Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi

CDISPATCH.COM 75 ¢ Newsstand | 40 ¢ Home Delivery

Friday | January 22, 2021

Past week sees

Library to host virtual fair of area fewer new
organizations for special needs children COVID cases in
Golden Triangle
State logs 259K cases,
nearly 5,500 deaths,
since pandemic began
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com

All four Golden

Tori Hopper, children’s and teen services and programming coordinator at Columbus-Lowndes Public Library,
demonstrates how children with autism or other learning disabilities can use one of the toys at the library’s Au-
tism Resource Center to practice tying their shoes. The center provides parents and children with resources and
connects them to other area organizations that can serve them, though some of its in-person services have been
halted because of the pandemic. On Saturday, the library will host a virtual ARC Family Fair to connect parents
with those organizations.
Pandemic has further isolated families
while disrupting traditional routines
children rely on for stability
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com
Leslie Junkin said
she knows of a child
who, when his school
shut down due to the
pandemic last year,
thought he must
have done something
wrong.
Junkin
The child is a spe-
cial education student at his school,
and his favorite thing to do every
morning is ride the bus. His parents
couldn’t explain to him that the bus
wasn’t coming because of a deadly
virus.
“They couldn’t make him un-
derstand ‘It’s not anything that you
did,’” Junkin said. “Because he had
told them, ‘I’ll be good,’ thinking
that he was bad and had to stay
home.”
That’s one example of the way
the pandemic has hurt SPED chil-
dren and their families, said Junkin.
Junkin is project director for the
Mississippi Parent Training and
Information Center, which trains
and works with parents of special
needs children around the state to
help them advocate for their child’s
education. MSPTI is one of several
organizations presenting during
the Columbus-Lowndes Public Li-
brary’s Virtual Autism Resource
Center (ARC) Family Fair at 10 a.m.
Saturday.
The ARC Family Fair is an annu-
al event the library hosts to inform
parents of area organizations that
Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff
can provide resources for children
and, in some cases, adults who have
been diagnosed with a learning,
mental or physical disability, said
the library’s Children’s and Teen
Services and Program Coordinator
Tori Hopper. And this year, like so
many other events, the pandemic
has sent it online.
“We get organizations from the
community to come and just talk
about how they serve families with
special needs,” she said. “It doesn’t
have to be somebody on the autism
spectrum. … We provide them with
connections.”
Funded through grants and do-
nations from Friends of the Library,
the Autism Resource Center offers
a collection of books and activities
designed to help kids with disabili-
ties. In a typical year, it hosts story-
time events for families with special
needs children to get together for
activities and lets parents check out
learning tools, such as flashcards
designed to help children identify
See VIRTUAL FAIR, 6A
Triangle counties
are seeing fewer
new COVID-19 cases
per week after sev-
eral weeks of sharp
spikes, according to Mississippi
State Department of Health data.
Lowndes County still leads the
region in cases and deaths, with
5,463 total cases and 119 deaths as
of 6 p.m. Wednesday, the most re-
cent update to the MSDH website.
The 277 cases in a week decreased
from 355 new cases the week be-
fore that, according to archived
MSDH data.
Oktibbeha County has 4,016
cases and 81 deaths, with 174 new
cases in the past week compared
to 176 the week before.
Clay County has 1,627 cases,
with 71 new ones in a week, and 35
deaths. Noxubee County has seen
1,114 cases, with 25 new ones in a
week, and 25 deaths. Clay County
had 98 new cases and Noxubee
County had 66 the previous week.
Mississippi’s COVID-19 cas-
es total 259,117 over the past 10
months, with 5,668 deaths. The
state recorded 2,290 new cases
and 30 new deaths Wednesday,
including two deaths in Noxubee
County and one in Lowndes Coun-
ty.
Area school districts have re-
sumed reporting their case data
weekly now that the spring semes-
ter has begun.
Lowndes County School Dis-
trict saw a total of 15 positive cas-
es from Jan. 11 to Jan. 15, its first
week of classes, with at least one
case in each building except New
Hope Middle School and West
Lowndes High School, according
to data on the LCSD website.
Starkville-Oktibbeha Consoli-
dated School District had 11 pos-
itive student cases and two pos-
itive staff cases the week of Jan.
11-15, the second week of classes,
according to data on the SOCSD
website.
Columbus Municipal School
District had nine student cases and
one staff case last week, Superin-
See COVID, 6A

Work patterns altered at Mississippi Capitol during pandemic

About four dozen of state’s 174 legislators
tested positive for the coronavirus in 2020
BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — Mississippi
legislators are changing some
of their work habits to try to
avoid a repeat of last year’s
coronavirus outbreak at the
state Capitol.
At least two senators and at
least one House member re-
cently tested positive for the
virus, and some other legisla-
tors are being told to quaran-
tine and get tested after being
near those colleagues.
“We will get through this
together,” Republican Speaker
Philip Gunn told the House on
Thursday.
In normal times, it’s com-
mon for lobbyists, journalists
and state agency leaders to
sit or stand shoulder to shoul-
der to watch legislators work
during committee meetings.
The goal now is to put more
space between people.
Small rooms that crowd
easily are now off-limits.
House and Senate leaders said
Thursday that committees will
conduct some business online
starting next week. Legisla-
tors will able to debate and
vote on bills through a meet-
ing app commonly used by
businesses.
The public won’t be able to
connect through the app, but
people can watch on the Mis-
sissippi Legislature YouTube
channel.
Weather permitting, legis-
lators will sit outside Tuesday
to hear Republican Gov. Tate
Reeves give his State of the
State address. That event usu-
ally takes place in the House
chamber, with senators, Su-
preme Court justices and oth-
er elected officials crowding
into the space.
About four dozen of Missis-
sippi’s 174 legislators tested
positive for the coronavirus in
2020, and a few of them were
hospitalized. It was the worst
outbreak at any state Capitol in
the U.S., and it happened after
some people shunned masks
and ignored recommendations
to avoid packed elevators and
up-close conversations.
Masking is more wide-
spread so far this session, but
some legislators are still going
bare-faced. With or without
masks, some still socialize at
See CAPITOL, 6A

INSIDE FIVE QUESTIONS LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

Classifieds 7,8B 1 In 2015, what NFL team MEETINGS
Comics 4B coached by Andy Reid was the Feb. 1: Lowndes
Crossword 8B first with an interception return County Board of
Dear Abby 4B of 90+ yards and a fumble return Supervisors, 9
Obituaries 5A of 70+ yards in the same game?
2 In 2014, Burger King pur- a.m. Courthouse,
Opinions 4A facebook.com/
Religion 5B chased what Canadian donut
chain for $11 billion? LowndesCounty-
3 Which rocker did Fergie honor Mississippi/
by naming her baby boy after the
WEATHER lead singer of her favorite band,
Feb. 3: Colum-
bus Municipal
Guns N’ Roses?
High 54 Low 33
Cloudy
4 Name one of the only two U.S.
presidents before 1850 to not
have owned slaves.
School District
review meeting
(virtual), 11:30
Full forecast on 5 What comic book company a.m., columbusc-
page 3A. publishes the Harvey Award-win- ityschools.org.
ning series “Saga” — Image, Feb. 12:
Dark Horse or IDW? Lowndes County
Answers, 8B School District
Board, 12:30
Chalitda Hughes, of Columbus, loves p.m., District
141st Year, No. 268 tutoring and math. Office

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Biden ordering stopgap help

as talks start on big aid plan
Orders would increase food aid, protect job seekers United States can rebound with
strength once people are vaccinat-
on unemployment, clear a path for federal workers ed from the coronavirus, but the
situation is still dire as the disease
and contractors to get a $15 hourly minimum wage has closed businesses and schools.
Nearly 10 million jobs have been
BY JOSH BOAK “The American people cannot lost since last February, and nearly
The Associated Press afford to wait,” said Brian Deese, 30 million households lack secure
director of the White House Na- access to food.
BALTIMORE — tional Economic Council. “So many
President Joe Biden One of Biden’s orders asks the
are hanging by a thread. They need Agriculture Department to consid-
plans to take exec- help, and we’re committed to doing
utive action Friday er adjusting the rules for food assis-
everything we can to provide that
to provide a stopgap tance, so that the government could
help as quickly as possible.”
measure of financial be obligated to provide more money
Deese emphasized that the or-
relief to millions of ders are not substitutes for the ad- to the hungry.
Americans while ditional stimulus that Biden says Children who are unable to get
Biden school meals because of remote
Congress begins to is needed beyond the $4 trillion
consider his much larger $1.9 tril- in aid that has already been ap- learning could receive a 15 percent
lion package to help those affected proved, including $900 billion this increase in food aid, according to
by the coronavirus pandemic. past December. Several Republican a fact sheet provided by the White
The two executive orders that lawmakers have voiced opposition House. The lowest-income house-
Biden is to sign would increase food to provisions in Biden’s plan for di- holds could qualify for the emergen-
aid, protect job seekers on unem- rect payments to individuals, state cy benefits from the Supplemental
ployment and clear a path for feder- and local government aid and a $15 Nutrition Assistance Program. And
al workers and contractors to get a hourly minimum wage nationwide. the formula for calculating meal
$15 hourly minimum wage. Most economists believe the costs could become more generous.

McConnell seeks to push impeachment trial to Feb.

Senate GOP leader: Delay would give majority leader post after
Democrats won two new
Trump time to prepare and stand up Senate seats in Georgia
and Vice President Ka-
his legal team, ensuring due process mala Harris was sworn in
Wednesday. But with such
BY MARY CLARE is necessary before the a narrow divide, Republi-
JALONICK AND LISA country — and the Con- cans will have some say
MASCARO McConnell Trump over the trial’s procedure.
gress — can move on.
The Associated Press Democrats are hoping
But McConnell told his fense in a Senate trial.”
fellow GOP senators on a The timing will be set to conduct the proceed-
WASHINGTON — ings while also passing
Senate Republican leader call Thursday that a short by House Speaker Nancy
delay would give Trump Pelosi, who can trigger legislation that is a prior-
Mitch McConnell is pro- ity for Biden, including
posing to push back the time to prepare and stand the start of the trial when
up his legal team, ensur- she sends the House coronavirus relief, but
start of Donald Trump’s they would need some
impeachment trial by a ing due process. charges for “incitement
cooperation from Senate
week or more to give the Indiana Sen. Mike of insurrection” to the
Republicans to do that, as
former president time to Braun said after the call Senate, and also by Mc- well.
review the case. that the trial might not be- Connell and new Senate Schumer told reporters
House Democrats who gin “until sometime mid Majority Leader Chuck Thursday that he was still
voted to impeach Trump February.” He said that Schumer, who are in nego- negotiating with McCon-
last week for inciting the was “due to the fact that tiations over how to set up nell on how to conduct the
Jan. 6 Capitol riots have the process as it occurred a 50-50 partisan divide in trial, “but make no mis-
signaled they want a quick in the House evolved so the Senate and the short- take about it. There will be
trial as President Joe quickly, and that it is not term agenda. a trial, there will be a vote,
Biden begins his term, in line with the time you Schumer is in charge of up or down or whether to
saying a full reckoning need to prepare for a de- the Senate, assuming the convict the president.”

Democrats ask ethics panel to investigate Sens. Cruz, Hawley

Democrats: ‘Their actions lend
credence to the insurrectionists’ cause
and set the stage for future violence’
BY KEVIN FREKING
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON —
Seven Democratic sena-
tors on Thursday asked
the Senate Ethics Com-
mittee to investigate the
actions of Republican
Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh
Hawley “to fully under-
stand their role” in the
Jan. 6 insurrection at the
Capitol by supporters of
former President Donald
Trump.
Thousands had gath-
ered that day as Congress
voted to formally certi-
fy President Joe Biden’s
victory over Trump in
November. Hawley and
Cruz led objections in the
Senate to Biden’s victory,
despite the widespread
recognition that the effort
would fail.
In the end, Congress
certified Biden’s Electoral
College victory, but not be-
fore thousands marched
to the Capitol at Trump’s
urging, overwhelmed se-
curity and interrupted the
proceedings. In the end,
the violence led to five
deaths, injured dozens of
police officers and caused
extensive damage to the
Capitol.
The Democratic sena-
tors said the question for
the Senate to determine
is not whether Cruz and
Hawley had the right to
object, but whether the
senators failed to put loy-
alty “to the highest moral
principles and to country
above loyalty to persons,
party, or Government de-
partment.” They also said
the investigation should
determine whether Cruz,
of Texas, and Hawley, of
Missouri, engaged in “im-
proper conduct reflecting
on the Senate.”
“Until then, a cloud
of uncertainty will hang
over them and over this
body,” the Democratic
senators wrote in a letter
to the leaders of the Sen-
ate Ethics Committee.
The Democratic sena-
tors said Cruz and Haw-
ley announced their in-
tentions to object even
though they knew that
claims of election fraud
were baseless and had led
to threats of violence.
“Their actions lend
credence to the insurrec-
tionists’ cause and set the
stage for future violence.
And both senators used
their objections for po-
litical fundraising,” the
Democratic senators said
in their letter.
Cruz and Hawley have
condemned the violence
on Jan. 6.

Judge: Amazon won’t have to restore Parler web service

BY MAT T O’BRIEN
AP Technology Writer
Amazon won’t be
forced to immediately re-
store web service to Parl-
er after a federal judge
ruled Thursday against
a plea to reinstate the
fast-growing social media
app, which is favored by
followers of former Presi-
dent Donald Trump.
U.S. District Judge
Barbara Rothstein in Se-
attle said she wasn’t dis-
missing Parler’s “substan-
tive underlying claims”
against Amazon, but
said it had fallen short in
demonstrating the need
for an injunction forcing it
back online.
Amazon kicked Parler
off its web-hosting ser-
vice on Jan. 11. In court
filings, it said the suspen-
sion was a “last resort”
to block Parler from har-
boring violent plans to
disrupt the presidential
transition.
The Seattle tech giant
said Parler had shown
an “unwillingness and in-
ability” to remove a slew
of dangerous posts that
called for the rape, tor-
ture and assassination of
politicians, tech execu-
tives and many others.
The social media app,
a magnet for the far right,
sued to get back online,
arguing that Amazon Web
Services had breached
its contract and abused
its market power. It said
Trump was likely on the
brink of joining the plat-
form, following a wave of
his followers who flocked
to the app after Twitter
and Facebook expelled
Trump after the Jan. 6 as-
sault on the U.S. Capitol.

Facebook’s oversight board to rule on Trump suspension

BY BARBAR A ORTUTAY
AP Technology Writer
OAKLAND, Calif. —
Facebook is passing the
buck for its indefinite sus-
pension of former presi-
dent Donald Trump to a
quasi-independent over-
sight board, setting up a
major test of the recently
established panel.
The social media gi-
ant said Thursday that
it believes it made the
right decision to suspend
Trump after he incited
his supporters to storm
the U.S. Capitol in a dead-
ly assault on Jan. 6. But
it said it’s referring the
matter to the oversight
board for what it called
an “independent judg-
ment” on upholding the
decision.
Facebook’s panel is in-
tended to rule on thorny
content issues, such as
when posts constitute
hate speech — or if the
decision to ban a world
leader was the right one.
It is empowered to make
binding rulings — that is,
ones that can’t be over-
turned by CEO Mark
Zuckerberg — on wheth-
er posts or ads violate the
company’s rules.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 3A

Mississippi teacher pay bill Mississippi opens new

drive-thru vaccination
clears 1 step, goes to House site in Jackson
SB 2001 would give certified teachers with three tified teachers with three or more
years of experience a $1,000 pay 19th drive-thru site opened
or more years of experience a $1,000 pay increase increase.
Teachers with two years of expe-
rience and less would get a $1,110
Thursday at Smith-Wills Stadium
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS the state’s economic performance
before committing to a multimil- bump, bringing them to a starting BY LEAH WILLINGHAM
JACKSON — Mississippi sena- lion-dollar plan. salary of $37,000 a year. Assistant The Associated Press/Report for America
tors asked no questions Thursday Mississippi has long had some of teachers would receive a $1,000 pay
before voting unanimously to move the lowest teacher salaries in the na- increase. The bigger raise in early JACKSON — Mississippi has opened its first
forward with a teacher pay raise pro- tion. According to the most recent years is an effort to make teaching drive-thru site for coronavirus vaccinations in
posal. figures available from the Southern jobs more attractive. the capital city, a move that officials said they
But, the vote was just one step Regional Education Board, the av- The bill is similar to legislation hoped would make shots more accessible to Af-
in what could be a long legislative erage teacher salary in the U.S. for proposed last year that was stalled rican Americans, who have received the vaccine
process, and the bill awaits an un- 2018-19 was $62,304. For Mississip- after the coronavirus pandemic cre- in much smaller numbers than whites.
certain fate. House leaders say pi, the average was $45,105. ated uncertainty about state spend- The state’s 19th drive-thru site opened
they want more information about Senate Bill 2001 would give cer- ing. Thursday at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson,
said Jim Craig, senior deputy and director of
health protection at the state Department of
Health.
“It was welcome to see a lot of Mississippi-
ans who had appointments coming in to get
Mississippi county to put up marker for lynching victims their shots,” Craig said during a Department of
Health briefing.
The department has operated 18 drive-thru
Metal sign will go outside the county white woman.”
The metal sign will go
trial because a white mob
seized him from the La- vaccination sites in different regions of the state
for three weeks. Shots are available for health
courthouse on the Square in Oxford outside the county court-
house on the Square in
fayette County Jail and
lynched him. Patton was care workers, people 65 and over and those who
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS scheduled for Decem- Oxford, near a marble sometimes called Nelse are at least 16 and have health conditions that
statue of a Confederate Patton in documents. Ac- might make them more vulnerable to the virus.
ber, but it was delayed
OXFORD — A Mis- soldier that was put up in cording to the New York Vaccinations are also continuing at long-term
because one supervisor,
sissippi county will put 1907. Times’ 1908 account of care facilities through a program run by CVS,
David Rikard, said he did
up a marker to remem- Calls to remove the the lynching, W.V. Sulli- Walgreens and the federal government.
not want to memorialize a
ber Black men who were Confederate monument van, a former U.S. senator The state previously allocated small num-
man who was accused of bers of doses to some private clinics and com-
lynched by white mobs have intensified in recent from Mississippi, led the
killing a white woman in munity health centers in the Jackson area. Until
between 1885 and 1935. It months amid the national lynch mob.
1908. Thursday, however, there was no vaccination
will be near a statue that discussion over racial in- The group that got ap-
honors Confederate sol- News outlets reported site in Jackson or in the rest of Hinds County,
justice, but the all-white proval to put the marker
diers. that Rikard met with a Board of Supervisors has on the courthouse lawn is the state’s most populous, and also majority
Lafayette County su- committee that planned said the soldier statue will the Lynching Memorial- Black. Residents reported traveling upwards of
pervisors voted unani- the marker, and they remain. ization in Lafayette Coun- an hour for vaccinations because of an influx of
mously Tuesday to ap- agreed that the marker Many lynching victims ty Committee, which has demand at the sites nearest to the capital.
prove the memorial for would say Lawson Patton in the U.S. were Black worked with the Equal Only 15 percent of the vaccinations adminis-
seven Black men known was “accused in the mur- people who were accused Justice Initiative, a legal tered so far in Mississippi have been to Black
to have been lynched in der of a white woman.” — sometimes falsely — aid organization seeking residents, compared to around 70 percent of
the county during the 50- The original proposal of committing a violent to reshape the narrative vaccinations for white residents, according to
year span. was to say the man was crime. around lynchings and the Health Department. Blacks represent 38
The vote originally was “accused in the death of a Patton never went to acts of racial terror. percent of the population.

MDOC: 2 Mississippi inmates die in hospitals

At least 10 state
inmates have
died this year
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSON — Two
Mississippi inmates have
died at hospitals in recent
days, the state Depart-
ment of Corrections said
Thursday.
Alex Jackie Pearson,
70, died Thursday at
Greene County Hospital.
A Hancock County jury
convicted him Aug. 29,
2019, of seven counts of
sexual battery and two
counts of unlawful touch-
ing of a child. Pearson
was serving a 45-year sen-
tence at South Mississippi
Correctional Institution.
Eric Alan Joosepson,
72, was pronounced dead
Sunday at Greenwood
Leflore County Hospital.
He had been taken there
from the Mississippi State
Penitentiary at Parchman.
Joosepson received a 15-
year sentence on June
1, 2007, after he pleaded
guilty to two counts of fon-
dling in Lowndes County.
The department said it de-
layed releasing informa-
tion about his death so his
family could be notified.
Autopsies are set for
Pearson and Joosepson.
At least 10 Mississippi in-
mates have died this year.
At least 106 inmates
died from late 2019 until
the end of 2020. Sever-
al inmates died during
outbursts of violence in
late December 2019 and
early January 2020. The
U.S. Justice Department
announced in February
that it is investigating the
state’s prison system.

