Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi
CDISPATCH.COM
Low supply pushes beef, pork prices higher
Retailers say price increases range from $1 to $4
per pound due to pandemic disruption
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com
Jamie Baldwin noticed Wednesday
when she went grocery shopping that
it was a little harder than usual to “find
something worth her buck.”
She and her sister Shaquanta Daniels
went to Sunflower Food Store off Mili-
tary Road in Columbus to shop for pork
chops, where they struggled to find ex-
actly what they wanted.
“They had bacon and stuff, but (Dan-
iels) was looking for pork chops,” Bald-
win said. “We couldn’t find the juicier
kind. They had the real skinny kind, so
not any of the bigger kind we usually get
BUSINESS MOVES
WITH MARY
Mexican
restaurant
coming
to Columbus
PLUS: New gym and
bed and breakfast in
Starkville
BY MARY POLLITZ
Biz@cdispatch.com
W
e’ve got
another
restaurant
coming to
Columbus.
The
former
La Fiesta
building
Mary Pollitz
on High-
way 45 is
being renovated and preparing for
a new Mexican restaurant.
According to Building Official
Kenneth Wiegel the building has
undergone mostly cosmetic chang-
es, such as painting and flooring.
The Secretary of State’s Office
has Jalisco Mexican Grill LLC
listed as the business to occupy
the building at 1921 Hwy. 45 N.
The manager listed online, Arturo
Cabrera, could not be reached by
The Dispatch before press time
today.
Wiegel said the city has not
inspected the building but keep an
eye out, folks, for the new eatery
coming your way.
Speaking of eateries, Fire-
house Subs is preparing for its
June opening in Columbus. The
sandwich shop at 1914 Hwy. 45 N.,
near Starbucks, will operate at 50
percent capacity and offer take-
out and third party delivery upon
opening.
Once open the Columbus
location will offer, for a limited
time, the Firehouse Subs Family
Meal Deal. The meal is a mix and
See BUSINESS, 3A
WEATHER
Jackson Frye
Third grade, Annunciation
83 Low 63
High
Mostly sunny, chance p.m. t-storm
Full forecast on
page 3A.
FREE!
Thursday | May 14, 2020
Marshall Kugle, an
employee who works
in the meat depart-
ment of Vowell’s Mar-
ketplace in Starkville,
when we shop here.” arranges products
They also noticed prices for some in his section of the
meat products were higher than usual — store on Wednesday
afternoon. Vowell’s,
and they weren’t alone.
like many other
New Hope resident Terrie Reed, who
grocery stores in the
said she shops at Sunflower because Golden Triangle and
she knows the meat there is good, had throughout the coun-
stopped by to pick up some hamburger try, has seen both a
meat to feed family coming to visit. She shortage of and price
noticed the higher price, as did shopper increase for some
Rita Hargrove. beef and pork prod-
ucts as the COVID-19
“As far as the size, it was like $9 for
pandemic disrupts
something very, very small that should supply lines, Vowell’s
cost like $3,” said Hargrove, who said store manager Max
she tends to shop more for chicken just Stillman said.
See MEAT PRICES, 6A Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff
New Baptist chief medical officer takes
unorthodox path to becoming doctor
Martin spent 12 years
as paramedic before
deciding to go to
medical school
BY SLIM SMITH
ssmith@cdispatch.com
O
n Wednesday, Baptist
Memorial Hospital-Golden
Triangle announced that Dr.
Jamie Martin had been elevated to
the position of chief medical officer.
On the surface, there seemed
nothing extraordinary about
Martin’s promotion. At age 45,
Martin had served as a hospitalist
at Baptist since 2014, working his
way up during that time to lead the
department. Hospitalists are doc-
tors who serve patients throughout
their stay, from admittance to
discharge.
But in many ways, Martin’s Courtesy photo
ascension to one of the most prom- Dr. Jamie Martin, the new chief medical officer at Baptist Memorial Hos-
pital-Golden Triangle, reviews patient records with head nurse Amanda
inent positions in the hospital is
McCray on Thursday. Martin’s unconventional path to becoming a doctor
remarkable.
included 12 years as a paramedic. He didn’t begin medical school until he
As recently as seven years ago, was in his early 30s.
Martin wasn’t even a doctor: He
was a 39-year-old paramedic with- His path to medicine began the one-year EMT program while
out even a bachelor’s degree. there, pretty much by happen- at Delta, but at age 19, he couldn’t
“It would be fair to say my path stance. find an EMT job. Instead, he trans-
to being a doctor was unusual,” “Delta had an EMT program, ferred to Delta State University,
Martin said. and I met a guy who had gone again taking general classes. In
When Martin graduated from through the program and was 1995, at age 20, he landed an EMT
Riverside High School in Green- job at Delta Regional, working
an EMT at Delta Medical Center
ville in 1993, medicine wasn’t even nights as he attended college.
while also taking classes,” Martin
on his radar. That fall, he enrolled said. “He told me he was going to “During that time, I decided
at Mississippi Delta Community college and working for an am- I wanted to be a paramedic, so
College in Moorhead with no real bulance service and was making instead of going back to Delta State
idea of what he wanted to study. good money. I thought, ‘That’s the next fall, I went to paramedic
“I just took general classes that something I can do while I’m school in Monroe, Louisiana,” he
you would need for any major,” he here.’” said.
said. Martin enrolled and completed See MARTIN, 3A
West Point to borrow money to pave streets
$2.25M bond will be second street debt maximum of 15
years.
INSIDE
n OUR VIEW: Long term bonds for
issued in city since 2017 Howe ve r,
the city has not
short terms roads is a bad habit.
Page 4A
BY GARRICK HODGE in general obligation bonds to formally set the
ghodge@cdispatch.com improve and pave streets. priority list for city’s five selectmen will sub-
They plan to initiate the streets the bond mit proposals to Mayor Robbie
WEST POINT — Select- sell of the bonds at their June will improve. Robinson highlighting what
Robinson
man decided Tuesday to au- 9 meeting. The city will repay Before the streets they feel need the most
thorize issuing $2.25 million the debt semi-annually over a June 9 meeting, each of the See WEST POINT, 3A
FIVE QUESTIONS LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC
1 What type of trees yield the resin used to MEETINGS
produce turpentine? May 15: Starkville
2 What atmospheric, first-person, puz- Board of Aldermen
zle-solving game was the best-selling com- work session, 10
puter game of the 1990s? a.m., City Hall,
3 Where would you find a landform called a stream live at the
cay — desert, mountains or ocean?
4 Which actor played God in “Bruce Al- City of Starkville
Facebook page
mighty”?
May 18: Oktibbe-
5 What name is shared by Obama speech-
writer and the actor who starred with Vince ha County Board
Vaughn in the films “Swingers” and “Cou- of Supervisors
ples Retreat”? meeting, Chancery
Answers, 5B Courthouse, 9
a.m.
May 19: Starkville
Board of Aldermen
INSIDE meeting, 5:30
Business 4B Dear Abby 3B p.m., City Hall,
Classifieds 5B Obituaries 5A Stream live at the
Comics 3B Opinions 4A Molly Stafford of Columbus adopted a dog City of Starkville
Crossword 5B named Tyra Banks while being quarantined. Facebook page
DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471
2A THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Saturday classes? Schools

mull ways to make up lost time
‘Even though we were closed for the last two-and- number of students still without
technology in early May and those
a-half months of school, it will take us literally — who have all but vanished from
schools’ radars will have fallen even
don’t fall out of your seat — it’ll take us a couple further behind.
The effects of the lost learning
or three years to get through this’ could be felt for years.
Alabama Education Superintendent Eric Mackey “Even though we were closed
for the last two-and-a-half months
BY CAROLYN THOMPSON many educators say the fall will be of school, it will take us literally —
The Associated Press no time to pile on additional school- don’t fall out of your seat — it’ll take
work. us a couple or three years to get
When students return to school
“First and foremost, we need to through this,” Alabama Education
after a lengthy pandemic-induced
recognize that we have young peo- Superintendent Eric Mackey told
absence, the consensus is they
ple in front of us who have gone the Alabama Association of School
will have lost significant academic
through a traumatic experience,” Boards.
ground. Still unresolved for govern-
ments and educators are the ques- said Andres Perez, a Chula Vista, The “summer slide” in which stu-
tions of how — or even whether — California, high school teacher who dents typically lose some ground
teachers should try to make up for warns against moving too fast to during their break is expected to be
lost learning. get back on track. “And right now, far worse next fall, with projections
Some have proposed holding I think students and teachers real- by the nonprofit Northwest Evalu-
evening or Saturday classes for ly want to make school something ation Association suggesting some
students to catch up. A Maryland that feels meaningful, that students students could be as much as a year
senator has proposed school year- are excited to go back to.” behind in math.
round. In California, the governor Even students in schools that “Students with worse education-
has suggested the next school year managed to issue devices for vid- al opportunity will have worse out-
could begin as soon as July. eo lessons and assignments and comes and it occurs fairly rapidly,”
But any remediation plans will transition to distance learning ear- Andre Perry, a fellow at the Brook-
be complicated by social distancing ly on, using school-issued devices ings Institution, said. “A month
mandates that may require smaller for video lessons and assignments, away can have a dramatic impact on
class sizes and budget cuts that ap- will have lost out from shortened outcomes, so six months will cer-
pear imminent because of falling lo- sessions and limited interaction tainly show up in the classroom in
cal and state revenues. In surveys, with teachers, experts say. The vast the fall.”

Poll shows a partisan split over virus-era religious freedom

49 percent of Republicans say
prohibiting in-person services during
pandemic violates religious freedom
BY ELANA SCHOR
AND EMILY SWANSON
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — As the
nation’s houses of wor-
ship weigh how and when
to resume in-person gath-
erings while coronavirus
stay-at-home orders ease
in some areas, a new poll
points to a partisan divide
over whether restricting
those services violates re-
ligious freedom.
Questions about
whether states and local-
ities could restrict reli-
limits on in-person and
drive-in services — a
services should not be
allowed at all during the
stance that appeals to
his conservative base,
pandemic, compared with
34 percent of Republicans
according to the new poll
by The University of Chi-
who say the same. Among
Republicans, most of the
gious gatherings to pro- cago Divinity School and remainder — 48 percent
tect public health during The Associated Press-
— think they should be
the pandemic while per- NORC Center for Public allowed with restrictions,
mitting other secular ac- Affairs Research. while 15 percent think
The poll found Republi-
tivities have swirled for they should be allowed
weeks and resulted in cans are more likely than
without restrictions. Just
Democrats to say prohib-
more than a dozen legal 5 percent of Democrats
iting in-person services
challenges that touch on favor unrestricted in-per-
during the coronavirus
freedom to worship. outbreak violates reli- son worship, and 38 per-
President Donald gious freedom, 49 percent cent think it should be
Trump’s administra- to 21 percent. permitted with restric-
tion has sided with two A majority of Demo- tions.
churches contesting their crats, 58 percent, say they
areas’ pandemic-related think in-person religious

Virus spikes could

emerge weeks
after US economic
reopenings
BY CARLA K. JOHNSON,
MICHELLE R. SMITH
AND TIM SULLIVAN
The Associated Press

U.S. states are begin-

ning to restart their econ-
omies after months of
paralyzing coronavirus
lockdowns, but it could
take weeks until it be-
comes clear whether those
reopenings will cause a
spike in COVID-19 cases,
experts said Wednesday.
The outbreak’s trajec-
tory varies wildly across
the country, with steep
increases in cases in some
places, decreases in oth-
ers and infection rates
that can shift dramatical-
ly from neighborhood to
neighborhood.
“Part of the challenge
is although we are focused
on the top-line national
numbers in terms of our
attention, what we are see-
ing is 50 different curves
and 50 different stories
playing out,” said Thomas
Tsai, assistant professor at
the Harvard Global Health
Institute. “And what we
have seen about COVID-19
is that the story and the ef-
fect is often very local.”
A handful of states
started easing their lock-
downs about two weeks
ago, allowing reopenings
by establishments rang-
ing from shopping malls
in Texas to beach hotels
in South Carolina to gyms
in Wyoming. Sparsely pop-
ulated Wyoming, which
has some of the lowest
infection numbers in the
United States, plans to re-
open bars and restaurants
Friday.

Business
Continued from Page 1A
match of three sandwich
classics (Italian, Hook
& Ladder and Meatball)
and three bags of chips
for $24.
Moving to Starkville,
there’s a new place to
stay, rent and have fun.
For 35 years, Robin
Husbands has dreamed
of owning her own bed
and breakfast. With the
help of her husband, Vern
Wunsch, that dream is
coming alive in the city of
their alma mater.
Properties at 4300,
located on South Mont-
gomery near Poor House
Road, has opened for res-
ervations. Husbands said
she opened later than ex-
Martin
Continued from Page 1A
A new career
For the next 12 years,
Martin worked as a para-
medic. He married his
wife, Terri, and had two
children. He appeared
pretty settled.
Yet somewhere during
those 12 years, he began
to entertain thoughts
about going to medical
school.
“Where I was working,
the paramedics were
attached to an emergency
room and I got to know
a lot of great ER nurses
and doctors,” Martin
said. “They kind of took
me under their wings and
encouraged me.”
Martin also realized
that working as a para-
medic might not be the
best career for a young
father and husband.
“What drove me
toward medical school
West Point
Continued from Page 1A
attention in their particu-
lar ward.
“We’re going to distrib-
ute that money equally,”
said Ward 5 Selectman Jas-
per Pittman, who is on the
board’s finance committee
along with Ward 4 Select-
man Keith McBrayer.
“No ward is top prior-
ity over another one,” Pit-
tman added. “Everybody
is going to submit their
list and negotiate it. All
streets need to be done,
but with the hard winters
and the dry summers, a lot
of these streets really need
repairs.”
Meanwhile, Robinson
said the money will have to
be prioritized for certain
streets over others.
“There’s not going to
be enough money to pave
everything,” he said.
The mayor pointed to
West Point’s Main and
Broad streets as the areas
most in need of repairs.
Mississippi Legislature votes for business grants amid virus
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSON — Mississippi legislators
voted late Wednesday to create grant pro-
grams for small businesses hurt by the
coronavirus pandemic, using some of the
$1.25 billion in relief money that the feder-
al government is sending the state.
The total pricetag for the grants would
be $300 million.
If Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signs
BUILDING PERMITS
City of Columbus
May 4-7 2020
■ Brenda L. Jackson; 223
McHall Drive; roofing; Scott
Construction
■ BH Properties LLC; 923 9th
Street South; Demolish resi-
dence; JMorgan Company LLC
■ BH Properties LLC; 1701 5th
Avenue North; Demolish resi-
dence; JMorgan Company LLC
■ BH Properties LLC; 1915
15th Avenue North; Demolish
residence; JMorgan Company
LLC
■ BH Properties LLC; 2221
15th Avenue North; Demolish
residence; JMorgan Company
LLC
■ Calvary Evangelism Center;
311 Tuscaloosa Road; site
pected due to COVID-19
but has already booked
her first wedding and
graduation party.
Sitting on about five
acres, Properties at 4300
offers venue space, the
Magnolia Tree Bed and
Breakfast and The Pool
House.
Magnolia Tree offers
a king and Jack and Jill
suite, while The Pool
House can be rented
entirely for graduation
parties, staycations, wed-
dings and more.
Husbands purchased
the property in Novem-
ber and decided to move
from Tennessee back to
Bulldog Country. She
was that as
part of an
ambulance
service
there was
always talk
about it go-
ing private,
so there was Martin
the job security ques-
tion,” he said. “You don’t
make much money to
begin with and there was
always talk about mov-
ing to really long shifts.
That’s tough when you
have a family. At some
point, medical school be-
came an option I thought
I had to consider.”
Martin resumed
taking classes at Delta
State, this time taking
the prerequisite courses
for admission to medical
school.
“I probably never got
a true bachelor’s degree,
but I did get everything I
“Those are high-traf-
fic areas,” Robinson said.
“Our north division will
not be fully paved, but it
will be dug out in places
where it’s failing. Beyond
that, we’ll get into some
of the neighborhoods with
what we can afford to do.”
This will be the city’s
second bond used for road
construction in the last
three years and the third
outstanding bond over-
all. Robinson said in 2017
the city borrowed $1.4
million for street paving,
a bond that also has a life
of 15 years. The 2017 bond
stretched across roughly
eight miles in city limits.
West Point isn’t the first
city in the Golden Trian-
gle to borrow money for
street paving. Columbus,
for example, is still paying
off balances totaling more
than $15 million for bonds
issued for street work in
2010, 2014 and 2016. All of
the proposal into law, a $60 million pro-
gram would provide $2,000 grants for
businesses that were forced to closed by
government orders and for child care cen-
ters.
The other $240 million would be for
grants ranging from $1,500 to $25,000.
For the first 21 days, the only applications
considered would be from businesses that
did not receive aid from the federal Pay-
check Protection Program.
work for new church; JMorgan
Company LLC
■ Carmichael Jones; 116 19th
Street South; electrical; Jimmie
Chism
■ Victor Avila; 331 Florence
Street; electrical; Weldon
Electric
■ DG Lucedale LLC/Picayune
LLC; 1914 Highway 45 North;
plumbing; Hoover’s Electric
■ Grey Car Properties LLC;
3255 Highway 45 North;
plumbing; Browning Plumbing
■ Kahliah Wilkins; 900 Ruffin
Road; plumbing; David Malone
Lowndes County
May 13, 2020
■ Debbie Johnson; 104 Matil-
da McGee Road; set up mobile
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
said Starkville simply
felt like home and she
wanted to create a unique
space for travelers and
MSU fans alike.
“I’m so excited for the
possibilities with this
place,” Husbands said.
“Starkville gives you
both the small town feel
with a college vibe, and
we love living in a college
town.”
If you’re interested in
reservations, check out
propertiesat4300.com or
call Husbands at 601-287-
2379.
Also in Starkville, a
new gym has opened at
329 Hwy. 12, at Middle-
ton Court. Thomas Berk-
needed to apply to medi-
cal school,” he said.
What followed was a
leap of faith.
After applying to
a handful of medical
schools, Martin was
accepted at St. Matthew’s
University School of Med-
icine in Grand Cayman.
“We had just bought a
new house, but we packed
everything we could
carry in five suitcases
and the four of us went to
Grand Cayman,” he said.
He spent the first two
years in Grand Cayman,
then finished medical
school in south Flori-
da. Although about 10
years older than most
newly-minted doctors,
Martin believes the life
experiences and maturity
helped him meet the chal-
lenges of the long journey
to becoming a doctor.
“When I was at medi-
those bonds have 20-year
terms.
Pittman said he doesn’t
want West Point to mirror
Columbus in that respect.
“Part of my goal is to
make sure we stay under
that line instead of over
that line,” Pittman said.
“In order to do that, you
have to use a poor man’s
equation: If you don’t got
it, you don’t spend it.”
Robinson said he’s un-
sure of another way to se-
cure funding needed for
roadwork than to use gen-
eral obligation bonds.
“You just have to be con-
servative,” he said. “You
want to pay your bonds off
in less than 20 years, pref-
erably in 10 to 15 years.
Ten years is a little too ag-
gressive for us, that’s why
we’re going with 15 years.
If you can pay off the
bonds in 15 years or less,
that’s ideal.
“In terms of sustainabil-
home; West Malone, Jr.
■ Debbie Johnson; 104 Matil-
da McGee Road; move mobile
home; Columbus Homes, Inc.
■ Clint Loudermild; Davis
Road; construct s/f residence;
Bostick Construction
■ Troy Kriley; Neighbors Way;
construct storage/shop; owner
■ Kevin Yoder; 320 Whispering
Pines Road; construct storm
shelter; owner
■ Paar and Cindy Colvin; 273
Pickensville Road; addition to
s/f residence; Kevin Clark
■ Wayne Moxey; 15 Lexington
Lane; construct s/f residence/
shop; G & G Remodeling
■ Carter; Avalon Drive; con-
struct s/f residence; Michael
Scott Swain
ery, owner of The Gym,
said the soft opening
started this week.
“We’re just trying to
get a footprint out there,”
Berkery said. “We’re let-
ting people walk around
and see the facilities.”
Gym members will
have 24/7 access with
room and space for
fitness friends to work
out without. Berkery,
a teacher and coach at
Starkville Academy, was
a former member of the
Snap Fitness gym that
closed shop in December.
With his former gym
closing, Berkery said he
wanted to give others the
opportunity to exercise
cal school, I had a family
to support,” he said. “I
had a lot of people de-
pending on me, so I took
it very seriously.”
He completed his resi-
dency in Shreveport, Lou-
isiana, as chief resident,
then moved to Columbus
to begin his career as a
doctor.
A new role
Now, almost six
years later, his role
has changed again as
he replaces Dr. Ashely
Harris, who moves to the
hospital’s flagship facility
in Memphis as associate
chief medical officer.
Instead of working
closely with patients as
they proceed through
treatment, Martin’s new
role as CMO means he’ll
be working mainly as a
liaison between hospital
ity, look, it’s the only way
we can get enough money
to pave the streets,” Robin-
son added. “It’s an expen-
sive proposition. To just re-
pave Main Street ... we’re
talking somewhere in
the $500,000 to $600,000
range.”
Robinson said West
Point received a $46,000
internet use tax payment
in January, and expects
to receive one of equal or
greater value in July. That
may be used to help foot
the cost of the bonds.
“We could spend it for
that. … It would come into
play,” Robinson said. “We
could use it for a project, or
we could use some of the
money to pay some of the
principal on the interest on
the bonds when the pay-
ments are due. As long as
it’s (being spent) for infra-
structure.”
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Published daily except Saturday.
Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703
Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc.,
516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
at a gym without feeling
“crowded or judged.”
“I just wanted to open
a hometown, local gym,”
Berkery said. “We’re
trying to get that good
atmosphere of family and
friends working out and
staying fit together.”
For now, Berkery
said staffed hours are 8
a.m.-noon and 3-8 p.m.
If you’re looking to stay
fit or want to join a gym
to work off those quaran-
tine-pounds, check out
the new gym in town.
Moving from working
out, to eating out (which
is exactly how I justify
my eating habits).
Area restaurants are
administrators and the
doctors and nurses.
“There are times
when administration has
ideas about what is best
for patient care and the
CMO has to relay that to
medical staff, to get the
administration and doc-
tors on the same page,”
he said. “Of course,
that flows in the other
direction to, bringing
ideas from doctors to the
administration.”
Baptist Administrator
and CEO Paul Cade said
the hospital’s administra-
tion was pleased Martin
has assumed such an
important position.
“He has exemplified
impressive leadership
skills in the more than
five years that he has
been a part of our medi-
cal staff and we know that
he will do an outstanding
job of providing medical
The Dispatch
Answers to common questions:
Phone: 662-328-2424
Website: cdispatch.com/help
Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 3A
starting to open their din-
ing rooms and kitchens
for customers all across
the Golden Triangle.
Georgia Blue, which
opened its Starkville
location in early March,
closed just two weeks
later due to COVID-19.
As of Wednesday
the blue plate, southern
eatery is back open for
business. Georgia Blue,
207 S. Jackson St., is
open for dine-in at half
capacity and curbside
services. I’m sure it’s
going to be a hot spot in
down, so be sure to make
reservations at Georgiab-
lue.net.
oversight, expertise and
leadership as a key mem-
ber of our senior leader-
ship team,” Cade said in a
hospital press release.
As for his unorthodox
path to his new position,
Martin believes his story
is applicable to others in
one respect.
“A lot of people don’t
know what they want to
do when they’re young,”
he said. “In fact, I’m
going through the same
thing now with my daugh-
ter. She’s in her senior
year of college and she
still isn’t sure what she
wants to do. I find myself
telling her she needs to
make up her mind, then I
remember my own story.
I think the bigger thing
is to make sure that when
you know what you want
to do, you commit to it.
It’s never too late to do
that.”
SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Thurs. Fri.
Major 7:18a 7:41p
Minor 2:23a 2:59a
Major — 8:04a
Minor 1:15p 2:11p
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
Opinion
4A THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
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ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

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

OUR VIEW
Long term bonds for short term roads is a bad habit
M
ore than a century
ago, British essaying
G.K. Chesterton made
an observation that is even
more true now than then: “New
roads, new ruts,” he quipped.
On Tuesday, the West Point
Board of Selectmen authorized
$2.25 million general obligation
bonds to improve and pave city
streets. It’s the second time the
city has issued bonds for street
repairs in three years and se-
lectmen acknowledge the latest
bonds still won’t address all of
the needed paving.
As we’ve said many times
on these pages, we believe
borrowing money for routine
road paving is generally a
terrible practice. Bonds should
be issued for specific, unique
projects rather than on recur-
ring needs that should have a
reliable and consistent source
of funding. As Chesterton
noted, where there are streets,
there are always going to be
costs in maintaining those
streets. A typical paving project
is good for seven-to-10 years,
which means when a city is-
sues a 15-year bond, it’s paying
for something that is no longer
viable. It’s like making pay-
ments on a car that has already
been sent to the junkyard.
West Point is just the latest
Golden Triangle city to turn to
bonds to pay for street paving.
Columbus, for example, is still
paying off balances totaling
more than $15 million for
bonds issued for street work
in 2010, 2014 and 2016 and is
considering another round
of paving, estimated at $6.5
million.
Starkville has also issued
bonds for street repaving.
We’re not stating that it
never makes sense to borrow
money for roads, but this
practice of routinely doing so is
unsustainable.
Columbus officials are look-
ing for alternate ways to help
fund this latest road project,
including using internet sales
tax to pay off bonds funds used
for this latest repaving project.
The revenue, approved by
the Legislature last year, will
give municipalities funds to
pay for road maintenance and
infrastructure. The city will
receive $250,000 from the
collections this year, and the
amount will double each year
until it reaches an estimated
$923,000 in 2023.
We applaud such efforts.
That money could help pay off
repaving bonds far earlier than
their maturity or could be used
to fund a systematic approach
to maintaining city roads.
Each year, cities budget
for a wide variety of known
expenses. Street maintenance
budgets do not cover the cost of
repaving, however, even though
it’s common knowledge that
paving is a regular and recur-
ring necessity.
It’s time for cities to take
a realistic approach to meet-
ing these needs. A dedicated
source of funding should be a
priority.
Borrowing money should be
reserved for long-term infra-
structure projects, the promo-
tion of growth and enhance-
ment of quality of life.

OTHER EDITORS

US, China should

end virus dispute
T
he confrontation between the United
States and China has disrupted inter-
national cooperation indispensable for
dealing with the new coronavirus. Unless the
world’s two major powers join hands, it cannot
be expected that infections will be contained
and the world economy will be revived.
What is important now is for each country
to share information on the virus and establish
an international cooperative framework for
the development of vaccines and therapeutic
drugs. Controversy between the United States
and China over the source of the infection has
hindered such moves.
Of course, China bears the greatest respon-
sibility.
The first place in the world where the virus
spread was the Chinese city of Wuhan. At the
end of last year, a local doctor who had prompt-
ly warned of an emergency was punished by
the local government. It cannot be denied that
China’s tendency to conceal information has
led to the outbreak in Wuhan and its spread
worldwide.
When, where, and how did the virus origi-
nate and spread? Deeper discussions based on STATE OF THE NATION

What Joe Biden doesn’t have to do right now

scientific data would be effective in preventing
a recurrence. The World Health Organization
plans to send experts to China to investigate.
China should accept the investigation as

soon as possible. It is necessary for Beijing to
provide all materials useful for the research,
while not limiting what is subject to the inves-
tigation.
U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo continue to
argue with China, claiming that a laboratory
in Wuhan is the source of the disease. China
denies the claim, saying there is no scientific
evidence, thus continuing tit-for-tat accusa-
tions.
The United States is the most infected
country in the world and has a long way to go
before the situation settles. It is important to
determine the source of the virus, but Trump
should focus on domestic measures first. He
can’t complain if people accuse him of using
the tactic of criticizing China, while hinting at
taking measures of retaliation such as impos-
ing tariffs, as a way of drumming up support.
The global supply chain has already been
hit. The world is not in a situation for the
United States and China to continue their trade
friction. Officials in charge of the two coun-
tries’ trade talks held a phone conversation on
Friday. It is said to be the first official talks in
about four months. They should deal with the
matter more swiftly.
Trump calls himself a “wartime president,”
while Chinese President Xi Jinping also calls
the situation a “people’s war.” They may have
likened the current state to a war, regarding it
as a crisis that requires broad cooperation from
the public.
Trump compared the pandemic with the Im-
perial Japanese forces’ attack on Pearl Harbor
and the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United
States, saying the new virus is “really the worst
attack we’ve ever had.”
Infectious diseases are not conflicts be-
tween countries. No military power is used. Ex-
pressions such as “attack” and “war” can cause
people to lean toward condemnation of other
countries, forgetting that the enemy is a virus.
Leaders should avoid such easy analogies.
The Japan News
J
oe Biden has not in 2016. But polls show superior hospitals, cutting-edge
been loudly beating this important voting research and heroic health care
up on President bloc moving decidedly workers.
Donald Trump toward Biden. A new It didn’t have to get this bad. To-
for his pathetic per- Marquette University ward the end of January, Trump’s
formance during the poll has voters over 60 own trade adviser, Peter Navarro,
coronavirus crisis. in the swing state of sent the president a high-level
The pandemic has Wisconsin supporting warning of the tidal wave coming
already killed over Biden over Trump by an our way. Our lack of preparedness,
80,000 Americans and astounding 18 points. he wrote, “elevates the risk of the
cratered the economy. Why the change? coronavirus evolving into a full-
And the United States Older people are most blown pandemic, imperiling the
has become an object of Froma Harrop vulnerable to the virus. lives of millions of Americans.”
international pity. They cannot be pleased Trump denied the existence
“Why is Biden sitting at home?” by casual talk of accepting many of the virus, and when it became
chronically anxious Democrats more deaths in return for economic impossible to ignore, he blamed
ask. revival — much less the murmur- governors for not stopping it.
Actually, Biden doesn’t have to ing about the advantages of culling A safe revival of business
do much talking right now. The a population heavily dependent on activity requires mass testing for
coronavirus numbers are doing the government benefits. the virus. The U.S. is finally mak-
talking for him. Biden’s rise in key Now young children are being ing progress on obtaining such
presidential polls suggests that the hospitalized for a COVID-related tests but still can’t provide nearly
American people are listening. rash. A few have died, and parents enough. This follows Trump’s
The public seems to understand are scared. dismal failure as late as March
the need for balance between re- Some numbers speak of the — when the number of new cases
starting the economy and avoiding tragedy unleashed by Trump’s could have been curbed — to take
more mass death — about which early denial of and then flabby re- the health threat seriously.
Trump is just fomenting more sponse to this threat. Other coun- As of March 11, the U.S. had
craziness. tries have been hit by the disease, tested only 23 people per 1 million.
News cameras can’t keep their but few have suffered as we have. Even countries swimming in their
lenses off Trump-inspired agitators On Jan. 21, the U.S. and South own political chaos did better by
in front of state houses. And if the Korea each had 1 confirmed coro- large multiples. By March 11, the
number of anti-lockdown, anti-dis- navirus case and low unemploy- United Kingdom had tested 347
tancing, face maskless protesters ment rate of about 4 percent. By per million — and Italy had tested
rises from 65 to 132, newscasters May 11, the U.S. had 81,285 virus 826 per million.
excitedly proclaim that the angry deaths, and South Korea had 256. Politics happens, even in times
crowds are “growing.” On that date, our unemployment too sad for it. Biden will eventually
More reliable numbers leave a rate stood at 14.7 percent. South have to emerge, but his case for re-
different impression. A recent poll Korea’s was 4 percent and its econ- placing Trump is already out there
found lower approval ratings for omy humming along. loud and clear.
governors who are rushing to re- The U.S. now has the seventh Froma Harrop, a syndicated
open their states and higher ones highest coronavirus death rate in columnist, writes for the Providence
for those acting cautiously. the world — twice that of Canada. (Rhode Island) Journal. Her e-mail
Older Americans favored Trump And to think we are the land of address is fharrop@gmail.com.

THE STAFF OF THE DISPATCH

EDITOR/PUBLISHER Mary Jane Runnels Hunter Perrigin Tess Vrbin
Voice of the People Luther Shields Deanna Yue Stella Yu PRODUCTION
Peter Imes Steve Bogan
We encourage you to share your opinion with read- Robinson-Pugh
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ers of The Dispatch. PUBLISHER EMERITUS BUSINESS OFFICE MAILROOM Jamie Morrison
Submit your letter to The Dispatch by: Birney Imes Lindsey Beck NEWS Christina Boyd Anne Murphy
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for verification purposes. Letters should be no more Amber Dumas Zack Plair Quaylon Jones
than 500 words, and guest columns should be 500- Kelly Ervin CIRCULATION Ben Portnoy Marquisto Miller
700 words. We reserve the right to edit submitted Melissa Johnson Christopher Dumas Slim Smith Bobby Williams
information. Beth Proffitt Michael Floyd Jan Swoope Timothy Wilson

US immunologist warns of ‘darkest winter’ if virus rebounds
‘If we fail to develop a national coordinated
response, based in science, I fear the
pandemic will get far worse and be prolonged,
causing unprecedented illness and fatalities’
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Ameri-
ca faces the “darkest winter in
modern history” unless leaders
act decisively to prevent a re-
Common’s #WeMatterToo push
urges jail releases amid pandemic
BY AARON MORRISON
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Rapper
and activist Common went
into quarantine concerned
about incarcerated people
he has met during visits to
jails, prisons and juvenile
detention centers around
the U.S. and who aren’t
able to maintain social dis-
tance or adopt rigorous hy-
COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
OBITUARY POLICY
Obituaries with basic informa-
tion including visitation and
service times, are provided
free of charge. Extended
obituaries with a photograph,
detailed biographical informa-
tion and other details families
may wish to include, are avail-
able for a fee. Obituaries must
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tion, call 662-328-2471.
Lisa Thomas
NOXUBEE — Lisa
Thomas, 40, died May
12, 2020.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Macon.
Peggy Pickle
SULLIGENT, Ala. —
Peggy Pickle, 75, died
May 11, 2020, at North
Mississippi Medical
Center in Tupelo.
Graveside services
are at 1:30 p.m. today,
in Sandlin Cemetery,
with Dwayne Ham-
montree officiating.
Otts Funeral Home of
Sulligent is in charge of
arrangements.
Mrs. Pickle was born
Feb. 12, 1945, in La-
mar County, to the late
George W. Stanford and
Gladys Vernell Smith.
She was a graduate of
Sulligent High School
and was formerly em-
ployed as the owner and
operator of Nu Look
clothing store, Kids
Kountry, Coffee Cup
Restaurant, Gunckles
Restaurant and Pickle’s
Chevron. She was a
member of Sulligent
First Freewill Baptist
Church.
She is survived by
her husband, Bobby
Pickle; children Richie
Pickle of Nashville,
Tennessee and Rhonda
Byars of Sulligent; sib-
Dr. Rick Bright
bound of the coronavirus, says
a government whistleblower
who alleges he was ousted
from his job after warning the
Trump administration to pre-
pare for the pandemic.
giene routines to prevent
the spread of COVID-19.
“It’s a troubling time
for them,” Common said,
“because they are the peo-
ple who usually are over-
looked.”
On Wednesday, his
criminal justice reform
organization Imagine Jus-
tice launched a campaign
with dozens of advocacy
and activist groups calling
AREA OBITUARIES
lings, George Stanford,
Jr. “Junebug”,
Ricky Stanford,
Kenny Stanford, Gregg
Stanford, Delane Mc-
Donald, Donna Gunter
all of Sulligent, Ronnie
Stanford of Vernon and
Lynda Weaver of Gar-
dendale, Alabama; and
four grandchildren.
Walter Owens
COLUMBUS —
Walter Owens, 52, died
May 11, 2020.
A family graveside
service will be at 2 p.m.
Friday, in Pleasant Hill
Cemetery, with Danny
Renfroe officiating.
Lowndes Funeral
Home of Columbus is
in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Owens was
born April 21, 1968, in
Columbus, to Peggy
Stevens Johnson and
the late William Ray
Owens. He was for-
merly employed as a
carpenter.
In addition to his
mother, he is survived
by his children, Caleb
Lollar and Gracelyn
Lollar; siblings, Ronnie
Owens, Nancy Watkins
both of Columbus and
Carolyn Peeks, Ethels-
ville, Alabama.
Marilyn Head
STARKVILLE —
Marilyn “Lynn” Ayers
Head, 84, died May 13,
2020, in Rome, Georgia.
A private graveside
service will be held in
Old Providence Baptist
Church Cemetery, with
the Rev. Thad Moore of-
ficiating. Welch Funeral
Home of Starkville is
in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mrs. Head was
born Jan. 7, 1936, in
Ashtabula, Ohio, to the
late Stanley and Eloise
Killenger Ayers. She
was a graduate of Clyde
High School and was
formerly employed in
the airline industry.
She was a member of
Center Grove Baptist
Church.
In addition to her
parents, she was
preceded in death by
her husband, Robert B.
“Bob” Head; and sister,
Patricia Ayers Cullen.
She is survived by
her children, John
Robert “Robbie” Head
of Collins, Stephen Ray
Head of Rome, Georgia,
Jeffery Lee Head of
Starkville, Nancy Head
Rutledge of Dalton,
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 5A
Immunologist Dr. Rick
Bright makes his sobering pre-
his post as head of the Biomed-
ical Advanced Research and
in science, I fear the pandemic
will get far worse and be pro-
diction in testimony prepared
for his appearance Thursday
Development Authority after
sounding the alarm at the De-
longed, causing unprecedented
illness and fatalities.”
before the House Energy and
Commerce Committee. As-
partment of Health and Human
Services. Bright alleged he be-
Bright’s testimony follows
this week’s warning by Dr.
pects of his complaint about came a target of criticism when Anthony Fauci, the govern-
early administration handling he urged early efforts to invest
ment’s top infectious disease
of the crisis are expected to be in vaccine development and
backed up by testimony from stock up on supplies. expert, that a rushed lifting of
an executive of a company “Our window of opportunity store-closing and stay-at-home
that manufactures, respirator is closing,” Bright says in his restrictions could “turn back
masks. prepared testimony posted on the clock,” seeding more suf-
A federal watchdog agency the House committee website. fering and death and complicat-
has found “reasonable grounds” “If we fail to develop a national ing efforts to get the economy
that Bright was removed from coordinated response, based rolling again.
attention to the threat that them at greater risk of se-
the coronavirus pandemic vere illness or death from
poses on millions of men, COVID-19. Although state
women and youths who are and local correctional in-
incarcerated in the U.S. stitutions have already re-
The campaign, dubbed leased thousands of people
#WeMatterToo, is urging from confinement due to
authorities to immediately the pandemic, supporters
release people who have of the campaign also want
served the vast majority governments to pay for
of their sentences, espe- testing and housing for
cially if they have existing inmates after they are re-
health conditions that put leased.
Georgia, Guy Phillip In addition to his
Head of Golden, Colo- parents, he was pre-
rado and Carrie Head ceded in death by his
Barr of Rome, Georgia; wives, Jallie Reeves and
siblings, Orlin “Spud” Icie Reeves; daughter,
Head of Converse, Janette Reeves; and
Texas and Harry Head siblings, Floyd Reeves,
of San Antonio, Texas; Marshel Reeves, Cloyce
four grandchildren; and
Reeves, Lela Roberts,
two great-grandchil- Cloerene Ashcraft, Sal-
dren. lie Reeves and Jeanette
Cline.
Becky Andrews He is survived by his
COLUMBUS — daughter, Janice Mo-
Becky Andrews, 74, bley of Aberdeen; and
died May 13, 2020, at his grandchildren.
her residence.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Lown-
des Funeral Home of
Columbus.
Fred Reeves
VERNON, Ala. —
Fred Carl Reeves, 92,
died May 12, 2020, at
Generations of Vernon.
A family only ser-
vice is at 2 p.m. today,
at Chandler Funeral
Home, with Carlos
Dean officiating. Burial
will follow at Wofford.
The funeral service
will be live streamed at
www.chandlerfh.net for
friends. Chandler Fu-
neral Home of Vernon
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Reeves was
born June 18, 1927, in
Lamar County, to the
late Calvin and Dora
Reeves. He was former-
ly employed as a diesel
mechanic and was a
member of Friendship
South Baptist Church.
6A THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Meat prices
Continued from Page 1A
because she likes it better,
but still noticed a steep in-
crease in the price of beef
and some other products.
“I’m not a couponer,
but I think I am now,” she
added with a laugh.
It wasn’t just Sunflower
though, all three shop-
pers said — they’ve no-
ticed prices for meat prod-
ucts, particularly beef
and pork, are increasing
everywhere, from Co-
lumbus Air Force Base’s
commissary to Walmart,
whose beef and pork
shelves sat nearly empty
late Wednesday after-
noon.
As the COVID-19 pan-
demic causes meat pro-
cessing plants to shut
down, supply lines for
beef and pork products
Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff
especially have been im-
pacted, causing some A sign posted in the meat section of a Columbus grocery store alerts customers that
the store will limit certain meat products to two packages per customer, due the
stores in the area to limit shortage of goods like beef and pork caused by the disruption to supply lines. Kroger
the number of packaged and Food Giant in Columbus and Vowell’s Marketplace in Starkville have had to put
products they can sell to such limits in place.
customers and driving up
prices. lumbus Food Giant store He estimates whole- I’m shopping for, because
At Vowell’s Market- manager Dan Price, is be- sale prices have increased it’s higher everywhere.”
place in Starkville, store cause shelter in place or- 40 to 50 percent, meaning Stillman and Alpe
manager Max Stillman ders throughout the coun- customers have to pay both said they think the
said the store implement- try resulted in restaurants about that much more as increase is likely only
ed a two packages per closing or losing a portion well. temporary, lasting about
customer limit for ground of their business, so they “My percentage may as long as the pandem-
beef, though not for any didn’t need to order as be off, but I know our ic, especially for beef.
other meat products. He much meat from suppli- wholesale prices have Because the plants are
said a family like Reed’s ers. This resulted in the gone up tremendously,” scaling down production,
shopping for ground beef plants scaling back pro- he said. cattle farmers are hold-
is going to see a price in- duction in anticipation The price increase ing onto their livestock
crease. that they wouldn’t have as hasn’t necessarily de- longer, they said. When
“It’s going to be about many customers — a mis- terred shoppers from the plants start back up,
$4 higher,” he said. “May- take, in Price’s opinion, their usual pork chops
the supply will be higher
be $3 to $4 higher right because while restaurants and burgers, though.
than usual, and beef will
now. And that’s just start- closed down, the people “If I want it, I’m go-
“flood the market,” Still-
ed this week. Of course who typically would have ing to get it,” said Larry
man said.
it could get even worse eaten there had to shop Shook as he loaded steak
more at grocery stores. and pork chops into his “As soon as it ends,
because the longer this
“The purchases had vehicle in Vowell’s park- I feel like the price will
drags on with the pack-
ing plants closing, it does moved from (the restau- ing lot Wednesday. “I’m drop considerably be-
make a strain on us, even rant) sector of the busi- not worried about the cause there’s a lot of meat
though we’re buying from ness to the retail sector, price.” out there,” he said.
six or seven different sup- and they didn’t keep up,” Others said they have Alpe only wishes he
pliers. It still causes the said Price, whose store noticed the price, but knew when that would be.
cost to go up. As that sup- has also limited beef and keep shopping because “We’re all looking for
ply dwindles down, the pork to two packages per they understand the rea- some normalcy,” he said.
cost just keeps going up.” customer, though he says soning behind it. “We’re taking precautions
Big chains like Kroger it’s not very strictly en- “They’ve got to make and we’re trying to follow
are also seeing higher forced. “... Our business a living too to pay their all the laws that are imple-
prices and are limiting didn’t slow down, it mul- employees,” Reed said. “I mented, but we would love
customers to two packag- tiplied two or three times, don’t think it’s any higher to get back to normal.”
es per visit for fresh beef, and the flow of merchan- to the point where it was
pork and chicken. dise just didn’t keep up.” unreasonable with what

Supply and demand

Most retail managers
and owners, like Clint
Townsend, whose fami-
ly has owned Sunflower
since 1962, said retailers
aren’t trying to drive up
prices. Because whole-
salers who sell to the gro-
cery stores have limited
supply, their prices have
increased.
“It’s hard to say across
the board it’s been X
percent (increase),”
Townsend said. “It’s all
based off demand, so if
you’ve got one particular
part of the cow that more
people are after, it’s go-
ing to go up more than
another part of it. But
we’re seeing a dollar to $2
(more per pound) in some
cases.”
Luckily for Townsend’s
customers, Sunflower in
Columbus hasn’t had to
implement a limit on how
much customers can buy,
though Townsend said
the managers will if they
have to. Neither has the
Sunflower in West Point,
said store manager Shane
Alpe.
“My take on that is
I don’t know how large
someone’s family is or
who they’re buying for,”
Alpe said. “It’s not the
customer’s fault. It’s not
our fault, so we didn’t
see any need to limit. If
a family of six comes in,
they can’t eat the same as
a family of two, so they’re
going to have to buy
more, obviously. No rea-
son to make things more
difficult on them. Things
are hard enough already.”
Like Townsend and
Stillman, Alpe said the
issue stems from supply
and demand. Because of
the pandemic, production
is limited at meat process-
ing plants, which cut and
package beef and pork
products to distribute to
grocery stores. Some of
that is because outbreaks
among employees have
temporarily shut plants
down.
Some of it, said Co-
Sports
MISSISSIPPI STATE BASEBALL
Polk returns to Starkville in administrative role
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT
STARKVILLE — A
legend has returned.
Mississippi State an-
nounced Wednesday af-
ternoon that longtime
baseball coach Ron Polk
will return to campus as
the special assistant to
Athletic Director John
A LOOK AHEAD TO DAWGS’ 2021 ROSTER
The Mississippi State softball team celebrates after its win against Southeast Missouri State on March 8 at the Snowman (Alex Wilcox Memorial) Tournament at Nusz Park in
Starkville. With four of five seniors returning next season, the Bulldogs’ 2021 roster should be crowded but full of talent after MSU finished 25-3 in its shortened year.
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — Af-
ter the best start in school
history, the Mississippi
State softball team expe-
rienced an abrupt and dis-
appointing end to its 2020
season.
The Bulldogs went
25-3, earned a win at the
NFCA Leadoff Classic
and were poised to start
Southeastern Conference
play with a home series
against Kentucky. But
one day before the Wild-
MLB draft picks feel fortunate to avoid this year’s process
MSU commit Hearn, picked by Cubs, says he’s glad he declared for 2019 draft
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Ethan
Hearn has some good
friends who are eligible
for baseball’s amateur
draft this year. Hearn is
just an interested specta-
tor this time around, and
he feels pretty fortunate
about his situation.
The 19-year-old catch-
er was selected by the
Chicago Cubs with the
192nd pick of the 2019
draft. The slot value for
his spot was $247,000,
but the Cubs gave him
a sixth round-high
$950,000 signing bonus
to turn pro instead of
playing college ball for
Mississippi State.
This year, there is
no sixth round. Hearn’s
signing bonus would
have been capped at
$20,000.
“I’m very grateful I
was drafted last year,”
Cohen.
“Missis -
sippi State
is a special
place, and
this is home
for me,”
Polk said Polk
in a news
release. “After 54 years
of coaching college base-
cats came to Nusz Park,
Mississippi State’s season
was halted, and the Wom-
en’s College World Series
was canceled. Five days
later, the Bulldogs’ prom-
ising year under first-time
head coach Samantha
Ricketts was officially
over.
“She was doing amaz-
ing, our team was doing
amazing, and I think we
just had all the pieces to-
gether,” senior second
baseman Lindsey Wil-
liams said of her coach
and her team.
Hearn said, “because
some of those guys this
year, it’s going to be cra-
zy.”
Major League Base-
ball is still finalizing the
details for the June 10
draft, but a person famil-
iar with the decision told
The Associated Press
it plans to cut from 40
“If you’re a junior or senior coming out of college and this is your
last year, then you know you’ve got to take whatever you can get.”
rounds to five this year.
The person spoke Friday
on condition of anonym-
ity because no decision
was announced.
Players passed over
in the draft are limited
to signing bonuses of
$20,000 or less.
The changes will save
teams about $30 million
in a year when the sea-
son has been delayed by
ball, including the last 12
as a volunteer assistant
at UAB, this is a perfect
time for me to give back
to Mississippi State. I’m
very appreciative to this
great university and Di-
rector of Athletics John
Cohen for allowing me to
do this.”
Following the retire-
MISSISSIPPI STATE SOFTBALL
Williams, who chose
not to take an extra year
of eligibility, will be the
only piece not returning
next season as the Bull-
dogs essentially get to re-
set in 2021.
Ricketts told The
Dispatch that while the
Bulldogs remain disap-
pointed about what could
have been, the chance to
return all that talent is a
rare “redo,” and the team
is ready to reap the bene-
fits. The coach summed
up her team’s mentality:
“‘Hey, what an awesome
the coronavirus pandem-
ic and the sport is trying
to cut expenses to cope
with revenue loss. But it
also could cost baseball
some marketable stars
in the long run — partic-
ularly multi-sport high
school athletes.
There will be just 160
players drafted, by far
the fewest since the an-
nual selection started in
1965.
“It’s sad to see, defi-
nitely, but I mean with
what’s happening during
this virus and you know
there’s no games, no
money coming in, I
guess I do understand
it,” said Michael Limon-
celli, a right-hander in
the Seattle Mariners’
ment of Brian Shoop at
UAB, Polk now moves
back to the school he
spent 29 seasons at as the
head coach. In a career
that has spanned near-
ly six decades, he ranks
ninth in NCAA Division
I history with 1,373 wins.
Polk also produced 35
All-Americans and over
opportunity that we can
take advantage of.’”
First baseman Fa Lei-
lua leads a group of four
returning seniors, junior
catcher Mia Davidson
headlines a talented core
unit of underclassmen,
and four newcomers will
come to Starkville for the
first time.
Let’s take a look at Mis-
sissippi State’s likely 2021
roster — broken down by
position — as the Bull-
dogs hope for a repeat of
the magic they captured
this spring.
organization. “But I wish
there was more rounds.”
The 19-year-old Li-
moncelli, a former prep
star at Horseheads High
School in New York, was
selected by Seattle in the
sixth round of the 2019
draft. He was planning
to play college ball at
Coastal Carolina before
he received a $500,000
signing bonus from the
Mariners, nearly double
the slot value of $259,400
for the No 186 pick.
Signing bonus pools
started in 2012 and lim-
it the amount of mon-
ey teams can spend.
Each slot in the first 10
rounds is assigned a val-
ue — the range last year
was $8,415,300 down to
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020
75 all-Southeastern Con-
ference performers.
The former head coach
is also one of just three
people in college base-
ball history to take three
different programs to the
College World Series.
“This is a great day for
the Hail State Family to
welcome Ron Polk back
Infield
Mississippi State’s only
departure to date comes
on the infield, as Williams
will pursue a career in civ-
il engineering right away
rather than come back
next season.
But the Bulldogs re-
turn plenty of hitting and
fielding talent for 2021.
Davidson and Leilua,
who led the SEC with 48
home runs in 2019, had
16 combined long balls
in 2020 before the season
was suspended. Davidson
hit .330 and Leilua .384,
$142,200 — and each
team’s values are added
to a form a pool.
The players’ union
turned down a propos-
al that would have kept
rounds 6-10 in exchange
for cutting their slot val-
ues in half.
Asked what he would
have done if he was part
Ethan Hearn
of this year’s class and
went undrafted, Limon-
celli said he would have
played for the Chanti-
cleers. Same for Hearn
and the Bulldogs.
“I think, for me, I
would have had to go to
Mississippi State,” said
Hearn, who is from Mo-
bile, Alabama. “I feel
like coming out of high
school, money is a pretty
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
B
SECTION
home,” Cohen said in a
news release. “His experi-
ence, institutional knowl-
edge, passion for Missis-
sippi State and the high
level of respect he holds
around college athletics
will be a tremendous re-
source to our coaches,
student-athletes and en-
tire athletics program.”
Gabby Zgunda/MSU Athletics
and the two players made
as formidable a one-two
punch as the conference
has. They’ll almost cer-
tainly start at catcher and
first base respectively in
2021 and should reprise
their roles as the team’s
No. 2 and No. 3 hitters as
well.
Davidson’s sister Mon-
tana, who was also a ju-
nior this season, started
27 of Mississippi State’s
28 games at third base in
2020, but she struggled to
a .228 batting average. As
See SOFTBALL, 2B
big deal. You’ve got to be
able to sustain yourself
with that, and I just felt
like I would be worth a
little bit more than 20
grand.
“But I mean if you’re a
junior or senior coming
out of college and this is
your last year, then you
know you’ve got to take
whatever you can get.”
DJ Herz, 19, said he
had an amazing time
when he went to a pro
day held by the Cubs at
Wrigley Field about a
year ago. The left-hander
then was selected by Chi-
cago in the eighth round
at No. 252 overall.
Herz, a Fayetteville,
North Carolina, na-
tive, had committed to
play for the University
of North Carolina. But
he turned pro after the
Cubs offered a $500,000
signing bonus, more
See DRAFT, 2B
2B THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Draft NFL
Continued from Page 1B

than triple the slot value

of $162,700.
Herz said he would
have had a conversation
with his father, John,
who also serves as his
agent, and likely ex-
plored a couple different
options if he was a part
of this year’s group and
went undrafted.
“Probably me and
my dad would think the
best situation is to go
to college and see what
happens the next three
years or somehow may-
be end up in JUCO to
go one year after,” Herz
said. “The money has
to definitely be right
for the situation for the
high school players or
the younger players.”
As part of Major
League Baseball’s
March 26 agreement
with the players’ asso-
ciation, teams have the
right to cut the 2021
draft to as few as 20
rounds. High school
ballplayers who go to
four-year colleges be-
come eligible for the
draft again when they
complete their junior or
senior years or turn 21.
Junior college players
are eligible regardless
of how many years of
school they have com-
pleted.
The NCA A limit for
baseball programs is
11.7 scholarships, so
that could lead more
players to take a closer
look at the JUCO route.
“I feel like everything
happens for a reason, so
I’m just glad that I didn’t
have to go through any
of this,” Herz said, “be-
cause this is hectic and
I feel like it’s a lot more
stressful, especially for
younger kids that it was
their dream to get draft-
ed.”
High-tech devices help NFL teams keep players safe, in shape
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — of at their facilities. They
Darius Leonard works
relentlessly at his rural
South Carolina home to
prepare for another foot-
ball season. He’s also
wary of pushing too hard,
knowing a minor injury
could become a major
setback given the dearth
of medical experts in his
area.
So when in doubt, the
Indianapolis Colts star
confers with his coaches,
who are creating safer,
more efficient individual
workout programs based
on data collected the past
few weeks.
It’s all part of a chang-
ing NFL world: high-tech
devices supplanting old-
school creativity.
“We are getting a ton
done,” Colts coach Frank
Reich says. “With the
technology today, they
all have heart rate mon-
itors, so they do their
workouts, it’s all logged,
it all kind of shoots to our
system. This isn’t, ‘Hey,
I’m watching you.’ This
is, ’Hey, I’m interested in
you.’ I’m a little bit of a
numbers guy, so I like to
see these charts. Then I’ll
show them to the team.”
That fits neatly into
the new guidelines for
this year’s revamped off-
season program, too.
Teams can conduct
classroom instruction
and on-field activities
NCAA delays date for NBA draft entrants to return to school
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — the combine postponed
The NCAA is pushing
back its deadline for early
entrants to the NBA draft
to withdraw and return to
school, though it will wait
to set a new date.
The deadline was June
3, which would’ve come
10 days after the comple-
through Zoom meetings
or similar apps instead
can meet virtually as
much as four hours per
day, four days per week.
Players also can vol-
untarily wear monitors
to track workouts. Teams
can send up to $1,500 to
each player to purchase
equipment.
Not everyone has fol-
lowed the same script.
New Orleans canceled
its offseason program.
But the Colts are taking
advantage of their allot-
ted time. Reich estimates
Indy spends half its time
in meetings and the rests
monitoring workouts.
Technological advanc-
es are helping everyone
cope with the COVID-19
pandemic.
“I understand a lot
more about the NFL now
than I did 10 years ago,”
new Dallas Cowboys
backup quarterback Andy
Dalton said, comparing
the difficulty he faced
during the 2011 lockout
with today’s circumstanc-
es. “So I guess the advan-
tage now is there’s still
these virtual meetings,
so you’re able to connect
and talk through the of-
fense and talk through
different things, stuff that
I didn’t have my rookie
year during the lockout.”
Social media also plays
a part.
Detroit Lions coach
Matt Patricia recently re-
tion of the NBA scout-
ing combine. But with
amid the coronavirus
pandemic, NCAA senior
vice president of basket-
ball Dan Gavitt said in
a statement Wednesday
that college sports’ gov-
erning body won’t set a
new deadline until the
minded running back Ty
Johnson about training
safely — after watching a
video of Johnson pulling a
Jeep while wearing a hel-
met.
“Obviously, I’m pretty
sure there was someone
in the car to hit the brakes
in case he slipped,” Patri-
cia said. “I go to safety
first. I mean it’s a Jeep,
so once you get it moving,
the ball bearings kick in
and the tires go. Some
of that, I was busting his
chops about.”
Companies such as
WHOOP and Myzone
could become game
changers even after
things return to normal.
WHOOP, an online fit-
ness company, partners
with the NFLPA to pro-
vide wearable monitors
for players. Nearly 1,000
players have used the ser-
vice over the past three
years as well as teams
from Major League Base-
ball, the NBA, NFL and
Major League Soccer.
The waterproof device
can be worn around the
wrist or bicep and tracks
heart rate and strain
during workouts and re-
covery periods. In addi-
tion to measuring heart
rate variability, resting
heart rate and respiratory
rate, it provides informa-
tion about sleep perfor-
mance to give coaches
the necessary informa-
tion to ensure safe, effi-
cient workout plans that
NBA has determined its
revised timeline for the
predraft process.
“This modification
is being made with the
health and well-being of
our student-athletes in
mind, along with their
ability to make the most
informed decisions
during this uncertain
won’t overstress the body.
“If you go too far and
keep training in a state
where you’re not recov-
ered, you’re not making
physiological gains at
that point. You’re just
digging a hole,” said vice
president of performance
Kristen Holmes, a for-
mer U.S. national field
hockey player and NCA A
title-winning coach at
Princeton. “It’s not about
more and more and more.
It’s about being smart
and managing load.”
The results may even
help in the fight against
COVID-19. WHOOP has
information showing cus-
tomers who tested pos-
itive saw a spike in their
respiratory rates just a
few days before the onset
of symptoms.
Zebra Technologies
has been using comput-
er chips in shoulder pads
and practice shirts since
2014. Now it has installed
them in footballs. Radio
transmitters at stadiums
and practice fields trans-
mit data that company
officials say can track
measurements within 6
inches of actual distance.
The results often ap-
pear on television broad-
casts: how far or fast a
player ran; how far a ball
was thrown; or how much
separation a receiver had
from a defender. Those
numbers came in handy
when most pro days were
canceled because of the
time,” Gavitt said, specifi-
cally noting the postpone-
ment of the combine.
Gavitt said the NCAA
will work with the Nation-
al Association of Basket-
ball Coaches to ensure
the change “supports a
player’s decision-mak-
ing process” on the draft
while also allowing them
pandemic.
“Not only did we track
the Senior Bowl game,
but we tracked all of the
practice sessions. We
captured all of the player
information that week,”
said John Pollard, vice
president of Zebra sports
business development.
“The teams apply it as a
tool like any other train-
ing process or mecha-
nism they may have in
place. It can help with
things like rehab, too.”
But without the ra-
dio transmitters, Zebra
cannot track workouts at
home. WHOOP and My-
zone still can, and their
numbers help players like
Leonard, a 2018 All-Pro,
return to football healthy
and prepared.
“I’m not going to say I
can get enough out of it,
but I can get a good bit,”
Leonard said of his mod-
ified regimen. “It sucks
being from the country
where you don’t have a
chiropractor, you don’t
have a physical therapist
who can actually work on
you day in and day out. So
with me, a guy who loves
to train hard and run fast
every day, I can’t do that
now because if I tweak
something I have no one
here to help me out. So
I really have to take my
time and kind of do all the
small things right.”
to retain their college el-
igibility.
The NBA announced
May 1 that it was postpon-
ing the draft lottery and
combine scheduled for
Chicago this month.
Mississippi State’s
Robert Woodard II is
among the players still
mulling over his decision.

Softball
Continued from Page 1B

of now, Montana David-
son should still have the
inside track to a starting
job, but several Bulldogs
who didn’t play as much
this spring could change
that.
Freshman Paige Cook
came off the bench 10
times, hitting 4 for 6 de-
spite limited playing time;
sophomore Jackie McK-
enna, who led the team in
batting average in mostly
pinch-hit appearances
and showed off her arm at
catcher, is also listed as a
third baseman.
Incoming freshman
Taylor Middlebrook, a de-
fensive whiz at Alexander
High School in Douglas-
ville, Georgia, could see
her glove propel her into a
starting spot at third.
Middlebrook could
play shortstop or second
base as well, but a pair of
slightly more established
Bulldogs seem likely to
start in the middle infield
in 2021.
Madisyn Kennedy held
down the starting short-
stop job all season, show-
ing off her slick fielding
and hitting .333 with six
extra-base hits to boot;
Aquana Brownlee, who
played in 15 games with
seven starts, seems to be
the natural successor to
Williams at second base.
Incoming College of
San Mateo transfer Shea
Moreno has the ability
to fill in at catcher or in
the infield, and shortstop
Desiree Lewis redshirted
this spring but could also
see playing time in 2021.
Outfield
With all three starters
poised to return, what was
a solid if not spectacular
outfield in 2020 should re-
main the same for Missis-
sippi State in 2021 in the
Bulldogs’ least complicat-
ed position group.
Sophomore Anna Kate
Segars hit .345 while
starting 20 games in cen-
ter field, while classmate
Chloe Malau’ulu hit .342
while splitting 27 games
— all starts — between
left and right.
Senior Candace Denis,
who announced April 27
she’ll return for another
year, started all 28 games
and hit .295 while tying
for the team lead with
eight doubles. Denis, who
doubles as a pitcher when
the Bulldogs need her,
allowed one run in three
solid innings in the circle.
Senior Christian
Quinn, also planning
to return, started eight
games in center field and
should serve as a capable
fourth outfielder for Mis-
sissippi State.
Behind that quartet,
a group of young players
will compete for playing
time in the outfield.
Freshman Brylie St.
Clair, who hit .417 in 22
games in 2020 while start-
ing just once, will hope to
earn a regular spot in the
lineup. So will Kiki Ed-
wards (six at-bats) and
Celeste Soliz (one), who
played sparingly as fresh-
men.
Junior Carter Spex-
arth, who is listed as an
outfielder but slotted into
the lineup at designat-
ed player in all 18 of her
starts this season, was
behind only Leilua in bat-
ting average among the
Bulldogs’ regular starters
and should have no trou-
ble starting at the position
again.
Pitching
While Mississippi
State’s lineup was more
than competitive in non-
conference play in 2020, it
was pitching that helped
the Bulldogs to the suc-
cess they enjoyed this
spring.
And if several of the
team’s pitchers can repeat
the career years they had,
that success can be repli-
cated.
Under first-year pitch-
ing coach Josh Johnson,
sophomore Emily Wil-
liams posted an ERA of
0.46, and junior Annie
Willis had an 0.80 mark.
Williams started four
games and earned saves
in five, while Willis — a
transfer from Troy —
went 9-1 in seven starts.
If the two can excel
again next season, the
Bulldogs’ pitching staff,
which had the fourth-best
ERA in the nation this
spring, could keep up its
success in 2021.
But that will take solid
performances from the
rest of Mississippi State’s
pitchers, too.
Grace Fagan didn’t
have quite the sopho-
more season she wanted,
but she pitched to a re-
spectable 2.41 ERA in a
team-leading nine starts.
Senior Alyssa Loza,
who will be returning
next season, was effective
in her swingman role, and
freshmen Kenley Hawk
and Aspen Wesley did
well in mostly midweek
appearances.
Incoming freshmen
Kylie Taylor and Addison
Purvis also have the po-
tential to make significant
contributions right away
for the Bulldogs. Both hit-
ting stars at their respec-
tive high schools, the pair
put up big numbers in the
circle, too. Should they
get chances to play on a
crowded roster in 2021,
they can help Mississippi
State’s pitching staff keep
up the good work.
Projected starting
lineup
n Candace Denis, LF
n Mia Davidson, C
n Fa Leilua, 1B
n Carter Spexarth, DP
n Chloe Malau’ulu, RF
n Madisyn Kennedy, SS
n Anna Kate Segars, CF
n Aquana Brownlee, 2B
n Montana Davidson, 3B
n (Annie Willis, P)
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
AUTO
Safety protocols include Fox calling NASCAR race from studio
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS contribute.” drone that can offer more “I’m just excited that
The adjustments will perspectives than usu- the opportunity is there
CHARLOT TE, N.C. continue Sunday when al since fans won’t be in for NASCAR and motor-
— Jeff Gordon thought NASCAR resumes its the stands. The Fox team sports,” Gordon told The
his wife, a former model, schedule at Darlington is still finalizing its ap- Associated Press. “We
was kidding when she Raceway in South Caro- proach, but expects to use are always comparing our
asked the NASCAR Hall lina. Gordon, now in his instant messaging with sport to others but now
of Famer to color her fifth season as part of Fox crews to glean the critical we really get to really talk
graying roots. He real- Sports’ broadcast team, information Gordon and about the uniqueness of
ized she was serious after will not be at the track. Joy need to properly call our sport and showcase
the third request, Face- He and Mike Joy will call a race. that, because that is what
Timed her regular stylist the race from a studio Gordon and Joy spent is giving us this opportu-
and took a crash course in in Charlotte, and Regan the last two months call- nity when other sports
mixing color. Smith will be the only ing iRacing events from are going to be more de-
“Those are the types of at-track reporter for the a studio, so they have layed.
things we do when we are broadcast team. some experience with “Motorsports is fortu-
in quarantine,” Gordon NASCAR is l imiting broadcasting remotely. nate to have this oppor-
said Wednesday. “There the number of people at Still, they will be winging tunity. I am more excited
are things that you do to the track to only those some things as they adapt to see that in action, but
keep the glue together, to essential to compete and to watching the race on I think everybody is ner-
keep everybody healthy broadcast the race, so Fox monitors instead of de- vous. Normally in a broad-
and sane. So if having will have a dramatically scribing what’s unfolding cast we have practice, we
gray hair stresses her reduced roster and use a right in front of them at have qualifying, we get to
out, then I am happy to high-speed custom-built the track. work some things. This is
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
My parents
have strong
opinions. I don’t
agree with them
in areas such
as how to raise
or discipline my
children. If I try to
explain why, they
mock me with their
tone of voice. Then
ZITS they get mad if I try
to discuss it with
them and won’t
speak to me for a
couple of weeks.
Currently, they Dear Abby
are insisting that
I am making a mountain out
of a molehill because of the
coronavirus. I stay at home with
my children and run out only to
buy food. Abby, my parents are
ignoring all the health recom-
mendations. They still go out in
public places where people are
GARFIELD close to each other.
They now want to have all
their grandkids over to play and
are upset with me because I
refuse. It has reached the point
that I don’t answer my phone
when I see Mom’s number
because I know she’ll lecture me
on how I am “tearing the family
apart over this nonsense that
we’ll just laugh about next year.” exact same thing, and I’ve never
How do you get family members
to respect your request for social
distancing? — DOING WHAT’S
RIGHT FOR NOW
DEAR DOING: Here’s how:
CANDORVILLE
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (May
14). You’ll have two significant
victories this year. One will
come very easily, and the other
will be hard-won. You’ll enjoy
taking part in communities,
though you’ll be connecting
differently than how you once
would. You’ll share good vibes
with a new person and by this
BABY BLUES time next year be fixtures in
each other’s lives. Capricorn
and Leo adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 4, 27, 18, 44
and 29.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
It’s once again time to check in
with yourself on the higher think-
ing levels. Stop and ask yourself
what you believe. Sure, you’ve
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
FAMILY CIRCUS
going to be ‘Boom,’ just
like the drivers and the
teams. They are going to
get in the car and drop the
green flag and it is on, and
for us it is going to be the
same thing.”
NASCAR’s return will
be conducted in just one
day, with qualifying and
practices canceled for a
consolidated schedule.
At Darlington, positions
1-12 will be set by a ran-
dom draw from teams in
those positions in owner
points, followed by a draw
for teams in positions 13
through 24, and finally
another draw for teams
ranked between 25th and
36th. The final four slots
will go to non-chartered
teams based on order of
Stick to your guns.
Remind your
mother that your
children’s welfare
is your sacred
responsibility. It is
your job to ensure
their safety, and
it’s no laughing
matter. Tell her
this is why you
have chosen
to follow the
directions issued
by the Centers for
Disease Control.
You wish she and
your dad would
be more careful
about their own health, but you
respect that they are adults
making their own choices, and
you expect that she will extend
to you the same courtesy.
Period!
DEAR ABBY: I recently gave a
family member a gift. Imme-
diately upon opening it, they
exclaimed, “I don’t want this! I
will never use this. Can I return
it and get something else?”
This was followed by repeatedly
saying they didn’t want the item
and dragging out of the closet a
similar item another family mem-
ber had given them, exclaiming,
“See? I already have almost the
used it.”
This relative kept repeating
they didn’t ever want anything
like this and what I should al-
ways get them. This is the same
done this already, but things
have changed, and so have you.
TAURUS (April 20-May
20). In a sea of retweets and
homogenized opinions, you have
a chance to put something out
into the world that wasn’t there
before. People need to hear
something that’s not being said.
You’re the one to say it.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
You think of someone, but
you’re not exactly sure what
you need to share about that
thought process. Relationships
are a dance, and you’d rather
err on the side of not stepping
on toes.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
Everyone wants love, attention
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 3B
owner points.
The field will be frozen
for a competition caution
on Lap 30, and only the
top 20 cars will be allowed
to pit. The other 20 cars
will pit on the next lap.
Gordon, a four-time
NASCAR champion
ranked third in all-time
victories, applauded the
new approaches the sanc-
tioning body is taking as
it attempts to restart the
season. There are at least
two Wednesday night rac-
es coming up, with the
field May 20 at Darlington
set by the finishing order
of Sunday’s race — with a
twist: The top 20 finishers
Sunday will be inverted
for Wednesday’s starting
lineup.
person, by the way, who buys
me whatever they want to get
me whether I want it or not, and
refuses to listen when I state
what I would like as gifts. Am I
too sensitive, or is this behavior
bad manners? — GIFT HORSE IN
WYOMING
DEAR GIFT HORSE: It’s an ex-
ample of appalling bad manners
and lack of gratitude. Because
the relative is also unwilling or
unable to choose appropriate
gifts, why not agree to stop
exchanging them? In cases like
this, a nice, neutral greeting card
would cause fewer hurt feelings.
DEAR ABBY: My husband and
I disagree about something, and
I’d like you to be the tie-breaker.
One of us believes it’s proper to
keep the title to a vehicle in the
glove compartment of the ve-
hicle alongside the registration
and insurance papers. The other
thinks it’s foolish and dangerous.
What say you? — TIE-BREAKER
IN KENTUCKY
DEAR TIE-BREAKER: I say it is
better to err on the side of cau-
tion and keep the title in a safe
deposit box or file cabinet. The
same is true for the deed to your
home, as well as other important
documents.
Dear Abby is written by
Abigail Van Buren, also known
as Jeanne Phillips, and was
founded by her mother, Pauline
Phillips. Contact Dear Abby
at www.DearAbby.com or P.O.
Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA
90069.
and credit where it’s due. Some
want passion, all the attention
and all the credit, too, due or
not. Place your effort where it’s
going to be reciprocated.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). No
one is you. You make sure that
your work reflects this, too —
that no one will be mistaken for
you. Self-critique and quality
control will set you apart from
the competition.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Confirmation bias suggests that
humans tend to believe first and
then find supporting evidence
second. This order makes it
impossible to root out factual
truth. Fight the phenomenon.
Question your own motives.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
For greater clarity and insight,
consider the hedonic treadmill.
Humans tend to stabilize to
their own set point of happi-
ness, despite the temporary
highs and lows that life offers.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). You’ve been amenable to
the suggestions of your crew,
and occasionally, there are
those who will take advantage.
Now it’s time to be particular
— difficult, even. What’s in it
for you?
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-
Dec. 21). You’re not looking
for validation, agreement or
even support. You don’t need
anyone else to approve of you
in order to approve of yourself.
That said, you deserve respect.
Don’t accept less.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). Maybe it’s true that you al-
ready have all you need, though
it doesn’t exactly feel true to-
day. Ironically, you actually feel
like you need fewer things.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). The criticism we have of
others is self-criticism, and the
same goes for the praise. When
working on self-love is difficult,
switch to other-love. It will have
the same effect.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). Though you may be all
too aware of the mistakes your
loved ones have made, you’re
also loyal. With loyalty comes
discretion and a willingness
to focus on strengths as you
support your tribe.
Most wanted list
SOLUTION:
4B THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Business
LOCAL BUSINESS VOICES

Locally, things ‘better than anticipated’

L
ast week so quickly, Some methods include have been able to secure the time we were writing All of these partners
the GTR noting that PPE shields and masks, these loans to keep staff this, so we’ll have to wait are extremely important
LINK while percent- temperature scanning, employed. and see how that element to our work and have
hosted quar- ages were still routine cleaning and Hotel occupancy will be reintroduced in been essential in keep-
terly meetings dramatically wipe-downs of equipment was at 36 percent last the COVID economy. ing us updated on the
with our down, they and facilities and even week, according to one The transportation economic health of our
membership weren’t as low social distancing guards of our tourism industry and trucking industry region. We’re certainly
group, The as predicted. patrolling to help people members. Local hotels partners are seeing un- not out of the woods and
Trust. This One member remember how far apart in the region are largely expectedly positive sales we will all be recovering
is a group of said sales six feet really is. Those numbers, but service is in one way or another
supported by business
managers, went from on the call say they have
travel and MSU athletics. down around 20 percent for some time. Hopefully
principals and 20 percent orders to fill, but are
Macaulay Whitaker to nearly 60 With temporary indus- in some businesses. Sim- we’ll continue to see a
CEOs from anticipating a reduction
businesses percent last in business in the coming trial closures and state ilar to the manufacturing trend of, “better than we
across the week. In- months. travel bans across the sector, current orders thought.”
region and state. These house dining opened this Banking members are country, that element has and contracts are keep- Macaulay Whitaker is
organizations cover week, and should contin- serving their customers yet to rebound. Reports ing them busy but there the chief operating officer
areas of business in- ue to boost sales but may as best they can while about athletics reopening are few opportunities for the Golden Triangle
cluding manufacturing, not eclipse take-out. navigating the chang- are largely speculative at coming down the pipe. LINK.
construction, banking Those in the construc- ing nature of Paycheck
and finance, real estate, tion industry are largely Protection Program
restaurant and hotel, working on current loans and other support
legal and more. projects and have been programs. According to
More than 75 percent able to keep their current information from one of
of our membership dialed staff employed. There our bankers, as of close
in, and we asked that are fewer projects in of business on Friday, the
they share an update the pipeline, so there is combined numbers for
with us about how things concern about workloads Round 1 and Round 2 of
were going on their end. decreasing the longer the PPP in Mississippi are
Of those that did, an effects of the pandemic 40,362 loans approved for
overwhelming trend ap- are felt. a total of $3.189 billion.
peared: things are better Manufacturers in Mississippi banks have
than they thought. our area are returning distributed the highest
Our restaurateurs to work, with many of percentage of PPP relief
were surprised that them taking extreme to small businesses than
people’s dining habits precautions to keep any other state. Many of
had adapted to take-out their employees safe. the businesses on the call

BUSINESS BRIEFS
McCallum promoted and is active in American Forbes 2020 Best-in-State
BankFirst is pleased Cancer Society’s local Wealth Advisors, third
to announce that Alice Relay for Life. consecutive year, Forbes
McCallum 2020 Top 200 Women
has been Phillips-Gaines Wealth Advisors, fourth
promoted recognized consecutive year, and
to Assistant Lynn Phillips-Gaines, Barron’s 2020 Top 1200
Vice Pres- Certified Financial Plan- Financial Advisors List,
ident. She ner™ Pro- fifth consecutive year,
is a 2005 fessional, and includes recogni-
graduate of Phillips tion in The Wall Street
of Missis- McCallum Financial Journal.
sippi State was recent-
University and began her ly named
banking career at Bank- to multiple
Plus in 2006. She joined national top
BankFirst in 2010. Alice’s financial Phillips-
banking experience advisors Gaines
includes working custom- lists. These
er service phone lines to are prestigious national
assist customers with an rankings that spotlight
array of banking needs, elite advisors across
as well as processing cus- the country who were
tomer and commercial nominated by their firms
loans. Most recently, she — and then researched,
has been a customer ser- interviewed, and select-
LOCAL GAS PRICES
Source: gasbuddy.com
vice representative at our ed to receive the honor.
Columbus Main office Those honors include COLUMBUS
1.62 EXXON
1225 Main St. & 13th St. N.

1.65 LOVE’S
525 Tuscaloosa Rd.

Get promoted? 1.65 SPIRIT

97 Alabama St. & Gardner

Win an award? STARKVILLE

Send us your business brief.
news@cdispatch.com 1.45 WALMART
105 Market St.

subject: Business brief

1.46 MURPHY USA
1201 MS-12 near MS-25

1.47 SPRINT
308 Hwy 12 & S. Montgomery
Classifieds
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 n 5B

Apts For Rent: Caledonia General Merchandise Motorcycles & ATVs

Employment 2 BR, 1 BA w/ W/D

Call us: 662-328-2424
Accounting / Finance
WANTED: BOOKKEEPER.
connections. Application
Real Estate 2018 40FT Gooseneck
Trailer w/ 5ft dovetail, 12
1993 KAWASAKI
VOYAGER XII Only 25,500
Fee, Background and Credit ton axles, 10−4inch straps miles. Runs & looks good.
Checks required. $500.00 Ads starting at $25 & tarps. $8,500. 662−251 No problems. $3000 OBO.
662−436−2255 −3001. Can be seen local.
Lots & Acreage 501−545−7750.
Apts For Rent: Other
1.75 ACRE LOTS. USED METAL Roofing. For

Call for details,
662-574-4221
Customer Service
LOCAL LAW FIRM is seek-
ing Receptionist/Secretary.
Previous experience
helpful but not necessary.
Computer skills a must.
Email resume to:
Community
1ST MONTH − RENT FREE! Good/Bad Credit Options. Sale. $5−$10 per sheet.
1−2 BR Apt: $350−435 Good credit as low as 10% 662−497−1388.
1−2BR TwnHm: $625−650 down, $299/mo. Eaton
Lease, Dep, Credit Check. Land, 662−361−7711.
Coleman Realty WANTED FREON R12.
Ads starting at $12
662−329−2323 We pay CA$H.
Garage Sales
R12 R500 R11. Travel & Entertainment
Convenient.
Certified professionals.
312−291−9169 PUBLIC CATFISH POND
Two free signs RefrigerantFinders.com/ad @ 130 Hillcrest Drive.
Open Tues−Sat, 7a−5p

Sudoku
job109@cdispatch.com 662−386−8591
Estate Sales Call for pricing. YESTERDAY’S ANSWER

Sudoku
General Help Wanted ESTATE SALE WHITE POSTER BOARD
116 GARDENIA DR. 24"x23" Sudoku is a number- Yesterday’s answer
placing puzzle based on
FULL TIME Experienced
Heavy Equipment Operator.
Thur/Fri/Sat/Sun, 7a−5p.
Furniture, appliances, etc.
$0.50 each
100 in stock Five Questions: Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 7 5 9 8 3 2 1 4 6
3 years minimum experi- 337−766−1363 for info. Visit 516 Main Street
ber-placing
given numbers.puzzleThe object 6 3 4 1 5 7 9 8 2

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

1 Pine trees
ence needed with front end or call 662−328−2424
based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 2 8 1 9 6 4 7 5 3
loader, dozer, excavator,
grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 8 9 3 7 2 1 5 6 4
Merchandise
and off-road haul truck.
given
so thatnumbers. The
2 Myst
Must be able to pass a each row, each 5 7 2 6 4 9 3 1 8
object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place
Vehicles
drug screen and a back-
ground check. Must be box 4 1 6 3 8 5 2 9 7
Ads starting at $12 numbers
contains the1same to 9 number
in
able to legally work in the 9 2 8 5 7 6 4 3 1
United States. Apply in per-
son at Bacco Materials, Ads starting at $12 3 Ocean the empty spaces so
only once. The difficulty
that each row, each 3 4 5 2 1 8 6 7 9
Farm Equipment & Supplies level increases from
Inc., 1771 Stinson Creek column and each 1 6 7 4 9 3 8 2 5
Road, Columbus, MS JOHN DEERE MODEL M Campers & RVs 4 Morgan Monday
3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 5/13

39705. No phone calls. TRACTOR. A set of one row
cultivators w/ hydraulic lift,
COLEMAN has been repainted, looks
Freeman
the same number only once. The difficulty level
2012 JAYCO EAGLE 5th
increases from Monday to Sunday.
WHEEL, 39ft, 4 slide−outs.

5 Jon Favreau
CALEDONIA BUSINESS good & runs good, $3500. 2BR, 48" TV & 27" TV.
RENTALS Call 662−436−2037. $26,500. 662−386−9605.
needs General Laborer. TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
Valid driver's license,
transportation & experi- 1 BEDROOM
ence helpful. Will train on
the job if needed. Call 2 BEDROOMS
Jesse & Beverly's Lawn 3 BEDROOMS
Service at 662-356-6525.
LEASE,
© The Dispatch

DEPOSIT
THE COMMERCIAL AND
DISPATCH seeks a motiv-
ated, contracted carrier for CREDIT CHECK
the Brooksville & Macon
area. Excellent opportunity
to earn money for college. 662-329-2323
Must have good transporta-
tion, valid driver's license 2411 HWY 45 N

Place an ad safely
& insurance. Delivers on COLUMBUS, MS
Sunday morning and Mon-
Fri afternoons. Apply at The
Commercial Dispatch, 516 Commercial Property For Rent
Main Street in Columbus.

from home with

No phone calls please. FOR RENT LOCATED NEAR
DOWNTOWN. 3,000 sq. ft.
truck terminal, 9,500 sq.
Medical / Dental ft. shop & 3,200 sq. ft.
office/shop. Buildings can
Clinical Medical Assistant be rented together or

the Classifieds.
We are looking for a Clinic- separately. All w/ excellent
al Medical Assistant for our access & Hwy. 82 visibility.
fast paced OB/GYN office 662−327−9559.
in Columbus, MS. