Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi

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Friday | February 26, 2021

IN REMEMBRANCE
Utility
Maranatha founder, pastor led fight companies:
for Kerr-McGee compensation, redevelopment Brace for high
bills following
freezing
temperatures
Depending on power
usage, customers could
see double and triple
usual charges
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
[email protected]

Starkville Util-
ities Department
has already begun
sending out some
bills that charge for
power used during
last week’s freezing
temperatures, and Kemp
Director Terry Kemp
said customers may
be surprised by how
high some of those
charges are.
“We’ve seen in-
creases in some cas-
es twice as much as
normal, so it’s consid- Presley
erable,” Kemp said.
Dispatch file photo
Some of those bills also in-
Rev. Steve Jamison, who died Tuesday at age 67, will be remembered as founder and pastor at Maranatha Faith
clude extremely cold days from
Center in Columbus for 41 years and for his community advocacy for the compensation, clean-up and redevelop-
ment at the former Kerr-McGee site and its surrounding neighborhoods. January and early February, he
said. It’s common for power us-
age to increase during extremely
BY SLIM SMITH ing what people in the Memphis few years, died Tuesday at age 67 at
[email protected] cold weather, as residents turn up
Town area of Northside had long North Mississippi Medical Center
their thermostats, crank up space

S
suspected. in Tupelo.
teve Jamison built his legacy heaters and find other power- or
The discovery that day in 2003 Although cherished by his
at Maranatha Faith Center church family, it was Jamison’s gas-generating ways to keep warm.
led to an Environmental Protection
in Columbus, the church he Agency investigation that exposed involvement with the Kerr-McGee “Usage is going to be up,” said
founded and served as pastor for 41 widespread contamination, not only saga that made his name known Brandon Presley, Northern District
years. The section of Waterworks at the former Kerr-McGee creosote throughout the community. commissioner for the Mississippi
Road in front of the church bears plant but throughout the adjoining Upon the discovery of creosote Public Service Commission. “The
the name: “Reverend Steven M. neighborhoods, leading to millions on church property, Jamison began issue is that we’ve had an almost-re-
Jamison Way.” of dollars in compensation for res- a campaign to hold the owners of cord — close to a record — cold
But his broader impact in the idents and $68 million for clean-up the property accountable. Initial- stretch during this winter storm,
city began not in the church, but and redevelopment that will likely ly, said longtime friend Maurice and so naturally electric usage and
in its parking lot, where a planned continue for years to come. Webber, Jamison was something of gas usage are up, which translates
church expansion led to the discov- Jamison, who had been suffer- a voice crying in the wilderness. into an increased bill.”
ery of creosote in the soil, confirm- ing from heart disease for the past See JAMISON, 8A The freezing temperatures were
compounded by icy roads that kept
many people home, where they
See POWER BILLS, 8A

Mississippi House kills SUNNY AFTERNOON

proposal for gas tax election
Mississippi’s motor fuel Chairman Trey Lamar offered no ex-
planation as he asked the House to
tax has been 18.4 cents kill the bill. But the move came a day
after the House passed a separate
a gallon since 1987 bill that would make broad changes
to the state tax structure, increasing
BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS some and decreasing others with
The Associated Press the goal of eventually phasing out
the personal income tax.
JACKSON — The Mississippi Mississippi’s motor fuel tax has
House is backing away from a pro- been 18.4 cents a gallon since 1987,
posal for a statewide election on and transportation officials have
increasing gasoline and diesel fuel said for years that the tax fails to
taxes to pay for improvements to generate enough money to cover the
state highways and local roads. costs of highway construction and
House Bill 1364 died Wednesday repairs.
when the House did not vote on it be- The bill proposed a statewide elec-
fore a deadline. It was the last day for tion on whether to increase the gaso- Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff
the House to pass the bill and send it line tax by 10 cents a gallon and the Shabreka Douglas walks with her daughter, Taylor Douglas, 5, on her shoul-
to the Senate for more work. diesel fuel tax by 14 cents a gallon. ders at the hospital track in Columbus Wednesday afternoon. They come to
Ways and Means Committee See GAS TAX, 3A the track several times a month.

INSIDE FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

Classifieds 7,8B 1 What state imposed its first-ever
Today MEETINGS
Comics 4B mandatory water restrictions after March 1: Ok-
Crossword 8B four years of drought in 2015? ■ Moment of silence:
Dear Abby 4B A moment of silence tibbeha County
2 What band’s “Songs of Inno-
Obituaries 4A cence” album was given away for honoring CAFB’s 1st Lt. Board of Su-
Opinions 6A free when it was automatically Scot Ames, Jr. takes pervisors, 9:30
Religion 5B added to 500 million Apple iTunes place at 5:30 p.m. a.m., Chancery
accounts? today at the Lowndes Courthouse
3 What snack chip container with County Courthouse, March 2:
WEATHER a mustachioed man on its was
so prized by its inventor that he 505 2nd Ave. N. Starkville Board
of Aldermen,
High 63 Low 62
Cloudy w/rain
requested his ashes be interred
in one?
4 In 2015 Misty Copeland was Today through
5:30 p.m., City
Hall
Full forecast on named principal dancer in what
company — American Ballet The-
Saturday March 9:
page 3A. ■ Virtual Magnolia Starkville-Oktib-
atre, the Rochettes or the Fly Girls? Independent Film beha Consoli-
5 How many odors can human dated School
Festival: The Mag in
noses detect according to a study
published in 2014 — 100,000; 1 Starkville returns with District Board of
billion or 1 trillion? independent films and Trustees, 6 p.m.,
shorts. Visit magnoli- Jesse Edwards enjoys watching 401 Greensboro
Answers, 8B afilmfest.com. anime. St.

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

COVID bill must drop minimum

wage hike, arbiter decides
GOP solidly opposes $15 minimum wage target as the minimum wage, which has long
caused internal party rifts.
an expense that would hurt businesses, cost jobs Senate Majority Leader Chuck
Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats
BY ALAN FRAM liamentarian’s decisions with few “are not going to give up the fight”
The Associated Press exceptions, a history that is revered to raise the minimum wage to $15.
by traditionalists like Biden, a 36- Sen. Lindsey Graham of South
WASHINGTON — The Senate year Senate veteran. Carolina, top Republican on the
parliamentarian dealt a potential- “He will work with leaders in Senate Budget Committee, hailed
ly lethal blow Thursday to Demo- MacDonough’s decision. He said it
Congress to determine the best
crats’ drive to hike the minimum shows the special procedure that
path forward because no one in this
wage, deciding that the cherished Democrats are using to protect the
country should work full time and
progressive goal must fall from a relief bill “cannot be used as a vehi-
live in poverty,” Psaki said.
$1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill cle to pass major legislative change
Democrats are pushing the mas-
the party is trying to speed through — by either party — on a simple
Congress, Senate Democratic aides sive coronavirus relief measure
majority vote.”
said. through Congress under special
Republicans solidly oppose the
The finding by Elizabeth Mac- rules that will let them avoid a Sen-
$15 minimum wage target as an ex-
Donough, the chamber’s nonpar- ate filibuster by Republicans, a tac-
pense that would hurt businesses
tisan arbiter of its rules, means tic that Democrats would need an
and cost jobs. They also oppose the
Democrats face an overwhelmingly unattainable 60 votes to defeat. overall relief bill, saying it’s too ex-
uphill battle to boost the minimum But those same Senate rules pro- pensive, not targeted enough at the
wage this year because of solid Re- hibit provisions with only an “inci- people and businesses that most
publican opposition. Their proposal dental” impact on the federal bud- need it and a grab bag of gifts for
would raise the federal minimum get because they are chiefly driven Democratic allies.
gradually to $15 hourly by 2025, by other policy purposes. Mac- In the wake of the decision, Dem-
well above the $7.25 floor in place Donough said the minimum wage ocratic leaders were likely to face
since 2009. provision didn’t pass that test, ac- unrest from rank-and-file lawmak-
President Joe Biden was “dis- cording to aides who described her ers, who have long had differences
appointed” in the outcome but re- decision on condition of anonymity over the federal minimum wage.
spected the parliamentarian’s rul- because it hadn’t been released. They can afford little dissension:
ing, White House press secretary MacDonough’s decision forces Democrats have just a 10-vote edge
Jen Psaki said. The Senate has a Democrats to make politically pain- in the House and no votes to spare
long tradition of obeying the par- ful choices about what to do next on in the 50-50 Senate.

Conservative gathering to feature Trump’s false fraud claims

CPAC chairman: Discussion panels on election integrity will be a major theme.
“Because we pretty
would highlight ‘huge’ evidence of illegal voting much wiped away scruti-
ny in a lot of these import-
BY JILL COLVIN Democrat Joe Biden. did not invite any of the ant swing states, you had
AND STEVE PEOPLES Such baseless claims 17 Republican members a lot more illegal voting.
The Associated Press That is not an opinion,
fueled the Jan. 6 attack of Congress who voted to
on the U.S. Capitol and support Trump’s second that is fact,” Schlapp told
WASHINGTON — A
have been repeatedly dis- impeachment or any ma- The Associated Press be-
gathering of conserva-
missed by the courts, the jor Trump critics. fore the conference’s kick-
tives this weekend in Flor-
Trump administration’s McConnell, a regular off Thursday evening.
ida will serve as an un-
leading security officials at the annual conference, But in five dozen court
abashed endorsement of
former President Donald and senior Republicans will not be on the pro- cases around the country
Trump’s desire to remain in Congress, including gram after publicly chas- after the election, no such
the leader of the Republi- Senate Minority Leader tising Trump for inciting evidence was presented,
can Party — and as a fo- Mitch McConnell of Ken- last month’s deadly in- and Trump’s then-attor-
rum to fan his false claim tucky. surrection at the Capitol. ney general, William
that he lost the November The conference marks McConnell and his allies Barr, said the Justice De-
election only because of the first significant gath- are worried that Trump partment also had found
widespread voter fraud. ering of Republicans will undermine the par- none.
Matt Schlapp, chair- since the election and its ty’s political future should At the conference,
man of the Conservative aftermath as the party the former president and though, those fact-based
Political Action Confer- reckons with the faction his conspiracy theories assessments are likely to
ence and a Trump ally, that continues to support continue to dominate Re- be few, if any.
said discussion panels Trump as its leader and publican politics. Trump himself is head-
on election integrity those who think the GOP But at the conference, lining the three-day ses-
would highlight “huge” needs to move quickly which will feature Trump sion in a Sunday speech
evidence of illegal voting beyond the turbulent era along with most of the that will be his first public
in Georgia, Nevada and of his presidency. Con- GOP’s leading 2024 pres- appearance since leaving
elsewhere that ultimate- ference organizers, rep- idential prospects, orga- the White House on Jan.
ly swung the election for resenting the first camp, nizers say election fraud 20.

Biden nominates 3 to postal service board as delays persist

If confirmed, nominees could bring sometimes tense congres-
sional hearing with DeJoy
the board were nominat-
ed by President Donald
additional scrutiny on postmaster about the agency’s ailing
financial health.
Trump. A spokesman for
the Postal Service said it
BY ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE master General Louis De- “President Biden is “will welcome all qualified
The Associated Press Joy, a major GOP donor committed to the USPS’ members to the Board of
whose tenure has been success, and these expe- Governors.”
President Joe Biden mired by slow service and rienced and tested lead- DeJoy, a prominent
on Wednesday nominat-
politicization. ers will ensure the USPS supporter of Trump, has
ed three postal experts
The nominees are Ron is running at the highest come under heavy crit-
to the governing board of
the U.S. Postal Service, a Stroman, a former deputy of service standards and icism for a series of op-
move that could alter the postmaster general; Am- that it can effectively and erational changes that
course of an agency grap- ber McReynolds, a mail efficiently serve all com- slowed mail before the
pling with delivery delays voting advocate who leads munities in our country,” 2020 elections. The poli-
and rumored cuts under the nonprofit National a White House statement cy shifts fueled fears that
its embattled Republican Vote at Home Institute; read. DeJoy was attempting to
leader. and Anton Hajjar, the for- Democrats have been sabotage the agency on
If confirmed by the mer general counsel of the pressing Biden to nom- the behalf of Trump, a
Senate, the Board of Gov- American Postal Workers inate a slate of potential vocal critic of mail voting,
ernors nominees would Union. A White House an- governors who could oust before it handled unprec-
bring additional Demo- nouncement of the move DeJoy. The six members edented numbers of mail-
cratic scrutiny on Post- came just after a long and who currently comprise in ballots.

Chief: Police heeded Capitol attack warnings but overwhelmed

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS hundreds of pro-Trump the election results, Pitt- likelihood for violence by
rioters to storm their way man said. extremists, no credible
WASHINGTON — into the U.S. Capitol, over- Her testimony drove threat indicated that tens
Lawmakers pressed the whelming outnumbered home a seeming discon- of thousands would attack
acting U.S. Capitol Police officers and breaking nect between the intelli- the U.S. Capitol, nor did
chief Thursday to explain through doors and win- gence and the prepara- the intelligence received
why the force wasn’t pre- dows. tion. Lawmakers, who from the FBI or any other
pared to fend off a violent However, she denied were witnesses and po- law enforcement partner
mob of insurrectionists that law enforcement tential victims last month indicate such a threat,”
even though officials had failed to take seriously as well as investigators
she said. Later, under
compiled specific, com- warnings of violence be- now, are trying to get an-
pelling intelligence that questioning by the House
fore the Jan. 6 insurrec- swers to why this symbol
extremists were likely to tion. Three days before of American democracy subcommittee’s chair-
attack Congress and try the riot, Capitol Police was overrun so quickly by man, Rep. Tim Ryan, Pit-
to halt the certification of distributed an internal a mob whose plans were tman said that while there
Donald Trump’s election document warning that online and known. may have been thousands
loss. armed extremists were Reports aside, the as- of people heading to the
Acting Chief Yoga- poised for violence and sault was much bigger Capitol from a pro-Trump
nanda Pittman conceded could invade Congress than expected, Pittman rally, about 800 people ac-
there were multiple levels because they saw it as the said. tually made their way into
of failures that allowed last chance to overturn “Although we knew the the building.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 3A

Southern exposure: Cold wreaks havoc on aging waterworks

In a 2020 report, the American Society water pressure at one hospital
only started returning to nor-
breaking. White flight dropped
tax revenue in some cities, and
minutes on average in the U.S.,
and described “chronic, long-
of Civil Engineers said a water main breaks mal Wednesday. Tanker trucks
had supplied it with water since
a lack of investment has caused
problems to become even cost-
term and insufficient invest-
ment.” The report warned that
every two minutes on average in the U.S. last week. lier to fix. Many systems in the the “nation’s public health and
For years, experts have South were not built with such the economy will be at risk.”
BY MELINDA DESLAT TE They boiled it to make it safe to warned of the need to upgrade low temperatures in mind. But Actually, it’s already happen-
AND LEAH WILLINGHAM drink or brush their teeth. They aging and often-neglected wa- with climate change projected ing.
The Associated Press scooped up snow and melted it terworks. Now, after icy weath- to bring more extreme weather, The Mississippi capital of
in their bathtubs. Hospitals col- er cracked the region’s water problems like those seen last Jackson struggled to fix its
JACKSON — The sunshine lected buckets of water to flush mains, froze equipment and left week could return. damaged water grid, with thou-
is back, and the ice has melted. toilets. millions without service, it’s A 2018 survey by the U.S. En- sands still facing outages. In
But more than a week after a “You don’t realize how much clear just how much work needs vironmental Protection Agency Memphis, residents in the city
deep freeze across the South, you use water until you don’t to be done. estimated $473 billion was need- of 650,000 were told for nearly a
many communities are still have it,” said Brian Crawford, The still-unfolding problems ed over 20 years to maintain and week to boil water for three min-
grappling with getting clean wa- chief administrative officer for have exposed extensive vul- improve water infrastructure. utes if they planned to use it for
ter to their residents. the Willis-Knighton Health Sys- nerabilities. Many water sys- In a 2020 report, the American drinking, cooking or brushing
Families stood in lines for tem in the northwestern Loui- tems have decades-old pipes, Society of Civil Engineers said their teeth. The boil-water advi-
hours to get drinking water. siana city of Shreveport, where now fragile and susceptible to a water main breaks every two sory was lifted Thursday.

