FOCAL POINT Snow day in the Golden Triangle, See page 2A

Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi

CDISPATCH.COM 75 ¢ Newsstand | 40 ¢ Home Delivery

Tuesday | January 12, 2021

Insurance carrier sues LCSD, West Brothers

for New Hope High leaky roof coverage
West Brothers seeks insurance coverage from a carrier that Lowndes County School District’s
insurance carrier, Middlesex Insurance
did not represent company until after the roofing project Company, is suing both the district and
West Brothers Construction in federal
district court in an ongoing dispute over
BY TESS VRBIN that began leaking less than two months responsibility for the leaky roof at New
tvrbin@cdispatch.com after completion. Hope High School. West Brothers is
The Dec. 14, 2020, suit from Wiscon- seeking coverage for leaks that oc-
Lowndes County School District’s in- sin-based Middlesex Insurance Company curred before the contractor’s policy pe-
surance company filed a lawsuit in federal riod with Middlesex, according to court
adds to existing litigation in the ongoing
documents. LCSD sued West Brothers
district court against both the school dis- dispute between LCSD and West Brothers in circuit court last year, seeking mone-
trict and the Columbus-based construction Construction Inc. over the leaky roof at tary damages for the leaky roof.
company it contracted for a roofing project See LAWSUIT, 6A Dispatch file photo

SNOWBALL FIGHT Cole Bryan

running
for mayor
in West Point
Democrat becomes
second candidate
to qualify in race
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT

WEST POINT —
A second candidate
has qualified to run
in the Democratic
primary for mayor.
Cole Bryan, 36,
filed qualifying pa-
perwork Monday
morning, joining Bryan
State Farm agent and former Ward
1 selectman Rod Bobo in the race.
A West Point native and He-
bron Christian graduate, Bryan
works with The Mission Ministry
— started by his grandfather, R.C.
(Dickie) Bryan — and he founded
Lighthouse Recovery, according to
a formal announcement he emailed
to The Dispatch. Both missions,
located on Church Hill Road, aim
to help people struggling with ad-
diction.
See BRYAN, 6A

Matthew, Carson and Jordan Benge of New Hope enjoy the snow day with a snowball fight Monday morning. Their parents are
Courtesy photo
CMSD approves $252K
Todd and Erinn Benge. About two inches of snow accumulated in much of the region, but above freezing temperatures in the
afternoon saw it quickly melt away. SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 2A. in improvement projects
New lights at football
stadium will have to wait
Hyatt: No positive virus cases can be traced BY SLIM SMITH
ssmith@cdispatch.com

to in-person classroom instruction at MSU
University overcame ‘bumpy’ start to fall semester affected by pandemic
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com
As if managing the ongo-
ing COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t
Hyatt enough, Mississippi State Universi-
ty had to deal with a snowstorm on
the first day of the spring 2021 se-
mester Monday, Vice President for
Student Affairs Regina Hyatt told
the Starkville Rotary Club at its vir-
tual meeting Monday.
“There isn’t a playbook for how
to run a university during a pan-
demic,” she said. “We have a little
section in our crisis action team
manual on pandemics, but it was
See HYATT, 3A
Kill the lights, at least for this
year.
The Columbus Municipal School
District Board of Trustees approved
10 capital improvement projects,
but decided to table a project to ad-
dress the lighting at the Columbus
High School football stadium be-
cause of the expense of the board’s
preferred option for the project.
See CMSD, 3A

INSIDE FIVE QUESTIONS LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

Classifieds 6B 1 The documentary “Virunga,” MEETINGS
Comics 4B about the fight to save the last Jan. 15: Lowndes
Crossword 3B mountain gorillas from extinc- County Board of
Dear Abby 4B tion, takes place in what African Supervisors, 9
Health 6A country? a.m., Courthouse,
Obituaries 5A 2 What newspaper does Clark
Opinions 4A Kent work for? facebook.com/
3 Pacific Ocean areas known LowndesCountyMis-
as “garbage patches” primarily sissippi/
consist of what material?
WEATHER 4 What actress developed a line
Jan. 19: Colum-
bus City Council,
of organic skin-care products
44 Low 24
5 p.m., Municipal
sold by cosmetics company
High Juice Beauty? Complex, facebook.
Mostly sunny 5 According to the Social Secu- com/CityofColum-
Full forecast on rity Administration, what girl’s busMS/
page 3A. name ousted Sophia in 2014 to Feb. 1: Lowndes
become most popular — Char- County Board of
lotte, Emma or Olivia? Supervisors, 9
Answers, 6B a.m. Courthouse,
facebook.com/
Peter Loux, 5, is from New Hope. His LowndesCountyMis-
141st Year, No. 259 favorite color is green. sissippi/

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

FOCAL POINT A photo exploration of life

inside the Golden Triangle

Snow day in the

Golden Triangle

Courtesy photo
Cayleigh, Chase and C.J. Gathings enjoy making a snowman outside their home in Columbus.

Courtesy photo
Olivia Brackin, 5, and Orangie the cat play in the snow.
Olivia’s parents are David and Leah Brackin.

Orion Har-
ris holds a
stuffed Mick-
ey Mouse toy
while playing
in the snow
with Autumn
Harris in
Steens.
Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo
Lathan Dunbar-Keys, a ninth grade student at Heritage
Academy, plays in the snow in Columbus.

Courtesy photo

ABOVE: From
left, Jill, Tim,
Emma and Anna
Kate O’Bryant of
New Hope pose Courtesy photo
with the finished Heather Mucha, 13, bundles up to brave the snow at
product from their Columbus Air Force Base. She is an eighth grader at
snowman building Caledonia Middle School.
adventure in New
Hope. RIGHT:
Tim O’Bryant of
New Hope uses
a mini-excavator
to help build a
snowman.

Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo
Alexandria Foster admires the snow on the branches
on Briarwood Circle in Columbus.

Courtesy photo
From left, Julia Yeatman, 8; Rhett Galjour, 9; Barrett Spears, 8; Tate Galjour, 7; Henry Spears, 4;
Pearson Spears, 7; and Hudson Yeatman, 4, take a break from sledding. Julia and Hudson are Courtesy photo
the children of Luke and Laura Catherine Yeatman. Rhett and Tate are the children of Chris and Rose Midkiff, front, and Autumn Harris make snow-
Morgan Galjour. Barrett, Henry, and Pearson are the children of Jason and Paige Spears. balls in Steens.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 3A

FBI warns of plans for nationwide Mississippi governor

armed protests next week
‘Our efforts are focused on identifying,
investigating, and disrupting individuals that are
inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity’
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The FBI is
warning of plans for armed protests
at all 50 state capitals and in Wash-
ington, D.C., in the days leading up
to President-elect Joe Biden’s in-
auguration, stoking fears of more
bloodshed after last week’s deadly
siege at the U.S. Capitol.
An internal FBI bulletin warned,
as of Sunday, that the nationwide
protests may start later this week
and extend through Biden’s Jan. 20
Statement from the FBI
inauguration, according to two law
enforcement officials who read de-
tails of the memo to The Associated
Press. Investigators believe some of
the people are members of extrem-
ist groups, the officials said. The
bulletin was first reported by ABC.
“Armed protests are being
planned at all 50 state capitols from
16 January through at least 20 Janu-
ary, and at the U.S. Capitol from 17
January through 20 January,” the
bulletin said, according to one of-
ficial. The officials were not autho-
rized to speak publicly and spoke to
the AP on condition of anonymity.
The FBI issued at least one oth-
er bulletin — they go out to law
enforcement nationwide on the top-
ic — before the riots last week. On
Dec. 29, it warned of the potential
for armed demonstrators targeting
legislatures, the second official said.
“While our standard practice is
to not comment on specific intelli-
gence products, the FBI is support-
ing our state, local, and federal law
enforcement partners with main-
taining public safety in the commu-
nities we serve,” the bureau said in a
statement. “Our efforts are focused
on identifying, investigating, and
disrupting individuals that are incit-
ing violence and engaging in crimi-
nal activity.”
signs law for flag
without rebel emblem
BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — Mississippi hoisted a new state
flag without the Confederate battle emblem on
Monday, just over six months after legislators re-
tired the last state banner in the U.S. that includ-
ed the divisive rebel symbol.
The new flag has a magnolia and the phrase,
“In God We Trust.” Voters approved the design
in November, and Gov. Tate Reeves on Monday
signed a law to make it an official state symbol.
“A new chapter in our history begins today,”
one of the leaders in changing the flag, Republi-
can House Speaker Philip Gunn, told more than
100 people who gathered in near-freezing weath-
er to watch the new flag being raised outside the
state Capitol.
Just before signing the law, Reeves said the old
flag with the Confederate symbol was “a promi-
nent roadblock to unity.”
“When many looked at our former flag, they
just saw a symbol of the state and heritage they
love. But many felt dismissed, diminished and
even hated because of that flag,” Reeves said.
“That is not a firm foundation for our state. So to-
day, we turn the page.”

Hyatt
Continued from Page 1A
like two pages long.”
Administrators’ first
meeting to discuss how to
respond to COVID-19 was
Feb. 26, 2020, before the
virus came to Mississippi,
so it focused mainly on stu-
dents and faculty abroad,
Hyatt said.
Closing campus in
March was “the surprise
of a lifetime,” she said, and
MSU administration had
learned by the summer that
the pandemic would not be
gone in time to resume
normal campus operations
in August. In addition to
strict sanitation protocols
and a campus-wide face
mask requirement, MSU
has rented two hotels in
Starkville and part of one
in Columbus for students
to use as quarantine facil-
ities if they test positive for
COVID-19 or are exposed
to it.
Now, COVID-19 vac-
cines are becoming avail-
able. MSU does not have
any yet but has applied to
serve as a distribution site,
Hyatt said.
MSU has “had some
successes” in how it has
handled the pandemic,
such as moving all its
classes online in a two-
week period in March, she
said.
“It was not perfect, but
we did it, and our students
were able to complete the
spring term,” Hyatt said.
“That’s a big deal because
you don’t want students to
get off of their academic
pathway, and we worked
really hard by doing things
like adopting the pass-fail
grading scheme, by help-
ing to institute all of our
academic support online.
We did a lot of things to
make sure students could
finish.”
MSU also distributed
$8.9 million in financial aid
for students via the federal
Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
and Economic Security
Act (CARES Act) within
days of receiving it, Hyatt
said. The CARES Act re-
served more than $14 bil-
lion for higher education
institutions to cover both
the institutions’ and the
students’ costs due to cam-
puses closing and classes
becoming online-only.
The fall semester had
a “bumpy” start but ulti-
mately “hit a stride” when
students adapted their be-
haviors to try to keep them-
selves and others safe, Hy-
att said. She credited both
faculty and students for
keeping classrooms free of
COVID transmission.
“We cannot trace a sin-
gle infection of COVID-19
to any classroom experi-
ence on campus,” she said.
“All the infections our stu-
dents have had occurred
in their social activities or
in residence halls, in plac-
es where they were in less
structured environments.”
COVID-19 testing has
been readily available on
campus, and the universi-
ty has moved infected stu-
dents into isolation within
a couple hours of testing
positive, Hyatt said.
Rotary member Eddie
Keith asked Hyatt if there
was a “steady flow” of
students in and out of the
quarantine hotels during
the fall semester. Hyatt
said there was an initial
three-week influx that saw
a “steady decline” by the
fourth week of classes.
“What always happens
at the start of every semes-
ter, (and) this is not new
behavior, but that sort of
boundary testing: ‘What
can I do? Where can I do
it? How can I get away
with it?’” she said. “This
is normal college student
behavior. And then it be-
came real clear that we
were going to have some
pretty significant sidebars
of what was acceptable ac-
tivity on campus and with
our organizations.”
After a few Greek hous-
es, student groups and res-
idence hall floors went into
quarantine, students start-
Momentum to change the Mississippi flag
built quickly in June as protests against racial in-
justice were happening across the nation. Legis-
lators created a commission to design a new flag,
ed to take safety precau- specifying that the banner could not include Con-
tions like masks and social federate imagery and that it must include “In God
distancing more seriously, We Trust.”
Hyatt said. Reeves previously served as lieutenant gover-
MSU administration nor, and he had said for years that if the old flag
learned how to success- were to change, it should only be done by a state-
fully market public health wide vote. He signed the bill retiring the old flag
messaging to “this genera- after legislators passed it by a veto-proof margin.
tion of students,” she said. The public submitted more than 3,000 design
“They’re receiving proposals, and the commission chose one that
information in so many has a magnolia blossom encircled by white stars
complex ways that … you representing Mississippi as the 20th state, plus a
have to do all the things,” single gold star representing Native Americans.
she said. “You have to talk The gold star is made of diamond shapes that are
about these health behav- significant to the Choctaw culture.
iors in every format. You
can’t just send an email.
You (also) have to put up
signs, be on social media,
create videos, have street
teams out there talking
about these issues. Our
students need to hear
messages over and over
again from lots of different
sources in order for these
public health issues to sink
in.”
Hyatt said her two big-
gest mantras of leader-
ship and decision-making
throughout the pandemic
have been grace and flex-
ibility, since things often
change on the fly and rare-
ly turn out perfectly.
“We have to have grace
for ourselves and for each
other because no one
knows how it is to be lead-
ing and managing this en-
vironment unless you’re in
it,” she said.

