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Tuesday | March 24, 2020

Area authorities clarify coronavirus restrictions

Measures banning gatherings, closing
some businesses cause confusion
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com
The day the Columbus City
Council ordered a shutdown of
certain businesses to help curb
the spread of COVID-19 corona-
virus, a police officer arrived at
Mike’s Package Store on High-
way 45 North and told owner
James Ervin he had to close
the store by 5 p.m. and remain
closed until further notice.
The officer had a copy of the
council’s resolution, which man-
dated the closings of businesses
like bars and nightclubs.
But after making a few phone
calls to other business owners,
Ervin learned liquor stores were
not on the list of businesses that
had to close.
“I talked to
store. I’ve got three employees.
All the other liquor stores said
the council imposed.
The resolution bans all gath-
other people and
they said, ‘no, if
they’re staying open.”
Columbus Police Chief Fred
erings of more than 10 people,
including at places of worship,
you had less than Shelton said the officer had and enacts a curfew from 10
10 employees and made a mistake and CPD’s com- p.m.-6 a.m. except for essential
it was not a gath- mand staff have implemented travel by those 18 years and old-
er. It mandates businesses with
ering place or training to make sure police un-
Shelton
anything that was derstand the new restrictions. more than 10 employees must
mentioned, that we could stay But citizens have been hav- follow social distancing guide-
open,’” Ervin said. “What I was ing trouble too. Shelton said he lines from the Centers for Dis-
told was that convenience stores received calls all weekend from ease Control and Prevention and
were staying open. … We’re basi- city residents who wanted to Mississippi State Department of
cally the same as a convenience know what they can and cannot Health. Restaurants must sus-
store. We’re not a big grocery do under the new regulations See RESTRICTIONS, 6A

BUSINESSES AT A STANDSTILL Supes enact

curfew, other
restrictions
in Lowndes
County ordinance
largely matches city’s
Saturday action
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com

Lowndes County
Board of Supervisors
took action Monday
to limit the spread
of COVID-19 coro-
navirus by institut-
ing a curfew, closing
non-essential busi- Sanders
nesses in the county
and directing restaurants to close
their dining rooms to customers.
At a special-call meeting Mon-
day afternoon, the board unani-
mously approved an ordinance in-
stituting those and other changes
effective at 5 p.m. today. By doing
so, Lowndes County followed suit
with Columbus City Council, which
implemented nearly all the same re-
strictions within the city limits on
Jennifer Mosbrucker/Special to The Dispatch Saturday.
The Princess restaurant and bar downtown is one of many Columbus businesses now shuttered due to the COVID-19 coro- “I think we need to be proactive
navirus outbreak. Some closed voluntarily, while others waited for a city order that closed certain establishments, including about this,” board president Harry
bars and nightclubs, until further notice. The marquee in front of The Princess reads, “This too shall pass.” Sanders said at the meeting.
See SUPES, 6A

Lowndes County administrator COVID-19 PUBLIC NOTICES

Virus testing

chooses to resign as of Sept. 30

Supervisors cancel Wednesday meeting
to discuss action; Brooks insists
Billingsley is being ‘forced out’
BY YUE STELLA YU
syu@cdispatch.com
Lowndes County Admin-
istrator Ralph Billingsley has
opted to leave his position ef-
fective Sept. 30.
Billingsley said he sub-
mitted a retirement letter to
the county board of super-
visors Monday evening. His
departure date will coincide
with the end of Fiscal Year
2020.
Officials at Baptist Memorial Hospi-
tal-Golden Triangle and OCH Regional
Medical Facility urge those with COVID-19
symptoms or who want testing to call
their health care provider for instructions.
“I’m look-
ing forward to
special-call meeting set for
Wednesday where supervi-
They ask those with symptoms not to visit
ERs or urgent care facilities in person
it,” Billingsley sors were supposed to dis- because that risks spreading the virus to
others.
told The Dis- cuss the personnel matter
patch. was canceled this morning.
Hospitals change visiting policies
The deci- Billingsley did not to com-
sion came days ment on why he submitted Both Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden
Triangle in Columbus and OCH Regional
after District Billingsley the letter or if he was forced
Medical Center in Starkville announced
5 Supervisor out.
changes to their visitation policies
Leroy Brooks Brooks insists Billingsley Monday, limiting hours and access to
told The Dispatch that sev- submitted his resignation some entrances and canceling scheduled
eral supervisors were trying under pressure. events and group meetings. For details
to force Billingsley out. A See BILLINGSLEY, 3A See NOTICES, 3A

WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS A NOTE LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

1 What Tennessee music fest sports a ON NEWS MEETINGS
playful name that means “best in the street” ■ Many April 3: Starkville
in Creole slang? COVID-19 corona- Board of Aldermen
2 In which post-apocalyptic 2009 film does virus related sto- work session, 10
Woody Harrelson play a man on a mission to ries are changing a.m., City Hall
find a Twinkie? extremely quick- April 6: Oktibbeha
3 What chief medical correspondent on CNN
said no to being the Surgeon General of the ly, sometimes County Board of Su-
Day Ivy as soon as we pervisors meeting,
United States in 2009?
Fifth grade, Annunciation publish a print Chancery Court-
4 On which day of the week is the most visit-

80 Low 59
ed museum in the world, the Louvre, closed? edition of the house, 9 a.m.
High 5 Which city is home base for the boisterous paper. We want April 7: Starkville
Cloudy, chance t-storms
brother-in-law on “Tanked,” the owners of the to assure our Board of Aldermen
largest aquarium manufacturing plant in the readers that we meeting, 5:30 p.m.,
Full forecast on nation?
page 3A. Answers, 6B are making every City Hall
attempt to print April 14:
accurate, timely Starkville-Oktibbeha
news. Online sto- Consolidated School
INSIDE ries are updated District Board of
Classifieds 6B Dear Abby 3B throughout the Trustees meeting, 6
Comics 3B Obituaries 4B day at cdispatch. Niles Honnoll of Columbus does organ p.m., 401 Greens-
Crossword 2B Opinions 4A com. and keyboard work as an occupation. boro St.

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Trump says he intends to reopen

country in weeks, not months
Health experts: Unless Americans continue
to dramatically limit social interaction,
the number of coronavirus infections will
overwhelm the health care system
BY JILL COLVIN, JOSH BOAK
AND RICARDO ALONSO-
ZALDIVAR
The Associated Press
WA S H I N G -
TON — As cases
of coronavirus
continue to rise,
President Don-
ald Trump said
Monday that he
wants to reopen
Trump
the country for
business in weeks, not months,
as he claimed, without evidence,
that continued closures could
result in more deaths than the
pandemic itself.
“We can’t have the cure be
worse than the problem,” Trump
told reporters at a briefing, echo-
ing a midnight Sunday tweet.
“We have to open our country
because that causes problems
that, in my opinion, could be far
bigger problems.”
Health experts have made
clear that unless Americans
continue to dramatically limit
social interaction — staying
home from work and isolating
themselves — the number of
infections will overwhelm the
health care system, as it has in
parts of Italy, leading to many
more deaths. While the worst
outbreaks are concentrated in
certain parts of the country,
such as New York, experts warn
that the highly infectious dis-
ease is certain to spread.
But with the economic im-
pact now snapping into focus
and millions out of work, busi-
nesses shuttered and the mar-
kets in free fall — all undermin-
ing Trump’s reelection message
— the chorus of backlash is
growing louder, with Trump ap-
pearing to side with them.
“Life is fragile and econo-
mies are fragile,” Trump said,
insisting he could protect both.
While he acknowledged
there were trade-offs — “there’s
no question about that” — he
claimed that, if closures stretch
on for months, there would be
“probably more death from that
than anything that we’re talking
about with respect to the virus.”
The comments were further
evidence that Trump has grown
impatient with the pandemic,
even before it has reached its ex-
Negotiators close on a nearly $2T virus aid package
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Mnuchin told reporters after exiting Schumer’s
office.
WASHINGTON — Top congressional and
White House officials emerged from grueling
“The president is giving us direction,” Mnuh-
cin said. “The president would like to have a
negotiations at the Capitol over the nearly $2 deal, and he’s hopeful we can conclude this.”
trillion coronavirus rescue package saying they Moments later, Schumer agreed that a deal
expected to reach a deal Tuesday.
was almost within reach. “That’s the expecta-
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and
tion — that we finish it tomorrow and hopefully
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said
they had spoken by phone with President Don- vote on it tomorrow evening,” he said.
The long evening of shuttle negotiations
ald Trump during the long night of negotiations.
While the two sides have resolved many issues came after a long day trying to close the deal.
in the sweeping package, some remain. The massive package is a far-reaching effort
At midnight Monday, they emerged sepa- to prop up the U.S. economy, help American
rately to say talks would continue into the night. households and bolster the health care system
“We look forward to having a deal tomorrow,” amid the growing crisis.
pected peak. In recent days, ten- It’s an opinion that has been total economic shutdown will
sions have been rising between echoed by others in the White kill people,” he said, pointing to
those who argue the country House, some Republicans in growing poverty and despair.
needs to get back up and run- Congress and on Fox, where Trump, who for the last two
ning to prevent a deep economic host Steve Hilton delivered a weeks has largely allowed doc-
depression, and medical experts monologue Sunday night that tors to lead the administration’s
who warn that, unless more ex- appeared to have, at least par- response, already seemed to be
treme action is taken, the hu- tially, inspired Trump’s tweet. shifting in that direction.
man cost will be catastrophic. “You know that famous “I’m not looking at months, I
“We can’t shut in the econo- phrase, the cure is worse than can tell you right now,” Trump
my. The economic cost to indi- the disease? That is exactly said Monday, when asked about
viduals is just too great,” Larry the territory we’re hurtling to- easing federal recommenda-
Kudlow, Trump’s top economic wards,” Hilton told his viewers, tions urging Americans to limit
adviser, said in an interview describing the economic, social social contact and stay home.
Monday on Fox News Channel. and human impact of the shut- He said states with large case
“The president is right. The down as an “even bigger crisis” loads could continue to enforce
cure can’t be worse than the dis- than the virus. stricter measures, while other
ease, and we’re going to have to “You think it’s just the coro- parts of the country return to
make some difficult trade-offs.” navirus that kills people? This work.

Coronavirus suddenly upends campaign themes for both parties

‘We’re in the middle of a hurricane.
We don’t know all the political
consequences.’
Republican consultant Matt Mackowiak
BY ALAN FRAM
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — people’s health care, but
The coronavirus pan-
demic and the nation’s
crashing economy are
scrambling the themes
both major political par-
ties thought would carry
them to victory in No-
vember for control of the
White House and Con-
gress.
Shattered, certainly
for now, is President Don-
ald Trump’s ability to tout
a brawny economy and re-
cord stock market prices
as the predicate for his re-
election. The GOP could
face a hard time calling
Democratic candidates
socialists with a straight
face as Congress works
on a bipartisan, near $2
trillion rescue package
that would essentially
have government drive
the economy indefinitely.
Democrats say they’re
the party that will protect
it’s unclear that would
be heard by people fo-
cused mostly on when
life will return to normal.
And by pounding away
at Trump’s competence,
they’d risk alienating vot-
ers who, during a stress-
ful time, want policymak-
ers to produce solutions,
not partisan wrangling.
“We’re in the middle
of a hurricane. We don’t
know all the political
consequences. We don’t
know if it’s a Cat 1 or a Cat
5,” said GOP consultant
Matt Mackowiak, refer-
ring to categories used
to express the strength of
storms.
Trump has seized pub-
lic attention with almost
daily briefings about the
government’s response
to the pandemic. That’s
left former Vice Presi-
and Wisconsin. The spot
plays Trump’s own words,
A LEADER WE CAN
TRUST” is displayed
“The message is, ‘We
all need to come togeth-
dent Joe Biden, the likely
Democratic presidential
including, “We have it to-
tally under control,” as
against a black back-
ground.
er, support the president
and vice president and
nominee, and his party’s a bar graph displays the
skyrocketing number of
GOP operatives say
Republican candidates
do all we can to fight the
virus,’” Republican strat-
congressional candidates
searching for ways to coronavirus cases. must emphasize rallying egist John Feehery said.
break into the news cycle. The spot ends as behind the effort to battle “Throw everything else
Clearly, campaign “AMERICA NEEDS the twin crises. out the window.”
themes are changing.
Five political adver-
tisers had run ads men-
tioning the coronavirus
through last week, ac-
cording to Advertising
Analytics, a firm that
tracks ad data. That in-
cluded one in Florida, in
Spanish, by Biden, and
two by Sen. Susan Col-
lins, R-Maine.
“In times like this,
we must work together,”
Collins, who faces a com-
petitive November reelec-
tion in a state that prizes
independence, tells the
camera.
More are coming.
Priorities USA, the
largest outside Demo-
cratic political organi-
zation, planned to start
ads Tuesday in election
battlegrounds Florida,
Michigan, Pennsylvania