The following arrests

AREA ARRESTS
Moss Point mayor resigns
were made by Lowndes
County Sheriff’s Office:
n Jacqueline McAlex-
after pleading guilty
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ander, 26, was charged
with burglary of a dwell-
GULFPORT — A Mississippi mayor resigned
ing house and failure to
Wednesday after pleading guilty to a charge of con-
appear.
McAlexander Grant Jr. Akers Newell Rawle Jr. R. Williams spiring to defraud the federal government.
n Jerome Grant Jr., 27,
was charged with fleeing Mario King had been Moss Point’s mayor since
or eluding in a motor vehi- 2017. Prosecutors said he and his wife, Natasha R.
cle and six counts failure King, raised money for mental health programs in
to appear. schools but spent it on themselves for expenses that
n Joshua Akers, 34, included car payments and the purchase of a pet dog.
was charged with posses- Each had been charged with one count of con-
sion of methamphetamine, spiracy to defraud the United States and 13 counts
possession of a weapon by of aiding and abetting wire fraud. The Sun Herald
a felon and failure to ap- Keating Varnado Harris Boykin Robinson Gore reported that the couple appeared Wednesday in
pear. federal court in Gulfport and each pleaded guilty to
n Joshua Newell, 35, a single count of conspiracy.
was charged with bur- WLOX-TV reported that U.S. District Judge Sul
glary-breaking and enter- Ozerden read the charge aloud and prosecutors
ing of a dwelling. said they had evidence. Mario King stood and said,
n Milton Rawle Jr., 49, “Guilty, your honor.” Natasha King said only one
was charged with embez- word: “Guilty.”
zlement. Mario King, a Democrat, did not file to seek re-
T. Smith Clement Brewer Zheng J. Williams Nance III
n Richard Williams, election this year.
42, was charged with bur- The U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release
glary-breaking and enter- that Natasha King’s plea agreement includes a rec-
ing a dwelling, DUI-first ommended sentence of probation. Mario King faces
offense and simple assault up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sen-
by threat. tencing for both is set for May 26.
n Ronnie Keating, 50,
was charged with posses-
sion of methamphetamine
Holiday J. Smith Anderson Yarbrough Gazaway Cole
with intent to distribute
and possession of metham-
phetamine.
n Sabrina Varnado, 50,
was charged with posses-
sion of methamphetamine.
n Valareio Harris, 38,
was charged with grand
larceny-more than $500.
Rowan Cork Gibson Little Hubbard Reed
n William Boykin,
40, was charged with two school property. n Curtis Anderson, 61, duct, false information,
counts possession of a n Steven Zheng, 18, was charged with aggra- contempt of court and no
weapon by a felon and fail- was charged with exploita- vated assault. insurance.
ure to appear. tion of a child, enticement n Kendrick Yarbrough, n Nura Little, 43, was
n Breuna Robinson, 26, of a child and warrants 35, was charged with two charged with DUI 3rd.
was charged with posses- served. day hold for MDOC and n Jamie Hubbard, 25,
sion, furnish, contraband n Janeko Williams, 34, malicious mischief. was charged with domes-
items within correction was charged with posses- n Samuel Gazaway, 41, tic violence-aggravated as-
facility. sion of a weapon by a felon, was charged with posses- sault, no seatbelt, no insur-
n Brylen Gore, 21, was contempt of court, expired sion of a weapon by a felon, ance, firearm discharge
charged with domestic vio- tag, two counts no insur- no insurance and leaving
in city and carrying a con-
lence/aggravated assault. ance and speeding. the scene of an accident.
cealed weapon.
n Larry Nance III, 34, n Michael Cole, 33, was
The following arrests was charged with posses- charged with hold for oth- n Dwauntario Reed, 30,
were made by the Oktibbe- sion of marijuana more er agency. was charged with failure to
ha County Sheriff’s Office: than 30 grams, simple as- n Marcus Rowan, 32, stop when officer signals,
n Tyler Smith, 21, was sault, grand larceny, dis- was charged with armed disregarding traffic signal,
charged with attempt to turbing the peace, expired robbery and grand larceny. reckless driving, driving
commit a crime. driver’s license and no n Kikwon Cork, 19, was on a suspended license, re-
n Carson Clement, 21, driver’s licenses. charged with possession sisting arrest and indecent
was charged with a circuit n Arthur Holiday, 43, of marijuana more than 30 exposure.
court order. was charged with hold for grams and possession of a
n John Brewer, 21, was other agency. stolen firearm.
charged with four counts n Jeremy Smith, 31, n Bakari Gibson, 39,
armed robbery and pos- was charged with trespass- was charged with MDOC
session of a firearm on ing. HOLD, disorderly con-

4 Mississippi hunters fined

$48,000 for Kansas violations
Men also banned from hunting anywhere in the world
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS limit and illegally transporting the birds
across state lines, prosecutors said in a
WICHITA, Kan. — Four men from news release.
Mississippi have been banned from hunt- The men are from two neighboring
ing anywhere in the world and fined a to- towns — Wesson and Brookhaven — in
tal of $48,000 for violating wildlife laws in Mississippi.
Kansas. In 2017 and 2018, they traveled to Mis-
Kenneth R. Britt Jr., 51; Tony Grant souri, Kansas and Nebraska for spring
Smith, 26; Barney Leon Bairfield III, 28; hunting trip without the required hunting
and Dustin Corey Treadway, 28, were also licenses, prosecutors said
sentenced to several years of probation, During one eight-day trip in 2018, the
the U.S. Attorney’s office said Wednesday. men bagged at least 26 wild turkeys. Kan-
They pleaded guilty to conspiring to sas limits hunters to two wild turkey kills SOLUNAR TABLE
kill wild turkeys in excess of the legal per hunter per season. The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Fri. Sun.
Major 12:23a 2:06a
Minor 6:50p 7:56p
Major 12:50p 2:30p
Minor 7:54a 9:05a

Gas tax
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

Continued from Page 1A

The referendum would sponsor of House Bill would pay off that debt.
The Dispatch
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
be June 8, the same day 1364. He said last week The bill specified that Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
as city elections in many that the state would is- $300 million would go to Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
parts of the state. sue $2.5 billion in bonds cities and counties for lo- The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Website: cdispatch.com/help
Lamar, a Republican to pay for highways and cal road and bridge con- Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc., Report a news tip: [email protected]
516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
from Senatobia, is the roads, and the fuel tax struction or repairs.
4A FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

AREA OBITUARIES
COMMERCIAL DISPATCH James lings, Elizabeth Rose Ellis, Elbert Ellis, Rev. Bryan Foods. arrangements.
OBITUARY POLICY Long of Artesia, Maurice Willie Ellis, Sarah John- In addition to her Mr. McMillian was
Obituaries with basic informa-
officiating. Williams of Columbus son and Sallie Jones; parents, she was pre- born April 25, 1953, in
tion including visitation and
service times, are provided Visitation and Sonny Williams of and one grandchild. ceded in death by her Noxubee, to the late
free of charge. Extended obit- is from 2-6 Columbia, South Caroli- He is survived by husband, George W. Henry McMillian, Lula
uaries with a photograph, de- p.m. today, na; grandchildren; and his wife, Wilma El- Nash; children, George B. Stewart and Theodis
tailed biographical information at Carter’s great-grandchildren. lis; children, Cedric Nash and Ruby Lee Moore. He was a grad-
and other details families may Funeral Leavy Ellis of Kaiserslautern Robinson; and siblings, uate of East Mississippi
wish to include, are available
for a fee. Obituaries must be
Services. Hessie Craddieth Germany and Debra Williams D. Aldridge, Community College
submitted through funeral
Carter’s Funeral COLUMBUS — Hes- Key of Columbus; Marie Norwood and and was a veteran
homes unless the deceased’s Services of Columbus sie Franks Craddieth, siblings, Emmitt Ellis, Ann Flowers. of the United States
body has been donated to is in charge of arrange- 95, died Earnest Ellis both of She is survived by Navy. He was formerly
science. If the deceased’s ments. Feb. 21, Columbus and Annie her children, Clinton employed as a welder
body was donated to science, Mrs. Leavy was 2021, at B. Black of Macon; six Byrd of Flint, Michi- with Taylor Machine
the family must provide official born March 5, 1937, in her resi- grandchildren; and one gan, Stan Byrd of West and was a member of
proof of death. Please submit great-grandchild. Point, Henry Tallie of
all obituaries on the form
Columbus, to the late dence. Millers Chapel M.B.
provided by The Commercial John Hall and Willie Grave- Philadelphia, Penn- Church.
Dispatch. Free notices must Edith Hall. She was side ser- Phillip Perkins sylvania, Henry Tallie In addition to his par-
be submitted to the newspa- formerly employed as vices will STARKVILLE — of Aberdeen, Viveca ents, he was preceded
per no later than 3 p.m. the a cook with Columbus be at 11 Craddieth
Phillip Logan Perkins, Doss, Shirley Blair in death by his siblings,
day prior for publication Tues- Air Force Base Offi- a.m. Sun- 56, died Feb. 21, 2021, and Louise Poole all Jummy Taylor, Henry
day through Friday; no later
cer’s Club. She was day, at Memorial Gar- at North Mississippi of West Point; sister, McMillian Jr., Harrison
than 4 p.m. Saturday for the
a member of Charity dens Cemetery, with Medical Center in Willeace Harris of McMillian, Mary Bry-
Sunday edition; and no later
than 7:30 a.m. for the Monday M.B. Church. Earnest Sanders offici- Tupelo. Texas; 17 grandchil- ant, Willie Margaret
edition. Incomplete notices In addition to her ating. Visitation will be Graveside services dren; 34 great-grand- and Betty Jones.
must be received no later parents, she was from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, will be at 2:30 p.m. Sat- children; and three He is survived by his
than 7:30 a.m. for the Monday preceded in death by at Carter’s Funeral Ser- urday, at Fox Cemetery, great-great-grandchil- wife, Betty McMillian,
through Friday editions. Paid her husband, Simon vices. Carter’s Funeral with the Rev. Charles dren. children, Don McMil-
notices must be finalized by 3
p.m. for inclusion the next day
Leavy; children, Lisa Services of Columbus Kemp officiating. Visi- lian, Aleshia McMillian
Monday through Thursday; and Hall, Fred Hall and is in charge of arrange- tation will be from 1-5 Emma Crowell and Kellie McMillian;
on Friday by 3 p.m. for Sunday Ricky Hall; siblings, ments. p.m. today, at Hairston TUSCALOOSA, siblings, John McMil-
and Monday publication. For Mary Ussery, Eddie Mrs. Craddieth was and Hairston Funeral Ala. — Emma Deloise lian, Morgan McMil-
more information, call 662- Will Hall, William Hall, born April 27, 1925, in Home. Hairston and Crowell, 60, died Feb. lian, Mary Mountain,
328-2471. William Bennett Hall, Steens, to the late Rob- Hairston Funeral 23, 2021, at Hospice of Lula Thomas, Venus
James Lewis Hall, John ert Cannon and Peco- Home of Starkville is West Alabama. Orr-Stinson, Shela Orr,
Sarah Sherrod Hall Jr., Willie James lia Franks. She was in charge of arrange- Graveside services Tammie Orr and Joann
ARTESIA — Sarah Hall, Larry J. Hall and a member of Hebron ments. will be at 2 p.m. Tues- Calhoun-Wordlaw.
Lee Sherrod, 63, died Miles Hall. CME Church. Mr. Perkins was day, at Bigbee Baptist
Feb. 15, She is survived by In addition to her born Aug. 4, 1964, in Church Cemetery, with
2021, at her children, Tony parents, she was Starkville, to the late the Rev. Larry Lanier
her resi- Hall, Mark Leavy preceded in death by Felix Ware and Sarah officiating. Visitation
dence. both of Columbus and her husband, Sylverst Lue Perkins Brantley. will be from 1-6 p.m.
Funeral Tony Darrell Reese of “Jack” Craddieth; He is survived by Monday, at Lavender’s
services Lithia Springs, Geor- children, Sylvester his wife, Ester Perkins; Funeral Service. Laven-
will be at gia; siblings, Ruth Craddieth, Ervin step-children, MeSchell der’s Funeral Services
11 a.m. Booker, Johnnie Hall Craddieth and Mary Winters and Byron of Aliceville is in charge
Saturday, Sherrod Brewer, R.L. Hall all Stone Gibson; siblings, Winters both of Atlan- of arrangements.
at Artesia of Columbus; nine Janie Taylor, Clarence ta, Georgia; and broth-
Pavilion Center, with grandchildren; and 14 Franks, Elvin Cannon er, Daniel Brantley of Chet McMillian
Timothy F. Bourne great-grandchildren. and Robert Cannon Jr. Bremerton, Washing- NOXUBEE — Chet
officiating. Burial will She is survived by ton. McMillian, 67, died
follow at Beulah Grove Emma Smith her children, Betty Feb. 18,
Full Gospel Baptist COLUMBUS — Jean Dickens, William Lloyd Bell Sr. 2021, at Henry Vaughn
Church. Visitation is Emma J. Smith, 92, “Sonny” Craddieth both CRAWFORD — his resi- Visitation:
from 2-6 p.m. today, at died Feb. of Detroit, Michigan, dence. Friday, Feb. 26 • 10-11 AM
Lloyd Bell Sr., 83, died First Baptist Church
Carter’s Funeral Ser- 17, 2021, at Barbara Lapeyrolerie, Feb. 17, 2021. Funeral Services:
vices. Carter’s Funeral her resi- Diane Craddieth and Graveside services services Friday, Feb. 26 • 11 AM
First Baptist Church
Services of Columbus dence. Anthony Craddieth all will be at 11 a.m. Satur- will be at Burial
is in charge of arrange- Private of Columbus and Mart- day, at Pleasant Grove 11 a.m. Woodlawn Cemetery
McMillian 2nd Ave. N. Location
ments. funeral ie Craddieth of Jackson; Baptist Church Ceme- Saturday,
Ms. Sherrod was services siblings, Rosie Steele tery, with James Rice at Spring-
born March 9, 1957, in will be held of Brooklyn, New York, officiating. Visitation hill M.B. Church, with
Lowndes County, to Smith Ynonne Millsapp and Nathaniel D. Houston
at 2 p.m. is from 1-5 p.m. today,
the late Walter Sher- Saturday, Claudia Webber both at Hairston and Hair- Sr. officiating. Visita-
rod Sr. and Ethel Lee at Carter’s Funeral of Chicago, Illinois, ston Funeral Home. tion is from 1-5 p.m.
Colister Sherrod. She Services, with the Rev. 27 grandchildren; Hairston and Hair- today, at Lee-Sykes memorialgunterpeel.com
was formerly employed Joe L. Peoples officiat- 54, great-grand- ston Funeral Home of Funeral Home. Lee-
with Hardee’s and was ing. Burial will follow at children; and 13 Starkville is in charge Sykes Funeral Home of
a member of Beulah Stallion Cemetery. Vis- great-great-grandchil- of arrangements. Macon is in charge of
Grove Full Baptist itation is from 2-6 p.m. dren. Mr. Bell was born
Church. today, at the funeral April 8, 1937, in
In addition to her home. Carter’s Funeral Jimmy Ellis Jr. Starkville, to the late
parents, she was pre- Services of Columbus COLUMBUS — Rev. Burndell Bell and
ceded in death by an is in charge of arrange- Jimmy Ellis Jr., 81, died Pattie Will Weeden. He
infant son. ments. Feb. 18, was formerly employed
She is survived Mrs. Smith was 2021, at his as a mechanic.
by her fiancé, Bobby born Dec. 22, 1928, residence. He is survived by
Charles Peoples; chil- in Artesia, to the late Grave- his wife Annie Bell;
dren, Daphne Sherrod, Johnny Williams and side children, Lloyd Bell Jr.
LaQunda Sherrod and Pecola Edwards. She services of Crawford and Wanda
Moesha Brewer all of was formerly employed will be Bell of Starkville; and
Artesia; siblings, Jesse as a seamstress with at 1 p.m. step-daughter, Lizzie
Sherrod, Eddie Sher- Ellis Jr.
Seminole Manufactur- Sunday, at Guy of Crawford.

