Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi
CDISPATCH.COM
SOCSD presents tentative budget pending
Legislature’s approval of school district allocations
District will not ask for tax increase; $2.5M
shortfall to be covered by reserve funds
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com
Starkville-Oktibbeha Con-
solidated School District ad-
ministrators presented a pro-
posed budget of about $64.5
million in expenditures for Fis-
cal Year 2020-2021 at the school
board’s meeting Tuesday night,
about $2.5 million more than
expected revenues.
BUSINESS MOVES
WITH MARY
Barbecue
joint to open
in Columbus
PLUS: Studio Pilates
holds soft opening
this weekend
BY MARY POLLITZ
biz@cdispatch.com
M
onths be-
fore open-
ing, Jimmy
Sherrod
already
started
build-
ing his
clientele Mary Pollitz
for his new
restaurant.
In fact, you’ve probably seen
cars and customers lining up at a
mobile food unit at 2526 Main St.
on Fridays and Saturdays. Now,
Sherrod said he’s excited to finally
open 1028 W/ Mo-Jams BBQ on
the same spot in two weeks.
For now, customers can still
enjoy barbecue plates Friday and
Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until
dark.
Once the full restaurant opens,
Sherrod said he’ll have a little
something for everyone. With
menu items ranging from barbe-
cue specials, pastas, crab legs,
burgers and more, Sherrod said
anyone who pulls up will surely
find something they can enjoy.
“I wanted to go all out,” Sherrod
said. “We got all of it.”
He added he wants to make it a
family affair.
“We’re a really tight-knit fami-
ly,” he said. “We feel the (custom-
ers) needed a place where people
love to cook and it’s not just a job.
…We’re based off of love and good
vibes. We hope people roll up feel-
ing pretty good and roll out feeling
even better.”
The mobile unit first started
serving customers outside of a con-
See BUSINESS, 3A
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“That ($2.5 million differ-
ence) would be taken out of our
upcoming school year.
In the proposed budget she
reserves,” SOCSD Superinten-
dent Eddie Peasant said.
presented Tuesday, McGarr
projected the district will re-
While the state Legislature McGarr specified the $2.5 ceive $22,879,257 in Missis-
has not yet passed an educa- million will come out of funds sippi Adequate Education Pro-
tion budget approved by the reserved from previous years gram funds, about a 2-percent
governor, SOCSD Chief Finan- in the district’s construction, decrease from last year’s alloca-
cial Officer Tammie McGarr debt service and other budgets. tion of $23,346,181.
presented what she called a In its reserve fund at the end Peasant McGarr However, she said the dis-
“conservative estimate” of of last fiscal year, the district trict does not expect to need a
$61,972,004 in revenues, almost had a little over $12 million in the state as a result of the tax increase to help cover the
$30 million of which will come reserves. COVID-19 pandemic and that shortfall. While the district will
from local sources and another McGarr had previously told state legislators had warned request $27,875,294 in opera-
$25 million of which she proj- the school board the district school districts they may have tional ad valorem taxes — about
ects to come from the state. might see a funding cut from to dip into reserve funds for the See SOCSD, 6A
‘EVERYBODY LIKES CATFISH’
Local church’s food program distributes
five tons of live catfish to those in need
Antranik Tavitian/ Dipatch Staff
Sederick Henderson, a volunteer at St. James Methodist Church, watches over a pile of catfish during a charity
event on Wednesday. Henderson has been volunteering for the church for approximately 10 years. The church
gave away five tons of live catfish to needy people in the community, saving approximately 500 pounds for mem-
bers of its congregation.
BY SLIM SMITH early and people were already start- ple carrying ice coolers.
ssmith@cdispatch.com ing to line up,” Priester said. “So, we The catfish, weighing anywhere
went ahead and started.” from 5 to 25 pounds or more, may
As part of her In an hour’s time, St. James mem- have been too large for the commer-
duties as minister/ bers and volunteers had distributed cial market — two pounds is the pre-
chaplain at St. James close to five tons of live catfish. By ferred size — but were a godsend to
United Methodist 2:30 p.m., only about 500 pounds re- those who turned out for the event.
Church in Columbus, mained, reserved to be distributed “One of these fish could prob-
Eve Preister adminis- among the church’s needy congre- ably feed a whole family,” said St.
ters the church’s food gants. James Pastor Dwight
program. “I’ve been working on this a Prowell, watching as
Priester
In that role, she long time,” Priester said. “I knew it a volunteer held aloft
has worked with groups like the would be popular because it’s some- a monstrous albino
Mississippi Black Farmers Alliance thing different.” catfish that likely
to provide vegetables and fruits to The fish were donated by Leigh weighed 25 pounds or
those in need. Holland, a commercial catfish oper- more.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ator based in Indianola. “We had been get-
churches and organizations have An 18-wheeler, pulling a large ting fruits and vege- Prowell
regularly distributed food and other container filled with water and cat- tables to give out, but
supplies to the needy, but Wednes- fish, arrived at the parking lot of the we wanted something different,”
day’s distribution was unlike any church on Military Road, opening Prowell said. “The first idea was to
Priester had ever seen before. one chute at a time as thousands of find some meat and we got hooked
It was over before it started. wriggling catfish descended down a up with the fish company. You can
“It was supposed to start at 2:30, ramp and into an open trailer where see, it was a big success. Everybody
but the truck got here about an hour the fish could be distributed to peo- likes catfish.”
FIVE QUESTIONS LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC
1 If you are lucky enough to have lunch with FLO- MEETINGS
TUS, who are you sharing a meal with? July 28: OCH Regional
2 What poet wrote “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Medical Center Board of
Blackbird” — T.S. Eliot, Gertrude Stein or Wallace Trustees, 4 p.m.
Stevens?
July 31: Starkville
3 What kind of vehicle often has a transom, a
gunwale, a thwart and some spinnakers? Board of Aldermen work
4 Harry Caray did not announce games for which session, 10 a.m., City
baseball team — Chicago, New York or St. Louis? Hall
5 Which California beach city is not in Orange Aug. 3: Oktibbeha
County — Laguna Beach, Long Beach or Newport
County Board of Supervi-
Beach?
sors meeting, Chancery
Answers, 6B Courthouse, 9 a.m.
Aug. 4: Starkville Board
of Aldermen meeting,
5:30 p.m., City Hall
Aug. 11: Starkville-Ok-
INSIDE tibbeha Consolidated
Business 5B Dear Abby 3B School District Board
Classifieds 6B Obituaries 5A Josiah Langford has lived in Starkville of Trustees meeting, 6
Comics 3B Opinions 4A for 34 years. He is a musician and self- p.m., 401 Greensboro
Crossword 6B described nerd. St.
DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471
2A THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Incarcerated people look to Senate to cap prison phone rates

Mitch McConnell, Roger Wicker will be key decision-makers tha Wright Phone Justice
Act as part of its stimulus
thority to regulate — at
21 cents for prepaid calls
to implement, and inter-
state calls represent only
on whether legislation makes it into next stimulus bill bill, which would give the
FCC authority to regulate
and 25 cents for collect
calls. And last week, the
20 percent of all calls
made from prisons and
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS to be fathers, trying to do navirus and 500 percent all prison and jail calls, FCC proposed a cut to the jails nationally, he wrote,
the right thing,” Thomas more likely to succumb including the 80 percent rate caps that would bring pointing to the clear lim-
MINNEAPOLIS — Gant, who is incarcerat- to the virus, according to that originate and end them down to 14 cents per itations of the FCC’s au-
Incarcerated people and ed at Wende Correctional a study by researchers at in the same state also minute in prisons and 16 thority to address “the
their fam- Facility in New York, said Johns Hopkins and UCLA known as instate calls cents per minute in jails. burden of egregious
ilies saidINSIDE Tuesday. He said the sus- published this month in — something currently But that will take time rates.”
they are n RELIEF pension of most in-person the Journal of the Ameri- barred by a 2017 Court of
c l o s e l y BILL: Senate visits at facilities nation- can Medical Association. Appeals ruling.
Republicans,
w a t c h i n g White House wide have made calls Adnan Khan, Execu- Senate Majority Lead-
c o n g r e s - closer on next back home even more im- tive Director of Restore er Mitch McConnell and
sional de- COVID bill. portant. Justice, is fielding calls Senate Chair of the Com-
bates about Page 5A The coronavirus out- from families with rela- merce Committee Roger
the next break has put a spot- tives inside San Quentin Wicker of Mississippi will
COVID-19 relief bill for light on the conditions State Prison in California, be the key decision-mak-
proposed legislation that in America’s prisons and which has been especially ers on whether this leg-
would drastically push jails, which house more hard hit by the coronavi- islation makes it into the
down the cost of prison than 2.2 million people, rus in recent weeks and is Senate’s stimulus bill ex-
and jail phone calls. with people of color mak- now in lockdown. pected this week.
For years, they have ing up a disproportionate “It’s been heartbreak- In a letter to the pres-
advocated lowering rates number of those impris- ing. If we do contact trac- ident of the National As-
that run as high as $25 oned. Overcrowding, ing for mental health, how sociation of Regulatory
for a 15-minute call. substandard medical ser- much of that would be Utility Commissioners
Now, they said, with the vices, and a shortage of linked to prisons?” said on Monday, Federal Com-
economic fallout of the masks and disinfectants Khan, who is familiar with munications Commission
coronavirus pandemic, have made correctional that anxiety and stress. Chairman Ajit Pai noted
the costs are especially facilities incubators of He was released from San that the FCC recently
debilitating, separating disease. Quentin last year after capped rates for inter-
families at a crucial time. People in correctional serving 16 years. state calls — those that
“It’s hard for guys try- facilities are 300 percent In May, the U.S. cross state lines, which
ing to be husbands, trying more likely to get coro- House passed the Mar- the FCC does have au-

Nationwide push to remove Confederate

monuments stalls in rural America
Laws protecting
House votes to remove Confederate statues from Capitol
monuments in THE ASSOCIATED PRESS son Davis, the Confederate president.
Alabama, Georgia, WASHINGTON — The House has Three statues honoring white suprem-
acists — including former U.S. Vice
Mississippi, North approved a bill to remove statues of President John C. Calhoun of South
Gen. Robert E. Lee and other Confed- Carolina — would be immediately re-
Carolina, South erate leaders from the U.S. Capitol, as moved.
a reckoning over racial injustice con- “Defenders and purveyors of sedi-
Carolina and tinues following the police killing of tion, slavery, segregation and white su-
George Floyd, a Black man, in Minne-
premacy have no place in this temple of
Tennessee are apolis.
liberty,” House Majority Leader Steny
The House vote also would remove
slowing efforts a bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, Hoyer said at a Capitol news confer-
ence ahead of the House vote.
the author of the 1857 Dred Scott de-
BY REBECCA SANTANA cision that declared African Americans The House approved the bill 305-
AND JONATHAN DREW
couldn’t be citizens. 113, sending it to the Republican-con-
The Associated Press trolled Senate, where prospects are
The bill directs the Architect of
the Capitol to identify and eventually uncertain. Seventy-two Republicans,
CLINTON, La. — The including House Minority Leader Kev-
remove from Statuary Hall at least 10
statue of the anonymous in McCarthy of California and Minority
statues honoring Confederate officials,
Confederate soldier
including Lee, the commanding gener- Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana, joined
has stood in front of the
al of the Confederate Army, and Jeffer- with 232 Democrats to support the bill.
white-columned East Fe-
liciana Parish courthouse
for more than a century, there is no way that we are slowing efforts. Vir- leads to a cascade effect
leaning on his rifle as can sit around and be on ginia this year amended where more and more
he looks down on trucks the wrong side of history,” a similar law to let local are removed,” said Adam
hauling timber and res- he said. governments take statues Domby, a College of
idents visiting the bank At least 63 Confeder- down. Charleston historian who
across the street. ate statues, monuments “It’s unclear how long wrote “The False Cause:
It withstood an attempt or markers have been re- this will continue, wheth- Fraud, Fabrication, and
to remove it in 2016. The moved from public land er this is going to be a White Supremacy in Con-
local doctor who asked across the country since full movement that really federate Memory.”
the southeast Louisiana Floyd’s death on May
parish to move it lost two 25, making 2020 one of
friends in the controver- the busiest years yet for
sy, but the statue stayed. removals, according to
In 2018, a Black man who an Associated Press tal-
was a defendant in a tri- ly. Most were removed
al petitioned to have his by government officials,
case moved, saying the though protesters have
statue was a symbol of toppled some.
All but eight have come
racism. He lost that fight,
down in cities or metro-
and the statue stood.
politan areas larger than
Now, as protests
50,000 people. Most of the
sparked by the death of
areas lean politically left,
George Floyd in Minne-
with 41 of the monuments
apolis focus attention on
removed in counties or
the hundreds of Confed-
equivalent areas that vot-
erate statues still stand-
ed Democratic in the 2016
ing across the Southern presidential election.
landscape, officials in the AP’s exclusive tally
rural parish of roughly verified removals through
20,000 people have vot- government announce-
ed 5-3 to leave the statue ments, AP news coverage
where it is. and other sources, then
In recent weeks, doz- analyzed them based on
ens of Confederate stat- census data and voting
ues have fallen across the patterns.
country — often in more Still, in a sign that the
liberal-leaning urban cen- removal movement might
ters. But in many smaller be spreading, local gov-
places like Clinton, the ernments in several less
effort to remove markers populous areas of Mis-
that many view as racist sissippi, Louisiana and
relics has stalled or has South Carolina have re-
yet to arrive. cently approved removals
John Sanders, a Black but not yet taken down
businessman and min- the monuments.
ister in Clinton, wants The sheer number of
the statue removed and Confederate monuments
thought the national spot- still standing shows the
light on the issue present- enormous task for those
ed a slight chance that seeking removals: More
parish officials would vote than 700 remain on pub-
to move it. But if not now, lic land, according to the
he thinks it will happen — Southern Poverty Law
some day. Center.
“I think that it has to Laws that protect the
come up again. It’s not monuments in Alabama,
a matter of ‘if.’ It has to Georgia, Mississippi,
come up again, and the North Carolina, South
reason I say that is that Carolina and Tennessee

