Slimantics on A Better Columbus: Looking for a campaign of hope, not despair, See page 6A
Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi
CDISPATCH.COM
Happy Irby project distributes fruit baskets to elderly
Volunteers from the
Happy Irby Christ-
mas Fund used the
Townsend Commu-
nity Center as a
staging area Tues-
day morning for
the distribution of
100 fruit baskets
to elderly residents
in the community.
COVID-19 prevent-
ed the group from
distributing clothing
for children, which
has been the
mainstay of the
program, now in its
62nd year, but the
group maintained
the fruit basket
program that has
been a part of the
program since its
inception.
Local officers
recommend
residents stay
home, avoid large
gatherings this
holiday season
Agencies will still
increase patrols,
sobriety checkpoints
around New Year’s;
warn residents of
holiday-related
burglaries, other crimes
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com
Area law enforce-
ment officers are
doling out their usu-
al holiday safety tips
for shoppers and
travelers, but this
year it includes one
unique recommen-
dation thanks to the Shelton
COVID-19 pandemic: Avoid large
gatherings, and stay home if pos-
sible.
“Avoid large social gatherings,
mask up, keep your social dis-
See SAFETY TIPS, 8A
Gov. Reeves expands mask mandate to most counties
Record 79 coronavirus-related deaths
were reported Tuesday in Mississippi
BY LEAH WILLINGHAM
The Associated Press/Report
for America
JACKSON — Missis-
sippi Gov. Tate Reeves ex-
panded his mask mandate
to 78 out of 82 counties on
Tuesday as the state sur-
WEATHER
Collins Davis
Second grade, Annunciation
63 Low 39
High
P.m. rain likely
Full forecast on
page 3A.
FREE!
Wednesday | December 23, 2020
Pandemic altered fund’s practice this year, did
not keep it from pursuing its mission
BY SLIM SMITH In recent years, The Happy Irby
ssmith@cdispatch.com Christmas Fund provided clothing to
300 to 400 children with CAFB per-
Since the day in sonnel devoting an evening to wrap-
1958 that bartender ping the presents.
George “Happy” Irby This year, the program has adapt-
set out a tip jar at the
ed again, due to the challenges of
officer’s club bar on COVID-19.
Columbus Air Force There were no presents of cloth-
Base to provide chil- ing to wrap.
dren with warm cloth- “With COVID, we just weren’t able
Irby
ing at Christmas time, to do that,” said George Irby Jr., son
the Happy Irby Christmas Fund has of the fund’s namesake who has kept
evolved and adapted. the project going. “Instead, we donat-
For six decades, the Christmas ed the money we raised to Building
Bridges for Hope and the United
charity project has grown from one
man collecting tips to an enterprise Way for their Christmas programs. It
involving dozens of volunteers, includ- seemed to be the best way to help.”
Slim Smith/Dispatch Staff ing the enthusiastic support of CAFB. See HAPPY IRBY, 8A
CHRISTMAS GIVING
Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff
Emmy Beck, 8, gives two sack lunches to a visitor at Loaves and Fishes in Columbus Tuesday with her brother Vincent Beck,
6, her mother Stephanie Beck and her sister Ruby Beck, 9. The family and a handful of other volunteers from Columbus Air
Force Base Friends gave out more than 50 sack lunches between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., while also inviting people to return
to Loaves and Fishes for a hot meal on Christmas Day.
alone. Close to 4,500 peo-
ple with the coronavirus
data compiled in the state
as of Monday evening. Fif-
ing his mask mandate to
almost all of Mississip-
have died in Mississip-
pi since the start of the
ty-six of the people died
at different times within
pi’s 82 counties. Reeves
last expanded his mask
passed its previous record pandemic, according to the last 10 days and were mandate on Dec. 10 to 61
for the highest ever num- the state Department of identified as coronavi- counties. The only coun-
ber of coronavirus deaths Health. rus-related fatalities later ties currently not under
reported in a single day. “We’re all going to suf- using death certificates, a mask mandate are Clai-
Reeves Dobbs
State Health Officer fer,” Dobbs said during a according to the Depart- borne, Issaquena, Shar-
Dr. Thomas Dobbs said virtual briefing Tuesday. personal experience.” ment of Health. key and Tunica.
the state is on track to “I think more and more A record 79 deaths After the numbers The Republican gov-
surpass 1,000 deaths in people are seeing the im- were reported Tuesday in were released, Reeves an- ernor said he has been
the month of December pact on our families from Mississippi, representing nounced he was expand- See MANDATE, 3A
FIVE QUESTIONS DISPATCH HOLIDAY SCHEDULE COMING THURSDAY PUBLIC
1 What is both a name for a group of ■ The offices of The Dispatch will be closed Look MEETINGS
jellyfish and a slang term for a kiss? and no paper will be printed on Friday, Dec. for The Jan. 4:
2 Which one of these candy bars does 25 and Friday, Jan. 1 for Christmas and New Dispatch’s Oktibbeha
not contain caramel — 5th Avenue, Year’s Day. The Dispatch offices will also close Christmas County Board
Take 5 or Whatchamacallit? at noon on Thursday, Dec. 24 and Thursday, Greetings of Supervisors
3 What state is home to Painted Dec. 31. special meeting, 9
Desert Community Complex, which section a.m., Chancery
became a national landmark in 2016? with
4 In “Gremlins,” what three things are Courthouse
mogwai supposed to avoid? letters to Jan. 5:
Santa and
5 In 2016, what shopping day was Starkville Board
bigger in the U.S. than Black Friday? CALENDAR artwork
from local
of Aldermen
meeting, 5:30
Answers, 8B children in
Today through Sunday Thursday’s
p.m., City Hall
Jan. 12:
■ “It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play”: paper. Starkville-Oktib-
Starkville Community Theatre presents this
online radio performance via stream, avail- beha Consoli-
INSIDE able for $5 at https://www.showtix4u.com/ dated School
Classifieds 8B Food 5B event-details/44118 to support SCT. Video District Board of
Comics 4B Obituaries 4A is available from 12:15 a.m. Tuesday through Trustees meet-
Crossword 8B Opinions 6A 11:45 p.m. Sunday. Rental of stream allows ing, 6 p.m., 401
Dear Abby 4B access on-demand for up to 48 hours of time. Greensboro St.
DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471
2A WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Trump threatens to torpedo

COVID relief with new demands
President called on lawmakers to increase direct
payments for most Americans from $600 to
$2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for couples
BY KEVIN FREKING, ANDREW
TAYLOR AND LISA MASCARO
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President
Donald Trump has threatened
to torpedo Congress’ massive
COVID-19 relief package in the
midst of a raging pandemic and
deep economic uncertainty, sud-
denly demanding changes fellow
Republicans have opposed.
Trump assailed the bipartisan
$900 billion package in a video
he tweeted out Tuesday night and
suggested he may not sign the leg-
islation. He called on lawmakers to
increase direct payments for most
Americans from $600 to $2,000 for
individuals and $4,000 for couples.
Railing against a range of provi-
sions in the bill, including for for-
eign aid, he told lawmakers to “get
rid of the wasteful and unneces-
sary items from this legislation and
to send me a suitable bill.”
Trump did not specifically vow
to veto the bill, and there may be
enough support for the legislation
in Congress to override him if he
does. But if Trump were to upend
the sprawling legislation, the con-
sequences would be severe, includ-
ing no federal aid to struggling
Americans and small businesses,
and no additional resources to help
with vaccine distribution. In addi-
tion, because lawmakers linked the
pandemic relief bill to an overarch-
ing funding measure, the govern-
ment would shut down on Dec. 29.
The relief package was part
of a hard-fought compromise bill
that includes $1.4 trillion to fund
government agencies through Sep-
tember and contains other end-of-
session priorities such as money
for cash-starved transit systems,
an increase in food stamp benefits
and about $4 billion to help other
nations provide a COVID-19 vac-
cine for their people.
Lawmakers spent months in
a stalemate over pandemic relief
funds, even as COVID-19 cases
soared across the country. Dem-
ocrats had pushed for higher pay-
ments to Americans, but compro-
mised with Republicans to allow a
deal to proceed.
Following Trump’s interjection,
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi all but
dared Trump’s Republican allies in
Congress to meet the president’s
demand for far higher payments.
“At last, the President has
agreed to $2,000. Democrats are
ready to bring this to the Floor this
week by unanimous consent. Let’s
do it!,” Pelosi said in a tweet. An
aide said she would put the propos-
al forward Thursday for a vote.
Republicans have been reluctant
to spend more on pandemic relief
and only agreed to the big year-end
package as time dwindled for a fi-
nal deal. And Sen. Chuck Schumer,
the Senate Democratic leader, said
that “Trump needs to sign the bill
to help people and keep the govern-
ment open,” and Congress would
step up for more aid after.

Dominion worker sues Trump campaign and conservative media

Employee said he wants his life back “While I intend to do
everything I can to recap-
There was no immedi-
ate comment from those
after being named in false charges as ture my prior lifestyle, I
have few illusions in this
named in the lawsuit.
His lawyers said Coom-
a key actor in ‘rigging’ the election regard,” he said. “And so,
today, I put my trust in the
er has become “the face of
the false claims.” Coom-
for President-elect Joe Biden legal process, which has er’s name first got public
already exposed the truth exposure in a podcast by
BY DAVID BAUDER dence that the election of the 2020 presidential Oltmann, who claimed to
AP Media Writer was rigged. election.” have heard a strategy call
His lawsuit, filed Tues- Dominion, which of Antifa activists. When
NEW YORK — An day in district court in provided vote-counting the prospect of a Trump
election systems work- Denver County, Colo- equipment to several victory was brought up,
er driven into hiding by rado, names the Trump states, has denied accu- Oltmann said a man iden-
death threats has filed campaign, lawyers Rudy sations that it switched tified as “Eric from Do-
a defamation lawsuit Giuliani and Sidney Pow- Trump votes in Biden’s minion” supposedly said
against President Donald ell, conservative colum- favor, and no evidence has “don’t worry about the
Trump’s campaign, two of nist Michelle Malkin, the emerged to back those election, Trump is not go-
its lawyers and some con- website Gateway Pundit, charges up. ing to win. I made ... sure
servative media figures Colorado conservative Dominion and another of that,” adding an exple-
and outlets. activist Joseph Oltmann, voting technology compa- tive.
Eric Coomer, secu- and conservative media ny, Smartmatic, have be-
rity director at the Col- Newsmax and One Amer- gun to fight back against
orado-based Dominion ica News Network. being named in baseless
Voting Systems, said he “I have been thrust conspiracy theories. Af-
wants his life back af- into the public spotlight ter legal threats were
ter being named in false by people with political made, Fox News Channel
charges as a key actor in and financial agendas but, and Newsmax in recent
“rigging” the election for at heart, I am a private days have aired retrac-
President-elect Joe Biden. person,” Coomer said in a tions of some claims made
There has been no evi- statement. on their networks.

Trump pardons 15, commutes 5 sentences, including GOP allies

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — have been wronged by a
President Donald Trump
has pardoned 15 people,
including a pair of con-
gressional Republicans
who were strong and ear-
ly supporters, a 2016 cam-
paign official ensnared in
the Russia probe and for-
mer government contrac-
tors convicted in a 2007
massacre in Baghdad.
Trump’s actions in his
final weeks in office show
a president who is wield-
ing his executive power
to reward loyalists and
others who he believes
legal system he sees as bi-
ased against him and his
allies. On Tuesday, Trump
issued the pardons — not
an unusual act for an out-
going president — even
as he refused to publicly
acknowledge his elec-
tion loss to Democrat Joe
Biden, who will be sworn
in on Jan. 20.
Trump is likely to is-
sue more pardons before
then. He and his allies
have discussed a range of
other possibilities, includ-
ing members of Trump’s
family and his personal
attorney Rudy Giuliani.
Those pardoned on
Tuesday included former
Republican Reps. Dun-
can Hunter of California
and Chris Collins of New
York, two of the earliest
GOP lawmakers to back
Trump’s 2016 presidential
campaign. Trump also
commuted the sentences
of five other people, in-
cluding former Rep. Steve
Stockman of Texas.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 3A

Christmas in the ICU: Decorations, lights and many tears

‘Families come in, and all they’re getting for the most part is bad news
... A little bit of Christmas cheer is not going to hurt. It can only help.’
East Alabama Medical Center pulmonary physician Dr. Meshia Wallace
BY JAY REEVES
The Associated Press
OPELIKA, Ala. — A Christ-
mas tree stands outside the in-
tensive care room where a man
stricken by COVID-19 lies un-
conscious, a machine breathing
for him. A few feet away, a plas-
tic snowman adorns the door of
another patient whose face is
barely visible behind ventilator
tubes.
The decorations are “a way
to let family members know that
we’re trying, and we love these
patients and we want them to
feel like it’s Christmas as much
as we can,” nurse Carla Fallin
said, standing just outside one
of the rooms at East Alabama
Medical Center.
While parades, shopping
and Christmas tree lightings
go on around them, nurses and
doctors who’ve spent agonizing
months caring for the ill are do-
ing what they can to get through
the holiday season, which many
fear will only spread the disease
and add to the U.S. death toll
that has surpassed 300,000.
The medical center about 60
miles northeast of Montgomery
faces a new influx of COVID-19
patients as the pandemic inten-
sifies. That means staff mem-
bers can hang decorations
on patients’ doors in the ICU
but cannot attend after-work
Christmas parties. A cheerful
Santa doll stands atop the desk
at a nursing station, but big
gatherings with relatives are
out.
A nurse for five years, Fal-
lin said Christmas just doesn’t
feel right this year. She and her
husband did not take their two
young sons to local Christmas
events that drew hundreds of
people, many without masks.
The decorations in the ICU help
lighten the mental load a little,
she said, if only until another
patient nears death.
The red-brick hospital is
near Auburn University in the
old railroad town of Opelika,
a city of 30,000 that decorated
its streetlights and overpasses
with green garlands and red
ribbons for the season. A huge
Christmas tree stands near
downtown boutiques, salons
and restaurants where hun-
dreds of residents crowded to-
gether for a holiday program
last weekend.
East Alabama Medical Cen-
ter draws patients from a most-
ly rural region. Many people
in the city wear masks in com-
pliance with a state order, but
fewer health precautions are
visible in surrounding areas.
The area was an early hot
spot for the virus in the spring.
Then cases eased before a
summertime spike that health
officials blamed on backyard
cookouts and lake gatherings
around July 4.
Just as in other places across
the country, a surge in infec-
tions linked to Thanksgiving
is now filling up beds at the
hospital. With vaccines not yet
available to the general public,
hospital officials dread what
might happen in January after
families board airplanes for the
holidays and spend hours gath-
ered around dinner tables or
Christmas trees.
Amid so much suffering and
after so many tears, any ray of
brightness helps, even if it’s
just a candy cane sticker on a
ICU window, said Dr. Meshia
Wallace, a pulmonary physician
who works in critical care.
“Families come in, and all
they’re getting for the most
part is bad news: ‘Your family
member is sick, they’ve moved
down from the seventh floor to
the ICU,’” she said. “A little bit
of Christmas cheer is not going
to hurt. It can only help.”