Geraldene Taylor
rod, Tony Sherrod all ing and was a member Memorial
of Columbus, Melinda of Stephen Chapel M.B. Gardens Cemetery, Melba Nash
Selvie of Crawford, Church. with the Rev. Marcel- WEST POINT —
Walter Sherrod Jr. of In addition to her lus Nabors officiating. Melba Glenn Nash, 89, Geraldene Taylor, 83, of
Jacksonville, Florida, parents, she was pre- Visitation will be from died Feb. 17, 2021, at Steens, MS passed away
Luster Sherrod, Roo- ceded in death by her 1-5 p.m. Saturday, at her residence. Monday, February 15, 2021.
sevelt Hairston, Ethel children, Birdia Bonner Carter’s Funeral Ser- Graveside services Visitation will be held on
Jean Brewer, Sherlene and Sammie Simon; vices. Carter’s Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Sat- Saturday, February 27, 2021,
Harris, Earnestine and siblings, Annie Services of Columbus urday, at Greenwood from 12:00-1:00 PM at Bread
Brown and Lois Moody Poole, Leotis Rose, is in charge of arrange- Cemetery, with William Of Life Fellowship Church. A
all of Artesia; five Clarence Edwards, ments. H. Golden Sr. officiat- service will follow at 1:00 with
grandchildren; and one James Edwards and Rev. Ellis was born ing. Visitation will be Bro. Jack Taylor officiating.
great-grandchild. C.W. Rose. Oct. 17, 1939, in Colum- from 10:30-11 a.m. prior Interment will be in Memorial
She is survived by bus, to the late Jimmy to services at the ceme- Gardens with Lowndes Funeral Home,
Frankie Leavy her children, Vivian Ellis Sr. and Queen tery. Carter’s Mortuary Columbus, MS directing.
COLUMBUS — Dantzler of St. Louis, Ellis. He was formerly Services of West Point Mrs. Taylor was born on October 29, 1937,
Frankie Lucielle Leavy, Missouri, Dorothy employed with Airline is in charge of arrange- in LA to the late Bessie Rigdon Todd and David
83, died Feb. 19, 2021, Hubbard, Lovier Manufacturing and was ments. Todd. She enjoyed taking care of her home, yard
at her residence. Conner, Lovell Conner a member of Antioch Mrs. Nash was work, loved fishing and camping. Mrs. Taylor
Graveside services Jr., Johnnie McBride, M.B. Church. born April 15, 1931, in collected roosters and enjoyed quilting. She
will be at 11 a.m. Satur- Juanita Hicks, Sarah In addition to his par- Eupora, to the late Bill loved spending time with her family and Bread of
day, at New Zion M.B. Hicks all of Columbus; ents, he was preceded Aldridge and Annie Life Church family.
Church Cemetery in step-son, Roy Milton in death by his siblings, Lee Aldridge. She was In addition to her parents, Mrs. Taylor is
Steens, with the Rev. Hicks of Columbus; sib- Henry Ellis, Robert formerly employed with preceded in death by her husband, Harold Leon
Taylor; sisters, Waudene Pugh and Mary Ellene
Jones; brothers, W.A. Todd, G.W. Todd, Wayne
Todd and Terry Todd.
Mrs. Taylor is survived by her daughter,

How would COVID-19 vaccine makers adapt to variants? Janice Gore of Steens, MS; son, Terry Taylor,
Sr of Steens, MS; grandchildren, Terry (Alexa)
Taylor, Makayla (Avery) Taylor and Bruce
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS but makers already are If a variant with a mu- date would require grow- (Michelle) Bradley, Sr.; great-grandchildren,
taking steps to update tated spike protein crops ing cold viruses with the
How would COVID-19 Bruce (Destyni) Bradley, Jr, Amberlynn Bradley
their recipes if health up that the original vac- updated spike gene.
vaccine makers adapt to and Winston Prowell; great-great-grandchildren,
authorities decide that’s cine can’t recognize, com- The Food and Drug
variants? Carter Bradley; and a host of nieces and nephews.
needed. panies would swap out Administration said stud-
By tweaking their COVID-19 vaccines by that piece of genetic code ies of updated COVID-19
Pallbearers will be Terry Taylor, Sr., Bruce
vaccines, a process that Pfizer and Moderna are for a better match — if vaccines won’t have to be Bradley, Sr., Terry Taylor, Jr., Bruce Bradley,
should be easier than made with new technolo- and when regulators de- as large or long as for the Jr., Billy Wilson and Avery Prowell. Honorary
coming up with the orig- gy that’s easy to update. cide that’s necessary. first generation of shots. pallbearers will be Dr. Robert Buckley, Dr. John
inal shots. The so-called mRNA Updating other Instead, a few hundred King Kindred Hospice.
Viruses constantly vaccines use a piece of COVID-19 vaccines could volunteers could receive Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s
mutate as they spread, genetic code for the spike be more complex. The experimental doses of a Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis,
and most changes aren’t protein that coats the AstraZeneca vaccine, for revamped vaccine and TN 38105.
significant. First-genera- coronavirus, so your im- example, uses a harmless have their blood checked
tion COVID-19 vaccines mune system can learn version of a cold virus to for signs it revved up the Compliments of
appear to be working to recognize and fight the carry that spike protein immune system as well as Lowndes Funeral Home
against today’s variants, real thing. gene into the body. An up- the original vaccines. www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 5A

‘Who is at fault?’ Investigation into Texas blackout begins

At least 40 people in Texas died as a result cusing the state’s embattled
grid operator of misleading the
ties?” Morgan said.
“You-know-what hit the fan,
dent Bill Magness said. “Now
it didn’t work for people’s lives,
of the storm, and 10 days after the blackout public about the readiness of a
system that was minutes away
and everybody’s going, ‘You’re
turning off my power plant?’”
but it worked to preserve the in-
tegrity of the system.”
started, more than 1 million people in the from total collapse in the early he said. Among Vistra’s subsidiaries
hours of Feb. 15, when tempera- At least 40 people in Texas is, Luminant, which operates
state were still under boil-water notices tures plunged and demand for died as a result of the storm, nearly two dozen plants across
electricity vastly outstripped and 10 days after the blackout Texas. Morgan blamed outdat-
BY PAUL J. WEBER investigative hearing since last supply. started, more than 1 million ed lists of critical infrastructure
AND DAVID KOENIG week’s crisis. But energy executives, in- people in the state were still un- in Texas for darkening gas pro-
The Associated Press Leaders of other power com- cluding those whose companies der boil-water notices. cessers and production sites as
panies said they thought the lavishly donate to Abbott and ERCOT officials have grid managers began shutting
AUSTIN, Texas — The cat- system would hold, while also lawmakers, made clear that the claimed that the scale of the off parts of the system.
astrophic Texas blackout was acknowledging that a failure fault is far wider. forced blackouts — the largest Morgan didn’t say how many
a wider failure than the state’s to buttress their generators The testimony offered a trou- in Texas history — were neces- of the company’s plants were
power grid, which teetered against subfreezing weather bling new look at how quickly sary to avert an even more cata- turned off or for how long, but
on the brink of an even bigger contributed to the outages. America’s energy capital ran strophic failure that would have he did say the company was
collapse during a freeze that “Who is at fault?” state Rep. out of energy. Curtis Morgan, wiped out power to most of the within three minutes of pow-
knocked out electricity to 4 mil- Todd Hunter, a Republican, de- the CEO of Vistra Corp., told state’s 30 million residents for er going offline at one nuclear
lion customers, energy execu- manded of witnesses during lawmakers at the outset that months. plant, and that the main power
tives said Thursday. hours of testimony at the Texas the blackouts affected plants “Obviously what you did grid in America’s energy capi-
One CEO said he sounded Capitol. that could have generated didn’t work,” said Democrat- tal was just moments away from
warning days before what be- President Joe Biden is set to more power that was urgently ic state Sen. John Whitmire of total collapse Feb. 15. He said
came one of the worst power fly to Texas on Friday, in what needed. He said when officials Houston, which had more than he had reached out to state offi-
outages in U.S. history, includ- will be his first visit to a major from his company called utility 1 million outages. cials, including Abbott’s office,
ing to the office of Republican disaster site since taking office. providers, they were told they “It worked from keeping us with concerns.
Gov. Greg Abbott, whose reg- Abbott has zeroed in almost weren’t a priority. (from) going into a blackout “We came dangerously close
ulatory appointees came under singularly on the Electric Re- “How can a power plant be at that we’d still be in today, that’s to losing the entire electric sys-
sharp criticism during the first liability Council of Texas, ac- the bottom of the list of priori- why we did it,” ERCOT presi- tem,” Morgan said.

House votes to expand legal safeguards for LGBTQ people Ga. prosecutor investigating
Trump call urges patience
The Equality Act passed by a vote ity to all of Americans re-
gardless of who they are
said Rep. Mike Johnson,
R-La. BY K ATE BRUMBACK

of 224-206 with three Republicans and who they love.”

Republicans broadly
The House passed the
Equality Act in the last
The Associated Press

ATLANTA — The Georgia prosecutor investi-

joining Democrats in voting yes opposed the legislation. Congress with unani- gating potential efforts by Donald Trump and oth-
They echoed concerns mous Democratic sup- ers to influence last year’s general election has a
BY KEVIN FREKING clude sexual orientation from religious groups port and the backing of
The Associated Press message for people who are eager to see whether
and gender identification and social conservatives eight Republicans, but the former president will be charged: Be patient.
as protected character- who worry the bill would Donald Trump’s White “I’m in no rush,” Fulton County District Attor-
WASHINGTON — istics. The protections force people to take ac- House opposed the mea-
The Democratic-led ney Fani Willis said this week in an interview with
would extend to employ- tions that contradict their sure and it was not consid- The Associated Press. “I think people think that I
House passed a bill ment, housing, loan appli- religious beliefs. They ered in the Senate, where
Thursday that would en- feel this immense pressure. I don’t.”
cations, education, public warned that faith-based 60 votes will be needed Willis, a Democrat elected in November, sent
shrine LGBTQ protec- accommodations and oth- adoption agencies seek- to overcome procedural letters to state officials on Feb. 10 instructing
tions in the nation’s labor er areas. Supporters say ing to place children with hurdles. Democrats are them to preserve records related to the election,
and civil rights laws, a the law before the House a married mother and trying to revive it now particularly those that may contain evidence of
top priority of President on Thursday is long over- father could be forced that they have control of attempts to influence elections officials. But she
Joe Biden, though the due and would ensure to close, or that private Congress and the White said this week that she’s not sure where the inves-
legislation faces an uphill that every person is treat- schools would have to House, but passage still tigation will go or how long it will take.
battle in the Senate. ed equally under the law. hire staff whose conduct appears unlikely in the Her office confirmed that the probe includes
The bill passed by “The LGBT commu- violates tenets of the evenly divided Senate. a call in which Trump urged Georgia Secretary
a vote of 224-206 with nity has waited long school’s faith. This time, Republican of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” enough
three Republicans join- enough,” said Rep. Da- “This is unprecedent- Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick votes to overturn Joe Biden’s win in the state. Wil-
ing Democrats in voting vid Cicilline, D-R.I., who ed. It’s dangerous. It’s of Pennsylvania and John lis also said she has questions about a call U.S.
yes. is gay and the bill’s lead an attack on our first Katko and Tom Reed Sen. Lindsey Graham made to Raffensperger, the
The Equality Act sponsor. “The time has freedom, the first free- of New York sided with sudden departure of a top federal prosecutor and
amends existing civil come to extend the bless- dom listed in the Bill of Democrats in voting for statements made before Georgia legislative com-
rights law to explicitly in- ings of liberty and equal- Rights, religious liberty,” the bill. mittees.
Opinion
6A FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 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

OTHER EDITORS
Awareness campaign needed to improve vaccine acceptance
V
accine makers reas- point last autumn, more Amer- lup, among those unwilling, 25 that younger Americans are alize as promised. Moreover,
sured Congress on icans intend to get vaccinated percent say they have concerns more hesitant than the elderly; a third vaccine by Johnson &
Tuesday they will boost or already have been. The AP- about the rushed timeline, four in 10 of those under 45 say Johnson appears to be on the
production and provide an addi- NORC poll showed 67 percent but the percentage giving this they will probably or definitely cusp of emergency use autho-
tional 140 million doses in the of those asked responded they response has dropped by 12 not get a vaccine, compared rization by the Food and Drug
next five weeks, overcoming are willing or already inocu- points since the question was with a quarter of those older. Administration. The govern-
the production bottlenecks that lated, while Gallup found 71 last asked in the fall. Twen- Among Black Americans, 57 ment and all others who hope
have crimped the fight against percent are willing, the highest ty-two percent say they want percent said they would get or to end the pandemic should
the coronavirus pandemic. The on record and up from only 50 to wait and confirm it is safe, have been vaccinated, com- devote more effort to overcom-
next hurdle is vaccine hesitan- percent last September. The 16 percent do not trust vac- pared with 68 percent among ing vaccine hesitancy, includ-
cy. Opinion surveys show the goal of a high level of vaccina- cines in general, and 9 percent White Americans and 65 per- ing launching a nationwide
United States is drawing closer tion is to reach immunity for want to see how effective it cent of Hispanics. Hesitancy vaccine awareness campaign.
to the goal of broad public ac- enough people that the virus is. Another 28 percent give is also stronger among people The shots appear to be highly
ceptance, but there is a ways to cannot spread. That “herd im- other reasons, such as they without a college degree. effective. They are a lifesaver
go. Every effort must be made munity” might require as much think the risks of the virus are The vaccine rollout has not to those vulnerable to this dis-
to administer the vaccines as as 80 percent of the population overblown, believe they already been smooth, and this has ease, which is still spreading
widely as possible. to get vaccinated. have antibodies, are concerned undoubtedly contributed to the and infecting people every day.
A pair of polls by Gallup and The bad news is the about adverse reactions to the hesitancy. But the announce- There is no good reason not to
the Associated Press-NORC still-troubling and stubborn vaccine or harbor a general ment that large supplies are on get jabbed.
Center for Public Affairs cohort who are reluctant to get distrust of the government. the way should alleviate these The Washington Post
Research show that from a low vaccinated. According to Gal- The AP-NORC poll found concerns, if the shots materi- (Feb. 24)

