-
ceived.”
OCH has received
about $13 million in fed-
eral COVID-19 relief
and has used about $4.5
million of those funds,
Jackson said. He hopes to

AROUND THE STATE

Man pleads guilty to
selling over 55 grams
of fentanyl
BILOXI — A Missis-
sippi man pleaded guilty
to selling over 55 grams
of fentanyl, which could
have killed over 28,000
people, officials said.
Carter Tranh Tran,
43, pleaded guilty Mon-
day to possession with
intent to distribute fen-
tanyl, according to a U.S.
Attorney's Office press
release.
Authorities began in-
vestigating Tran in 2018,
after they received infor-
mation about Tran using
his store and home to sell
narcotics.
An undercover agent
paid $900 for 100 doses of
Percocet and 128 doses of
Adderall on Aug. 29. 2018,
The Sun Herald reported.
When the narcotics 28. He faces up to 20 years
were tested by the Drug in prison and a $1,000,000
Enforcement Adminis-
tration, authorities deter- fine.
mined the Percocet was
methamphetamine and
the purported Adderall
was 56.76 grams of fen-
tanyl.
According to the DEA,
two milligrams of fentan-
yl can be lethal.
Tran is scheduled to be
sentenced on September

SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Wed. Thur.
Major 3:47a 4:43a
Minor 9:31a 10:39a
Major 4:15p 5:10p
Minor 11:04p ­—
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

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4A WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Fauci: Next few weeks critical to tamping down virus spikes

‘Plan A, don’t go in a crowd. Plan B, if you do,
make sure you wear a mask’
BY LAURAN NEERGAARD AND
RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The next
few weeks are critical to tamp-
ing down a disturbing corona-
virus surge, Dr. Anthony Fauci
told Congress on Tuesday — is-
suing a plea for people to avoid
crowds and wear masks just
hours before mask-shunning
President Donald Trump was set
to address a crowd of his young
supporters in one hot spot.
Fauci and other top health
officials also said they have not
been asked to slow down virus
testing, in contrast to Trump’s
claim last weekend that he had
ordered fewer tests be per-
formed because they were un-
covering too many infections.
Trump said earlier Tuesday that
he wasn’t kidding when he made
that remark.
Dr. Anthony Fauci
“We will be doing more test-
ing,” Fauci, infectious disease
chief at the National Institutes of
Health, pledged to a House com-
mittee conducting oversight of
the Trump administration’s re-
sponse to the pandemic.
The leading public health
officials spent more than five
hours testifying before the com-
mittee at a fraught moment,
with coronavirus cases rising in
about half the states and politi-
cal polarization competing for
attention with public health rec-
ommendations.
Fauci told lawmakers he un-
derstands the pent-up desire to
get back to normal as the U.S.
begins emerging from months
of stay-at-home orders and busi-
ness shutdowns. But that has “to
be a gradual step-by-step pro-
cess and not throwing caution to
the wind,” he said.
“Plan A, don’t go in a crowd.
Plan B, if you do, make sure you
wear a mask,” Fauci said.
Troubling surges worsened
Tuesday in several states, with
Arizona, California, Mississip-
pi, Nevada and Texas setting
single-day records for new coro-
navirus cases, and some gov-
ernors saying they’ll consider
reinstating restrictions or delay-
ing plans to ease up in order to
help slow the spread of the virus.
Arizona, where Trump was
headed for a speech at a Phoe-
nix megachurch, reported a new
daily record of nearly 3,600 ad-
ditional coronavirus infections
Tuesday. Arizona emerged as a
COVID-19 hot spot after Repub-
lican Gov. Doug Ducey lifted his
stay-home orders in mid-May.
Last week he allowed cities
and counties to require masks
in public places and many have
done so.
Texas surpassed 5,000 new
cases for a single day for the first
time — just days after it eclipsed
4,000 new cases for the first time
— as America’s largest pediat-
ric hospital began taking adult
patients to free up bed space
in Houston. The infection rate
in Texas has doubled since late
May. And Nevada surpassed a
record one-day increase for the
fourth time in the past eight
days. Other states also were ex-
periencing worrisome surges,
including Louisiana, Utah and
South Carolina.
Another worrisome trend:
an increase in infections among
young adults. Fauci said while
COVID-19 tends to be less se-
vere in younger people, some of
them do get very sick and even
die. And younger people also
may be more likely to show no
symptoms yet still spread the
virus.
If people say, “’I’m young,
I’m healthy, who cares’ — you
should care, not only for your-
self but for the impact you might
have” on sickening someone
more vulnerable, Fauci said.
About 2.3 million Americans
have been infected and some
120,000 have died, according to
data from Johns Hopkins Uni-
versity.
Republican Rep. David
McKinley of West Virginia
asked if Fauci regretted that the
American public wasn’t urged
sooner to wear face masks, and
then interrupted before the vis-
ibly annoyed scientist finished
answering.
Fauci said he didn’t regret the
change in recommendations.
Early in the pandemic there
was a “paucity of equipment” for
health workers “who put them-
selves daily in harm’s way” and
“we did not want to divert” those
scarce supplies, he said.
Scientists eventually recom-
mended the general public use
cloth masks, after they better
understood that people with no
symptoms could be spreading
the virus — even though they
don’t offer as much protection
as the sophisticated masks re-
served for health workers and
aren’t a substitute for staying 6
feet away from other people.

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tion, call 662-328-2471.
Maggie Hubbert
COLUMBUS ­­—
Maggie Hubbert, 72,
died June 19, 2020, at
DCH of Tuscaloosa,
Alabama.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Lee-
Sykes of Columbus.
Joe Belue
AMORY — ­ Joe
William Belue, 55, died
June 21, 2020, at his
home.
Services will be at
Is it safe to form a COVID-19 ‘support bubble’ with friends?
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Is it safe to form a
COVID-19 “support bub-
ble” with friends?
Yes, if done correctly.
Support bubbles, also
known as quarantine
pods, may help fend off
loneliness and anxiety
after months of social dis-
tancing. The idea, which
originated in New Zea-
land, calls for two people
or households to agree to
socialize in person only
with each other to limit
the risk of infection.
Experts say don’t do it
unless everyone agrees
to follow social distancing
guidelines while outside
the bubble.
“You are now swim-
ming in the same pool
with not just that person,
but all the people those
people are interacting
with,” said Dr. Aaron Mil-
stone at the Johns Hop-
kins University School of
Medicine.
Support bubbles are
already catching on in
Tell your child a bedtime story.
AREA OBITUARIES
2 p.m. Thursday, at
Cleveland-Moffett Fu-
neral Home, with Butch
Moore officiating. Buri-
al will follow in Hatley
Cemetery. Visitation
is from 5-8 p.m. today,
at the funeral home.
Cleveland-Moffett Fu-
neral Home of Amory
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Belue was born
October 9, 1964, in
Germany to Rita Friebel
Belue and the late
Jimmy Chester Belue.
He was a graduate of
Hatley High School and
was formerly employed
as a frame builder in the
furniture industry.
In addition to his
mother, he is survived
by his siblings, Jimmy
Belue, Jerry Belue,
Peggy Guyton all of
Aberdeen, Joe Belue of
Becker, Petra Gardner
of Missouri and Corne-
lia Langer of Germany.
Lucille Reed
ABERDEEN — Lu-
cille Blanset Reed, 89,
died June 22, 2020,
at the Care Center of
Aberdeen.
Services will be
at 11 a.m. Friday, at
Tisdale-Lann Memorial
Chapel, with Robert
Earl Fowlkes officiating.
Burial will follow in
Oddfellow Rest Ceme-
tery. Visitation will be
10:30-11 a.m. prior to
services at the funeral
home. Tisdale-Lann Me-
morial Funeral Home of
Aberdeen is in charge of
the U.S. with reopenings
underway. And earlier
this month, British Prime
Minister Boris Johnson
announced that adults
living alone or single par-
ents can form support
bubbles with another
household. Members of a
bubble can meet, indoors
or out, without remaining
6 ½ feet apart.
It’s too soon to know
whether the strategy will
work on a broad scale. But
a recent study indicated
that bubbles with more
limited contacts worked
better to flatten the curve
of infection compared
with other strategies,
such as limiting contact
to one’s neighborhood.
“I don’t think we can
promise people com-
plete safety when they
have face-to-face contact
with others outside their
household,” said study
co-author Per Block of
Oxford University.
But he said limiting
interactions to one oth-
er family poses a much
arrangements.
Mrs. Reed was born
July 15, 1930, in Hous-
ton, to the late Hender-
son Blanset and Nora
McNaley Blanset. She
was formerly employed
as the owner of Some-
thing Special Steak-
house.
In addition to her par-
ents, she was preceded
in death by her hus-
band, Carlton Edward
Reed.
She is survived by
her children, Reta Jones
Templeton of Maben,
Linda Jaggers, and
Bubba Jones both of
Aberdeen; four grand-
children; and three
great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be
sent to Victory Baptist
Church located at 124
Elliot Ave. Nettleton,
MS. 38858.
Amanda Schrock
WEST POINT —
Amanda Schrock, 83,
died June 22, 2020, at
West Point Community
Living Center.
A private family
service will be held at
a later date. Calvert
Funeral Home of West
Point is in charge of
arrangements.
Ms. Schrock was
born May 6, 1937, in
Bay Minette, Alabama,
to the late Abraham and
Lydia Amstutz Schrock.
She was formerly em-
ployed as a seamstress
for Garan Garment
Plant.
In addition to her par-
smaller risk than resum-
ing previous socializing
habits.
ents, she was preceded
in death by her siblings,
Fannie Schrock, Siloma
Biehl, Rudolph, How-
ard, Johnny and Allen
Schrock.
She is survived by
her siblings, Lovina
Maxwell, Barbara Ab-
bott, Dorothy Schrock,
Josephine Gibson,
Dena Whitford, Frank
Schrock, Joseph A.
Shrock and Stephen
Schrock.
Brad Lamar
Visitation:
Sunday, June 28 • 1 PM
2nd Ave. North Location
Memorial Services:
Sunday, June 28 • 2 PM
2nd Ave. North Location
William Pearman
Memorial Services:
To Be Held At A Later Date.
College St. Location
Doris McGlynn
Visitation:
Wednesday, June 24 • 12 PM
2nd Ave. North Chapel
Services:
Wednesday, June 24 • 1 PM
2nd Ave. North Location
Burial
Beersheba Cemetery
2nd Ave. North Location
Charles D. Young
Memorial Services:
Sunday, June 28 • 2 PM
Sovereign Grace Baptist Church
2nd Ave. North Location
memorialgunterpeel.com
Doris Ann Bell McGlynn
On Monday, June 22, 2020,
Doris Ann Bell McGlynn,
loving wife and mother passed
away surrounded by her
children and family at age 90.
Visitation will be held at the 716
2nd Ave N Chapel of Memorial
Gunter Peel Funeral Home at
12:00 PM on Wednesday, June
24, 2020, with a celebration of
her life beginning at 1:00 PM. Burial will follow
immediately at Beersheba Cumberland Church
in New Hope with Rev. Timothy Lee officiating.
Doris was born on August 10, 1929, in
Columbus, MS to the late Durward Belmont
Bell Sr. and Rosa Estelle Beaty Bell. All five of
her brothers, Clarence Wendell Bell, Durward
Belmont Bell Jr. (D.B.), Douglas Carroll Bell,
Harold Thomas Bell and William Leon Bell
preceded her in death. Doris’ father passed away
at a very young age during the depression era so
she voluntarily quit school to help her mom raise
her brother’s while her mother worked. She was
a wonderful homemaker all her life.
At the age of 17 she met the love of her life,
Dr. Perry W. McGlynn, who was stationed at
Columbus Air Force Base and they married
March 6, 1947. They had two children, Kathryn
& John. Perry died at only sixty and there wasn’t
a day she did not miss him.
Doris’ love for cooking as well as her artistry
with flowers only enhanced her ability to make
her home a place of comfort. Being married to
a career serviceman allowed her to visit and
experience other cultures which she thoroughly
enjoyed.
Survivors include her children, Kathryn
McGlynn Hill (Oran) and John McGlynn
(Martha). She had four grandchildren, Kahley
Hill, Danielle Hill, Erin Thompson (Ryan) and
Kelly McGlynn as well as four great grandchildren,
Justin Glover, Emily Barksdale, Kalen Reyes and
Elena Reyes. She had a very special companion
and caregiver, Bobbie Henderson who not only
cared for her but loved her through many painful
days. We will forever be grateful for the excellent
care she was given. She had many nieces and
nephews and loved them all. She was known for
her infectious smile and quick wit. Momma, you
will remain in our hearts always.
Pallbearers will include Bill Dunham, Wendell
Wiggins, Justin Glover, Haley Gallaspy, Emily
Barksdale and Robert Perkins.
Sign the online guest book at
www.memorialgunterpeel.com
716 Second Avenue North • Columbus, MS
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 5A