Fed makes strongest bid yet

to protect firms and governments
BY CHRISTOPHER
RUGABER
AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON — fort to support the flow of
The Federal Reserve is
unleashing its boldest ef-
fort yet to protect the U.S.
economy from the coro-
navirus by helping com-
panies and governments
pay their bills and survive
a devastating crisis.
With lending in Trea-
sury and mortgage mar-
kets threatening to shut
down, the Fed announced
an aggressive set of pro-
grams Monday to try to
smooth out those mar-
kets. To do so, it commit-
ted to buy as much gov-
ernment-backed debt as it
deems necessary. And for
the first time ever, the Fed
said it plans to buy corpo-
rate debt, too.
Its intervention is in-
tended to ensure that
households, companies,
banks and governments
can get the loans they
need at a time when their
own revenue is fast drying
up as the economy stalls.
The Fed’s all-out ef-
credit through an econ-
omy ravaged by the viral
outbreak has now gone
beyond even the extraor-
dinary drive it made to
rescue the economy from
the 2008 financial crisis.
“The coronavirus pan-
demic is causing tremen-
dous hardship across the
United States and around
the world,” the Fed said
in a statement. “Aggres-
sive efforts must be tak-
en across the public and
private sectors to limit
the losses to jobs and in-
comes and to promote a
swift recovery once the
disruptions abate.”
The announcement ini-
tially lifted stocks in ear-
ly trading. But rancorous
talks in Congress over a
$2 trillion rescue pack-
age — and uncertainty
over when any agreement
might be reached — de-
pressed shares about 2.5
percent in volatile midday
trading. The yield on the
10-year Treasury bond
fell, a sign that more in-
vestors are willing to pur-
chase the securities.
With its new programs,
the Fed, led by Chair Je-
rome Powell, is trying to
both stabilize the econ-
omy and allay panic in
financial markets. As the
need for cash has esca-
lated among many corpo-
rations and city and state
governments, large busi-
nesses have been drawing
as much as they can on
their existing borrowing
relationships with banks.
The intensifying need
for money means that
banks and other inves-
tors are seeking to rapidly
unload Treasuries, short-
term corporate debt, mu-
nicipal bonds and other
securities.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020 3A

Reeves: Closing businesses Man pleads to double murder

amid virus could do harm
‘We don’t want to make
any decisions that will
ultimately do more
ting groceries or prescriptions.
“Mayors and local leaders are
putting in place differing curfews
and orders. This patchwork system
is creating public confusion that
will result in panic,” Democratic
after jurors hear recording
of him offering witness money
Shundray Johnson will spend life
sissippi are now providing coronavi-
rus testing to people with fever and in prison for the 2017 deaths
“severe cough or chest pain,” and
screening began Monday for people BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
to get appointments for a drive-thru
testing site that opens Tuesday on
ialtman@cdispatch.com

harm than good’
Gov. Tate Reeves
BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — Mis-
sissippi Gov. Tate
Reeves said Monday
that he is not order-
ing businesses to
close or people to
stay at home to try
to slow the spread of
the coronavirus, in Reeves
contrast to what several other gov-
ernors are doing.
Republican Reeves strongly sug-
gested that Mississippians follow
state Health Department recom-
mendations to wash their hands,
stay home if possible and keep
distance from others in places like
grocery stores. He said he is trying
to balance concerns about public
health and the economy.
“We don’t want to make any de-
cisions that will ultimately do more
harm than good,” Reeves said Mon-
day during a Facebook live session
in which he spent nearly an hour an-
swering questions from the public.
Reeves led a prayer session Sun-
day on Facebook and suggested
that people avoid gathering in large
groups. He faced intensifying criti-
cism Monday from some local offi-
cials and state lawmakers who said
he needs to issue a statewide order
for people to stay at home unless
they have essential jobs or are get-
state Rep. Jarvis Dortch wrote Mon-
day on Twitter.
Reeves last week ordered pub-
lic schools to remain closed until
at least mid-April. Some schools
are taking steps to help students
with distance learning. In the Jack-
son suburb of Clinton, teachers on
Monday distributed iPads. Some
parents wore masks or gloves when
they picked up the tablets.
Victor Lang, who works at a
glass company, picked up an iPad
for his daughter, who is in elemen-
tary school. He said their family
does not have its own computer or
iPad at home.
“This is a very big help,” Lang
said.
Cherye Graves, a fourth-grade
English teacher in Clinton, said
Monday that the school was a lone-
some place without children.
“The heart isn’t here,” Graves
said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to fin-
ish the school year with warm bod-
ies in the classroom.”
Reeves said Monday that day
care centers are among the busi-
nesses that remain open.
The Mississippi State Depart-
ment of Health on Monday report-
ed the state had 249 confirmed
cases of the coronavirus as of 6
p.m. Sunday. The department said
one Mississippi resident has died
of COVID-19; he was a Hancock
County resident who had underly-
ing medical conditions, and he died
last week in a Louisiana hospital.
Several medical facilities in Mis-
the Mississippi State Fairgrounds.
The health department said Bi-
loxi, Ocean Springs and Tupelo
each have two test sites open. The
other sites, as of Monday, were in
Bay St. Louis, Fulton, Gulfport,
Hattiesburg, Hurley, Jackson, Long
Beach, Pascagoula, Philadelphia,
Vancleave, Wiggins and Woolmar-
ket.
The vast majority of people in-
fected with the novel coronavirus
get only mild or moderate symp-
toms, such as fever and cough, and
recover in about two weeks. But
many will need hospitalization. Par-
ticularly vulnerable are older adults
and those with existing health prob-
lems who can develop severe com-
plications, including pneumonia.
The Mississippi health depart-
ment recommended last week that
bars and restaurants stop dine-in
services and only provide carry-out
orders of food.
Ocean Springs city officials on
Saturday adopted a proclamation
that “encourages all citizens to stay
home except for essential needs.”
The stay-at-home rule does not ap-
ply to people working for medical
facilities, grocery stores and utility
companies. The city told gyms, hair
salons and tattoo parlors to close.
Gulfport closed all of its city
buildings and facilities, including
parks, as of midnight Friday. A
statement from the city said many
people are adhering to suggestions
of social isolation, but some are “ir-
responsibly” ignoring them.
A Mantee man pleaded guilty to
two counts of murder in Clay Coun-
ty Circuit Court last week after a
witness told jurors he had offered
her $2,000 to change her testimony.
Shundray Johnson, 25, received
life sentences for each of the two
counts — the 2017 murders of
23-year-olds Kentario Boyd and Johnson
Kenya Campbell, both of Tupelo. 
According to both District Attorney Scott Co-
lom and Johnson’s attorney, Kevin Camp of Jack-
son, Johnson called one of the witnesses from the
Clay County Jail on March 16 and offered her the
money to change her testimony. The conversation
was recorded.
Camp said the Johnson “shot himself in the
foot” with the recording.
“That was the one thing he couldn’t fix,” he
said.
After prosecutors played the recording for ju-
rors in court Wednesday, Johnson entered his plea.
Camp said it was an example of why defendants
should trust their own attorneys.
“You always want to tell your attorney every-
thing,” he said. “This is one of those situations
where they held things back and it comes back to
haunt them.”
Colom said he is glad the case — which had al-
ready ended in one mistrial in December after the
state introduced evidence letting the jury know
Johnson had a prior conviction — has come to a
close.
“(It was) almost three years to the day since the
murders and I was happy that we were able to get
(the families of the victims) justice,” he said.
Deputies with Clay County Sheriff’s Office dis-
covered the victims’ bodies in a vehicle parked
on the side of Dixie Road in rural Clay County on
March 14, 2017. Both victims had suffered multiple
gunshot wounds, and investigators later theorized
the double homicide had occurred as the result of
a drug deal gone wrong.
Also indicted in the case was Tabarrius Coffey,
27, of Calhoun City, who was charged with man-

CAFB confirms COVID-19 case

slaughter. His trial is pending, Colom said.

Air Force base: The civilian has been been exposed to the vi-
rus.
munity so we can support
the whole of government
self-quarantined for the last 10 days “The bottom line is, we
need to continue to take
efforts in fighting coro-
navirus and flattening the
after experiencing flu-like symptoms care of ourselves, take
care of each other and
curve.”
CAFB declared a pub-
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT press release. The indi- take care of our families lic health emergency Sun-
vidual received a test for so that we can protect the day and has limited the
Authorities at Colum- the virus at a facility off force,” CAFB command- base to official business
bus Air Force Base on base. er Col. Samantha Weeks only, according to its web-
Monday confirmed a case said in a prepared state- site. Travel is restricted
Those exposed to the
of COVID-19 coronavirus ment. “We also need to to pilot training pipeline
case have been medically
in a government civilian take prudent actions so requirements and leave
who works on base. evaluated and resumed
we can protect our mis- for service members
The civilian has been their normal duties, the sion as a flying training has been restricted to
self-quarantined for the press release said. The wing for national defense. the local area. The base
last 10 days after experi- base is currently inves- … We need to align our has also suspended com-
encing flu-like symptoms, tigating how the govern- operations with that of munity outreach events
according to a CAFB ment civilian could have our city, county, and com- through May 11.

AROUND THE STATE

2 killed when train
strikes SUV at
Mississippi crossing
CRYSTAL SPRINGS
— Two people were killed
when a train slammed
into an SUV at a railroad
crossing in Mississippi.
The deadly collision
happened Sunday night in
Crystal Springs, WJTV-
TV reported. Copiah
County Sheriff Byron
Swilley said the crossing
had no guard arms, but
work had recently been as 35-year-old Kenya
done to improve lighting Brown Wilson.
in the area. The crash remains un-
The sheriff said the der investigation by the
crash killed 38-year-old
sheriff’s office.
Lori D. Jackson, who was
driving the SUV, as well
as a passenger identified

Billingsley
Continued from Page 1A
“It’s a very tragic situation that he was
forced to resign,” Brooks said. “It has the
potential to be disruptive (to the board).”
The board of supervisors must ad-
vertise for the position, Brooks said, but
he thinks the decision has already been
made among the three supervisors other
than District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith and
him.
He previously told The Dispatch that
newly elected District 2 Supervisor Trip
Hairston had already handpicked a re-
placement for Billingsley, though Hair-
ston would not comment on that claim.
“They’ve already decided who the
best person is,” Brooks said Tuesday.
“Even if you advertise it, it’s just a fa-
cade.”
Harry Sanders, president of the
board, could not be reached for com-
ment by press time.
Billingsley, 66, has served as county
administrator since January 2008. His
salary is $125,000, which includes a
$5,000 raise supervisors granted him in
January.

Notices
Continued from Page 1A
on the new visitation policies,
visit the OCH website at www.
tion, call 662-327-7448. after this crisis.
SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates

och.org or the Baptist site at COVID-19 Notices are being peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Tue. Wed.
How The Dispatch is Major 1:13a 1:53a
www.baptistonline.org/loca- run for non-profits and govern-
reacting to COVID-19 Minor 7:56a 8:52a
tions/golden-triangle. mental entities as a public ser- Major 1:33p 2:54p
The Dispatch’s sports and vice during this health crisis. Minor — 9:06p
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
lifestyles sections are much To submit your organization’s of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

Canaan Baptist Church
The March 29 singing, fea-
turing Jesse Reece has been
canceled. For more informa-
Tell your child a bedtime story.
smaller than usual due to
drastically fewer athletic and
social events. We intend to
resume our normal coverage
brief notice, please email com-
munity@cdispatch.com and
include the subject line “Virus
public notice.”
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Opinion
4A TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
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SLIMANTICS
Letter-writing in the time of COVID-19
It’s only been The first, I’ve on their lives and — this was Which leads to my second sations by the hundreds, but
a couple of weeks written about a fair important — to provide me life experience, the one I’ve not none of them evoke the same
since Americans amount, the other, with addresses of friends and written about. tender intimacy of these cards
have been “shel- until now, not at all. family members the recipient On Aug. 2, my 27-year-old and the few lines of still-girl-
tering at home,” In 2007, I spent might know so I could write to daughter, Abby, was killed ish handwriting found there.
yet some folks are six months in them, too. in an automobile accident in I wish I had more of them.
already showing prison and it strikes As time passed, I began Texas. I wish I had written to her
signs of discontent. me that the current to get dozens of letters — far On a side table in my home, and she had written back in
Now that the situation is, in some more than any other inmate — I’ve kept a collection of things response.
entirety of Lowndes ways, similar to that mainly because I’d started my that remind me of her. I’d What a treasure that would
County and the city experience. First, letter writing campaign. hesitate to call it a shrine be- be now.
of Starkville has there’s the obvi- That was the only way I had cause that suggests something I share these experiences
passed ordinances Slim Smith ous: Confinement. to communicate with the out- morbid and unhealthy. as an effort to encourage you
to further limit Second, there’s side world and feel as though I There is the urn with her in this time of isolation, a time
where we can go and when we the tedium that comes from was still a part of it. ashes, which I plan to scatter when boredom or frustration
can go there, the angst will confinement. Third, there is On the outside, people on the anniversary of her death threatens to cloud your atti-
continue to grow. the isolation. aren’t too keen about writing at one of her favorite spots, a tude.
There is little doubt that this The trick to prison life, I letters. It’s too time-consum- couple of photos and a few oth- Grab a pen and paper and
has become an inconvenience, quickly learned, was to stay ing, too much of a bother. er odds and ends that no one find a quiet spot in your home.
which reminds me of what Brit- busy. There’s not much to do in Today our written communi- else would associate with her, Think of someone you love,
ish essayist G.K. Chesterton prison. If you sit around doing cation is more immediate and but remind me of something then write to them. Give it as
noted more than 100 years ago. nothing, a minute becomes an easier. Emails, texts and social we shared. much or little thought as you
“An adventure is only an hour, and so it was important media exchanges have taken But the most important like, write about things large
inconvenience rightly consid- to invent a routine and keep the place of letter writing. items are the Father’s Day or small. But take your time.
ered,” he wrote. your mind and body occupied. We lose something in that cards she sent. I treasure them Make it an adventure of the
In the coming days, weeks I walked miles and miles exchange, I believe. When you because they are written in her spirit. Imagine that this is the
and, perhaps, months, our around the exercise yard every sit down with pen and paper own hand. I can imagine her only way you will ever have to
mental health may rely on day to help fill the long hours. and write a letter, you are sitting in her apartment writ- communicate with that person.
how many adventures we have But my main diversion was inclined to be more thoughtful, ing the short messages and Take it from one who knows:
decided to have. writing letters, lots of letters, more deliberate in what you she’s alive and happy again. In You will never regret it.
I draw on two experiences usually three or four a day. I say and how you say it. that little corner of my home is Slim Smith is a columnist
that have helped shape my wrote letters every day. With How many letters have where Abby is. Present tense. and feature writer for The
attitude when it comes to being each letter, I’d ask the person you written in the last year? If We had exchanged texts, Dispatch. His email address is
more or less home-bound. to write back and fill me in you’re like me, few to none. emails, social media conver- ssmith@cdispatch.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR MUSINGS