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Thinks tax plan is misguided
Dana McLean (for whom I
voted, she being a W grad) is
quoted as saying that cutting the
state income tax and raising the
state sales tax “...puts money back
in the pockets of Mississippians.”
She illustrates by pointing out
that someone making $50,000 a
year will save $2,000. Checking
the Mississippi Tax Calculator, I
find that $40,000 earners would
save about $1,500. $30,000 earners
would save $935. $25,000 earners
would save $685.
Sixty percent of Mississippi
households earn $40,600 or less.
Forty percent earn $31,000 or less.
Two fifths earn $23,000 or less.
A full 20 percent earn less than
$8,500. For these people, the sales
tax increase will be more than the
income tax savings, and the poorer
the taxpayer the greater the tax
penalty. Our poorest citizens
buy clothes, schools supplies,
drug store stuff, gasoline and all
the other items that allow life to
continue as much as do our rich
people. Cutting the grocery tax
helps, but we should eliminate it
altogether, as many states do.
That this move will hurt our
businesses is obvious to all, espe-
cially our business owners.
Cutting income tax and in-
creasing sales tax is simply a way
to shift the tax burden from rich MISSISSIPPI VOICES
people to poor people--a terrible
thing to do in the nation’s poorest
state (our poverty rate is nearly
double the national average). One
The big chill
2
way to even things up a little would 021 is picking right up For two straight days the There was no mistaking the sound
be a huge luxury tax. Cars costing where 2020 left off. As sledding continued non- of a heavy limb cracking off its trunk
more than $70,000, houses cost- the Chinese proverb stop. The energy of youth is and falling to the ground. It was just a
ing more than a million, yachts, ominously declares: May amazing. Ginny and I even matter of time.
designer dresses, serious jewelry, you live in interesting went down. It was scarier I woke up and reached for the light.
WHAM! There is a surprising times. than I thought. The bushes No light. Darn. Turns out a huge limb
amount of revenue to be had this Can anybody remember at the bottom cushioned my fell off one of the five beautiful loblolly
way. Or, how about a political con- a snowstorm that left snow landing stop. pines towering over our front yard.
tribution tax? You give $20,000 to and ice on the streets and Our steep cul-de-sac The limb didn’t break any lines, but
a politician or political party, you grounds for a full week? I road made sledding good, bent an unanchored power pole to the
pay $6,000 to Mississippi. You give am 62, and I cannot re- but it made exiting in a point the power lines were just above
more, you pay more. Small dona- call. My neighbor Sandra vehicle impossible with all the ground. It also severely bent my
tions would be free. There would McDaniel is a bit older than Wyatt Emmerich the ice. We were stuck. new mailbox.
be lots of $19,999 contributions. me and she couldn’t recall I tried to make it up our Ginny’s mother and brother, both
I encourage everybody to call such an event. This may be There is cul-de-sac hill and almost in Jackson, had power. It’s nice to
Ms. McLean and their state sena- an all-time record. made it to the top, only to have extended family nearby. But we
tors and tell them to cast out this I live on a cul-de-sac, something slide down again and again. still needed to get up Rebel Drive to
terrible tax plan. Rebel Drive, in the Loho How ironic that we escape.
Bill Gillmore neighborhood of Jackson, exciting when pick the coldest day of our It took an hour flailing a sledgeham-
Columbus just east of the new District entire 18-year stay on Rebel mer to break the ice up enough to get
development near I-55 and a natural Drive to walk to the Corner my car to the top of the hill. With our
A letter to the editor is an Meadowbrook. Market on Northside Drive. old dog Sally in Ginny’s lap, we drove
excellent way to participate in your Turns out the steep road disaster It only took 10 minutes, just a mile to the warmth of Donna and
community. We request the tone leading from Northeast all along quiet residential Terrell Knight’s house on Twin Lakes
of your letters be constructive and Drive down to the end of disturbs streets. It is a testament to Circle. We were refugees!
our six-house cul-de-sac how addicted we are to our So were the seagulls from Ross
respectful and the length be limited
to 450 words. We reserve the right makes the perfect sledding your routine automobiles. Barnett Lake. Somehow they fled to
to edit letters for clarity, grammar
and length. Letters may be emailed
road. At one point I counted
40 parents and children
and creates When the water pres-
sure dropped to a trickle,
Twin Lakes and perched shivering on
the frozen surface.
to [email protected] or mailed
to The Dispatch, Attn: Letters to the
standing around socializing
and waiting for their turn to
unanticipated we filled up two bathtubs
to have flushing water. We
We had a great time, cooking din-
ners, talking for hours and watching
Editor, PO Box 511, Columbus, MS
39703-0511.
sled. It was a blast!
The hill was just steep
interactions. kept a close eye on Entergy
Mississippi’s power outage
movies. There is something exciting
when a natural disaster disturbs your
enough to make it fun,
but it flattened out at the
But as Ginny’s website, thanking God for
power.
routine and creates unanticipated
interactions. But as Ginny’s grand-
bottom to allow for inter- grandmother Everything shut down mother Lucile used to say, “Company
Our View: Local Editorials esting, but safe, stops. My because the roads were and fish start to go bad after three
Local editorials appearing in this neighbor Nick Garrard and Lucile used to very hard to drive on. days.”
space represent the opinion of the I used our smartphones to No problem in the age of By Sunday morning, we were some
newspaper’s editorial board: Peter calculate the top speeds at say, ‘Company COVID. We are all now of the very last homes still without
Imes, editor and publisher; Zack Plair, around 25 mph. experts at working at home power. Right on cue, four huge trucks
managing editor; Slim Smith and se- The gutters on either and fish start via Zoom. arrived and got us going lickety split
nior newsroom staff. To inquire about side of the road usually Thursday night, a sleet just in time for church.
a meeting with the board, please straightened out errant to go bad after storm approached as the It was really interesting talking to
contact Peter Imes at 662-328-2424, sledders, catching them temps dropped below the lineman, hearing their stories and
or e-mail [email protected].
like a bowling ball alley. three days.’ freezing. Uh-oh, I thought, watching how they worked. Great pro-
The worst obstacle was remembering the big ice fessionals. Yet another example of the
my newly installed post box. Using storm of 1994, considered the second wonderful world in which we live.
the advice of the salesman at Revel worst in the state’s history. The state Wyatt Emmerich is the editor and
Imagination Library: Ace Hardware, I used an extra bag of lost so many of its most beautiful publisher of The Northside Sun, a
Give the gift of books cement to set the main pole. It was not trees. weekly newspaper in Jackson. He can be
going to give. Thank goodness nobody I was just about to go to bed when reached by e-mail at wyatt@northside-
hit it. I heard a loud crack, then a boom. sun.com.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 7A

A THOUSAND WORDS

Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff

Blake Pennington, 12, climbs a tree at his grandparents’ home in Columbus Sunday afternoon. “I like to climb,” said
Blake. This is his favorite tree to climb in his grandparents’ yard. Blake is the son of Nick and Kara Pennington.

Biden directive expands

jobless aid to more unemployed
Federal program makes
the self-employed and US jobless claims at 730K,
gig workers eligible for
aid for the first time
still high but fewest in 3 months
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemploy-
ment benefits fell sharply last week in a sign that layoffs may have
WASHINGTON — Unemployed eased, though applications for aid remain at a historically high level.
Americans who have turned down Jobless claims declined by 111,000 from the previous week to a sea-
job offers because they feared their sonally adjusted 730,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. It is
prospective employers weren’t pro- the lowest figure since late November and the sharpest one-week de-
viding sufficient protection from cline since August. Still, before the virus erupted in the United States
the coronavirus would qualify for last March, weekly applications for unemployment benefits had never
jobless aid under a directive the La- topped 700,000.
bor Department issued Thursday. The latest figures coincide with a weakened job market that has made
The measure would also ex- scant progress in the past three months. Hiring averaged just 29,000 a
pand a federal unemployment-ben- month from November through January. Though the unemployment
efits program, established in last rate was 6.3 percent in January, a broader measure that includes people
spring’s economic relief package, who have given up on their job searches is closer to 10 percent.
to cover workers who have lost All told, 19 million people were receiving unemployment aid as of
hours or who were laid off because Feb. 6, up from 18.3 million the previous week. About three-quarters
of the pandemic. It would also cover of those recipients are receiving checks from federal benefit programs,
school employees who lose jobs or including programs that provide jobless aid beyond the 26 weeks given
work hours because of school clos- by most states.
ings.
The federal program, known as Speaking to reporters, depart- could mean that the first payments
Pandemic Unemployment Assis- ment officials declined to estimate would amount to about four months
tance, made the self-employed and how many Americans would now of benefits.
gig workers eligible for jobless aid become newly eligible for jobless Workers whose place of employ-
for the first time. benefits. ment have closed because of the
“Until now, unemployment insur- The benefits will be made ret- pandemic are already eligible to
ance benefits during the pandemic roactive, officials said. People who receive jobless aid from the feder-
have been too scattered and too applied for unemployment aid af- al program. But workers who were
uncertain,” said Patricia Smith, se- ter Dec. 27 can receive retroactive laid off even as their company re-
nior adviser to the labor secretary. payments back to Dec. 6. Those mained open, such as waiters at a
“That begins to change today, with who applied before then and were restaurant that stayed open for de-
many more workers now eligible for turned down can receive retroac- livery, weren’t eligible. This direc-
unemployment insurance benefits.” tive payments dating back to when tive will now cover those workers,
The directive stems from an ex- they first applied. the Labor Department said.
ecutive order President Joe Biden With unemployed Americans For the unemployed who have
issued last month. The White House now receiving a $300 weekly feder- turned down jobs out of concern
said it sought to “ensure that unem- al payment on top of state benefits over the coronavirus, applicants
ployed Americans no longer have to that average about $320 a week, the will have to state under penalty
choose between paying their bills retroactive aid could result in sig- of perjury that their prospective
and keeping themselves and their nificant lump sum payments. The employer wasn’t meeting state or
families safe from COVID-19 by department estimates that states local guidelines on mask-wearing
clarifying that workers who refuse won’t be able to update their job- or personal protective equipment,
unsafe working conditions can still less-benefit systems to include the said Suzi Levine, a deputy assistant
receive unemployment insurance.” new criteria until late March, which labor secretary.

Native American nominee’s grilling raises questions on bias

‘If it was any other person, they would not be subjected They said that could hurt
rural America and ma-
to being held accountable for their ethnicity’ jor oil and gas-producing
states. Louisiana Sen.
Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, chairwoman of the Wampanoag Tribe
John Kennedy after two
of Gay Head Aquinnah in Massachusetts
days of hearings called
BY FELICIA FONSECA held accountable for their Among Haaland support- Haaland a “neo-socialist,
AND MAT THEW BROWN ethnicity,” said Cheryl ers across the nation who left-of-Lenin whack job.”
The Associated Press Andrews-Maltais, chair- tuned in virtually, it was Andrews-Maltais saw
woman of the Wampa- infuriating. “radical” as a code for
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — noag Tribe of Gay Head “It was horrible. It “you’re an Indian.”
When Wyoming U.S. Sen. Aquinnah in Massachu- was disrespectful,” said But Republican Sen.
John Barrasso snapped setts. Rebecca Ortega of Santa Steve Daines of Montana
at Deb Haaland during At Wednesday’s hear- Clara Pueblo in Haaland’s said it’s not about race.
her confirmation hearing, ing, Barrasso wanted home state of New Mex- Daines frequently uses
many in Indian Country assurance that Haaland ico. “I just feel like if it the term to describe
were incensed. would follow the law when would have been a white Democrats and their pol-
The exchange, coupled it comes to imperiled man or a white woman, he icies, including President
with descriptions of the species. Before the con- would never have yelled Joe Biden and Montana
Interior secretary nom- gresswoman finished her like that.” Gov. Steve Bullock, whom
inee as “radical” — by response, Barrasso shout- The Interior Depart- Daines defeated in No-
other white, male Repub- ed, “I’m talking about the ment has broad oversight vember.
licans — left some feeling law!” of energy development, “As much as I would
Haaland is being treated Barrasso, former along with tribal affairs, love to see a Native Amer-
differently because she is chairman of Senate In- and some Republican ican be on the president’s
a Native American wom- dian Affairs Committee, senators have labeled Cabinet, I have concerns
an. said his uncharacteris- Haaland “radical” over about her record. ... To say
“If it was any other tic reaction was a sign her calls to reduce depen- otherwise is outrageous
person, they would not of frustration over Haa- dence on fossil fuels and and offensive,” he told
be subjected to being land dodging questions. address climate change. The Associated Press.
8A FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Jamison
Continued from Page 1A
“He had his detractors at advice,” he continued. “He
first,” Webber said. “Every- ‘He had his detractors at first. Everybody was saying there was no asked how much I was behind,
body was saying there was
no (contamination), but he
(contamination), but he didn’t give up. He worked at it tirelessly. He and I told him I was six months
behind. I didn’t expect him to
didn’t give up. He worked at it
tirelessly. He insisted some-
insisted something was wrong and he set out to right a wrong. He do anything except give me
advice. But he said, ‘If I make
thing was wrong and he set
out to right a wrong. He was a
was a bulldog. Once he got a hold of something he didn’t let go.’ four payments, do you think
you can come up with two?’
bulldog. Once he got a hold of
Maurice Webber, longtime friend Knowing he was willing to do
something he didn’t let go.” that made me determined to
For 11 years, Jamison led them, I don’t know what to tell beloved family, friends, and Now in his 12th year as come up with the two pay-
the fight, forming the Mem- them.” church family.” pastor at United Christian ments, and I did.”
phis Town Community Action Webber said there was no Baptist Church on Yorkville Webber said Jamison’s gen-
Group to push for compensa- doubt about Jamison’s impact. His ministry Road, James also owns Hair4u erosity was well known.
tion for victims and clean-up “A of people benefited from Jamison grew up in Clay Beauty Supply in the Gateway “He couldn’t say no to peo-
and redevelopment. In 2014, it tremendously,” Webber said. County and worked as a master Shopping Center. ple when it came to his min-
a bankruptcy court awarded “The settlements were bigger brick mason and a contractor “I went from being a boy to a istry or the personal lives of
$5.15 billion to 24 former and there are still settlements before founding Maranatha man sitting under his ministry, people,” Webber said. “When
Kerr-McGee sites for clean-up going on today.” Faith Center in 1980. Over the not only as a pastor but as a you came to him, he was eager
and redevelopment, including In 2014, the EPA named next 41 years, Jamison became businessman,” James said. to listen. In short, he put his
$64 million for the Columbus Jamison’s Memphis Town Com- a mentor for several church Webber and Jamison ce- money where his mouth was.
site. munity Advisory Group winner members who would follow his mented their relationship with If people needed financial
Jamison worked just as of its yearly Citizen Excellence path into the ministry. a mutual love of horses. help he would help them, but
tirelessly to make sure resi- in Community Involvement One of those young men was “We spent a lot of time he helped in other ways, too,
dents who suffered from health Award. In 2016, the city of Steven L. James, Sr., for whom together, much of it riding,” through his church. He started
issues linked to the creosote Columbus passed a resolution Jamison was a mentor not only Webber said. “He was an avid an after-school program at the
contamination were properly renaming the section of Wa- as a pastor but as a business- horseman and we rode all the church, put in a computer lab,
compensated, urging residents terworks Road between 14th man. time. It was our way of having a just a whole host of things.”
to reject initial offers, which he Avenue and Seventh Avenue in James began attending Ma- period of relaxing.” James said the continuing
believed to be too low. Jamison’s honor. ranatha as an 18-year-old. Both James and Webber clean-up and eventual redevel-
“A lot of people still haven’t “Pastor Jamison was a bril- “At first, I came for the noted Jamison’s generosity. opment of the old Kerr-McGee
gotten paid, but Rev. Jamison liant analytical man and used Bible study led by his sister,” “When I was a young man, site along 14th Avenue North
did everything he could do,” his problem-solving skills from James said. “Then one Sunday I had a wife and a son and was will keep Jamison’s memory
said Marty Turner, who was his construction career helping morning I went to see how the going to school at Mississip- alive.
born, raised and still lives those in our community each service was and never left. I pi State,” James said. “I had “The work he did for the
in Memphis Town, serving day as pastor of Maranatha,” was there for 23 1/2 years.” bought a little house and at one community is absolutely going
one term on the city council Columbus Mayor Robert Smith James said Jamison was an point fell behind on my house to be his legacy,” James said.
representing the ward. “He said in a prepared statement. excellent teacher with a gift for payments. I didn’t know what “People here are going to
was honest with us. If people “(He) will be missed and I making the ancient texts found to do. remember his name forever, I
can’t recognize what he did for express my condolences to his in the Bible “come to life.” “I went to Rev. Jamison for think.”

Power bills
Continued from Page 1A
generated energy they your unit,
wouldn’t have if they’d whether it
gone to work, said Jon be summer
Turner, marketing and or winter, is
public relations director looking at
for 4-County Electric the outside
Power Association. tempera-
“Some folks may dou- ture, and
ble or triple their bill, de- Bernsen
it’s trying to
pending on keep whatever you’ve got
what kind it set on in here. Well, if
of situation it’s real cold outside, it’s
they’re in,” going to run a lot more.
Turner said. That’s just the fact of life.”
“... There The same thing goes
are going for gas, Atmos Opera-
to be peo- tions Manager Michelle
ple who are Turner Whittle said. Courtesy graphic
going to “We even had a lot of This energy usage graph from 4-County Electric Power Association shows how the energy used by a 4-County mem-
see energy bills, not just days in Feb- ber fluctuates based on the outside temperature. Typically the lower the outside temperature is, the more energy
power bills, but energy ruary, at the an individual uses to keep warm. Last week saw below-freezing temperatures for several days in a row, so utility
bills of hundreds and hun- companies and cooperatives expect residents’ upcoming power and gas bills to be much higher than normal.
end of Janu-
dreds of dollars probably, ary, where
and the first reaction is, home to how many people of Texas are currently PSC regulates the market their bills when they re-
the tem- live there. seeing after last week’s and stabilizes the prices. ceive them, though Whit-
‘I could not possibly have perature
used this much, there’s “You could have the winter storms. Presley added there is tle specified residents
was in the same house as me, but my “The pricing horrors help for low income res- should contact Atmos as
got to be something 40s, but it
wrong.’ ... Ninety-nine consumption may be to- that people have seen in idents who need extra soon as they receive their
was cloudy, tally different than yours Texas, with $18,000 and time or money to pay their bills, rather than when
percent of the time, that
it was rainy, Whittle and we could be next-door $20,000 bills, is not going utility bills. Over the next their gas is about to be
energy was used.”
it was yucky, not a lot of neighbors,” Whittle said. to be the case in Missis- week, PSC will be posting disconnected for non-pay-
Even residents who
sunshine,” Whittle said. “It depends on how many sippi because we have a information on how cus- ment.
did not make use of ex-
“And you don’t realize people live in the house. system in which our util- tomers can receive utility Kemp said in some cas-
tra heating devices or
how much heat you use I’ve got a college-age ity companies are regulat- bill assistance. es, SUD can offer exten-
change their thermostats
in those times also. And daughter home with me ed by the Public Service “Right now if they go sions or connect custom-
may find their bills high-
then you throw that on right now living upstairs, Commission,” Presley to the Public Services ers with organizations
er than usual, because
top of the record-break- and if she wasn’t there, said. “... We’re not oper- Commission’s website, that will help them pay
it requires more power
to keep a home at a par- ing cold that we had, and our consumption would ating in a deregulated there’s a tab for utility their bills.
ticular temperature as people will have some look a lot different than it market like Texas where bill assistance and it will “(The bills are) going
the outside temperature very high bills, myself in- would if she was not.” customers are paying give them instructions on to be much higher than
drops. cluded.” Kemp added custom- whatever the cost of en- where to go for programs normal,” he said. “We’re
“Usage is volatile,” Co- ers’ bills could go up if ergy that day particularly such as the Low Income going to be sensitive to
lumbus Light and Water Help paying bills they used less efficient is. When demand went Home Energy Assistance that, and we encourage
Interim Director Mike Utility company heating sources like up, the price of electrici- Program, LIHEAP,” Pres- people, when their bills
Bernsen said. “People spokespeople said it’s space heaters. ty and gas in Texas went ley said. do come out, to look at it
that don’t really control hard to say how much The good news is Gold- through the roof and that, SUD, 4-County and and if they see an issue,
their thermostats, as an the average individual bill en Triangle residents will coupled with an increased Atmos also urged custom- a problem with making
example, are going to see will increase, since us- not see the kind of bills in usage, led to what you’re ers and members to reach payments, contact us.
the biggest hits. So you’ve age depends on so many the tens of thousands of seeing in the bills.” out to the companies if Maybe take advantage of
got to remember that factors, from the type of dollars, the way residents In Mississippi, he said, they need help paying those extensions.”