Mandate
Continued from Page 1A
putting counties with the
most new cases of the
highly contagious virus
under the mandate.
In a statement an-
nouncing the new restric-
tions, Reeves encouraged
families to wear masks
and remain socially dis-
tant while celebrating the
holiday this week.
“We all need to be ex-
tra aware. You know what
to do! Protect yourself
and your family,” Reeves
said.
Dobbs, the state’s
top health official, said
Dobbs pleaded with deadly than it really is,
‘These are real deaths. This isn’t some artifact of residents to avoid social something Dobbs said is
someone calling a death something else. Hear my lips gatherings with friends
and extended family for
categorically untrue.
Mississippi is report-
speak this: People are dying from COVID.’ Christmas. He warned
specifically about gather-
ing about 6,000 more
deaths in the state this
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs
ings with people from a year than last year, Dobbs
he could not release the Black man among them. churches, at sporting mix of different ages. said.
names of the 79 dead be- “These are people, but events, social gatherings The physician said he’s “These are real deaths.
cause of privacy laws. But for COVID, would be with and intergenerational been discouraged to see This isn’t some artifact of
he took a moment at the us for next Christmas,” neighborhood events. the amount of misinfor- someone calling a death
start Tuesday’s briefing to Dobbs said. “These are Health officials are mation circulating on so- something else,” he said.
honor some of those who people who didn’t have to seeing the fastest growth cial media about the virus “Hear my lips speak this:
died. He listed individuals die.” of new cases in individu- and virus-related deaths. People are dying from
by age, sex and race: A State Epidemiologist als ages 25 to 39, but more Some people have ac- COVID. COVID is killing
Black woman in her late Dr. Paul Byers said the than 70 percent of deaths cused the health depart- Mississippians. COVID is
30s, an 84-year-old white majority of transmis- are in individuals over the ment of falsifying data to one of the leading causes
man and a 52-year-old sion is still occurring in age of 65, Byers said. make the virus look more of death in Mississippi.”

AREA ARRESTS
The following arrests
were made by Lowndes
County Sheriff’s Office:
n Julian Brooks, 48,
was charged with grand
larceny-more than $500.
n Christopher East-
erwood, 30, was charged
with possession of co- Brooks Easterwood Gurley Herron Jackson Krothe
caine. was charged with driving
n Christopher Gurley, under the influence-fourth
35, was charged with pos- offense or subsequent.
session of methamphet- n Carey Krothe, 45,
amine, possession of a was charged with posses-
controlled substance, im-
sion of methamphetamine.
proper turn, no license tag
and no insurance.
n Christopher Pitt-
n Julian Herron, 17, man, 35, was charged with Pittman Ray Bailey Seabrooks
was charged with two possession of metham-
counts aggravated assault phetamine. failure to appear. n Elijah Seabrooks, 21,
with a weapon or other n Tracy Ray, 36, was n Beverly Bailey, 51, was charged with posses-
means to produce death. charged with possession was charged with posses- sion of a controlled sub-
n Tyrone Jackson, 47, of methamphetamine and sion of methamphetamine. stance.

AROUND THE STATE

Mississippi deputy: 4 pursuit,” Calhoun said, ing he intended to do so. for information from the
adding the individual had Ken Harper submitted Mississippi Attorney Gen- cdispatch.com
found dead, suspect died after an apparent his resignation in Warren eral’s Office.
dies after chase self-inflicted gunshot. County on Sept. 14. But, he
MERIDIAN — Au- tried to rescind the letter
thorities in Mississippi three days later.
found four bodies Tues- Warren County The Vicksburg Post
day after a sheriff’s de- temporarily without a reported that the Warren
partment received calls
about people not showing
prosecuting attorney County Board of Super-
VICKSBURG — A coun- visors accepted Harper’s
up for work.
ty prosecuting attorney has resignation Monday. That
Investigators said a
stepped down from his job, happened after months of
person believed to be
the only suspect in the months after initially say- discussions and requests
case later died of what ap-
peared to be a self-inflict-
ed gunshot after leading
police on a chase.
WTOK-TV report-
ed that the bodies were
found in Lauderdale
County in east Mississip-
pi. Three were in a one
home and one was in an-
other.
Lauderdale County
Chief Deputy Ward Cal-
houn said deputies went
early Tuesday afternoon
to check on several peo-
ple who had not shown up
for work and came upon
the bodies. He added that SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
the only person identified peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Wed. Thurs.
as a suspect was involved Major
Minor
7:49p
2:35p
8:29p
3:03p
in a pursuit Tuesday in Major 8:09a 8:49a
Minor 3:28a
Lamar County, about 125 2:34a
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
miles to the southwest.

The Dispatch
“A suspect was quickly
developed. The informa-
tion was put out and it’s
my understanding that The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
Lamar County Sheriff’s Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
Department and (Mis- Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
sissippi) Highway Patrol The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Website: cdispatch.com/help
located the suspect vehi- Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc., Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
cle and there was a short
4A WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020
COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
Obituaries with basic informa-
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
than 4 p.m. Saturday for the
Sunday edition; and no later
than 7:30 a.m. for the Monday
edition. Incomplete notices
must be received no later
than 7:30 a.m. for the Monday
through Friday editions. Paid
notices must be finalized by 3
p.m. for inclusion the next day
Monday through Thursday; and
on Friday by 3 p.m. for Sunday
and Monday publication. For
more information, call 662-
328-2471.
Lola Culpepper
COLUMBUS — Lola
Culpepper, 70, died
Dec. 21, 2020, at Bap-
tist Memorial Hospi-
tal-Golden Triangle.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Columbus.
Annie Conner
Reform, Ala. — An-
nie Laura Conner, 98,
died Dec. 19, 2020.
Graveside services
will be at 11 a.m.
Sunday, in Hopewell
Cemetery, with the
Rev. Hugh Shambry
officiating. Visitation
will be from 3-4:30 p.m.
Saturday, at Lavender’s
Funeral Service. Laven-
der’s Funeral Service
of Aliceville, Alabama
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Fayrene Turner
SULLIGENT, Ala.
— Fayrene Hackman
Turner, 74, died Dec.
20, 2020, at North
Mississippi Medical
Center-Gilmore.
Funeral services
are at 1 p.m. today, at
Otts Funeral Home
Chapel, with the Rev.
Michael Brock officiat-
ing. Burial will follow
in the Gilmer addition
of Sulligent City Cem-
etery. Visitation is one
hour prior to services.
Otts Funeral Home of
Sulligent is in charge of
arrangements.
Mrs. Turner was
born June 19, 1946, in
Sulligent, Alabama, to
the late Willie Hack-
man and Lois Nails.
She was a graduate of
Todd High School and
was formerly employed
as a school bus driver
with Lamar County
School System. She was
a member of St. James
Baptist and New Grove
Missionary Baptist
Church.
In addition to her
parents, she was pre-
ceded in death by her
siblings, L.J. Hackman,
Shirley Terrell and
Michelle Hackman.
Feds sue Walmart over
role in opioid crisis
BY MICHAEL
BALSAMO AND ANNE
D’INNOCENZIO
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — scriptions and Walmart’s
The Justice Department
sued Walmart on Tues-
day, accusing it of fueling
the nation’s opioid crisis
by pressuring its pharma-
cies to fill even potentially
suspicious prescriptions
for the powerful painkill-
ers.
She is survived by
her husband, Robert
Turner; children,
Varlisa Jackson and
Rahmeel Turner;
siblings, Steve Hack-
man, Shirley Jones,
Evon Guyton and Linda
Pennington; three
grandchildren; and one
great-grandchild.
Pallbearers will be
Demetri Clark, Joe Lee
Turner, Troy Lee Hollis,
Bobby Metcalfe, O’Neal
Hollis and Tremaine
Evans.
Michael Butler
COLUMBUS — Mi-
chael Butler, 55, died
Dec. 22, 2020, at his
residence.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Lee-
Sykes Funeral Home of
Columbus.
Thomas Terrell
ETHELSVILLE,
Ala. — Thomas
“Frank” Terrell, 67,
died Dec. 22, 2020, at
his residence.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Lown-
des Funeral Home of
Columbus.
Vallie Gallop
STEENS — Vallie
Logan Gallop, 85, died
Dec. 22, 2020, at Bap-
tist Memorial Hospital.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Memori-
al Gunter Peel Funeral
Home and Crematory,
College Street location.
Betty Land
COLUMBUS — Bet-
ty West Oliver Land,
92, died Dec. 21, 2020,
at Baptist Memorial
Hospital-Golden Trian-
gle.
Graveside services
will be at 2 p.m. Sat-
urday in Friendship
Cemetery. Memorial
Gunter Peel Funeral
Home and Crematory,
Second Avenue North
location is in charge of
arrangements.
William Ledbetter
WEST POINT —
William F. “Bubbie”
Ledbetter, 64, died
Dec. 19, 2020, at West
Point Community Liv-
ing Center.
A private graveside
service will be held at
Memorial Gardens. A
memorial service will
be at 11 a.m. Saturday,
Jan. 9, 2021, at River-
side Baptist Church.
Visitation will be from
10:30-11 a.m. prior to
services at the church.
Calvert Funeral Home
of West Point is in
charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Ledbetter was
born June 3, 1956, in
West Point, to the late
Neily Ferrell “Pete”
Ledbetter and Doris
Virginia Moore. He was
formerly employed as a
welder with Thompson
Welding.
He is survived by his
son, Thomas Christo-
pher McCarter of West
Point; and siblings,
Deborah L. Turman of
The civil complaint
filed points to the role
Walmart’s pharmacies
may have played in the
crisis by filling opioid pre-
own responsibility for the
allegedly illegal distri-
bution of controlled sub-
stances to the pharmacies
at the height of the opioid
crisis. Walmart operates
more than 5,000 pharma-
cies in its stores around
the country.
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
AREA OBITUARIES
West Point and Kim L. In addition to her Mrs. Rosler was ceded in death by her
White of Cedar Bluff. parents, she was pre- born Sept. 30, 1941, in husband, Erwin Neil
Memorials may be ceded in death by her Hamilton, to the late Rosler; and stepson,
made to American husbands, Drewery Leamon Weston “Bill” Bruce Welch.
Cancer Society, P.O. Gregg McMinn and Sutton and Roburtia She is survived by
Box 8217, Jackson, MS Scottie Wofford. “Bertie” Sutton Redin. her daughter, Celeste
39215 or to St. Jude She is survived by She was a graduate of Rosler Pierce; stepchil-
Children’s Research her children, Mary Elston High School and dren, Martin “Mar-
Hospital, 501 St. Jude Catherine Hull, Heath- was formerly employed ty” Welch, Michelle
Place, Memphis, TN er McMinn Peeler and as a rural mail carrier Ainsworth and Anetta
38105. Alan Russell McMinn; with the U.S. Postal Beachy; brother, Jesse
and seven grandchil- Service. Weston “Bud” Sutton;
Mae Gates dren. In addition to her and six step-grandchil-
WEST POINT — parents, she was pre- dren.
Mae Ella “Mot” Gates, Cody Summerville
94, died Dec. 17, 2020, COLUMBUS —
at Floy Dyer Manor in Cody Davis Summer-
Houston. ville, 30, died Dec. 22,
Graveside services 2020, at Baptist Memo-
will be at 11 a.m. rial Hospital-Golden
Thursday, in Houston Triangle.
City Cemetery, with Arrangements are
the Rev. Eugene Gates incomplete and will be
officiating. Visitation announced b Carter’s
will be from 10:30-11 Funeral Services of
a.m. prior to services in Columbus.
the cemetery. Carter’s
Mortuary Services of Edmond McDavid Sr.
West Point is in charge
FERGUSON, Mo. —
of arrangements.
Edmond McDavid Sr.
Mrs. Gates was born
died Dec. 22, 2020.
Feb. 3, 1926, in Hous-
Arrangements are
ton, to the late Thomas
incomplete and will be
Catledge and Chaney
announced by Carter’s
Catledge. She was
Funeral Services of
formerly employed as a
Columbus.
housemaid.
She is survived by
her children, Sammy Shirley Rosler
Gates, David Gates, GADSDEN, Ala.
Shirley Rosler, 79, died
Daisy Long, Georgia
Pulliam, Willie McK- Dec. 19, 2020, at River-
inney, Rosie Gates, view Regional Medical
Lorene Douglas and Center.
Christine Gates; and 36 A memorial service
grandchildren. will be held at a later
date. Burial was held
Kaye Ruth Duncan
Emma Randle Monday, in Sullivan
Cemetery of Monroe
STARKVILLE —
County. Otts Funeral
Emma A. Randle, 90,
Home of Sulligent, Kaye Ruth Myers Duncan, age 76, of Caledonia,
died Dec. 18, 2020.
Alabama is in charge of MS, passed away December 21, 2020, at Windsor
Graveside services
arrangements. Place.
will be at 2 p.m. Thurs-
day, in New Prairie Graveside services will be Thursday,
Grove Cemetery. West December 24, 2020, at 11:00 AM at Egger
Memorial Funeral Cemetery with Tim Childs officiating. Memorial
Home of Starkville is Gunter Peel Funeral Home & Crematory 903
in charge of arrange- College St. location is in charge of arrangements.
ments. Mrs. Duncan was born August 22, 1944, in
Mrs. Randle is Columbus, MS, to the late Wrilen Kaye and
survived by her chil- Vivian Ruth Moore Myers. She was a graduate
dren; brothers; sisters; of Caledonia High School and a member of
grandchildren; and the Caledonia Church of Christ. Mrs. Duncan
great-grandchildren. worked for many years as a hair stylist.
Survivors include her sons, Kelly Duncan and
Larry Maxey his wife Lauren of Oxford, MS and Casey Duncan
of Southaven, MS; daughter, Natalie Duncan
COLUMBUS — Lar-
ry Bedford Maxey, 74, Kaye Duncan of Caledonia, MS; sisters, Shelve Bell and her
Graveside Services: husband Roger of Montverde, FL and Wilda
died Dec. 22, 2020, at Thursday, Dec. 24 • 11 AM
his residence. Egger Cemetery
Hanson of Chattanooga, TN; grandchildren,
Arrangements are College St. Location Addie Kate Duncan, Charlotte Elizabeth Duncan
incomplete and will be Rick Manning
and Avery Ann Duncan; and best friend, Joyce
announced by Lown- Talbert.
Graveside Services:
des Funeral Home of A private graveside Memorials may be made to the Columbus
Columbus.
service will be held. Lowndes Humane Society, P.O. Box 85,
College St. Location
Columbus, MS, 39703.
Carolyn Wofford Iva O’Callaghan
STARKVILLE Incomplete
— Carolyn Luttrell College St. Location
McMinn Wofford, 80,
died Dec. 20, 2020,
Betty Land
Graveside Services: Sign the online guest book at
at Baptist Memorial Saturday, Dec. 26 • 2 PM
Friendship Cemetery www.memorialgunterpeel.com
Hospital of Collierville, 2nd Ave. N. Location
716 Second Avenue North • Columbus, MS
Tennessee.
A private graveside Vallie Gallop
Julious Smith
service will be at 1 p.m. Incomplete
Saturday. Welch Funer- College St. Location
al Home of Starkville
is in charge of arrange-
Julious Patrick “Deater” Smith, age 75, of
ments. Coalfire, AL died December 20, 2020, at Baptist
Mrs. Wofford was
Memorial Hospital.
born to the late George Services will be 2 PM Wednesday, December
McClure Luttrell and
23, 2020, at Skelton Funeral Home Chapel with
Berenice Downs Lut- Rev. George Shaw and Rev. Melvin Mordecai
memorialgunterpeel.com
trell. She was formerly officiating. Burial will follow in Greenhill
employed with Bancorp
Memorial Gardens with Skelton Funeral Home
South. of Reform directing. Visitation will be one hour
prior and immediately following the service at
the funeral home.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Anne
Bishop Smith; two daughters, Tiffany Smith
Estes (Rodney) and Deanna Smith Wilkins
(Matthew); son, Samuel Smith (Christina);
brother, Daniel Smith; seven grandchildren,
Garrett Estes (Kendall), Raye-Anne Estes Britt
(Chance), Katelyn Wilkins, Cade Barton, Cara
Barton, Cali Barton and Mason Smith.
Patrick was born October 14, 1945, in Millport,
AL, to the late Julious Cager and Grace Stokes
Smith. He was a member of Hickory Grove
Baptist Church and retired from Omnova in
Columbus, MS.
Pallbearers will be Rodney Estes, Matthew
Wilkins, Garrett Estes, Chance Britt, Cade
Barton and Jay Boothe.
Honorary pallbearers will be Bruce “Butch”
Pate, George Bishop and Johnny McCool.
Special thanks are extended to Dr. Williams
and all nurses and staff at Baptist Memorial
Hospital (4th floor).
In remembrance of Julious Patrick Smith’s
life, the family asks that any charitable donations
be made to American Heart Association.
Donate by phone, 1-800-AHA-USA or online at
https://www2.heart.org/site/TR/FunRaiser/
General?px=20554037&pg=personal&frrid=3030
Paid Obituary - Skelton Funeral Home
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 5A

