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Thursday | April 2, 2020

Governor issues statewide ‘shelter in place’ order

Essential businesses to remain open;
order goes into effect Friday at 5 p.m.
BY YUE STELLA YU
syu@cdispatch.com
Gov. Tate Reeves issued an
executive order Wednesday
for Mississippians to shelter in
place in the wake of the pandem-
ic of COVID-19 coronavirus.
The “shelter in place” or-
der, which Reeves announced
in a press conference that was
streamed online, will go into
effect on Friday at 5 p.m. and
last until April 20 at the earli-
est. Residents may leave their
homes for essential travels,
such as buying food and other
necessary supplies.
Essential businesses, such
as grocery stores, health care
facilities, take-
out restaurants
INSIDE
n ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES: See a
As of Tuesday night, Mis-
sissippi’s confirmed cases of
and gas stations,
among others,
list of businesses allowed to remain
open during the shelter in place order.
Page 3A
coronavirus surpassed 1,000,
with 22 deaths confirmed in 19
will remain open, counties. Cases have been con-
n SLIMANTICS: Gimme shelter?
Reeves said. firmed in the Golden Triangle
Page 4A
Outdoor activi- area, with 11 in Lowndes Coun-
ties are allowed at Reeves ty, 18 in Oktibbeha County, five
a social distance walking trails. in Clay County and three in
of six feet apart, but gatherings Reeves said the decision Noxubee County.
of 10 or more people are still came as the situation became “Mississippi will not allow
prohibited, according to the or- dire and called for the “dras- you to fall without a helping
der. All public parks are closed tic” measure to slow down the hand,” Reeves said. “This will
as part of the order, except for spread of the virus. See ORDER, 3A

Victim in officer-
‘I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE NOT TO HAVE’
involved shooting
Laid off Starkville resident provides identified
meals for others during quarantine Shelton said suspect
led officers on chase
in stolen vehicle,
attempted to get into
law enforcement vehicle
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com

Authorities have
released further de-
tails on an officer-in-
volved shooting that
resulted in the death
of a 19-year-old in
north Columbus
Wednesday morning.
Hines
Lowndes County
Coroner Greg Merchant identified
the victim as Austin Hines of Co-
lumbus.
Area law enforcement officers
shot and killed Hines near the in-
tersection of Strawberry Street and
22nd Street North shortly before 8
a.m. following a pursuit by law en-
forcement, according to Columbus
Garrick Hodge/Dispatch Staff
Starkville resident SaPerior Patton loads a plate of food into her vehicle Wednesday afternoon. Patton delivered Police Chief Fred Shelton, who
75 meals across Starkville on Wednesday. held an online press conference
Wednesday afternoon on behalf of
BY GARRICK HODGE thought about potential precarious ing back. I just took it upon myself both Columbus Police Department
ghodge@cdispatch.com circumstances her students may to do something. I don’t know, God and Lowndes County Sheriff’s Of-
fice.

L
ike many others during
the COVID-19 coronavirus
pandemic, Starkville resident
SaPerior Patton has found herself
temporarily unemployed.
A sinking feeling crept in. But it
wasn’t for herself.
Patton, who usually works
alongside children with behavior
and emotional problems at a private
school in Starkville, immediately
endure while away from school for
an extended period. She wanted to
make sure none of them missed a
meal.
“I just thought of all the kids. We
have kids in foster homes and oth-
ers that are really in bad situations,”
Patton said. “I just thought with
them being out of school already, I
already know what some don’t have.
We also don’t know when we’re go-
just put it on my heart.”
While Shelton noted he was
Eventually, her concern extend-
limited on what details he could re-
ed to additional avenues. What
lease, he said Hines was the driver
about other adults like her who are
laid off during quarantine? What of a pickup reported stolen within
the city. The chase began when
about the at-risk residents in the
LCSO deputies spotted the vehicle
community that take on enormous
and attempted to pull Hines over,
danger to their health every time
and Hines did not yield to law en-
they leave their homes, yet still
forcement. Several CPD officers
need to eat?
also became involved in the chase.
See PATTON, 6A Shelton said Hines struck sev-
eral other vehicles throughout
See VICTIM, 6A

Police release video of altercation between Huck’s owner and off-duty deputy
Shelton: Restaurant owners were attempting restaurant af- ONLINE
ter he had been n VIDEO: See
This screenshot
of a video from
to keep Branch from driving drunk drinking. Huck- a video of the
aby and his altercation at
a College Street
surveillance
cdispatch.com. camera, shows
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN lege Street that covers the brother, Rich- an altercation
ialtman@cdispatch.com entrance to the downtown ard Huckaby, between Huck’s
restaurant. The Dispatch ob- who also appears in the video, Place co-owner
City officials have released tained the video through a were trying to convince him Brian Huckaby
a video of a March 26 alter- public records request. to let someone else drive him, and former
cation outside Huck’s Place Columbus Police Chief Shelton said. Lowndes Coun-
downtown between the restau- Fred Shelton said the alterca- No one has been charged in ty deputy Max
rant owner and a former Lown- Branch outside
tion occurred between Deputy the incident, Shelton said. the downtown
des County deputy. Max Branch and Huck’s Place Branch was off-duty at the restaurant on
The video is taken from a co-owner Brian Huckaby when time of the incident and re- March 26.
surveillance camera on Col- Branch attempted to leave the See ALTERCATION, 6A Courtesy image

WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS A NOTE LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

1 Which country has the largest population of tu- ON NEWS MEETINGS
lips, growing more than 4 billion bulbs in 2014? ■ Many April 6: Lowndes
2 As of September 2017, who was the top- COVID-19 corona- County Board of
ranked female golfer in the United States — virus related sto- Supervisors, 9
Michelle Wie, Stacy Lewis or Cristie Kerr? ries are changing a.m., Courthouse
3 In which state do thousands of hungry folks extremely quick- April 7: Columbus
flock to an annual festival in the city of Breaux
Bridge, known as “The Crawfish Capital of the ly, sometimes City Council, 5
Ryan Bordenave as soon as we p.m., Municipal
World”?
Pre-K, Annunciation publish a print Complex
4 In what hit song does Lady Gaga make this

72 Low 48
card-game reference: “I wanna hold ‘em like edition of the April 13:
High they do in Texas”? paper. We want Columbus
Clouds and sun
5 What instrument crafted by Bartoloemo Guarn- to assure our Municipal School
ieri, the grandson of a Stradavari apprentice, readers that we District Board of
Full forecast on sold for $3.9 million at a 2007 auction?
page 3A. Answers, 6B are making every Trustees, 6 p.m.,
attempt to print Brandon Central
accurate, timely Services
INSIDE news. Online sto- April 17: Lowndes
Business 4B Dear Abby 3B ries are updated David Mollendor has owned County School
Classifieds 6B Obituaries 5A throughout the Hotel Chester in Starkville for 20 Board, 12:30
Comics 3B Opinions 4A day at cdispatch. years and walks his dog, Sam, p.m., Central
141st Year, No. 19 Crossword 6B com. along Main Street. Office

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

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

Trump resists national

shutdown, leaving it up to states
President acknowledged
he’s looking at limiting
air and rail travel
between hot spots
within the United States
BY A AMER MADHANI, ZEKE
MILLER AND ALAN FRAM
The Associated Press
WA S H I N G T O N
— President Donald
Trump is resisting
calls to issue a nation-
al stay-at-home order
to stem the spread of
the new coronavirus
despite his adminis- Trump
tration’s projections
that tens of thousands of Amer-
icans are likely to be killed by the
disease. One by one, though, states
are increasingly pushing shutdown
orders of their own.
Trump said Wednesday he wants
to give governors’ “flexibility” on
whether a stay-at-home policy is the
best option for their constituents
but acknowledged that he’s looking
at limiting air and rail travel be-
tween hot spots within the United
States. The Republican president
remains hesitant to press a unified
policy even after the White House
released “sobering” new projections
on Tuesday that 100,000 to 240,000
Americans will likely succumb to
the coronavirus even if current so-
cial distancing guidelines are main-
tained.
Poll: Less than half back Trump’s virus response
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Americans give high marks to state and local
governments for their handling of the fast-moving coronavirus pandem-
ic that has swiftly remade everyday life. But less than half approve of
the job done thus far by President Donald Trump and the federal gov-
ernment, according to a new survey from The Associated Press-NORC
Center for Public Affairs Research.
Even so, and while he remains deeply polarizing, the poll finds
Trump’s approval ratings are among the highest of his presidency. For-
ty-four percent of Americans support Trump’s oversight of the pandem-
ic, in line with his overall 43 percent approval rating. That’s at the high
end for the Republican president during his more than three years in
office.
The coronavirus pandemic, which has already killed more than 4,000
Americans and shut down much of the U.S. economy, is the most urgent
and unpredictable crisis of Trump’s presidency. The coming weeks will
likely shape how Americans view the wisdom of giving him a second
term in the November election, where he is likely to face off against
former Vice President Joe Biden.
Trump initially downplayed the virus, comparing it to the flu. He
also suggested restrictions on work and travel could be lifted by mid-
April, arguing that the response to the virus shouldn’t be worse than
the health crisis itself.
Surgeon General Jerome Adams — added or expanded their stay-at-
said Wednesday the nation’s feder- home orders.
alist system leaves much of the au- But the invocation of federalism
thority on how to properly respond in the midst of a crisis that threatens
to catastrophes to state governors a nationwide body count on par with
and local officials. some of the deadliest American
“We trust the governors and the wars suggests that Trump and his
mayors to understand their people advisers are cognizant of the polit-
and understand whether or not they ical ramifications of their response.
feel like they can trust the people in Republican governors in states like
their states to make the right deci- Florida, Texas and Nebraska have
sions,” Adams said on ABC’s “Good questioned the necessity of apply-
Morning America.” ing strong social distancing rules
On Wednesday alone, five more to rural or exurban areas that hav-
states — Florida, Georgia, Mis- en’t reported much evidence of the
sissippi, Nevada and Pennsylvania virus.

Residents snitch on businesses, neighbors amid shutdowns

‘There has to be some consequence
for violating an executive order’
Tulsa Police Lt. Richard Meulenberg
BY TAMMY WEBBER noring police when they
The Associated Press knocked on the door.
Both were busted —
OAK PARK, Illinois and received misdemean-
— One Tulsa bar owner
or citations and court
said more than a dozen dates — after police re-
motorcyclists showed sponded to tips that the
up unannounced, but he bars were violating the
served them a round of mayor’s order shuttering
shots anyway to celebrate all nonessential business-
a birthday. Another live- es to help slow the spread
streamed a drag queen of the coronavirus.
show on Facebook while “There has to be some
up to 20 people drank consequence for violating
inside the locked bar, ig- an executive order,” said
Tulsa Police Lt. Richard
Meulenberg.
It turns out plenty of
people agree.
Snitches are emerging
as enthusiastic allies as
cities, states and coun-
tries work to enforce di-
rectives meant to limit
person-to-person contact
amid the virus pandemic
that has claimed tens of
thousands of lives world-
wide. They’re phoning
police and municipal ho-
tlines, complaining to
elected officials and sham-
ing perceived scofflaws on
social media.
In hard-hit New York
City, police arrested the
owner of an illegal Brook-
lyn speakeasy where a
dozen people were found
drinking and gambling
after someone called 311
with a tip.
In Chicago, a yoga stu-
dio that believed it quali-
fied as an essential health
and wellness service was
closed after the city —
tipped off by several resi-
dents — disagreed. Teach-
er Naveed Abidi of Bikram
Yoga West Loop studio
said he thought the studio
could remain open if the
space was sanitized, class
size limited and students
stayed far enough apart.