Cheap thrills.
Go for a walk.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 3A

Hospitalizations increase by more than 50 percent in weeks

In the past week, Mississippi’s top hospitals partment of Health reported
that 490 people were hospital-
than three weeks, in less than
20 days.”
At Wednesday’s briefing,
Reeves once again implored
have had from zero to only a handful of beds ized with COVID-19 on June 27, Reeves and State Health Of- Mississippians to wear masks.
followed by 602 on July 1. On ficer Thomas Dobbs have re- He referred to President Don-
available for urgent patients Wednesday, 942 people were peatedly warned in recent days ald Trump tweeting Monday
hospitalized with the virus. that hospitals in Mississippi are that wearing a mask is patriotic.
BY LEAH WILLINGHAM impact that rapidly increasing “That is a 55 percent in- running out of beds. In the past “If you love the president,
Associated Press/Report for America
cases of coronavirus and hos- crease in patients in the month week, the state’s top hospitals join him, be patriotic and wear
JACKSON — Mississippi’s pitalizations will have on the of July,” Gov. Tate Reeves said have had from zero to only a a mask,” Reeves said. “If you
leaders continued to express state’s health care system. at a media briefing. “We’ve handful of beds available for ur- don’t like the president, then
concern Wednesday over the The Mississippi State De- added over 340 patients in less gent patients. just wear a mask to spite him.”

Unemployment in Golden Triangle up slightly in June

BY GARRICK HODGE
ghodge@cdispatch.com
Unemployment num-
bers ticked up slightly
in June across Lowndes,
Clay and Oktibbeha coun-
ties, yet statewide unem-
ployment numbers contin-
ued to decrease according
to preliminary statistics
released Tuesday by the
Mississippi Department of
Employment Security.
Clay County is ranked
76th out of Mississippi’s
82 counties, the seventh
worst mark statewide,
with an unemployment
rate at 14.5 percent, a
slight increase from its
14.4 percent mark in May.
An estimated 1,130 people
are out of work.
In June, West Point
Ward 4 Selectman Keith
McBrayer told The Dis-
patch the unemployment
figure is “still nowhere
near where we want it to
be.”
Noxubee County is
right behind West Point
at 77th with a 14.7 per-
cent unemployment rate
in June, with an estimated
560 residents out of work.
Noxubee’s unemployment
rate spiked from 12.6 per-
cent in May, which was a
stark decline from a yearly
high rate of 17 percent in
April.
Lowndes County had
a 10.7 unemployment rate
in June compared to 10.4
percent in May, ranking
it 55th in Mississippi with
an estimated 2,540 people
unemployed.
Lastly, Oktibbeha
County went from a rate of
9.2 percent in May to 9.9
percent in June, with an es-
timated 2,110 residents out
of work. Oktibbeha Coun-
ty’s unemployment rate
ranks 44th in Mississippi.
For the month of June,
Mississippi saw a state-
wide unemployment rate
of 9.7 percent.
Statewide unemploy-
ment hit a yearly-high in
April at 15.7 percent before
decreasing to 10.4 percent
in May.

Business
Continued from Page 1A
venience store, but now,
Sherrod said he’s happy
and ready to open.
“We’re almost there,”
he added. “I’m always
getting good feedback.
But if the people love the
barbecue, I know they’re
going to love the rest of
the menu. I’m going to
keep the flavors coming.”
Be sure to check out
the new restaurant on the
block and get a hot plate
for lunch or dinner on
Friday or Saturday.
Speaking of restau-
rants, Columbus has
added another Mexican
restaurant to its reper-
toire. Jalisco’s Mexican
Grill, 1921 Hwy. 45 N.,
just opened on Monday.
Jalisco’s is located in the
former La Fiesta build-
ing, which closed in 2018.
When you’re feeling a
hankering for some chips
and salsa, give Jalisco’s
a try Sunday through
Thursdays 11 a.m.-10
p.m. and Friday and Sat-
urdays until 10:30 p.m.
Moving back to Main
Street, you may have
seen a building listed
for sale. Frye Tile, 2102
Main St., is officially list-
ed for sale. Kenny Frye
confirmed the building’s
listing to The Dispatch.
Frye added Frye Tile
closed its tile store ap-
proximately five months
ago to primarily focus on
house construction.
Also downtown, a new
Pilates studio is having
its soft opening this
weekend.
Studio Pilates, 115
Fifth St. S., will offer var-
ious small-group classes
to help those looking to
increase their health and
wellness.
For those interested in
a sneak peek of the new
space head over to Fifth
Street Friday 5:30-7 p.m.,
Saturday 9-11 a.m. and
Sunday 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Owner and found-
er, Laura Vernon, will
instruct various Reformer
Pilates classes for clients.
For those concerned with
COVID-19, Vernon said
classes will be incredibly
small, with no more than
four at a time. Machines
and areas will also be dis-
infected regularly before
new clients come inside.
Initially Vernon hoped
to open in May; however,
COVID-19 took its course
right after she signed her
lease. Just shy of August,
her dream for more than
a decade is finally coming
true.
“I wanted to do it
for the past 15 years,”
Vernon said. “This spring
I fell in love with the
building. I thought, ‘It’s
now or never.’ I signed
my lease in March and
COVID shut us down
almost immediately.”
Vernon added that
Pilates classes are for
everyone, men and wom-
en, who are looking to
strengthen muscles, burn
calories and even recover
from injuries. The classes
are designed for all body
types and starting points.
Interested clients can
view class schedules and
prices online at www.
studiopilatesms.com. Be
sure to stay up to date
and give Studio Pilates a
follow on social media.

AREA ARRESTS
The following arrests
were made by Lowndes
County Sheriff’s Office:
n Taforest Chandler,
38, was charged with pos-
session of a weapon by a
felon.
n Sara Gibson, 35, was
Chandler Gibson Jennings Kirby McBryde Holbert Miller Rice McMullen Freyre
charged with possession
of methamphetamine. n Napoleon Holbert,
n Barry Jennings, 31, 50, was charged with flee-
was charged with posses- ing the law.
sion of marijuana more n Willis Miller, 42, was
than an ounce and posses- charged with a bench war-
sion of cocaine. rant.
n Donta Kirby, 36, was n Chadquavin Rice, 20,
charged with possession was charged with MDOC
Ward Dora McGee Frazier Stepp Weaver Varner Williams
of a weapon by a felon. hold, possession of a sto-
n Evelyn McBryde, 41, len firearm and posses- was charges with fraud. was charged with child charged with aggravated cocaine and MDOC hold.
was charged with posses- sion of a weapon by a felon. n Kenny Ward, 34, was abuse and aggravated do- domestic assault and leav- n RB Varner, 30, was
sion of methamphetamine. n Octavious McMul- charged with grand larce- mestic assault. ing the scene of an acci- charged with MDOC
len; 20, was charged with ny. n Jawanz Frazier, 22, dent. HOLD and disorderly con-
The following arrests hold for other agency and n Tommy Dora, 27, was was charged with pos- n Lexus Weaver, 24, duct.
were made by the Oktib- two counts burglary of a charged with possession session of controlled sub- was charged with two n Clinton Williams, 67,
beha County Sheriff’s Of- vehicle. of a weapon by a felon. stance. counts possession of was charged with DUI 3rd
fice: n Sebastian Freyre, 21, n Darius McGee, 23, n David Stepp, 29, was weapon by a felon, sale of offense.

SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Thurs. Fri.
Major 3:26a 4:19a
Minor 9:31a 10:38a
Major 3:53p 4:44p
Minor 10:27p 11:04p
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

