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Thursday | September 24, 2020

BUSINESS MOVES
WITH MARY

Former Fred’s, New pumpkin patch prepares

Ryan’s buildings to open in Caledonia
in Columbus
under contract
PLUS: Acai food truck
opens in Starkville
BY MARY POLLITZ
biz@cdispatch.com

T
he
for-
mer
Fred’s
building
downtown
and the
old Ryan’s
restaurant
building
on High-
way 45,
both in Mary Pollitz
Columbus,
are under contract for potential
sale.
The 16,000-square-foot former
Fred’s building, 304 Fifth St. S.,
has two business offices that are
currently vacant, as well as the
former Fred’s retail portion, which
is around 13,000 square feet.
Though Realtor Caroline Brom-
ley would not identify the potential Slim Smith/Dispatch Staff
buyer while the sale is pending, Will Darnell will open his pumpkin patch in Caledonia on Oct. 3, marking a return of a pumpkin patch to the area
she said she hopes the deal is final- after a one-year hiatus. Darnell decided to grow pumpkins after Dwight and Jean Colson, whose “Country Pump-
ized by the end of the year. kins” patch was part of the town’s fall tradition for almost 20 years, decided to cease pumpkin production in
“They have great plans for it,” 2018. Darnell said if the public supports his patch he has plans to expand his patch next year.
she said. “It’s going to be a plus for
the community. …The downtown
area is a historic area and the new
Owner learned to grow pumpkins from operator INSIDE
n SLIMANTICS: Caledonia farmer
buyer is looking to keep it histori-
cally correct.”
of now-closed ‘Country Pumpkins’ ponders pumpkin potential.
Page 4A
Bromley added the potential BY SLIM SMITH That wasn’t lost on Caledonia
buyers under contract now plan to ssmith@cdispatch.com farmer Will Darnell. things,” Darnell said.
renovate and restore the building “I would go on Facebook and peo- No one is happier to see the re-
back to the early 1900s when it In Caledonia, 2019 was known as ple were saying, ‘We ain’t got noth- turn of a pumpkin patch than Jean
served as Harden’s Bakery. “the year without a pumpkin patch,” ing to do now,’” he said. “I was like, Colson and her husband, Dwight,
The former Ryan’s Buffet something the town had not experi- ‘Well I’m going to try it.’” who operated “Country Pumpkins”
building, 1201 Hwy. 45 N., was enced in almost two decades. On Oct. 3, a week later than orig- on their property on Spruill Road
listed about a year and a half ago It was no trivial matter in the inally planned, Darnell will open for almost 20 years before ending
for $795,000. Listing agent Royce community. his first pumpkin patch at one of pumpkin production in 2018.
Hudspeth would not comment on “People really came to expect his fields on Wolfe Road. In addition “We still get calls about when
the potential buyer until the sale is it,” Jean Colson said. “Going to the to the pumpkins for sale, his patch we’re going to open,” she said. “I got
finalized but confirmed it is “under pumpkins patch was just a part of will feature a corn maze, a snow- two calls yesterday. A lot of people
contract and in due diligence.” the season.” cone vendor “and a few other little See PUMPKIN PATCH, 3A
The building is on about two
acres and is a little more than
See BUSINESS, 6A

Local students have voice in education policy Macon municipal

Three students
from Starkville and
one from Columbus
will advise state
superintendent
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com
Amy Zhang doesn’t quite
know what to expect from
her first State Board of Ed-
ucation meeting today, she
said.
The junior at Mississip-
pi School for Mathematics
and Science has been go-
ing through training and
watching videos from previ-
ous board meetings to pre-
pare herself to be the latest
student representative, a
non-voting member of the
board providing input on the
board’s policy decisions that
affect every public school
student in the state.
“I’m just looking forward
to experiencing my first
meeting and learning about
the board of education and
the different policies they’ll
be discussing, and I’m excit-
ed to hear the other board
members’ opinions,” said
Zhang, a Starkville native.
The board selected its
first student representa-
tives, one junior and one
senior, last year, and appoin-
tees serve until they gradu-
ate from high school. Last
year’s junior representative,
See STUDENTS, 6A
clerk charged
with embezzlement
Atkins is accused of
stealing just more than
$2,000 in court fines
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com
A clerk at Macon
Courtesy photo Municipal Court is
Amy Zhang, third from left, and her Starkville High School in jail after investi-
speech and debate teammates took home several awards gators with the State
from a competition at Mississippi State University last Auditor’s Office al-
year. Speech and debate competitions have helped leged she stole more
Zhang, now a junior at Mississippi School for Science and
Mathematics, build a network of her peers throughout the than $2,000 in court
fines between Jan-
state. This network helped earn her the position of junior
student representative on the state board of education, uary 2018 and July Atkins
board member John Kelly said, since one of her responsi- 2019.
bilities is to be a liaison between students and the state. See EMBEZZLEMENT, 6A

WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

Adeline Boyd
Third grade, Heritage
1 What TV game show host wrote Saturday MEETINGS
an autobiography titled “Priceless ■ Art in the Park: The
Oct. 2: Starkville
Memories”? Board of Aldermen
2 What famous teenage outlaw went Starkville Area Arts Council
presents this creative work session, 10 a.m.,
by the aliases Henry Antrim and
City Hall
William H. Bonney? event for kids 9-noon at
3 How many lines does a limerick J.L. King Memorial Park, Oct. 5: Oktibbeha
have? 400 N. Long St., Starkville. County Board of
4 Calico cats are almost always Free art boxes for children Supervisors meeting,
what sex? in Oktibbeha County. Chancery Courthouse,

73 Low 63
5 What scooter brand comes from
9 a.m.
High the Italian for “wasp”?
Cloudy with rain, t-storms Answers, 6B
Oct. 8 Oct. 6: Starkville
Board of Aldermen
Full forecast on ■ New date for Art Walk:
The Downtown Art Walk meeting, 5:30 p.m.,
page 3A.
in Columbus scheduled City Hall
for Thursday has been Oct. 13: Starkville-Ok-
INSIDE rescheduled for Oct. 8, Royquavious Williams is a junior tibbeha Consolidated
5:30-7:30 p.m., due to in- at West Lowndes High School. School District Board
Business 5B Dear Abby 4B
Classifieds 6B Obituaries 5A clement weather forecasts. He is a lineman and kicker for the of Trustees meeting, 6
Comics 4B Opinions 4A 662-328-6305, 662-328- Panthers’ football team and also p.m., 401 Greensboro
Crossword 6B 2787. sings and plays piano. St.

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

GOP senators see political,

principle gain in court fight
‘Most of us came to
Court fight adds to pile of issues weighing on voters
the Senate ... for an THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

opportunity to fill seats
on the Supreme Court’
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — President
Donald Trump marveled at a rally
this week about how important Su-
preme Court nominations are to
voters.
But Senate Republicans are with
the voters on that. Despite Dem-
ocratic cries of hypocrisy, they’re
hoping the battle over replacing
Ruth Bader Ginsburg will help them
keep their Senate majority as well as
Trump’s job in the White House.
Beyond the Nov. 3 elections,
some feel the generational goal of a
solidly conservative court is worth
the potential blowback.
“Most of us came to the Senate,
ran for the Senate, in a lot of ways
for big moments like this — for
an opportunity to fill seats on the
Supreme Court,” said Sen. John
Thune, R-S.D., the GOP whip who is
not up for reelection this year.
And whatever their personal
views of Trump and his presiden-
cy, Republicans also see a political
payoff in sticking with him and
plunging ahead to confirm his pick
to fill the court vacancy before the
election.
By Wednesday, as mourners
gathered to view Ginsburg’s cas-
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — The Republican Party headquarters in this
former steel town was buzzing Saturday as supporters filed in to pick
up Trump 2020 stickers and yard signs, including ones declaring: “Your
pro-life vote matters.”
But even as coverage of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s
death played on Fox News on an office television, the political fight brew-
ing in Washington over her replacement felt like a world away to some.
“I don’t really pay attention to the news much,” said Dan Thomas,
a 24-year-old from Johnstown, in western Pennsylvania, after he filled
out paperwork to vote for the first time. It wasn’t the court that brought
Thomas in. (When a friend tried to convince him it was a big deal, he
shrugged: “Oh, OK. Whoopie.”)
Instead, he’s convinced that President Donald Trump is fighting for
working-class voters like him in a tough economy and is “the best shot
this country has.”
In dozens of conversations here and in other battleground states since
Ginsburg’s death of cancer Friday, the bitter debate over the court was
buried under a pile of other, more pressing concerns. Most voters were
quick to name health care, the economy and personal complaints about
Trump, a Republican, and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, as driving
their votes — well before the Supreme Court vacancy. And those who
were fired up about the issue were already strongly committed to vot-
ing for either Trump or Biden, reflecting stark polarization in a country
where only a sliver of the electorate remains undecided.
ket on the court’s iconic steps, ob- away with confirmation hearings,
jections from Democrats that the and said later he wants the new jus-
presidential winner should name tice confirmed before the election.
the nominee had slipped by GOP “It’s better,” he said about the tim-
senators. They were preparing for ing.
confirmation hearings as soon as Democrats, led by presidential
Oct. 12, with a possible full Senate nominee Joe Biden, argue Repub-
vote Oct. 29. Trump is to announce licans are stalling a fresh round
his choice Saturday. of COVID-19 relief — as the na-
“The process is going to go very tion reaches the grim milestone of
quickly,” Trump said at the White 200,000 deaths from the coronavi-
House. rus — but rushing the court nom-
The president suggested doing ination ahead of the election.

Long lines of mourners pay respects to Ginsburg at court

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS colleagues and friends as
a prophet for justice who
WASHINGTON — persevered against long
With crowds of admirers odds to become an Amer-
swelling outside, Supreme ican icon.
Court Justice Ruth Bader The court’s eight jus-
Ginsburg was remem- tices, masked along with
bered Wednesday at the everyone else because of
court by grieving family, the coronavirus pandemic,
gathered for the first time
in more than six months
for the ceremony to mark
Ginsburg’s death from
cancer last week at age 87
after 27 years on the court.
Washington already
is consumed with talk of
Ginsburg’s replacement,
but Chief Justice John
Roberts focused on his
longtime colleague.
The best words to
describe Ginsburg are
“tough, brave, a fighter, a
winner,” Roberts said, but
also “thoughtful, careful,
compassionate, honest.”
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 3A

Mississippi gov: Don’t let politics hinder virus vaccination

‘If you are anti-Trump, don’t let this stop you from getting a vaccine’ so far, to prove if its single-dose
approach is safe and protects
ed to The Associated Press.
Mississippi State Health Of-
BY LEAH WILLINGHAM let this stop you from getting work of scientists and public against the coronavirus. Other ficer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said
Associated Press/ Report for America a vaccine,” Republican Reeves health experts to get them to candidates in the U.S. require Wednesday that even when a
said during a press briefing have a vaccine ready before two shots. vaccine is completed, its roll-
JACKSON “If you trusted the process out will be a gradual process.
Wednesday. election day in early Novem-
— Mississippi before Donald Trump became Vulnerable populations such
Reeves has raised concerns ber and bump up his approval
Gov. Tate Reeves president, the process has not as first responders, healthcare
about the politicization of the ratings. Trump has repeatedly
on Wednes- changed,” Reeves said, adding workers and the elderly will
day praised the pandemic from Republicans and said a vaccine could become
that all companies working on likely get first priority.
Trump adminis- Democrats multiple times in re- available before November, de-
a vaccine must conduct detailed The Health Department said
tration’s efforts to cent weeks. He said Wednesday spite scientists’ statements that clinical trials and submit the re- Wednesday that Mississippi,
make a coronavi- that politics, particularly from one isn’t likely to be completed sults for scrutiny by experts at with a population of about 3 mil-
rus vaccine avail- Reeves politicians on the left who dis- until at least the new year. the FDA and other agencies. lion, has reported at least 94,573
able to the public in the next few like Trump, is “infecting” the A handful of vaccines al- Earlier this week, Vice Pres- reported cases and at least
months and asked residents not scientific process of work on a ready are in final testing in the ident Mike Pence urged gover- 2,870 deaths from COVID-19 as
to allow political divisions to vaccine. U.S. and other countries. A new nors to “do your part to build of Tuesday evening. That’s an
stop them from getting vacci- Earlier that day, at least late-stage study by Johnson & public confidence that it will be increase of 552 confirmed cas-
nated when the time comes. one Senate Democrat accused Johnson aims to enroll 60,000 a safe and effective vaccine.” A es and 24 deaths from numbers
“If you are anti-Trump, don’t Trump of trying to rush the volunteers, one of the biggest recording of the call was provid- reported the day before.

Beta continues slow trek, bringing

rain to several Southern states
Some areas of Mississippi expected
to get up to 7 inches of rainfall
BY JUAN A. LOZANO
The Associated Press
HOUSTON — A
weakened Beta contin-
ued its slow trek across
several Southern states
on Wednesday, bringing
rainfall to parts of Louisi-
ana, Arkansas and Missis-
sippi after having flooded
homes and roadways in
Texas.
Houston began drying
out on Wednesday after
some parts of the metro
area got nearly 14 inches
of rain over the last three
days, according to the Na-
tional Weather Service.
Flooding from heavy rain
prompted around 100 wa-
ter rescues on city road-
ways. Preliminary reports
showed at least 11 struc-
tures were flooded in the
city limits.
“It’s not nearly as bad
as it could have been,”
said Houston Mayor Syl-
vester Turner.
By Wednesday after-
noon, Beta was 75 miles
southwest of Alexandria,
Louisiana, with maxi-
mum sustained winds of
30 mph, the U.S. National
Hurricane Center said.
The storm was moving
northeast at 13 mph.
Flash flood warnings
were issued Wednesday
for parts of Louisiana,
where up to 4 inches of
rain had fallen and up to 4
more inches could fall on
top of that, the Weather
Service said. The south-
western corner of Louisi-
ana is still recovering after
getting pounded by Hur-
ricane Laura last month.
Flash flood watches were
also issued for central
Mississippi and parts of
northern Alabama and
middle Tennessee.
Rainfall of 3 to 5 inches
was expected Wednesday
and into early Thursday in
parts of Central Mississip-
pi, with some areas possi-
bly getting up to 7 inches.
Beta, which made
landfall late Monday as a
tropical storm just north
of Port O’Connor, Texas,
is the first storm named
for a Greek letter to make
landfall in the continental
United States.