CMSD
Continued from Page 1A
District maintenance
manager Stephen Little
recommended the board
replace the stadium’s cur-
rent lighting, which he
said has become outdat-
ed, with a new LED light-
ing system that’s estimat-
ed cost would be $240,000
— almost as much as the
board approved for the
other 10 projects.
“It’s getting hard to
get parts for the lights
we have there now,” Lit-
tle told the board. “The
bulbs and the ballasts
are getting outdated. The
other problem is that last
year when we went to re-
place some of the bulbs,
we found out that the wir-
ing was pretty bad on al-
most every pole.”
Little said he had three
estimates on rewiring the
lights for the antiquat-
ed metal halide lights,
ranging from $37,000 to
$65,000.
“If we decided we want-
ed to go with the LED
lighting, it comes already
wired,” Little said. “The
LED lights are connect-
ed to a panel box on the
ground, where all the bal-
lasts and equipment are
going to be. The only rea-
son you would ever have
to go up the poles would
be to replace a light. We
probably wouldn’t have to
have anybody go up a pole
for several years if we go
with the LED lighting.”
Given the expense, the
board voted to remove
the lighting project from
its list.
The board approved
$252,913 for 10 proj-
ects with approximately
$51,000 coming from its
Sixteenth Section fund
at Franklin Academy.
The board will replace additional 10 feet).
playground equipment “It’s hard to get an es-
($25,997) and exterior timate of the full cost for
painting ($25,166) from the woodwork until they
the fund, which has a bal- start working to see what
ance of $52,000. all needs to be replaced.”
Funds from the other Little said.
projects will come from
the district’s capital im-
provement account.
They include: An inter-
com system at Columbus
High ($140,439), pres-
sure washing at Fairview
($1,600) and Franklin
(2,650), repaving work
at Cook Elementary
($7,708) and Columbus
High ($13,218), play-
ground equipment at Sale
Elementary ($18,105),
parking lot camera re-
placement at Columbus
Middle School ($7,440)
and replacing/repairing
external wood work at
Franklin ($10,600 for 50
feet, plus $2,120 for every

Columbus man arrested after

police chase on 45 South SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT He was police vehicles on a chase peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Tues. Wed.
driving on that ended when he lost Major
Minor
12:23a
8:16a
1:23a
9:10a
A Columbus man was Highway 45 control of the vehicle and Major 12:53p 1:51p
arrested Friday after lead- South Fri- crashed on Sub Division Minor 6:31p —
Courtesy of Mississippi Department

ing Lowndes County depu-

of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
day when Road southwest of Colum-

ties on a chase along High-
way 45 South.
Marcus Trent Dawson,
Jr., 32, has been charged
with fleeing in a motor vehi-
cle, possession of cocaine,
trafficking in controlled
substance and misdemean-
or possession of marijuana.
a deputy
attempted
to pull him
Dawson
over for a
traffic stop, according to
a Lowndes County Sher-
iff’s Office press release.
Instead, Dawson led the
deputy and several other
bus.
The press release said
Dawson attempted to flee
on foot but was caught
“shortly” after the wreck.
Dawson is currently in
Lowndes County Adult De-
tention Center. His bond
has not been set.
The Dispatch
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Website: cdispatch.com/help
Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc., Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
Opinion
4A TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 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

MISSISSIPPI VOICES

Attack on Capitol fueled by internet conspiracy theories

H
opes for
a much
calmer
2021 compared to
2020 were quickly
dampened by the
horrific attack on
our nation’s U.S.
Capitol Building.
Our nation has
become accus-
tomed to viewing
violent demonstra- Wyatt Emmerich
tions throughout
the nation with little police
response. Let’s hope this
unimaginable event at least
awakens us to the ultimate
consequences of such irre-
sponsibility.
Peaceful protest is an invio-
lable right of U.S. citizens en-
capsulated in our Constitution.
Tolerance of violent demon-
strations erodes that right and
threatens the republic.
All violent demonstrations
should be quickly quelled by
the appropriate authorities and in office, impeachment would
the perpetrators swiftly and
severely punished.
Attacking the U.S. Capitol
and threatening our elected
representatives is several or-
ders of magnitude worse than
anything we witnessed this
past year. This was an attack
on the very heart of our nation. But as Trump’s crowds grew
It is a testament to the
political tolerance
of our nation that
hundreds were not
shot. Next time,
any group violently
attacking Congress
will not be so lucky.
They will be mar-
tyrs for their cause,
whatever cause
that may be, but
they will be dead
martyrs.
The Capitol Po-
lice turned down offers from
both the U.S. Department of
Defense and the FBI to assist
in securing the Capitol Build-
ing. This is a mind boggling
example of incompetence.
A thorough investigation is
called for.
President Trump’s role
in whipping his rabble into
a frenzy is inexcusable. He
should promptly resign. If not,
he should be impeached. Even
though he only has a few days
be a symbolic display that
our nation will never tolerate
fascism and violence.
Trump claims his elec-
tion was stolen, even though
dozens of polls showed he was
several points behind Biden.
He points to his huge crowds.
in size and fanaticism, the rest
of the nation got nervous. That
nervousness was reflected
in the election result. Once
again, the American people
have shown uncanny wisdom.
Like many Americans, I
dismissed Trump’s boorish
behavior because I like his
policies on taxation, deregu-
lation, judicial restraint and
environmental pragmatism.
Plus Biden, through his son,
was gorging at the trough.
But like many Americans,
I never saw this coming. We
dodged a bullet. Trump’s
defeat led him down a path of
narcissistic mental instability
which has made him unfit for
public office. Good riddance.
The Republican establish-
ment that warily walked down
this rocky road in the name
of politics, needs to do some
serious soul searching. The
Democratic establishment
that collectively dismissed
the seriousness of the violent
protests of this summer also
needs to do some serious soul
searching.
This unrest is yet another
manifestation of the COVID
crisis. The virus has disrupted
our society and this disruption
continues to reverberate in un-
predictable ways. For instance,
murder rates throughout the
nation are at all-time highs.
Jackson is a prime example.
Because of COVID, we
greatly expanded mail-in vot-
ing, leading to greater election
fraud than normal. Trump
used this fraud as an excuse to
fail to concede.
Let this be a lesson in why
concessions of defeat are
critical to our nation’s political
stability. But Trump, being
Trump, was far more inter-
ested in his personal career
than the stability of the nation.
Enough of Trump!
Our Constitution saw this
coming. Brilliantly, it has an
elaborate process for contest-
ing a Presidential election re-
sult. But this was not enough
for Trump, even after court
after court and every state
legislature saw no legitimacy
to his claims of fraud.
Another thought: Congress
was attacked by the monster
it created 25 years ago in 1996
when it passed Section 230 of
the Communications Act. That
act gave Internet companies
legal immunity from anything
they published on their social
media platforms. It was one
of the worst decisions in the
history of Congress.
Every publisher in the
history of publishing has been
legally liable for what they
publish. My company is liable
for the contents of every ad,
every article, every “letter to
the editor.” It should be.
Congress ignored 500 years
of libel and slander common
law and exempted Internet
publishers, sowing the seeds
of the social division we see
today.
The rabble attacking
Congress had visions of global
conspiracy theories dancing
in their heads, conspiracies
posted by fakes and char-
latans posing as legitimate
journalists. Russia has been
at the forefront of this fake
news and its fake videos, fake
documents and fake photos.
They wanted to destabilize our
nation. Congratulations, Putin
and Facebook. It worked.
Meanwhile, the Internet
giants are raking in the dough,
billions upon billions, as
gullible people are sucked into
yet another nutty conspiracy
theory. This has got to stop.
Trump’s attempt to discredit
the few legitimate news orga-
nizations that still remain was
an unforgivable piece to this
tragic puzzle.
Wyatt Emmerich is the editor
and publisher of The Northside
Sun, a weekly newspaper in
Jackson. He can be reached by
e-mail at wyatt@northsidesun.
com.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Points out precedent for objecting to
the certification of Electoral votes
Most Mississippi law makers were
part of 147 House and Senate Republi-
cans who objected to at least some of the
Democrat electors in Wednesday’s vote.
They were acting on their constitutional
right to do so; and following the exam-
ples set by Democrats who were un-
happy with previous elections. Refuting
a charge made in this forum Monday,
their vote had nothing to do with trying
to overthrow our government. That
took place following the 2016 election.
The votes objecting to certifying the
electors from Arizona and Pennsylvania
were a means of allowing debate and the
airing of irregularities in the November
3 elections in those states; irregularities
that the courts refused to hear. Elec-
tion laws were changed just prior to the
election by parties not allowed to do so
by the U.S. constitution. The courts re-
fused to hear the challenges, not due to
a lack of evidence, but due to standing
or procedure. They refused to allow the
evidence to be presented.
Republican governors and legisla-
tures must act to strengthen election
laws in their states or face another THE NATION
debacle next time.
Stan Boden
Columbus Media have every right to cancel Trump
Thinks recent letter
S
o, President Donald News give me an hour of Trumpian forces is bad for the econo-
Trump has been airtime every week. I’m my and, therefore, bad for them.
is an example of deflection booted off Twitter, as not getting it? Well, those One of the more muscular calls to
In response to Lee Roy Lollar’s letter of now forever. Facebook are the breaks. isolate Trump and his enablers comes
to the Dispatch on January 11, I would also gave him the heave- There will be a time from Forbes Magazine, which bills
like to point out that deflection has ho. Apple and Google, for thoughtful debate on itself as the world’s biggest business
become the standard tool used by the meanwhile, have tossed these companies’ power media brand. The Trump insurrec-
conservatives when they don’t like what the riot-friendly Parler app to monitor the flow of tion, editor Randall Lane wrote, was
they see their own party and Trump out of their stores. information. That time is rooted in “lies-upon-lies, repeated
supporters doing. I looked in horror as Parler became a not this week. Having just frequently and fervently.” From day
Trump supporters beat our uniformed social media cave for the endured a violent attempt one of this Orwellian presidency, he
policemen on the videos from that Trump-inspired looters, to destroy the electoral added, “up has been down, yes has
reprehensible attack on our institutions vandals, cop killers and Froma Harrop process at Trump’s urg- been no, failure has been success.”
of government. They (the Republicans) other social misfits who ing, American democracy Lane went on to warn corporate
love to tell us they are the ones who rampaged through the is now in Code Red. We’re America against hiring a former
“support the blue” but we see Trump Capitol. But Amazon may have deliv- in a national emergency demanding Trump White House spokesperson.
supporters beating the police and kill- ered the harshest blow by refusing to an emergency response. Any of them — from Sean Spicer up
ing one. Then they love to refer to the store Parler’s data in its cloud-com- That’s why other companies are through Kayleigh McEnany — will
BLM movement and the rioting which puting service. joining the media giants in isolating be considered a “potential funnel of
we Democrats do NOT approve of, but Having lost the presidency, the Trump and his fellow insurrection- disinformation,” he said.
they say we don’t denounce. Yes we Senate majority and now major ists. Blue Cross Blue Shield Associa- To repeat: No one has withdrawn
DO denounce it, but keep in mind the platforms for disseminating lies and tion and Marriott International said Trump’s right to free speech. He
demonstrations were incited by unnec- calls to violence, Trump World, or they would freeze donations to Re- can hold a news conference. He can
essary police brutality that led to deaths what’s left of it, automatically shifted publican lawmakers who challenged issue press releases. He can open the
of black men. This heinous attack on into self-pitying snowflake mode. state-certified Electoral College votes window and holler.
our government was in response to With quivering voices, its members for President-elect Joe Biden. Stripe, And Hawley’s book could still see
falsely repeated accusations by Trump accused the tech companies of cen- a tech company that processes card the light of day. The publisher may be
and right wing media of voter fraud that sorship. payments for online businesses, has less prestigious than Simon & Schus-
did NOT occur! When Simon & Schuster an- cut off Trump’s campaign account. ter. And he might be able to keep
Jerry Fortenberry nounced it would not be publishing And the e-commerce company Shopi- the advance. Conservative publisher
Columbus the book by one of the instigators, fy has pulled the plug on stores run Regnery said it would consider the
Josh Hawley, the Missouri senator by Trump and his campaign. book.
A letter to the editor is an excellent called the move “Orwellian” and a In addition to a shared revulsion It bears noting that Apple did give
way to participate in your community. “direct assault on the First Amend- to the Trump-fanned attack on the Parler an opportunity to remove
We request the tone of your letters be ment.” A graduate of Yale Law School Capitol, the companies have business content that would threaten people’s
constructive and respectful and the length should know that the First Amend- reasons to stop the insanity. The safety. Its warnings went unheeded.
be limited to 450 words. We reserve the ment bans only government censor- American system of checks and bal- Parler is dead, for now, anyway. All
right to edit letters for clarity, grammar ship. ances and peaceful transfer of power we can say is those are the breaks.
and length. We welcome all letters emailed These are all private companies, has been good to business. Corporate Froma Harrop, a syndicated colum-
to voice@cdispatch.com or mailed to The and private companies have every leaders, including many who signed nist, writes for the Providence (Rhode
Dispatch, Attn: Letters to the Editor, PO right to decide what they do or do not on with the president for the tax cuts, Island) Journal. Her e-mail address is
Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703-0511. offer customers. I demand that Fox know that chaos unleashed by toxic fharrop@gmail.com.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 5A