AROUND THE STATE

Body in unmarked grave
linked to Mississippi
murder case
HAMILTON — Au-
thorities searching for the
body of a man killed more
than a month ago discov-
ered the remains buried
at the edge of a Mississip-
pi cemetery.
Investigators recov-
ered the body of Jack Cow-
an, 39, from an unmarked
grave on the outskirts of a
Hamilton-area cemetery
Wednesday afternoon,
The Monroe Journal quot-
ed County Sheriff Kevin
Crook as saying.
Cowan’s body was tak-
en to the Monroe County
Coroner’s Office, and an
autopsy was set to be per-
formed at the Mississippi
Forensics Laboratory in
Pearl, Coroner Alan Gur-
ley said.
Authorities began in-
vestigating in Mid-De-
cember after discovering
Cowan’s burned car near
and investigators later
charged Tommy Gene
Randolph, 37, and Brian
Lee Hoover, 36, with mur-
der and arson.
Cowan’s girlfriend,
Kayla Marie Morris
Johns, 28, was charged
with accessory to murder,
and an additional suspect,
Melonie Elizabeth Tate,
38, was also charged with
accessory after the fact in
the case, the sheriff said.
Authorities have not
said what evidence led to
the arrests in the case or
commented further on
Cowan’s death and the
circumstances surround-
ing the slaying.
Jackson mayor: City
will not tolerate
street racing
JACKSON — Jackson’s
mayor says the city will
not tolerate drag racing
and other types of reck-
less driving that draws
crowds to watch.
Mayor Chokwe Antar
Interstate 55 in Jackson,
WLBT-TV reported.
Authorities have good
information about a num-
ber of people believed to
have been involved, the
mayor said.
Lumumba added that
the city will not stand for
drag racing and drifting
— attention-grabbing
stunts that he called ex-
tremely dangerous.
Small earthquake
reported in south
Mississippi
COLLINS — A 2.1
magnitude earthquake
occurred Wednesday
morning in south Missis-
sippi.
The Mississippi Emer-
gency Management Agen-
cy posted on Twitter that
the earthquake happened
near Collins around 7:33
a.m.
So far, no issues, dam-
age or injuries had been
reported to MEMA.
SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.

a waterway in Amory. Lumumba made the com- Collins is about 26 Major

Fri.
7:48p
Sat.
8:31p
Crook said a missing per- ments after such activity miles northwest of Hat- Minor 2:03p 2:37p
Major 8:09a 8:54a
son’s case was launched recently closed part of tiesburg. Minor 3:08a 4:04a
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

99.49%
of our customers
receive their paper on time.
(Believe us. We track these things.)
The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703
If you are unhappy with your delivery
please let us know. Our goal is 100%
The Dispatch
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
Website: cdispatch.com/help
Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc., Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703

The Dispatch
customer satisfaction.

Call customer support at: If you don’t read The Dispatch, how are you gonna know?
662-328-2424
Opinion
4A FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

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

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

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

OUR VIEW

Two programs not suitable for classrooms

I
n the natural world, Isaac
Newton’s third law of mo-
tion states that “For every
action, there is an equal and
opposite reaction.”
But in the political world,
which has become increasing-
ly unnatural, the law seems to
have become “for every action,
there is an unequal and oppo-
site overreaction.”
On his first day in office,
President Biden issued an
executive order disbanding
the 1776 Commission, which
President Trump had created
by executive order in Septem-
ber to support what he called
“patriotic education.”
The 45-page report, re-
leased in the final days of
Trump’s presidency, is a
rebuke of decades of historical
scholarship on the legacy of
American slavery, but primari-
ly was created as a response to
the New York Times’ Pulitzer
prize-winning 1619 Project, a
deep unpacking of the origins
and legacy of institutional rac-
ism in American history.
The reaction by historians
was swift and brutal. Histori-
ans noted the report lacked
citations and, in many instanc-
es, a rehash of conservative
opinion pieces dating as far
back as 2008.
As an example, in its open-
ing paragraphs, the report sets
off two passages in quotation
marks but does not provide
any attribution for the quotes.
Courtney Thompson, an
assistant professor at Missis-
sippi State University, ran the
1776 report through TurnItIn,
a plagiarism detection service
used primarily by universities
and colleges, and claimed 26
percent of the content had
been lifted in various ways
from other sources without
citation.
The report, then, is largely
a work of opinion based not
only historical facts, but on
previous opinion pieces. Its
speculation built on top of
speculation, a shoddy, rushed
work of supposition.
In its discussion of slavery,
the report rationalizes the
suffering of millions of Af-
rican slaves by pointing out
that slavery existed through-
out the world at the time on
the nation’s founding. It also
characterizes the Civil Rights
movement as having lost its
way after the death of Martin
Luther King, Jr. in 1968, evolv-
ing into a movement focused
on equality to preferential
treatment of Blacks through
affirmative action and social
welfare programs.
In a section called “Chal-
lenges to America’s Princi-
ples,” it addresses not only
slavery, but progressivism, fas-
cism, communism and racism/
identity politics.
Clearly, the 1776 Project
Report is a political document,
not a scholarly work of history.
Even so, there is some real
threat that the report may be
used in classrooms. Gov. Tate
Reeves, in his budget propos-
al, recommended $3 million
to fund “Patriotic Education”
in the state’s public schools,
clearly with an eye of adopting
the 1776 Commission Report,
whose commission included
former Governor Phil Bryant.
Meanwhile, the Legislature
is considering a bill that would
strip funds from schools who
adopt the 1619 Project as part
of its curriculum.
We do not believe that
either of these is suitable for
K-12 curriculums. The 1619
Project’s goals are worthwhile
in telling the story of Black
America that has largely been
ignored.
But the 1619 project has
issues of its own among histo-
rians.
The difference between the
two retellings of our history is
that the 1619 Project sought to
right a wrong while the 1776
Report clings to a history that
can be loosely described as
history of white Americans, by
white Americans and for white
Americans.
As a curriculum, the 1619
Project is flawed. The 1776
Report is both flawed and
sinister.

MUSINGS CARTOONIST VIEW

The lost verses
T
he girls and
boys are out
tonight in my
town, walking back
and forth in front of
the old gray granite
public library, locking
glances with men in
passing cars, looking
for the jittery, hot-
eyed one who slows
down.
And it’s not that I Marc Dion
don’t like the brag and
bounce of “Hail to the
Chief” played by a well-fed band. I do.
But the girls and the boys looking for trade
on a cold night are part of the backdrop to
the soundtrack, as are the millions of acres of
single-family homes with nice people inside
raising their children, working their jobs and
paying their property taxes online.
And the convicts in their cells, the ones
who are guilty and the ones who aren’t, both of
them waiting out a five-year bit, a punishment
referred to by people who haven’t done time as
“a slap on the wrist.”
A woman in the white gown of a priestess
stood up at Joe Biden’s inauguration and sang
Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.” She
sang the verse about the golden valley. It’s pret-
ty, and it’s right, and it’s part of Guthrie’s song.
Guthrie was the Dust Bowl troubadour out of
Oklahoma, singing about failing crops and hun-
ger. “Was a-farmin’ on the shares, and always I THE NATION
was poor,” he wrote in a song called “I Ain’t Got
No Home.”
Guthrie’s appearance was so ragged that you
couldn’t have gotten him into the inauguration
Led and organized by many military men and women
I
if you’d thrown a blanket over him. was at the Capitol as itary officers describe porters with military training.
And by the time the woman in the priestess a broadcast journal- problems as “challeng- I am as disturbed as every
robe sang part of Guthrie’s song about this ist on Jan. 6, 2021, es”; the way they use American by the events at the
land, it was clear the Proud Boys weren’t going to cover the protest of the 24-hour clock; the Capitol, by the summer of rioting
to try conclusions with the real soldiers, and so the 2020 presidential way they are constantly and looting in America and by the
it seemed like maybe it was our land. elections. This protest observing and taking in increasing division among Amer-
It snowed where I was that day, big-as-a-nick- drew Americans from those around them; the icans. We can do better. We can
el snowflakes, so pretty that I just stood outside around the country, way they talk about lo- be stronger. We can and should be
for a while, watching the flakes whirl to the some even driving in gistics and tactics; and proud of our veterans. However,
ground. caravans from the West the shorter, more direct to heal as a nation, we must also
I love Woody Guthrie, but wherever I go, Coast to attend and to sentences they use acknowledge the truth of the riot-
when “This Land is Your Land” is sung, most have their voices heard. when involved in a job. ing that happened on Jan. 6, 2021,
of the time, they never get to the rest of the Unfortunately, my expe- Armstrong Williams If you have spent time and the truth of the rioting that
verses. rience was unsettling. among military person- happened in the wake of George
“In the shadow of the steeple I saw my As a result, I have some nel, identifying them Floyd’s murder.
people, very unsettling on-the-scene news becomes almost second nature. What I mean to say is this: The
“By the relief office I seen my people; to report. My experience and observa- message from the leaders of our
“As they stood there hungry, I stood there This is not the news that I had tions at the riot expose the hard country and from the mainstream
asking, expected to report, but as a jour- truth that we all must confront. media should be one of unity.
“Is this land made for you and me? nalist, integrity is of the utmost I’ve reviewed, to my displeasure, Certainly, there are times when
“Nobody living can ever stop me, importance, particularly in today’s the video that I took that day, and it is appropriate to disagree with
“As I go walking that freedom highway; day and age. My eyewitness ac- the video confirms for me even one another and it is healthy to
“Nobody living can ever make me turn back, count is most distressing. more clearly what I suspected at engage in debate, whether it be on
“This land was made for you and me.” First and foremost, let me say first glance: There were, without solutions to health care or how to
It’s a call, all right, but it’s not a call to that I am a patriot who has always a doubt, many military men and fix the immigration system. These
admire the scenery, and people don’t sing those venerated our military and the women at the Capitol. They were are examples of times when debate
verses too much because Guthrie, no matter men and women who willingly lay absolutely involved in the destruc- should be welcome and encour-
how much beauty he saw, could not forget the down their lives so that we might tion and violence that ensued. aged. There are also times when,
children who hadn’t eaten that day, and he live ours. That very fact makes it They were using tactical methods regardless of political philoso-
knew that hunger amid the beauty was a be- painful for me to acknowledge, but to sow chaos. They brought pepper phy, a behavior is so inherently
trayal of everyone and everything from Christ it is the truth: The riot (and it was spray and used it against U.S. Cap- un-American and uncivilized that
to the Constitution. a riot) was, in part, led and orga- itol Police. They worked in shifts; it should be condemned regardless
In front of the library, I see my people. Sex nized by many men and women they carried gear; and they came of whether the political philosophy
for money and money for heroin, as pure a with ties to the American military prepared. This was a riot that was of those behaving in such a way
circle as campaign contribution for influence, complex. well organized and well orchestrat- aligns with yours. For the good of
and influence for money and money for cam- While I have never served ed. It was premeditated. the American public, and, more
paign contributions. The hell of junkies and myself, I know many veterans and Now, let me be clear: There importantly, for the future of this
politicians is that there’s always something left active service members. I consider absolutely may have been some nation, politicians from both sides
to sell. them friends and confidants and antifa activists in the crowd as of the aisle should be able to vehe-
Guthrie, who saw his people by the relief hold them in the highest esteem. well, and there may have been mently agree that rioting, looting
office, thought no one living could ever stop I know how they speak and how people posing as Trump support- and inciting violence for the sake
you if you walked that freedom highway. they dress, from their choice of ers who were not. There were no of ANY political cause is abso-
And we walk. We walk up and down the side- attire and footwear to the types of doubt hundreds of things that I did lutely unacceptable. If our leaders
walk, and we look for that freedom highway. backpacks they use and the types not and could not see. Regardless, cannot unite behind something so
Marc Dion, a nationally syndicated columnist, of tattoos they have. I can identify what I did see concerned me, and obvious, I worry about the future
is a reporter and columnist for The Herald News, a current or former service mem- I have no doubt that many of the of this country.
the daily newspaper of his hometown, Fall River, ber in a crowd simply by observing people engaged in the rioting and Armstrong Williams is an Ameri-
Massachusetts. For more on Dion, go to go to their distinct mannerisms. For in leading the crowd were not only can political commentator, entrepre-
www.creators.com. example, there is the way that mil- Trump supporters but Trump sup- neur, author, and talk show host.

COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
Obituaries with basic informa-
tion including visitation and
service times, are provided
free of charge. Extended
obituaries with a photograph,
detailed biographical informa-
tion and other details families
may wish to include, are avail-
able for a fee. Obituaries must
be submitted through funeral
homes unless the deceased’s
body has been donated to
science. If the deceased’s
body was donated to science,
the family must provide official
proof of death. Please submit
all obituaries on the form
provided by The Commercial
Dispatch. Free notices must be
submitted to the newspaper
no later than 3 p.m. the day
prior for publication Tuesday
through Friday; no later than 4
p.m. Saturday for the Sunday
edition; and no later than 7:30
a.m. for the Monday edition.
Incomplete notices must be re-
ceived no later than 7:30 a.m.
for the Monday through Friday
editions. Paid notices must be
finalized by 3 p.m. for inclusion
the next day Monday through
Thursday; and on Friday by 3
p.m. for Sunday and Monday
publication. For more informa-
tion, call 662-328-2471.
Frank Edwards III
COLUMBUS —
Frank “Tut” O’Bryant
Edwards
III, died
Dec. 30,
2020.
Funeral
services
will be
at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Edwards III
at Word
Church International,
with John Sanders
officiating. Burial will
follow at Union Ceme-
tery. Visitation is from
2-6 p.m. at Carter’s Fu-
neral Services. Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Columbus is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Edwards was
born Sept. 28, 2000, in
Columbus, to Tiffney
Denise Trimuel and
Frank Conner Ed-
wards. He was formerly
employed with Rose’s
Express and attended
Word Church Interna-
tional.
In addition to his
parents, he is survived
by his sister, Frantrice
Caine.
Pallbearers will be
Treyvon Little, J.T.
Selvie, Jumarcus Selvie,
TY Copeland, Anthony
Baity, Brylin Gore,
Damarvion Lacey, Ian
Gardner and Deonte
Bonds.
Ellis Troupe Jr.
COLUMBUS — Ellis
Troupe Jr., 42, died Jan.
12, 2021, at
his resi-
dence.
Grave-
side ser-
vices will
be at 2 p.m.
Saturday,
at Union Troupe Jr.
Cemetery,
with the Rev. Willie M.
Williams Sr. officiating.
Visitation is from 2-6
p.m. today, at Carter’s
Funeral Services. Car-
ter’s Funeral Services of
Columbus is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Troupe was born
Jan. 3, 1979, in Colum-
bus, to Ellis Troupe Sr.
and Gweneva Troupe.
In addition to his
parents, he is survived
by his wife, Tequila
Troupe; children, Alex
Troupe and Kyiesha
Troupe both of Co-
lumbus; and siblings,
Elnada T. Troupe of
Columbus and Tristan
Danner of Hamilton.
Annie Jones
COLUMBUS — An-
nie Bell Jones, 96, died
Jan. 16, 2021, at Bap-
tist Memorial Hospi-
tal-Golden Triangle.
No services will be
held. Visitation is from
noon-2 p.m. Saturday,
at Carter’s Funeral Ser-
vices. Carter’s Funeral
Services of Columbus
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 5A
AREA OBITUARIES
Mrs. Jones was Lee-Sykes Funeral ceded in death by her
born Oct. 12, 1924, in Home of Columbus is husband, Jimmie James
Bigbee Valley, to the in charge of arrange- Shamily.
late Elijah Moore Sr. ments. She is survived by
and Betty Hargrove Mr. Harris was born her children, Earnest
Henderson. She was Feb. 15, 1976, in West B. Shamily of St. Louis,
formerly employed as Point, to Maurice Spru- Missouri, Earnest
a custodian with Hunt ell and Pam Harris. J. Shamily, Asalene
Shamily, Jessie James
High School and was a He was preceded
member of Southside in death by his sister, Shamily, Mary D.
M.B. Church. Latasha Harris. Shamily and Joseph
Gary Medley
In addition to her Shamily all of Macon;
parents, she was siblings, Mary Earl
preceded in death by
McAuther Adams Clanton, Robert Earl
COLUMBUS — Mc- McCoy and Selma Lee
her husband, Jessie
Auther “Mack” Adams, Boykins all of Macon; Gary Lee Medley, age 67,
James Jones; children,
72, died Jan. 13, 2021, 24 grandchildren; and died at his home in Danville,
Annie Mae Williams
at Vineyard Court in 44 great-grandchildren. AL, January 15, 2021.
and Louella Jones; and
Columbus. Pallbearers will be Gary was born May 12,
siblings, Elijah Moore
Graveside services Michael Shamily, Pat- 1953, in Augsburg, Germany,
Jr., Allie Will Long and
will be at 2 p.m. Sat- rick Maxwell, Deme- to Edward A. Medley, Sr. and
Willie Coley.
urday, at Sandfield trius Maxwell, Travis Mary Medley. He lived most of
She is survived by
Cemetery. Visitation Maxwell, Mark Tripple his life in Columbus, MS. He
her siblings, Robert
is from noon- 5 p.m. and Timmy Williams. played high school football and
Jones, Jessie Mae
today, at Lee-Sykes graduated from Caldwell High
Jones, Nora Bell
Funeral Home. Lee- School in 1971. He joined the Columbus Fire
Jones, William James
Sykes Funeral Home of
John Prince Jr. Department in 1973 and was an 8 year veteran
Jones of Columbus, NOXUBEE COUN-
Columbus is in charge when he was injured fighting a fire in downtown
Betty Dell Jones of TY — John Prince Jr.,
of arrangements. Columbus on May 12, 1981, in which he lost his
San Pedro, California, 71, died Jan. 20, 2021,
Mr. Adams was born leg. Gary also worked at Metso in Columbus for
Polly Ann McCrary of in Macon. over 20 years until his retirement. Gary loved
Inglewood, California, Jan. 20, 1948, to the Arrangements are
late Arthur and Arline bass fishing, taxidermy, woodworking, Braves
Tonda Jones-Boyland of incomplete and will be baseball and Alabama football.
Memphis, Tennessee, Adams. He was former- announced by Carter’s
ly employed with Glenn Gary was preceded in death by his parents and
Dannie M. Jones of Funeral Services of one sister.
Florida; grandchildren; Machine Works and Macon.
great-grandchildren; was a member of Tem- Survivors include his wife, Teresa Medley; his
brother, Edward A. Medley, Jr.; sister, Marian
and great-great-grand- ple Apostolic Church. Willie Stewart
Parson (Tony); daughters, Ginnie Cody and
children. In addition to his par- NOXUBEE COUN-
Laura Hoffman (Brian); step children, Mandy
ents, he was preceded TY — Willie Stewart,
(Dan) and Doug; 10 grandchildren; and two
Daniel Shelton in death by his brother, 83, died Jan. 20, 2021, great-grandchildren.
COLUMBUS —Dan- Sam Adams. in Jackson. In remembrance of Gary donations can be
iel “D-Shot” Shelton, He is survived by his Arrangements are made to the Columbus Lowndes Humane Society,
42, died wife, Mary Lee Adams; incomplete and will be 50 Airline Road, Columbus, MS. 39702.
Jan. 5, children, Lonnie Sand- announced by Carter’s
2021, at ers, Cory Adams and Funeral Services of Paid Obituary - Roselawn Funeral Home & Crematory
North Courtney Adams all Macon.
Mississippi of Columbus; siblings, See OBITUARIES, 7A
Harold Young
Medical Beulah Sherrod and
Center of Katherine Moody both
West Point. of Columbus; and eight
Grave- D. Shelton grandchildren. A private family service
side for Harold Glynn Young, 80,
of Monroe, LA will be held
services will be at 2 Annie Shamily Saturday, January 23, 2021, at
p.m. Saturday, at Cedar NOXUBEE COUN-
Grove M.B. Church Rawls Cemetery in Crossett,
TY — Annie C. Sham-
Cemetery, with Randy AR.
ily, 83,
Randle officiating. Vis- Harold was born November
died Jan.
itation is from 2-6 p.m. 29, 1940, in Lake Village AR
17, 2021,
today, at Carter’s Fu- and passed away January 17,
at Delta
neral Services. Carter’s 2021, in Shreveport, LA due
Regional
Funeral Services of to complications of surgery. He was a long time
Hospital of
Columbus is in charge employee of Georgia- Pacific in Crossett, AR and
Greenville.
of arrangements. Bobby Garner later retired Weyerhaeuser in Columbus, MS. He
Graveside Graveside Services: was an avid hunter and fisherman but later in life
Mr. Shelton was services Shamily Saturday, Jan. 23 • 11 AM
born April 23, 1978, in Friendship Cemetery he enjoyed being outside sitting by the fire with
will be at Burial
Aberdeen, to the late his brothers and cousins.
11 a.m. Saturday, at St. Friendship Cemetery
Inez Shelton. He was preceded in death by his parents,
Michael UMC Ceme- 2nd Ave. N. Location
In addition to his Harold and Christian Young.
mother, he was pre-
tery, with the Rev. Keri Ray Vassar He is survived by his wife, Martha Young;
Bridges officiating. Incomplete daughter, Terri Hairston (Jeff); son, Mark Young
ceded in death by College St. Location
Visitation is from 2-6 (Stephanie); grandchildren, Haley Hairston
his brother, Michael
Shelton. p.m. today, at Carter’s (Darren), Clint Hairston (Lara), Pierce Young
He is survived by his Funeral Services. Car- (Camille) and Ginger Johnson (Ryan); and three
siblings, Bobbie Shel- ter’s Funeral Services great-grandchildren, Henry, Brennan and Lana;
two brothers, Mike Young (Edra), David Young
ton, Larry Shelton, An- of Macon is in charge of
(Charlene); cousin Hubert Riley (Nancy) who
tonio Shelton, Sandra arrangements.
memorialgunterpeel.com was just like a brother.
Shelton all of Colum- Mrs. Shamily was
born Oct. 31, 1937, in In lieu of flowers family request that all
bus, Phillip Shelton of
Noxubee County, to donations be made to St. Jude.
Starkville and Gregory
the late Gardner Lee Online condolences can be made at www.
Shelton of Jackson.
McCoy and Mattie mulhearnfuneralhome.com
Lee McCoy. She was a
Johnnie Bush Paid Obituary - Mulhearn Funeral Home
member of St. Michael
COLUMBUS —
UMC. cdispatch.com
Paul Millsaps
Johnnie “Mane” Bush,
79, died Jan. 12, 2021, at In addition to her
Aurora Nursing Home parents, she was pre-
Neon Bobitt
in Columbus. Paul Millsaps, 68, passed away at his residence
Graveside services on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. Born May 6,
will be at noon Satur- 1952, to Paul and Edith Davis Millsaps, Paul
day, at Sandfield Cem- was a lifelong Starkville native graduating from
Murry Neon Bobitt, 70, of Columbus, MS
etery, with Casey Bush Starkville High School and Mississippi State
passed away Thursday, January 21, 2021, at Bap-
officiating. Visitation University. What started as a shared love of
tist Memorial Hospital-GT.
is from 1-5 p.m. today, football with his father led to his playing for the
Visitation will be held Saturday, January 23,
at Hairston and Hair- Yellowjackets and the Bulldogs. Paul’s love for
2021, from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at First Assem-
ston Funeral Home. bly of God. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 football was second only to the tremendous love
Hairston and Hairston AM with Bro. Kenny Gardner officiating. Inter- that he had for his family.
Funeral Home of Co- ment will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Lamar After running his family automobile dealership
lumbus is in charge of County, AL with Lowndes Funeral Home, Co- for 33 years, Paul graduated cum laude with a J.
arrangements. lumbus, MS directing. D. from the University of Mississippi Law School
Mr. Bush was born Mr. Bobitt was born on August 13, 1950, in in 2013 and set up a law practice specializing in
Sept. 15, 1941, in Big- Columbus, MS to the late Mary Nell Bobitt and elder law. Paul delighted in being of service to
bee Valley, to Isaac and David Bobitt. He worked as a service tech for others through his law practice.
Annie Jane Bush. He Sears for 45 years. Mr. Bobitt was an avid hunter Throughout his life, Paul was also honored to
was formerly employed and fisherman. He enjoyed cooking, traveling to serve the Starkville community that he loved. He
with the City of Colum- the Smokey Mountains, and spending time with served on the Starkville Public Schools School
bus. family. Mr. Bobitt was a member of the former Board and was a past president and Paul Harris
He is survived by his Central United Methodist Church. Fellow of Rotary International. In recent years,
siblings, Isaac Bush, Jo- In addition to his parents, Mr. Bobitt is preced- Paul served as the first chairman of Casserole
seph Bush, Mary Ruth ed in death by a grandchild, Brantley Bobitt; and Kitchen, a food outreach program whose mission
Eddins all of Columbus his brother, Paul Bobitt. is to serve hot, nutritious meals to anyone in need
and Mary Sturdivant of Mr. Bobitt is survived by his wife, Renee James at no charge.
Detroit, Michigan. Bobitt of Columbus, MS; sons, Brian (Angela) Paul is survived by his loving wife, Tracey; his
Bobitt and Drew (Shelbi) Young; daughters, daughters, Carley Stein (Brad) of Asheville, NC
Maurice Harris Lauren (Chris) Davidson and Kourtney (Scott) and Julia Griffith (Wade) of Durango, CO; his
COLUMBUS — Gilmore; grandchildren, Ali Simmons, Emily son, Baxter Billingsley (Emily) of Dallas, TX;
Maurice Harris, 44, Simmons, Ashley Simmons, Kaylee Bobitt, Bri- six grandchildren; and his sister, Ann Forester
died Jan. 6, anna Bobitt and Sade Young; and sister, Gaila of Oxford, MS.
2021, at his (Henry) Freeman. A family service will be held at The Episcopal
residence. Pallbearers will be Chris Davidson, Steve Church of the Resurrection in Starkville on
Grave- Flemming, Dean Goodman, Hunter Goodman, Saturday, January 23, at 10:00 AM. The church
side Noah Wright and Drew Young. service will be followed by an inurnment in the
services Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Phillips, columbarium at 10:30 AM. Friends of the family
will be at Bud Phillips, Ray Gore, Judge Jim Kitchens, are welcome to attend this outdoor ceremony.
11 a.m. Sat- Doug Curlee, Dr. William Gillespie III and Dr. The family requests that masks be worn.
urday, at Harris Memorials may be made to the Casserole
William Rosenblatt.
Sixteenth Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice. Kitchen through The Episcopal Church of the
Section Cemetery. Resurrection website at https://ecr.breezechms.
Visitation is from noon- Compliments of com/give/online.
5 p.m. today, at Lee- Lowndes Funeral Home Paid Obituary - Welch Funeral Home
Sykes Funeral Home. www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
6A FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Biden revokes Trump report promoting ‘patriotic education’