Gun background checks smash records amid coronavirus fears

FBI: March’s 3.7M background checks ous record, set in Decem-
ber 2015, when 3.3 million
Amendment advocates
and gun control support-
were the most for a single month checks were conducted. ers. Pro-gun groups say
Background checks the long lines seen at
since the system began in 1998 are the key barometer of gun stores affirm a wide-
gun sales, but the FBI’s spread belief about the
BY LISA MARIE PANE ty during the coronavirus monthly figures also right to bear arms. Oppo-
The Associated Press crisis. incorporate checks for nents contend that adding
According to figures firearm permits that are firearms into stressed-out
Background checks
required to buy firearms from the FBI, 3.7 million required in some states. households filled with
have spiked to record background checks were Each background check people cooped up during
numbers in the past done in March — the also could be for the sale lockdown orders will lead
month, fueled by a run most for a single month of more than one gun. to increased levels of do-
on guns from Americans since the system began in The rush has inflamed mestic violence and sui-
worried about their safe- 1998. It eclipsed the previ- tensions between Second cides.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 3A

Order Sentencing postponed

Continued from Page 1A
not be easy for any-
one, but we believe it
is the right course of
action.”
Enforcement
the executive order,
of
Reeves said, even-
tually falls on every
Mississippian.
“The single most
important enforce-
m e n t
mech- ONLINE
a n i s m n ORDER:
that we View the
can have governor’s
shelter in
in the place execu-
state of tive order at
M i s s i s - cdispatch.
sippi is com.
y o u , ”
he said. “If you will
self-enforce this, it
will go a long way
towards slowing the
spread.”
According to the
Associated Press,
Reeves consulted
with health officials
at the state level, in-
cluding Dr. LouAnn
Woodward, the phy-
sician who leads the
University of Missis-
sippi Medical Cen-
ter, before issuing
the order. Woodward
warned Reeves and
other state leaders
that Mississippi’s
health system would
be overwhelmed and
that there would not
be enough ventilators
and other resources
for patients if Reeves
did not issue the or-
der, The AP reported.
More than 30 gov-
ernors nationwide
have already signed
similar orders to keep
residents indoors in
the wake of the pan-
demic, according to
multiple media out-
lets.
What does ‘essential businesses and operations’ include?
BY YUE STELLA YU
syu@cdispatch.com
The definition of “essential business
or operation” in the state of Mississippi
follows Executive 1463, which Gov. Tate
Reeves signed into effect last Tuesday.
Here’s a list of businesses and opera-
tions deemed essential under the order:
■ Government: law enforcement,
first responders, courts, military, emer-
gency management, corrections, child
welfare, 911 call center, and more;
■ Health care and medicine: hospi-
tals, clinics, research and lab operations,
elderly care facilities (nursing homes, as-
sisted living facilities, etc), pharmacies,
home health workers, medical supply
manufacturers and providers, medical
and hazardous waste disposal, and more;
■ Transportation and lodging: taxi
and ride-sharing services such as Uber
and Lyft, automotive sales and repair, ve-
hicle rental services, airports, hotels and
commercial lodging services, and more;
■ Retail: supermarkets, food and bev-
erage stores, food providers, convenience
stores, pharmacies, hardware and build-
ing materials, gas stations, restaurants
or bars with gatherings of no more than
10 people and offering curbside pickup,
delivery or take-out services, and more;
■ Essential Services: trash collec-
tion, mail and shipping services, home
repair, warehouse, distribution and ful-
fillment centers, laundromats/laundry
service;
■ Media: newspapers, digital news,
television, radio, and more;
■ Agriculture and food: food pro-
cessing and production, food additives,
livestock, cattle, poultry and seafood
operations, livestock auctions, farmer’s
markets, and more;
■ Education: public and private K-12
schools, colleges and universities, other
educational institutions, transportation
services providing free or reduced meals
to students, and more;
■ Basic services for the economi-
cally disadvantaged: food banks, foster
care, homeless shelters, congregate care
facilities, religious and secular non-profit
organizations and businesses that offer
similar services, and more;
■ Religious entities: religious and
faith-based facilities, entities and groups,
religious gatherings under the guidance
of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and state executive orders;
■ Infrastructure: power generation,
nuclear facilities, utility poles and compo-
nents, fuel and transmission, petroleum
producers, suppliers and distributors,
electronic security and life safety services,
data centers, cyberspace operations, flood
control, operation of dams, aviation and
airports, ports, roads and highways, mass
transit, vehicle rental services, freight and
passenger rail, hazardous waste disposal,
hotels and commercial lodging services;
■ Manufacturing: medical and food
supplies, lumber and paper products,
technology, biotechnology, chemical
products, telecommunications products,
automotive production and suppliers, en-
ergy, steel and steel products, fuel and
petroleum exploration and production, lu-
bricants, greases and engine oils, mining,
national defense, sanitary and cleaning
products, household products, personal
care products, products used by other
essential businesses and operations, and
more;
■ Financial services: banks and
related financial institutions, insurance,
payroll, accounting, processing financial
transactions, services related to financial
markets;
■ Other professional services: legal
services, accounting services, insurance
services, real estate services (including
appraisal and title services);
■ Construction: lumber, building ma-
terials and hardware, electricians, plumb-
ers, exterminators, cleaning and janito-
rial, HVACR and water heating industry,
painting, moving and relocating services,
other skilled trades, and more;
■ Defense and national security:
employees working for companies and
their subcontractors to provide services
or materials under the contract to the De-
partment of Defense, and more.
For a full list of essential businesses
and operations, visit msema.org/wp-con-
tent/uploads/2020/03/Executive - Or-
der-1463.pdf
indefinitely in pain
cream fraud scheme
All nonessential hearings and
trials for Southern District
of Mississippi postponed because
of the coronavirus pandemic
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HAT TIESBURG — Four people awaiting sen-
tencing in a health care fraud scheme have had
their hearings postponed indefinitely because of
the coronavirus.
Dr. Shahjahan Sultan of Madison; Dr. Thom-
as Edward Sturdavant of Kingsport, Tennessee;
Freda Cal Covington of Hattiesburg and Fallon
Deenem Page of Soso each face up to ten years
in prison for a scheme involving pain creams and
weight loss pills that bilked insurers out of more
than $7 million, the Hattiesburg American re-
ported. They had been scheduled to be sentenced
Tuesday.
Sultan and Sturdavant pleaded guilty last year
to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Pros-
ecutors said the two wrote bogus prescriptions,
and Covington and Page were nurses who recruit-
ed patients.
Sultan had contracted with a pharmacy and
agreed to prescribe expensive compound medica-
tions in exchange for 35 percent of the reimburse-
ments the pharmacy received for the prescrip-
tions, prosecutors said.
In addition to possible prison time, the four
defendants also face up to $250,000 in fines plus
restitution.
All nonessential civil and criminal hearings
or trials for the Southern District of Mississippi
were postponed as of a court order issued March
13, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

BUILDING PERMITS
City of Columbus
March 23-26,
■ Willie A. Sanders; 120
Beech Street; Repairs; Same
■ Columbus Redevelopment
Authority; 313 5th Avenue
North; Demolish residence;
Columbus Public Works
■ Frederick Washington; 1807
3rd Avenue South; Demolish
residence; Columbus Public
Works
■ Christy D Wilson; 703 17th
Street North; Demolish resi-
dence; Columbus Public Works
■ John Thompson; 301 21st
Street North; Demolish resi-
dence; Columbus Public Works
■ Julia Brown; 1925 3rd Ave-
nue North; Electrical permit;
Jimmie Chism
■ Carmelo Trejo Zuniga; 1489
Highway 69 South; electri-
cal permit; Absolute Power
Solutions
■ Robert & Catherine Dain;
339 Williamsburg Road; elec-
trical permit; Beavers Electric
■ Joe Beckett; 505 7th Street
South; electrical permit; Wel-
don Electric
■ MTL Properties LLC; 1313
Waterworks Road; Electrical
permit; Vertis Lee
■ Sipsey River Oil Company;
2110 Highway 45 North;
Mechanical permit; BDM
Industrial
■ Andrew and Ann Richard-
son; 1406 Martin Luther King
Jr. Drive; Plumbing permit;
Bowen Backhoe
Lowndes County
April 1, 2020
■ Richard Austin Cox; 31
Overview Drive; Set up mobile
home; Williamson Electric
■ Richard Austin Cox; 31
Overview Drive; Move mobile
home; Pontotoc Mobile Home
■ Prairie Hill Baptist Church;
364 Wicks Road; Addition to
church; Rhett Construction
■ Woody Williams; 1134
Crowe Road; Construct pole
barn; Owner
■ Kayla Holley; 795 Land
Road; Set up mobile home;
Nickoles Electric, Inc
■ Kayla Holley; 795 Land
Road; Move mobile home;
Regional Enterprise
■ Preston and Afton Rushing;
122 Duncan Road; Construct
s/f residence; Owner
■ Mimi Gholson; 425 Rogers
Way; Construct pool house
and pool; Precision Pool &
Construction
■ Gwentina Clemmons; Shady
Lane; Construct s/f residence;
Owner
■ Ricky Hicks; 2766 Caledo-
nia-Steens Road; Construct
s/f residence; Gale Construc-
tion

Send in your church event!

AROUND THE STATE
Sheriff: Suspect’s
mother among 6
arrested in fatal
shooting
BOONEVILLE — The
fatal shooting of a Mis-
sissippi man led to the
arrests of six people, in-
cluding the mother of one
of the suspects.
John Michael Ross
Berryman, 21, was found
shot on Friday along a
state highway in Prentiss
County, Sheriff Randy
Tolar said in a statement
Monday. Berryman was
pronounced dead on the
scene, news outlets re-
ported.
Trakendric Neal
Email editorialassistant@cdispatch.com
Subject: Religious brief
Young, 18, was named as with capital murder and
a suspect and located at booked into jail without
a motel in Tupelo. Con- bond.
stance Lashaun Hamlin,
46, was charged with ac-
cessory after the fact for
allegedly taking her son
to Tupelo, WTVA-TV re-
ported.
Young and four oth-
er teens were charged

SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Thur. Fri.
Major 7:57p 8:55p
Minor 2:05p 3:12p
Major 8:26a 9:23a
Minor 3:47a 4:37a
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

The Dispatch
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Website: cdispatch.com/help
Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc.,
516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
Opinion
4A THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

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

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR CARTOONIST VIEW

Voice of the people
Becoming innovative
in the way we help
The coronavirus continues to
spread because people can be infect-
ed but not have any symptoms. With-
out meaning harm, those individuals
go out into the community and
spread the virus. While I appreciate
so many efforts in the community
aimed at “helping people,” I am deep-
ly concerned with the unintended
consequences.
Many churches and non-profits
are calling on “healthy volunteers
that haven’t been exposed” to assist
with meal distribution and assisting
others with grocery and prescription
runs. It may be better to ask volun-
teers in assisting their neighbors by
setting up online ordering or even
ordering their grocery lists for them
— but not by asking them to go in a
grocery or big box store where there
are more than 10 people gathered.
Some places now have same
day delivery and have waived their
shipping fees. Other stores allow
for online ordering and paying, with
curbside service. What if we support
our local restaurants by purchasing
gift cards for individuals and families
that need assistance at this time?
How about we hire these delivery
and errand services — that do this
for a living — to help our neighbors?
It can benefit all sides without asking
for additional people to leave their SLIMANTICS
homes.
We need to be innovative. We
need to look past the traditional ways
of helping people and be creative.
Gimme shelter?
W
Asking people to get together to ednesday after- whether it is time for the any kind.
help, whether it be to serve meals or noon, Gov. Tate ultimate action of a ‘shel- Utility companies and telecom
run errands is not the answer. Reeves issued ter in place’ order state- companies.
Leslie Sorrell a state-wide “shelter in wide (All I heard, though, Manufacturing.
Columbus place” order, one of three was blah, blah, blah). Yes- Agriculture, including farmer’s
such orders made that terday, for the first time, markets.
day, along with Florida we got the answer (I had Retail businesses.
and Georgia. Only five been stubbornly avoiding). Hardware and building supplies.
states have yet to an- They told me we are now Bars and restaurants.
nounce such orders, so at a point in Mississippi’s Auto sales and/or service.