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516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
Opinion
4A THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020
SLIMANTICS
It’s more
than a game
A
s the
COVID-19
pandemic
continues
unabated into
the summer,
Americans
are grappling
with the
consequences.
We remain
justifiably Slim Smith
concerned about
the financial
and health impacts and are beginning
to realize that we are nowhere close to a
resolution.
It’s likely to get worse than better.
Our President, who has never been
wrong about anything and is better at
recognizing a picture of an elephant than
anyone in recorded history, says so.
Along with the sickness and death
and financial strain, the virus has taken a
psychological toll, too. We are, by nature,
social beings and restraints — either
dictated or self-imposed — have left us
all feeling a little isolated, maybe even
lonely.
In times of chaos, we look for signs of
normalcy, a reason to be optimistic.
For a lot of people, what happened
Wednesday provided a little tonic for
what ails us psychologically.
Eight Major League Baseball games
were played Wednesday, marking the
beginning of a season that normally
begins in April.
It’s a much-truncated season to be
sure. Instead of 162 games, teams will
play just 60, most of them against division
rivals. There will be no cross-country
road trips. Of greater significance, all
games will be played in empty stadiums.
Even so, it’s still baseball and that
matters.
Each year, about 70 million people
attend Major League Baseball games,
which speaks to the games’ continuing
popularity.
So, even though people cannot attend
the games, the interest in them remains.
Those who aren’t baseball fans might
be inclined to be dismissive of the
significance of Wednesday’s Opening
Day.
But historically, baseball — once
considered “as American as apple pie” —
remains a reliable institution.
Our nation has not faced times this
uncertain since the opening days of
World War II.
Back then, there was some question
if baseball should resume, given the
great challenge our nation faced. Some
believed it unseemly to play the game as
American boys were sent to the Pacific
and Europe to fight and bleed and die.
There were misgivings even in the
highest ranks of the game.
In January of 1942, just weeks after
Pearl Harbor, Baseball Commissioner
Kennesaw Landis asked President
Roosevelt to make the decision on
whether or not to continue with the 1942
season.
FDR responded with a resounding
“yes.”
“I honestly feel that it would be best
for the country to keep baseball going,”
FDR wrote Landis. “There will be fewer
people unemployed and everybody will
work longer hours and harder than ever
before. And that means that they ought
to have a chance for recreation and for
taking their minds off their work even
more than before.”
The 1942 baseball season proceeded
as scheduled using a mix of players
too old or too young to serve or those
deemed 4F and disqualified for service.
That was the year that gave us Pete
Brown, a one-armed outfielder with the
St. Louis Browns. That a player with just
one arm could make a big league roster
tells you all you need to know about the
quality of players available.
But it didn’t matter. People came,
watched, cheered. For them, it was
not just a diversion, it was a symbol of
defiance, of persistence, and resiliency.
It was a belief that the struggles
America faced, painful as they were,
would someday end. America would
recover. Baseball was a symbol of that
unconquerable spirit.
Today, we face a different but no less
grave challenge.
But America is playing baseball.
We ain’t licked yet. Not by a long shot.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature
writer for The Dispatch. His email address
is ssmith@cdispatch.com.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Voice of the people
Proposes moving only monument
statues with private funds
In recent letters to The Dispatch,
Jere Wineman and George Hazard
Jr. proposed our Confederate monu-
ment be moved to Friendship Cem-
etery but without the base. Local
historian Rufus Ward has told me he
favors the same strategy. Mr. Ward
said state statutes prohibit making
changes to war monuments but he is
sure the Dept. of Archives and Histo-
ry would approve a move without the
base. Leaving the base in place and
mounting the monument on a slab
at the cemetery would save some
money and lower the overall height,
but not by much in either case.
The base is 30 inches high and the
monument rises another 28 1/2 feet
above the base. An early estimate of
the relocation cost was $70,000 and a
subsequent guess was $100,000. And
even at 28 1/2 feet, the monument
would be overwhelming in the Civil
War section of Friendship Cemetery.
I propose instead of moving the
monument, with or without the base,
we move just the three statues that
are affixed to the monument. But
can we do that?
The first statute addressing such
matters is ironclad:
(1) None of the following items,
structures or areas may be relocated,
removed, disturbed, altered, renamed
or rededicated: Any Revolutionary
War, War of 1812, Mexican-Amer-
ican War, War Between the States,
Spanish-American War, World War I,
World War II, Korean War, Vietnam
War, Persian Gulf War, War in Iraq
or Native American War’s statues,
monuments, memorials or nameplates
(plaques), which have been erected on
public property of the state or any of its
political subdivisions, such as local,
municipal or county owned public
areas, and any statues, monuments,
memorials, nameplates (plaques),
schools, streets, bridges, buildings,
parks preserves, reserves or other pub-
lic items, structure or areas of the state
or any of its political subdivisions,
such as, local, municipal or county
owned public areas, which have been
dedicated in memory of, or named for,
any historical military figure, histori-
cal military event, military organiza-
tion or military unit.
However, the next paragraph
grants some latitude in dealing with
unpredictable realities. This statute
was passed in 2004, by the way, and
it seems that the legislators were
anticipating conditions such as we
face now:
(2) No person may prevent the pub-
THE STAFF OF THE DISPATCH
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lic body responsible for maintaining cartoon. People do object to the gen-
any of the items, structures or areas eralization that everybody protesting
described above from taking proper is committing these crimes. When
police — local or federal — arrest
measures and exercising proper means
people simply for being present
for the protection, preservation, care,
during a protest, they ARE violating
repair or restoration of those items,
their constitutional rights.
structures or areas. The governing
In Crimea, then a province of
body may move the memorial to a
Ukraine, Russian troops arrived
more suitable location if it is deter-
to protect ethnic Russians there.
mined that the location is more appro-
Now, Crimea is effectively a Rus-
priate to displaying the monument.
sian province. This is called Casus
This language suggests that local
Belli, and is usually more contrived
authorities acting in good faith and
than real. It is nearly always used
with common sense have great leeway
to justify coups d’etat. Protecting
in resolving issues with war monu-
federal property strikes me as a
ments.
casus belli. It would be a stretch to
Each statue is six feet tall and,
call the deployment of federal troops
standing on simple bases, they
in cities with Democratic mayors, or
would be in proportion to the site at
in states with Democratic governors,
Friendship. Both Union and Confed-
a coup d’etat, but it has that flavor.
erate dead are buried at the site, and
This comes very close to violating
the statues can’t be identified one
the Posse Comitatus Act, as no
way or the other. The cost of moving
nuclear weapons, drugs, or WMDs
the statues would be a fraction of the
are involved. No one, as far as I have
cost of moving the entire monument,
read, is attempting to overthrow the
even if the base was not moved.
government. I say nearly, because
The monument was erected with
the federal agents involved are not
private funds and I think that any
officially military, but one would
costs involving changes should be
never know that by looking at them.
covered by private contributions. I
Since they do not identify them-
spoke to a half-dozen friends and all
selves, we do not know who or what
but one said they would contribute.
they are. This idea is heightened by
The exception thought the monu-
President Trump’s use of the term
ment should be moved but wanted
“surge” to describe his deployments.
the city to pay for it. Everyone
This is the term used by President
agreed that local black leaders have
Bush in 2006 to describe deploying
shown maturity and restraint in
20,000 troops to Afghanistan, and
dealing with this issue and that it is
again later in 2009 to “target and
important to resolve it cooperatively.
eliminate terrorist leaders.” Portland
Using private money to make the
as Kabul.
changes would eliminate the need to
Bill Gillmore
hire an engineer to oversee the work
Columbus
and would help insulate us from any
unwanted meddling by the Dept. of
Archives and History. Celebrates Kylin Hill
Thank God for everyone he
The monument without the
empowered to help Kylin Hill become
statues would remain an attractive
the man He is. Ms. Hill, I’m super
complement to the courthouse — es-
proud of you and your love and sup-
sentially a weathered marble gazebo.
port of your son.
The architectural components are
Glory to God! Kylin Hill is a
similar — in fact, the monument
change-maker.
dome is almost identical to the court-
Pat Fisher Douglas
house dome. The inscriptions could
Columbus
be sandblasted away or veneered
with new marble, but it’s possible
A letter to the editor is an excellent
that with the statues gone these
way to participate in your community.
inscriptions, and in fact the entire
We request the tone of your letters be
structure, might be viewed differ-
constructive and respectful and the
ently.
length be limited to 450 words. We re-
Roger Larsen
serve the right to edit letters for clarity,
Columbus
grammar and length. While commen-
tary on national issues is always wel-
Concerned with ‘surge’ come, we limit candidate endorsements
in American cities to one per letter-writer. We welcome
I wish to respond to Mr. Ramirez’s all letters emailed to voice@cdispatch.
cartoon from July 22. No one, I com or mailed to The Dispatch, Attn:
think, objects to the arrest of people Letters to the Editor, PO Box 511,
committing the crimes listed in the Columbus, MS 39703-0511.
Deanna Anto Tavitian Bobby Williams
Robinson-Pugh Tess Vrbin
Yue Stella Yu
PRODUCTION
NEWS William Hudson
Isabelle Altman MAILROOM Jamie Morrison
Theo Derosa Christina Boyd Anne Murphy
Matt Garner Joseph Ellis Tina Perry
Claire Hassler Jeffrey Gore Reuben Proffitt
Katrina Guyton
Garrick Hodge
Zack Plair Doris Hill
Ben Portnoy Quaylon Jones
Slim Smith Marvin Kyles
Jan Swoope Marquisto Miller
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 5A

McConnell set to unveil new virus

aid, despite Republican revolt
The $600 weekly unemployment benefit boost that
is expiring Friday will be reduced, likely to $200
BY LISA MASCARO
AP Congressional Correspondent
WASHINGTON — Senate Ma-
jority Leader Mitch McConnell is
set to unveil a $1 trillion COVID-19
rescue package on Thursday, push-
ing past a Republican revolt over
big spending and differences with
the White House as the virus crisis
worsens.
The package, called CARES II,
is made up of separate bills from 10
senators as McConnell seeks to rep-
licate an earlier strategy to launch
negotiations with Democrats. But
the path will be tougher this time.
GOP senators and President Don-
ald Trump are at odds over prior-
ities, and Democrats say it’s not
nearly enough to stem the health
crisis, reopen schools and extend
aid to jobless Americans.
The Republican leader is expect-
ed to deliver a speech shortly after
the Senate opens, and then senators
will begin rolling out their separate
parts of the package, according to
a Republican granted anonymity to
discuss the plans.
“Very productive meeting,” Trea-
sury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
said while exiting a session late
Wednesday at the Capitol.
The centerpiece of the GOP
effort remains McConnell’s liabil-
ity shield to protect businesses,
schools and others from coronavi-
rus-related lawsuits.
The package is not expected to
provide any new money for cash-
strapped states and cities, which
are clamoring for funds, but Repub-
licans propose giving $105 billion
to help schools reopen and $15 bil-
lion for child care centers to create
safe environments for youngsters
during the pandemic.
The $600 weekly unemployment
benefit boost that is expiring Friday
will be reduced, likely to $200, and
ultimately adjusted according to
state jobless benefits rates. Some
Republicans say the boost is a disin-
centive to work, but others prefer a
phased approach.
“We cannot allow there to be a
cliff in unemployment insurance
given we’re still at about 11 percent
unemployment,” said Sen. Rob Port-
man, R-Ohio.
The bill is likely to be silent on
the potential housing crisis as a
federal eviction moratorium on mil-
lions of rental units expires in days.
One key holdup in the talks was
Trump’s push for a payroll tax cut,
according to a Republican granted
anonymity to discuss the private
talks. Hardly any GOP senators sup-
port the idea. Instead, McConnell
and some other Republicans prefer
another round of direct $1,200 cash
payments to Americans.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said
there will be another boost for small
business lending in the Paycheck
Protection Program. “It’s going to
be big,” he said.
The bills will also include tax
breaks for businesses to hire and re-
tain workers and to help shops and
workplaces retool with new safety
protocols.
The breakthrough on testing
money was key after days of debate
between Republicans and the White
House.

AP-NORC poll: Very few Americans

back full school reopening
Roughly 3 in 10 say that teaching kids
in classrooms shouldn’t happen at all
BY COLLIN BINKLEY
AND HANNAH FINGERHUT
The Associated Press
BOSTON — Virtual
instruction. Mandated
masks. Physical distanc-
ing. The start of school
will look very different
this year because of the
coronavirus — and that’s
OK with the vast majority
of Americans.
Only about 1 in 10
Americans think daycare
centers, preschools or
K-12 schools should open
this fall without restric-
tions, according to a new
poll from The Associated
Press-NORC Center for
Public Affairs. Most think
mask requirements and
other safety measures
are necessary to restart
in-person instruction, and
roughly 3 in 10 say that
teaching kids in class-
rooms shouldn’t happen
at all.
The findings are a
sharp contrast to the
picture that President
Donald Trump paints
as he pressures schools
to reopen. Trump said
Wednesday that he would
open for normal in-per-
son instruction. Just 14
be “comfortable” with his
son Barron and grand-
percent think they can
reopen with minor adjust-
children attending school ments, while 46 percent
in person this fall. think major adjustments
“I would like to see the are needed. Another 31
schools open,” he told re- percent think instruction
porters. should not be in person
Few schools, however, this fall. It’s little differ-
plan to return to business ent among the parents of
as usual. Many of the na- school-age children.
tion’s largest school dis- The poll also shows
Americans feel the same
tricts have announced
that they’ll be entirely vir- about colleges and univer-
tual in the fall or use a hy- sities reopening this fall.
brid model that has chil-
dren in classrooms only a
couple of days a week.
The poll finds only 8
percent of Americans
say K-12 schools should

Trump deploys more federal

agents under ‘law and order’ push
President painted
Democrat-led cities as out
of control and lashed out at
the ‘radical left,’ which he
blamed for rising violence
BY COLLEEN LONG AND JILL COLVIN
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Donald
Trump announced he will send feder-
al agents to Chicago and Albuquerque,
New Mexico, to help combat rising
crime, expanding the administration’s
intervention into local enforcement as
he runs for reelection under a “law and
order” mantle.
Using the same alarmist language
he has employed to describe illegal im-
migration, Trump painted Democrat-led
cities as out of control and lashed out
at the “radical left,” which he blamed
for rising violence in some cities, even
though criminal justice experts say it de-
fies easy explanation.
“In recent weeks there has been a rad-
ical movement to defund, dismantle and
dissolve our police department,” Trump
said Wednesday at a White House event,
blaming the movement for “a shocking
explosion of shootings, killings, mur-
ders and heinous crimes of violence.”
“This bloodshed must end,” he said.
“This bloodshed will end.”
The decision to dispatch federal
agents to American cities is playing
out at a hyperpoliticized moment when
Trump is grasping for a new reelection
strategy after the coronavirus upended
the economy, dismantling what his cam-
paign had seen as his ticket to a second
term. With less than four months until
Election Day, Trump has been warning
that violence will worsen if his Demo-
cratic rival Joe Biden is elected in No-
vember and Democrats have a chance
to make the police reforms they have en-
dorsed after the killing of George Floyd
and nationwide protests demanding ra-
cial justice.