Voice of the people A ‘drop by’ visit
Points out Trump falsehoods When you’re
told, “Yes
Lollar states others are blaming
Trump for not giving information ma’am, I live in
correctly. Columbus, but
Trump made 33 false claims I was born in
about Covid-19 in the first two weeks Caledonia,” you
of March. have a “Me Too
At a rally on Friday night, Feb. Moment” like
28, in South Carolina, Trump said no other! (This
the Democrats are trying to use the quote comes
coronavirus to damage him, and from within a
called that their “new” hoax. group of “W”
With those words, it’s hard to Art Students Marion Whitley
believe they came from the mouth in New York
of a stable genius or the chosen one. to visit the museums and art galleries,
That should give some of us cause to and to participate in street life of The
realize that the real hoax is Trump. Big Apple. For one hour, however, they
His colleagues at FOX News became the largest group ever to gather
called it a hoax and a scam. at my house over here near the East Riv-
With lour lives at stake, he’s got er. Twenty in all, plus art instructor Ian
to be the worst possible president Childers and my cousin Clara, through
for this crisis. whom a true “drop by” visit was negoti-
Trump is bad for America. ated. Courtesy photo

James Hodges She’s long been part of the art scene
at The W, now, again, as a student. As
Steens
such, she joins the group for each day’s
tour, but spends evenings here, unwind-
Art students from The W stand in front of an entrance to the Metropolitan Mu-
seum of Art in New York City earlier this month. Front row: Georgia Wood, Haley
Roundtree, Amyah Kahey, Sarah Upchurch, Blake Davis, Neely Jenkins London
Roberts; 2nd row: Lexie Ava, Ian Johnson, Audrea Powell, Clara Whitley, Thomas

“
A MOMENT OF CALM
If you only carry
one thing throughout
your entire life, let it
be hope. Let it be hope
that better things are always ahead.
Let it be hope that you can get
through even the toughest times.
Let it be hope that you are stronger
than any challenge that comes your
way. Let it be hope that you are
exactly where you are meant to be
right now, and that you are on the
path to where you are meant to be...
Because during these times, hope
will be the very thing that carries
you through.
Nikki Banas
TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Tuesday, March 24, the
84th day of 2020. There are 282 days
left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On March 24, 1989, the super-
tanker Exxon Valdez (vahl-DEEZ’)
ran aground on a reef in Alaska’s
Prince William Sound and began
leaking an estimated 11 million
gallons of crude oil.
On this date:
In 1765, Britain enacted the
Quartering Act, requiring Ameri-
can colonists to provide temporary
housing to British soldiers.
In 1882, German scientist Robert
Koch (kohk) announced in Berlin
that he had discovered the bacillus
responsible for tuberculosis.
In 1958, Elvis Presley was induct-
ed into the U.S. Army at the draft
board in Memphis, Tennessee, be-
fore boarding a bus for Fort Chaffee,
Arkansas. (Presley underwent basic
training at Fort Hood, Texas, before
being shipped off to Germany.)
ing and entertaining me with adven-
tures of her day “at class.”
Well and good, but hearing their
names, their responses to art treasures
outside books, I was becoming a mite...
jealous? When told of one student ask-
ing (as he scanned the skyline on Fifth
Avenue), “So, what’s in all these?”
“Nothing special”, he was told, “just
apartments where folks live.” (My
apartment is not on Fifth Avenue, but
I took the answer to his question as
my cue, and went to bed with a brazen
idea.)
I’m an apartment dweller who “just
lives here.” And if a wall of apartment
buildings could prompt the guy to ask,
“So, what’s in all these?” could my
modest building somehow qualify, (all
logic aside), as visit-worthy? If so, might
I invite students of art to drop by?
(What was I thinking? All twenty?)
They’re on a strict, exhausting schedule
for which they’re earning credits! A
casual “Drop by if you’re in the neigh-
borhood” would be insincere. Leave
it alone! On the other hand, suppose
they’d welcome a break, a sit-down, a
slice of pizza and a coke ... No, no! Go to
sleep!
With morning coffee in shaking
hand, I asked Clara her opinion of the
“drop by” notion ... nothing arty about
it, just a peek into lives of those of us
who live here, running the stores,
driving the taxis, teaching the children,
keeping street life flowing. Still on her
first cup, she listened, nodded, swal-
lowed and said she’d mention it to Ian.
And so our days began, hers with art
students, I to the TV for an update on
the Coronavirus: Mississippi, reporting
no victims (at the time)... and politically,
leaning toward Biden. Then in sweat
pants and pull-over, I climbed out to
wash my first floor windows before
tackling a make-do dinner plan. I got as
Support The Dispatch by subscribing or advertising
662-328-2424 or cdispatch.com
Kennedy, Kyunglin Baek, Addison Garrett, Kelsey Cockrell, Ketina “Tink” Tutton; 3rd
Row: Dominique, Jamie Henderson, Justin Carson; missing: Makaio Johnson and
instructor Ian Childers.
far as “pick up French bread,” when...
At 4:30, the phone rang. Clara was
asking, “Would today be too soon?”
Too soon for what?
The “drop by” visit.
TODAY?!
Well, Ian thinks today might be the
best chance, and we could be there in an
hour.
!!!
Funny how energy surges at hear-
ing, “We could be there in an hour.” I
dashed out, in window washing ward-
robe for plates, cups, napkins, a liter of
Coke and another of something orange.
Across the avenue I placed an order for
three of Sophia’s biggest, round pizzas,
‘cause the “drop by” visit was ON! I
hurried in, grabbed the doorman to put
him on alert for the imminent arrival of
guests:
Chris, just so you know, I’m expecting
guests.
Very good Miss, what time?
Around 6:00, a group, 20.
T...wenty? (He drew the number in the
air.) You need extra seating?
No, no problem, it’s just for an hour
and they’re students, they’ll ...
(He pantomimed the height of a
10-year-old.}
No, no, grown up art students. From
my college in Mississippi.
Very good, Miss, I buzz you.
And Clara, bless her, was already
on hand. Together we transformed
‘guest facilities’ into an extended living
room, shoving bolted suitcases under
coffee tables, and camouflaging the
fold-down bed with a bold-striped quilt
creating the illusion of something to sit
on. In the kitchen, to clear a surface for
serving, a dish drain rack disappeared
neatly into the oven, as did a loaf of
Local journalism matters
French bread into the dishwasher. The
clock was ticking, and with it a niggling
thought: “Company is coming! I’m still
in window washing garb and nary a
smear of lipstick!”
And so it came to pass ... Chris
buzzed to announce my guests though
Clara was already announcing names as
each came through. There was barely
time for a handshake before they scram-
bled for a place to sit. I knew the feeling.
They’d been touring all day in Brooklyn
and were no sooner seated than invited
to line up for “a slice” when a nap might
have had more appeal. Hometown
names rang distant bells, but which
bell attaches to whom? Which name to
which hairdo? In the low cloud of sur-
rounding sounds I hear Ian announce
“time to move on.”
Though they had pled fatigue, their
tired eyes lit with enthusiasm for The
W’s art department. Still to come? A day
touring the Art Galleries of Chelsea.
(Perchance to fast-forward, and see
your own works hanging there?)
The “drop by” was over before it be-
gan, and though Clara made it happen,
I was privileged, in one hour, to shake
hands with 20 touring art students from
my alma mater! As I write they’re on the
train back to Tuscaloosa. First impres-
sions are still settling into memories
of the Metropolitan where they’d have
liked more time, of the Guggenheim
lady explaining a video of the cow. The
Oculus? Didn’t get there? What is it any-
how? A train station with folding wings?
Next trip.
Marion Whitley, who grew up in Cale-
donia and Columbus, lives in Manhattan
where she reads, writes and remembers.
Her email address is Whijmar8@aol.
com.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020 5A

Charities face growing need

in pandemic without volunteers
‘Volunteers are needed the most in times of crisis.
This is simply another example ... of everyone
needing to help as best they can.’
Dr. Grover Gilmore, dean of Case Western’s school of social sciences
BY MARTHA MENDOZA, JULIET
LINDERMAN AND MAYE-E WONG
The Associated Press
For more than a week, Elaine
Peoples, who cooked for a now-shut-
tered day care center, has been out
of work. At 68, she’s also at a higher
risk for catching the new coronavi-
rus. Nonetheless, she’s showing up
four days a week for her volunteer
shift at an increasingly crowded
Brooklyn soup kitchen and food
pantry.
“Volunteering is vital,” said Peo-
ples, who herself is experiencing
financial strain. “Everything I get
goes to bills. My budget is stretched
to the limit. There is no extra.”
These days low-income families
still need food. Homeless people
still need beds. And those puppies
in the animal shelter still need
walks.
For decades, American nonprof-
its have relied on a cadre of volun-
teers who — quite suddenly — ar-
en’t able to show up. With millions
staying home during the pandem-
ic, charities that help the country’s
neediest are finding themselves in
need.
“This is a time when we do need
everybody pulling together to help
us out,” said Leslie Bacho, CEO
of Second Harvest of Silicon Val-
ley, one of the nation’s largest food
banks.
Many Americans have now
been ordered to stay inside their
homes, although there are excep-
tions for people providing essential
services, and, in orders reviewed
by The Associated Press, that in-
cludes volunteering at food banks.
Nonetheless, Bacho said half of
the bank’s volunteers — the equiv-
alent of 107 full-time staffers —
aren’t showing up. This means as
more people need food, there’s less
ability to get it to them.
“Volunteers are needed the most
in times of crisis,” said Dr. Grover
Gilmore, dean of Case Western’s
school of social sciences. “This is
simply another example, and an ex-
treme example, of everyone need-
ing to help as best they can.”
For most people, the new coro-
navirus causes only mild or moder-
ate symptoms. But for some older
adults and people with existing
health problems, it can cause more
severe illness.
One out of four Americans vol-
unteers, performing an estimated 8
billion hours a year of service. The
most common work? Collecting,
preparing, distributing or serving
food, according to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
Kathryn Strickland, chief net-
work officer at Feeding America,
the nation’s largest organization of
food banks, with some 200, said the
group has seen a “sharp decline” in
volunteers across the country, and
is asking for new volunteers and
scrambling to hire additional staff
for pay.
Sheila Williams usually has 25
volunteers to feed about 100 people
a day at St. Stephen Outreach in
Brooklyn.
Now she’s down to just 10, in-
cluding Peoples, with lines out the
door, more people than she’s ever
seen.
“Folks that don’t normally come
are coming,” she said, after dishing
out countless plates of franks, rice,
beans and fruit. “They’ve lost their
job, there’s nothing in the super-
market.”
Jose Rosa, 63, comes to the
soup kitchen once a week. He lives
in a homeless shelter and says he
doesn’t get enough to eat there.
“It keeps me healthy, it keeps
food in my stomach,” he said of his
trips to St. Stephen. Without it, he
said, “I’d go hungry.”

Volunteers sew masks for health workers facing shortages

BY TAMMY WEBBER, DEE- Murcia, in the country’s existing health problems, produced and posted a
ANN DURBIN AND ANNE southeast, according to it can cause more severe how-to video that has
D’INNOCENZIO the Air Force’s Twitter ac- illness, including pneu-
The Associated Press
being shared across the
count. monia. The vast majority country.
In Belgium, what be- recover. “We had people who
CHICAGO — Bill Pur-
gan as a one-woman op- But the virus is spread- wanted to ship them to
due waterproofs base-
eration about a week ago ing rapidly and starting to us from all over the Unit-
ments for a living, but he
has spent the past few grew to a small army of max out the health care
ed States and we started
days in his buddy’s Wash- home-sewing mask-mak- system in several cities.
saying, ‘Please, please
ington, Indiana, auto trim ers within days. Deaconess spokes-
For most people, the woman Pam Hight said use them in your com-
and upholstery shop cut- munities,’” she said. “It
ting rectangles of cotton new virus causes only mild the hospital system real-
or moderate symptoms, ized it could face a short- makes your heart warm;
fabric that his friend sews people are so good.”
into face masks. such as fever and cough. age if local infections
Fashion designer Bri- For some, especially old- skyrocket like they have
ana Danyele left Italy last er adults and people with elsewhere. So officials
month to return to her
mother’s Greer, South
Carolina, home, where
she has turned the living
room into a mini sewing
factory, making masks
that she embroiders with
the words, “We Got This!”
They’re among scores
of people answering pleas
from hospitals, doctors
and nurses so desperate
for personal protective
equipment amid the vi-
ral pandemic that they’ve
turned to the public, say-
ing do-it-yourself face
masks are better than
nothing.
And for those sitting at
home worrying as the vi-
rus strains hospitals and
the economy teeters, sew-
ing masks makes them
feel less helpless.
“Whatever it takes to
get the job done, that’s
what I want to do,” said
Purdue, 57, whose daugh-
ter works at the women’s
hospital in Evansville, In-
diana. He and his friend
Mike Rice responded to
a Facebook post last week
from Deaconess Health
System in Evansville ask-
ing the public for help.
The efforts mirror
those in other countries,
including Spain, where
mask-making volunteers
include a group of nuns
and members of the Span-
ish Air Force. Around 500
masks a day are coming
off sewing machines at
the Paratroop School in