The American Historical Association condemned the document,
saying it glorifies the founders while ignoring the histories and
contributions of enslaved people, Indigenous communities and women
BY COLLIN BINKLEY
AP Education Writer
President Joe Biden on
Wednesday revoked a recent
Trump administration report
that aimed to promote “patriot-
ic education” in schools but that
historians mocked and rejected
as political propaganda.
In an executive order signed
in his first day in office, Biden
disband Donald Trump’s pres-
idential 1776 Commission and
withdrew a report it released
Monday. Trump established
the group in September to rally
support from white voters and
as a response to The New York
Times’ “1619 Project,” which
highlights the lasting conse-
quences of slavery in America.
In its report, which Trump
hoped would be used in class-
rooms across the nation, the
commission glorifies the coun-
try’s founders, plays down Amer-
ica’s role in slavery, condemns
the rise of progressive politics
and argues that the civil rights
movement ran afoul of the “lofty
ideals” espoused by the Found-
ing Fathers.
The panel, which included
no professional historians of
the United States, complained
of “false and fashionable ideol-
ogies” that depict the country’s
story as one of “oppression and
victimhood.” Instead, it called for
renewed efforts to foster “a brave
and honest love for our country.”
Historians widely panned the
report, saying it offers a false and
outdated version of American
history that ignores decades of
research.
“It’s an insult to the whole en-
terprise of education. Education
is supposed to help young people
learn to think critically,” said Da-
vid Blight, a Civil War historian
at Yale University. “That report
is a piece of right-wing propagan-
da.”
Trump officials heralded the
report as “a definitive chronicle
of the American founding,” but
scholars say it disregards the
most basic rules of scholarship.
It offers no citations, for exam-
ple, or a list of its source materi-
als.
It also includes several pas-
sages copied directly from other
writings by members of the pan-
el, as one professor found after
running the report through soft-
ware that’s used to detect plagia-
rism.
Matthew Spalding, the pan-
el’s executive director and a vice
president at the conservative
Hillsdale College, denied any
wrongdoing, saying the panel’s
members “contributed our own
work and writing, under our
own names, to the 1776 Report,
which was an advisory report to
the president.”
Spalding and other commis-
sion leaders did not immediately
respond to other criticism lev-
eled against the report.
In his order dissolving the
panel, Biden said it “sought to
erase America’s history of racial
injustice.”
The American Historical
Association condemned the
document, saying it glorifies
the founders while ignoring
the histories and contributions
of enslaved people, Indigenous
communities and women. In
a statement also signed by 13
other academic groups, the or-
ganization says the report seeks
“government indoctrination of
American students.”

AKA sorority members celebrate Kamala Harris inauguration

Vice president joined Alpha Kappa
Alpha in 1986 at Howard University
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Eliza-
beth Shelby had her in-
auguration outfit planned
weeks in advance: blue
jeans, a Kamala Harris
sweatshirt, a green coat,
and pink Chuck Taylors
as an homage to her so-
rority’s colors and Vice
President Harris’ signa-
ture shoe.
And pearls, just like
the ones Harris wore
when she graduated from
Howard University, was
sworn into Congress, and
was sworn in as the first
woman, first Black and
South Asian person, and
first Alpha Kappa Alpha
member to serve as vice
president.
Shelby, a member of
the Alpha Psi chapter of
AKA, had hoped to wear
her pearls
at the inau-
and urged members to
stay home. So countless
of their feeling of safety
at the inauguration and
AKA in 1986 at Howard
University, one of the
guration in
Wa s h i n g -
AKA members celebrat-
ed the historic moment
beyond, she said, and
many members have been
country’s oldest histori-
cally Black colleges and
ton, D.C. in their living rooms, on telling each other to stop universities. When she
Instead, Twitter and on Zoom calls. wearing their letters in accepted the Democratic
she donned “I wanted to help show public for safety reasons. vice-presidential nom-
them at Kamala that her sisters But Shelby said that ination in August, she
home in Harris are behind her always,” didn’t stop her from cele- thanked AKA, saying,
Nashville, Tennessee. Shelby said. “I wanted her brating at a Zoom viewing “Family is my beloved Al-
Following the deadly to look out and see a sea of party with her local grad- pha Kappa Alpha.” Soon
Jan. 6 insurrection at the pink and green and know uate chapter. after, donations in incre-
U.S. Capitol, AKA, the that this is her moment.” “I’m not going to let ments of $19.08, marking
oldest sorority of the his- After the Capitol insur- this take the joy out of this the year, 1908, when the
torically Black fraternities rection, Shelby canceled moment,” she said. sorority was founded,
and sororities that make her plane tickets and ho- Harris, the daughter started flowing in to a
up the Divine Nine, called tel reservation. The riot- of an Indian mother and Biden-Harris campaign
off inauguration events ing robbed many AKAs Jamaican father, joined fundraising committee.

Health experts blame rapid expansion for vaccine shortages

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Public health ex-
perts Thursday blamed
COVID-19 vaccine short-
ages around the U.S. in
part on the Trump ad-
ministration’s push to get
states to vastly expand
their vaccination drives
to reach the nation’s es-
timated 54 million people
age 65 and over.
The push that began
over a week ago has not
been accompanied by
enough doses to meet
demand, according to
state and local officials,
leading to frustration
and confusion and lim-
iting states’ ability to
attack the outbreak that
has killed over 400,000
Americans.
Over the past few days,
authorities in California,
Ohio, West Virginia, Flor-
ida and Hawaii warned
that their supplies were
running out. New York
City began canceling
or postponing shots or
stopped making new
appointments because
of the shortages, which
President Joe Biden has
vowed to turn around.
Florida’s top health offi-
cial said the state would
deal with the scarcity by
restricting vaccines to
state residents.
The vaccine rollout
so far has been “a major
disappointment,” said Dr.
Eric Topol, head of the
Scripps Research Trans-
lational Institute.
Problems started with
the Trump administra-
tion’s “fatal mistake”
of not ordering enough
vaccine, which was then
snapped up by other coun-
tries, Topol said. Then,
opening the line to senior
citizens set people up for
disappointment because
there wasn’t enough vac-
cine, he said. The Trump
administration also left
crucial planning to the
states and didn’t provide
the necessary funding.

Virtual fair
Continued from Page 1A
everything from emo-
tions to street signs or
other educational puzzles
and games.
Thanks to the pan-
demic, those programs
have been temporarily
suspended, Hopper said,
in order to prevent the
spread of COVID-19. She
still has people checking
out the resource center’s
books and DVDs — which
includes everything from
informational books to
memoirs written by peo-
ple with autism spectrum
disorders and their fami-
lies — but thinks families
and children are missing
that sense of community
that came with in-person
programs such as the sto-
rytimes.
“Your socialization is
definitely limited, both
for parent and child,”
Hopper said. “If you don’t
have socialization for the
child, that’s one thing.
But the parent is probably
going to feel very isolated
as well, unless they start
reaching out. I think we’re
seen as an organization
that parents will reach out
to for assistance.”
It’s why the virtual
family fair is so important
this year.
“(The information pre-
sented) will be updated
with pandemic regula-
tions,” she said.
Socialization needs
The pandemic has
been rough on families
with children with special
needs, agreed Hopper,
Junkin and Kasee Strat-
ton-Gadke, director for
Mississippi State Univer-
sity’s T.K. Martin Center,
which provides therapies
and equipment for indi-
viduals with disabilities
all over the state.
T.K. Martin is one of
eight organizations that
will present at the ARC
Family Fair Saturday.
Like everyone else,
children with special
needs miss their af-
ter-school activities and,
if they’re learning from
home, miss being with
their friends and teachers
at school. Because many
of them are medically
fragile, they have stayed
home even as other chil-
dren have gone back to
in-person classes and ac-
tivities.
Those problems are
compounded by the dis-
ruptions to
families’
s chedules ,
since chil-
dren with
diagnoses
such as au-
tism who
rely on Stratton-
strict rou- Gadke
tines, Stratton-Gadke
said. So not only are the
children and their fam-
ilies more isolated than
usual, but the children
are particularly emotion-
ally vulnerable.
“You might see a spike
in anxiety,” Stratton-Gad-
ke said. “We’ve seen
some who are depressed
because they’re missing
time with their friends.”
Socialization is partic-
ularly important for chil-
dren with disorders on
the autism spectrum or
similar learning disabil-
ities because they often
have difficulty commu-
nicating and expressing
or identifying emotions.
Being around other peo-
ple helps them learn to do
that, Stratton-Gadke said.
It’s made even more
difficult for children who
intellectually cannot un-
derstand the virus, such
as the child who wanted
to ride the bus, Junkin
said.
“They’ve lost their
familiar places, their fa-
miliar people,” she said.
“They’ve lost their struc-
ture, their therapy, be-
cause they’re not getting
them at home.”
Family fair
Hopper hopes the ARC
Family Fair will help par-
ents find more resources
their children can use
both during the pandem-
ic and once it’s over.
Stratton-Gadke said
T.K. Martin’s presen-
tation will focus on its
pre-K program as well
as a new program it’s
launching called IGNITE
Dyslexia/Reading Clinic
Reading Program, which
is designed to keep stu-
dents from falling be-
hind on reading during
the pandemic. The pro-
gram is funded through
a $240,000 Governor’s
Emergency Education
Response grant from the
state. It will run through
June 2022.
Junkin said MSPTI’s
representatives will give
a brief overview of the
assistance and training
they provide parents
when it comes to advocat-
ONLINE
■ Mississippi Parent Train-
ing and Information Center:
http://www.mspti.org/
■ T.K. Martin Center for
Technology and Disability:
https://www.tkmartin.msstate.
edu/
ing for SPED children’s
education, as well as em-
phasize how they can con-
tact them for more infor-
mation.
“Our goal was mainly
to tell them what we do
and how to get to us,” she
said. “Here’s the resourc-
es we have available. We
can provide training, we
can provide phone sup-
port, meeting support,
but for more in-depth sup-
port, here’s our contact
information.”
To attend the fami-
ly fair, families can go
to Zoom and enter the
identification 397 842
5193. The password is
ARC2021.

COVID
Continued from Page 1A
tendent Cherie Labat told
The Dispatch, a decrease
from the previous week’s
15 student cases and
eight staff cases.
As of Wednesday, the
Noxubee County School
District has two positive
student cases and three
staff cases, the same
numbers as Jan. 12, the
most recent available
data before Wednesday,
according to the NCSD
website.
The West Point Con-
solidated School District,
as well as area private
schools and Mississippi
School for Mathematics
and Science, report their
case data to MSDH week-
ly. If a number of cases is
lower than five, MSDH re-
ports it as 1-5.
WPCSD reported one
to five student cases in two
buildings and one to five
staff cases in four build-
ings, which means the dis-
trict could have as many
as 10 student cases and 20
staff cases, according to
MSDH data from Jan. 11-
15. South Side Elementary
School and the north cam-
pus of West Point High
School each reported both
student and staff cases.
Starkville Christian
School, Oak Hill Academy
in West Point, Annunci-
ation Catholic School in
Columbus, and Magno-
lia Christian School and
South Haven Mennonite
School in Macon all re-
ported no positive COVID
cases for the week of Jan.
11-15. Mississippi School
for Mathematics and Sci-
ence reported one to five
student cases.
Mississippi State Uni-
versity has 100 positive
cases as of Thursday, ac-
cording to data reported
daily on the MSU website,
with 89 student cases and
11 employee cases after
two weeks of classes.
MSU had 77 student cases
and 14 employee cases a
week earlier, for a total of
91 cases.
Mississippi Universi-
ty for Women reported
four new student cases
between Jan. 15 and this
morning, according to
data updated daily on the
MUW website.