“
Mississippi was not dead
A MOMENT OF CALM last to the party, which I
suppose is something to Slim Smith
There is neither happi-
ness nor misery in the be congratulated.
world; there is only the In that vein, I also
congratulate fish for
As one cynic
comparison of one state
with another, nothing more. He who
swimming. This order
was something that
put it, most
has felt the deepest grief is best able
to experience supreme happiness.
should have happened states have
a couple of weeks ago.
We must have felt what it is to die, Scarecrow would have ‘shelter in
Morrel, that we may appreciate the pulled the trigger on this
enjoyments of life. even before his visit to place’ orders.
“Live, then, and be happy, be- the Wizard of Oz.
loved children of my heart, and nev- Critics in both parties Mississippi
er forget, that until the day God will in the state have been
deign to reveal the future to man, all howling for Reeves to get has a ‘shelter
with the program, but
human wisdom is contained in these
two words, “Wait and Hope.”
the truth is Reeves’ order all over the
probably won’t do much.
— Alexandre Dumas
I know that may sound place’ order.
like a damned-if-you-do,
damned-if-you don’t assessment,
Social distancing
but the biggest result of this order is and non-essential businesses must
is affecting us all
that it will only serve to cause more
in different ways.
We want to hear confusion, provided that’s even
how you’re doing. The Dispatch has set up possible.
a voicemail so our readers can share their It’s like signing up for a time
thoughts and feelings during this unique share. It looks entirely reasonable,
time. If you want to share, please call 662- until you start reading the fine
328-2424 and dial extension 101. You can print.
leave a message 24 hours a day. Certain To help you sort it out, I provide
messages will be selected to print in the pa- an annotated summary of Reeves’
per. Even if we don’t select yours, know that
comments in announcing the order:
someone is out there listening and you’re
“Every day, for the last several
not alone. We’re all in this together.
weeks, I have asked our health experts
cycle were such drastic
restrictions are required...
This will not be easy for
anyone (who is trying to
make heads or tails of this
order), but we believe it
is right (in the sense that
maybe people will leave
me the hell alone)...This
order will be enforced
(mainly, because it so
broad that it requires
hardly any enforcement).
It will be taken very, very
seriously (I was going to
throw in another “very” so
you would think I am, in
fact, serious.)”
The Governor’s order,
which will be in effect
for two weeks beginning
Friday at 5 p.m., decrees
that people have to stay at home
close.
That sounds pretty straight-for-
ward, right?
Then you look at the “fine print,”
which are the exceptions outlined in
the Governor’s previous – and still
valid order.
Let’s start with the businesses.
Reeves has slammed the door on
normal business operations, unless
you work in:
Government offices of virtually
Schools/education centers.
Airports, ports and other trans-
portation-related businesses.
Real estate.
Churches or religious organiza-
tions.
Nonprofits who serve underprivi-
leged groups.
Construction.
The order says there may be
other unspecified businesses that
may still be allowed an exemption to
the order.
So, essentially, if you’re not deal-
ing drugs or turning tricks, your
business isn’t likely to be affected.
And if that’s true, it also means
you are free to patronize all these
dozens and dozens of “essential
businesses” since keeping them
open means businesses can serve
customers.
There are a thousand exceptions
allowing you to pretty much come
and go as you please.
So, really, the Governor’s order
is all sound and fury signifying
nothing.
As one cynic put it, most states
have “shelter in place” orders. Mis-
sissippi has a “shelter all over the
place” order.
Slim Smith is a columnist and
feature writer for The Dispatch. His
email address is ssmith@cdispatch.
com.

OTHER EDITORS

From America’s Newspapers

From this coronavirus public health
crisis, though it has been with us
barely three months, two lessons are
clear: Accurate information quickly
reported and disseminated widely has
the potential to slow the rampage of
COVID-19 infections and deaths —
and misinformation will surely accel-
erate its spread and destruction.
It has fallen to local news pub-
lishers to provide the explanations,
clarify the details and to even separate
unclear or misleading statements
from local, state and national leaders,
to help their communities cope and
combat this 21st century plague.
It is newspapers that deliver the
news, often distressing news, about
local outbreaks, testing sites or short-
ages, local and state restrictions on
businesses and assemblies, and edu-
cate individuals on what they can do to
protect themselves, their families and
their neighbors.
The value of this information to the
American people can be seen in the
soaring increases in online traffic to
newspaper sites and the life-saving
actions the information inspires.
But for newspapers, this civic stew-
ardship has come at a cost as devas-
tating as the damage to the economy
at large. The litany of businesses and
industries slowed or shut down, jus-
tifiably, by the urgent task of curbing
COVID-19 is virtually the same as the
advertising categories that sustained
local newspapers for decades: local
retailers, bars and restaurants, con-
certs and events, real estate, travel
and more.
This week, America’s Newspapers
joined with the News Media Alliance
— two organizations that between
them represent thousands of local
news publishers across the United
States — to start a dialogue with our
top elected officials about what role
the federal government can play in
ensuring the survival of the vital ser-
vices newspapers provide.
“Unfortunately, many local news
publishers are now facing an existen-
tial crisis of their own,” we wrote in a
letter to President Trump, U.S. Senate
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
America’s Newspapers and the
Alliance understand that some may
view involving government with a free
press as a fraught option. “Obviously,
independent journalism and govern-
ment action have an inherent and nec-
essary tension, and we should look for
solutions that maintain a separation
of interests,” we wrote. “But we also
all have a mutual need to sustain local
news publishing so that it can collec-
tively get us through this crisis — and
the next one.”
In effect, we are telling Washington
that the journalism that can only be
produced by local news publishers
should be regarded as a public good
— as vital to our communities, states
and our nation as the electrical grid,
water networks, flood control systems
and our defense forces.
The coronavirus public health cri-
sis has forced this reckoning. We look
forward to healing the system that
brings vital information to Americans
even as American business and work-
ers look forward to recovering from
the virus.
On behalf of its approximately
1,500 newspaper and associate mem-
ber companies, America’s Newspapers
is committed to explaining, defending
and advancing the vital role of news-
papers in democracy and civil life. We
put an emphasis on educating the pub-
lic on all the ways newspapers contrib-
ute to building a community identity
and the success of local businesses.
Learn more: www.newspapers.org.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 5A

More evidence indicates healthy people can spread virus

Study: Around 10 percent of new infections
may be sparked by people who carry the
virus but have not yet suffered symptoms
BY MIKE STOBBE
AP Medical Writer
NEW YORK — Scientists
offered more evidence Wednes-
day that the coronavirus is
spread by seemingly healthy
people who show no clear
symptoms, and the federal gov-
ernment issued new guidance
warning that anyone exposed to
the disease can be considered a
carrier.
A study by researchers in
Singapore became the latest
to estimate that somewhere
around 10 percent of new in-
fections may be sparked by
people who carry the virus but
have not yet suffered its flu-like
symptoms.
In response to that study
and others, the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention
changed how it defined the risk
of infection for Americans. The
agency’s new guidance targeted
people who have no symptoms
but were exposed to others with
known or suspected infections.
It essentially says that anyone
may be a carrier, whether that
person has symptoms or not.
The findings complicate
efforts to gain control of the
pandemic and reinforce the im-
portance of social distancing
and other measures designed
to stop the spread, experts said.
“You have to really be pro-
active about reducing contacts
between people who seem per-
fectly healthy,” said Lauren
Ancel Meyers, a University of
Texas at Austin researcher who
has studied coronavirus trans-
mission in different countries.
The newest research was
published online by the CDC.
It focused on 243 cases of coro-
navirus reported in Singapore
from mid-January through mid-
March, including 157 infections
among people who had not trav-
eled recently. Scientists found
that so-called pre-symptomatic
people triggered infections in
seven different clusters of dis-
ease, accounting for about 6
percent of the locally acquired
cases.
One of those infections was
particularly striking. A 52-year-
old woman’s infection was
linked to her sitting in a seat
at a church that had been oc-
cupied earlier in the day by two
tourists who showed no symp-
toms but later fell ill, investi-
gators said after they reviewed
closed-circuit camera record-
ings of church services.
An earlier study that focused
on China, where the virus was
first identified, suggested that
more than 10 percent of trans-
missions were from people who
were infected but did not yet
feel sick.
The seemingly healthy peo-
ple who can transmit the virus
are believed to fall into three
categories: pre-symptomat-
ic, who do not have symptoms
when they spread but develop
illness a couple of days later; as-
ymptomatic, who never develop
symptoms; and post-symptom-
atic, who get sick and recover
but remain contagious. The
Singapore and China studies
focused on pre-symptomatic in-
fections.
It remains unclear how many
new infections are caused by
each type of potential spread-
er, said Meyers, who was not
involved in the Singapore study
but was part of the earlier one
focused on China.
CDC officials say they have
been researching asymptomat-
ic and pre-symptomatic infec-
tions, but the studies are not
complete.
In an interview Tuesday with
a radio station in Atlanta, CDC
Director Dr. Robert Redfield
cited an estimate that 25 per-
cent of infected people may be
asymptomatic. It was not clear
what that estimate was based
on, or if it included people
who were pre-symptomatic or
post-symptomatic. The AP re-
quested more information from
the CDC, but the agency did not
provide those details.
Redfield’s comment was in
response to a question about
whether the agency is going
to recommend that people who
seem healthy wear masks or
face coverings when they go
out. He said the agency is re-
viewing its guidance, looking
at research in Singapore, China
and other places in making that
decision.

