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Wednesday | January 20, 2021

A Better Columbus founder calls for new city leadership

Sorrell: ‘We want the best team we can get’
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com
Leslie Sorrell warned the au-
dience that she gets “embarrass-
ingly emotional talking about
good government” when she
spoke Tuesday at the Columbus
Rotary Club meeting.
“I would be less emotional giv-
ing a eulogy,” said the co-found-
er of A Better Columbus, a non-
profit political action corporation
aimed at fundamentally chang-
ing the city government.
Sorrell and her husband, Will
Sanders (no relation to Lowndes
County Port director of the same
name), started ABC in Novem-
ber. The group has been direct-
ing sharp criticism to the city’s
administration, largely through
social media, targeting both the
mayor and the entire city coun-
cil for mismanagement as well
as leveling thinly-veiled accusa-
tions of corruption.
Sorrell ramped up those
sentiments Tuesday, calling for
entirely new city leadership at
what she dubbed
“a now-or-never
County with a direct impact
on the growth and stability of
July 2020 to fund road mainte-
nance. The bond must be paid
moment.” Her is- neighboring communities, such off in no more than 15 years. As
sues with the city as New Hope. of March 2020, the city had ac-
include an alleged “If the heart of the county is cumulated $36.4 million of debt
lack of transpar- failing, the appendages can only and carried roughly $14 million
ency from City hold on for so long,” Sorrell said. of debt in street paving alone,
Hall, “vacant According to data she provid- The Dispatch reported.
Sorrell
buildings, high ed the Rotary Club, Columbus “I would expect everyone
crimes, drugs, dilapidated prop- property tax rates have gone up here would agree that borrow-
erties (and) high taxes,” claim- 48 percent since Mayor Robert ing to pay for maintenance is
ing city leaders are responsible Smith took office in 2006. The asinine,” Sorrell said. “The city
for them all. city also has “an insatiable appe- should not borrow to pay for its
She said Columbus “had so tite for debt, skyrocketing over roads because that should come
much more than Starkville and 240 percent,” Sorrell said. out of the operating funds, the
West Point back in the day” and Columbus issued a $6.5 mil- tax revenue.”
called it the heart of Lowndes lion general obligation bond in See SORRELL, 6A

LIFETIME GROUNDSKEEPER Aldermen ‘leaning’

toward rule change
that would allow
brewpubs to
operate without
selling food
Cigar Lounge could
include brewpub,
not food sales
BY ZACK PLAIR
zplair@cdispatch.com

Starkville alder-
men took another
key step Tuesday
toward granting an-
other exception to its
code of ordinances
that would clear the
way for a prospective
Latimer
business to locate
downtown.
The board held
its first of two public
hearings at its reg-
Slim Smith/Dispatch Staff ular meeting at City
William A. Rich uses a leaf-blower to clean up a flower bed outside Welty Hall on the Mississippi University for Women cam- Hall to allow “brew-
pus this morning. Rich, who has been a groundskeeper at The W for nine years, said he likes his job. “I’ve been doing this pubs” — defined as
since I was born,” he said. “I grew up cutting grass, trimming hedges, all that stuff. That’s how I learned how to do this.” establishments that Spruill
brew and sell their
own beer, light wine and light spir-
its — to operate without requiring
food to account for at least 25 per-
cent of their gross sales.

Supes discuss more debt, possible tax Aldermen are considering the
change to clear the way for John
Higgins, owner of Tupelo-based

increase, for new 5-year road plan
Consultant: 2-mill increase could fund up
to $25 million in road projects
BY ZACK PLAIR
zplair@cdispatch.com
Oktibbeha County super-
visors continued grappling
Tuesday morning with the
prospect of issuing more
bonds to cover a new five-
year road work plan.
Lynn Norris, with Mad-
ison-based Governmental
Consultants Inc., gave su-
pervisors what he called his
“written on the back of an
envelope” projections for the
county’s borrowing capacity.
He also told them any new
debt they took on would re-
quire a property tax increase
of as much as 2 mills.
“You could do $10 mil-
lion this year if you wanted
to,” Norris told supervisors
at their regular meeting in
the chancery courthouse.
“If your (property tax col-
lections) grew by 1 percent
a year over the next eight or
nine years, you could do $25
million.”
He said historically coun-
ty property tax collections
are rising an average of 4 to
5 percent per year.
A $10 million road bond
wouldn’t require as many
mills, he said, but adding
“some mills” would be neces-
sary to “do anything of sub-
stance.”
“It may be a little painful
to start with, but once you
get the millage in place you’ll
be able to do a lot of work,”
he said.
Still, getting a hard fig-
ure, Norris said, would re-
quire him receiving more
information from the county
on current property tax col-
lection trends. It also would
require an actual prioritized
list for what roads supervi-
sors wanted to improve over
the next five years, some-
thing County Administrator
Emily Garrard noted they
haven’t done yet.
“We need to get a plan
for what we want to use this
Spring Street Cigars, to operate a
cigar lounge and brewpub in the
former Mugshots building on Main
Street, which sits in the city’s des-
money
Garrard told
for,”
ignated Leisure and Entertainment
the board.
“Not just going
District. The board has already
granted cigar lounges an exception
and borrowing from the city’s anti-smoking ordi-
money then nance — which disallows smoking
saying, ‘We’ve in most public spaces in the city.
got this mon- By state law, beer (up to 8 per-
ey, now let’s go Garrard cent alcohol by weight), light wine
find some proj- (up to 5 percent alcohol by weight)
ects.’” and light spirits (up to 4 percent
To that alcohol by weight) are coded and
governed separately from “alcohol-
end, District
ic beverages.”
3 Supervisor
Marvell How- Higgins told aldermen Tuesday
ard suggested his Starkville spot, the business’
calling a work fifth planned location, would house
session to “ex- Howard 3.5-barrel beer brewing equipment.
plore all options” with Norris. The former restaurant doesn’t have
The board did not schedule kitchen equipment, he said, which
the work session — mainly made serving food impossible from
because District 1 Supervi- the outset.
See OKTIBBEHA, 6A See ALDERMEN, 3A

INSIDE FIVE QUESTIONS LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

Classifieds 7,8B 1 Which artist had an album MEETINGS
Comics 4B that accounted for 3.1 percent
of total album sales in 2015 Feb. 1: Lowndes
Crossword 8B
Dear Abby 4B — Adele, Ed Sheeran or Sam County Board of
Food 5B Smith? Supervisors, 9
Obituaries 5A 2 What organization was invited a.m. Courthouse,
Opinions 4A to hold a first-ever overnight
campout on the White House facebook.com/
lawn in 2015? LowndesCounty-
3 Which “Bourne” film based on
WEATHER the Robert Ludlum books did not
Mississippi/
Feb. 3: Columbus
star Matt Damon — “Suprema-
High 51 Low 46
Clouds and sun
cy,” “Legacy” or “Ultimatum”?
4 What are neon tetra, cherry
barb and pearl gourami?
Municipal School
District review
meeting (virtual),
Full forecast on 5 In 2015, the National Labor
page 3A. 11:30 a.m., colum-
Relations Board denied a
petition to form a labor union buscityschools.org.
by the football players of what Feb. 12: Lowndes
university? County School Dis-
Answers, 8B trict Board, 12:30
Willani Turner, of Columbus, works for the Columbus- p.m., District
141st Year, No. 266 Lowndes Public Library and sings in a cover band. Office

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Facing crush of crises, Biden

will take helm as president
‘Biden will face a series
of urgent, burning crises
like we have not seen
Trump wishes new administration luck
BY JILL COLVIN AND JONATHAN LEMIRE
The Associated Press

before, and they all have
to be solved at once’
Presidential historian
Michael Beschloss
BY JONATHAN LEMIRE
The Associated Press
WA S H I N G T O N
— Joe Biden swears
the oath of office at
noon Wednesday
to become the 46th
president of the Unit-
ed States, taking the
helm of a deeply di-
vided nation and in- Biden
heriting a confluence of crises argu-
ably greater than any faced by his
predecessors.
The very ceremony in which
presidential power is transferred,
a hallowed American democrat-
ic tradition, will serve as a jarring
reminder of the challenges Biden
faces: The inauguration unfolds at a
U.S. Capitol battered by an insurrec-
tionist siege just two weeks ago, en-
circled by security forces evocative
of those in a war zone, and devoid of
crowds because of the threat of the
coronavirus pandemic.
Stay home, Americans were ex-
horted, to prevent further spread
of a surging virus that has claimed
400,000 American lives. Biden will
look out over a capital city dotted
with empty storefronts that attest
to the pandemic’s deep economic
toll and where summer protests laid
WASHINGTON — Trying to repair his tarnished legacy, President
Donald Trump trumpeted his administration’s accomplishments and
wished his successor luck in a farewell video as he spent his final full
day in office preparing to issue a flurry of pardons in a near-deserted
White House, surrounded by an extraordinary security presence out-
side.
“This week we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its suc-
cess in keeping America safe and prosperous,” Trump said in the vid-
eo “farewell address,” released by the White House less than 24 hours
before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. “We extend our best
wishes. And we also want them to have luck — a very important word.”
Trump, who spent months trying to delegitimize Biden’s win with
baseless allegations of mass voter fraud, repeatedly referenced the “next
administration,” but declined to utter Biden’s name. Many of Trump’s
supporters continue to believe the election was stolen from him, even
though a long list of judges, Republican state officials and even Trump’s
own government have said there is no evidence to support that claim.
bare the nation’s renewed reckoning series of executive actions — on
on racial justice. the pandemic, climate, immigra-
He will not be applauded — or tion and more — to undo the heart
likely even acknowledged — by his of Trump’s agenda. He takes of-
predecessor. fice with the bonds of the republic
Flouting tradition, Donald strained and the nation reeling from
Trump planned to depart Washing- challenges that rival those faced by
ton on Wednesday morning ahead Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D.
of the inauguration rather than ac- Roosevelt.
company his successor to the Capi- “Biden will face a series of ur-
tol. Trump, awaiting his second im- gent, burning crises like we have not
peachment trial, stoked grievance seen before, and they all have to be
among his supporters with the lie solved at once. It is very hard to find
that Biden’s win was illegitimate. a parallel in history,” said presiden-
Biden, in his third run for the tial historian Michael Beschloss. “I
presidency, staked his candidacy think we have been through a near-
less on any distinctive political ide- death experience as a democracy.
ology than on galvanizing a broad Americans who will watch the new
coalition of voters around the no- president be sworn in are now acute-
tion that Trump posed an existen- ly aware of how fragile our democ-
tial threat to American democracy. racy is and how much it needs to be
On his first day, Biden will take a protected.”

2 Guard members made extremist statements about inauguration

Pentagon officials: No specific threats made to Biden
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — “security liabilities.”
Twelve U.S. National
Guard members have
been removed from se-
curing President-elect
Joe Biden’s inauguration
after vetting by the FBI,
including two who made
extremist statements in
posts or texts about the
Wednesday event, Penta-
gon officials said. There
were no specific threats
to Biden.
Two other U.S. officials
told The Associated Press
that all 12 were found to
have ties with right-wing
militia groups or posted
extremist views online.
The officials, a senior in-
telligence official and an
Army official briefed on
the matter, did not say
which fringe groups the
Guard members belonged
to or what unit they
served in. The officials
were not authorized to
speak publicly and spoke
to The AP on condition of
anonymity. The officials
told the AP they had all
been removed because of
Gen. Daniel Hokan-
son, chief of the National
Guard, confirmed that
Guard members had been
removed and sent home
but he said only two cas-
es were for inappropriate
comments or texts relat-
ed to the inauguration.
He said the other 10 were
for other potential issues
that may involve previous
criminal behavior or oth-
er activities, but were not
directly related to the in-
augural event.
Their removal from
the massive security
presence at the nation’s
capital comes as U.S. de-
fense officials have been
worried about a potential
insider attack or other
threat from service mem-
bers following the deadly
riot at the U.S. Capitol
Jan. 6 by Trump support-
ers. The FBI has been
working to vet all 25,000
National Guard in town.
Officials have said that
vetting efforts that iden-
tify any questionable be-
the Pentagon has found havior in the past or any
no intelligence so far that potential link to question-
would indicate an insider able behavior, not just re-
threat. lated to extremism.”
But the FBI has also
warned law enforcement
officials about the pos-
sibility that right-wing
fringe groups could pose
as members of the Na-
tional Guard, according
to two law enforcement
officials familiar with the
matter.
Neither Hokanson,
nor Pentagon spokesman
Jonathan Hoffman would
provide details on the
comments or texts made
by the two Guard mem-
bers. Speaking at a Pen-
tagon press conference,
Hokanson said one was
identified by his chain of
command and the other
was identified through an
anonymous tip.
“Much of the informa-
tion,” Hoffman said, “is
unrelated to the events
taking place at the Capi-
tol or to the concerns that
many people have noted
on extremism. These are

Trump pardons ex-strategist Bannon, dozens of others

Clemency actions
benefit more
than 140 people
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — didates whose cases had
President Donald Trump
pardoned former chief
strategist Steve Bannon as
part of a flurry of clemency
action in the final hours of
his White House term that
benefited more than 140
people, including rap per-
formers, ex-members of
Congress and other allies
of him and his family.
The last-minute clemen-
cy, announced Wednesday
morning, follows separate
waves of pardons over the
past month for Trump as-
sociates convicted in the
FBI’s Russia investigation
as well as for the father
of his son-in-law. Taken
together, the actions un-
derscore the president’s
willingness, all the way
through his four years in
the White House, to flex
his constitutional powers
in ways that defy conven-
tion and explicitly aid his
friends and supporters.
To be sure, the latest
list was heavily populated
by more conventional can-
been championed by crim-
inal justice activists. One
man who has spent nearly
24 years in prison on drug
and weapons charges but
had shown exemplary be-
havior behind bars had his
sentence commuted, as did
a former Marine sentenced
in 2000 in connection with
a cocaine conviction.
But the names of promi-
nent Trump allies nonethe-
less stood out.
Besides Bannon, other
pardon recipients included
Elliott Broidy, a Republican
fundraiser who pleaded
guilty last fall in a scheme
to lobby the Trump admin-
istration to drop an inves-
tigation into the looting of
a Malaysian wealth fund,
and Ken Kurson, a friend
of Trump son-in-law Jared
Kushner who was charged
last October with cyber-
stalking during a heated
divorce.
Bannon’s pardon was
especially notable given
that the prosecution was
still in its early stages and
any trial was months away.
Whereas pardon recipients
are conventionally thought
of as defendants who have
faced justice, often by hav-
ing served at least some
prison time, the pardon
nullifies the prosecution
and effectively eliminates
any prospect for punish-
ment.
“Steve Bannon is get-
ting a pardon from Trump
after defrauding Trump’s
own supporters into pay-
ing for a wall that Trump
promised Mexico would
pay for,” Democratic Rep.
Adam Schiff said on Twit-
ter. “And if that all sounds
crazy, that’s because it is.
Thank God we have only
12 more hours of this den
of thieves.”
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 3A

Mississippi could renew debate on revising tight parole laws

Mississippi’s prison population, and prison
budgets, increased dramatically after the
state set stricter parole laws in the mid-1990s
BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — Mississippi
legislators should try again to
revise some of the strictest pa-
role laws in the nation as a way
of reducing the state’s “danger-
ously” large prison population,
a nonprofit group said Tuesday.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves
vetoed a bill in July that would
have made more inmates eligi-
ble for the possibility of parole.
He described the bill as “well-in-
tentioned,” but said some law
enforcement officers and pros-
ecutors were concerned about
the possibility of inmates with
violent histories being released.
FWD.us, which was found-
ed by technology and business
executives, released a report
Tuesday that said two-thirds of
Mississippi inmates are serving
sentences that make them inel-
igible for parole. Mississippi’s
prison population, and prison
budgets, increased dramatical-
ly after the state set stricter pa-
role laws in the mid-1990s.
“This year, lawmakers must
finish what they started and
enact criminal justice reform
legislation to save lives and re-
duce wasteful prison spending,”
FWD.us said in its report.
Mississippi has one of the
highest incarceration rate in
the U.S., and the state’s pris-
on system came under Justice
Department investigation in
February after outbursts of vi-
olence left some inmates dead
and others injured.
Senate Judiciary A Commit-
tee Chairman Brice Wiggins
told The Associated Press on
Tuesday that another bill at-
tempting to revise parole eligi-
bility is being filed this year.
Wiggins, a Republican from
Pascagoula, said he and other
legislators met with sheriffs
and prosecutors after Reeves
vetoed the bill last year. Wig-
gins said he believes some of
Teacher pay raise plan awaits Mississippi Senate debate
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Teachers with two years of experience and
less would get a $1,110 bump, bringing them
JACKSON — A proposal to increase Mis- to a starting salary of $37,000 a year. Assistant
sissippi teachers’ pay is advancing at the state teachers would receive a $1,000 pay increase.
Capitol. The bill is similar to legislation proposed last
Senate Bill 2001 passed the Senate Appropri- year that was stalled after the coronavirus pan-
ations Committee on Monday, six days after it demic created uncertainty about state spending.
cleared the Education Committee. The bill will Mississippi has had some of the lowest teach-
go to the full Senate for more debate, although er salaries in the nation for generations. Accord-
it was not immediately clear what day that will ing to the most recent figures available from
happen. the Southern Regional Education Board, the
The bill would give certified teachers with average teacher salary in the U.S. for 2018-19
three or more years of experience a $1,000 pay was $62,304. For Mississippi, the average was
increase. $45,105.
their concerns were well-found- role after serving 25 percent of have allowed parole hearings
ed, but “a lot of misinformation their sentence. Those convict- for those 65 and older who have
was put out there and regurgi- ed of violent offenses and sen- served 10 years of their sentenc-
tated” before the veto. tenced between July 1995 and es. Habitual offenders, sex of-
The push to change Missis- June 2014 would have become fenders and inmates sentenced
sippi’s parole laws has come eligible for parole after com-
for capital murder would not
from groups across the political pleting 50 percent of their sen-
have been eligible for parole.
spectrum, including the liberal tence or after 20 years, which-
FWD.us published a report
Poor People’s Campaign and ever comes first.
the libertarian Mississippi Cen- The bill would have allowed in 2019 saying that Mississip-
ter for Public Policy. people convicted of most vio- pi’s habitual offender laws are
The bill that Reeves vetoed lent offenses after July 2014 to causing “extreme” prison sen-
last year had passed with bi- become parole-eligible after tences that disproportionately
partisan support. It said people serving 50 percent of their sen- affect Black men and cost the
convicted of nonviolent offens- tence served or after 30 years, state millions of dollars for de-
es could become eligible for pa- whichever is less. It also would cades of incarceration.