Capitol
Continued from Page 1A
close range.
People entering the
Capitol each day are
asked screening ques-
tions and are having
their temperature taken.
But, those precautions
were in place before the
big outbreak last year.
Mississippi’s annual
legislative session start-
ed Jan. 5 and is sched-
uled to end April 4. Leg-
islators are typically at
the Capitol four or five
days a week.
Since the beginning
of the session, the Sen-
ate has only used large
rooms for committee
meetings, and those
have meetings have been
streamed online.
Representatives are
having some committee
meetings in the House
chamber — the largest
space available.
The state health offi-
cer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs,
said Thursday that he
has spoken to House
and Senate leaders about
coronavirus precautions.
He said the biggest dan-
ger for spreading the vi-
rus can happen during
“after-hours social stuff.”
“Meals with people
who are not in the same
household can be dan-
gerous,” Dobbs said.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 7A

Obituaries
Continued from Page 5A

Thelma Hoskins-Agnew father, he was pre- Graveside services Spann of Macon; and
DUNCANVILLE, ceded in death by his will be at 11 a.m. Sat- 13 grandchildren.
Texas — Thelma siblings, Harold Baker urday, at Pool’s Memo- Pallbearers will be
Hoskins-Agnew, 63, and Willie Cooper. In rial Gardens, with the Ryheem Stewart, Dar-
died Jan. addition to his moth- Rev. Gregory Clark Sr. rione Stewart, Danta-
15, 2021, at er, he is survived by officiating. Visitation vious Stewart, Jacoby
her resi- his siblings, Thomas will be from 10:30-11 Roby, Kendell Stewart
dence. Dawson of San Antonio, a.m. prior to services and Shawn Stewart.
Grave- Texas, Steve Poston of Saturday, at the ceme-
side Madison, David Baker tery. Carter’s Mortuary Bettie Patterson
services of Pascagoula, Stanley Service of West Point MACON — Bettie
will be at Baker of Birmingham, is in charge of arrange- Ann Patterson, 63, died
11 a.m. Hoskins- Alabama, Gloria Shelly ments. Jan. 16, 2021, at Noxu-
Saturday,
Agnew of Columbus, Dianne Mrs. Griffin was bee General Hospital.
at Union Cemetery, Harris of Columbus, born Jan. 21, 1931, in Graveside services
with Joe Lee Peoples Marva Williamson West Point, to the late will be at noon Sunday,
officiating. Visitation is of Stone Mountain, Rev. Jerry and Lillian at Macedonia Cem-
from 2-6 p.m. today, at Georgia, Shelia Harden Green. She was for- etery, with the Rev.
Carter’s Funeral Ser- of Morrow, Georgia, merly employed with Johnny Moore officiat-
vices. Carter’s Funeral Barbara Dorsey of Bryan Foods. ing. Visitation will be
Services of Columbus Mableton, Georgia, La- She is survived by from 1-4 p.m. Saturday,
is in charge of arrange- verne Billups of Senoia, her siblings, Bertha L. at Lee-Sykes Funeral
ments. Georgia and Lisa Baker Williams, Elois Strong Home. Lee-Sykes Fu-
Mrs. Hoskins-Agnew of Marietta, Georgia. and Cleophas Green all neral Home of Macon
was born Aug. 20, 1957, of West Point. is in charge of arrange-
in Columbus, to the Floyd Morris Jr. ments.
late Steve Hairston Sr. SULLIGENT, Ala. Eugene Shelton Mrs. Patterson was
and Beatrice Wright. — Floyd Mack “Bo” COLUMBUS — Eu- born Oct. 18, 1957, in
She was a graduate of Morris Jr., 93, died Jan. gene Shelton, 67, died Noxubee County, to
Lee High School and 20, 2021, at Fayette Jan. 15, the late Lucios Patter-
was formerly employed Medical Center. 2021. son and Carrie John-
as a home health aide Funeral services are Funeral son.
nurse. She was a mem- at 2 p.m. today, at Otts services In addition to her
ber of Greater Com- Funeral Home, with will be at parents, she was
munity First Baptist Jeff Chaffin and Steven 11 a.m. preceded in death by
Church. Sanderson officiating. Sunday, her brother, Tommie
In addition to her Burial will follow at at Union Patterson.
parents, she was pre- Sulligent City Ceme- Chapel E. Shelton
She is survived by
ceded in death by her tery. Visitation is two M.B. her siblings, George
mother, Isabella Henry; hours prior to services. Church, with Jame Patterson, Wallace
and siblings, Steve Otts Funeral Home of Rice officiating. Buri- Patterson, Hosa Patter-
Hairston and Bernice Sulligent is in charge of al will follow in the son, Jesse Patterson,
Sturdivant. arrangements. church cemetery. Visi- William Patterson,
She is survived by Mr. Morris was born tation will be from 2-4 Johnnie Mae Joines,
her children, Amy Dec. 22, 1927, in Sulli- p.m. Saturday, at Lee- Jean Smith, Addie Pat-
Valentine of Dallas, gent, Alabama, to the Sykes Funeral Home. terson, Ella Patterson
Texas, Jimmy Valentine late Floyd Mack Morris Lee-Sykes Funeral and Minnie Lockett.
Sr. of Shavonne, Korea, Sr. and Ruby Cash. Home of Columbus is
Sharon Valentine of At- He was a graduate of in charge of arrange-
lanta, Georgia, Phillip Sulligent High School ments. Ray Vassar
Valentine of Tacoma, and was formerly em- Mr. Shelton was COLUMBUS — An-
Washington and Oscar ployed as a supervisor born Jan. 23, 1953, in thony Ray Vassar Jr.,
Acron Jr. of Guam; sib- with Reltoc Manufac- Noxubee County, to 31, died Jan. 16, 2021,
lings, Jessie Hairston, turing, a farmer and the late Will C. Shel- in Starkville.
Pierre Hairston, Jackie with Lamar County ton and Laura May Arrangements are
Knight, Cece Hair- Commission. He was Fifer-Shelton. He was incomplete and will be
ston-Long, Leonard a member of Sulligent a graduate of Noxubee announced by Memori-
Sturdivant of Colum- First Baptist Church. County High School al Gunter Peel Funeral
bus, Walter Sturdivant In addition to his and Alcorn State Uni- Home and Crematory,
of Birmingham and Bil- parents, he was pre- versity. He was former- College Street location.
ly Goins of Columbus; ceded in death by his ly employed with Allied See OBITUARIES, 8A
and 16 grandchildren. wife, Anna Lois Morris; Tube and Conduit.
infant son, William He is survived by his
Bruce Davis Alonso Morris; and wife, Joanne Shelton;
STURGIS — Bruce sister, Mary Tallulah children, Arsenio
D. Davis, 68, died Jan. Morris. Jamal Shelton and
15, 2021, in Greenville. He is survived by his Ke’Ane Romero Shel-
Graveside services children, Mary Byrd ton; siblings, Carolyn
will be at 11 a.m. Sat- of Hoover, Alabama, Edwards of Columbus,
urday, at Boyd Chapel Floyd “Bootie” Morris Will Shelton of Artesia,
UM Church Cemetery, of Sulligent, and Louise Kenneth Shelton and
with the Rev. Mar- Morrison of Vernon, Richard Shelton all of
ty Boyd officiating. Alabama; brother, Brooksville; and four
Visitation is from 1-4 Lonnie Morris; six grandchildren.
p.m. today, at Hairston grandchildren; and 13
and Hairston Funeral great-grandchildren. Orietta Stewart
Home. Hairston and MACON — Orietta
Hairston Funeral Larry Walker Sr. D. Stewart, 98, died
Home of Starkville is WEST POINT — Jan. 17,
in charge of arrange- Larry Donnell Walker, 2021, in
ments. Sr., 58, died Jan. 11, Flint,
Mr. Davis was born 2021, at North Missis- Michigan.
Feb. 2, 1952, in Sturgis sippi Medical Center of Funeral
to Eldora and Earl D. Tupelo. services
Davis. He was formerly Graveside services will be
employed as a painter. are at 11 a.m. today, at at 2 p.m.
He is survived by Fountain Head M.B. Sunday, at Stewart
his daughter, Jaqueline Church Cemetery. Tabernacle
Triplett of Louisville; There will be no public Baptist Church, with
siblings, Willer Glenn, visitation. Carter’s Rodriquez Broadnax
Gloria Davis, Alvis Mortuary Services of officiating. Burial will
Adams all of Sturgis, West Point is in charge follow in the church
Janice Fair of Weir of arrangements. cemetery. Visitation
and Cassandra Mosley Mr. Walker was will be from 1-4 p.m.
of Starkville; three born Jan. 11, 1963, in Saturday, at Lee-Sykes
grandchildren; and four West Point, to the late Funeral Home. Lee-
great-grandchildren. William Grace Walker Sykes Funeral Home of
and Estellar Walker. Macon is in charge of
Alvin Poston He was a veteran of the arrangements.
COLUMBUS — Al- Army and was formerly Mrs. Stewart was
vin “Tony” Poston died employed as a pro- born Sept. 3, 1922, in
Jan. 8, duction operator with Noxubee County, to
2021. Yokohama Tire. the late Friendly and
Grave- He is survived by his Mary White Dantzler.
side ser- wife, Quiana; children, She was a graduate of
vices will Larry Walker Jr., Ebony Macon High School
be at 1 p.m. Threat, Malcom Walk- and Rust College. She
Saturday, er, Demetria Walker, attended Mississippi
at Union Qiayon Bailey, Cassius State University and
Cemetery. Poston Walker, Media Walk- was formerly employed
Lee-Sykes er and Ellia Walker; as an educator in
Funeral Home of Co- siblings, Charles Wm. the Noxubee County
lumbus is in charge of Walker, James Ander- school system. She was
arrangements. son Walker, Dewayne a member of Taberna-
Mr. Poston was born Walker, Armarie cle Baptist Church.
Nov. 13, 1951, in Colum- Townsend, Laura M. In addition to her
bus, to Martha Baker Walker, Mary E. Walk- parents, she was pre-
and the late John Henry er, Dorothy A. Gipson ceded in death by her
Poston. He was a grad- and Shirley F. Smith; husband, Aaron Stew-
uate of R.E. Hunt High and four grandchildren. art; children, Charles,
School and was a veter- John and French Stew-
an of the U.S. Army. He Elizabeth Griffin art; and nine siblings.
was formerly employed WEST POINT She is survived by
with the Veteran Af- — Elizabeth Green her children, James
fairs Hospital and was Griffin, 89, died Jan. 16, Stewart of Flint,
a member of Mt. Airy 2021, at North Missis- Michigan, Aaron Glenn
Baptist Church. sippi Medical Center of Stewart of Marion,
In addition to his West Point. Indiana; sister, Essie D.
8A FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Fauci unleashed: Doc takes

‘liberating’ turn at center stage
Disease expert made clear he believed the new
administration would not trade in mixed messages
that so often came from the Trump White House
BY JONATHAN LEMIRE
The Associated Press
WA S H I N G T O N
— Dr. Anthony Fauci
is back.
In truth, the na-
tion’s leading infec-
tious-diseases expert
never really went
away. But after endur-
Fauci
ing nearly a year of
darts and undermining comments
from former President Donald
Trump, Fauci now speaks with the
authority of the White House again.
He called it “liberating” Thurs-
day to be backed by a science-friend-
ly administration that has embraced
his recommendations to battle
COVID-19.
“One of the new things in this
administration is, If you don’t know
the answer, don’t guess,” Fauci said
in one pointed observation during a
White House briefing. “Just say you
don’t know the answer.”
Fauci’s highly visible schedule
on Thursday, the first full day of
President Joe Biden’s term, under-
scored the new administration’s
confidence in the doctor but also
the urgency of the moment.
His day began with a 4 a.m.
virtual meeting with officials of
the World Health Organization,
which is based in Switzerland, and
stretched past a 4 p.m. appearance
at the lectern in the White House
briefing room.
The breakneck pace showcased
the urgent need to combat a pan-
demic that has killed more than
400,000 Americans and reached
its deadliest phase just as the new
president comes to office.
Fauci made clear that he believed
the new administration would not
trade in the mixed messages that so
often came from the Trump White
House, where scientific fact was
often obscured by the president’s
political agenda.
“The idea that you can get up
here and talk about what you know
and what the science is ... it is some-
thing of a liberating feeling,” Fauci
told reporters. White House press
secretary Jen Psaki had invited
Fauci to take the podium first at her
daily briefing.
While choosing his words care-
fully, Fauci acknowledged that it
had been difficult at times to work
for Trump, who repeatedly played
down the severity of the pandem-
ic, refused to consistently promote
mask-wearing and often touted un-
proven scientific remedies, includ-
ing a malaria drug and even inject-
ing disinfectant.
“It was very clear that there were
things that were said, be it regard-
ing things like hydroxychloroquine
and other things, that really was un-
comfortable because they were not
based in scientific fact,” Fauci said.
He added that he took “no plea-
sure” in having to contradict the
president, a move that often drew
Trump’s wrath.

Obituaries
Continued from Page 7A

Artie McCleod
MACON — Artie
“Mae” McCleod, 73,
died Jan.
12, 2021,
at Baptist
Memorial
Hospi-
tal-Golden
Triangle.
Grave-
side ser-
McCleod
vices will
be at 11 a.m. Saturday,
at Zion Hill Cemetery,
with William Thomas
officiating. Visitation
is from 1-5 p.m. today,
at Lee-Sykes Funer-
al Home. Lee-Sykes
Funeral Home of Macon
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mrs. McCleod was
born May 14, 1947, in
Noxubee County, to
the late Mary Alice
McCleod and Earnest
King. She was formerly
employed in domestic
work and was a member
of Second Baptist M.B.
Church.
In addition to her par-
ents, she was preceded
in death by her siblings,
Magnolia McCleod and
James Earl “Sunny”
McCleod.
She is survived by
her daughter, Annie
Ruth McCleod of
Macon; siblings, Carol
McCleod, Barbara Mc-
Cleod, Robert McCleod,
Rufus McCleod, Cal-
vin McCleod, Earnest
McCleod; two grand-
children ; and three
great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be
Antion Patterson, James
Brown, Rodrick Patter-
son, Treon Patterson,
Kurt Glenn, Keyyon Mc-
Cleod, Ira Lee McCleod
and Johnnie Price.
Clady Renfro
AMORY — Clady
Clayton Renfro, 81, died
Jan. 20, 2021, at Diveri-
care Nursing Facility of
Amory.
Funeral services
are at 2 p.m. today, at
Cleveland-Moffett Fu-
neral Home, with Brian
Richardson officiating.
Burial will be at a later
date at Restland Me-
morial Park in Dallas,
Texas. Visitation is two
hours prior to services
at the funeral home.
Cleveland-Moffett
Funeral Home of Amory
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Renfro was born
July 23, 1939, in Mon-
roe County, to the late
Eulous and Aline Smith
Renfro. He was formerly
employed in mainte-
nance with Texas Indus-
tries. He was a member
of Gattman First Baptist born Jan. 14, 2021, in morial Funeral Home.
Church. Noxubee County to West Memorial Funeral
In addition to his Shonda Skinner and Home of Starkville is
parents, he was preced- Marcus Bonds. in charge of arrange-
ed in death by his wife, In addition to his ments.
Carol Louise Floyd; parents, he is survived He is survived by
son, John Dale Renfro; by his siblings, Zykeri- his wife, Martha Ross;
stepson, Joe Parish; and ah, Lamarcus, Jordan, children, Ronald Ross of
siblings, Audine Sims, Carter, Marcus Bonds Maben, Teresa Morton
Gene Adams and Graf- Jr. all of Macon, Deonta of Eupora and Danny
ton Renfro. and Markeria Bonds of Ross of Maben; siblings,
He is survived by Columbus. Patsy McKey of Ma-
children, Robert Renf- Pallbearers will be ben, Lou Blanchard of
ro of Sulligent, Randy James Murry and Mar- Harvey, Illinois, Jo Ann
Renfro, Dennis Renfro cus Bonds. Taylor, Sandra Bell of
all of Wren Community, Maben, Willie E. Ross
Mary Renfro, Jeff Renf- Geraldine Davis of Eupora, Willie B.
ro both of Texas, Debbie COLUMBUS — Ger- Ross and Patricia Ross
Renfro of South Caroli- aldine Davis, 75, died of Maben; and 14 grand-
na, Jennifer Renfro and Jan. 19, 2021, at Bap- children.
Susan Edwards both of tist Memorial Hospi-
Texas; sister Flora Kyle tal-Golden Triangle.
of Wren; grandchildren; Graveside services
and great-grandchil- will be at 1 p.m. Sat-
dren. urday, at Memorial
Garden Cemetery,
Bobby Honeycutt with Earnet Thomas
VERNON, Ala. — officiating. Visitation is
Bobby Joe Honeycutt, from 1-5 p.m. today, at
62, died Jan. 20, 2021, Hairston and Hairston
at Noland Hospital in Funeral Home. Hairston
Tuscaloosa, Alabama. and Hairston Funeral
Funeral services are Home of Columbus is
at 1 p.m. today, in the in charge of arrange-
chapel of Chandler Fu- ments.
neral Home, with Randy Mrs. Davis was born
Pennington and Charles Nov. 7, 1945, in Lown-
Wharton officiating. des County, to the late
Burial will follow at Robert Lee Davis and
Mt. Zion Baptist Cem- Annie S. Davis. She was
etery in the New Hope formerly employed in
Community in Colum- environmental services
bus. Visitation is one with MUW and was a
hour prior to services member of First Assem-
at the funeral home. bly of God.
Chandler Funeral Home She is survived by
of Vernon, Alabama is her siblings, Cather-
in charge of arrange- ine Davis, Dorothy D.
ments. Brownlee, Thelma D.
Mr. Honeycutt was Thomas, Jimmy L. Da-
born Aug. 14, 1958, in vis and Eddie L. Davis
Columbus, to the late all of Columbus.
Mack John and Ruby
Lillian Honeycutt. He Dante Elliott
was formerly employed STARKVILLE —
as a welder with Mara- Dante Elliott, 22, died
thon. Jan. 12, 2021, in Tupelo.
In addition to his Graveside services
parents, he was preced- will be at 1 p.m. Sunday,
ed in death by his sister, at New Prospect Cem-
Marilyn Wilson. etery. Visitation will be
He is survived by from 2-6 p.m. Saturday,
his siblings, Mildred at West Memorial Fu-
Cole of Double Springs, neral Home. West Me-
Alabama, Billy Honey- morial Funeral Home of
cutt of Vernon and Paul Starkville is in charge of
Honeycutt of Tuscum- arrangements.
bia, Alabama. He is survived by
his children, Ah’mir
Infant Major Fason, Dante Elliot Jr.
Elijah Bonds and Amah’jah; siblings,
MACON — Infant Shaliyah Smith, Jaliyah
Major Elijah Bonds Smith, Oshea Kemp,
died Jan. 14, 2021, at the Jacques Cannon and
University of Missis- Johnny Cannon Jr. all of
sippi Medical Center in Starkville.
Jackson.
Graveside services Dennis Ross
will be at 1 p.m. Sat- MABEN— Dennis
urday, at Mt. Mariah Lee Ross, 74, died Jan.
Baptist Church Ceme- 19, 2021.
tery, with Nick Taylor Graveside services
officiating. Lee-Sykes will be at 11 a.m. Sat-
Funeral Home of Macon urday, at Spring Valley
is in charge of arrange- Cemetery in Mathiston.
ments. Visitation is from 1-6
Infant Bonds was p.m. today, at West Me-
Sports
PREP BASKETBALL
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021
B
SECTION

Starkville Academy exacts revenge with wins at Heritage

BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
On Jan. 5, the
Starkville Academy
boys basketball team
took a six-point lead
into halftime of its home
game against rival Her-
itage Academy before
the Patriots hit two
3-pointers early in the
third quarter to tie the
game. Heritage Acade-
my went on to win 46 -42.
So at halftime of
Thursday’s return game
in Columbus, the Vol-
unteers — staked to a
seven-point advantage
— made up their minds
to avoid a repeat perfor-
mance.
“We knew we couldn’t
let that happen again
this week,” sophomore
Cy Hallberg said.
After Heritage Acad-
emy senior Sam Han-
non and sophomore
Mack Howard began the
half with back-to-back
layups to cut the Vols’
lead to three, Hallberg
sliced through the de-
fense for a critical layup
to break the spell.
Starkville Academy
picked up its play from
there en route to a 55-
43 win that put the Vols
into first place in the
MAIS Class 4A, District
2 standings.
“I could not be more
happy with my entire
team,” Starkville Acade-
my coach Bill Ball said.
“You’re seeing us grow
up.”
That growth was ev-
ident in all aspects of
Thursday’s game. In-
stead of the 13-2 run
Heritage Academy
opened with two weeks
ago, it was the Vols who
got ahead early. And
when the Patriots went
up six points on a 3 from
Howard with 5 minutes,
39 seconds left in the
first half, the Vols re-
sponded.
Starkville Academy
scored eight straight
points before a triple
from the Patriots’ Jona-
than Peal, and Hallberg
— who led his team with
13 points off the bench
— was right there to an-
swer with a 3 of his own
as the Vols reclaimed a
two-point lead. Reese
Jackson also connected Theo DeRosa/Dispatch Staff
from deep as Starkville Starkville Academy sophomore Cy Hallberg (15) looks to pass against Heritage
See PREPS, 2B Academy freshman Jack Ketchum (32) during Thursday’s game in Columbus.