The following arrests
were made by Lowndes
County Sheriff’s Office:
n Jonathan Cole, 44,
was charged with posses-
sion of methamphetamine,
possession of controlled
substance, failure to yield
to blue light, possession
of marijuana in a vehicle,
expired license tag, im-
proper equipment, no turn
signal and no insurance.
n Jeanie Shinault, 39,
was charged with posses-
sion of methamphetamine
and failure to appear.
n Allan Jones, 30, was
charged with possession
with intent to distribute,
possession of parapherna-
lia and disobeying a traffic
control device.
n Brandon Runnels,
19, was charged with ag-
gravated assault to mani-
fest extreme indifference
to life.
n Donavan Prather, 18,
was charged with aggra-
vated assault to manifest
extreme indifference to
life.
n Anthony Coleman,
29, was charged with mo-
lesting-touching a child
for lustful purpose.
n Joseph Fenton, 36,
was charged with posses-
sion of cocaine and pos-
session of a weapon by a
felon.
n Johnathan Gray, 45,
was charged with felony
false pretense and expired
AREA ARRESTS
Cole Shinault Jones Runnels Prather Coleman
Fenton Gray Truelove Neal Harris Jr. Lloyd
license tag.
n Mon-
tavis True-
love, 36,
was charged
with pos-
session of a
cont rolled
s ub s t a nc e , Bobel Johnson Montgomery Phillips Dancer
possession of sion of a stolen firearm. arm and MDOC HOLD.
methamphetamine, pos- n Nykia Lloyd, 23, was n Jottie Dancer, 52, Send in your church event!
session of a weapon by a charged with aggravated was charged with DUI 3rd Email editorialassistant@cdispatch.com
felon, possession of mari-
juana in a vehicle, expired
domestic violence. offense, driving on a sus- Subject: Religious brief
n Joseph Bobel, 31, pended license, speeding
license tag, no insurance and chancery court order.
was charged with a bench
and careless driving.
warrant.
The following arrests
n Jamal Johnson, 34,
were made by the Oktib- was charged with uttering
beha County Sheriff’s Of- forgery.
fice: n Aaron Montgomery,
n Learthur Neal, 33, 20, was charged with at-
was charged with bond tempt to commit a crime.
surrender and a bench n Charles Phillips, 31,
warrant. was charged with posses-
n Henry Harris Jr., 20, sion of a weapon by a felon,
was charged with posses- possession of a stolen fire-

Pumpkin patch
Continued from Page 1A
were disappointed when we closed. Some veteran farmers, including Dwight Col-
were even mad about it.” son. Darnell remembers going to the Col-
When Darnell decided to bring a sons’ pumpkin patch as a kid. In his late
pumpkin patch back to the community, teens, he got the itch to grow pumpkins
he had hoped to do it in a big way, plant- himself and turned to Colson for support.
ing eight acres of pumpkins in late June. “I can’t say a bad word about Mr.
But the timing could not have been Dwight,” Darnell said. “When I first got
worse, as it turned out. started with pumpkins, I called him and
“By the first week of June, everything asked if he had any seed I could get. He
looked great,” he said. “Then the drought said, ‘Sure.’ Mr. Dwight is the reason I’m SOLUNAR TABLE
hit me. The corn should be two feel tall- doing this.
The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Thurs. Fri.
er and the pumpkins I have now should “Dwight Colson, Tony Smith and Bob- Major 7:13a 7:42p
Minor 3:03p 3:59p
be twice the size they are. Some of these by Egger have always been there for me,” Major 7:13a 8:11a
pumpkins should be 50 pounds.” he added. “If I ever needed to borrow a Minor 12:22a 1:19a
Courtesy of Mississippi Department

It is clearly not the sort of debut Dar- piece of equipment or needed advice,
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

nell had hope for. they were always there to help.”

“I hope people don’t expect too much,”
he said. “I promise you, we’re going to
make this better. But I’ve got to have the
support of the town.”
Darnell, who turns 31 today, grew up
in a farming family and has been farming
himself since he was a teen.
Along the way, he’s had the support of
Now, Darnell is hoping the support he
has received from those veteran farmers
will extend to the community as a whole.
“If we can get that support, next year
we’re going to take this whole field (20
acres) out of row crop production and
turn it into pumpkins,” Darnell said. “It’s
going to get better, I promise.”
The Dispatch
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
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516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
Opinion
4A THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

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

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

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

SLIMANTICS
Caledonia farmer ponders pumpkin potential
F
all has mainly because of orange, especially prison-uni- To them, the pumpkin patch first impression he had hoped
arrived and, peer pressure. Your form orange. became more of a community to make.
for once, the neighbors’ land- Not being a Republican, I service than a revenue stream. He’s afraid the picky
weather around scape ambitions am not outraged that some In 2018, the Colsons had pumpkin population will be
here seems to be in became yours, people like things I don’t like. reached their 70s and decided perturbed and withhold their
agreement — cool too. There was an That applies to pumpkins, too. to end the pumpkin business support.
mornings and eve- expected standard It appears a good part of the to devote their full attention to Like the Colsons, Darnell
nings and tolerable to be upheld. population of Caledonia are their primary crops. is doing the pumpkin patch
afternoons. The But aside from pumpkin people, based on the So, for the first time in two more as a community service
older and more leaf-raking — a town’s history with the local decades, there was no pump- and a nod to tradition rather
sedentary I be- task that can be pumpkin patch. kin patch in Caledonia last than as a commercial enter-
come, the better I averted by mowing More than 20 years ago, year. prise.
like fall, especially Slim Smith the lawn — fall farmers Dwight and Jean Col- People were disappointed, But if Caledonia folks don’t
when the calendar requires little of us. son opened a pumpkin patch Jean Colson said. Some were support him, he’s worried his
and the weather are The beauty of the on a small plot of their farm even mad about it. pumpkin-producing project
in harmony. landscape is Mother Nature’s on Spruill Road. They planted Into this pumpkin void, may be short-lived. With sup-
As a child, my favorite alone to create, and she does just three acres of pumpkins has stepped Will Darnell, port, he said, he plans to “do
season was summer, which that job with spectacular art- that first year and opened who grew up on a Caledonia better” next year and expand
meant no school and endless istry. That means you can get their “Country Pumpkins” farm and enjoyed visiting the his pumpkin operation.
summer days that bronzed the away with being lazy in the pumpkin patch to the public. Colson’s patch every fall as a So the fate of the Caledonia
skin and toughened bare feet. fall, for the most part. They were amazed at how child.. pumpkin patch will soon be in
There was baseball and swim- But there is one fall tradi- popular it became. Each year, On Oct. 3, Darnell will open the hands of the pumpkin-pre-
ming and fishing and made- tion whose appeal has always it got bigger — the Colsons his own pumpkin patch on ferring population.
up adventures. I don’t ever evaded me: pumpkins. eventually planted 30 acres of a parcel of his farm land on So, even though pumpkins
remember a kid complaining For me, pumpkins are like pumpkins and began adding Wolfe Road. aren’t my passion and my
about the heat back then. NASCAR: I just don’t get it. other activities to appeal to He picked a bad year to fall would not be diminished
As I got older spring I don’t like to eat pumpkin in customers - a corn maze and plant pumpkins, though. by their absence, I’m really
became my favorite season, any of its iterations. Nor do other kid-friendly stuff.. An extended late summer rooting for Darnell and hoping
mainly because I hated winter I find the scent of pumpkin, But the pumpkin patch was drought has meant smaller Caledonia rewards his efforts.
so very much. But with spring even pumpkin-spice, partic- never the Colson’s business pumpkins and a corn maze Slim Smith is a columnist
came obligations — lawn ularly appealing. Jack-o-lan- priority. They were mainly that is a good two feet shorter and feature writer for The
mowing and planting/tending terns are work to me. I’ll pass. row crop farmers and depend- than it would be in a normal Dispatch. His email address is
flower and vegetable gardens, In fact, I don’t like the color ed on that for their livelihood. year. It’s not going to be the ssmith@cdispatch.com.

OTHER EDITORS
Forget what they said in 2016
For all their crawfishing now about when it’s
appropriate in a presidential term to fill a vacancy
on the U.S. Supreme Court, no one captures the
shamelessness of the Republican majority in the
Senate more than South Carolina Sen. Lindsey
Graham.
In 2016, shortly after Antonin Scalia died, open-
ing the way for then President Barack Obama to
try to fill that seat on the high court with someone
less conservative, Graham helped block that from
happening.
“I want you to use my words against me,”
Graham said at the time. “If there’s a Republican
president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last
year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham
said, ‘Let’s let the next president, whoever it might
be, make that nomination.’ And you could use my
words against me and you’d be absolutely right.”
More than two years later, with Donald Trump
installed in the White House, Graham repeated
that sentiment: “If an opening comes in the last
year of President Trump’s term, and the primary
process has started, we’ll wait till the next elec-
tion.”
When it became apparent, however, that this
scenario might actually play out in Trump’s first
term, Graham began to walk back his previous
pledges. The chairman of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, who would oversee confirmation
hearings, now appears to be solidly on board
with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to rush
through this year Trump’s choice to replace Ruth
Bader Ginsburg. THE NATION
It’s not politically surprising that Republicans
have changed their tune from four years ago,
when they steadfastly maintained how inappropri-
ate it was to vote on a high court nominee since
Crime, the police and reality
H
Americans were getting ready to decide on who ere’s a policing -- and that the public in 2019 and zero murders in 2018.
the next president would be. With Ginsburg’s story with a should understand the The precinct borders Central
passing, they have a chance conceivably to tilt happy ending: pressures. Park, nowadays a pastoral tableau
the court to the right for decades to come. That Deputies in Delto- In these emotionally of babies in carriages, elders with
opportunity could pass them by if they don’t act na, Florida, recently fraught times, America canes and sunbathers on the Great
now and then Trump loses in November or they stopped a black jogger needs a balanced view Lawn.
lose majority control of the senate. who fit the description of the demands on po- The neighborhoods seeing
Still, if Republican senators fail to keep their of a burglary suspect. lice and on a stressed increases in violent crime are the
word, they could open a Pandora’s box in which The jogger, Joseph public. It is apparently poor ones. A few anti-police voices
whoever is in the majority will try even more Griffin, is a former not what Donald Trump have gotten outsized attention,
strenuously to turn the presumably impartial high military police officer thinks his campaign but leaders of these largely black
court into a offshoot of their party. Already Dem- and currently a reg- needs. As the president communities almost all say that
ocrats have threatened that if the Senate approves istered nurse. Griffin Froma Harrop readily admits, he gets what they want is more police,
Trump’s nomination for Ginsburg’s seat, and if knew to be calm and off on jabbing anger well-trained police.
Democrats subsequently win the presidential con- cooperative. buttons. So he’s been blustering Brooklyn Borough President
test and retake control of the Senate, they may try The deputy asked Griffin to about the cities having become Eric Adams is an African Ameri-
to ram through legislation to “pack the court” with bear with him. He said he had to hellholes because of you-know- can who spent 22 years on the po-
a few extra justices appointed by Biden. detain him but added, “Buddy, who. lice force. Back in the heated days
That could create a cycle of judicial one-upman- you’re not in trouble or anything.” There has been a spike in urban following George Floyd’s murder,
ship, with each party adding justices every time it Griffin responded saying that crime, with some places -- Kansas Adams said, “These young people
holds the Senate and the White House at the same with “everything going on, it’s just City, Missouri, for example -- hit have a righteous pursuit for justice
time. a little bit scary.” harder than others. But even in our police agencies, but we also
Finding a successor for Ginsburg showcases And the deputy politely replied, in Kansas City, the crime wave have a fundamental obligation to
everything that’s dysfunctional about Washington “See it through our eyes.” that peaked in August has since make sure our city is safe.” Adams
— how both parties are determined to stack the The Volusia County sheriff later subsided. worked to help protest organizers
deck for their short-term interests instead of doing offered Griffin a job. Then there’s New York City, identify troublemakers.
a little thinking about what’s best for the nation for Recall the famous incident in where the reality never matched What caused New York’s uptick
the long haul. This constant back and forth, this New York’s Central Park, where a Trump’s dark fearmongering. in crime? Suspects include gang
taking back what you said so sincerely just a short disturbed white woman called po- Though New Yorkers worry about violence, economic hardship,
time ago, explains so well how Washington rarely lice claiming that a black man was a recent rise in violent crime, the the virus, lockdown stress, hot
gets anything of substance done. Few if any of the threatening her. The “threat” was numbers don’t warrant claims that weather, closed courts and police
people in power can be trusted. an African American bird-watcher the “bad old days” are back. responding less vigorously to
Maybe it was a bad idea to establish the prec- whose only offense was telling the Through Sept. 13, murders in reported crime. Interestingly, total
edent of a president’s last year being a Supreme woman that her dog had to be on New York totaled 321, up 40 per- crime complaints are down from
Court-free period, but it was one that the GOP a leash. cent from the same period of 2019. a year ago, led by a sharp drop in
leadership created. It should live by that rule in The police immediately recog- In the real bad old days of 1990, grand larceny.
2020. nized that the bird-watcher, Chris- there were 2,245 murders. This Trump will no doubt continue
Then after the election, no matter who wins, tian Cooper, was the innocent year’s sharp increase comes off a to peddle anxiety about “cities
senators in both parties should sit down and work party. The woman was charged base of historically low crime. on fire.” American cities have no
out the rules going forward, including possibly re- with filing a false police report. Most visitors to New York see choice but to walk around his daily
instituting the 60-vote threshold for confirmations This is not to ignore genuine none of it. The 19th Precinct, dramatics and live their reality.
to the Supreme Court. That would avoid the cur- cases of police brutality. It’s to home of the city’s fanciest stores Froma Harrop, a syndicated
rently corrosive situation in which slim majorities recognize that the police are mere and adjacent to the Metropolitan columnist, writes for the Providence
can run roughshod over the minority party. humans who often have to size up Museum of Art, has had one mur- (Rhode Island) Journal. Her e-mail
Greenwood Commonwealth dangerous situations in seconds der this year. It had zero murders address is fharrop@gmail.com.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 5A

COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
Obituaries with basic informa-
tion including visitation and
service times, are provided
free of charge. Extended
obituaries with a photograph,
detailed biographical informa-
tion and other details families
may wish to include, are avail-
able for a fee. Obituaries must
be submitted through funeral
homes unless the deceased’s
body has been donated to
science. If the deceased’s
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the family must provide official
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the next day Monday through
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p.m. for Sunday and Monday
publication. For more informa-
tion, call 662-328-2471.
Bernice Shelton
COLUMBUS — Ber-
nice Henley Shelton,
63, died Sept. 13, 2020,
at her residence.
A private service
will be held at noon
Saturday, at Holy Ghost
Temple. Visitation will
be two hours prior to
services at the church.
Skeeter Robinson Fu-
neral Home of Grenada
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mrs. Shelton was
born Oct. 2, 1956, in
Brooksville, to the
late Jimmie Henley
and Fannie Dell Pas-
chal-Henley. She was
formerly employed with
Cook Elementary.
In addition to her
parents, she was pre-
ceded in death by her
son, Tommie Shelton
Jr; and siblings, Jimmie
Henley Sr and Ada Bell
Williams.
She is survived by
her husband, Tommie
Shelton of Columbus;
children, Samantha
Shelton and Sabrina
Shelton both of Co-
lumbus, step-children,
Maria Longstreet of
Brooksville, Javario
Dixon, Michael Rich-
mond both of Colum-
bus and Corey Jackson
of Wisconsin; siblings,
Eugene Henley, Marga-
ret Henley Brown both
of Brooksville, James
Curtis Henley, Jerry
Lee Henley both of
Columbus, Alice Davis
of Lancaster, Califor-
nia, Elizabeth Lewis of
Chicago, Illinois, and
Annie Pearl Lyord of
Kankakee, Illinois; five
grandchildren; and two
step-grandchildren.
Richard Roberson
STARKVILLE —
Richard “Blue Moon”
James Roberson, 66,
died Sept. 18, 2020.
Graveside service
will be at 1 p.m. Sat-
urday, in Bethel Cem-
etery, with the Rev.
Charles Brown offici-
ating. Visitation will be
from 2-5 p.m. Friday,
at Hairston and Hair-
ston Funeral Home.
Hairston and Hair-
ston Funeral Home of
Starkville is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Roberson was
born March 10, 1954,
in Crawford, to the late
AREA OBITUARIES
Katie Coldin and Wal-
ter Roberson. He was
formerly employed as a
brick mason and was a
member of Pine Grove
Missionary Baptist
Church.
He is survived by
his wife, Grace Ann
Roberson; children,
Anthony Peterson of
Dallas, Texas, Derrick
Jordan of Columbus,
Richard Roberson Jr
of Charlotte, North
Carolina, Deirdre
Jordan Applewhite of
Hattiesburg and Tara
Conyers of Starkville;
sister, Queen Colberty
of Atlanta; six grand-
children; and one
great-grandchild.
Eugene Morris
ABERDEEN — Eu-
gene Clinton Morris,
72, died Sept. 21, 2020.
Tisdale-Lann Memo-
rial Funeral Home of
Aberdeen in charge of
arrangements.
Mr. Morris was born
May 15, 1948, in Aber-
deen, to Gene Morris
and Essie Benefield
Morris. He was for-
merly employed with
Penthouse of Amory.
He is survived by
his children, Jeneifer
Thomas of Corpus
Christi, Texas and
Franklin Morris; broth-
er, Johnny Morris; and
four grandchildren.
Richard Bryant Sr.
COLUMBUS —
Richard Mark Bryant
Sr., 73, died Sept. 19,
2020, at his residence.
A graveside ser-
vice will be held at 10
a.m. Friday, at North
Mississippi Veterans
Memorial Cemetery, in
Kilmichael, with Gene
Gillis officiating. Lown-
des Funeral Home of
Columbus is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Bryant was
born Feb. 13, 1947, in
Columbus, to the late
Brown Oliver Bryant
and Lorene Lancaster
Bryant. He was a U.S.
Army veteran.
In addition to his par-
ents, he was preceded
in death by his brother,
Steve Bryant.
He is survived by his
son, Richard Bryant Jr.
of Caledonia; daugh-
ter, Tracy Bryant of
Florence; and sisters,
Karen Hollis and Myra
Gillis, both of Colum-
bus, Margaret Poole of
Hattiesburg, and Lynne
Bryant of Colorado
Springs.
Ruby Lacy
VERNON, Ala. —
Ruby Nell Lacy, 92,
died Sept. 21, 2020, at
her residence.
Services are at 2
p.m. today, at Chandler
Funeral Home Chap-
el, with Danny Hollis
officiating. Burial will
Ed Edmonson
Graveside Services:
Friday, Sept. 25 • 1 PM
Friendship Cemetery
2nd Ave N. location
Donnie Parker
Visitation
Sunday, Sept. 27 • 12-1:30 PM
Memorial Gunter &
Peel Funeral Home,
follow at Furnace Hill. Shaun Comer
Visitation is two hours
FORT LAUDER-
prior to services at the
DALE, Fla. — Shaun
funeral home. Chan-
Randall Comer, 40,
dler Funeral Home of
Vernon is in charge of died Sept. 10, 2020, in
arrangements. Fort Lauderdale.
Mrs. Lacy was born No services will be
Aug. 25, 1928, in Lamar held at this time. Visi-
tation will be from 2-4
County, to the late A.
Jackson Loyd and Ruby p.m. Saturday, at Otts
Velma Parson. Funeral Home Chapel.
In addition to her Otts Funeral Home of
parents, she was pre- Sulligent is in charge of
ceded in death by her arrangements.
brother, Loyd Parson; Mr. Comer was born
and sisters, Virginia April 18, 1980, in Amo-
Johnson and Ruth Trull. ry, to Thomas Randall
She is survived by “Randy” Comer and the
her sons, Dennis Lacy late Corliss Colburn.
of Harvest and Benny He attended Sulligent
Lacy of Vernon; sisters,
High School and was
Fannie Pearl Tittle, Lil-
formerly employed as a
lie Mae Weldin, Mary
carpenter.
Walters, and Lula Cole;
In addition to his
four grandchildren; and
nine great-grandchil- father, he is survived
dren. by his stepmother, Liz
Pallbearers are Cody Comer of Sulligent;
brother, Brandon Com-
McNees, Brody Mc-
Clain, Tyler Lacy, Den- er of Northport; and
nis Lacy II, Benny Lacy sister, Ashley Dillon of
Jr., and Dale Adkins. Sulligent.
Ed Edmonson
Robert Lawrence “Ed”
Edmonson, age 78, passed
away peacefully on Tuesday
September 22, 2020, at his
residence in Columbus.
An everyone is welcome
graveside service will be held
Friday September 25, 2020,
at 1:00 PM at Friendship
Cemetery, with Rev. Anne

How can I tell the difference

College Street Location
Graveside Services:
Sunday, Sept. 27 • 2:30 PM
Love Joy Church Cemetery
between the flu and COVID-19? College St. Location
Russell Bradley officiating.
Mr. Edmonson, born in Columbus on August
29, 1942, was the only son of the late Robert

‘Right now we are not seeing There’s no vaccine yet
for COVID-19, although
community transmission of influenza, several candidates are in
the final testing stages.
so widespread testing for the flu is Precautions
COVID-19 — masks,
against
not yet recommended’ social distancing,
Dr. Daniel Solomon, an infectious diseases expert hand-washing — also
slow the spread of the flu,
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Medical School in Boston. so health officials hope
Whether you get test- continued vigilance could
How can I tell the dif- ed for one or both viruses lessen the severity of this
ference between the flu may depend on how avail- year’s flu season.
and COVID-19? able tests are and which
Shirley McDill
Lawrence Edmonson Sr. and the late Wilda
Frances McGahey Harrison. He is survived
by his loving wife, Theresa Gore Edmonson,
Incomplete
2nd Ave N. location of 58 blessed years of marriage; his half-sister,
Oscar Burris, Jr.
Lillian Gayle Edmonson of Houston, Texas;
his daughter, Robbie Edmonson Upton (Tim);
Incomplete
College St. Location
his son, Randall Arthur Edmonson; and five
grandchildren, Sanders Lawrence Edmonson,
Samuel Paje Edmonson, Robert Colby Upton,
Timothy Cayden Upton and Arthur Cale Upton.
He is preceded by his half-brother George Larry
memorialgunterpeel.com Edmonson.
Mr. Edmonson attended Demonstration
school, Lee High School and the University
of Mississippi. Being a natural athlete, Mr.
Edmonson enjoyed many sports including

It’s impossible to tell
without a test. Influenza
and COVID-19 have such
similar symptoms, you
may need to get tested to
know what’s making you
miserable.
Body aches, sore
throat, fever, cough,
shortness of breath, fa-
tigue and headaches are
symptoms shared by the
two.
One difference? Peo-
ple with the flu typically
feel sickest during the
first week of illness. With
COVID-19, people may
feel the worst during the
second or third week, and
they may be sicker for a
longer period.
Another difference:
COVID-19 is more like-
ly than the flu to cause a
loss of taste or smell. But
not everyone experiences
that symptom, so it’s not a
reliable way to tell the vi-
ruses apart.
That leaves testing,
which will become more
important as flu season
ramps up this fall in the
Northern Hemisphere.
Doctors will need to know
test results to determine
the best treatment.
It’s also possible to be
infected with both virus-
es at the same time, said
Dr. Daniel Solomon, an
infectious diseases expert
at Brigham and Women’s
Hospital and Harvard
viruses are circulating
where you live, he said.
“Right now we are not
seeing community trans-
mission of influenza, so
widespread testing for the
flu is not yet recommend-
ed,” Solomon said.
Both the flu and coro-
navirus spread through
droplets from the nose
and mouth. Both can
spread before people
know they are sick. The
flu has a shorter incuba-
tion period — meaning
after infection it can take
one to four days to feel
sick — compared to the
coronavirus, which can
take two to 14 days from
infection to symptoms.
On average, COVID-19
is more contagious than
flu. But many people with
COVID-19 don’t spread
the virus to anyone, while
a few people spread it
to many others. These
“superspreader events”
are more common with
COVID-19 than flu, Solo-
mon said.
Preventing the flu
starts with an annual flu
shot tailored to the strains
of the flu virus that are cir-
culating. Health officials
would like to see record
numbers of people get flu
shots this year so hospi-
tals aren’t overwhelmed
with two epidemics at
once.
Donnie Parker
Donnie Ray Parker, age 48, of Hamilton,
MS, passed away September 21, 2020, at North
Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, MS.
Graveside services will be Sunday, September
27, 2020, at 2:30 PM at Love Joy Church Cemetery
near Hamilton, AL, with Bro. Scott Todd
officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, September
27, 2020, from noon until 1:30 PM at Memorial
Gunter Peel Funeral Home & Crematory 903
College St. location.
Donnie was born January 16, 1972, in
Oklahoma City, OK, to Ray Parker of Columbus,
MS, and the late Linda Bowen Lollar. Donnie was
an avid musician and especially loved playing
guitar and writing songs. He was a member of
the bands 9 Lives Gone and Crash Seven. He
had a charismatic personality that you could not
help but love and he was loved by many. He was
a graduate of Amory High School and Itawamba
Junior College.
In addition to his mother, he is preceded
in death by his brother, Tony Big Soldier of
Columbus, MS; maternal grandparents, Willie
Frank and Lovena Bowen; grandmother, Lucille
Chambers; paternal grandparents, Don and
Laverne Casson; and grandfather, Roy Parker.
In addition to his father, survivors include his
son, Triston Parker of Guin, AL; daughter, Emma
Parker of Guin, AL; former spouse, Tabitha
(John) Saxton of Guin, AL; stepdad, Fredrick
Lynch of Tremont, MS; sister, Alisha (Joey) Lann
of Vernon, AL; brother, Freddy (Amanda) Lynch
of Tremont, MS; brother, Chad Parker; nieces,
Kaili Lynch (Jeremy) and Laura Beth Lann;
nephews, Alec Big Soldier (Heather), Nathan
Brown, Gentry Lynch, Jonah Lynch, Cooper
Lann and Coen Meisenholder; numerous aunts,
uncles, cousins, and friends.
Pallbearers will be Triston Parker, Scott Todd,
John “Oz” Osborne, Lloyd McWilliams, Tony
Harris and Jeff Sanders.
football, basketball, bowling, swimming, racquet
ball and tennis. During his tennis career, Mr.
Edmonson and his doubles partner, George
“Juddie” Boyd, were ranked #1 in Mississippi 11
times between 1984 and 1996. They won on many
occasions together over the years including 7
Senior Invitational Tournaments. Mr. Edmonson
and his partner were both later inducted, as the
first doubles team, into the Mississippi Tennis
Hall of Fame on January 5, 2007.
Also an avid outdoorsman, Mr. Edmonson
excelled in his hunting skills and dog training.
He was particularly partial to squirrel hunting,
because he loved to watch his dogs hunt. He
trained many squirrel dogs and was one of the
first hunters in the United States to own and
integrate Russian sleigh dogs, known as the West
Siberian Laika, into squirrel hunters due to their
heightened sense of smell. Mr. Edmonson won
countless hunting competitions, was a member of
the National Cur and Feist Breeders Association
and was once featured in Full Cry magazine for
his unrivaled success.
During his career, Mr. Edmonson, at age 14,
started working at the license-tag plant operated
by Columbus Marble Works and owned by his
grandfather, Thomas Arthur McGahey. After
college he continued work at the Columbus
Marble Works and owned several businesses in
Alabama and Mississippi, including the Pinsetter
Bowling Lanes in Columbus. He went on to
become the president of the Columbus Marble
Works and the company is still owned and
operated by his family today.
Throughout his life, Mr. Edmonson had
many endeavors and hobbies, but none could
be compared to his greatest interest which was
his grandchildren. There was never a moment
where he was not actively present in all of his
grandchildren’s lives and he would not have it
any other way. There are no words to describe
the love and devotion Mr. Edmonson had for his
family and he will always be a part of them.