Senate GOP police bill hits

roadblock, as Dems seek changes
‘This is a profound
moment, it is a moral
moment. The call is
for us to act.’
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.
BY LISA MASCARO
AP Congressional Correspondent
WASHINGTON — Congress is
at a standoff over policing legisla-
tion, as Senate Democrats prepare
to block a Republican proposal
Wednesday as inadequate, leaving
the parties to decide whether to
take on the hard job of negotiating
a compromise or walk away despite
public outcry over the killings of
Black Americans.
The impasse threatens to turn
the nationwide protests over the
deaths of George Floyd, Breon-
na Taylor and others into another
moment that galvanizes the nation
but leaves lawmakers unable to act.
Common ground is not out of reach.
A new Associated Press-NORC
Center for Public Affairs Research
poll shows almost all Americans
support some degree of criminal
justice changes.
“This is a profound moment, it
is a moral moment,” said Sen. Cory
Booker, D-N.J., a co-author of the
Democrats’ proposal. “The call is
for us to act.”
Yet Congress, as it has so many
times before when confronted with
crisis — on gun control or immi-
gration changes supported by
broad segments of the population
— is expected to stall out, for now.
Lawmakers are hesitant to make
moves upsetting to voters as they
campaign for the fall election. And
President Donald Trump, facing his
own reelection, is an uneven part-
ner with shifting positions on the
types of changes he would accept
from Capitol Hill.
Ahead of Wednesday’s vote,
Trump tweeted his support for the
AP-NORC poll: Nearly all in US
back criminal justice reform
BY COLLEEN LONG AND HANNAH FINGERHUT
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Americans overwhelmingly want clear standards
on when police officers may use force and consequences for officers
who do so excessively, according to a new poll that finds nearly all
Americans favor at least some level of change to the nation’s criminal
justice system.
The new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Af-
fairs Research also finds there is strong support for penalizing officers
who engage in racially biased policing. Americans are more likely now
than five years ago to say that police violence against the public is a very
serious problem and that officers who cause injury or death on the job
are treated too leniently.
“For me, as a Black person, I’m like, this has been happening,” said
Kevin Richardson, 38, of Charlotte, North Carolina. “We should’ve been
knowing it, we should’ve been seeing this and so now what’s happened
is, I’ll be honest, white people are seeing it and saying, ‘This is wrong.’”
The survey of American adults took place after weeks of mass demon-
strations against police violence and calls from some politicians and
activists to “defund” departments in response to the death of George
Floyd, a Black man who died in custody after a white Minneapolis offi-
cer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes.
Americans are largely united behind the idea that action is required:
29 percent think the criminal justice system needs “a complete over-
haul,” 40 percent say it needs “major changes” and 25 percent say it
needs “minor changes.” Just 5 percent believe no changes are neces-
sary.
GOP bill. He said it would be “great Tuesday, Scott played for colleagues
for both people of color and police.” the racist voice mail messages he
Trump tweeted, “Hope to sign it has recently received, according to
into law ASAP!” a Republican granted anonymity to
Senate Majority Leader Mitch discuss the private meeting.
McConnell acknowledged Wednes- The GOP’s Justice Act would
day’s vote tally may fall short. If so, create a national database of po-
he vowed to try again, hoping to lice use-of-force incidents, restrict
pass legislation before a July 4 holi- police chokeholds and set up new
day recess. training procedures and commis-
“This is not about them or us,” sions to study race and law en-
said Sen. Tim Scott, the only Black forcement. It is not as sweeping
Republican in the Senate and au- as a Democratic proposal, which
thor of the GOP bill. mandates many of the changes and
He said it’s about young people would hold police liable to damages
and others, “who are afraid to jog in lawsuits. There are similarities
down the street or get in their car on some issues, lawmakers say, but
and drive.” During a GOP lunch also vast differences.

Once reluctant, GOP’s only Black senator now leads on race

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina
heads the task force of Republican
senators drafting the Justice Act
BY LISA MASCARO
AND HILARY POWELL
The Associated Press
WA S H -
INGTON
— When
he first ran
for office in
1994, they
scrawled
the N-word Scott
on his lawn
signs. By the time he came
to Congress, he had to
unplug the phone lines be-
cause callers brought the
staff to tears. Even after he
became a U.S. senator, the
Capitol quickly became
just another place where
he would be stopped by
the police.
Initially reluctant to fo-
leading Republican voice,
teaching his party what it’s
like to be a Black man in
America when the police
lights are flashing in the
rearview mirror.
He has been pulled over
by law enforcement “more
than 18 times,” Scott said
in an interview with The
Associated Press.
“I’m thinking to myself
how blessed and lucky I
am to have 18 different
encounters and to have
walked away from each en-
counter.”
As the only Black Re-
publican in the Senate,
Scott’s role is heavy with a
certain weight. He is lead-
ing a task force of GOP
senators drafting the Jus-
a historic opportunity
to speak to Republicans
about race — as a conser-
vative, a Christian and a
Southerner from the state
where the Civil War began.
He rejects the concept
of systemic racism, which
puts him at odds with
many Black Democrats
who demand a broader po-
lice overhaul than his pro-
posed bill. Instead, he plac-
es his faith where he says
he has seen the change, in
people’s hearts. He shares
his experience as a Black
American in the 21st cen-
tury, including this year
when he was pulled over
for failing to signal early
enough for a lane change
— or, as he called it,
stopped for “driving while
Black.”
“I just can’t imagine
the pressure he must be
under, though, as the only
African American Republi-
said in an interview.
“That he has to sit
there with those senators
and go through his ex-
periences and hope that
they have some measure
of empathy,” said Bass,
who is leading Democrats’
policing bill and working
with Scott, whom she has
known for years.
“It’s exhausting,” she
said. “Racism is exhaust-
ing.”
As massive demon-
strations over the May 25
killing of George Floyd in
Minnesota spilled into a
worldwide reckoning over
police tactics and racial
injustice, Scott quietly ap-
proached Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConnell
at the GOP senators’ week-
ly private luncheon.
Scott whispered in Mc-
Connell’s ear that he want-
ed a seat at the table draft-
ing legislation.
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© The Dispatch

tice Act, law enforcement can,” Rep. Karen Bass, the “I’m the guy that actual- Providing Our Clients Expertise With
cus on race, Sen. Tim Scott changes set for a test vote chairwoman of the Con- ly has the experience,” he Over 50+ Years Of Combined Experience
of South Carolina is now a this week. But it’s also gressional Black Caucus, told McConnell.
Opinion
6A WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 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

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MARY ANN HARDY Controller

OUR VIEW VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Black history Open letter from Harry Sanders to people of Lowndes County
is our history To the people of Lowndes County:
My carelessly-spoken comments that I made during and following the June 15, 2020 Lowndes

I
f you were to somehow be able to spread
Mississippi’s history out on a table, the first
thing you would notice is a gaping hole in it. It
would not be inaccurate to describe it as a black
hole.
The full story of Mississippi’s history is un-
told, and will likely remain untold because com-
paratively little remains of the historical record of
black Mississippians well into the 20th Century.
That’s no small void. After all, blacks were
the majority of Mississippi’s population between
1840 and 1940, according to the U.S. Census
figures.
Because so little of that story was ever doc-
umented, the gaps in our state’s history will
remain. It is so important to capture as much of it
as remains.
That is why we are encouraged to see efforts
currently underway to preserve Brush Arbor
cemetery in Starkville, one of the oldest black
cemeteries in the state. Mississippi State anthro-
pology professors are working with the activist
group Starkville Stand Up in the effort to restore,
to as great an extent as possible, the old ceme-
tery. If it were simply an effort to give this space
the respect and dignity it deserves, that alone
would be an honorable effort. But in preserving
the cemetery, it will allow historians to piece to-
gether parts of black history that have long gone
unexamined.
All cemeteries hold a part of our history. For
three decades now, history students at MSMS
have been telling the stories of the people buried
at Friendship Cemetery in Columbus through
its popular “Tales from The Crypt” event under
the guidance of MSMS history teacher Chuck
Yarbrough.
In many cases, those stories are a “retelling”
of history, which is why Yarbrough’s efforts to
apply the same research principles to the city’s
historic Black cemetery, Sandfield Cemetery,
may be even more important than the good work
his students are doing at Friendship Cemetery.
At Sandfield, students participating in the annual
Eight 0’ May event are often telling stories that
might easily have otherwise escaped into histori-
cal oblivion.
Because of the paucity of archival records of
our black histories, cemeteries are especially
crucial to capturing the history of our black
citizens.
When we see what is unfolding around us
today in the debate over the state’s Jim Crow
flag and the continuing presence of Confederate
monuments throughout the state, we can’t help
but feel that a better understanding of our history
— all of it — would calm the rhetoric and allow a
smoother transition toward racial understanding,
harmony and mutual respect.
Each February, we celebrate Black History
Month. It is fitting that we do so.
But it is also important to remember that
Black history is not ancillary: It is our history and
any telling of our history is incomplete without
embracing, uncovering and understanding black
history.
County Board of Supervisors meeting were thoughtless and hurtful to many people. My ill-spoken
words betrayed the trust of those who elected me in good faith and angered and brought pain to
others. For that, I am sorry.
For 20-plus years, I have earnestly worked with other board officials, Columbus and state leaders,
as well as our community members to make Lowndes County the best county it can be. Regardless
of the significant contributions and accomplishments made during my board service, the divisive im-
pact of my comments cannot simply be dismissed or overlooked. I deeply regret putting Columbus,
Lowndes County, the Golden Triangle and the state of Mississippi in such a negative light.
It is my heartfelt desire for Columbus and Lowndes County residents to focus on the present and
to prepare for a successful future. This goal for our community can be accomplished if we set aside
our differences and continue to work together to create an environment of unity and harmony.
In sincerity,
Harry Sanders
When are we going to learn that teria before then, and I got hate
Points out the importance we have more in common than we mail for several months thereafter
of kindness to strangers think? We all want our families to for doing this. After graduation,
I grew up in the 60s so I be healthy, happy, safe and loved. I was assigned for pilot training
understand the frustration, hurt Often, we walk by a person and do and was given a room between
and pain many feel from that not see them. Make a difference
era. I was one of a very few Black two northern black pilot students.
and introduce yourself to someone
children who attended West Point We earned our wings and went
you do not know. I did, and Mrs.
High School before integration. to graduation together as three
Brown thank you for taking the
Two years before integration was close friends. My father was a son
time to talk with me.
enforced, there was a choice, of a Baptist Preacher, who died
We have got to get it right,
meaning parents could send their before my father had a high school
because we all are going to die one
children to a white or black school. day and when we do, we are going education. He was taught and lived
During my 9th grade year, my dad to meet our Creator. What will our that “we should love each other as
sent me to WPHS. One day while answer be when He asks what did we love ourselves,” as one of God’s
sitting in English, one of my white we do to advance His Kingdom? greatest Commandments. He had
classmates said, “We don’t want Plus, some of us are hating each a country store, and no one left his
no niggers here, why don’t them other over skin color, a reason store as a needy, hungry family,
monkeys go back to Africa?” I was none of us can do anything about. regardless of race.
so angry, but being the only Black If you feel like I do, introduce n Harry love Leroy Brooks
in the class, what could I do? What yourself when you see me. n Leroy love Harry Sanders
could my 14-year-old self do? What To supervisor Sanders, thank Only by God’s grace can we
I did do was not cry in front of the you for reminding me of Willie love others as we love ourselves.
class even though I was angry Lynch. This will keep me pushing As for me and my house, we
from the top of my head to the my family to go further in life want to try to love our neighbors
soles of my feet. This whole class Rebecca Gibson as ourselves regardless of race.
was laughing right along with West Point
my teacher, even though she was Dewitt T. Hicks Jr.
saying, “Don’t say that.” Columbus
During all this, there were Importance of loving
a few white boys who made my our neighbors Civil War was about slavery
9th grade year bearable, and I Hatred and racial division are Bloody Kansas was about slav-
thanked them. I will always be very damaging to our community ery. The Missouri Compromise
grateful for them. One of those and our nation. I graduated from was about slavery. Senator Sumner
boys once asked me in class what Sledge High School, a segregated was beaten nearly to death on the
it was like to be Black. When I high school in a small town in floor of the Senate over remarks
could not answer him, I asked the Mississippi Delta. I attended about slavery. Known abolition-
him what it was like to be white. and graduated from Mississippi ists were tarred and feathered
He had no answer for me. Later State University, an all white, male throughout the South. Five of the
in life I realized the answer, and university at that time. I ran for
Confederate states (Mississippi
the answer was neither one of and was elected Vice President
included) explicitly stated in their
us had anything to compare it of the student body in order to
with so we could not answer the be in charge of entertainment in declarations of secession that
question. Here it is, five decades the big band era. We had Louis issues of slavery were the reason.
later, and I am still hearing these Armstrong and his band for a con- There were other pressures, but
same words. I have a 3-year-old cert and dance. Restaurants were all of them combined paled into
great-grandson and a 9-year-old segregated at that time, and I took insignificance before the issue of
great-granddaughter. I had hoped Louis Armstrong and his band slavery. The Civil War was about
neither would have to experience to eat with me at the Mississippi slavery. Period.
any of what I did or hear some of State Cafeteria. No blacks had Bill Gillmore
the things I have heard. eaten at the Mississippi State Cafe- Columbus