All eyes on MISSISSIPPI STATE BASEBALL

QBs as
Packers host
Bucs for NFC No. 7 MSU to open season with top-10 matchups
championship
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
against TCU, Texas and Texas Tech in Arlington
For as much as
Tom Brady and Aaron
Rodgers have accom-
plished in their Hall of
Fame-caliber careers,
they’ve rarely faced off
on the field.
Never have they met
with so much at stake.
When Rodgers’
Green Bay Packers (14-
3) host Brady’s Tampa
Bay Buccaneers (13-5)
in the NFC champion-
ship game Sunday, it will
be just the fourth time
they’ve squared off as
starting quarterbacks,
and first in the playoffs.
“I remember when I
heard the news about
him coming to the NFC,
I thought this was a real
possibility,” Rodgers
said. “I’m excited about
the opportunity to play
against him one more
time.”
See NFC, 3B

Chiefs’ Reid,
Bills’
McDermott
to match
wits for AFC Mississippi State Athletics
Mississippi State ace Christian MacLeod and the Bulldogs will open their season in the State Farm College Baseball Showdown held at
title Globe Life Field — home of the Texas Rangers — with matchups against No. 3 Texas Tech, No. 9 Texas and No. 10 TCU.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo.
— Ten years after firing
Sean McDermott as his
defensive coordinator,
Kansas City Chiefs coach
Andy Reid will stare
across the field inside Ar-
rowhead Stadium on Sun-
day and see his protégé
trying to spoil his hopes
of a Super Bowl repeat.
Funny thing: Even af-
ter firing him, Reid sus-
pected deep down that
McDermott was destined
for big things.
“Very organized, very
smart and very tough,”
he explained this week.
“He came from a coach-
ing family — his dad was
a heck of a coach. Sean
just kind of picked up
right from there. Very
solid, very good.”
In fact, downright ex-
ceptional.
McDermott has the
long-suffering Buffa-
lo Bills playing in their
first AFC championship
game since beating Kan-
See AFC, 3B
BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — Mississip-
pi State baseball is starting with
a bang.
Ranked the No. 7 team in
America by D1Baseball, MSU
will begin its season in the State
Farm College Baseball Show-
down held at Globe Life Field
— home of the Texas Rangers
— with matchups against No.
3 Texas Tech, No. 9 Texas and
No. 10 TCU. MSU is also joined
by No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 8 Ar-
kansas in the six-team field, an-
nounced Thursday.
“We’re excited to open our
season against three quality
opponents in an amazing facil-
ity like Globe Life Field,” MSU
head coach Chris Lemonis said.
“The opportunity for our guys
to compete against some of the
best programs in college base-
ball in a professional park will
only help us later in the season.”
MSU will open the tourna-
ment on Feb. 19 against Texas,
followed by a Feb. 20 meeting
with TCU and a final contest
against Texas Tech on Feb. 21.
The Bulldogs notably closed the
COVID-19-shortened 2020 cam-
paign with a two-game sweep
of the Red Raiders in Biloxi in
March.
Due to COVID-19 measures,
fan attendance will be limited to
between 14 and 15,000 and spec-
tators will be required to wear
masks. Rangers Executive Vice
President of Sports & Entertain-
ment Sean Decker also said the
organization is still sorting out
how it will handle splitting the
four clubhouses on property be-
tween the six teams.
Tickets for the event went on
sale at 1 p.m. Thursday.
“We are thrilled to welcome
six of the top baseball programs
in the country to Globe Life
Field for the inaugural State
Farm College Baseball Show-
down,” Decker said Thursday.
“We started conversations to
make this event a reality back
when the new park was in the
design phase, and I would like
to thank State Farm and all six
schools for their unwavering
support since that time.”
Entering his third year in
Starkville, Lemonis brings back
the bulk of his 2020 roster aside
from early-round MLB draft
picks Justin Foscue, Jordan
Westburg and JT Ginn.
Despite the losses, MSU
should boast one of its most
complete pitching staffs in pro-
gram history. Ace Christian Ma-
cLeod is back in the fold after a
dazzling opening to the 2020
season. A relative unknown
entering last spring after he
redshirted his first year on cam-
pus due to an undisclosed ill-
ness, MacLeod became just the
third player in school history
to record multiple double-digit
strikeout games in his first sea-
son.
Hard-throwing Canadian
right-hander Eric Cerantola and
talented freshman Will Bednar
also return and are expected to
anchor the weekend rotation.
Other key pieces in the bullpen
should include seventh-year
senior Carlisle Koestler, sixth-
year senior Spencer Price,
junior Houston Harding and
freshman Jackson Fristoe —
who in a normal year may have
forgone college entirely had the
MLB draft been held under the
normal 40-round format.
“I mean, we have some veter-
an guys there that have pitched
a lot of college baseball to this
point,” Lemonis said. “They ha-
ven’t thrown a lot of SEC base-
ball because of the season being
canceled, but we’re optimistic.
We’re excited about them, but
they have a lot to prove.”
Replacing Foscue and West-
burg at second base and short-
stop, respectively, should prove
a stiffer test. Freshman Kamren
James, who hit .308 in 14 starts
a year ago, could presumably
move over to shortstop. Junior
Tanner Allen could also conceiv-
ably move back into the infield
given his previous track record.
Juniors Rowdey Jordan, Josh
Hatcher, Allen and a handful of
talented supporting castmates
should round out a battery that
hit .260 and was 9-0 when lead-
ing after six innings.
Asked Thursday what an
opening weekend like the one
awaiting MSU in Arlington does
for his program, Lemonis was
frank.
“It’s been a long year and get-
ting the opportunity to play this
level of competition, this early
in the season in this beautiful a
ballpark — excitement is prob-
ably the main word for us,” he
said.
2B FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Column: NFL continues to pass on hiring new Black coaches

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Coaches understand before
they sign employment con-
tracts that they are hired to be
fired, something that’s partic-
ularly true in the NFL where
the only measure of success is
a playoff slot at the end of the
season.
That’s why there was no real
outcry when Anthony Lynn was
let go by the Chargers. Lynn’s
team went 7-9 this season and
some of his head-scratching
decisions late in games caused
fans to lose their hair.
That Lynn is Black didn’t
matter when it came to getting
a pink slip. A half-dozen coach-
es who weren’t of color were
also let go in the annual coach-
ing exodus across the league.
Unfortunately, though, it
seems being Black still does
matter when it comes to get-
ting hired in the first place. And
that’s become a problem the
NFL seems increasingly unable
— or unwilling — to fix.
The news Thursday that
Philadelphia plans to hire Indi-
anapolis offensive coordinator
Nick Sirianni as the new head
coach of the Eagles is the lat-
est reminder of that. Sirianni
seems qualified but at the age
of 39 he’s getting an opportuni-
ty that could have gone to any
number of equally deserving
Black assistants.
That it didn’t means six of
the seven coaching vacancies
this offseason have now been
filled. Robert Saleh was hired to
coach the New York Jets as the
first Muslim head coach, but
there are no new Black coaches
in the group.
The Rooney Rule that re-
quires minorities be inter-
viewed for all head coaching
openings still gets Black ap-
plicants a foot in the door. But
the door seems to close when
it comes to making the actual
hire, and recent tweaks to the
rule haven’t been enough to
change that.
Consider this: In the three
previous coaching replace-
ment cycles before this year,
20 coaches were hired and only
three were coaches of color —
just one of them Black.
That leaves the NFL with
four minority coaches, just two
of them African-American,
pending a coaching hire in Tex-
as. And that’s simply unaccept-
able in a league where 70 per-
cent of players are Black, and
so are a third of the assistants
trying to work their way up the
coaching ladder.
Yes, there have been two
Black general manager hires,
but that’s scant consolation for
those who see other inequali-
ties at the top.
“The disparity in opportu-
nities is mind boggling,’’ Fritz
Pollard Alliance executive di-
rector Rod Graves said in a
statement earlier in the week.
``It is unfortunate that the per-
formances of coordinators like
Eric Bieniemy, Todd Bowles,
Byron Leftwich, Leslie Frazier,
and Joe Woods, may not meet
what appears as ‘ever-evolv-
ing standards’ for becoming a
Black Head Coach in the NFL.’’
Graves, whose organization
works to promote minority op-
portunities in the NFL, cited
the annual report card issued
by The Institute for Diversity
and Ethics in Sport at Central
Florida in highlighting the
NFL’s issues. The 2020 edi-
tion put together by Richard
Lapchick gives the NFL poor
grades in racial hiring for all
its executives, including head
coaches.
I’ve spoken many times to
Lapchick, a trailblazer in race
issues in sports, about the NFL’s
hiring practices. I’ve listened as
he’s become increasingly exas-
perated that the Rooney Rule
instituted more than a decade
ago continues to fail in its main
purpose — which is actually
getting Black coaches hired.
``It’s not like there are no
qualified candidates,’’ Lapchick
said last year. ``These people
are out there and ready.’’
Of that there is no argument.
Example No. 1 around the
league is Bieniemy, the offen-
sive coordinator of the Chiefs
who has interviewed with al-
most every team that had a va-
cancy this year. With just the
Texans job open, none has yet
to take the counsel of Kansas
City coach Andy Reid.
“I mean everybody knows
what I think of Eric and what
kind of head coach I think he’d
be,’’ Reid said. “Whoever gets
him I think is a very lucky orga-
nization, one of the few people
that I’ve come across with the
leadership skills that he has,
the ability to lead men in this
crazy game that we’re in and for
those guys through his leader-
ship to play at a Pro Bowl level.
‘’
Here’s hoping Bieniemy gets
the last available job, which
would mean Black coaches
won’t get totally shut out this
year. His credentials speak for
themselves and, besides, the
Texans can use the help.
The bigger issue, though,
is that NFL efforts to diversify
the head coaching ranks simply
haven’t worked. Once hailed as
trailblazing, the Rooney Rule
now seems almost irrelevant.
Interviews are great, for
what they’re worth. Some actu-
al hires would be even better.

More NBA games called off as contact tracing probes continue

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
COVID-19 didn’t keep
Miami center Bam Ade-
bayo out of any games
last season, even though
he tested positive for the
virus not long before the
NBA’s restart bubble
opened.
He missed two games
last week because of the
virus — without having
the virus.
Adebayo is one of
many players sidelined
at some point in recent
weeks by contact tracing,
the method of figuring
out who may have pos-
sibly been exposed to a
person who has tested
positive for COVID-19. It
has been a major factor
in the decisions to post-
pone 20 games so far this
season, including the lat-
est three Memphis Griz-
zlies’ games that the
league decided Thurs-
day to push back.
“As much as we may
complain about it, it’s
only for our own bene-
fit,” Washington’s Brad-
ley Beal said.
Beal missed a Jan.
9 game while going
through contact trac-
ing, a process in which
the NBA and its teams
take a deep dive into
who people have been
around over a two-day
period once someone
tests positive.
Everything is exam-
ined — who might have
shared a car ride with
whom, who sat where on
the team plane, who had
dinner with others and
what their whereabouts
have been. Even the
cameras that have been
used for advanced stat
tracking during games
are utilized, just to see
how long one player may
have been in close prox-
imity of someone else
during a game.
“I think we’re doing
as well as we can be,
during what’s a very dif-
ficult time, not just for
the NBA but for a lot of
people in the country,”
said NBA senior vice
president David Weiss,
who helps oversee all
the health and safety
efforts for the league.
“And I think we’re doing
that well because every-
body — from players,
staff, families — is mak-
ing some shared sacri-
fices to try to do as well
as we can.”
The NBA has some
staff with public health
backgrounds, who knew
what contact tracing
was before it became a
buzz term in the sports
world a few months ago,
to assist in the process.
Players get asked a se-
ries of questions; ex-
amples include if they
played 1-on-1 against
anyone in practice, if
they’ve recently gotten a
massage or therapy, was
the person administer-
ing that treatment wear-
ing a mask, or if they’ve
recently socialized with
others for more than a
few moments.
The answers help
create the path for in-
vestigators to follow.
The biggest culprits
that have led to players
being f lagged and ruled
out during the contact
tracing process: meals
and shared rides, im-
proper mask usage. The
smaller the area where
people are congregat-
ing, the smaller the air
volume, the higher the
risk — and the NBA has
been telling teams that
since the protocols for
the bubble were estab-
lished back in June.
“Contact tracing in-
volves a lot of different
sources and informa-
tion,” Weiss said. “The
core of it is interviews,
to the stats that we col-
lect digitally, to pic-
tures of spaces, to all
to all kinds of different
things. And the infor-
mation technology is
helpful.”
The Grizzlies won’t
have enough available
players until at least the
middle of next week, the
NBA said — in part be-
cause of contact tracing.
Friday’s game at Port-
land, along with home
games Sunday and Mon-
day against Sacramen-
to, were pushed back,
the NBA said. That de-
cision came one day af-
ter the Grizzlies’ game
at Portland, scheduled
for Wednesday, was also
called off. not to think about if we
Memphis is assured should or should not be
of what will be no less playing,” Denver’s Will
than a nine-day break. Barton said. “This is
The Grizzlies played what it is. We’re playing
Monday against Phoe- — until the league says
nix — getting their fifth something else and we
straight win to improve all agree to that.”
to 7-6 and get over the Houston had a game
.500 mark for the first pushed back on Dec.
time this season. The 23; the other 22 teams
earliest they’ll play have all seen at least
again is Jan. 27 against one game called off this
Chicago. month already.
All but one of the 20 Postponed games,
postponements have when possible, will be
come since Jan. 10. made up in the second
Washington — which half of the season that
will go at least 13 days starts March 11 and
between games after a runs through May 16.
half-dozen of its players It’s unclear how many
tested positive — has will actually be resched-
seen six games called uled; the Wizards, for
off, and Memphis has example, are looking at
now had five of its potentially playing 41
games pushed back. games in those 67 days,
In all, 23 teams have while the Grizzlies may
seen at least one game have to play 40 games in
called off so far this that span.
season. The only excep- “Best thing is for
tions: Brooklyn, New everyone to stay safe,
York, Toronto, Denver, watch who you’re
San Antonio, the Los around, continue to
Angeles Clippers and wash your hands and
the Los Angeles Lakers. wear your mask,” Ade-
“Right now I’m to bayo said. “That’s about
the point where I try all we can do.”

Preps
Continued from Page 1B
Academy led 31-24 at the
break, a crucial reply to
the Pats’ huge scoring
spurt.
“We knew that either
way we’d be in a dogfight
and they were going to
play their best basket-
ball,” Hallberg said. “We
had to step it up tonight.”
That meant taking
care of business on the de-
fensive end, too. Ball said
the Vols simply stayed in
their zone, contested the
3s the Pats continued to
hoist up and turned a few
key turnovers into fast-
break baskets when they
needed to.
“I think we got just
enough buckets in tran-
sition just to kind of keep
the game from getting
close,” Ball said.
Heritage Academy
coach Russ Whiteside
credited Ball and the Vols’
fundamentally sound de-
fense for the Patriots’ of-
fensive struggles Thurs-
day but said those late
giveaways revealed an
issue with his team’s ball
security.
“We’re too sloppy with
the basketball,” White-
side said. “We’re turning
it over too much.”
A stingy Starkville
Academy defense made
things even tougher for
Heritage Academy on
Thursday, and the Pats
didn’t help themselves out
much, Whiteside said.
“Tonight we didn’t
shoot it well, but Starkville
had a heck of a lot to do
with that,” he said. “We
didn’t do a good job of
hitting guys on screens;
therefore, they were
making it really hard to
get open. When you’re
playing them, you just
don’t get very many clean
looks, and when you do,
you’ve got to make them.”
Thursday, Heritage
Academy didn’t, and that
was the difference. The
Patriots fell to 7-1 in dis-
trict play as the Volun-
teers moved to 8-1, mean-
ing Starkville Academy
can clinch the No. 1 seed
with a home win Tues-
day against East Rankin
Academy.
Starkville Academy
girls 24, Heritage Acade-
my 20
Like the Starkville
Academy boys, the Vol-
unteers girls were well
aware of their own four-
point loss to the Patriots
on Jan. 5.
And like their counter-
parts, they were ready to
do something about it.
The Vols drove to the
rim to considerable suc-
cess, locked down on de-
fense in key moments and
emerged with a 24-20 win
Thursday.
“We finally started
playing for each other,”
Starkville Academy coach
Marianne Ward said. “We
were attacking the basket
more. We were getting
the and-ones. We had
leadership that stepped
up big time.”
Senior Lillee Alpe pro-
vided much of that com-
mand for the Vols (7-8, 3-6
conference). Alpe kept
a level head as the two
teams fought back and
forth, and when the time
came, she stepped up big.
Intentionally fouled
with 8.4 seconds to go,
Starkville Academy senior Lillee Alpe (11) passes the
ball over the head of Heritage Academy junior Kaicey
Chitmon (14) during Thursday’s game in Columbus. The
Volunteers beat the Patriots 24-20.
Alpe hit both of her free
throws out of the one-and-
one to make it a two-pos-
session game.
It was the final blow in
a contest in which Heri-
tage Academy (5-14, 1-7)
certainly had its chances.
The Pats got the ball back
with 20.6 seconds trail-
ing by two after the Vols’
Fallon Parker missed
the front end of her own
one-and-one. But Chloe
Boyd, who tied Alpe for
the game lead with nine
points, committed an of-
fensive foul with 9.3 sec-
onds to go.
Ward said the Vols
were hoping to create a
turnover on the play and
effectively did when Boyd
crashed into a blue-clad
Starkville Academy de-
fender, drawing a whistle.
“The offensive foul was
very important,” Ward
said. “That was a big key
for us.”
Ward said she switched
Theo DeRosa/Dispatch Staff
things around plenty on
defense, praising her play-
ers for transitioning well
into each new scheme.
Heritage Academy coach
Moe Reed admitted the
Pats just couldn’t figure it
out against the Vols’ mul-
tiple defensive looks.
“We played hard,”
Reed said. “We just strug-
gled to get things going
offensively.”
Reed pointed to the
Pats’ numerous misses
on open looks as well as a
pair of missed free throws
by Sharp in the fourth
quarter as possible turn-
ing points that Heritage
Academy couldn’t capital-
ize on.
Still, she praised her
team’s defensive effort in
again keeping the Volun-
teers to a low number on
the scoreboard.
“Anytime you hold a
team under 30 points, that
means you did a pretty
good job,” she said.
But the Patriots’ of- Southern Academy (Ala-
fense, of course, couldn’t bama) today.
back that up Thursday.
“Another defensive EMCC men, women win
battle,” Reed said, “and
we came up short.”
season openers against
Northwest
The East Mississip-
Other scores pi Community College
Prep Girls Basket-
men’s and women’s
ball
basketball teams won
Oak Hill Academy 42,
Thursday’s 2020 -21
Winona Christian 23 season openers against
WEST POINT — The Northwest Mississippi
Oak Hill Academy girls Community College.
beat Winona Christian Jakorie Smith had a
42-23 in Thursday’s home double-double with 20
game. points and 10 rebounds
Carley Wooten scored as the Lions’ men
16 points for the Raiders, earned a 77-74 win over
and Morgan Dabbs had the Rangers at Keyes
12. T. Currie Coliseum in
Oak Hill will play at Scooba.
Indianola Academy on Danny Washington
Tuesday. had 13 points and seven
assists, Arecko Gipson
Prep Boys Basket- Jr. had 13 points and
ball six rebounds, and Blake
Oak Hill Academy 52, Butler had 13 points.
Winona Christian 27 Jenessa Souza had
WEST POINT — The 14 points as the EMCC
Oak Hill boys beat Wi- women earned a 78-53
nona Christian 52-27 on win against Northwest
Thursday in West Point. in Senatobia, the Lions’
Manning Huffman had 13th straight MACJC
22 points for the Raiders. North Division victory.
Shakira Wilson had 12
Pickens Academy points, DenAsia Mitch-
(Ala.) 56, South Choctaw ell had 10 points, and
Academy (Ala.) 47 West Point product
CARROLLTON, Ala. Ja’Mia Hollings had nine
— The Pickens Acade- points and 13 rebounds.
my (Alabama) boys beat The Lions finished
South Choctaw Acade- with 16 steals against
my (Alabama) 56-47 in the Rangers.
Thursday’s home game. EMCC is back in ac-
Hayden Dyer led the tion against Itawamba
Pirates (5-4) with 12 Community College on
points, while William Jan. 28. The Lions men
Parker, Rafe Brown and will face the Indians at
Drake Lowery all had 11. 5:30 p.m. in Fulton, and
Deveren Wilkins added the women will host
eight points for Pickens. Itawamba at 6 p.m. in
The Pirates will host Scooba.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 3B

NFC
Continued from Page 1B
The Bucs trounced the Pack-
ers 38-10 in Tampa on Oct.
18. They met two other times
during Brady’s tenure in New
England, with the Packers win-
ning 26-21 at Green Bay in 2014
and the Patriots winning 31-17
in Foxborough four years later.
Both understand all eyes will
be on them Sunday. Kurt War-
ner, the Hall of Fame quarter-
back and NFL Network analyst,
said that’s just human nature.
“When I played, I always
knew who was on the other
sideline,” Warner said. “I al-
ways said when I went into
these matchups, at the end of
the day, I know if we’re going to
win this game, I’ve got to out-
perform that guy. I’ve got to be
better than the quarterback on
the other side.”
Brady, 43, has helped the
Bucs earn a franchise-record
seven straight road wins. A win
at Lambeau Field clinches their
first Super Bowl berth since
their 2002 championship sea-
son.
“This is one of the coolest
stadiums in the league to play
in,” Brady said. “I know they’re
excited, we’ll be excited, and it
will make for a great football
game.”
Brady is trying to join War-
ner, Peyton Manning and Craig
Morton as the only quarter-
backs to lead two separate
franchises to a Super Bowl. He
already won six Super Bowls
and played in nine total with the
Patriots.
Green Bay is making its
fourth NFC championship
game appearance in the past
seven seasons, but Rodgers
hasn’t reached a Super Bowl
since leading the Packers to a
title in the 2010 season. War-
ner said the postseason weighs
heavily on where players stack
up in history.
“That’s why Tom is the
GOAT (greatest of all time),”
Warner said. “It’s why Joe
Montana is up there and guys
who’ve been there numerous
times — the John Elways —
and everyone else kind of gets
knocked down a notch. Even
though they’re been great in
the regular season, there’s a
combination of the two that I
think weighs heavily.”
Simply put, Rodgers needs
this victory more than Brady.
“He plays in one Super Bowl,
I think there will be something
about that that just doesn’t sit
right with anybody,” Warner
said. “It doesn’t sit right with
any of us who love this game
and know how great he’s been.
It just doesn’t seem to fit.”
This may be the best re-
maining chance for the
37-year-old Rodgers at that
elusive second Super Bowl
berth.
“It’s been a while since he
was last a world champion,”
CBS Sports analyst and 2002
NFL MVP Rich Gannon said.
“I think that would certainly
cement his legacy as one of
the greatest to ever play the
game in my opinion. Not that
he needs it, but I’m just telling
you that’s probably how he’s
wired.”
Turnover watch
Green Bay has committed
a league-low 11 turnovers this
season, including only two
during its current seven-game
winning streak. The Bucs have
scored 27 points off five take-
aways during their two playoff
victories.
Long time coming
Tampa Bay ended a 12-year
playoff drought this season. The
journey to the NFC champion-
ship game has been especially
gratifying for ninth-year line-
backer Lavonte David, eighth-
year defensive linemen William
Gholston and seventh-year
receiver Mike Evans. They’ve
spent their entire careers with
the Bucs.
“It just goes to show through-
out the hard times, the people
upstairs and around the build-
ing believed in me,” David said.
“Obviously, I believed in them,
as well. It’s just an honor to still
be here, to still be able to live
out my dream as a Tampa Bay
Buccaneer.”