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tion including visitation and
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Friday by 3 p.m. for Sunday
and Monday publication. For
more information, call 662-
328-2471.
Summer Bowen
ABERDEEN —
Summer Nichole Bow-
en, 39, died March 31,
2020, at her residence.
A Memorial Service
will be held at a later
date. Tisdale-Lann Me-
morial Funeral Home of
Aberdeen is in charge
of arrangements.
Ms. Bowen was born
Sept. 10, 1980, in Amo-
ry, to Kathy Rye New-
man and the late Jerry
Wayne Bowen. She was
formerly employed as a
digital artist.
In addition to her
mother, she is survived
by her siblings, Erin
Walker of Hamilton and
Randi-Lyn Bowen of
Aberdeen.
Charlie Burgin
COLUMBUS —
Charlie “Sonny” Earl
Burgin,
80, died
March 26,
2020, at his
residence.
Services
will be at
11 a.m.
Burgin
Friday, at
Carters
Funeral Services, with
the Rev. Fred Shelton
officiating. Burial will
follow in Sandfield
Cemetery. Visitation is
from 2-5 p.m. today, at
Carter’s Funeral Ser-
vices. Carter’s Funeral
Services of Columbus
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Burgin was born
April 5, 1939, in Colum-
bus, to the late Charlie
and Mary Burgin. He
was formerly employed
as a brick mason and
was a member of New
Zion M.B. Church in
Steens.
In addition to his
AREA OBITUARIES
parents, he was pre- Carter’s Funeral Home. pher McGee, Christy
ceded in death by Carter’s Funeral Home McGee, Kaitlyn Mc-
his siblings, George of Macon is in charge Gee, Kylin McGee, and
Burgin, Helen Burgin, of arrangements. Jasmine Calmes.
Ruby Jones, Bessie Hill Mr. Conner was
and Leroy Burgin; and born Feb. 9, 1955, in Lillie Skinner
three grandchildren. Noxubee County, to COLUMBUS — Lil-
He is survived by his the late Henry Conner lie Ruth Skinner, 82,
wife, Willie B. Burgin; and Senella Roland. He died April 1, 2020, at
children, Darlene was formerly employed Baptist Memorial Hos-
Fulton of Columbus as an environmental pital-Golden Triangle.
and Charles Burgin of specialist for the City of Arrangements are
Tupelo; siblings, Lessie Macon. incomplete and will be
Taylor of Columbus, In addition to he announced by Carter’s
Lucille Davis of Fort- parents, he was pre- Funeral Services of
worth, Texas, Elnora ceded in death by his Columbus.
McShan of Racine, wife, Shirley Conner;
Wisconsin and Mary and siblings, Henry C.
A. Burgin of Saginaw, Conner and Herny D. John Acker
Michigan; 10 grandchil- Conner. COLUMBUS —
dren; 28 great-grand- He is survived by John Acker, 48, died
children; and two his daughter, Letarsh- March 31, 2020.
great-great-grandchil- ie Stewart of Macon; A family only grave-
dren. siblings, Lue Conner, side service will be
Pallbearers will Sammie Conner and Friday, at Oxford Me-
be Marshall Burgin, Susie Sherrod all of Co- morial Gardens, with
Germon Murray, lumbus, Robert Conner Jason Delgado officiat-
Tahjae Murray, William of Starkville and Beu- ing. Friends may view
Haden, Dairron Haden, lah Conner of Macon; the service at www.
lowndesfuneralhome.
JerQuinton Ratcliff and two grandchildren; and
Charlie Burgin. one great-grandchild. net. Lowndes Funeral
Home of Columbus is
in charge of arrange- Read to your child.
James Conner Roosevelt McGee Jr. ments.
NOXUBEE — James STARKVILLE —
Earl Conner, 65, died Roosevelt McGee Jr.,
March 25, 2020, at his 47, died March 28,
residence. 2020, in Starkville.
Private family Visitation is from 1-5
services will be at 11 p.m. today, at West Me-
a.m. Friday, at Carter’s morial Funeral Home.
of Macon Chapel, with West Memorial Funeral
John Roland officiating. Home is in charge of
Burial will follow at arrangements.
Second James Creek He is survived by his
M.B.C Cemetery. A mother, McKay Wells;
family only visitation is wife, Tangela McGee;
from 2-5 p.m. today, at and children, Christo-

Feds: Man intentionally derailed LA train near hospital ship
BY CHRISTOPHER WEBER
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — A
train engineer intention-
ally drove a speeding
locomotive off a track at
the Port of Los Angeles
because he was suspi-
cious about the presence
of a Navy hospital ship
docked there to help
during the coronavirus
crisis, federal prosecutors
said Wednesday.
The locomotive
crashed through a series
of barriers and fences be-
fore coming to rest more
than 250 yards from the
Son: Jazz great Ellis Marsalis
Jr. dead at 85; fought virus
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS —
Ellis Marsalis Jr., the jazz
pianist, teacher and pa-
triarch of a New Orleans
musical clan, has died
after battling pneumonia
brought on by the new
coronavirus, one of his six
sons said late Wednesday.
He was 85.
“Pneumonia was the
U.S. Navy Hospital Ship
Mercy on Tuesday, the
U.S. Department of Jus-
tice said in a release.
Nobody was hurt.
Eduardo Moreno, 44,
was charged with one
count of train wrecking,
prosecutors said. It wasn’t
immediately known if he
has an attorney.
Moreno acknowledged
in two separate inter-
views with law enforce-
ment that he intentionally
derailed and crashed the
train near the Mercy, ac-
cording to the criminal
complaint.
“You only get this
actual thing that caused
his demise. But it was
pneumonia brought on
by COVID-19,” Ellis Mar-
salis III confirmed in an
Associated Press phone
interview.
He said he drove Sun-
day from Baltimore to be
with his father as he was
hospitalized in Louisiana,
which has been hit hard
by the outbreak.
Dorothy Pierce
Dorothy Pierce, 89 of
Columbus, MS passed away
Monday, March 30, 2020, at
chance once. The whole Moreno said he was Lifepoint Village Assisted
world is watching. I had suspicious of the Mercy Living, Southhaven, MS.
to,” Moreno told investi- and believed it had an al- A family graveside service
gators, according to the ternate purpose related will be Thursday, April 2, 2020,
complaint. “People don’t to COVID-19 or a govern- at 3:00 PM at Memorial Gardens,
know what’s going on ment takeover, an affida- Columbus, MS with Bro.
here. Now they will.” vit states. Steve Blaylock officiating and
Lowndes Funeral Home directing. Friends may
view graveside at www.lowndesfuneralhome.net.
Mrs. Pierce was born September 11, 1930,
to the late Ed Monroe and Viola Jordan Tatum
in Frisco City, Monroe County, AL. She was
employed as a seamstress for 20 years at Vanity
Fair. Mrs. Pierce was a member of First United
Pentecostal Church, Columbus, MS. She enjoyed
gardening and sewing.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Pierce was
preceded in death by her husband, George
Pierce; daughter; Patricia Flowers; sisters; Ruth
Williams, Eddie Bell Powell and Irene Rolin;
brothers, John Tatum, Elijah Tatum, Grady
“Pete” Tatum and Carl Tatum.
Mrs. Pierce is survived by her grandchildren.
Lisa (David) Turner, Hernando, MS, Daphne
Flowers, Columbus, MS, Christal Flowers,
Caledonia, MS and Tommy (Anita) Flowers,
Columbus, MS; great-grandchildren, Brittany
(Luke) Fairley, Dakota (Jessica) Flowers, Corey
(Brooke) Hall, Peyton (Tyler) Phelps, Josh
Turner, John Turner, and Cheyenne Flowers;
great-grandchildren, Braxton, Parkes, Paisley,
Piper, and Jay Zachary; and sister, Betty Reed,
Monroeville, AL.
Pallbearers will be family.
Memorials may go to Tupelo Children’s
Mansion, 1 801 E Main St, Tupelo, MS 38804.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
6A THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Patton
Continued from Page 1A
“I know what it’s like not to
have,” Patton said.
So, she took action.
Patton compiled what money she
had and went to the grocery store.
She began buying supplies to com-
pile meals for community members.
Starting three weeks ago, Patton set
her mind to a goal of delivering at
least 50 meals to Starkville resi-
dents every Wednesday. Each plate
includes spaghetti, green beans,
cornbread and drinks.
Patton has encouraged any
Starkville resident in need of a meal
to reach out through her personal
Facebook page. She’s advertised
her services in various places,
including the Facebook group
Starkville Strong. Garrick Hodge/Dispatch Staff
“I made a Facebook post and Starkville resident Saqueena Graves, left, receives a plate of food from SaPe-
said if anyone is unemployed like rior Patton, right. Patton delivered 75 meals across Starkville on Wednesday.
me because of the coronavirus, or
needs a break with a meal with the Smokehouse restaurant in A few minutes later, Patton drove
kids at home because of the virus, I Starkville, was touched by Patton’s her vehicle to the curb of Saqueena
just told people to inbox me,” Patton community outreach and donated Graves’ Starkville residence, then
said. “It will be confidential because vegetables and 10 pounds of pork continued her now weekly Wednes-
I know some people may be em- this week to feed additional people day tradition: deliver food, free of
barrassed, so it just started from in need. Instead of the usual 50 charge.
there.” plates, Patton was able to deliver 75 “Thank you so much,” Graves
meals Wednesday. told Patton after the food and drinks
“When I see someone that’s had been delivered. It was just one
Patton’s effort draws taken it on their own initiative to of many deliveries on the agenda.
community support help their fellow citizens, you have Wednesdays have nearly turned
Since she started posting about to help them out,” said Welch, who into a full-time job for Patton, with a
her food delivery on social media, said his restaurant has lost more 6 a.m. wake up call to begin prepa-
Patton said complete strangers have than 65 percent of its sales since rations for the day. She typically
reached out to help her cause by the start of the pandemic. “She’s makes her last delivery by 3:30 p.m.
donating items such as spaghetti the one doing the hard work, not Her non-Wednesdays are spent col-
sauce, ground beef and even gas me. Giving her the food for her to lecting food for delivery day, wheth-
money. do all the hard work and putting it er it be from donations or securing
“The community has contribut- together and transporting it, that’s it herself at a grocery store.
ed,” Patton said. “There have been really the hard part. All I’m doing is “I do use hand sanitizer after
people that I’ve never seen and don’t playing a Secret Santa.” every delivery and keep Lysol in
know that have donated $5 or $10 so Wednesday afternoon, Patton, the car,” Patton said. “I don’t go in
we can have gas. People have been with assistance from her sister the house, but I let them know I’m
contributing … no donation is too and her niece, finished loading her on my way so they’ll meet me at the
small.” car with spaghetti and pork plates door with their food. It definitely
Mark Welch, owner of 1883 moments before her first stop. can make for some long days.”