Help us help them,

The Humane Society Sign the online guest book at Sign the online guest book at
662 327-3107 www.memorialgunterpeel.com www.memorialgunterpeel.com
College Street • Columbus, MS 716 Second Avenue North • Columbus, MS
6A THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Dismay over Breonna Taylor

spills into America’s streets
Grand jury returned three charges of wanton a home next to Taylor’s with people
inside.
endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison Hundreds of demonstra-
tors chanted Taylor’s name and
over shooting into a home next to Taylor’s marched in cities like New York,
Washington, D.C., Philadelphia
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS for charges since Taylor, an emer- and Las Vegas. People gathered in
gency medical worker, was shot downtown Chicago’s Millennium
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Anger, multiple times by white officers Park, chanting demands for justice
frustration and sadness over the who entered her home during a as passing drivers on Michigan Av-
decision not to charge Kentucky narcotics investigation in March. enue honked their horns. Authori-
police officers for Breonna Tay- While the officers had a no-knock ties unleashed chemical agents on
lor’s death poured into America’s warrant, the investigation showed some protesters after they tried to
streets as protesters lashed out at they announced themselves before climb on a SWAT vehicle in Atlanta
a criminal justice system they say entering, said state Attorney Gen- and others were arrested.
is stacked against Black people. Vi- eral Daniel Cameron, a Republican While protests in Louisville
olence seized the demonstrations and the state’s first Black top pros- had been largely peaceful, scuffles
in her hometown of Louisville as ecutor. broke out between police and pro-
gunfire rang out and wounded two A grand jury returned three testers and some people were ar-
police officers. charges of wanton endangerment rested before the two officers were
Activists, celebrities and every- Wednesday against fired Officer shot while investigating reports of
day Americans have been calling Brett Hankison over shooting into gunfire Wednesday night.

Students
Continued from Page 1A
Omar Jamil of Hernando,
is now the senior repre-
sentative.
Zhang is one of four
area students so far with
a voice at the state level of
education policy. Chris-
tian Dunne, also a junior
from Starkville, was ap-
pointed Zhang’s alternate
representative in case
she is unable to finish her
term.
Eight more of the 26
applicants for student
representative made the
semifinal round after an
interview, board member
John Kelly said. Those ten
semifinalists — including
Zion Johnson of Colum-
bus and April Guo-Yue of
Starkville — will serve on
the state superintendent’s
student advisory council,
a program also in its sec-
ond year.
The council of students
from all over the state of-
fers advice and opinions
to state superintendent
Carey Wright and serves
as liaisons between the
Mississippi Department
of Education and their fel-
low students, a role they
share with the student
representatives on the
state board.
Last year’s advisory
council had 83 members,
none from the Golden Tri-
angle. MDE director of
communications Patrice
Guilfoyle said the board
is still choosing the rest
of this year’s council from
more than 300 applica-
tions.
How students received
MDE representation
Kelly became inter-
ested three years ago in
adding student represen-
tatives to the board of
education after discuss-
ing the possibility with
his counterparts in other
states at a national confer-
ence, he said.
“It sounded so appeal-
ing to me, knowing that
we had bright young peo-
ple in the state of Missis-
sippi that could very well
do that,” Kelly said.
Fourteen other states
have student representa-
tives on their boards, Kel-
ly said, and Mississippi
became the 15th despite
not having a provision in
its state constitution for
the governor to appoint
these representatives.
Making them non-voting
members was the way
around it, he said.
Student representa-
tives must be in good
standing at a Mississippi
public high school with
a grade point average
of 3.0 or higher, experi-
ence with volunteering
and community service
and involvement in ex-
tracurricular activities.
The application process
includes three letters of
recommendation and an
interview with the state
board’s School Perfor-
mance and Accountability
Subcommittee.
Six of this year’s 26
applicants came from
the Starkville-Oktibbe-
ha Consolidated School
District, since counselors
and administrators there
strongly encourage stu-
dents to apply, Kelly said.
“They’ve been very
aggressive about putting
people in the (applicant)
pool, but not only that,
they’ve had very good
candidates as well,” he
said.
One of the board’s
goals for the superinten-
dent’s student advisory
council is to select stu-
dents from a variety of
backgrounds, regions
and school sizes. Wright
could not be reached for
comment by press time
Thursday, but she said in
2019 that she was “look-
ing forward to hearing
directly from students on
issues of importance to
them,” according to the
press release announcing
the first advisory council.
The local members
of the council said they
share that excitement to
have those discussions.
“I have a great motiva-
tion for education in Mis-
sissippi, and I believe this
opportunity allows me to
make a change that’s big-
ger and broader, as (just
one) student at Columbus
High School,” Johnson
said.
Concerns and interests
Johnson and Zhang
both said they are already
brainstorming topics of
discussion to bring to ad-
visory council meetings.
Zhang’s involvement
in speech and debate at
Starkville High School for
two years helped her build
a network of friends and
connections throughout
the state — which Kelly
said made her application
for student representative
stand out among the oth-
ers — and she said she
has heard concerns that
some schools have not fol-
lowed proper safety pro-
cedures as they reopened
their doors during the
ongoing COVID-19 pan-
demic.
“By the time the stu-
dent advisory council
meets, I’m hoping that ev-
erything will have settled
down in that regard and
that schools will be fol-
lowing these guidelines,
but if not, that’s definitely
something I’ll bring up,”
Zhang said.
She also wants to dis-
cuss the availability of
academic opportunities,
such as Advanced Place-
ment classes and dual
enrollment, since some
of her acquaintances are
frustrated that they do
not have those options at
their schools, she said.
In addition to speech
and debate, Zhang has
been involved in the an-
nual National History
Day competition as well
as the Starkville Mayor’s
Youth Council and Oktib-
beha Young Leaders. She
achieved a perfect score
of 36 on the ACT on her
first try in early 2019.
She also started an
online reading club for
Starkville elementary
schoolers earlier this year
to make sure their educa-
tion did not suffer during
the pandemic, she said.
Dunne and Johnson
have their own lists of
activities: both serve on
their schools’ student
councils, play sports
and sing in their school
choirs.
“It can be easy to only
interact with one group of
people, but the important
thing for representing a
big group is to talk to dif-
ferent groups of people
and (get) different per-
spectives,” Dunne said.
Zhang has encouraged
her and Dunne’s peers in
Starkville to reach out to
them with concerns and
opinions to bring to the
state, and Dunne said
they have not heard from
anyone so far.
“It’s big-picture stuff
that we’re going to talk
about, that’s always been
talked about, (such as)
how to make people yearn
for education and not see
it as a requirement,” he
said.

Embezzlement
Continued from Page 1A
A Noxubee Coun-
ty grand jury indicted
Yolanda Atkins, 49, for
embezzlement, accord-
ing to a press release
from the auditor’s office,
which began investigat-
ing her after a private
CPA firm discovered ac-
counting discrepancies
during a routine annual
audit of the court’s fi-
nances.
The release said At-
kins’ job collecting and
depositing court fines
gave her the opportu-
nity to embezzle the
money. At the time of
her arrest, officials is-
sued her a demand let-
ter for $4,450.79, which
a spokesperson for the
auditor’s office said was
the amount allegedly em-
bezzled — just more than
$2,000 — as well as ex-
penses incurred during
the investigation.
“I want to thank the
investigators and private
sector CPAs who worked
together to uncover this
fraud,” Auditor Shad
White said in the press
release. “We will pursue
justice for the taxpayers
in this case, and I expect
the case to be prosecut-
ed to the fullest extent of
the law.”
As of Wednesday af-
ternoon, Atkins is still
a city employee. Macon
Mayor Bob Boykin said
the board of aldermen
met at 5 p.m. to discuss
her employment status in
an executive session but
that he would not release
any information after the
meeting. He said if the
board made any change
to Atkins’ employment
status, it would be made
public when the meeting
minutes are published.
Boykin declined to
comment further on the
case, citing the ongoing
investigation.
If convicted, Atkins
faces up to five years in
prison and a $5,000 fine,
according to the press
release.
As of press time, At-
kins was in custody at
Noxubee County Jail
pending her arraign-
ment, which is scheduled
for today.