STATE OF THE NATION

How long will the vandals run amok?
T We erect statues to remember, revere and honor
he left’s war on
America’s past
crossed several new
frontiers last week.
Portland’s statue of
George Washington, the
Father of his Country and
the first president of the
United States, the greatest
man of his age, was toppled
and desecrated.
While the statue stood,
an American flag was Patrick Buchanan
draped over its head and
set ablaze. After it was pulled down, a
new fire was set on another American
flag spread across the statue, and also
burned. The vacated pedestal was
painted with the words, “You’re on
Native Land.”
In Portland also, a statue of Thomas place for thousands of soldiers, known
Jefferson that stood at the entrance of
a high school named for the author of
the Declaration of Independence was
torn down. In New York, city council
members demanded that the Jefferson
statue in city hall be removed.
Anticipating what was coming, the
New York Museum of Natural History
got the permission of city hall to have
the giant statue of Theodore Roosevelt and Monticello.
astride a horse, flanked by an African
and a Native American, removed from
the front of the museum.
What was wrong with the 80-year-
old statue?
Said museum president Ellen
Futter, the problem is its “hierarchi-
cal composition.” Only Roosevelt was
mounted.
With Washington, Jefferson and
Roosevelt all under attack, three of the Park was a statue of Francis Scott
four presidents on Mount Rushmore
those whom we memorialize. And what is the
motivation of the people who tear them down
and desecrate them?
are now repudiated by the
left.
Our Taliban have moved
on, past Columbus and the
Confederate generals, to
dislodge and dishonor the
Founding Fathers and their patriot
sons.
In Philadelphia, the Tomb of the Un-
known Soldier of the American Revolu-
tion, with its statue of Washington, was
defaced. The tomb is the final resting
but to God, who died in the struggle
for American independence.
“Committed Genocide” is the
charge scrawled on the memorial.
Local authorities or police did not
stop the vandals. One wonders what
will happen should the haters of Wash-
ington and Jefferson decide to torch
their ancestral homes at Mount Vernon
Still another line was crossed last
week in the war against the past.
A statue of Ulysses S. Grant in San
Francisco’s Golden Gate Park was
toppled. Police watched as hundreds
gathered to take down the general
and 18th president, who accepted the
surrender of General Robert E. Lee’s
Army of Northern Virginia.
Also pulled down in Golden Gate
Key, who wrote our national anthem,
“The Star-Spangled Banner,” after he
watched all through the night in 1814
as British warships bombarded Fort
McHenry.
A third statue torn down in Golden
Gate Park was that of Father Junipe-
ro Serra, the Franciscan priest who
founded nine of the 21 Spanish mis-
sions in California that run from San
Diego to San Francisco.
Serra lived in the 18th century, long
before the U.S. acquired California and
decades before Mexico won its inde-
pendence. Pope Francis canonized him
in 2015.
At the end of last week, the last
statue of a Confederate soldier in the
nation’s capital, that of Gen. Albert
Pike, who spent his years after the war
doing good works, was pulled down,
while Mayor Muriel Bowser’s D.C.
cops watched from police cruisers.
We erect statues to remember,
revere and honor those whom we me-
morialize. And what is the motivation
of the people who tear them down and
desecrate them?
In a word, it is hate. A goodly slice
of America’s young hates this coun-
try’s history and the men who made it.
It hates the discoverers and explorers
like Columbus, the conquistadores
and colonists. It hates the Founding
Fathers and the first 15 presidents, all
of whom either had slaves or coexist-
ed with the injustice of slavery. But
hating history and denying history and
tearing down the statues of the men
who made that history does not change
history.
So, where are we going?
Today, as was true in the 1960s, the
American establishment is on the run.
It recoils from mob action but cannot
bring itself to condemn those tear-
ing down the statues, for it basically
agrees with them and seeks to mar-
shal their energy to help it get back
into power in November.
But this cannot go on. The political
and propaganda war on the cops, the
vandalism of the statues and memori-
als, the disgracing and dishonoring of
American heroes cannot go on indefi-
nitely.
At some point, in the near future,
the establishment, and its question-
able political instrument, Joe Biden,
will have to have his Sister Souljah
moment, and stand up and stay, “This
should stop.”
For, whatever happens in this elec-
tion, the American people will not stay
united around a party and a movement
built on the proposition that America
has been, from before its birth, a racist
criminal enterprise.
You cannot lead a people whose
history and heroes you hate.
A house divided against itself can-
not stand. And a society whose history
is hated by millions of its members will
not survive.
Patrick J. Buchanan, a nationally
syndicated columnist, was a senior advi-
sor to presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald
Ford and Ronald Reagan. His website is
http://buchanan.org/blog.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 7A

Budgets put limits on social

distancing options for schools
School Superintendents Association: It will cost
the average school district an estimated $1.8
million to make social distancing possible
BY MIKE CATALINI
AND MICHAEL MELIA
The Associated Press
As schools consider how and
when to reopen their buildings
during the pandemic, many are
finding themselves overwhelmed
by the potential expenses that
would come with operating under
social distancing guidelines: pro-
tective equipment, staff for smaller
classes and additional transporta-
tion to keep students spread out on
bus rides.
The burdens loom large in par-
ticular for urban, under-resourced
districts that often have neither the
space nor the budgets to accommo-
date new health protocols.
In Hartford, Connecticut, Super-
intendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez
shudders at the thought of how to
afford a scenario where each teach-
er had dramatically fewer students.
In some grades, she said, she has
individual teachers with as many as
27 students in their classrooms.
“My budget would be nonexis-
tent,” she said.
The vast majority of Ameri-
can school districts have yet to
announce when they will resume
in-person instruction. The trajecto-
ry of the outbreak remains uncer-
tain, and many are waiting on di-
rection from their states. Many are
developing plans for at least some
distance learning, and budgets are
one of the factors that could deter-
mine how much they do from afar.
In Camden, New Jersey, one of
the state’s poorest cities, Super-
intendent Katrina McCombs said
costs for classroom cleanings,
protective equipment and other vi-
rus-related expenses are a concern,
especially because the city relies
on cash infusions from a state gov-
ernment that is facing a $10 billion
shortfall over the current and next
fiscal years.
New Jersey has not yet issued
guidelines for reopening schools,
but McCombs said she hopes the
governor leaves flexibility for big
urban districts like hers, where
families could be at especially high
risk for exposure, given the number
of multi-generational households.
“I think the big thing that comes
to mind right away ... just thinking
about those logistics of our city, I
would hope that as the governor is
rolling out those recommendations,
they can take those unique factors
into consideration, especially in our
large urban districts,” she said.
As schools reopen, it will cost
the average school district about
$1.8 million to make social distanc-
ing possible, according to an esti-
mate published by the School Su-
perintendents Association, which
goes by the name AASA, and the
Association of School Business Of-
ficials International. The expense
will strain budgets of districts that
are bracing for cuts because of the
economic downturn and hoping for
additional federal aid.

Obama raises $7.6 million at fundraiser for Biden’s campaign

Former president implored the
audience to get engaged with Joe
Biden’s presidential campaign
BY ALEX ANDRA JAFFE
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON —
Former President Barack
Obama warned Demo-
crats against being “com-
placent or smug” about
the presidential race at
a grassroots fundraiser
Tuesday for presumptive
Democratic nominee Joe
Biden, calling on viewers
to learn the lessons from
2016 and not take the elec-
tion for granted.
Referencing what he
called a “great awaken-
ing” going on among
younger Americans push-
ing for reforms, Obama
said that “just because
this energy is out there
does not mean that it as-
sures our victory and it
does not mean that it gets
channeled in a way that
results in real change.”
“There’s a backlash,
that is fierce, against
change,” Obama added.
The former president
referenced the division
among Americans that
he said President Donald
Trump “exploits,” as well
as new challenges to vot-
ing rights in recent years.
“We can’t be compla-
cent or smug or suggest
that somehow it’s so ob-
vious that this president
hasn’t done a good job be-
cause, look, he won once,
and it’s not like we didn’t
have a good clue as to
how he was going to oper-
ate the last time,” Obama
said.
He implored the au-
dience to get engaged
with Biden’s presidential
campaign, declaring that
“whatever you’ve done so
far is not enough.”
The fundraiser marked
Obama’s official return to
the presidential campaign
trail and underscored his
unmatched popularity
within the Democratic
Party. Biden, who ap-
peared virtually alongside
Obama at the event, said it
raised a record-breaking
$7.6 million from more
than 175,000 individual
donors.
Trump’s Dallas fund-
raiser earlier this month
raised north of $10 million
for the campaign, Repub-
lican National Committee
and the Trump Victory
Fund.
Tuesday’s event was a
kickoff of what Obama’s
team says will likely be
a busy schedule heading
into the fall, as he looks to
help elect not just Biden
but Democrats running
for House and Senate.

Police officer
involved in
Breonna Taylor
shooting fired
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
The Louisville Metro po-
lice department has fired
one of the police officers
involved in the fatal shoot-
ing of Breonna Taylor,
more than three months
after the 26-year-old Black
woman was killed in her
home.
A termination letter
sent to Officer Brett Hank-
ison released by the city’s
police department Tues-
day said Hankinson violat-
ed procedures by showing
“extreme indifference to
the value of human life”
when he “wantonly and
blindly” shot 10 rounds of
gunfire into Taylor’s apart-
ment in March. The letter
also said Hankison, who
is white, violated the rule
against using deadly force.
Taylor was shot eight
times by officers who
burst into her Louisville
home using a no-knock
warrant during a March
13 narcotics investigation.
The warrant to search her
home was in connection
with a suspect who did not
live there, and no drugs
were found inside.
The no-knock search
warrant that allows police
to enter without first an-
nouncing their presence
was recently banned by
Louisville’s Metro Coun-
cil.
The letter said Hank-
ison fired the rounds
“without supporting facts”
that the deadly force was
directed at a person pos-
ing an immediate threat.
8A WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

US meat industry puzzled by

China’s import ban for 1 plant
BY JOSH FUNK
The Associated Press
OMAHA, Neb. — China’s deci-
sion to ban imports from a single
Tyson Foods poultry plant where
there was a coronavirus outbreak
has raised concerns about the im-
plications on the U.S. meat industry
if the action is expanded to other
plants.
Chinese customs officials didn’t
hint about expanding the ban in a
short statement it issued about sus-
pending imports from the plant in
Springdale, Arkansas. The country
imposed a similar ban last week on
pork imports from a German plant
where a number of workers tested
positive for COVID-19, but it hasn’t
taken action against other U.S.
beef, pork and poultry plants that
have seen outbreaks among work-
ers.
Jim Sumner, president of the
USA Poultry & Egg Export Coun-
cil, said he hopes the move won’t
hurt the overall relationship with
China, which had been improving
after a new trade deal was signed
early this year.
“Hopefully it’s not going to mean
anything,” Sumner said. “If it re-
mains at just one plant, it will not
have any meaningful impact, but
we don’t know what’s going to hap-
pen.”
A U.S. Agriculture Department
spokesman said Monday that there
is no evidence of the virus being
transmitted by food or food pack-
aging.
“This action by the Chinese is
completely unjustified,” National
Chicken Council spokesman Tom
Super said.

COVID
Continued from Page 1A
Meanwhile, a group
of mostly Republican
legislators are working
to pass Senate Bill 3049
and before the end of
the legislative session in
July. The bill would shield
businesses, health care
providers, religious orga-
nizations and other enti-
ties from lawsuits related
to COVID-19 if they show
a “good faith” effort to fol-
low public health guide-
lines.
Republican Gov. Tate
Reeves has pushed for the
bill at his regular corona-
virus press briefings. If
it lands on his desk and
he signs it, the bill would
take effect retroactively
to March 14.
“In the beginning of
this thing, nobody really
knew what to do. Should
you wear a mask, should
you not, should you do
this, should you do that?
It provides some pro-
tection for our essential
business who did remain
open,” Senate Judiciary A
Committee Chairwoman
Sally Doty said during a
hearing on the bill Tues-
day.
Doty, a Republican
from Brookhaven, said
fear of litigation has
stopped businesses from
providing services the
last several months. She
said the problem is still
persistent now that state
is reopening.
The bill would still al-
low people to sue if plain-
tiffs can show “clear and
convincing evidence” that
a business owner acted
with “actual malice or
willful, intentional mis-
conduct.”
“It still allows recovery
of damages if there is a
bad actor,” Doty said.
It cleared the Judi-
ciary A Committee by a
voice vote Tuesday and
will move to the full Sen-
ate for consideration.
Several Republican
lawmakers praised the
bill, including Sen. David
Parker of Olive Branch,
who runs an optometry
and ophthalmology prac-
tice.
“There is a fear in the
medical community that I
see that if they go back to
doing procedures too ear-
ly than they will be pun-
ished for it,” Parker said.
Democratic Sen. Der-
rick Simmons of Green-
ville, a lawyer, asked why
the bill caps damages at
$250,000 for those who
prove that a business
owner acted maliciously,
when the state usually
caps non-economic dam-
ages in medical malprac-
tice cases at $500,000.
Doty said lawmakers
are trying to balance the
needs of business owners
and those of the public.
The Mississippi Health
Department said Tuesday
that Mississippi — with
a population of about 3
million — has had at least
22,898 cases and 989
deaths from the coronavi-
rus as of Monday evening.
The Health Depart-
ment said at least 2,418
cases of the virus have
been confirmed in long-
term care facilities such
as nursing homes, with
at least 494 virus-related
deaths in those facilities.

