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Thursday | January 7, 2021

Biden confirmed after pro-Trump mob storms Capitol

OCH investigates
ICU director for
tweets supporting
D.C. violence
Huxford claims 2020
election was stolen; OCH
trustees and administration
promise to take action
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com

OCH Regional Medi-

cal Center’s leaders said
Wednesday they will in-
vestigate tweets posted
by hospital intensive care
unit director that seemed
to support rioters who
stormed the U.S. Capitol
AP Photo/Julio Cortez building in Washington, Huxford
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier Wednesday at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepared D.C.
to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, thousands of people gathered to show their support for President Donald INSIDE
In multiple tweets post- n OUR VIEW:
Trump and his claims of election fraud. ed Tuesday and Wednes- Reputation
day, Dr. Cameron Huxford and credibility
Rioters were egged on by Trump, who had urged his sions high and the na-
tion’s capital on alert.
falsely claimed the 2020 are on the line
when stating
U.S. presidential election views publicly.
supporters to descend on Washington to protest Before dawn Thurs-
day, lawmakers finished
was rigged and expressed a Page 4A
desire to join Wednesday’s
Congress’ formal approval of Biden’s victory their work, confirming riot led by supporters of President Donald
Biden won the election. Trump, some of whom were armed.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS tion, undercut the nation’s democracy Vice President Mike “If I didn’t have to man the Covid wards
and keep Trump in the White House. Pence, presiding over on 1/6/2021, I’d be in the caravan headed
WASHINGTON — Congress con- Lawmakers were resolved to com- the joint session, an- Biden to Washington!” Huxford tweeted Tues-
firmed Democrat Joe Biden as the plete the Electoral College tally in a nounced the tally, 306-232. day in reference to the planned protests at
presidential election winner early display to the country, and the world, Trump, who had repeatedly re- the U.S. Capitol during Congress’ vote to
Thursday after a violent mob loyal to of the nation’s enduring commitment fused to concede the election, said in certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win in
President Donald Trump stormed the to uphold the will of the voters and a statement immediately after the vote the Electoral College.
U.S. Capitol in a stunning attempt to the peaceful transfer of power. They that there will be a smooth transition As Wednesday’s demonstration be-
overturn America’s presidential elec- pushed through the night with ten- See BIDEN, 6A See HUXFORD, 6A

Seniors SWIMMING FOR GOLD

over 75 can
now make
appointment
to receive
COVID vaccine
Campanella:
Vaccinations may move
to larger facility, have
one day added after
appointments fill up in Slim Smith/Dispatch Staff
Masha Tsvetkova, 9, gets her laps in Wednesday afternoon Downtown YMCA pool in Columbus. Tsvetkova is a member of the Swim
Oktibbeha County Columbus swim team, which is preparing for the state swim meet in February. “The breastroke is my favorite,” Tsvetkova said.
BY SLIM SMITH
ssmith@cdispatch.com

Seniors ages 75 and older will

begin receiving COVID-19 vaccina-
tions as early as today, but appoint-
ment times are quickly filling up,
just a day after the Mississippi State
Department of Health rolled out the
program.
As of this morning, 10 of the 18
sites in the state where seniors can
receive vaccines had no remaining
appointments, including in Oktib-
See VACCINE, 3A
Peco Foods will close in Brooksville, expand in West Point
Ongoing expansion will add 200 jobs at West Point site to the press release.
“Peco is working diligently to pro-
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT this morning in a press release. vide team members at the affected loca-
The chicken processing company tions with opportunities throughout the
Peco Foods will close three plants, in- currently employs 7,000 people at its company wherever possible, living out
cluding the one in Brooksville, in order 13 locations in Alabama, Arkansas and the company’s core value of doing the
to expand three more, including the one Mississippi. The plants in Canton and right thing for their people,” the press
in West Point, the company announced Philadelphia will also close, according See PECO, 3A

INSIDE FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC MEETINGS

Business 5B 1 Which British auction house Jan. 11: Lowndes Board of
Classifieds 6B beat Sotheby’s in a 2005 game Today Supervisors work session, 9
Comics 4B of rock paper scissors, for the ■ Exhibit a.m., Courthouse, facebook.
Crossword 6B right to sell a Japanese art reception: The com/LowndesCountyMissis-
Dear Abby 4B collection? Columbus Arts sippi/
Obituaries 5A 2 At what music festival did Council hosts a
the duo OutKast kick off their Jan. 11: Columbus Munici-
Opinions 4A free reception,
reunion in 2014? 5:30-7 p.m., pal School District Board of
3 What Chinese e-commerce opening “South- Trustees, 6 p.m. Brandon
giant started trading on the New
WEATHER York Stock Exchange in 2014 in
ern Expressions,”
a show by Leslie
Central Services
Jan. 15: Lowndes County
the biggest IPO of all time?
48 Low 37
Peebles in the Board of Supervisors, 9 a.m.,
4 What four awards did songwrit- main gallery.
High er Robert Lopez win to become Courthouse, facebook.com/
Breezy with rain Work by Kelsey LowndesCountyMississippi/
the youngest member of the
Full forecast on exclusive EGOT club? Cockrell will be Jan. 19: Columbus City
page 3A. 5 The most active volcano in the displayed in Artist Council, 5 p.m., Municipal
world is in what country? Alley. Stop by the
Complex, facebook.com/
Rosenzweig Arts
Center, 501 Main CityofColumbusMS/
Answers, 6B
St., Columbus. Feb. 1: Lowndes County
662-328-2787 or Bobby Neely, of Starkville, is working Board of Supervisors, 9 a.m.
columbus-arts. on windows for a historic building Courthouse, facebook.com/
141st Year, No. 255 org. renovation downtown. LowndesCountyMississippi/

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Ossoff seals Democrats’ sweep;

will be youngest US senator
Ossoff defeated Republican David Perdue in runoff
that was held Tuesday after neither he nor Perdue
received 50 percent of the vote in November
BY SUDHIN THANAWALA
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — As
a teenager, Jon Os-
soff was inspired by
the pivotal role John
Lewis played in the
fight for racial equal-
ity when the civil
rights icon was in his
Ossoff
early 20s.
He was in awe of Lewis’ life, he
told The Associated Press in De-
cember, particularly how someone
“so young” had achieved such a
prominent position as chairman of
the Student Nonviolent Coordinat-
ing Committee.
At 33, the millennial Democrat
will assume his own leadership
mantle after being one of two can-
didates to help the party sweep
Georgia’s crucial U.S. Senate run-
off elections, a victory that sealed
Democrats’ control of the chamber.
Ossoff defeated Republican David
Perdue in the runoff that was held
Tuesday after neither he nor Per-
due received 50 percent of the vote
in November.
This is Ossoff’s first election
to public office, and he will be the
youngest member of the Senate.
But he has never let youth and in-
experience be barriers to his aspi-
rations.
In 2017, at the age of 29, he ran
for Congress in Georgia in a race
closely watched as an early referen-
dum on President Donald Trump.
Though he lost, he shattered
fundraising records and made the
contest in a once reliably Repub-
lican district competitive. For his
Senate campaign, he took a sharp-
er approach. His platform was un-
abashedly liberal, calling for a $15
minimum wage, a “public option”
government health plan, and a new
voting rights act to restore federal
oversight of state election laws.
He also launched a fierce attack
on Perdue while shrugging off his
opponent’s exaggerated claim that
he was pursuing a “radical socialist
agenda.” At a debate in October,
he called the 71-year-old former
corporate executive “a crook” who
used the COVID-19 pandemic to
protect his stock portfolio while
downplaying the seriousness of the
virus. Perdue insisted the allega-
tions were false.
Ossoff is smart, has a “good
heart” and will put in the work to
be a good senator, said Sarah Riggs
Amico, a fellow Democrat who ran
for lieutenant governor in Georgia
in 2018 and challenged Ossoff in
the Senate primary.
“The reality is government func-
tions better when there are people
from a wide variety of backgrounds
who come to the table,” she said.
Voter Kaitlynn Poborsky, 28,
said she chose Ossoff because she
is looking for change and a senator
who is passionate about address-
ing the coronavirus and climate
change. She did not have concerns
about his age.
“I think we need young peo-
ple,” she said outside a polling site
in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday.
“People who are in office are too
old.”

Lawmakers vow to investigate police after Capitol breach

Representative: Breach ‘raises grave security concerns’
BY MAT THEW DALY
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — evening.
Lawmakers are vowing
an investigation into how
law enforcement han-
dled Wednesday’s violent
breach at the Capitol,
questioning whether a
lack of preparedness al-
lowed a mob to occupy
and vandalize the build-
ing.
U.S. Capitol Police,
who are charged with pro-
tecting Congress, turned
to other law enforcement
for help with the mob that
overwhelmed the com-
plex and sent lawmak-
ers into hiding. Both law
enforcement and Trump
supporters deployed
chemical irritants during
the hourslong occupation
of the complex before it
was cleared Wednesday
Four people died, one
of them a woman who
was shot and killed by
police inside the Capitol.
Three other people died
after suffering “medical
emergencies” related to
the breach, said Robert
Contee, chief of the city’s
Metropolitan Police De-
partment.
Police said 52 peo-
ple were arrested as of
Wednesday night, in-
cluding 26 on the Capitol
grounds. Fourteen police
officers were injured,
Contee said.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren,
D-Calif., chairwoman of
the House Administra-
tion Committee, said the
breach “raises grave se-
curity concerns,” adding
that her committee will
work with House and Sen-
ate leaders to review the
police response — and its
preparedness.
Lawmakers crouched
under desks and donned
gas masks while police
futilely tried to barricade
the building when peo-
ple marched to the Cap-
itol from a rally near the
White House in support of
President Donald Trump.
Washington’s mayor insti-
tuted an evening curfew
in an attempt to contain
the violence.
Rep. Val Demings,
D-Fla., a former police
chief, said it was “painful-
ly obvious” that Capitol
police “were not prepared
for today. I certainly
thought that we would
have had a stronger show
of force, that there would
have been steps taken
in the very beginning to
make sure that there was
a designated area for the
protesters in a safe dis-
tance from the Capitol.’’
In an interview with
MSNBC Wednesday
night, Demings said it ap-
peared police were woe-
fully understaffed, adding
that “it did not seem that
they had a clear opera-
tional plan to really deal
with” thousands of pro-
testers who descended
on the Capitol following
Trump’s complaints of a
“rigged election.’’

Capitol violence sparks a social media reckoning with Trump

Experts noted that the companies’ to rally loyalists, castigate
enemies and spread false
gram, which Facebook
owns, followed up in the
actions follow years of hemming and rumors.
Twitter locked Trump
evening, announcing that
Trump wouldn’t be able
hawing on Trump and his supporters out of his account for 12
hours and said that future
to post for 24 hours fol-
lowing two violations of
spreading dangerous misinformation violations by Trump could its policies. The White
result in a permanent sus- House did not immediate-
BY BARBARA ORTUTAY oric from the president. pension. The company
AND DAVID KLEPPER ly offer a response to the
On Wednesday, in an required the removal of
The Associated Press actions.
unprecedented step, the three of Trump’s tweets,
While some cheered
two companies tempo- including a short video
All it took for so- rarily suspended Trump the platforms’ actions,
in which he urged those
cial-media giants Twitter from posting to their plat- supporters to “go home” experts noted that the
and Facebook to even forms after a mob of his while also repeating false- companies’ actions follow
temporarily bar President supporters stormed the hoods about the integrity years of hemming and
Donald Trump from ad- house of Congress. It was of the presidential elec- hawing on Trump and
dressing their vast audi- the most aggressive ac- tion. Trump’s account de- his supporters spreading
ences was a violent insur- tion either company has leted those posts, Twitter dangerous misinforma-
rection at the U.S. Capitol, yet taken against Trump, said; had they remained, tion and encouraging
fueled by years of false who more than a decade Twitter had threatened to violence that have con-
statements, conspiracy ago embraced the imme- extend his suspension. tributed to Wednesday’s
theories and violent rhet- diacy and scale of Twitter Facebook and Insta- violence.

More than a week later, FBI avoids terror label for Nashville bombing
BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI
AND ERIC TUCKER
The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn.
— The FBI investigation
into whether the Nash-
ville bombing was a ter-
rorist act has sparked
criticism about a possible
racial double standard
and drawn questions from
downtown business own-
ers whose insurance cov-
erage could be affected by
the bureau’s assessment.
More than a week after
an explosion that struck at
the heart of a major Amer-
ican city, the FBI has re-
sisted labeling it an act of
terrorism, an indication
that evidence gathered so
far does not conclusively
establish that the bomber
was motivated by political
ideology — a key factor in
any formal declaration of
terrorism. The bureau is
still examining evidence
and has not announced
any conclusions, but in-
vestigators are known
to be reviewing whether
Anthony Warner believed
in conspiracy theories in-
volving aliens and 5G cell-
phone technology.
Warner died in the
Christmas Day explosion
of a recreational vehicle
that also wounded three
other people.
“When we assess an
event for domestic ter-
rorism nexus, it has to be
tied to an ideology. It’s the
use of force or violence in
the furtherance of a polit-
ical or social ideology or
event. We haven’t tied that
yet,” Doug Korneski, the
FBI agent in charge of the
agency’s Memphis office,
told reporters last week at
a news conference.
The FBI investigates
two types of terrorism
that are defined not by the
ethnicity or background
of the suspect but by the
person’s motivation or
ideology. International
terrorism involves acts by
people who are inspired
by, or acting at the direc-
tion of, foreign terrorist
organizations. Domestic
terrorism generally in-
volves politically motivat-
ed violence intended to
further a particular cause
or agenda.
The explosion in Music
City’s historic downtown
damaged more than 40
businesses.
Since then, a handful of
state and city leaders have
raised concerns about the
terrorism designation,
arguing that authorities
would have acted differ-
ently if the 63-year-old
Warner had not been a
white man.
“To those bending over
backward to not call this
an act of terror, if Warner
had been a Muslim/im-
migrant/black, will you
say the same thing or will
you be one of the millions
condemning not just him
but his entire communi-
ty?” Nashville City Coun-
cil member Zulfat Suara
tweeted just days after the
bombing.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021 3A