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Win an award?
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business brief.
news@
cdispatch.com
subject:
Business brief
6A TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Health
HEALTH TIP
n Cholesterol isn’t the enemy: What people generally refer to as “cholesterol” isn’t really cholesterol. When
people talk about the so-called “bad” LDL and “good” HDL cholesterol, they’re really referring to the proteins that
carry cholesterol around in your blood. LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein, whereas HDL refers to high-density
lipoprotein. The truth is, cholesterol is not the enemy. The main determinant for heart disease risk is the type of
lipoproteins that carry cholesterol around — not cholesterol itself. For most people, dietary cholesterol has little or no
effect on lipoprotein levels.
Source: healthline.com

Health tips from Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen

Don’t let
coronavirus
fears take
your focus
off staying
healthy
During the
2019 Golden
Globes cere-
mony, hosts
Drs. Oz and Roizen
Andy Samberg
and Sandra Oh
surprised the
crowd by bringing out actors
dressed as medical personnel to makes the flu less severe if you
deliver free flu shots to celeb-
rities. Oh told the crowd “You
know you wore a sleeveless
gown for a reason!”
Samberg added, “If you are
an anti-vaxxer, just put a napkin
on (or perhaps over) your head
and we will skip you.”
We certainly hope that in the
next year or so they’ll be able
to advocate for the COVID-19
coronavirus vaccine! But until
then, it’s essential that you keep
your respiratory and immune
systems as healthy as possible
(the coronavirus attacks the
lungs).
Making sure you get enough
sleep, taking a daily a multivita-
min, getting moderate physical
activity and eating a vegan diet
are ways to bolster your immune Alzheimer’s disease in 2013,
system so you
can fight back
against this
coronavirus.
A flu vaccine
is also a smart
step. You don’t
want double
trouble! During
the 2018-2019
flu season, the
flu vaccine was
estimated to
have prevented
some 4.4 million illnesses. Plus,
research indicates the vaccine
do catch it.
So, if you’re worried about
the COVID-19 (57 percent of
Americans say they are afraid
it will hurt the economy; 47 per-
cent are afraid they or someone
in their family will get the virus),
do something about upgrading
your lifestyle choices, and get a
flu vaccine. You’ll reduce your
10-year rate of death more than
getting COVID-19 will increase
it.
If you’re a caregiver,
remember, your health
matters too
When the late model and
restaurateur B. Smith was
diagnosed with early-onset
her husband, Dan Gasby, was
determined to take care of his
wife come what may. However,
several years later he created
a stir when he went public with
the info that he was in a roman-
tic relationship with another
woman while still Smith’s
caregiver.
Regardless of your opinion
about his choices, they’re a
reminder that the needs of
nonprofessional caregivers are
often forgotten. Nearly 35 mil-
lion people in the U.S. provide
unpaid assistance to an ailing
or disabled family member or
friend, according to the Family
Caregiver Alliance. While their
role can be enormously benefi-
cial to the “patient,” it can take
a toll on caregivers’ physical
and emotional health. In fact,
overall 8 percent to 30 percent of
caregivers die before the person
they’re caring for — and it’s 40
percent for Alzheimer’s caregiv-
ers.
It’s important to recognize
if you have signs of caregiver
burnout, such as sleep prob-
lems, weight loss, depression
and even suicidal thoughts. To
ease your burden:
■ Adopt one or more stress
management techniques, such
as meditation, yoga, physical ex-
ercise, seeing friends, pursuing
a hobby — even getting a pet.
■ Eat well. Fill your fridge
with healthful meals you cook
ahead of time (no ultrapro-
cessed and sugar-added foods).
■ Ask for help. Rely on
friends and reputable caregiver
services to give you a break
every week. Contacts: Family
Caregiver Alliance, 800-445-
8106; Caregiver Action Net-
work, 855-277-3640; Rosalynn
Carter Institute for Caregiving,
229-928-1234; Well Spouse
Association, 732-577-8899.
Fries plus low-cal sweeteners:
not a splendid idea
Oddly, French fries figure as
major plot points in old movies:
There’s the scene in 1986’s
“Cobra” when Stallone tells a
ketchup-crazed girl her fries
are drowning; the french fries
food fight in a moving car in
“The Getaway” (1994); and the
scene about freeway french fry
agony and ecstasy in “Freaky
Friday” (2003) when a nutri-
tion-conscious mom in the body
of her teenage daughter gets to
enjoy a fry for the first time in
eight years!
The Americans’ favorite of
all vegetables may seem light-
hearted on the silver screen, but
they’re definitely heavy-hearted
when they show up on your
plate (or in a paper bag). One
eight-year study even found that
folks who ate fried potatoes two
or more times a week doubled
their risk of early death.
But that’s not all the harm
that french fries, as well as hash
browns and home fries, can do.
According to a new study in Cell
Metabolism, combining french
fries and other processed carbs
with a low-cal beverage that
contains the equivalent of two
packages of Splenda creates
a chemical mix that ends up
reducing your body’s ability
to metabolize sugar and alters
your brain’s response to sugar.
That, suggests researchers
from Yale’s Modern Diet and
Physiology Research Center,
can lead to weight gain, glucose
intolerance and diabetes.
Their bottom line: An occa-
sional diet drink doesn’t mess
up your metabolism of sugar or
trigger weight gain (and may
help you reduce calorie intake)
if you NEVER drink it along
with fries or other carbohy-
drates.
Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of
“The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike
Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness
Officer and Chair of Wellness
Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To
live your healthiest, tune into
“The Dr. Oz Show” or visit www.
sharecare.com.

Supes
Continued from Page 1A
As of Monday, the
Mississippi Department
of Health had identified
249 cases in the state,
including six confirmed
cases in Lowndes Coun-
ty. Five cases have been
confirmed thus far in Ok-
tibbeha County with one
confirmed in Clay County.
Hinds (24), DeSoto
(23) and Harrison (21)
counties have reported
the most cases in the
state. A Hancock County
man died in a Louisiana
hospital last week, mark-
ing Mississippi’s first
death from the disease to
date.
On Monday, Lowndes
County also instituted a
general curfew from 10
p.m. to 6 a.m., excepting
essential travel by those
over the age of 18. Penal-
ties for breaking curfew
or not following any of
the other parts of the or-
dinance include a fine of
up to $1,000 or up to 90
days’ imprisonment.
The board ordered
bars, nightclubs, meet-
ings of fraternal and civic
organizations, child care
facilities, bowling alleys,
recreational buildings,
skating rinks, tattoo
parlors, gyms, barber-
shops, salons, spas, con-
vention centers, commu-
nity centers and parks
to close their doors at 5
p.m. Tuesday and remain
closed until further ac-
tion. There, the county
made its sole distinction
from Columbus’ resolu-
tion, which noted that
all recreational facilities
— not just buildings —
were to be closed.
The supervisors en-
tered Monday’s meeting
with two versions of the
ordinance — one allow-
ing child care centers
to remain open and one
ordering them to close.
Closing the facilities
would “put a real burden
on some of the parents
who don’t have any way
to keep their children
and keep their job at the
same time,” Sanders
said.
But cognizant of the
risks posed by exposing
children, who can be
carriers of the disease,
and child care providers
to the virus, the board
agreed to keep child care
facilities closed as Co-
lumbus had done.
Like Columbus, Lown-
des County will limit all
restaurants to pick-up,
drive-through and de-
livery services only. All
gatherings within the
county — including at
churches, temples and
places of worship — must
not exceed 10 people.
The supervisors re-
solved Monday that all
businesses, agencies and
units of government in
the city with 10 or more
employees must follow
protocol laid out by the
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention,
including mandatory
social distancing, em-
phasizing working from
home where possible and
“taking all such addition-
al measures to prohibit
and/or reduce the spread
of infectious disease and
especially COVID-19,”
following Columbus’ res-
olution precisely.
The board said it may
issue a shelter-in-place
order for up to five days
or implement other mea-
sures it deems neces-
sary.
On Monday, the board
also voted unanimously
to adhere to House Bill
1647, which guarantees
paid administrative leave
for county employees
during the pandemic.

Restrictions
Continued from Page 1A
pend dine-in services.
The resolution also
mandates the closing of
certain places where large
groups of people gather,
such as convention cen-
ters and child care facili-
ties, and recreational busi-
nesses like gyms.
Violations can lead to
fines of up to $1,000 per
day and 90 days in the
county jail.
The board of aldermen
in Starkville passed a
similar set of restrictions,
though they had not en-
acted a curfew as of press
time today. Mayor Lynn
Spruill said since the mea-
sure passed last week,
she’s received calls from
her citizens as well, main-
ly asking whether the rule
mandating gatherings of
less than 10 included em-
ployees in a business.
The answer to that, she
said, is no.
“Our manufacturers
couldn’t run if we includ-
ed employees in that,”
she said. “But what we’re
asking our employers to
do is to follow the guide-
lines of the CDC for spac-
ing out their say, personal homes,” he for a quick dog walk close Shelton stressed the
e mploye e s said. “The ordinance says to home after 10 p.m., measures are in place to
(at least six assemblies and gather- Shelton said, though he keep citizens safe from
feet apart), ings, which covers every- recommends citizens run the virus.
m a k i n g thing. … If a family’s hav- errands and get their ex- “This is something
sure they ing a birthday party and ercise before then. Since different for all of us,”
don’t come say there are over 20 peo- restaurants can remain he said. “Normally (po-
to work ple there, well that’s a vio- open for pickup, drive- lice) know how to protect
Spruill
sick, staying lation of the ordinance.” through and delivery ser- ourselves against guns,
at home, having hygiene Others had questions vices past curfew, it’s also knives, assault. However,
restrictions, that sort of about the new curfew in OK for citizens to go to or what we’re protecting our
thing.” Columbus, which has now from restaurants. citizens from is a small
In Columbus, Shelton been extended to all of “But if you’re just out microscopic virus that we
has gotten similar ques- Lowndes County. riding around for no spe- can’t see with the natural
tions, albeit about gather- Police will not cite any- cific reason other than eye. … These measures
ings outside work. one going to or from work, just to be out, then yes, are not to disrupt people’s
“We’re getting ques- the hospital, the grocery you’re subject to be cited,” lives but to protect and
tions about gatherings at, store, the pharmacy or he said. make sure all is safe.”
Sports
INSIDE THE ‘HEARTBREAKING’ END TO MSU’S PROMISING SEASON
The Mississippi State softball team celebrates its win over UT Martin on March 1 at Nusz Park in Starkville. The Bulldogs won their last 14 games and held a record of
25-3 before their season was officially canceled last Tuesday.
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
The news broke before
Samantha Ricketts could
break it.
As the Mississippi
State softball coach took
a phone call from her car,
she watched the Bull-
dogs’ players spill onto
the field at Nusz Park in
Starkville for the meeting
Ricketts had called to or-
der. It was around noon
on March 12, and Ricketts
had just been told that the
Southeastern Conference
had suspended play un-
til March 30 due to the
spread of COVID-19, the
MSU baseball recruits sound off on potential
extra year of eligibility for current players
BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — of Basketball Coaches
While the Mississippi
State baseball season has
come to a sudden halt
due to the outbreak of
COVID-19, coach Chris
Lemonis may have his
toughest battle yet to
come — a duel with the
2021 roster.
At present, the NCAA
is in discussions to po-
tentially extend an extra
year of eligibility to play-
ers whose seasons were
lost due to the coronavi-
rus pandemic. Division II
players have already been
awarded an extra year. Di-
vision I is expected to be
next.
And while the idea of-
fers a logical solution to
this season’s cancellation,
the present and future im-
plications on recruits re-
main a potential snag.
“If we end up with load-
ed rosters, that’s going to
be an issue,” Lemonis said
See BASEBALL, 2B
MISSISSIPPI STATE SOFTBALL
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020
B
SECTION
Austin Perryman/MSU athletics
disease caused by the and how serious it was “It was heartbreaking,” the contest 7-2, and imme- lines at the Southern Miss
novel coronavirus. and what the impact was Ricketts said. “It’s not diately afterward, Rick- Softball Complex. The
Ricketts was ready gonna be on our season,” something that you ever etts turned to find direc- Bulldogs bid their cheer-
to give her team the bad Ricketts told The Dis- think is going to happen, tor of softball operations ing section goodbye and
news, but it came out on patch on Monday. especially during your se- Kayla Winkfield right in boarded the bus home.
social media first. The In her first year as nior year of competition. front of her, waiting with “We had a lot of fans
coach watched through head coach, Mississippi It’s not something that news. there,” Ricketts noted. “It
her car window as out- State had rocketed to a any of us have ever expe- Winkfield told her was a great crowd.”
fielder Candace Denis 25-3 start, but by the end rienced in our daily lives.” head coach there had The next morning, just
stared at her phone, re- of the Bulldogs’ practice been a positive test for one day before the Mis-
alizing her senior season that day, their chance at Put on hold COVID-19 in Forrest sissippi State men’s bas-
had been put on hold. As the postseason was gone The Bulldogs had County, home to Hatties- ketball team was set to
Ricketts sat there, Denis as the NCAA canceled gotten back from Hat- burg. It was the first con- play, the SEC tournament
lowered her head onto a all remaining winter and tiesburg late Wednesday firmed case of the disease in Nashville, Tennessee,
teammate’s shoulder and spring championships, in- night after a road game at in Mississippi. was canceled. An hour lat-
started to cry. cluding the Women’s Col- Southern Miss, so Rick- So Ricketts and her er, Ricketts got a call from
“There’s just a lot of lege World Series. Five etts scheduled practice team skipped out on sign- Athletic Director John
low moments like that days later, the SEC made later Thursday, wanting ing autographs and tak- Cohen: Softball and all
where I remember just one final announcement: to get her players a little ing pictures with the kids other sports had been put
kind of slowly starting The 2019-20 season was more rest. who bunched up along on hold for nearly three
to learn how big this was over. Mississippi State won the first- and third-base See SOFTBALL, 2B
Perry secures NABC
All-District accolades
FROM SPECIAL REPORTS along with Kentucky’s
Nick Richards, Arkan-
Mississippi State’s sas’ Mason Jones and
Reggie Perry captured LSU’s Skyler Mays.
National Association Perry, a Karl Malone
Award top 5 finalist given
(NABC) All-District 20 to the nation’s top power
first-team honors, the
forward by the Naismith
associa- Basketball Hall of Fame,
tion an-
has already been named
nounced consensus All-SEC First
Monday.
Team in addition to
I t United States Basket-
m a r k s
ball Writers Association
b a c k - (USBWA) All-District
to-back
accolades. He claimed
s e a s o n s Perry SEC Co-Player of the
w h e r e
Year by the Associated
the Bull-
Press and was the Bailey
dogs have had an NABC
Howell Trophy recipient
All-District first-team
awarded to the state of
pick, as
Mississippi’s top colle-
Q u i n -
giate player.
n d a r y
Weat h - Perry is the only SEC
erspoon player to rank among
was a the league’s top 10 in
first-team points (17.4 — 6th),
select ion rebounds (10.1 — 1st),
last sea- Tyree field goal percentage
son. (50.0 — 4th) and blocks
MSU athletics O l e (1.2 — 9th). The soph-
Mississippi State baseball coach Chris Lemonis addresses his team after a Miss also had a play- omore was the eighth
college baseball game earlier this season. The 2020 season ended early for the er selected, as senior SEC player over the
Bulldogs due to the outbreak of COVID-19. If the NCAA extends eligibility for all Breein Tyree made the last decade to average
spring athletes, Lemonis and company will face a roster crunch in 2021. All-District first-team See PERRY, 2B
2B TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Softball
Continued from Page 1B