Unemployment
Continued from Page 1A
“We’re always grateful
to see it headed in that di-
rection,” West Point Ward
4 Selectman Keith Mc-
Brayer told The Dispatch.
However, Clay County
has the eighth highest un-
employment rate among
Mississippi’s 82 counties,
with an estimated 1,150
people out of a job. In May
2019, its unemployment
rate was 7 percent.
“It’s still nowhere near
where we want it to be,”
McBrayer said.
West Point is uniquely
positioned in the Golden
Triangle area. In April
and May, Clay County
had significantly higher
unemployment rates than
did Lowndes, Oktibbeha
or Noxubee counties, but
sales tax revenue in West
Point was up 27.8 percent
in April — seemingly a
contradiction.
West Point Growth
Alliance Director Lisa
Klutts said high sales at
the city’s Walmart could
explain the increase in
sales tax revenue. Klutts
said at the start of the pan-
demic, shelves went bare
at the retailer as residents
stocked up on essentials.
McBrayer also said
Walmart sales had been
strong but that he wasn’t
sure what else might have
produced the disparity.
“There’s so many un-
knowns,” he said. “We’re
doing all we can to sup-
port our local industry
and our local businesses.”
Closure of plants, retail
stores fueled spike
Starkville Mayor Lynn
Spruill can list the city’s
businesses that have be-
come “casualties” of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Flexsteel, which em-
ploys 16, is fully shutting
down at the end of the
month. JCPenney de-
clared bankruptcy and
plans to close this sum-
mer. Gordman’s, which
also is closing, “basically
never really got open,”
Spruill said. Plenty of
restaurants may not be
able to reopen or survive.
“We’re still feeling
the effects,” Spruill said.
“It’s just a matter of how
long it will go on and what
will come in to take their
place.”
The closures were part
Klutts Spruill
of the reason Starkville
reached a 14.5 percent un-
employment rate in April
— Oktibbeha County as a
whole had a 13.9 percent
mark. As of May, it’s back
down to 9.6 percent in the
city and 9.3 percent in the
county.
Lowndes County’s
unemployment rate was
29th highest in the state
at 10.5 percent in May,
down from 15.7 percent in
April and up from a mere
5.3 percent in May 2019.
The Paccar plant in Co-
lumbus was temporarily
closed from March 25 to
April 6.
In West Point, the tem-
porary closures of the
Yokohama Tire and Peco
Foods plants were a “huge
problem,” McBrayer said.
Klutts pointed out that
neither factory is likely
back to full operation yet
due to decreased demand.
“The production level
could be consistent with
what their orders are, so
if their suppliers are not
ordering, their produc-
tion may not be back,” she
said.
But both Klutts and
McBrayer know how im-
portant the full return of
the two major employers
will be on local unemploy-
ment statistics.
“Peco, when it comes
fully online, it’s going to
really help guide the num-
ber in the right direction,”
McBrayer said.
Klutts said being
aware that the closures
weren’t permanent and
that things continue to re-
open has helped maintain
local confidence.
“Knowing that it’s tem-
porary and not because
it’s due to an industry
closing is always better,”
she said.
A waiting game
Spruill said she expect-
ed May’s unemployment
rate to come down to 10
or 11 percent, so she was
happy to see the 4.6 per-
cent decrease for Oktib-
beha County. “We’ll just have to see,”
“That’s very comfort- Spruill said. “This is a
ing in the sense that it’s waiting game in terms of
going in the right direc- knowing how people are
tion,” she said. “I just going to get out.”
hope we’re able to sus-
tain that and people will
be able to maintain that
level of employment and
improve.”
With the state all but
reopened, Spruill hopes
to facilitate the return of
business while encourag-
ing mask-wearing and so-
cial distancing in the pro-
cess. The city is planning
a “streatery” downtown
where patrons can be
spaced out while dining
outdoors at local restau-
rants.
“We’re trying to see
if we can be creative as
we’re working our way
through this,” Spruill
said.
She also is remaining
cognizant of the threat
of a second wave. Ideally,
she said, the city will have
adapted to limit such an
event.
“It is my hope that
we’ve learned a good deal
from the first occurrence
and the first instance of
this and how to deal with
it, so the second wave
won’t be as dramatic —
and traumatic — for us
because we know that we
can go without shutting
everything down, which
is what happened last
time,” Spruill said.
Klutts, who said she
was happy to see the de-
crease in unemployment
numbers in West Point
and Clay County, expects
to see fairly steady num-
bers (or possibly a small
spike) in case of a second
wave.
“I think what we see
now is what we’re going to
see for a little while,” she
said.
Spruill, meanwhile,
hopes for an incremental
decrease that puts things
back to normal — the city
had a 4.9 percent unem-
ployment rate last May
— by this fall. That would
likely mean the return
of sports and associated
activities, which in turn
would increase hiring,
Spruill said.
But due to the change-
able nature of the virus,
she said, nothing is for
sure.
Sports
HOW A SUMMER ON CAPE COD TURNED JORDAN WESTBURG INTO A TOP-30 PICK
Mississippi State Bulldogs shortstop Jordan Westburg (11) attempts to complete a double play after forcing Louisville Cardinals outfielder Drew Campbell (1) in the eighth
inning in the 2019 College World Series on June 20 at TD Ameritrade Park.
BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — Nes-
tled down the third base
line of Dudy Noble Field
and buried three stories
beneath the press box
through coiling wires
and steel beams sits the
Mississippi State batting
cages.
Tucked away from
the public view, the cage
offers a serenity for play-
ers whose days are filled
Former MSU standout Banks brings college, NFL experience to New Hope assistant role
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
Johnthan Banks
wasn’t ready.
The former Mississip-
pi State star cornerback
was working in sales
for a distributing com-
pany when he crossed
paths with Vowells Mar-
ketplace store manager
Max Stillman, whose
son Seth is the defensive
coordinator for the New
Hope High School foot-
ball team. Stillman sug-
gested that Banks — a
second-round pick of the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in 2013 who went on to
with classes and nights
consumed by the roaring
adulation, and, in varying
instances, the animosity
of 10,000 fans coated in
a smokey haze from the
grills in the Left Field
Lounge.
For most, the batting
cage is a place to regroup.
It’s a venue to right a mi-
nor hitch or find the tim-
ing one’s lacked in recent
days. For Jordan West-
burg, it’s the place he left
day-after-day through-
play five seasons in the
NFL — could go help
out Seth’s defense as an
assistant coach for the
Trojans.
Feeling unprepared to
return to the high school
ranks, Banks blew him
off.
Then Seth Stillman
hit Banks up on Twitter,
and the former Bull-
dogs standout, who
coached defensive backs
at Starkville in 2018 and
2019, got to thinking.
Banks met with Seth,
head coach Wade Tack-
ett and principal Matt
Smith. He liked how ev-
erybody got along within
MISSISSIPPI STATE BASEBALL
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000 B
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020
SECTION
Steven Branscombe/USA TODAY Sports
out the 2019 season with deal with throughout your title. that minutes earlier bore
his hands bloodied and a career.” Seated in the locker painful tears that had
mind still searching for Dreaming of a career room beneath TD Amer- since been wiped to the
answers. in professional baseball, itrade Park in Omaha rubber floor told a differ-
“Being able to go Westburg’s sophomore following MSU’s sea- ent story.
through that long peri- campaign wore on him son-ending loss to Lou- Cut by the U.S. Na-
od of failing constantly, like a chainsaw through a isville, Westburg spoke tional Collegiate Team
man, it humbles you a tree limb. He finished the with optimism for a 2020 12 days later — a squad
little bit,” Westburg said final 30 regular season season in which he and Foscue and Allen both
in his introductory press games of 2019 with just classmates Justin Foscue, made — Westburg had
conference with the Bal- six multi-hit contests. He Tanner Allen and Rowdey hit an impasse. With
timore Orioles on June also recorded just three Jordan — all players with his hands battered and
11. “It makes you realize hits in 14 at-bats during legitimate shots at major mind beaten, he depart-
that baseball is a game of the College World Series league careers — would ed for the harbor town of
failure and it’s something as MSU again fell short be upperclassmen. But Hyannis, Massachusetts
you’re going to have to of its elusive first national his puffy and sullen eyes See WESTBURG, 2B
NEW HOPE FOOTBALL
the Trojans’ program —
how everybody had the
same attitude and the
same mindset.
“I just knew that was
the place I needed to be,”
Banks told The Dispatch.
Last week, New Hope
hired Banks as its new
full-time secondary
coach and high school
teacher. With certifica-
tion in a variety of con-
tent areas, Banks said
he will help out wherever
the school needs him.
“I’m excited,” Banks
Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports
said. “I’m just ready to
Former Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks was drafted in the second round
get going.” by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2013 NFL draft. Banks was hired as New Hope
See BANKS, 2B High School’s secondary coach last week.
2B WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020
No charges in NASCAR noose incident involving Black driver
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The noose found hang-
ing in Bubba Wallace’s
garage stall at Tallade-
ga Superspeedway had
been there since at least
last October, federal au-
thorities said Tuesday
in announcing there will
be no charges filed in an
incident that rocked NA-
SCAR and its only full-
time Black driver.
U.S. Attorney Jay Town
and FBI Special Agent in
Charge Johnnie Sharp
Jr. said an investigation
determined “although
the noose is now known
to have been in garage
number 4 in 2019, no-
body could have known
Mr. Wallace would be as-
signed to garage number
4 last week.”
A crew member for
Richard Petty Motor-
sports discovered the
noose Sunday at the Al-
abama race track. NA-
SCAR was alerted and
Column: Is the rush to play this year really worth it?
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Who knew a tennis ball
could be so dangerous?
Certainly not Novak
Djokovic, whose incredi-
bly misguided decision to
flout the coronavirus pan-
demic with a series of ten-
nis exhibitions ended with
the world’s best tennis
player, his wife and who
knows how many others
infected. He’s now sorry,
of course, but tell that to
anyone who ends up on
a ventilator because he
couldn’t wait to get back
on the court.
His fellow players
didn’t exactly line up in
support of Djokovic, who
previously spouted an-
ti-vaccination views and
did not encourage social
distancing or masks at the
exhibitions.
“Speedy recovery fel-
las, but that’s what hap-
pens when you disregard
Banks
Continued from Page 1B
New Hope has won
just four games over the
last two years, but the
former all-American and
Jim Thorpe Award win-
ner said he views the
school as one of the best
in the state — thanks to
players who are willing to
learn.
Westburg
Continued from Page 1B
for a month-long spell
in baseball therapy, bet-
ter known as the Cape
Cod Collegiate Baseball
League.
“He was a superstar
about it,” MSU hitting
coach Jake Gautreau told
The Dispatch. “He said ‘I
defended well. I did well
while I was there, I didn’t
hit very well.’ He went to
Cape, got there and for
him it was ‘Thanks for
the opportunity Team
USA, it was a great time.
Now I’m going to go get
to work.’”
nnn
Since its inception
in 1885 and through its
transition in the early
and mid-20th century as
a landing spot for base-
ball-playing GIs return-
ing home from World
War I and II, the Cape
Cod League has devel-
oped into a haven of col-
lege baseball talent.
Transitioning to wood
bat use in 1985, the
Cape Cod League has
sent 1,400 players to the
major leagues in its de-
cades-long history.
“It’s the best college
baseball players in the
country put on a little
outlet of New England
jutting into the ocean,”
former Hyannis Har-
bor Hawks coach Chad
Gassman told The Dis-
patch.
contacted the FBI, which
sent 15 agents to the track
to investigate. They deter-
mined no federal crime
was committed.
The statement said the
garage stall was assigned
to Wallace last week in ad-
vance of the race sched-
uled for Sunday but held
Monday because of rain.
Through video confirmed
by NASCAR it was dis-
covered the noose “was
in that garage as early as
October 2019.”
The agencies said the
evidence did not sup-
port federal charges.
NASCAR said a check of
every other stall in the
garage showed the one
for Wallace’s car was the
only one in which the pull
down rope had been fash-
ioned into a noose.
Wallace successfully
pushed the stock car se-
ries to ban the Confed-
erate flag at its venues
less than two weeks ago.
There has been criticism
all protocols. This IS NOT
A JOKE,” Australian play-
er Nick Kyrgios tweeted.
Danger lurks every-
where in today’s new world
and not just in Djokovic’s
orbit, where three other
players in his exhibitions
in Serbia and Croatia
also tested positive. The
pandemic that shut down
sports three months ago
continues to wreak havoc
even as leagues, teams
and players struggle to
find a new way forward.
Colleges already are re-
porting positive COVID-19
tests among athletes re-
turning to campus in the
U.S., and there are reports
of a number of positives in
the NFL that include star
Cowboys running back
Ezekiel Elliott. A woman’s
soccer team pulled out of
a proposed NWSL restart
when several players were
infected and at least one
WNBA player already has
“I couldn’t ask for a
better job,” Banks said.
“They would run through
a wall for you.”
Tackett said he saw
the same passion in
Banks, part of the reason
the hiring worked as a
mutual fit for both coach-
es. Of course, Banks’ pro-
While the on-field
competition is stiff,
there’s a refreshing feel
to the league. Players
live with host parents
throughout the tiny
beach communities of
Northeast Massachu-
setts. Practices amongst
the league’s 10 clubs are
sparse, or nonexistent.
MLB scouts constantly
in attendance offer some
added pressure, sure.
But on Cape Cod, the fo-
cus is on the game.
Arriving midway
through the Harbor
Hawks’ 2019 season,
there was a business-like
approach to Westburg’s
days in Massachusetts.
As some players spent
off days on the beach, the
New Braunfels, Texas
native toiled in the gym
almost every morning
before sessions in the
batting cages. Following
almost daily games, his
nights were consumed
by dinners alongside his
host family — Harbor
Hawks’ General Manager
and Barnstable Police de-
tective Brian Guiney, his
wife, Dawn, and 11-year-
old son, Deignan, whom
Westburg would spend
his little down time with
playing catch and giving
hitting pointers. After
the meal, lights were out
by 10:30 or 11 p.m.
“He wasn’t staying up
all night playing video
games,” Brian Guiney
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
of the ban by some long-
time fans and security
had been stepped up for
Wallace, a 26-year-old
Alabama native who has
worn in the last month a
shirt over his firesuit that
read “I Can’t Breathe.”
His paint scheme for a
race in Virginia was Black
Lives Matter.
NASCAR said in a
statement that “the FBI
report concludes, and
photographic evidence
confirms, that the garage
door pull rope fashioned
like a noose had been
positioned there since as
early as last fall. This was
obviously well before the
43 team’s arrival and ga-
rage assignment.”
NASCAR President
Steve Phelps said the
series is continuing its
own investigation to de-
termine why a noose had
been in that garage stall
at all. He added that it
wasn’t directed at Wallace
was “a great conclusion
said she won’t play a pro-
posed season because of
health concerns.
NBA stars are worried,
and so are NHL players as
their leagues race to finish
makeshift seasons. The
NFL, meanwhile, contin-
ues to forge ahead with its
plans to play even as teams
report positive tests on an
almost daily basis.
And while baseball
owners and players wast-
ed time arguing about
their season, spring train-
ing facilities were ordered
closed after a spate of new
infections and the Phillies
reported a dozen cases in
their organization alone.
It was never going to be
easy for any sport to return
with a pandemic of histor-
ic proportions still raging.
There’s still way too much
unknown about how the
coronavirus spreads for
athletes to trust anyone —
even the experts — with
digious past didn’t hurt
things.
“One of the first things
that attracted me to John-
than was just his playing
experience at the colle-
giate level and the NFL
level,” Tackett said.
The head coach said
hiring someone who is
told The Dispatch. “It
was work.”
On the diamond, West-
burg’s bat began to show
signs of a rebound. A
welcome addition to a
squad that struggled to
a combined .237 batting
average, he hit .326 in
95 at-bats with 12 runs,
14 RBIs, six doubles and
four home runs during
his 25 games on Cape
Cod.
“Our team didn’t have
the greatest season,
but he tried to give us a
chance to win every night
and you can see that
when you’re coaching a
young man like Jordan,”
Gassman said. “...Every
night he was trying to do
what he could to help the
team turn it around.”
In the field, Westburg
improved on the versatil-
ity that made him half of
the nation’s most formi-
dable college middle-in-
field beside Foscue cour-
tesy of longtime MSU
coach Ron Polk.
Having spent eight
summers coaching on
Cape Cod coupled with
the 29 years he helmed
the baseball program in
Starkville, Polk quickly
connected with his latest
Bulldog import.
Most days before
a game, the longtime
coaching veteran hosted
infield practice for West-
burg, Ole Miss shortstop
Anthony Servideo and a
for us” but was adamant
NASCAR would have con-
ducted its investigation
the same way even now
knowing it wasn’t a hate
crime.
“We would have done
the same investigation.
It was important for us
to do,” he said, stressing
that Wallace’s race team
had nothing to do with
the incident.
“The evidence was
very clear that the noose
that was in the garage
was in there previously.
The last race we had in
October, that noose was
present. The evidence we
had, it was clear we need-
ed to look into this.”
The Wood Brothers
Racing team said one of
its employees informed
the team he recalled “see-
ing a tied handle in the
garage pull down rope
from last fall,” when NA-
SCAR raced at Talladega
in October. The team said
it immediately alerted
their lives.
And as the rate of infec-
tions rises in states across
the country, the question
has to be asked.
Is the rush to play this
year really worth it?
Owners and team offi-
cials say yes, largely be-
cause there are billions of
dollars in TV contracts at
stake. Money is also the
motivation for players on
the PGA Tour, who were
elated to be able to play
for pay once again even
as one of their own tested
positive after playing last
week.
Fans are happy to see
sports coming back, that’s
for sure. So are sports bet-
tors, who in recent months
had little other than Rus-
sian table tennis matches
to wager on.
But it’s becoming in-
creasingly clear that a
sport like football simply
can’t be played under cur-
from the area, who was
a “big deal” in college
and who is a household
name among his players
is a major addition for his
team.
“To get somebody of
that caliber on your staff,
it’s very rare,” Tackett
said. “It’s welcomed.”
handful of other Harbor
Hawks. Emphasizing the
speed in which they had
to get to ground balls in
order to catch runners
in the Cape Cod League,
Polk would time each
player on how quick-
ly they could retrieve
a grounder hit toward
them before asking them
to guess their respective
scores.
“The guy who came
the closest to the (time)
got a prize,” Polk ex-
plained to The Dispatch.
“The prize was a hug
from Coach Polk. The
second closest guy got a
handshake from me. The
third guy, if there were
three (players) out there,
gets a nipple crusher.
They had a ball with
that.”
“I saw (Westburg)
last year when I went out
to practice one day (at
Mississippi State) and I
said, ‘How do your nip-
ples feel?” Polk contin-
ued through a laugh. “He
said, ‘I only had one all
summer!’ But you know
what it does, is it makes
them pay attention. They
didn’t want to have their
nipple crushed.”
Twisting of chest pro-
trusions aside, Westburg
began to quell the hitting
questions scouts asked of
him after his sophomore
season — finishing sec-
ond on the team in batting
average amongst players
NASCAR and assisted the
investigation.
The discovery of the
noose stunned the stock
car series as it takes an
active position in a push
for inclusion while dis-
tancing itself from its
rocky racial history. The
series first tried to ban
the Confederate flag five
years ago but did nothing
to enforce the order.
Wallace two weeks ago
renewed the call for a ban
and NASCAR answered,
but it has yet to detail how
it will stop the display. Tal-
ladega marked the first
race since the coronavi-
rus pandemic that fans
were permitted — 5,000
were allowed to purchase
tickets — and some upset
with the flag ban paraded
past the main entrance
with the Southern sym-
bol. A banner flew over
the speedway Sunday of a
Confederate flag that read
“Defund NASCAR.”
NASCAR announced
rent conditions. That’s es-
pecially true in colleges,
where protocols change
from school to school and
there is no way to really
build a bubble to protect
players.
The NFL has a better
shot, but not much better.
The nation’s chief infec-
tious disease doctor said
as much last week when
asked about the possibility
of football returning.
“Unless players are
essentially in a bubble —
insulated from the com-
munity and they are test-
ed nearly every day — it
would be very hard to see
how football is able to be
played this fall,” Dr. An-
thony Fauci said.
Indeed, if the PGA Tour
and boxing and UFC can’t
keep their athletes from
getting the virus, it’s hard
to see how those running
team sports can figure out
a way for everyone to stay
Banks said he plans
to use his experience to
“bring a different per-
spective from somebody
who’s done it at the high-
est level.”
“I think it’s just going
to help overall and help
the team,” he said.
New Hope principal
who appeared in more
than 10 games and first
in OPS and slugging per-
centage — while his glove
improved consistently.
Heading back to
Starkville for his junior
campaign, Westburg’s
confidence that he was
hell-bent on finding at the
bottom of the buckets of
baseballs beneath Dudy
Noble Field had returned.
“Being able to work
through that and go up
to The Cape and use it as
motivation and learn from
my failures and improve
upon them just made me
a better baseball player,”
Westburg said. “It made
me a more mature player
and more mature person
off the field as well.”
nnn
Watching the MLB
Draft from his home
in Starkville on June 9,
Chris Lemonis began to
fist pump.
Celebrating as West-
burg, Foscue, and soph-
omore JT Ginn and MSU
signees Austin Hendrick
and Blaze Jordan were se-
lected in this year’s five-
round draft — a measure
instituted due to the ongo-
ing COVID-19 pandemic
— each each pick brought
with it it’s own sense of
pride.
But there was a level of
closure when it came to
Westburg’s selection by
late Sunday the noose had
been discovered and the
industry rallied around
Wallace. All 39 of his rival
drivers and their crews
helped push Wallace’s car
to the front of pit road be-
fore the national anthem
and stood behind him in
solidarity.
Wallace was joined by
his team owner, Hall of
Famer Richard Petty, who
gently placed a hand on
Wallace’s shoulder as he
sobbed. Wallace after the
race went to the fencing
along the grandstands
and greeted supporters.
Many were Black and
wearing “I Can’t Breathe”
shirts.
“It’s just been hectic,
you know, carrying this
weight,” he said. “I’m
proud to stand where I’m
at and carry a new face.
Look at (these fans). Is
this the first time you’re
here? From Atlanta? That
is so cool! The sport is
changing.”
safe.
That includes the NBA,
which has a 113-page plan
to protect players that
might as well be tossed
out the window with the
surge in cases in Florida.
And who, if anyone,
thinks MLB really is not
inept after all and can
somehow safely handle
staging games in stadi-
ums across the country?
It may be time to ac-
cept the new reality in
sports, just as we’ve had
to accept it in life. The
things we once took for
granted now have to be
rethought, with health
the No. 1 priority.
That includes tennis
tournaments, from the
U.S. Open still scheduled
in August to Djokovic’s
ill-fated exhibitions.
“I pray for everyone’s
full recovery,” Djokovic
said in a statement of re-
morse.
Matt Smith said the addi-
tion of Banks to the staff
is a “huge hire” for the
school.
“We’re lucky and
blessed to have him, and
we expect him to have
a huge impact on our
young kids all around,”
Smith said.
the Baltimore Orioles at
9:02 p.m. that night as the
first pick of the Competi-
tive Balance Round and
30th overall.
“In the game of base-
ball a slump can do amaz-
ing things to you,” Lem-
onis told The Dispatch.
“And I think him getting
to The Cape, just relaxing
— he made a couple small
changes — but most of it
was just getting in a good
spot mentally and I think
boy it really took off for
him at that point.”
Entering the 2020
MLB Draft, scouts re-
mained split on West-
burg’s ability to hit at
the next level. But with a
summer on Cape Cod be-
hind him and a shortened
junior year in which he hit
.317 with two home runs,
six doubles and 11 RBIs
in just 16 games, he’d giv-
en scouts a longer look at
the raw hitting ability and
work ethic that’s expect-
ed to carry him through
the Orioles minor league
system.
And while there are
sure to be countless fu-
ture hours spent in batting
cages sorting through
hitches and quirks that
have yet to reveal them-
selves, the questions that
left Westburg’s hands raw
and bloodied in the Dudy
Noble Field batting cag-
es as a sophomore have
since been answered.