AFC
Continued from Page 1B
sas City on Jan. 23, 1994, when
they advanced to their fourth
straight Super Bowl. They have
won 11 of their past 12 games
since losing to the Chiefs in
Week 6, beating the Colts in the
wild-card round and the Ravens
in last week’s divisional round.
“He deserves coach of the
year, man. He’s taken a fran-
chise there, both he and his
general manager, have put this
thing together with some bold
moves and production now,”
Reid said.
“I think he’s done a tremen-
dous job. What a great thing for
the NFL and for Buffalo. They
love football in Buffalo and he’s
really done a nice job with that
whole program.”
Not surprisingly, the job Mc-
Dermott has done with the Bills
neatly parallels the job Reid has
done in Kansas City.
Both took over downtrod-
den organizations and quickly
built them into juggernauts.
Both have bright young quar-
terbacks in the Bills’ Josh Allen
and the Chiefs’ Patrick Ma-
homes. Both have surrounded
them with playmakers, such as
the Bills’ Stefon Diggs and the
Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill and Travis
Kelce. And both have built de-
fenses to not only complement
two of the best offenses in the
NFL, but capable of clinching
wins under pressure, as each
did last weekend.
Mahomes, who sustained a
concussion last week against
Cleveland, is poised to play af-
ter practicing all week.
McDermott never harbored
any animosity toward Reid
when he was fired from the Ea-
gles on Jan. 15, 2011. Instead,
he went to Carolina and over
the next five years honed his
craft and built his reputation to
the point the Bills — who at the
time had not made the postsea-
son since 1999 — were willing
to give him a shot in charge.
Buffalo reached the wild-
card round in 2017 and again
last year before reaching the
brink of a Super Bowl this sea-
son.
“It’s always an honor to go
up against great coaches, and
Andy will be a Hall of Fame
coach here in the future some-
time down the road,” McDer-
mott said. “I’ve learned a lot
from Andy in my time with him
in Philadelphia, so I have a tre-
mendous amount of respect
for him and his family, the way
they helped guide me then and
still do today.”
Moment on Mahomes
The Chiefs’ quarterback,
who was knocked out of last
week’s game against Cleveland
with a concussion, was cleared
to practice on Wednesday and
took the majority of first-team
reps Thursday. Mahomes still
needed clearance from team
doctors and an independent
neurologist, but all signs point-
ed to him being under center on
Sunday.
“The goal is to have Patrick,”
Hill said, “but I really don’t
know. I feel like it doesn’t mat-
ter who is out there. Whoever
steps in at quarterback, we’re
going to put our confidence be-
hind them in the same way.”
Other Chief concerns
Chiefs cornerback Bashaud
Breeland, who also sustained
a concussion last Sunday, prac-
ticed this week while awaiting
clearance from doctors and neu-
rologists. Running back Le’Ve-
on Bell was held out Thursday
because of a swollen knee.
On the flip side, Clyde Ed-
wards-Helaire could return for
the first time since a high-ankle
sprain in Week 15 and Sammy
Watkins could be back from a
calf injury that he sustained the
following week. The rookie run-
ning back and the veteran wide
receiver both practiced this
week and moved around well in
the portion of practice open to
reporters.
Grounded game
The Bills don’t run often
— in fact, they called just one
running play in the first half
against the Ravens last week.
They finished with 16 carries,
including four kneel-downs by
Allen, for 32 yards in their low-
est rushing output since a game
in Minnesota in 2002. The Bills’
total of 1,482 yards this season
was their fewest since 2014,
which they balanced out by
setting a franchise record with
4,786 yards through the air.
“We’re not going to change
who we are,” Allen said. “It’s
the biggest game because it’s
the next one, but we understand
that we don’t have to be anyone
different that who we are.”
Star struck
Though the Bills would love
to have Star Lotulelei enjoy this
playoff run with them, corner-
back Tre’Davious White and
several teammates continued
backing the starting defensive
tackle’s decision to opt out be-
cause of COVID-19 concerns.
“You can’t make a wrong de-
cision in this thing,” said White,
who contemplated opting out
before signing a $70 million,
four-year extension in Septem-
ber and earning second-team
All-Pro honors. “Obviously he
chose his family over a game
and the things that he had go-
ing on. I don’t think that he’s
necessarily missing out on any-
thing.”
Sleeping on Bieniemy
One of the hottest names
on the coaching carousel was
Chiefs offensive coordinator
Eric Bieniemy, who inter-
viewed with just about every
team with an opening. But the
only job left after the Eagles
hired Nick Sirianni on Thurs-
day was with the Houston
Texans, where the Bills’ Les-
lie Frazier is also among the
front-runners for the job.
“It’s always good to be men-
tioned and have an opportu-
nity to pursue your dreams,”
Bieniemy said. “I want to be a
head coach, but when it’s said
and done, I have to make sure
I’m not taking away from the
goals were trying to accom-
plish.”

ON THE AIR Westbrook sparks No. 3 UConn to win

Today
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
6 p.m. — Michigan at Purdue, FS1
8 p.m. — Seton Hall at Butler, FS1
10 p.m. — San Diego State At Air
Force, FS1
NBA BASKETBALL
6:45 p.m. — Boston at Philadelphia,
ESPN
9:05 p.m. — Denver at Phoenix, ESPN
Saturday
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
11 a.m. — Cincinnati at Houston, CBS
11 a.m. — UConn at Creighton, FOX
11 a.m. — Kansas at Oklahoma, ESPN
11 a.m. — Auburn at South Carolina,
ESPN2
11:30 a.m. — George Mason at St.
Joseph’s, NBCSN
Noon — Arkansas at Vanderbilt, SECN
1 p.m. — Baylor at Oklahoma State,
CBS
1 p.m. — N.C. State at North Carolina,
ESPN
1 p.m. — Florida at Georgia, ESPN2
1 p.m. — SMU at UCF, ESPNU
1 p.m. — Maryland at Minnesota, BTN
1:30 p.m. — La Salle at Richmond,
over No. 25 Tennessee
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Evina Westbrook,
who transferred from Tennessee to UConn
two years ago, connected on back-to-back
fourth-quarter 3-pointers to spark the No. 3 Hus-
kies to a 67-61 victory over the No. 25 Lady Vol-
unteers Thursday night.
UConn freshman Paige Bueckers added nine
points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the
Huskies (9-0). After rolling her right ankle with
just over 3 minutes left, Bueckers left the court
for a minute to get her ankle taped up. She re-
turned and hit a huge 3-pointer from the wing
with 28 seconds left that gave the Huskies a 66-
61 lead and sealed the win.
It was a classic meeting in the Naismith Me-
morial Basketball Hall of Fame Revival Series
during We Back Pat Week, which honors legend-
ary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, who passed
away in 2016. The Lady Vols wore for the third
time “Summitt” on the back of their jerseys.
This was UConn’s first trip to Tennessee
since 2006.
Westbrook’s pressure shots turned a tie game
into a six-point lead for UConn early in the fourth
quarter. She ignited a run that allowed the Hus-
kies to lead by nine, 61-52. The spurt coincided
with a drought of more than 2 minutes for the
Lady Vols (9-3). Tennessee rallied to 63-61 be-

Reliable
NBCSN
fore Bueckers shot off a pass from Westbrook.
1:30 p.m. — Army at Navy, CBSSN
Christyn Williams led UConn with 20 points.
2 p.m. — Clemson at Florida State,
Westbrook added 15 and Aubrey Griffin scored
ABC
10.
2:30 p.m. — Texas A&M at Ole Miss,
Rae Burrell scored 14 of her 18 points in the

information
SECN
first half to lead Tennessee. Rennia Davis scored
3 p.m. — Ohio State at Wisconsin, CBS
11 and Marta Suarez and Tamari Key each had
3 p.m. — Duke at Louisville, ESPN
10 points.
3:30 p.m. — Dayton at VCU, CBSSN
A crowd of 3,553 watched the game in

when we
4 p.m. — UCLA at Stanford, FOX
Thompson-Boliing Arena, the largest crowd
5 p.m. — LSU at Kentucky, ESPN
to see a women’s basketball game anywhere in
5 p.m. — Mississippi State at Alabama,
the country this season. The previous high was
SECN
3,500 at South Carolina (five times).

need it most. 
6 p.m. — Northwestern at Penn State,
BTN
Davis, a leader of the Vols, had just two
6 p.m. — Saint Mary’s at San Francis-
points in the first half. Four straight third-quar-
co, CBSSN
ter points gave Tennessee a lead it maintained
7 p.m. — Colorado at Washington
through the period. The Vols were in charge, 49-
State, ESPN2
45, heading into the fourth quarter.
7:30 p.m. — Missouri at Tennessee,
Burrell hit a couple 3s in the first quarter and
SECN
had 14 at halftime to lead Tennessee to a 35-34
edged at the break. Key had eight points to help
9 p.m. — Pepperdine at BYU, ESPN2
the cause. Protect freedom of the press.
Sunday Charity event freespeech.center
NFL FOOTBALL
2:05 p.m. — NFC Championship: Tam-
Tennessee coach Kellie Harper and her UCo-
pa Bay at Green Bay, FOX
nn counterpart Geno Auriemma showed just
5:40 p.m. — AFC Championship: Buffa-
how seriously they value this meeting of legend-
lo at Kansas City, CBS
ary programs and the charities it benefits.
NHL HOCKEY
Each of the coaches donated $10,000 that
11:30 a.m. — Detroit at Chicago, NBC
would be shared between the Pat Summitt
Foundation.
4B FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021
EXPLAINER: A look at the data behind NFL decision making
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fourth downs in the
NFL used to be reserved
for kicks, except in the
most dire of circumstanc-
es.
But with teams scor-
ing at a record pace and
becoming more analytics
friendly each year, teams
are going for it on fourth
down these days in sce-
narios that would have
been unfathomable just a
decade ago.
Whether it was Kansas
City’s decision to go for it
on fourth-and-1 in its own
territory to seal a win last
week against Cleveland,
or Indianapolis’ failed
fourth-and-goal try from
the 4 late in the first half
the previous week, those
decisions have taken cen-
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
ter stage this postseason.
“You can make a very
good decision and have
a bad result and you can
make a bad decision
and have a good result,”
said Frank Frigo, the
co-founder of EdjSports,
a data company that has
created its own custom-
izable model for deci-
sion making in the NFL.
“That’s OK. That’s life.
But you have to operate
on the best available in-
formation. In the long
haul, you will do much
better making sound an-
alytically based choices.”
The data behind those
decisions is more readily
available than ever to fans
with places like EdjSports
and ESPN tweeting out
the numbers that show
which decisions are best
FAMILY CIRCUS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
and worst during games
each week.
Here’s a deeper look
into the in-game deci-
sions coaches make and
what the numbers say
about them.
How to figure it out
There are several mod-
els for decision making
and they typically agree
on most calls, although
there are slight differenc-
es. EdjSports models the
win probability for teams
based on the decisions
they make based on his-
torical play-by-play data
and adjusts it for variables
like the strength and
weaknesses of both teams
from Football Outsiders,
injuries and other factors.
Calls that increase win
probability are good and
those that decrease it are
bad.
Why is it beneficial to
go for it?
The models are more
aggressive than almost
any coach, advocating go-
ing for it on almost fourth-
and-1 no matter the field
position, favoring more
fourth-down tries over
field goals in the red zone
and even advocating for
“riskier” calls like saying
the Browns should have
gone for it last week on
fourth-and-9 from their
32 with more than four
minutes left when trailing
Kansas City by five. That
decision cost Cleveland 5
percentage points in Ed-
jSports’ win probability.
The Browns punted and
never got the ball back.
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
I’m respond-
ing to the
letter from “Open-
and-Shut Case in
Virginia” (Oct. 20),
who complained
her son-in-law was
“disrespectful”
because he didn’t
close cupboard
doors, cereal box-
es, etc. My guess
is that “Kirk” is
displaying classic
symptoms of Adult
Attention Deficit
Disorder (AADD). Dear Abby
Multistep tasks
may be difficult for
him to complete because he is
easily distracted.
My husband has this. (It
was not diagnosed until he was
in his 50s, and I had nearly torn
all my hair out.) He still occa-
sionally leaves cabinet doors
and drawers open. I tease him
that he can’t remember to walk
from one side of the room to
another if he forgets to take his
medication.
I strongly recommend
that Kirk be evaluated by a
behavioral psychologist for
AADD. Treatment may save the
relationship between Kirk and
his in-laws. — WIFE OF A MAN
WITH A.A.D.D.
DEAR WIFE: Thank you for
your letter. I received a deluge
of responses about the letter
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan.
22). You’ll manage others like
a boss, and you’ll delegate like
a psychic. The most impressive
part is that you do this outside
of a work context. Maybe it’s a
weird thing to celebrate, but you
cannot argue this impressive
fact of your talent — people
love being ordered around by
you. The windfall comes in
August. Pisces and Aries adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 8,
5, 12, 28 and 17.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
It’s not that some are worthy of
your attention and others aren’t,
but you can only give your
attention to one at a time. Now,
there is the matter of fitting the
right offering to the one who
can extract value from it.
“You’re voluntarily
turning the ball over,” Fri-
go said. “You’re essential-
ly trading it for field po-
sition. The model is very
good at determining what
the field position is worth
compared to giving the
ball up.”
What was the best deci-
sion of the postseason?
The best fourth-
down call, according to
EdjSports, came from
Browns coach Kevin Ste-
fanski, who went for it on
fourth-and-1 from his own
29 with Cleveland trail-
ing by five with about six
minutes remaining. The
call increased Cleveland’s
win probability by 7.3
percentage points. Bak-
er Mayfield converted it
with a sneak, but Stefans-
from “Open-and-
Shut Case in
Virginia,” and
the vast majority
of the writers
mentioned ADD,
ADHD and AADD.
Many of them
recommended
patience on the
part of the in-laws
and volunteered
that Kirk may be
able to manage
the disorder if he
is diagnosed.
DEAR ABBY: I
am a 73-year-old
retired woman
who still main-
tains contact with a number of
old and new friends for movies,
dinner, museum visits, etc.
Until the COVID virus, we did
things often. Now, not so much.
Someone in this group told
me that on a couple of occa-
sions, a few of them were not
very nice when my name came
up. (“Why doesn’t she see her
grandkids more often?” “She
goes out more than most, yet
doesn’t want to eat in certain
restaurants.”) My husband
and I have a good marriage,
but many of these ladies are
widowed or divorced. How do
you handle backstabbing at
this age? — MYSTIFIED IN NEW
YORK
DEAR MYSTIFIED: Try not to
take it personally. Obviously,
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
You would like to hear that you
are the best at something, and
you don’t even care if it’s true or
not. Maybe it will become true
in time, but right now the chim-
ing sound of those melodious
words is gift enough.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
Great work in its early stag-
es looks a lot like a mess, a
blunder or a confusing pile of
disparate elements. There are
no failures, and no successes
either — only prototypes of vary-
ing effectiveness in serving the
original purpose.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
It’s as though you have a com-
mittee inside of you, and you
will do what the majority vote
tells you to do. If there are con-
ki squandered it when he
punted on fourth-and-9 on
the next series of downs.
Chiefs coach Andy
Reid’s call to go for it on
fourth-and-1 on the next
possession to seal the
win was the second-best
call of the postseason,
increasing Kansas City’s
win probability by 6.5 per-
centage points.
What was the worst
decision of the post-
season?
There’s little surprise
on this one. The analyt-
ics didn’t like Tennessee
coach Mike Vrabel’s call
to punt on fourth-and-2
from the Baltimore 40 in
the wild-card round when
trailing 17-13 with about
10 minutes left.
these gossips have less to
occupy their minds than one
would hope. You might also
consider seeing these particu-
lar individuals even less often
than you already do in the age
of COVID. If you do, it may give
them less ammunition concern-
ing what you do (or don’t do)
with your time.
DEAR ABBY: I began using a
wheelchair two years ago. Since
then a dear friend of roughly
30 years has become fixated
on my disability. While we once
shared a deep, close “BFF”
relationship, she now speaks to
me in baby talk and only shows
an interest in my physical lim-
itations. I feel objectified, hurt
and disappointed.
I have mentioned to her
that I prefer to focus on other
things in life, and she responds
with platitudes like, “The body
is just a shell,” and “All that
matters is the heart,” but her
actions tell me otherwise. I
hate to end this friendship, but
I am at the end of my rope.
Any advice? — PATRONIZED IN
ARIZONA
DEAR PATRONIZED: If you
haven’t done it already, tell this
person that you no longer wish
to discuss your disability and
you prefer she stop raising the
subject and treating you differ-
ently. Period. If she continues
to pursue the subject after that,
make your visits less frequent,
if they happen at all.
flicting ideas, expect inaction.
You’re hard to convince, even
when you’re the one doing the
convincing.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your
instincts are dead-on. When you
trust someone, you’re open to
their surprises. And when you
don’t trust someone, there is no
reason to be involved at all.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
There’s no need to wonder
about whether what you’re giv-
ing today is good enough. You
sense what others are missing
and fill in the blanks for them.
What could be more elegant
than this?
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
The current cosmic alignment
activates your play mode. You
might even find yourself per-
forming for your phone — harm-
less enough, as long as you
realize that there’s something
irreversible about hitting “send.”
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
The fortuitous arrangement has
not been forthcoming. What
gives? You don’t like their offer.
They don’t respond to yours.
It’s all a signal to broaden the
search terms.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). This weird bit is true: “Fail-
ing” at a new task is far more
satisfying than succeeding at
a task you’ve already mas-
tered. The quotations are used
because it’s very possible that
“failure” is just an early version
of success.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). Others may be happy
when you take the known road,
but you’re not in charge of the
happiness of others, you’re in
charge of your own happiness,
which is more likely to unfold
when you take the other one.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). Sometimes, you need
space, and other times you
need closeness. You appreciate
the one who understands the
limits of intense engagements
and follows up intensity with
sweetness and distance.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). Your empathy is a talent
for sure, but it can also be
overwhelming to feel so much
for others when you cannot do
anything about those feelings.
Whatever you can do to be
communicative and persuasive
will help.
Pick and choose
SOLUTION:
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 5B

RELIGIOUS BRIEFS
Mississippi State School Ministry
Mississippi State School of Ministry will
be taking applications for enrollment into their
online degree granting program. Earn your
Certification, Associates, Bachelor, Master and
Doctoral Degree in Religious Studies. We are
an accreditation School of Ministry authorized
through State of Mississippi and Federal
Government. Our degrees are for ecclesiastical
purposes only. We accept transcripts and your
life experience also can also be used for de-
gree granting purposes. For further information
feel free to call 662-425-8443
Fellowship Dinner, Youth Service
Pleasant Ridge Faith Center, 923 Ridge
Road, hosts a fellowship dinner and youth
service every third Sunday.
Gospel Book Club
Friendship M.B. Church, 1102 12th Ave. S.,
invites the public to join its Community Gospel
Book Club from 6-7 p.m., on the fourth Friday
of each month, to study and share views of the
Holy Bible. Open to all ages and ethnicities.
For more information, call Barbara Mattison or
Lillian Murray, 662-570-5595.
Grief Support Group
The Oil of Joy for Grief and Mourning offers
a grief support group at 6 p.m. every second
Thursday of the month at United Christian Bap-
tist Church, 232 Yorkville Road East. “Making
your grieving journey easier.” For more informa-
tion, call 662-327-0604 or e-mail unitedchris-
tian@cableone.net.
Celebrate Recovery
Celebrate Recovery, the nation’s largest
Christian recovery program, meets Tuesdays at
6:00 p.m. at Meadowview Church, 300 Linden
Circle in Starkville. Millions have found help,
healing, and support for hurts, habits, and
hang-ups using our popular Biblical 12 step
program.
Prayer for Youth
Every second and third Saturday, Pleasant
Ridge Faith Center hosts a prayer for the youth
from 2-3 p.m.
Prayer, Free Coffee
Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 2221
14th Ave. N., hosts free coffee and a prayer
community outreach service from 8-9 a.m.
every fifth Saturday. For information, contact
Jesse Slater, 662-328-4979.
Radio Program
Apostles Patrick Perkins invites the public to
tune in to WTWG, radio 1050 AM for Perfecting
the Saints Broadcast, Wednesdays 8:30 a.m.
Women Prayer, Worship Service
Church of the Eternal Word, 106 22nd St. S.,
holds a prayer and worship service every Thurs-
day from 5-6 p.m. Call Marie Nabors, 662-549-
4322 or 662-329-1234, for prayer requests.
Prayer Ministry
New Beginning Everlasting Outreach Ministry
invites the public to call in with their prayer
requests at 662-327-9843.
Prayer Service
Church of the Eternal Word, 106 22nd St. S.,
Columbus, holds prayer service Thursday nights
5-6 p.m. Contact Marie Nabors, 662-549-4322.
Church service times: Sunday school 10 a.m.;
Sunday worship 11:15 a.m.; Tuesday Bible
study 7 p.m. For information, call Pastor District
Elder Lou Nabors, 662-329-1234.
Fitness Transformations
The Transformational Church, 2301 Jess
Lyons Road, hosts boxing lessons Mondays
and Wednesday from 5-7 p.m., weight-loss boot
camp Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-7 p.m. and
both on Saturdays 9-11 a.m.

Recovery Room Youth Fellowship

New Life Assembly, 4474 New Hope Road
(near Dollar General) hosts Recovery Room, at
6:30 p.m. each Sunday. Find help, healing, and
support for any hurt, habit, or hang-up using
our Christ-centered 12 steps.
The Transformational Church, 2301 Jess
Lyons Road, hosts Youth Fellowship from 7-8:30
p.m. every Tuesday. Games, prayer, service,
food, and more. Transportation available. For
information, call Iris Roberson, 662-295-7456.

Organists offer soundtrack to

jabs at medieval UK cathedral
‘At times of crisis, people come
together and want to listen to music ...’
BY DANICA KIRK A
AND JO KEARNEY
The Associated Press
SALISBURY, England
— David Halls isn’t a doc-
tor, nurse or ambulance
driver, but he wanted to
contribute in the fight
against COVID-19. So he
did what he does best: He
sat down on the bench
beside at Salisbury Cathe-
dral’s historic organ and
began to play.
Halls is one of the
many people who have
turned the 800-year-old
cathedral in southwest-
ern England into a mass
vaccination center as the
U.K. races to inoculate
50 million people. His
contribution to the effort
is offering a bit of Bach,
Handel and even a little
its shot program to foot-
ball stadiums, convention
centers and hundreds of
Organist David Halls local doctors offices to
speed delivery.
Rodgers & Hammerstein Hundreds of elderly
to the public as they shuf- residents have rolled up
fle through the nave to get their sleeves and got their Send in your church event!
their shots. shots in the great nave, Email editorialassistant@cdispatch.com
“At times of crisis, peo-
ple come together and
which is big enough to Subject: Religious brief
gather people together
want to listen to music;
while also keeping them
at moments of joy, people
safely apart.
want to listen to music,’’
Halls, the cathedral’s
music director, told The
Associated Press. “And so
I don’t think it’s any sur-
prise the effect of sooth-
ing music on people who
probably are feeling quite
stressed for various rea-
sons.”
Salisbury Cathedral,
home to one of the best
preserved copies of the
Magna Carta and En-
gland’s tallest church
spire, has been enlisted
as a vaccination center as
the government expands

French doctor who made Down

discovery closer to sainthood
BY NICOLE WINFIELD
The Associated Press
ROME — The French
doctor who discovered the
genetic basis of Down syn-
drome but spent his career
advocating against abor-
tion as a result of prenatal
diagnosis has taken his
first major step to possible
sainthood.
Pope Francis on Thurs-
day approved the “heroic
virtues” of Dr. Jerome
Lejeune, who lived from
1926-1994 and was par-
ticularly esteemed by St.
John Paul II for his an-
ti-abortion stance.
The papal recognition
of Lejeune’s virtues means
that he is considered “ven-
erable” by the Catholic
Church. The Vatican must
now confirm a miracle
attributed to his interces-
sion for him to be beati-
fied, and a second one for
him to be declared a saint.
According to his offi-
cial biography, Lejeune
in 1958 discovered the
existence of an extra chro-
mosome on the 21st pair
during a study of the chro-
mosomes of a child. It was
the first time scientists
had found a link between
an intellectual disability
and a chromosomal anom-
aly; the condition is now
known as trisomy 21.
“Although the results of
his research should have
helped medicine to ad-
vance toward a cure, they
are often used to identify
children carrying these
diseases as early as possi-
ble, usually with the aim of
terminating pregnancy,”
the Jerome Lejeune Foun-
dation wrote in its biogra-
phy.
“As soon as the
pro-abortion laws were
drafted in western coun-
tries, Lejeune began ad-
vocating for the protec-
tion of the unborn with
Down syndrome: he gave
hundreds of conferences
and interviews across the
globe in defense of life,”
the group said.
6B FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Classifieds
LEGALS
Call us: 662-328-2424
Legal Notices
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
NOTICE OF SALE
WHEREAS, the following ten-
ants entered into leases with
FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES for storage space in
which to store personal prop-
erty and
WHEREAS, default has been
made in the payment of rent
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES pursuant to said
Leases is authorized to sell the
personal property to satisfy the
past due and any other
charges owed to it by the fol-
lowing tenants.
NOW THEREFORE, notice is
hereby given that FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of-
fer for sale, and will sell at auc-
tion to the highest bidder for
cash all personal property in
storage units leased by the fol-
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 903
Alabama St. Columbus, MS.
Auctions will begin at 8:30
A.M. on the 5th day of Febru-
ary, A.D. 2021 at 308 Shoney
Drive, Columbus, MS and will
continue to all FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in
the following sequence: 903
Alabama Street, Columbus,
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum-
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69
South, Columbus, MS. All auc-
tions are with reserve and
therefore all units can be with-
drawn from the sale at any
time by the auctioneer/man-
ager.
Title to the personal property to
be sold is believed to be good,
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
convey only such title as is ves-
ted in it pursuant to its lease
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
Annotated Section 85-7-121 et
seq (Supp 1988).
Cetericka Walker - E247
Jennifer Overpeck - E226
Alyssa Harris - E478
Oscar Taylor Jr. - E95
Shameka Gandy - E465
LaShana C. Scott - E58, E372
Daphine Miller - E81
Stephanie Bryant - E493
Cedrick Clemmons - E1
Jerry Stockman - E246
Patricia Wilson - E360
Carletta Edwards - E245
Alisha Coleman - E207
Caroline Payne - E366
Ellihue Blackwell - E471
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
this the 6th day of January,
A.D. 2021.
FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSES
By: C.H.L.
Publish: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
CAUSE NO.: 20-0140-JNS
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
LOWNDES COUNTY
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the estate of
ALLEAN PETTY, deceased, by
the Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, on the
27th day of July, A.D., 2020.
This is to give notice to all per-
sons having claims against
said estate to Probate and Re-
gister same with the Chancery
Clerk of Lowndes County, Mis-
sissippi, within ninety (90) days
from this date. A failure to so
Probate and Register said
claim will forever bar the same.
This the 5th day of January,
2021.
/s/ SHELIA DEAR POWERS
SHELIA DEAR POWERS
PUBLISH: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF DOROTHY G. RAY, DE-
CEASED
CAUSE NO. 2020-0236-F
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
Dorothy G. Ray, deceased, by
the Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, on the
28th day of December, 2020.
This is to give notice to all per-
sons having claims against
said estate to Probate and Re-
gister same with the Chancery
Clerk of Lowndes County, Mis-
sissippi, within ninety (90) days
from the first publication date
of this Notice to Creditors. A
failure to so Probate and Re-
gister a claim will forever bar
that claim.
This the 29th day of December,
2020.
/s/ DAVIS B. RAY, Executor
PUBLISH: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
One call will bring you results.
Legal Notices
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
NOTICE OF SALE
WHEREAS, the following ten-
ants entered into leases with
FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES for storage space in
which to store personal prop-
erty and
WHEREAS, default has been
made in the payment of rent
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE- al Time, on February 23, 2021
HOUSES pursuant to said
Leases is authorized to sell the terials (as specified) neces-
personal property to satisfy the sary for construction of “2021
past due and any other
charges owed to it by the fol-
lowing tenants.
NOW THEREFORE, notice is
hereby given that FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of- curb and gutter and the install-
fer for sale, and will sell at auc- ation of ADA accessible ramps
tion to the highest bidder for
cash all personal property in
storage units leased by the fol- The above general outline of
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 44
Beatty Road, Columbus, MS.
Auctions will begin at 8:30
A.M. on the 5th day of Febru-
ary, A.D. 2021 at 308 Shoney
Drive, Columbus, MS and will
continue to all FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in
the following sequence: 903
Alabama Street, Columbus,
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum-
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69
South, Columbus, MS. All auc- ($500.00) for each calendar
tions are with reserve and
therefore all units can be with- Substantial Completion.
drawn from the sale at any
time by the auctioneer/man-
ager.
Title to the personal property to in the event of such default,
be sold is believed to be good, shall pay the Owner the actual
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
convey only such title as is ves- spection forces employed on
ted in it pursuant to its lease
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
Annotated Section 85-7-121 et
seq (Supp 1988).
Terry Brown - B40, B48
Robert Irwin - B62
Walter Smith Jr. - B46
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
this the 6th day of January,
A.D. 2021.
FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSES
By: C.H.L.
Publish: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF DOROTHY ALICE
HODGES, DECEASED
THOMAS S. HODGES, JR., AD-
MINISTRATOR
CAUSE NO.: 2020-0205-JNS
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
TO: All Unknown Heirs-at-Law of quired to furnish a Payment
Dorothy Alice Hodges, de-
ceased, and Any Unknown Per- each in the amount of one hun-
sons In Interest
Rebecca Roach
4122 Manor House Drive
Marietta, GA 30062
All Unknown Heirs-at-Law of
Helen Atkins, deceased, and
Any Unknown Persons In In-
terest
All Unknown Heirs-at-Law of
Royce Ann Butler deceased,
and Any Unknown Persons In
Interest
Tammy Bates
127 Myrtle Wood Drive
Pensacola, FL 32503
Vickie Stanley
105 Morgan Terrace
Marion, NC 28752
All Unknown Heirs-at-Law of El- notifies all Bidders that it will
lena J. Hixson, deceased, and
Any Unknown Persons In In-
terest
Cindy Hixson Lapierre
7425 Gilbert Road
Panama City, FL 32404
You have been made a defend- criminated against on the
ant in the Petition to Determ-
ines Heirs-at-Law filed by the
Administrator, Thomas S.
Hodges, Jr., on December 11,
2020, seeking to determine
the heirs-at-law of Dorothy Alice the right to reject any and all
Hodges, Helen Atkins, Royce
Ann Butler and Ellena J. Hix-
son. all deceased. Other than
you, the only other interested
parties in this action are James Robert Smith, Mayor
Hodges, Sam Atkins, Dorothy
Sawaryn Threadgill, and
Thomas S. Hodges, Jr..
You are summoned to appear
and represent your interests
against said Petition before the
Honorable Joseph N. Studdard,
Chancellor of the 14th Chan-
cery District at 9:00 a.m. on
the 2nd day of March 2021, at
the Oktibbeha County Court-
house, in Starkville, Missis-
sippi, and in case of your fail- Dodge Ram 150 Van for sale
ure to appear your interest in
this matter will not be con-
sidered.
You are not required to file an
answer or other pleading, but
you may do so if you desire.
Issued under my hand and the bid opening will be held in the
seal of said Court, this the
28th day of December 2020.
CINDY E. GOODE, CHANCERY
CLERK
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
(SEAL)
BY: Tina Fisher, D.C.
PUBLISH: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
Read local.
cdispatch.com
Legal Notices
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
2021 SIDEWALK AND STREET
IMPROVEMENTS
COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI
Sealed bids will be received by
the City of Columbus, Missis-
sippi in the offices of the City
of Columbus, Office of the May-
or, located at 523 Main Street,
Columbus, MS 39701 or elec-
tronically via www.neel-schaffer-
plans.com until 2:00 P.M., Loc-
for supplying all labor and ma-
SIDEWALK AND STREET IM-
PROVEMENTS.”
The work generally consists of
the removal and replacement
of damaged sidewalks and
on numerous City streets.
the work does not in any way
limit the responsibility of the
Contractor to perform all work
and furnish all plant, labor,
equipment, and materials re-
quired by the specifications
and the drawings referred to
therein.
The contract time is 150 calen-
dar days. Liquidated damages
will be assessed in the amount
of Five Hundred Dollars
day the Work has not achieved
Special Damages – In addition
to the amounts provided for li-
quidated damages, Contractor,
costs reasonably incurred by
Owner for engineering and in-
the work after the time stipu-
lated for the completion of the
work.
CERTIFICATE OF RESPONSIBIL-
ITY: Each contractor submit-
ting a bid in excess of
$50,000.00 must show on his
bid and on the face of the en-
velope containing the bid, his
Certificate of Responsibility
Number, as required by Sec-
tion 31-3-21 and 21-3-15, Mis-
sissippi Code of 1972. If the
bid does not exceed
$50,000.00, a notation so
stating must appear on the
face of the envelope.
EVIDENCE: No bid will be
opened, considered or accep-
ted unless the above informa-
tion is given as specified.
Proposals shall be submitted in
a sealed envelope and depos-
ited with the City of Columbus
prior to the hour and date
herein before designated. No
bidder may withdraw his bid
within ninety (90) days after
the actual date of the opening
thereof.
Each Bidder must deposit with
his proposal, a Bid Bond or
Certified Check in an amount
equal to five percent (5%) of
his bid, payable to the City of
Columbus, as bid security. The
successful bidder will be re-
Bond and Performance Bond
dred percent (100%) of the con-
tract amount.
Bid documents are being made
available via original paper
copy. Plan holders are re-
quired to register for an ac-
count at www.neel-schaffer-
plans.com to view and order
Bid Documents. All plan hold-
ers are required to have a val-
id email address for registra-
tion. Bid Documents are non-re-
fundable and must be pur-
chased through the website.
Electronic bids shall be submit-
ted through www.neel-schaffer-
plans.com. Please contact Plan
House Printing at (662) 407-
0193 with questions regarding
website registration, electronic
bidding, and online orders.
The City of Columbus hereby
affirmatively insure that in any
contract entered into pursuant
to this advertisement, disad-
vantaged and women’s busi-
ness enterprises will be af-
forded the full opportunity to
submit bids in response to this
invitation and will not be dis-
grounds of race, color, or na-
tional origin in consideration for
an award.
The City of Columbus reserves
bids and to waive any informal-
ities or irregularities therein.
BY: /s/ Robert E. Smith, Sr.
City of Columbus
Advertisement Dates:
January 21, 2021
January 28, 2021
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
SURPLUS PROPERTY SALE
Ford Taurus for sale
MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR
WOMEN
COLUMBUS, MS 39701
Sealed bids will be received at
the Office of Purchasing. The
Office of Purchasing, Whitfield
Hall, Columbus, MS 39701 at
2:00 p.m. February 18, 2021
at which time they will be pub-
licly opened and read. Specific-
ations may be obtained from:
Office of Purchasing
Whitfield Hall
1100 College Street MUW
1628
Columbus, MS 39701
Telephone (662) 329-7126
Email: Purchase@muw.edu
Mississippi University for Wo-
men reserves the right to re-
ject any or all bids.
PUBLISH: 1/22 & 1/29/2021
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
Legal Notices
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
NOTICE OF SALE
WHEREAS, the following ten-
ants entered into leases with
FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES for storage space in
which to store personal prop-
erty and
WHEREAS, default has been
made in the payment of rent
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE-
HOUSES pursuant to said
Leases is authorized to sell the
personal property to satisfy the
past due and any other
charges owed to it by the fol-
lowing tenants.
NOW THEREFORE, notice is
hereby given that FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of-
fer for sale, and will sell at auc-
tion to the highest bidder for
cash all personal property in
storage units leased by the fol-
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 308
Shoney Drive Columbus, MS,
at 8:30 am on the 5th day of
February, A.D. 2021 and will
continue to all FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in
the following sequence: 903
Alabama Street, Columbus,
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum-
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69
South, Columbus, MS. All auc-
tions are with reserve and
therefore all units can be with-
drawn from the sale at any
time by the auctioneer/man-
ager.
Title to the personal property to
be sold is believed to be good,
but at such sale, FRIENDLY
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will
convey only such title as is ves-
ted in it pursuant to its lease
with the following and its al-
lowed under Mississippi Code
Annotated Section 85-7-121 et
seq (Supp 1988).
Carnell Brown - N16
Sharon D. Little - N276
Tiesha Robinson - N125
Debbie Gardner - N22
Tammy Bailey - N227
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
this the 6th day of January,
A.D. 2021.
FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSES
By: C.H.L.
Publish: 1/8, 1/15 &
1/22/2021
ads.cdispatch.com
TATE OF JANELL COLLIER BISH- TERS OF THE STATE OF MIS-
OP MCCHRISTON, DECEASED SISSIPPI
CLIFTON BOYD BISHOP, JR.,
EXECUTOR
Notice is hereby given that on
the 8th day of October 2020,
Jeffrey Unruh, 54110 MS High-
NO. 2020-0250-PDE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
way 14 East, Macon, MS
39341, filed application No.
MS-GW-17576 for a permit to
divert or withdraw the public
To place ads starting at only $12,
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to
waters of the State of Missis-
sippi for beneficial use from
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
Clifton Boyd Bishop, Jr., Execut- the Gordo Aquifer, in the
or of the Estate of Janell Colli- county of Noxubee, for Irriga-
er Bishop McChriston, de- tion purposes, subject to exist-
ing rights, the following amount
THE DISPATCH nceased, by the Chancery Court
of CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY,
Lowndes County, Missis- of JANUARY
water at the 22, 2021 loca-
indicated n 7B
sippi, on the 29th day of tion:
December, 2020. This is to
give notice to all persons hav- PERMIT#
ing claims against the estate VOLUME
Legal Notices toLegal Noticesand Register same RATE
Probate Legal Notices
with the Chancery Clerk of LOCATION
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI Lowndes County, Mississippi,
COUNTY OF LOWNDES within ninety (90) days from the MS-GW-17576
date of first publication of this 84 AF/Y
700 GPM
NOTICE OF SALE Notice. A failure to so Probate
and Register the claim will NE, NE,S10, T14N, R18E
WHEREAS, the following ten- forever bar the same.
ants entered into leases with Any person, firm, association,
FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE- THIS the 29th day of Decem- or corporation, deeming that
HOUSES for storage space in ber, 2020. the granting of the above ap-
which to store personal prop- plication will be truly detriment-
erty and Estate of Janell Collier Bishop al to their rights to utilize the
McChriston waters of the said source, may
WHEREAS, default has been By: Clifton Boyd Bishop, Jr., Ex- protest in writing to the Permit
made in the payment of rent ecutor Board of the State of Missis-
and FRIENDLY CITY MINI-WARE- sippi, ATTN: Chris Hawkins, PO
HOUSES pursuant to said OF COUNSEL: Box 2309, Jackson, Missis-
Leases is authorized to sell the John W. Crowell (MSB 7906) sippi 39225, setting forth all
personal property to satisfy the Crowell Gillis & Cooper, PLLC reason why said application
past due and any other Post Office Box 1827 should not be approved. Let-
charges owed to it by the fol- Columbus, MS 39703 ters of protest must be re-
lowing tenants. PHONE: (662) 243-7308 ceived within ten (10) days of
jcrowell@cgclawpllc.com this publication. If not pro-
NOW THEREFORE, notice is tested, a permit will be issues
hereby given that FRIENDLY PUBLISH: 1/15, 1/22 & on or after ten (10) days follow-
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will of- 1/29/2021 ing the publication date.
fer for sale, and will sell at auc-
tion to the highest bidder for IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF If protested, the application will
cash all personal property in LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS- be taken for consideration by
storage units leased by the fol- SIPPI the Permit Board of the State
lowing tenants at FRIENDLY of Mississippi in its offices at
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES 4504 IN THE MATTER OF THE ES- 515 East Amite Street, Jack-
Highway 69 South, Columbus, TATE OF JULIA M. WILLIAMS, son, Mississippi, on or after,
MS. Auctions will begin at 8:30 DECEASED Tuesday, the 9th day of Febru-
A.M. on the 5th day February, ary 2021, at which time all in-
A.D. 2021 at 308 Shoney GEORGE A. WILLIAMS, III PETI- terested persons may appear
Drive, Columbus, MS and will TIONER and be heard by the Permit
continue to all FRIENDLY CITY Board.
MINI-WAREHOUSE locations in CAUSE NO. 2020-0251
the following sequence: 903 OFFICE OF LAND AND WATER
Alabama Street, Columbus, RULE 81 SUMMONS RESOURCES
MS; 44 Beatty Road, Colum- (Summons by Publication) Chris Hawkins, P.E.
bus, MS; 4504 Highway 69 Chief, Permitting, Certification,
South, Columbus, MS. All auc- THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI and Compliance Division
tions are with reserve and COUNTY OF HARRISON
therefore all units can be with- PUBLISH: 1/22/2021
drawn from the sale at any TO: THE KNOWN AND UN-
time by the auctioneer/man- KNOWN HEIRS AT LAW OF JU-
ager. LIA M. WILLIAMS, DECEASED Booze Legal Notices
Title to the personal property to NOTICE TO DEFENDANTS
be sold is believed to be good, LEGAL NOTICE
but at such sale, FRIENDLY You have been made a Defend-
CITY MINI-WAREHOUSES will ant in the suit filed in this
convey only such title as is ves- Court by GEORGE A. WILLIAMS, I the member of A to
ted in it pursuant to its lease III, seeking to open the Estate Z 14 LLC intend to
with the following and its al- of Julia M. Williams, Deceased.
lowed under Mississippi Code There are no Defendants other make application for
Annotated Section 85-7-121 et
seq (Supp 1988).
than you in this action. a Package Retailer
You are summoned to appear Permit as provided for
Bessie Montgomery - H27 and defend against the Com-
plaint or Petition filed against
by the Local Option
Charles Mateer - H14 you in this action at 9:00 a.m. Alcoholic Beverage
O'CLOCK on the 4th day of
Natasha Kyle - H48 March, 2021, in the courtroom Control Laws, Sec-
of the Oktibbeha County Chan- tion 67-1-1, et seq.,
Michael Hollins - Park 3 cery Courthouse at 101 E.
Main Street, Starkville, Missis- of the Mississippi
Brett Johnson - H46 sippi, and in case of your fail- Code of 1972, Annot-
ure to appear and defend, a
Wendy Blunt - H60, H104 judgment will be entered ated. If granted such
against you for the money or permit, I propose to
Jennie G. Johnson - H96 other things demanded in the
Complaint or Petition. operate as a limited
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on
this the 6th day of January, You are not required to file an
liability company un-
A.D. 2020. answer other pleading, but you der the trade name of
may do so if you desire. Military Wine and Li-
FRIENDLY CITY
MINI-WAREHOUSES Issued under my hand and the quor located at 2329
By: C.H.L. seal of said Court, this 19th
day of January, 2021.
Dr. Martin Luther King
Publish: 1/8, 1/15 & Jr, Drive, City of
1/22/2021 Cindy Goode, Chancery Clerk
Lowndes County, Mississippi Columbus, County of
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF Post Office Box 684 Lowndes.
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS- Columbus, Mississippi 39703
SIPPI
BY: Shantrell W. Granderson, The name, title and
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES- D.C.
TATE OF JAMES MASON WOOD-
address of the mem-
ARD, DECEASED Issue at the request of: ber for he above
Warren L. Conway
CAUSE NO.: 2020-0225-RPF 1600 24th Avenue, Suite B named business are:
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION (228) 863-3183 – Telephone
(228) 863-3379 – Facsimile Mayur Patel
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI MSB No.: 6480 Member
TO: All Unknown Heirs-at-Law of PUBLISH: 1/22, 1/29 & 185 Acorn Drive
2/5/2021
James Mason Woodard, de- Columbus, MS
ceased, and Any Unknown
Parties In Interest In the Chancery Court of 39705
Lowndes County, Mississippi
You have been made a defend-
ant in the Petition for Adjudica- In the Matter of the Estate of If any person wishes
tion of Heirs-at-Law[Doc. No.
12] filed by the Administratrix,
Milton Lewis, Deceased to request a hearing a
Kayleigh B. Woodard, on Janu- Cause No. 2020-0299-PDE hearing to object to
ary 6, 2021, seeking to de-
termine the heirs-at-law of Summons
the issuance of this
James Mason Woodard, de- (Rule 81 Summons by Publica- permit a request for a
ceased. Other than you, the tion)
only other interested parties in hearing must be
this action are Kayleigh B. To: All Born, Known, Absent or made in writing and
Woodard; J.M.W. Jr., a minor Unknown Heirs at Law of Milton
child with the date of birth of Lewis, Deceased received by the De-
xx/xx/2019; C.V.W., a minor partment of Revenue
child with a date of birth of You have been made a re-
xx/xx/2009; and M.T.W., a spondent in the Petition to De- within (15) fifteen
minor child with a date of birth termine Heirs-at-Law filed in days from the first
of xx/xx/2006. this cause by Castella Hender-
son, who is seeking a judicial date this notice was
You are summoned to appear
and represent your interests
determination that Castella
Henderson and Shirley Cole-
published.
against said Petition before the man are the sole and only
Honorable Rodney P. Faver, heirs at law of the Decedent,
Chancellor of the 14th Chan- Milton Lewis.
Requests shall be
cery District at 9:00 a.m. on sent to:
the 18th day of March 2021, You are summoned to appear
at the Lowndes County Court- and respond to the Petition
Chief Counsel, Legal
house in Columbus, Missis- files on this action at 9:30 Division
sippi, and in case of your fail- a.m. on the 24th day of Febru-
Department of Reven-
ure to appear your interest in ary, 2021 before Chancellor
this matter will not be con- Paula Drungole-Ellis in the ue
sidered. Chancery Courtroom at the
Lowndes County Courthouse P.O. Box 22828
You are not required to file an located at 505 2nd Avenue Jackson, MS 39225
answer or other pleading, but North, Columbus, Mississippi;
you may do so if you desire. and in case of your failure to
appear and respond, a Decree Date of first publica-
Issued under my hand and the will be entered for the things
seal of said Court, this the requested in the Petition. tion: 1/22/2021
19th day of January 2021.
You are not required to file an
CINDY E. GOODE, CHANCERY answer or other pleading, but This the 19th day of
CLERK you may do so if you desire.
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
January, 2021.
SIPPI Issued under my hand and the
seal of said Court on this the
(SEAL) 12th day of January, 2021. PUBLISH: 1/22 &
BY: /s/ Shantrell W. Grander- 1/24/2021
son, D.C. s/ Cindy E. Goode
Chancery Clerk
PUBLISH: 1/22, 1/29 & Lowndes County, Mississippi
2/5/2021
PUBLISH: 1/15, 1/22 &
1/29/2021
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DI-
VERT OR WITHDRAW FOR BE-
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES- NEFICIAL USE THE PUBLIC WA-
TATE OF JANELL COLLIER BISH- TERS OF THE STATE OF MIS-
OP MCCHRISTON, DECEASED SISSIPPI
CLIFTON BOYD BISHOP, JR., Notice is hereby given that on
EXECUTOR the 8th day of October 2020,
Jeffrey Unruh, 54110 MS High-
NO. 2020-0250-PDE way 14 East, Macon, MS All notices must be
39341, filed application No. emailed to
NOTICE TO CREDITORS MS-GW-17576 for a permit to
divert or withdraw the public classifieds@
Letters Testamentary have waters of the State of Missis-
been granted and issued to sippi for beneficial use from cdispatch.com.
Clifton Boyd Bishop, Jr., Execut- the Gordo Aquifer, in the
or of the Estate of Janell Colli- county of Noxubee, for Irriga-
er Bishop McChriston, de- tion purposes, subject to exist-
ceased, by the Chancery Court ing rights, the following amount
of Lowndes County, Missis- of water at the indicated loca-
sippi, on the 29th day of tion:
December, 2020. This is to
PERMIT#
give notice to all persons hav-
ing claims against the estate VOLUME
RATE
to Probate and Register same
with the Chancery Clerk of LOCATION
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
within ninety (90) days from the MS-GW-17576
84 AF/Y
date of first publication of this
662-328-2424
Notice. A failure to so Probate 700 GPM
and Register the claim will NE, NE,S10, T14N, R18E
forever bar the same.
Any person, firm, association,
THIS the 29th day of Decem- or corporation, deeming that
ber, 2020. the granting of the above ap-
plication will be truly detriment-
Estate of Janell Collier Bishop al to their rights to utilize the
8B FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Medical / Dental Sporting Goods