weeks. Bulldogs are still deal- what makes them who ment and a really great
That afternoon, the ing with the fallout of they are.” example of what this
Bulldogs had what the sudden end to their team was off the field
Ricketts called a great promising season — in- Tough meetings and as well,” Ricketts said.
practice — despite the cluding what could be “Just how much they all
events of the day. somewhat of a roster
touching moments truly cared for each oth-
At the end of that
“They still wanted to crunch next season. er and felt comfortable
Thursday practice,
be out there,” she said. The NCA A has yet speaking up in front of
Ricketts gathered her
“They still wanted to be to rule on whether it each other and praying
team one more time to
on the field with their will grant players an in front of each other
tell them the second
teammates.” extra year of collegiate and for each other and
burst of bad news.
But with about half eligibility, and for De- were able to lean on
“That was definitely
an hour left in prac- nis, Leilua, Loza and each other in that tough
the toughest moment,
Sudoku
tice, Ricketts got the fellow seniors Chris- moment.” YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
the toughest meeting
news that the NCA A tian Quinn and Lindsey that we had,” she said.
had canceled its cham-
Sudoku
Williams, that decision
pionships. Even if the will be consequential.
As the team huddled Mississippi State Sudoku is a number- Yesterday’s answer
in the left-field grass, placing puzzle based on
Bulldogs resumed their Ricketts said Mississip- Ricketts stepped aside
softball’s Fa Leilua, Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis a several
with num- 8 9 7 6 3 1 4 5 2
season, they wouldn’t pi State could be hard to take another phone Mia Davidson make ber-placing
given numbers.puzzle
The object 2 4 6 9 5 8 1 7 3

2020 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

be playing for anything. pressed to find a way based on a 9x9
“Just kind of knowing for Leilua, who sat out
call. Leilua spoke to the Softball America top grid with several
is to place the numbers 3 1 5 2 7 4 6 9 8
assembled Bulldogs, 100 1 to 9 in the empty spaces 1 2 4 3 8 7 9 6 5
that and watching them given
the 2018 season when telling her teammates Mississippi so that numbers.
State
The
each row, each 5 8 9 1 6 2 7 3 4
out there having fun object
she transferred from how much she appre- softball players Fa Lei- column isandtoeach
place
3x3 the
box
7 6 3 5 4 9 2 8 1
and working hard and Arizona State, to stay in ciated them and how numbers 1 to 9 in
lua and Mia Davidson contains the same number 4 7 1 8 9 3 5 2 6
enjoying each other and college for a sixth year. proud she was of who the empty spaces so
made Softball Ameri- only once. The difficulty 9 5 8 4 2 6 3 1 7
the sport was tough,” So far, Ricketts said they were and what that each row, each
ca’s Shortened Season level increases from
Ricketts said. most of her seniors are they’d done. column and each 6 3 2 7 1 5 8 4 9
College Top 100, re- Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday.
leaning toward coming The senior turned to
Difficulty Level 3/23

Fallout back, but in the absence sophomore outfielder

leased Monday. the same number only once. The difficulty level
Ten days after the of a decision from the Anna Kate Segars, ask-
Leilua, a senior first increases from Monday to Sunday.
practice at the end of NCA A, she hasn’t asked baseman, ranked No.
ing her to lead the team
the world, only three them to make a lasting 38 on the list, while Da-
in prayer. Segars began
of Ricketts’ players are choice. the invocation as heads vidson, a junior catcher,
still on campus. Se- “I think it’s still early bent slowly toward the came in at No. 76.
nior first baseman Fa and still very emotion- grass. Leilua led all starters
Leilua, senior pitcher al,” Ricketts said. “For that to come on her team with a .384
Alyssa Loza and soph- She said her players from the girls and for it batting average, hitting
omore outfielder Chloe “took it hard and un- to be so player led as far eight doubles and nine
Malau’ulu — all natives derstandably so” — but as just the speaking and home runs while start-
of California — remain more importantly, they the praying, that’s what ing all 28 games. She
in Starkville, as their understood the “why” really got me,” Ricketts finished the season with
families advised against in an unprecedented sit- said. “It was a really an on-base percentage
going home. The rest of uation. cool moment to see as of .465 and a slugging
the roster went back not “(T)his was bigger a coach when they step percentage of .791.
long after the decision. than us and bigger up like that, especially Davidson hit .330
Ricketts said for now than softball, and this as people.” while starting all 28
the team’s biggest pri- was about not just their Her call finished, games, slugging four
ority is making sure her health but their fami- Ricketts rejoined the doubles, two triples
players are OK — phys- lies’ health and this en- circle as the meeting and seven home runs.
ically, mentally and ac- tire country and world’s began to break up. She Against Southern Miss
ademically — no matter health,” Ricketts said. saw her players hug; in what turned out to
where they are. “We talk a lot about she heard underclass- be Mississippi State’s
“It’s definitely not softball: It’s not who men tell seniors that final game, she went 4
what we expected, but you are; it’s what you they loved them, that for 4 with a pair of home
everyone’s doing well,” do. It is something that they were there for runs. Davidson got on
Ricketts said. “The these girls do every day, them in uncertain times base at a .422 clip and
girls are doing good. and they spend their even if the season was slugged .659.
We’re adjusting to kind whole lives doing, but there no longer. The Bulldogs’ short-
of a new normal.” they understand that “I think it was just ened 2020 season ended
While doing so, the it’s just a small part of a really touching mo- with a record of 25 -3.

Baseball
Continued from Page 1B

of a lack of available Dispatch. “I think if

playing time for incom- “Either way, the best players are you look at it as a way to
ing prospects. “We hav-
en’t spoken about it yet
going to play and you’re going to have compete I feel like you
can only make yourself
just because we don’t
know what’s going to
to compete regardless.” get better.”
As of Monday, the
MSU baseball recruit Drew Talley ACROSS
happen. I don’t want to NCA A has yet to reach 1 Assesses
get the cart ahead of a decision on extra eli- 6 “Understand?”
lege (Alabama) pitch- like or how everything
the horse, but I think gibility. Lemonis said 11 Grownup
er Drew Talley — who is going to work,” Puck-
as time goes on that’s he believed decision 12 Without others
spent his freshman sea- ett conceded. “I’m kind
a possibility and un- makers were meeting 13 “Forgive me,
fortunately, in this day son at Memphis — is of just waiting for ev-
confident the situation erything to set in stone March 30 to come to a Father” list
and time, everybody is consensus. And while 15 Before, in
dealing with (it). It’s will breed a competi- and see how everything
tive edge amongst next goes with that.” ample question marks poems
affecting us negatively remain about who will 16 Grammys
in a lot of ways. There’s year’s squad. Beyond MSU’s lon-
“Either way, the best ger-standing com- even be in the fold category
going to be issues.” come next spring, MSU 17 Whole bunch
As it stands, the players are going to mits, the potential for
recruits have largely 18 Blushes
Bulldogs have current- play and you’re going limited playing time
remained upbeat about 20 Stunned
ly inked a 14-player to have to compete re- has not stopped the
the potential for loaded wonder
class for next season, gardless,” Talley told Bulldogs from adding 21 Fishing pole
The Dispatch. “I’m to their class. The lat- rosters.
according to Perfect 22 Asterisk
a competitor, so that est addition, redshirt “We’ve just never
Game. And while it fig- 23 Message
ures to lose a handful of doesn’t really affect me sophomore outfielder been here and I think
systems DOWN capital
newcomers to the MLB at all. At the end of the Brayland Skinner, com- that’s the really hard
26 Young kanga- 1 Indy entrant 24 Succeeding
draft, MSU’s roster al- day, when I get there mitted to Lemonis and part for us — for every- roos 2 Love to pieces 25 Cold War
ready boasts 36 players I’m just going to have his staff after three body,” Lemonis said. 27 Over again 3 Ready to play easing
on it. to compete and earn seasons at Northwest “And then we don’t 28 Old card game 4 North Pole 26 Family to keep
Beyond the obvious a spot and earn a role Mississippi Community know what’s going to 29 Scoundrel worker up with
scholarship limitations and just see how that all College in Senatobia on happen in the future. 30 Bruise 5 Sound systems 28 Clark’s col-
college baseball al- plays out.” March 17. There’s so many ques- 34 “— we there 6 Shocked league
ready endures, a roster Tupelo product Pey- And while the Bull- tion marks. We’re hop- yet?” sounds 30 Store worker
of as many as 50 play- ton Puckett was sim- dogs’ future roster con- ing the NCA A takes 35 Tell tales 7 Yale student 31 German sub
ers leaves playing time ilarly confident about struction was a valid care of the student-ath- 36 Arthur of 8 Not in time 32 Good judg-
sparsely available. the competition piece, concern, Skinner said lete — that’s the big- “Maude” 9 Not at all ment
Despite that, MSU though he’s still taking MSU felt right regard- gest thing. (It) has to 37 Losing candi- 10 Perfume 33 Moved slowly
recruits have remained things day-by-day. less. figure out what’s best dates’ speeches counter bottles 38 Horseshoe
rather optimistic about “I’ve honestly had “Mississippi State for student athletes and 40 Modify 14 Dune makeup shape
the situation. Wallace no reaction to it yet or was the school the everything that’s out 41 Make blank 19 Sketched 39 Nest egg acct.
State Community Col- what it’s going to be whole way,” he told The there.” 42 Glossy 22 Chimney
43 Completely full grime

Perry
23 Venezuela’s

Continued from Page 1B

a season double-double. 20-plus point performanc- most by a MSU player basketball.