Business
Continued from Page 1A
10,000 square feet.
Keep an eye out for
these two commercial
properties that can help
bring more business to
Columbus.
Moving to Starkville,
we have another food
truck in town.
Recent Mississippi
University for Women
graduate Hannah Baird
officially opened her food
trailer, Nutrigroove, last
week.
Baird opened in the
Little Dooey parking lot
at the corner of Fel-
lowship and Lampkin
streets.
Nutrigroove serves
customers acai fruit
bowls, smoothies, herbal
teas and bagels.
Baird got the idea last
year when she tried the
superfood acai for the
first time in Hawaii while
visiting her friend.
“When I was there
sitting on the beach I just
knew I wanted to do this,”
Baird said. “… I wanted
to bring acai to Starkville
so everyone else can en-
joy it the same way I did.
I just love it and so far
everyone else does too.”
Go on and get your
fruit fix Monday through
Thursday from 7 a.m.-5
p.m. and Friday and Sat-
urday from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sports
RIVALRY GAME SET TO PUT EITHER COLUMBUS OR NEW HOPE IN DISTRICT ‘DRIVER’S SEAT’
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
New Hope football
coach Wade Tackett
knows the stakes are al-
ready high enough when
his Trojans (1-2) visit MH-
SAA Class 5A, Region 1
opponent Columbus (0-3)
on Friday.
“Whoever wins this
game will be in the driv-
er’s seat,” Tackett said.
“You’re immediately first
in the district. Three
more, and you’re almost
guaranteed a playoff spot
after that. You definitely
don’t want to be behind
the 8-ball come Saturday
morning.”
Add to it the rivalry as-
pect — plenty of Falcons
and Trojans are friends,
family or acquaintanc-
es — and Friday’s game
takes on an even bigger
meaning among its par-
ticipants.
“If you’re not hype to
play a city rivalry, then
something’s wrong with
you,” New Hope senior
safety Hayden Harris
said.
Obviously, nothing is
wrong with either team
as the two prepare to play
what Columbus coach
Joshua Pulphus called a
“memory game” against
a Lowndes County rival
hardly 10 minutes away.
“They’ll remember
this for the rest of their
lives,” Pulphus said.
That’s why it’s import-
Starkville Academy running back CJ Jackson making strides for Vols
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — CJ
Jackson knew he wasn’t
getting tackled.
With 30 yards and 11
Magnolia Heights defend-
ers between him and the
end zone, the odds of com-
ing up short were pretty
high. But with Jackson’s
Starkville Academy team
down three points in a
win-or-go-home playoff
game, the junior running
back didn’t care.
He turned to coach
Chase Nicholson and de-
livered three words: I got
you.
The Vols had once
trailed 23-0, but they were
back in the thick of things
thanks to a blocked punt
and two Jackson scores.
Nicholson planned to at-
tempt a long, tying field
goal if Jackson couldn’t
convert on the play, but
the running back made
his intentions clear: It
wouldn’t be necessary.
“Even though we had
faith in our kicker, I just
knew I had that chip on
my shoulder,” Jackson
Take it easy: A history of the air raid and how it functions in its simplicity
BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — Hal
Mumme is among the
architects of the modern
passing game. The Don
Corleone of aerial as-
saults. The Godfather of
the air raid offense.
He designed the air
raid in the mid-1980s as
the head coach at Cop-
peras Cove High School
in Texas, before bringing
it to Valdosta State, Ken-
tucky, New Mexico State
and more. Imparted to
the wider college foot-
ball world at Texas Tech,
Columbus running back Karon Hawk (27) gets past New Hope defensive back Hayden Harris (25) during last year’s
game between the two schools on Sept. 27, 2019, in New Hope. The Falcons and Trojans will resume the rivalry Friday
in Columbus.
ant to the Falcons’ players
to secure bragging rights
for the second straight
season. Columbus
scooped up a late fumble
in a one-score game last
Sept. 27 to earn a 28-14
win over New Hope.
But Trojans quarter-
said. “They were not go-
ing to tackle me.”
He took the snap and
ran right, feeling Chiefs
defenders pull at his legs.
He shook them off. They
tried to jump on his back
to bring him down. He
threw them to the ground.
Suddenly, he was clear.
“At that moment, God
was on my side, and I got
in the end zone,” Jackson
said.
His go-ahead score led
to a 35-30 Volunteers win
in that first-round game in
Senatobia, keying a play-
off run that lasted until
the MAIS Class 5A cham-
pionship game. For Jack-
son, who left Noxubee
County for the Volunteers
prior to his sophomore
season, it was a signature
moment.
He’s made even more
this year for Starkville
Academy.
Jackson has already
rushed for more than
1,000 yards in his first
five games this year, and
just like that fateful play
in Senatobia, nobody can
bring him down.
With two mammoth
Washington State and
now, Mississippi State by
Mumme’s former assis-
tant, Mike Leach, the of-
fense has long been laud-
ed for its simplicity. The
root? The Eagles.
Listening to co-lead
singer Don Henley run
through his roster of tal-
ent, Joe Walsh on guitar,
Glenn Frey on vocals, and
on, Mumme identified
with Henley’s character-
ization of letting the art-
ists rely on their natural
talents.
“I was listening to
(Henley) being inter-
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
back Zac Butler said his
team excised the contest
from its mind as soon as
last season ended. Butler
didn’t play football last
year after tearing his
labrum during his soph-
omore season, but he
knows how important it
‘HE MAKES US GO’
CJ Jackson runs downfield in a high school football game against Washington last season.
games in the past two
weeks, he’s hoping to take
the Vols to the very top in
his final high school go-
round.
“It’s just been a great
viewed, and they asked
them how they became
the best and he said,
‘Well, we had a great
capacity for boredom,’”
Mumme recounted.
“So I started using
(that line) with our teams
starting probably in the
early ’90s, but (the air
raid) is just that way,” he
continued. “(The players)
just get so good and so
instinctive that whatever
their God-given abilities
are, we’re not taking any
of that away by creating
doubt or creating confu-
sion.”
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
was to New Hope to forget
about the contest.
Instead, New Hope will
look to even its record at
2-2 after last week’s 13-12
home win over Aberdeen.
“It’ll be very import-
ant,” said Harris, who
knocked away a go-ahead
time at SA,” Jackson said.
‘Just like family’
One day, Jackson’s
mother had a fateful ques-
tion for him: “Do you want
Beginning his head
coaching career at Cop-
peras Cove, Mumme
concedes he worried
his simplistic approach
wouldn’t work. Yet now
almost 44 years on from
his first coaching gig as
the offensive coordinator
at Corpus Christi Moody
High School, defenses are
still struggling to contain
the system he and Leach
developed.
In eight years at Wash-
ington State, Leach au-
thored an air raid-based
unit that led the nation
in passing five times and
Dispatch file photo
two-point try by the Bull-
dogs with 29 seconds left
to seal a New Hope win.
“We need it. It’ll be a big
boost for the team.”
The Trojans will have
to solve a Falcons defense
among the elite units in
Mississippi. Columbus
to go here?”
“Here” was Starkville
Academy, which Jack-
son’s mom had heard
good things about. Jack-
son was familiar with the
never finished worse than
ninth nationally in total
passing offense. Over that
span, he also became the
second-winningest head
coach in program history
since World War II.
“From a simple learn-
ing standpoint, it’s prob-
ably the easiest offense
in the country,” USC of-
fensive coordinator and
former Texas Tech quar-
terback Graham Harrell
told The Dispatch. “From
a mastery standpoint, it
takes time, it takes reps.
And like I said, that’s why
the longer (Leach is) at a
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
B
SECTION
hasn’t allowed more than
14 points in road games at
Class 4A Louisville, Class
5A Holmes County Cen-
tral and Class 6A DeSoto
Central.
“I think Columbus’ de-
fense statistically is prob-
ably one of the best in the
state right now,” Tackett
said.
Tackett said his team
has a game plan to crack
the “stout” Falcons, and
if the Trojans can achieve
that, they’ve got a good
shot. Columbus’ offense
has perhaps struggled
more than its defense has
succeeded, scoring zero,
six and seven points in its
three road losses.
That can be attributed
to a young offensive line
— left guard Johnathon
Dickerson is the only re-
turning starter — and
communication lapses
in the passing game that
cost the Falcons a chance
to break the game open
against DeSoto Central
last week. Senior quarter-
back Ethan Conner said
he and his wide receivers
are still working on get-
ting their timing down.
But that might not be
an easy fix against a “stin-
gy” New Hope defense,
Pulphus said. He credited
the Trojans’ talent on both
sides of the ball.
“Their record doesn’t
dictate how good they
are,” Pulphus said. “Even
See FOOTBALL, 3B
Dispatch file photo
school — particularly its
football team. The Volun-
teers, he knew, had just
won an MAIS Class 4A
title in 2017.
See JACKSON, 3B
place, you see the offense
get better and better be-
cause the young guys
master it.”
So how does an offense
that’s celebrated for its
simplicity work? In prac-
tice, the air raid is based
on a collection of any-
where from 15-25 plays.
Mumme estimates one
could run his and Leach’s
system at the high school
level with around eight —
four verticals, mesh, sail,
Y-cross, and wide receiver
and running back screens
to the left and right.
See AIR RAID, 3B
2B THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Heat top Celtics, move a game from NBA Finals

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. —
Tyler Herro should still be in col-
lege. He’s not, but is still a student.
He carries a red spiral-bound
notebook with him at all times, jot-
ting down notes when things pop
into his head. What worked, what
didn’t, where he thinks he can get
better and how he’s feeling after a
game.
“It helps me get locked in, helps
me focus,” Herro said.
Whatever he read Wednesday
night helped him put together the
game of his life — and carry the
Miami Heat a win away from the
NBA Finals. The 20-year-old Her-
ro scored a Heat rookie-record 37
points and the Heat beat the Bos-
ton Celtics 112-109 on Wednesday
night in Game 4 of the Eastern Con-
ference finals.
“He has a great competitive
humility about him,” Heat coach
Erik Spoelstra said. “He has a con-
fidence. He has a fearlessness that
is uncommon. But he’s humble
enough to work, to be coachable,
to take the mentorship from the
veteran players that we have on our
team, and he just continues to gain
more confidence as we go.”
Jimmy Butler scored 24 points,
Goran Dragic added 22 and Bam
Adebayo — dealing with a bit of
shoulder soreness — had 20 points
and 12 rebounds to help the Heat
take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven
series. They can close it out Friday
night in Game 5.
Jayson Tatum scored all 28 of
his points in the second half for the
Celtics. They erased a double-dig-
it deficit to take a one-point lead in
the fourth — then saw the Heat run
away again. Jaylen Brown scored
21 points, Kemba Walker added 20,
Gordon Hayward had 14 and Mar-
cus Smart finished with 10 points
and 11 assists.
“I didn’t score in the first half.
That’s unacceptable,” Tatum said.
“I know I have to play better. That’s
what I tried to do.”
Brown’s 3-pointer with 16 sec-
onds left cut Miami’s lead to 107-
104. Herro went to the line 2.1 sec-
onds later and coolly swished a pair,
stretching the lead back to five. The
Celtics got within two points twice,
Butler made a free throw with 1.1
seconds remaining, and Boston —
out of timeouts — never got a des-
peration shot off.
“At the end of the day, we got to
find a way,” Walker said. “That’s re-
ally all we can do. We can do it. It’s
about pride. It’s about wanting to do
it. Next game we got to come out
and show that.”
Herro made 14 of 21 shots from
the floor, 5 for 10 from 3-point
range and became just the second
20-year-old in NBA playoff history
to score at least 37 points in a game.
The other: Magic Johnson, who had
42 in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Fi-
nals for the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I feel good about it,” Herro said.
“There’s a lot of work to be done
still. We’re up 3-1.”
And the Heat rookie playoff re-
cord was 27 by Dwyane Wade in
2004; it now belongs to Herro, who
scored 17 points in the fourth alone.
Daniel Theis scored with 8:44
left to put Boston up 85-84, the Celt-
ics’ first lead since 25-24 with 11:19
left in the second quarter. It was
Boston’s only lead in the second
half and it lasted just 16 seconds.
Adebayo scored to give Miami the
lead, and Herro basically carried
the load from there.
“Herro’s shot-making tonight
was ... the difference in the game,”
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.
“Jimmy was great late. Adebayo
was his typical self. Dragic made
some big plays. But Herro was ri-
diculously good tonight. That rim
must have looked like the ocean to
him.”
The Celtics shot exactly 8-for-20
in each of the first two quarters and
that, combined with 11 turnovers,
helped the Heat go into the break
with a 50-44 lead.
But Tatum’s first basket after an
0-for-7 start sparked what became a
6-for-7 finish to the third quarter for
him, he had 16 of Boston’s 32 points
in that period and the Celtics were
within 77-76 going into the fourth.
The Heat, behind their youngest
player, wouldn’t fold.
“Nothing Tyler does surprises
me,” Adebayo said.
Tip-ins
Celtics: Tatum’s 0-for-6 first half
tied for the second-worst open-
ing-half shooting of his career. He
was 0 for 8 to begin against Dallas
on Nov. 11, and 0 for 6 against Mil-
waukee in the first two quarters of
a playoff game on April 17, 2018. ...
It was announced before the game
that Hayward and wife Robyn are
parents for a fourth time; Gordon
Theodore Hayward is their first
son.
Heat: Dragic made a 3-pointer
with 8:51 left in the third quarter
for a 58-46 lead — Miami’s first
double-digit lead of the series. The
biggest Heat lead in the first three
games had been eight points. ... Sol-
omon Hill got first-quarter minutes
for the first time in these playoffs.
Langford out
Nobody knows when next sea-
son will start, but the Celtics are an-
ticipating that guard Romeo Lang-
ford may not be ready when it does.
Langford had surgery this week to
repair a ligament issue in his wrist.
“It will probably bleed into next sea-
son, whenever that starts,” Stevens
said.
3-1 Leads
This is the 12th time Miami has
taken a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven
series. The Heat won each of the
previous 11.

Gale Sayers, Bears Hall of Fame running back, dies at 77

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Gale Say-
ers, the dazzling and elu-
sive running back who en-
tered the Pro Football Hall
of Fame despite the briefest
of careers and whose fame
extended far beyond the
field for decades thanks to
a friendship with a dying
Chicago Bears teammate,
has died. He was 77.
Nicknamed “The Kan-
sas Comet” and considered
among the best open-field
runners the game has ever
seen, Sayers died Wednes-
day, according to the Pro
Football Hall of Fame.
Relatives of Sayers had
said he was diagnosed with
dementia. In March 2017,
his wife, Ardythe, said she
partly blamed his football
career.
“Football fans know
well Gale’s many accom-
plishments on the field: a
rare combination of speed
and power as the game’s
most electrifying runner,
a dangerous kick returner,
his comeback from a seri-
ous knee injury to lead the
league in rushing, and be-
coming the youngest player
inducted into the Pro Foot-
ball Hall of Fame,” Bears
chairman George McCas-
key said in a statement.
“People who weren’t even
football fans came to know
Gale through the TV mov-
ie ‘Brian’s Song,’ about his
friendship with teammate
Brian Piccolo. Fifty years
later, the movie’s message
that brotherhood and love
needn’t be defined by skin
color still resonates.”
Sayers was a blur to
NFL defenses, ghosting
would-be tacklers or zoom-
ing by them like few run-
ning backs or kick return-
ers before or since. Yet it
was his rock-steady friend-
ship with Piccolo, depicted
in the film “Brian’s Song,”
that marked him as more
than a sports star.
“He was the very es-
sence of a team player —
quiet, unassuming and al-
ways ready to compliment a
teammate for a key block,”
Hall of Fame President Da-
vid Baker said. “Gale was
an extraordinary man who
overcame a great deal of
adversity during his NFL
career and life.”
Sayers became a stock-
broker, sports adminis-
trator, businessman and
philanthropist for several
inner-city Chicago youth
initiatives after his pro foot-
ball career was cut short
by serious injuries to both
knees.
“Gale was one of the
finest men in NFL histo-
ry and one of the game’s
most exciting players,”
NFL Commissioner Rog-
er Goodell said. “Gale was
an electrifying and elusive
runner who thrilled fans
every time he touched the
ball. He earned his place as
a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”
A football and track star
at Omaha Central High
School in Nebraska, Sayers
was a two-time All-Amer-
ican at Kansas and was
inducted into the College
Football Hall of Fame. He
was selected by Chicago
with the fourth pick over-
all in 1965, and his versa-
tility produced dividends
and highlight-reel slaloms
through opposing defenses
right the start.
He tied an NFL record
with six touchdowns in a
game and set another with
22 touchdowns in his first
season: 14 rushing, six re-
ceiving, one punt and one
kickoff return. Sayers was
a unanimous choice for Of-
fensive Rookie of the Year.
“I played football a long
time and I never saw a
better football player than
Gale Sayers,” said Hall of
Fame tight end Mike Dit-
ka, Sayers’ teammate from
1965-66. “I mean that. He
was poetry in motion. Be-
sides that, he was a great
guy. It’s just a shame that
he’s gone. He was special.”
Ditka later coached Wal-
ter Payton, giving him an
up-close look at two of the
best running backs. But the
greatest performance he
saw might have been Say-
ers’ six-touchdown game.
Playing San Francisco at a
muddy Wrigley Field, just
about everyone else was
slipping and sliding.
“He was playing on a dif-
ferent field than we were,”
Ditka said. “The field was
wet, it was slippery, it was
kind of muddy. He was un-
believable. He was making
runs and cuts that were un-
believable.”
Sayers was an All-Pro
during the first five of his
seven NFL seasons (1965- “But Gale just ran circles
71). But he was stuck on a around everybody. Quick-
handful of middling-to-bad ly, they adopted him.”
Bears teams and, like Dick
Butkus, another Hall of
Fame teammate selected
in the same 1965 draft, he
never played in the post-
season. Sayers appeared
in only 68 games total and
just two in each of his final
two seasons while attempt-
ing to return from those
knee injuries.
“Will miss a great
friend who helped me be-
come the player I became
because after practicing
and scrimmaging against
Gale I knew I could play
against anybody,” Butkus
said. “We lost one of the
best Bears ever and more
importantly we lost a great
person.”
In 1977, at age 34, Say-
ers became the youngest
player inducted into the
Hall of Fame. In presenting
him at the ceremony, Bears
founder George Halas said:
“If you wish to see perfec-
tion as a running back, you
had best get a hold of a film
of Gale Sayers. He was po-
etry in motion. His like will
never be seen again.”
Butkus said he hadn’t
even seen Sayers play until
a highlight film was shown
at an event in New York that
both attended honoring the
1964 All-America team. He
said the real-life version of
Sayers was even better.
“He was amazing. I still
attribute a lot of my suc-
cess from trying to tackle
him (in practice),” Butkus
said at the Bears’ 100th
anniversary celebration in
June 2019.
“I never came up against
a running back like him in
my whole career, as far as
a halfback. And that was
counting O.J. (Simpson)
and a couple of other guys,”
he added. “No one could
touch this guy.”
The Bears drafted them
with back-to-back picks in
’65, taking Butkus at No.
3 and Sayers at No. 4. It
didn’t take long for Sayers
to win over veterans who
had helped the Bears take
the NFL championship in
1963.
“We were both No. 1s,
so they’re going to make
it hard on us and show
us the ropes and every-
thing else,” Butkus said.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 3B