Biden gets 2nd dose of vaccine as team readies COVID-19 plan

‘The No. 1 priority is getting vaccines in
people’s arms as rapidly as we can’
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEWARK, Del. — Presi-
dent-elect Joe Biden received his
second dose of the coronavirus
vaccine on Monday, three weeks
after getting his first one with
television cameras rolling in an
attempt to reassure the Ameri-
can public that the inoculations
are safe.
Biden took off his sport jacket
and said, “Ready, set, go.” Chief
Nurse Executive Ric Cumin ad-
ministered the Pfizer vaccine at
Christiana Hospital in Newark,
President-elect Joe Biden
Delaware, close to the presi-
dent-elect’s home.
Scenes of the procedure aired
on cable news moments after it
occurred.
Biden got his first shot on Dec.
21. The virus has now killed more
than 375,000 people in the United
States — about 60,000 more than
when the president-elect got his
first round of vaccination — and
continues to upend life around
the globe.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
requires a second shot about
three weeks after the first vacci-
nation. Another vaccine, this one
produced by Moderna, requires
a second shot about four weeks
afterward. One-shot vaccines are
still undergoing testing.
In comments to reporters after
his shot, Biden said he has confi-
dence in his COVID-19 medical
team to hit ambitious vaccination
rate targets after he takes office
on Jan. 20. He also called the cur-
rent rate of thousands of people
dying daily because of the pan-
demic “beyond the pale.”
“The No. 1 priority is getting
vaccines in people’s arms as rap-
idly as we can,” Biden said.
He also said he’d spoken to
Senate leaders about splitting
time between approving key Cab-
inet nominations for his new ad-
ministration and proceeding with
an impeachment trial against
President Donald Trump.
The House is preparing ar-
ticles of impeachment against
Trump — for an unprecedented
second time — for helping incite
last week’s violent insurrection
at the U.S. Capitol. Biden told re-
porters he’d mentioned the possi-
bility of going “a half day on deal-
ing with impeachment, a half day
on getting my people nominated
and confirmed in the Senate, as
well as moving on the package”
for further actions related to the
coronavirus and economic aid.
Biden said he has a virtual
meeting later Monday with his
virus team and planned to outline
more of his pandemic response
plan on Thursday. His transi-
tion team has vowed to release
as many vaccine doses as possi-
ble, rather than continuing the
Trump administration policy of
holding back millions of doses
to ensure there would be enough
supply to allow those getting the
first shot to get a second one.
Biden’s goal is to protect more
people, more quickly, his team
announced last week. The plan
would not involve cutting two-
dose vaccines in half, a strategy
that top government scientists
recommend against. Instead, it
would accelerate shipment of the
first doses and use the levers of
government power to provide re-
quired second doses in a timely
manner.

COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
Obituaries with basic informa-
tion including visitation and
service times, are provided free
of charge. Extended obituaries
with a photograph, detailed
biographical information and
other details families may wish
to include, are available for a
fee. Obituaries must be sub-
AREA OBITUARIES
wife, Heather Klegin;
daughter, Kelly Yates;
sisters, Jerri Darcey and
Amanda Crochet; and
four grandchildren.
Phyllis Holmes
COLUMBUS — Phyl-
lis Holmes, 86, died Jan.
ald Getz, Holden Getz,
Kalib Getz, and Zachary
Beckworth; daughter,
Shelby Beckworth;
sisters, Susan Black-
ston and Erin Getz; and
brother, Eric Getz.
Betty Price
Odessa Odom Visitation:

mitted through funeral homes
unless the deceased’s body
has been donated to science.
If the deceased’s body was
donated to science, the family
must provide official proof of
death. Please submit all obitu-
aries on the form provided by
The Commercial Dispatch. Free
notices must be submitted to
the newspaper no later than 3
p.m. the day prior for publica-
tion Tuesday through Friday;
no later than 4 p.m. Saturday
for the Sunday edition; and no
later than 7:30 a.m. for the
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tices must be received no later
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through Friday editions. Paid
notices must be finalized by 3
p.m. for inclusion the next day
Monday through Thursday; and
on Friday by 3 p.m. for Sunday
and Monday publication. For
more information, call 662-
328-2471.
Paul York
COLUMBUS — Paul
David York, 52, died Jan.
8, 2021, at his residence.
No services will be
held at this time. Lown-
des Funeral Home of
Columbus is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. York was born
Aug. 10, 1968, in New
12, 2021, at Baptist Me-
morial Hospital-Golden
Triangle.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Memorial
Gunter Peel Funeral
Home and Crematory,
College Street location.
Evelyn Moran
BILOXI — Evelyn
Moran, 59, died Jan. 10,
2021, at Baptist Memo-
rial Hospital-Golden
Triangle.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Lown-
des Funeral Home of
Columbus.
Donald Getz Jr.
CALEDONIA —
Donald Raymond Getz
Jr., 44, died Jan. 10,
2021, at Baptist Memo-
rial Hospital-Golden
Triangle.
No services will be
held at this time. Lown-
des Funeral Home of
Columbus is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Getz was born
MONROE, Ga. —
Odessa York Odom died
Jan. 8, 2021.
Services will be at
12:30 p.m. Wednes-
day, at Victory Baptist
Church of Mathiston.
Burial will follow at
Craig Springs Ceme-
tery of Sturgis. Calvert
Funeral Home of West
Point is in charge of
arrangements.
She was preceded in
death by her husband,
Jimmy “Jimbo” Lee
York; daughter, Patsy
York Edwards; siblings,
Mayon Watkins, Donald
Watkins, Marcelene
Davis, Lois Adams
and Fontaine Lee; one
grandchild; and one
great-grandchild.
She is survived by
her children, Jimmy
Lee York of Tyler,
Texas, Larry Stennis
York of Louisville,
Randall Wesley York of
St. Augustine, Florida;
siblings, Irvin Watkins,
Irene Green and Theo
Watkins; nine grandchil-
dren; 20 great-grand-
children; and four
Tuesday, Jan. 12 • 10-10:45 AM
2nd Ave. N. Chapel
Services:
Tuesday, Jan. 12 • 11 AM
2nd Ave. N. Location
Burial
Pleasant Hill Baptist
Church Cemetery
2nd Ave. N. Location
David Artz
Graveside Services:
Saturday, Jan. 16 • 11 AM
Friendship Cemetery
Burial
Friendship Cemetery
2nd Ave. N. Location
Phyllis Holmes
Incomplete
College St. Location
Jonathan Rousset
Incomplete
2nd Ave. N. Location
David Lebaugh
Incomplete
2nd Ave. N. Location
memorialgunterpeel.com
cdispatch.com
David Artz
David Wallace Artz, age 71, of Columbus, MS,
passed away January 7, 2021, at Windsor Place.
Graveside services will be Saturday, January
16, 2021, at 11:00 AM at Friendship Cemetery,
with Rev. Jimmy Criddle officiating. Memorial
Gunter Peel Funeral Home & Crematory, 716
2nd Ave. North location, is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Artz was born October 15, 1949, in Co-
lumbus, MS, to the late Jefferson Glyn and Vir-
ginia White Artz. He was a graduate of Lee High
School and the University of Central Florida. Mr.
Artz retired from the United States Air Force and
was a veteran of Vietnam. He enjoyed volunteer-
ing for the Salvation Army and was a member of
First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his son, Barry Artz and his
wife, Sarah Beth, of Columbus, MS; and grand-
children, Caleb Artz and his wife, Rachel, of Ft.
Wayne, IN, Chloe Artz and Lola Artz, both of Co-
lumbus, MS.
Memorials may be made to the Salvation
Army, P.O. Box 8, Columbus, MS 39703 and
www.salvationarmyalm.org.
Sign the online guest book at
www.memorialgunterpeel.com
716 Second Avenue North • Columbus, MS

Mike Earrey
Orleans, Louisiana, to Nov. 21, 1976, in Granite great-great-grandchil-
the late Jerry and Bar- City, Illinois, to Donald dren.
bara Caldwell York. He R. Getz and the late Har-

was formerly employed
as a roofer.
In addition to his par-
ents, he was preceded in
death by his son, Gary
Klegin; and sister, Lori
Percle.
He is survived by his
riet Dawn Belch Getz.
He was formerly em-
ployed as a mechanic.
In addition to his
father, he is survived
by his wife, Shannon
Robinson Getz of
Caledonia; sons, Don-
Margaret Martin
Columbus — Michael A. Earrey, 60, died
Friday, January 8, 2021, in Troy, Alabama. Mike
was born October 1, 1960, to Ralph and Maria
Graveside services for Lexis Earrey, in Tupelo. He graduated from
Margaret Leo Murdock Martin, Shannon High School and went on to earn his
87, of Lufkin, Texas, were held Bachelor’s in Professional Accountancy from
Sunday, January 10, 2021, in Mississippi State University. He was a practicing
the Largent Cemetery, Lufkin, accountant for over 30 years after receiving his
Texas, with Brother Wayne CPA, and he currently held the position of Chief

Betty McClanahan
Betty McLain McClanahan,
age 86, passed away January 7,
2021, at Tift Regional Medical
Center, in Tifton, Georgia.
Betty was born on May 24,
1934, in Ethel, Mississippi. Her
parents were John and Lillian
McLain. Betty was married to
the late Ted McClanahan.
Betty is survived by her
children, John Marshall Pevey
and Janis Pevey Havard; her grandchildren,
Shanna Fretwell, James “Bo” Mitchell, Ashlee
Pevey Bryan, Amanda Pevey Vanhouten, Kevin
Pevey, Tiffany Pevey, Sarah Farwick, Britanie
Spurr, and Jason Stricklin; great-grandchildren,
Kyeleigh Mitchell, Keenan Mitchell, Kimberly
Fretwell, Matthew Fretwell, Ian Fretwell, Anna
Catherine Custard, Jocelyn Spurr, John Farwick,
Colten Farwick, Rileigh Farwick, David Stricklin,
Joshua Stricklin, Steven Pevey, John Jacob Pevey,
Paisley Vanhouten, Jacob Vanhouten, and Avery
Vanhouten; and best friends, Billie Noland and
Cathy Lancaster.
Betty attended Clinton High school, where
she was honored as being their first homecoming
queen in 1951. A couple of years later, she
attended Hinds Junior College and served on
the Homecoming Court. Betty received her
BA Degree in Psychology from Mississippi
University for Women in Columbus, MS. She
used her psychology degree, serving as a
Counselor for Safe Haven Women’s Shelter until
she retired. She will also be remembered for
providing counseling to many who struggle(d)
with addiction and alcoholism and their families.
Betty, Mom, Mimi will be missed by all those
who knew and loved her.
Paid Obituary - Bowen-Donaldson
Home for Funerals
Roberson officiating.
Mrs. Martin was born
July 19, 1933, in Kosciusko,
Mississippi, to the late Fannie
Meek (Herring) and James
Howard Murdock, and died Thursday, January 7,
2021, at home, in Lufkin, Texas.
Mrs. Martin graduated from Kosciusko High
School in 1951 and Belhaven College in Jackson,
Mississippi in 1955, with a Bachelor of Arts
degree. She was a long-term resident of Moss
Point, Mississippi and also lived in McComb,
Mississippi, Jackson, Mississippi, Alexandria,
Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina.
Mrs. Martin was married to Hardy Martin for
59 years, until his death in 2019. In addition to
being a devoted wife and mother, she taught Bible
in the public schools of McComb, Mississippi.
She became a licensed real estate broker and
operated Margaret Martin Realty in Pascagoula,
Mississippi. She held leadership roles in various
church and community organizations. She
was most recently a member of the Dantzler
Memorial United Methodist Church in Moss
Point, Mississippi.
She enjoyed traveling, which took her to
Mexico, France, Germany, and Poland, as well as
throughout the United States.
Survivors include her sons and daughter-in-
law, Ed and Lisa Martin of Lufkin, Texas and
Murdock Martin of New York City; grandchildren,
Taylor Martin and Jeffrey Martin, both of New
York City; brother-in-law, Douglas Leader of
Aiken, South Carolina; and numerous nieces and
nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents;
husband, Edward Hardy Martin; and siblings,
Elsie Leader, Hugh Murdock, and Carolyn
Moore.
Memories and condolences may be added at
www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.
Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.
Paid Obituary - Carroway Funeral Home
Financial Officer at HB&G Building Products
in Troy. On May 6, 1995, he married the former
Judy Ivey and together they have two daughters,
Mary Lexis and Anna Russell.
Starting at an early age, flying was one of
Mike’s greatest passions in life. He was a talented
pilot with his private, commercial, and instructor
licenses. Mike was a member of Brewer Baptist
Church and attended First Baptist Church in
Columbus. Mike was a good man who was always
willing to help others. While he was a hard
working man who enjoyed his hobby, he most
loved spending time with his wife, daughters and
beloved dogs, Blackie, Angelina, and Henry.
Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Judy
Ivey Earrey of Columbus; his pride and joy, his
daughters, Mary Lexis and Anna Russell Earrey,
both of Columbus; and sister, Cindy Earrey of
Kalispell, Montana.
He was preceded in death by his parents;
sister, Elizabeth Earrey; and brothers, Peter Joe
Earrey and Wayne Earrey.
Graveside services were held at 1:00 PM
Monday, January 11, 2021, at Brewer Cemetery,
with Dr. Shawn Parker officiating, and his
cousin, Bill Benson providing special music. W.
E. Pegues Funeral Directors was in charge of the
arrangements.
Honorary pallbearers will be the members of
EAA chapter # 1189, pilots of the Monroe County
Airport, and his many friends, including Chuck
Poindexter, Andy Robison, Willie Kelly, Ed
Dubose, Curry Justice, Andy Kelly, Bob Eckert,
Alex Garcia Jr., Sreemukh Sanne, and Dr. Cecil
Boswell.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN
38101; MSU Animal Health Center, 240 Wise
Center Dr., Mississippi State, MS 39762; and
Free Will Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 8,
Eldridge, AL 35555.
Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.
peguesfuneralhome.com.
Paid Obituary - Pegues Funeral Home
6A TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Health
HEALTH TIP
n Stand up every 30 minutes while working:
Reduce the harmful effects of sitting (like at your
desk job) by standing up and moving around for a
minute or two every half hour.
Source: https://fourwellness.co