MLB holds off on imposing schedule until protocols locked in
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Major
League Baseball held off
formally imposing a 60-
game schedule Tuesday
on its feuding players while
negotiating an operations
manual, but was on track to
start the season from July
23-26 in empty ballparks.
Owners and players
have spent more than three
months of mostly fruitless
talks on how to play amid
the coronavirus pandemic.
A day after the play-
ers’ association rejected a
negotiated agreement to
account for the financial
fallout of the virus out-
break, Commissioner Rob
Manfred was hoping to an-
nounce a schedule. It would
be MLB’s shortest since
the 1878 National League
season.
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
There was still one issue
in the manual of protocols
still unresolved, several
people said.
In a twist, the sides
intend to expand the des-
ignated hitter to games
involving National League
teams and institute the rad-
ical innovation of starting
extra innings with a runner
on second base. Those pro-
visions were in the agree-
ment the union rejected
Monday but were to survive
as part of the operations
manual.
The union committed its
members to starting report-
ing July 1 — those who de-
cide to report. High-risk in-
dividuals would be allowed
to opt out and still receive
salary and service time, but
others who sit out would
get neither money nor the
FAMILY CIRCUS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
service credit needed for el-
igibility for free agency and
salary arbitration.
MLB originally hoped
to be the first U.S. major
league to return, with an
82-game schedule starting
around the Fourth of July,
but public sniping broke out
between management and
players who distrust teams’
claims of economic losses
following years of franchise
appreciation. MLB claimed
that without gate-relat-
ed revenue it would lose
$640,000 for each addition-
al regular-season game, a
figure the union disputed.
MLB became exasper-
ated with the union’s lead-
ership team, headed by
former All-Star first base-
man Tony Clark and Bruce
Meyer, a litigator hired in
August 2018. Manfred and
Deputy Commissioner
Dan Halem were infuriated
when Clark said he consid-
ered the result of a one-on-
one meeting with Manfred
last week a proposal rather
than what MLB termed a
framework for a deal.
Depending on a final
decision on when to start,
the season would be played
in roughly 64-67 days and
would be scheduled to end
Sept. 27. That would leave
little margin to make up
September rainouts.
Players would be given
staggered reporting times
over several days for intake
screening. The time will be
used for coronavirus test-
ing ahead of the resump-
tion of workouts, which
were stopped March 12 due
to the pandemic.
Under terms of the deal
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
My friend
“Lauren”
and her husband
separated for a
few months last
summer. During
the separation,
she had a short
fling with my friend
“Zack,” whom she
met at my house.
Lauren decided
to continue her
marriage and,
obviously, chose
to stop seeing
Zack.
Dear Abby
A few months
ago, Zack came to a party I
threw. Lauren wasn’t able to
make it. Everyone had a few
margaritas, and as the night
ended, I found myself having
sex with Zack for the first time
since our friendship began
10 or so years ago. It was so
great, and we decided to do it
again. I wasn’t sure I should tell
Lauren, even though she’s a
married woman, because I was
afraid it might upset her.
A week ago, Zack confessed
that he may be in love with
me, and I feel the same way
toward him. I decided to go
ahead and tell Lauren, since my
relationship with Zack is getting
serious. She reacted terribly.
She was furious and accused
me of “betraying” her and
trying to “one-up” her. She said
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (June
24). The year is marked by an
openness, and in many ways,
you will be continually renewed
over the next 12 months so
that, by your next birthday,
you’ll be younger. You’ll look for
inspiration and find so much
of it that you’ll become an
inspiration to others. Schooling,
charity work and novel routines
are all part of the fun. Scorpio
and Pisces adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 8, 10, 3, 40
and 37.
ARIES (March 21-April
19). Sometimes your natu-
ral inclinations are not quite
enough to bring the situation in
order. Think ahead. Anticipate
problems. What can you learn or
the sides reached on March
26, which was to have been
opening day, players would
receive prorated portions
of their salaries if the 60-
game schedule is not cut
short by the virus. Salaries
originally totaled $4 billion,
and the prorated portion of
about 37% reduces pay to
$1.48 billion.
Salaries were to have
ranged from $563,500 at
the minimum to $36 million
for Mike Trout and Ger-
rit Cole at the top, but the
spread would now be from
$208,704 to $13,333,333.
With no minor leagues,
teams would be allowed
to retain 60 players each.
Active rosters would be 30
during the first two weeks
of the season, 28 during the
second two weeks and 26
after that.
I should have
known how she
felt about him
and that I’m a
terrible friend for
having sex with
him, let alone fall-
ing in love. Abby,
are her feelings
justified? Am I in
the wrong? Or are
we all still adults?
— ACCIDENTALLY
IN LOVE
DEAR AC-
CIDENTALLY IN
LOVE: Lauren’s
feelings justified?
Heck, no! If you
and Lauren are still speaking,
“remind” her that when she
went back to her husband,
she relinquished all claims on
the man she slept with in the
interim. He’s entitled to a life
and so are you. If I were you, I’d
distance myself from this wom-
an. She shouldn’t begrudge you
for enjoying someone she can’t
enjoy herself. Shame on her.
DEAR ABBY: I’m a student
at an art school, and I’m strug-
gling with anxiety and depres-
sion. I have been on lockdown
in my hometown due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, isolated
from my friends and unable to
socialize with others. Some-
times when I watch the news
I become very anxious, and I
wonder if there’s a light at the
end of these dark times. What
practice to ready yourself?
TAURUS (April 20-May
20). It is good to have a broad
understanding of how things
work, though it is not necessary
to know all about all. Once you
have an overview, step back and
decide which part interests you
enough to drill down deeper.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
Greatness behaves greatly.
Smallness plays in petty
sandboxes, prying too minutely
into unpleasant matters. Your
results will be commensurate
with the scale in which you are
playing.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
Generosity is the mark of class.
It will be noble and gallant to
see what matters and overlook
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 3B
MLB initially had
sought last month in its ini-
tial economic proposal to
reduce pay to about $1 bil-
lion, and players vowed not
to give up full prorated pay
and proposed a 114-game
schedule that amounted to
$2.8 billion.
The relationship deteri-
orated back to the level of
the labor wars that led to
eight work stoppages from
1972-95, and the union has
threatened a grievance
claiming MLB didn’t fulfill
the provision in the March
deal requiring the longest
season economically feasi-
ble, conditioned by several
other provisions. MLB
would claim the union
bargained in bad faith,
and the case would be
argued before arbitrator
Mark Irvings.
should I do? — ANXIETY-RID-
DEN IN ATLANTA
DEAR ANXIETY-RIDDEN:
Welcome to the club! If you
think you have been alone in
experiencing these emotions,
you couldn’t be more wrong.
Many people feel just the way
you do — anxious, isolated and
depressed.
You can manage negative
emotions by getting out of the
house and exercising — alone
or with friends or neighbors —
while staying a social distance
apart — and keeping in touch
with friends and classmates
using your computer and cell-
phone. There’s no reason you
couldn’t collaborate with some
of them on an art project and
create something spectacular
using those devices.
Remind yourself that this
quarantine is temporary. It isn’t
going to last forever. Unless
you have an underlying health
condition or someone in your
household does, you can
mingle with others wearing a
face covering and keeping your
distance. From what I have
been observing, some relation-
ships have been strengthened
as people reach out to comfort
and help each other. A surefire
way to overcome the blues is to
start thinking about what you
can do for someone else, even
if it’s just a phone call to say,
“I’m thinking about you. How
are you doing?”
quite a lot else. Effectiveness
requires some things be judi-
ciously left unnoticed.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Peo-
ple are doing their best. When
you believe that all are acting in
accordance with their own heart
and understanding, it is hard to
fault anyone. It is better to leave
the scene than to hover around
the object of your annoyance.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
You have it in your head that
you owe people, although your
feelings on the matter make
you less than objective. What
would an incredibly loving and
supportive advocate say about
the situation?
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
Of all the things in life to be
wasted or lost, time is among
the most precious because
you can never get it back.
You’ll make the most of your
hours now, thinking ahead and
bringing something to do while
you wait.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). When you want to know
what your face is like, you look
in a mirror. When you want to
know what your mind is like,
you need a different sort of re-
flective agent. A friend will work
beautifully for this today.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). If virtue is its own reward
and vice is its own punishment,
why does it feel so hard to be
good sometimes? And why
is it so much fun to do bad
things? Moral dilemmas will be
a theme.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). Learning is like cardio. It
activates pleasure centers of
the brain while energizing the
whole body with greater health.
You have not even begun to
know the force of your own
intellect.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). Most people don’t devote
themselves to futile activities
on purpose, but it so happens
that there is futility hidden in-
side some activities that seem
like perfectly good ideas on the
surface. Look into the layers
today.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). Your thoughts have even
more power than usual, so be
careful how you focus yourself.
Realities will be quickly borne of
your ideas. Fill your head with
enjoyable outcomes.
Life is full of little ironies
SOLUTION:
Food LIFESTYLES EDITOR
Jan Swoope: 328-2471
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 n 4B