‘Charlie Brown’ Christmas

trees lift school, spirits
‘Maybe all of us are feeling a little bit like a Charlie
Brown Christmas tree, given 2020. I don’t think
we’re all feeling like robust, well-proportioned
trees. We’re all kind of bruised.’
Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School’s Mike Maruca
BY DENISE LAVOIE
The Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va. — Frank
Pichel’s Christmas trees will proba-
bly never be chosen to light up New
York’s Rockefeller Center. They
look more like the droopy, pitiful
tree made famous in the 1965 chil-
dren’s animated classic, “A Charlie
Brown Christmas.”
But Pichel and his customers
don’t seem to mind in a year when
little seems normal. His trees have
been flying off a tiny neighborhood
lot since he started selling them
last month to raise money for a pri-
vate middle school that provides
scholarships for students from an
impoverished area of Richmond.
Customer Camm Tyler, a
36-year-old digital consultant,
looked over his uneven tree as he
propped it up against a fence and
prepared to carry it home.
“This is the perfect 2020 tree,”
he said.
Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal
School in Richmond’s East End was
started in 2009 by a group of local
Episcopal parishioners and priests
who wanted to help children from
low-income families change the
trajectory of their lives. The faith-
based school is funded entirely by
donors and local foundations. All of
its 118 students receive full schol-
arships.
Pichel, a commercial animator
and part-time professor at Virginia
Commonwealth University, doesn’t
have children or any other connec-
tion to the school. But after donat-
ing some athletic equipment to the
school a few years ago, he decided
he wanted to do something more
this year.
He thought of the t Virginia
pine trees that grow wild on a 66-
acre plot of land he owns about two
hours west of Richmond. Would
people want them for their Christ-
mas trees, he wondered?
His trees are not like the full-
branched, perfectly shaped trees
many people buy for Christmas.
Instead, most are scrawny and un-
even-looking.
But Pichel decided to give it a try.
At first, he picked out the best-look-
ing trees on his land, thinking they
would appeal to more buyers. But
then he thought of the sad-looking
tree in the Charlie Brown Christ-
mas special. His trees are taller
than Charlie Brown’s but just as
scraggly.
“When people want a Charlie
Brown tree, they want the unique-
ness and the weirdness. The ones
with the fewest branches sold the
quickest because they’re even
more like Charlie Brown’s,” Pichel
said.
Pichel cut down 70 trees, load-
ed them into the back of his pick-
up truck and started selling them
right after Thanksgiving from a
small grassy lot he rented for $1
from two generous owners who
wanted to help. He was stunned by
the response. He sold 180 trees in
three weekends, raising a total of
$5,554 for the school. He let people
set their own prices; most paid $20
to $50 for a tree.
“Some people just stopped by
and said, ‘I don’t want a tree. I just
want to make a donation,’” he said.
Head of School Mike Maruca
said the community enthusiasm
for Pichel’s trees is attributable
to “people wanting to help their
neighbor,” in this case, the school.
He said it’s a sentiment that may be
stronger this year because of the
devastation caused by the corona-
virus pandemic.
“Maybe all of us are feeling a lit-
tle bit like a Charlie Brown Christ-
mas tree, given 2020,” he said. “I
don’t think we’re all feeling like
robust, well-proportioned trees.
We’re all kind of bruised.”

Hallmark holiday movies offer viewers balm in tough year

‘There are a lot of places you can find
information about COVID. What we
provided was a respite from that.’
Michelle Vicary, Hallmark Channel
BY DAVID BAUDER
AP Media Writer
NEW YORK — For the
past decade, the Hallmark
Channel has been a reli-
able destination for holi-
day programming. And in
a year when many Amer-
icans are homebound be-
cause of the COVID-19
pandemic, network exec-
utives say there’s been a
craving for the feel-good
movies.
Hallmark’s ratings are
up 2 percent over 2019’s
holiday season, the Niel-
sen company said. That
may not seem like much,
but year-to-year increases
are the exception rather
than the rule in modern
television.
The network turned
its programming over to
holiday fare on Oct. 23
and has been the top-rat-
ed entertainment cable
channel, excluding news
and sports, for the fourth
quarter, Nielsen said.
“What we have seen is
licist who teams with a
cynical executive to help
Hallmark says it has
also been pleased with
a charity. It stars Candace the reception for “The
Cameron Bure, probably Christmas House,” the
the most reliable draw first time the conserva-
among a collection of ac- tive programmer has
programming chief tors who often return to prominently featured gay
Hallmark each holiday characters in a holiday
just how much our mov- season. film.
ies mean to our viewers,”
said Michelle Vicary, pro-
gramming chief.
When coronavirus-re-
lated closures began in
March, Hallmark tried to
calm anxieties by airing a
series of its holiday mov-
ies then.
But this season,
COVID-19 did not affect
the type of movies Hall-
mark made or how they
were scheduled, Vicary
said. Of the 40 new mov-
ies planned for this sea-
son, only one had to be
canceled because filming
couldn’t be done because
of the pandemic.
“We made a choice not
to let COVID affect us
thematically,” she said.
“There are a lot of places
you can find information
about COVID. What we
provided was a respite
from that.”
This season’s most
popular movie has been
“If I Only Had Christ-
mas,” about a perky pub-

Can employers make COVID-19

vaccination mandatory?
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Can employers make
COVID-19 vaccination
mandatory?
Yes, with some excep-
tions.
Experts say employers
can require employees to
take safety measures, in-
cluding vaccination. That
doesn’t necessarily mean
you would get fired if you
refuse, but you might
need to sign a waiver or
agree to work under spe-
cific conditions to limit
any risk you might pose to
yourself or others.
“Employers generally
have wide scope” to make
rules for the workplace,
said Dorit Reiss, a law
professor who specializes
in vaccine policies at the
University of California
Hastings College of the
Law. “It’s their business.”
The U.S. Equal Em-
ployment Opportunity
Commission has allowed
companies to mandate the
flu and other vaccines, and
has also indicated they
can require COVID-19
vaccines.
There are exceptions;
for example, people can
request exemptions for
medical or religious rea-
sons.
And even though em-
ployers can require vacci-
nations, there are reasons
they might not want to.
Tracking compliance
with mandatory vacci-
nation would be an ad-
ministrative burden, said
Michelle S. Strowhiro,
an employment adviser
and lawyer at McDermott
Will & Emery. Employers
would also have to man-
age exemption requests
— not to mention legal
claims that might arise.
As a result, many em-
ployers will likely strong-
ly encourage vaccination
without requiring it, If you don’t read The Dispatch, how are you gonna know?
Strowhiro said.
Opinion
6A WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

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

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

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

SLIMANTICS
Looking for a campaign of hope, not despair
O
n Sunday, I
wrote a story
about the
new political organi-
zation in Columbus,
a group founded by
Leslie Sorrell and
her husband, Will
Sanders, called “A
Better Columbus.”
The story pro-
vided information
on the group, how it
operates and what it
hopes to achieve.
Since then, I’ve had about
a dozen phone calls, texts and
emails, all asking the same
question: What do you make of
this group?
My response to each is an
unsatisfactory, “I’m not sure.”
On one hand, ABC has
leveled criticism of city gov-
ernment that I also share,
particularly when it comes to
its finances. Many of those con- and city council should be held
cerns have been the subject of
The Dispatch’s editorials long
before this group emerged.
If the group’s
efforts were con-
fined to that, I’d
be more inclined
to look upon ABC
favorably. There
can be little ques-
tion that the city’s
debt, which has
increased more
than four-fold in
the last decade,
Slim Smith is something that
should concern all
citizens. The em-
bezzlement case against former
CFO Milton Rawle also calls
into question how carefully the
mayor and council fulfilled its
oversight role.
These are legitimate
concerns and it is entirely
fair that ABC should raise
these matters as grounds for a
house-cleaning at every level
of city government. The mayor
accountable. That’s probably
the biggest part of the job
description.
But ABC has gone beyond
that, I believe.
To date, the portrait of
Columbus ABC has painted
is of a city that is corrupt and
crime-infested.
That’s what gives me pause.
When you publicly accuse
someone of corruption, you
have an obligation to provide
some proof of it. To date,
Anyone with a sense of fair
play should agree with that.
ABC has failed to provide any
evidence of that.
Likewise, the idea that crime
is out of control in the city per-
petuates a false perception of
reality. The Dispatch has rou-
tinely examined those claims
over the past several years. On
each occasion, the data shows
that crime is not increasing at
any appreciable rate. Is there
crime in the city? Without a
doubt. The same holds true
for every town and city. But
to suggest that residents of
Columbus live in a dangerous
environment is inflammatory
and, ultimately, damaging.
Next year, we will hold
municipal elections. The mayor
and up to five of the six city
council members (Ward 3
councilman Charlie Box said
he will not seek re-election)
will answer to the voters.
As challengers for those
positions emerge, citizens can
and should evaluate the merits
of both the challengers and in-
cumbents and reach their own
conclusions.
But it is the tone of the
debate over the coming months
that concerns me.
I will be looking for candi-
dates who don’t just point out
the problems that are obvious
to us all, but who can articulate
a positive attitude, real ideas
and a vision for the future.
Columbus, for all its chal-
lenges, is my home. I am
offended by its portrayal as
some dystopian hellscape filled
with corruption and crime,
which seems to be the attitude
ABC has projected, at least to
this point.
All of us are, to some de-
gree, who we tell ourselves we
are.
If our narrative is that of
a city teetering on the abyss,
confidence erodes and we
become disillusioned, disen-
gaged, skeptical — a percep-
tion that will continue beyond
the election.
We should be clear-eyed in
considering the problems we
face in our city. But we should
also be hopeful. Without hope,
we are divided, often bitterly
divided.
Scorched-earth politics can
be effective, but it is rarely
healthy.
People are inspired when
they have something positive to
vote for.
So I will reserve judgment
on “A Better Columbus” until I
see some evidence of that.
Slim Smith is a columnist
and feature writer for The
Dispatch. His email address is
ssmith@cdispatch.com.

THE PRESIDENT THE NATION

He always hurt the
ones who loved him
I
f all goes according to
plan, someone will have
the honor of blowing up
the crumbling remains of the
Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino
in Atlantic City. It could be
you. Atlantic City, which loves
Trump not, is taking bids on
who may push the button.
“This will be done remotely
and can be done anywhere in
the world as well as close to the
Plaza as we can safely get you Froma Harrop
there!” the auctioneer Bodnar’s
promises.
The scheduled date is Jan. 29, nine days after Trump
will have left office. Proceeds go to the Boys & Girls

Can democracy hold us together?

Club of Atlantic City.
Before there was a President Trump, there was a
casino mogul Trump. Most voters apparently didn’t find

I
Trump a good enough president to award him another
term. But Wall Street saw him as a flat-out disaster in f America were stolen from Trump, Thus do we Americans dis-
the casino business. Trump drove his casino empire into a company and with 78% of those agree on the most fundamental of
six bankruptcies. His investors lost $1.5 billion. not a country, we who voted for Trump issues.
Many of the losers were the little people who had would have long ago expressing that view. Was America, is America, with
dissolved the corpora- In the long term, all its sins and virtues and all its
swallowed Trump’s patter about his having magical pow-
tion, split the blanket, not only is the election achievements, a country to be
ers to create wealth that they could share. Trump duped
and gone our separate of 2020 going to be cherished, loved and defended?
them into buying $140 million in Trump casino stock at
ways. suspect. Also, belief in Or is America a country of whose
a time when two of the properties had already gone bust.
What still holds this one of the sacraments history we should all be ashamed?
That was 1995. By 2005, the investors had lost 90 cents
disputatious and divid- of secular democracy, Part of America also believes
out of every dollar they poured into his failing casinos.
ed people together? universal suffrage, is that discovery in the Constitution
As 2020 draws to a close, Trump is running another
Consider. In going to suffer. of a woman’s right to an abortion
scam, again directed at his most ardent admirers. He
announcing the Patrick Buchanan Moreover, the and a right of homosexuals to
and his family are urging them to send him checks to
$900 billion stimulus issues that divide us marry were major milestones of
fund lawsuits challenging the election results. The small
bill to deal with the now go increasingly progress toward a more moral
print says that the money can be spent elsewhere, and it
pandemic, Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the faith of what defines us as a America.
would not shock Trump observers to learn that else- did not mention that the gifts for nation and a people. Others see these as long
where includes his pockets. her distressed countrymen and A slice of our intellectual elite strides away from the Christian
The president’s team has raised $250 million since women at Christmas would have emphatically agrees with the New country we used to be, a social
the election, presumably from those who believe the been twice as large had she taken York Times’ Project 1619, which and moral decline toward the
election was stolen. The appeals are pretty basic, such President Trump’s offer of $1.8 decrees that the real birth date of same quiet death that has come
as one asserting that if you fork over cash, the Great trillion in October. this nation was neither 1776 nor to other civilizations and nations
One may, just may, see your humble name. Why did the speaker slap that 1789, but the year that the first that went before us.
At whom should critics wave fingers: Trump or the offer away? slave ship arrived in Virginia. In short, we Americans
people he habitually scams? The answer is neither. “The President only wants his To this influential cohort, en- disagree on whether our country
Scams are not necessarily illegal. Some of Trump’s name on a check to go out before slavement of Black people brought is a good and great nation worth
marks may derive pleasure from sending him money. Election Day and for the market from Africa and dispossession defending, or a place that needs a
That’s worth something. And cults do create a strong to go up,” she told House Demo- and destruction of the indigenous deep cultural cleansing of its sins.
sense of community, another source of psychic rewards. crats. tribes that European settlers And we have no common code
Are the rest of us supposed to get angry that much Rather than let Donald Trump found here are the defining events of morality. One side is rooted in
of the so-called Trump base won’t wear masks, won’t take credit, Pelosi stiffed millions of our history. modernism and secularism and
socially distance and are, therefore, spreading disease of Americans. And all who participated in the other in the teachings of the
to their families, friends and themselves? It’s tragic that Sunday, however, the speaker these crimes against humanity Old and New Testament, Chris-
they are killing innocents. Others, however, can protect took time for a statement to hail or refused to condemn them are tian tradition and a natural law
themselves by giving the maskless mobs a wide berth. the removal of Robert E. Lee’s undeserving of exaltation. written on the human heart that is
A related issue is the coronavirus vaccine. Trump statue from Statuary Hall. “Wel- Not only Lee, but Columbus superior to man-made law.
has been smearing science and downplaying the virus come news,” said the speaker. and Presidents Washington, People who disagree upon such
threat. And he’s contributed to anti-vaxxer nonsense in “Congress will continue our work Jefferson, Madison, Jackson, TR basic beliefs naturally drift apart,
the past. That helps explain a Kaiser Family Foundation to rid the Capitol of homages to and Wilson are all racist white as we Americans are doing today.
poll that finds 71 percent of Americans ready to be vacci- hate.” men whose disgraceful and even Political questions arise out of
nated but only 42 percent of Republicans. Lee had stood in a place of criminal conduct disqualifies these fundamental differences,
The odd thing is that Trump could be winning honor in the Capitol for decades. them from a place of honor in the and they are not insignificant.
applause for helping get this vaccine out in record time. When exactly did the statue of American pantheon of 2020. All Can a republic as fractured and
But sometimes even Trump can’t escape his hall of the general become a homage to statues of such men need to come splintered as ours is — racially,
funny mirrors. And, as usual, the harm will fall dispro- hate? down to cleanse us of the stain of ethnically, politically, culturally,
portionately on followers who buy his stories. Both episodes point up an having honored them. morally — with a population who
During the 2016 campaign, Trump promised a “ter- unpleasant truth. Pelosi says that such statues do not share the same belief about
rific” replacement for the Affordable Care Act. He never Our dysfunctional American are “homages to hate.” whether their nation is good and
produced one. Meanwhile, he’s been backing a lawsuit family agrees upon less and less. She may not have thought great or failed and evil, endure?
before the Supreme Court that would kill the whole By mid-November, according so five or 10 years ago, but she And for how long?
thing. to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, 52% of Re- believes that now. What successful models from
Before that, there was Trump University. Sued for publicans thought Donald Trump What has taken place is a mass history do we see of nations that
fraud, a court ordered it to pay $25 million to the vic- had “rightfully won.” Sixty-eight conversion. took the kind of risks we are tak-
tims. percent of Republicans thought Yet, there is another America ing with our republic?
It takes talent to con one’s fervent fans and keep ‘em the election was “rigged.” A third that still cherishes the nation Patrick J. Buchanan, a nation-
coming back for more. You can’t deny Trump this: He’s of independents, and even 10% of these men created. And, as did ally syndicated columnist, was a se-
got it. Democrats, agreed. their fathers, grandfathers and nior advisor to presidents Richard
Froma Harrop, a syndicated columnist, writes for the This month, a Fox poll found ancestors, these Americans have Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald
Providence (Rhode Island) Journal. Her e-mail address is that a third of all registered voters shown a willingness to fight and Reagan. His website is http://bu-
fharrop@gmail.com. believe the 2020 election was die in her defense. chanan.org/blog.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 7A