Altercation
Continued from Page 1A
signed from Lowndes Brian punches Branch, while Brian gets up. Bri- trying to drive Branch
County Sheriff’s Office who backs away and then an appears to hit Branch home, was in the car but
on Tuesday. grabs Brian around the several more times be- left and went back into
The video begins with waist. The two grapple fore a female Huck’s em- the restaurant before the
a man Shelton identified before Brian falls to the ployee arrives, and they incident occurred.
as Brian Huckaby (black ground and Branch gets all three hold Branch Representatives for
shirt) and his brother, on top of him. down until law enforce- Huck’s did not return
Richard (white shirt), At that point, Richard ment arrive at the scene. calls from The Dispatch
standing outside the Huckaby appears to get Shelton said Branch’s by press time.
front passenger seat of a Branch off Brian and girlfriend, who works
vehicle parked on Fifth holds him on the ground at Huck’s and had been
Street in front of Huck’s.
Less than two min-
utes into the video, a
man Shelton identified
as Branch (red shirt),
gets out of the driver’s
side of the vehicle and
walks around the car to
talk to Brian. It appears
Branch leans against Bri-
an during the verbal ex-
change.
Brian tries several
times to walk or back
away but Branch follows.
About 2 minutes, 20
seconds into the video,

Victim
Continued from Page 1A
the pursuit, which ended
when he crashed the pick-
up. He exited the vehicle
and attempted to get into
a law enforcement vehicle.
Officers shot him after he
left the pickup.
Shelton said he could
not release whether it
was CPD officers, LCSO
officers or both who fired
shots at Hines, but con-
firmed one CPD officer
is on paid administrative
leave.
LCSO Chief Deputy
Brent Swan did not con-
firm whether any depu-
ties are on administrative
leave, but said more infor-
mation could be released.
Agents with Mississip-
pi Bureau of Investigation
are handling the case.
MBI representatives did
not release any informa-
tion on the case by press
time.
Shelton said in addition
to Hines, there were two
women in the stolen pick-
up, whom MBI questioned.
No officers or other
civilians were harmed in
the chase or the shooting,
Shelton said.
Hines was arrested
in February for several
charges, including assault
on a law enforcement offi-
cer and felony taking of a
motor vehicle, according
to previous reporting by
The Dispatch. His body
has been sent to the State
Crime Lab in Jackson.
Sports MISSISSIPPI STATE FOOTBALL
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020
B
SECTION

HOW BASEBALL HELPED MAKE SAWYER ROBERTSON THE

HIGHEST-RATED MSU QUARTERBACK COMMIT IN OVER 15 YEARS

Photo courtesy of Sawyer Robertson

Upon his pledge to Mississippi State Tuesday, Sawyer Robertson became MSU’s highest-rated quarterback commitment since 2003.

BY BEN PORTNOY in his blood.
bportnoy@cdispatch.com “Your dad’s probably
your biggest role model
STARKVILLE — for a kid, and so I wanted
Baseball has long been a to be like that,” he told
plausible route for four- The Dispatch Wednes-
star quarterback Sawyer day. “That was kind of my
Robertson’s athletic aspi- goal.”
rations. And while his prow-
The son of Stan Rob- ess on the football field
ertson, a first round pick earned him scholarship
of the Montreal Expos in offers from 16 Division I
the 1990 MLB June Am- schools nationwide, it’s
ateur Draft, baseball was the baseball component
of Robertson’s athletic
acumen that played a key
role in his commitment to
Mississippi State Tuesday
night.
“He does it better than
a lot of people do,” Coro-
nado High School base-
ball coach Gary Hix said
of Robertson’s ability on
the diamond. “And, you
know, I still think he’s got
a chance for growth and
he’s gonna get better.”
After joining the var-
sity squad at Coronado
High School in Lubbock,
Texas partway through
his freshman campaign,
Robertson hit roughly
.490 in his first inaugural
campaign before an in-
jury to his non-throwing
arm sidelined him as a
sophomore.
Recognizing his talent,
Texas Tech head baseball
coach Tim Tadlock — the
father of Coronado High
School teammate Ben
Tadlock — offered Rob-
ertson a spot with the
Red Raiders back in 2019.
Recruiting interest from
TCU, Texas, Florida State
and USC, among others,
followed.
As Robertson’s court-
ship from college baseball
programs grew, so too did
his opportunities on the
gridiron.
After switching from
All Saints Episcopal
School to Irons Middle
School as an eighth-grad-
er, Robertson was reluc-
tantly allowed to play foot-
ball despite his mother
Angela’s apprehension. A
pitcher by trade, quarter-
back was a natural posi-
tion fit — though it took
time to retool his throw-
ing motion from baseball
See MSU, 2B

Caledonia Middle School baseball team gives back Virus forces Wimbledon
cancellation for 1st time
with letters to local hospital, assisted living facility since World War II
BY THEO DEROSA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS “It has weighed heav-
tderosa@cdispatch.com
ily on our minds that the
For the first time in staging of The Champi-
Caledonia Middle
its nearly century-and-a- onships has only been
School baseball coach
Brad Haines isn’t always half history, Wimbledon interrupted previously
sure what to expect when was canceled for a reason by World Wars,” club
he issues a directive to his other than war, scrapped chairman Ian Hewitt
players. in 2020 on Wednesday said, “but, following thor-
“I’ll tell guys, ‘OK, because of the coronavi- ough and extensive con-
we’re wearing shorts and rus pandemic. sideration of all scenar-
shirts today to practice,’ With Britain under ios, we believe that it is
and inevitably you’ll have a nationwide lockdown, a measure of this global
four kids show up with the All England Club crisis that it is ultimate-
baseball pants on,” Haines announced its decision ly the right decision to
said. to call off its storied two- cancel this year’s Cham-
Consequently, Haines week grass-court tennis pionships, and instead
wasn’t sure what to expect tournament, something concentrate on how we
Photo courtesy of Brad Haines/Twitter
Saturday night, when he The Caledonia Middle School baseball team’s 23 players turned in over 130 letters that hadn’t happened to can use the breadth of
to be sent to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle and the Trinity Health Care the sport’s oldest Grand Wimbledon’s resources
See CALEDONIA, 2B Center. “It was overwhelming to see how many,” coach Brad Haines said. Slam event in 75 years. See TENNIS, 2B
2B THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Tennis
Continued from Page 1B

to help those in our lo-
cal communities and be-
yond.”
Wimbledon was sched-
uled to be played on the
outskirts of London from
June 29 to July 12. In-
stead, the next edition of
the tournament will be
June 28 to July 11, 2021.
Eight-time Wimbledon
champion Roger Feder-
er surely spoke for many
tennis players, officials
and fans with a one-word
message on Twitter:
“Devastated.”
Also Wednesday, the
ATP and WTA announced
that the men’s and wom-
en’s professional tours
would be suspended until
at least July 13, bringing
the number of elite tennis
tournaments affected by
the new coronavirus since
early March to more than
30. The top tours already
had been on hold through
June 7. Lower-level events
on the Challenger Tour
and ITF World Tennis
Tour also are called off
for the first two weeks of
July now.
Wimbledon first was
held in 1877 and has been
contested every year
since, with the exception
of two stretches: from
1915-18 because of World
War I, and from 1940-45
because of World War II.
Now the prestigious
tournament — known for
its carefully manicured
grass, its Royal Box at
Centre Court, its rules
about wearing white, its
strawberries and cream
and, alas, its rain delays
— joins the growing list
of major sports events
called off in 2020 because
of the COVID-19 out-
break.
That includes the To-
kyo Olympics — which
have been pushed back 12
months — and the NCA A
men’s and women’s col-
lege basketball tourna-
ments.
Wimbledon is the first
Grand Slam tournament
wiped out because of the
coronavirus; the start
of the French Open was
postponed from late May
to late September.
Shortly after the news
came from Wimbledon,
the U.S. Tennis Associ-
ation issued a statement
saying it “still plans to
host the U.S. Open as
scheduled,” from Aug. 31 means Novak Djokovic
to Sept. 13 in New York. and Simona Halep will
As of now, the French not get a chance to de-
Open is set to begin six fend their Wimbledon
days after the men’s fi- titles from 2019.
nal at Flushing Mead- “We are going
ows, where a facility through something big-
housing indoor practice ger than tennis and Wim-
courts is now a tempo- bledon will be back!”
rary 350 -bed hospital Halep wrote on social
and Louis Armstrong media. “And it means I
Stadium is being used have even longer to look
to prepare 25,000 meal forward to defending my
packages per day for title.”
patients, workers, volun- Serena Williams
teers and schoolchildren retweeted the club’s
in the city. message about the can-
Wednesday’s decision cellation and wrote: “I’m
by the All England Club Shooked.”

Caledonia
Continued from Page 1B
asked the Confederates to write
letters to health care workers
at Baptist Memorial Hospital–
Golden Triangle and to resi-
dents at the Trinity Health Care
Center, an assisted living facili-
ty in Columbus, in the midst of
the COVID-19 coronavirus pan-
demic.
Would they only write one
letter? Would they turn in two
sentences? Would their hand-
writing even be legible? Haines
didn’t know what to expect.
What he got blew him away.
Players and their parents
handed off their letters to
Haines on Tuesday afternoon,
while he was weed-eating at the
baseball field. He put them in
his truck, and when he got home
and spread them out on the ta-
ble, he couldn’t believe it. With
the help of interested family
members, his team’s 23 players
had combined to produce more
than 130 messages of support.
“I was like, ‘My gosh, look at
these letters,’” Haines said. “It
was overwhelming to see how
many.”
Shep Donald, an eighth grad-
er and a team captain, said he
wrote six letters — five to Trin-
ity residents and one to Baptist
staff.
Donald recalled his words to
the hospital workers: “‘Thank
you for everything you’ve done.’”
“They probably want to be
home with their families right
now, but they can’t,” he said.
“We’re praying for you and
thank you for everything that
you’ve done and just know that
your work isn’t going unrecog-
nized.”
Seventh-grade captain Con-
ner Black, who also wrote six
letters, said writing to nursing
home residents who cannot re-
ceive visitors is a way to make a
difference.
“I think it will impact some-
body’s life who wouldn’t normal-
ly get stuff like this,” Black said.
While some ’Feds asked to
type out their letters, Haines
encouraged his players to write
their messages by hand — not
always an easy task for younger
students but one they pulled off
nicely.
“That handwritten letter,
it just shows that you took the
time and the effort to make it a
little bit more special,” Haines
said.
Some players’ relatives
helped decorate the letters; sev-
enth grader Jack Mullins even
went the extra mile by insert-
ing a card with a baseball on it
into the envelope he turned in to
Haines.
“We just thought it would be a
nice thing to do: give these peo-
ple some hope and happiness
and put a smile on their face,”
Donald said of the team’s effort.
The eighth grader had
earned a call-up to Caledonia’s
ninth-grade team, but he and
the middle school team didn’t
even get to play a single game
before their season was shut
down indefinitely.
“It is really hard because
baseball is my life and it’s part
of the culture here, and it’s just
a really fun thing to do,” Donald
said. “It’s a little bit hard, but it’s
life: You’ve gotta get over it.”
To do that, Haines said, it
went back to an exercise he im-
plemented before the season. He
handed bags of coffee beans to
bewildered players, explaining
that the seed is unique: Rather
rather than becoming too hard
or too soft when dropped into a
pot of boiling water, it shapes its
new surroundings for the better.
That’s what the coach wanted to
see in his players, too.
“Be a coffee bean: change
the environment around you
whether it’s at school, on the
baseball field, with a teammate
or in the community, try to be a
coffee bean,” Haines explained.
“Try to change the environment
around you and do something
that makes a difference. If you
do those things, that’s how
you really become extraordi-
nary.”
Haines had seen his play-
ers take the message to heart
well before the pandemic be-
gan and the letters were writ-
ten. One player sat down next
to a student sitting alone at
lunch and ate with him; anoth-
er bought tennis shoes for a
classmate who couldn’t afford
them at Christmastime.
In the template he laid out
for the letters, Haines men-
tioned one of his team’s mot-
tos, engraved on custom-made
wristbands he ordered the
very day Caledonia’s season
was put on hold: E + R = O.
Better understood: Events +
response = outcome.
“When an event happens
that’s out of your control, how
you respond is gonna deter-
mine the outcome,” Haines
explained. “We wanted to ex-
plain the reason why we were
writing about them and think-
ing about them and stuff like
that. We wanted to make sure
that our response was posi-
tive.”
One of Donald’s letters, for
example, applied that concept
to his team’s suspended sea-
son amid the pandemic.
“‘We cannot control not be-
ing able to play baseball right
now, but we can control how
we respond, and our response
as a team has been to try to lift
others,’” his letter read. “‘We
want you to know that we’re
praying for you, and I hope
this letter finds you well.’”
For Haines, Donald’s words
were just one example of a
point that became clear as
Haines pored through the let-
ters on his table: His players
were up to the task he had giv-
en them — and then some.
“They took it and ran with
it,” Haines said.

MSU
Continued from Page 1B

to football.
“He struggled throw-
ing a spiral,” Coronado
football coach Seth Parr
quipped. “He always
threw it like a curveball,
but he was always accu-
rate and he was always on
time.”
Learning the air raid-
based system Parr ran at
the high school level as an
eighth grader, Robertson
was a natural fit at under
center. His calm demean-
or and maturity as a team-
mate meshed with the
leadership components
that befell a quarterback.
The arm talent and athlet-
icism aided his effort.
After throwing just
14 passes as a freshman,
Robertson completed 313
of 483 throws for 3,564
yards and 43 touchdowns
to just seven interceptions
as a sophomore.
Following a standout
junior year in which he
threw for 3,914 yards and
44 touchdowns, he settled
on a final list of Mississip-
pi State, USC and Texas.
Visits to each, plus
jaunts to Florida State and
TCU, ensued.
Trekking to Missis-
sippi State and Texas
on March 1st and 2nd,
Robertson sat down with
coaches at both schools.
In Austin, the family
had quickly developed a
rapport with new Texas of-
fensive coordinator Mike
Yurcich — who made
Sawyer his first offer as a
coach at UT upon his hir-
ing in December and has
vowed to continue recruit-
ing him through National
Signing Day.
That said, doubt about
whether Robertson could
play both football and
baseball at Texas crept
in. Longhorn coaches
were frank in that playing
quarterback is unlike any
other position on the field.
The learning curve can
be steep. Baseball could
be a potential distraction.
The Texas staff was
willing to work with Rob-
ertson on the baseball
component, sure, but
football could suffer some
too.
“I think it was a ‘Hey,
let’s just see how things
go. We’re not saying no,
but we’re saying odds are
really against it,’” Stan
Robertson recalled of the
conversation.
At MSU, coaches
offered comparable
thoughts on Robertson
playing both sports, but
a comfort in Starkville re-
mained.
Working through a
handful of plays with
the MSU coaching staff
during his visit, the jargon
and concepts were virtu-
ally identical to Parr’s of-
fense at Coronado.
Further, there was a
longstanding familiarity
between Robertson and
head coach Mike Leach.
After originally recruit-
ing Robertson when he
was still the head coach
at Washington State, it
took Leach only a week
into his tenure at MSU
to re-offer the Lubbock
product.
“From Washington
State to Mississippi
State, they recruited him
hard,” Parr said. “And
(he) received something
everyday from those
guys.”
A trip to Los Angeles
one week later also kept
the Trojans in the mix
as former Texas Tech
quarterback and current
USC offensive coordina-
tor Graham Harrell sold
Robertson on the air
raid-style offense he’d
be instituting in Holly-
wood — one that mim-
icked the one Leach ran
in Lubbock.
As the football coach-
ing contingents made
their offers, so too did night via Twitter.
MSU baseball coach “I guess one of the
Chris Lemonis. Calling biggest things was the
the prolific outfield- numbers that (Leach’s
er-t ur ned- quar terback quarterbacks) put up,
in recent weeks, Lem- year-in and year-out,” he
onis and hitting coach said of why he chose the
Jake Gautreau pitched Bulldogs. “In my opin-
Robertson on the bright ion, there’s no better
lights of Dudy Noble place for a quarterback
Field. to go and the baseball
“The fact that he got program is second to
phone calls from both of none.”
the coaches — the head Upon his pledge, Rob-
coach, as well as the as- ertson became MSU’s
sistant coach — there at highest-rated quarter-
Mississippi State, that back commitment since
probably had a lot more 2003. And while it re-
to do with this than I mains to be seen wheth-
think anybody will prob- er he’ll play baseball
ably give it credit,” Stan throughout his time in
Robertson said. Starkville, a larger goal
With the familiari- remains — reaching the
ty he already had with professional ranks.
Leach and the football “He’s always told me
staff coupled with an op- that his ambition was
portunity to play base- not just to finish at the
ball in the Southeastern college level,” Hix said.
Conference, Robertson “He wants to go to the
announced his commit- next level as well, just
ment to MSU Tuesday like his dad did.”

In another century, another pandemic ended Stanley Cup final
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEATTLE — The Se-
attle Metropolitans were
20 minutes from a second
Stanley Cup title in the
spring of 1919, 20 minutes
from adding their names to
the trophy again.
Odie Cleghorn’s goal for
the Montreal Canadiens
early in the third period of
Game 5 sparked a rally that
ensured there would be no
celebration that day — or
ever. The 1919 series took a
grim turn from there.
Instead of ending with
a title for Seattle, or with
an epic comeback by Mon-
treal, the series became
known for being cancelled
during the Spanish flu pan-
demic that sickened sever-
al players and eventually
killed Montreal’s Joe Hall.
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
Some are drawing parallels
to what’s happening today
with the COVID-19 pan-
demic and the uncertain fu-
ture for the NHL’s current
season.
“(A few) weeks ago, I
didn’t think that would ever
happen again. It was just
such a quirky little footnote
in history, and it was a fun-
ny little story, and ‘I can’t
believe this happened,’”
said author Kevin Ticen,
who has chronicled the
Metropolitans, including in
a book, “When It Mattered
Most,” about the 1917 sea-
son. “And now we’re sitting
here and history has re-
peated itself. I mean, to me
it’s exactly the same.”
The abandoned 1919
finals were just one of
two instances since 1893
where the championship
FAMILY CIRCUS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
trophy was not awarded.
The matchup between the
champions of the NHL (Ca-
nadiens) and the Pacific
Coast Hockey Association
(Metropolitans) was called
off with the series tied. The
only other time no champi-
on was crowned was when
the 2005 lockout wiped out
the entire NHL season.
The coronavirus pan-
demic that has brought
sports to a standstill world-
wide has ignited a debate
about whether 2020 will be
another year when the title
isn’t decided.
The 1919 series was a
clash that featured eight fu-
ture Hall of Famers — five
for Montreal and three for
Seattle. It was supposed
to be a best-of-five — with
games alternately being
played under PCHA rules
and NHL rules — but an
extra game was added af-
ter Game 4 ended in a 0-0
double-overtime tie. Se-
attle sports writer Royal
Brougham wrote about the
tie game at the time, say-
ing: “They may play hockey
for the next 1,000 years, but
they’ll never stage a greater
struggle then last night’s.”
But it was Game 5 that
stands out in retrospect. Se-
attle led 3-0 after Jack Walk-
er scored his second of the
game in the second period.
Montreal’s rally started
with Cleghorn’s goal early
in the third period. Newsy
Lalonde then scored twice
more, the second at 17:05
of the third period to pull
even. Jack McDonald
scored the game-winner in
overtime for the Canadiens.
“The Metropolitans just
Dear Abby
D
EAR
ABBY: My
boyfriend is
31 and still goes
to his moth-
er’s house and
spends the night,
even though we
live less than 15
minutes away. He
knows it upsets
me, yet every
time she asks
him to spend
the night, he
goes. He left our
children home
alone while I
Dear Abby
worked overnight
because it was her birthday.
His relationship with his
mother is a large part of
why we aren’t married, and
the fact that he continues
to spend the night there is
leading to huge fights. Is this
normal or not? — FED UP IN
OHIO
DEAR FED UP: That your
boyfriend would leave minor
children alone and without
supervision while he spends
the night with his mother —
birthday or not — is unusual.
It would have been more
logical for him to have invited
his mother to your house to
celebrate the occasion.
That said, you cannot con-
trol what your boyfriend does.
I suspect there’s a lot more
wrong with your relationship
than the fact that he hasn’t
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (April
2). There’s a joy-dial on your
heart; this solar return reaches
in and turns it up. You get more
of what makes you happy. More
music, interesting stories,
time with loved ones and
order in your life. You impose
the order through a series of
small practices, taking on one
less-than-optimal circumstance
at a time. Scorpio and Aquarius
adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 9, 50, 31, 2 and 11.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
Guard against interruptions. You
can’t afford to be pulled out of
the flow of what you’re doing.
Sure, you can jump back in,
but every distraction costs you
completely ran out of gas,”
Ticen said, noting Hall of
Famer Frank Foyston was
injured, Cully Wilson col-
lapsed with exhaustion in
overtime and Walker had to
leave with a broken skate.
“In doing research over
the ‘16 and ‘17 season, they
always won late. ... They al-
ways won late and that was
the first game that they im-
ploded.”
Unknown that night, the
flu was beginning to spread
even as the players began
looking ahead to Game 6
on April 1.
Five Montreal players
and coach George Kenne-
dy came down with the flu,
registering fevers of 101 or
higher, after Game 5. The
Canadiens tried to bring
in players from the team
in Victoria, British Colum-
emotionally
separated from
his mother. You
two could benefit
from couples
counseling to
sort out not only
his relationship
with his mother,
but also your
relationship
with each other.
If he won’t go,
go alone to get
clarity on how
to proceed with
your future.
DEAR ABBY:
I have a good
friend who has a frustratingly
bad habit. Every year, she
makes a point of mentioning
her upcoming birthday at least
a couple of times a week,
starting about four months be-
fore the day. It is never men-
tioned the rest of the year.
If I want to buy someone a
birthday gift, I make the effort
to find out when their special
day is and act accordingly. If
I don’t wish to provide a gift,
then no amount of nagging will
guilt me into it. I do not want
to end the friendship because
she is an otherwise nice per-
son and a good friend, but I’m
sick of the nagging. Any sug-
gestions on how to tactfully
but effectively deal with this?
— NAGGED IN FLORIDA
DEAR NAGGED: The next
time your friend starts up,
something.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
You’ve committed to an en-
deavor. There have been plenty
of days when you didn’t want
to do it, and you did it anyway
because you’re a person who
honors your commitments.
Today, you’ll be rewarded.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
Emotions can get in the way or
they can support you. Much de-
pends on how focused you are
on the goal. Stay fixed on your
aim, and let whatever feelings
show up organize themselves to
help you.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
There are plenty of reasons
why you can’t do the thing, and
THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 3B
bia, but the request was
denied. Ultimately, Mon-
treal attempted to forfeit
the title to Seattle but the
Metropolitans and PCHA
wouldn’t accept. Hall died
from the flu four days after
the series was canceled.
“My mom talked about
it. I remember her say-
ing there was no Cup one
year,” said Beverly Par-
sons, niece of Frank and
Lester Patrick, who were
the founders of the PCHA.
“She said because Uncle
Frank would not accept a
Cup on a default, and they
were defaulting because
so many of the Montreal
players had the flu. She
said there’s no way Uncle
Frank would do that. He
didn’t want a Cup on a de-
fault.”
respond by saying, “You have
already told me.” When she
does it for the third time say,
“You know, this is getting old.
It looks like you are soliciting
a gift.” Then tell her if she
keeps it up, you WON’T buy
her one. I’ll bet it works!
DEAR ABBY: Sometimes
when my boyfriend and I
go out with another couple
and I’m talking, he abruptly
says, “I never get a word in,”
or, “Can anyone else talk?”
Abby, if I don’t talk, he just
sits there like a lump on a
log. It’s embarrassing, and
I have asked him not to say
that in front of other people.
How should I respond when he
makes cruel remarks in front
of other people? — AWKWARD
SILENCE IN NEW YORK
DEAR AWKWARD: Is what
your boyfriend says true? Or is
it that he has trouble making
social conversation? If that’s
the case, perhaps you should
make more of an effort to
draw the “lump” into the con-
versation. However, if it’s not
true, then what he’s doing may
be an effort to appear to be
the dominant partner in your
relationship.
When it happens again
— and I’m betting it will —
your response should be,
“Ouch. That was hurtful and
embarrassing. If you have a
complaint about my behavior,
please be considerate and
make it privately.”
writing them down is the first
step in your action plan. Answer
every reason with a possible
solution to try.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your
reputation is excellent, and
you’ll like the feedback you get
when you test that. Today’s luck
involves publicity. Your best
ideas may involve an open invi-
tation to the general public.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Follow the crowd; end up in a
crowded place. That’s not so
bad if the music is right, if your
team needs you or if the event
rocks your world. But if you just
wind up in a long line for lunch?
It’s probably not worth it.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
Can anyone tell you what to
do with your life? Sure, and
lots of people will be happy to,
especially if there’s some kind
of payment involved. And yet,
moments of reflection and medi-
tation will give you better intel.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
The best reason to improve?
Whichever one motivates you.
For some, it will be revenge. For
others, it’s competition. For you,
it’s to fulfill an idea you have
about who you might be.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). You can see the same pic-
ture a thousand times and still
notice something different in
each viewing — a reminder that
you are constantly evolving and
the world will meet you wherever
you are.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). You never stop reaching for
the sun. The progress you seek
will be all about reinvention.
Some of who you are becom-
ing is completely within your
control, but there will also be
surprises.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). The space between things
will convey more meaning than
things themselves. It’s true
for the space between words,
notes, visuals, people and
more. You’ll get good at reading
spaces.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). When you seek achieve-
ment and goals, there’s a
definite end in mind. You get the
prize, and you’re done. But this
thing you’re after now will be an
endless cycle of exploring and
reinvention.
Honor among thieves
SOLUTION:
4B THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Business
Some employers to laid-off staffers: Let’s stay in touch
Last week, the government reported 3.3M people sought
jobless benefits — nearly five times the previous high
BY CHRISTOPHER
RUGABER
AP Economics Writer
As millions of job cuts
tear through the U.S.
economy, a faint glimmer
of light has emerged:
Some employers are try-
ing to maintain ties to the
staffers they’re letting go
so they can more quickly
rehire them once the viral
outbreak has passed.
Several large retail
chains are furloughing
workers — a form of tem-
porary job cut that often
maintains health insur-
ance — rather than laying
them off. And many small
businesses, too, are keep-
ing in touch with workers
they’ve had to let go.
“Anyone who’s try-
ing to lay off workers is
already thinking about
how they can bring them
back,” said Jania Bailey,
CEO of FranNet, a con-
sultancy that works with
franchise companies.
One of them is Tra-
cy True, who said she’s
keeping in touch at least
once a week with the 10
furloughed staffers of her
clothing store in Vestavia,
Alabama.
“As soon as we’re given
the all clear,” True says,
“we’ll be back.”
How long millions of
other laid-off employees
will remain without work
will help determine the
depth and duration of a
U.S. recession that’s al-
most surely begun and
is destined to worsen in
coming months.
Workers on temporary
layoff typically spend less
time unemployed com-
pared with those who per-
manently lose work and
must transition to new in-
dustries and acquire new
skills. For the economy
to recover relatively fast,
many workers would need
to return quickly to their
former jobs.
In Europe, some coun-
tries are directing a por-
tion of their aid to help
companies avoid layoffs
by putting staffers on ei-
ther reduced hours or paid
leave. Governments will
typically pay a chunk of
the salaries of employees
while they’re not working.
Germany fared partic-
ularly well with a short-
work program during
the 2009 recession. It
supported 1.5 million
workers, thereby limiting
unemployment. This year,
German officials say they
expect 2.35 million work-
ers to benefit.
In the United States,
some economists are
more pessimistic. They
fear that even companies
that intend to rehire work-
ers will struggle to do so if
the coronavirus outbreak
lasts into late summer or
fall. And even when shut-
down orders are lifted,
consumer spending may
be slow to recover as peo-
ple remain wary of con-
gregating in groups.
“There is a strong pos-
sibility that the crisis goes
on long enough that em-
ployer-employee relation-
ships will begin to fray,”
said Martha Gimbel, an
economist at Schmidt Fu-
tures, a philanthropic or-
ganization.
On Monday, former
Federal Reserve Chair
Janet Yellen suggest-
ed that the U.S. econo-
my could experience a
“V-shaped” recovery, in
which a deep recession is
followed by a strong re-
bound. Yet she cautioned
that “if firms sever their
connections to their work-
ers,” a quick recovery
would be unlikely.
Last week, the govern-
ment reported 3.3 million
people sought jobless ben-
efits — nearly five times
the previous high. Most
analysts expect an even
more wrenching number
Thursday: Jan Kozak,
an economist at Morgan
Stanley, predicts that 4.45
million people sought ben-
efits in the week that end-
ed March 28.