New Mississippi flag without rebel symbol being put into law
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves is expected to
sign the bill into law in the next several days
BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — Mississippi
is updating its laws to include
a new state flag with a magno-
lia and the phrase “In God We
Trust,” six months after legisla-
tors ditched the last state flag in
the U.S. that had the Confeder-
ate battle emblem.
Voters approved the mag-
nolia flag in November after a
commission recommended the
design.
Legislators must put a de-
scription of the new flag into
law. Senators on Wednesday
voted 38-7 to pass such a bill, a
day after the House voted 119-1.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves
is expected to sign the bill into
law in the next several days.
After that, officials will have a
ceremony to raise the new flag
at the Capitol.
The magnolia blossom on
the new flag is encircled by
white stars representing Mis-
sissippi as the 20th state, plus
a single gold star representing
Native Americans. The gold
star is made of diamond shapes
that are significant to the Choc-
taw culture. The flag also has
gold stripes representing the
artistic heritage of state that
has produced blues great B.B.
King, and Nobel Prize-winning
novelist William Faulkner.
Democratic state Sen. Juan
Barnett of Heidelberg, who is
Black and a military veteran,
said the old flag with the Con-
federate symbol divided the
state but the new flag unites it.
“Those individuals like me
who can go off and defend this
country ... and come home to
a state that is not divided any-
more, a state that has decided
to come together — it has to
feel good to those young men
and women,” Barnett said after
the Senate vote Tuesday. “It has
to feel good to know that I can
come back home not just to the
United States of America but to
the united state of Mississippi.”
Mississippi had used the
same flag since 1894. The up-
per left corner had the Confed-
erate battle emblem — a red
field topped by a blue X with 13
white stars. Critics said for gen-
erations that the banner was a
racist symbol that failed to rep-
resent a state with the largest
percentage of Black residents
in the nation.
Voters chose to keep the
Confederate-themed flag in
a 2001 election, but all of the
state’s public universities and
several cities and counties had
stopped flying the flag in recent
years. Conservative politicians,
including Reeves, had long
said if the flag was going to be
changed, it should only be done
by another referendum.
Momentum to change the
flag built quickly in June as
protests against racial injus-
tice took place across the U.S.
after Minneapolis police killed
George Floyd, a Black man in
their custody. Young activists
and groups representing busi-
ness, education, religion and
sports — including the Missis-
sippi Baptist Convention and
the Southeastern Conference
— lobbied legislators to dump
the old flag and come up with
a new one that could represent
the diverse state.
After emotional debates,
legislators voted in late June to
make the change, and Missis-
sippi has been a state without
a flag for several months. The
bill that retired the old flag
specified that a commission
would design a new one that
could not include Confederate
imagery and must have “In God
We Trust,” and that the single
proposed design would go on
the ballot for a yes-or-no vote.
About 71 percent of people who
voted in November said yes to
the change.
Republican Sen. Melanie So-
journer of Natchez voted Tues-
day against putting the new flag
into law because she wanted to
keep flag with the Confeder-
ate symbol. Sojourner, who is
white, also objected the magno-
lia design being the only option
on the ballot.
“I vowed to the people in my
district that I would stand by
their right to have a choice,” So-
journer said.
Hours after the Senate vote,
about 30 demonstrators stood
on the south steps of the Mis-
sissippi Capitol to show their
support for President Donald
Trump and to call for another
state flag election that would in-
clude the retired banner. Some
carried Trump flags and some
carried the old flag with the
Confederate symbol.

Vaccine
Continued from Page 1A
beha County. In Lowndes
County, an appointment
is not available until Jan.
28. In both counties, vac-
cines are distributed at
the county health depart-
ments.
Oktibbeha County
Emergency Services
Director
K risten
Campanella
said more
vaccination
dates will
be added
in the near
future and Campanella
that testing
in the county may soon be
shifted to a larger facility.
Mississippi Horse Park
Director Bricklee Miller,
who also serves as coun-
ty supervisor for District
4, said she has talked to
Campanella about using
the facility for vaccines,
but that decision has not
been made yet.
“When I looked earlier
today, the first appoint-
ment I could find here was
on Jan. 20,” Campanella
said. “They are obviously
filling up very fast. At the
start, the vaccinations are
being done on Wednes-
days and Fridays (9 a.m.-4
p.m.), but I expect a third
day will be added pretty
soon and we’re definitely
working on finding a larg-
er place.”
The free vaccines are
available through ap-
pointment only by visiting
cov idv ac c i ne .u mc .edu
online or by calling 877-
978-6453. Prior to now,
vaccinations were avail-
able only to health care
workers and long-term
care facility residents.
Those visiting the on-
line site are first directed
to a page that asks if you
are a health care worker.
After clicking “no,” visi-
tors are asked if they are
age 75 or older, then must
answer seven screening
questions before being
taken to a page that lists
the sites where the vac-
cinations are being per-
Paul Ackerman, 87, of Columbus, said he’ll definitely
take the COVD-19 vaccination now that it is available to
seniors over age 75. “This is what we’ve been waiting
for,” he said.
formed. Any highlighted
site means appointments
are still available at that
site. Those not highlight-
ed have no remaining vac-
cination slots available.
Vaccinations in Lown-
des County are held on
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Vaccination programs
have yet to be set up in
cinated, you have to be flu,” she said. “The worst
under observation for 15 thing about it was I had
minutes in case there are to stay cooped up in my
side effects. That’s what house for 14 days. Every
slows the process down. time I wanted to sneak out
It takes about 20 minutes (my son) would give me a
or so.” sermon.”
Annette McElrath, 78, Paul Ackerman
of Columbus said she has learned of the vaccination
no plans to get the vac-
for those 75 and older as
cine.
he was working out on the
“I’m not able to be vac-
cinated because of my treadmill at the downtown
heart and my blood situ- YMCA in Columbus.
ation,” McElrath said. “I “Terrific,” said Acker-
can’t even get the flu shot.” man, 87. “I’ll definitely get
Slim Smith/Dispatch Staff She said she had con- the vaccine. Why wouldn’t
tracted the virus in De- I? That’s what we’ve all
cember. been waiting on all this
“It was a lot like the time, right?”
Clay or Noxubee counties.
Campanella said one of
the difficulties in vaccinat-
ing large numbers of peo-
ple is time required.
“There is some pa-
perwork involved, even
though the vaccination
itself only takes a few sec-
onds,” Campanella said.
“But once you are vac-

Peco
Continued from Page 1A
release reads.
Peco will also expand
its facilities in Sebastopol
and Pocahontas, Arkan-
sas, in order to “expand
value-added product lines
and meet rising demands
for customer-driven, inno-
vative foods,” according to
the press release.
“By streamlining our
operations, we can contin-
ue building a sustainable
company that will support
the families and communi-
ties of our team members
and customers for years
to come,” Chief Operating
Officer Bill Griffith said in
the press release.
Both the West Point
and Brooksville facilities
are “further” processing
plants, meaning they pro-
duce “value-added prod-
ucts like chicken nuggets
and breaded filets” rath-
er than plain processed
meats.
The plant in Brooks-
ville employs 275 people,
and the one in West Point
employs 44 but will add
200 more over the course
of three years when the
addition of a par-fry facili-
ty is complete. Par-frying
(short for partial frying) is
the first step in the frying
process, and the food is
frozen, packaged and dis-
tributed afterward. The fa-
cility has been under con-
struction since late 2019.
Joe Max Higgins, CEO
of the Golden Triangle
Development LINK, told
The Dispatch he supports
Peco’s repositioning ef-
forts.
“The past year has
been tre-
mendously
difficult for
compa n ies
all over
the Golden
Tr i a n g l e ,”
Higgins
said. “We’re Higgins
com m it ted
to supporting Peco Foods
as they position them-
selves to be successful
and remain committed
to our communities to
make sure that everyone
who wants a job has a job.
We’re working with the
company on the addition-
al investment at the West
Point facility and making
sure team members in
the Brooksville facility
get placed quickly.”
Peco’s other Missis-
sippi facilities are in Lake
and Bay Springs, and all
seven locations in the
state have a total of about
3,600 employees.

AREA ARRESTS

King Jr. Jackson Jones Mosley Hamilton Kemp

The following arrests
were made by the Oktib-
beha County Sheriff’s Of-
fice:
n John King Jr., 35,
was charged with attempt
to commit a crime and
armed robbery. SOLUNAR TABLE
Williams Hairston Kelly Quinn The solunar period indicates
n Desmen Jackson, peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Thurs. Fri.
32, was charged with two sion of a controlled sub- dering prosecution, driv- Major 7:38p 8:31p
Minor 2:39a 3:49a
counts sale of cocaine and stance. ing on a suspended license Major 8:04a 8:58a
bond surrender. n Harold Kemp, 40, and DUI 2nd. Minor 2:19p 2:58p
Courtesy of Mississippi Department

n Christopher Jones, was charged with posses- n Michael Kelly, 51, of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

28, was charged with do-
mestic violence-aggravat-
ed assault.
n Danaye Mosley, 20,
was charged with domes-
tic violence-aggravated
assault.
n Edwin Hamilton, 65,
was charged with posses-
sion of a controlled sub-
stance.
n Emilio Williams, 28,
was charged with aggra-
vated assault and disorder-
ly conduct.
n Shanquenna Hair-
ston, 28, was charged with
assault on an officer, hin-
was charged with sexual
battery, burglary of a resi-
dence, aggravated domes-
tic assault and stalking.
n Martin Quinn, 43,
was charged with two
counts receiving stolen
property and possession
of paraphernalia.
The Dispatch
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Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
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Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
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Opinion
4A THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

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

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

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

OUR VIEW

Reputation and credibility are on the line when stating views publicly
A
mericans watched in
horror Wednesday
afternoon as a mob
descended on the nation’s
Capitol, smashing windows,
assaulting Capitol police and
vandalizing offices and spaces.
Within hours, law enforcement
cleared the Capitol grounds
of the violent rioters, but
not before four people were
confirmed dead and multiple
suspected explosive devices
in the area were dispatched by
the FBI. This is what domestic
terrorism looks like.
It was the first successful
assault on our nation’s Capitol
since British troops invaded
and burned the Capitol on
Aug. 24, 1814 during the War
of 1812. Since then, no matter
how divided and threatened
our nation has been, the
Capitol stood, a symbol of our
nation’s strength, resolve and
permanence.
Even in the early years of
the Civil War, when Wash-
ington was under the threat
of invasion by Confederate
forces, the Capitol was not
breached. Yet on Wednesday,
a photo of a rioter carrying a
Confederate flag inside the
Capitol was widely distributed,
its bearer having achieved in
a few hours what Rebel forces
had been unable to do in four
years of war.
What unfolded Wednesday
was a heart-breaking and
sobering scene for those who
love our country.
There were, sadly, excep-
tions - a misguided few who
celebrated the action of the
rioters.
Most publicly prominent
among them locally was Dr.
Cameron Huxford, Director
of the Intensive Care Unit at
Oktibbeha County Hospital.
Responding to a tweet that
read “This feels like terror-
ism,” Huxford replied in a
now-deleted tweet, “What’s
happened on November 3 by
the stealing of the election was
domestic terrorism!. Wish I
was there (with) them. Free-
dom isn’t free!”
Huxford’s first comment is
false. Claims of fraud in the
election have been universally
rejected for lack of evidence.
No fewer than 60 courts have
made that abundantly clear. So
has the FBI and the attorney
general of the United States.
State legislatures in every
state have confirmed the elec-
tion results as valid.
It is his second comment
that is most disturbing, howev-
er. As violent rioters invaded
our nation’s Capitol, endanger-
ing lives, destroying property
and showing the world a por-
trait of America as a banana
republic, Huxford applauded
from the sidelines.
Americans are entitled to
their views, no matter how
abhorrent. All they risk is their
own reputation and credibility.
But Huxford is an employee
of a county-owned hospital.
In this case, as it was in July
when Huxford sought to un-
dermine public health efforts
to make wearing a mask man-
datory in the city of Starkville,
Huxford’s actions undermine
the credibility of his employer
and damage its reputation by
what can only be described as
a disgusting show of support
for criminals.
Huxford’s comments bring
shame on the hospital and
undermines public confidence
in the hospital. OCH adminis-
tration should take that very
seriously.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE CARTOONIST VIEW