Air Raid
Continued from Page 1B
Even the verbiage of a
play calls in the air raid is
simplistic. Mumme said
he kept everything five
words or less. If it was
more, a codename was
used. For example, Blue,
Z-move, 92, H-wheel be-
came “Blue Cobra.”
Under-center, things
are further simplified.
Pre-snap reads and call-
ing the offensive line’s
blocking approach are
staples for most modern
quarterbacks. Mumme
and Leach threw that
out. Instead, the center
handles blocking assign-
ments. Option routes
based on where a defen-
sive player moves give re-
ceivers flexibility to make
plays. The quarterback
throws to space.
Former Copperas Cove
and Iowa Wesleyan quar-
terback Dustin Dewald,
who Mumme calls the
original air raid quarter-
back, said he spent hours
upon hours with his re-
ceivers practicing tim-
ing. On game day, those
reps and understanding
of where his teammates
would be on a given route
allowed him to “throw to
grass” as opposed to an
exact person.
“It’s all reps,” Dewald
told The Dispatch. “Those
quarterbacks and receiv-
ers are working together
not only in practice but all
the time on different op-
tions of ways to run routes
and then understanding
where the quarterback
is going to throw the ball
based on where the de-
fender is on the receiver
because you can throw
the same route to a lot of
different spots.”
Following the offense’s
musical roots, there’s a
rhythm in how Mumme
and Leach’s quarterbacks
approach their craft. Their
eyes and feet are expected
to be connected. Mumme
explains that in four verti-
cals, the quarterback takes
a three-step drop from the
shotgun. With the first
step, he looks to the Z re-
ceiver on a deep route. On
the second step, one’s eyes
move to the Y receiver on
a crossing route. The third
step shifts to the H on an
option pattern. If forced
to step into the pocket, the
look is to a backside receiv-
er on a curl flat route.
“We just have one rule:
Never pass up an open re-
ceiver, and never throw to
a covered one,” Mumme
said.
“The defense is going to
decide where the space is,”
Leach added in his Mon-
day press conference. “On
offense, you’re trying to
create space. On defense,
you’re trying to restrict
space.”
Among the iconic plays
in both air raid and college
football history is Harrell’s
2008 touchdown pass to
Michael Crabtree with
one second left that led
a Leach-coached Texas
Tech team to an upset of
then-No. 1 Texas in Lub-
bock.
Down by one at the Tex-
as 28-yard line, even the
drive to that point was po-
etically on brand for the air
raid offense. The Red Raid-
ers had promptly marched
34 yards on five passing
plays, all of which Mumme
says were the exact same
call.
Lined up in a four-wide
set with two receivers on
either side of the forma-
tion, Leach again called
the four verticals play he
and Mumme pioneered in
the late 1980s and early
1990s.
The look was, natural-
ly, simple. Crabtree — the
winner of the Biletnikoff
Trophy the year before
honoring college football’s
top wide receiver — was
lined up against then-soph-
omore Curtis Brown. Har-
rell just had to make the
throw.
“Everybody thinks it’s
a miracle play,” Mumme
said. “Really it’s not a mir-
acle play. It’s a routine
play. It just happened to be
with six seconds left in the
game.”
“You just execute it bet-
ter than anyone else in the
country,” Harrell added of
why the air raid’s simplici-
ty is effective. “That’s the
beauty because you’re only
practicing 20 plays too. You
run these plays against
every look, against every
blitz. You’re not trying to
call a perfect play into a
perfect defense. You’re just
calling what you do well
against anything.”
At MSU, senior K.J.
Costello is the latest signal
caller to take the reins of
the largely original air raid
offense. Over the summer,
Costello asked the Bull-
dogs’ video staff for clips of
Harrell and former Wash-
ington State quarterbacks
Gardner Minshew II and
Anthony Gordon.
A self-proclaimed “foot-
ball nerd,” the former Stan-
ford passer dissected each
frame. He took particular
note of the way Harrell
moved in the pocket and
the efficiency with which
he guided the offense.
“It’s a philosophical
difference,” Costello said
through a laugh of how it
compares to the pro-style
system he ran at Stanford.
“I could sit up here all day
and talk to you about it, but
at the end of the day we
really are just trying to do
our thing and do it fast and
do it right.”
Online there’s an al-
leged version of the play-
book Mumme brought
with him to Kentucky in
1997. He says it’s a fake.
Mumme has never had a
playbook. That’d be more
complicated than the air
raid would necessitate. In-
stead, he sides with a les-
son learned from the open-
ing track of The Eagles’
self-titled debut album:
Take It Easy.
“Mike is probably more
pure than I am at this
stuff,” Mumme said. “... It
goes back to our saying,
you have to have a great ca-
pacity for boredom. Mike
does. He doesn’t mind do-
ing the same things over
and over again. And that’s
why he’s always had great
success, particularly at
four verticals.”

Football
Continued from Page 1B

though they’re 1-2, they have
been amazing so far.”
Butler admitted the Trojans
shot themselves in the foot with
errors in losses at Houston and
at home to Itawamba Agricultur-
al. One week, the offense strug-
gled, the next, the defense had
its issues.
But New Hope’s win over Ab-
erdeen validated the Trojans’ ef-
forts, Tackett said.
“We’ve felt like for several
weeks there like we’ve been
right there on the cusp,” he said.
“To win there Friday night kind
of gave us more motivation to
keep going the way we’re going
as a team.”
Columbus, though still win-
less, feels that way, too. With the
Falcons’ late start to summer
workouts — they got going in
early July, more than a month
behind New Hope and other
schools — Pulphus said he
views the 2020 season on a dif-
ferent timeline.
Week 1 against Louisville, he
said, was like the team’s spring
game. Week 2 in Lexington
was the Falcons’ first preseason
game. And last week in Southav-
en was a tune-up for district play.
It’s why Pulphus said he sees
Columbus’ record at 0-0 rather
than 0-3 headed into Friday. But
he won’t be able to say the same
should the Falcons lose to their
county rivals.
“As a district game, it’s very
important,” Conner said. “We’ve
got a chance to go out and start
1-0 in district.”
The Falcons can do that
against an opponent they know
very well. Conner said he’s
friends with several New Hope
players; Harris played for the
Falcons’ Pee Wee team and
knows basically everyone who
will be on the opposite sideline.
“To the community, it means
a lot,” Tackett said. “All these
young men know each oth-
er. They grew up playing ball
against each other.”
That doesn’t just apply to the
players, either. Pulphus was
an assistant at New Hope a few
years before taking over at Co-
lumbus starting with the 2019
season, and he still counts sev-
eral of the people he met at the
school among his friends. For
defensive line coach Marcus
Johnson — a New Hope grad-
uate — the connection is even
more personal.
The rivalry, clearly, brings
plenty of motivation for both
schools. Tackett, though, said
that excitement has been there
all season for the Trojans, no
matter the opponent; Friday’s
big game is just the next time
they’ll get to show it.
“These guys are just ready
to get out there and compete
again,” Tackett said.

Jackson
Continued from Page 1B

“They’re pretty good,”
he thought.
Noxubee County, too,
had just won a state cham-
pionship that season, but
Jackson ultimately decid-
ed on a change.
“I didn’t know how
I was going to feel,” he
said, “so I just took the
chance.”
He enrolled at the
school for his sophomore
year and set out from Ma-
con on the first day, smil-
ing ear to ear when he
and Nicholson met for the
first time.
“You could tell he was
very excited about his op-
portunity to come here
and be a part of this,”
Nicholson said.
In Jackson’s new lock-
er room, happy to see
his arrival, his new team-
mates screamed his name
to welcome him in — “just
like family,” he said.
He already knew his
choice to transfer was
going to pay off, and that
feeling never wavered.
“It’s been the best de-
cision of my life,” Jackson
said.
Right away, he got on
the field. In the first game
of the season, against
Lamar School, Jackson
came in for one play. He
didn’t get a carry, just
a blocking assignment.
There was a penalty on
the play.
But Jackson wasn’t
concerned about when his
role might grow bigger.
He just stayed patient.
“I’ve been on the side-
line before,” he said. “I
knew when my chance
came, I had to seize the
opportunity.”
Building up
The shot Jackson was
waiting for came sooner
than he expected. A lot
sooner.
Though seniors Taylor
Arnold, Will Miller and
Nason Heflin were all
ahead of the newcomer
on the depth chart, Mill-
er and Heflin began to
spend more time playing
defense, and Jackson’s
role increased.
In the Vols’ next game,
against French Camp
Academy, he earned
eight carries. Against
Pillow Academy in Week
7, he started and did well
enough to be named the
Brian McCaskill State
Farm Player of the Week.
He went for 115 yards and
two touchdowns against
Canton Academy the
week after that.
When all three seniors
graduated in 2019, Jack-
son seized his chance to
be SA’s feature back.
His familiarity with
his no-longer-new team
improved, too.
“I was pretty quiet
when I came in,” Jackson
said. “Now I’m used to
everybody; everybody’s
used to me. … We’re
tight.”
But after he helped
Starkville Academy
make comeback after
comeback — turning
on the jets to beat Mag
Heights, Lamar and Ad-
ams County Christian
late — in its run to the
state title game, Jackson
suddenly found himself
staring an abrupt end to
his football career in the
face.
When COVID-19 hit
in March and shut down
just about everything,
Jackson was almost sure
he wouldn’t get one last
year to take the field.
But he still made
preparations for a strong
return. He worked out
wherever he could, com-
ing to C.E. Logan Field
almost every day to im-
prove his conditioning,
practice running back
drills and catch passes.
Charlie Cox, Randall
Futral, Brody Pierce,
Porter Skelton and other
players joined Jackson,
but the running back’s
ethic was unmatched.
“That’s him putting in
the time, putting in the
effort and continuing to
work hard,” Nicholson
said.
This fall, that effort
has paid off in new ways
for Jackson. He scored
three touchdowns in
a road win over Mag
Heights on Sept. 11; he
went for over 300 yards in
the loss to Leake.
Nicholson said Jack-
son’s huge outings
make the Vols’ run of-
fense dominant and cre-
ates opportunities to ex-
cel in the passing game,
too.
“He’s a huge part of
the offense,” Nicholson
said. “He makes us go.
We’re a running foot-
ball team, and when
you’ve got a running
back who’s putting up
those kinds of numbers,
it really does some good
things.”
Great expectations
After more than a
year and a half of great
production as Starkville
Academy’s starting run-
ning back, Jackson’s
lofty goals have become
evident to Nicholson.
“We know what we
have with him, we know
what we expect from
him, and he has high ex-
pectations for himself,”
the coach said.
But next up for Jack-
son is one of the few
goals he has yet to
achieve: winning a state
title for the first time.
Jackson said he
thinks it’s possible this
year for the Vols, who
are 2-2 with close loss-
es to Lamar and Leake,
but they must keep “a
level head” to do so.
Starkville Academy had
more than 500 yards of
offense against the Reb-
els last week but still lost
49-45, and they need to
be even more dominant
on offense and better on
defense going forward.
“That’s what we’re
working toward every
game, every week,”
Jackson said.
If he can put his name
out there in the play-
offs or state champion-
ship game — or excel
in camps come spring
2021 — he should have
the opportunity to reach
another milestone: re-
ceiving an offer to play
football in college.
Despite his produc-
tion, Jackson hasn’t had
any luck yet. But his
coach knows Jackson is
too good for that to last:
At some point, Jackson
will have an opportuni-
ty.
“His time will come,”
Nicholson said. “His
chance will come.”
4B THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Braves beat Marlins again 9-4, but Fried hurt in 1st inning
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS tials ahead of starting While Fried didn’t and getting an apparent
Game 1 in the first- appear to be hurt on the pep talk from teammate
ATLANTA — Max round series. He lasted bunt, he wasn’t the same Freddie Freeman. While
Fried sat glumly in the only only one inning, pitcher after the play. the decision to remove
dugout after the first in- tweaking an ankle while Having gone the en- Fried was described as
ning, pondering anoth- fielding a bunt down the tire season without al- precautionary, it creat-
er potential blow to the third-base line by Star- lowing a homer, cover- ed more uncertainty for
Atlanta Braves’ belea- ling Marte. ing 55 2/3 innings, Fried the Braves, who have
guered rotation with the Atlanta manager Bri- suddenly gave up two in struggled all season to
NL playoffs just a week an Snitker said he didn’t a row. Jesus Aquilar hit find three other consis-
away. think the injury was se- one off the facade of the tent starters to go with
Dansby Swanson hit a rious, but he didn’t want second deck, Brian An- Fried.
three-run homer and the to take any chances giv- derson drove one into Atlanta bounced back
Braves cruised to their en the problems putting the empty center-field with three runs in the
third straight win over together an effective ro- seats, and Garrett Coo- bottom of the first to en-
the Miami Marlins, 9-4 tation after Fried. per nearly made it three sure Fried wouldn’t take
on Wednesday night in a “He wanted to give in a row with a double off his first loss. He fin-
game overshadowed by it a try,” Snitker said. the wall. ished the regular season
Fried’s early exit with an “But I was like, ‘If you “Obviously, it bit him 7-0 with a 2.25 ER A.
ankle injury. don’t think you can go, a little bit,” Snitker said. Luke Jackson (2-0)
The Braves ace was we’re not going to screw “I’m sure it was on his earned the win, allow-
making his final regu- around with anything mind, too.” ing two runs in four in-
lar-season start for the like that.’ All we need is The left-hander got nings after taking over
NL East champions, for him to go out there, the third out, then sat for Fried. It matched the
hoping to boost his Cy try to get by and hurt his solemnly in the dugout longest outing of Jack-
Young Award creden- arm.” while talking to Snitker son’s career.
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
I’m a
35-year-
old single mom.
I’ve dated a few
people over the
last seven years,
but none of them
wanted to commit.
Several months
ago, I started
seeing “Joey,” a
ZITS friend of a couple
of years. He’s
sweet, respectful,
hardworking, and
he helps me when-
ever I need it. Dear Abby
Joey is on the
heavy side, but he’s clean and
kempt. I introduced him to my
mom, and she continues to say
he is “gross.” She refers to him
only as “that man” and never by
his name. He has always been
very polite and has never said
anything to her out of the way.
GARFIELD My son and I have lived with
Mom ever since my divorce, and
I have helped her out with more
than my share of the bills and
groceries. I’m currently trying to
buy a house, but the market is
competitive with the low inter-
est rates. I work full time, take
great care of my son and do lots
of chores around the house.
How can I convince my
mother to accept Joey, or
should I ignore what she says
as long as he’s good to my son
and me? — FOUND A GOOD GUY
IN THE SOUTH
CANDORVILLE
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept.
24). There’s a quiet power build-
ing in you. The next 10 weeks
will bring social victories, style
changes and lifestyle improve-
ments. Polish your talents with
vigor. You’ll follow all leads in
January and one connects you
to a rocket blasting off. The joys
of 2021 are made all the richer
by recent lessons and discov-
BABY BLUES eries. Taurus and Pisces adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 9,
12, 38, 7 and 39.
ARIES (March 21-April
19). You only had to touch the
hot stove once to know what
that was all about. You’ll find
yourself in the same position of
curiosity with a person who, like
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
FAMILY CIRCUS
“That was huge for
us,” Snitker said. “I’m
glad he picked up the
win. He deserved it. He
did a great job coming in
and shutting them down
like that.”
There are no con-
cerns about the Atlanta
offense. One night af-
ter clinching their third
straight division title,
the Braves dealt anoth-
er blow to Miami’s pre-
carious playoff hopes by
knocking around bud-
ding young star Sixto
Sanchez.
Ozzie Albies and
Adeiny Hechavarría,
making a rare start,
drove in two runs apiece.
Swanson broke the game
open with his ninth ho-
mer of the season, a 401-
foot, opposite-field drive
DEAR FOUND:
Nothing you can
do will make
your mother
accept Joey. Most
parents judge
the men in their
daughters’ lives
by how they treat
their daughters,
rather than a
number on the
scale. Has it oc-
curred to you that
she may be afraid
your relationship
with Joey could
develop to the
point you will no
longer be around to do chores
and help her with the bills?
From your description of
him, “that man” is definitely a
keeper. As long as he is good to
you and your son and you care
for him, please don’t allow your
mother to discourage you. As
an adult, it’s important to make
your own decisions and live your
own life without interference.
DEAR ABBY: My younger
sister is a bipolar, narcissis-
tic, psychotic, evil woman
with bachelor’s and master’s
degrees in psychology and
counseling. She has hated me
from birth. I know exactly what
she is, and she can’t stand that
I do.
She spreads lies about me
because our mother was alive
for my wedding and not for
hers and, according to her, it’s
that stove, will teach you on the
first go around.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
Of all the consumables avail-
able in the world, none will give
you the enrichment you crave
today. This can only be found
in nonmaterial things, which is
to say, treasures of the heart
and soul.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
You’ll be intrigued by something
that promises to progress in
difficulty. There’s a sweet spot
of challenge to be met. If the
task is too hard, then you’ll
disengage. And if it’s too easy,
then that goes double.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
People who think, believe and
into the Braves bullpen
off Josh Smith (1-1) to cap
a five-run fourth.
The second-place Mar-
lins lost their fourth in a
row, dropping to 28-28
with four games left in
the shortened regular
season. They are a half-
game ahead of the Phil-
adelphia Phillies, trying
desperately to hang on
for their first playoff ap-
pearance since winning
the World Series in 2003.
“I’m not concerned
about them totally falling
apart,” manager Don Mat-
tingly said. “Obviously
we need to win games, so
you have to be concerned
to the point of where we
have to win some games.
You can’t limp your way
in. From this point, we
have to win.”
my fault. (Mama died 10 years
ago.) I made her maid of honor
at my wedding and godmother
to my child, but no matter what
I do, she complains to anyone
who will listen about what a
horrible person she thinks I am.
Because of her education, fam-
ily members believe everything
she says without question.
Our adult lives have been
spent with her shutting me
out and gossiping about me
to extended family. How can I
convince my relatives to listen
to me? I have no one on my side
when it comes to her because
the family knows about her
mental health issues and tell
me to get over it. I can’t! Please
help me. — CAN’T GO ON LIKE
THIS
DEAR CAN’T GO ON: That
your sister has graduate
degrees in psychology and
counseling does not guaran-
tee that she isn’t mentally ill.
Your relatives are aware of her
mental health issues and have
advised you not to overreact.
Perhaps you should take that
to heart.
Find another godmother for
your child, because clearly this
one is unsuitable, and spend
as little time around your sister
as you can. If necessary, start
replacing unsupportive family
members with friends you can
trust to be supportive. The only
thing you should NOT do is con-
tinue to allow your sick sister to
rule your life.
behave as you do are, well,
geniuses, of course! You’ll have
the opportunity to spend more
time with such people if you set
it up today.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You
think you’re bothered by what’s
happening, but what you’re real-
ly bothered by is your judgment
of it. Perhaps, you’ve assigned
a disempowering meaning to it,
but you can change your mind
about that.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Wanting to make people happy
isn’t an intrinsically negative
quality, though you’d be wise to
poke around at your motives for
doing so. If you think you must
do and be more to earn the
relationship, back off and do
less instead.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
However strong passions may
burn, that does not automatical-
ly lend the knowledge to make
a thing happen. But at least
it’s an excuse to reach out for
answers.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). Trying to do everything at
once will lead to accomplishing
nothing or worse, mistakes
that set you back, nullifying the
progress you’ve already made.
Focus on one task until it’s
done.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). All things being equal,
you’d prefer if others would find
you interesting. It takes more
work to be interesting, but since
you love the way it pays off,
you’ll make every effort.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). According to Socrates, the
two tragedies of life are not to
get your heart’s desire or to get
your heart’s desire. Today brings
an interesting compromise that
helps you escape either tragedy.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). You seek to attract a
certain sort of person. Because
you know so much about who
this is, including likes, dislikes,
needs and wants, you can mold
your offerings accordingly.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). In this dance, the other
person isn’t following the same
choreographer as you. It’s a
little out of step. There’s a dip
without support, a leap without
a catch. Change your part or
embrace it as lopsided art.
Extended family
SOLUTION:
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 5B

Business
Americans load up on candy,
trick or treat — or not
Halloween is the biggest holiday of the year
for candy makers, followed closely by Christmas
and Easter with Valentine’s Day a distant fourth
BY DEE-ANN DURBIN
AP Business Writer
Americans may not know if trick
or treating will happen this year be-
cause of the pandemic, but they’re
buying a lot of Halloween candy
while they wait to find out.
U.S. sales of Halloween candy
were up 13 percent over last year in
the month ending Sept. 6, accord-
ing to data from market research
firm IRI and the National Confec-
tioners Association. That’s a bigger
jump than the usual single-digit in-
creases. Sales of Halloween choco-
late alone are up 25 percent.
Earlier Halloween displays at
some chains, like dollar stores,
Meijer and ShopRite, likely helped
boost sales. But Americans may
also be in a mood to celebrate after
months of pandemic anxiety.
Cassandra Ambrosius, who
lives in central Wisconsin, was
surprised to see bags of Halloween
candy at the grocery in early Sep-
tember; her husband snapped one
up. She expects to buy more bags
as Halloween gets closer, because
she thinks people in her neighbor-
hood will figure out how to trick or
treat safely.
“I’m sure people are just excited
for a little sense of normalcy,” Am-
brosius said.
That enthusiasm is good news
for candy companies, which rely on
the 10-week Halloween period for
nearly 14 percent of their annual
$36 billion in U.S. sales. Halloween
is the biggest holiday of the year for
candy makers, followed closely by
Christmas and Easter. Valentine’s
Day is a distant fourth.
Ferrara Candy Co., which makes
Brach’s Candy Corn, says it saw on-
line demand three months earlier
than usual. Some stores also asked
Ferrara for earlier shipments.
But while early demand are
strong, sales in late October could
suffer if the coronavirus clamps
down on trick or treat. Fifty-five
percent of Mars Wrigley’s Hallow-
een candy sales usually happen in
the last two weeks of October, says
Tim LeBel, the company’s chief
Halloween officer and head of U.S.
sales.
New York’s governor recently
announced that he won’t ban trick
or treating in the state. But some
cities, like Springfield, Massachu-
setts, and Antigo, Wisconsin, have
called it off. Big Halloween events
at places like Disney World and Sa-
lem, Massachusetts aren’t happen-
ing.

Mars drops Uncle Ben’s, reveals new name for rice brand
BY ALEX ANDRA OLSON
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK — The
Uncle Ben’s rice brand is
getting a new name: Ben’s
Original.
Parent firm Mars
Inc. unveiled the change
Wednesday for the
70-year-old brand, the
latest company to drop a
logo criticized as a racial
stereotype. Packaging
with the new name will hit
stores next year.
“We listened to our
associates and our cus-
tomers and the time is
right to make meaningful
changes across society,”
said Fiona Dawson, global
president for Mars Food,
multisales and global
customers. “When you
are making these chang-
es, you are not going to
please everyone. But it’s
about doing the right
thing, not the easy thing.”
Several companies
have retired racial im-
agery in recent months,
a ripple effect from the
Black Lives Matters pro-
tests over the police kill-
ing of George Floyd and
other African Americans.
Quaker Oats an-
nounced in June that it
would drop Aunt Jemima
from syrup and pancake
packages, responding to
criticism that the charac-
ter’s origins were based
the “mammy,” a black
woman content to serve
her white masters. Quak-
er said packages without
Aunt Jemima will start to
appear in stores by the
end of the year, although
the company has not re-
vealed the new logo.
“It’s a chain reaction of
sorts and it’s really good
and interesting to see so
much introspection being
done in these companies
to change the trademarks
that they’ve invested in,”
said Riché Richardson,
an associate professor of
African American litera-
ture at Cornell University,
who called for Aunt Jemi-
ma’s retirement five years
ago in a New York Times
opinion piece. “There is a
challenge for some people
in letting go of these im-
ages because they wrong-
ly link them with a sense
of Black identity and em-
powerment when in re-
ality these images have
never empowered Black
people.”

Wells Fargo CEO apologizes for comments about diversity

BY KEN SWEET Scharf said in a memo ported by Reuters, led to
AP Business Writer to employees “there is a an intense backlash in
very limited pool of Black Washington and on social
NEW YORK — Wells talent to recruit from” in media.
Fargo CEO Charles corporate America. The
Scharf apologized “Perhaps it is the CEO
memo was written in
Wednesday for comments of Wells Fargo who lacks
June, but became public
he made suggesting it is only this week. the talent to recruit Black
difficult to find qualified The comments and workers,” said Rep. Alex-
Black executives in the similar statements made andra Ocasio-Cortez of
financial industry. in a Zoom meeting, re- New York, on Twitter.