US close on deal with Pfizer

for millions more vaccine doses
The Defense Production Act is expected to be
invoked to help the pharmaceutical giant secure
some raw materials needed for its vaccine
BY JONATHAN LEMIRE
AND RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The U.S. gov-
ernment is close to a deal to acquire
tens of millions of additional doses
of Pfizer’s vaccine in exchange for
helping the pharmaceutical giant
gain better access to manufactur-
ing supplies.
A person with knowledge of the
negotiations told The Associated
Press on Tuesday that the deal is
under discussion and could be final-
ized shortly. The person spoke on
condition of anonymity to describe
ongoing deliberations.
Pfizer’s vaccine was the first to
gain approval from the Food and
Drug Administration and initial
shipments went to states last week.
It has now been joined by a vaccine
from Moderna, which was devel-
oped in closer cooperation with sci-
entists from the National Institutes
of Health.
Moderna’s vaccine comes under
the umbrella of the government’s
own effort, which is called Opera-
tion Warp Speed. That public-pri-
vate endeavor was designed to have
millions of vaccine doses ready and
available to ship once a shot re-
ceived FDA approval.
But another deal with Pfizer
would move the nation closer to the
goal of vaccinating all Americans.
A law dating back to the Korean
War gives the government author-
ity to direct private companies to
produce critical goods in times of
national emergency. Called the De-
fense Production Act, it’s expected
to be invoked to help Pfizer secure
some raw materials needed for its
vaccine.
Pfizer already has a contract to
supply the government with 100
million doses of its vaccine under
Operation Warp Speed, but govern-
ment officials have said it’s more of
an arms-length relationship with
the company and they don’t have as
much visibility into its operations.
Health and Human Services
Secretary Alex Azar said last week
that the government was negotiat-
ing with Pfizer for more doses, but
details provided Tuesday about the
company’s desire for better access
to supplies are new.
Earlier, U.S. officials had said
they were discussing the purchase
of another 100 million doses of Pfiz-
er vaccine for delivery as early as
the middle of next year. Those de-
tails and timing may have changed.

Biden picks Conn. schools chief as education secretary

Biden: Cardona would offer America
‘an experienced and dedicated public
school teacher leading the way at the
Department of Education’
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
President-elect Joe
Biden has chosen Miguel
Cardona, Connecticut’s
education chief and a life-
long champion of public
schools, to serve as edu-
cation secretary.
The selection deliv-
ers on Biden’s promise
to nominate someone
with experience working
in public education and
would fulfill his goal of
installing an education
chief who stands in sharp
contrast to Secretary Bet-
sy DeVos.
Unlike DeVos, a school
choice advocate whom
Biden says is an opponent
of public schools, Cardo-
na is a product of them,
starting when he entered
kindergarten unable to
speak English.
In the announcement
of his nomination, shared
first with The Associated
Press, Biden said Car-
dona would offer Amer-
ica “an experienced and
dedicated public school
teacher leading the way
at the Department of Ed-
ucation.”
“He will help us ad-
dress systemic inequities,
tackle the mental health
crisis in our education
system, give educators
a well-deserved raise,
ease the burden of edu-
cation debt, and secure
high-quality, universal
pre-K for every three- and
four-year-old in the coun-
try,” Biden said in a state-
ment.
“As a lifelong champi-
on of public education, he
understands that our chil-
dren are the kite strings
that keep our national am-
bitions aloft — and that
everything that will be
possible for our country
tomorrow will be thanks
to the investments we
make and the care that
our educators and our
schools deliver today.”
According to a source
familiar with Biden’s deci-
sion, Cardona was select-
ed in part because of his
experiences as a former
public school teacher, an
administrator, a public
school parent and some-
one with the experience
to do the job on his first
day in office.
The source said one of
Cardona’s top priorities
will be to work with state
and local officials to get
kids back to school safe-
ly during the pandemic.
And as a child who grew
up in a housing project,
he will focus in particular
on closing the racial and
socioeconomic gaps in
education.
Cardona was appoint-
ed to the top education
post in Connecticut
just months before the
COVID-19 pandemic
broke out in March. When
schools moved to remote
learning, he hurried to
deliver more than 100,000
laptops to students across
the state. Since then, how-
ever, he has increasingly
pressed schools to re-
open, saying it’s harmful
to keep students at home.
If confirmed, his first
task will be to expand
that effort across the na-
tion. Biden has pledged
to have a majority of U.S.
schools reopened by the
end of his first 100 days
in office. He is promising
new federal guidelines on
school opening decisions,
and a “large-scale” Edu-
cation Department effort
to identify and share the
best ways to teach during
a pandemic.
Biden’s decision drew
praise from public school
advocates and the nation’s
major teachers unions.
Randi Weingarten, pres-
ident of the American
Federation of Teachers,
called Cardona a “trusted
partner” who will reverse
four years of “disaster”
under DeVos.

California’s first Latino US senator brings cheers, anger

Secretary of State will fill seat being
vacated by VP-elect Kamala Harris
BY MICHAEL R. BLOOD
AP Political Writer
LOS ANGELES — Cal-
ifornia is getting its first
Latino U.S. senator. For
Gov. Gavin Newsom, it’s a
political gamble.
The Democratic gover-
nor Tuesday named Secre-
tary of State Alex Padilla,
the son of Mexican im-
migrants, to fill the U.S.
Senate seat being vacated
by Vice President-elect
Kamala Harris. When Pa-
dilla goes to Washington,
the former state legislator
will become California’s
first Latino senator since
the state’s founding 170
years ago.
In picking a personal
friend and fellow Dem-
ocrat, Newsom had his
eye on history and prag-
matism — he turned to
someone he could trust
with a year of uncertainty
looming, including a pos-
sible recall election while
the pandemic rages un-
abated.
Newsom also rejected
pleas from a host of prom-
inent Black leaders to re-
place Harris, the Senate’s
only Black woman, with
another African Ameri-
can woman, such as U.S.
Reps. Karen Bass or Bar-
bara Lee.
About six hours after
the Padilla announce-
ment, Newsom’s office
said he would nominate
Assemblywoman Shir-
ley Weber, who is Black,
to fill Padilla’s seat once
he goes to the Senate. If
confirmed, she would be-
come the first Black wom-
an to hold the office, giv-
ing Newsom two history
making picks in one day.
Given the timing,
however, it appeared
the choice was intended
at least partly to quell
criticism after Newsom
passed over other Black
women for Harris’ post.
In passing over Black
women for the Senate seat
“many people believe the
governor will pay a polit-
ical price,” Kerman Mad-
dox, a Democratic consul-
tant and fundraiser who
is Black, said in an email.
“It’s a terribly insensitive
decision” with the nation
in the midst of a reckon-
ing over racial injustice.
“If Governor Newsom
thinks our disappoint-
ment with the Kamala
Harris replacement will
be tempered by appoint-
ing an African American
woman to be California
secretary of state, he
clearly does not know this
constituency,” Maddox
added. “When I heard the
news about the secretary
of state appointment, my
anger meter went from
disappointment to being
downright angry.”
San Francisco May-
or London Breed, who is
Black, called the Senate
decision “a real blow to
the African American
community.”

Mayor: Body camera not activated in police killing of Black man

BY ANDREW
WELSH-HUGGINS
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
A police officer who shot
and killed a Black man
holding a cell phone in
Ohio’s capital city early
Tuesday did not activate
his body camera before-
hand, and dash cameras
on the officers’ cruiser
were also not activated,
city officials said.
Because of an auto-
matic “look back” feature
on the body camera, the
shooting was captured on
video but without audio,
said Columbus Mayor
Andrew Ginther and the
city’s department of public
safety. As a result, there’s
no way to hear what the
47-year-old man or the of-
ficer said during the inter-
action, Ginther said.
Neither the man nor
the officer has been pub-
licly identified.
Body camera footage
from immediately after
the shooting indicated “a
delay in rendering of first-
aid to the man,” the public
safety department said in
a news release.
“It is unacceptable to
me and the community
that officers did not turn
on their cameras,” Gin-
ther said during a news
conference. Columbus Po-
lice Chief Thomas Quin-
lan echoed the sentiment
in a statement a few min-
utes later.
“The Division invest-
ed millions of dollars in
these cameras for the ex-
press purpose of creating
a video and audio record
of these kinds of encoun-
ters,” Quinlan said. “They
provide transparency and
accountability, and pro-
tect the public, as well as
officers, when the facts
are in question.”
Officers activated their
body cameras immedi-
ately after the shooting,
Quinlan said.

cdispatch.com
8A WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Scientists urge concern, not

alarm over new virus strains
‘There’s zero evidence
that there’s any
increase in severity’
World Health Organization’s
emergencies chief,
Dr. Michael Ryan
BY MARILYNN MARCHIONE
AP Chief Medical Writer
Does it spread more easily?
Make people sicker? Mean that
treatments and vaccines won’t
work? Questions are multiplying as
fast as new strains of the coronavi-
rus, especially the one now moving
through England. Scientists say
there is reason for concern but that
the new strains should not cause
alarm.
“There’s zero evidence that
there’s any increase in severity” of
COVID-19 from the latest strain,
the World Health Organization’s
emergencies chief, Dr. Michael
Ryan said Monday.
“We don’t want to overreact,” the
U.S. government’s top infectious
disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci,
told CNN.
Worry has been growing since
Saturday, when Britain’s prime min-
ister said a new strain, or variant, of
the coronavirus seemed to spread
more easily than earlier ones and
was moving rapidly through En-
gland. Dozens of countries barred
flights from the U.K., and southern
England was placed under strict
lockdown measures.
Q: Where did this new strain
come from?
A: New variants have been seen
almost since the virus was first de-
tected in China nearly a year ago.
Viruses often mutate, or develop
small changes, as they reproduce
and move through a population —
something “that’s natural and ex-
pected,” WHO said in a statement
Monday.
“Most of the mutations are triv-
ial. It’s the change of one or two
letters in the genetic alphabet that
doesn’t make much difference in the
ability to cause disease,” said Dr.
Philip Landrigan, a former Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
scientist who directs a global health
program at Boston College.
A more concerning situation is
when a virus mutates by changing
the proteins on its surface to help it
escape from drugs or the immune
system, or if it acquires a lot of
changes that make it very different
from previous versions.
Q: How does one strain
become dominant?
A: That can happen if one strain
is a “founder” strain — the first one
to take hold and start spreading in
an area, or because “super spread-
er” events helped it become estab-
lished.
It also can happen if a mutation
gives a new variant an advantage,
such as helping it spread more eas-
ily than other strains that are circu-
lating, as may be the case in Britain.
“It’s more contagious than the
original strain,” Landrigan said.

Safety tips
Continued from Page 1A
tancing,” Columbus Po-
lice Chief Fred Shelton
said. “… We know family
members are going to be
interacting, so I suggest
they sanitize, wash their
hands, practice social dis-
tancing as much as you
can, especially if you have
people coming in and out
of your home.”
Gov. Tate Reeves is-
sued an executive order
earlier this month re-
stricting indoor social
gatherings to 10 people
and outdoor social gather-
ings to 50 people in order
to help curb the spread of
COVID-19. While local
law enforcement officers
say they will not be ac-
tively searching for gath-
erings to break up, they
do recommend residents
follow guidelines from the
Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention, and
Oktibbeha County Sheriff
Steve Gladney pointed out
there is still a curfew from
midnight to 4 a.m. for his
county. Clay County also
has a curfew from 10 p.m.
to 5 a.m., though the cur-
few begins at midnight for
those inside West Point
city limits, according to
Clay County Emergency
Management Agency Di-
rector Torrey Williams.
“People ... need to un-
derstand
that too,
along with
the social
distancing,”
Gladney
said. “With
the num-
bers going Gladney
up with
COVID, these large par-
ties ... we’re discouraging
that.”
Mississippi is seeing a
surge in COVID-19 cas-
es, including more than
3,800 cases since the pan-
demic began in Lowndes
County, 3,100 in Oktibbe-
ha County and 1,200 in
Clay County as of Mon-
day, according to the Mis-
sissippi State Department
of Health.
Because of the pan-
demic, many of the usual
holiday-related crimes are
down this year — Shelton
said fewer car burglaries
have been reported this
year than previous years,
as more people stay home
to do their Christmas
shopping online. Howev-
er, he said that shouldn’t
make people complacent.
“Still follow safety
rules as if we weren’t in
a pandemic,” he said.
“(Use) situational aware-
ness, like not leaving gifts
in the car, not putting
trash out that shows you
got a new 80-inch televi-
sion at this home.”
In West Point, Assis-
tant Police Chief Kennedy
Meaders said officers are
still getting reports of car
burglaries, but that this
year they’re coming from
residential areas, rather
than retail parking lots.
“We are seeing more
car bur-
glaries, not
so much at
places like
Walmart or
s omet h i n g
like that,
but we’re
seeing more Meaders
residen-
tial-wise,” he said. “I think
as the holiday gets closer,
they may pick up.”
Area law enforcement
officers have long warned
shoppers to keep their car
doors locked and leave any
valuables, including shop-
ping bags, in the trunk or
even take them home be-
fore continuing shopping.
“I say that because the
majority of the burglaries will have between six and
that we’ve worked, espe- 10 extra officers out, Bal-
cially automobiles, the lard said.
doors are open,” Meaders Several law enforce-
said. “... You’ve got peo- ment authorities said
ple who are out (at) 3 o’ despite the added precau-
clock in the morning, and tion, they don’t expect as
they’re just going to peo- many people on the street
ple’s residences, to their this year due to the pan-
homes, and checking the demic.
doors on cars. If the door’s “The pandemic has
open, that’s just an invita- changed
tion to go in and do what a lot and I
they want to do.” think it’s
That also goes for pack- somet hing
ages and boxes outside
that we
homes, with Starkville
need to be
Police Chief Mark Ballard
very mind-
and Meaders recommend-
ful of as we
ing residents retrieve
packages delivered to go through Ballard
their homes as quickly as the holiday seasons,” Bal-
possible so no one steals lard said.
them from the front door
step.
For people who are
leaving town, Columbus,
Starkville and West Point
police departments, as
well as Oktibbeha County
Sheriff’s Office, all have
home watch programs
where residents can fill
out forms at the police
departments asking for
officers to look after their
homes while they’re gone.
As it gets closer to New
Year’s Eve, officers also
said they would increase
patrols and set up sobriety
checkpoints throughout
the community to deter
drinking and driving.
Beginning this week-
end, Shelton said CPD
will add up to 10 officers
to its usual eight-officer
patrol shifts. Meaders
said WPPD will add about
seven or eight officers to
its four-officer shifts be-
ginning around the same
time.
SPD, which is partic-
ipating in Mississippi
Highway Patrol’s Drive
Sober or Get Pulled Over
campaign through Jan. 1,

Happy Irby
Continued from Page 1A
Even so, the idea of not
reaching out directly to
the community was some-
thing Irby and the volun-
teers couldn’t quite ac-
cept. There was one part
of the program the group
felt like it could continue.
So, on Tuesday morn-
ing, Irby, along with
CAFB personnel, trav-
eled throughout the city,
distributing 100 fruit bas-
kets to elderly community
members.
“It’s just a way of keep-
ing what started over 60
years ago going,” Irby
said.
Using the Townsend
Center as its staging area,
the group fanned out
across the community,
providing a bit of Christ-
mas cheer.
“It’s more than just a
Irby Jr. Berry
fruit basket,” said volun-
teer Annie Berry, whose
Thanksgiving meal pro-
gram had to be canceled
this year. “It’s about let-
ting people know they ar-
en’t forgotten, that people
care for them. When you
see the looks on their fac-
es, you know how much it
means to them.”
For Irby, keeping the
program going — even in
a much-altered form — is
a tribute to his parents
and a reflection of the val-
ues they passed down to
him.
“That was just how my
parents were,” Irby said.
“As a kid, if there were
poor kids in the neighbor-
hood that were hungry,
my parents would feed
them. I remember some-
times, they would even
let people take a bath. I
learned from them about
humility and loving peo-
ple. It’s a joy for us to be
able to help, especially
this time of year.”
Irby said in one re-
spect, this year’s efforts
harken back to the early
years of the program.
“When it started, back
in the 50s, they gave out
fruit baskets. So in a way
we’re going back to the
original idea this year,”
Irby said.