They’re heeere
familyfeatures.com
Simple, flavorgul ingredients go into this
burger with grilled pineapple and honey
garlic barbecue sauce.

How to clean up
your summer
grilling game
FAMILY FEATURES

T
here’s something about sum-
mertime that ushers in an
easygoing spirit. The long, hot
summer months are often celebrated
with backyard barbecues, beach days
and spending time with family. It’s a
time to fire up the grill, slow down and
roll with the punches.
Jan Swoope/Dispatch Staff
Fresh tomatoes are showing up, and boy, are we ready for them. It was a delight a few days ago to open the door So, when you’re thinking about
to the carport at home and find a bag of just-picked tomatoes hanging on the doorknob, a gift from a green-thumb what to feed your family off the grill, it
neighbor. should be a breeze, and you shouldn’t
have to choose between good and

Tomatoes — a summer super favorite

good for you. Next time you turn on
your grill, consider these tips for creat-
ing healthier, flavorful meals you can
feel confident serving.
n Keep it simple: Skip the com-
BY JAN SWOOPE sun-loving harvest is coming in. “I’ve gotten lucky. I’ve had plicated recipes that call for a wide
jswoope@cdispatch.com “We have tomatoes showing up pretty decent showers at the right variety of ingredients, a multitude of

I
s the tomato sandwich a South-
ern invention? We can’t say for
sure, but we do know lots of
folks around here seem to consider
it the essence of summertime. At
the Hitching Lot Farmers Market
last week, I witnessed several cus-
tomers asking vendors, “Got toma-
toes yet?” A couple of the curious
simply cruised by in their vehicles
and asked from their windows.
Well, wait no more. At area farm-
ers markets, at produce stands, in
backyard gardens — the ripe, red,
now,” said Katherine Lucas, coor-
dinator of the market at Second
Street and Second Avenue North in
Columbus. She enjoys a summer-
time BLT. “And I love just eating
tomatoes with salt and pepper,” she
added. “I just cut them up and eat
them.”
Grower Mel Ellis of Mayhew
Tomato Farm in Lowndes County
is seeing a good tomato crop and, if
Mother Nature cooperates, expects
to be picking them until mid-Sep-
tember.
time,” said Ellis, who sells toma-
toes and other produce at his fam-
ily’s farm at 452 W. Artesia Road,
and on Saturdays at the Hitching
Lot market.
Of course, some of the harvest
makes its way to the Ellis kitchen.
“I eat ’em every lunch,” the vet-
eran farmer said with a grin. “I put
salt and pepper and mayonnaise
on them and eat them with saltine
crackers. To me, I love that combi-
nation of taste.”
See TOMATOES, 5B
steps and long cook times. Instead,
seek out products and dishes that are
made with ingredients you recognize
and have just a handful of instructions.
This will ensure less time in the kitch-
en and more time with loved ones.
n Focus on seasonal, clean ingre-
dients: Get inspired by your local
farmers market. One of the best parts
about summer is the abundance of
fresh fruits and vegetables that can
add flavor and nutrients to your plate.
Plant-based meat, like the burgers,
ground and sausages from Lightlife,
are also a healthier swap for tradition-
al animal meat products. The pea pro-
See BURGER, 5B

Cookout cravings 3 teaspoons mayonnaise

Skewers:
2 cups The Little Potato Company
Dynamic Duo bagged Creamer Pota-
Appease summer appetites with grilled fare toes, cut in half
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken
thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
FAMILY FEATURES typically doesn’t require fancy 8 wooden skewers dipped in water

T
he first thought that
comes to mind when
picturing grilling in
the summer sun might be a
perfectly cooked steak or a
juicy burger, but no backyard
barbecue is complete without
the all-important sides and bev-
erages that complete the meal.
Whether you’re pairing a
main protein with separate
side dishes or going all-in-one
by combining tender chicken
with veggies on skewers, the
opportunities are endless for a
crave-worthy cookout.
Find more summer grilling
recipes at Culinary.net.
Five steps for sizzling steak
A sizzling steak is a sure-
fire sound of summer, and
the flavors achieved from one
that’s perfectly grilled are hard
to match.
Before you fire up your grill,
consider these five basics for
cooking a chef-worthy steak:
n Prepare your cut: Taste
preferences (and prices) may
differ among sirloins, ribeyes,
T-bones and more, but the way
you prepare steaks likely won’t
change much from cut to cut.
You’ll want to trim the thick-
ness down to 1/2-1 inch for
seasoning — a pinch of salt
works just fine. Add your salt
anywhere between 30 minutes
to a few hours before grilling
time to help retain moisture
and improve flavor.
n Aim for high heat: A
two-zone fire is usually the way
to go — one side of the grill
should be hot (using direct
heat) with the other side not
quite as warm (indirect heat).
This allows you to create a sear
over direct heat before finish-
ing cooking through — with-
out burning — over indirect
heat.
n Sear and slide: Cooking
your steak over direct heat 1-2
minutes on each side is nor-
mally about right for creating
a proper sear. At this point,
depending on the thickness
of your steak, you’ll want to
check for doneness. If it’s not
quite to the temperature you’re
looking to achieve, simply slide
it over to the indirect heat for a
finishing touch. Keep in mind
these general guidelines for
doneness: 120-125 F is rare,
130-135 F is medium-rare, 140-
145 F is medium, 150-155 F is
medium-well and 160-175 F is
well done.
n Let rest: Finally, as hun-
Along with sizzling steak, these grilled Greek kababs can be a sum-
mer favorite. Read on for the recipe, plus five steps for turning out a a
great steak.
Skewered solution
Make summer grilling easy
and delicious by cooking your
side dish and main dish to-
gether so you can spend more
time outdoors and less time
meal planning. These Grilled
Greek Kebabs pair cubed
chicken thighs with little po-
tatoes on skewers, making for
a classic cookout combo.
With no washing or peeling
required, Creamer potatoes
from The Little Potato Com-
pany require little prep, which
helps make this recipe a
breeze, and they cook quickly
on the grill. Just marinate
your chicken and potatoes
with this zesty dressing and
prepare for a taste bud-tin-
gling backyard barbecue.
familyfeatures.com
cold and fruity. Simply com-
bine frozen strawberries with
frozen pink lemonade concen-
trate to create a cool concoc-
tion perfect for a sizzling day.
This fizzy summertime treat
can delight your taste buds
and keep you quenched while
enjoying the sun’s rays.
A simple stuffed side
Whether you need a quick
appetizer or something to
snack on, these Stuffed
Cherry Tomatoes make for an
appealing bite.
Find more snack recipes
and summer drink recipes at
Culinary.net.
GRILLED GREEK KEBABS
Pita bread (optional)
Salad:
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
4 sliced Lebanese cucumbers
1/4 cup red onion, finely sliced
1 cup feta cheese
1 cup pitted kalamata olives
n To make dressing/marinade: In
measuring cup, mix olive oil, lemon
juice, lemon zest, oregano, Dijon
mustard, garlic and sugar. Season
generously with salt and pepper, to
taste. Pour 1/3 cup marinade into
large bowl. Refrigerate remaining.
n To prepare skewers: Add pota-
toes and chicken pieces to bowl
with marinade. Mix well to coat and
marinate 30 minutes, or as long as
overnight in refrigerator.
n Preheat grill to medium heat.
n Skewer potatoes and chicken
cubes alternately on wooden skew-
ers. Grill 6-8 minutes on both sides.
Grill pita bread, if desired. Finish
dressing by adding mayonnaise.
n To make salad: In large serving
dish, mix tomatoes, cucumber, on-
ions, feta cheese and olives. Place
kebabs on top and drizzle with
dressing. Serve with grilled pita
bread, if desired.
STRAWBERRY SPRITZER
1 package (10 ounces) frozen
sliced strawberries, sweetened and
thawed
2 liters lemon-lime soda, chilled
1can (12 ounces) frozen pink lem-
onade concentrate, thawed

proper cooking, and setting the
meat out ahead of time allows it
to warm to room temperature
before hitting the grill.
n Add some salt: Feel free
to add any spices you prefer,
but remember a good steak
gry as you may be at this point,
resting steaks is an important
last step before diving in. Giv-
ing your steaks 5-10 minutes
(foil or no foil) allows flavors to
redistribute and moisture to be
retained in the meat.
Visit littlepotatoes.com/
summertime for more sum-
mer grilling recipes.
Sipping on sweetness
When it’s summertime,
many people crave something
Dressing/marinade:
3/4 cup olive oil
2 lemons, zest and juice only
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste
n In blender, process strawberries
until blended thoroughly.
n Pour strawberries into large
pitcher; stir in soda and pink lem-
onade.
(Source: Adapted from Taste of
Home)
See CRAVINGS, 5B
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 5B

Tomatoes
Continued from Page 4B
Sandwich savvy
Pack a room with
tomato-lovers, and you’re
likely to hear that many
versions of the perfect to-
mato sandwich. They all
start with vine-ripened
’maters, but beyond that,
purists will debate the
mayo — Hellmann’s and
Duke’s both have vocal
camps. But you be you. If
Miracle Whip calls you,
follow the muse. If avoid-
ing mayo altogether, you
might opt for avocado,
guacamole, hummus,
Greek yogurt, pesto or
nut butter. Or mozzarella
cheese, a little olive oil,
ranch dressing or cream
cheese may suit best.
Bread? Prevailing
sentiment seems to
favor good ole loaf white
bread. Sourdough,
ciabatta, multigrain, pita
and French, however,
like those chin-dripping
tomatoes, too.
If looking for more
variety, arugula, water-
cress, chopped herbs and
bacon (always bacon)
can enhance flavor and
texture.
The South’s love affair
with fresh tomatoes
doesn’t stop at sandwich-
es. Think fried green to-
matoes, tomato pie, chow
chow, the list goes on.
I’m reminded of
something Ellis said
several years ago, when I
was doing a tomato story
for Catfish Alley maga-
zine, published by The
Dispatch.
“You can love wa-
termelon, you can love
cantaloupe, but you can’t
eat but about two of those
a week. But if you love
tomatoes, you can just
keep on eatin’.”
Hitching Lot Farmers
Market, Columbus, is
open Mondays 4-6 p.m.
and Thursdays and Satur-
days 7-10 a.m. Starkville
Community Market
(Lampkin at Russell
Street) is open Saturdays
8-11 a.m. West Point
Farmers Market (Mossy
Oak Pavilion) is open
Thursdays 4-6 p.m.
TOMATO PIE
1 pie crust
4-6 tomatoes
1 cup mozarella cheese, grated
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese,
grated
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 bottle real bacon bits
1/2 teaspoon each basil, orega-
no, Italian seasoning
n Bake pie crust for a few min-
utes. Slice tomatoes and onion
into pie crush.
n Drop a mixture of the may-
onnaise, bacon bits and spices
over the tomatoes and onions.
Sprinkle cheese on top.
n Bake at 325 F for 45 min-
utes, or until brown.
(Source: “Taste and See Too”
cookbook, First Baptist Church,
West Point, 2007/Elizabeth
Bounds)
CHICKPEAS
AND TOMATOES
Makes 6 servings
1 teaspoon oil
1 1/4 cups onion, cut into small
pieces
2 cloves garlic, crushed, peeled,
and cut into tiny pieces
1 can low-sodium chickpeas
(also called garbanzo beans)
(about 15 ounces)
3 cups canned crushed or diced
tomatoes with juice, low-sodium
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
n Wash your hands well with
soap and hot water. Turn the
eye of the stove to medi-
um-high. Preheat a medium pot.
n Add the oil to the pot. Add
the onion. Stir as the onion
cooks. Cook until the onion is
soft, but not brown.
n Add the garlic to the pot. Stir
and cook for about 1 minute.
n Open the can of chickpeas.
Drain off the liquid. Rinse chick-
peas with cool water, in the can
or using a colander. Pour off the
water.
n Add chickpeas to the pot.
Add tomatoes and their juice.
Then add water, ginger, chili
powder and cumin.
n Stir gently to mix all ingredi-
ents. Keep cooking until chick-
pea mixture comes to a boil.
n When mixture boils, reduce
heat to medium. Let chickpeas
simmer, gently bubbling, for
about 10 minutes. Do not put a
cover on the pot.
n Cook until there is only
enough liquid in the pot to cover
the bottom. Then chickpeas are
ready. Serve while hot. Refriger-
ate leftovers within 2 hours.
(Source: happyhealthy.exten-
sion.msstate.edu)
RUSTIC TOMATO
CHEESE TART
Prep time: 30 minutes
Bake time: 30 minutes
Makes 12 servings
7 sheets phyllo dough (14-by-9
inches)
1/3 cup olive oil
7 tablespoons crumbled goat
cheese
1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion
1 cup shredded fontina cheese
4 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons minced chives
1 tablespoon minced fresh
basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
n Preheat oven to 375 F. Place
one sheet of phyllo dough on a
parchment-lined baking sheet.
Brush with oil and sprinkle with
1 tablespoon goat cheese.
(Keep remaining phyllo covered
with plastic wrap and a damp
towel to prevent it from drying
out.) Repeat layers, brushing oil
all the way to edges.
n Sprinkle onion over top to
within 1 inch of edges; sprinkle
with fontina cheese. Arrange
tomato slices in a slightly
overlapping pattern over fontina
cheese. Sprinkle with chives,
basil, salt and pepper. Bring up
edges of tart over filling.
n Bake until crust is golden
brown, 30-35 minutes.
(Source: tasteofhome.com/Moji
Dabney)
Hitching Lot update
Hitching Lot
Farmers Market
coordinator Katherine
Lucas announced that,
beginning Saturday,
June 27, all vendors,
including craftspeo-
ple, are welcome at
the market in Colum-
bus. Due to COVID-19
health guidelines,
only produce and
baked goods had pre-
viously been allowed
this season.
Vendor booths will
continue to face to-
ward the parking lot,
to avoid tight crowds.
All shoppers are
strongly urged to wear
masks and continue
social distancing.
The Fourth of
July holiday falls on a
Saturday, but Lucas
stressed that the mar-
ket will be open that
day, from 7-10 a.m.
For more informa-
tion, contact Main
Street Columbus, 662-
328-6305.