The last MSU players to es where the Bulldogs
post season double-dou- posted a 9-2 record since
ble averages were Jarvis the Kent State game on
Varnado (2009-10) and 12/30. Perry’s 10 outings
Arnett Moultrie (2011- of 20-plus points against
12). Among those on the SEC opponents were sec-
SEC’s list are NBA stand- ond on the conference lea-
outs Anthony Davis and derboard.
Julius Randle from Ken- Perry collected a er dating back to 1972-73.
tucky along with LSU’s SEC-leading 17 dou-
Ben Simmons. ble-doubles this season
Perry became the 17th highlighted by 13 dou-
player overall and seventh ble-doubles over his last
player to amass 500-plus 20 games since 12/22.
points during their soph- The 17 double-doubles
omore season or earlier also were fourth among
in program history. He Power 5 players this sea-
racked up all 11 of his son and tied for fourth-
since 1972-73. Nine of his Mississippi State won
double-doubles were of 11 of its last 15 SEC games
the 20-plus point, 10-plus to earn a top 4 finish in the
rebound variety. The nine conference standings, the
20-10 games also were program’s highest overall
fourth among Power 5 finish since 2010-11. The
players this season and Bulldogs have tucked
third-most by a MSU play- away three consecutive
20-plus win seasons un-
Perry’s 26 career dou- der Ben Howland for the
ble-doubles were tops fifth time in program
among SEC active play- history, and the first time
ers, and the most by a dating back to the 2007-
MSU player during their 08, 2008-09 and 2009-10
freshman and sophomore seasons. The 68 victories
seasons since 1972-73 are the fourth-highest to-
when freshmen become tal in program history for
eligible to play college a three-year span.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Olympics seem sure to happen in 2021, not 2020
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS acknowledging the ex- to the Olympics unless the uncertainty caused
tended timeline might not the games are postponed by orders in many coun-
TOKYO — The Tokyo be popular. by a year. Australia issued tries barring people from
Olympics are probably “I know that this un- a statement saying it was gyms and other workout
going to happen, but al- precedented situation advising its athletes to venues.
most surely in 2021 rath- leaves many of your ques- prepare for an Olympics National Olympic com-
er than in four months as tions open,” he wrote. “I in 2021. mittees in Brazil and Slo-
planned. also know that this ratio- John Coates is the head venia had also called for
That became clear af- nal approach may not be of the Australian Olympic postponement until 2021.
ter the IOC on Sunday in line with the emotions Committee and the IOC Norway’s Olympic body
announced it was consid- many of you have to go member who heads the said it did not want ath-
ering a postponement and through.” inspection team for To- letes going to Tokyo until
would make a final deci- The IOC’s move kyo. the global health crisis is
sion within four weeks. seemed inevitable for World Athletics Pres- under control.
Major Olympic nations weeks with pressure ident Sebastian Coe sent The United States gov-
like Canada and Australia mounting from all quar- a letter to Bach saying erning bodies of swim-
have added pressure by ters — athletes, sponsors, that holding the Olym- ming and track — two of
saying they will not send broadcasters, more than pics in July “is neither the three top-tier Sum-
teams if the games are 200 national Olympic feasible nor desirable.” mer Games sports — had
staged this year. committees and interna- He outlined a number of called on their national
International Olym- tional sports federations. reasons, including com- Olympic officials to push
pic Committee President Shortly after Bach’s petitive fairness, the for a postponement.
Thomas Bach sent a let- statement, the Canadian likelihood athletes would Japan’s politicians fell
ter to athletes explaining Olympic Committee said overtrain if given a com- in line quickly on Mon-
the decision, while also it would not send athletes pressed schedule and day as they awakened to
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
After an
abusive re-
lationship ended
14 years ago, I
stayed single and
raised my small
son to adulthood.
I dated here and
there, but never
found anyone I
had serious feel-
ZITS ings for who also
felt the same way
about me until
seven months
ago.
My feelings for
Dear Abby
my boyfriend are
strong, and it’s mutual. He is
giving, kind, caring, hardwork-
ing and protective. We are very
much in love. He tells me he
feels like he can be himself
around me, something he has
never had before. I’ve never
had anyone care so much
GARFIELD about my well-being.
We talk about everything
and differ on only one point
so far. I’m in education and an
LGBTQ ally. He feels strongly
that nature dictates that only
a man and a woman belong
together, and he says he hates
gay people. (We both grew up
in very small, conservative
communities.)
Now that my son is older,
I plan to use my experiences
to be a stronger voice on
education issues regarding tol-
CANDORVILLE erance and improving learning
outcomes for all by instilling
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March
24). The cosmic birthday gift:
You’ll take a risk, and suddenly
things will just fall into place,
which is how you’ll know you’re
on the right track. The more you
share with others, the better
you’ll know yourself. Refuse the
tendency to isolate. You’re ex-
cellent company, but your best
BABY BLUES interests are severed when you
join others. Gemini and Libra
adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 9, 18, 4, 44 and 28.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
The life that used to seem so
clear to you is nowhere to be
seen. You were younger when
you played it on the projector
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
FAMILY CIRCUS
Bach’s move, which was
announced at 3 a.m. in
Tokyo as most of the city
slept.
Japanese Prime Min-
ister Shinzo Abe, speak-
ing at a parliamentary
session, said a postpone-
ment of the Tokyo Olym-
pics would be necessary
if the games cannot be
held in a complete way
because of the coronavi-
rus pandemic.
“If it is difficult to
hold (the games) in a
complete way, a deci-
sion of postponement
would be unavoidable,”
he said.
Abe said he hoped the
IOC would announce a
decision quickly, and
Tokyo Governor Yuriko
Koike echoed him.
conflict resolu-
tion principles in
my educational
practices. I’m
not changing my
view on this, but I
want to continue
for us to love and
support each
other.
Should I tell
my boyfriend
I understand
where he’s com-
ing from based
upon where and
how we were
raised? Do you
think down the
road our basic principles will
drive us apart? We have been
talking about buying a house in
the country together, although
neither of us has intentions
of marriage anytime soon. —
HESITATING IN ILLINOIS
DEAR HESITATING: You
should absolutely talk to your
boyfriend about your plan to
become an outspoken LGBTQ
ally and more active in your
profession. When you become
more visible, do you plan to
separate your career and
your personal life? It appears
you are willing (and able) to
respect him, and understand
why he feels the way he
does. But is he willing to do
the same for you, and will
his conservative convictions
negatively affect how you plan
to live your life?
It is VERY important that
of your mind. Now your ideas
about the future wisely include
great margins of inconceivabil-
ity.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
As you continue to make efforts
instead of excuses, you set
yourself apart from the weaker
contestants. The competition
gets more intense, and so do
you. Your fan base grows.
GEMINI (May 21-June
21). When people feel judged,
they want to depart from the
source of judgment. It’s true of
self-judgment, too. To eliminate
the need for such an escape,
refrain from harsh judgment of
yourself or anyone else.
TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020 3B
The IOC holds most
of the cards in any re-
scheduling, spelled out
in a Host City Contract
signed in 2013 between
the IOC, the Japanese
Olympic Committee and
the city of Tokyo.
Japan is officially
spending $12.6 billion to
organize the Olympics,
but a national audit put
the figure at more than
twice that much. The
bill is sure to increase
with any postponement,
and the vast majority of
the spending if from the
public treasury.
The IOC has a re-
serve fund of about $2
billion to tide itself over,
and also has insurance
against postponement
or cancellation.
this issue be resolved BEFORE
investing in real estate with
him — as well as any more
precious time. A professional
mediator may be able to help
with the conversation if you
can’t do this by yourselves.
DEAR ABBY: My two grand-
children, 12 and 16, used
to spend a lot of time with
my husband and me, staying
overnight, going on trips, etc.
As they have gotten older, I
recognize that they will natural-
ly want to spend less time with
us old folks.
My problem is, when I send
them texts to invite them for
lunch or out somewhere for
the day, they don’t respond
or just respond with an IDK
(I don’t know). My question:
Should I ask again to get an
answer before the scheduled
lunch or trip, or should I just
forget it and assume they
don’t want to be involved
with us? — SAD MEMAW IN
FLORIDA
DEAR SAD: You have asked
an intelligent question, but you
are asking the wrong person.
The people you should be
asking are your grandchildren,
and when you do, it should be
face-to-face.
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.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
More is not always merrier, and
it’s usually costly and cumber-
some. Before you add a slew
of people to the party, make
sure you have the proverbial
equivalent of enough food, drink
and entertainment.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Once
you’re moving, moving is the
most natural thing to do. The
same goes for deciding. You’re
in a mood to make decisions
and keep choosing until you
have lined up your activity plan
into the foreseeable future.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
There are three roles open to
you: critic, competitor and prob-
lem-solver. The most natural fit
is the last one, as you’ll gravi-
tate toward solutions that serve
the best interests of all.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
You get along with most. No one
can get along with all. There’s
learning potential in every
interaction, and you’ll grow from
every relationship, even the
more difficult ones.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). Maybe believing in an
indifferent universe is the same
as accepting reality. The inevita-
bilities of life can and should be
combatted daily with an active
pursuit of kindness and beauty.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). There’s no great mystery
here, just a problem with a prac-
tical solution, which you have at
your fingertips. You won’t even
have to come up with it. Just
close your eyes and remember.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). Does scale really matter?
The attention you put in will be
the same today whether you’re
addressing one person or 100
or 1,000. You’ll give it all your
very best.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). You want to bring people
something they can use and
delight in. You want to be the
levity, the gift, the laughter. This
is a lot to ask of yourself, and
yet you’ll deliver it today.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). When it’s your room, it’s
your rules. The more you get
with this principle, the more you
adhere to other people’s rules
in their rooms. Boundaries get
laid today.
A Mickey Mouse operation
SOLUTION:
4B TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
Obituaries with basic informa-
tion including visitation and
service times, are provided
free of charge. Extended
obituaries with a photograph,
detailed biographical informa-
tion and other details families
may wish to include, are
available for a fee. Obituaries
must be submitted through
funeral homes unless the
deceased’s body has been
donated to science. If the
deceased’s body was donated
to science, the family must
provide official proof of death.
Please submit all obituaries
on the form provided by The
Commercial Dispatch. Free
notices must be submitted
to the newspaper no later
than 3 p.m. the day prior for
publication Tuesday through
Friday; no later than 4 p.m.
Saturday for the Sunday edi-
tion; and no later than 7:30
a.m. for the Monday edition.
Incomplete notices must be
received no later than 7:30
a.m. for the Monday through
Friday editions. Paid notices
must be finalized by 3 p.m. for
inclusion the next day Monday
through Thursday; and on
Friday by 3 p.m. for Sunday
and Monday publication. For
more information, call 662-
AREA OBITUARIES
later date. Welch Funeral
Walter Bjorklund Home of Starkville is in
COLUMBUS — Wal-
ter R. “Bob” Bjorklund charge of arrangements.
Mr. Horner was born
Jr., 78, died March 23,
2020, at Garden Hill to the late Richard Horn-
er and Louis Beightol
Assisted Living.
Horner.
Arrangements are
In addition to his par-
incomplete and will be
ents, he was preceded
announced by Lowndes
in death by his brother,
Funeral Home of Colum-
Dennis Horner.
bus.
He is survived by his
wife, Sue Horner; chil-
Clara Jones dren, Chelsea Jefferson
MACON — Clara of Starkville and Jason
Jones, 63, died March Horner of Ackerman;
21, 2020.
sister, Myrna Horner;
Arrangements are
and five grandchildren.
incomplete and will be
announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Deborah Shaffer
WEST POINT —
Macon. Deborah “Debbie”
Marie Shaffer, 64, died
Larry Horner March 9, 2020, at sea, en
STARKVILLE — route to Montego Bay.
Larry R. Horner, 70, Private family graveside
died March 23, 2020, at services were at 2 p.m.
Baptist Memorial Hospi- Monday, at Mt. Moriah
tal-Golden Triangle. Methodist Cemetery.
A private family Calvery Funeral Home
graveside service will of West Point was in
be at 1 p.m. Friday, at charge of arrangements.
Memorial Garden Park Mrs. Shaffer was
Cemetery. A memorial born July 12, 1955, in
Thomas Gene and Eddie
Maurice McMinn Pel-
lum. She was previously
employed as a truck
driver.
She is survived by
her husband, Kim
Allen Shaffer of Sturgis;
children, Beck Bishop of
Millport, Alabama, Patty
Smith of Starkville and
Jonathan Upchurch of
Sturgis; and eight grand-
children.
Memorials may be
made to St. Jude, 501 St.
Jude Place, Memphis,
TN 38105.
Charles E. Stafford
Charles E. Stafford, age 83 died Sunday,
March 22, 2020, at his residence in Columbus.
A family graveside service will be held at Mt.
Vernon Cemetery.
Mr. Stafford was born on Tuesday, July 28, 1936
in Columbus to the late Challyes and Irin Henley
Stafford. He was a member of Fairview Baptist
Church and the Billy Bozeman Sunday School
Class. Mr. Stafford was a retired serviceman for
Cole Refrigeration, and a U.S. Army Veteran.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in
death by his brother, Kenny Stafford.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Stafford;
sons, Mike Stafford, Mark Stafford (Tammie),
Andy Stafford (Susan); grandchildren, Kelly
Cuevas (Justin), Dylan Stafford (Macy), Katie
Stafford, Macie McCormick (Zach); and great-
grandchildren, Addison, Milly, Kinsley and
Rylan.
Family members will serve as pallbearers.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the
members of the Billy Bozeman Sunday School
Class.
Memorials may be made to Fairview Baptist
Church 127 Airline Road Columbus, MS 39702 or
the charity of your choice.
Sign the online guest book at
www.memorialgunterpeel.com
College Street • Columbus, MS

Frank Jenkins, Sr.

328-2471.
90-degree temperatures possible
service will be held at a Starkville, to the late Charles Stafford
Services:
Family Graveside Service
Burial
Mt. Vernon Cemetery
College Street Location
Frank Maurice Jenkins, Sr.,
81, of Columbus, MS passed
away Thursday, March 19,
2020, at his residence.