Mississippi Development Authority chief gets job permanently

John Rounsaville has been the interim Reeves said Mississip-
pi’s recovery is thanks
Corinth, a $160 million
corporate investment that
serve as the state director
for USDA Rural Develop-
MDA director since May 2020 to not shutting down its
economy as drastically as
will bring 130 jobs.
Before joining the
ment, and later by Presi-
dent Donald Trump to fill
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS economic challenges Mis- other states. authority, Rounsaville the same role.
sissippi and other states Rounsaville has been worked for former Missis- Rounsaville also serves
J AC K - faced, Mississippi attract- the interim Mississippi sippi Congressman Chip as a Judge Advocate Gen-
SON — The ed $1.6 billion in new cap- Development Authority Pickering from 1988 to eral and Major at the
Mississippi ital investments in 2020. director since May 2020. 2003, then moved on to 186th in the Mississippi
Develop- That’s 30 percent more Reeves said Rounsav- the staff of former Missis- Air Force National Guard.
ment Au- capital investment than ille has helped Missis- sippi Gov. Haley Barbour. His annual salary will
thority is sippi win competition He was then appointed by be $180,000, MDA Public
the state saw in 2019.
giving its for jobs and expansions, former Republican U.S. Relations Manager Melis-
Mississippi has con-
interim di- particularly in the forest President George Bush to sa Scallan said.
rector the Rounsaville sistently ranked in lists
products industry.
job permanently. of states with the most Earlier this month,
John Rounsaville recovered jobs during the Michigan-based Biew-
earned his promotion by pandemic, Reeves said. er Lumber announced it
buoying Mississippi’s “Everyone got hurt, will invest $130 million
economy during the coro- but here in Mississippi, in a new Mississippi saw-
navirus pandemic, Gov. we picked up and we re- mill, creating 150 jobs. In
Tate Reeves said Tuesday. covered,” Reeves said at a September, Mission For-
The Republican gov- briefing outside the Gov- est Products announced
ernor said despite the ernor’s Mansion. it’s building a sawmill in

Lowndes woman dies in Tuesday car wreck

Victim’s vehicle ran off the road, her truck ran off the road
and struck a tree.
struck tree on Gilmer Wilburn Road Merchant said Davis
was taken to Baptist Me-
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT chant identified the vic- morial Hospital-Golden
tim as Geraldine Davis, Triangle, where she was
A Lowndes County 75. Davis was driving a pronounced dead shortly
woman has died from in- Chevy truck on Gilmer after arrival.
juries sustained in a Tues- Wilburn Road in the west- Lowndes County Sher-
day car wreck. ern part of the county late iff’s Office is investigating
Coroner Greg Mer- Tuesday afternoon when the crash.

Aldermen
Continued from Page 1A
Even with the ordi-
nance exception, brew-
pubs could technically
sell food.
“Brewpubs could sell
food,” City Attorney Chris
Latimer told The Dis-
patch. “They just don’t
have to chin up to that
25-percent bar.”
However, Mayor Lynn
Spruill said Spring Street
Cigars could not. An es-
tablishment that allows
smoking cannot sell food,
even with the ordinance
changes that would apply
to Higgins’ business.
The intent, she said,
is to craft an ordinance
specific enough to where
it would open the door
for other cigar lounges
or brewpubs who might
want to locate in the Lei-
sure and Entertainment
District without allowing
restaurants and bars to
skirt the anti-smoking or
food sales requirements.
“The idea is that brew-
pubs can go with smoking
or they can go with eat-
ing, but they cannot do all
three,” Spruill told The
Dispatch.
All seven aldermen
were present at Tues-
day’s meeting, either in
person or by phone. Two,
Ward 1’s Ben Carver and
Ward 4’s Jason Walker, ex-
pressed they were “lean-
ing toward” voting for the
ordinance change, while
others gave no indication
either way.
“I’m kind of torn on
this one, to be honest,”
Carver said. “I’d say I’m
leaning that way, 51 per-
cent (toward voting for the
ch a n ge).
… I’m very
i nt e r e s t e d
in this from
an eco-
nomic de-
ve l op m e nt
standpoint. Carver
I think
it’s going to be good for
downtown.”
Ward 7 Alderman Hen-
ry Vaughn said he shared
concerns about opening
the doors for other restau-
rants and bars to allow
smoking, but he said he
would speak more on
how he would vote after
the board’s second public
hearing on the ordinance
change set for Feb. 2.
No citizen spoke in
opposition of the rule
change on Tuesday.
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Opinion
4A WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 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
Lawmakers have another chance to address state’s prisons
A
s Mississippi legisla-
tors return to begin
the 2021 session,
much of their work will
be dealing with the fallout
from 2020. The coronavirus
pandemic posed huge chal-
lenges to state government,
and will continue to do so in
2021. While the pandemic
dominated news coverage
in 2020, another crisis has
been festering in the state’s
prisons.
In January 2020, Mis-
sissippi made national
news due to an outbreak of
violence and deaths in the
state’s correctional facili-
ties. The state’s prisons had
been notorious for poor con-
ditions, and many facilities
had been in lockdown for
months, preventing inmates
from participating in classes
or recreation. The situation
reached a boiling point last
winter, when the outbreak
of violence caught the attention of the
United State Department of Justice.
The Trump Administra-
tion’s Justice Department,
led by Attorney General Bill
Barr, announced that it was
beginning an investigation
into conditions in Missis-
sippi prisons. A similar
investigation in Alabama led
to a costly federal mandate
that will require Alabama
taxpayers to invest over
a billion dollars in their
Steven Randle prisons.
Mississippi’s issues
stem from the fact that the
state maintains an overly
large prison population,
the second highest in the
country. While legisla-
tors have adopted modest
reforms in recent years, the
prison population remains
significantly higher than
other southern states like
Texas and Tennessee. This
makes it difficult for a poor
J. Robertson
state like Mississippi to ad-
equately house, secure, and
rehabilitate those in its custody.
In an attempt to address this situ-
ation, legislators passed a bill in 2020
that would expand parole eligibility
in Mississippi to bring release deci-
sions in line with states like Texas.
Corrections officials have testified that
expanded parole eligibility provides
them a powerful tool for safety and
rehabilitation in state prisons.
The bill was vetoed by Governor
Tate Reeves, after opponents claimed
that expanding parole will endanger
public safety. Evidence from conser-
vative states like Texas, which has
more expansive parole eligibility than
Mississippi, clearly shows that these
reforms can be implemented to allow
the state to decrease it’s prison popu-
lation while prioritizing rehabilitation
and keeping crime low.
Policymakers will have another
chance this year to implement evi-
dence-based reforms that give correc-
tional officers better tools to encourage
rehabilitation and allow Mississippi to
safely reduce its prison population. It’s
important for policymakers to act now,
as the federal investigation into state
prisons is ongoing.
The investigation began under the
Trump administration, and will now
transition to a Department of Justice
headed by Joe Biden and his Attorney
General. This should encourage poli-
cymakers to act quickly, as the Biden
Administration has indicated they will
pursue these investigations vigorously.
Mississippi has an opportunity to act
now and address these issues to avoid
a costly federal mandate, which could
force taxpayers to invest hundreds
of millions into prisons, diverting
precious tax dollars away from other
priorities like education and public
health.
By working together, policymakers
can adopt proven solutions that allow
Mississippi to bring its prison system
more in line with states like Texas,
in a way that allows for a meaningful
decrease in the prison population to
protect taxpayers and safeguard public
safety. Lawmakers should act now,
before it’s too late, and ensure that
yet another crisis doesn’t continue to
plague the state from 2020 to 2021.
Steven Randle is the Director of
Justice and Work at Empower Missis-
sippi. J. Robertson serves a Fellow for
Criminal Justice Reform at Empower
Mississippi.

America no longer lives

in an unpresidented time
A
nd so we reach the
end of an unpresident-
ed era.
The reference is, of
course, to one of Donald
Trump’s many Twitter
misspellings, this one found
in his 2016 description of the
seizure of a US. navy drone.
He meant to call it “un-
precedented.” But Trump’s
mistake gave us a coinage
perfect for this moment. For Leonard Pitts
four years, America has been
an unpresidented nation — in
some fundamental sense, a nation without a president.
Yes, I know. Trump was in the Oval Office, duly
elected and sworn. When not golfing or tweeting, he
even performed some presidential duties. He attended
summits. He signed documents. He gave speeches.
But those are not the only things a president does.
A president sets the tone. He ennobles and emboldens.
He calls us up from the minutiae of individual lives
to the stirring vistas of national mission. They’ve all
done this, Republicans and Democrats alike, those you
admired and those you could not stand. Through war,
scandal and economic disaster, they exhorted us to
vision and courage.
Think Franklin Roosevelt telling us “the only thing
we have to fear.”
Think John Kennedy admonishing us to “ask not.”
Think Ronald Reagan calling us to “a shining city
upon a hill” and George H.W. Bush showing us “a thou-
sand points of light.”
Think Lincoln appealing to “the better angels of our
nature.”
Maybe, after you’ve heard it often enough, you take
for granted that this is just What Presidents Do. Maybe
you stop hearing it altogether. Maybe it becomes cliche.
Then one sudden day, it’s gone, all the high-flown
language grounded, all the ideals replaced by whatev-
er is the opposite of ideals, replaced by that which is
coarse, mean, transactional, cynical, narcissistic and
untrue. And that’s all you get. No entreaties to higher
ground. No paeans to higher purpose. That’s it for four
years. Four long, unpresidented years.
Today, as those bleak years finally wane, as Joe
Biden prepares to take office, an old maxim gleams like
a newly minted coin: Truly, you never miss your water
till your well runs dry. In other words, you never know
what it means to have a president until you’ve gone
without. For me, at least, life under Trump has instilled
new appreciation for that which I once took for granted.
Not that I was unique in so doing. I’m reminded of a
2016 debate on Comedy Central’s “The Nightly Show
With Larry Wilmore.” Hillary Clinton had just bested
Bernie Sanders in New York’s Democratic primary, and
panelists were arguing whether Sanders’ voters would
pledge allegiance to Clinton should she become the
nominee. Mike Yard, a stand-up comedian and Sanders
supporter, rejected the idea.
“People that supported Bernie are not people that
play the game,” he said. “They’re not afraid to blow
(expletive) up. That’s all I’m saying. Maybe we need to
blow this (expletive) up. Maybe that’s what we need to
do.”
It seemed merely cavalier back then. Five years
later, standing in the wreckage of the blown-up country
— hundreds of thousands dead, the economy crippled,
troops bivouacked in the breached Capitol, Washington
on lockdown, the national mood sour and uncertain —
it seems worse than cavalier. It seems tragic.
Presidents matter. Apparently, we needed a remind-
er. Sadly, we got one.
No one can say what Biden’s tenure will bring: pros-
perity, war, scandal or achievement. All we can say with
certainty as this decent man takes office is that, at long
last, America no longer lives in an unpresidented time.
And right now, just for this moment, that’s more than
enough.
Leonard Pitts Jr., winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for
commentary, is a columnist for the Miami Herald. Email
him at lpitts@miamiherald.com.
Republicans must confess complicity in the big lie
I
f you missed the retrac-
tion from the right-wing
online magazine The
American Thinker, it’s one
for the ages. Noting that
they had received a warning
from lawyers for Dominion
Voting Systems, the editors
admitted that they had
published pieces that “relied
on discredited sources who
have peddled debunked the-
Mona Charen
ories ... These statements
are completely false and
have no basis in fact. ... We apologize to Dominion for
all of the harm this caused them and their employees.
We also apologize to our readers for abandoning 9
journalistic principles and misrepresenting Domin-
ion’s track record and its limited role in tabulating
votes for the November 2020 election. We regret this
grave error.”
Fox News has issued similar retractions. This is
the beginning, not the end, of the story. Dominion
has sent letters to 20 other entities and individuals,
including One American News Network, Newsmax,
Lin Wood, White House Counsel Pat Cippolone and
Rudy Giuliani. Sidney Powell, the “Kraken” lawyer in
Donald Trump’s orbit, got more than a warning. She
was slapped with a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit for
her outrageous and outlandish claims including that
Dominion’s voting machines were designed by Hugo
Chavez to help him rig elections; that the machines
contained secret algorithms to change Donald Trump
votes into Joe Biden votes; that Dominion had bribed
Georgia officials to obtain its contract with the state;
and that she had a video showing the company’s
founder bragging that his system “could easily change
a million votes, no problem.”
Powell has yet to grovel as The American Thinker
did, but she would be wise to start. Dominion is not
backing down. CEO John Poulos told The Washington
Post that he would prefer to take these cases to court
rather than settle, because “We feel that it’s important
for the entire electoral process.” The company did not
rule out suing Trump.
It seems that the only means we still possess as a
society for holding people to account for vicious and
democracy-endangering lies is the tort law system.
The only acknowledgment of wrongdoing in the most
destabilizing crisis of the past 160 years was that ex-
tracted from an obscure website by a private company
whose reputation and income took a severe hit. I wish
Dominion every success against the other defendants,
but what of the country that has taken a severe hit?
Can Dominion also sue Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Mark
Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, The Fed-
eralist, the 17 state attorneys general who joined the
ludicrous Ken Paxton lawsuit challenging the election
results in four states, Kevin McCarthy, the 121 House
Republicans and six Senate Republicans who voted
to reject the Electoral College ballots of Arizona? Be-
cause until we hear confessions and corrections from
conservative media, we will continue to inhabit a dark
cave as a country.
The 20,000-plus National Guard presence in
Washington, D.C., along with smaller forces arrayed
in state capitals may, God willing, get us through the
inauguration without any further spasms of violence.
But unless the propagandists of right-wing media
confess and correct the record — unless they forth-
rightly admit that they spread lies about the election
being rigged — the fury they’ve incited among a huge
swath of Americans will continue to endanger the
lives of public officials and crack the foundations of
this republic.
The lie they propagated is what propelled those
deluded people to storm the Capitol. Of course, the
perpetrators of the violence are fully responsible for
their decisions, and some of them were clearly men-
tally unbalanced or extremists or criminals of various
stripes. But there were also thousands of otherwise
normal people who were deceived into believing that
their democracy had been fatally compromised, and
millions who now harbor doubts about our system’s
legitimacy. Nearly 75% of Republicans believe that
Trump was the legitimate victor of the election. They
couldn’t have gotten this idea entirely from Facebook
posts or YouTube videos (though those platforms bear
responsibility, too). No, without the imprimatur of
prestige conservative media like Fox and Limbaugh,
and the support from official Republican Party organs,
and the complicity of actual Republican office holders
like Ken Paxton, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Josh
Hawley and Ted Cruz, it’s doubtful that Trump’!
s big lie could have led where it did. The guilt is
corporate.
The goons who defiled the Capitol and smashed
poles into the heads of police thought what they were
doing was righteous. They think of themselves as
patriots. The cynical liars like Hawley and Levin and
the rest, who took advantage of their ignorance for
their own purposes, drape themselves in the flag, too.
How dare they? Their little game, which began by in-
dulging the base’s attraction to stories like the birther
conspiracy, has matured into stoking insurrection. Is
there no point at which they question their complicity?
Is there no point at which they say to themselves, “For
the good of the country, I need to correct this”?
Dominion Voting Systems may get its reputation
restored through the courts. The damage to the
nation must be repaired by a chastened Republican
Party.
Mona Charen is a Senior Fellow at the Ethics and
Public Policy Center.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 5A

‘Shameful’: US virus deaths top

400K as Trump leaves office
Death toll by week’s end will probably surpass the
number of Americans killed in World War II
BY ADAM GELLER AND JANIE HAR
The Associated Press
As President Donald Trump en-
tered the final year of his term last
January, the U.S. recorded its first
confirmed case of COVID-19. Not
to worry, Trump insisted, his ad-
ministration had the virus “totally
under control.”
Now, in his final hours in office,
after a year of presidential deni-
als of reality and responsibility,
the pandemic’s U.S. death toll has
eclipsed 400,000. And the loss of
lives is accelerating.
“This is just one step on an om-
inous path of fatalities,” said Dr.
Irwin Redlener, director of the Na-
tional Center for Disaster Prepared-
ness at Columbia University and
one of many public health experts
who contend the Trump adminis-
tration’s handling of the crisis led
to thousands of avoidable deaths.
“Everything about how it’s been
managed has been infused with
incompetence and dishonesty, and
we’re paying a heavy price,” he said.
The 400,000-death toll, reported
Tuesday by Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity, is greater than the population
of New Orleans, Cleveland or Tam-
pa, Florida. It’s nearly equal to the
number of American lives lost an-
nually to strokes, Alzheimer’s dis-
ease, diabetes, flu and pneumonia
combined.
With more than 4,000 deaths re-
corded on some recent days — the
most since the pandemic began —
the toll by week’s end will probably
surpass the number of Americans
killed in World War II.
“We need to follow the science
and the 400,000th death is shame-
ful,” said Cliff Daniels, chief strat-
egy officer for Methodist Hospital
of Southern California, near Los
Angeles. With its morgue full, the
hospital has parked a refrigerated
truck outside to hold the bodies
of COVID-19 victims until funeral
homes can retrieve them.
“It’s so incredibly, unimaginably
sad that so many people have died
that could have been avoided,” he
said.
President-elect Joe Biden, who
will be sworn in Wednesday, took
part in an evening remembrance
ceremony Tuesday near the Lin-
coln Memorial in Washington. The
400,000 dead were represented by
400 lights placed around the reflect-
ing pool. The bell at the Washing-
ton National Cathedral tolled 400
times.
Other cities around the U.S.
planned tributes as well. The Em-
pire State Building was lit in “heart-
beat” red — the same lighting used
last year as a show of support for
emergency workers at the height
of the virus surge in New York City.
The red lights pulsed as a visual
heartbeat. In Salt Lake City, the
bells at the Utah Capitol were to
ring 15 times in honor of the more
than 1,500 lives lost to COVID-19 in
the state.
The U.S. accounts for nearly 1
of every 5 virus deaths reported
worldwide, far more than any other
country despite its great wealth and
medical resources.

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AREA OBITUARIES
Medical Center of Me- Carter’s Funeral Ser-
ridian. vices. Carter’s Funeral
Arrangements are Services of Columbus
incomplete and will be is in charge of arrange-
announced by Carter’s ments.
Funeral Services of Mr. Talley was
Macon. born Jan. 22, 1950, in
Columbus, to the late
Earnestine Gardner A.C. Talley and Leona
REFORM, Ala. — Talley. He was formerly
Earnestine S. Gardner, employed with Omnova
70, died Jan. 17, 2021, at Solutions and was a Bobby Garner
Graveside Services:
DCH Regional Medical member of Charity Mis- Saturday, Jan. 23 • 11 AM
Center of Tuscaloosa, sion Full Gospel Baptist Friendship Cemetery
Burial
Alabama. Church. Friendship Cemetery
A home going cele- In addition to his 2nd Ave. N. Location
bration will be at noon parents, he was pre-
Saturday, in the James ceded in death by his
and Lola Lavender siblings, Mary Conner
Memorial Chapel of
and James Earl Talley.
Lavender’s Funeral Ser- He is survived by
vice. Burial will follow
his wife, Ann Talley;

John “Jack” Ledbetter

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Incomplete notices must be re-
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for the Monday through Friday
editions. Paid notices must be
finalized by 3 p.m. for inclusion
at Providence Baptist
son, Anthony Bryant
Church Cemetery of memorialgunterpeel.com
Ethelsville, Alabama. Talley of Reno, Nevada;
Visitation will be from brother, W.C. Talley
of Columbus; and one John M. Ledbetter, known to one and all as
2-5 p.m. Friday, at the “Jack”, passed away on January 17, 2021, at his
funeral home. Laven- grandchild.
residence in Columbus after a short Illness at the

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NOXUBEE COUN-
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83, died Jan. 17, 2021, at
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in Greenville.
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Funeral Services of
Macon.
L.C. Brown
NOXUBEE COUN-
TY — L.C. Brown, 87,
died Jan. 18, 2021, at
Anderson Regional
US soldier arrested in plot
Jean Williams
der’s Funeral Service age of 90.
of Aliceville, Alabama A graveside service was held at Shuqualak
is in charge of arrange- Cemetery in Shuqualak, MS on Tuesday, January
ments. 19, 2021, with Bro. Ron Delgado officiating.
Jean Stuart Williams passed away on January
15, 2021, at her home in Flowood, Mississippi, Memorials may be made to the American
Roy Talley with family by her side. Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City,
COLUMBUS — Roy A graveside service was held on January OK 73123. Cockrell Funeral Home is honored
Lee Talley, 70, died Jan. 19 at Salem Cemetery in Macon, Mississippi, to be entrusted with arrangements. www.
12, 2021, with Reverend Pamela Cameron officiating. cockrellfuneralhome.com
at Baptist Memorials may be made to Wesley United Jack was the son of John M. and Rose Anita
Memorial Methodist Church, 511 Airline Road, Columbus, Norwood Ledbetter and was born on February
Hospi- MS, 39702, St. Marks UMC, 400 Grants Ferry Rd., 9, 1930, in Memphis TN. He was a graduate of
tal-Golden Brandon, MS, 39047, or Salem Cemetery Fund, Shuqualak High School and attended Mississippi
Triangle. c/o Charlene Jourdan, 23 Hunter St., Macon, State University. While still a young man, Jack
Grave- MS 39341. Cockrell Funeral Home of Macon moved to California and joined the United
side ser- is honored to be entrusted with arrangements. States Air Force. After his term of service, he
Talley
vices will www.cockrellfuneralhome.com moved back to Shuqualak where he married
be at 11 Mrs. Williams was born March 19, 1932, in his soulmate, Betty Campbell Davis, on April
a.m. Thursday, at Me- Macon, Mississippi, to the late Nick Gary and 26, 1953 and together they shared 67 years of
morial Gardens, with Eunice Wilder Stuart. She married Ernest B. wedded bliss. Jack owned and operated Ledbetter
Bobby L. McCarter Sr. Williams, Jr., on Dec. 30, 1950, and they had Furniture and Appliance in Shuqualak for over
officiating. Visitation is one daughter, Lisa. They lived for several years forty years. During those years he helped many
from 2-6 p.m. today, at in Warner Robins, GA, and then returned to young couples acquire their first furniture and
Mississippi, settling in Columbus where she appliances for their new home as well as making
resided for over 50 years. Mrs. Williams had a sure that everyone’s appliances operated as they
banking career and furthered her education by were designed to. He was on a first-name basis
attending the American Institute of Banking. with all his customers and greeted every one of
In later years, she and her husband developed a them with a smile and a welcome. When Jack
residential community in New Hope, just outside
of Columbus, known as Leigh Cove and Williams
and Betty decided to retire, Shuqualak’s loss
quickly became Columbus’ gain. There he aided

to blow up NYC 9/11 Memorial Place.

BY LARRY NEUMEISTER
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — A U.S.
Army soldier was arrest-
ed Tuesday in Georgia
on terrorism charges af-
ter he spoke online about
plots to blow up New York
City’s 9/11 Memorial and
other landmarks and at-
tack U.S. soldiers in the
Middle East, authorities
said.
Cole James Bridges of
Stow, Ohio, was in custo-
dy on charges of attempt-
ed material support of a
terrorist organization —
the Islamic State group
— and attempted murder
of a military member, said
Nicholas Biase, a spokes-
person for Manhattan fed-
eral prosecutors.
The 20-year-old sol-
dier, also known as Cole
Gonzales, was with the
Third Infantry Division
out of Fort Stewart, Geor-
gia, when he thought he
was communicating with
the Islamic State online
about the terrorism plots,
Biase said.
Unbeknownst to Bridg-
es, an FBI employee was
in on the chat as Bridges
provided detailed instruc-
tions on tactics and man-
uals and advice about at-
tacking the memorial and
other targets in New York
City, Biase said.
“As we allege today,
Bridges, a private in the
U.S. Army, betrayed our
country and his unit when
he plotted with someone
he believed was an ISIS
sympathizer to help ISIS
attack and kill U.S. sol-
diers in the Middle East,”
said William F. Sweeney
Jr., head of New York
City’s FBI office.
She was a long-time member of Wesley
United Methodist Church in Columbus, where
she taught Sunday school in the children’s
department for 15 years and was on numerous
committees, serving her church family that she
loved dearly. After her husband’s death, she
moved to Flowood to be near family, and she
joined St. Mark’s United Methodist Church,
where she remained active until her health made
it difficult to attend in person. She was a member
of the Milady Luncheon Club, Terra Firma
Garden Club, and was a charter member of the
Columbus Literary Club.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her
husband, Ernest, and sister, Nell Stuart Todd.
Survivors include her daughter, Lisa McKay
(Kevin) of Brandon; grandchildren, Madeline
and Meredith McKay; and numerous nieces and
nephews.
Pallbearers were Micky Cowan, Jim Gore,
Alan Hurst, David Lindley, Wayne Stewart and
Robert Stuart.
The family wishes to express tremendous
gratitude to Jane Stuart for her love and care, and
also to the dear ladies of her neighborhood who
were such faithful friends, and all of whom Mrs.
Williams loved dearly.
Paid Obituary - Cockrell Funeral Home
his son and daughter and their families in their
new business ventures and made new friends
wherever he went. Jack was a member of theFirst
United Methodist Church, where he served his
Lord and Savior, Jesus. He made sure that he
and his family knew the Lord and that he and
Betty prayed together, assuring that their lives
revolved around Jesus and His will. If Jack were
to have a motto, it would be “Live, Love, Laugh
and he carried this zest for life with him in his
all-consuming favorite past-time of traveling.
He especially enjoyed traveling by RV and made
friends all over the country following his passion.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents, a
daughter, Margaret Hallie Ledbetter and a sister,
Margaret Ledbetter Stinson.
Jack’s survivors include his wife, Betty Davis
Ledbetter; a daughter, Angela Ledbetter (Gerald)
Vernon and a son, John M. (Darlene) Ledbetter
all of Columbus, MS; five grandchildren, Tony
(Laura)Vernon, Katie (Chris) Taylor, Konrad
Vernon, McGee Ledbetter (Rebekah) and
Michael Ledbetter; seven great-grandchildren,
Jay Vernon, Jack Hudson Vernon, Isabell Vernon,
Atticus Vernon, Alex Taylor, Larkin Taylor and
Lilly Taylor. Jack loved each of his children,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren dearly
and they will sorely miss him.
Paid Obituary - Cockrell Funeral Home
6A WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Department of Corrections starts

women’s seminary program
Mississippi’s seminary program for incarcerated They will also conduct Bible
studies and assist volunteer reli-
women is one of only three of its kind in the nation gious faith groups. Future plans
include starting a hospice program
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS seminary program taught through for the inmates, according to an
the Leavell College of New Orleans MDOC press release.
PEARL — The Mississippi Baptist Theological Seminary. Mississippi’s seminary for wom-
Department of Corrections has Participants will earn their as- en is one of only three of its kind in
launched a seminary program for sociate’s degrees and later, bach- the nation with the others in Lou-
incarcerated women, more than 10 elor’s degrees. After completing isiana and Georgia. It is the same
years after beginning its seminary the program, graduates will not be program as the one that started for
for men. ordained; they will be “inmate re- the men at the Mississippi State
Inmates in the 29-member in- ligious assistants,” and assist with Penitentiary at Parchman in 2009,
augural women’s class will be en- baptisms, funerals and worship the second of five programs in pris-
rolled in a four-year accredited services in prison. ons across the nation.

Sorrell
Continued from Page 1A
She said the mayor
and all six city council
members should step
down, and she believes
ABC has “created an en-
vironment to inspire bet-
ter candidates, qualified
candidates to run” in the
upcoming municipal elec-
tions.
So far, six candidates
have qualified, and five
are incumbents. Smith
and council members
Ethel Taylor Stewart of
Ward 1, Joseph Mickens
of Ward 2, Stephen Jones
of Ward 5 and Bill Gavin
of Ward 6 are all running
for re-election.
Pat Fisher Douglas,
a retired educator from
Lowndes County School
District, is running for
the Ward 4 seat. She pre-
viously ran in a special
election for the same seat
in 2019 but lost to cur-
rent Councilman Pierre
Beard.
Beard, who has not
yet qualified to run for
re-election, was in the
audience at Tuesday’s
meeting and told Sorrell
he shares some of her
concerns.
“I want to see Colum-
bus prosper, and I want
to see Columbus be the
best it can possibly be,”
he said.
He responded to some-
thing Sor-
rell said was
suspicious:
that 19
people are
registered
to vote at
the address
listed as Beard
Beard’s
home. He said all 19 peo-
ple are members of his
family, and they all use
the house, which belongs
to his grandmother, as
their permanent address
in Columbus.
Beard and Sorrell
agreed to sit down and
talk to each other after
the meeting.
“I think you are very
enthusiastic and I ap-
preciate that, but I think
sometimes you need
more experience to be a
city councilman,” Sorrell
said. “We want the best
team we can get.”
‘We wanted to make
a big splash’
When asked what
ABC’s biggest need is
at the moment, Sorrell
said it needs money to
fund its public relations
campaign. The organiza-
tion’s current budget is
$75,000, and with more
funds they hope to de-
velop a newsletter and a
phone-banking system,
she said.
ABC will also hold an
essay contest in the Co-
lumbus Municipal School
District in which students
share how they want to
make the city better, and
the prizes will be cash
and pizza, Sorrell said.
As much as ABC wants
the city government to be
transparent, it does not
publicly disclose its do-
nors, and Sorrell said she
is aware of the irony and
wanted to address it.
“I wanted to do it an-
other way, but I cannot
discount what people
have told me about this
regime,” she said. “They
say if (it’s) known they’re
contributing, there will
be retribution.”
In December, ABC
rented billboard space
on Highway 45 that
read: “Mayor and Coun-
cil. Where’s our money?
What are you hiding?
Who else is going to jail?”
The “jail” language
is a reference to former
Columbus Chief Finan-
cial Officer Milton Raw-
le, who was indicted in
August for embezzling
$290,000 in city funds.
Rawle is currently await-
ing trial.
Lamar Outdoor Adver-
tising’s Jackson office re-
moved the billboard after
a few days, and Sorrell
said Tuesday that the of-
fice initially told her the
disclaimer was too small.
“I reminded them that
they designed it, and
then they kind of stut-
tered,” she said. “They
had an awful lot of infor-
mation about the upcom-
ing trial date, and they
were under the impres-
sion from the person that
contacted them that no
one went to jail, so I sent
them information that the
former CFO had been to
jail and was out on bond.
We agree ‘innocent until
proven guilty,’ but he did
go to jail.”
Sorrell said ABC does
not see billboards as ef-
fective messaging tools
since they reach people
from out of town instead
of the local target audi-
ence.
“But we wanted to
make a big splash, an-
nouncing ourselves, say
that we’re not going to
walk on tiptoes like peo-
ple think we should, and
we got our money back
and made national news,”
she said.

Oktibbeha
Continued from Page 1A
sor John Montgomery and
District 2 Supervisor Or-
lando Trainer were absent
Tuesday and would need
to be consulted — but indi-
cated it would likely be set
for some time in February.
“We might decide we
want to do all of it, some
of it or none of it,” How-
ard said of the still-to-be-
developed road project
list. “... The work session
is mainly to educate the
board and the public about
our options.”
Supervisors in 2017
dedicated 3 mills to ser-
vice $14.5 million in road
bonds over 15 years. The
county raised taxes 1.4
mills and shifted the rest
into debt service from oth-
er funds.
Because the county will
continue paying on that
bond until 2032, Garrard
said there are no mills
“rolling off” the books
that could be rededicated
to a new bond. So raising
the millage again might
be necessary to cover the
debt.
If the mill rate in-
creased by 2, according
to Norris’ projection, it
would cost the taxpayers
$20 more per year for ev-
ery $100,000 of assessed
property value not cov-
ered by Homestead Ex-
emption.
District 4 Supervisor
Bricklee Miller said she
would oppose a millage
increase.
“During this time, I
don’t think we should
raise taxes at all,” Miller
said.
Board president Joe
Williams, who represents
District 5, offered an al-
ternative Miller said she
would find acceptable, if
the math works. He sug-
gested adding the internet
sales tax revenue — which
can be used for roads and
bridges — to the capital
Miller Williams
improvement fund to sup-
port the new road bond,
which would allow the
county to shift more mills
into debt service without
raising the overall mill-
age.
How that would work,
Garrard told The Dis-
patch after the meeting,
is the county would add 2
mills to capital improve-
ment debt service and re-
duce its mills by the same
amount in the road main-
tenance.
Garrard said the
county received roughly
$200,000 in internet sales
tax collections in 2020,
and that amount is “theo-
retically” supposed to dou-
ble this year and increase
by about $200,000 per
year for five more years
thereafter.
However, even if that
does happen, the $400,000
in internet sales tax collec-
tions are roughly equiv-
alent to the value of only
1 county mill ($399,000).
Getting the second mill’s
worth could require wait-
ing at least another year to
approve a new road bond,
which would allow more
internet sales tax revenue
to come in, as well as more
property tax collection
growth.
“That’s what we need
to have this work session
for,” Garrard told The Dis-
patch.
COVID vaccines, curfew
In other business,
Emergency Management
Director Kristin Campan-
ella told supervisors the
Mississippi Horse Park lo-
cation is giving more than
400 Moderna COVID-19
vaccines per day.
Last week, the horse
park, which is partnering
with the Mississippi State
Department of Health as
one of 18 mass vaccination
sites in the state, saw 820
citizens on Wednesday
and Friday combined. An-
other 410 each day have
appointments for Wednes-
day, Thursday and Friday
this week, and Campanel-
la hopes the site can soon
start accommodating 600
appointments per day.
The horse park is serv-
ing as a COVID testing
site on Mondays and Tues-
days, she said.
As of now, the state has
opened vaccinations to cit-
izens 65 and older, as well
as those 18-64 with cer-
tain underlying medical
conditions. An MSDH-op-
erated website offers
qualifying residents an
opportunity to sign up for
available appointments,
and a Mississippian can
book an appointment at
any of the 18 sites.
However, the site isn’t
booking any
more ap-
pointments
for the rest
of January,
Ca mpa nel -
la said, and
she is hear-
ing citizens Campanella
g r u mbl i ng
about difficulty navigating
the state website.
“I know it can be frus-
trating when you look
at the website, but keep
checking it,” Campanella
said.
Supervisors also ex-
tended the countywide
curfew “indefinitely” to
help mitigate the spread
of COVID-19. It remains in
effect for midnight-5 a.m.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 7A

McConnell: Trump ‘provoked’

Capitol siege, mob was fed lies
Ahead of Trump’s historic second impeachment
trial, Senate GOP leader’s remarks were his most
severe and public rebuke of the outgoing president
BY LISA MASCARO
AND MARY CLARE JALONICK
The Associated Press
WA S H I N G T O N
— Senate Republican
leader Mitch McCo-
nnell on Tuesday ex-
plicitly blamed Pres-
ident Donald Trump
for the deadly riot at
the Capitol, saying
McConnell
the mob was “fed lies”
and the president and others “pro-
voked” those intent on overturning
Democrat Joe Biden’s election.
Ahead of Trump’s historic sec-
ond impeachment trial, McCon-
nell’s remarks were his most severe
and public rebuke of the outgoing
president. The GOP leader is set-
ting a tone as Republicans weigh
whether to convict Trump on the
impeachment charge that will soon
be sent over from the House: “in-
citement of insurrection.”
“The mob was fed lies,” McCon-
nell said. “They were provoked by
the president and other powerful
people, and they tried to use fear
and violence to stop a specific pro-
ceeding of the first branch of the
federal government which they did
not like.”
The Republican leader vowed a
“safe and successful” inauguration
of Biden on Wednesday at the Cap-
itol, where final preparations were
underway amid heavy security.
Trump’s last full day in office
Tuesday was also senators’ first day
back since the deadly Capitol siege
and the House vote to impeach
him for his role in the riots — an
unparalleled time of transition as
the Senate prepares for the second
impeachment trial in two years and
presses ahead with the confirma-
tion of Biden’s Cabinet.
Three new Democratic sena-
tors-elect are set to be sworn into
office Wednesday shortly after
Biden’s inauguration, giving the
Democrats the barest majority, a
50-50 Senate chamber. The new
vice president, Kamala Harris, will
swear them in and serve as an even-
tual tie-breaking vote.
The Democrats, led by Senate
Democratic leader Chuck Schum-
er, will take charge of the Senate
as they launch a trial to hold the de-
feated president responsible for the
siege, while also quickly confirming
Biden’s Cabinet and being asked to
consider passage of a sweeping new
$1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has
not yet sent the sole article of im-
peachment to the Senate, which will
launch the trial, but said late Tues-
day on MSNBC, “It will be soon.”
Making the case for Trump’s
conviction, Schumer said the Sen-
ate needs to set a precedent that the
“severest offense ever committed
by a president would be met by the
severest remedy provided by the
Constitution — impeachment,” and
disbarment from future office.
McConnell and Schumer con-
ferred later Tuesday about how to
balance the trial with other busi-
ness and how to organize the even-
ly divided chamber, a process that
could slow all of the Senate’s busi-
ness and delay the impeachment
proceedings.
There were signs of an early im-
passe. During their meeting McCo-
nnell told Schumer he wants “rules
concerning the legislative filibuster
remain intact, specifically during
the power share for the next two
years,” according to the Republican
leader’s spokesman Doug Andres.
Eliminating the Senate filibus-
ter, a procedural move that requires
a higher bar for legislation to pass,
has been a priority for Democrats
who will now control the House,
Senate and White House.

Georgia certifies Warnock and Ossoff’s Senate wins

Pair are set to be sworn in to office
shortly after Biden’s inauguration
BY BEN NADLER
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — Geor-
gia’s secretary of state
certified the results of the
two U.S. Senate runoff
elections Tuesday, paving
the way for Raphael War-
nock and Jon Ossoff to be
sworn in and for Demo-
crats to take control of the
chamber.
They’ll take office just
as the Senate considers
whether to convict Pres-
ident Donald Trump in
an impeachment trial for
inciting the deadly storm-
ing of the U.S. Capitol
and as President-elect Joe
Biden seeks to jump-start
his agenda after inaugu-
ration.
The two men are set
to be sworn in to office
Wednesday afternoon
shortly after Biden’s in-
auguration, according to
news releases issued by
each.
The certification by
Secretary of State Brad
Raffensperger officially
seals Warnock and Os-
soff’s victories over their
Republican opponents in
the Jan. 5 runoffs. Kelly
Loeffler and David Per-
due, both incumbents,
conceded days after the
election. Shortly after
certification by Raffen-
sperger, Gov. Brian Kemp
signed off on their certifi-
cates of election.
Official results from
the secretary of state
show Warnock beating
Loeffler by about 93,000
votes out of nearly 4.5 mil-
Warnock Ossoff
lion cast, or about 2 per-
cent, while Ossoff beat
Perdue by about 55,000
votes, or 1.2 percent. Both
margins are larger than
the .5 percent required
to ask for a recount under
Georgia law.
Once Warnock and Os-
soff are sworn in, there
will be a 50-50 partisan di-
vide in the Senate, giving
Vice President-elect Ka-
mala Harris the tie-break-
ing vote.
Warnock will be the
first African American
senator from Georgia,
while Ossoff will be the
state’s first Jewish sen-
ator and the Senate’s
youngest sitting member.
Their wins bookend a di-
visive and drawn-out elec-
tion cycle that brought
seismic shifts to Georgia
politics and made the
once reliably red state a
key battleground.
Biden in November be-
came the first Democrat-
ic presidential candidate
to carry the state since
1992, while Warnock and
Ossoff are the first Demo-
crats to win a U.S. Senate
election in Georgia since
2000.
During their national-
ly watched overtime rac-
es, Warnock and Ossoff
benefited from Trump’s
continued false attacks on
Georgia’s election results,
which contributed to low-
er GOP turnout, as well
as intense mobilization
efforts by Democratic or-
ganizers.

Yellen pushes GOP senators on $1.9 trillion relief package

Republicans questioned spending questioned spending
nearly $2 trillion more on
ness, and that it would
lead to more job losses.
nearly $2 trillion more on top of top of nearly $3 trillion
that Congress passed
Yellen said, however,
that the increase in the
nearly $3 trillion that Congress in various packages last
year.
minimum wage would
help millions of frontline
passed in various packages last year Republicans ques- American workers who
tioned elements of the are risking their lives to
BY MARTIN CRUTSINGER relief plan, rejecting Re- Biden proposal such as keep their communities
AP Economics Writer publican arguments that providing an additional functioning and often
the measure is too big $1,400 stimulus check to working two jobs to put
WA S H - given the size of U.S. bud- individuals earning less food on the table. “They
INGTON get deficits. than $75,000. They also are struggling to get by
— Janet “More must be done,” objected to the inclusion and raising the minimum
Yel len, Yellen told the Senate Fi- of such long-term Dem- wage would help these
P r e s i - nance Committee during ocratic goals as boosting workers,” she said.
dent- elect her confirmation hearing. the minimum wage to $15 Despite policy differ-
Joe Biden’s “Without further action, per hour. ences, Yellen, who would
choice as Yellen we risk a longer, more Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., be the first woman to be
Trea su r y painful recession now — said that the push for a Treasury secretary after
secretary, said Tuesday and long-term scarring of higher minimum wage being the first woman to
that the incoming admin- the economy later.” comes at a time when be chair of the Federal
istration would focus on Democrats voiced sup- thousands of small busi- Reserve, is expected to
winning quick passage of port for the Biden pro- nesses like restaurants win quick Senate confir-
its $1.9 trillion pandemic posal while Republicans have gone out of busi- mation.

Stores drop MyPillow after CEO pushes election conspiracies

BY JOSEPH PISANI AND
ANNE D’INNOCENZIO
AP Business Writers
NEW YORK — The
founder and CEO of MyP-
illow, who amplified Pres-
ident Donald Trump’s
claims of election fraud,
said a backlash against his
company has begun after a
mob stormed the U.S. Cap-
itol this month.
Mike Lindell, who ap-
pears in TV commercials
hugging the company’s
foam-filled pillows, said
major retailers like Bed
Bath & Beyond and Kohl’s
have dropped his products
recently.
Both companies con-
firmed the decision to
cease carrying the brand
Tuesday, but cited flagging
sales rather than Lindell’s
actions or his support for
Trump.
“There has been de-
creased customer demand
for MyPillow,” Kohl’s said
in an email.
Lindell has continued to
push bogus claims of elec-
tion fraud since Trump’s
loss to President-elect Joe
Biden in the presidential
race. MyPillow’s logo was
also prominently featured
on TrumpMarch.com, a
website that promoted
the Jan. 6 events in Wash-
ington, in which rioters
stormed the Capitol.
That has led people to
flock to social media and
put pressure on stores car-
rying MyPillow to drop the
brand. Lindell said prod-
ucts have also been pulled
from online furniture store
Wayfair and Texas super-
market chain HEB. Nei-
ther company responded
to a request for comment.
“They’re succumbing
to the pressure from these
attacks,” Lindell said in an
interview with The Associ-
ated Press.
8A WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Sports
PREP BASKETBALL
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021
B
SECTION

New Hope picks up a pair of comeback wins over Noxubee County

BY THEO DEROSA his third straight 3 from day night.
tderosa@cdispatch.com the right wing. “We shot it really well
Keep going. Keep go- in the second half,” New
NEW HOPE — Caleb ing. Keep going. Hope coach Drew Mc-
Parr couldn’t shake the New Hope (12-2) did Brayer said.
feeling. plenty of that in the Tro- The Trojans knew
As the New Hope jans’ 75-67 comeback their patented spurt of
High School junior sank win over the Tigers (5- offense was bound to
each of his consecutive 5) on Tuesday as the come after a foul-fest of
3-pointers in the third shots that just rolled off a first half in which New
quarter of Tuesday’s the rim in the first half Hope couldn’t seem to
home game against Nox- rippled through the net buy a jump shot. Senior
ubee County, the same in the second. Jorden Edwards’ 3 in
two words were etched Parr and sophomore the first quarter was the
into his mind. LJ Hackman made three home team’s only triple
Keep going. 3s apiece in the third of the half as the Trojans
His first triple, from quarter to erase a Nox- were clearly thrown for
the left corner, brought ubee County lead that a loop by the game’s gla-
the Trojans within three got as big as 11 points in cial pace.
points. The second, from the second quarter and “We like to play fast, Theo DeRosa/Dispatch Staff
the right wing, made it a deal the Trojans their and when the rhythm’s Noxubee County senior Sam Sledge (2) goes up for a layup while being defended by
two-point game. Then seventh straight win in that slow, it kind of took New Hope juniors Caleb Parr (23) and Ty Crowell (5) in the third quarter of Tuesday’s
Parr tied the game on comeback fashion Tues- See PREP, 3B game at New Hope. The Tigers lost 75-67.

Bulldogs OLE MISS 64, MISSISSIPPI STATE 46

announce
2021
baseball
Ole Miss stymies Mississippi State
schedule
BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com

STARK VILLE —
Mississippi State re-
leased its 2021 baseball
schedule Tuesday after-
noon.
As part of the Bull-
dogs’ 55-game slate,
MSU will play 35 home
games, 16 road con-
tests and four neutral
site matchups. Third-
year head coach Chris
Lemonis and his squad
will open the season on
Feb. 19-21 at Globe Life
Park — home of the
Texas Rangers — in a
three day tournament.
Opponents and game
times have yet to be an-
nounced for the event.
MSU will begin
SEC play March 19-21
against LSU at Alex
Box Stadium in Baton
Rouge. Other confer-
See BASEBALL, 3B

Mitchell
declares for
NFL draft D.J. Stewart had 18 points in the Bulldogs’ 64-46 loss to Ole Miss Tuesday at Humphrey Coliseum.
Mississippi State athletics

BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARK VILLE — percent shooting clip.
Mississippi State is
losing one more piece
from its 2020 puzzle.
Senior wide receiv-
er Osirus Mitchell an-
nounced Tuesday via
Twitter that he will for-
go the final year of eli-
gibility afforded to him
by the NCA A amid the
COVID-19 pandemic
to enter the NFL draft.
Mitchell becomes the
fifth MSU senior to en-
ter the draft in addition
to classmates guard Da-
reuan Parker, lineback-
er Erroll Thompson and
defensive ends Kobe
Jones and Marquiss
Spencer.
“My time in
Starkville has been
filled with many great
experiences that will
See MITCHELL, 3B
BY GARRICK HODGE
ghodge@cdispatch.com
STARK VILLE — When
Mississippi State falls asleep
Tuesday night, it will see the
Ole Miss zone defense in its
nightmares.
A topsy-turvy season for
MSU continued as Ben How-
land could only watch half-
court set after halfcourt set
fail on the way to his team’s
second-lowest scoring output
of the season. An Ole Miss
team that came into Tuesday
searching for all kinds of an-
swers crashed the Bulldogs’
hype party by blowing up of-
fensive screens and capital-
izing enough in transition to
run their rivals off the court
with a 64-46 blowout victory
at Humphrey Coliseum.
“It obviously was a very
humbling experience tonight
for me and my team,” How-
land said.
Not one player in the Bull-
dogs’ starting lineup shot
better than 45 percent on the
night, leading to a paltry 34.6
“We have to be better offen-
sively than we were tonight in
order to beat anybody,” How-
land said. “(Ole Miss) was
1-4 (in SEC play) coming in,
they’re much better than their
record. We knew that going
in ... It doesn’t matter what
the records are, this game is
always going to be a dogfight.
They took it right to us in
terms of energy and how hard
they played, give them credit.”
Midway through his sixth
season, Howland has large-
ly failed to deliver victories
against the Rebels, falling to
4-7 in his career against Ole
Miss. MSU hasn’t swept the
Rebels in any year in How-
land’s tenure, and now the
best the Bulldogs can do is
salvage a split in their next
meeting on Feb. 20 in Oxford.
“At the end of the day, we
need to rectify that and do
better (against Ole Miss),”
Howland said.
The loss itself is all the
more puzzling factoring in the
margin of defeat to a team that
had lost its last three South-
eastern Conference games,
two of which came at home.
But the same Florida team
MSU (9-6, 4-3 SEC) beat Sat-
urday decimated No. 6 Ten-
nessee Tuesday despite miss-
ing its three best players and
red-hot Alabama steamrolled
a talented LSU team, is unde-
feated in league play and may
never lose again, so who re-
ally knows anything about in
the Southeastern Conference?
None of that absolves the
frustration MSU fans feel af-
ter buying into the team, how-
ever young it may be, after a
big win, only to be let down
one game later. The Bulldogs
went from beating a ranked
Missouri team, then hang-
ing on for dear life against
Vanderbilt and later losing at
home to a Texas A&M squad
that appears headed toward
the SEC cellar. Then, the Bull-
dogs beat a talented Florida
team only to lose by 18 to their
in-state rival.
“Some of it is youth, some
of it is the ability to handle
success,” Howland said of the
team’s inconsistency. “We win
a big game, all of a sudden ev-
erybody’s talking about pos-
sibilities for this team and all
these people try to get in these
kids’ ear. We have to stay lev-
el-headed ... Any thoughts of
something being more than
what it is right now is evident.
We have to get back to what
it was that got us 4-2 (in SEC
play) with the chance to be
6 -0, because it wasn’t there
today.”
Ole Miss (7-6, 2-4) steam-
rolled the Bulldogs despite its
second-leading scorer, Romel-
lo White, being nearly invisi-
ble. White picked up two quick
See MSU, 3B
2B WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021
PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP
Heritage Academy boys hold off Leake Academy
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
MADDEN — The
Heritage Academy boys
earned a 54-52 road win
over Leake Academy on
Tuesday in Madden.
Jonathan Peal led the
Patriots with 17 points,
and Sam Hannon scored
10.
Heritage Academy will
host Starkville Academy
on Thursday.
Other scores
Prep Girls Basketball
West Lowndes 75,
Noxapater 25
The West Lowndes
girls picked up a 75-25
win over Noxapater on
Tuesday.
Averi Sanders scored
18 points to lead the Pan-
thers. Nenah Young had
17, and Tydajasha Hood
had 15.
West Lowndes will
host McAdams on Friday.
Starkville 64, West
Point 29
WEST POINT — The
Starkville High School
girls beat West Point 64-
29 in Tuesday’s game in
West Point.
Amaya Ford had 12
points for the Yellow Jack-
ets.
West Point will host
New Hope on Friday.
Winston Academy 33,
Starkville Academy 23
LOUISVILLE — The
Starkville Academy girls
lost Tuesday’s road game
at Winston Academy, 33-
23.
Lillee Alpe had nine
points to lead the Volun-
teers.
Starkville Academy
will play Thursday at Her-
itage Academy.
Oak Hill Academy 43,
Carroll Academy 25
WEST POINT — The
Oak Hill Academy girls
beat Carroll Academy
43-25 in Tuesday’s home
game.
Carley Wooten scored
14 points to lead the Raid-
Mets fire Porter after 38 days for explicit texts in 2016
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Jared
Porter lasted just 38 days
as New York Mets general
manager, fired for cause
Tuesday about nine hours
after ESPN reported he
sent sexually explicit, un-
invited text messages and
images to a female report-
er in 2016 while he was
working for the Chicago
Cubs.
Sandy Alderson, who
returned as Mets presi-
dent when Steven Cohen
bought the team on Nov.
6, said he was stunned by
the report. Alderson said
baseball clubs may have
to rethink the depth of hir-
ing background checks,
although he cautioned
information of this age
and nature might not have
been uncovered no matter
the level. He said the onus
was on teams, not Major
League Baseball, to vet
employees.
“This is a wakeup call,”
Alderson said during a
news conference. “It clear-
ly suggests that something
like this can be out there
in connection with almost
anyone. And we have to do
our best to make sure that
we know about that infor-
mation.”
ESPN reported Porter
sent dozens of unanswered
texts to the woman, includ-
ing a picture of “an erect,
naked penis.” ESPN said it
obtained a copy of the text
history, and some of the
messages and photos Por-
ter sent were displayed in
the report online.
Major League Baseball
will investigate Porter, a
person familiar with its
decision said, speaking
to The Associated Press
on condition of anonymity
because no announcement
ers. Morgan Dabbs had
nine, and Raylee Craven
had seven.
Oak Hill will host Wi-
nona Christian on Thurs-
day in West Point.
Hebron Christian 59,
Kemper Academy 46
PHEBA — The Hebron
Christian School girls
beat Kemper Academy
59-46 in Tuesday’s home
game.
Katelyn Hill scored 25
points to lead Hebron. El-
isha Carter had 19 for the
Eagles.
Hebron will play at Car-
roll Academy on Monday.
Leake Academy 57, Her-
itage Academy 16
Pickens Academy (Ala.)
49, Heritage Christian
Academy (Ala.) 15
Prep Boys Basketball
Shannon 54,
Caledonia 40
CALEDONIA — The
Caledonia boys lost Tues-
day’s home game against
Shannon, 54-40.
Jarvis Leigh led the
Cavaliers with 17 points.
Ja’von Hopkins had eight,
and Jeremy Emerson had
six.
Tylen Simpson added
four points for Caledo-
nia, Jeremiah Dumas had
three, and Issac Grady
had two.
Caledonia will play Fri-
day at Mooreville.
West Lowndes 70, Nox-
apater 62
Jaylon Sherrod scored
29 points as the West
Lowndes boys beat Nox-
apater 70-62 in Tuesday’s
game in Columbus.
Decamby Willis added
17 points for the Panthers.
Fred Rice Jr. had eight,
and Josh Franklin had
seven.
Starkville Academy 70,
Winston Academy 38
LOUISVILLE — The
Starkville Academy boys
earned a 70-38 road win
over Winston Academy
on Tuesday in Louisville.
Wiggy Ball had 12
was made. Porter, 41, could
be subject to discipline by
MLB that would prevent
him from working in base-
ball for some length of time
or ever, depending on the
severity.
Porter did not return a
text from the AP seeking
comment.
His brief term was less
than half that of Carlos Bel-
trán, let go as Mets manag-
er on Jan. 16 last year after
77 days in the fallout for his
role in the 2017 Houston
Astros sign-stealing scan-
dal.
Alderson, 73, was the
Mets’ general manager
from 2010-18 in the latter
stage of the team’s own-
ership by the Wilpon and
Katz families, then stepped
down due to a cancer diag-
nosis and the team’s poor
play. When he returned
under Cohen, he intend-
ed to hire a president of
baseball operations, then
abandoned that in favor
of bringing aboard a GM.
Porter, previously an assis-
tant GM in Arizona, was
hired Dec. 13 and given a
four-year contract.
Alderson said the team
conducted a background
check that included refer-
ences from multiple orga-
nizations and individuals,
including people who knew
him in college.
“There wasn’t really a
dissenting voice,” Alder-
son said. “So, from my
standpoint, I was shocked.
And eventually that gives
way to disappointment and
a little bit of anger.”
Alderson admitted the
Mets did not consult with
any women when Porter
was hired. There are few
women working in baseball
operations departments,
and only in November was
Kim Ng hired by Miami
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
points to lead the Vols.
Wyatt Buice had 10, and
Cy Hallberg had nine.
Hebron Christian 55,
Kemper Academy 46
PHEBA — The Hebron
Christian boys beat Kem-
per Academy 55-46 on
Tuesday in Pheba.
Dash Turman had 21
points to lead the Eagles,
and Braeden Triplett add-
ed 13.
Heritage Christian
Academy (Ala.) 54, Pick-
ens Academy (Ala.) 42
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
— The Pickens Academy
(Alabama) boys lost Tues-
day’s road game at Heri-
tage Christian Academy
(Alabama), 54-42.
William Parker led the
Pirates (4-4, 2-2 region)
with 17 points, and Rafe
Brown added 14.
Pickens will host South
Choctaw Academy (Ala-
bama) on Thursday.
Starkville 64, West
Point 32
Carroll Academy 52,
Oak Hill Academy 40
Prep Girls Soccer
New Hope 11, West
Point 0
WEST POINT — The
New Hope girls routed
West Point 11-0 in Tues-
day’s match in West Point.
Chelsea Teague led the
Trojans with three goals,
and Allie Sanford had two.
Bree Younger, Reagan
Greenhaw, Brylee Smith,
Angel Vaughn Harrison,
Conerly Moody and Ca-
leigh Carter all scored for
New Hope.
New Hope’s next match
is Thursday at Grenada.
Prep Boys Soccer
Heritage Academy 6,
Golden Triangle HomeS-
chool 0
Todd Sharp and Cole
Shelton had two goals
apiece as the Heritage
Academy boys soccer
team beat Golden Trian-
gle HomeSchool 6-0 on
Tuesday.
Blake Ward and Doug-
from the commissioner’s
office as the first woman
general manager.
“That’s one of the un-
fortunate circumstances
that exists in the game to-
day. There aren’t women in
those positions with whom
one can have a conversa-
tion and develop informa-
tion or check references,”
said Alderson, who added
he thought the situation
was “more of an indictment
of our society than it is just
about the industry.”
Alderson learned about
ESPN’s upcoming story
from Porter at about 5:30
p.m. Monday, and Alder-
son said the Mets spoke
with Porter to get his side.
Alderson received a copy of
the report at around 10:15
p.m., about 45 minutes be-
fore it was posted online.
Alderson had a brief
conversation with Cohen at
approximately 7:30 a.m. on
Tuesday, then called Porter
to fire him.
“In my initial press con-
ference, I spoke about the
importance of integrity and
I meant it,” Cohen tweet-
ed around 8 a.m. “There
should be zero tolerance
for this type of behavior.”
“Those are the kinds of
things that this organiza-
tion, many others find ab-
horrent and not tolerable in
any shape or form,” Alder-
son said. “So we respond-
ed, as I think, quickly as we
possibly could, given the
fact that we needed to sort
out the facts and deliberate
on this.”
During a 45-minute
news conference, Alderson
was asked about a gender
discrimination complaint
filed last year against Co-
hen’s company, Point72
Asset Management, with
the Commission on Hu-
man Rights in Connecti-
las Turner added goals for
the Patriots. Sharp and
Jared Gruseck combined
in goal to post a clean
sheet.
Heritage Academy’s
next match is Monday
against Delta Streets
Academy.
Starkville Academy 7,
Magnolia Heights 0
SENATOBIA —
Starkville Academy
scored seven goals in the
first half to rout Magnolia
Heights 7-0 in Tuesday’s
road match.
Isaac Lepard and Na-
than Miller had two goals
each for the Volunteers.
Andrew Pollan, Wilkes
Stubbs and Brody Pierce
all scored as well.
Starkville Academy’s
next match is scheduled
for Friday at home against
Bayou Academy.
New Hope 7,
West Point 0
WEST POINT — The
New Hope boys picked up
a 7-0 win Tuesday at West
Point.
Christian Juarez had a
hat trick for the Trojans.
Trey Parnell, Miguel
Zamora, Jose Castillo and
Caden Perrigin all scored
as well.
West Point archery
drops opening match to
Houston
HOUSTON — The
West Point High School
archery team lost its
opening match to Hous-
ton High School on Tues-
day.
The Green Wave were
outscored by the Hilltop-
pers 2964 to 2891.
West Point’s top female
archer was Lidia Por-
tera with 256 points. The
Green Wave’s top male
shooter was Emanuel
Thompson with 267.
West Point is back in
action Jan. 26 against
Houston in West Point.
cut by Sara Vavra, a for-
mer trading group head.
The complaint was report-
ed on this month by The
New York Times.
Bloomberg report-
ed Shannon Gitlin, who
works in Point72’s inves-
tor relations department,
filed a grievance with that
commission last year.
Alderson said that
when he returned to the
Mets, his vision for the
franchise “involved a very
significant emphasis on
integrity, on ethical be-
havior, on moral courage”
and that “Steve was total-
ly on board with that ap-
proach.”
In the future, more
in-depth probing may
be employed, including
FBI-level investigations,
Alderson said.
Porter will not be im-
mediately replaced. Al-
derson will increase his
attention on Mets base-
ball operations and said
he is likely to increase
the responsibility of Zack
Scott, who interviewed
for GM and was hired
Dec. 23 as senior vice
president and assistant
general manager.
John Ricco, Alderson’s
former assistant and the
Mets’ current senior vice
president and senior strat-
egy officer, also is part
of the front office group
advising Alderson along
with Tommy Tanous, the
vice president of interna-
tional and amateur scout-
ing; Bryn Alderson, the
director of professional
scouting and Sandy’s son;
Ben Zauzmer, recently
hired from the Dodgers
for research and develop-
ment; Joe Lefkowitz, also
in Mets R&D; and Ian
Levin, the senior director
of baseball operations.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 3B

Mahomes, other QBs in final 4 share affinity for deep throws

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Just in case it matters,
Chad Henne isn’t nearly as
likely as Patrick Mahomes
to chuck the ball deep
down the field for the Kan-
sas City Chiefs.
The sample size is clos-
er than people might think
as well.
If Mahomes can’t start
the AFC championship
game against Buffalo be-
cause of concussion pro-
tocols, Kansas City will be
the only team in the final
four without a quarterback
tending to look downfield
for throws.
And if Mahomes is
cleared to play Sunday
against Josh Allen and
the Bills, well, it might
be a good week to put
defensive backs through
plenty of those backped-
al-turn-run drills.
“I think I have to focus
on the fundamentals for
myself,” Mahomes said
before the 22-17 division-
al-round win over Cleve-
land last weekend.
“The good thing about
this team is we have a lot
of great playmakers that
can make plays happen in
space and so if I’m getting
the ball out of my hands
and getting it to them, if
that’s holding it or stretch-
ing plays out and throwing
deep passes or getting it
out quick, whatever way in
order to have success on
the field, I’ll try do that.”
Tom Brady’s first sea-
son with Tampa Bay, after
20 years in New England,
marked the highest per-
game average of the six-
time Super Bowl champi-
on’s career for throws of at
least 20 yards at 5.9 in the
regular season. That num-
ber led the NFL.
The opponent for the it. that the two fastest quali- of confidence in Aaron’s
three-time MVP Brady Before rallying the fying receivers, according ability to push the ball
in the NFC championship Chiefs to a Super Bowl to Sportradar’s average down the field accurate-
game — 2020 MVP con- victory over San Fran- top speed, are still playing ly and our guys have
tender Aaron Rodgers of cisco, Mahomes led the as well. been doing a nice job of
Green Bay — is consis- NFL with a passer rating Green Bay’s Marquez running precise routes
tently among the league of 119.1 on throws of at Valdes-Scantling (16.6) and coming up with big
leaders in deep throws least 20 yards during the and Hill (16.3) were the plays.”
and ranked fifth this sea- 2019 regular season and only two to surpass 16 Brady’s final two sea-
son. was the only QB with dou- mph among receivers sons with the Patriots
Henne’s career rate of ble-digit touchdowns (12). with at least two catches were notable for the miss-
deep throws per game is After Mahomes left per game in the regular ing threats at receiver on
2.7 compared to 5.1 for the divisional playoff last season. the outside, and he had his
Mahomes. Although it’s weekend, Henne threw For Valdes-Scantling, lowest consecutive years
been seven years since the one pass of at least 20 the speed translated into of 20-plus-yard throws in
35-year-old Henne started yards. It was incomplete. leading the NFL at 20.9 almost a decade.
regularly in the NFL, the The definitive plays in yards per catch. Buffalo’s Mike Evans and com-
journeyman has similar clinching the victory were Gabriel Davis was fourth pany with the Buccaneers
career numbers in com- Henne’s 13-yard scramble at 17.1, and all four remain- reserved that trend im-
pletions and yards to last to set up a fourth-and-1, ing teams had at least one mediately, which stood to
season’s Super Bowl MVP. and his subsequent 5-yard receiver in the top 20 in reason with the 43-year-
With an extraordinary completion to Tyreek Hill yards per catch. old Brady joining coach
combination of mobility that allowed Kansas City “I think it’s all predi- Bruce Arians’ “no risk it,
and arm strength, the to run out the clock. cated on the situation,” no biscuit” philosophy af-
25-year-old Mahomes is With four of the NFL’s Packers coach Matt LaF- ter years of emphasis on
the prototype for throwing top 12 in deep throws from leur said. “If those looks a shorter passing game
deep in today’s NFL and the regular season still present themselves, then that utilized running
has the numbers to prove alive, it’s no coincidence certainly we have a lot backs.

Mitchell
Continued from Page 1B
hold a place in my heart forever,” he
wrote. “I want to thank my family and
friends for all the love and constant
support no matter the circumstances.
Thank you to all of my coaches, train-
ers, and EQ staff. I was extremely for-
tunate to have you all believing in me
and making me better both on and off
the field. Thank you to the academic
staff for helping me pursue my de-
gree. Also, to my brothers, thank you
for all of the memories shared and the
relationships built that will last a life-
time...To Bulldog nation, thank you
for making a kid from Sarasota, Flori-
da feel welcomed and cherished!”
Mitchell finished the 2020 season
with 47 receptions for 505 yards and
four touchdowns in 11 appearances.
The Florida native’s largest output
came in a Week 1 upset of then-No.
6 LSU. Mitchell finished the contest
with seven receptions for 183 yards
and two touchdowns — including the
game clinching score with 3:39 re-
maining.
Mitchell concludes his MSU career
with 107 receptions for 1,413 yards
and 14 touchdowns in parts of four
seasons in Starkville. After playing
in five games as a freshman, he ap-
peared in at least 10 games each of the
next three seasons.
MSU concluded its 2020 season 4-7
with a win over No. 24 Tulsa in the
Armed Forces Bowl.

Baseball
Continued from Page 1B
ence opponents this year include
Arkansas (March 26 -28), Kentucky
(April 1-3), at Auburn (April 9-11),
Ole Miss (April 16 -18), at Vanderbilt
(April 23-25), Texas A&M (April 30 -
May 2), at South Carolina (May 7-9),
Missouri (May 14-16) and at Alabama
(May 20 -22).
The Bulldogs’ annual meetings
with Ole Miss will look slightly dif-
ferent this spring as the yearly Gover-
nor’s Cup game held in Pearl has been
canceled for this year. MSU and Ole
Miss released a joint statement on the
cancelation Tuesday:
“Due to scheduling and logistical
challenges related to the COVID-19
pandemic, Ole Miss and Mississippi No. 17 in the nation by D1Baseball — March 23 vs. UT Martin
State have agreed that the Governor’s including a sweep of then No. 4 Texas March 30 vs. MVSU
Cup game in Pearl will not be played Tech in Biloxi. April 13 vs. Arkansas State
this year. While we are disappointed April 20 vs. UAB
for our loyal fans in the Jackson area,
we look forward to seeing our storied
MSU 2021 schedule May 18 vs. Jacksonville State
Nonconference SEC Play
rivalry renewed during the scheduled March 19-21 @ LSU
three-game series April 16 -18.” Feb. 19-21 @ Globe Life Park (Ar-
lington, TX), opponents TBD March 26 -28 vs. Arkansas
MSU’s 2021 slate will include games
Feb. 23-24 vs. Jackson State April 1-3 vs. Kentucky
against at least six teams ranked in
the D1Baseball preseason top 25 poll. Feb. 26 -28 vs. Tulane April 9-11 @ Auburn
Of those teams, three (No. 4 Vander- March 2 vs. Southern Miss in Pearl April 16 -18 vs. Ole Miss
bilt, No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 8 Arkan- March 5-7 vs. Tennessee Tech April 23-25 @ Vanderbilt
sas) rank in the top 10. The Bulldogs March 9 vs. Grambling April 30 -May 2 vs. Texas A&M
were ranked No. 7 in the poll. March 10 vs. Louisiana May 7-9 @ South Carolina
MSU finished the COVID-19-short- March 12-14 vs. Eastern Michigan May 14-16 vs. Missouri
ened 2020 campaign 12-4 and ranked March 16 vs. Samford May 20 -22 @ Alabama

Prep
Continued from Page 1B
us out of our rhythm
a little bit,” McBrayer
said.
Noxubee County
racked up so many fouls
in the first quarter that
things had to equalize
a bit in the second, al-
lowing the Tigers to get
on a run. Guards Sam
Sledge and Rafeal Har-
ris orchestrated an 11-0
run to put the visitors up
33-22 late in the quarter
before Hackman scored
five straight around a Ti-
gers free throw to snap
the streak.
Trailing by seven at
the break, New Hope
went into the locker
room knowing exactly
what it had to do.
“We just had to get
refocused and recom-
posed and concentrate
a lot better,” McBrayer
said.
Almost immediately,
the Trojans did. Hack-
man had eight straight
New Hope points to put
his squad on top 38-37.
“I felt like I had to
come down and get my
team involved,” he said.
Sledge and the Tigers
responded to pull ahead
by six points, but Parr
entered the fray with
three triples in a row in
less than two minutes.
Hackman added a deep
3 for the lead, and New
Hope emerged from its
25-point quarter with a
two-point edge.
“Sometimes when
you struggle shooting
the ball, the floodgates
open, and man, they
did,” McBrayer said.
New Hope added an
Edwards 3 on its first
possession of the fourth
quarter, and Hackman
led the charge as the
Trojans kept the Tigers
at arm’s length the rest
of the way.
Noxubee County
coach Danny Crawford
pointed to his team’s
poor night from the char-
ity stripe — 12 missed
free throws, including
four in the fourth quar-
ter — as a reason the
Tigers couldn’t pull the
upset.
“That’s the ball-
game,” he said of the
wasted opportunities at
the line. “That’s it.”
Still, Crawford said
he wasn’t upset with a
setback to a strong New
Hope team in a game
that was led by one pos-
session much of the way.
“It was a good loss for
us,” he said. “I’m cool
with it.”
New Hope, on the
other hand, never ex- in the second quarter.
pected to have to say the The Trojans scored just
same. Even when the one point in the first
Trojans were down big, quarter, and their first
they remained confident made field goal came
that their shots would nearly two minutes into
eventually start falling. the second.
“We knew that we “The first half was
were going to be fine — definitely pretty rough
just come out here and for all of us,” Prince
keep on playing,” Parr said.
said. The senior said the
strategies the Trojans
New Hope girls 49, worked on in practice
Noxubee County 40 went by the wayside
as freshman Na’Kaiyla
Anna Prince clapped
her hands five times in Lockett and the Tigers
quick succession as she (8-4) jumped out to a
backpedaled down the 15-1 lead and took a 19-
middle of the court. 11 advantage into half-
As the New Hope se- time.
nior celebrated her deep “We weren’t in the
stepback 3-pointer that right spots in the right
put her team ahead of times,” Prince said.
“We didn’t execute any-
Noxubee County by 12
with just over a minute thing.”
Naturally, New Hope
and a half to go, the
coach Nick Christy
home crowd performed
stressed the importance
the same action.
of fixing those lapses as
After roaring back
from a double-digit the Trojans headed into
deficit early to roll past the locker room at the
Noxubee County 49-40, half. New Hope came
Prince and the Trojans out in the third quarter,
deserved the applause. mixed up its defense in
“I knew it was my order to force multiple
time to step up,” said turnovers and turned
Prince, who scored 16 of the giveaways into
her 21 points in the sec- points straight away.
ond half as New Hope A 3-pointer by Prince
erased a hole that got as and a layup by Madyson
large as 14 points early McBrayer trimmed the
lead to two, and Prince
and McGlothin each hit
triples to make it a one-
point game and force
the Tigers to discard
their zone defense.
“By hitting those
shots, it actually forced
them to get out of the
zone,” Christy said.
“They ended up later in
the game going to man,
and we were able to get
in there and get some
foul calls and things.”
With 1:53 left in the
third quarter, Prince
sank a layup to give New
Hope its first lead of the
night, and the Trojans
never trailed again. In-
stead, they built their
lead as big as 12 when
Prince stepped back
from the top of the key
and hit her fourth and
final 3 of the night to put
the Tigers away.
“That’s what we need-
ed: a good win and good
momentum moving to-
ward the second half
of district,” said Chris-
ty, who noted Noxubee
County’s 46 -44 overtime
win Dec. 8 over Colum-
bus, which beat New
Hope 39-25 on Friday.
Like Crawford, Ti-
gers coach Micheal
Johnson pointed to his
team’s 5-of-16 night
from the foul line as a
big reason for Tuesday’s
loss. (New Hope, con-
sequently, was 12 of 19
at the stripe and made
eight of its 10 attempts
at the line in the second
half.)
“We can’t miss that
many free throws,”
Johnson said. “We’ve
got to make them free
throws. You make them
free throws, the lead
stays where it’s at. If you
don’t make your free
throws, they’re going to
come back, especially
if they’re making their
free throws.”
Lockett led Noxubee
County with 24 points,
Aaliyah Brandy had six,
and Jakeia Walker add-
ed five. And despite the
Tigers’ defeat Tuesday,
Johnson professed faith
in his team’s continued
development.
“I’d rather take a loss
and grow from it than
take a win and stay stag-
nant,” Johnson said.
New Hope, mean-
while, felt like it learned
its own lesson.
“We’re able to beat
any team in our district
if we just do what we
need to do,” Prince said.

MSU
Continued from Page 1B
fouls four minutes in and
only finished with two
points on the evening.
Nevertheless, Devon-
tae Shuler replaced the
since-graduated Breein
Tyree as public enemy
number one, torching
MSU for 22 points on a 8
of 13 shooting effort.
The first half was a
slog of both teams wal-
lowing in halfcourt sets,
but Ole Miss converted
enough fastbreak op-
portunities and grabbed
six offensive boards to
give itself a 29-21 half-
time lead. The Bulldogs
couldn’t buy a bucket,
shooting at a 36 percent
clip in the half. Both of
its playmaking guards
were stymied by the
Rebels’ zone, with D.J.
Stewart shooting 2-of-
8 and Iverson Molinar
only making 2 of 7 shots
entering the break. Stewart made 5 of floor since his breakout trouble for the majority
“I thought they did a 8 shots in the second game against the Ti- of the night a game after
great job pressuring us half to lead MSU with a gers. a career-high 27-point
and being really phys- team-high 18 points, but “The energy was effort against the Ga-
ical with our ball han- no other Bulldog scored there,” D.J. Stewart tors.
dlers,” Howland said. more than four points said. “Just when the MSU will attempt to
“We knew they were after halftime. Even game started it was to- regroup before facing
going to hard hedge on factoring in the better tally different. They out- conference-leading Ala-
ball screens and that effort in the second half, played us, basically.” bama at 5 p.m. Saturday
seemed to give us issues Stewart has been mired The only other play- on the road.
today. I thought our at- in a slump since he led er in double figures for “It’s gonna be a
tack of the 2-3 zone was MSU to an upset victory MSU was Tolu Smith tough film session come
really subpar. We have against Missouri, shoot- with 10 points, but he Thursday,” Howland
to do a better job.” ing 19-of-56 from the fought through foul said.
4B WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021
3 more COVID-19 cases linked to Australian Open arrivals
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two players are among
the three latest COVID-19
cases that have emerged
from testing conducted on
passengers who arrived
on charter flights bring-
ing people to Melbourne
for the Australian Open.
Tournament director
Craig Tiley said the play-
ers weren’t considered to
be contagious, though,
and hadn’t been taken out
of the regular quarantine
hotels.
The first six positive
tests were reported over
the weekend and con-
nected to flights from Los
Angeles, Abu Dhabi and
Doha, Qatar.
All passengers on those
flights, including 72 elite
tennis players, were clas-
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
sified by local health au-
thorities as close contacts
of people infected with the
coronavirus and forced
into hard lockdown. That
means they’re not allowed
to leave their hotel rooms
for the mandatory 14-day
quarantine period. The
six infected people, in-
cluding a member of the
aircrew on one flight and
two coaches on different
flights, were transferred
to a medical hotel.
The Victoria state gov-
ernment announced three
new positive tests on Tues-
day, the first to involve
players.
The Australian Associ-
ated Press quoted Tiley as
saying the health depart-
ment “will need to confirm
that they are viral shed-
ding but I can tell you that
FAMILY CIRCUS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
they’re not in the medical
hotel.”
Tennis Australia de-
clined to provide The As-
sociated Press with a list
of the 72 affected players,
but many have made their
status known via posts on
social media.
More than 1,200 play-
ers, coaches, staff, offi-
cials and media arrived on
flights in a 36-hour period
until Saturday morning to
prepare for the Australian
Open, which starts Feb. 8.
Victoria state Premier
Daniel Andrews said
some of the cases linked
to the tournament will be
reclassified as “non-infec-
tious shedding.”
But the state’s chief
medical officer, Brett Sut-
ton, later said the reclas-
sification was unlikely to
mean any of the 72 play-
ers in lockdown — mean-
ing they’re not allowed to
leave their rooms for daily
practice sessions like the
broader player group —
could leave isolation early.
All people traveling
to Australia for the ten-
nis tournament had to
return a negative test be-
fore boarding the charter
flights, although there
was at least one exemption
in the case of the historic
shedding.
Tennys Sandgren, a
two-time quarterfinalist
at Melbourne Park, orig-
inally tested positive for
the coronavirus in No-
vember and the Victoria
state health authorities
determined after review-
ing the American player’s
medical records that he
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
My 25-year-
old son
has been dating
a girl for two or
three months.
She seems very
nice. She has
two children and
is pregnant with
her third child.
She’s due in
three months.
The child is not
my son’s.
I was told by
some friends Dear Abby
of my son that
he’s planning to
sign the birth certificate as
the father. He understands
the implications. How do I
convince him that, although
he feels like he and this girl
will be together for the long
haul, this is a poor decision
to make, especially because
of the short length of time
they have been dating? —
TOO MUCH, TOO SOON
DEAR TOO MUCH, TOO
SOON: Although it can be
difficult to convince someone
in the throes of new love, you
and your son’s friends should
urge him to discuss this
with a lawyer before signing
ANYTHING. He needs input
from someone who is not
emotionally involved and can
explain the legal ramifications
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan.
20). You’ll enjoy the perks and
rewards coming to you in 2021.
And while you’re given many
opportunities, the ones you like
best are self-initiated. You’ll get
creative and put diligent effort
into making something that
matters to you. You’ll scale it
up with an elegant system to
make your vision go live. Virgo
and Sagittarius adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 4, 44, 48,
18 and 39.
ARIES (March 21-April
19). People pass every day;
transactions occur — pleasant-
ries and less. But a meeting of
the minds such as the one you’ll
have today is not a thing to take
was no longer contagious,
although still shedding
viral particles. So he was
given approval to fly to
Australia last week.
“My two tests were
less than 8 weeks apart.
I was sick in November,
totally healthy now,”
Sandgren wrote on Twit-
ter. “There’s not a single
documented case where
I would be contagious at
this point. Totally recov-
ered!”
Some players have
used social media to de-
tail their perceived hard-
ships of being in lock-
down, some saying they
weren’t aware of the strict
quarantine regulations.
“These are high per-
forming athletes and it
is hard to keep a high
performing athlete in a
of what he’s
considering.
Not all
romances
have storybook
endings, but if
this relation-
ship leads to
marriage in the
future, he can
always adopt or
provide financial-
ly for the child
if he wishes. I
sincerely hope
you and the
others who care
about him can
get through to
your son.
DEAR ABBY: My col-
lege-aged granddaughter is
no longer speaking to me,
answering my phone calls or
allowing her other grand-
mother (who raised her) to
post anything on Facebook
where I can see what she is
doing.
My granddaughter came
to live with me last sum-
mer because she worked a
summer job here. I asked her
if she was gay, not because I
think she is but as a prelude
to a conversation about not
allowing other girls to recruit
her into a same-sex relation-
ship as I saw in college and
while teaching public school.
Although I tried to explain,
lightly.
TAURUS (April 20-May
20). Devotion comes at a cost.
Whenever you say yes to one
thing, you are saying no to other
things. It cannot be any other
way. If you are not conscious of
what you are saying yes and no
to, it becomes clear now.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
How often a thing happens
is a significant and defining
characteristic of its nature.
Establishing a rhythm matters;
otherwise, no one can dance to
the song.
CANCER (June 22-July
22). It’s clicking for you. When
you throw the dice in front of a
movie crew and your character
room,” Tiley said. “This is
the contribution that they
have to make in order to
get the privilege of when
they do come out to com-
pete for $80 million ($62
million) in prize money.”
Organizers had a zoom
conference with players
on Monday night and Ti-
ley conceded he had faced
criticism, saying some of
the advance warnings of
the risks may have been
lost in translation.
“There was some big
hits that we took but there
were also some compli-
ments. The most heart-
ening thing at the end in
the chat there was a scroll
of thank yous from all the
stars and players,” Tiley
said, according to A AP.
“Sometimes the minority
have the loudest voices.”
things have grown progres-
sively worse.
My son and her mother
married when she was 7 and
divorced when she was 13.
Over the years, I worked hard
to develop and maintain a
relationship with her. Now,
she has told the other grand-
mother that she will never
speak to me again. Was what
I did so bad, and what should
I do now? — OTHER GRAND-
MOTHER IN NORTH CAROLINA
DEAR OTHER: What you
said wasn’t “bad,” but it was
misinformed and heavy-hand-
ed. While same-sex rela-
tionships do happen in high
school and college, young
people don’t usually indulge
unless they are already at
least bi-curious. Even then,
straight people don’t sudden-
ly “turn gay.”
Your granddaughter may
still be trying to figure out
her sexual orientation, which
could be why she has reacted
so strongly. If you are wise,
you will allow her the time she
needs to sort it out, rather
than push or panic.
Dear Abby is written
by Abigail Van Buren, also
known as Jeanne Phillips, and
was founded by her mother,
Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear
Abby at www.DearAbby.com or
P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles,
CA 90069.
needs to win, the numbers are
irrelevant. You’re a winner if you
act like one. Take it.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Con-
flict is healthy. People are ani-
mals. Animals need to establish
territory. Feel good that people
around you express themselves.
Listen and communicate your
way to peace.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Fate has spoken, and quite
favorably. So don’t question and
wonder whether you’re working
hard enough. Accept the bounty
of a perfect plan coming togeth-
er, even if it wasn’t yours.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
Who do you think you are? It’s
an impertinent question from
a stranger and a relevant and
enlightening question from you
to you. The answer is not one
thing. You are becoming.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
What keeps you from following
your own advice? Likely, it’s a
conflict between what the head
and body want. To communicate
your wishes to the body, you
must translate them into the
body’s language.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). There’s a dynamic playing
out. Give it time. Try not to judge
anything or make decisions
while you’re in the thick of it.
Let things settle, and then see
where you’re at.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). You want to measure your
progress, though today, it’s
unclear what the most relevant
metric would be. How do you
measure a feeling? Maybe
in what you’re willing to do to
experience or avoid it.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). Document what happens
today, because later, you will
find the evidence reassuring
and probably entertaining.
Furthermore, you might be able
to take something about this to
the bank.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). As a rule, most things you
chase are going to run from you.
Seduction works best in a vari-
ety of instances. For instance,
it’s the ones who don’t seek
validation who tend to get it,
a principle that also works in
reverse.
Add fuel to the flame
SOLUTION:
Food
Presidential bites
Here’s an easy inauguration day snack to enjoy while reading up on some of our former presidents’ inaugural
luncheons and mishaps.
A lighthearted look at inauguration eats of the past
BY JAN SWOOPE
jswoope@cdispatch.com
I
nauguration Day 2021 will be
like no other. COVID-19 and
events before, on and after Jan.
6 have made sure of that. Dwelling
on it could render us chronically
disheartened. But what if, instead,
we focus on the very fact that, in
spite of every challenge, America
today celebrates a hallmark of its
democracy. The pomp and circum-
Five steps for
better meal prep
FAMILY FEATURES
E
ating healthier and saving
time around the house are
common goals for many fam-
ilies, and there’s one solution that
can help attain both: meal-prep-
ping. By planning and preparing
meals in advance of each week, you
can practice better portion control
while creating free time for nor-
mally hectic mornings, afternoons
and evenings.
Consider these tips to start your
meal-prepping process:
n Include the whole family. By
letting everybody in on meal-prep-
ping, you’re helping ensure every-
one is satisfied with the breakfasts,
lunches, dinners and snacks that
become your end results. Even if
you only plan to work in advance
on lunches, for instance, loved
ones will likely enjoy the process
more if all are pleased with the
meals they enjoy later.
n Plan the meals. Once the
whole gang is included and on-
board, start brainstorming the rec-
ipes and dishes you’d like to make.
Try starting with just one course at
first — lunch is likely to be the eas-
iest — to help keep meal-prepping
See PREP, 6B
stance may have been trimmed, but
the essence of what our inaugura-
tion represents holds firm.
On a practical level, food has
long played a role in this major
transition. In recent times, a cel-
ebratory inaugural luncheon has
become tradition. The pandemic,
however, has caused the Biden/
Harris luncheon to be canceled in
the interest of health safety. After
reading that a panel of chefs would
host an event titled Presidential
A perfect steak sidekick
FAMILY FEATURES
G
rilling up a home-
made meal is a
classic way to show
appreciation to loved ones.
Next time you grill up a
steak, try adding an extra
touch of flavor with this
Smoky Bacon, Chive and
Shallot Butter.
Find more meal inspira-
tion at omahasteaks.com.
SMOKY BACON, CHIVE
AND SHALLOT BUTTER
Cook time: 25 minutes
Rest time: 30 minutes
Servings: 10
4 ounces bacon, coarsely
chopped
2 sticks unsalted butter, divided
1 small shallot, minced
3 tablespoons chives, finely
chopped
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
n In small sauté pan, cook
bacon over medium heat, stirring
occasionally until browned and
crisp, about 8-10 minutes. Using
slotted spoon, transfer bacon to
small bowl.
n Cut 1 stick butter into pieces.
Add pieces to drippings and
cook, stirring often, until butter
foams and browns, about 5-8
LIFESTYLES EDITOR
Jan Swoope: 328-2471
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 n 5B
culinary.net
Blue cheese and bacon stuffed
mushrooms boast fresh chives, crisp
onions, mushrooms and, of course,
blue cheese and delicious bacon.
A tasty,
bacon-flavored
appetizer
FAMILY FEATURES
I
magine a sparkling tray full
of delicious hors d’oeuvres is
placed within easy reaching
distance. You extend your arm
forward and pick just one sin-
gle appetizer out of the array of
colorful cuisine. It’s creamy and
soft, yet crunchy and savory. It
was nearly the perfect bite. Your
mouth is watering and your eyes
open wide. You look down at your
hand. The remnants of a bite-sized
mushroom is in pieces across your
palm. A smile stretches across
your face following the flow of the
napkin.
This is what guests can feel as
they enter your house with a de-
lightful nosh like Blue Cheese and
Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms. This
recipe uses fresh ingredients and
is baked until melted together to
create an appetizer no partygoer
will forget.
It’s got chunks of blue cheese,
fresh chives, crisp onions, earthy
mushrooms and, of course, bacon.
You can’t forget the bacon.
www.pinterest.com This perfectly mixed snack is
something nearly everyone can
enjoy. From little ones loving the
bacon bits on top to the hard-to-
Soul on Zoom and celebrate by
making recipes from some of the
impress visitors, this dish screams
bite-size perfection for all.
culinary professionals who have These mushrooms are easy to
worked at the White House, I make and a light bite for anyone
became curious about inauguration looking for a quick snack. It’s so
meals of the past. A sampling of the easy to make for a big hungry
search results was entertaining. crowd as it yields 24 servings.
In a history of inaugural food Need more snacks? Double it and
by Rachal Nania in 2017, Alison get the party started with a deli-
Kelly, a research specialist at the cious finger food that will melt in
Library of Congress, tells us that your mouth.
after Andrew Jackson was sworn Make your party appetizers
in as the seventh president in 1829, something to talk about. Just don’t
about 20,000 people followed him talk with your mouth full.
See INAUGURATION, 6B Find more recipes for party
hosts, families and scrumptious
appetizers at Culinary.net.
See APPETIZER, 6B
familyfeatures.com
Elevate your next grilled steak by complementing it with a smoky bacon, chive and shallot
butter.
minutes. n Add remaining stick butter to erator and allow to firm slightly.
n Strain mixture into medium bacon fat mixture. Using hand Butter can be made up to 3 days
bowl or bowl of stand mixer. Stir mixer or stand mixer, beat until in advance. Remove from refrig-
in minced shallot. light and fluffy. Add chives, vine- erator 1 hour prior to serving to
n Allow bacon fat-butter mixture allow butter to soften.
gar and reserved bacon. Season
to cool 30 minutes, or until it with salt and pepper, to taste. (Source: Recipe courtesy of Oma-
reaches room temperature. n Place butter mixture in refrig- ha Steaks)
6B WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