Burger
Continued from Page 4B
tein-based product line
features only simple
ingredients, like pea
protein, beet powder and
red bell pepper, and are
non-GMO, gluten-free
and soy-free, perfect for
use in recipes like a Burg-
er with Grilled Pineapple
and Honey Garlic Barbe-
cue Sauce.
“I know how hard
it can be to create fast
and flavorful meals that
the entire family will
love,” said Dan Curtin,
president of Greenleaf
Foods. “That’s why
we’re focused on making
delicious food with the
cleanest ingredients
possible. The fact that
they’re all plant-based is
just a bonus.”
n Don’t forget the
sides: Food should be
a source of confidence,
with everything en-
joyed in moderation. To
balance your spread of
burgers and hot dogs,
consider serving fresh
asparagus or sweet corn
in place of other salty,
processed options. Fruits
like peaches and pineap-
ple work well on the grill,
too, but remember to
group produce by similar
cooking times.
n Aim for a quick and
fun cleanup. Perhaps one
of the most overlooked
secrets to a stress-free
meal is to cut down on
cleanup. A backyard bar-
becue can be one of the
easiest messes to main-
tain as most of the prep is
done outside on the grill.
Try setting up a buffet
line on your deck or patio
where your family can
build their burgers with
customized toppings,
like cheese, veggies and
sauces. Then add a little
bit of fun by putting on
your favorite music play-
list to help make a simple,
everyday meal feel even
more special.
Visit lightlife.com
to discover more plant-
based recipes and burger and two cut slices each
solutions. of grilled pineapple. Sprinkle on
crispy fried onions, drizzle with
honey garlic barbecue sauce
BURGER WITH GRILLED and place toasted sesame seed
bun on top.
PINEAPPLE AND HONEY
GARLIC BBQ SAUCE
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2
2 rings freshly cored pineapple
2 Lightlife Plant-Based Burger
patties, thawed
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper,
to taste
1 cup baby arugula
2 sesame seed burger buns,
lightly toasted
1/4 cup crispy fried onions
2 tablespoons honey garlic
barbecue sauce
n Heat grill to medium heat.
Grill pineapple slices 4-5 min-
utes per side until grill-marked
and slightly caramelized. Cut
slices in half and set aside.
Wipe down grill to cook burger
patties.
n Season burger patties with
salt and pepper, to taste. Grill
4-5 minutes per side until burg-
ers are evenly browned with
internal temperature of 165 F.
n To assemble, layer handful of
baby arugula leaves on toasted
bottom buns, top each with

Cravings
Continued from Page 4B

STUFFED CHERRY
TOMATOES
24-48 cherry tomatoes
1 package (8 ounces) cream
cheese, softened
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 medium cucumber, peeled
and diced
3 green onion stalks, diced
2 teaspoons minced dill
Fresh dill, for garnish

n Cut thin slice off top of each

tomato. Scoop out pulp. Invert
tomatoes on paper towel to
drain.
n In medium bowl, combine
cream cheese and mayonnaise
until smooth. Stir in cucumber,
green onion and dill. Spoon
mixture into tomatoes. Top with
fresh dill. Refrigerate until ready
to serve.
(Source: Courtesy of culinary.
net)

Visit us
on the web at
cdispatch.com
6B WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
 the terms of said deed of trust, West along a fence for 415.0

Classifieds
WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND
SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF
QUERCUS MORTGAGE INVEST-
MENT TRUST, the legal holder
of said indebtedness, having
requested the undersigned
Substituted Trustee to execute
the trust and sell said land and
property in accordance with the
terms of said deed of trust and
for the purpose of raising the
sums due thereunder, togeth-
er with attorney's fees,
trustee's fees and expense of
sale.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Shapiro &
Brown, LLC, Substituted Trust-
ee in said deed of trust, will on
July 8, 2020 offer for sale at
Legal Notices Legal Notices
public outcry and sell within
feet to a point that is 353.3
feet South 88 degrees 46
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
minutes East from a fence
corner at an existing 30-inch-
diameter gum tree; thence
North 00 degrees 05 minutes
West for 288.88 feet to the
point of beginning.
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
I WILL CONVEY only such title
as vested in me as Substi-
To place ads starting at only $12,
tuted Trustee. call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
this 28th day of May, 2020.
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 n 7B
Shapiro & Brown, LLC
SUBSTITUTED TRUSTEE
Shapiro & Brown, LLC
Legal Notices
1080 River Oaks Drive, Suite General Help Wanted General Help Wanted

LEGALS
legal hours (being between the B-202
The following vehicles have hours of 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 Flowood, MS 39232 ORGANIST POSITION at St.
been abandoned at TVG Paint p.m.), at the Southeast Door of (601) 981-9299 David Anglican Church in
& Body, 305 Evergreen Dr., Ab- the County Courthouse of
Mayhew, MS, to provide
Call us: 662-328-2424 erdeen, MS 39730. Lowndes County, located at
505 2nd Avenue North, Colum-
107 Canon Dr
Caledonia, MS 39740 music for Sunday service &
Year: 2015 bus, MS 39701, to the highest 20-025724 occasional special ser-
Legal Notices Make: Nissan and best bidder for cash or cer- vices. Knowledge/experi-
Model: Altima tified funds the following de- Publication Dates: ence with Anglican Liturgy
Request for Water & Waste Wa- VIN# 1N4AL3AP9FC262072 scribed property situated in June 10, June 17, June 24 and helpful, but not necessary.
ter Management/Operations Lowndes County, State of Mis- July 1, 2020 The 1928 Book of Com-
Proposals Year: 2009 sissippi, to-wit:
mon Pray & the 1940 Epis-
Make: BMW
3.09 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, copal Hymnal are used.
The Lowndes County Industrial Model: 528I

Development Authority will re-
ceive proposals with price for
Management/Operations of its If these vehicles are not
water supply and waste water
systems for all located in or
near the Golden Triangle Indus- 2020 at 7:00 a.m at TVG Body
trial Park in Lowndes County,
Mississippi.
All proposals and work to be
performed shall be in accord
with scope of services and sub- 6/24/2020
mitted to the Lowndes County
Industrial Development Author- The following vehicles have
ity.
A copy of the project scope of
services can be emailed to pro-
spective operators from Meryl
Fisackerly, Administrative As-
sistant, Lowndes County Indus- Model: Camry
trial Development Authority at
mfisackerly@gtrlink.org or
picked up. The proposals will
require personnel list, qualifica- Make: Chevy
tions of personnel, equipment
list, and experience.
The proposals may be emailed
to Meryl Fisackerly or delivered
to the Lowndes County Industri-
al Development Authority of-
fice, 1102 Main Street, Colum-
bus, Mississippi 39701, no
later than 7:30 a.m. on July
16th, 2020. Additional Informa-
tion may be obtained by con-
tacting Meryl Fisackerly, Admin-
istrative Assistant, Lowndes
County Industrial Development
Authority.
The Lowndes County Industrial
Development Authority re-
serves the right to reject any
and all proposals and further
reserves the right to accept
proposals on the basis of cri-
teria other than price.
Owner: Lowndes County Indus-
trial Development Authority
By: Thomas Lee
Title: President
Publish: June 17th , 2020
June 24th, 2020
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION
Bryan Jones, who was sen-
tenced for two counts of Sale
of Cocaine and one count of
Aggravated Assault in Lowndes
County, Mississippi, has ap-
plied for executive clemency.
Persons wishing to comment
should send information in writ-
ing to the above address with-
in fifteen (15) days after the
date of publication.
Bryan Jones was arrested in
2007, and subsequently con-
victed of two counts of Sale of
Cocaine and one count of Ag-
gravated Assault, following his
plea and sentenced to six (6)
years to serve in the custody of
Mississippi Department of Cor-
rections for each count of Sale
of Cocaine to run consecut-
ively to each other and one
count of Aggravated Assault to
serve ten (10) years in the cus-
tody of Mississippi Depart-
ment of Corrections to run con-
secutively to the two counts of
Sale of Cocaine.
Mr. Jones is by any measure
rehabilitated and ready have all
rights restored based on my
encounters and correspond-
ence with him. In addition, as
evidenced by the character let-
ters from family and friends,
Mr. Jones has demonstrated
his willingness to work well
within the rules, policies and
expectations of society. Mr.
Jones presents no danger to
himself, and is not a threat to
others. The retributive in-
terests of justice have been
fairly and adequately served.
PUBLISH: 5/20, 5/27, 6/3,
6/10, 6/17 & 6/24/2020
All notices must be
emailed to
classifieds@
cdispatch.com.
Employment
VIN# WBANU53509C118539 lying in the Southwest Quarter (318)527-9213 for info.
of the Southeast Quarter of
Section 32, Township 16 THE COMMERCIAL
claimed they will be put up for South, Range 17 West,
DISPATCH seeks a motiv-
sale on the 29th day of June Lowndes County, Mississippi, Call us: 662-328-2424 ated, contracted carrier for
more particularly described as
Shop, 305 Evergreen Dr., Aber- follows: the Brooksville & Macon General Help Wanted
deen, MS 39730. Contact TVG General Help Wanted area. Excellent opportunity
Body Shop at 662-346-9426. Commencing at the Northwest to earn money for college.
Corner of the Southeast WANTED: Qualified Must have good transporta-
PUBLISH: 6/10, 6/17 & Quarter of said Section 32, run Automotive Technicians tion, valid driver's license
thence South for 1534 feet; Call for details.
thence South 89 degrees 23 & insurance. Delivers on
662-574-4221 Sunday morning and Mon-
minutes East for 353.0 feet to
been abandoned at Moore's POINT OF BEGINNING; thence Fri afternoons. Apply at The
Garage Auto Repair, Guntown, continue South 89 degrees 23 Commercial Dispatch, 516
minutes East for 500.1 feet to AREA BUSINESS Main Street in Columbus.
MS, 38849. is seeking a mature,
a point on the circumference of No phone calls please.
Year: 2009 a cul-de-sac at the end of a motivated person who
Make: Toyota public road known as Canon enjoys interacting with
Drive; thence Southeasterly people, being outdoors
VIN# 4T4BE46K19R088834 along said circumference and a and multitasking. Skills
Year: 2009
curve to the left (Delta = 13 de-
grees 33 minutes, Radius =
related to maintaining
equipment and/or farm
It’s a classified
50.0 feet, Chord South 36 de-
Model: Tahoe
VIN# 1GNEC233X9R289984
grees 34 minutes East - 11.8
feet) for an arc distance of
work are desired but not
required. Person needs to rule-of-thumb:
IF THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT
11.8 feet to the northwest
corner of Lot 4 of an unrecor-
ded plat of the William W. Can-
be flexible enough to pitch
in where ever needed but We tell readers
CLAIMED THEY WILL BE PUT also keep their core
UP FOR SALE ON THE 29TH
DAY OF JUNE, 2020 AT 7:00
on property; thence South 17
degrees 59 minutes West
responsibilities in mind.
If you enjoy a different ex-
what they need
along the west line of said Lot4
A.M. MOORE'S GARAGE AUTO
REPAIR, 479 COUNTY ROAD
2578, GUNTOWN, MS 38849.
for 297.41 feet to an existing
fence corner and the southw-
perience on the regular,
meeting new people and to know to buy
believe in customer
what they need.
est corner thereof; thence
PUBLISH: 6/10, 6/17 & North 88 degrees 46 minutes satisfaction this job might
6/24/2020 West along a fence for 415.0 be for you.
feet to a point that is 353.3 Please submit resume to:
feet South 88 degrees 46
The following vehicle has been minutes East from a fence Blind Box 675 c/o The Medical / Dental
abandoned at Pull'em Auto Re- Commercial Dispatch
corner at an existing 30-inch-
pair, 1811 Main Street, Colum- diameter gum tree; thence PO Box 511
bus, MS, 39701.
North 00 degrees 05 minutes Columbus, MS 39703
West for 288.88 feet to the
Year: 2009 point of beginning.
Make: Nissan
Model: Maxima CALEDONIA BUSINESS
I WILL CONVEY only such title needs General Laborer.
VIN# 1N4AA5AP2AC8083706 as vested in me as Substi-
Experienced weed-eater,
tuted Trustee.
IF THIS VEHICLE IS NOT $10-12/hour. Valid driver's
CLAIMED IT WILL BE PUT UP
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on license, transportation &
FOR SALE ON THE 29TH DAY this 28th day of May, 2020. experience helpful. Call
OF JUNE, 2020 at 7:00 A.M.
PULL'EM AUTO REPAIR,
Jesse & Beverly's Lawn
Shapiro & Brown, LLC Service at 662-356-6525.
COLUMBUS, MS 39701. SUBSTITUTED TRUSTEE
PUBLISH: 6/10, 6/17 & Shapiro & Brown, LLC
6/24/2020 1080 River Oaks Drive, Suite
B-202 Good help isn’t hard
SUBSTITUTED TRUSTEE'S NO- Flowood, MS 39232
TICE OF SALE (601) 981-9299
to find if you know
WHEREAS, on November 12, Read local.
107 Canon Dr
where to look. Start
2009, Jason B. Willingham, a Caledonia, MS 39740
cdispatch.com your search here.
married man and wife, Amber 20-025724
Willingham executed a certain
deed of trust to Title & Closing Publication
TransportationDates:
Services, Trustee for the bene- June 10, June 17, June 24 and
fit of Mortgage Electronic Re- July 1, 2020
gistration Systems, Inc. as
nominee for JTS & Co., its suc-
cessors and assigns which
deed of trust is of record in the
office of the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, State of Mis-
sissippi in Book 2009 at Page
26773; and
WHEREAS, WILMINGTON SAV-
INGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS
TRUSTEE OF QUERCUS MORT-
GAGE INVESTMENT TRUST has
heretofore substituted Shapiro
& Brown, LLC as Trustee by in-
strument dated February 14,
2020 and recorded in the
aforesaid Chancery Clerk's Of-
fice in Book 2016 at Page
4602; and
WHEREAS, default having been
made in the terms and condi-
tions of said deed of trust and
the entire debt secured thereby
having been declared to be due
and payable in accordance with
the terms of said deed of trust,
WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND
SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF
QUERCUS MORTGAGE INVEST-
MENT TRUST, the legal holder
of said indebtedness, having
requested the undersigned
Substituted Trustee to execute
the trust and sell said land and
property in accordance with the
terms of said deed of trust and
for the purpose of raising the
sums due thereunder, togeth-
er with attorney's fees,
trustee's fees and expense of
sale.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Shapiro &
Brown, LLC, Substituted Trust-
ee in said deed of trust, will on
July 8, 2020 offer for sale at
public outcry and sell within
legal hours (being between the
hours of 11:00 a.m. and 4:00