The people who assaulted the Capitol
will still exist on Jan. 21
Yesterday was the culmination of the
fears that the President’s candidacy was
enough to spark in me back in 2015. But
I had no plans to write. I know we live in
the Deep South, but I thought, probably
naively, that seeing the confederate flag
being paraded in the Capitol building
ought to have been enough, that it was
so obvious. And saying “I told you so”
would not have helped at all.
But then I learned that a lot of people
were blaming the takeover of the Capitol
Building on Antifa. Apparently, the truth
was not obvious to everyone, after all.
If you take the time to check legiti-
mate news sources – not Facebook or
your Twitter feed, but a legitimate media
(Fox News would have been sufficient)
– the picture should become clear. I sin-
cerely doubt the President would release
a video telling Antifa that he loves them
and that they are special. After all, he,
with help from Rudy Giuliani, was the
one who urged them to go. That’s all on
camera.
Some Republican senators came to
their senses afterwards and reversed
their earlier decisions to object to the
Electoral College. Shamefully, our own
Senator, Cindy Hyde-Smith, was not
among them. Perhaps she felt safe under
the cover of darkness. Seems to me the
political winds are more than she can
handle. WASHINGTON
I do suspect a lot of Trump voters
were disgusted as those Senators who
changed their minds. They know Trump
owns this, as do Giuliani, and in my
The Republican Party must split
A
view, Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz. s Donald Trump’s results. And don’t even wouldn’t mind a different party ID.
But what about the rest of us? The Republican Party think, they said, about The point is that many Democrats
ones not yet sufficiently outraged. If you descends into mad- using the military to keep are happy to cross party lines on the
are one of the latter, what will you do ness, dragged down by the Trump in office. state and local level if the candidates
now? What proof do you need to recog- president’s lies, threats Almost 200 top busi- are pragmatic and socially liberal.
nize the danger this president poses? and possible mental ness executives, many of A new centrist party could attract
Do you support violence against Con- illness, it’s become hard to them heavy donors to the Democrats aggravated by their
gress even as you condemn the violence imagine democracy-loving Republican Party, issued party’s woke left fringe. It would have
that occurred in some BLM protests? conservatives continuing a letter urging Congress to come to terms with guaranteed
Putting the lives of congresspersons at to live in the same house. to certify Joe Biden’s win health coverage and addressing the
risk? Because that’s what the president They’re in a marriage that and cooperate in the tran- climate crisis, but center-right parties
instigated amongst his supporters. can’t be saved. sition to the new adminis- in Europe went there long ago.
The next 12 days are extremely The framework for a Froma Harrop tration. True conservatives must know that
dangerous; I hope appropriate action new party is already up, A new center-right any dream of taking back the Repub-
is taken. But they are just the most thanks to the seasoned party could attract some lican Party as the Trump clown car
dangerous days ahead. The people that Republican operatives behind the of the former Republicans who’ve leaves town is futile. That’s because
assaulted the Capitol will still exist on never-Trump movement. They can turned independent in recent years. it’s not one car but nearly the entire
January 21st. establish a safe space for the likes Last year, for the first time, more showroom. Over 100 Republican
So, what will you do now? of Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, Nebras- Americans were registered as inde- congressmen participated in the out-
Paul Mack ka Sen. Ben Sasse and Illinois Rep. pendent than Republican. Many of rageous effort to ignore the Electoral
Columbus Adam Kinzinger, among others. And them could conceivably join a tradi- College results. And 87 percent of
their tribe will increase. tional party more resembling the one self-identified Republicans approve of
The new bloc could call itself the they left. Trump, according to the latest Gallup
Responsibility for anticipated tax Lincoln Party or the Elephant Party The spectacle of Trump enforcers poll. There’s not much there to take
increase or even the New Republican Party. menacing good Republicans cannot back.
A recent Wall Street Journal editorial Meanwhile, its leaders could reas- have enhanced party membership. They should also realize that
reprinted in The Dispatch states, “If the sure conservatives that a divorce Trump scraped the bottom when being called a RINO — Republican in
Republicans lose their two Georgia seats from the Trump cult would not neces- he delivered a Mafia-style threat of Name Only — has lost its sting. The
and their majority, Republicans across sarily lead to splitting their votes. On criminal action against Georgia Sec- shine is truly off the Republican label.
the country should know to thank Mr. the contrary. retary of State Brad Raffensperger And so, leave the banners and the
Trump for their 2021 tax increase.” First off, the Trump wing isn’t con- if he didn’t throw the state’s election old Republican letterhead behind
I’m a Democrat, but I want to thank servative. It’s radical right. There’s results his way. (That creep show and start anew. America needs a
Mr. Trump also for the tax increase, nothing conservative about a per- certainly could have enhanced the center-right party to rein in Dem-
because these two seats in Georgia that sonality cult willing to grovel before Democrats’ vote counts in the U.S. ocratic excesses. Now and forever,
the Republicans lost will protect our an authoritarian thug. Stalin was a Senate runoffs in Georgia.) pro-democracy Republicans need to
democracy for another four years, es- communist. And what about moderate work with Democrats to ensure the
pecially with Mitch McConnell reduced Moreover, America’s conserva- Democrats? They’re known to split survival of the republic.
to the Senate minority leader. It’s been tive institutions have already turned tickets. All six New England states And their survival requires that
a rough day for the Republicans, but a against Trump. All 10 living former have become reliably blue in national they get out of that house.
wonderful day for America. defense secretaries, including two elections, yet three of them have very Froma Harrop, a syndicated colum-
James Hodges who served under Trump — Jim Mat- popular Republican governors. Same nist, writes for the Providence (Rhode
Steens tis and Mark Esper — have joined to story in Maryland. Massachusetts Island) Journal. Her e-mail address is
warn against overturning the election Gov. Charlie Baker, for one, probably fharrop@gmail.com.
A letter to the editor is an excellent
way to participate in your community.
We request the tone of your letters be

Make Your Voice Heard

constructive and respectful and the length
be limited to 450 words. We reserve the
right to edit letters for clarity, grammar

Write The Dispatch: voice@cdispatch.com

and length. We welcome all letters emailed
to voice@cdispatch.com or mailed to The
Dispatch, Attn: Letters to the Editor, PO
Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703-0511.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021 5A

Governors scramble to speed vaccine effort after slow start

CDC: As of Wednesday, more than three it is OK to expand eligibility to
lower-priority groups.
lems, including a lack of fund-
ing and direction from Wash-
seniors and front-line workers
such as teachers and police
weeks into the U.S. vaccination campaign, “We need to not be overly ington, mismatches between next week,
prescriptive in that, especial- supply and demand, a patch- The U.S. has an estimated 21
5.3 million people had gotten their first shot ly as we see governors who work of approaches by state million health care workers and
are leaving vaccines sitting in and local governments, distrust 3 million residents of nursing
out of the 17 million doses distributed so far freezers rather than getting it of the vaccine, and disarray cre- homes and other long-term care
out into people’s arms,” he said. ated by the holidays. centers. The CDC said about
BY MICHELLE R. SMITH the sluggish rollout of the vac- As of Wednesday, more than Across much of the nation, 512,000 people in such centers
The Associated Press cine, state leaders and other
three weeks into the U.S. vac- health care workers and nurs- have been vaccinated through
politicians around the U.S. are
New York’s governor threat- cination campaign, 5.3 million ing home residents are being a partnership between the gov-
turning up the pressure, impro-
ened to fine hospitals if they vising and seeking to bend the people had gotten their first given priority for the initial, ernment and the CVS and Wal-
don’t use their allotment of rules to get shots in arms more shot out of the 17 million doses limited supplies of the vaccine greens drugstore chains.
COVID-19 vaccine fast enough. quickly. distributed so far, according to at this stage. But pressure is Government officials over
His South Carolina counterpart Meanwhile, U.S. Health and the Centers for Disease Con- building to let other groups the past few days reported that
warned health care workers Human Services Secretary trol and Prevention. While that step up. Louisiana began vac- the number of people receiving
they have until Jan. 15 to get Alex Azar said Wednesday that is believed to an undercount cinating older people Monday, shots has accelerated to about
a shot or move to the back of the government will allow more because of a lag in reporting, while Alaska and Mississippi a half-million a day, and Dr.
the line. California’s governor drugstores to start giving vac- health officials are still well be- have given the OK for the elder- Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top
wants to use dentists to vacci- cinations to speed up the pro- hind where they wanted to be. ly to start receiving shots over infectious disease expert, said
nate people. cess. If health workers aren’t The slow rollout has been the next few days. Michigan the pace could soon reach 1 mil-
With frustration rising over lining up fast enough, he said, blamed on a multitude of prob- will begin giving vaccines to lion or more.

COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
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328-2471.
Robert Akin
CARROLLTON, Ala.
— Robert Hugh Akin,
63, died Dec. 30, 2020,
at his residence.
Graveside services
will be at 1 p.m. Sun-
day, at Pilgrim Rest
Cemetery, with the
Rev. Larry Potts offici-
ating. Burial will follow.
Skelton Funeral Home
of Reform is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Akin was born
Nov. 23, 1957, in Alicev-
ille, to Lorin Wright
Akin and the late Wil-
liam Jordan Akin. He
was a 1976 graduate of
Pickens Academy and
was formerly employed
in the logging industry.
He was a member of
Pleasant Hill Baptist
Church.
In addition to his
father, he was preceded
in death by his brother,
David Earl Akin.
In addition to his
mother, he is survived
by his brother, James
William Akin; and
sisters, Evelyn Akin
McElroy and Ruth Akin
Greer.
David McAdams
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.
— David McAdams,
70, died Jan. 4, 2021, at
Hospice of West Ala-
bama, in Tuscaloosa.
No services will
be held at this time.
Dowdle Funeral Home
of Millport is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. McAdams was
born Nov. 9, 1950, in
Fayette, to the late
James S. and Marian
McAdams. He attended
Kennedy High School
and was a graduate
of the University of
Alabama and Samford
University. He was
formerly employed
with several Fortune
500 companies and was
a founding partner of
Team Air Distributing
Inc. He was a member
AREA OBITUARIES
of St. Luke United born to the late Orman
Methodist Church. Keith Anderson and
He is survived by Doris Clardy Anderson.
his wife, Roxie Trull He was a member of
McAdams; daughter, the National Guard and
Jamie; son, Kyle; and was formerly employed
brothers, Steve of with Borden Milk Com-
Newnan, Georgia and pany. He was a member
Terry of Vernon. of Meadowview Baptist
Memorials may be Church.
made to St. Luke Unit- In addition to his
ed Methodist Church, parents, he was pre-
2605 Skyland Blvd. E., ceded in death by his
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 son, James Keith Ellis
or to Hospice of West Anderson.
Alabama, 3851 Loop He is survived by his
Road, Tuscaloosa, AL wife, Charlotte Odom
35404. Anderson; daughter,
Dawn Holliday; son,
Jesse Ussery Ashley Anderson; four
COLUMBUS — Re- grandchildren; and six
great-grandchildren.
tired Master Sergeant
Jesse Will Memorials may be
Ussery, 79, made to Meadowview
died Dec. Baptist Church,
29, 2020. 300 Linden Circle,
No ser- Starkville, MS 39759.
vices will
be held at James Evans
this time. Ussery WEST POINT —
Lee-Sykes James Henry Evans,
Funeral 83, died Nov. 10, 2020,
Home of Columbus is at Oktibbeha County
in charge of arrange- Hospital, in Starkville.
ments. Graveside services
Ret. Msgt. Ussery will be at 3:30 p.m. Fri-
was born June 28, 1941, day, at New Hope M.B.
in Steens, to the late Church Cemetery,
James Ussery and Al- with the Rev. Randy
berta Hudson Ussery. L. Conley Jr. officiat-
He attended Columbus ing. Burial will follow.
schools and was a 1973 No visitation will be
graduate of Roger held. Carte’s Mortuary
Williams University in Services of West Point
Bristol, Rhode Island. is in charge of arrange-
He was a U.S. Army ments.
Reserves veteran and Mr. Evans was born
a member of Hopewell March 12, 1937, in
Baptist Church in Co- Monroe County, to the
lumbus and Ebenezer late Alonzo Evans Sr.
Baptist Church in and Marie Bucking-
Providence. ham. He was formerly
In addition to his employed as a chef.
parents, he was pre- He is survived by
ceded in death by his his brothers, Mark
brothers, James Ira Sims and Marion Louis
Ussery, Burrell Lee Tally; and sisters, Ann
Ussery, and the Rev. Johnson and Bernice
Sgt. First Class Hud- Ewings.
son Ussery; and sister,
Mattie Lou Bynum. James Davidson
He is survived by his WEST POINT —
wife, Lucinda Shep-
James L. Davidson,
ard Ussery; children, 62, died Dec. 22, 2020,
Janice Marie Ussery of
at his residence, in
Pawtucket, Bernadette
Ussery of Houston,
Pheba.
Graveside services
Texas, and Gregory
will be at 11 a.m. Fri-
Neal Ussery of Bir-
day, at Dixie Communi-
mingham, Alabama; ty Cemetery, in Wood-
brother, Albert B. land, with Dr. Charles
Ussery of Providence; Davidson officiating.
sisters, Nettie Lue Burial will follow. Visi-
Richardson of Warwick tation is from 10:30-11
and Lucy Ware of Alsip, a.m. prior to services at
Illinois; and three the cemetery. Carter’s
grandchildren. Mortuary Services of
West Point is in charge
James Anderson of arrangements.
STARKVILLE — Mr. Davidson was
James “Jimmy” Keith born Dec. 7, 1958, in
Anderson, 74, died Clay County, to the late
Jan.6, 2021, at OCH Re- Finchie Mae David-
gional Medical Center, son. He was formerly
in Starkville. employed as a furniture
Services will be at 2
maker.
p.m. Friday, at Mead- He is survived by his
owview Baptist Church, wife, Brenda McGee
with the Rev. Jason Davidson; son, James
Middleton officiating. L. Davidson Jr.; daugh-
Burial will follow at ters, Precious Jones,
Craig Springs Ceme- Briana Davidson, La-
tery in Sturgis. Visita- Tonya Wilkerson, and
tion will be one hour Kendra McGee; broth-
prior to services at the er, DeKenth Davidson;
church. Welch Funeral sisters, Jacqueline
Home of Starkville is Davidson and Patri-
in charge of arrange- cia D. Jefferson; six
ments. grandchildren; and one
Mr. Anderson was great-grandchild.
William Gray
COLUMBUS — Wil-
liam Gray, 80, died Jan.
5, 2021, in Columbus.
Graveside services
will be at 1:30 p.m. Fri-
day, at Union Cemetery,
with the Rev. Michael
Tate officiating. Burial
will follow. Visitation
is from 1-5 p.m. today,
at Hairston and Hair-
ston Funeral Home.
Hairston and Hairston
Funeral Home of Co-
lumbus is in charge of
arrangements.
Mr. Gray was born
July 17, 1940, in Co-
lumbus, to the late
James Gray and Elise
Manning Gray. He was
formerly employed with
Sanderson Plumbing.
He is survived by his
children, Antonio Gray
of Columbus, Georgia,
Reginald Gray and
Terrell Gray, both of
Columbus, and Tommie
Rice of West Virginia;
and sister, Irma Jean
Henderson of New
York, New York.
Charles Jordan
STARKVILLE —
Charles R. Jordan, 65,
died Jan. 1, 2021, in
Meridian.
Graveside services
and burial will be at
Sixteenth Section
Cemetery. Visitation is
from 2-6 p.m. today, at
West Memorial Funeral
Home. West Memo-
rial Funeral Home of
Starkville is in charge
of arrangements.
He is survived by
his daughters, Latoya
Weaver, Nitieka Jordan,
and Charolette Ander-
son, all of Starkville;
sisters, Eula Addison,
Alberta Yarbrough,
Juretha Williams,
Syslee Jordan, and Vera
Jordan; brothers, C.L.
Jordan, Norris Jordan,
Willie C. Jordan, and
Bobbie Jordan; and five
grandchildren.
Robert Smothers
ABERDEEN — Rob-
ert Jerry Smothers, 77,
died Dec. 29, 2020, at
North Mississippi Med-
ical Center of Tupelo.
Graveside services
will be at 2 p.m. Sat-
urday, at Odd Fellows
Rest Cemetery, with
Mike Tucker and Ron-
nie Boozer officiating.
Tisdale-Lann Memo-
rial Funeral Home of
Aberdeen is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Smothers was
born March 3, 1943, in
Aberdeen, to the late
Robert E. and Pat Wal-
ters Smothers. He was
a graduate of Aberdeen
High School. He was
formerly employed with
Walker Manufacturing
and as a supervisor
of customer quality con-
trol-order placement
with Kerr McGee. He
was a member of First
Baptist Church.
In addition to his
parents, he was pre-
ceded in death by his
daughter, Kimberly
Smothers Gurley; and
one grandchild.
He is survived by his
wife, Ann Dunn Smoth-
ers; siblings, Donna
Smothers Scarborough
of Arizona and Larry
Smothers of West Point;
and two grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be
Alan Gurley, Duane
Ott, Frank Bender,
Chester Patterson, Jeff
Grubbs, and Jeff Fair.
Bobbie Douglas
COLUMBUS —
Bobbie J. Douglas, 75,
died Jan. 6, 2021, at her
residence.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Columbus.
Raymond Blake
COLUMBUS — Ray-
mond Blake passed
away.
Grave-
side ser-
vices will
be at noon
Friday,
at Union
Cemetery.
Visitation Blake
is from
noon-5 p.m. today, at
Lee-Sykes Funeral
Home. Lee-Sykes
Funeral Home of Co-
lumbus is in charge of
arrangements.
Mr. Blake was born
in Columbus, May 15,
1937, to the late Abe
Blake and Mary Hatch
Blake. He was a grad-
uate of Robert E. Hunt
High School and at-
tended UCLA. He was
a veteran of the United
States Army. He was
a member of Midtown
Church of Christ.
In addition to his par-
ents, he was preceded
in death by his siblings,
Alfred B. Blake, Ed-
ward L. Blake, Robert
Blake and Peggy L.
Blake.
He is survived by
his siblings, Mary
Jean Blake Jenkins
of Clarksdale, Bobby
Blake and Albert Blake
of Columbus.
Infant Braxton Luker
ABERDEEN — In-
fant Braxton Asher
Luker died Jan. 4, 2021,
at his residence.
Graveside services
will be at 10 a.m.
Saturday, at Mennonite
Christian Cemetery,
with David Lee offici-
ating. Visitation will
be held until the time
of services Thursday
through Saturday, at
the home of David
Lee, 20723 Egypt
Road, in Aberdeen.
Tisdale-Lann Memo-
rial Funeral Home of
Aberdeen is in charge
of arrangements.
Infant Luker was
born Nov. 28, 2020, in
Amory, to Ervin Du-
rance Luker and Hanna
Luker.
In addition to his
parents, he is survived
by his siblings, Chey-
enne Kordell Luker and
Brentley Atticus Luker.
Infant Brentley Luker
ABERDEEN — In-
fant Brentley Atticus
Luker died Jan. 6, 2021,
at his residence.
Graveside services
will be at 10 a.m.
Saturday, at Mennonite
Christian Cemetery,
with David Lee offici-
ating. Visitation will
be held until the time
of services Thursday
through Saturday, at
the home of David
Lee, 20723 Egypt
Road, in Aberdeen.
Tisdale-Lann Memo-
rial Funeral Home of
Aberdeen is in charge
of arrangements.
Infant Luker was
born Nov. 28, 2020, in
Amory, to Ervin Du-
rance Luker and Hanna
Luker.
He was preceded in
death by his brother,
Braxton Asher Luker.
In addition to his par-
ents, he is survived by
his brother, Cheyenne
Kordell Luker.
Nancy Campassi
Funeral Mass:
Friday, Jan. 8 • 11 AM
Annunciation Catholic Church
Burial
Friendship Cemetery
College St. Location
James Anderson III
Incomplete
College St. Location
memorialgunterpeel.com
Art happens.
328-ARTS
6A THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021
Huxford
Continued from Page 1A
came violent — with
throngs of Trump sup-
porters breaking into the
Capitol, fighting police and
temporarily forcing Con-
gress to stop the Constitu-
tional process and go into
hiding — Huxford replied
to someone else’s tweet
that stated the violence
“feels like terrorism” with
a doubled-down support of
the riot.
“What’s happened on
November 3 by the steal-
ing of the election was
domestic terrorism!” Hux-
ford tweeted at 2:14 p.m.
“Wish I was there (with)
them. Freedom isn’t free!”
The Dispatch obtained
a screenshot of the tweets
that Huxford later deleted.
At least four people died
during the insurrection,
including a woman who
was shot at the Capitol and
three others who suffered
unspecified medical is-
sues, according to nation-
al media reports. Dozens
more, including members
of law enforcement, were
injured.
Huxford also runs a pul-
monology clinic on Hos-
pital Road. He was an in-
dependent practitioner in
March when the pandemic
began and started working
for OCH in April.
In a written statement
released to The Dispatch
Wednesday evening, OCH
CEO Jim Jackson said hos-
pital leadership is aware
Biden
Continued from Page 1A
of power on Inauguration
Day.
“Even though I totally
disagree with the outcome
of the election, and the
facts bear me out, never-
theless there will be an
orderly transition on Jan-
uary 20th,” Trump said in
a statement posted to Twit-
ter by an aide.
The Capitol was under
siege Wednesday, as the
nation’s elected repre-
sentatives scrambled to
crouch under desks and
don gas masks while po-
lice futilely tried to barri-
cade the building, one of
the most jarring scenes
ever to unfold in a seat of
American political power.
A woman was shot and
killed inside the Capitol,
and Washington’s mayor
instituted an evening cur-
few in an attempt to con-
tain the violence.
The rioters were egged
on by Trump, who has
spent weeks falsely at-
tacking the integrity of
the election and had urged
his supporters to descend
on Washington to protest
Congress’ formal approval
of Biden’s victory. Some
Republican lawmakers
were in the midst of raising
objections to the results on
his behalf when the pro-
ceedings were abruptly
halted by the mob.
Together, the protests
and the GOP election
objections amounted to
an almost unthinkable
MARRIAGES AND DIVORCES
Lowndes County ■ Mary Williams and Gary
Marriages
■ Jason Brown and Quanita
Ketton; Dec. 2
■ Kobe Smith and Quanisha
Travis; Dec. 2
■ John Gore and Carmen
Rowe; Dec. 4
■ Allen Ward and Rebecca
Riley; Dec. 5
■ Thomas House and Brandi
Johnson; Dec. 5
■ James Wilson and Dorothy
Adkins; Dec. 5
■ Steven Fleming and Linsey
Upton; Dec. 12
■ Matthew Owens and Annslie
Steadman; Dec. 12
■ Antonio Murray and Laronda
Poe; Dec. 14
■ Pedro Santos and Samantha
Sanabria; Dec. 16
■ Michael Burns and Jennifer
Kelley; Dec. 17
■ Aubrey McDaniel and Ashley
Langford; Dec. 19
■ Jonathon Leonard and
Kimberly Ross; Dec. 21
■ Tyler Hankins and Lindsay
Wheat; Dec. 22
■ Edmund Chandler and Moira
Dr. Cameron Huxford, a pulmonologist and the director of the intensive care unit
at OCH Regional Medical Center, indicated support for the rioters who stormed the
U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. He later deleted both tweets, which
The Dispatch obtained in screenshots. OCH said it will investigate the tweets.
of the tweets. However,
he said any consequences
Huxford would face would
be considered a “personnel
matter” and not be publicly
disclosed.
“While OCH does not
monitor employees’ social
media usage, when an in-
appropriate or question-
able post or comment is
brought to our attention,
we will investigate the
situation and take action
as necessary,” Jackson’s
statement reads. “… We
are the healers and helpers
in our community and as-
pire to do just that during
these unprecedented
times — heal and help. We
will all listen and seek to
better understand the cur-
rent issues within our com-
challenge to American
democracy and exposed
the depths of the divisions
that have coursed through
the country during
Trump’s four years in of-
fice. Though the efforts
to block Biden from being
sworn in on Jan. 20 were
sure to fail, the support
Trump has received for
his efforts to overturn the
election results have badly
strained the nation’s demo-
cratic guardrails.
Congress reconvened
in the evening, with law-
makers decrying the pro-
tests that defaced the Cap-
itol and vowing to finish
confirming the Electoral
College vote for Biden’s
election, even if it took all
night.
Pence reopened the
Senate and directly ad-
dressed the demonstra-
tors: “You did not win.”
Republican Senate Ma-
jority Leader Mitch Mc-
Connell said the “failed
insurrection” underscored
lawmakers’ duty to finish
the count. Democratic
House Speaker Nancy Pe-
losi said Congress would
show the world “what
America is made of” with
the outcome.
The president gave his
supporters a boost into ac-
tion Wednesday morning
at a rally outside the White
House, where he urged
them to march to the Cap-
itol. He spent much of the
afternoon in his private
Fair; Dec. 23
Horton; Dec. 23
■ Shandale Fearce and Fele-
sia Love; Dec. 24
■ Donald Troupe and Macie
Wade; Dec. 28
■ Avery Whitfield and Sharron
Harris; Dec. 29
■ Justyn McNutt and Heather
Rhoderick; Dec. 29
■ Richard Puckett and Amelia
Singson; Dec. 31
Divorces
■ Tony Terrell Hampton and
Takeita Antwan Jackson Hamp-
ton; Nov. 23
■ Joshua Dale Adkins and
Crista Alyce Farley; Nov. 19
■ Brinita Bennett and Deonza
Mosby; Nov. 20
■ Robin Marie Jones McMillen
and John Andrew McMillen;
Nov. 18
■ Amanda Miller and Robert
Miller; Dec. 2
■ Demarco Calmes and Tonya
Calmes; Dec. 7
■ Windy Raines and Michael
Anthony Raines; Dec. 8
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Screenshots via Twitter
munity, state, and nation 18 area physicians, urging
and will strive to continue them not to approve a pro-
to provide safe, quality tective face mask mandate
care for our community.” in an effort to curb the
OCH is a county-owned spread of COVID-19. The
hospital that receives pub- board went on to approve
lic funding. The Oktibbeha the requirement, which is
County Board of Supervi- still in place.
sors appoints the hospital’s Huxford told the board
board of trustees. he did not oppose the use
Linda Breazeale, pres- of masks but did not be-
ident of the OCH board of lieve there was sufficient
trustees, told The Dispatch evidence that they prevent
that Huxford’s tweets “will the spread of the virus.
be addressed” but offered He also said he believed a
no further comment. mask mandate would dis-
Huxford did not re- courage other safety mea-
spond to The Dispatch’s sures such as hand-wash-
requests for comment. ing and social distancing.
Earlier this year, Hux- OCH supported the
ford led a failed movement mask requirement, and
against a city-wide mask Jackson told the aldermen
mandate. In July, he pre- Huxford did not speak for
sented a letter, signed by the hospital.
dining room off the Oval for the constitutionally
Office watching scenes of mandated counting of the
the violence on television. Electoral College results,
At the urging of his staff, in which Biden defeated
he reluctantly issued a pair Trump, 306-232. Despite
of tweets and a taped vid- pleas from McConnell,
eo telling his supporters more than 150 GOP law-
it was time to “go home in makers planned to support
peace” — yet he still said objections to some of the
he backed their cause. results, though lacking ev-
Hours later, Twitter idence of fraud or wrong-
for the first time locked doing in the election.
Trump’s account, demand-
ed that he remove tweets
excusing violence and
threatened “permanent
suspension.”
A somber Presi-
dent-elect Biden, two
weeks away from being in-
augurated, said American
democracy was “under
unprecedented assault, “ a
sentiment echoed by many
in Congress, including
some Republicans. Former
President George W. Bush
said he watched the events
in “disbelief and dismay.”
The domed Capitol
building has for centuries
been the scene of protests
and occasional violence.
But Wednesday’s events
were particularly astound-
ing both because they un-
folded at least initially with
the implicit blessing of
the president and because
of the underlying goal of
overturning the results of
a free and fair presidential
election.
Tensions were already
running high when law-
makers gathered early
Wednesday afternoon
■ Mercede Lynn Locke Plumb
and Brian Nicholas Plumb;
Dec. 10
■ Timothy Lamorris Robinson
and Monica Renee James
Robinson; Dec. 9
■ Latasha Gordon Brown Cour-
ington and Jonathan Leneil
Courington; Dec. 10
■ Markel Dylan Pounders and
Kori Danielle Pounders; Dec.
10
■ Jaeda Simpson and Steven
Simpson; Dec. 11
■ Victoria Pitts and Dustin
Pitts; Dec. 14
■ Tichina M. Pippin and Tyre-
dus C. Pippin; Dec. 17
■ Tyrone Murray and Robbie
Ann Follins; Dec. 23
■ Jerry R. Elliott and Hope B.
Elliott; Dec. 23
■ James Gregory Shackelford
and Amber Lynne Shackelford
■ Macy Rae McDonald and
Tyler Allen McDonald; Dec. 30
■ Amber Natasha Glidewell
and Zachary Preston Glidewell;
Dec. 28
■ Evie Celeste Blaxton Lackey
and Christopher Lee Lackey;
Dec. 29
Sports
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000 B
SECTION

THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

Bama’s Waddle back practicing, status for title game unclear

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Waddle hasn’t played midable pair. tions. He also has re- think they’re just going scheduled.
since breaking his right “I think you absolute- turned two punts and a to make that decision “In the COVID world
Alabama star receiv- ankle while returning ly have to prepare as if kick for touchdowns in downstairs. it’s day-by-day,” Smith
er Jaylen Waddle has the opening kickoff he’s going to play,” Ohio his career. “But it’s his choice, said Wednesday. “Today
returned to practice. against Tennessee on State defensive coor- “I think he’s getting and I feel like in watch- was a good day.”
Now the question is will Oct. 4. One of the na- dinator Kerry Coombs back into it,” Smith said. ing him, he looks really AL.com first reported
he be able to play in the tion’s most said. “He’s an extraordi- “Of course he’s going to good out there. So we’ll Tuesday that Ohio State
title game Monday night danger- nary athlete, extraordi- take some time just for see what happens.” had reached out to CFP
against Ohio State? ous return nary receiver.” him to get back comfort- officials with concerns
Crimson Tide offen- men, he Waddle had 557 yards able with everything, about player availabili-
sive coordinator Steve had sur- and four touchdowns but he looks good to
‘Good day’ ty when the Buckeyes
Sarkisian says Waddle gery after in the Tide’s first four me.” for Buckeyes face No. 1 Alabama on
practiced on Tuesday, the game. games, while opponents Quarterback Mac A day after a report Monday night in Miami
but he deferred ques- In his mostly kicked away Jones agreed. Neither raised the possibility Gardens, Florida. A per-
tions on his status to a b s e n c e , Waddle from him. player offered an opin- of the College Football son with knowledge of
coach Nick Saban, who D eVo n - Waddle has made ion on whether Waddle Playoff championship the situation confirmed
did not address the me- ta Smith three of the program’s would play. being delayed because those discussions to the
dia on Wednesday. went on to put up big five longest scoring “It’d be really cool,” of COVID-19 issues at AP, but Smith and CFP
“We’ll see where it enough numbers to win catches. His career av- Jones said. “Jaylen has Ohio State, Buckeyes Executive Director Bill
goes from here,” Sarki- the Heisman Trophy on erage of 19.1 yards per worked really hard to athletic director Gene Hancock both released
sian said. “Clearly we’ve Tuesday. That would put catch ranks second get back on the field and Smith told The Associat- statements saying there
got about a week or so the onus on the Buck- among Tide players I know he wants nothing ed Press he anticipated was no change to the
until the game.” eyes to defend that for- with at least 100 recep- more than to play, but I the game will go on as See CFB, 3B

Spencer MISSISSIPPI STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

declares
for draft, MSU’s defensive adjustments against Kentucky give
two
Bulldogs
glimpse of potential heading into heart of SEC play
enter
transfer
portal
BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com

STARK VILLE —
Mississippi State is los-
ing another key cog in
its defense.
Senior defensive end
Marquiss Spencer an-
nounced his intentions
Wednesday night that
he will forgo his extra
year of eligibility to en-
ter the 2021 NFL draft.
Spencer is the second
MSU defender to forgo
their extra year of eligi-
bility after senior line-
backer Erroll Thomp-
son did so on Tuesday.
“Many thanks to my
mother and father, my
entire family and sup-
port system for their
See MSU, 3B

Bears
could be
without
Smith,
Mooney
against
Saints
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Chicago Bears
got the help they need-
ed to make the playoffs
for the second time
in coach Matt Nagy’s
three seasons.
They might not have
the health they need to
stick around.
The Bears could be
down two important
players when they vis-
it Drew Brees and the
New Orleans Saints
for a wild-card game
on Sunday, with inside
linebacker Roquan
Smith and receiver Dar-
nell Mooney injured.
Both players missed
the team’s walkthrough
on Wednesday after
leaving last week’s loss
to Green Bay, and coach
Matt Nagy had little to
say about their status.
“We don’t have any
clarity yet,” Nagy said.
The Bears (8-8)
would be hard-pressed
See SAINTS, 3B
After a crushing overtime loss to Kentucky, MSU women’s basketball coach Nikki McCray-Penson harped on defensive alignment and
varying combinations with which the Bulldogs can have some success.
BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARK VILLE — Nikki
McCray-Penson’s message
Tuesday was simple.
“We’ll get beat if we guard
like we did against Kentucky,”
she said.
Days after an overtime
loss to reigning All-American
Rhyne Howard and the Wild-
cats snatched an overtime
victory at Humphrey Colise-
um, McCray-Penson spent a
chunk of her midweek media
availability harping on defen-
sive alignment and varying
combinations with which the
Bulldogs can find success.
Entering Sunday’s loss to
Kentucky, MSU was holding
opponents to less than 25 per-
cent from 3-point range. But
as the Bulldogs sloughed off
their assignments, the Wild-
cats rattled home 14 of 28
shots from long range, while
Howard wheeled and dealed
her way to a game-high 33
points.
Yet for as dismal as MSU’s
defense was against the No.
10 -ranked team in America,
there were factions of Sun-
day’s contest worth drawing
on. McCray-Penson flashed
a new look lineup midway
through the contest with ju-
nior Myah Taylor and Aliyah
Matharu at guard, sophomore
Rickea Jackson and junior
Xaria Wiggins at forward and
junior Jessika Carter at cen-
ter.
“That group talked the
most,” McCray-Penson said of
what she saw in the new-look
lineup. “They made mistakes
but they made up for their
mistakes with talking.”
While both Matharu and
Taylor are minute in stature,
Wiggins and Jackson gave the
Bulldogs some much-needed
length on the perimeter in
an attempt to slow down Ken-
tucky’s hot-shooting ways.
Wiggins, who saw her first
action of the season Sunday
after a blood clot was found
in her right lung, flashed the
three-and-D potential that
made her a dangerous cog
in Vic Schaefer’s scheme a
year ago. On her first defen-
sive possession of the night,
the former four-star recruit
bodied up Howard and forced
the reigning Southeastern
Conference player of the year
into a travel. Four posses-
sions later, she banged home
a 3-pointer on her first shot of
the night.
“We were very fortunate to
get her cleared that day,” Mc-
Cray-Penson said. “She hadn’t
practiced much but I knew
she had the experience of be-
ing in this league and guard-
ing Kentucky’s actions and
having to guard a player like
Rhyne Howard for two years.”
With Wiggins adding a
new element to MSU’s game,
Matharu’s revival, both offen-
sively and defensively, bodes
well for a team that has a
proven scorer in Jackson, but
spreads the wealth down the
rest of the roster. After aver-
aging 15.4 points per game
over the final five games of
last year, she’s continued to
show in spurts in 2020 -21.
Matharu’s 19 points Sunday
marked the second-best Bull-
dog effort of the night aside
from Jackson’s 23 points.
But Matharu has long-been
billed as a scorer. The more
glaring transition has been in
her defense. Through eight
games this season, Matharu’s
12 steals rank second on the
team, while her rebounding
numbers are up from 1.8 per
Mississippi State athletics
game, to three per contest.
Sunday, her zero plus-mi-
nus rating also ranked first
among MSU players that
played 10 or more minutes.
“I’m very confident,”
Matharu said following last
year’s SEC Tournament final
loss to South Carolina. “I love
playing against competition.
That’s the reason why I chose
to come here. They play
tough. They play my style of
basketball. I want every night
to be tough so we can get bet-
ter as a unit, not just individ-
ually.”
Tuesday, McCray-Penson
wouldn’t put an exact num-
ber on what kind of minutes
Wiggins might be capable
of playing in her return, but
made clear the lineups that
work will continue to be trot-
ted out, whether that be the
one onlookers saw midway
through Sunday’s loss, or an-
other yet to be conceived con-
glomerate.
“If I see a group that’s play-
ing well, we’re going to roll
with it,” McCray-Penson said.
“But it’s good to have some-
one that has experience that
can come in and play for you
that knows this league.”
2B THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021
Buckeyes’ Sermon breaks out ahead of national title game
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS, Ohio
— During the first four
games of Ohio State’s pan-
demic-shortened season,
transfer running back
Trey Sermon was easy to
overlook on a team full
of big names and future
NFL draft picks.
Nobody is overlooking
him now.
Astonishing efforts
in the past two games
— including a 331-yard,
two-touchdown perfor-
mance in the Big Ten
championship game that
earned him a Twitter
shoutout from LeBron
James — have brought
Sermon the level of na-
tional attention he sought
while playing three solid
years at Oklahoma.
“When I came here,
my goal was to do what-
ever I can to help this
team out and play for a
national championship,”
Sermon said this week as
Washington in playoffs after tumultuous, whirlwind months
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
One name change
years in the making, two
months of cancer treat-
ments for the beloved
new coach, three starting
quarterbacks, four com-
bined wins over rivals
Dallas and Philadelphia,
five months and counting
of an investigation into
workplace misconduct
and countless court fil-
ings by minority owners
and Dan Snyder over in-
terest in selling shares of
the team.
All this happened in
less than half of a calendar
year for the franchise now
known only as the Wash-
ington Football Team.
Even for an organization
infamous for decades of
drama since three Super
Bowl victories, this has
been a whirlwind ride un-
like many that have been
seen in North American
Tom Brady excited, ready to lead Buccaneers into playoffs
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TAMPA, Fla. — New
team, same ole Tom
Brady.
The six-time Super
Bowl champion who left
New England for sunny
Florida is in the playoffs
for a NFL-record 18th
time in 21 years, and ea-
ger to build on an ever-ex-
panding legacy in his first
postseason appearance
with the Tampa Bay Buc-
caneers.
Bill Belichick and the
Patriots are home watch-
ing following a historic
two-decade run with the
43-year-old quarterback,
who’s now pumping vital-
ity into a franchise with
the worst all-time win-
ning percentage in the
four major professional
sports.
Brady led New En-
gland to the Super Bowl
nine times in 20 seasons,
appearing in 41 playoff
games and winning 30 —
both records.
The Bucs, who will
end a 13-year postseason
drought when they face
Washington in a NFC
wild-card game Saturday
night, have played 15 play-
off games in the club’s
45-season history.
“Anytime you make
the playoffs, it’s a good
feeling, and it’s a good
opportunity to be playing
this weekend, a privilege
for any of us,” Brady said
Wednesday.
“We’re a team that’s
made a bunch of improve-
ments over the course of
the year, and we have to
be at our best. That’s what
this part of the season is
all about,” the three-time
league MVP added. “The
regular season is what it
is. You realize you put it in
the books, but we’re here
to win playoff games.”
the Buckeyes prepared to
play top-ranked Alabama
in the title game on Mon-
day night. “It’s all hap-
pened, and it does kind of
seem like a dream.”
More people learned
Sermon’s name last week-
end when he rushed for
193 yards and a TD and
caught four passes for 61
yards in Ohio State’s 49-
28 victory over Clemson
in a College Football Play-
off semifinal, a game few
prognosticators thought
the Buckeyes would win.
In the Clemson game,
he was also the guy with
the sly smile.
ESPN cameras caught
the engaging Sermon,
his helmet pushed back
on his head, glancing up
and smiling sheepishly,
almost mischievously,
after a replay showed he
was down before rolling
off a defender and trying
to sell it to officials as a
touchdown run. ESPN re-
played the smile moment
professional sports.
“This experience
ranks up as the most dif-
ferent one I’ve had, and
not just the playoff race
but the whole year,” said
coach Ron Rivera, who
took over Jan. 1, was di-
agnosed with squamous
cell carcinoma in August
and did his job through
proton therapy. “This’ll be
a memorable one. It really
will be.”
Just over a year ago,
Snyder fired longtime
team president Bruce
Allen, putting in motion
an attempt to change the
organizational culture. In
mid-July, amid a national
reckoning over racism
and pressure from key
sponsors, he dropped the
Redskins name that had
been around since 1933
when the team was still
based in Boston.
The same week, 15 fe-
male former employees
Brady left New En-
gland in free agency,
signing a two-year, $50
million contract with the
Bucs, who’ve surround-
ed him with an All-Star
cast of playmakers that
includes receivers Mike
Evans, Chris Godwin and
Antonio Brown, tight end
Rob Gronkowski and run-
ning backs Ronald Jones
and Leonard Fournette.
An improved defense
has helped Brady contin-
ue to defy Father Time,
too.
“It’s amazing because
when you’re out there
watching him in prac-
tice, you’re like, ‘This guy
looks like he’s 30, maybe
33 at most,’” coach Bruce
Arians said.
“It’s just amazing
watching him and the way
he works so hard at tak-
ing care of himself. That’s
not easy at 43, taking a
few shots — hopefully not
too many — and moving
on. ... He really is a freak
of nature in that regard.”
It’s never been Brady’s
style to call attention to
his accomplishments, so
he lets his play speak for
what he’s been able to do
this season without bene-
fit of a normal offseason
or preseason to prepare
for his transition to a new
team.
With a franchise-re-
cord 40 touchdown
passes, he joined Aaron
Rodgers, Drew Brees,
Peyton Manning and Dan
Marino as the only quar-
terbacks to throw at least
40 in multiple seasons. It
also tied Russell Wilson
for the second most in the
league this year behind’s
Rodgers’ 48.
“When he first signed
I said, ‘OK, we’ll be a 40
(touchdown) and 10 (in-
terception) team,’” Arians
said. “I was expecting
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
a few times, and soon it
was showing up in inter-
net memes.
Sermon ended up at
Ohio State because he
needed a place to play as a
graduate transfer and the
Buckeyes needed a sea-
soned performer in their
injury-depleted running
backs room. When he
signed on in the spring,
presumptive starter Mas-
ter Teague III was rehab-
bing from an Achilles ten-
don injury and his future
was uncertain.
Sermon, who was re-
cruited by Ohio State as a
prep player, arrived in Co-
lumbus with some bona
fides.
He was the Big 12′s
Offensive Freshman of
the Year in 2017, scoring
his first touchdown at
Ohio Stadium on a pass
from Baker Mayfield in
a win over the Buckeyes.
Joining Kyler Murray in
the Sooners’ backfield in
2018, he had his best sea-
said they were sexually
harassed during their
time with the team, and
an independent investiga-
tion was launched, which
the NFL eventually took
over. The Washington
Post reported allegations
that Snyder was involved
in the harassment, which
he denied.
Snyder has since bat-
tled in U.S. District Court
with minority owners
Robert Rothman, Dwight
Schar and Frederick
Smith over their inten-
tion to sell their shares of
Washington Football Inc.
His team is in the play-
offs for the first time in
five years, but there will
be no fans allowed Sat-
urday night when Tom
Brady and the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers visit for
a wild-card round game
because of the coronavi-
rus pandemic. As NBC
Sports’ Mike Tirico said
practice, I was expecting
OTAs and those things.
What he’s done with none
of that — especially this
last half of the season —
is incredible.”
Brady enters the play-
offs coming off throwing
for 1,067 yards and 10
touchdowns over the last
eight quarters he played.
He rallied the Bucs from
double-digit deficits to
win four times this sea-
son and has thrown for
at least two TDs in seven
consecutive games.
“As a player, he really
hasn’t changed,” Gron-
kowski, the quarterback’s
favorite target in New
England, said. “From the
second I first met him,
he’s been all-in — all-in
with practices, all-in at
meetings, all-in trying to
get better every single
day.”
In some ways, Brady
has exceeded Arians’ ex-
pectations.
“His leadership is be-
yond anything I’ve ever
seen. Peyton Manning is
the only thing close,” said
Arians, who’s worked
with Manning, Ben Ro-
ethlisberger, Carson
Palmer and Andrew Luck
while establishing a rep-
utation as a quarterback
whisperer.
“It’s a never-ending
thing with him, the per-
fectionist, to get every-
thing right in practice,”
Arians added. “Also, his
calmness on the sideline
in games when we’re not
winning, saying ‘We’re
going to win.’ Those type
of things. You put those in
a bottle and you make a
bunch of money.”
It hasn’t been all rosy,
though.
While the Bucs went
10-0 against teams that
failed to make the play-
offs, they were 1-5 against
son, rushing for 947 yards
and scoring 13 touch-
downs.
In his junior year,
Sermon had to fight for
playing time before his
season was cut short by
a knee injury in the ninth
game. He graduated from
Oklahoma so he could
transfer without sitting
out, and continued to re-
hab his knee as the Big
Ten stopped and started
again because of the pan-
demic.
“It was pretty rough in
the beginning,” he said.
“Just coming here and not
being able to be around
everybody, and then ev-
erything gets shut down
and then picks back up.”
Playing behind Teague
in the first four games,
Sermon had 232 rushing
yards and zero touch-
downs. In the three
games since, he’s rolled
up 636 yards with four
TDs while averaging 9
yards per carry.
Wednesday, “There’s
been a lot of stuff that’s
happened with the orga-
nization during the year.”
That’s an understate-
ment, if not a euphemism.
“We didn’t know what
was going to happen this
year with everything,” de-
fensive end Chase Young
said. “With the pandem-
ic, the name change —
just everything going on
around our team.”
Everything on the field
includes Young’s stellar
rookie season, quarter-
back Alex Smith’s remark-
able comeback two years
after breaking his right
leg in gruesome fashion
and a turnaround from 2-7
to NFC East champion, al-
beit with a losing record.
“It’s been a very event-
ful year, for sure,” said
linebacker Thomas Davis,
who signed in March, be-
fore the name change. “I
definitely know that if any-
opponents that earned
berths. Brady had 10
touchdown passes and
nine interceptions in the
losses.
When Arians, who
doesn’t sugarcoat his
assessment of quarter-
backs, spoke publicly
about Brady’s early incon-
sistency many wondered
if there was a rift devel-
oping between player and
coach.
A four-game winning
streak to end the regular
season put that notion to
rest.
“I feel like we have a
great relationship. From
the moment I got here,
we’ve just had great dia-
logue and I certainly ap-
preciate all the insight he
gives me and the way he
coaches and leads,” Brady
said.
“It’s very open, honest
dialogue about how we
think, certainly how I can
be most effective,” Brady
added. “Any questions
he has, we always have a
great, open line of com-
munication. I really enjoy
my time getting to know
him, and I have great
admiration for him as a
coach, as a man, as what
he is off the field and how
he commands and leads
the team.”
Arians said there was
never a problem.
“The chemistry re-
ally started in our first
meeting. We first started
talking offensive football
and then the Tampa Bay
Bucs. His excitement lev-
el and my excitement lev-
el just kept growing and
is still growing,” Arians
said.
“We’re still learning
each and every week the
little things, the game
plans and situational foot-
ball that we talk out,” the
coach added. “The col-
Coach Ryan Day said
that with Teague side-
lined again, Sermon got
more carries, gained
back some confidence
and found his old groove.
His tackle-breaking style
and bursts in the second-
ary have drawn compar-
isons to Ezekiel Elliott,
who helped carry Ohio
State to a national cham-
pionship after the 2014
season.
“The best part about
Trey is when all that was
going on, he never came
into my office, never
complained, never said ‘I
need more carries,’ none
of that stuff,” Day said.
“Just kept his mouth shut
and kept going to work. I
think that is the best part
of this whole story, is he
just kept going every sin-
gle day to work and nev-
er said anything about it.
And now he’s playing at a
high, high level.”
Sermon, 6-foot-1 and
215 pounds, is back on
body was hired who could
handle all of the things
that happened this year,
it would be coach Rivera.”
The experienced
58-year-old coach praised
the entire league for get-
ting through the season
amid COVID-19 protocols
and praised his players
and staff for powering
through. His cancer fight
became a source of in-
spiration, even as Rivera
wanted “business as usu-
al” at the practice facility.
“He wanted us to wor-
ry about football so he
can take care of himself,”
offensive coordinator
Scott Turner said. “You
could tell there was days
that he was fatigued, he
was worn out. Sometimes
he would come out to
practice late. He wasn’t
here quite as often as he
would be or sometimes
he missed a couple meet-
ings here and there, but
laboration has been awe-
some and like I’ve said,
it’s our job to keep him
healthy, keep him upright
and let him do his thing.”
Clemson quarterback
Trevor Lawrence
declaring for NFL draft
Clemson quarterback
Trevor Lawrence has
made it official — he’s
heading to the NFL.
Lawrence, the 6-foot-6
QB with the power arm
and flowing hair, released
a video on social media
Wednesday announcing
he was leaving school
and declaring for the NFL
draft.
“I really feel like I’m a
man now and I’m ready
to take on those challeng-
es,” Lawrence said. “Su-
per excited for life ahead.
I’m grateful for Clemson
and I’m going to miss it.”
Lawrence had said in
September he planned
to play his junior season,
graduate in December
and move on to the NFL.
However, in October, Law-
rence discussed keeping
his options open, which
included possibly return-
ing for another year of
college as discussions of
the No. 1 pick intensified
between the then winless
New York Jets and the
Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jaguars finished
1-15 and have the top pick
in the draft and are ex-
pected to take Lawrence.
He finished 34-2 in
his college career, lead-
ing Clemson to three At-
lantic Coast Conference
titles and the national ti-
tle after the 2018 season.
He finished second in
the Heisman Trophy race
Tuesday night to Alabama
receiver DeVonta Smith.
Clemson coach Dabo
Swinney had often called
the radar of pro scouts
and can move up the draft
board if he can manage to
stand out Monday among
an array of other NFL-
bound players, includ-
ing Alabama’s Heisman
Trophy winner DeVonta
Smith.
Jim Nagy, executive
director of the Reese’s Se-
nior Bowl and a longtime
NFL scout, puts Sermon
in the same category as
Josh Jacobs, the former
Alabama back drafted in
the first round by the Las
Vegas Raiders in 2019
despite getting stuck be-
hind stars Damien Harris
and Najee Harris on the
Tide’s depth chart.
“Josh Jacobs was a
backup in college and
is a stud in the NFL,”
Nagy tweeted last month.
“Trey Sermon has been
a backup in college and
he WILL be a stud in the
NFL. Evaluate the player,
not the depth chart.”
we all knew what he was
going through and we
were ready to pick up the
slack.”
Rivera didn’t miss a
game, from a 1-3 start and
benching 2019 first-round
pick Dwayne Haskins
through a Week 17 victo-
ry at Philadelphia to get
in the playoffs, days after
releasing Haskins, who
violated COVID-19 proto-
cols twice.
And for all the happen-
ings over the past several
months, Washington has
the opportunity to add an-
other chapter against the
Buccaneers as more than
a touchdown underdog.
Rivera has encouraged
a “Why not us?” mantra
that has become easy for
players to believe.
“The old saying goes:
‘All you need is a chance,’”
he said. “That’s why we’ll
show up on Saturday
night.”
Lawrence the best player
in college football, no mat-
ter who won awards.
“There will be a lot of
people trying to live up to
the standard that he set as
a quarterback for a long
time in this game,” Swin-
ney said before the Tigers’
49-28 Sugar Bowl loss to
Ohio State that ended their
season a game short of the
national title contest.
Lawrence was the epit-
ome of cool and confident
almost from the moment
he arrived at Clemson in
January 2018. It took four
games as a freshman be-
fore he became the start-
ing quarterback and never
surrendered the position
— except for two games
this season he missed
after testing positive for
COVID-19.
Lawrence led the Tigers
to the national title in 2018,
dismantling powerhouse
Alabama 44-16 as he threw
for 347 yards and three
touchdowns to complete a
15-0 season.
Clemson and Lawrence
looked they would make it
two in a row a year ago be-
fore falling to LSU 42-25 to
end a 29-game win streak
in the national champion-
ship game.
Lawrence acknowl-
edged he had decisions to
make this season as the
coronavirus pandemic
raged across the country
and many wondered if any-
one should play college
football. But Lawrence
among other players like
Ohio State quarterback
Justin Fields, pushed to
keep the game going this
fall.
Lawrence began a Go-
FundMe page this spring
to help those needing help
handling the virus and was
instrumental in Clemson’s
social and racial justice
efforts this summer.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021 3B