If you don’t read The Dispatch, how are you gonna know?
Sports
MISSISSIPPI STATE 68, LSU 59
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021
B
SECTION

Matharu, Taylor pace Bulldogs to crucial bubble win at LSU

BY BEN PORTNOY quarter, Matharu notched under Vic Schaefer a sea-
[email protected] a game-high 19 points, all son ago, head coach Nikki
of which came in the final McCray-Penson has chal-
As Aliyah Matharu 20 minutes, to give MSU lenged her to improve her
went Thursday, so too did a gutsy 68-59 win over defense while also finding
Mississippi State. NCAA bubble resident a patient balance to her of-
In a first half that mim- LSU in Baton Rouge. fensive flow.
icked a familiar tone to “We started off the “I’m always telling her,
losses of months past, third quarter, I got my first ‘When you have two peo-
Matharu didn’t muster shot, and I just knocked ple in front of you, now
a single point on either it down from there,” she you’ve got to learn how to
of her two field goal at- said postgame. “I was set people up and pass the
tempts in the opening two like, ‘OK. I’m in rhythm ball out,’” McCray-Penson
frames. But as has been now; I can do this.” explained. “Because the
the case throughout her For Matharu, there’s scouting report some-
young Bulldog career, the always been an ease to times on her is, let her
Washington, D.C., native her offensive ability. One go, she’s not going to pass
caught fire in a split sec- of just a handful of Bull- the ball. And I challenge
ond. dogs who can consistent- her and I show her those
Draining one of her ly create her own shot, things on film and she’s
four second-half 3-point- she’s quick, twitchy and getting better at that, be- Mississippi State Athletics
ers on the Bulldogs’ first deadly when she gets roll- cause I don’t want her to Aliyah Matharu notched a game-high 19 points, all of which came in the final 20
possession of the third ing. But as was the case See HOOPS, 3B minutes, to help the Bulldogs take down the Tigers on Thursday in Baton Rouge.

New Hope MISSISSIPPI STATE BASEBALL

ousted in
2nd round After flaming out in pros, Gautreau advising
of playoffs
BY THEO DEROSA
[email protected]
next era of Bulldog draft prospects
NEW HOPE — Just
shy of the baseline, LJ
Hackman caught his
breath, waiting for a
chance that never came.
The New Hope sopho-
more was the sole Trojan
player not on the block
for two free throws that
could put visiting Center
Hill up two possessions
in the final seconds of
Thursday’s MHSAA
Class 5A second-round
playoff game. At the far
end of the court, Hack-
man grimaced, briefly
doubled over and squint-
ed at the scoreboard
bearing the bad news:
Mustangs 67, Trojans 65,
5.5 seconds to go.
From 25 yards away,
Hackman watched Cen-
ter Hill’s Kaeden Laws
make the first free throw.
Laws’ second attempt
clanked off the rim and
landed snugly in the
See NEW HOPE, 3B

A look at MSU
softball’s four
opponents in
Texas tourney Mississippi State Athletics
Mississippi State assistant coach Jake Gautreau never made it to Major League Baseball after being selected 14th overall by the San
BY THEO DEROSA
Diego Padres in 2001. Now, however, he channels his own experiences into aiding MSU’s next generation of pros.
[email protected]
BY BEN PORTNOY first-rounder retired from pro- questionable forms of identifica- I was trying too hard. My swing
On Wednesday, the [email protected] fessional baseball without so tion. The group didn’t leave until didn’t feel great. I was kind of
Texas State softball team much as a cup of coffee at the daylight. pressing a little bit, and I re-
gave No. 7 Texas all it STARKVILLE — Jake MLB level. Now, however, he Dating from the end of their member thinking, ‘I’ve never felt
could handle in a 1-0, Gautreau felt the pain from his channels his experiences into sophomore year on, the couple this way in my life. What is going
extra-inning Longhorns toes to his torso. His body ached. helping his players manage the spent 2003 and 2004 apart as on?’”
win in Austin. Forget swinging a bat. Tying his torment of lofty expectations Erin took a job with a consulting Gautreau’s stress levels
The game was a solid shoes was hard enough. and professional aspirations. firm in New York City while Jake ebbed and flowed as he toiled in
preview of “It felt like every bone in my “Whether or not you like it,” played for the Padres’ double-A the minors. His head became a
what MSU body was broken,” Gautreau, Gautreau said of retirement, affiliate in Mobile, Alabama. prison. Batting practice was a Si-
can expect Mississippi State’s hitting coach “you kind of understand it.” After working out a plan that al- syphean torment. The ulcerative
to face this and recruiting coordinator, said lowed her to work remotely, Erin colitis that had been dormant
weekend at of the variation of arthritis he’d moved to Austin, Texas, where throughout his life flared up.
the Lone developed. nnn Jake was spending his offsea- In layman’s terms, Gautreau
Star State Gautreau has heard the cli- sons. They were married four explained, the inside of one’s
Invitation- Ricketts ché for years: baseball has a way Standing just behind the years later. intestine and colon is supposed
al. of telling you when it’s time to home dugout at Dudy Noble “She’s my rock,” Jake said. to be smooth. Ulcerative colitis,
The Bulldogs (6-1) move on. Field, Gautreau slips a pair of “Because, poor thing, she has though, is like taking a cheese
play the first three of A once-slick fielding infielder Polaroid sunglasses off his eyes literally been through every sin- grater to those smooth surfaces,
their five games from armed with a potent bat, he belt- and lays them to rest on the brim gle thing with me from the very causing inflammation and other
Friday to Sunday in the ed 58 home runs in three years of his maroon ball cap. Along the beginning.” bowel issues.
home ballparks of both at Tulane and captained the wall, sons Liam (8) and Weston Gautreau signed with the While trying to balance the
the Bobcats and Long- Green Wave to its first-ever Col- (5) meet him for a pregame chat. Padres for $1.875 million, but intrinsic pressure of his draft
horns. Mississippi State lege World Series appearance in Giving his boys a quick hug, an ongoing contract negoti- position, Gautreau worked with
opens play with a dou- 2001. Amid the march to Oma- Gautreau looks 15 rows up in ation forced him to arrive at doctors on varying drug cock-
bleheader at Texas State ha, the San Diego Padres made section 110 where his wife, Erin, short-season single-A ball in Eu- tails to combat his illness. He
on Friday in San Marcos him the 14th pick in the MLB sends him a right-handed wave. gene, Oregon, two weeks late. tried everything from pills and
before games at Texas draft. Erin has always had a front- He’d planned to spend his first self-injections to three-hour IV
and against Houston on Talent was never a question. row seat for Jake’s career. game of the 2001 season in the infusions similar to chemother-
Saturday in Austin. A His body became one. A de- A former volleyball player at dugout. Manager Jeff Gardner, apy. A steroid treatment helped
Sunday contest at No. cade-long bout with ulcerative Tulane, she met Jake through instead, asked if he could play in spurts, but long-term side ef-
23 Baylor rounds out the colitis contributed to his arthri- mutual friends at the Bruff that night. Gautreau agreed. As fects made it a quick fix rather
weekend. tis. Commons Dining Room their he swung in the batting cages, than a solution.
Here’s a look at what He battled through the pain. freshman year. Making plans his new teammates gathered for Melanoma on his throwing
Samantha Ricketts’ team But a man can only fight for so to meet up that night, Erin, Jake a look at the new guy. arm in 2007 further compli-
can expect from all four long. Time, baseball’s grim reap- and their friends congregated at “That moment I remember cated matters, though doctors
of its opponents. er, always wins, after all. The Boot Bar & Grill — a pop- taking swings, and I didn’t feel were able to contain it and even-
See SOFTBALL, 3B At 29 years old, the former ular joint for undergrads with like myself,” he said. “I felt like See GAUTREAU, 2B
2B FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Gautreau
Continued from Page 1B
tually cut it out. pain. Hell, baseball has
Then came the arthri- always caused him pain
tis brought on by the ul- in one fashion or another.
cerative colitis. This, though, is a differ-
“It was another one ent, more endearing pain.
of those scary moments He feels responsible
where it’s like, ‘Wait, what for the Allens, Hatchers
if you don’t get better?’ ” and Jordans of the world.
Erin said solemnly. It’s why he helps advise
Living together in an eligible Bulldogs through
apartment in Port Char- the draft process. As a re-
lotte, Florida, where Jake cruiting coordinator it’s
had earned an invite to his job to build relation-
2009 spring training with ships with kids. When his
the Tampa Bay Rays, he players hurt, he hurts too.
and Erin had just one car “The number one
with them at the time — piece for me is making
a white Ford F-150 they’d sure they understand that
nicknamed “White Light- I have been through ex-
ning.” actly what they’re going
Each morning, Erin through,” Gautreau said.
rose early to drive Jake “And a lot of times, my ex-
to the ballpark, returned periences were extreme-
home to work her consult- ly challenging, tough
ing job, then headed back times.”
to the stadium to pick him Friday, MSU will play
up in the afternoon. its first weekend series at
Shortly into camp, Dudy Noble Field since
Erin received a call from COVID-19 ended the 2020
Jake minutes after she’d campaign. In the opposite
dropped him at the park. dugout will be Tulane,
It was cut day. Jake was a Gautreau’s alma mater
casualty. and the place his coach-
Courtesy of Erin Gautreau
“We both kind of knew A first-round pick by the San Diego Padres in the 2001 MLB draft, Jake Gautreau hung up his cleats at age 29 ing career began.
it was his last shot at play- without ever making it to the major leagues. There’s a semblance
ing,” Erin said, choking of peace the further
up before launching into squad. Jones watched Jones’ retirement due to came the only holdover on Gautreau’s playing days Gautreau ages from a pro
her words. “It was heart- from the side. Tulane health concerns in 2014, Chris Lemonis’ first staff are long behind him, but career filled with labels he
breaking.” won the next two games Gautreau was named in- in Starkville. he still finds himself relat- fought madly to overcome.
en route to the program’s terim head coach. He in- “When you’ve coached ing to players. It’s part of He hasn’t had a flare-up of
nnn first-ever College World terviewed for the full-time at a place like Tulane and, what made him a success- his ulcerative colitis since
Series berth. gig, but was passed over. of course, gone through ful agent while working 2010, and the melanoma is
Now in his fourth year “You have some play- After spending two- all the things he went with Boras. In coaching, also an afterthought.
at MSU, Gautreau has ers you’re closer to than plus years working as a through there as the inter- though, he carries a dif- Gautreau says he and
received ample acclaim. others and some that certified player rep in Tex- im head coach and then ferent kind of weight. his family are comfortable
The recruiting classes you’re not close to as close as for MLB super-agent going through the things Following a COVID- in Starkville, though he’s
he’s overseen ranked to afterwards,” Jones said. Scott Boras, Gautreau he went through with An- 19-shortened 2020 cam- not oblivious to his stand-
fifth, sixth, and seventh, “But there are some — returned to coaching by dy’s situation,” current paign, the MLB draft ing in college baseball
according to D1 Baseball. and there are very few way of his former Tulane TCU head coach and for- shrunk from its usual 40 circles. Someday soon,
The same publication also — but there’s some that teammate, Andy Canniza- mer Tulane assistant Jim rounds to five. In a nor- whether next offseason
named him the National you consider family, and ro, who’d been named the Schlossnagle said, “he’s mal year, juniors Tanner or five from now, he’ll
Assistant Coach of the (Gautreau) was that.” head coach at MSU in No- more than prepared not Allen, Josh Hatcher and helm his own program.
Year in 2019. Shortly after Jake left vember 2016. just to be a head coach in Rowdey Jordan would’ve Today, though, Gautreau
That Gautreau has the Rays, he and Erin Serving as Canniza- Division I baseball but an been off playing pro ball is helping players fight off
thrived in recruiting drove from Florida to ro’s recruiting coordina- elite head coach.” by this time. Instead their own versions of the
shocks few from his past. Texas when Jones called. tor and assistant hitting they’re back in Starkville. haunting cliché he spent
Dropping a 13-inning Tulane had an open vol- coach, The teammates’ nnn “You come to school decades battling himself.
first game of the 2001 Su- unteer assistant role. It reunion was short-lived. and you play and you “I mean, yeah, it’s a
per Regional against LSU was Gautreau’s if he want- Cannizaro resigned three During batting prac- expect to get drafted af- bummer he never made
in New Orleans, former ed it, but Jones needed games into the 2018 cam- tices at Dudy Noble, ter your junior year, and it,” Erin said. “But I don’t
Tulane coach Rick Jones an answer by morning. paign amid revelations Gautreau is always posted then it kind of gets taken think he holds onto that
stepped into the dugout Gautreau took the offer. of an extramarital affair near the cage. He wraps away from you,” Jordan at all. When kids that he’s
to collect his thoughts be- He spent his first year with a football staffer. his arms together tightly explained during MSU’s coached or even players
fore addressing the team. on staff coaching and fin- Gautreau stayed on against his chest, period- Feb. 3 media day. “Plans that were formerly here
Gautreau patted him on ishing his degree. Jones under interim head coach ically using the right arm change, but at the end that he’s met and made re-
the back and delivered a promoted Gautreau to a Gary Henderson, helping that helped him to a nine- of the day it is what it is. lationships with, he’s truly
message, “I got ’em.” full-time assistant and the Bulldogs to an unprec- year minor league career There ain’t no changing happy for them and is ex-
In the locker room, recruiting coordinator af- edented College World to give direction. it.” cited for them when they
Gautreau addressed the ter the season. Following Series run and later be- At 41 years old, Gautreau feels their get to live that dream.”