If you don’t read The Dispatch, how are you gonna know?
Sports
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THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020
B
SECTION

Auburn
hires new
head coach Holiday plans, three-headed
Boise State’s
Harsin to lead
football program
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
monster, free throws
Auburn hired Boise
State’s Bryan Harsin as its
head coach on Tuesday, lur-
ing him away from his alma
mater and into the powerful
Southeastern Conference.
The 44-year-old Harsin
is 69-19 with
three Mountain
West titles in
seven seasons
at Boise State,
but winning in
the SEC affords
greater chanc-
es for playoff Harsin
berths and na-
tional titles.
The Auburn job is also
sure to bring a major pay
raise, though contract details
for Harsin weren’t immedi-
ately available.
“I’m incredibly excited
and humbled for the oppor-
tunity to be at a place like
Auburn University,” Harsin
said in a statement. “I knew
it would take a special oppor-
tunity to get me out of Boise
and Auburn is exactly that,
the chance to compete at the
highest level for one of the
greatest programs in college
football.
Photo courtesy of Mississippi State athletics
“I have a tremendous Mississippi State guard D.J. Stewart shoots a jump shot during the Bulldogs’ game against Mississippi Valley State Monday at Hum-
amount of respect for the phrey Coliseum. Stewart has taken a huge step forward offensively this year, leading the Bulldogs with 18.3 points per game.
coaches and players in the
Southeastern Conference, BY GARRICK HODGE Howland stuck to his gut. MSU play- MSU finished the nonconference
but am ready to help build a ghodge@cdispatch.com ers practiced Tuesday morning then schedule 5-3 overall, with losses to Lib-
foundation at Auburn where departed for a few days for a Christmas erty, Dayton and Clemson. The Bull-
we can consistently compete STARK VILLE —In the preseason, break with a scheduled Dec. 26 return dogs’ NCA A tournament resume to this
for championships.” Mississippi State men’s basketball date. Howland said four to five players point lacks any quality wins but doesn’t
That has been easier said coach Ben Howland pondered a dilem- opted to remain in Starkville through have any backbreaking losses either.
than done in the brutal SEC ma. the holiday. MSU will begin its conference slate
West, presided over by in- He had consulted with Each athlete was tested before leav- with a road matchup against Georgia at
state rival Alabama. his coaching peers in the ing and will be tested upon arrival
Auburn fired Gus Malz- 6 p.m. on Dec. 30.
Southeastern Conference, before the Bulldogs open their SEC “The SEC is a whole new season,”
ahn earlier this month after some of whom told the schedule four days later. Howland said. “Once it starts, it never
he went 6 -4 in his eighth sea- sixth-year MSU coach “I just think with everything our stops for 18 games. It’s a grind, it’s go-
son — a move that cost the they would keep players players have been through mentally, ing to be a real challenge because our
school more than $21 million on campus through the
to buy out the former coach’s starting in June and contending with league is so good.”
holidays to prevent the Howland COVID, it’s important to be able to be
contract.
spread of COVID-19. At with your family for a few days,” How-
Auburn has been an up-
the time, Howland, who has a roster land said. “We’ve talked about it with
Trio of Stewart, Molinar, Smith paving
and-down program, winning
the national championship that consists mostly of players from most of our guys, they really need to way for Bulldogs
Mississippi, wanted to give his players be smart about staying COVID free, With MSU’s four top scorers depart-
under Gene Chizik before
going on a rapid decline. a few days off to spend Christmas with because the entire key to our season ing and relying on a roster that had
The Tigers turned to Mal- their families. is staying COVID free. I’m putting my played little meaningful minutes to-
zahn, the offensive coordina- After MSU’s final nonconference trust in them and our testing proce- gether, it was fair to wonder where the
tor for that Cam Newton-led game of the 2020 -21 season Monday, dures in the SEC.” See MSU, 3B
team. Malzahn led Auburn to
the Southeastern Conference
championship and into the
national championship game
in his first season, 2013. But NFL
the Tigers have lost at least
four games in each of the sev-
en seasons since.
Meanwhile, Auburn’s
Jim Kelly feels like a kid watching Bills QB Allen perform
chief rivals have thrived. Al- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS son franchise records, and “I’ll put it this way, if Josh topped every one of Kelly’s
abama has been a perennial leading Buffalo (11-3) to its Allen is with us for 10 -plus single-season totals to rank
contender and Georgia has ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. first AFC East title since years, he will be breaking second on the team list. Al-
also emerged as a national — Jim Kelly has made a 1995. his own records,” Kelly said. len is just 359 yards short of
power, making it even harder point of keeping his distance “I’m excited, because if “I pull for him every time. ... Drew Bledsoe’s mark set in
for Auburn to make headway by limiting his chats with he’s breaking my records I’m like a little kid.” 2002 as Buffalo prepares to
on the field and on the re- Josh Allen via text for much that means we’re winning,” For someone who wasn’t a play at New England (6 -8) on
cruiting trail. of this year. Monday night.
Kelly said, with one minor year old when Kelly attempt-
The Tigers sought out The Pro Football Hall of Allen downplays his ac-
caveat that takes nothing ed his final NFL pass, the
their next coach from more Fame quarterback’s decision away from Allen’s accom- strong-armed and fleet-foot- complishments by saying
than 2,100 miles away.
has less to do with the coro- plishments. ed Allen, with the boyhood he’s humbled being men-
“He’s a proven winner
navirus pandemic as it does Kelly notes how the game looks and “awe shucks” tioned in the same conver-
whose record speaks for
Kelly not wanting to distract has changed in leaning far charm is making everyone sation. As for contributing
itself,” Auburn athletic di-
the Buffalo Bills’ third-year more toward the passing at- feel young again. to Buffalo’s success, Allen
rector Allen Greene said.
“Coach Harsin impressed starter. tack than when he played be- His 39 combined touch- notes he is but one piece of
me with his detailed plan to “He doesn’t need me in fore retiring after the 1996 downs, including eight rush- the puzzle.
lead Auburn to consistently his ear, so I pretty much season. ing and one receiving, have That is not to suggest Al-
compete for championships leave him alone,” Kelly told And today’s Bills are built eclipsed Kelly’s single-sea- len lacks inner drive.
in the Southeastern Confer- The Associated Press. differently than the hur- son team record of 34 in His competitive nature
ence.” That leaves him happily ry-up, “K-Gun” balanced of- 1991. Allen’s 30 touchdowns was on display after Buffa-
Harsin also replaced Mal- watching from the comfort of fense Kelly oversaw in his passing are three short of lo’s 48-19 win at Denver on
zahn at Arkansas State in his living room recliner and 11 years in Buffalo, during Kelly’s mark in the same Saturday. With players wear-
2013, winning a share of the witnessing Allen’s break- which the team made, and season. ing division championship
through year in challenging lost, four consecutive Super And with 4,000 yards T-shirts, Allen broke a post-
See AUBURN, 3B many of Kelly’s single-sea- Bowl appearances. passing, Allen has already See KELLY, 4B
2B WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020
George scores 33, Clippers beat Lakers 116-109 on ring night
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES — After
the Los Angeles Lakers got
their championship rings, the
Los Angeles Clippers gave a
performance that showed this
retooled team is determined to
contend for its own jewelry sev-
eral months from now.
Paul George scored 26 of his
33 points in the second half,
Kawhi Leonard added 26 points
and the Los Angeles Clippers
rallied past the Los Angeles
Lakers on the NBA champions’
ring ceremony night for a 116-
109 victory Tuesday.
George went 13 of 18 with
five 3-pointers in an outstand-
ing first game since agreeing to
add four years and $190 million
to his contract with the Clip-
pers, who never trailed in the
latest meeting of Southern Cali-
fornia’s two NBA powerhouses.
The Clippers beat the Lakers in
the season opener for the sec-
Durant returns with 22 and a 125-99 Nets rout of Warriors
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Kevin Du-
rant shook off 18 months of rust
in a matter of minutes.
Durant looked good as new
against his old team, Kyrie Ir-
ving was even better and the
Brooklyn Nets emphatically
kicked off the Steve Nash era
with a 125-99 victory over the
Golden State Warriors on Tues-
day night in the NBA’s season
opener.
Durant finished with 22
points in 25 minutes of his first
official game since rupturing
his Achilles tendon while play-
ing for Golden State in Game
5 of the 2019 NBA Finals. It’s
a new start for Durant, but he
did the same things he’s been
doing for years.
“I tried not to make too big a
deal out of this whole thing and
realize I’ve been playing this
game since I was 8 years old, so
just got to revert back to what I
know,” Durant said.
Irving led Brooklyn with 26
points and Caris LeVert scored
20 as the Nets led by as many
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ond straight year while winning
coach Tyronn Lue’s debut.
The Clippers stayed in their
locker room while the Lakers
received their rings, but they
emerged with purpose and de-
termined play — from their two
superstars in particular.
“Our focus was on us,” Lue
said. “The Lakers, they de-
served that ring. They had a
great year, and you can’t take
nothing away from them. Our
focus wasn’t really on the Lak-
ers. They were the best team
last year, so congratulations to
them again, but now we’re mov-
ing on.”
LeBron James scored 22
points and Anthony Davis had
18 for the Lakers just 72 days af-
ter they finished off the Miami
Heat in the NBA bubble. James
said he turned his ankle “pretty
good” in the second half, lead-
ing him to play just 28 minutes.
“I’m happy today is over with
and we can focus on the season,
as 38, pouring on the points the
way the Phoenix Suns did when
Nash was their point guard, or
more recently Golden State did
when Durant was their All-Star
forward.
The Nets made the playoffs
last season but now are expect-
ed to contend for the Eastern
Conference title after finally
getting Durant and Irving on
the court together. They used
the first game of the shortened,
72-game season to prove they
might be worth the hype.
“I think our goals are a lot
higher this year and we just
want to be able to come in and
dominate and do that consis-
tently,” Irving said.
Stephen Curry had 20 points
and 10 assists for the Warriors,
a depleted team that looks noth-
ing like the powerhouse that
won two titles in Durant’s three
seasons there.
Durant left shortly after
having surgery following his
injury and was expected to sit
out the entire 2019-20 season
even before it was suspended in
March because of the coronavi-
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
but it’s just a lot to process,”
James said. “It felt weird having
a basketball game today.”
The Lakers returned from
the shortest offseason in league
history and celebrated the
franchise’s 17th title, but they
couldn’t keep up with George
and Leonard down the stretch.
Lakers coach Frank Vogel also
limited James’ playing time and
kept Davis to 31 minutes, antic-
ipating the long grind ahead on
his veterans after a 10-week off-
season.
Serge Ibaka scored 15 points
in his debut for the Clippers,
who hadn’t played since blow-
ing a 3-1 playoff series lead to
Denver and ruining a much-an-
ticipated conference final show-
down with the waiting Lakers
in the bubble. The collapse led
to coach Doc Rivers’ departure,
and Lue moved down the bench
to take over a star-studded team
with several new additions.
The Lakers fell behind by
rus pandemic. Teammates who
have worked out with him said
the four-time scoring cham-
pion was back in top form and
Durant quickly backed up their
boasts in a mostly empty Bar-
clays Center.
He made his first three
shots, one a 3-pointer and an-
other while being fouled, and
was in double figures in fewer
than five minutes. He did every-
thing but keep up with Irving,
who made three 3-pointers and
had 17 points in 9 1/2 minutes
of the opening quarter, when
the Nets led by as many as 21.
Irving, himself coming back
from injury after playing just 20
games last season because of
shoulder problems, had Brook-
lyn’s last two baskets of the first
half, including a deep 3-pointer
with 4.1 seconds left that made
it 63-45.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr
said he was happy for Durant
but upset with what he saw
from his team, trying to bounce
back after winning a league-low
15 games last season.
Durant then scored 10 more
22 points under the ring hang-
over in the first quarter, but
they erased all but two points
of the deficit in the second. The
Clippers pulled away late in the
third with George scorching a
series of one-on-one defenders.
He scored 11 more points in the
fourth to seal it.
Tip-ins
Clippers: Nicolas Batum
and Ibaka started for their new
club. ... Former Lakers Lou Wil-
liams and Ivica Zubac scored 11
points apiece.
Lakers: James believes he
will be fine to play on Christ-
mas, saying he’ll get extensive
treatment. He also joked about
another solution: “I’ll drink
some wine that will flow right to
the ankle.” ... Dennis Schröder
and fellow newcomer Marc Gas-
ol were in Vogel’s starting line-
up. Gasol had no points and five
fouls in 12 minutes. ... Wesley
in Brooklyn’s 36-point third
quarter, ending his night for
good late in the period.
No. 2 pick James Wiseman
started at center despite his
limited preparation and had 19
points and six rebounds. But
the Warriors, playing without
Draymond Green because of
a sore right foot, need to find
more shooting around Curry
with Klay Thompson set to
miss a second straight season.
Andrew Wiggins was 4 for 16
for his 13 points and Kelly Ou-
bre Jr. was 3 for 14.
Tip-ins
Warriors: Kerr said Green
planned an individual workout
Tuesday and would hopefully
do some group work Wednes-
day when they remained in New
York to practice. ... Wiseman, at
19 years, 266 days, became the
third-youngest Golden State
player to start a game behind
Andris Biedrins (18, 352) and
Anthony Randolph (19, 179). ...
The Warriors signed Juan Tos-
cano-Anderson, who started six
games for them last season, to a
Matthews also went scoreless
in his Lakers debut.
Debuts
Batum had three points and
six assists in 28 minutes in his
Clippers debut, while new $64
million swingman Luke Ken-
nard had four points in 21 min-
utes off the bench.
Montrezl Harrell had 17
points and 10 rebounds in a
strong debut after moving down
the hallway from the Clippers to
the Lakers last month. Schröder
also was impressive in his Lak-
ers debut, with 14 points, 12 re-
bounds and eight assists.
“Those guys are going to be
big-time players for us,” Vogel
said.
Up next
Clippers: Visit Denver on Fri-
day.
Lakers: Host Dallas on Fri-
day.
two-way contract.
Nets: The Nets snapped a
seven-game losing streak in
season openers. They are 1-0
for the first time since Nov. 3,
2012, their first game at Bar-
clays Center after moving from
New Jersey. ... Brooklyn re-
signed G Chris Chiozza to a
two-way contract Tuesday. He
played in 18 games for the Nets
last season. ... The Nets hon-
ored the essential workers who
have helped New York fight the
coronavirus, raising a banner
on one end of Barclays Center.
Traveling for the holidays
Golden State is starting the
season on a four-game Eastern
road trip, including a Christmas
game at Milwaukee. It’s the first
time the Warriors began in the
Eastern time zone since 1975.
Up next
Warriors: Visit Milwaukee
on Friday.
Nets: Visit Boston on Friday
in what will be Irving’s first reg-
ular-season game there since
leaving the Celtics.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 3B