Health tips from Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen

How to ease winter’s degrees or warmer mold.
water; dry on high Cockroaches:
indoor allergies heat. ■ Seal cracks
If you have a tickly nose and fre- ■ Have wash- and openings
quent sneezes when you’re indoors, able or dry-clean- around pipes, and
don’t stifle it. One man in England able throw rugs. repair leaks.
did just that, and according to the
■ Dust furniture ■ The Natural
report in the journal BMJ Cases,
and clean uphol- Resources Defense
he tore a hole in his windpipe. A
stery regularly. Council suggests
better move: Get rid of the offend-
For pet allergies: dusting cracks
ing allergens. They commonly
include dust mites, cockroaches, ■ Get immu- and crevices with
mold and pets, and can lurk in notherapy and Drs. Oz and Roizen boric acid pow-
bedding; carpets and rugs; humidi- remember dander der. Important:
fiers and dehumidifiers; cupboards and saliva trig- Use tight-fitting
and corners; even kids’ stuffed ger cat and dog goggles, your N95
animals. To reduce a winter indoor allergies, but urine from rabbits, mask and rubber gloves. Then,
allergy, using an air filter and a hamsters, mice and guinea pigs wash off before eating anything
vacuum cleaner with small-particle can also be the culprit — so don’t and never touch your eyes before
HEPA filters can help; so can aller- clean the cages yourself. washing thoroughly.
gy shots (immunotherapy). Then: Molds: Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The
To counter dust mite allergies: ■ Repair leaks and drips. Keep Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen,
■ Enclose mattresses, box humidifiers clean. M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and
springs and pillows in aller- ■ Dehumidify damp areas Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleve-
gen-proof covers or zippered (keep dehumidifier mold-free too!). land Clinic. To live your healthiest,
plastic covers. ■ 5 percent bleach in water is tune into “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit
■ Wash bedding weekly in 130 effective to remove small areas of www.sharecare.com.

Lawsuit
Continued from Page 1A
New Hope High School.
Middlesex claims West
Brothers is seeking cov-
erage for leaks that oc-
curred before the contrac-
tor’s policy period with
the insurance company,
which began July 1, 2019,
more than a year after the
project was completed.
Middlesex is seeking
two declaratory judg-
ments from the U.S.
District Court for the
Northern District of Mis-
sissippi: one asserting
that the damage to the
roof existed before the
policy period and one that
“there is no coverage be-
cause there is no occur-
rence within Middlesex’s
policy period.”
The $24.3 million
NHHS — the most ex-
pensive of several district
facilities paid for by a $44
million bond issue voters
approved in 2015 — was
completed in February
2018. Nearly 200 leaks
occurred within the first
year and caused “massive”
damage to the school,
according to a Lowndes
County Circuit Court law-
suit LCSD filed in July
2020 against West Broth-
ers, New Jersey-based
GAF Materials and Lind-
sey Roofing LLC. West
Brothers subcontracted
Columbus-based Lindsey
Roofing to install the roof
that New Jersey-based
GAF manufactured.
LCSD seeks at least $1
million in compensatory
damages and at least $1
million in general dam-
ages from all three de-
fendants. The suit alleges
that GAF and Lindsey
have not fulfilled their
warranties, which include
Lindsey’s three-year in-
stallers’ warranty run-
ning through 2021 and a
20-year guarantee from
GAF that runs through
Feb. 9, 2038.
Federal court docu-
ments for Middlesex’s
suit against West Broth-
ers do not clarify why
the insurance company is
also suing LCSD, and the
district board’s attorney,
Jeff Smith, said he is not
sure of this either.
Galloway Chandler
McKinney represented
West Brothers’ general
liability insurance until
July 1, 2019, when the
construction company
switched its coverage
to Middlesex, said Ce-
cil Vaughan of Galloway
Chandler McKinney’s Co-
lumbus office.
Smith said he has not
heard anything from West
Brothers’ attorney, Cody
Bailey of the Brunini
Grantham Grower Hewes
law firm in Jackson. Bai-
ley told The
Dispatch
he cannot
comment
on pending
litigation.
M i d -
d l e s e x ’ s Smith
a t t o r n e y,
Norman Stockman of the
Hand Arendall Harrison
Sale firm in Mobile, Ala-
bama, and LCSD Superin-
tendent Sam Allison also
could not be reached for
comment.
Middlesex is also Co-
lumbus Municipal School
District’s insurance pro-
vider, and the company
filed a federal lawsuit
against CMSD in March
2020 over the cost of re-
pairs to all four of the
former Hunt High School
buildings damaged in the
Feb. 23, 2019 tornado.

Bryan
Continued from Page 1A
Bryan attended Missis-
sippi State University be-
fore moving to New York.
He and his wife, Neely, —
who directs West Point-
Clay County Animal Shel-
ter — returned to West
Point in 2017.
“While I have no po-
litical experience, I know
how to work hard, and I
know how to ask ques-
tions. I also have a love of
West Point, am commit-
ted to my fellow man and
our community and have
a deep desire to revitalize
our city,” Bryan said in
his announcement.
If elected, he said he
would work with other
local elected officials
and the Golden Triangle
Development LINK to
improve quality of life for
city residents.
“West Point has a long
history of good leader-
ship, and I believe I have
the ability and passion
to continue the pattern
of making West Point a
good, wholesome place to
work and raise a family,”
Bryan said. “No doubt,
there are many challeng-
es. We do not have the
population base and the
tax base of the past. So,
we must work and learn
to be more efficient while
making efforts to replace
jobs and opportunities
that have been lost.
“... Even though we
do not have the resourc-
es that we once had, by
managing efficiently we
can provide the services
that all of us want and de-
serve,” he added.
As of Monday, the may-
or’s race was the only
competitive city race in
West Point. All five in-
cumbent selectmen have
qualified and are so far
unopposed.
The qualifying dead-
line is Feb. 5. Party prima-
ries are April 6, and the
general election, if neces-
sary, is set for June 8.

If you don’t read The Dispatch, how are you gonna know?
Sports
MISSISSIPPI STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021
B
SECTION

How the Mississippi State-Ole Miss rivalry evolved Sunday

BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARK VILLE — As
Ole Miss guard Don-
netta Johnson flung up
a last-second attempt in
the waning seconds of
Mississippi State’s 60 -
56 win over its in-state
rival Sunday, those gath-
ered at Humphrey Coli-
seum held their collec-
tive breath.
For a brief moment,
it appeared the Rebels
had the tying bucket
they needed as John-
son’s heave tickled the
net. Inches short, the
shot missed entirely and
MSU escaped with its
14th straight win over
Ole Miss in a rivalry
that’s been anything but
anxiety ridden.
Thanks in large part
to former head coach
Vic Schaefer and the
Bulldogs’ rise to nation-
al prominence, the past
decade-plus worth of
in-state battles have fol-
lowed a dominant trend
in the series’ history.
After the Rebels took 50
of the first 51 meetings
in the annual series,
the Bulldogs have won
19 of the past 21 meet-
ings, while Ole Miss
hasn’t beaten MSU in
Starkville since 2007.
But Sunday’s contest
offered a renewed look
at the ever-developing
rivalry and the immense
gap between the two
programs that continues
to close.
“We came up in here,
and for two years we’ve
been getting our asses
kicked,” Ole Miss coach
Yolette McPhee-McCu-
in said postgame. “We
came in here, and we
didn’t have one of our
major big three, and we
fought.
“We showed what we
learned tonight. Our
players understood that
we belong. We belong.
We belong.”
Whether Sunday’s
Mississippi State athletics
contest falls on an im- Sunday’s contest between Mississippi State and Ole Miss offered a renewed look
proved Ole Miss squad at the ever-developing rivalry and the immense gap between the two programs that
See MSU, 3B continues to close.

New Hope NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

promotes
defensive
coordinator
No. 1 Alabama wins national title
Stillman to
head
52-24 over No. 3 Ohio St
football
coach
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com

The kids made it

easy.
After New Hope High
School head football
coach Wade Tackett re-
signed this fall, princi-
pal Matt Smith and the
school’s search com-
mittee sought opinions
from the Trojans’ play-
ers on who they want-
ed to lead them next.
Quickly, they formed a
consensus.
“We’ve already got
our next coach,” they
told Smith.
That was defensive
coordinator Seth Still-
man, who stepped up
when Tackett stepped
down in mid-November
See NEW HOPE, 3B

Molinar
tabbed SEC Douglas DeFelice/USA TODAY Sports
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban is dunked with Gatorade after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2021 College
Player of Football Playoff National Championship Game at Hard Rock Stadium.

the Week THE ASSOCIATED PRESS to grab their championship hats

BY GARRICK HODGE
ghodge@cdispatch.com
After a pair of
20 -point performanc-
es, Mississippi State
point guard was named
the Southeastern Con-
ference’s Player of the
Week, the league an-
nounced Monday.
Molinar, a sopho-
more, scored 20 points
in MSU’s win over No.
13 Missouri than con-
tributed a career-high
24 points in the Bull-
dogs’ win against Van-
derbilt.
It’s Molinar’s first ca-
reer SEC Player of the
Week honor.
On the year, Molinar
is averaging 18.6 points
and four rebound per
game. He’s helped the
Bulldogs to an 8-4 re-
cord and a 3-1 start in
SEC play, the program’s
best league start since
the 2016 -2017 season.
MSU is back in ac-
tion at 8 p.m. Wednes-
day against Texas A&M
at Humphrey Coliseum
in what will be the first
of a three-game home-
stand.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. —
DeVonta Smith was uncoverable,
Najee Harris unstoppable and
Mac Jones impeccable. With a
performance that was both sur-
gical and explosive, No. 1 Ala-
bama won the College Football
Playoff national championship
game 52-24 against No. 3 Ohio
State on Monday night.
The final game of a college
football season in a pandemic, a
season that was uncertain to be
played in the summer and filled
with disruptions in the fall, end-
ed in the most predictable fash-
ion: Alabama (13-0) as national
champion for the sixth time in
the last 12 years under coach
Nick Saban.
For Saban, it was career title
No. 7 overall, breaking a tie with
Alabama great Paul “Bear” Bry-
ant for the most by a major col-
lege coach.
“To me this is the ultimate
team,” Saban said. “There is
more togetherness on this team
than on almost any team we’ve
ever had. They’ve had to over-
come and to persevere so much
through this season, and they
have done it magnificently.”
The celebration was at once
familiar and unique. The con-
fetti cannons sent a crimson and
white shower into the air and the
Tide players ran to the sideline
and T-shirts. It’s a rite of passage
if you have played for Saban.
But this time, the band play-
ing the fight song was a piped
in recording and when “Sweet
Home Alabama” blared, only
a few thousand Tide fans were
still in the building to singalong.
The Buckeyes fans were
mostly long gone.
Ohio State (7-1) just couldn’t
keep up. Justin Fields, playing
what might be his last game be-
fore heading to the NFL, passed
for 194 yards and a touchdown.
Whether Fields was 100% after
taking a brutal hit to the side
during his brilliant semifinal
performance against Clemson
was hard to know for sure.
On the Buckeyes’ first drive,
they lost star running back Trey
Sermon to an injury and in a
game they needed to be run-
ning at top speed, facing one of
great offenses in recent history,
they sputtered too much. Ohio
State has never allowed more
points in a bowl game.
Fans can debate which team
in the Saban dynasty is best, but
none will be more memorable
than this group. The Tide fin-
ished perfect during a season
that could not have been fur-
ther from it as COVID-19 forced
teams into quarantines and
endless testing and uncertainty
every single week with games
played in mostly empty stadi-
ums.
Only about 15,000 fans were
at Hard Rock Stadium, capacity
65,326, to see the last magnifi-
cent performance of Smith’s col-
lege career.
The Heisman Trophy winner
had catches for 12 catches for
215 yards and three touchdowns,
all in the first half as the Crimson
Tide bolted out to a 35-17 lead.
Using an array of motions and
misdirections, outgoing offen-
sive coordinator Steve Sarkisian
had Ohio State heads spinning
trying to track down Smith.
Sometimes it was simpler
than that. On Smith’s third
touchdown, he lined up in the
slot, the closest to the line of
three receivers on the left side.
Smith cut quickly to the middle
of the field and suddenly was
matched up against a linebacker,
whom he left in the dust for a 42-
yard score with 41 seconds left in
the second quarter.
Smith, who finished his fresh-
man season by catching the 2017
national championship winning
touchdown pass from Tua Ta-
govailoa, ended his Alabama ca-
reer as the leading career receiv-
er in Southeastern Conference
history and the most outstand-
ing offensive player of his third
title game.
As for Sarkisian, he is on his
way to Texas as the head coach.
Longhorns fans had to have liked
what they saw from their new
playcaller. If only he could bring
Smith and his fellow Heisman
contenders to Austin.
Jones, who finished third in
the Heisman voting, was 36 for
45 for a CFP championship-re-
cord 464 yards and five touch-
downs, operating behind a line
that had him rarely feeling
rushed. Harris had 158 yards
from scrimmage on 29 touches,
scoring three times to give him
an SEC record 30 touchdowns
this season.
Smith hardly played in the
second half, leaving with an inju-
ry. He returned to the sideline in
the fourth quarter with his right
hand wrapped to the wrist, two
fingers taped together, and wear-
ing a Heisman mask.
Alabama hardly missed him
and cracked 50 early in the
fourth quarter when Harris went
in untouched from a yard out.
Smith and Harris surprised
some by returning to college
after last season for their senior
years.
Boy, did it turn out to be
worthwhile. Along with Jones,
another member of that 2017
recruiting class, they will
leave Alabama as the leaders
of a team that managed to
make an arduous march from
through the pandemic look
easy.
2B TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Column: Another boring blowout in the era of super teams