Just a click away!

p.m.), at the Southeast Door of
the County Courthouse of
Lowndes County, located at
505 2nd Avenue North, Colum-
bus, MS 39701, to the highest
and best bidder for cash or cer-
tified funds the following de-
scribed property situated in
Lowndes County, State of Mis-
sissippi, to-wit:

3.09 ACRES, MORE OR LESS,

lying in the Southwest Quarter

The best place for personalized

of the Southeast Quarter of
Section 32, Township 16
South, Range 17 West,
Lowndes County, Mississippi,

advertising in your community.

more particularly described as
follows:

Commencing at the Northwest

Corner of the Southeast
Quarter of said Section 32, run

ads.cdispatch.com
thence South for 1534 feet;
thence South 89 degrees 23
minutes East for 353.0 feet to
POINT OF BEGINNING; thence
continue South 89 degrees 23
ADS STARTING AT

$12
minutes East for 500.1 feet to

CUSTOMIZE YOUR AD:

a point on the circumference of
a cul-de-sac at the end of a
public road known as Canon
Drive; thence Southeasterly

Featured ads $5 Sponsored ads $3

along said circumference and a
curve to the left (Delta = 13 de-
grees 33 minutes, Radius =
50.0 feet, Chord South 36 de-
grees 34 minutes East - 11.8
feet) for an arc distance of Premium placement Preferred placement in search
11.8 feet to the northwest
corner of Lot 4 of an unrecor- on classifieds home page. results and highlighted online.
ded plat of the William W. Can-

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on property; thence South 17
degrees 59 minutes West
along the west line of said Lot4
for 297.41 feet to an existing
fence corner and the southw- Highlight your ad Enhance your ad with
est corner thereof; thence
North 88 degrees 46 minutes with a dash of color. an attention getter.
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feet South 88 degrees 46
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corner at an existing 30-inch-
diameter gum tree; thence

One call will bring you results. 662-328-2424

North 00 degrees 05 minutes
West for 288.88 feet to the
point of beginning.

I WILL CONVEY only such title

as vested in me as Substi-
tuted Trustee.
8B WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Apts For Rent: Other Houses For Rent: North

Rentals HOUSE FOR RENT BY

OWNER. 220 Mclemore
Garage Sales ON THE WEB
Road, Columbus. 1750sqft
Ads starting at $25 Brick house in quiet neigh− Two free signs Visit www.cdispatch.com
borhood. 3 bedrooms & 2
Apts For Rent: North full baths. No HUD, Garage Sales: New Hope for a printable copy of
Columbus City school
FOX RUN APARTMENTS district. $1000/mo with 73 CONCOURSE Rd. Sat. these puzzles.
1 & 2 BR near hospital. 1 mo deposit. Serious 7a−until. Women’s/girl’s/
$595−$645 monthly. inquiries only please. Call men’s clothes & shoes,
Military discount, pet area, 662−574−3202 to see the home & xmas decor, party
pet friendly, and furnished house or make application. supplies, books & more.
corporate apts.
24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL Mobile Homes for Rent

Merchandise
GYM. ON SITE SECURITY.
ON SITE MAINTENANCE. RENT A CAMPER!
ON SITE MANAGEMENT. CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
24−HOUR CAMERA Utilities & cable included,
SURVEILLANCE. Benji & from $145/wk − $535/mo Ads starting at $12
Ashleigh, 662−386−4446. Columbus & County School
locations. 662−242−7653
or 205−442−2011. General Merchandise
Apts For Rent: West
2018 40FT Gooseneck

VIP
Trailer w/ 5ft dovetail, 12
ton axles, 10−4inch straps
COLEMAN
Rentals
& tarps. $7,000.
662−251−3001.
RENTALS Have a rental property?
Apartments & Houses TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
List it here for fast results. FREE HORSE MANURE,
1 BEDROOM
1 Bedrooms ads.cdispatch.com mixed with sawdust.
By appointment. Will load.
2 BEDROOMS
2 Bedroooms 3 BEDROOMS
West Lowndes.
662−364−6990.
3 Bedrooms
LEASE, Real Estate Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
© The Dispatch

Furnished & Unfurnished

DEPOSIT WHITE POSTER BOARD
$0.50 each − 24"x23"
1, 2, & 3 Baths
Lease, Deposit
AND
CREDIT CHECK
Ads starting at $25 Visit 516 Main Street
or call 662−328−2424 Sudoku
Sudoku is a number-
placing puzzle based on
Yesterday’s answer
& Credit Check Houses For Sale: New Hope Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 3 7 9 5 6 4 2 8 1
662-329-2323 Lawn & Garden ber-placing
given numbers.puzzleThe object 4 6 1 8 3 2 9 7 5

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

viceinvestments.com NEW CONSTRUCTION
based onthe a 9x9 5 8 2 1 9 7 4 3 6
327-8555 NEW HOPE SCHOOLS is to place numbers
2411 HWY 45 N FOR SALE SOON HAYES DAYLILIES grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 8 3 6 2 5 1 7 4 9
COLUMBUS, MS This 4 bedroom beauty is Open mornings. M−S.
1069 New Hope Rd. Call
given
so thatnumbers.
each row, each The 1 4 5 9 7 3 8 6 2
almost ready. Take object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place box
advantage of historic low 662−251−6665.
numbers 9 2 7 4 8 6 1 5 3
Houses For Rent: North interest rates. Hardwood, contains the1same to 9 number
in
7 1 3 6 2 8 5 9 4
granite, security and more. Wanted To Buy the empty spaces so
only once. The difficulty 2 9 8 3 4 5 6 1 7
Call P & D Builders, Inc. that each row, each
135 HORSESHOE LOOP, USED COMPUTER. Must level increases from
COLUMBUS. 3BR/2BA,
@ 662−328−0770. column and each 6 5 4 7 1 9 3 2 8
fenced yard, quiet & retired
Builder/Broker/Owner. work good. 806 Shiloh Dr. Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 6/23
662−889−6619.
area. Storage building in Lots & Acreage the same number only once. The difficulty level
back yard. $700/mo +
increases from Monday to Sunday.
Vehicles
dep. 901−314−3098. 1.75 ACRE LOTS.
Good/Bad Credit Options.
You’ll find the best deals Good credit as low as 10%
when you advertise down, $299/mo. Eaton
and shop here!
HOUSE FOR RENT
2−3 Bedroom w/ 1.5 Bath Land, 662−361−7711.
Ads starting at $12
Fenced in yard. $675.
Waterfront Property Autos For Sale
ads.cdispatch.com 662−549−9555.
Ask for Glenn or text.
NEWLY RENOVATED three 2004 FORD T−BIRD. Two
bedroom, two 1/2 bath tops, hard & soft. Little
Houses For Sale: Other home in private community over 100k mi. Excellent
with community boat Condition. Call Holly at
landing. Property sits on Eaton Motor Company in
Tibbee Creek and is Houston, 662−705−1143.
conveniently located to
West Point, Columbus, and Trucks, Vans & Buses
Starkville. Home has a
screened in back patio with 2009 Red, Extended cab,
a deck that overlooks Chevrolet Silverado 1500,
Tibbee Creek. $198,800. less than 78k mi. Can be
662−549−2768 seen @ Stokes on 82 on
Monday, 6/22. Cashier’s
check only. $11,500.
662−327−7845.

Community
Ads starting at $12
Travel & Entertainment

PUBLIC CATFISH POND

@ 130 Hillcrest Drive.
Open Tues−Sat, 7a−5p
662−386−8591
Call for pricing.

Did you
know ?

In 2015 The Dispatch won the

Daniel E. Phillips Freedom of ACROSS
Information Award for our 1 Scarlett’s home
5 Ancient Mex-
investigative journalism. icans
11 Trojan War
hero
Five Questions: 12 Battled
13 Arrived
14 Encroachment
Looking for goods 1 “Grimm’s 15 Sphere
or services? Fairy Tale” 16 Difficult trip
17 Prying tool
19 Flock father
22 Goes out
2 Sugar 24 Diver’s gear
26 Body shop
challenge
3 Iceland 27 Foreboding
sign DOWN 21 Quite a few

Find it in the 4 St. Paul’s

28 Black cattle
breed
30 With dignity
1 Folded food
2 Cracked
3 Meandering
22 Dutch cheese
23 Fictional
warrior princess
Cathedral 31 Rural mothers
classifieds!
observations 25 Put in the
32 Put down 4 Lumbering tool fridge
34 Fourth-down 5 Blazing 29 Cube face
5 “Lilyhammer” play 6 City planners 30 Tennis need
35 “— pig’s eye!” 7 Ankara native 33 Single

Service Directory
38 Dr. Phil’s last 8 Sense of self 34 Stage item
name 9 Chinese tea 36 Close by
41 Salon sound 10 Regular: Abbr. 37 Church area
42 Pal of Pooh 16 DVRs connect 38 Got together
43 Quiche start to them 39 Semicircular
Promote your small business starting at only $25 44 Helped out in 18 Question from shape
an office Caesar 40 Trainer’s place
Carpet & Flooring General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping 45 Tennis great 19 Sounds of 41 Great ex-
Arthur discontent panse
CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY Lawn Care
Mow, Trim, Edge and Blow.
20 Cain’s brother
$545 plus Filing Fee
Free Estimate.
CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY Call 662−574−1225.
All Attorney Fees Through The Plan If no answer please leave
Jim Arnold, Attorney message.
662-324-1666 • 601-656-6914
104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville SAM’S LAWN SERVICE
No lawn too large or too
Garage Door Services small. Mowing, trimming &
DAVID’S CARPET & M&M Garage Door, LLC SKILLED CRAFTSMAN. Any weedeating.
UPHOLSTERY Offering competitive prices kind of work! We can build, Call 662−243−1694
CLEANING and quality service. paint, drywall, clean,
1 Room − $50 Available for all of your pressure wash & cut grass. Painting & Papering
2 Rooms − $70 garage door needs. Reasonable rates. Safe &
3+ Rooms − $30 EA Call us today for your free Reliable. 662−386−3658. QUALITY PAINTING.
Rugs−Must Be Seen consultation. Ext/Int Painting.
Car Upholstery Cleaning 662−251−4904 Lawn Care / Landscaping Sheet Rock Hang, Finish &
Available Repair. Pressure Washing.
662−722−1758 WORK WANTED: Licensed Jake’s Mowing Free Estimates. Ask for
& Bonded. Carpentry, minor Mowing, Weed−eating, specials! Larry Webber,
General Services electrical, minor plumbing, Blow off walks, Trim shrubs 662−242−4932.
insulation, painting, Free quote. Great pricing.
A & T TREE SERVICES demolition, gutters Call, text, leave message. SULLIVAN’S PAINT
Bucket truck & stump cleaned, pressure washing, 662−570−8815 SERVICE
removal. Free est. landscaping, cleanup work. Special Prices.
Serving Columbus 662−242−3608. JESSE & BEVERLY’S Interior & Exterior Painting.
since 1987. Senior LAWN SERVICE 662−435−6528
citizen disc. Call Alvin @ Got leaky pipes? Mowing, cleanup,
242−0324/241−4447 landscaping, sodding, Are you a painter?
"We’ll go out on a limb for Find a plumber in the & tree cutting.
you!" classifieds. 662−356−6525 Advertise here!