Biden calls Trump the country’s ‘first’ racist president

BY WILL WEISSERT
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Joe
Biden said Wednesday
that President Donald
Trump was the country’s
“first” racist president.
The presumptive Dem-
ocratic presidential nom-
inee’s comments came
during a virtual town hall
organized by the Service
Employees International
Union. When a questioner
complained of racism sur-
rounding the coronavirus
outbreak and mentioned
the president referring
to it as the “China vi-
rus,” Biden responded by
blasting Trump and “his
spread of racism.”
“The way he deals with
people based on the color
of their skin, their nation-
al origin, where they’re
from, is absolutely sick-
ening,” the former vice
president said. “No sitting
president has ever done
this. Never, never, never.
No Republican president
has done this. No Dem-
ocratic president. We’ve
had racists, and they’ve
existed. They’ve tried to
get elected president. He’s
the first one that has.”
Biden also suggested
that Trump is using race
“as a wedge” to distract
from his mishandling of
the pandemic.
Many presidents — in-
cluding the nation’s first,
George Washington —
owned slaves.
President Woodrow
Wilson, the country’s
28th president, is having
his name removed from
Princeton University’s
public policy school after
recent protests against
institutional racism and
police brutality. Wilson,
who served in the early
20th century, supported
segregation and imposed
it on several federal agen-
cies.
6A THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Mississippi politico, civil rights

figure Charles Evers dies
Charles Evers was appointed to lead the
Mississippi NAACP after his brother, Medgar
Evers, was assassinated in 1963 in Jackson
BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — Charles Evers, who
led an eclectic life as a civil rights
leader, onetime purveyor of illegal
liquor in Chicago, history-making
Black mayor in deeply segregated
Mississippi and contrarian with
connections to prominent national
Democrats and Republicans, died
Wednesday. He was 97.
Evers — who was the older
brother of slain civil rights leader
Medgar Evers — died of “natural
causes” at a home in the Jackson,
Mississippi, suburb of Brandon,
where he was surrounded by rela-
tives, Rankin County Coroner Da-
vid Ruth told The Associated Press.
Ruth said the cause of death was not
the coronavirus, and no autopsy is
planned.
Charles and Medgar Evers both
served in the military during World
War II, and they became active in
the NAACP when they returned to
their home state of Mississippi and
continued to face discrimination.
Medgar Evers had been field sec-
retary for the Mississippi NAACP
for more than eight years when he
was assassinated outside his Jack-
son home in June 1963. In 1968, a
former fertilizer salesman and self-
avowed white supremacist, Byron
De La Beckwith, went on trial twice
in the killing, but all-white juries
deadlocked and did not convict him.
The case was later revived, and
a jury of eight African Americans
and four white people convicted
Beckwith of murder in 1994. The
Mississippi Supreme Court upheld
that conviction in 1997.
“Before, the killer of a Black man
would go free. Now we know you
just can’t go out and kill a Black
man or woman and nothing is
done,” Charles Evers said after that
Supreme Court decision. “Justice
finally came.”
Charles Evers was appointed to
lead the Mississippi NAACP after
his brother was killed. In 1969, he
was elected mayor of the southwest-
ern Mississippi town of Fayette,
becoming the first Black mayor of
a multiracial town in the state since
Reconstruction.
During his long career, Charles
Evers ran several businesses in Chi-
cago and Mississippi. A Mississippi
Blues Trail marker commemorates
his career as a concert promoter
with blues legend B.B. King, and it
notes that Charles Evers was once
in the bootleg liquor business.
In his office at a Jackson radio sta-
tion in 2008, Evers displayed photos
of himself with two former Republi-
can presidents, Richard Nixon and
George W. Bush; and with Demo-
crat Robert F. Kennedy. As the U.S.
attorney general, Robert Kennedy
sat with Charles Evers at the funer-
al of Medgar Evers. Charles Evers
worked on Robert Kennedy’s 1968
presidential campaign and with him
the day Kennedy was assassinated
in Los Angeles. Evers was among
the passengers on the plane that
took Kennedy’s body from Los An-
geles to New York.
Republican U.S. Sen. Roger
Wicker of Mississippi said in a
statement Wednesday that Charles
Evers was one of his favorite peo-
ple, with a career that “covered the
spectrum from his roguish youth to
a respected civil rights leader, may-
or, businessman and radio host.”
“Charles Evers was never afraid
to challenge the accepted norms or
fly in the face of political correct-
ness,” Wicker said. “As an elected
official, he navigated the circuitous
route from Freedom Democrat to
Independent to Republican. ... He
used his powerful personality and
platform to change Mississippi for
the better.”
Evers ran unsuccessfully for an
open U.S. House seat as a Demo-
crat in 1968. He served on the Dem-
ocratic National Committee in the
mid-1970s.
He ran as an independent for
Mississippi governor in 1971 and for
a U.S. Senate seat in 1978. Although
he lost those elections, Evers influ-
enced the outcome of the Senate
race by drawing support away from
the Democratic candidate. That led
to a victory by Republican Thad
Cochran, who later became chair-
man of the powerful Appropriations
Committee and remained in the
Senate until early 2018.
Evers endorsed Ronald Reagan
for president in 1980, and served as
a delegate to the Republican Nation-
al Convention in 1996 and 2000. He
publicly supported Democrat Barack
Obama for president in 2008 and
2012. Then, after the 2016 presiden-
tial election, Evers cast one of Missis-
sippi’s six electoral votes for Republi-
can Donald Trump.

AROUND THE STATE

Mississippi Corrections
Department
investigates inmate
death
JACKSON — The Mis-
sissippi Department of
Corrections said Wednes-
day that it is investigating
the death of an inmate
at the South Mississippi
Correctional Institution
in Leakesville.
Nathaniel Bryan Tay-
lor, 32, was taken by ambu-
lance to the Greene Coun-
ty Hospital on Wednesday
and was pronounced dead
in the emergency room.
An autopsy will be done.
Taylor was at least the
54th Mississippi inmate
to die since late Decem-
ber. Several inmates died
during outbursts of vio-
lence in late December property and possession
and early January. The of a firearm by a convicted
U.S. Justice Department felon in Leflore County.
announced in February He was sentenced April 4,
that it is investigating 2015, for the first convic-
Mississippi’s prison sys- tion and Feb. 12, 2016, for
tem. the other three crimes.
Taylor was serving
20 years for four convic-
tions. He was convicted
of robbery in Washington
County and armed rob-
bery, possession of stolen

CPD searching for man

missing since July 14
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT brown hair and brown eyes and was
wearing a white t-shirt and jeans.
Police are searching His family last saw him around 7 or 8
for a Columbus man last p.m. on July 14, and a family friend said
seen July 14, according to
they saw him around 2 a.m. the next
a press release from the
city this morning. morning, according to the press release.
James Ryan Taylor, 39, Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton
who lives on Plymouth said Taylor “is not in trouble” and “has
Road, was last seen driv- many friends.” The police department
ing a silver Ford Fiesta Taylor is accepting calls at 800-530-7151 from
with the license plate LTE 7723. He has anyone who has seen Taylor.

SOCSD
Continued from Page 1A
a $1.2 million increase
from last year — the in-
crease will come from
new properties paying
taxes.
“We are not asking for
any increase in taxes,”
she said. “...We do have
an increase (in the ad va-
lorem revenue), but it’s all
due to the new property
that’s been added to the
tax rolls.”
McGarr told The Dis-
patch Wednesday the
board should vote on the
budget at its Aug. 11 meet-
ing.
“If nothing changes,
it will be approved that
night, and then when we
get our final allocation
from the state, we will
have to amend that bud-
get and take that amend-
ed budget back to the
board for approval,” she
said.
The Legislature is
currently not in session,
and Rep. Rob Roberson
(R-Starkville), who sits
on the education commit-
tee, says he doesn’t know
when the Legislature will
be called back to pass the
budget for schools. Earli-
er this month, Gov. Tate
Reeves vetoed the first
such budget legislators
passed because it would
have changed a teacher
bonus pay plan.
“There’s a possibility I
would think over the next
two or three weeks that
we would have special
session, but I haven’t been
told when exactly to lock
those times down yet,”
Roberson said.
Still, he said he does
not expect the education
budget to have changed
significantly since last
year, despite the pandem-
ic.
Expenditures
The upcoming school
year’s total expendi-
tures are projected at
$64,435,688, according
to McGarr’s presentation.
That includes the dis-
trict’s operating budget
as well as debt service and
facilities acquisition and
Roberson Davis
construction.
Salaries and fringe
benefits are expected to
be $39,283,407. Opera-
tion and maintenance is
budgeted for $4,764,060.
Transportation is bud-
geted at $3,127,895, and
technology is budgeted at
$1,040,616.
Board member
Sumner Davis said overall
the district appeared to be
in good financial shape,
despite the pandemic and
delay in MAEP funds.
“Long story short,
we’re in a really good bud-
get condition considering
all of the varying factors
swirling around our situ-
ation,” he said. “Is that a
fair statement?”
Peasant said he would
agree “wholeheartedly.”
Sports GIRLS SOCCER
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020
B
SECTION

PATRIOTS AT THE ‘PINNACLE’ AHEAD OF KEY SEASON

BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com

When the Heritage

Academy girls soccer
team finished above .500
last fall but failed to quali-
fy for the playoffs, the Pa-
triots were disappointed.
Coach Tom Velek said
the dichotomy reveals a
lot with regard to the ex-
pectations within the pro-
gram.
“I think it says a lot
when you have a winning
season and people are
pissed off,” Velek said.
Now, last year’s ju-
nior-heavy team has
become a senior-heavy
squad this fall. In what
Velek called a “bubble at
the top,” the Patriots have
seven seniors, just one
junior and a sole soph-
omore. That means the
high expectations have
only gotten higher.
“They’re going to have
to step up in a way that
they haven’t in the past,”
Velek said of his seniors.
Haven Tuggle, Sarah
Curtis, Kelly Bell, Hanna
Hardy and Carly Rogers
have all played for Heri-
tage Academy since Velek
took over when the five
were in eighth grade; Tug-
gle, Curtis and Bell were
on Velek’s first Columbus
United U8 Development
Program girls team when
they were 7.
“Seeing this group
graduate is meaningful,
but it’s also kind of the
thing that you’ve been
building for,” Velek said.
Back when this year’s
seniors were eighth grad-
ers, Velek thought, “Man,
if we can keep them all
playing, in four years it’s Garrick Hodge/Dispatch file photo
going to be huge.” Heritage Academy’s Sarah Curtis, left, battles for control of the ball during a high school girls soccer match last season against Marshall Academy at
That time has come, the River Walk Soccer Complex in Columbus. The Patriots are still on pace for an on-time start for the season opener on Aug. 3.
and Velek said he tries to
No clarity yet dent Schools has said have none of the season. “If there’s not college trip to face Laurel Home-
impress upon his seniors
That is, he cautioned, nothing to the contrary so We might have the season football, there’s proba- School and Presbyterian
the responsibilities they
if the Patriots even have a far, and he’s preparing for in spring. But until there’s bly not going to be high Christian on Aug. 6-7.
face this fall.
season. a season to be played as some clarity on that, we school soccer,” he said. District games against
“‘You’ve been working
As of July 15, things are normal. have to train.” So far, there still is, Starkville Academy —
at this for a long time,”
Velek tells them. “Make on as normal for Heritage “What I tell parents is But Velek has his own and the Patriots have which beat the rival Pats
your senior year extraor- Academy, which is set to that I have to schedule doubts, and reading a been training for a “deep” twice last season — and
dinary. You’ll never regret kick off the 2020 cam- and plan like we’re having Yahoo! Sports article ti- schedule featuring two Lamar School also high-
it. You might regret not paign against Starkville a season,” he said. “We tled “Time to face reality: games against Columbus light the slate.
working hard, but you’ll HomeSchool on Aug. 3. might have all of the sea- ‘No one is playing college Christian Academy, two “I’m looking forward
never regret putting in ev- Velek said the Midsouth son. We might have some football in the fall’” some- against Starkville Home- to Lamar just so we can
erything you have.’” Association for Indepen- of the season. We might how didn’t help them. School and an overnight See HERITAGE, 2B

Catching up with former MSU standout Brent Rooker Betts gets $365M,
BY BEN PORTNOY been good. As far as the bubble stuff BP: With that, what’s it been like 12-year deal with
bportnoy@cdispatch.com