PREP ROUNDUP

Caledonia softball puts up 25 runs in two innings to beat Starkville

BY THEO DEROSA Ashlyn Jordan had five Massey struck out 11 Tro- (Ala.) 19, Pickens Acade- at 11 a.m. Saturday and Northeast Jones 4,
[email protected] strikeouts for Caledonia jans in a complete-game my (Ala.) 4 Lee Academy at 5 p.m. Starkville 3, eight innings
in two innings in the cir- outing. Saturday as part of the ELLISVILLE —
STARKVILLE — It
took just two innings for
cle.
Brianne Locke had
New Hope will play
Monday at Saltillo.
Prep Baseball Golden Triangle Classic. Starkville High School
suffered an extra-inning
the Caledonia softball Heritage Academy 7,
three strikeouts in 1.1 Nettleton 2 Caledonia 20, West walk-off loss to North-
team to hand Starkville a innings for Starkville, Tishomingo County 15, Point 2, four innings east Jones on Thursday at
25-0 loss on Thursday. Cole Ketchum struck
and Olivia Mattison had West Point 0, three innings CALEDONIA — Cale- Jones College.
The Cavaliers scored out 13 hitters in a com-
a strikeout in 0.2 innings IUKA — West Point donia used a 14-run third After the Yellow Jack-
12 runs in the first inning plete-game win for the
for the Yellow Jackets. suffered a 15-0 loss to inning to run-rule West ets got a run in the top of
and 13 runs in the second Heritage Academy base-
Caledonia will play Fri- Tishomingo County on Point 20-2 in four innings the eighth, the Tigers had
for the mercy-rule win. ball team on Thursday
day at Smithville. the run rule Thursday in on Thursday. two in the bottom of the
Brooke Knoop had five Iuka. against Nettleton. Loren Cox was 2 for 2 inning to win 4-3.
RBIs for Caledonia. Ma- East Webster 8, The Braves scored Ketchum pitched all with two walks and drove Mason Thurlow and
dalyn Dvorak had four, New Hope 4 eight runs in the first in- seven innings, allowing in five runs for the Cava- Jackson Owen each had
and Kaydence Sudduth NEW HOPE — East ning, two in the second two runs on two hits. He liers. Gavin Holloman had two hits for Starkville. Ca-
had three; both players Webster scored five runs and three in the fifth to did not walk a batter. two sacrifice flies. den Tate and Riley Daw-
had home runs Thursday. in the sixth inning to beat cut the contest short. The Ole Miss commit Jacob Humbers kins each drove in a run.
Aimee George had a sin- New Hope 8-4 on Thurs- Sara Frances Ramsey also led the team with pitched all four innings Brennon Wright
gle, a double and three day in New Hope. had one strikeout in two three RBIs in the 7-2 vic- and earned the win. pitched six innings for
RBIs. Zoe Goodman led the innings pitched for the tory. He and Caleb Hall Caledonia batted the Jackets, striking out
Jada Glasgow led the Trojans with two RBIs. Green Wave. led the Patriots with two around twice in the third. six. Banks Perry also saw
Cavs with four hits, in- Adi Dueitt pitched 5.1 West Point will host hits apiece, with Carson The Cavs had two runs in time on the mound for
cluding two doubles. Al- innings for New Hope, Starkville on Friday. Hollis driving in two runs the first inning and four in Starkville.
lison Pennington had two striking out two. Kensley and Hall recording an the second. The Jackets will play
singles and a double, and Woolbright pitched the Nanih Waiya 14, Co- RBI. Caledonia will play at D’Iberville at 4 p.m. Fri-
Knoop had a single and a other 1.2 innings. lumbus 2 Heritage Academy will Mantachie at 11 a.m. Sat- day at East Central Com-
double. East Webster’s Liz Patrician Academy host Indianola Academy urday. munity College.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Dickinson impresses as No. 3 Michigan routs No. 9 Iowa

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS swered that with a 14-2 with 16 points, but he shot on their run after Dick- This game was more te- said Nunge would have an
run that took place most- 6 of 19 from the field. The inson’s third foul. Dick- dious at the start, but the MRI, and the team hopes
ANN ARBOR, Mich. ly while Dickinson was on 7-foot-1 Dickinson, who inson returned to cap Wolverines never seemed Connor MacCaffery can
— Hunter Dickinson the bench. like Garza went to high that run with a layup that to grow frustrated. be ready for its next game.
showed early on that he “All hands on deck,” school in the Washing- made it 50-39. Fran McCaffery said
could guard Luka Garza Wolverines coach Juwan ton area, blocked Garza’s “Tonight was a battle,” Big picture his team needs to do a
without help. Howard said. first shot attempt of the Dickinson said. “I’m still Iowa: There were more consistent job de-
Then, when Dickin- Dickinson more than game. Even when Garza tired after that game.” some positives for the fending.
son left the game for a held his own against Gar- got the ball in good posi- Isaiah Livers scored Hawkeyes in the first half. “I think what we have
bit with three fouls, his za in a much-anticipated tion in the post, he had a 16 points for the Wolver- Their defense — thought to do is I think a better job
teammates took control. matchup of two standout hard time scoring consis- ines. Dickinson added 14 to be a weakness — kept of locking in defensively
Dickinson gave Garza big men who have known tently. in addition to all his fine Michigan mostly under when we have a few shots
fits around the basket, each other for years. The “I know I’ve got to be defensive work. control in the first 20 roll out on us,” he said.
and Franz Wagner scored Wolverines (17-1, 12-1) better for my team,” Gar- “As you see, we didn’t minutes. Iowa has some Michigan: Dickin-
21 points to lead No. 3 passed yet another test za said. “For some reason, try to double-team,” Liv- health concerns, though. son, a freshman, acquit-
Michigan to a 79-57 vic- against a highly ranked there was just a lid on the ers said. “Game plan was Jack Nunge was injured in ted himself well against
tory over No. 9 Iowa on opponent, and they look rim for me tonight.” for Hunter to guard him the first half and walked Garza. The Wolverines
Thursday night. Garza’s increasingly alone atop Michigan became one on one, and for us to off with some assistance. turned what looked like a
three-point play early in the Big Ten, where every the first team to hold stay home to the shoot- In the second half, Con- matchup of heavyweights
the second half put the other team has at least the Hawkeyes under 65 ers.” nor McCaffery went down into a rout — and that’s
Hawkeyes up 37-36 — four conference losses. points all season. Michigan was coming with what appeared to be also what they’ve done in
and drew Dickinson’s Garza led the The Wolverines led 32- off a 92-87 win over No. 4 a left foot injury. the Big Ten standings so
third foul. Michigan an- Hawkeyes (17-7, 11-6) 29 at halftime, then went Ohio State last weekend. Coach Fran McCaffery far.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 3B

BRIEFLY New Hope

Continued from Page 1B
College Basketball
EMCC men beat Itawamba CC in OT arms of Mustangs teammate So before the game, Mc-
The East Mississippi Community College men’s Zandon Haralson, who was Brayer and Mustangs coach
basketball team beat Itawamba Community College in fouled with 3.3 seconds left Newton Mealer met near mid-
overtime Thursday in Scooba, while the EMCC women and made his first foul shot. court with a realization: “We
fell to ICC in Fulton.
Blake Butler hit a 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds left
New Hope rebounded a miss weren’t supposed to be here
to send the Lions and Indians into an extra period, on the second, and a futile together.”
and EMCC came out on top 86-83. Butler and Hunter three-quarter-court heave They knew what it meant,
McCutcheon each finished with 20 points to lead the from the Trojans’ Jorden Ed- too: When the final buzz-
Lions (6-3).
wards at the buzzer glanced er sounded, one of the two
Traemond Pittman added 18 points for EMCC.
Jakorie Smith had 12 points and seven rebounds, and off the side of the rim. schools would be done for the
Nick Walker had 10 points and nine rebounds. Once again, a standout season.
The men’s team travels to Southwest Mississippi year for New Hope had come “We knew a good team was
Community College for a 2 p.m. Saturday tip in Summit. to an end.
The EMCC women (3-2) went into halftime in Ful-
going home tonight,” McBray-
ton leading 40-38 on a Shakira Austin halfcourt shot at In a tightly contested sec- er said. “I just hate it was us.”
the buzzer. But the Indians pulled away for a 73-68 win. ond-round game, the Trojans
The Lions will host Northeast Mississippi Commu- (19-3) were eliminated with
nity College at 6 p.m. Monday. Thursday’s 69-65 loss to the
Other scores
Lake Cormorant 54, Colum-
SOURCE: From Special Reports
Mustangs.
bus 47, MHSAA Class 5A play-
“It was a good season,”
offs, second round
New Hope coach Drew Mc-
CALENDAR Brayer said. “I hate it had to
LAKE CORMORANT —
The Columbus boys were
Today end this way.” Theo DeRosa/Dispatch Staff
New Hope sophomore LJ Hackman (3) drives against Center Hill eliminated with a 54-47 loss at
College Softball
For the second straight
senior Preston Newsom (0) during the first quarter Thursday in Lake Cormorant on Thursday.
year, McBrayer’s team went
Mississippi State at Texas State, dou-
undefeated in district play and New Hope. The Trojans lost to the Mustangs, 69-65. Willie Young led the Fal-
bleheader, 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
earned a first-round bye but cons with 20 points, and Tre
College Baseball on offense,” McBrayer said. a three-point lead.
lost its first playoff contest. Dismuke had 12.
“We did a good job of moving Edwards drove to the rim
Tulane at Mississippi State, 4 p.m.
The Trojans lost to Holmes Columbus finished the sea-
Prep Girls Basketball the basketball against their and was fouled with 18.1 to go,
County Central 55-50 last Feb. son with an 11-9 record.
press, attacking the rim.” but his miss only got the Tro-
Sacred Heart at West Lowndes, MHSAA
22 but faced a much tougher New Hope, which shoots jans within two points. When
Class 1A quarterfinal, TBA
test this time around in Cen- Haralson corralled Laws’ mis- Starkville 64, Madison Cen-
Noxubee County at Belmont, MHSAA 71 percent from the foul line, tral 37, MHSAA Class 6A play-
ter Hill. struggled at the stripe when fire and was himself fouled, it
Class 3A quarterfinal, TBA
Laws, a 6-foot-4 Arkan- was over. offs, second round
Columbus Christian Academy vs. it counted Thursday night. STARKVILLE — The
sas-Pine Bluff signee, and the Caleb Parr missed one of “They’re a tough ballclub,”
Greenville Christian, MAIS Class 2A
6-foot-5 Haralson were part of McBrayer said of the Mus- Starkville boys earned a trip
tournament semifinal, 3 p.m. two technical free throws in to the MHSAA Class 6A quar-
a Mustangs team that gave the the third quarter, Hackman tangs. “We knew that coming
Holmes County Central at Columbus, undersized Trojans fits inside. in, and we knew it was going terfinals with a 64-37 home
MHSAA Class 5A quarterfinal, 6 p.m. missed three foul shots in the win over Madison Central on
Laws led all scorers with 25 to be a dogfight. It was prob-
Prep Softball quarter and — most impor- Thursday.
points, including the winning ably going to come down to a
Caledonia at Smithville, 6 p.m. tantly — Edwards missed his Jarmarvious Phillips led
runner with 54 seconds left, couple possessions late in the
Pickens Academy (Ala.) at South Choc- first of two free throws with the Yellow Jackets with 22
and Haralson added 19 points. ballgame, and they just made
taw Academy (Ala.), 6 p.m. 18.1 seconds to go and New points. Coltie Young added 18
“We just used our size and one more play than we did.
Starkville at West Point, 6:30 p.m. overwhelmed them,” Laws Hope down three. for Starkville.
It’s tough when you fight that
Prep Baseball said. “You’ve got to be able to hard and you get to that situa- The Jackets will host Olive
Starkville vs. D’Iberville at East Central But the Trojans, known make those plays when you’re tion and it’s just one play that Branch in Saturday’s quarter-
Community College, 4 p.m. for their speed and shooting in the playoffs,” McBrayer beats you. They made it. We final round.
Starkville Academy vs. Kirk Academy, ability, held their own. While said. “We just missed a few of didn’t. Hats off to them.”
4 p.m. Center Hill held a slim lead for them.” Instead of moving on to the Noxubee County 53, Winona
Lake Cormorant at Columbus, 5:30 most of the game, New Hope At the other end, the Mus- third round at Holmes, Mc- 46, MHSAA Class 3A playoffs,
p.m. broke through in the fourth tangs made the requisite Brayer and the Trojans were second round
Golden Triangle HomeSchool at Colum- quarter. Edwards nailed a plays. After Laws worked free left wondering what could WINONA — The Noxubee
bus Christian Academy, 6 p.m. floater to put his team ahead in the lane for his go-ahead have been. New Hope didn’t County boys won at Winona
Pickens Academy (Ala.) at South Choc- 56-55 with 3:43 left, giving the shot with under a minute to initially expect to draw the on Thursday, 53-46, to reach
taw Academy (Ala.), 6 p.m. Trojans their first lead since go, Center Hill grabbed an Mustangs on Thursday, but an the MHSAA Class 3A quarter-
Winston Academy at Oak Hill Academy, the second quarter. errant pass from Edwards and upset loss to Lake Cormorant finals.
7 p.m. “We missed some shots forced the Trojans to foul. Tan- gave Center Hill a No. 2 seed The Tigers will take on
in the first half, but man, we ner Burcham made both of his and a game against Provine in- Senatobia on the road Satur-
Saturday played great in the second half free throws to give the visitors stead of a first-round bye. day.

Hoops
Men’s College Basketball
Alabama at Mississippi State, 5 p.m.
College Softball
Mississippi State at Texas, 10 a.m. Continued from Page 1B
Mississippi State vs. Houston at Texas,
12:30 p.m. not think score to where she’s ed in seven first-half turnovers finished with 14 points and squad along the sideline to
College Baseball thinking ‘pass.’ It’s that fine that led to 10 LSU points. nine rebounds in a dominat- harp on the offensive rebound
Tulane at Mississippi State, 2 p.m. line.” Sophomore JaMya Min- ing post performance — that the Bulldogs surrendered in
Thursday, Matharu found go-Young, whose second sea- emphatically slammed the the final seconds of the con-
ON THE AIR that balance.
She recorded three steals
son in Starkville has been as
forgettable as any, recorded
door. Matched up on a small-
er Tigers guard with just over
test. In close games, she said,
that can’t happen.
Saturday in her 19 minutes of action, the most illustrious ill-timed two minutes remaining, Car-
With the win over LSU now
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) marking just the fourth time play of a first half filled with ter backed into the paint and
in her career she’s hit that them as she fouled Tigers cashed home a layup to give in tow, MSU has likely locked
11 a.m. — Texas at Texas Tech, CBS
mark. Matharu also drained guard Karli Seay on a 3-point the Bulldogs an eight-point itself into a NCAA tournament
11 a.m. — Tennessee at Auburn, ESPN
11 a.m. — Michigan at Indiana, FOX five free throws in the final attempt in the closing seconds lead they wouldn’t relent. bid despite a Sunday date
11 a.m. — Georgetown at DePaul, FS1 two-plus minutes — including of the half. Seay promptly With their backs against against Missouri and next
Noon — South Carolina at Georgia, four in the final 39 seconds drained all three of her at- the wall this winter, the Bull- week’s SEC tournament still
SECN — to put the Tigers on ice for tempts to push LSU’s halftime dogs have persistently wilted. looming.
1 p.m. — Washington at Arizona, CBS the ninth straight time in the lead to eight. They were run off the floor For a team that’s endured
1 p.m. — Illinois at Wisconsin, ESPN head-to-head series. With LSU’s lead ballooning by No. 3 Texas A&M and No. everything from COVID-19
1 p.m. — LSU at Arkansas, ESPN2 “We talk a lot about being to as many as 10 points in the 5 South Carolina in January.
cancellations and its first five-
1 p.m. — VCU at Davidson, ESPNU able to guard the ball, helping third quarter, Matharu bol- Alabama, which sat sixth in
your teammates, and tonight stered the most complete 10 the Southeastern Conference game losing streak in almost
1:30 p.m. — Marquette at Connecticut,
the effort was just there,” she minutes of basketball the Bull- standings heading into Thurs- a decade to having its bus en
FOX
said of how MSU was able to dogs have played in nearly two day, took MSU to the wood- route to Ole Miss forced back
2 p.m. — Washington at Arizona, CBS
2:30 p.m. — Ole Miss at Vanderbilt, pull away. “I think everybody months. Scoring 11 of her 19 shed over the weekend in a to Starkville due to impending
SECN wanted to win, everybody points in the first seven-plus game with a final score that winter weather, Thursday of-
3 p.m. — Florida at Kentucky, CBS wanted to play defense, and it minutes of the frame, Matha- indicated a closer game than fered something the Bulldogs
3 p.m. — Florida State at North Caroli- showed.” ru and MSU forced LSU into actually unfolded. haven’t felt since January:
na, ESPN While Matharu paced eight turnovers and outscored But for the first time in hope.
3 p.m. — Kansas State at West Virgin- MSU throughout Thursday’s the Tigers 25-8 in the Bull- months, MSU looked the part “I just want to continue to
ia, ESPN2 second half, the first half dogs’ most complete quarter of a team that might be finding
get better,” McCray-Penson
3 p.m. — Temple at UCF, ESPNU mimicked blunders of the past of basketball in months. a late-season pulse.
two months. After TCU transfer Ryann This isn’t to say Thurs- said when asked whether
3 p.m. — Boise State at San Diego
MSU missed its first five Payne gave LSU a brief gasp at day was perfect. Far from it. she thought the win cement-
State, CBSSN
shots in the contest. Sloppy life in the late stages of Thurs- Before heading to the locker ed MSU as a tournament
4 p.m. — Creighton at Xavier, FOX
5 p.m. — Louisville at Duke, ESPN guard play from everyone but day’s contest, it was junior room following the win, Mc- team, “and we’ll let the chips
5 p.m. — Southern Illinois at junior Myah Taylor manifest- forward Jessika Carter — who Cray-Penson gathered her fall where they may.”