Saints
Continued from Page 1B

to beat the NFC South champion
Saints (12-4) even at full strength. But
with Smith and Mooney out, their task
would be that much tougher.
Smith, Chicago’s leading tackler,
went out with a left elbow injury on
Green Bay’s first possession while
Mooney left in the fourth quarter with
an ankle injury.
The Bears (8-8) went on to lose the
game 35-16. But they made the playoffs
for the second time in Nagy’s three
years because the Arizona Cardinals
lost to the Los Angeles Ram s.
That would have been difficult to en-
vision not too long ago.
The Bears lost six straight follow-
ing a 5-1 start in their worst skid since
the 2002 team dropped eight in a row.
They jumped back into contention by
beating three struggling teams before
dropping the regular-season finale.
And they became the third team since
the 1970 merger to lose six straight
and make the playoffs.
The Bears also benched quarter-
back Mitchell Trubisky in favor of Nick
Foles during a comeback win at Atlan-
ta in Week 3. They switched play-call-
ers on offense, with Nagy handing off
those duties to coordinator Bill Lazor
in an effort to lift a struggling group.
And they went back to Trubisky in
Week 12 with the struggling Foles in-
jured.
Yet, they still found a way to the
playoffs — even if it was through the
back door.
“We know everybody is overlooking
us,” Trubisky said. “I think we’ve been
just playing with that edge, that chip on
our shoulder. We don’t have anything
to lose. We should go out there and
play free.”
If few outside Halas Hall think the
Bears have a chance against New Orle-
ans, well, Nagy can see why.
“We understand people have opin-
ions, but at the same time, we’re gonna
do what we know, and that’s to believe
in one another and play hard for each
other,” he said.
It would help if they weren’t banged
up.
Smith’s injury could leave the Bears
more vulnerable against star running
back Alvin Kamara, assuming he
comes off the COVID-19 list. If Smith
— who had a career-high 139 tack-
les and ranked second in the league
with 18 for loss — is unavailable, Josh
Woods could make his first NFL start.
The third-year pro played 28 snaps.
Mooney, the Bears’ second-lead-
ing receiver, set career highs with 11
catches for 93 yards against Green Bay.
The fifth-round draft pick from Tulane
ranked fifth among NFL rookies in re-
ceptions with 61 for 631 yards and over-
took Anthony Miller as Chicago’s No. 2
wide receiver.
Miller’s production dropped in his
third season. He had 49 receptions for
485 yards compared to 52 for 656 yards
in 2019. He had seven games with two
receptions or fewer.
“We’ve got a lot of great players,”
star receiver Allen Robinson said.
“We have players that have played a
lot of football here. ... I like the depth
we have in our room, and I think guys
have come in each and every week and
challenged themselves to get better
and be available for any opportunity or
anything like that.”
Sy scores 13 to lead balanced
Ole Miss past Auburn 72-61
OXFORD, Miss. — Khadin Sy
scored a season-high 13 points, Romel-
lo White and Luis Rodriguez each add-
ed 12, and Mississippi never trailed in
its 72-61 win over Auburn on Wednes-
day night.
Sophomore guard Austin Crowley
had eight points and set career highs
with 10 rebounds and four steals.
Devontae Shuler, who went into the
game averaging a team-high 14.3
points, scored just seven but had a ca-
reer-best 10 assists and two steals for
Ole Miss (6-3, 1-1 Southeastern Confer-
ence). The 6-foot-2 junior moved past
Gerald Glass into fifth on the program’s
all-time steals list with 160.
Auburn made seven of its first 11
field-goal attempts and Chris Moore
made a layup to cap a 7-0 spurt that made
it one-point game about 8 minutes into
the game but the Tigers missed their
next seven shots. Ole Missed used an
18-5 run — including two 3-pointers by
Sy — to make it 35-21 with 5 minutes
left in the first half and led by at least
eight points the rest of the way.
Jaylin Williams hit six 3-pointers
and finished with 24 points, both ca-
reer highs, for Auburn (6-5, 0-3). Jamal
Johnson added 11 points.
The Tigers committed 16 turnovers
and Ole Miss, which went forcing 19.3
turnovers per game (No. 12 nationally),
tied its season high with 11 steals. The
Rebels have forced at least 15 turnovers
in every game this season.
Auburn, despite its hot start, shot
just 36% (22 of 61) overall.