STARKVILLE — After conclud-

ing his Mississippi State career by
becoming the second player in his-
tory to lead the Southeastern Con-
ference in batting average, home
runs and RBIs, Brent Rooker has
climbed the minor league ladder in
short order.
In the three years since his final
season in Starkville, Rooker has
hit a .267 with 54 home runs and
178 RBIs between varying levels of
the Minnesota Twins organization.
Now entering his fourth profes-
sional season, he’s among the 60
players in the Twins’ 60-player pool
ahead of this fall’s COVID-19-short-
ened campaign.
With MLB teams set for Opening
Day on Thursday, Rooker caught
up with The Dispatch this week to
discuss his offseason, training with
the Twins and adjustments he’s
made since last season:
Ben Portnoy: To start off, what
have the last couple weeks been
like with the MLB getting back go-
ing and kind of being in a bubble
with everything going on?
Brent Rooker: First of all it’s
been really good to be back and get
to do baseball stuff again. Kind of
get back to you know a little bit of
a little bit of normalness. So that’s
goes, I think the league as a whole,
individual teams, are
doing a really good
job with it. The test-
ing numbers have
all been really good.
They’ve gone down
I think every time
every round of test-
ing we’ve had so far, Rooker
so what we’re doing
is working and I think everyone’s
even more optimistic now than they
were at the beginning that we real-
ly are going to get through a whole
season.
BP: Last time we talked, we dis-
cussed this being a year you wanted
to make that jump from the minors
to the majors. What’s that been like
for you and how did you find out you
were in the 60-player pool?
BR: So our pro director called
me probably on a Saturday or Sun-
day, I think. We had to be here by
Friday, so it was kind of a quick
turnaround. But we were all follow-
ing it and kind of what was going on
with negotiations and stuff. So we
all kind of knew that we were get-
ting close to being able to get back
and get started again. It wasn’t a
huge surprise but at the same time
it was really exciting to kind of hear
the news that we get to get back and
get back to work.
now being in major league training
camp and what’s the adjustment
been like?
BR: Opening day for us is on
Friday. (The active MLB Roster)
is in Chicago right now, so our taxi
squad or player pool, whatever you
want to call it, we’re still in St. Paul
working out. Our job is to just be
ready to go whenever we’re called
upon. With this being a shortened
season we kind of know anything
can happen and we’re all just try-
ing to stay ready to go. Trying to
balance getting our work in, trying
to work on things, improve while at
the same time making sure we’re
in game shape and we’re ready to
go given a moment’s notice to get
that call and go off to the big league
club.
BP: You kind of touched on it
there, but what’s it been like being
stuck in limbo, for lack of a better
term, being in that extra player pool
and what’s your experience been
like with that?
BR: We’ve got a really good facil-
ity here in St. Paul to do our work.
The active roster left to go start
their season in Chicago — we were
doing a lot of intersquad stuff with
them. Just making sure we’re now
as prepared as possible for what-
See ROOKER, 2B
Dodgers through 2032
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES — Even before Mookie Betts
played his first game in Dodger Blue, the superstar
outfielder decided his future is in Los Angeles.
Betts and the Dodgers have struck baseball’s
first big-money deal since the coronavirus pan-
demic decimated the sport’s economics, with Betts
agreeing Wednesday to a $365 million, 12-year con-
tract through 2032.
The massive deal removes the top offensive play-
er from next offseason’s free-agent class and puts
the longtime Boston Red Sox slugger in the middle
of LA’s lineup for what he thinks will be the rest of
his career. The Dodgers only acquired Betts in a
trade Feb. 10, but he eagerly bypassed the uncer-
tainties of free agency for a secure future with an
organization that already feels like home.
“I just love being here,” Betts said in a video
conference call from Dodger Stadium, where he
will make his Dodgers debut Thursday against San
Francisco. “I love everything about here. I’m here
to win some rings and bring championships back
to LA. That’s all I’m focused on.”
Betts’ new deal is baseball’s second-largest in
total dollars behind the $426.5 million, 12-year con-
tract for Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout
covering 2019-30. Trout and Betts are arguably the
top two outfielders in the game, and now they’ve
both got deals that should keep them playing 32
miles apart for at least the next decade.
“I’m excited for him,” said Trout, who texted his
See BETTS, 2B
2B THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Betts
Continued from Page 1B
congratulations to Betts. “We
kind of went through the same
situation. I was laughing be-
cause of the physical he proba-
bly had to take, because mine
lasted about 10 hours. Being
so close to him now, it’s pret-
ty cool to have him out here.
Southern California is great.”
Betts, who turns 28 in Oc-
tober, was acquired along with
pitcher David Price for three
promising Dodgers prospects
in a blockbuster trade that sig-
naled Los Angeles’ determina-
tion to win the World Series af-
ter claiming the NL pennants
in 2017 and 2018.
While Price opted out of
the current season because of
family health concerns, Bet-
ts will be at the heart of the
Dodgers’ lineup as they pur-
sue their first championship
in 32 years as a World Series
favorite.
The deep-pocketed Dodg-
ers have run their payroll with
remarkable discipline under
president of baseball opera-
tions Andrew Friedman, even
when he occasionally frustrat-
ed fans with his caution. Fried-
man had no such concerns
about handing this massive
commitment to the 5-foot-9
Betts, the 2018 AL MVP and
one of the majors’ top all-
around players.
“It was front of mind for us,”
Friedman said. “It was some-
thing we really wanted to do.
... We were hopeful that he’d
get here, fall in love with it, go
out there and win a bunch of
games.”
Friedman began discuss-
ing a long-term deal with Bet-
ts’ representatives in March
before the coronavirus pan-
demic upended the season.
They picked up discussions
again last week, and a deal
was reached rapidly.
“Our desire to get some-
thing done didn’t change at
all,” Friedman said. “It helps
when both sides are coming at
it from a standpoint of wanting
to get a deal done.”

Heritage
Continued from Page 1B
have a really good game
against them this year
and give them all we’ve
got,” said Rogers, a defen-
sive midfielder.
Apart from the over-
night trip and a dis-
trict game at Magnolia
Heights, the Patriots
won’t have to travel
more than 90 minutes —
Velek’s intention and not
an uncommon one. North-
point Christian School in
Southaven was slated to
come to Columbus to play
the Patriots on Aug. 14,
but Northpoint canceled
the game because the
Tennessee Association
of Independent Schools
won’t permit such a long
trip.
So far, Heritage Acade-
my has been careful with
temperature checks and
COVID-19 checklists,
but Velek knows changes
could come soon. If so,
they’d come at a cost for
the Patriots’ seniors, who
are at the ‘pinnacle’ of
their high school careers
and could see their final
season taken away.
“We’re just hoping and
praying that we get to
play,” Velek said. “To miss
it would be terrible.”
Driven by defense
With the promise
the Patriots hold, disap-
pointment would be nat-
ural should the season
they’ve been preparing
for fail to take place.
The team’s seven se-
niors and a crux of talent-
ed younger players will
give Heritage Academy
a solid foundation on the
field, particularly on the
back line. Though Velek
said the Patriots have re-
vamped how they attack
and make their runs off
the ball on offense, their
strength lies in defend-
ing.
“We have a strong
defense this year, and I
think it’s really going to
help us,” Rogers said.
Bell will be a leader on
the back line, where she
will be joined by eighth
grader Sophie Starks and
ninth grader Chloe Boyd.
Ninth grader Reagan
Merchant — now in her
third season as a starter
— and Hanna Hardy will
contribute, though both
will be moved from their
normal position as out-
side backs; Columbus
High School transfer
Destinee Flowers will
also join the picture on
defense.
“I think Destinee’s
going to contribute in a
big, big way and really
help us in the back with
some athleticism that
we may have been miss- en Hall and Emma Britt need to change,” Farmer
ing,” Velek said. are expected to step up. told the Patriots.
Senior goalkeeper Apart from myriad po- Change, they did, and
Haven Tuggle joins Han- sition changes, Heritage Heritage Academy feels
na and Bell as a leader Academy switched up confident about the sea-
for the Patriots on the the formation it employs son to come.
defensive side of things. after bringing in Atlan- “I think we’re going
Velek has coached Tug- ta United FC Academy to have a good season,”
gle since she was 7 and Head Scout Mark Farm- Rogers said. “Definitely
ranks her among the er for a team camp in ear- a little bit to work on, but
best keepers in the state, ly June. I think we’ll have a real-
while the players in front
of Tuggle can speak to
“If these are your ly good team — really
goals, this is what you strong.”
her talent and leadership
qualities.
“She knows what she
wants on the field, and
she’ll tell us without a
doubt where she wants
us, how she wants us to
play,” Rogers said. “She
takes good control of the
team.”
Curtis, also being
moved to a new position,
will play a big role in lead-
ership as well, and Velek
said sophomore Caroline
Milan and freshmen Kar-

Rooker
Continued from Page 1B
ever, whenever the need
comes up that whoever
gets called upon is ready
to go and contribute and
help the team win games.
BP: What has your off-
season been like given all
the uncertainty regard-
ing COVID-19 and every-
thing that’s come with
that?
BR: I treated it just
like a normal offseason.
Just kind of continuing my
workout routine, whatever
program that was, as well
as hitting, keeping the
arm in shape. So I didn’t
treat it any differently
than I do during Novem-
ber, December, January
in a normally structured
offseason. Just kind of a
gradual build up period
to make sure you’re kind
of peaking when it’s time
to go back and report and
get started again.
BP: Where have you
been working out this off-
season?
BR: Before we came
back to camp I was in
Nashville the whole time.
And then we came back
to half of our camp in
Minneapolis half of it in
St. Paul. We got up here, I
guess the last couple days
of June, the first couple
days July, whenever that
was. So I’ve now been at
St. Paul for about three
weeks I guess. Before
that during the shutdown
while all the negotiations
were happening, they
were trying to figure ev-
erything out, I was in
Nashville.
BP: You mention main-
taining a normal routine,
how difficult, if at all, was
it to maintain a normal
workout routine like you
would during a regular
offseason?
BR: We had the quar-
antine period where
everything was closed
for three or four weeks,
whatever that was, and I
just spent a bunch of time
working out in my garage
doing whatever I could
do. But that’s when thing
started opening back up
and my workout facili-
ty opened back up and I
was able to pretty much
mirror what a normal off-
season routine would be.
So it really wasn’t much
different, which was nice.
It made the transition to
come back to spring train-
ing, or summer camp, just
kind of jumping right
back into it, pretty easy.
BP: I know space was
limited for a while, but
what were one or two of
the biggest things you
worked on during the off-
season?
BR: Nothing too spe-
cific. I liked the plan that
I’ve had the last few off-
seasons. I felt good during
the past couple seasons.
But I performed well, so I
just kind of get the same
routine going. Obviously
kind of looking at some
things that happened last
year offensively, some
things I struggled with,
some things I did well and
attacking those things
whether it be swing
changes or adjustment to
approach things like that.
Maybe doing some more
specific hitting drills or
what have you to attack
certain areas, but noth-
ing crazy, nothing out of
the ordinary. Just kind of
making sure that I was
ready to go for the first
spring training and then
when we got shut down,
just kind of going through
that whole routine again,
making sure I was ready
to show up and compete
and continue to improve
when I came back for
summer camp.
BP: You talked about
the hitting, I know your
strikeout rate was a little
higher than you wanted
it to be last year, was that
something you simulated
or worked at this offsea-
son?
BR: That was a lot of
approach stuff. So you
can break it down before
my first month and then
after that I made some
adjustments after the first
month of triple-A and the having short adjustment
40 games I was healthy af- periods at each level, but
ter that the strikeout rate I think that’s been good
when rates went down, for me. It’s helped me to
the walk rate went up, learn a lot and has put me
barrel rate went up. So I in a position to hopefully
think I made a lot of those get where I want to be in
adjustments that paid off a the near future.
lot during the season last
year and I just kept work- (Note: this interview
ing on those things. has been edited and for-
matted for grammatical
BP: On that front, with and formatting purposes)
how crazy and uncertain
this offseason has been,
how encouraging was
that to have righted some
of those wrongs at the
plate toward the tail end
of last season?
BR: Yeah, it’s nice. I
felt really good about the
progress and the steps
I’ve made at every level so
far. Since being drafted
I’ve, I’ve been promoted
fairly quickly. I’ve moved
up the minor league sys-
tem and levels pretty rap-
idly and at every stop, I’ve
kind of struggled in the
beginning and I’ve made
adjustments and I’ve
been able to have a lot of
success at each level. So
that’s encouraging for me
just kind of knowing that
I have the ability to learn
and to adjust and to adapt
to each level because
that’s obviously some-
thing I’m gonna need
moving forward as well.
BP: With climbing
the Twins’ minor league
ladder as quickly as you
have, what has that expe-
rience been like for you?
BR: It’s been fun. Ob-
viously, it’s what you want.
It’s kind of what you want
to get into when you get
into pro ball. At the same
time, it’s been a challenge
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Opening day amid virus: Masks, empty parks, social justice
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS stars opting out. Ball- on mounds throughout marquee pitching match-
parks without fans, the majors during the up in Washington, fol-
Opening day, at last. players wearing masks. opening weekend. lowed by the nightcap at
A baseball season that Piped-in sound effects, And still there’s a Dodger Stadium when
was on the brink before cardboard cutouts for team that doesn’t know star outfielder Mookie
it ever began because of spectators. Spray-paint- where it’s going to play Betts, fresh off a $365
the virus outbreak is set ed ads on the mound, — barred from Toronto million, 12-year contract,
to start Thursday night pitchers with personal because of health con- and his new Los Angeles
when excitable Max rosin bags. cerns, Vladimir Guerre- teammates take on the
Scherzer and the World And a rack of strange ro Jr. and the Blue Jays San Francisco Giants.
Series champion Wash- rules. DHs in the Na- had hoped to roost in One player Dodgers
ington Nationals host tional League, well, OK. Pittsburgh or Baltimore ace Clayton Kershaw
prized ace Gerrit Cole An automatic runner on or Buffalo or somewhere won’t face: six-time All-
and the New York Yan- second to start the 10th else. Star, three-time cham-
kees. inning? C’mon, now. “This is 2020 base- pion and former MVP
When it does get un- “Gosh, it’s going to ball,” Scherzer said. Buster Posey. The Gi-
derway — the DC fore- be fun,” Cole said. “It’s To many fans, that will ants catcher and his
cast calls for thunder- going to have fake crowd do. No other choice, real- wife have adopted twin
storms, the latest rocky noise, and going to be ly. Four months after the identical girls who were
inning in this what-can- 2020 coronavirus base- games were supposed to prematurely born, and
go-wrong game — it’ll ball.” start, strange ball is bet- he’s among about a dozen
mark the most bizarre Plus, a poignant re- ter than no ball, right? players who have chosen
year in the history of Ma- minder of the world we We’ll see. to sit out this year.
jor League Baseball. live in. A Black Lives Opening day brings “From a baseball
A 60-game season, Matter stencil can be put a tasty doubleheader: a standpoint, it was a
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY: A
casual friend
sent me a
video of a comic
doing a very lewd
and vulgar routine.
I was offended by
it and forwarded it
to my girlfriend to
find out what she
thought about it.
She got very upset
and told me I was
ZITS being disrespect-
ful to her by even
passing it on to
her. I should add
that we met online Dear Abby
and have been
talking on the phone with each
other for only a month during
this shelter-in-place time.
This incident nearly ended
our new relationship. Was I
wrong to send her the video?
And what should I do now to
save what I think is the most
wonderful relationship I have
GARFIELD ever had in my life? — NO
LAUGHING MATTER
DEAR NO LAUGHING:
Before sending the video, you
should have warned your new
girlfriend that it was vulgar and
asked if she wanted to see it,
which would have given her the
opportunity to refuse. What you
should do now is apologize for
having offended her and tell
her how much you value your
relationship with her. Then cross
your fingers that she still feels
CANDORVILLE
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July
23). For your birthday, you’ll be
served cosmic justice. You get
more because you can handle
more. New and tantalizing
options open up next month.
You bring the fun with you
wherever you go, and you attract
admirers and followers. You’ll
BABY BLUES work with a partner on an issue
that matters deeply to you.
Sagittarius and Aries adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 8, 11,
13, 45 and 2.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
You can thank today’s smooth
ride to your own clean karma.
Moral questions come up this
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
FAMILY CIRCUS
tough decision for me,”
Posey said. “From a fam-
ily standpoint, making a
decision to protect chil-
dren, our children, it was
relatively easy.”
Dodgers pitcher Da-
vid Price, Washington in-
fielder Ryan Zimmerman
and Atlanta outfielder
Nick Markakis also are
sitting out.
Other players won’t be
ready by the weekend —
on Wednesday, the Roy-
als announced Hunter
Dozier (26 home runs, 10
triples) had tested posi-
tive for the virus and was
being put on the injured
list.
For those are who
healthy, it’s time to play.
For how long, with the vi-
rus looming, we’ll find out
the same.
DEAR ABBY:
My wife had some
health issues
over the last four
years and gained
40 pounds. She
keeps saying she
wants to lose
the weight, but
doesn’t do any-
thing about it. Her
blood pressure
is high, so she
needs to do it.
When I try to bring
it up, she gets
mad and always
mentions the
health issues. But those issues
are now totally behind her. What
can I do or say to get her going
again? — FULL OF CONCERN IN
NEW JERSEY
DEAR FULL: Tell your wife
you don’t mean to come across
as a nag, but you are worried
because of her blood pressure
issue. She is far from the only
person who procrastinates
when faced with changing one’s
lifestyle.
Many folks are overindulging
now because of the challenge of
social isolation. Something that
might benefit you both would
be to encourage her to get out
and start walking with you on
a regular basis. And drop the
subject of weight for now. Take
it up again once your lives begin
to normalize and she may be
evening, but nothing that needs
to be solved immediately. Think
it over.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
Your fantasy of a relationship
doesn’t quite match the reality
of it, and this is causing some
tension. It’s easy enough to
resolve, if you’re willing to adjust
your expectations.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
If you place too much signifi-
cance and value in the wrong
things, this is a human mistake.
You’ll learn quickly. Experience
is the only way to really under-
stand what’s important and
what’s not.
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 3B
soon enough.
Something that will
be firmed up by the first
pitch: how many teams
will make the playoffs. A
decision is due by then
after renewed talks about
expanding the postsea-
son field.
Tossing out the first
ball at Nationals Park to
begin a schedule clob-
bered by COVID-19 will
be Dr. Anthony Fauci, the
country’s top infectious
disease expert.
“I used to play base-
ball as a young boy,” the
79-year-old Fauci told
CNN. “I hope I don’t
bounce it too much.”
Don’t worry, Doc. Even
before the first pitch, this
season already has han-
dled plenty of bad hops.
less defensive.
DEAR ABBY: My college-age
daughter, “Dahlia,” refuses
to take seriously the social
distancing necessary to control
the spread of COVID-19, even
though her college, like many
others, has closed. She says it’s
all overblown, even though her
father and I are older and she
has a pregnant sister at home.
Dahlia is young, and she
thinks she’s invincible. I think
my daughter is selfish for not
caring about anyone else. What
can I say to her? — FOLLOWING
THE RULES IN WEST VIRGINIA
DEAR FOLLOWING: Many
people still are having trouble
accepting the fact that we
are all at risk because of an
invisible and silent “enemy,”
COVID-19. Because you are
unable to get through to Dahlia,
assert yourself as the adult in
the household and establish
some rules to protect yourself,
your husband, your pregnant
daughter and your unborn
grandchild. First among them:
Dahlia must follow the govern-
ment guidelines regarding social
distancing, handwashing, etc. or
find another place to live.
Dear Abby is written by
Abigail Van Buren, also known
as Jeanne Phillips, and was
founded by her mother, Pauline
Phillips. Contact Dear Abby
at www.DearAbby.com or P.O.
Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA
90069.
CANCER (June 22-July
22). The philosopher Friedrich
Nietzsche lived by the concept
of amor fati, Latin for “a love of
one’s fate.” You’ll take a similar
approach to the day, deciding to
love destiny’s delivery in whatev-
er form it comes.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22).
You’re wanting a result, and
you’ll get it, but the timeframe
is the matter in question. It is
very difficult to predict how long
things will take. Be patient and
willing to adjust.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.
22). You’ve been a leader, and
you’ve been a follower. When
you’re acting to the best of your
ability, the roles are equally
demanding. You’ll be at the top
of your game this afternoon.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct.
23). Don’t lean on things that
worked before. The same thing
that caused a triumph yesterday
could be ineffective tomorrow.
The importance of context
cannot be underestimated. Stay
awake and alert.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). You don’t need to control
a situation to work it to your ad-
vantage. You need only be ready
to take your turn and hop on the
opportunities that open up.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). You don’t have to comment
on every statement or have a
judgment of everything going
on around you. It’s enough to
be a witness. Save your energy.
You’ll need it later.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). People find you attractive,
and they will want your atten-
tion and time. Both of these
commodities are precious, and
today they will be best given in
the spirit of investment instead
of charity.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). A sense of calm will
alight on your decision-making
process. There is no need to
overanalyze — if you even need
to analyze at all. You simply
know what to do.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). You don’t have to antici-
pate every outcome. Get a gen-
eral idea and then act. There
is an opportunity that can only
present itself when things aren’t
exactly going as planned.
Without a backward glance
SOLUTION:
4B THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020
US signs contract with Pfizer for COVID-19 vaccine doses
Agreement is part of President Trump’s Operation Warp
Speed vaccine program, under which multiple COVID-19
vaccines are being developed simultaneously
BY DARLENE
SUPERVILLE
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Drug
The Trump administra-
tion will pay Pfizer nearly
$2 billion for a December
delivery of 100 million
doses of a COVID-19 vac-
cine the pharmaceutical
company is developing,
Health and Human Ser-
vices Secretary Alex Azar
announced Wednesday.
The U.S. could buy
another 500 million dos-
es under the agreement,
Azar said.
COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
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tion including visitation and
service times, are provided
free of charge. Extended obit-
uaries with a photograph, de-
tailed biographical information
and other details families may
wish to include, are available
for a fee. Obituaries must be
submitted through funeral
homes unless the deceased’s
body has been donated to
science. If the deceased’s
body was donated to science,
the family must provide official
proof of death. Please submit
all obituaries on the form
provided by The Commercial
Dispatch. Free notices must
be submitted to the newspa-
per no later than 3 p.m. the
day prior for publication Tues-
day through Friday; no later
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Monday through Thursday; and
on Friday by 3 p.m. for Sunday
and Monday publication. For
more information, call 662-
328-2471.
James Hunter
COLUMBUS —
James Earl Hunter, 60,
died July 20, 2020.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Lee-
Sykes of Columbus.
Nakisha Richardson
COLUMBUS — Na-
kisha M. Richardson,
46, died July 22, 2020.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Lee-
Sykes of Columbus.
Shirley Massey
NORTHPORT, Ala.
— Shirley Frances
Massey, 81, died July
21, 2020, at Glen Haven
Health and Rehabilita-
tion.
Graveside services
will be at 11 a.m.
Friday, at Greenhill
Memorial Gardens, in
Reform, with George
Shaw officiating. Dow-
dle Funeral Home of
Millport is in charge of
arrangements.
Mrs. Massey was
born Dec. 17, 1938, in
Aberdeen, to the late
Samuel and Frances
Civil rights trailblazer C.T. Vivian to be laid to rest
BY JEFF MARTIN
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — The na-
tion will pay its final re-
spects Thursday to the
Rev. C.T. Vivian, a pioneer
of the civil rights move-
ment who helped end seg-
regation across the South
and left an abiding imprint
on U.S. history.
The funeral for Vivi-
an, a close ally of the Rev.
Martin Luther King Jr.,
is set for 11 a.m. at Provi-
dence Missionary Baptist
“Now those would, of
course, have to be safe
and effective” and ap-
proved by the Food and
Administration,
Azar said during an ap-
pearance on Fox News.
Pfizer Inc. and Bi-
oNTech SE announced
separately that the agree-
ment is with HHS and
the Defense Department
for a vaccine candidate
the companies are devel-
oping jointly. It is the lat-
est in a series of similar
agreements with other
vaccine companies.
The agreement is
Easter Allen. She was
a member of Aber-
deen First Pentecostal
Church.
In addition to her
parents, she was
preceded in death by
her husband, Raymond
Dewitt Massey; son,
Sammy Massey; and
brother, Henry Allen.
Pallbearers will be
Jimmy Massey, Keith
Quillen, Eugene Allen,
Calvin Poole, William
Massey, and Roger
Burns.
George White
COLUMBUS —
George “Frankie”
Franklin
White, 40,
died July
15, 2020,
at Bap-
tist Memo-
rial Hospi-
tal-Golden
Triangle. White
A memo-
rial service will be at
5 p.m. Saturday, at the
New Hope Community
Center. Norwood-Wyatt
Chapel is in charge of
arrangements.
Mr. White was born
Feb. 13, 1980, in Aber-
deen, to the late Wil-
liam Paul White Jr. and
Carolyn Jean Nichols
White.
He is survived by his
wife, Lyyanna Swan-
igan; children, Ethan
Franklin White, Brian-
na Kaelin White, Pais-
ley Isabella White and
Carlos Franklin White;
and siblings, Tammy
Harcrow, William Paul
White III, Tonya Byrd
and Timothy White.
Marguerite Breland
STARKVILLE —
Marguerite Houlditch
Breland, 102, died July
20, 2020, at Trinity
Personal Care. Family
only graveside services
are at 10 a.m. today, at
Memorial Garden Park
Cemetery of Starkville.
Welch Funeral Home of
Starkville is in charge
of arrangements.
Mrs. Breland was
born July 29, 1935,
in Montgomery, Ala-
bama, to the late Louie
and Estelle Bowman
Houlditch. She was
Church in Atlanta. Vivian
died Friday in Atlanta at
age 95.
Vivian’s friends and
sons are expected to
speak at Thursday’s ser-
vice, and his six grand-
sons are serving as pall-
bearers, according to
representatives of the C.T.
and Octavia Vivian Muse-
um and Archives.
Video tributes by Hank
Aaron, Oprah Winfrey and
presidential candidate Joe
Biden also are planned, fu-
neral organizers said.
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
part of President Donald
Trump’s Operation Warp
Speed vaccine program,
under which multiple
COVID-19 vaccines are
being developed simul-
taneously. The program
aims to deliver 300 mil-
lion doses of a safe and ef-
fective COVID-19 vaccine
by January 2021.
Under the initiative,
the government will
speed development and
buy vaccines — before
they are deemed safe and
effective — so that the
medication can be in hand
and quickly distributed
AREA OBITUARIES
a graduate of Dixie
High School and was
formerly employed
teaching speech and
expression and as the
director of Noxubee
County Library. She
was a member of First
Methodist Church.
In addition to her
parents, she was pre-
ceded in death by her
husband, Thomas A.
Breland Sr.; and broth-
er, Owen T. Houlditch.
She is survived by
her children, Thomas
A. Breland Jr., Jacque-
line Breland Worley
and Rita Breland Stu-
art; six grandchildren;
and six great-grandchil-
dren.
Memorials may be
made to Trinity Per-
sonal Care, 250 Airline
Road, Columbus, Mis-
sissippi 39702.
Bob Smith
STARKVILLE —
Bob L. Smith, 87, died
July 19, 2020, at Sanc-
tuary Hospice House
of Tupelo. Graveside
services were held
Wednesday, at Memori-
al Garden Park Ceme-
tery, with the Rev. Bob
Whiteside officiating.
Welch Funeral Home
of Starkville was in
charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Smith was born
Sept. 1, 1932, in Spring-
field, Colorado, to the
late Oliver and Myrtle
Smith. He was a gradu-
ate of Springfield High
School, Adams State
College and Western
State College. He was
formerly employed as
a teacher and coach in
Vilas and Springfield,
Colorado and as princi-
pal with Starkville Pub-
lic Schools. He was a
member of First United
Methodist Church.
In addition to his
parents, he was preced-
ed in death by his wife,
Katie Marie Miller
Smith; and siblings,
Olive Marie Smith Mc-
Farland, Billie Alvoret-
ta Smith Tempia and
Merton Oliver Smith.
He is survived by
his wife, Norma Jean
Smith; children, Terri
Delynn Smith Patter-
The poem “If We Must
Die” by Claude McKay
will be read during the
funeral, according to the
program. “If we must die,
O let us nobly die, so that
our precious blood may
not be shed in vain,” the
poem states.
More than a decade
before lunch-counter
protests made headlines
during the civil rights
movement, Vivian began
organizing sit-ins against
segregation in Peoria, Illi-
nois, in the 1940s.
once the FDA approves or
authorizes its emergency
use after clinical trials.
Trump, during a
Wednesday briefing, de-
scribed the agreement as
“historic.
“We think we have a
winner there. We also
think we have other com-
panies right behind that
are doing very well in the
vaccines, long ahead of
schedule,” he told report-
ers.
Pfizer and BioNTech
said the U.S. will pay
$1.95 billion upon receipt
of the first 100 million
doses it produces, follow-
ing FDA authorization or
approval.
Americans will receive
the vaccine for free, the
companies said.
son and Conni Gail
Smith Sockwell; eight
grandchildren; and
three great-grandchil-
dren.
Pallbearers were
Jonathan Leslie Pat-
terson, Benjamin Hart
Patterson, Joseph Lee
Patterson, Michael
Allen Reid, William
Pickering and Jordan
Heathcock.
Memorials may be
made to Palmer Home
for Children, 912 11th
Ave. South, Columbus,
MS 39701 or to First
United Methodist
Church in Starkville,
MS.
Elnora Lanier
TEMPLE, Texas —
Elnora Lanier, 83, died
July 21, 2020.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Lee-
Sykes of Columbus.
Roxanne Washington
COLUMBUS — Rox-
anne Washington, 50,
died July 15, 2020.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Lee-
Sykes of Columbus.
Kimberly Pyles
COLUMBUS —
Kimberly N. Pyles, 35,
died July 21, 2020.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Lee-
Sykes of Columbus.
Brenda Williams
COLUMBUS —
Brenda Williams, 51,
died July 19, 2020, at
her residence.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Columbus.
Earnest Bland Jr.
NOXUBEE — Ear-
nest Bland Jr., 63, died
July 17, 2020, at Aurora
Health and Rehabilita-
tion.
A private family only
graveside service will
be at 2 p.m. Friday, at
St. Paul UMC Ceme-
tery. Private family only
visitation is from 2-5
p.m. today, at Carter’s
He later joined forces
with King and organized
the Freedom Rides across
the South to halt segrega-
tion.
Vivian was honored by
former President Barack
Obama with the Presiden-
tial Medal of Freedom in
2013.
On Wednesday, a
horse-drawn carriage
took his casket from the
Georgia Capitol, where
a memorial service was
held, to King’s tomb in At-
lanta.
Azar said the contract
brings to five the number
each month through fall
in hopes of, eventually,
of potential coronavirus
vaccines that are under
having several vaccines
to use.
development with U.S.
funding. Nearly two doz-
Pfizer is finishing an
earlier stage of testing to
en are in various stages of determine which of four
human testing around the possible candidates to try
world, with several enter- in a larger, final study.
ing final test to prove if Other countries are
they really work. also scrambling to get a
As early as next week, vaccine for COVID-19,
a vaccine created by which has killed more
the National Institutes than 617,000 people, ac-
of Health and Moder- cording to a tally kept by
na Inc. is set to begin Johns Hopkins Universi-
final-stage testing in a ty.
study of 30,000 people to Nearly 4 million Amer-
see if it really is safe and icans have been infected
effective. A few other vac- by the new coronavirus
cines have begun smaller and at least 142,000 have
late-stage studies in other died from COVID-19, the
countries, and in the U.S. disease it causes, accord-
a series of huge stud- ing to Johns Hopkins.
ies are planned to begin
Funeral Services. Car-
ter’s Funeral Services
of Macon is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Bland was born
May 14, 1957, in Noxu-
bee County, to the late
Earnest Bland Sr. and Charlie Holmes
Visitation:
Zan Bland. Friday, July 24 • 5-7 PM
In addition to his par- College St. Location
ents, he was preceded Graveside Services:
Saturday, July 25 • 11 AM
in death by his sister, Canton City Cemetery
Dorothy Moore. Burial
Canton City Cemetery
He is survived by College St. Location
his siblings, Betty
Beasley, Earnestine Gerald Darrell
Mickens, Ada Edwards, Incomplete
College St. Location
Rye Weston and Annie
Bryant.
Gerald Darrell
COLUMBUS — Ger- memorialgunterpeel.com
ald N. Darrell, 81, died
July 22, 2020, at Bap-
tist Memorial Hospi-
tal-Golden Triangle.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Memori- cdispatch.com
al Gunter Peel Funeral
Home and Crematory
College Street location.
Charlie Holmes
Charles David Holmes, Sr., age 71, of
Columbus, MS, passed away July 20, 2020, at
Baptist Memorial Hospital.
Graveside services will be Saturday, July 25,
2020, at 11:00 AM at Canton City Cemetery in
Canton, MS. Visitation will be Friday, July 24,
2020, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Memorial Gunter
Peel Funeral Home & Crematory 903 College St.
location.
Mr. Holmes was born September 21, 1948, in
Canton, MS, to the late Rudolph Henry and Hallie
Christian Holmes, Jr. He was a 1966 graduate of
Canton High School and a 1970 graduate of the
University of Mississippi. He majored in banking
in finance and was a member of Sigma Alpha
Epsilon fraternity. Mr. Holmes also completed
the LSU School of Banking in 1977. He spent 45
years in the banking industry in Canton, MS,
Ridgeland, MS, Tuscaloosa, AL, and Columbus,
MS. Mr. Holmes retired as executive vice
president with BankFirst Financial Services. He
owned and operated Ridgeland Waste Disposal,
Inc. and was a member of Green Oaks Golf
Club where he was a former board member and
was also a member of the Columbus Kiwanis
Club. He was a member and deacon of the First
Presbyterian Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded
in death by his brother, Rudolph Henry “Rudy”
Holmes, III.
Survivors include his wife, Dianne Daniel
Holmes of Columbus, MS; son, David Holmes
of Memphis, TN; daughter, Whitney Holmes of
Columbus, MS; sister, Harriet Porter and her
husband Dick of Brandon, MS; and sister-in-law,
Sally Ann Holmes of Houston, TX.
Memorials may be made to the First
Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 9681, Columbus,
MS, 39705.
Sign the online guest book at
www.memorialgunterpeel.com
College Street • Columbus, MS
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 5B

Business
As restaurants endure economic
losses, others feel pain, too
Before the pandemic, restaurants had employed
11 million workers nationwide — more than the
number who work in construction or in factories
that produce high-priced manufactured goods
BY PAUL WISEMAN
AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON — Restaurants
helped revive the U.S. economy
after the Great Recession of 2007-
2009.
This time? Don’t count on it. As
the nation struggles to rebound
from a now-resurgent coronavirus,
restaurants seem much less like-
ly to deliver an economic boost.
They’ve suffered a heavy blow from
lockdowns and occupancy restric-
tions, and it’s unclear how readily
Americans will return en masse to
dining out.
Consider the Barrel Room, a San
Francisco wine bar and restaurant
whose owner cautiously reopened
this month, hoping to salvage as
much of 2020 as possible. To stay
afloat after a lockdown took effect in
March, the restaurant tried selling
groceries and delivering alcoholic
drinks to customers. Owner Sarah
Trubnick also fought through red
tape to obtain federal aid — a pro-
cess she likened to living in a Kafka
novel.
As confirmed infections climb,
Trubnick is bracing for the worst.
“We are prepared at any minute
to close again,’’ she said. “It’s a very
stressful situation.’’
Across the nation, millions of
restaurant jobs have vanished in the
face of lockdowns. Just when eater-
ies of all categories and price levels
had been anticipating a summer-
time comeback, new viral cases are
upending everything.
The damage extends beyond
darkened kitchens and dining
rooms to the farms and wineries
that supply them and the shopping
centers that have grown to depend
on restaurants as anchors to replace
now-vanished stores that couldn’t
compete with Amazon and Walmart.
Chris Shepherd, owner and exec-
utive chef of Underbelly Hospitality
in Houston, said in an online essay
that he might have to close his four
restaurants because his company’s
revenue is just 30 percent of what it
was a year ago.
“I employ 200 people in this com-
munity,” Shepherd wrote. “When I
shut down, they lose their jobs. I’m
no longer able to pay my farmers,
cleaning companies, valet compa-
nies, linen companies, wineries, dis-
tilleries. Our reach is long.’’
Before the pandemic, restaurants
had employed 11 million workers
nationwide — more than the num-
ber who work in construction or in
factories that produce high-priced
manufactured goods. They gener-
ated more revenue than grocery
stores. From 1990 through Febru-
ary this year, restaurant jobs grew
more than twice as fast (91 percent)
as overall jobs (40 percent).
“The restaurant industry’s role
in the economy is outsized com-
pared to its share of overall GDP,”
said Mark Zandi, chief economist
at Moody’s Analytics. “As it is often
among the first jobs for many work-
ers, it is critical to the training of the
American workforce. It is also a vital
source of jobs and incomes for less-
er-skilled and educated workers.’’
The struggles in the restaurant
industry also disproportionately
hurt Black and Hispanic workers.
Together, they account for more
than 40 percent of restaurant jobs,
versus 30 percent of overall U.S.
jobs.
As restaurants and bars reluc-
tantly closed their dining rooms,
their sales sank from $66 billion in
February to $30 billion by April —
the lowest such total, adjusted since
inflation, since 1983. In June, boost-
ed by delivery and takeout custom-
ers, sales rebounded to $47 billion.
But many restaurants desperately
need to reopen their dining rooms.

Why are coins hard to find during the pandemic?