Softball
Loyola-Chicago, ESPN2
5 p.m. — TCU at Iowa State, ESPNU
5 p.m. — Alabama at Mississippi State,
SECN Continued from Page 1B
7 p.m. — Baylor at Kansas, ESPN
7 p.m. — USC at Utah, ESPN2 Texas State (2-1) — 1 p.m. and 3:30 For the Bulldogs, the change is likely and Sam Houston State, a twin-bill sweep
9 p.m. — Loyola Marymount at Gonza- for the best. by No. 2 Oklahoma and run-rule wins over
ga, ESPN
p.m. Friday Sure, MSU will miss out on a chance to Texas Southern and Tarleton State.
2020 record: 15-9 play two marquee nonconference games, Outfielder Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn,
9 p.m. — UCLA at Colorado, ESPN2
9 p.m. — Oregon at California, FS1
Texas State went 1-3 against ranked but the way the Longhorns have been who hit .404 last season, returns for the
teams in 2020, losing to Kentucky and playing, Texas is as dangerous as any team Cougars. So does Houston’s leading hitter
Auburn and splitting a pair of games with
Sunday Minnesota.
in the country. by OPS, catcher Kati Ray Brown (1.271).
AUTO RACING The Horns went 4-1 in 2020 against Pitchers Logan Hulon, Rachel Herten-
So far in 2021, the Bobcats swept a teams that ended up in the final NFCA/ berger, Megan Lee and McKenna Fryar
2:30 p.m. — NASCAR Cup Series: The
Dixie Vodka 400, Homestead-Miami
home doubleheader with Abilene Chris- USA TODAY coaches poll, posting a 24-3 are all back for Houston. The four com-
Speedway, Homestead, Fla., FOX tian — including a no-hitter in the first record that came up just one win short of bined to pitch every inning for the Cou-
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) game — before their loss Wednesday to MSU’s own mark. After a split with No. 9 gars last season.
11 a.m. — Villanova at Butler, CBS Texas. Louisiana, Texas won at No. 1 UCLA two
Freshman pitcher Jessica Mullins, who
Noon — Memphis at Cincinnati, ESPN
stymied the Wildcats on Monday, has yet
days later and beat No. 2 Washington and No. 23 Baylor (2-1) — 11 a.m. Sunday
1 p.m. — Michigan State at Maryland, No. 18 Michigan at a Southern California 2020 record: 19-5
CBS to allow a run in 14.2 innings in the circle tournament over the two days following The Bears beat four ranked teams —
3 p.m. — Iowa at Ohio State, CBS this year. that. The Horns ended up with the No. 3 Auburn, Minnesota, Arkansas and Florida
3 p.m. — South Florida at Houston, Senior outfielder ArieAnn Bell, who ranking. State — with just one ranked loss (to FSU)
ESPNU posted a team-high 1.281 on-base plus In 2021, though its first two tourna- in their abbreviated 2020 campaign.
6 p.m. — Nevada at Utah State, FS1 slugging percentage last season, is back ments were canceled, Texas has picked up In 2021, Baylor opened with a loss to
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) for the Bobcats. So is senior infielder Tara where it left off. The Horns beat Wichita No. 21 Arkansas before beating McNeese
11 a.m. — Georgia at Florida, ESPN2 Oltmann, who hit .377 in 2020. State and North Texas at a tournament in State at a tournament hosted by the Cow-
11 a.m. — Ole Miss at Kentucky, SECN Sophomore infielder Tara Vanderford Conroe, Texas, before edging the Bobcats boys. The Bears beat UT Arlington 6-1 on
1 p.m. — South Carolina at Texas A&M, already has two home runs for Texas State 1-0 in eight innings Wednesday. Wednesday in Waco.
ESPN2 in three games. No. 1 starter Gia Rodoni, who pitched
2 p.m. — Louisville at Notre Dame,
Houston (4-4) — 12:30 p.m. Saturday to a 1.15 ERA and struck out 97 hitters in
ESPN
3 p.m. — Maryland at Northwestern,
No. 7 Texas (3-0) — 10 a.m. Saturday 2020 record: 16-7 73.1 innings last season, is back for Baylor.
2020 record: 24-3 The Cougars went 1-2 against top-25 Hitters Maddison Kettler (.429 aver-
ESPN2
Mississippi State was originally sched- teams in 2020, losing twice to Oregon but age in 2020) and Lou Gilbert (.391) also
3 p.m. — Missouri at Mississippi State,
uled to play a doubleheader with No. 7 Tex- upsetting Texas Tech in Houston. return.
SECN
5 p.m. — Alabama at Arkansas, SECN
as before the schedule for the Lone Star Already in 2021, they’ve gotten in eight The Bears beat Texas State and swept
Invite was rearranged in early February. games — doubleheader splits with Lamar a doubleheader with Houston last season.
4B FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Olympics gymnastics coach kills himself after being charged

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS a tragic story for every- or others. We had been Nassar. But the bulk of tioning, repeatedly being gardless of their stature
one involved,” Michigan in contact with his attor- the case against him in- forced to perform even in the community or the
LANSING, Mich. — Attorney General Dana ney and were assured of volved his gym in Dimon- when injured, extreme financial well-being of
A former U.S. Olympics Nessel said. his cooperation,” Nessel dale and how he treated emotional abuse and their families.”
gymnastics coach with Nessel earlier an- spokeswoman Kelly Ross- the young athletes whose physical abuse, including Geddert was suspend-
ties to disgraced sports nounced that Geddert man-McKinney said. families paid to have them sexual assault. ed by Indianapolis-based
doctor Larry Nassar was charged with a bush- Calls seeking com- train under him. “Many of these victims USA Gymnastics during
killed himself Thurs- el of crimes, including ment from attorney Chris The charges against still carry these scars the Nassar scandal. He
day, hours after being sexual assault, human Bergstrom weren’t imme- Geddert had “very little to from this behavior to this told families in 2018 that
charged with turning his trafficking and running a diately returned. do” with Nassar, said As- day,” the attorney general he was retiring.
Michigan gym into a hub criminal enterprise. The Geddert was head sistant Attorney General said. USA Gymnastics said
of human trafficking by charges were the latest coach of the 2012 U.S. Danielle Hagaman-Clark. Nessel acknowledged in a statement late Thurs-
coercing girls to train and fallout from the sexual women’s Olympic gym- Geddert was charged that the case might not fit day that news about the
then abusing them. abuse scandal involving nastics team, which won with using his strong rep- the common understand- charges against Geddert
John Geddert faced 24 Nassar, a former Mich- a gold medal. He was long utation in gymnastics to ing of human trafficking. would “lead to justice
charges that could have igan State University associated with Nassar, commit a form of human “We think of it pre- through the legal pro-
carried years in prison sports doctor now in pris- who was the Olympic trafficking by making dominantly as affecting cess.”
had he been convicted. on. team’s doctor and also money through the forced people of color or those “With the news of his
He was supposed to ap- Geddert, 63, wasn’t ar- treated injured gymnasts labor of young athletes. without means to protect death by suicide, we share
pear in an Eaton County rested and transported to at Twistars, Geddert’s “The victims suffer themselves ... but honest- the feelings of shock, and
court, near Lansing, but court. Rather, Nessel’s of- Lansing-area gym. from disordered eating,” ly it can happen to any- our thoughts are with the
his body was found at a fice allowed him to show Among the charges, Nessel said, “including one, anywhere,” she said. gymnastics community
rest area along Interstate up on his own. Geddert was accused of bulimia and anorexia, “Young impressionable as they grapple with the
96, according to state po- “We had no indication lying to investigators in suicide attempts and women may at times be complex emotions of to-
lice. that Geddert intended 2016 when he denied ever attempts at self harm, vulnerable and open to day’s events,” the organi-
“This is a tragic end to to flee or hurt himself hearing complaints about excessive physical condi- trafficking crimes, re- zation said.

Comics & Puzzles

DILBERT
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY: negative and finished and cut ties with him.
I recently derogatory than DEAR ABBY: I live in Kan-
had a child when he was at sas and my boyfriend lives in
with a man who is home. I manage another state. We talk online
now incarcerated. a busy restaurant all the time, but I haven’t
I was widowed and a household heard from him in three days
when I met him, of five children. and I don’t know what to
and although Since he has think. My friends say I’m being
he brought me been away, I’m paranoid, but I can’t help but
happiness, it has ashamed to say think that he might be seeing
come at a steep life has actu- another girl. I’ve had problems
price. ally been less like this before and ended up
ZITS I pay for liter- stressful. getting hurt because I didn’t
ally everything. I think my listen when my friends told me
I love him very loneliness when I that a guy was cheating. What
much, but his met him made it should I do? — LONG-DIS-
entitlement was Dear Abby easier to ignore TANCE LOVE
an issue even be- red flags. In ev- DEAR L.D.L.: Recognize
fore he had legal ery other aspect that as much as two people
issues. Now he has become of my life, I am an independent might care about each other,
very nasty and minimizes woman who has the respect long-distance romances don’t
everything I do. of my peers. Is it too late to always have fairytale endings.
If I send $100, he’s upset set boundaries with him? — I don’t know if your boyfriend
that I didn’t send $200. If I GROWING IN FLORIDA is cheating. Neither do you and
have a day off from work that DEAR GROWING: This neither do your friends.
I don’t spend communicating emotionally abusive individual It’s time for you to have a
GARFIELD with a lawyer and the courts, is milking you like you are a calm conversation with your
I’m “not taking initiative.” He Guernsey cow. His ingratitude boyfriend. Tell him you were
has even gone so far as to is boundless. You are not the worried by his three-day si-
say it was my fault he got in reason he got himself in trou- lence because it was unusual.
trouble because I was on his ble with the law, and it isn’t Let him respond. If you are
case so often that he “had to your responsibility to get him satisfied with his answer,
go out to get some peace.” out or support him financially. change the subject. However,
His only redeeming quality is It is way too late to set if you aren’t, ASK him if he has
his wonderful relationship with boundaries with this manipula- met someone closer to home
the kids, who see none of our tive ingrate. He won’t change. and tell him to level with you.
fights and regard him as a What you must do now — for It takes courage to do this, but
father figure. your own sake and for your it will save you a lot of pain in
He is now even more children’s — is tell him you are the long run.

CANDORVILLE Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. Love is many things. Today, it’s LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll
26). Spiritual development ele- being able to correctly assess be bright in two moments: the
vates your experience. Whether and cater to an emotional state. practice moment that happens
pleasures are many or few, Turn your nurturing powers in on in the safety of an empty room
goals are met or not, relation- yourself or turn them to another and the moment of inhale that
ships grind or sail blissfully, person. Either way, the love pauses the action just long
your joy, grace, gratitude and begets more love. enough for you to insert yourself
compassion flow strong through GEMINI (May 21-June 21). between opportunity and a
it all. Professional shifts align There’s a situation you pursued grand potential.
brilliantly with your talents. in the past. The doors were VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Bonus money allows for fun closed back then. Now brings There was a time you didn’t
improvements. Virgo and Leo the beginning of the turn. This know the standard, only your
adore you. Your lucky numbers one doesn’t need to be seized own experience which didn’t
BABY BLUES are: 9, 30, 33, 1 and 14. so much as slowly, curiously teach you enough. Now you
ARIES (March 21-April 19). encountered. know how people can effectively
You will let go of a little piece CANCER (June 22-July 22). help one another, so you see
of pride in the hopes of coming You admire emotional restraint, what’s not going on as clearly
to a harmonious place in a but don’t be fooled. People who as what is.
relationship. Other parties may seem in control of their “feels” LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
not be so willing, at least not are possibly not feeling them Your sense of focus is on point
initially, but your example will quite as deeply as you are. Your and you’ve never been so
lead the way. passion intensifies the highs serious about advancing your
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). and lows. interests and the interests of
those you answer to. Narrow
down your task list so the big
important things get the best
of you.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
BEETLE BAILEY If there’s one thing you don’t
need today, it’s advice. For
starters, your intuition is on fire.
And furthermore, you’re going to
do this thing in a way that’s so
unique, no one else has thought
of it yet.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). There is no such thing as
failure. If you’re putting things
out into the world, trying things,
working through fear and lim-
itation, risking your pride, then
you’re winning no matter what
the outcome.
MALLARD FILLMORE CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). Impart the plan and cast
your supporters in fitting roles.
Then, watch it unfold. You’re
a guide through this process.
Don’t get so involved in the
labor that you forget to put your
head up to get the overview.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). There are people you ap-
preciate because you can count
on them to make good sense
and help you onto the right
path. Then there are people
you appreciate because they
FAMILY CIRCUS don’t have to make sense to be
loveable to you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). Because you want to know
what others want, you ask, fully
expecting to get back lies. It
takes a special kind of listening
to get past social niceties and
know which questions to ask to
get to the real truth.

Chief cook and bottle washer

SOLUTION:
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 5B

New York woman loses job, leads pantry feeding thousands

‘Being able to dig in and help others, more than 1,000 boxes of
food to families twice a
we wanted to make sure
is that we don’t look at
because of the virus. She
was hesitant at first about
also saves a lot of anxi-
ety over having to have
it really gives you perspective and week.
“I think helping oth-
people on the pantry line
as people that need food,
receiving food from a
pantry, but she said that
money to pay for food
over having to pay for the
helps you believe that you’re going ers has to do something and really focus on, ‘hey,
these are our neighbors.’”
Moncayo and the other
volunteers made her feel
bills,” Sullivan said.
“If you have a dollar,
to your brain chemically
to be OK too’ because if we had not be- Sunnyside resident welcome. you have to stretch it in
Mosaic West Queens Church food ing doing everything that Carol Sullivan lost her “It has been a link to so many places. Having
distribution leader Sofia Moncayo we’re doing, I think this stage manager job when the community that I them has made the choice
would have been a much Broadway theaters closed didn’t have before and it less stressful.”
BY LUIS ANDRES HENAO one else that day. scarier time,” she said.
The Associated Press During the coronavi- “Being able to dig in and
rus pandemic, Moncayo help others, it really gives
NEW YORK — While has led the food distri-
dozens of New Yorkers you perspective and helps
bution program through you believe that you’re go-
lined up outside in the
Mosaic West Queens ing to be OK too.”
rain, shopping carts at the
Church in the Sunnyside Most of the food is
ready as they waited for
neighborhood. The ini- donated by a neighbor-
free food, Sofia Moncayo
tiative began in March; hood restaurant and oth-
led her team in prayer.
“We’re super grateful Moncayo took charge a er sources. There’s also
for these people here. month later, as it expand- been help from the Farm-
In Jesus’ name we pray,” ed to serve hundreds of ers to Families Food Box
she said, and the group people. Program overseen by the
of women around her Since then, Moncayo U.S. Department of Agri-
clapped, cheered and re- has had her own strug- culture.
plied: “Amen.” “Now,” she gles. She was furloughed Moncayo, who was
said, “let’s get to work.” from her job at a construc- born in Colombia, was
By then, they had tion company and re- moved to volunteer by her
worked almost nonstop mains unemployed. And Christian faith by memo-
for hours. They picked up she also owes five months ries of the food insecurity
heavy boxes, separated of rent for the martial arts she faced growing up in
thousands of items and studio that she owns with New York. She recalled
removed snow from the her husband in the neigh- how she would join her
curb. They were cold, wet borhood. family in lines to pick up
and tired. No one would But she has continued bread and cheese from
pay them and they didn’t to lead fundraisers and pantries and how some-
care. They were just hap- coordinate dozens of vol- times she felt shame.
py to be there for some- unteers who distribute “One of the things that