BUILDING PERMITS
City of Columbus
Sept. 14-18, 2020
■ Dutch Oil Company; 3101
Highway 45 North; dumpster
enclosure; same
■ Ben and Sonja Ferrell;
410 6th Avenue South; erect
storage shed; Gene Reid
Construction
■ Columbus Housing Author-
ity, 412 15th Avenue South;
Repair car impact damage;
Roberts Builders Inc
■ Columbus Housing Author-
ity, 505 Avenue B; renovate
fire/smoke damage; Roberts
Builders Inc
■ Columbus Housing Authori-
ty, 608 Avenue A; renovate fire
damage; Roberts Builders Inc
■ CRM Inc; 618 Alabama
Street; wall and two re-
strooms; Ray Oglesby
■ M2D2 Investments; 152 &
158 South McCrary Road; fire
sprinkler system; McIlwain
Services
■ Burt Rentals Inc.; 1204
Main Street; remodel for offic-
es; Emmanuel Moore
■ Will Sanders; 3424 Military
Road; electrical; Ables Electric
Jay Shows Electric
■ Columbus Partners LP; 300
South Lehmberg Road, Apt 56;
electrical, Vertis Lee
■ City of Columbus; 909 20th
Street North; mechanical;
Patterson HVAC
■ Columbus Housing Author-
ity; 412 15th Avenue South;
mechanical; Patterson HVAC
■ Columbus Housing Authori-
ty; 505 Avenue B; mechanical;
Patterson HVAC
■ Columbus Housing Authori-
ty; 608 Avenue A; mechanical;
Patterson HVAC
■ Mack Smith; 177 Ponderosa
Drive; plumbing; Ralph Shaw
Plumbing
■ Michael and Robin Balthis;
1182 Island Road; Plumbing;
Ralph Shaw Plumbing
■ S&R Property Company
LLC; 1402 8th Avenue North;
plumbing; P&H Plumbing
■ Tony Givens; 268 Yorkville
Road West; plumbing; same
■ Mayurkumar and Dipika
Patel; 2329 Martin Luther
King Jr.; plumbing; Ralph Shaw
Plumbing
■ Curtis Davis; 806 17th
Street North; plumbing; Tabor
■ John David Hardy; 1821 W.
Lindsey Ferry Road; construct
pole barn; owner
■ Ryan Musgrove; 1819
Phillips Hill Road; remodel s/f
residence; owner
■ David Honnell; 8061 Hwy
12 E.; set up mobile home;
Collins Electric
■ David Honnell; 8061 Hwy
12 E.; move up mobile home;
Mills Home Center
■ Gentry Sanford; Lake
Lowndes Road; construct
s/f residence; Clardy Home
Development
■ Hunter and Sydney Austin;
Pleasant Hill Road; construct
s/f residence; Michael Scott
Swain
■ Robert and Jodi Butler;
Quail Ridge; construct s/f resi-
dence; Michael Scott Swain
LOCAL GAS PRICES
Source: gasbuddy.com
COLUMBUS
1.83 MURPHY USA
1913-A US-45 N
1.85 SPRINT3115 US-45 N

■ Anthony O’Neal; 2405 11th

1.86 KROGER
Plumbing
Avenue North; electrical; 1829 US-45 N
Jimmie Chism
■ James Sigers; 931 Deena Lowndes County
Drive; electrical; Jimmie Chism Sept. 23, 2020 STARKVILLE
■ Jackson Square LLC; 2003
highway 45 North; electrical;
■ Billy Edmonson; 14412 Hwy
12 E.; set up mobile home, 1.69 76 500 MS-12 W

Wofford Electric owner

■ Vasco Properties Inc; 905
Alabama Street; electrical; jay
■ Billy Edmonson; 14412 Hwy
12 E.; move up mobile home,
1.69 WALMART
105 Market St.

1.69 MURPHY USA

Shows Electric Alan’s Mobile Home
■ Vasco Properties Inc; 2328 ■ Bob Latham; 32 Gladys Dr; 1012 MS-12

Highway 45 North; electrical; construct pool; SunRise Pools

Classifieds
Employment
Call us: 662-328-2424
General Help Wanted
CONSTRUCTION LABORERS
Local residential contract-
or looking for laborers. Ex-
perience preferred. Com-
petitive wages. Serious in-
quiries only. Call 662-549-
1278 for more information.
RETAIL STORE needs entry
level employee. Part time,
flexible hours, ideal for loc-
al college student. Mail let-
ter of introduction to
Blind Box 676 c/o The
Commercial Dispatch
P.0. Box 511
Columbus, MS 39703.
Licensed Cosmetologist
Needed! No booth rent. No
clientele needed. For more
info, call or text 662-312-
8727 or email
haircuts123@yahoo.com
Manufacturing
WANTED: Full Time Industri-
al Journeyman Electrician
with experience in conduit
installing, pull wire, read
drawings, repair lights,
make terminations & trou-
bleshoot electrical prob-
lems. Foreman experience
a plus. 401k, paid insur-
ance, paid holidays offered.
Valid driver’s license re-
quired. Email resume to:
job110@cdispatch.com
Maintenance Technician
needed for local manufac-
turer. Electrical back-
ground w/ mechanical ex-
perience preferred. Quali-
fied applicants should be Houses For Rent: North
familiar w/ hydraulics,
heavy machinery & PLC’s, 508 19TH STREET NORTH:
have good problem solving
skills & be flexible to work central heat & air, single
extra hours or weekends as
needed. Email resume to $775/mth. Deposit, credit
job111@cdispatch.com
Rentals
Ads starting at $25
Apts For Rent: North
FOX RUN APARTMENTS
1 & 2 BR near hospital.
$595−$645 monthly.
Military discount, pet area,
pet friendly, and furnished
corporate apts.
24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL
GYM. ON SITE SECURITY.
ON SITE MAINTENANCE.
ON SITE MANAGEMENT.
24−HOUR CAMERA
SURVEILLANCE. Benji &
Ashleigh, 662−386−4446.
Apts For Rent: West
VIP
Rentals
Apartments & Houses
1 Bedrooms
2 Bedroooms
3 Bedrooms
Furnished & Unfurnished
1, 2, & 3 Baths
Lease, Deposit
& Credit Check
viceinvestments.com
327-8555
Apts For Rent: Other
You’ll find the best deals
when you advertise
and shop here!
ads.cdispatch.com
Buy. Sell. Discover.
On the web: ads.cdispatch.com • Or call: 662-328-2424
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 n 6B
Apts For Rent: Other Mobile Homes for Rent
BE NEAR IT ALL IN
RV/MOBILE HOME SITE
East or West Columbus or
Merchandise Community
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN near CAFB, Caledonia
COLUMBUS. schools. 601−940−1397. Ads starting at $12 Ads starting at $12
2 SPACIOUS
CONDOMINIUMS NOW Burial Plots Lost & Found Items
AVAILABLE − 2BR 2BA
Real Estate
& 1BR 1 1/2 BA RENT
FROM $1000−$1350 3 BURIAL PLOTS DIAMOND PENDANT lost
PER MO. LEASE & Friendship Cemetery, South 9/14 around 10:30a at
DEP IS REQD., BLDG. West corner. $1,500 total. East Col. Post Office or
SECURITY @ Ads starting at $25 Call 662−574−5420. 11a at MUW cafeteria.
ENTRANCE, PRIV Reward if found.
PARKING, GRANITE Farms & Timberland Firewood / Fuel Call 662−574−2292 or
COUNTER TOPS, 662−327−1349.
BEAUTIFUL FLOORING, BURGESS FARM FOR FIREWOOD FOR SALE.
SS APPLIANCES, SALE. We are accepting Various lengths. Travel & Entertainment
WASHER/DRYER, sealed bids for the right to 662−295−2274.
WATER AND SEWER purchase 470 +/− acres of
INCLUDED. prime Noxubee County Furniture PUBLIC CATFISH POND
662−251−3367 farmland & mobile home @ 130 Hillcrest Drive.
Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
located on Highway 388, SPOOL CABINET, cane Open Tues−Sat, 7a−5p
662−386−8591
Brooksville, MS up to & not bottom chairs, old set of
Call for pricing.
Sudoku
china, antique table lamps,
COLEMAN
later than Friday, October
9, 2020 10:00a.m. The pewter, amber glass, Sudoku is a number- Yesterday’s answer
parcels are 153−18− collector plates & more. placing puzzle based on
RENTALS Pets 2 1 4 8 6 7 5 9 3
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
001.00, 40 acres & 153− Call 662−312−6207. Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num-
18−001.01, 431.60 ber-placing
given numbers.puzzleThe object 9 6 7 2 3 5 8 4 1
2020 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Akc German Shepard
1 BEDROOM acres. The bids will be
Puppies − Black and tan, based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 3 5 8 9 1 4 2 7 6
2 BEDROOMS
opened at 10:00 a.m. at
the office of Ricky Walker, It’s a classified very smart and great with grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 7 8 1 5 4 9 6 3 2
3 BEDROOMS Attorney−at−Law, 2962
rule-of-thumb: kids, with papers and 1st given
so thatnumbers.
each row, eachThe 6 4 2 1 8 3 7 5 9
shots, available Oct 1st,
Jefferson Street, Macon, object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place box
LEASE, MS. After all bids are We tell readers non refundable deposit
numbers
contains the1same to 9 number
in 5 3 9 6 7 2 4 1 8
© The Dispatch
opened, the top 3 bidders required, $250! $500.
DEPOSIT the empty spaces so 4 2 3 7 9 8 1 6 5
will have the opportunity to what they need 662−341−0862
only once. The difficulty
that each row, each 1 7 5 3 2 6 9 8 4
AND make a second bid. The
CREDIT CHECK
right to reject any & all bids to know to buy level increases from
column and each 8 9 6 4 5 1 3 2 7
is reserved. Accepted bid
must be approved by what they need. Five Questions: Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 9/23
662-329-2323 Probate Court. Send all
bids to Ricky Walker,
the same number only once. The difficulty level
increases from Monday to Sunday.
1 Bob Barker
Attorney−at−Law, P.O. Box
2411 HWY 45 N
Vehicles
427, Macon, MS 39341.
COLUMBUS, MS For more information call
Judy or Stan Miller,
601−260−7712 or
2 Billy the
Commercial Property For Rent 662−418−8266. Ads starting at $12
Kid
8000 SQ ft. dock height Campers & RVs
warehouse w/ office Lots & Acreage
space. $2000/month.
Call Bud Phillips 1.75 ACRE LOTS.
662−549−2302 Good/Bad Credit Options.
3 Five
Good credit as low as 20%
down, $499/mo. Eaton
Land, 662−361−7711.
4 Female
4BR/2BA, brick house,
PICKENS COUNTY, AL
carport. Available now, 180 acres in Liberty 2007 45 Luxury Newmar
Community. Good hunting Essex Diesel Pusher 30K
check, references. & road systems. $850/ miles. Sale price $34,500,
5 Vespa
Call Long & Long, acre. Other tracks Everything works properly
662−328−0770. available. Call 205−799− on it. TEXT 2283672671
9846 or 205−695−2248.
Houses For Rent: Starkville
Garage Sales
3BR/1BA house in the
country. 20 mins from
MSU. No HUD. $500/mo +
dep. 662−549−0144.
Two free signs
Houses For Rent: Other
Estate Sales
3BR/2.5BA, CUSTOM−
Place an ad safely
BUILT−HOUSE ON 40 Shuqualak Estate Sale
ACRES. 10 minutes from 30 JC Skipper Loop
CAFB, 5 minutes from West Shuqualak, MS 39361
Point. Very private. CH/A.
from home with
Sept. 25th − 27th
Fenced backyard. Ceramic Fri. & Sat. 9am−4pm
tile throughout. Pets Sun. 1pm−4pm
negotiable. No HUD. Selling the Living Estate of
the Classifieds.
$1,200/mo + $1,200 dep. Ralph & Cindy Skipper
864−634−4192 Photos & Details @
www.estatesales.net
Mobile Homes for Rent Stewart’s Estate Sales
Benny Shelton
3BR/2BA MH in New Hope. 662−251−1515
$650 dep + $650/mo. No
pets, quiet area. Leave full
Garage Sales: East
name & message,
205−712−6697.
LIVING ESTATE SALE
RENT A CAMPER!
Sat. 8a−3 & Sun. 1p−3p.
Contents of 3 b/r home. ACROSS
CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL! Great prices. Cash only.
Utilities & cable included, Must load own items. 1 Abacus unit
from $145/wk − $535/mo Masks required. Limited 5 Brief rest
Columbus & County School
locations. 662−242−7653
or 205−442−2011.
parking− Church parking lot
near home. ads.cdispatch.com 10 Yokel
11 Paleontology
1013 Bennett Ave.
find
Service Directory
12 Open space
13 Compares
14 Source of
sudden wealth
16 Sweet bev-
Promote your small business starting at only $25 erage
20 Shocked
Carpet & Flooring General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping 23 Playfully shy
A & T TREE SERVICES JESSE & BEVERLY’S 24 Big pipes
Bucket truck & stump LAWN SERVICE 25 Caribou’s
removal. Free est. Mowing, cleanup, cousin
Serving Columbus landscaping, sodding,
since 1987. Senior & tree cutting. 27 Under the coin 22 Sword part
citizen disc. Call Alvin @ 662−356−6525 weather 3 Adam’s son 25 Brother, of
242−0324/241−4447 28 Dressed in 4 Expressionless a sort
"We’ll go out on a limb for Painting & Papering
you!" 29 News story 5 Pen part 26 Like many
QUALITY PAINTING. start 6 Crooked résumés
DAVID’S CARPET & WORK WANTED: Licensed Ext/Int Painting. 32 Canadian tree 7 Try out 28 Kitchen
UPHOLSTERY & Bonded. Carpentry, minor Sheet Rock Hang, Finish &
CLEANING electrical, minor plumbing, Repair. Pressure Washing. 36 For each 8 Sermon gadget
Fall Special: 4 Rms $99 insulation, painting, demo− Free Estimates. Ask for 39 Over again subject 30 VCR button
1 Room − $50 lition, gutters cleaned, specials! Larry Webber, 40 Crab part 9 Golfer Ernie 31 Oxford parts
2 Room − $70 pressure washing, land− 662−242−4932.
3 Rooms − $90 scaping, cleanup work. 41 Candidate of 11 Act the 33 Privy to
Carpet−Rugs−Tile−Cars 662−242−3608. SULLIVAN’S PAINT 2000 coquette 34 Infamous
Call for more info!
List your business here! Ads starting at $25 SERVICE 42 Campout 15 Forest growth emperor
662−722−1758
ads.cdispatch.com. Special Prices. sights 17 File stand-in 35 Some sheep
Interior & Exterior Painting.
662−435−6528 43 Adam’s 18 Rocket part 36 Fitting
Automotive Services
grandson 19 Looked over 37 Chart model
Tree Services DOWN 20 Surrounded 38 Tourist stop
J&A TREE REMOVAL 1 Be boastful by
Work from a bucket truck. 2 Continental 21 Fancy bash
Insured/bonded.
Call Jimmy Prescott for free
estimate, 662−386−6286.
Are you a painter?
Advertise here!
In the Classifieds section.