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Why are coins hard to
find during the pandem-
ic?
The Federal Reserve
has seen a significant
decline of coins in cir-
culation because people
are not spending them as
regularly at businesses,
many of which are either
temporarily closed or not
accepting cash.
Coins are still plen-
tiful. In April, the U.S.
Treasury estimated more
than $47.8 billion were in
the market, up by more
than a billion dollars com-
pared to last year.
But in recent months,
people have not been
spending those coins at
places like laundromats,
banks, restaurants, or
shops because the busi-
nesses are closed, or peo-
ple are not visiting them
as often as they were be-
fore the pandemic.
“The typical places
where coin enters our so-
ciety have slowed or even
stopped the normal cir-
culation of coin,” said the
Federal Reserve, which
manages coin inventory,
in a June statement.
Sales at restaurants,
bars and gas stations
dropped more than 40
percent in April compared
with a year ago. Sales
have since picked up, but
some businesses — like
bars — remain shuttered
in certain states, while
others can only operate at
a limited capacity.
The Federal Reserve
has encouraged banks to
order only the coins they
need and to make depos-
iting coins easy for cus-
tomers. One Wisconsin
bank system offered its
customers a $5 bonus for
every $100 in coins they
brought into exchange at
a branch.
The program was so
successful, the bank
suspended it after only a
week.

LOCAL GAS PRICES

Source: gasbuddy.com

BUILDING PERMITS COLUMBUS

City of Columbus 3933 Highway 45 North;
Install metal detail shop;
July 13-16, 2020
■ Andrew Hayden Jr.; 273
Weathers Construction Inc.
■ Joyce Turner; 1910 8th Ave-
North; electrical; Jimmie 1.85 MURPHY USA
1913-A US-45 N
Chism
■ Brooke Carter; 1022 4th Av-
enue South; electrical; Collins 1.86 SPIRIT
1604 Gardner Boulevard

Madeira Drive; bathroom nue North; electrical; Nickoles Electric

addition; same
■ Paul and Elisa Sampson;
Electric
■ Alphonso Hayden; 910 Mili-
■ Rusty Green; 2420 7th
Street North; mechanical;
1.86 LOVE’S
525 Tuscaloosa Road

1723 5th Avenue North; Re-
pairs; same
■ Fox Run Apartments of Co-
lumbus LLC; 636 31st Avenue
tary Road; electrical; Nickoles
Electric
■ James D Dupree/Johnny
Ledbetter; 1314 10th Avenue
E&H Heating & Air
■ Julia Brown; 1923 3rd
STARKVILLE
Avenue North; plumbing; Tabor
Plumbing 1.68 WALMART
105 Market Street

North; reroof Bldg 1, Apts
105-110; J Miller Roofing
■ 1811 Main LLC; 1811 Main
North; electrical; same
■ Margaret Bobo; 227 McHall
Drive; electrical; Jimmie
■ Country Air Apartments;
186 Lehmberg Road, AptE35;
plumbing; Tabor Plumbing
1.69 SPRINT
308 Hwy 12 E & S Montgomery

1.69 MURPHY USA

Street; concrete slab and met- Chism ■ Brenda Heard; 1608 9th
al bldg; Cole Builders LLC ■ Antioch Missionary Baptist Avenue North; plumbing; John 1012 MS-12

■ Huckleberry Rentals Inc.; Church; 2304 7th Avenue Caddis

Classifieds
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 n 6B

Apts For Rent: Other Lots & Acreage

Employment 1.75 ACRE LOTS. Good/

Bad Credit Options. Good
credit as low as 20% down,
Call us: 662-328-2424 $499/mo. Eaton Land,
662−361−7711.
General Help Wanted
LOWNDES COUNTY, MS:
AREA BUSINESS 36 ACRES ON GATLIN RD.
is seeking a mature, Excellent timber & building
motivated person who sites. $72,000. For more
enjoys interacting with info, call 205−799−9846
people, being outdoors or 205−695−2248.
and multitasking. Skills
related to maintaining
Merchandise Community
Ads starting at $12 Ads starting at $12
Good Things To Eat
Appliances
CANNING TOMATOES,
CENTRAL AC UNIT. Only
used 1 day, too small for
$15/box, gone soon. Peas
& okra coming soon. 662−
space. Revolv brand, 2.5 251−1000 or 662−855−
btu, 208−230 voltage.
0085.
$900. Crawford, MS.
662−497−2754.
Travel & Entertainment

Garage Sales
equipment and/or farm General Merchandise
work are desired but not
required. Person needs to PUBLIC CATFISH POND
For Sale: King size sheet @ 130 Hillcrest Drive.
be flexible enough to pitch
in where ever needed but Two free signs sets: 2 flannel @ $15.00
each, 4 cotton sets at
Open Tues−Sat, 7a−5p
also keep their core 662−386−8591
$5.00 set. Extra pillow
Sudoku
Call for pricing.
responsibilities in mind. Estate Sales cases and sheets free. 3 YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
If you enjoy a different ex- Nintendo DS games $5.00.
perience on the regular,
Five Questions: Sudoku Yesterday’s answer
Wii Sports edition, new Sudoku is a number-
meeting new people and
believe in customer COLEMAN 36 Honeysuckle Lane.
Chairs, recliners, bar
condition $50.00.
662−570−1730 placing puzzle based on
satisfaction this job might RENTALS stools, dishware, sizes Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 9 8 5 6 3 1 2 7 4
be for you. 14−18 womens shoes
ber-placing
given numbers.puzzle 1 2 3 7 4 5 6 8 9
1 First Lady
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS Lawn & Garden The object

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

Please submit resume to: & clothing, antique
Blind Box 675 c/o The 1 BEDROOM glassware, antique based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 6 7 4 2 9 8 1 5 3
Commercial Dispatch
2 BEDROOMS
dolls, music boxes and XMARK 52" cut mower
with mulch attachments. 1 of the United grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 5 6 7 1 8 4 9 3 2
given
so thatnumbers. The
States
PO Box 511 decorative items. You
Columbus, MS 39703 3 BEDROOMS won’t want to miss this Stihl gas sting trimmer. 1 each row, each 3 9 8 5 2 6 4 1 7
Still gas blower. 1 mojack. object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place box
one! Sat, 8:30−2:30pm
numbers 4 1 2 9 7 3 5 6 8
contains the1same to 9 number
in
$4000. Call Mr. Pitts
LEASE, 662−364−3259
© The Dispatch

662−328−8694.
the empty spaces so 7 3 6 4 5 9 8 2 1
MOUNT TRUCKING is hir-
ing a flatbed driver in the DEPOSIT 2 Wallace only once. The difficulty
that each row, each 8 4 1 3 6 2 7 9 5
AND Stevens level increases from
Columbus area. Family- Garage Sales: East
column and each 2 5 9 8 1 7 3 4 6
owned. Get more out your
check & more home time.
We work for you!
CREDIT CHECK 617 SYCAMORE Shop Sale
Fri. 1p−6p & Sat. 7a−12p.
Vehicles Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level

the same number only once. The difficulty level

7/22

*Home every weekend

*50 cent a mile *1099
Tyrone Washington
901-230-4659
mounttrucking@yahoo.com
THE COMMERCIAL
DISPATCH seeks a motiv-
ated, contracted carrier for
the Brooksville & Macon
area. Excellent opportunity
to earn money for college.
Must have good transporta-
tion, valid driver's license
& insurance. Delivers on
Sunday morning and Mon-
Fri afternoons. Apply at The
Commercial Dispatch, 516
Main Street in Columbus.
No phone calls please.
662-329-2323 15 passenger van tire, new
vanity, tools, cooking pots, Ads starting at $12 3 Boat increases from Monday to Sunday.
2411 HWY 45 N pans & a lot of misc. stuff.
Come browse! Motorcycles & ATVs
4 New York
COLUMBUS, MS
2005 HONDA 250 REBEL
Houses For Rent: North Black, red, and gray.
Buy, sell, trade or rent.
5 Long Beach
1,428 miles. $1500.
HOUSE FOR RENT 662−364−0120.
2−3 Bedroom w/ 1.5 Bath
Fenced in yard. $675.
662−549−9555.
Ask for Glenn or text.
HOUSE FOR RENT.
56 Mason Dr. No HUD. No
pets. 3BR/1.5BA. Asking
$760/ per month. Dep.
$760. 662−549−9298.
Houses For Rent: West

SERVICE TECHNICIAN for 1187 MOTLEY Rd.

local pest control company. 2b/1ba. Nice quiet area. 8
−10 min from downtown.

Applicant must be organ-
ized, dependable, work well
with the public, and have
good driving record with
valid driver's license.
Drug test required.
Place an ad safely
References required. Call
662−497−4428 or 662−
361−1483.
Mobile Homes for Rent

from home with

Apply at 107 Gardner Blvd.
No phone calls.
3BR/2BA Trailer, New
Hope school dist. $650/
mo & $650 dep. No pets,
no drugs, no partying. Call

Rentals
the Classifieds.
b/w 10a−9p. 662−386−
4292. NO TEXT MGS.

Ads starting at $25 RV/MOBILE HOME SITE

East or West Columbus or
near CAFB, Caledonia
Apts For Rent: North schools. 601−940−1397.
FOX RUN APARTMENTS

Real Estate
foxruncompany.com
1 & 2 BR near hospital.
$595−$645 monthly.
Military discount, pet area,
pet friendly, and furnished Ads starting at $25
corporate apts.
24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL
GYM. ON SITE SECURITY. Houses For Sale: New Hope
ON SITE MAINTENANCE.
ON SITE MANAGEMENT. HILLCREST SUBDIVISION
NEW HOPE SCHOOLS
24−HOUR CAMERA
Brand new & move−in ACROSS
SURVEILLANCE. Benji &
Ashleigh, 662−386−4446. ready! 4 Bed, 2 Baths, 1 Ready to pick
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more. Historically low

ads.cdispatch.com
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closets, washer dryer 662−328−0770. 13 Music’s
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roommates, or a couple 14 Cleopatra’s
love

Service Directory
with kids. $675.00 662−
364−1610 15 Forebear
17 Crude abode
Apts For Rent: South
18 Like some
Two large, very nice, 2br, athletes’ wrists
1ba apartments in 22 Energetic
downtown Columbus. First
floor with washer/dryers
Promote your small business starting at only $25 24 Church
and private parking. One of topper
General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping Painting & Papering Tree Services
the best locations in 25 “Exodus” hero
downtown. $875.00 662−
WORK WANTED: Licensed JESSE & BEVERLY’S SULLIVAN’S PAINT J&A TREE REMOVAL 26 Make a knot
364−1610
& Bonded. Carpentry, minor LAWN SERVICE SERVICE Work from a bucket truck. in DOWN 21 Woodland
electrical, minor plumbing, Mowing, cleanup, Special Prices. Insured/bonded. 27 “Jurassic 1 Tennis star grazer
Apts For Rent: West insulation, painting, demo− landscaping, sodding, Interior & Exterior Painting. Call Jimmy Prescott for free Nadal, to fans 22 Knee protec-
lition, gutters cleaned, & tree cutting. 662−435−6528 estimate, 662−386−6286. Park” critters 2 Turkey neigh- tors
VIP
pressure washing, land− 662−356−6525 30 Indiana player
scaping, cleanup work. Tree Services 32 Fragrance bor 23 Rocker

Rentals
662−242−3608. Painting & Papering 33 Tough wood 3 Turpentine Clapton
A & T TREE SERVICES
34 Lickable source 28 One way to
Bucket truck & stump
HILL’S PRESSURE QUALITY PAINTING. 4 Slacken shop
Apartments & Houses Ext/Int Painting. removal. Free est. sweet
WASHING. Commercial/
Sheet Rock Hang, Finish & Serving Columbus 38 Glib 5 Try for a fly 29 Hot
1 Bedrooms
Residential. House,
concrete, sidewalks & Repair. Pressure Washing. since 1987. Senior
41 Short skirt 6 Some wines 30 Buddy
citizen disc. Call Alvin @
2 Bedroooms 7 Snare 31 “Foundation”
mobile washing. Free est. Free Estimates. Ask for
specials! Larry Webber, 242−0324/241−4447 Are you a painter? 42 Makes
662−386−8925. 8 Bustle author
3 Bedrooms amends
662−242−4932. "We’ll go out on a limb for Advertise here!
you!"
43 Ready for 9 Enter the race 35 For fear that
Furnished & Unfurnished Automotive Services business 10 Mole, e.g. 36 Some bills
44 Mend one’s 16 Pig’s digs 37 Cream buy
1, 2, & 3 Baths 19 Choirmaster’s 38 Distant
Lease, Deposit ways
45 Three-piece aid 39 Had dinner
& Credit Check piece 20 Lake near 40 Beat walker
viceinvestments.com Buffalo
327-8555

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