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
By halftime, with Ala-
bama clearly unstoppable
and cruising toward a
perfect season, the mind
began to wonder toward
an obvious question.
Has Nick Saban, the
greatest coach in the his-
tory of college football,
assembled the greatest
team of them all?
Certainly, a case can
be made for a group that
breezed through a South-
eastern Conference-only
schedule in a pandem-
ic-plagued season while
barely breaking a sweat.
“I think we’re the best
team to ever play,” quar-
terback Mac Jones said.
“There’s no team that
will ever play an SEC
schedule like that. I’m so
happy to win this game
and kind of put the icing
on the cake.”
Hold up, though.
It was only a year ago
that LSU romped to the
national title with a jug-
gernaut of a team led by
Heisman Trophy winner
Joe Burrow and a horde
of NFL-bound players.
Come to think of it, a
case could also be made
for the 2018 Clemson Ti-
gers, thoroughly domi-
nant as they became the
first team ever to finish
15-0.
There’s something
to be said for this era of
superpower teams, with
all their individual bril-
liance.
Without question, it
was utterly thrilling to
watch DeVonta Smith
gliding past Ohio State’s
befuddled defense, basi-
cally uncoverable as he
turned in an MVP per-
formance in only half a
game.
But parity has left the
building in college foot-
ball, producing a rash
of playoff blowouts that
have, frankly, sucked
all the drama out of the
game’s grandest stage.
One could almost hear
millions of homebound
fans reaching for their re-
motes when the Crimson
Tide trotted off the field
in South Florida with an
18-point halftime lead.
By the time it merciful-
ly ended, with Alabama
celebrating a 52-24 rout
of the Buckeyes, most
of the nation had surely
tuned out this Picasso
of a performance by the
crimson-clad bunch of fu-
ture first-round picks.
Who could blame ‘em?
This script has be-
come numbingly routine.
No one has come within
17 points of the last three
champions in the College
Football Playoff. The
average margin of their
postseason triumphs was
25.3 points.
Last season, it was
LSU that shredded
Oklahoma 63-28 in the
semifinals and crushed
Clemson 42-25 in the title
game.
The year before, it was
the Tigers who set the
standard: smoking Notre
Dame 30-3 in the semis
before a stunning 44-16
wipeout of Alabama in
the national champion-
ship game.
Now comes the Crim-
son Tide (13-0), which en-
dured just one game that
was closer than 15 points
and, amazingly, scored in
all but two of 52 quarters
over the course of the
2020-21 campaign.
Alabama coasted past
Notre Dame 31-14 in the
semifinals and was nev-
er seriously threatened
Monday night, scoring
on five of its first six pos-
sessions against an Ohio
State defense that looked
as though it couldn’t get
enough players on the
field.
Smith, every bit the
worthy Heisman winner,
hauled in 12 receptions
for 215 yards and three
touchdowns in a mere 30
minutes; he was knocked
out of the game with a
hand injury early in the
third quarter and cele-
brated in workout attire.
“Heaven knows what
he could have done if
he had played the whole
game,” Saban said.
Jones, the unherald-
ed recruit who bided his
time behind Jalen Hurts
and Tua Tagovailoa,
capped off his lone sea-
son as the starting quar-
terback by completing 36
of 45 passes for 464 yards
and five TDs.
The final piece of the
Tide’s three-headed of-
fensive monster, running
back Najee Harris, to-
taled three scores and
158 yards with running
and receiving skills that
will surely serve him well
at the next level.
“This is a great team,”
Saban said.
Let’s not forget the ar-
chitect of it all, the guy
who came to Tuscaloosa
in 2007 when the Ala-
bama program was in
tatters and pulled off a
feat that no one though
possible.
Saban claimed his
seventh national title to
surpass the record he
shared with the man in
the houndstooth hat,
Bear Bryant.
Asked if he could put
his achievement in per-
spective, Saban replied,
“Not really. I’m just happy
we won tonight. I haven’t
really thought about that
because I’m always look-
ing forward. I just love
this team so much and
what they’ve been able to
do, I can’t even put it into
words.”
Saban has always
been reticent to com-
pare teams, but he was
surprisingly blunt when
asked about the legacy of
his latest group.
Of all his champion-
ship teams, this is clearly
his favorite.
“To me, this team
has accomplished more
than any of those other
teams,” Saban said. “No
disrespect to those other
teams, but this team won
11 SEC games. This team
won the SEC, went un-
defeated in the SEC, and
beat two great teams in
the playoff.
“There’s quite a bit
to write about when it
comes to the legacy of
this team.”
The sparse, socially
distanced crowd at Hard
Rock Stadium was sere-
naded with “Sweet Home
Alabama” before the tro-
phy was handed out.
In all likelihood,
there’s weren’t too many
people still watching at
home.
Greatness is to be ap-
preciated, for sure.
But it sure is boring.

Health of key Saints players trending up at the right time

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS — Saints quar-
terback Drew Brees likes the way the
health of the roster is trending at the
most crucial time of year.
New Orleans’ victory over Chicago in
the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs
on Sunday marked the first time since
Nov. 15, when Brees injured his ribs
and lung against San Francisco, that the
Saints’ record-setting QB had been on
the field at the same time as top receiver
Michael Thomas and dynamic running
back Alvin Kamara.
Brees had to miss four games, and
when he came back, Michael Thom-
as went on injured reserve and missed
three. Alvin Kamara also missed the
regular-season finale with COVID-19.
But all three pillars of the Saints’ of-
fense were influential in their playoff
opening victory and hope to be even
more problematic to opposing defenses
going forward, starting Sunday night
against Tampa Bay in the divisional
round.
“It was great,” Brees said of being
able to play with Thomas, the 2019 AP
Offensive Player of the Year, who caught
the game’s first touchdown pass on Sun-
day. “It was great to get him into the end
zone, too. Hopefully, we broke the seal
and there’s a lot more where that came
from.”
Thomas had five catches for 73 yards
against the Bears. Kamara rushed for
99 yards and a touchdown and also
caught two passes for 17 yards. Deonte
Harris also returned from a neck injury
that had sidelined him the previous six
games and was productive both as a re-
ceiver and returner.
It’s the “first time, really, that we’re
getting everybody together again,”
Brees continued, noting that Saints re-
ceiver Tre’Quan Smith could also return
this week from an ankle injury. “This
is playoff football. Each game becomes
obviously more meaningful. You’ve got
to continue to fine-tune and find ways to
play your absolute best football.”
Defensively, the Saints enjoyed the
return of defensive backs C.J. Gard-
ner-Johnson, who was out because of
COVID-19 protocols, and safety Marcus
Williams, who had an ankle injury.
If the Saints are fortunate, defensive
end Trey Hendrickson, who led the club
with 13½ sacks, also will be able to play
against the Bucs after sitting out the
Bears game with a neck injury.
Either way, the Saints defense has
reasons to be confident entering their
third matchup this season with Bucs
QB Tom Brady. They have sacked him
six times and intercepted him five times
during the clubs’ two regular-season
meetings.
Both games were double-digit victo-
ries by the Saints.
What’s working
The run defense, which could be
important in their upcoming matchup.
The Saints were able to make Chicago
one-dimensional and then ramp up pres-
sure on the quarterback. The same for-
mula has worked well against Brady and
the Bucs twice this season.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins
said the key to the Saints’ success de-
fending the run has been “guys just un-
derstanding where they got to be and
being there and trusting that everybody
else is going to be where they say they’re
going to be. When you do that, when
you got 11 guys doing that consistent-
ly, down in and down out, and doing it
violently and physically, it’s going to be
tough to run on a group like that.”
What needs help
Ball security. The Saints fumbled 27
times during the regular season and
were fortunate to lose only nine of those.
They fumbled twice against Chicago in
their playoff opener, but lost just one,
which led to a Bears field goal. As the
margin for error narrows in the playoffs,
any fumble could be costly.
Stock up
Deonte Harris. The 2019 All-Pro re-
turner has been getting more offensive
snaps as a receiver, but was sidelined
for the final few games of the regular
season with a neck injury. He returned
for the playoff opener and led the Saints
in receiving with seven catches for 83
yards.
“He’s hard to tackle one-on-one,” Pay-
ton said. “It’s good to have him back in
the lineup.”
Stock down
Kicker Wil Lutz. When the Saints had
a chance to send Lutz out for a 56-yard
field goal in the first quarter against
Chicago, they elected to punt instead.
They gave Lutz a chance from 50 and he
missed. Payton hasn’t said if anything
is physically bothering Lutz, who also
missed an extra point in the regular-sea-
son finale. But Lutz had been exception-
ally reliable, even from distance, until
recently.
“We missed a field goal, but Wil’s
someone that will bounce back,” Payton
asserted.
Injured
Cornerback Patrick Robinson and
running back Latavius Murray both left
Sunday’s playoff game with thigh inju-
ries.
Key number
39 — The number of minutes, give or
take a couple of seconds, that the Saints
had possession of the ball in their play-
off win over Chicago. During the regu-
lar season, the Saints ranked fourth in
the NFL in average time of possession
at 31:43.
Next steps
The Saints look to beat a team three
times in one season for the second time
in four years when they meet Tampa Bay
on Sunday in the divisional round of the
playoffs. In the 2017 season, the Saints
defeated Carolina three times, with the
third victory coming in the wild-card
round of the playoffs.

Eagles fire coach Doug Pederson 3 years after Super Bowl win
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA —
Doug Pederson lost his
job less than three years
after he led the Philadel-
phia Eagles to the fran-
chise’s only Super Bowl
title.
Pederson was 42-37-1
in five seasons. He guid-
ed the Eagles to two di-
vision championships
and three playoff appear-
ances before going 4-11-
1 in 2020.
Owner Jeffrey Lurie
made the decision after
meeting with Peder-
son last week and again
Monday.
“Very few people
probably after success
deserve to lose their
job,” Lurie said. “This
is much more about the
evaluation of whether
the Eagles moving for-
ward, our best option is
to have a new coach and
that’s really what it’s
about. ... He did not de-
serve to be let go.”
Pederson had two
years remaining on his
contract. Lurie said he
wouldn’t be surprised if
another team hired Ped-
erson before the end of
the week.
“Although I am disap-
pointed that this chapter
of my career has come to
an end, I am extremely
proud of what we accom-
plished together,” Peder-
son said in a statement.
“Through all the ups
and downs, one thing
remained constant about
our team — an unwav-
ering commitment to
battle through adversity
and to achieve our goals
not as individuals, but as
a collective unit. There
is no better example of
that than when we cel-
ebrated the first Super
Bowl championship in
Eagles history together
with our city. That is a
memory we will all cher-
ish forever.”
Pederson’s loyalty to
his coaching staff and
frustration with the
front office’s interfer-
ence became a major
issue, according to a
person familiar with the
decision who spoke to
The Associated Press on
condition of anonymity
because of the sensitive
nature of the conversa-
tions. The person also
said Pederson and gen-
eral manager Howie
Roseman weren’t on the
same page regarding
many personnel moves,
including draft picks
and use of veteran play-
ers.
The team’s draft fail-
ures in recent years from
taking wide receiver J.J.
Arcega-Whiteside over
DK Metcalf in 2019 to
selecting wideout Jalen
Reagor one pick before
Justin Jefferson in 2020
contributed to the of-
fense’s struggles along
with numerous injuries
and quarterback Carson
Wentz’s poor perfor-
mance.
Ultimately, Lurie
chose Roseman over
Pederson.
“I have real confi-
dence that our football
operations, led by How-
ie, can not only repeat
the performance of 2016
until now, and once
again, create a dominant
football team that can
really maximize every
aspect of its potential,”
Lurie said.
Lurie indicated Ped-
erson wasn’t on board
with rebuilding.
“It’s a transition point
and we’ve got to get
younger and we have to
have a lot more volume
of draft picks and we
have to accumulate as
much talent as we pos-
sibly can that is going
to work in the long run
with a focus on the mid-
term and the long term
and not on how to max-
imize 2021,” Lurie said.
“And it’s almost not fair
to Doug, because his vi-
sion has to be: what can
I do to fix this right away
and what coaches can
I have that can help me
get to a smoother 2021?”
Pederson benched
Wentz for the final four
games after the quar-
terback had the worst
season of his five-year
career and started rook-
ie Jalen Hurts. Pederson
had said repeatedly he
was confident he could
fix Wentz and get him
back on track.
He won’t get that
chance now.
Wentz’s $128 mil-
lion, four-year contract
kicks in this year and he
knows the Eagles con-
trol whether to keep him
or trade him. Wentz has
been taking time away
to reflect on his situa-
tion before meeting with
the team to discuss his
future, a person close
to the situation told the
AP last week. Wentz was
frustrated with his sea-
son and unhappy that he
got benched, but he had
no input into Pederson’s
firing, two people said.
“Carson and Doug
got along way better
than people think,” a
teammate told the AP on
Monday. “That stuff got
exaggerated.”
The player spoke on
condition of anonymity
because he wasn’t autho-
rized to discuss private
conversations.
Wentz hasn’t spoken
to reporters since Dec.
6. He didn’t immediately
return a phone call from
the AP on Monday.
Pederson was a start-
ing quarterback in Phila-
delphia in 1999 and later
served as an assistant
coach under Andy Reid
with the Eagles and
Kansas City Chiefs. The
Eagles hired him in Jan-
uary 2016 after abrupt-
ly firing Chip Kelly a
month earlier.
Pederson led the Ea-
gles to a Super Bowl vic-
tory over New England
in just his second season
with backup quarter-
back Nick Foles filling in
after Wentz was injured.
Pederson and Foles
again led the Eagles to a
playoff win the following
year after Wentz went
down late in the season.
“He’s a close friend,
he’s a family friend and
Doug is family to me,”
Lurie said.
Pederson was heavi-
ly criticized for his de-
cision to replace Hurts
with third-string quar-
terback Nate Sudfeld in
the fourth quarter of a
20 -14 loss to Washing-
ton in Week 17. Wash-
ington’s victory cost the
New York Giants the
NFC East title. The loss
gave the Eagles the sixth
overall pick in the draft
instead of the ninth.
“Nothing to do with
it whatsoever,” Lurie
said when asked if Ped-
erson’s decision in that
game factored into his
dismissal.
Several Eagles
showed their support for
Pederson on social me-
dia after the news broke.
“Doug is a great
coach, a great guy, a
great man,” running
back Boston Scott told
the AP. “He’s the type
of guy that will open his
house up to you. He’s
a man of faith and I’ve
always respected that
about him. Every Satur-
day before games, I see
him in chapel and that’s
where I truly believe it
starts. I think that he’s a
true leader. Regardless
of what the situation was
like this season, he con-
tinued to bring energy,
continued to bring the
juice and he continued
to be there for us so I
have a lot of respect for
him.”

New Hope
Continued from Page 1B
by taking charge of the
Trojans on an interim
basis. Since then, Smith
said, New Hope has al-
ready seen improvement
despite never taking the
field.
“We feel like we’ve al-
ready grown leaps and
bounds,” the principal
said.
Now, New Hope will
get a chance to do a lot
more growing under
Stillman. He was offi-
cially confirmed by the
Lowndes County School
District board as the
Trojans’ permanent head
coach Friday.
“The kids had already
bought into what he was
selling, so we were ex-
cited about the possibili-
ties,” Smith said.
So is Stillman, a 2010
New Hope High gradu-
ate who ran Tackett’s de-
fenses for the past three
seasons. Now, he’ll get
a chance to run a foot-
ball program for the first
time.
“It’s a dream job for
me, and I’m just very for-
tunate to be able to get
to do it at this time in my
life,” Stillman said. “I’m
excited about it.”
He, too, knows the
importance of getting
everyone on the same
page — a test he has so
far passed. Stillman said
having players buy into a
coach’s philosophy is “a
big percentage” of win-
ning high school football
games.
But there’s a lot more
to it.
Practicing tough
High on Stillman’s
priority list for his team
is gaining the toughness
needed to succeed in a
difficult Region 1-5A.
“We’re going to prac-
tice tough,” Stillman said.
“I don’t think you can just
become tough on a Fri-
day night at 7 o’clock.”
Stillman, a star defen-
sive end at New Hope in
the late 2000s, knows
that plenty well. His
toughness came from
the family of athletes
MSU
Continued from Page 1B
or a down MSU team
is complex. Really, it’s
some of both.
The Bulldogs headed
into the 2020-21 cam-
paign with expectations
of an Elite Eight or be-
yond. Freshman sensa-
tion Rickea Jackson, the
nation’s No. 5 recruit in
the class of 2019 accord-
ing to ESPN, would be a
sophomore. Sophomore
forward Jessika Carter,
too, would take a step
toward her limitless ceil-
ing after evolving into an
all-SEC caliber player a
year ago. Other young
pieces like freshmen Ali-
yah Matharu and JaMya
Mingo-Young were slat-
ed to come into their
own.
Then it all came crash-
ing down.
On April 5, a picture
surfaced of Schaefer and
his family with Texas
Athletic Director Chris
Del Conte. The architect
of MSU’s decade of dom-
inance was suddenly en
route to Austin.
Questions swirled as
to who would replace
him. Schaefer lieutenant
Johnnie Harris was in
the running. So too was
Louisville head coach
Jeff Walz. Ultimately,
administrators settled
on Old Dominion’s Nik-
ki McCray-Penson, a
former Southeastern
Conference Player of the
Year at Tennessee and a
Dawn Staley disciple.
In her earliest days
on the job, McCray-Pen-
son fought to keep the
roster as constructed.
Rumblings sputtered
whether Jackson might
If you don’t read The Dispatch, how are you gonna know?
in which he was raised,
and he was well known
for playing through pain.
Smith, who was assistant
principal for Stillman’s
final three years of high
school before taking over
as principal the summer
after the player graduat-
ed, remembers that.
He said Stillman had
chronic shoulder pain
during his senior year
and that the joint often
came out of place during
games. On the sideline,
the senior would grit his
teeth, pop the dislocat-
ed shoulder back into its
socket and rejoin the fray,
not wanting to miss any
time on the field. He had
shoulder surgery soon af-
ter his high school career
wrapped up.
“Outside of losing a
limb, I had every inten-
tion to stay on the field all
the time,” Stillman said.
But the toughness
he wants the Trojans to
show will come in differ-
ent areas — namely, the
weight room, the film
room and the classroom,
he said.
“If you’re not com-
pletely focused and
completely bought in to
achieve our goals, we’re
not going to be success-
ful,” Stillman said.
Help is on the way
Of course, it’s not all
on Stillman to ensure
New Hope’s success.
The Trojans’ new
coach is already putting
together a coaching staff
to help share the load.
Mississippi State
standout Johnthan
Banks, who coached de-
fensive backs for New
Hope this past fall, will
serve as defensive coor-
dinator.
Stillman said that
when Banks arrived at
New Hope, both men re-
alized their ideal defens-
es were basically iden-
tical: a four-man front
and the same coverage
schemes. The head coach
said Banks is a “perfect
fit” who will take a “huge
piece” off his plate.
leave. Would others fol-
low Schaefer to Texas?
In all, McCray-Penson
mostly pieced her squad
back together aside from
the transfers of Chloe
Bibby and Andra Espi-
noza-Hunter. She also
held onto five-star signee
Madison Hayes, whose
commitment came under
scrutiny in the days after
Schaefer’s departure.
“For me, it’s really
about listening to them
right now and just get-
ting a feel for them and
letting them get a feel
for me,” McCray-Penson
said at her introducto-
ry press conference on
April 14. “I’ve been ask-
ing them what things I
need to do to help speed
this up. Just really learn-
ing their personalities
and really asking them
what they need. That’s
really important. When
you step into something
like this, you want to
make them feel a part
of something, and that’s
what I’m doing right now.
It’s been great. They are
tremendous players and
awesome people.”
Through 10 games
this winter, MSU sits at
8-2 with losses to No. 16
South Florida and No. 12
Kentucky on its ledger.
Whether it be coaching
or the growing pains
of a new system, Mc-
Cray-Penson has come
under harsh scrutiny
from the fan base giv-
en the Bulldogs’ early
lumps and seemingly
friendly approach to
coaching her squad. So
much so, Jackson came
to her aid in the hours
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
At offensive coordina-
tor, meanwhile, Stillman
is bringing on a former
New Hope teammate who
can’t wait to get back to
the area. Lake Cormorant
offensive coordinator and
offensive line coach Cam-
eron Olsen will run the
Trojans’ offense.
“He knows what it
takes to win as a player,
and he obviously knows
what it takes to win as a
coach, Stillman said of
Olsen. “It’s a big-time
hire for us to get a guy
who’s known and has had
success everywhere he’s
been calling plays so we
can start putting the ball
in the end zone.”
For Olsen, in his sec-
ond stint with the Ga-
tors after two seasons at
Long Beach High School,
the position gave him a
chance to bring his five
children back to where
he grew up — and work
with a former schoolmate
both at New Hope and
Mississippi State.
“I couldn’t think of a
better way to go back to
New Hope than me and
him together,” Olsen, a
2008 New Hope gradu-
ate, told The Dispatch.
Olsen, who played cen-
ter, joined Stillman on the
2007 New Hope team that
finished 6-4 — which,
while not world-beating,
was the first winning
season in 10 years for a
struggling program at
the time.
Under Stillman, he
sees similar success on
the horizon for a team
that won one game in
2018, three in 2019 and
two in 2020.
“With me and him, it
was an opportunity for us
to really get together and
make New Hope a winner
again,” Olsen said.
Always New Hope
Stillman knows the
axiom well: If you’re from
New Hope, then you’re al-
ways New Hope.
“That’s the way any
small, tight-knit commu-
nity is: They love to see
their own succeed,” he
after the Kentucky loss.
“Y’all are on the out-
side looking in,” she
wrote. “Just because y’all
see videos of us smiling
together doesn’t mean
she’s ‘friends’ with us!
y’all don’t even see the
half of how hard she
coaches us. She’s an
AMAZING and TOUGH
coach. Stop assuming.”
Opposite McCray-Pen-
son, McPhee-McCuin
has soldiered through a
two-year spell as a con-
ference doormat. Taking
over a program whose
best year under previous
coach Matt Insell was a
third-round WNIT ap-
pearance, McPhee-Mc-
Cuin took to changing
the culture in Oxford,
though a combined 16-45
record over her first two
seasons made her seat
perhaps a touch warmer
than was merited head-
ing into this season.
With slews of trans-
fers like Maryland im-
port Shakira Austin and
Johnson, a one-time
Georgia transplant, and
the addition of five-star
freshman Madison Scott,
who didn’t play Sunday
due to undisclosed rea-
sons, the Rebels’ third-
year head coach has qui-
etly built Ole Miss into,
at the least, a team that
can compete night in and
night out in a conference
that boasted six teams
in the latest Associated
Press Top 25 poll.
“What you’re seeing
is a maturation process
right in front of your
eyes,” McPhee-McCuin
said Sunday. “Missis-
sippi State won’t be the
TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 3B
said.
In fact, New Hope
alumni are everywhere
within the high school’s
sports programs: Head
boys basketball coach
Drew McBrayer. Head
baseball coach Lee Boyd.
Head soccer coach An-
drew Olsen — Cameron’s
older brother.
As another Tro-
jan-bred head coach,
Stillman is well aware
of the expectations that
come with taking the Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
head coaching job at his
alma mater. Sudoku
Sudoku is a number-
placing puzzle based on
Yesterday’s answer
He and his staff know Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 7 8 3 4 6 5 9 1 2
they have to get things ber-placing
given numbers.puzzleThe object 9 2 6 1 8 7 3 5 4
2021 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
right. Olsen said he’s al- based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 4 1 5 2 9 3 8 6 7
ready mapping out what grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 6 5 2 7 3 4 1 8 9
he plans to tell his players given
so that numbers.
each row, eachThe 1 9 4 5 2 8 7 3 6
when he starts Jan. 19. object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place box
numbers 3 7 8 6 1 9 2 4 5
“I have not thought contains the1same to 9 number
in
5 3 1 9 7 6 4 2 8
this much about what I’m the empty spaces so
only once. The difficulty 2 6 9 8 4 1 5 7 3
going to say when I meet that each row, each
level increases from
them in my career,” he column and each 8 4 7 3 5 2 6 9 1
Monday
said.
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 1/11
the same number only once. The difficulty level
Smith, though, made it
increases from Monday to Sunday.
clear that the school isn’t
“looking for miracles” —
just wins.
“We want sustained
success,” Smith said.
“We need stability for
our kids. But in order
to have that, they have
to taste success. You’ve
got to figure out ways to
win ballgames. We were
in ballgames a lot of the
time but just couldn’t win
them.”
But above that, Smith
said, what he wants is
lasting change for a Tro-
jans team now on its sev-
enth head coach since
2000. The principal,
whose sons graduated
with Stillman, hopes he’ll
be retired by the time
Stillman is done with the
program.
“I told Seth my hope
and my goal is that I’ll be
long gone before he is,”
Smith said.
In Stillman, Smith and
the Trojans believe they
have the right man to do
just that.
“He’s qualified,” Smith
said. “He knows what
he’s doing, and we’re
ready to go.”
ACROSS
only ranked team that 1 Least common
we play. We’ll play other 7 List-ending
ranked teams … So the abbr.
vibe, they’re heartbro- 11 Magic potion
ken. They’re in there cry- 12 Fancy party
ing. They’re in there sad 13 Chest bone
because they wanted to 15 Cleaner scent
win. We fell short. Now 16 “Memory”
when adversity hits we musical
have to grow from it. And 18 Largest
we will. I’m confident.”
amount
Following Sunday’s 21 Go by
bout, the Rebels sit at
22 Shallow inlet
7-2 and 1-2 in conference
24 French friend
play, compared to MSU’s
25 Despondent
3-1 mark in the SEC. But
26 Opponent
for a series in which the
27 Join forces 5 Places 28 Colonial gun
Rebels were run off the
court for much of the
29 Shaker fill 6 Quick cut 29 Midday break
past decade — including 30 Burden 7 Yuletide drink 31 Secret lingo
last season’s Bulldog vic- 31 Melodies 8 Road goo 33 Taverns