MSU Florida’s Johnson leaves

Continued from Page 1B
scoring would
come from for
in double figures with a 13.9
points per game average.
hospital 10 days after collapse
the Bulldogs. “At the beginning of the THE ASSOCIATED PRESS as teammates, coaches, staff, fans and others
The Bulldogs year, I feel like we were kind watched in disbelief.
probably antici- of quiet on the court,” Smith GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida forward ESPN declined to show video of the incident.
pated leaps from said. “But now, we’re con- Keyontae Johnson is being released from the Witnesses said Johnson was standing near mid-
D.J. Stewart, stantly talking, and our com- hospital Tuesday, 10 days after collapsing on court and suddenly fell forward and landed on
Iverson Molinar munication has gotten much the court at Florida State and needing emer- his face.
and Tolu Smith, Stewart better.” gency medical attention. He spent two nights at Tallahassee Memo-
but nothing to The school released a statement from his rial before being transferred to Gainesville via
the extent of
the production
Free throw lows family saying, “We continue to be amazed at helicopter with his mother by his side.
In an alternate universe, the pace of his recovery and look forward to
turned in. MSU could be sitting at 7-1 spending Christmas together as a family.” Like many of his Florida teammates, John-
Stewart, a overall entering SEC play The family added that it will share “any in- son tested positive for COVID-19 during the
redshirt soph- with the potential of being formation we think could help others” regard- summer. Although the cause of Johnson’s col-
omore guard, ranked in the AP Top 25. Alas, ing the cause and extent of Johnson’s illness. lapse has not been revealed, the coronavirus
leads the team poor free throw shooting has Kentucky’s John Calipari is one of many can lead to myocarditis, a viral infection of the
in scoring with Molinar been the dagger in two of the coaches in college basketball who have said heart muscle. At its most severe, myocarditis
18.3 points Bulldogs’ three losses. they would like to know if Johnson’s collapse can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and has been
per game that In eight games, MSU is 102- was related to his positive COVID-19 test a documented cause of death for young, other-
included a of-176 from the charity stripe months earlier. wise healthy athletes.
career-high for a shooting percentage of “As much as everyone involved wants firm The SEC mandates strict protocols, includ-
32-point perfor- 58. In a 53-42 season-opening answers, the process to draw definitive conclu- ing rigorous heart testing, before players can
mance against
loss to Clemson, MSU went an sions continues, and we ask for patience as the be cleared to return to play following positive
Dayton. Stew-
abysmal 8-of-27 from the free medical professionals continue their work,” the COVID-19 tests.
art’s biggest
throw line. In a tightly-con- family said. Florida has postponed four basketball
growth has Smith
tested 85-82 double overtime Johnson crumpled to the floor coming out games since Johnson’s collapse. The team is
come from be-
loss to Dayton, the Bulldogs of a timeout on Dec. 12. He was moved to a next scheduled to next play on Dec. 30 at Van-
yond the arc, as the Grace
converted 9 of 22 free throws. stretcher and carried to a waiting ambulance derbilt in the SEC opener for both schools.
native has converted 17 of
Three of MSU’s key cogs in
33 3-pointers for a shooting
the starting lineup boast free
percentage of 51.5 percent.

Meanwhile, Molinar has giv-
en the Bulldogs a big lift af-
ter missing the first three
games because of a positive
COVID-19 test. The sopho-
more guard, who Howland
said had the biggest improve-
ment of a player from his
freshman to sophomore year
he’s seen since Russell West-
brook, is second on the team
with 17.6 points per contest.
“Iverson and D.J. are fast
forming one of the best back-
courts in the SEC in my opin-
ion,” Howland said.
While replacing former
MSU standout Reggie Perry
in the frontcourt was going
to be a tall task for anyone,
Smith has done an admirable
job at the four position.
Smith leads the team with
8.9 rebounds per night and
has four double-doubles this
season.
“With my size and my
frame, I expect to pull in a
double-double every night,”
Smith said. “I feel like it’s a
necessity for our team.”
He’s also the only other
Bulldog to consistently score
throw percentages less than
70 percent. Even in wins, foul
line shooting could be better.
“Our foul shooting is still
really disappointing,” How-
land said Monday after his
team converted 12 of 22 free
throws against Mississippi
Valley State.
Early look at Georgia
The other team in the SEC
that shares the same nick-
name as MSU has thus far
played above its preseason
projection of finishing 13th in
the conference, starting 6-0
on the season. Nevertheless,
the red Bulldogs remain 87th
in KenPom.com rankings and
have not played a team with a
rating higher than 71st (out of
357 Division I teams) yet this
year.
“I have not seen Georgia
play a wink (yet), but I fol-
lowed a little of their recent
win over Cincinnati,” How-
land said. “They’re playing
great and they’re undefeated.
My challenge the next four
days will be watching film on
them in preparation.”
Auburn
Continued from Page 1B
Sun Belt Conference title in
his lone season before re-
turning to his alma mater.
His name was scarce-
ly mentioned as reports
cycled between potential
candidates, from Alabama
offensive coordinator Steve
Sarkisian to Oregon’s Mario
Cristobal, Louisiana’s Billy
Napier and UAB’s Bill Clark.
“Our search was diligent
and thoughtful, and it is
unfortunate that so much
misinformation was spread
in recent days about the pro-
cess,” Auburn President Jay
Gogue said, though it wasn’t
clear precisely what he was
referring to.
Harsin has a proven track
record as a head coach, more
so than any Auburn coach
in recent memory. Malzahn
only had one season as a col-
lege head coach. Chizik had
a losing record at Iowa State.
Tommy Tuberville was
12-20 in the SEC at Missis-
sippi. Then there’s Harsin,
who sustained the success
of one of college football’s
top Group of Five programs.
A victory in the 2014
Mountain West Champion-
ship game marked Boise
State’s first outright league
title since joining the con-
ference in 2011, and its first
overall since 2009. The only
alumnus to coach the Bron-
cos in their history, Harsin
has won conference champi-
onships as a player, assistant
coach and head coach.
Boise State won at least
nine games in each of his
first six seasons. The Bron-
cos finished 5-2 this year, los-
ing to No. 19 San Jose State
in the league title game. Boi-
se State opted not to partici-
pate in a bowl game.
Boise State President
Marlene Tromp praised
Harsin’s contributions to the
program but expressed con-
fidence the winning would
continue under his succes-
sor, for whom she said the
school would conduct a na-
tional search.
“Boise State has been
on a stunning trajectory
for decades and has effec-
tively built on our previous
successes,” Tromp said in
a statement posted on the
football program’s Twitter
account.
“Each of our head coach-
es has used his unique tal-
ents to enhance the excel-
lence of this program — an
excellence we have all come
to expect — and we are con-
fident that our next coach
will do the same.”
Auburn is set to play No.
15 Northwestern in the Cit-
rus Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Defensive coordinator Kevin
Steele is serving as the Ti-
gers’ interim coach and was
initially regarded as a candi-
date for the permanent job.
4B WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Kelly
Continued from Page 1B

game locker room victory
huddle with a blunt, emphatic
message.
“We did something that
nobody’s done for a very long
time. But understand what’s
at stake,” Allen said before
using a profanity to make his
point in a video the Bills post-
ed on social media. “This hat
and shirt’s fine and dandy,
but I want one that says ... Su-
per Bowl champs on it.”
Coach Sean McDermott
smiled during a video call two
days later because the scene
exposed fans to both Allen’s
fiery nature and leadership,
by reminding everyone the
job’s not done.
“That’s the rawness of the
locker room in terms of the
emotion after a game like
that,” McDermott said. “And
it shows Josh’s maturity just
to be able to think about the
next step in a moment like
that. I certainly appreci-
ate that about him, and his
growth as well.”
Allen’s development as a
leader parallels the strides
he’s made improving the defi-
ciencies he had in being the
third of five quarterbacks se-
lected in the first round of the
2018 draft.
By trading up five spots to
pick Allen at No. 7, the Bills
faced immediate questions
for choosing a player with
accuracy issues and coming
from a non-power program
such as Wyoming.
Allen hasn’t forgotten the
criticisms.
Fearless as he might be
in throwing passes into tight
coverage and not avoiding
hits to gain an extra yard, Al-
len acknowledged he’s driven
in part because of a fear of
failure by letting down his
teammates.
“That’s what motivates
me,” Allen said. “And I fear
letting the guys who drafted
me, this front office and this
organization, down by trad-
ing up to come and get me.”
The jump in his production
is stunning.
He’s gone from throwing
10 touchdowns and 12 inter-
ceptions in 11 games as a
rookie, to 30 TDs and nine
interceptions this year. As for
accuracy, Allen’s gone from
ranking 32nd among NFL
starters by completing 52.8%
of his attempts as a rookie
to ranking sixth this year at
68.7%.
And he’s not forgotten
Denver was one of the quar-
terback-needy teams who
passed him up in 2018 by in-
stead selecting defensive end
Bradley Chubb with the No. 5
pick.
“He might not say it, but
he definitely remembers,” of-
fensive lineman Jon Feliciano
said following the game.
Allen sidestepped a ques-
tion about being snubbed by
the Broncos by saying: “I’m
where I’m supposed to be.”
From Todd Collins in 1997
to Tyrod Taylor in 2017, the
Bills had 16 quarterbacks
start at least one game in the
span between Kelly’s retire-
ment and Allen’s arrival.
Kelly has taken most all of
those quarterbacks under his
wing to counsel and support
them. He did the same with
Allen, memorably showing
up at the Bills’ facility for the
quarterback’s first practice.
The two shared a lengthy
chat after which Kelly, weak-
ened by his battle with jaw
cancer, had difficulty speak-
ing but managed a thumbs-up
while posing for the cameras
with Allen.
Nothing has swayed Kelly
since.
“I enjoy watching him play.
I enjoy what he brings to the
game. I enjoy his leadership,”
he said. “And I just hope they
can continue to build on this
for many, many more years,
not only for the Buffalo Bills
but all these fans, who have
been waiting a long time.”
Count Kelly among them.

Comics & Puzzles

DILBERT
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY: DEAR ABBY: al Suicide Prevention Lifeline
A friend of In 1972, when (800-273-8255) offers support
mine has re- I was 12, my to surviving family members.
cently discovered father died by sui- I do think you should talk
that her husband cide. I was told it to your friend’s son. Introduce
of 40-plus years was an accident. the topic by telling him what
has been hiding I was given an ex- happened in your family, how
a decades-long planation, but the much his father meant to you
porn addiction. facts didn’t add and your concern for him and
The discovery has up. I suspected his own family, which is why
caused a problem it was suicide. In you are bringing it up now.
in their marriage. 1998, my brother DEAR ABBY: It’s not the
ZITS They have had also died by sui- first time, but certainly will be
counseling. cide. Afterward, the last time I’m invited to a
He says he I asked Mom if close friend’s house without
wants to save Dad had done it, my baby girl, my 12-year-old
their marriage Dear Abby too. She denied retired therapy dog, “Lady.” Ev-
and has vowed to it, but I knew eryone loves Lady. So does my
give up the porn. better. friend. (I even have her portrait
I was told he told his wife that Around the time of my tattooed on my leg.) Is it rude
if she decides to divorce him, brother’s death, I lost my best to not want to visit my friend
he will tell the entire family and friend/co-worker/father figure because Lady is not welcome?
their children that SHE was of 17 years to suicide. His — LOVES MY LADY
the one addicted to porn, and son was told his dad had had DEAR LOVES: It’s not rude.
it is the reason he’s divorcing a heart attack. He is now a It is a choice. What I DO think
her. My question is, what kind father in his 40s, and I think is rude is attempting to black-
GARFIELD of person would treat his wife he deserves to know. Should mail someone into allowing a
this way and think this is an I remain silent as I have for loved, but unwanted, pet into
appropriate way to save the more than 20 years? — IN A their home knowing it isn’t
marriage? — TWISTED IN MORAL DILEMMA welcome. If Lady were still a
KENTUCKY DEAR DILEMMA: Years ago, therapy dog, I might feel differ-
DEAR TWISTED: Unfor- when a family member died ently, but Lady is now retired,
tunately, the husband has a by suicide, it was considered and her presence is no longer
problem greater than his porn shameful and kept a family se- a medical necessity.
addiction. It’s his lack of char- cret. Because depression can Dear Abby is written by
acter and honesty. His threat run in families, these kinds of Abigail Van Buren, also known
is not only inappropriate, but secrets can be harmful. Today as Jeanne Phillips, and was
also a valid reason to end the we know more, and there are founded by her mother, Pauline
marriage. programs available to help Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at
P.S. I can’t imagine why her families who have suffered this www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box
family would buy that lie. kind of tragic loss. The Nation- 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
CANDORVILLE

Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec.
23). The months ahead feature
wondrous crossovers between
different parts of your life. Aes-
thetic choices bring about mys-
tical outcomes; spiritual habits
physically heal and invigorate;
material goals introduce new re-
lationships, etc. When you lead
with that special frequency all
BABY BLUES on your own, you win on multiple
levels. Taurus and Leo adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 9,
39, 33, 27 and 1.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
Your body is designed to heal
itself, and it will follow through
with the potential of that design
just as soon as you lift the
stress off and let nature work.
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
FAMILY CIRCUS
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
You know what it’s like to go
through the motions of life all
the while gazing distractedly
inward. That is why, when you
recognize this in others, your
heart extends; your empathy
augments; and you offer love.
GEMINI (May 21-June
21). You recognize that you’ve
been gifted an extraordinary
bestowal. You’d like to enjoy it
awhile before you get down to
the business of giving thanks
for it. And in fact, your delight is
the best sort of gratitude.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
Once upon a time, you gave
a heart and then had to take
it back, not because it was
mistakenly given but because
it was just time. Remembering
this will help you with today’s
judicious choice.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You
like to go away long enough to
miss what you have at home.
Such things haven’t been as
possible, but that has only
made your plans for the future
more daring. Oh, the buzzy fan-
tasy of wanderlust dreams!
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Conversation can flow freely at
times, but the important com-
munication shouldn’t be left to
chance. Give forethought to the
important parts and how you’d
like to structure it.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
The dog doesn’t wish it was
a cat. The cat does not wish
it was a bird. The animals
embrace their unique creature-
hood, and so will you today, by
doing something that only you
could do.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
When asked, you’ll give your an-
gle on things, though you’re also
aware that many times, people
ask questions not because they
want answers but because they
want to give their own opinion
on the matter.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-
Dec. 21). It feels good to be
praised, but what feels better
is to be engaged, challenged
and chosen. You’re top tier as
a playmate, and someone just
keeps picking you.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). An experience may be
dreamy once, and the next time,
it’s not the same at all, owing to
any one of a dozen variables...
which is why it always helps to
temper expectations.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). Your next opportunity is
coming from an unexpected
place. They have to hear about
you first, though, so don’t be
afraid to talk about what you’re
up to.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). Once, you were angry
about how you’d been wronged.
But, wishing to grow, you didn’t
rest in the bitterness. You kept
going until the scene got so
comically small in your rearview
that you could not help but
laugh at it.