Can you fix ventilators? A fuel

cell engineer figures it out
BY ADAM BEAM
The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It was late
when engineer Joe Tavi’s boss called with
an odd question: Could their company,
which makes fuel cells, learn how to fix
a ventilator?
California had a bunch of broken ones,
and the governor had asked if San Jose-
based Bloom Energy could repair them
so coronavirus patients could breathe.
Tavi, an engineer who grew up taking
apart the family vacuum cleaner to see
if he could put it back together, said he
would sleep on it.
But he didn’t sleep. Instead, he made
a pot of coffee and downloaded the more
than 300-page manual for the LTD 1200,
the type of ventilator state officials said
they needed repaired.
At 4:45 a.m. the next day, coffee still in
hand, his boss called again.
“We can do this,” Tavi told her. “We
won’t be able to do it if we don’t try.”
Since then, a company that knew noth-
ing about ventilators has fixed more than
500 of them. It’s a transformation akin to
World War II, when manufacturing behe-
moths used their assembly line expertise
to make airplanes and tanks. Now, some
companies are tapping their storehouses
of brainpower to do the same thing with
medical equipment.
While most people with the corona-
virus have only mild or moderate symp-
toms, it can cause more severe illness
in some, including pneumonia — an
infection that can cause the lungs to fill
with fluid, making it difficult to breathe.
That’s where the ventilators come in.
The Society of Critical Care Medicine
estimates about 960,000 COVID-19 pa-
tients in the U.S. might need a ventilator.
But there are only about 200,000 ma-
chines available.

BUSINESS BRIEF
Neel-Schaffer names
John Cunningham
Engineer Manager
for Starkville office
Neel-Schaffer, Inc., is
pleased to announce that
John Cunningham, PE,
has been promoted to
the position of Senior En-
gineer Manager for the
firm’s office in Starkville,
Mississippi.
Cunningham joined
Neel-Schaffer in 2007 and
has more than 25 years
of experience as a Project
Engineer and Project
Manager for a wide
variety of projects and
disciplines. He is a Vice
President with the firm
and as Senior Engineer
Manager will oversee all
projects and activities for
the Starkville office. “I
look forward to continu-
ing to serve our commu-
nity and working with a
great staff devoted to the
betterment of all who live
and work in our area,”
said Cunningham.
Cunningham is a
lifelong resident of the
Golden Triangle Area
and has developed an
excellent reputation with
clients across the region
while completing dozens
of projects over the last
two decades.
“Making John the next
leader of our growing
Starkville office was a
no-brainer and natural
fit,” said Kevin Stafford,
PE, Neel-Schaffer’s
North Mississippi Op-
erations Manager. “Our
Starkville employees
campaigned for him,
and rightfully so. John
will continue serving his
long-time Golden Tri-
angle clients, but I look
forward to expanding
his skillset as our firm
continues to serve the
Mississippi State Univer-
sity and Starkville com-
munity. John’s dedication
to professional expertise
and personable service
is why we all love to work
with him, and I anticipate
his new staff and clients
will agree.”
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 5B
 SESSUM, DECEASED

Classifieds
DEBBIE SESSUM GADDY, EX-
ECUTRIX

CAUSE NO.: 2020-0044-JNS

Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
NOTICE TO CREDITORS The Starkville Dispatch and Online
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES To place ads starting at only $12,
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
undersigned upon the Estate of
MICAHEL SESSUM, Deceased,
by the Chancery Court of THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 n 6B
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
on the 17th day of March, A.D.,
2020. This is to give notice to
all persons having claims
Legal Notices
against said estate to Probate Apts For Rent: Other Houses For Sale: East Motorcycles & ATVs

LEGALS
Call us: 662-328-2424
Legal Notices
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
GOLDEN TRIANGLE COOPERAT-
IVE SERVICE DISTRICT
and Register same with the
Chancery Clerk of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, within
ninety (90) days from this date.
A failure to so Probate and Re-
gister said claim will forever
bar the same.
This the 17th day of March
2020.
/s/ Debbie Sessum Gaddy
DEBBIE SESSUM GADDY
COLEMAN
2 RACING GO KARTS,
extra tires & gears,
RENTALS $2,500. Call between
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS 8a−7p, 662−328−0028.
1 BEDROOM 2017 Harley Davidson CVO
2 BEDROOMS Street Glide Special
Starfire Black. Beautiful
3 BEDROOMS Bike with 2 luggage racks
BARGAIN: 2BR/2BA in
and saddle bag inserts.
LEASE,

© The Dispatch
Columbus. LR, DR/KIT & Excellent Condition.
Notice is hereby given that the step down den. Large lot.
General Manager of Golden Tri- PUBLISH: 3/19, 3/26, & DEPOSIT Needs work but is livable.
$25,500.00
angle Cooperative Service Dis- 4/2/2020 662−574−9663
trict will open bids at 8:30 a.m. AND Price reduced. Must sell.
on the 16th day of April, 2020
for the following:
CREDIT CHECK $9,500. 662−574−2617
2015 Harley Davidson

Employment 662-329-2323
Houses For Sale: New Hope VROD Night Rod Edition.
25 CUBIC YARD HIGH COM- Dark Red with 8,000 miles.
PACTION REAR LOADING RE- Excellent Condition.
FUSE COLLECTION TRUCKS 16 WIDNER IN NEW HOPE
(Quantity: SIX)
Call us: 662-328-2424
2411 HWY 45 N
Newly remodeled. 3BR/ $8,500.00
662−574−9663
2BA home. Approx. 1,500
Instructions and specifications
may be obtained from the
Golden Triangle Waste Service
General Help Wanted
Commercial
COLUMBUS, MS
Property For Rent
sq. ft. Has 25’x30’ wired
metal shop w/ roll−up front 2014 Harley Davidson CVO Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER

Sudoku Yesterday’s answer

& side door. $154,500. Limited. Silver and Sunset Sudoku is a number-
Office, 1311 Industrial Park
CARPENTER NEEDED w/ at 662−549−9298. Orange, approx. 20,000
Road, Columbus, MS 662-327-
least 4 yrs. of experience. FOR RENT LOCATED NEAR placing puzzle based on
6660. miles, new front and rear
Sudoku
7 3 4 1 8 6 5 2 9
Ideal candidate will have an DOWNTOWN. 3,000 sq. ft. Lots & Acreage tires and battery. a 9x9 gridis witha several
num-
ber-placing 8 6 2 7 5 9 1 4 3
given numbers.puzzle
truck terminal, 9,500 sq.