across Deep South this week A family funeral service will

NWS: In Mississippi, 89 degree
temperatures are predicted
for Jackson, Meridian and McComb
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAVANNAH, Ga. — A
scorching wave of sum-
mer-like heat could be in
store for parts of the Deep
South later this week.
The National Weather
Service is predicting tem-
peratures Thursday and
Friday could approach or
even exceed 90 degrees
in areas of Georgia, Al-
abama, Mississippi and
Louisiana.
In southern Georgia,
the cities of Valdosta and
Online posts
falsely claim
census response
will lead to cash
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — You won’t
get a check in the mail for
filling out this year’s census
as claims circulating on so-
cial media suggest.
The inaccurate posts on
sites including Facebook
and Twitter urge people
to respond to the census.
They claim if you do so
you will receive one of the
stimulus checks that the
federal government is con-
sidering sending to Amer-
ican households to buffer
the economic impact of the
coronavirus pandemic. The
virus spreading across the
U.S. has left millions out of
work and sent the economy
into a tailspin.
Congress and the White
House were struggling
Monday to agree on a nearly
$2 trillion economic rescue
package that could include
sending a one-time rebate
check of about $1,200 to
those who qualify or $3,000
for a family of four.
But even if Congress
agrees to send money
directly to Americans,
federal law prohibits the
government from using
information on the census
to mail out those stimulus
checks.
The U.S. Census Bu-
reau cannot legally share
individual responses on the
once-every-decade form,
and is only allowed to use
that information to produce
statistics.
“Your answers cannot
be used to impact your eli-
gibility for any government
benefits, including any po-
tential stimulus package,”
the bureau said in a state-
ment Saturday.
be Monday, March 23, 2020 at
1:00 in the Lowndes Funeral
also predicted for the cit-
ies of Jackson, Meridian
Home chapel with Bro. Melvin
Mordecai officiating. Lowndes
and McComb. And fore-
casters in Louisiana say
memorialgunterpeel.com Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Jenkins was born June 3, 1938, to the
Baton Rouge and Alexan- late Homer and Nannie Hembree Jenkins in
dria could reach 88. Newport, TN. He retired as a TSGT from the
Alma could see highs of United States Air Force after 20 years of service.
91 before the weekend Mr. Jenkins was a member of the First Assembly
arrives. Temperatures
of God Church, Columbus, MS, he loved the Lord
in Savannah and Albany and loved serving the Lord. He enjoyed fishing,
are forecast to reach 89
baseball and watching the Atlanta Braves.
degrees, according to the
In addition to his parents, Mr. Jenkins was
weather service.
preceded in death by his wife, Elvira Jenkins.
Forecasters say Ever-
Mr. Jenkins is survived by his daughters,
green, Alabama, could hit
Deborah Owens, Columbus, MS and Linda
90 degrees, with Mont-
gomery only slightly cool-
(Judy Patterson) Jenkins, Columbus, MS; son,
er at 89. Frank (Tammy) Jenkins, Jr., Columbus, MS;
In Mississippi, 89 de- grandchildren, Laura Kelly, Brian Jenkins,
gree temperatures are David Christ, and Timothy Jenkins; great-
grandchildren, Nicholas Jenkins, Gabriel Christ,
Brianna Christ, Zaylie Jenkins, Jillian Kelly,
Kylie Christ, Amelia Kelly, Jadon Kellum and
Jude Kellum; and brothers, Charles Jenkins and
Gary Jenkins.
Memorials may be made to American Cancer
Society, 1380 Livingston Lane, Jackson, MS
39213.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
Annie Ruth Ponds
Annie Ruth Pridmore Ponds, 93, of Columbus,
MS passed away Saturday, March 21, 2020, at
Trinity Healthcare in Columbus, MS.
A family only graveside will be held Tuesday,
March 24, 2020, at 2:00 PM in Beersheba
Cemetery, Columbus, MS, with Rev. Tim Lee
officiating and Lowndes Funeral Home directing.
Mrs. Ponds was born February 3, 1927, in
Pickens County, AL, to the late Noland and
Annie Pearl Hughes Pridmore. She graduated
from New Hope High School in Columbus, MS
in 1947 and married Kirby C. Ponds in May of
1947. She was a book keeper for 45 years having
worked at Mississippi Wholesale Hardware,
West and Sons, City Electric, Derden Carpet
and Industrial Fabricators. Mrs. Ponds enjoyed
sewing, gardening, reading, traveling, cooking,
landscaping and spending time with her family.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in
death by her husband, Kirby Ponds; son, Ronnie
Ponds; daughter in law, Joyce Ponds; grandchild,
Lee Ann Bosman; brother, Hughes Preston
Pridmore and sister, Lorene Thrasher.
Mrs. Ponds is survived by her daughters,
Cynthia (Jimmy) Wilkinson and Lisa (Jay)
Hodson of Columbus, MS; grandchildren,
Neal (Shan) Wilkinson, John Wilkinson, Trey
Hodson, Aaron (Mikenzie) Hodson, Anna
Hodson, Delane Bosman; great-grandchildren,
Maggie Wilkinson, Cason Wilkinson, Titus
Hodson; brother, Hubert Pridmore; and sister,
Atlas Boyer.
Pallbearers will be Delane Bosman, Neal
Wilkinson, John Wilkinson, Trey Hodson, Aaron
Hodson and Cason Wilkinson.
Honorary Pallbearers will be staff of Trinity
Healthcare and Trinity Personal Care, New Hope
Class of 1947.
Memorials may be made to Beersheba
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1736
Beersheba Road, Columbus, MS 39702 or Trinity
Healthcare-Sunday Fund 230 Airline Road,
Columbus, MS 39702.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
cdispatch.com
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020 5B