Free and easy

SOLUTION:
Food
Still time to make
sweet memories
Making cookies as a family is one way to create memories around the holiday.
BY JAN SWOOPE
jswoope@cdispatch.com
P
lenty of memories are made
in the kitchen this time of
year, often around the fun of
making holiday cookies as a family.
Kids may forget what they got for
Christmas, but chances are they’ll
long remember the laughter, the
flour, the decorating they did with
their siblings and parents. If you’re
making some last-minute cookies
for Santa or the neighbors, here are
a few tips from County Extension
Agent Carla Haley-Hadley with
the Division of Agriculture at the
University of Arkansas Cooperative
Extension Service.
n So the dough keeps sticking
to your rolling pin? Lightly dust the
surface and rolling pin with flour.
Repeat dusting occasionally. Or use
a pastry cloth and stockinet-cov-
ered rolling pin to make rolling
dough easier and help prevent it
from sticking. If your dough is too
soft, refrigerate is for about an
hour.
n Cookies spreading and flat-
tening after baking? Try refriger-
ating the dough until well chilled,
about 1-2 hours. If, after chilling,
the dough is still too soft, stir in 1
to 2 tablespoons of flour.
Another reason cookies may
spread is a greased cookie sheet.
Greasing the sheet when the recipe
doesn’t call for it not only causes
cookies to spread, it can also cause
them to brown around the edges.
n For evenly browned cookies,
use a baking stone, or a shiny,
aluminum cookie sheet at least 2
inches narrower and shorter than
the oven. If you use a dark colored
cookie sheet, watch it carefully.
It may cause cookies to brown
quicker.
A special sweet-
tart treat for
the holidays
FAMILY FEATURES
A
ll kinds of holiday celebra-
tions, whether with imme-
diate family or joining loved
ones virtually, can be made better
with sweet treats that add special
meaning to the occasion. Including
fresh fruit in your treat can make
it an even tastier take on seasonal
tradition.
For example, fresh California
grapes are available into January
and are perfect for the holiday
season. Enjoy them as a fresh,
healthy snack or side dish, or as an
ingredient to add taste and visual
See TART, 6B
Gluten-free peanut butter cookies can be ready in a jiffy.
n Make sure there is about 2
inches of space around the cookie
sheet to allow for good air circula-
tion.
n You may want to freeze some
cookies for later. Both frosted and
unfrosted cookies may be frozen
for up to 2 months. Unfrosted cook-
ies freeze better because cookies
may become moist under frosting.
Arrange cookies in a container
lined with plastic food wrap or alu-
minum foil. For best results, wrap
cookies individually in plastic wrap.
Separate with layers of aluminum
foil or plastic food wrap. Store in an
airtight container, label and date.
Happy baking. Happy Christ-
mas.
HALEY FAMILY FAVORITE
SUGAR COOKIES
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
An apple cake for any occasion
A moist apple cake complements any meal.
LIFESTYLES EDITOR
Jan Swoope: 328-2471
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 n 5B
familyfeatures.com
This garlic herb tri-tip is seasoned
with garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt
and pepper.
A memorable
holiday menu
FAMILY FEATURES
H
oliday gatherings, even in a
time when smaller groups
are encouraged, take on
special meaning for many families.
Part of the joy comes from the food
that’s shared among loved ones
from appetizers and sides to the
uaex.edu
main course.
This year, you can enjoy those
meaningful moments with your
closest family members and friends
by putting together a menu that
keeps smiles on faces from the
first bite to the last. Start with your
favorite among the nearly endless
appetizer options that symbolize
the season then enjoy a tender
tri-tip alongside bacon-wrapped
asparagus and a twist on classic,
roasted potatoes.
Visit Culinary.net to find more
holiday menu ideas.
Tasty appetizer
Many recipes commonly associ-
ated with the holidays are accom-
panied by lengthy ingredient lists
4-h.org or hours spent in the kitchen. How-
ever, all that time and effort doesn’t
1 teaspoon baking soda have to be used on this year’s side
dish when you opt for a simple yet
1 teaspoon cream of tarter
mouthwatering option.
n In mixing bowl combine powdered
You can feel good about what
sugar, margarine, vanilla, almond extract
you’re feeding your family this hol-
and egg. Stir in remaining ingredients, put
iday season while saving prep time
in zip top bag and refrigerate at least 3
hours. by serving this Bacon-Wrapped
n Heat oven to 350 degrees. Divide Asparagus made with Coleman
dough into halves. Roll each half on lightly Natural bacon, which contains no
floured surface. Cut into desired shapes.
artificial ingredients or preserva-
Place on lightly greased cookie sheet and
bake until edges are light brown, approxi- tives and is sourced from American
mately 7 to 8 minutes. family farms that humanely raise
Note: If using self-rising flour, omit baking their animals with no antibiotics
soda and cream of tarter. or added hormones. Whether it’s
served as a side dish or an appe-
GLUTEN-FREE PEANUT tizer, it calls for just a handful of
everyday ingredients for a dish you
BUTTER COOKIES can be proud of.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes Visit ColemanNatural.com/
Makes 1-2 dozen Recipes for more seasonal recipe
inspiration.
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Tender holiday tri-tip
Centering your holiday meal
n Preheat oven at 375 F. around a flavorful cut of meat can
n Mix ingredients together, roll into 1-2 make the celebration truly memo-
inch balls, and flatten with a sugared fork. rable, especially when it’s cooked
n Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden to perfection over the hot flame of
brown.
(Source: 4-h.org)
a grill.
This year, take your family’s
main course to the next level with a
See MENU, 6B
FAMILY FEATURES
I
t’s almost impossible to beat the com-
bination of sweet fruit and decadent
desserts. This delicious recipe for Apple
Cake highlights the crisp fruit but also
the cinnamon sugar-flavored pastry. It’s
luscious but doesn’t overdo it on the sweet
meter with just the right mix of flavors.
The cake is baked with the apples inside
as the middle layer, which creates a moist,
finished product. The apples are gooey,
baked in a cinnamon sugar coating, making
them a sweet and light complement to the
perfectly baked cake.
Start by mixing the apples with cinna-
mon and, of course, sugar. Set the mixture
aside. Now it’s time for cake. First, mix all
the dry ingredients together then mix in
the wet ingredients.
The secret to this cake is creating layers
culinary.net that will hold up. Pour half of the batter
See CAKE, 6B
6B WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Menu
Continued from Page 5B
Garlic Herb Tri-Tip lightly seasoned
with garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt
and pepper to let the naturally
flavorful New Zealand grass-fed
beef speak for itself. Because the
animals roam and graze freely over
lush green hills and pastures year-
round, New Zealand grass-fed beef
is leaner, more finely textured and
tastes just as nature intended.
Find more recipes and holiday
meal ideas at beefandlambnz.com.
Easy, impressive side
Every holiday meal comes with
plenty of traditional and family-fa-
vorite dishes, and one of the most
common on tables is potatoes.
Whether they’re roasted, mashed
or anything in-between, they’re
among the most versatile options
For an easy cooking hack, slice the n Rub tri-tip with olive oil. Add minced
potatoes on a wooden spoon to pre- garlic and use hands to evenly distribute.
vent cutting all the way through. n Combine chopped thyme, rosemary,
salt and pepper; cover oiled tri-tip on both
Visit littlepotatoes.com for more sides with spice blend.
holiday recipe inspiration. n Place tri-tip on hottest part of grill and
sear 2-3 minutes.
n Flip tri-tip and transfer to indirect heat.
BACON-WRAPPED ASPARAGUS Continue grilling until internal temperature
Servings: 10 reaches 135 F for medium-rare.
n Transfer meat to platter, cover with foil
20 asparagus stalks and let rest 10 minutes.
10 slices Coleman Natural Hickory n Slice across the grain and serve.
Smoked Bacon
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt LITTLE HASSELBACK POTATOES
1/2 teaspoon pepper Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Sudoku
n Preheat oven to 400 F. Line rimmed Servings: 8-12 YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
baking sheet with parchment paper.
n Wrap 2 asparagus stalks with 1 slice 1 bag (3 pounds) The Little Potato Compa-
bacon. Repeat with remaining asparagus
and bacon. Place bundles on baking
ny Holiday Blend
10 sprigs thyme, removed from stem Sudoku
Sudoku is a number-
placing puzzle based on
Yesterday’s answer
sheet. Drizzle asparagus ends with olive 6 sprigs parsley, chopped Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 8 3 1 5 6 4 9 2 7
oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 4 cloves garlic, minced
ber-placing
given numbers.puzzleThe object 9 2 4 7 8 3 1 6 5

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

n Bake until asparagus is cooked through 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
for the holidays. and bacon is crisp, about 20 minutes. 1 teaspoon kosher salt based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 5 7 6 1 9 2 3 4 8
This year, you can save time on 1/2 teaspoon pepper grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 7 5 2 3 1 9 4 8 6
seasonal favorites with Creamer po- Sour cream (optional) given
so that numbers.
each row, eachThe 6 1 3 8 4 7 2 5 9
tatoes from The Little Potato Com-
GARLIC HERB TRI-TIP Cooked bacon pieces (optional) object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place box
Prep time: 10 minutes Green onion slices (optional) numbers 4 8 9 2 5 6 7 1 3
pany. They are ready to use, with Cook time: 30 minutes contains the1same to 9 number
in
3 4 7 6 2 5 8 9 1
no washing or peeling required, Servings: 6 n Preheat oven to 400 F. the empty spaces so
only once. The difficulty 1 9 5 4 3 8 6 7 2
and they’re small and consistent in n Lay wooden spoon flat on solid surface that each row, each
level increases from
size so they cook quickly. 1 New Zealand grass-fed beef tri-tip (2 and place one potato in spoon. Using par- column and each 2 6 8 9 7 1 5 3 4
1/2-3 pounds) ing knife, slice 1/8-inch thick slices along Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 12/22
Try them roasted, boiled, 1/4 cup olive oil length of each potato one at a time.
smashed or mashed whether you’re 2 tablespoons minced garlic n In bowl, toss potatoes, thyme, parsley, the same number only once. The difficulty level
making a quick weeknight dinner 3 tablespoons fresh chopped thyme garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. Place po- increases from Monday to Sunday.
or getting a festive meal on the ta- 3 tablespoons fresh chopped rosemary tatoes on parchment-lined baking sheet,
1 teaspoon salt cut sides down. Bake 10 minutes, flip and
ble. This holiday season, try these 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper bake 10 minutes, or until soft.
Little Hasselback Potatoes for a n Serve with sour cream, bacon and
twist on the classic roasted variety. n Preheat grill to high heat. green onion, if desired.

Cake
Continued from Page 5B
into a round springform
pan first then add apple
mixture and top it all
with the rest of the cake
batter.
Finally, for a little ex-
tra sweetness, sprinkle 1
tablespoon of sugar over
the top of the cake before
baking.
Once baked, this cake
can be drizzled with icing
(if you’d like) to make it
an even more delightful
treat to satisfy any sweet
tooth.
This cake is perfect
for any get-together,
families looking for an
after-dinner indulgence
or anyone who just loves
fruity desserts. It’s
delectable enough for
fancy occasions, but also
simple enough to make at
home for just a couple.
With fluffy cake layers
and a soft apple center,
this cake does it all. Not
to mention the drip of ic-
ing at the end that all but
guarantees everyone will
be asking for seconds.
Find more recipes and
sweet desserts at Culi- n Heat oven to 350 F.
nary.net. n In medium bowl, mix
apples, cinnamon and 5 table-
spoons sugar until combined.
APPLE CAKE Set aside.
n In large bowl, mix flour, 2
Servings: 8-16
cups sugar, baking powder
and salt until combined. Form
3 cups Honeycrisp apples, well in middle of mixture. Add
peeled, cored and diced oil, eggs, orange juice and
3 teaspoons cinnamon vanilla; mix until blended.
6 tablespoons, plus 2 cups, n In springform pan, pour half
sugar, divided
of batter. Add apple mixture.
3 cups flour Pour remaining batter over
3 teaspoons baking powder apple mixture. Sprinkle re-
1 teaspoon salt maining sugar over batter.
1 cup oil n Bake 40-50 minutes, or
4 eggs, beaten until top is golden brown
1/4 cup orange juice and tester comes out clean
1 teaspoon vanilla and dry. Drizzle with icing, if
Icing (optional) desired.

Tart
Continued from Page 5B
appeal to recipes to make Find more holiday 2 ounces almond paste to create frangipane. Carefully
the season feel special. dessert recipes at grapes- 1 large egg spread over arranged grapes
1/4 cup sugar and bake 35 minutes until tart
This Grape Frangi- fromcalifornia.com. 1/4 cup butter is golden brown and cooked
pane Tart offers a simple 2 tablespoons flour through.
solution when your sweet 1pinch salt
tooth calls for a dish to
GRAPE Confectioners’ sugar
n When tart is cool, remove
from pan and dust with con-
share with family. Every- FRANGIPANE TART n Preheat oven to 375 F. fectioners’ sugar.
Nutritional information per
day ingredients likely al- Servings: 10 n Line 10-inch tart pan with
pastry. Arrange grapes snugly serving: 151 calories; 2 g pro-
ready in your pantry com- tein; 8 g fat; 46% calories from
1 tart pastry, single crust (10 in decorative rings in pastry.
bine with fresh grapes for inches) With electric mixer, combine fat; 19 g carbohydrates; 34 mg
a sweet-tart twist worthy 3 1/2 cups red or black seed- almond paste, egg, sugar, but- cholesterol; .8 g fiber; 86 mg
of the holidays. less California grapes ter, flour and salt until smooth sodium.
ACROSS
1 Musical
speeds
7 Purposes
11 Stir up
12 Christmas
travelers
13 Manger
scene
14 Safari sight
15 Dorothy, for
one
17 Painter
Holbein
20 Finishes a
golf hole
23 — Jima
24 Stand with
shelves tree stuff 18 Be patient for
26 Paving stuff 45 Winter glider 19 Home of
27 That woman 46 Unwavering 8-Down
28 Wedding DOWN 21 Right now
words 1 Tic-toe link 22 Sculpting
29 Hand warm- 2 Screw up medium
ers 3 “The Simp- 24 Question of
31 Paint buy sons” bartender place
32 Old anes- 4 Hockey needs 25 Egg layer
thetic 5 Workplace 30 Was abun-
33 Scottish isle watchdog: Abbr. dant
34 Baseball’s 6 Glimpsed 33 Paris river
Reese 7 German vowel 35 Moistens
37 Inn offering topper 36 Way to go
39 Is real 8 Annual visitor 37 Apt. ad abbr.
43 Odometer 9 Swelled head 38 Motor need
unit 10 Sermon topic 40 Compass dir.
44 Christmas 16 Ship poles 41 — Aviv
17 Blackjack call 42 Shrewd
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 7B