Real Estate ED SANDERS GUNSMITH

Open for season! ON THE WEB
Tue−Fri: 9−5 & Sat: 9−12
Ads starting at $25 Over 50 years experience! Visit www.cdispatch.com
Repairs, cleaning, refin−
Farms & Timberland ishing, scopes mounted & for a printable copy of
zeroed, handmade knives.
Located: Hwy 45 Alt, North these puzzles.
203 ACRES of West Point, turn right on
PRIME TIMBERLAND Yokahama Blvd, 8mi & turn
$270,000 left on Darracott Rd, will
Exc deer, turkey hunting see sign, 2.5mi ahead
Good Investment shop on left.
(615)719−8329 662−494−6218.

Houses For Sale: East

FSBO: 4BR/2BA. New roof,

new paint, fenced
Vehicles
backyard, driveway leads
behind house. $128,000.
Ads starting at $12
662−889−1443.
Campers & RVs
Lots & Acreage
1.75 ACRE LOTS: Good/
Bad Credit Options. Good
credit as low as 20% down,
$499/mo. Eaton Land,
662−361−7711.

LOTS FOR SALE. Over 3

Apts For Rent: Other acre lot in prestigious

Rentals COLEMAN
Callaway Estates. Only 2 2003 Coachman 31ft 5th
Wheel RV. Great shape,
Sudoku
lots available. Restrictive
covenants apply. $35,000. ready to hit the road or for YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
Ads starting at $25 RENTALS Call Long & Long Real tiny home life. Lots of

Sudoku Yesterday’s answer

TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS Estate, 662−328−0770 room, 2 pullouts, awning Sudoku is a number-
for plat and restrictions. for patio. Will consider all
Apts For Rent: North 1 BEDROOM serious offers, no financing placing puzzle based on
Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 2 8 3 4 7 1 6 9 5
2 BEDROOMS $10,000. 601−310−3528
FOX RUN APARTMENTS ber-placing
given numbers.puzzleThe object 6 9 7 2 5 8 1 3 4

2021 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

1 & 2 BR near hospital. 3 BEDROOMS based onthe a 9x9
is to place numbers 4 5 1 9 3 6 2 8 7
Community
$595−$645 monthly.
LEASE, grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 1 7 9 3 6 5 4 2 8
© The Dispatch

Military discount, pet area,

pet friendly, and furnished DEPOSIT given
so thatnumbers.
each row, each The 8 4 2 1 9 7 5 6 3
corporate apts. object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place box
AND Looking for a new home? Ads starting at $12 numbers 5 3 6 8 4 2 7 1 9
contains the1same to 9 number
in
24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL
GYM. ON SITE SECURITY. CREDIT CHECK Let us help, shop here. 9 6 4 7 2 3 8 5 1
the empty spaces so
ON SITE MAINTENANCE.
Pets only once. The difficulty 7 1 5 6 8 9 3 4 2
that each row, each
662-329-2323
ON SITE MANAGEMENT.
level increases from
column and each
Garage Sales
24−HOUR CAMERA 3 2 8 5 1 4 9 7 6
SURVEILLANCE. Benji & Boxer/Lab Puppies Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 1/21
2 males and 2 females
Ashleigh, 662−386−4446. 2411 HWY 45 N $400. 662−361−4081 the same number only once. The difficulty level
Apts For Rent: West COLUMBUS, MS Two free signs increases from Monday to Sunday.

VIP Need a new

Houses For Rent: North Auctions

Rentals companion?
3BR/1.5BA, clean, modern
appliances, dishwasher,
central AC&heat; carport,
Apartments & Houses wash/dry hookup, fenced
back yard, 3216 Military Rd
1 Bedrooms $800+dep. 574−8559

2 Bedroooms Houses For Rent: Caledonia

3 Bedrooms 3BR/1.5BA, small house
Furnished & Unfurnished for small family. NO DOGS.
NO HUD. Caledonia School
1, 2, & 3 Baths Dist. 8155 Hwy 12 near
Lease, Deposit
Old Country Store.
Available 1/5/21. $775/
& Credit Check mo + $775 dep. 662−245
−1191 or 662−549−9298.
viceinvestments.com
327-8555 Mobile Homes for Rent

Apts For Rent: Other

3BR/2BA MH in New Hope. When looking
$650 dep + $650/mo.
No pets, quiet area. Leave
voicemail with full name & for a new pet,
adoption is
message, 205−712−6697.

RENT A CAMPER!
CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
Utilities & cable included, always a
from $145/wk − $535/mo
Columbus & County School
locations. 662−242−3803
or 601−940−1397.
Merchandise good option.
Mobile Home Spaces Ads starting at $12

For Rent: Antiques

Offices 4−Private +
Reception Area with
5,700sqft warehouse, Antique Organ:
paved parking. Please text Beautiful organ not in
Your Name & Email for working order. Great for
more details. $1,800/mo DIY project. Would
make beautiful desk.
to rent. 720−635−5696. Free if you pick it up.
662−630−0774

Appliances

Appliances: New in box You’ll find the best deals ACROSS

Electrolux front load washer when you advertise 1 Rum-soaked
$500. Kenmore gas range/ and shop here! cake
oven two years old $300. 5 Captivated
Two year old front load
Electrolux washer $250. ads.cdispatch.com 9 Chris of “The

Place an ad safely
662−435−7232 Avengers”
11 “To repeat ...”
Bargain Column
Five Questions: 13 Barista’s

from home with WEATHERTECH FLOOR &

Trunk mats for Ford Fusion,
$75. 662−368−6779. 1 Kansas City
creation
14 Move like a
crab
the Classifieds. Farm Equipment & Supplies

TRAILER 6’X10’ w/ loading

Chiefs 15 Set fire to
16 Sewing
machine part
2 Tim Hortons
ramp, 2’ sides, like new.
Bought in 2020, used 18 Elite athlete
locally, $1,100. 20 Went ahead
John Deere D110 Lawn
21 Did some
3 Axl Rose
Tractor: 42" cut, 161 hrs,
$600. 662−368−6779. tailoring 40 Newspaper 19 Did laps,
General Merchandise
22 Towel word section maybe
23 Lot buy 41 “I smell —!” 22 Toppers
CRAFTSMAN POWER 4 John Adams, 24 Shop tool DOWN 24 Most rational
TOOLS: Sander, router,
bench press, saber saw.
John Quincy 25 Unyielding 1 “Twilight” 25 Believes
662−368−6779. Adams 27 Spa features
29 Outback
heroine 26 Gazelle’s kin
2 Takes advan- 27 Unopened
ads.cdispatch.com ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR runner tage rose
5 Image
and carrier for car/truck,
$350. 662−368−6779. 30 Romantic 3 Speedy 28 Layers
sights warship 30 Categorizes
32 Series show

Service Directory
4 Termite’s kin 31 Egypt’s
34 Important 5 Stair part Anwar
time 6 Tibet setting 33 Fall mo.
35 Surgical tool 7 Riverboat 37 Cry of insight
36 Light fare 8 Boat part
38 Was out 10 Game dog
Promote your small business starting at only $25 39 Letter before 12 Title papers
Air Cond & Heating General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping iota 17 “Gnarly!”

RAPID TEMP A & T TREE SERVICES WORK WANTED: Licensed JESSE & BEVERLY’S
Heating & cooling. Bucket truck & stump & Bonded. Carpentry, minor LAWN SERVICE
Home & RV. removal. Free est. electrical, minor plumbing, Fall Cleanup, Tree Cutting,
Service & install. Serving Columbus insulation, painting, demo− Landscaping, Sodding &
Free estimates. since 1987. Senior lition, gutters cleaned, Bush Hogging
Call 602−736−4880. citizen disc. Call Alvin @ pressure washing, land− 662−356−6525
242−0324/241−4447 scaping, cleanup work.
Carpet & Flooring "We’ll go out on a limb for 662−242−3608. Painting & Papering
you!"
General Services SULLIVAN’S PAINT
GRAVEL, $360 PER LOAD. SERVICE
Special Prices.
BANKRUPTCY
Local delivery, 14 yd truck.
Backhoe & Dozer work. Interior & Exterior Painting.
Mobile Home Pads & CHAPTER 7 662−435−6528
Driveways. Concrete work.
662−497−1388
BANKRUPTCY Sitting With The Sick / Elderly
$545 plus Filing Fee

NEWELL’S PLUMBING & CHAPTER 13 I am a Caregiver for the

Clean in the New Year! HANDYMAN SERVICE BANKRUPTCY elderly seeking a daytime
1 Room − $50 Licensed with over 20 yrs All Attorney Fees Through The Plan position. Very loving &
caring, light housekeeping
2 Room − $80
3 Rooms − $110
experience. Lowest rates in Jim Arnold, Attorney offered. Call or leave msg,
the area, Guaranteed.
Carpet − Rugs − Cars 662−242−5005. 662-324-1666 662−570−8175.
DAVID’S CARPET & 104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville
UPHOLSTERY Please visit our website:
CLEANING jimharnold.com Don’t have time
Call for more info! Are you a painter? to cut your lawn?
Saturday morning appointments
662−722−1758 Advertise here! available for Starkville Office. Find help here!