familyfeatures.com
Turkey-potato wraps provide plenty of flavor for family dinners.

Put taste on the table

FAMILY FEATURES 1/3 cup sliced green onions with tops
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

W
hen busy weeknights leave lit-
tle opportunity for extravagant
meals, bring the family togeth-
er with a simpler recipe that provides
just as much tasty flavor, such as these
Turkey Potato Dinner Wraps. Requiring
just 15 minutes of prep and 15 minutes
of cook time, a half-hour is all you need
to create an enjoyable meal for all.
Find more quick dinner recipes at
eatwisconsinpotatoes.com.
TURKEY-POTATO DINNER WRAP
3/4 pound russet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch
pieces
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon canola oil
3/4 pound ground lean turkey
1 large carrot, shredded
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning or basil
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
4 large whole-wheat or high-fiber tortillas
Light sour cream (optional)
n Place potatoes in microwave-safe bowl;
sprinkle with water. Cover, venting one corner.
Microwave on high 5-8 minutes until potatoes
are tender.
n In large nonstick skillet over medium-high
heat, heat oil. Add and break up turkey; cook
5 minutes, tossing occasionally. Mix in carrot;
cook 2 minutes. Add potatoes and onions; toss
and cook 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium;
mix in tomato sauce, cheese and seasoning.
n Cook, stirring occasionally, 4-5 minutes until
mixture is hot and most sauce is absorbed.
Season with salt and pepper, to taste. On work
surface, lay out tortillas. Place 3/4 cup hot tur-
key mixture on each; fold and roll for burritos.
n Cut in halves and place on serving plates.
Top each with sour cream, if desired.

Inauguration
Continued from Page 5B
back to the White House.
Jackson’s kitchen staff
brought out barrels of
spiked orange punch and
chaos wasn’t far behind.
“Buckets were spilled,
glasses were broken,”
Kelly said. Jackson even-
tually slipped out a back
door and ate his inaugu-
ral dinner in peace at a
boarding house.
Ulyses S. Grant’s first
meal reportedly escalated
into an all-out food fight.
“After a couple of
hours dancing, they an-
nounced the buffet, and
people just rushed the
buffet, grabbing all of the
food and shoving each
other,” shared Kelly.
Franklin D. Roos-
evelt’s fourth inaugural
luncheon in 1944 proved
disappointing.
Roosevelt requested
chicken a la king from
the First Lady’s house-
keeper and cook, Henri-
etta Nesbitt. Nesbitt, a
notorious penny-pincher,
refused, declaring she
could not keep the food
hot for 1,800 people. She
switched to cold chicken
salad on a lettuce leaf and
cake with no frosting,
Kelly said.
Event toastmaster
George Jessel is said to
have asked in his speech
at the luncheon, “Mrs.
Roosevelt, how did you
manage to make chicken
salad with so much celery
and so little chicken?”
Jimmy Carter in 1977
canceled his luncheon,
opting instead to walk the
entire parade route and
throw informal parties
instead of elaborate
inaugural balls. Even the
parties were low-cost,
Kelly said, with pretzels
and peanuts served.
Compare that to James
Buchanon’s 1857 meal,
with its 400 gallons of
oysters, 500 quarts of
chicken salad, 1,200
quarts of ice cream, eight
rounds of beef, 75 hams,
60 saddles of mutton, four
saddles of venison and
$3,000 (a huge amount at
the time) worth of wine.
Harry Truman favored
South Carolina ham for
his luncheon, Smithfield
ham, potato salad and
pumpkin pie. Dwight Ei-
senhower chose creamed
chicken and potato
puffs. John F. Kennedy
in 1961 had a menu of
creamed tomato soup
with crushed popcorn,
deviled crabmeat impe-
rial, New England boiled
stuffed lobster and prime
Texas beef ribs. Ronald
Reagan’s first luncheon
included medallions of
chicken piquante served
with rice pilaf, fresh
asparagus with lemon
vinaigrette and strawber-
ry framboise.
Recipes for some of
our former presidents’ fa-
vorite foods can be found
online. Their likes and
dislikes make interesting
reading. Rather than a
complicated dish favored
by William Taft or Gerald
Ford, however, here’s an
easy snack suited to the
day. For “inauguration
popcorn,” all you need
is popcorn and candy
melts. Spread 4 cups of
popped popcorn out on a
baking pan or wax paper;
drizzle 1/2 cup of melted
red candy melts and 1/2
of blue over the popcorn.
Cover it all with red and
blue sprinkles. Let it set
a bit, then serve it up in Send in your church event!
a bowl or individual con- Email editorialassistant@cdispatch.com
tainers while counting Subject: Religious brief
yourself fortunate to live
in the United States of
America.

Prep
Continued from Page 5B
simple at the start.
n Buy ingredients
in bulk. Whether your
grocery shopping takes
place over the weekend or
on a free weeknight, pur-
chasing ingredients and
supplies in bulk – without
overbuying perishables
like fruits and veggies —
can help make sure you
have everything you need
once it’s time to build the
meals themselves.
n Head to the kitch-
en. Pick one day each
week when you can plan
to spend ample time
in the kitchen making
your meals. Use cooking
techniques that are less
hands-on, like baking or
slow-cooking, as often as
possible so you can multi-
task throughout.
n Sort and divide. Us-
ing quality food contain-
ers to keep your meals
as fresh as possible, start
splitting up servings in
ways that fuel you and
family while instituting
improved portion control.
By sorting out specific
meals ahead of time, you
can begin creating better
eating habits.
Visit Culinary.net for
more kitchen tips and
tricks.

Appetizer
Continued from Page 5B

BLUE CHEESE AND BACON STUFFED MUSHROOMS

24 large fresh portobello mushrooms
1 carton (8 ounces) spreadable chive and onion cream cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled blue cheese
4 green onions, chopped
2 garlic cloved, minced
3/4 cup bacon bits, divided

n Preheat oven to 375 F.

n Remove stems from mushrooms and place mushrooms on
greased (or parchment paper) baking pan.
n Mix cream cheese, blue cheese, onions, garlic and 1/4 cup
bacon bits in a small bowl.
n Spoon cream cheese mixture into mushroom caps.
n Bake for 18-22 minutes or until mushrooms are tender.
Note: Recipe adapted from Taste of Home
 IN THE MATTER OF THE ES- WHEREAS, default having been

Classifieds
TATE OF ELLEN JEAN made in the terms and condi-
SIMPSON, DECEASED IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF tions of said Land Deed of

PAMELA ANN SIMPSON, EXEC-

UTRIX
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
Trust and the entire debt se-
cured thereby having been de-
clared to be due and payable in

CAUSE NO.: 2021-0005-RPF

IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF JAMES DAVID ROTH,
DECEASED
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
accordance with the terms
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
thereof and the legal holder of
said indebtedness having re-
quested the undersigned Trust-

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
Ellen Jean Simpson, deceased,
by the Chancery Court of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
on the 15th day of January
Legal Notices
2021. This is to give notice to
CAUSE NO.: 20-0249-JNS
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
Letters of Administration have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
Legal Notices
James David Roth, Deceased,
ee to execute the trust and sell
said land and property in ac-
To place ads starting at only $12,
cordance with the terms of said
Land Deed of Trust for the pur-
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
pose of raising the sums due
thereunder, together with attor-
ney’s fees, trustee’s fees, and THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 n 7B
expense of sale;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, J.
Douglas Dalrymple, Trustee in
LegalDeed
said Noticesof Trust will on Janu- Medical / Dental

LEGALS
all persons having claims
against said estate to Probate
and Register same with the
Chancery Clerk of Lowndes
Call us: 662-328-2424 County, Mississippi, within
ninety (90) days from the first
by the Chancery Court of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
on the 29th day of December
2020. This is to give notice to
all persons having claims
against the Estate of James
ary 27, 2021, offer for sale at
public outcry, and well within
legal hours (between the hours
of 11:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.) NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE
At the Main Front Door of the
County Courthouse of Lowndes
TRUSTEE’S SALE

Legal Notices
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
SOCCER COMPLEX EXERCISE
STATION TRAIL
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Sealed Bids for the construc-
tion of the Soccer Complex Ex-
ercise Station Trail will be re-
ceived by the Lowndes County
Board of Supervisors at the of-
fices of Lowndes County Board
of Supervisors located at 505
2nd Avenue North, Columbus,
MS 39701 until March 1, 2021
at 10:00 a.m., at which time
the Bids received will be pub-
licly opened and read. The
Project consists of construct-
ing Soccer Complex Exercise
Station Trail.
Bids will be received for a
single prime Contract. Bids
shall be on a lump sum and/or
unit price basis, with additive
and/or deductive alternate bid
items as indicated in the Bid
Form.
The Issuing Office for the Bid-
ding Documents is: Calvert-
Spradling Engineers, Inc.;
7085 Highway 45 North Altern-
ate, P.O. Drawer 1078, West
Point, MS 39773. Prospective
Bidders may examine the Bid-
ding Documents at the Issuing
Office on Mondays through Fri-
days during regular business
hours, and may obtain copies
of the Bidding Documents from
the Issuing Office as de-
scribed below.
Printed copies of the Bidding
Documents may be obtained
from the Issuing Office, during
the hours indicated above,
upon payment of a non-refund-
able deposit of $150.00 for
each set. Checks for Bidding
Documents shall be payable to
Calvert-Spradling Engineers,
Inc. Upon request and receipt
of the document deposit indic-
ated above plus a non-refund-
able shipping charge, the Issu-
ing Office will transmit the Bid-
ding Documents via delivery
service. The shipping charge
amount will depend on the
shipping method selected by
the prospective Bidder. The
date that the Bidding Docu-
ments are transmitted by the
Issuing Office will be con-
sidered the Bidder’s date of re-
publication date of this Notice
to Creditors. A failure to so Pro-
bate and Register said claim
will forever bar the same.
This the 18th day of January
2021.
/s/ Pamela Ann Simpson, Ex-
ecutrix
PUBLISH: 1/20, 1/27 &
2/3/2021
David Roth, Deceased, to Pro-
bate and Register their claims
with the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
within ninety (90) days from the
first publication date of this No-
tice to Creditors. A failure to so Beginning at a point on the
Probate and Register their
claims will forever bar them.
This the 4th day of January,
2021.
/s/ Michael Roth
MICHAEL ROTH, Administrator
PUBLISH: 1/13, 1/20 &
1/27/2021
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF KENNETH R. AUSTIN,
DECEASED
PETITIONER, PEGGY AUSTIN
GREENE
No: 2020-160-RPF
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters of Administration hav-
ing been granted on the 5th
day of January, 2021 by the
Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi to the un-
dersigned upon the Estate of
Kenneth R. Austin, deceased,
notice is hereby given to all
persons having claims against
said estate to present the
same to the Clerk of said Court
for probate and registration ac-
cording to law within ninety
(90) days from the first date of this the 30th day of December, best bidder for cash or certi-
publication of this notice or
they will forever be barred.
This the 6th day of January,
2021.
/s/ Peggy Austin Greene
PEGGY AUSTIN GREENE
ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ES-
TATE OF KENNETH R. AUSTIN,
(D)
PUBLISH: 1/13, 1/20 &
1/27/2021
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
CAUSE NO.: 20-247-F
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
LOWNDES COUNTY
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the TATE CLOSING SERVICES INC, DISTANCE OF 132.8 FEET;
undersigned upon the estate of as Trustee, for REVERSE
TEZZIE REED, deceased, by the MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.,
Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, on the
County, Mississippi, to the STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
highest and best bidder for COUNTY OF LOWNDES
cash, the following described
property situated in Lowndes WHEREAS, default has oc-
County, Mississippi, to wit: curred in the performance of
the covenants, terms and con-
ditions of a Deed of Trust
East line of Highway No. 12 at dated May 16, 2013, ex-
a point of intersection of said ecuted by PAUL N. STEWART,
East line and the North line of conveying certain real property
the South half (S½) of the therein described to REAL ES-
Southwest Quarter of fraction- TATE CLOSING SERVICES INC,
al Section 6, in Township 16, as Trustee, for REVERSE
Range 16 West; thence South MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.,
along the East line of said Original Beneficiary, to secure
Highway No. 12, a distance of the indebtedness therein de-
100 yards; thence East 110 scribed, as same appears of
yards; thence North parallel to record in the office of the Chan-
the East line of said Highway cery Clerk of Lowndes County,
No.12 a distance of 100 yards; Mississippi filed and recorded
thence West along the South May 22, 2013, in Deed Book
line of said Highway No.12 a 2013, Page 14797 ; and
distance of 110 yards to the
POINT OF BEGINNING; being WHEREAS, the beneficial in-
two acres, more or less, and ly- terest of said Deed of Trust
ing and being in the South Half was transferred and assigned
of the Southwest Quarter of to Reverse Mortgage Solutions,
fractional Section 6, Township Inc.; and
16, Range 16 West, Lowndes
County, Mississippi. WHEREAS, Rubin Lublin, LLC
has been appointed as Substi-
Being the same property con- tute Trustee; and
veyed to the Grantor herein by
L. H. Atkins, Jr., by that certain NOW, THEREFORE, the holder
Warranty Deed dated October of said Deed of Trust, having
24, 1961, on file and of re- requested the undersigned so
cord in the office of the Chan- to do, as Substitute Trustee or
cery Clerk of Lowndes County, his duly appointed agent, by vir-
Mississippi, in Land Deed Book tue of the power, duty and au-
327, at Page 13, of the land thority vested and imposed
records of Lowndes County, upon said Substitute Trustee
Mississippi. shall, on February 17, 2021
within the lawful hours of sale
I will convey only such title as between 11:00AM and 4:00PM
is vested in me as Trustee. at the southeast front door of
Courthouse proceed to sell at
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on public outcry to the highest and
2020. fied funds ONLY, the following
described property situated in
J. DOUGLAS DALRYMPLE, Lowndes County, Mississippi,
Trustee to wit:
Publication Dates: January 6, BEGINNING AT THE SOUTHW-
2021, January 13, 2021, and EST CORNER OF SECTION 31,
January 20, 2021 TOWNSHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE
17 WEST, LOWNDES COUNTY,
MISSISSIPPI; THENCE NORTH
NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE 1 DEGREE 20 MINUTES WEST
TRUSTEE’S SALE 561 FEET; THENCE NORTH 1
DEGREE 00 MINUTES WEST A
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI DISTANCE OF 466 FEET TO
COUNTY OF LOWNDES THE INITIAL POINT OF BEGIN-
NING OF THE PROPERTY
WHEREAS, default has oc- HEREIN DESCRIBED; THENCE
curred in the performance of CONTINUE NORTH 1 DEGREE
the covenants, terms and con- 00 MINUTES WEST A DIS-
ditions of a Deed of Trust TANCE OF 298 FEET; THENCE
dated May 16, 2013, ex- NORTH 3 DEGREES 26
ecuted by PAUL N. STEWART, MINUTES EAST A DISTANCE OF
conveying certain real property 240 FEET; THENCE NORTH 23
therein described to REAL ES- DEGREES 32 MINUTES EAST A
THENCE SOUTH 89 DEGREES
4 MINUTES EAST A DISTANCE
Original Beneficiary, to secure Legal
OF NoticesFEET; THENCE
435.3 Apts For Rent: West

Employment
ceipt of the Bidding Docu- the indebtedness therein de- SOUTH 3 DEGREES 26
29th day of December, A.D.,

VIP
ments. Partial sets of Bidding scribed, as same appears of MINUTES WEST A DISTANCE
2020. This is to give notice to record in the office of the Chan- OF 200 FEET; THENCE NORTH
Documents will not be avail- all persons having claims
able from the Issuing Office. cery Clerk of Lowndes County, 87 DEGREES 44 MINUTES

Neither Owner nor Engineer will
be responsible for full or par-
tial sets of Bidding Documents,
including Addenda if any, ob-
tained from sources other than
the Issuing Office.
Official bid documents can be
downloaded from Central at
www.centralbidding.com. Elec-
tronic bids can be submitted at
www.centralbidding.com. For
any questions related to the
electronic bidding process,
please call Central Bidding at
225-810-4814.
Bid security shall be furnished
in accordance with the Instruc-
tions to Bidders.
Sponsor: Lowndes County
Board of Supervisors
By: Trip Hairston
Title: President
Date: January 15, 2021
Publish: January 20, 2021
January 27, 2021
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF ELLEN JEAN
SIMPSON, DECEASED
PAMELA ANN SIMPSON, EXEC-
UTRIX
CAUSE NO.: 2021-0005-RPF
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
Ellen Jean Simpson, deceased,
by the Chancery Court of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
on the 15th day of January
2021. This is to give notice to
all persons having claims
against said estate to Probate
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF JAMES DAVID ROTH,
DECEASED
CAUSE NO.: 20-0249-JNS
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
Letters of Administration have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
James David Roth, Deceased,
by the Chancery Court of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
Rentals
against said estate to Probate Mississippi filed and recorded
and Register same with the May 22, 2013, in Deed Book
WEST A DISTANCE OF 10 FEET;
THENCE SOUTH 00 DEGREES
Call us: 662-328-2424
Chancery Clerk of Lowndes
2013, Page 14797 ; and 14 MINUTES EAST A DIS-
County, Mississippi, within
ninety (90) days from this date. WHEREAS, the beneficial in-
TANCE OF 476 FEET; THENCE General Help Wanted Apartments & Houses
NORTH 87 DEGREES 44
A failure to so Probate and Re- terest of said Deed of Trust
gister said claim will forever was transferred and assigned
MINUTES WEST A DISTANCE
OF 478 FEET TO THE INITIAL
PROGRESSIVE HEATING &
COOLING, INC. is seeking
1 Bedrooms
2 Bedroooms
bar the same. to Reverse Mortgage Solutions, POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE
duct work installers. Applic-
Inc.; and PROPERTY HEREIN DE-
This the 4th day of January,
2021. WHEREAS, Rubin Lublin, LLC
SCRIBED AND CONTAINING
7.31 ACRES, MORE OR LESS,
ant must have verifiable ex-
perience and good work ref- 3 Bedrooms
has been appointed as Substi- LYING AND BEING SITUATED IN erences. Apply at: 10155
/s/ DONALD WAYNE REED tute Trustee; and THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF Furnished & Unfurnished
DONALD WAYNE REED Darracott Access Road,
SECTION 31, TOWNSHIP 18
NOW, THEREFORE, the holder SOUTH, RANGE 17 WEST,
Aberdeen, MS 39730
Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm
1, 2, & 3 Baths
Lease, Deposit
PUBLISH: 1/6, 1/13 & of said Deed of Trust, having LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
1/20/2021 (662)369-3694 or
requested the undersigned so SIPPI.
to do, as Substitute Trustee or (662)328-1080 & Credit Check
TRUSTEE’S NOTICE OF SALE his duly appointed agent, by vir- PROPERTY ADDRESS: The
tue of the power, duty and au- street address of the property viceinvestments.com
WHEREAS on September 2,
2019, AELISHIA HORN RYAN,
BILLIE SPEARS, JR., EMMITT
thority vested and imposed
upon said Substitute Trustee
shall, on February 17, 2021
is believed to be 119 SONIA
DRIVE, COLUMBUS, MS
39702. In the event of any dis-
327-8555
JONES, JR., AND SANDRA within the lawful hours of sale crepancy between this street LET YOUR FINGERS Apts For Rent: Other
JONES executed a land Deed between 11:00AM and 4:00PM address and the legal descrip-
of Trust to J. Douglas at the southeast front door of tion of the property, the legal DO THE WALKING.
Dalrymple, Trustee, for the be- Courthouse proceed to sell at
nefit of PATSY MIMS WALLACE public outcry to the highest and
description shall control.
Find your dream job
AND JEANNE FERGUSON, which
Deed of Trust is recorded in
best bidder for cash or certi-
fied funds ONLY, the following
Title to the above described
property is believed to be good,
in the classifieds!
Trust Deed Book 2019 at Page described property situated in but I will convey only such title
21173 in the office of the Lowndes County, Mississippi, as is vested in me as Substi-
Chancery Clerk of Lowndes to wit: tute Trustee.
County, Mississippi.
BEGINNING AT THE SOUTHW- THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPT-
WHEREAS, default having been EST CORNER OF SECTION 31,
made in the terms and condi-
tions of said Land Deed of
ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY
TOWNSHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL
17 WEST, LOWNDES COUNTY, BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
Rentals
Trust and the entire debt se- MISSISSIPPI; THENCE NORTH
cured thereby having been de- 1 DEGREE 20 MINUTES WEST Rubin Lublin, LLC Ads starting at $25
clared to be due and payable in 561 FEET; THENCE NORTH 1 428 North Lamar Blvd, Suite
accordance with the terms DEGREE 00 MINUTES WEST A 107 Apts For Rent: North
thereof and the legal holder of DISTANCE OF 466 FEET TO Oxford, MS 38655
said indebtedness having re- THE INITIAL POINT OF BEGIN- rlselaw.com/property-listing
quested the undersigned Trust- NING OF THE PROPERTY Tel: (877) 813-0992 FOX RUN APARTMENTS
ee to execute the trust and sell HEREIN DESCRIBED; THENCE Fax: (470) 508-9401 1 & 2 BR near hospital.
said land and property in ac- CONTINUE NORTH 1 DEGREE $595−$645 monthly.
cordance with the terms of said 00 MINUTES WEST A DIS- PUBLISH: 01/20/2021, Military discount, pet area,
Land Deed of Trust for the pur- TANCE OF 298 FEET; THENCE 01/27/2021, 02/03/2021, pet friendly, and furnished
pose of raising the sums due NORTH 3 DEGREES 26 02/10/2021 corporate apts.
thereunder, together with attor- MINUTES EAST A DISTANCE OF 24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL
ney’s fees, trustee’s fees, and 240 FEET; THENCE NORTH 23 GYM. ON SITE SECURITY.
expense of sale; DEGREES 32 MINUTES EAST A All notices must be ON SITE MAINTENANCE.
DISTANCE OF 132.8 FEET; Sell idle items
NOW, THEREFORE, I, J. THENCE SOUTH 89 DEGREES emailed to ON SITE MANAGEMENT.
Douglas Dalrymple, Trustee in 4 MINUTES EAST A DISTANCE classifieds@ 24−HOUR CAMERA with a quick action
said Deed of Trust will on Janu- OF 435.3 FEET; THENCE
cdispatch.com.
SURVEILLANCE. Benji & classified ad.
ary 27, 2021, offer for sale at SOUTH 3 DEGREES 26 Ashleigh, 662−386−4446.
public outcry, and well within MINUTES WEST A DISTANCE

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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-
bate and Register said claim
will forever bar the same.
This the 18th day of January
2021.
/s/ Pamela Ann Simpson, Ex-
on the 29th day of December
2020. This is to give notice to
all persons having claims
against the Estate of James
David Roth, Deceased, to Pro-
bate and Register their claims
with the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
within ninety (90) days from the
first publication date of this No-
tice to Creditors. A failure to so
Probate and Register their
claims will forever bar them.
legal hours (between the hours OF 200 FEET; THENCE NORTH
of 11:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.) 87 DEGREES 44 MINUTES
At the Main Front Door of the WEST A DISTANCE OF 10 FEET;
County Courthouse of Lowndes THENCE SOUTH 00 DEGREES
County, Mississippi, to the 14 MINUTES EAST A DIS-
highest and best bidder for TANCE OF 476 FEET; THENCE
cash, the following described NORTH 87 DEGREES 44
property situated in Lowndes MINUTES WEST A DISTANCE
County, Mississippi, to wit: OF 478 FEET TO THE INITIAL
POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE
Beginning at a point on the PROPERTY HEREIN DE-
East line of Highway No. 12 at SCRIBED AND CONTAINING
a point of intersection of said 7.31 ACRES, MORE OR LESS,

The best place for personalized

ecutrix East line and the North line of LYING AND BEING SITUATED IN
This the 4th day of January, the South half (S½) of the THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF
PUBLISH: 1/20, 1/27 & 2021. Southwest Quarter of fraction- SECTION 31, TOWNSHIP 18
2/3/2021 al Section 6, in Township 16, SOUTH, RANGE 17 WEST,

advertising in your community.

/s/ Michael Roth
MICHAEL ROTH, Administrator
PUBLISH: 1/13, 1/20 &
1/27/2021
Range 16 West; thence South LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
along the East line of said SIPPI.
Highway No. 12, a distance of
100 yards; thence East 110 PROPERTY ADDRESS: The
yards; thence North parallel to street address of the property
the East line of said Highway is believed to be 119 SONIA
ads.cdispatch.com
No.12 a distance of 100 yards; DRIVE, COLUMBUS, MS
thence West along the South
line of said Highway No.12 a
39702. In the event of any dis-
crepancy between this street
distance of 110 yards to the
POINT OF BEGINNING; being
address and the legal descrip-
tion of the property, the legal ADS STARTING AT

$12
CUSTOMIZE YOUR AD:
two acres, more or less, and ly- description shall control.
ing and being in the South Half
of the Southwest Quarter of Title to the above described
fractional Section 6, Township property is believed to be good,

Featured ads $5 Sponsored ads $3

16, Range 16 West, Lowndes but I will convey only such title
County, Mississippi. as is vested in me as Substi-
tute Trustee.
Being the same property con-
Premium placement
veyed to the Grantor herein by THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPT-
L. H. Atkins, Jr., by that certain ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY
Preferred placement in search
on classifieds home page.
Warranty Deed dated October
24, 1961, on file and of re-
INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL
BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
results and highlighted online.

Highlight $3
cord in the office of the Chan-
cery Clerk of Lowndes County, Rubin Lublin, LLC
Mississippi, in Land Deed Book 428 North Lamar Blvd, Suite
327, at Page 13, of the land 107
Graphic $10.50
Highlight your ad
records of Lowndes County,
Mississippi.
Oxford, MS 38655
rlselaw.com/property-listingEnhance your ad with
with a dash of color.
I will convey only such title as
Tel: (877) 813-0992
Fax: (470) 508-9401 an attention getter.
is vested in me as Trustee.
PUBLISH: 01/20/2021,
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE on 01/27/2021, 02/03/2021,
this the 30th day of December, 02/10/2021
2020.
8B Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Apts For Rent: Other Houses For Sale: Other

COLEMAN Vehicles ON THE WEB

RENTALS
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
Ads starting at $12 Visit www.cdispatch.com
1 BEDROOM Campers & RVs for a printable copy of
2 BEDROOMS these puzzles.
3 BEDROOMS
LEASE,
© The Dispatch

DEPOSIT
AND
CREDIT CHECK

662-329-2323 2003 Coachman 31ft 5th

Wheel RV. Great shape,
ready to hit the road or for
2411 HWY 45 N tiny home life. Lots of
room, 2 pullouts, awning
COLUMBUS, MS for patio. Will consider all
serious offers, no financing
Houses For Rent: North $10,000. 601−310−3528

3BR/1.5BA, clean, modern

appliances, dishwasher,
central AC&heat; carport,
wash/dry hookup, fenced
back yard, 3216 Military Rd
$800+dep. 574−8559
Houses For Rent: Caledonia

3BR/1.5BA, small house

for small family. NO DOGS.
NO HUD. Caledonia School Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER

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Old Country Store. Sudoku is a number- Yesterday’s answer
Available 1/5/21. $775/ placing puzzle based on
mo + $775 dep. 662−245 Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 1 7 6 4 2 3 8 5 9
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given numbers.puzzleThe object 5 8 3 9 6 7 4 1 2

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

Mobile Homes for Rent based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 4 2 9 8 5 1 3 6 7
grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 9 4 1 3 8 5 2 7 6
3BR/2BA MH in New Hope.
Houses For Sale: East Farm Equipment & Supplies given
so thatnumbers.
each row, each The 3 6 2 1 7 9 5 8 4
$650 dep + $650/mo. object
column and each 3x3 the
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No pets, quiet area. Leave
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voicemail with full name & FSBO: 4BR/2BA. New roof, TRAILER 6’X10’ w/ loading
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8 1 5 7 9 4 6 2 3
message, 205−712−6697. new paint, fenced ramp, 2’ sides, like new. the empty spaces so
backyard, driveway leads Bought in 2020, used only once. The difficulty 6 3 4 5 1 2 7 9 8
that each row, each
behind house. $128,000. locally, $1,100. level increases from
RENT A CAMPER! 662−889−1443. John Deere D110 Lawn column and each 2 9 7 6 3 8 1 4 5
CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL! Tractor: 42" cut, 161 hrs, Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 1/19

Utilities & cable included, Lots & Acreage

from $145/wk − $535/mo
$600. 662−368−6779. the same number only once. The difficulty level
Columbus & County School 1.75 ACRE LOTS: Good/ General Merchandise increases from Monday to Sunday.
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$499/mo. Eaton Land, TOOLS: Sander, router,
Mobile Home Spaces 662−361−7711. bench press, saber saw.
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For Rent: LOTS FOR SALE. Over 3
Offices 4−Private +
Reception Area with
acre lot in prestigious
Callaway Estates. Only 2
ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR
and carrier for car/truck,
Five Questions:
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paved parking. Please text $350. 662−368−6779.
covenants apply. $35,000.
Your Name & Email for Call Long & Long Real
1 Adele
more details. $1,800/mo Sporting Goods
Estate, 662−328−0770
to rent. 720−635−5696. for plat and restrictions. ED SANDERS GUNSMITH
Open for season!
Tue−Fri: 9−5 & Sat: 9−12
Real Estate Merchandise Over 50 years experience!
Repairs, cleaning, refin−
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2 Girl Scouts
Ads starting at $25 Ads starting at $12
zeroed, handmade knives.

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Located: Hwy 45 Alt, North
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Farms & Timberland Appliances Yokahama Blvd, 8mi & turn
left on Darracott Rd, will
Appliances: New in box see sign, 2.5mi ahead
4 Fish
203 ACRES
PRIME TIMBERLAND Electrolux front load washer shop on left.
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Exc deer, turkey hunting oven two years old $300.
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Good Investment Read local.
5 Northwestern
(615)719−8329 Electrolux washer $250.
662−435−7232 cdispatch.com

ACROSS
1 Game outing
7 Whole lot
11 Old suppliers
12 Valentine
word
13 Lease signer
14 Was in debt
15 Fall guy
17 Upper limits
20 Hindu force
23 In the past
24 Quick looks
26 Small number
of
27 “The Rise
of Skywalker”
heroine DOWN loyal supporters
28 Spots on TV 1 Plop down 21 Sorceress of
29 Rivals 2 Untouched myth
31 Take in serve 22 Useful skill
32 Satchel part 3 Marsh 24 Clutches
33 Tidy 4 Accumulate 25 Director
34 Small restau- 5 Monthly bill Spike
rant 6 Wild about 30 Horse with no

Service Directory
37 Washday 7 Catchphrase wins
amount 8 Like most of 33 Writer’s work
39 Attack these letters 35 Turn to slush
43 Different 9 Planning time 36 Dance party
44 Pay back 10 Tie the knot 37 Charter
45 Prom attend- 16 Approves 38 Bullring cheer
Promote your small business starting at only $25 ee 17 Alfresco 40 Conclusion
Air Cond & Heating General Services General Services Painting & Papering 46 Joined eateries 41 Wisdom
together 18 Deal maker bringer
RAPID TEMP
Heating & cooling.
A & T TREE SERVICES
Bucket truck & stump BANKRUPTCY SULLIVAN’S PAINT
SERVICE
19 Poltician’s 42 TV’s Danson
Home & RV. removal. Free est. CHAPTER 7 Special Prices.
Service & install. Serving Columbus BANKRUPTCY Interior & Exterior Painting.
Free estimates. since 1987. Senior $545 plus Filing Fee 662−435−6528
Call 602−736−4880. citizen disc. Call Alvin @
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Carpet & Flooring "We’ll go out on a limb for BANKRUPTCY
you!" All Attorney Fees Through The Plan I am a Caregiver for the

GRAVEL, $360 PER LOAD.

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Backhoe & Dozer work.
Mobile Home Pads &
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662−497−1388
NEWELL’S PLUMBING &
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662−722−1758 insulation, painting, demo−
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104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville offered. Call or leave msg,
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Lawn Care / Landscaping
JESSE & BEVERLY’S
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Bush Hogging
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business in the

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