Classifieds
LEGALS
Call us: 662-328-2424
Legal Notices
NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE
TRUSTEE’S SALE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
WHEREAS, default has oc-
curred in the performance of
the covenants, terms and con-
ditions of a Deed of Trust
dated February 2, 2001, ex-
ecuted by A J STEVENSON, JR.,
DEBORRAH LYNN STEVENSON,
conveying certain real property
therein described to *NONE
STATED*, as Trustee, for
CITIFINANCIAL MORTGAGE
COMPANY, Original Beneficiary,
to secure the indebtedness
therein described, as same ap-
pears of record in the office of
the Chancery Clerk of Lowndes
County, Mississippi filed and
recorded February 13, 2001, in
Deed Book 1359, Page 152 ,
and re-recorded March 27,
2001 in Deed Book 1365,
Page 529; and
WHEREAS, the beneficial in-
terest of said Deed of Trust
was transferred and assigned
to Towd Point Mortgage Trust
2018-3, U.S. Bank National As-
sociation, as Indenture Trust-
ee; and
WHEREAS, Rubin Lublin, LLC
has been appointed as Substi-
tute Trustee; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the holder
of said Deed of Trust, having
requested the undersigned so
to do, as Substitute Trustee or property is believed to be good, Call 662-312-3130 for info.
his duly appointed agent, by vir- but I will convey only such title
tue of the power, duty and au-
thority vested and imposed
upon said Substitute Trustee
shall, on January 6, 2021 with-
in the lawful hours of sale
between 11:00AM and 4:00PM
at the southeast front door of
Courthouse proceed to sell at
public outcry to the highest and
best bidder for cash or certi-
fied funds ONLY, the following
described property situated in
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
to wit:
LOT 11 AND SOUTH HALF OF
LOT 10, OF AND IN PINE
HAVEN SUBDIVISION, AS
SHOWN AND RECORDED IN
PLAT BOOK 2 AT PAGE 62 IN
THE CHANCERY CLERK`S OF-
FICE OF LOWNDES COUNTY,
MISSISSIPPI.
PROPERTY ADDRESS: The
street address of the property
is believed to be 86 ELMORE
STREET, COLUMBUS, MS
39702. In the event of any dis-
crepancy between this street
address and the legal descrip-
tion of the property, the legal
description shall control.
Title to the above described
property is believed to be good, TATE CLOSING SERVICES INC,
but I will convey only such title as Trustee, for REVERSE
as is vested in me as Substi-
tute Trustee.
THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPT-
ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY
INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL
BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Mississippi filed and recorded
Rubin Lublin, LLC
428 North Lamar Blvd, Suite
107
Oxford, MS 38655
rlselaw.com/property-listing
Tel: (877) 813-0992
Fax: (470) 508-9401
PUBLISH: 12/09/2020,
12/16/2020, 12/23/2020,
12/30/2020
NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE
TRUSTEE’S SALE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
WHEREAS, default has oc-
curred in the performance of
the covenants, terms and con- in the lawful hours of sale
ditions of a Deed of Trust
dated November 14, 2003, ex- at the southeast front door of
ecuted by MINNIE S. ARMOUR, Courthouse proceed to sell at
conveying certain real property public outcry to the highest and
therein described to T. FRANK
COLLINS, as Trustee, for
WELLS FARGO FINANCIAL MIS- described property situated in
SISSIPPI 2, INC., Original Bene- Lowndes County, Mississippi,
ficiary, to secure the indebted- to wit:
ness therein described, as
same appears of record in the BEGINNING AT THE SOUTHW-
office of the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi
filed and recorded November
20, 2003, in Deed Book 2003, MISSISSIPPI; THENCE NORTH
Page 46894 ; and
WHEREAS, the beneficial in-
terest of said Deed of Trust
was transferred and assigned
to Wilmington Trust, National
Association, not in its individu- HEREIN DESCRIBED; THENCE
al capacity, but solely as trust- CONTINUE NORTH 1 DEGREE
ee of MFRA Trust 2015-1; and 00 MINUTES WEST A DIS-
WHEREAS, Rubin Lublin, LLC
has been appointed as Substi- MINUTES EAST A DISTANCE OF
tute Trustee; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the holder
of said Deed of Trust, having
requested the undersigned so
to do, as Substitute Trustee or OF 435.3 FEET; THENCE
his duly appointed agent, by vir- SOUTH 3 DEGREES 26
tue of the power, duty and au-
thority vested and imposed
upon said Substitute Trustee
shall, on January 6, 2021 with- WEST A DISTANCE OF 10 FEET;
in the lawful hours of sale
between 11:00AM and 4:00PM 14 MINUTES EAST A DIS-
at the southeast front door of
Courthouse proceed to sell at
public outcry to the highest and MINUTES WEST A DISTANCE
best bidder for cash or certi-
fied funds ONLY, the following
described property situated in
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
to wit:
A TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND
LOCATED IN THE SOUTHWEST
QUARTER (SW 1/4) OF THE
NORTHEAST QUARTER (NE
1/4) OF SECTION 21, TOWN-
SHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE 17
WEST, LOWNDES COUNTY,
MISSISSIPPI AND BEING MORE street address of the property
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS is believed to be 119 SONIA
FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE DRIVE, COLUMBUS, MS
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE
NORTHEAST QUARTER (NE
1/4) OF SECTION 21, TOWN-
SHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE 17
WEST, LOWNDES COUNTY,
MISSISSIPPI, THENCE EAST
ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF
SAID NORTHEAST QUARTER
(NE 1/4) A DISTANCE OF
330.0 FEET; THENCE NORTH A as is vested in me as Substi-
DISTANCE OF 25 FEET TO A
POINT ON THE NORTH BOUND-
ARY LINE OF A PAVED ROAD,
THE INITIAL POINT OF THE
PROPERTY HEREIN DE-
SCRIBED; THENCE NORTH A
DISTANCE OF 443.8 FEET TO
described property situated in
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
to wit:
A TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND
LOCATED IN THE SOUTHWEST
QUARTER (SW 1/4) OF THE
NORTHEAST QUARTER (NE
1/4) OF SECTION 21, TOWN-
SHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE 17
WEST, LOWNDES COUNTY,
MISSISSIPPI AND BEING MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS
FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE
NORTHEAST QUARTER (NE
1/4) OF SECTION 21, TOWN-
SHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE 17
WEST, LOWNDES COUNTY,
MISSISSIPPI, THENCE EAST
ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF
Legal Notices
SAID NORTHEAST QUARTER
(NE 1/4) A DISTANCE OF
330.0 FEET; THENCE NORTH A
DISTANCE OF 25 FEET TO A
POINT ON THE NORTH BOUND-
ARY LINE OF A PAVED ROAD,
THE INITIAL POINT OF THE
PROPERTY HEREIN DE-
SCRIBED; THENCE NORTH A
DISTANCE OF 443.8 FEET TO
THE CENTERLINE OF A SMALL
DITCH, THENCE SOUTHEAST-
ERLY ALONG THE CENTERLINE
OF SAID DITCH, A DISTANCE
OF 209 FEET, MORE OR LESS;
THENCE SOUTH 327.2 FEET TO
A POINT ON THE NORTH
BOUNDARY LINE OF SAID
PAVED COUNTY ROAD; THENCE
NORTH 86 DEGREES 44
MINUTES WEST ALONG THE
NORTH BOUNDARY LINE OF
SAID PAVED COUNTY ROAD, A
DISTANCE OF 167.2 FEET TO
THE INITIAL POINT OF THIS DE-
SCRIPTION, AND CONTAINING
1.5 ACRES, MORE OR LESS.
BEING THE SAME PROPERTY
CONVEYED TO DEPOSIT GUAR-
ANTY NATIONAL BANK AS
TRUSTEE FOR THE SINGLE
FAMILY MORTGAGEPURCHASE
REVENUE BONDS, SERIES
1983, OF THE MISSISSIPPI
HOUSING FINANCE CORPORA-
TION BY TRUSTEE`S DEED FOR
ROBERT B. PRATHER, SUBSTI-
TUTE TRUSTEE, RECORDED IN
BOOK 740, PAGE 303-307 IN
THE OFFICE OF THE CHAN-
CERY CLERK OF LOWNDES
COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI.
PROPERTY ADDRESS: The
street address of the property
is believed to be 1174 MOUNT
VERNON RD, COLUMBUS, MS
39702. In the event of any dis-
crepancy between this street
address and the legal descrip-
tion of the property, the legal
description shall control.
Title to the above described
as is vested in me as Substi-
tute Trustee.
THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPT-
ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY
INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL
BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
Rubin Lublin, LLC
428 North Lamar Blvd, Suite
107
Oxford, MS 38655
rlselaw.com/property-listing
Tel: (877) 813-0992
Fax: (470) 508-9401
PUBLISH: 12/09/2020,
12/16/2020, 12/23/2020,
12/30/2020
NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE
TRUSTEE’S SALE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
WHEREAS, default has oc-
curred in the performance of
the covenants, terms and con-
ditions of a Deed of Trust
dated May 16, 2013, ex-
ecuted by PAUL N. STEWART,
conveying certain real property
therein described to REAL ES-
MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.,
Original Beneficiary, to secure
the indebtedness therein de-
scribed, as same appears of
record in the office of the Chan-
cery Clerk of Lowndes County,
May 22, 2013, in Deed Book
2013, Page 14797 ; and
WHEREAS, the beneficial in-
terest of said Deed of Trust
was transferred and assigned
to Reverse Mortgage Solutions,
Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Rubin Lublin, LLC
has been appointed as Substi-
tute Trustee; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the holder
of said Deed of Trust, having
requested the undersigned so
to do, as Substitute Trustee or
his duly appointed agent, by vir-
tue of the power, duty and au-
thority vested and imposed
upon said Substitute Trustee
shall, on January 6, 2021 with-
between 11:00AM and 4:00PM
best bidder for cash or certi-
fied funds ONLY, the following
EST CORNER OF SECTION 31,
TOWNSHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE
17 WEST, LOWNDES COUNTY,
1 DEGREE 20 MINUTES WEST
561 FEET; THENCE NORTH 1
DEGREE 00 MINUTES WEST A
DISTANCE OF 466 FEET TO
THE INITIAL POINT OF BEGIN-
NING OF THE PROPERTY
TANCE OF 298 FEET; THENCE
NORTH 3 DEGREES 26
240 FEET; THENCE NORTH 23
DEGREES 32 MINUTES EAST A
DISTANCE OF 132.8 FEET;
THENCE SOUTH 89 DEGREES
4 MINUTES EAST A DISTANCE
MINUTES WEST A DISTANCE
OF 200 FEET; THENCE NORTH
87 DEGREES 44 MINUTES
THENCE SOUTH 00 DEGREES
TANCE OF 476 FEET; THENCE
NORTH 87 DEGREES 44
OF 478 FEET TO THE INITIAL
POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE
PROPERTY HEREIN DE-
SCRIBED AND CONTAINING
7.31 ACRES, MORE OR LESS,
LYING AND BEING SITUATED IN
THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF
SECTION 31, TOWNSHIP 18
SOUTH, RANGE 17 WEST,
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI.
PROPERTY ADDRESS: The
39702. In the event of any dis-
crepancy between this street
address and the legal descrip-
tion of the property, the legal
description shall control.
Title to the above described
property is believed to be good,
but I will convey only such title
Support your community this Christmas season by shopping local!
tute Trustee.
THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPT-
ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY
INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL
BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
PROPERTY HEREIN DE-
SCRIBED AND CONTAINING
7.31 ACRES, MORE OR LESS,
LYING AND BEING SITUATED IN
THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF
SECTION 31, TOWNSHIP 18
SOUTH, RANGE 17 WEST,
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI.
PROPERTY ADDRESS: The
street address of the property
is believed to be 119 SONIA
DRIVE, COLUMBUS, MS
39702. In the event of any dis-
crepancy between this street
address and the legal descrip-
tion of the property, the legal
description shall control.
Title to the above described
Legal Notices
property is believed to be good, Houses For Rent: North
but I will convey only such title
as is vested in me as Substi-
tute Trustee.
THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPT-
ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY
INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL
BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
Rubin Lublin, LLC
428 North Lamar Blvd, Suite
107
Oxford, MS 38655
rlselaw.com/property-listing
Tel: (877) 813-0992
Fax: (470) 508-9401
PUBLISH: 12/09/2020,
12/16/2020, 12/23/2020,
12/30/2020
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Previous experience Houses For Sale: East
helpful but not necessary.
Computer skills a must. FSBO: 4BR/2BA. New roof,
Email resume to: new paint, fenced
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General Help Wanted 662−889−1443.
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TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
1 BEDROOM
2 BEDROOMS
3 BEDROOMS
LEASE,
© The Dispatch
DEPOSIT
AND
CREDIT CHECK
662-329-2323
2411 HWY 45 N
COLUMBUS, MS
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 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 n 8B
Houses For Sale: Other
Community
COLONIAL TOWNHOUSES.
2 & 3 bedroom w/ 2−3
bath townhouses. $650 to
$750. 662−549−9555. Ads starting at $12
Ask for Glenn or text.
Good Things To Eat
Mobile Homes for Rent
3BR/2BA MH in New Hope.
$650 dep + $650/mo. No
pets, quiet area. Leave full
name & message,
205−712−6697.
RENT A CAMPER!
CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
Utilities & cable included,
from $145/wk − $535/mo
Columbus & County School
locations. 662−242−7653
or 601−940−1397.
Real Estate
Ads starting at $25
Five Questions:
Lots & Acreage
1 Smack
1.75 ACRE LOTS: Good/
Bad Credit Options. Good
credit as low as 20% down,
2 5th Avenue
$499/mo. Eaton Land,
662−361−7711.
Mobile Homes for Sale
3 Arizona
2019 Clayton Mobile Home
Brand new, never lived in.
4 Water, bright
Fully furnished, perfect for
an older couple or person. One call will bring you results.
light, eating after
Attached front porch with 662-328-2424
roof. May have to be or place your ad online at
midnight
moved unless lease is
approved by land owner.
ads.cdispatch.com
$40,000. 828−674−8659
5 Cyber Monday
Merchandise
Medical / Dental
Ads starting at $12
Firewood / Fuel
FIREWOOD FOR SALE.
Various lengths.
662−295−2274.
Furniture
West Point:
GE Washer, almost new,
$450.
Dryer, good cond, $125.
Call anytime,
662−275−7679.
General Merchandise
Roper Dryer, standard size,
good condition, $200.
662−312−6617.
TABLE SAW & FURNITURE
Craftsman table saw. 10"
$100. Craftsman
compound miter saw. 12"
$100. "Tell City" 70" table
w/ extensions rumford
finish. Six chairs. $600.
"Ethan Allen" china cabinet
w/ hutch. 66" cherry finish.
$600. "Ethan Allen"
highboy dresser. mahogany
76" height. $400.
Call 662−368−6779
Sporting Goods
ED SANDERS GUNSMITH
Open for season!
Tue−Fri: 9−5 & Sat: 9−12
Over 50 years experience!
Repairs, cleaning, refin−
ishing, scopes mounted &
zeroed, handmade knives.
Located: Hwy 45 Alt, North
of West Point, turn right on
Yokahama Blvd, 8mi & turn
left on Darracott Rd, will
see sign, 2.5mi ahead
shop on left.
662−494−6218.
Did you
?
know
The Dispatch is the last
family-owned newspaper
in Mississippi.
Service Directory
Promote your small business starting at only $25
Air Cond & Heating General Services General Services Painting & Papering
RAPID TEMP Heating & WORK WANTED: Licensed QUALITY PAINTING.
cooling. Home & RV. & Bonded. Carpentry, minor Ext/Int Painting.
Service & install. electrical, minor plumbing, Sheet Rock Hang, Finish &
Free estimates. insulation, painting, demo− Repair. Pressure Washing.
Call 602−736−4880. lition, gutters cleaned, Free Estimates. Ask for
pressure washing, land− specials! Larry Webber,
scaping, cleanup work. 662−242−4932.
General Services 662−242−3608.
Lawn Care / Landscaping
A & T TREE SERVICES
Bucket truck & stump
SULLIVAN’S PAINT
SERVICE
removal. Free est. JESSE & BEVERLY’S Special Prices.
Serving Columbus LAWN SERVICE
Interior & Exterior Painting.
since 1987. Senior Mowing, cleanup, tree 662−435−6528
citizen disc. Call Alvin @
242−0324/241−4447
cutting, landscaping,
sodding & bush hogging.
"We’ll go out on a limb for 662−356−6525
you!"
TERRA CARE
Don’t have time
LANDSCAPING L.L.C.
Phone: 662−549−1878
Landscaping, Property
to cut your lawn?
LIST YOUR BUSINESS HERE! Clean Up, Plant Care, Find help here!
Ads starting at $25 ads.cdispatch.com. Bush Hogging,
Herbicide Spraying