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

BIDS MUST BE RECEIVED AT eye for detail, be depend- Excellent Condition. The object
THE OFFICE OF GOLDEN TRI- able, have good communic- ft. shop & 3,200 sq. ft. 1.75 ACRE LOTS. Good/ $15,500.00 based onthe a 9x9 9 5 1 3 4 2 7 6 8
ANGLE WASTE SERVICES, LOC- ation skills, reliable trans- office/shop. Buildings can 662−574−9663 is to place numbers
ATED AT 1311 INDUSTRIAL portation & basic tools. We be rented together or
Bad Credit
credit as
Options.
low as 10%
Good
down,
grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 6 8 7 9 2 1 3 5 4
PARK ROAD, COLUMBUS, MS separately. All w/ excellent
specialize in home remod- access & Hwy. 82 visibility. $299/mo. Eaton Land, given
so thatnumbers.
each row, eachThe 3 4 5 8 6 7 9 1 2
ON THE 15th DAY OF April,
object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place
Community
2020. els & new construction. 662−327−9559. 662−361−7711. box 2 1 9 4 3 5 6 8 7
Call 662-570-9464 for info. numbers
contains the1same to 9 number
in
1 2 8 6 7 3 4 9 5
THE BIDS WILL BE OPENED AT
Houses For Rent: North the empty spaces so
8:30 A.M. ON April 16, 2020 LOT FOR SALE @ 406 only once. The difficulty 5 9 3 2 1 4 8 7 6
AT THE BOARD ROOM OF THE Cherry Street. $5,000. Ads starting at $12 that each row, each
level increases from 4 7 6 5 9 8 2 3 1
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY COURT- column and each
Rentals
HOUSE FOR RENT Call 662−328−5063 or
HOUSE ON MAIN STREET, 2−3 Bedroom w/ 1.5 Bath 662−436−6238, Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 4/01

STARKVILLE, MS. Fenced in yard. $675. leave message. Travel & Entertainment
662−549−9555. the same number only once. The difficulty level
The item must be advertised
and clearly marked on the out- Ads starting at $25 Ask for Glenn or text. increases from Monday to Sunday.

Merchandise
side of the envelope.
PUBLIC CATFISH POND
“SEALED BID TO BE OPENED @ 130 Hillcrest Drive.
Apts For Rent: West Houses For Rent: Other Open Wed, Thur & Sat.
April 16, 2020. Failure to com-
ply will cause the bid to be dis- 7am−6pm

VIP Ads starting at $12

qualified. HOUSE NEAR MUW W/ For rates call
APARTMENT. 323 13th St. 662−386−8591

Rentals
The Board of Commissioners N. 3 Blks from MUW. LR,
reserves the right to accept or DR, 2/3BR−3BA, lg den w/ Farm Equipment & Supplies
reject any and all bids received. fire place, kitchen, laundry,
Published by order of the Board
of Commissioners of Golden
Apartments & Houses outside fenced patio,
screened side porch &
JOHN DEERE MODEL M
TRACTOR. A set of one row Need a new
Triangle Cooperative Service 1 Bedrooms work room & ATTACHED
APARTMENT: 1BR/1BA,
cultivators w/ hydraulic lift,
has been repainted, looks companion?
2 Bedroooms
District.
living room/kitchenette good & runs good, $3500.
3 Bedrooms
By: Mary Ann Gilliland area. NO HUD. Ref req. Call 662−436−2037.
General Manager Dep req. $1075/mo.
662−386−7506. Furniture
Furnished & Unfurnished
Publish Dates: 4/2/20 &
4/9/20 1, 2, & 3 Baths Mobile Homes for Rent
LIVING ROOM SET
Loveseat & chaise for sale.
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF Lease, Deposit RENT A CAMPER! NEW!! $300.
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS- & Credit Check CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL! 662−242−2884. Leave a
SIPPI Utilities & cable included, message.
viceinvestments.com from $145/wk − $535/mo
327-8555
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES- Columbus & County School General Merchandise
TATE OF JOY PETERS, DE-
CEASED locations. 662−242−7653
or 205−442−2011. WANTED FREON R12.
CIVIL ACTION NO. 2020-0057

NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Apts For Rent: Other
RV/MOBILE HOME SITE
We pay CA$H.
R12 R500 R11.
Convenient.
When looking
for a new pet,
1ST MONTH − RENT FREE! East or West Columbus or Certified professionals.
EXECUTORS’ NOTICE TO CRED- 1−2 BR Apt: $350−435 near CAFB, Caledonia 312−291−9169
ITORS OF JOY PETERS, DE- 1−2BR TwnHm: $625−650 schools. 601−940−1397. RefrigerantFinders.com/ad
CEASED: Letters of Testament-
adoption is
Lease, Dep, Credit Check.
ary having been granted on the Coleman Realty
12th day of March 2020, by
662−329−2323 Office Spaces For Rent
the Chancery Court of Lowndes WHITE POSTER
County, Mississippi, in said
Cause No. 2020-0057, to the
undersigned upon the estate of
OFFICE SPACE FOR
LEASE. 1112 Main St.,
BOARDS.
24"x23" always a
Ste. 5. 3700 sq. ft. $0.50 each
good option.
Joy Peters, Deceased, notice is
hereby given to all persons hav- Plenty of private parking. 100 in stock
ing claims against said estate 662−327−9559. Visit 516 Main Street
to present the same to the or call 662−328−2424
Clerk of said Court for probate
and registration within ninety
(90) days from the first date of
publication of this notice, oth- Real Estate Five Questions:
erwise such claim or claims not
probated will be forever barred.
Ads starting at $25
Vehicles
THIS THE 12th day of March,
2020. Ads starting at $12 1 The
Netherlands
Houses For Sale: East
/s/John R. Peters, Jr.
John R. Peters, Jr., Executor of 3BR/1BA @ 1521 Campers & RVs
the Estate of Joy Peters, De- Shepherd Rd. ACROSS
ceased
2 Stacy Lewis
Sold as is, needs work. 2012 JAYCO EAGLE 5th
Serious inquiries only, WHEEL, 39ft, 4 slide−outs. 1 Adore
Timothy L. Gowan 2BR, 48" TV & 27" TV.
2874 Jefferson Street 769−274−4110.
$26,500. 662−386−9605.
5 Village resi-
3 Louisiana
Post Office Box 401 dents
Macon, MS 39341
(662) 726-2000 Motorcycles & ATVs 11 Valhalla VIP
MSB #4925 12 Sulky
4 “Poker Face”
1993 KAWASAKI 13 Splinter group
PUBLISH: 3/19, 3/26, & VOYAGER XII Only 25,500
4/2/2020 miles. Runs & looks good. 14 Cure
Looking for a new home? No problems. $3000 OBO. 15 Rough guess
5 Violin
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF Can be seen local.
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS- Let us help, shop here. 501−545−7750.
17 Lode material
SIPPI 18 Windshield
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES- clearer
TATE OF MARY MAGDALENE 22 Insertion sign
SMITH, DECEASED
24 Kept in
CAUSE NO.: 2020-0035-PDE reserve
PATRICIA ANN SMITH 25 Clay, later
MITCHELL, EXECUTRIX 26 Greek X
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Looking for goods 27 Flies like an 2 Lyric poems 28 Saskatche-
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI or services? eagle
30 Relay stick
3 Prudish
4 Whole
wan’s capital
29 Hot
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
32 Doctrine 5 Old Italian coin 30 Drill part
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the 33 Swearing-in 6 Boxing combo 31 Conforms
undersigned upon the Estate of vow 7 Entered 35 Final, for one
Mary Magdalene Smith, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court 34 “Time to 8 Gorilla or 36 Radius
of Lowndes County, Missis- split!” gibbon partner
sippi, on the 11th day of March
2020. This is to give notice to 38 Glib 9 Went ahead 37 High home

Find it in the
all persons having claims 41 Heap 10 Porker place 38 Diet no-no
against said estate to Probate
and Register same with the 42 Makes 16 Got together 39 Had supper
Chancery Clerk of Lowndes amends 19 Illustrated 40 Swindle
County, Mississippi, within
43 Earth tones
classifieds!
ninety (90) days from the first 20 Cave sound
publication date of this Notice 44 Lease signer 21 Horse halter
to Creditors. A failure to so Pro-
bate and Register said claim 45 Blinds piece 22 Group of
will forever bar the same. actors
DOWN 23 Balm ingre-

Service Directory
This the 16th day of March
2020. 1 Finish last dient
/s/ Patricia Ann Smith
Mitchell, Executrix

PUBLISH: 3/19, 3/26, &

4/2/2020

IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF

Promote your small business starting at only $25
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI Automotive Services Carpet & Flooring General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping

IN RE: ESTATE OF MICHAEL Auto Sales A & T TREE SERVICES SAM’S LAWN SERVICE
SESSUM, DECEASED LE S
WHO ALE New & Used Bucket truck & stump No lawn too large or too
Tires removal. Free est. small. Mowing, trimming &
DEBBIE SESSUM GADDY, EX- weedeating.
ECUTRIX Maintenance Serving Columbus
Brakes since 1987. Senior Call 662−243−1694
CAUSE NO.: 2020-0044-JNS UT Insurance citizen disc. Call Alvin @
O CENTE
A

242−0324/241−4447
662-605-5125
Did you
NOTICE TO CREDITORS "We’ll go out on a limb for
7596 Hwy 45 Alt N • West Point

?
you!"

know
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES DAVID’S CARPET &
UPHOLSTERY WORK WANTED: Licensed
Letters Testamentary have CLEANING AND & Bonded. Carpentry, minor
been granted and issued to the electrical, minor plumbing,
undersigned upon the Estate of
DISINFECTING
1 Room − $50 insulation, painting,
MICAHEL SESSUM, Deceased, demolition, gutters
by the Chancery Court of 2 Rooms − $70
Lowndes County, Mississippi, 3+ Rooms − $30 EA cleaned, pressure washing,
on the 17th day of March, A.D., Rugs−Must Be Seen landscaping, cleanup work, More than 160,000 unique
Grow your
2020. This is to give notice to moving help. 662−242−
all persons having claims
Car Upholstery
Cleaning Available 3608. visitors view our website
business.
against said estate to Probate 662−722−1758 each month.
and Register same with the ads.cdispatch.com
Chancery Clerk of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, within