tories by an average of 33 32 English 9 Boxing great 34 Attach a
points — and with MSU county 10 Chemist’s patch
34 Company place 35 Hot blood
rebuilding, to a degree,
that’s failing 14 Wanderer 36 Tiny taste
under a new coaching
40 Buffalo’s lake 16 Carved gem 37 That fellow
staff, the most recent
41 Catch sight of 17 Korean or 38 Water cooler
rivalry meeting offered
42 Cried
a look at a series that is Thai 39 Stock holder
43 Flower part
increasing in competi- 19 Until now
tiveness. Whether that 20 Handyman’s
remains the case when DOWN collection
the Rebels and Bulldogs 1 Game official 21 Touch lightly
meet again in Oxford on 2 Completely 22 Pet perch
Feb. 14 remains to be 3 Carnival spot 23 Pay stub line
seen. 4 Glorifies 25 Fish dish
“Make no mistake,
their program is bet-
ter in all facets and
that’s a contribution to
(McPhee-McCuin) and
her staff and the work
ethic they’ve done with
recruiting and they’re
only going to continue
to get better, as we are
as well,” McCray-Penson
said Sunday. “But this
will always be a rival-
ry, and at the end of the
day we’ll always support
each other until we play
each other, just like any
competitor.”
4B TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021
More NBA games off as virus issues grow
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The NBA called off
two more games because
of COVID-related and
contact-tracing issues on
Monday, and the Miami
Heat were preparing to
be without eight players
— including All-Stars Jim-
my Butler and Bam Ade-
bayo — for several days
because of possible expo-
sure to the coronavirus.
Monday’s game in Dal-
las between the Maver-
icks and the New Orleans
Pelicans was postponed
by the league, as well as
Tuesday’s matchup in Chi-
cago between the Bulls
and the Boston Celtics.
The league’s general man-
agers met Monday to dis-
cuss the virus situation,
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
Unscramble these Jumbles,
one letter to each square,
to form four ordinary words.
XTREE
MLYOD
BLINEB
JNUIER
©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
All Rights Reserved.
Answer
here:
Jumbles: WEAVE
Yesterday’s
Answer: The horses had been married for years and
liked being — HITCHED
with involvement from
the National Basketball
Players Association. The
NBA’s board of governors
will meet Tuesday.
The latest postpone-
ments came one day after
Miami’s game in Boston
was called off because
of contact-tracing issues
within the Heat. The
Celtics would have been
without seven players for
virus-related issues for
that game. Miami’s Avery
Bradley, who did not play
in the NBA’s restart bub-
ble last season out of con-
cern about exposure to the
virus, was also ruled out of
that game because of the
protocols.
“We’re in uncharted
waters,” Philadelphia
coach Doc Rivers said.
THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME FAMILY CIRCUS
By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek
Get the free JUST JUMBLE app • Follow us on Twitter @PlayJumble
Now arrange the circled letters
to form the surprise answer, as
suggested by the above cartoon.
’
(Answers tomorrow)
HEDGE CLINIC TRENCH
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Added to the Heat list because the conversa-
following contact tracing: tions were private, talked
Butler, Adebayo, Goran about increasing roster
Dragic, Moe Harkless, sizes Monday, along with
Udonis Haslem, Kendrick stiffening protocols about
Nunn and KZ Okpala. player interaction such
That does not mean any as postgame handshakes
tested positive, but that and hugs — as well as
tracing showed they may even more of a commit-
have been exposed to a ment to social distancing
positive person. Some and mask wearing.
may be back in time for Rivers said he’s not in
Miami’s home game Sat- favor of adding to the ros-
urday against Detroit. ter size, but suggested
Another three Heat a nine-player minimum
players are on the injury instead of the current
list, raising the ques- eight might be a prudent
tion if they will have the change “to have a healthy
eight required players to chance of playing an NBA
start games. NBA GMs, game.”
according to a person The Heat were flying
familiar with the dis- from Boston to Philadel-
cussion who spoke with phia on Monday night
The Associated Press on in advance of a game
condition of anonymity there Tuesday, while an-
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
My husband
and I are go-
ing on 19 years of
marriage and have
three teenage
girls. We have had
multiple rounds
of marriage
counseling, mostly
with good results,
although the ben-
efits seem to be
short-lived. Most
of our problems
have stemmed
from my hus-
band’s drinking
or smoking pot. Dear Abby
He’s not abusive,
he’s a good provider, but he just
likes to get high. Thank God it’s
not often, but I’m not nor have I
ever been OK with it.
Our girls recently found his
pot stash and helped them-
selves. When I questioned them
about where they got it, they
admitted they found their dad’s
stash. For me, this is the last
straw. How can I teach my kids
this is not OK when their dad’s
actions say otherwise? I’m now
made out to be the prude since
apparently I’m “no fun.”
I’m a nurse, and even
if it were legal in our state,
I wouldn’t use it. I told my
husband that I’m done and I’m
ready for a divorce. He says I’m
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan.
12). You elevate this scene.
Your sense of justice is
well-developed, and you’ll be
instrumental in the righting of
wrongs, balancing of karma,
breaking harmful cycles and
promoting an atmosphere that
supports the best life has to
offer: love, vitality, creativity
and interdependence of people,
life forces and environments.
Scorpio and Leo adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 13, 44, 7,
33 and 10.
ARIES (March 21-April
19). You’ll be loved for your
complexity and contradictions.
other flight was bring-
ing those who needed
to be quarantined back
to Miami, said a person
familiar with the situa-
tion. The person spoke
to AP on condition of an-
onymity because those
details were not publicly
released.
“I think the general
sentiment is that every-
one wants to play but
also everyone wants to
be safe first,” Heat guard
Duncan Robinson said
during an appearance on
Reddit.
Dallas — which was
without starters Josh
Richardson and Dorian
Finney-Smith and back-
up Jalen Brunson on Sat-
urday because of virus
issues — did not have
being ridiculous.
Do I need to
lighten up? I think
I already know
your answer, but
I just need to
see it to validate
my feelings. —
ANTI-DRUG WIFE
AND MOM
DEAR
ANTI-DRUG: Al-
though marijuana
may be legal in
an increasing
number of states,
“supplying” drugs
to minors is
against the law in
all of them. What
happened cannot and should
not be ignored, but ending a
good marriage because your
husband likes to use pot OCCA-
SIONALLY seems extreme.
It may take more visits to a
marriage and family therapist
for you to agree to disagree on
this, but it is very important that
your daughters be disabused of
the idea that what they did was
OK with either of you. It’s time
you and your husband form a
united front, and he needs to
find a better place to keep his
stash.
DEAR ABBY: Because of
the recent COVID-19 crisis, my
wife and I, like so many others,
have been stuck at home. I
You can be serious one moment
and silly the next, but your true
talent comes out when you’re
both at the same time.
TAURUS (April 20-May
20). Instead of either/or, you’ll
think in terms of integrating
everything and having it all. It
sounds greedy, but it’s actually
inclusive, and one of the more
generous things you can do.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
It’s often the case that the ones
who need you the most are too
familiar with what you give to
be very appreciative. This is
why it’s important to do things
for your own satisfaction and
enough players cleared
to play Monday because
the contact-tracing pro-
cess was still ongoing,
said a person with knowl-
edge of that situation
who spoke with AP on
condition of anonymity
because it had not been
disclosed publicly.
Contact tracing with-
in the NBA has gotten
much more high-tech in
recent days, with a new
requirement that every-
one within the travel
parties wear an elec-
tronic device that tracks
their proximity to one
another. The data from
those devices is part of
the determination as to
whether a player needs
to quarantine because of
possible exposure.
have asked her questions about
former boyfriends and lovers.
She told me some things, but
when I bring it up now, she gets
defensive and accuses me of
belittling her and bringing back
memories she has asked God
to help her forget. I feel I am
owed an explanation since they
all took place while we were
dating (including with my best
friend) and with a house sitter
after we were married. Am I
wrong to bring it up after many
years and a great marriage?
P.S. It’s eating at me, and
her stonewalling by saying “I
can’t remember” is frustrat-
ing, especially because all her
friends talk about her great
memory. — DEPRESSED IN
TEXAS
DEAR DEPRESSED: Yes, you
are wrong because this isn’t
getting you anywhere positive.
In fact, it’s the opposite. If you
are looking for a divorce after
“many years and a great mar-
riage,” keep digging.
While your wife’s poor
judgment and infidelity are
deeply regrettable, the two of
you managed to build a life
together and move beyond it.
Sometimes people forget what
they need to forget in order to
function. Accept it and use your
quarantine time to do some-
thing more positive than playing
“20 Questions.”
fulfillment.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
You welcome feedback, espe-
cially if it’s negative. Negative
feedback is often a problem
you can solve. Coming up with
solutions makes you creative,
strong and, possibly, eventually,
rich.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It’s
your turn, your time; it’s on.
There’s no one around who can
get in your way. Even random
bad luck events can’t stop you
because you’ve already seen a
lot of chaos, and you’ve learned
how to adapt.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
It’s a day to indulge in your
favorite revenge fantasy. You
know, the one in which you en-
joy massive success right in the
face of those who once doubted
you or stood in your way.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
It can be done. You will figure it
out, and anything that seems
to suggest otherwise is to be
ignored. Avoid the worriers.
Their energy is well-meaning but
also very negative.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
You’ve analyzed an issue for
so long that you’ve paralyzed
your inner decision-maker.
Start fresh. Forget everything or
pretend that you have. Jump in
and act unthinkingly.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). Be sure you’re dealing in
manageable stakes. This is
when you’ll feel you’ll liveliest
-- when you’re giving at a level
you can afford to lose, and you
might even be liberated by the
loss.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-
Jan. 19). You’ll challenge the
established ways, not because
you want to draw attention to
yourself but because you simply
never learned the tradition.
So, you naturally see things
differently.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). Complaints and criticism
are the domains of the power-
less or those who think they
are. There’s no time to complain
when you’re coming up with a
strategy to win it.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). Reach up and find people
who are excellent at the thing
you’re trying to get good at. At
first, it will be humbling. But if
you’re fine with not being the
best right away, you’ll learn
quickly, and you’ll carry your
own eventually.
Head to head
SOLUTION:
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 5B

Classifieds
LEGALS
Call us: 662-328-2424
Legal Notices
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF ARTHUR JOE WILLI-
AMS, DECEASED
LUCY DIANN WILLIAMS DALE,
PETITIONER
CAUSE NO. 2020-0248-JNS
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the Letters Testamentary having
undersigned upon the Estate of been issued by the Chancery
Arthur Joe Williams, Deceased, Clerk of Lowndes County, Mis-
by the Chancery Court of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
on the 5th day of January
2021. This is to give notice to
all persons having claims
against said estate to probate 0230-JNS, in said court, no-
and register same with the
Chancery Clerk of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, within
ninety (90) days from the first
publication date of this Notice
to Creditors. A failure to so pro- Clerk of the Chancery Court of
bate and register said claim
will forever bar the same.
This the 6th day of January
2021.
/s/ Lucy Diann Williams Dale
LUCY DIANN WILLIAMS DALE,
Executrix
PUBLISH: 1/12, 1/19 &
1/26/2021
THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES
HAVE BEEN ABANDONED AT
COREY HERRING AUTOMOTIVE,
1230 GARDNER BLVD, COLUM- /s/Lee Ann S. Turner
BUS, MS.
2007 FORD FUSION
VIN# 3FAHP07Z17R246669
1994 TOYOTA
VIN# 4T1GK12C1RU061526
2012 KIA SOUL
VIN# KNDJT2A52C7356348
2001 FORD MUSTANG
VIN# 1FAFP40441F110974
2003 PONTAIC GRAND AM
VIN# 1G2NF52E73C257027
2006 CHEVY HLT
VIN# 3GNDA23D06S611549
IF NOT CLAIMED AND PAID FOR
CHARGES, THESE VEHICLES
WILL BE PUT UP FOR PUBLIC
SALE ON THE 30TH DAY OF
JANUARY 2021 AT 7:00 A.M.
AT COREY HERRING AUTOMOT-
IVE, 1230 GARDNER BLVD.,
COLUMBUS, MS 39702.
PUBLISH: 1/5, 1/12 &
1/19/2021
The following vehicle has been Owen, deceased, by the Chan-
abandoned at Dixie Towing.
2007 Ford 500
VIN# 1FAFP24177G111320
If this vehicle isn't claimed by Probate and Register same
January 22, 2021 it will be auc- with the Chancery Clerk of
tioned off at 8:00am at Dixie
Towing LLC, 16 Oswalt Rd,
Columbus, Ms 39702.
PUBLISH: 1/12 & 1/19/2021 Probate and Register said
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF KEITH WARD PAR-
RISH, DECEASED
KAREN MCDANIEL, EXECUTOR
NO.2020-00246-RPF
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to
Karen McDaniel, Executor of
the Estate of Keith Ward Par-
rish, deceased, by the Chan-
cery Court of Lowndes County,
Mississippi, on the 21st day of
December, 2020. This is to
give notice to all persons hav-
ing claims against the estate
to Probate and Register same
with the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
within ninety (90) days from the
date of first publication of this
Notice. A failure to so Probate
and Register the claim will
forever bar the same.
THIS the 22nd day of Decem-
ber, 2020.
Estate of Keith Ward Parrish
By: Karen McDaniel, Executor
OF COUNSEL:
John W. Crowell (MSB 7906)
Crowell Gillis & Cooper, PLLC
Post Office Box 1827
Columbus, MS 39703
PHONE: (662) 243-7308
jcrowell@cgclawpllc.com
PUBLISH: 12/29/20, 1/5/21
& 1/12/21
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF LEON EARL HINES,
DECEASED
CAUSE NO.2020-0098PDE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters of Administration hav-
ing been granted and issued to the legal holder of the in-
the undersigned upon the Es-
tate of Leon Earl Hines, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court so to do, notice is hereby giv-
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi on the 17th day of
December, 2020. This is to
give notice to all persons hav-
ing claims against said estate
to probate and register same
with the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi
within 90 days from the date of tified funds paid at the conclu-
the first publication of this no- sion of the sale, or credit bid
tice. A failure to probate and
register this claim will forever entity pre-approved by the suc-
bar the same.
This the 29th day of December, 11 o'clock a.m. and 4 o'clock
2020.
Read local.
/s/ LEE ASHLEY SINGLETON
cdispatch.com
LEE ASHLEY SINGLETON, AD-
MINISTRATOR
PUBLISH: 1/5, 1/12 &
1/19/21
DECEASED
CAUSE NO.2020-0098PDE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters of Administration hav-
ing been granted and issued to will offer for sale and will sell
the undersigned upon the Es-
tate of Leon Earl Hines, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court tified funds paid at the conclu-
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi on the 17th day of
December, 2020. This is to
give notice to all persons hav-
ing claims against said estate
to probate and register same
with the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi
within 90 days from the date of ary 2, 2021, the following de-
the first publication of this no- scribed land and property be-
LegalANotices
tice. failure to probate and
register this claim will forever
bar the same.
This the 29th day of December, to-wit:
2020.
/s/ LEE ASHLEY SINGLETON
LEE ASHLEY SINGLETON, AD- Lowndes County, Mississippi,
MINISTRATOR
PUBLISH: 1/5, 1/12 &
1/19/21
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE LAST
WILL AND TESTAMENT OF
LYNN S. MOORE, DECEASED
RONALD VICTOR SMITH
EXECUTOR
CAUSE NO. 2020-0230-JNS
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
sissippi on the 23rd day of
December 2020 to the under-
signed as Executor of the Es-
tate of Lynn S. Moore, de-
ceased, in Cause No. 2020-
tice is hereby given to all per-
sons having claims against the ALSO SUBJECT TO that certain
Estate of Lynn S. Moore, de-
ceased, to have the same pro- Kenneth B. Doyle and Nelson
bated and registered by the
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
within ninety (90) days from the in Deed Book 648 at page 29
date of first publication hereof, in the office of the Chancery
that failure to probate and re-
gister any such claim within
said ninety (90) day period will
forever bar the same.
Witness my signature this the
25th day of December 2020.
/s/Ronald Victor Smith
RONALD VICTOR SMITH, Ex-
ecutor of the Estate of Lynn S. the 2nd day of December,
Moore, Deceased
Lee Ann S. Turner, Miss. Bar
No. 10438
The Winfield Law Firm, P.A.
224 East Main Street • Post
Office Box 80281
Starkville, MS 39759
Telephone: 662-323-3984 •
Facsimile: 662-323-3920
lturner@winfieldlawfirm.com
Counsel for the Estate of Lynn (501)219-9388
S. Moore, Deceased
PUBLISH: 1/12, 1/19 &
1/26/2021
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN RE: ESTATE OF WILLIAM
“BILL” E. OWEN, DECEASED
CHARLES E. OWEN, EXECUTOR
CAUSE NO. 2021-0003-PDE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to
Charles E. Owen, Executor of
the Estate of William “Bill” E.
cery Court of Lowndes County,
Mississippi, on the 8th day of
January, 2021. This is to give
notice to all persons having
claims against said estate to
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
within ninety (90) days after
the first publication of this No-
tice to Creditors. A failure to so
claim will forever bar the same.
/s/ Charles E. Owen
Charles E. Owen, Executor
OF COUNSEL:
M. Jay Nichols, MB # 10066
The Nichols Firm, PLLC
Post Office Box 1081
Columbus, MS 39703-1081
(662) 243-7330
jnichols@thenicholsfirm.net
PUBLISH: 1/12, 1/19 &
1/26/2021
SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE'S NO-
TICE OF SALE
WHEREAS, on the November 6,
2018, Terrance Logan, ex-
ecuted a Deed of Trust to Real
Estate Closing Services Inc.,
Trustee for the use and bene-
fit of Mortgage Electronic Re-
gistration Systems, Inc., as be-
neficiary, as nominee for Ho-
metown Lenders Inc., its suc-
cessors and assigns, which
Deed of Trust is on file and of
record in the office of the Chan-
cery Clerk of Lowndes County,
Mississippi, in Deed of Trust
November 7, 2018, in Book
No. Mort 2018, at Page 23736
thereof;
WHEREAS, said Deed of Trust
was ultimately assigned to
Flagstar Bank by assignment
on file and of record in the of-
fice of the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
in February 14, 2020, in Book
No. 2020, Page 3045 thereof;
and
WHEREAS, the legal holder of FOX RUN APARTMENTS
the said Deed of Trust and the
1 & 2 BR near hospital.
note secured thereby, substi-$595−$645 monthly.
tuted Wilson & Associates, Military discount, pet area,
PLLC, as Trustee therein, as pet friendly, and furnished
authorized by the terms there-
of, by instrument recorded in
corporate apts.
the office of the aforesaid 24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL
Chancery Clerk in April 9, GYM. ON SITE SECURITY.
2020, in Book No. MORT ON SITE MAINTENANCE.
2020, at Page 7626 thereof; ON SITE MANAGEMENT.
and 24−HOUR CAMERA
SURVEILLANCE. Benji &
WHEREAS, default having been Ashleigh, 662−386−4446.
made in the performance of the
conditions and stipulations as
set forth by said Deed of Trust,
and having been requested by
debtedness secured and de-
scribed by said Deed of Trust
en that Wilson & Associates,
PLLC f/k/a Adams & Edens,
P.A., Substitute Trustee, by vir-
tue of the authority conferred
upon me in said Deed of Trust,
will offer for sale and will sell
at public sale and outcry to the
highest and best bidder for cer-
from a bank or other lending
cessor trustee, during the leg-
al hours (between the hours of
p.m.) at the southeast front
door of Courthouse, on Febru-
ary 2, 2021, the following de-
scribed land and property be-
ing the same land and prop-
erty described in said Deed of
Trust, situated in Lowndes
County, State of Mississippi,
scribed by said Deed of Trust
so to do, notice is hereby giv-
en that Wilson & Associates,
PLLC f/k/a Adams & Edens,
P.A., Substitute Trustee, by vir-
tue of the authority conferred
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
upon me in said Deed of Trust,
at public sale and outcry to the
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
highest and best bidder for cer-
sion of the sale, or credit bid
To place ads starting at only $12,
from a bank or other lending
entity pre-approved by the suc-
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
cessor trustee, during the leg-
al hours (between the hours of
11 o'clock a.m. and 4 o'clock THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 n 6B
p.m.) at the southeast front
door of Courthouse, on Febru-
Legal
ing theNotices
same land and prop- Apts For Rent: Other Mobile Homes for Rent Five Questions:
erty described in said Deed of
Trust, situated in Lowndes
County, State of Mississippi,
RENT A CAMPER!
CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
Vehicles
Ads starting at $12
1 (Democratic
Utilities & cable included,
Lot No. 47, Doyle Estates Sub- from $145/wk − $535/mo
division, a subdivision of Columbus & County School
Republic of)
locations. 662−242−3803 Campers & RVs
as per map or plat thereof in or 601−940−1397.
Plat Book 4 at Page 15 in the
Congo
Office of the Chancery Clerk of Mobile Home Spaces
Lowndes County, Mississippi.
SUBJECT TO a 10 foot wide
easement for utility and drain- For Rent:
age facilities along and adjoin- Offices 4−Private +
ing the East and west property Reception Area with
2 The Daily
lines (front and rear) and a 5 5,700sqft warehouse,
foot wide drainage and utility paved parking. Please text
easement along and adjoining Your Name & Email for
Planet
the North and South property more details. $1,800/mo 2003 Coachman 31ft 5th
lines of the above described
lot. ALSO SUBJECT TO those to rent. 720−635−5696. Wheel RV. Great shape,
ready to hit the road or for
restrictive covenants and condi-
tions as found in that certain Farms & Timberland tiny home life. Lots of
instrument dated January 8, room, 2 pullouts, awning
3 Plastic
1981, and recorded in Deed for patio. Will consider all
Book 652 at page 372 in the 203 ACRES serious offers, no financing
office of the Chancery Clerk of PRIME TIMBERLAND $10,000. 601−310−3528
Lowndes County, Mississippi. $270,000
COLEMAN
ALSO SUBJECT TO that restric- Exc deer, turkey hunting
tion prohibiting the sale of Good Investment
4 Gwyneth
beer, wine or other alcoholic
beverages as evidenced by RENTALS (615)719−8329
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
deed dated October 26, 1978,
Sell idle items Paltrow
and recorded in Deed Book
600 at page 148 in the office 1 BEDROOM Houses For Sale: East
of the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi. 2 BEDROOMS FSBO: 4BR/2BA. New roof,
with a quick action
3 BEDROOMS new paint, fenced classified ad.
right of way easement from
backyard, driveway leads
LEASE,
5 Emma
© The Dispatch
Chain to South Central Bell behind house. $128,000.
Telephone Company dated Oc- DEPOSIT 662−889−1443.
tober 16, 1980, and recorded
AND Lots & Acreage
Clerk of Lowndes County, Mis-
CREDIT CHECK
1.75 ACRE LOTS: Good/
sissippi.
662-329-2323
Bad Credit Options. Good
credit as low as 20% down,
Title to the above described
property is believed to be good, $499/mo. Eaton Land,
but I will convey only such title 2411 HWY 45 N 662−361−7711.
as is vested in the aforemen-
tioned Substitute Trustee. COLUMBUS, MS
Merchandise
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE , this
Place an ad safely
Houses For Rent: North
2020.
3BR/1.5BA, clean, modern
Sincerely, Ads starting at $12
appliances, dishwasher,
from home with
/s/ Jillian Wilson, central AC&heat; carport,
WILSON & ASSOCIATES, PLLC,
wash/dry hookup, fenced General Merchandise
Substitute Trustee
back yard, 3216 Military Rd
the Classifieds.
PREPARED BY: $800+dep. 574−8559 Roper Dryer, standard size,
Wilson & Associates, PLLC good condition, $200.
400 West Capitol Avenue 662−312−6617.
Houses For Rent: Caledonia
Suite 1400
Little Rock, AR 72201
3BR/1.5BA, small house
Sporting Goods
File # 346072 for small family. NO DOGS.
NO HUD. Caledonia School
PUBLICATION TO BEGIN ON: Dist. 8155 Hwy 12 near ED SANDERS GUNSMITH
January 12, 2021 Open for season!
Old Country Store.
PUBLICATION TO END ON: Tue−Fri: 9−5 & Sat: 9−12
January 26, 2021 Available 1/5/21. $775/
mo + $775 dep. 662−245 Over 50 years experience!
−1191 or 662−549−9298. Repairs, cleaning, refin−
PUBLISH: 1/12, 1/19 &
1/26/2020
ishing, scopes mounted &
zeroed, handmade knives.
Mobile Homes for Rent Located: Hwy 45 Alt, North
of West Point, turn right on
Employment
3BR/2BA MH in New Hope. Yokahama Blvd, 8mi & turn
ads.cdispatch.com
$650 dep + $650/mo. No left on Darracott Rd, will
pets, quiet area. Leave full see sign, 2.5mi ahead
name & message, shop on left.
Call us: 662-328-2424 205−712−6697. 662−494−6218.
Customer Service
LOCAL LAW FIRM is seek-
ing Receptionist/Secretary.
Previous experience
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
General Help Wanted
PROGRESSIVE HEATING &
COOLING, INC. is seeking
duct work installers. Applic-
ant must have verifiable ex-
perience and good work ref-
erences. Apply at: 10155
Darracott Access Road,
Aberdeen, MS 39730
Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm
(662)369-3694 or
(662)328-1080
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
Service Directory
Apts For Rent: North
Promote your small business starting at only $25
Air Cond & Heating General Services General Services Painting & Papering
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662−497−1388
3 Bedrooms
WORK WANTED: Licensed Lawn Care / Landscaping
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