Classifieds
LEGALS
Call us: 662-328-2424
Legal Notices
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF ANNE W. WEST, DE-
CEASED
CAUSE NO:2020-0040-JNS
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
LOWNDES COUNTY
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
Anne W. West, deceased, by
the Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, on the 5th
day of March, A. D., 2020. This
is to give notice to all persons
having claims against said es-
tate to Probate and Register
same with the Chancery Clerk
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi, within ninety (90) days
from the first publication date
of this Notice to Creditors. A
failure to so Probate and Re-
gister said claim will forever
bar the same.
This the 6th day of March,
2020.
/s/WILLIAM HENRY WEST
/s/DONALD VINCEN WEST
McEwen Law Firm
Steven R. McEwen
P. O. Box 709
Columbus, MS 39703
PUBLISH: 3/10, 3/17,
3/24/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
BRUCE WAYNE BRADLEY,
PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
REBECCA FAYE MORRIS
THOMPSON, DEFENDANT
CAUSE NO: 2015-0194-JNS
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
TO: REBECCA FAYE MORRIS
THOMPSON an adult non-resid-
ent citizen of the State of Mis-
sissippi or not to be found
therein on diligent inquiry and
the Post Office and physical ad-
dresses are unknown. You
have been made parties in the
Complaint for Child Custody
and Other Relief filed in the
Court by Bruce Wayne Bradley.
You are summoned to appear
in this cause at 9:00 o'clock
A.M. on the 9th day of April,
A.D., 2020 in the Chancery
Courthouse in Columbus,
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
and in the case of your failure
to appear and defend this mat-
ter will be forced to default all
rights.
You are required to mail or
hand deliver a copy of a writ-
ten ANSWER either admitting
or denying each allegation in
the Complaint to Charles Eas-
ley, Jr., Attorney whose ad-
dress is Post Office Box 1472, Edition of the Mississippi
Columbus, MS 39703-1472.
YOUR ANSWER MUST BE
MAILED OR DELIVERED NO
LATER THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS referred to herein, may be pur-
FROM THE DATE OF FIRST PUB- chased from the Mississippi
LICATION. IF YOUR ANSWER IS Department of Transportation.
NOT MAILED OR DELIVERED
AND YOU APPEAR AT SAID
TIME, A JUDGMENT MAY BE
ENTERED AGAINST YOU FOR
THE MONEY OR OTHER RELIEF volving omissions irregularities
DEMANDED IN THE COM-
PLAINT FOR DIVORCE AND
OTHER RELIEF.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND
OFFICIAL SEAL OF said Court of manner the conditions under
Lowndes County, Columbus,
Mississippi, this 6th day of
March, 2020.
Cindy Goode
Chancery Clerk of Lowndes
County, Mississippi
BY: Shantrell W. Granderson,
D.C.
PUBLISH: 3/10, 3/17 &
3/24/2020
ADVERTISEMENT
THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, MIS-
SISSIPPI
MAIN STREET AT 2ND STREET
INTERSECTION IMPROVE-
MENTS
LOWNDES COUNTY
FEDERAL – AID PROJECT NO.
STP-0068-00(017)
LPA/107968-70100
Sealed bids for the Main Street OR ENTITIES HAVING OR
at 2nd Street Intersection Im-
provements Project, Federal-Aid ABLE INTEREST IN CERTAIN
Project No. STP-0068-00(017)
LPA/107968-70100, will be re- SECTION 16, TOWNSHIP 18
ceived no later than 10:00
A.M. Local Prevailing Time,
Tuesday, April 21st, 2020, in
the offices of the City of Colum- 61W080007700, LOCATED AT
bus, Office of the Mayor, loc-
ated at 523 Main Street.
Columbus, MS 39701 or elec-
tronically via www.neel-schaffer-
plans.com. All bids received
will be publicly opened and
Need fast cash?
read aloud.
The work shall consist essen-
tially of building a mini-round-
about with new sidewalk, new
driveways, new curb and gutter,
additional pavement struc-
tures, updated striping, and up-
dated signing.
The above general outline of
features of the work does not
in any way limit the responsibil-
ity of the Contractor to perform
all work and furnish all plant,
labor, equipment and materi-
als required by the specifica-
tions and the drawings re-
ferred to therein.
The attention of bidders is dir- Court by the Columbus Re-
ected to the Contract Provi-
sions governing selection and
employment of labor. Minim-
um wage rates for Federal – Aid 621 4th Street North, in Lot 6,
projects have been predeter-
mined by the Secretary of labor erman’s Addition, Columbus,
Sell your unwanted items in the classifieds today.
and are subject to Public Law
87-581 Work hours Act of
1962, set forth in the Contract 61W080007700. The property
Provisions.
INTERSECTION IMPROVE-
MENTS
LOWNDES COUNTY
FEDERAL – AID PROJECT NO.
STP-0068-00(017)
LPA/107968-70100
Sealed bids for the Main Street OR ENTITIES HAVING OR
at 2nd Street Intersection Im-
provements Project, Federal-Aid ABLE INTEREST IN CERTAIN
Project No. STP-0068-00(017)
LPA/107968-70100, will be re- SECTION 16, TOWNSHIP 18
ceived no later than 10:00
A.M. Local Prevailing Time,
Tuesday, April 21st, 2020, in
the offices of the City of Colum- 61W080007700, LOCATED AT
bus, Office of the Mayor, loc-
ated at 523 Main Street.
Columbus, MS 39701 or elec-
Legal Notices
tronically via www.neel-schaffer- Legal Notices
plans.com. All bids received
will be publicly opened and
read aloud.
The work shall consist essen-
tially of building a mini-round-
about with new sidewalk, new
driveways, new curb and gutter,
additional pavement struc-
tures, updated striping, and up-
dated signing.
The above general outline of
features of the work does not
in any way limit the responsibil-
ity of the Contractor to perform
all work and furnish all plant,
labor, equipment and materi-
als required by the specifica-
tions and the drawings re-
ferred to therein.
The attention of bidders is dir-
ected to the Contract Provi-
sions governing selection and
employment of labor. Minim-
um wage rates for Federal – Aid 621 4th Street North, in Lot 6,
projects have been predeter-
mined by the Secretary of labor erman’s Addition, Columbus,
and are subject to Public Law
87-581 Work hours Act of
1962, set forth in the Contract 61W080007700. The property
Provisions.
The City of Columbus hereby
notifies all Bidders that it will
affirmatively insure that in any Bottom) of the City of Colum-
contract entered into pursuant bus, Mississippi.
to this advertisement, disad-
vantaged and women’s busi-
ness enterprises will be af-
forded the full opportunity to
submit bids in response to this you in this action at 9:30
invitation and will not be dis-
criminated against the grounds of April, 2020, in the circuit
of race, color, or national ori- courtroom, second floor, of the
gin in consideration for an
award. The DBE goal for this
project is 5 percent.
Bid documents are being made entered against you for the
available electronically and via money or other things deman-
paper copy (if requested). Plan ded in the complaint or peti-
holders are required to re-
gister for an account at
www.neel-schafferplans.com to You are hereby further given
view and order Bid Documents. notice that not less than ten
All plan holders are required to (10) days prior to the date of
have a valid email address for
registration. Bid documents are the Statement of Values pursu-
non-refundable and must be
purchased through the website. 7, which shall be treated as
For questions regarding web-
site registration and online or-
ders, please contact Plan
House Printing at (662) 407-
0193.
Each bid shall be accompan-
ied by a Certified Check on a
solvent bank or a Bidder’s
Bond issued by a surety Com-
pany licensed to operate in the an Answer or other pleading
State of Mississippi, in the
amount of five percent (5%) of
the total bid price, payable to
the City of Columbus as bid se- Issued under my hand and the
curity. Bidders shall also sub-
mit a current financial state-
ment, if requested by the Dis-
trict. The successful bidder will TERESA BARKSDALE, CLERK
be required to furnish a Per-
formance Bond and a Payment DOMAIN,
Bond in the amount of one hun- LOWNDES COUNTY, MS
dred percent (100%) of the con-
tract amount.
No bidder may withdraw his bid
within (60) days after the date
of actual bid opening, without
Owner’s consent.
Work to be performed shall be
in accordance with the Missis-
sippi Road and Bridge Con-
struction (the 2017 edition) to-
gether with all amendments
and / or special provisions
and/or addenda to the stand-
ards duly approved and adop-
ted, unless otherwise noted in
these specifications. The 2017
Standard Specifications for
Road and Bridge Construction,
adopted by the Mississippi De-
partment of Transportation, as
Bidders are hereby notified that
award will not be made to any
bidder submitting a proposal in-
outlined in Section 102 of the
2017 Edition of the Standard
Specifications for Road and
Bridge Construction, or accom-
panied by letters qualifying any
which the proposal is tendered.
No bid proposal will be sold
after 12 P.M. the day preced-
ing the Advertisement Date for
receipt of bids.
THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, MIS-
SISSIPPI
PUBLISH: 3/24 & 3/31/2020
IN THE SPECIAL COURT OF EM-
INENT DOMAIN
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
COLUMBUS REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY PLAINTIFF
V.
FAVAN FARMS, L.L.C.,
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI, CITY OF COLUMBUS,
MISSISSIPPI, AND THE UN-
KNOWN HEIRS-AT-LAW AND DE-
VISEES OF JOHN A. POE, DE-
CEASED, AND ALL PERSONS
CLAIMING A LEGAL OR EQUIT-
REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN
SOUTH, RANGE 18 WEST,
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI, BEING TAX PARCEL NO.
621 4TH STREET NORTH
COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI DE-
FENDANTS
NO. 2020- 0004-ED2
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS-AT-
LAW AND DEVISEES OF JOHN
A. POE, DECEASED, AND ALL
PERSONS OR ENTITIES HAV-
ING OR CLAIMING A LEGAL OR
EQUITABLE INTEREST IN CER-
TAIN REAL PROPERTY LOC-
ATED IN SECTION 16, TOWN-
SHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE 18
WEST, LOWNDES COUNTY,
MISSISSIPPI, BEING TAX PAR-
CEL NO. 61W080007700,
LOCATED AT 621 4TH STREET
NORTH, COLUMBUS, MISSIS-
SIPPI
You have been made Defend-
ants in a lawsuit filed in this
PUBLISH: 3/10, 3/17, &
3/24/2020
development Authority to con-
demn by eminent domain cer-
tain real property located at
Square 34, North of Main, Fish-
Mississippi, and being
Lowndes tax parcel
is necessary to renew and re-
development blighted condi-
FAVAN FARMS, L.L.C.,
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI, CITY OF COLUMBUS,
MISSISSIPPI, AND THE UN-
KNOWN HEIRS-AT-LAW AND DE-
VISEES OF JOHN A. POE, DE-
CEASED, AND ALL PERSONS
CLAIMING A LEGAL OR EQUIT-
REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN
SOUTH, RANGE 18 WEST,
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI, BEING TAX PARCEL NO.
621 4TH STREET NORTH
COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI DE-
FENDANTS
NO. 2020- 0004-ED2
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS-AT-
LAW AND DEVISEES OF JOHN
A. POE, DECEASED, AND ALL
PERSONS OR ENTITIES HAV-
ING OR CLAIMING A LEGAL OR
EQUITABLE INTEREST IN CER-
TAIN REAL PROPERTY LOC-
ATED IN SECTION 16, TOWN-
SHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE 18
WEST, LOWNDES COUNTY,
MISSISSIPPI, BEING TAX PAR-
CEL NO. 61W080007700,
LOCATED AT 621 4TH STREET
NORTH, COLUMBUS, MISSIS-
SIPPI
You have been made Defend-
ants in a lawsuit filed in this
Court by the Columbus Re-
development Authority to con-
demn by eminent domain cer-
tain real property located at
Square 34, North of Main, Fish-
Mississippi, and being
Lowndes tax parcel
is necessary to renew and re-
development blighted condi-
tions in accordance with the
Urban Renewal Plan (Burns
You are summoned to appear
and defend against the com-
plaint or petition filed against
o’clock a. m. on the 28th day
Lowndes County Courthouse in
Columbus, Mississippi, and in
case of your failure to appear
and defend, a judgment will be
tion.
the trial, you are required to file
ant to Miss. Code Ann. §11-27-
pleadings in this action. The
date of the filing of the Com-
plaint herein is the 21st day of
January, 2020, and the name
and address of the attorney for
the Plaintiff is Martha Bost
Stegall, P. O. Box 7120, Tu-
pelo, Mississippi 38802. Oth-
er than the Statement of Val-
ues you are not required to file
but you may do so if you de-
sire.
seal of said Court, this 18th
day of March, 2020.
SPECIAL COURT OF EMINENT
BY: Ann Marie Langford, D.C.
Publish: 3/24, 3/31 &
4/7/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF MARY THEO BURNS,
DECEASED
CAUSE NO: 2020-0042-RPF
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
LOWNDES COUNTY
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
Mary Theo Burns, deceased, by
the Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, on the 5th
day of March, A. D., 2020. This
is to give notice to all persons
having claims against said es-
tate to Probate and Register
same with the Chancery Clerk
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi, within ninety (90) days
from the first publication date
of this Notice to Creditors. A
failure to so Probate and Re-
gister said claim will forever
bar the same.
This the 6th day of March,
2020.
/s/LESLIE KAYE BURNS
McEwen Law Firm
Steven R. McEwen
P. O. Box 709
Columbus, MS 39703
Publish: 3/10, 3/17,
3/24/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF ROBBIE DOUGLAS
JACKSON, DECEASED
CAUSE NO: 2020-0041-PDE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
LOWNDES COUNTY
Letters of Administration have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
Robbie Douglas Jackson, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi, on the 5th day of March,
A. D., 2020. This is to give no-
tice to all persons having
claims against said estate to
Probate and Register same
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 said
claim will forever bar the same.
This the 6th day of March,
2020.
/s/MICHAEL LYNDON
DOUGLAS
McEwen Law Firm
Steven R. McEwen
P. O. Box 709
Columbus, MS 39703
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF ROBBIE DOUGLAS
JACKSON, DECEASED
CAUSE NO: 2020-0041-PDE Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
LOWNDES COUNTY
Letters of Administration have
been granted and issued to the
undersigned upon the Estate of
Robbie Douglas Jackson, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi, on the 5th day of March,
A. D., 2020. This is to give no-
tice to all persons having
claims against said estate to
Legal Notices
Probate and Register same
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 said
claim will forever bar the same.
This the 6th day of March,
2020.
/s/MICHAEL LYNDON
DOUGLAS
McEwen Law Firm
Steven R. McEwen
P. O. Box 709
Columbus, MS 39703
PUBLISH: 3/10, 3/17, &
3/24/2020
Employment
Call us: 662-328-2424
General Help Wanted
CARPENTER NEEDED w/ at
least 4 yrs. of experience.
Ideal candidate will have an
eye for detail, be depend-
able, have good communic-
ation skills, reliable trans-
portation & basic tools. We
specialize in home remod-
els & new construction.
Call 662-570-9464 for info.
Rentals
Ads starting at $25
Apts For Rent: South
3BR/1.5BA TOWNHOME @
1705 Bell Ave, beside
MUW. $600/mo + $600
dep. 678−949−6877.
Apts For Rent: West
VIP
Rentals
Apartments & Houses
1 Bedrooms
2 Bedroooms
3 Bedrooms
Furnished & Unfurnished
1, 2, & 3 Baths
Lease, Deposit
& Credit Check
viceinvestments.com
327-8555
Apts For Rent: Other OFFICE SPACE FOR
LEASE. 1112 Main St.,
1ST MONTH − RENT FREE! Ste. 5. 3700 sq. ft.
1−2 BR Apt: $350−435 Plenty of private parking.
1−2BR TwnHm: $625−650 662−327−9559.
Lease, Dep, Credit Check.
Coleman Realty
662−329−2323
Have a rental property?
List it here for fast results.
ads.cdispatch.com
Service Directory
Promote your small business starting at only $25
Automotive Services
Auto Sales
LE S
WHO ALE New & Used
Tires
Maintenance
Brakes
UT
O CENTE
Insurance
A
662-605-5125
7596 Hwy 45 Alt N • West Point
Building & Remodeling
REMODELING, BRICK
work, painting, storm
damage or additions.
Free estimates.
40 years experience.
662−570−3430
Let your
fingers do
the walking.
Find needed
services in
the classifieds!
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020 n 6B
Apts For Rent: Other Houses For Sale: New Hope Campers & RVs
DOWNTOWN: 2BR/1BA 16 WIDNER IN NEW HOPE For Sale: 2004 Sierra
CH&A, 1 story, W/D, Newly remodeled. 3BR/ 5th Wheel Camper. 34 ft.
historic district, 1 block 2BA home. Approx. 1,500 One slide. $3000.
from downtown. sq. ft. Has 25’x30’ wired Call 662−242−2570.
$575/mo. + $575 dep. metal shop w/ roll−up front
Motorcycles & ATVs
NO PETS. 662−574−8789. & side door. $158,500.
Peaceful & Quiet area. 662−549−9298.
1993 KAWASAKI
Lots & Acreage
COLEMAN
VOYAGER XII Only 25,500
miles. Runs & looks good.
1.75 ACRE LOTS. Good/ No problems. $3000 OBO.
RENTALS Bad Credit Options. Good Can be seen local.
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
credit as low as 10% down, 501−545−7750.
$299/mo. Eaton Land,
1 BEDROOM 662−361−7711.
Motorcycles & ATVs
2 BEDROOMS
3 BEDROOMS 19 ACRES with 16 acres of
30 year old Timber. Close
1999 ROADSTAR 1600
Only 45k miles. Hard bags,
LEASE, to town/lock & dam. rider & passenger back
© The Dispatch
$45,000. Call between rests w/ luggage rack, has
DEPOSIT
8a−7p, 662−386−0028. windshield. Ready to ride!
AND $3000 OBO. Can be seen
LOT FOR SALE @ 406 local. 501−545−7750.
CREDIT CHECK Cherry Street. $5,000.
Call 662−328−5063 or
662-329-2323 662−436−6238,
leave message.
2 RACING GO KARTS,
extra tires & gears,
$2,500. Call between
2411 HWY 45 N 8a−7p, 662−328−0028.
COLUMBUS, MS
Merchandise
2017 Harley Davidson CVO
Street Glide Special
Commercial Property For Rent
Starfire Black. Beautiful
Bike with 2 luggage racks
FOR RENT LOCATED NEAR Ads starting at $12 and saddle bag inserts.
DOWNTOWN. 3,000 sq. ft.
Excellent Condition.
truck terminal, 9,500 sq. Farm Equipment & Supplies
ft. shop & 3,200 sq. ft. $25,500.00
662−574−9663
office/shop. Buildings can
be rented together or JOHN DEERE MODEL M
TRACTOR. A set of one row
separately. All w/ excellent 2015 Harley Davidson
cultivators w/ hydraulic lift,
access & Hwy. 82 visibility. VROD Night Rod Edition.
has been repainted, looks
662−327−9559. Dark Red with 8,000 miles.
good & runs good, $3500. Excellent Condition.
Houses For Rent: North Call 662−436−2037.
$8,500.00
Furniture 662−574−9663
HOUSE FOR RENT
2−3 Bedroom w/ 1.5 Bath
Fenced in yard. $675. LIVING ROOM SET 2014 Harley Davidson CVO
662−549−9555. Loveseat & chaise for sale. Limited. Silver and Sunset
Ask for Glenn or text. NEW!! $300. Orange, approx. 20,000
662−242−2884. Leave a miles, new front and rear
Houses For Rent: New Hope message. tires and battery.
Excellent Condition.
General Merchandise $15,500.00
3 Bedroom/2 Bath House
w/ fenced back yard in 662−574−9663
New Hope. Renovation WANTED FREON R12.
currently underway w/ new We pay CA$H.
Community
R12 R500 R11.
ceramic tile & wood floors,
Convenient.
bathroom fixtures, kitchen
Certified professionals.
appliances & all new paint.
$900.00. 917−324−3347. 312−291−9169
RefrigerantFinders.com/ad Ads starting at $12
Mobile Homes for Rent
RENT A CAMPER! WHITE POSTER Travel & Entertainment
CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
Utilities & cable included,
BOARDS.
24"x23"
from $145/wk − $535/mo $0.50 each.
100 in stock.
PUBLIC CATFISH POND
Columbus & County School @ 130 Hillcrest Drive.
locations. 662−242−7653 Visit 516 Main St. or Open Wed, Thur & Sat.
or 205−442−2011. call 662−328−2424. 7am−6pm
For rates call
662−386−8591
RV/MOBILE HOME SITE Lawn & Garden
East or West Columbus or
near CAFB, Caledonia Garden Tiller Earthquake,
schools. 601−940−1397. rear tines, with reverse and Five Questions:
6.5hp Kohler engine.
Office Spaces For Rent Excellent condition. May
have five hours run time.
Kept under cover. $300.00 1 Bonnaroo
662−328−9223
2 “Zombieland”
Vehicles
3 Dr. Sanjay
Real Estate
Gupta
Ads starting at $12
Campers & RVs
Ads starting at $25
4 Tuesday
2012 JAYCO EAGLE 5th
Houses For Sale: East
WHEEL, 39ft, 4 slide−outs.
5 Las Vegas
2BR, 48" TV & 27" TV.
3BR/1BA @ 1521
$26,500. 662−386−9605.
Shepherd Rd.
Sold as is, needs work.
Serious inquiries only, Need a
769−274−4110.
new car?
2 BR, 2 bath LR, Dining/
kitchen and step down den.
Large lot. Needs work but
Start in the classifieds section for
is livable. Price reduced.
Must sell. $9,500.00 662 your buying and selling needs!
−574−2617
ads.cdispatch.com Ads starting at $12 for one week!
Carpet & Flooring General Services General Services
WORK WANTED: CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY
Licensed & Bonded. $545 plus Filing Fee
Carpentry, minor electrical,
minor plumbing, insulation, CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY
All Attorney Fees Through The Plan
painting, demolition,
gutters cleaned, pressure Jim Arnold, Attorney
washing, landscaping,
cleanup work, moving help. 662-324-1666 • 601-656-6914
662−242−3608. 104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville
DAVID’S CARPET & Lawn Care / Landscaping
GRAVEL, $360 OR LESS!
UPHOLSTERY
Local delivery, 14 yd truck.
CLEANING AND Backhoe & Dozer work. FOR ALL YOUR SPRING &
DISINFECTING
Mobile Home Pads & SUMMER NEEDS CALL
1 Room − $50 ROBINSON LAWN
Driveways.
2 Rooms − $70
662−497−1388 SERVICES.
3+ Rooms − $30 EA We also specialize in
Rugs−Must Be Seen landscaping services.
Car Upholstery
Cleaning Available JEWELRY REPAIR 662−435−8746 or
662−272−8746.
662−722−1758 RKERS Free estimates available.
PA
ON
J.
Childcare
JESSE & BEVERLY’S
100 Russell St.
E LAWN SERVICE
W ELER Starkville, MS
J
CHILDCARE SERVICES Mowing, cleanup,
Look No Further!! 662-268-8058
landscaping, sodding,
Quality Childcare Services & tree cutting.
Are Available For The
Golden Triangle Area!! MONOGRAMMING 662−356−6525
662.343.8386 or
662.813.3672. Serious
Inquiries Only, Please!! Just for Ladies SAM’S LAWN SERVICE
No lawn too large or too
small. Mowing, trimming &
General Services Mossy Oak Mall • West Point weedeating.
662-492-4221 • Mon.-Sat. Call 662−243−1694
CHILDREN’S & LADIES’ CONSIGNMENT
WEEKEND WARRIORS.
Painting & Papering
You have problems, we
have answers. 30 years
exp in roofing, drywall, Shop SULLIVAN’S PAINT
painting, flooring, decking. SERVICE. Special Prices.
Free estimates. Local refs. Classifieds Interior and Exterior
662−386−3658. Painting. 662−435−6528