CFB
Continued from Page 1B
schedule.
Smith declined to provide
any details about what virus-re-
lated problems Ohio State
might be facing, but he did say
the team practiced Wednesday.
“We’re in good shape. Ready
to roll,” Smith said.
Ohio State President Kristi-
na M. Johnson posted photos
on Twitter showing her visit-
ing with coach Ryan Day and
the team in the school’s indoor
practice facility.
“I can’t wait to join Buckeyes
around the world on Jan. 11 in
cheering on this very special
team,” Johnson wrote.
West Coast exports
The West Coast will be well
represented in the national
championship game among
the players, if not the football
programs themselves.
Alabama All-America tail-
back Najee Harris, Ohio State
wide receiver Chris Olave and
Buckeyes All-America guard
Wyatt Davis are all from Cali-
fornia.
Harris, for one, misses the
California sunshine, but he has
no regrets about his trading
the West Coast for the South-
ern humidity — and football.
“They say a lot of West
Coast guys can’t play in I
guess conferences like this,
the SEC,” said Harris, who
was fifth in the Heisman Tro-
phy voting. “So I wanted to like
kill that hype, I guess, in a way
and show that we can play, that
West Coast people can play.
“We have a lot more guys
from the West Coast playing
in the SEC than before, so it’s
good to see a lot of guys travel
across.”
More respect for fields
Coombs, who has been
coaching football for near-
ly three decades, says Ohio
State’s Justin Fields is among
the best quarterbacks ever.
Fields, the second-year
Buckeyes starter and like-
ly first-round NFL draft
pick, added to his resume
on Wednesday when he was
named the winner of the 2020
Chicago Tribune Silver Foot-
ball award as the best player
in the Big Ten.
“He’s got command of the
offense, he understands where
we want to distribute the ball,”
said Coombs, who was an as-
sistant with the NFL’s Ten-
nessee Titans last season af-
ter a five-year stint on Urban
Meyer’s staff at Ohio State.
“He’s one of the best quar-
terbacks I’ve ever seen and
been around, and we’ve been
around some really good ones
here. He’s truly gifted.”
Battle in the trenches
Ohio State defensive tackle
Haskell Garrett said he’s look-
ing forward to facing the Tide’s
offensive front, which just won
the 2020 Joe Moore Award
this week as the nation’s best
O-line.
“It will be won in the trench-
es, no doubt,” said Garrett,
who recovered from a gunshot
wound to the face in August to
become one of the leaders of
the Buckeyes’ defense.
“Games like this will be
won up front,” he said. “If you
can’t move offensive and de-
fensive lines, then you have no
chance at winning. Offensive
and defensive linemen are un-
sung heroes. We might not get
the glamour and the flash, but
it’s won up front and the bet-
ter front is going to win this
game.”

MSU
Continued from Page 1B
loyalty and love,” he wrote
in a statement on Twitter.
“Much gratitude to the
Bulldog family of Missis-
sippi State University. My
coaches both present and
former, my teammates/
brothers, because of all
of you, I am a much better
me!”
Spencer, who lost his
junior year due to a sea-
son-ending injury, enjoyed
massive outputs in 2019
and 2020 and briefly flirt-
ed with entering the draft
a year ago. As a senior, the
Greenwood native record-
ed 30 tackles, three sacks
and an interception in
nine games. Spencer also
earned SEC Academic
Fall Honor Roll honors in
both 2017 and 2019.
With Spencer now
departing, eyes turn to
Starkville native and
defensive end running
mate Kobe Jones. Jones,
a former Starkville High
School Standout, is also
eligible to return despite
being a senior due to the
NCAA’s free pass on eligi-
bility amid the COVID-19
pandemic. Speaking
with the media following
MSU’s Armed Forces
Bowl win over No. 24 Tul-
sa last week, he said that
he had not made a deci-
sion.
Should Jones depart,
MSU would be left ra-
zor thin experience-wise
at defensive end. Junior
Aaron Odom and fresh-
man Jack Harris would
be among the most test-
ed, though they’ve seen
action in 26 games com-
bined, albeit in limited
spurts. The Bulldogs also
boast freshman defen-
sive end Jevon Banks and
signed three-star pass
rushers Deonte Anderson
and Tre’von Marshall in
its 2021 class.
MSU concluded the
2020 season 4-7, includ-
ing the victory over the
Golden Hurricane in Fort
Worth, Texas.
Former Starkville
standout Cam Gardner
to transfer
Former Starkville High
School standout and soph-
omore wide receiver Cam
Gardner announced via
Twitter Wednesday that
he is planning to enter
the transfer portal and
depart MSU after three
years of mixed results.
Should Gardner leave, he
would conclude his time
as a Bulldog with 13 re-
ceptions for 110 yards and
zero touchdowns.
“First off I would like to
thank all the coaches that
helped me on and off the
field and also in helping
me become a great young
man through these three
years I had at this wonder-
ful university,” he wrote.
“Second I would like to
thank the players that I
formed a special and un-
forgettable bond with over
these three years at Mis-
sissippi State. I will never
forget those memories we
made together.”
Gardner becomes the
second Bulldog in the past
24 hours to plan on leaving
the program after a source
with knowledge of the sit-
uation confirmed sopho-
more running back Lee
Witherspoon had entered
the transfer portal.
MSU closed its 2020
campaign at 4-7 with a win
over No. 24 Tulsa in the
Armed Forces Bowl last
week.
Witherspoon enters
transfer portal
Mississippi State is po-
tentially down a running
back.
A source with knowl-
edge of the situation con-
firmed to The Dispatch
Wednesday that sopho-
more tailback Lee With-
erspoon had entered the
transfer portal. Should
Witherspoon depart, he’ll
conclude his Bulldog ca-
reer with 136 rushing
yards and a touchdown on
28 carries.
During his first season
in Starkville, the Alabama
native drew comparisons
to former Georgia All-
SEC running back Nick
Chubb due to his low to the
ground running style. That
said, Witherspoon fell be-
hind freshmen Jo’quavious
Marks and Dillon Johnson
on the depth chart during
the 2020 campaign, re-
cording just six carries for
35 yards and nine recep-
tions for 49 yards.
Assuming Witherspoon
does follow through with
his transfer, the Bulldogs’
running back room will be
left to Marks and Johnson.
MSU also inked three-
star athlete Simeon Price,
who spent the bulk of his
high school career at re-
ceiver but projects as a
running back in college, in
its 2021 signing class.
The Bulldogs conclud-
ed the 2020 season at 4-7
last week with a win over
No. 24 Tulsa in the Armed
Forces Bowl.

Contacting the Sports Department

High school football coaches who don’t speak to a reporter from The Dispatch
are asked to email information to the sports department from their games. The
Dispatch will include its prep football coverage in Sunday’s edition, so we will con-
tact coaches Friday night or Saturday to get details. Coaches, please let us know
what is the best time for us to contact you.
4B THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021
Ticking clock? Time running out for Steelers veterans
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH — The
opportunities are dwin-
dling.
Ben Roethlisberger
knows it. Cam Heyward
and David DeCastro too.
It’s been a decade since
the Pittsburgh Steelers
have reached the Super
Bowl and a dozen years
since they’ve won it. In
most places, that’s hardly
a drought. Not in a place
where players, coaches
and front office members
walk past six Lombardi
Trophies each day when
they get to work.
The chances Roeth-
lisberger thought would
pop up repeatedly follow-
ing that stinging defeat to
Green Bay in 2011 during
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
his third Super Bowl ap-
pearance in six seasons
have not materialized.
Now 38, playing with a
surgically repaired right
elbow and four years re-
moved from his team’s
most recent playoff victo-
ry, Roethlisberger is well
aware of how small the
window has become for
the AFC North champions
(12-4) heading into Sun-
day’s first-round visit from
Cleveland (11-5).
“When I was a young
guy people tried to explain
to me that take advantage
of this, that and the oth-
er,” Roethlisberger said
Wednesday. “You’re think-
ing ‘I am young; I’ll get
back.’ It’s not guaranteed.
I think all of the veteran
guys as we are winding
FAMILY CIRCUS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
down our careers, we un-
derstand we don’t know
what is next. If there is go-
ing to be a next for some
guys.”
He’s not being dramat-
ic. While Roethlisberger is
under contract for 2021, he
says he won’t make a firm
decision until sometime in
the offseason. Left tackle
Alejandro Villaneuva is in
the final days of a deal that
will expire in March.
During their car rides
into practice each day,
Villanueva and DeCastro
trade barbs, debate ideas
and try to appreciate what
little time remains in this
chapter of their lives.
“Kind of surreal think-
ing this might be the last
year today because of the
business side of it,” DeCas-
tro said.
And there is a financial
reckoning coming for the
Steelers. Pittsburgh is al-
ready $21 million over the
2021 salary cap, and that’s
with just 35 players under
contract for next season.
Wide receiver JuJu
Smith-Schuster and run-
ning back James Conner
will hit the open market
in the spring. Outside line-
backer T.J. Watt will enter
the final year of his rookie
deal, and there’s a strong
desire to lock up the Defen-
sive Player of the Year can-
didate long-term, which
won’t be cheap.
Cornerback Joe Haden,
who will sit out on Sunday
because of COVID-19 pro-
tocols, has a cap hit of more
than $15 million. Roethlis-
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
I came to
this country
30 years ago, at
16. My parents
were very abusive
and neglectful, so
my uncle in the
U.S. took me in. I
have worked with
therapists, and
my mind is clear
about my past.
I now have
a 14-year-old
daughter. I do
not speak to Dear Abby
her in my native
language. It is
not very good at expressing
love and caring, and has more
emphasis on strict hierarchy
and obedience.
There are many things I
cannot convey in my native lan-
guage. One must understand
the huge cultural difference
between my native country
and the U.S. In addition, I do
not want to force my daughter
to learn something because
someone other than her
insisted. I prefer to spend my
resources helping her learn
something she is interested in.
If she says she wants to
learn my native language, I’ll
teach her. So far, she has
shown no interest. My friends
criticize me for not teaching
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan.
7). Think back to the things
that didn’t work out — jobs
you didn’t get, situations that
didn’t celebrate you. This
year represents the sweetest
turnaround. You’ll be lauded
for uniqueness. You’ll make a
difference by the original way
you solve problems. Truly, you’ll
later point to this year when
you need a reference for when
it all went right. Aries and Libra
adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 4, 24, 21, 29 and 13.
ARIES (March 21-April
19). Even though there is no
one better qualified than you to
enhance your reputation, repu-
tations are always the domain
of other people. Still, you’ll find
berger’s is $41.25 million.
Though restructuring
could ease some of the
pain, it can’t stem all of it.
The looming changes
to a franchise that prides it-
self on its consistency have
brought an added urgency
to a season that’s seen the
Steelers look like both a
Super Bowl contender and
an also-ran, sometimes in
the same game.
“You don’t want to
be saying ‘What if?’ and
there’s countless opportu-
nities I’ve missed,” Hey-
ward said. “And I don’t
want this to be an opportu-
nity I missed.”
Heyward made an at-
tempt to drive it across
during a meeting when he
outlined the bonus money
for winning each round of
it to her. I’m
bothered by their
insistence that
I’m robbing my
daughter of the
opportunity to
learn it. How
do I tell them
it is none of
their business?
-- READER IN
HAWAII
DEAR
READER: Your
daughter may
not have asked
to learn your
native language
because it hasn’t
occurred to her that it might
one day be a valuable asset.
I do think you should offer to
teach it to her if she’s inter-
ested in knowing more about
the culture that shaped her
mother, because her answer
might surprise you.
That said, because your
friends’ comments bother you,
tell them that because you
don’t tell them how to raise
their children, you prefer they
not tell you how to raise yours.
DEAR ABBY: I have a
unique problem, and if it
isn’t resolved, I’m afraid my
marriage is going to end in
divorce. Ten years ago, at my
brother-in-law’s wedding, I
was left in charge of the bar. I
subtle ways to get them to sing
your praises.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
The moment something major is
going on for someone you care
about is your time to shine as a
supporter and true friend. This
is not that. This is preparation
for that. Gather your statements
and talking points.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
Your intuitive inklings will be
correct. You’ll bet on a hunch
and win. Said “bet” may be
made with money but will more
likely be an investment of time,
attention and heart.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
Lightheartedness has a time
and place — maybe most of the
time and a good percentage of
the playoffs, a figure that
runs into the low six fig-
ures. Oh, and the chance
to become the first fran-
chise to win seven Super
Bowls.
“I know it can feel
overwhelming but let
your work take care of
it,” Heyward said.
Heyward missed
Pittsburgh’s run to the
2016 AFC championship
game because of a pecto-
ral injury. He was on the
field, however, for a divi-
sional-round loss to Jack-
sonville in 2017 when the
Jaguars came to Heinz
Field as seven-point un-
derdogs and stunned the
AFC’s second seed by
racing to a three-touch-
down lead and then hold-
ing on.
got drunk and made a fool of
myself. This included overtly
flirting with one of the brides-
maids. I’m incredibly sorry
about the embarrassment it
caused my wife.
Fast-forward to today:
My wife has accused me of
inappropriate behavior and
hundreds of affairs that never
happened. I have been faithful
to her since we started dating.
She goes through my business
phone and accuses me and
my professional contacts of
sexual behavior. I have offered
to take a polygraph exam, but
she continues to accuse me of
infidelity. I’m at my wits’ end,
and marriage counseling isn’t
an option. -- NOT FOOLING
AROUND IN MAINE
DEAR NOT FOOLING:
Marriage counseling may not
be an option for you and your
wife, but YOU should definitely
consult a licensed psychother-
apist. Something is not right
with your wife. Is it possible
that the wedding incident so
severely unbalanced her that
she has never recovered?
What you have described
is a miserable existence for
both of you. That it has gone
unresolved for a decade is
tragic. Where you need to go
from here I cannot decide for
you, but a therapist may be
able to guide you.
the places. Today, though, you’ll
dig into your more serious pur-
poses. This is it. Bring the grit.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22).
Leave space for the other
person to express his or her
heart, soul and being. You’ll
learn. You’ll be delighted — and
baffled. Leaving space, allowing
the air to go dead, is a kind of
invitation.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Frustration gets misplaced.
The problem with the vacuum
cleaner is released on the dog,
etc. Knowing this, you don’t
take things personally when
someone you love is in an edgy
state.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
At any given moment, you exist
in several worlds and times.
You’re recalling the pertinent in-
formation of yesterday, nudging
tomorrow in a direction, sitting
with mixed reviews.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
The friends who told you that
you were on the rise were met
with your skeptical eyes. But
here you are, risen, to a degree
— not the ultimate degree you
will grow, but you’re getting
there. Take it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). Shakespeare’s Henry VI
said, “Of all base passions,
fear is most accursed.” But
fear doesn’t have to turn into a
passion. Nip it in the bud. Face
it when it’s small.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). Thinking of other people —
sometimes you think it’s a lost
art. You don’t know why, consid-
ering you think of other people
all the live-long day. You’ll be
delighted tonight by the proof
that someone is thinking of you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). Your truth will be requested
by people who want to know
where you stand. People making
plans based on your truth, well,
it’s one way to go, though you’d
prefer they wait a minute so you
can figure it out organically.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). You’ll help another make a
psychological jump. You’ve been
there, and you made that leap
with your sheer force of will, or
by the challenge of those who
really know how to get under
your skin.
Tea for two
SOLUTION:
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021 5B

Business
A pandemic shift in finances: Prioritize, simplify, save
Survey: 58 percent of U.S. adults said
they plan to continue cutting back
spending on ‘wants’ in 2021
BY HAL M. BUNDRICK
OF NERDWALLET
The pandemic has
caused many people to
reassess their priorities.
There is talk of moving out
of the city, simplifying life
and saving more money.
“I’m not going to spend
money like that anymore,”
my millennial daughter
told me recently, talking
about past shopping
sprees on handbags, jew-
elry, and yes, lattes. “Fi-
nancial security is fun
now.”
This from the same
person who, until recently,
has annually paid to up-
grade to the latest version
of smartphone ever since
she purchased her first
Juicy Couture Sidekick
back in 2005.
But, as usual, my
daughter alerted me to a
growing trend.
Developing new financial
goals
In an annual survey,
consumer research firm
The Family Room LLC
identifies prevailing
trends in more than 150
psychological drivers. De-
termining changing pri-
orities from year to year
helps identify emotional
hot spots among different
age groups.
The latest results show
dramatic shifts in atti-
tudes, the company says,
including a 14 percent in-
crease over the previous
year’s survey among par-
ents in “making my life
simpler and less compli-
cated.”
Changes are happening
in the way people save, too.
Among U.S. adults who
say they developed new
financial habits during
the pandemic, 58 percent
said they plan to continue
cutting back spending on
“wants” in 2021, accord-
ing to a recent NerdWallet
survey. Many (36 percent)
plan to continue building
up general savings, and
30 percent will continue
stashing money in emer-
gency savings.
Here are some ideas
for simplifying your life
and morphing your mon-
ey habits from carefree to
careful.
The gift of prioritization
Leo Babauta, 46, a writ-
er in Southern California,
is on a mission to help peo-
ple “implement Zen habits
in daily life.” He believes
the pandemic has given us
the gift of prioritization.
“When things are fall-
ing apart, it helps us real-
ize what’s most important
to us,” Babauta says. “This
will help us to simplify our
lives as we move forward
because simplicity really
boils down to two steps:
Identify what is most im-
portant to you, and elimi-
nate everything else.”
On Babauta’s blog at Ze-
nHabits.net, he chronicles
a long list of life changes
through the years: quit-
ting smoking, paying off
debt, losing weight and
taking control of his fi-
nances.
He stopped living pay-
check to paycheck by ad-
dressing the things that
turn us to bad financial
habits in the first place:
fear, anxiety and stress.
Babauta says that the
COVID outbreak has
sparked him to be even
more focused on “taking
care of myself, meditating,
walking and getting rest.”
“If we’re shopping too
much, it’s because we’re
stressed,” he says. “If we
avoid budgeting, it’s be-
cause it causes us anxi-
ety. Breaking the cycle is
about choosing better hab-
its to deal with that stress,
like going for a walk or
making a list, and then
creating accountability
and support to do the new
habit every day, instead of
the old habit.”
Tracking spending
is essential
Simplifying life is a
theme echoed by Richard
Liu, 26, a marketing man-
ager in Sydney, Australia.
“One of the ways I
helped simplify my ex-
penses is using a money
tracking application. Since
so many things are digital,
making purchases online
has been the norm, so be-
ing able to track spending
is essential,” Liu says.

BUSINESS BRIEF
Threadgill named
Fellow of Mississippi
Bar Foundation
Butler Snow attorney
and Columbus native
Timothy M.
Threadgill
has been
selected as
a Fellow of
the Missis-
sippi Bar
Foundation.
Through Threadgill
its Fellows
program, the Missis-
sippi Bar Foundation
recognizes outstanding
members of the Missis-
sippi Bar, with member-
ship being limited to
only ten percent of the
Bar. The Mississippi Bar
Foundation, since its
organization, has come
to represent the highest
level of professionalism
and competence for a
Mississippi lawyer.
For 30 years, Thread-
gill has represented
businesses and man-
agement throughout the
country in employment
litigation, employment
counseling, business
torts, unfair competition,
trade secrets litigation,
restrictive covenants, and
OSHA matters.
He is regularly recog-
nized by Chambers USA,
Super Lawyers®, Who’s
Who Legal, Benchmark
Litigation and Best Law-
yers in America®, and
has been named Lawyer
of the Year three times
for his work in labor and
employment law. He is a
Fellow of the College of
Labor and Employment
Attorneys, a fellowship of
the most accomplished
members of the labor and
employment community,
the Young Lawyers Di-
vision of the Mississippi
Bar and the American
Bar Association. Thread-
gill is admitted to all
federal and state courts
in Mississippi, Arkansas’
federal courts, the North-
ern District of Florida,
and the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Third,
Fifth and Sixth Circuits.
He obtained his under-
graduate degree from the
University of Mississippi
and his J.D. from the
University of Alabama.
LOCAL GAS PRICES
Source: gasbuddy.com

COLUMBUS
BUILDING PERMITS 1.85 PURE464 MS-373

1.94 MURPHY USA

Weathers Air Conditioning Inc.
City of Columbus 1913-A US 45 N
Dec. 28-30, 2020 Lowndes County
■ George O Rush; 1504 7th
Avenue North; Install sheet- Jan. 6, 2021 1.95 SPIRIT
1450 Jess Lyons Rd.

rock over block walls; same ■ Jennifer Dowdy; 70 Big Duke

■ David Bradley Perkenson; Road; Set up mobile home; STARKVILLE
Owner
1.79
212 10th Street South; remod-
■ Jennifer Dowdy; 70 Bid Duke SHELL
el and addition in rear; same 723 MS-12 W
■ 713 Spruce St. Columbus Road; Move mobile home;

1.84 MURPHY USA

MS Trust; 713 Spruce Street; McNairy Mobile Homes
electrical; Weldon Electric ■ Marilyn Rose; 1048 Schlater 1012 MS-12

■ Christopher Chair; 1995 Road; Set up mobile home;

Waverly Ferry Road; mechani-
cal; Patterson HVAC
Owner
■ Marilyn Rose; 1048 Schlater
1.85 STRANGE BREW
605 MS-12 W

■ Phillips and Weiss; 1920-3 Road; Move mobile home;

Highway 45 North; plumbing; Helicon Transport LLC
Brislin Inc. ■ Travis McDonald; 3662 Old
■ Ches Pearman; 1001 Wolfe Road; Construct s/f cdispatch.com
Southdown Parkway; plumbing; residence; Owner
Classifieds
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021 n 6B

Apts For Rent: Other Mobile Homes for Rent Lots & Acreage
Did you
Employment COLEMAN
RENTALS
3BR/2BA MH in New Hope.
$650 dep + $650/mo. No
pets, quiet area. Leave full
1.75 ACRE LOTS: Good/
Bad Credit Options. Good
credit as low as 20% down,
know ?
Call us: 662-328-2424 TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS name & message, $499/mo. Eaton Land,
205−712−6697. 662−361−7711.
Customer Service 1 BEDROOM
2 BEDROOMS
Merchandise
LOCAL LAW FIRM is seek- RENT A CAMPER! In 2015 The Dispatch won the
ing Receptionist/Secretary. 3 BEDROOMS CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
Previous experience Utilities & cable included, Daniel E. Phillips Freedom of
LEASE,
© The Dispatch

helpful but not necessary.
Computer skills a must.
Email resume to:
job116@cdispatch.com
Please re-submit your re-
sume if sent before 12/31
662-329-2323
General Help Wanted
from $145/wk − $535/mo
DEPOSIT Columbus & County School
locations. 662−242−3803
AND or 601−940−1397.
CREDIT CHECK
Information Award for our
Ads starting at $12
investigative journalism.
General Merchandise
Roper Dryer, standard size,
good condition, $200. Five Questions:

PROGRESSIVE HEATING & 2411 HWY 45 N

Real Estate 662−312−6617.

1 Christie’s
Sudoku
COOLING, INC. is seeking Ads starting at $25 YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
duct work installers. Applic- COLUMBUS, MS Sporting Goods
ant must have verifiable ex-
Sudoku
Farms & Timberland ED SANDERS GUNSMITH
perience and good work ref-
erences. Apply at: 10155
Houses For Rent: North
Open for season!
2 Coachella
Sudoku is a number- Yesterday’s answer
Tue−Fri: 9−5 & Sat: 9−12 placing puzzle based on
Darracott Access Road, COLONIAL TOWNHOUSES. 3 2 5 4 9 8 6 7 1
Aberdeen, MS 39730 2 & 3 bedroom w/ 2−3 203 ACRES Over 50 years experience! Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num-
bath townhouses. $650 to PRIME TIMBERLAND Repairs, cleaning, refin− ber-placing
given numbers.puzzleThe object 1 4 8 7 6 3 9 2 5
3 Alibaba
Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm

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

ishing, scopes mounted &
based onthe a 9x9
$270,000
(662)369-3694 or $750. 662−549−9555.
Exc deer, turkey hunting zeroed, handmade knives. is to place numbers 7 9 6 1 2 5 3 4 8
(662)328-1080 Ask for Glenn or text.
Good Investment Located: Hwy 45 Alt, North grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 2 3 1 9 5 4 8 6 7
Houses For Rent: Caledonia (615)719−8329 of West Point, turn right on given
so thatnumbers.
each row, eachThe 8 6 7 2 3 1 4 5 9
OFFICE ASSISTANT,
part-time. QuickBooks
Yokahama Blvd, 8mi & turn
left on Darracott Rd, will 4 Emmy, object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place box 4 5 9 6 8 7 1 3 2
3BR/1.5BA, small house numbers
contains the1same to 9 number
in
experience preferred.
Mail resume to
for small family. NO DOGS. Houses For Sale: East see sign, 2.5mi ahead
shop on left. Grammy, the empty spaces so 9 7 2 8 4 6 5 1 3
NO HUD. Caledonia School only once. The difficulty
Wheeler Roofing,
P.O. Box 9586,
Dist. 8155 Hwy 12 near
Old Country Store.
FSBO: 4BR/2BA. New roof,
new paint, fenced
662−494−6218.
Oscar, Tony that each row, each
level increases from
column and each
6
5
1
8
3
4
5
3
7
1
9
2
2
7
8
9
4
6
Columbus, MS 39705 Available 1/5/21. $775/ backyard, driveway leads Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 1/06

or email to wheelerroofing mo + $775 dep. 662−245 behind house. $128,000. the same number only once. The difficulty level
5 United States
@bellsouth.net ads.cdispatch.com
−1191 or 662−549−9298. 662−889−1443.
increases from Monday to Sunday.
Government

Town of Millport
Police Officer
The Town of Millport has
an opening for a police
officer. Applications and
job requirements may be
picked up at the office of
the Town Clerk located
within Millport Town Hall,
920 Black Street, Millport
AL 35576. All completed
applications must be
returned to Town Hall.
Applications are due no
later than January 22,
2021. Call 205-662-4228
if you have any questions.

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
ACROSS
1 Bedrooms 1 Pack down
2 Bedroooms Read local.cdispatch.com 5 Justice Antonin
3 Bedrooms 11 Poet

Service Directory
Khayyám
Furnished & Unfurnished
12 Sources of
1, 2, & 3 Baths bile
Lease, Deposit 13 Rudder part
& Credit Check 14 Some mar-
bles
viceinvestments.com Promote your small business starting at only $25 15 Not fleshed
327-8555 Air Cond & Heating General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping out
17 Objective
Apts For Rent: Other RAPID TEMP WORK WANTED: Licensed TERRA CARE 18 Like some
Heating & cooling. & Bonded. Carpentry, minor LANDSCAPING L.L.C. numerals
Home & RV. electrical, minor plumbing, Phone: 662−549−1878
Service & install. insulation, painting, demo− Landscaping, Property 22 Placates
Free estimates. lition, gutters cleaned, Clean Up, Plant Care, 24 Herpetology
Call 602−736−4880. pressure washing, land− Bush Hogging, subject
scaping, cleanup work. Herbicide Spraying
25 Boxing great DOWN 21 Brooklyn
662−242−3608.
Painting & Papering 26 Young fox 1 Stocking team
Carpet & Flooring stuffers 22 Mob boss
27 Elbows on the
Lawn Care / Landscaping QUALITY PAINTING.
table 2 Wild 23 Arkin or Alda
Ext/Int Painting. 3 Prepare to go 28 Bald spot
JESSE & BEVERLY’S Sheet Rock Hang, Finish & 30 Some tour-
LAWN SERVICE Repair. Pressure Washing. neys shopping cover
Fall Cleanup, Tree Cutting, Free Estimates. Ask for
32 Victorious 4 Early round, 29 Orchard crop
Landscaping, Sodding & specials! Larry Webber,
33 In the style of for short 30 Lifeboat need
Bush Hogging 662−242−4932.
662−356−6525 34 Kite lifters 5 Blinds piece 31 City squares
SULLIVAN’S PAINT 38 Twosome 6 Cuban exports 35 Body shop
SERVICE
41 Utah national 7 Arthurian challenge
Clean in the New Year! LIST YOUR BUSINESS HERE! Special Prices. island 36 Dog from
1 Room − $50 Interior & Exterior Painting. park
2 Room − $80
Ads starting at $25 ads.cdispatch.com. 662−435−6528 42 Invisible 8 Rented out Kansas
3 Rooms − $110 43 Nick and 9 Hot blood 37 Ginger cookie
Carpet − Rugs − Cars Automotive Services
Nora’s dog 10 Cart puller 38 Young lion
DAVID’S CARPET &
44 Most vile 16 Print units 39 — roll (doing
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING 45 Telegraph 19 Prepare to well)
punch 40 Naval initials
It’s a classified Call for more info!
662−722−1758
period
20 Related
rule-of-thumb:
We tell readers General Services

what they need A & T TREE SERVICES

Bucket truck & stump
removal. Free est.
to know to buy Serving Columbus
since 1987. Senior
what they need. citizen disc. Call Alvin @
242−0324/241−4447
"We’ll go out on a limb for
you!"

Buy. Sell. Discover. In the Classifieds section.

On the web: ads.cdispatch.com • Or call: 662-328-2424