RELIGIOUS BRIEFS

Reliable
journey easier.” For more in- Marie Nabors, 662-549-4322.
7th Anniversary formation, call 662-327-0604 Church service times: Sunday
Celebration or e-mail unitedchristian@ school 10 a.m.; Sunday

information
Concord Independent cableone.net. worship 11:15 a.m.; Tuesday
Methodist Church, 1235 Con- Bible study 7 p.m. For informa-
cord Road, hosts a drive-by
celebration for Pastor Robert
Celebrate Recovery tion, call Pastor District Elder
Celebrate Recovery, the Lou Nabors, 662-329-1234.
L. Hamilton Sr. and Sister Dor-

when we
nation’s largest Christian
othy Hamilton’s 7th Anniver-
sary, from noon-1 p.m. March
recovery program, meets Tues- Fitness
14. The public is invited.
days at 6:00 p.m. at Mead-
owview Church, 300 Linden
Transformations
The Transformational

need it most. 
Circle in Starkville. Millions
Forgive and Live have found help, healing, and
Church, 2301 Jess Lyons
Road, hosts boxing lessons
resumes support for hurts, habits, and
Mondays and Wednesday from
Pat Douglas invites the hang-ups using our popular
5-7 p.m., weight-loss boot
public (limit 10) to Forgive and Biblical 12 step program.
camp Tuesdays and Thursdays
Live, A Christian Study in The
5-7 p.m. and both on Satur-
Word of God from 5:30-6:30 Recovery Room days 9-11 a.m.
p.m. Feb. 26 at YMCA’s board
room, 602 2nd Ave North. For
New Life Assembly, 4474
New Hope Road (near Dollar
Protect freedom of the press.
more information, call 662- Youth Fellowship
251-5899.
General) hosts Recovery
Room, at 6:30 p.m. each Sun- The Transformational freespeech.center
day. Find help, healing, and Church, 2301 Jess Lyons
Mississippi State support for any hurt, habit, or Road, hosts Youth Fellowship
from 7-8:30 p.m. every Tues-
School Ministry hang-up using our Christ-cen-
day. Games, prayer, service,
Mississippi State School tered 12 steps.
food, and more. Transporta-
of Ministry will be taking ap-
tion available. For information,
plications for enrollment into Prayer for Youth call Iris Roberson, 662-295-
their online degree granting Every second and third
7456.
program. Earn your Certifica- Saturday, Pleasant Ridge Faith
tion, Associates, Bachelor, Center hosts a prayer for the
Master and Doctoral Degree in youth from 2-3 p.m.
Religious Studies. We are an
accreditation School of Minis-
try authorized through State
Prayer, Free Coffee
Mount Zion Missionary
of Mississippi and Federal Baptist Church, 2221 14th
Government. Our degrees are
Ave. N., hosts free coffee and
for ecclesiastical purposes
a prayer community outreach
only. We accept transcripts
service from 8-9 a.m. every
and your life experience also
fifth Saturday. For information,
can also be used for degree
contact Jesse Slater, 662-
granting purposes. For further
328-4979.
information feel free to call
662-425-8443
Radio Program
Fellowship Dinner, Apostles Patrick Perkins
invites the public to tune in to
Youth Service WTWG, radio 1050 AM for Per-
Pleasant Ridge Faith Cen- fecting the Saints Broadcast,
ter, 923 Ridge Road, hosts a Wednesdays 8:30 a.m.
fellowship dinner and youth
service every third Sunday.
Women Prayer, Worship
Gospel Book Club Service
Church of the Eternal
Friendship M.B. Church,
Word, 106 22nd St. S., holds
1102 12th Ave. S., invites the
a prayer and worship service
public to join its Community
every Thursday from 5-6 p.m.
Gospel Book Club from 6-7
p.m., on the fourth Friday of Call Marie Nabors, 662-549-
each month, to study and 4322 or 662-329-1234, for
share views of the Holy Bible. prayer requests.
Open to all ages and ethnic-
ities. For more information, Prayer Ministry
call Barbara Mattison or Lillian New Beginning Everlasting
Murray, 662-570-5595. Outreach Ministry invites the
public to call in with their
Grief Support Group prayer requests at 662-327-
9843.
The Oil of Joy for Grief
and Mourning offers a grief
support group at 6 p.m. every Prayer Service
second Thursday of the month Church of the Eternal Word,
at United Christian Baptist 106 22nd St. S., Columbus,
Church, 232 Yorkville Road holds prayer service Thurs-
East. “Making your grieving day nights 5-6 p.m. Contact

Send in your church event!

Email [email protected]
Subject: Religious brief
6B FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
 ADMINISTRATOR

Classifieds
CAUSE NO. 2020-0226-S

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,

Letters of Administration were
issued unto me upon the Es-
tate of Travis Allen Gann, De-
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
ceased, by the Chancery Clerk
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi on the 11th day of
To place ads starting at only $12,
November 2020. call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
Notice is hereby given to all
persons having claims against
the Estate of Travis Allen Gann THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 n 7B
to have the same probated and
registered by the Chancery
Clerk of Lowndes County, Mis-
sissippi within ninety (90) days
Legal Notices ofLegal
theNotices
date of the first publica- Medical / Dental General Help Wanted Apts For Rent: West

LEGALS
tion of this Notice, or they will

VIP
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF be forever barred. THE COMMERCIAL
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS- DISPATCH seeks a motiv-
SIPPI WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, this

Rentals
ated, contracted carrier for
Call us: 662-328-2424 IN RE: MATTER OF THE ES-
the 9th day of February, 2021.
the Caledonia area. Excel-
TATE AND THE LAST WILL AND /s/ANN GANN lent opportunity to earn
Legal Notices TESTAMENT OF JOHN WHITT ANN GANN, ADMINISTRATOR money for college. Must Apartments & Houses
MURPHREE, DECEASED have good transportation,
The following vehicle has been
abandoned at Shelton's Tow- SHERRY DIANE ALLEN, EX-
PUBLISH: 2/12, 2/19 &
2/26/2021
valid driver's license & in-
surance. Delivers on 1 Bedrooms
ing, Inc., 1024 Gardner Blvd.,
Columbus, MS 39702.
ECUTOR Sunday morning and Mon- 2 Bedroooms
3 Bedrooms
CAUSE NO. 2020-0185 Fri afternoons. Apply at The

Employment
2006 Nissan Altima Commercial Dispatch, 516
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Main Street in Columbus.
Vin# 1N4AL11D46N330275
No phone calls please. Furnished & Unfurnished
1, 2, & 3 Baths
This vehicle will be put up for Letters Testamentary were is-
sale on the 20th day of March sued to me as Executor of the Call us: 662-328-2424
2021 at 10am at Shelton's Last Will and Testament of
John Whitt Murphree, de-
Lease, Deposit
Rentals
Towing, Inc., 1024 Gardner
Blvd., Columbus, MS 39702. ceased, by the Chancery Court General Help Wanted & Credit Check
of Lowndes County, Missis-
PUBLISH: 2/26, 3/5 & sippi on the 21st day of LEGAL SECRETARY needed viceinvestments.com
3/12/2021 September, 2020.

Notice is hereby given to all

for local firm. Must be able
to work dual screen Ads starting at $25 327-8555
computer. Mail resume
The following vehicles have persons having claims against with references to: Apts For Rent: North
been abandoned at Louisville the Estate of John Whitt
Wrecker Service, 346 Tuck Murphree to have the same Blind Box 679 c/o The
Wilkes Road, Noxapater, MS. probated and registered by the Commercial Dispatch
PO Box 511
802 17TH ST. N.
2 bed/ 1 bath, all electric,
Sell idle items
Chancery Clerk of Lowndes
2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO County, Mississippi within
ninety (90) days of the date of
Columbus MS 39703 ceramic tiled bath, carpet, with a quick action
VIN#1GC4K1E8XGF272885 appliances. $475/Mth.
the first publication of this No-
tice, or they will be forever
Credit check. Call Long & classified ad.
IF THIS VEHICLE IS NOT cdispatch.com Long @ 662−328−0770.
CLAIMED, IT WILL BE PUT UP barred.
FOR PUBLIC SALE ON THE

Whether you’re buying

22ND DAY OF MARCH, 2021 at WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, this
10:00 A.M. AT LOUISVILLE the 9th day of February, 2021.
WRECKER SERVICE, 346 TUCK
WILKES ROAD, NOXAPATER, /s/SHERRY DIANE ALLEN
MS. SHERRY DIANE ALLEN, EX-
ECUTOR

or selling we’ve got

PUBLISH: 2/26, 3/5 &
3/12/21 PUBLISH: 2/12, 2/19 &
2/26/2021
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS- IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF

what you’re looking for.

SIPPI LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF ANNIE JONES, DE- IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
CEASED TATE OF LARRY B. MAXEY, DE-
CEASED
ROBERT L. JONES, PETITIONER
LINDA B. MAXEY, ADMINIS-

Make classifieds
CAUSE NO. 2021-0018-DE TRATOR
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NO. 2021-0008-PDE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI NOTICE TO CREDITORS

your first stop.

COUNTY OF LOWNDES
Letters of Administration have
Letters Testamentary have been granted and issued to
been granted and issued to the Linda B. Maxey, Administrator
undersigned upon the Estate of of the Estate of Larry B. Maxey,
Annie Jones, deceased, by the deceased, by the Chancery
Chancery Court of Lowndes Court of Lowndes County, Mis-
County, Mississippi, on the 5th sissippi, on the 10 day of Feb-
day of February, 2021. This is ruary, 2021. This is to give no-
to give notice to all persons tice to all persons having
having claims against said es- claims against said estate to
tate to probate and register Probate and Register same
same with the Chancery Clerk with the Chancery Clerk of
of Lowndes County, Missis- Lowndes County, Mississippi,
sippi, within ninety (90) days within ninety (90) days from
from the first publication date this date. A failure to so Pro-
of this Notice to Creditors. A bate and Register said claim
failure to so probate and re- will forever bar the same.
gister said claim will forever
bar that claim. THIS the 10 day of February,
2021.
This the 8th day of February
2021. /s/ Linda B. Maxey
Linda B. Maxey
/s/ Robert L. Jones
ROBERT L. JONES, Executor PUBLISH: 2/12, 2/19 &
2/26/2021
PUBLISH: 2/12, 2/19 &
2/26/2021
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
NOTICE TO CREDITORS SIPPI

CAUSE NO.: 2021-0017-S IN RE: MATTER OF THE ES-

TATE OF TRAVIS ALLEN GANN,
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI DECEASED,
LOWNDES COUNTY
ANN GANN,
Letters of Administration have ADMINISTRATOR
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the estate of CAUSE NO. 2020-0226-S
MARTHA ANN SLEDGE, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court NOTICE TO CREDITORS
of LOWNDES County, Missis-

Place your ad today

sippi, on the 1st day of Febru- Letters of Administration were
ary A.D., 2021. This is to give issued unto me upon the Es-
notice to all persons having tate of Travis Allen Gann, De-
claims against said estate to ceased, by the Chancery Clerk
Probate and Register same of Lowndes County, Missis-

to get fast results.

with the Chancery Clerk of sippi on the 11th day of
LOWNDES County, Mississippi, November 2020.
within ninety (90) days from
this date. A failure to so Pro- Notice is hereby given to all
bate and Register said claim persons having claims against
will forever bar the same. the Estate of Travis Allen Gann

ads.cdisaptch.com
to have the same probated and
This the 9th day of February, registered by the Chancery
2021. Clerk of Lowndes County, Mis-
sissippi within ninety (90) days
PUBLISH: 2/12, 2/19 & of the date of the first publica-
2/26/2021 tion of this Notice, or they will
be forever barred.

Just a click away!

WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, this
the 9th day of February, 2021.

/s/ANN GANN
ANN GANN, ADMINISTRATOR

PUBLISH: 2/12, 2/19 &

2/26/2021

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8B FRIDAY, February 26, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Apts For Rent: Other Houses For Rent: North Houses For Sale: New Hope

COLONIAL TOWNHOUSES.
2 & 3 bedroom w/ 2−3
Storage House converted
into a small house.
Community ON THE WEB
bath townhouses. $650 to Plumbing and Electrical
$750. 662−549−9555. already installed. Ads starting at $12 Visit www.cdispatch.com
Ask for Glenn or text. Small kitchenette and
bathroom. $6,000. Lost & Found Items for a printable copy of
Mobile Homes for Rent 678−368−0631
Missing M&O RR Fireplace these puzzles.
3BR/2BA MH in New Hope. Lots & Acreage Mantle. A $200 Ransom
$650 dep + $650/mo. will be paid for recovery of
No pets, quiet area. Leave 1.75 ACRE LOTS: Good/ Fireplace mantle pried from
voicemail with full name & Bad Credit Options. Good wall of Crawford’s M&O RR
message, 205−712−6697. credit as low as 20% down, Section House. No
$499/mo. Eaton Land, questions will be asked
662−361−7711. and the "law" is NOT
4BR/2BA MH, on private 1
acre setting with covered involved. 662−769−1889.
back porch. Caledonia Restricted residential lot,
school dist. Credit check very nice, over 3 acres with Pets
required. Call 662−251− some trees. Callaway
3205 & leave message. Estates off Taylor Thurston REGISTERED DACHSHUND
Road. $35,000. Call Long puppies for sale.
& Long, 662−386−2023. Ready to go now!
RENT A CAMPER! Call 205−596−3264.
CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
Utilities & cable included,
COLEMAN from $145/wk − $535/mo
Columbus & County School Merchandise Five Questions:
RENTALS locations. 662−242−3803
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS or 601−940−1397.
1 BEDROOM
Ads starting at $12
1 California
2 BEDROOMS Sporting Goods
3 BEDROOMS Real Estate ED SANDERS GUNSMITH 2 U2
Open for season!
LEASE,
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© The Dispatch

Ads starting at $25 Tue−Fri: 9−5 & Sat: 9−12 YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
DEPOSIT Over 50 years experience!
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CREDIT CHECK zeroed, handmade knives. placing puzzle based on
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a 9x9 gridis witha several
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contains the1same to 9 number
in

Service Directory
the empty spaces so 1 2 3 8 9 6 5 7 4
only once. The difficulty 8 5 6 1 4 7 3 9 2
that each row, each
level increases from
column and each 4 9 7 5 2 3 1 6 8
Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 2/25

the same number only once. The difficulty level

Promote your small business starting at only $25 increases from Monday to Sunday.
Building & Remodeling General Services General Services Painting & Papering

HOME REPAIRS &

CONSTRUCTION.
GRAVEL, $360 PER LOAD.
Local delivery, 14 yd truck. BANKRUPTCY QUALITY PAINTING
Ext/Int Painting
Repair damaged doors, Backhoe & Dozer work. CHAPTER 7 Sheet Rock Hang, Finish &
holes in doors, door sills, Mobile Home Pads & BANKRUPTCY Repair. Pressure Washing.
and door jambs. Repair Driveways. Concrete work. $545 plus Filing Fee Free Estimates. Ask for
holes in walls and ceilings. 662−497−1388 specials! Larry Webber,
Repair fascia boards and CHAPTER 13 662−242−4932.
soffit. Electrical, plumbing HANDYMAN−CERTIFIED IN BANKRUPTCY
& carpentry. Stairs & All Attorney Fees Through The Plan SULLIVAN’S PAINT
MAINTENANCE
decks.
Call 662−549−7031.
Electrical, woodwork, Jim Arnold, Attorney SERVICE
plumbing, decks, roofing, Special Prices.
drywall, painting, concrete, 662-324-1666 Interior & Exterior Painting.
General Services yard work, hauling, moving. 104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville 662−435−6528
All credit cards accepted. Please visit our website:
A & T TREE SERVICES Payment plans. Will trade jimharnold.com
Bucket truck & stump for almost anything. Saturday morning appointments
removal. Free est. 662−386−3658. available for Starkville Office.
Serving Columbus
since 1987. Senior
citizen disc. Call Alvin @ WORK WANTED: Licensed Lawn Care / Landscaping
242−0324/241−4447 & Bonded. Carpentry, minor
"We’ll go out on a limb for electrical, minor plumbing, JESSE & BEVERLY’S
you!" insulation, painting, demo− LAWN SERVICE
lition, gutters cleaned, Fall Cleanup, Tree Cutting, Got leaky pipes?
pressure washing, land− Landscaping, Sodding & Find a plumber in the
ads.cdispatch.com scaping, cleanup work. Bush Hogging
662−242−3608. 662−356−6525 classifieds.

Finding a
new home
starts with
The Dispatch
classifieds. ACROSS
1 1992 Nichol-
son film
6 Cardiff’s land
11 Spring sign
12 Detached
13 Orange coats
14 Endures
15 Wine choice
16 Help out
18 Important
time
19 Powerful
bunch
20 Dos preceder
21 Texas’s
Houston
22 Movie photos 43 Dance music 10 Tahini base
24 Film editing 44 Showy flower 17 Guts
transition 45 Consumed 23 Writer Harper
25 Web user DOWN 24 Petite
27 Lion feature 1 Singer Em- 26 Address
29 Tried to lose mylou ender
32 Fuss 2 Set straight 27 George’s wife
33 Energy 3 Absolves, in 28 Loves to
34 Longoria of a way pieces
TV 4 Flowed into 30 Show clearly
35 Mythical flyer 5 Military attack 31 Applies
36 PC key 6 Character daintily
37 Umbrella part found in kids’ 33 Piper of
38 Pay for books rhyme
everyone 7 Copying 39 Court feat
40 Pizzeria 8 Becomes 41 Through
sights bored
42 Therefore 9 Corner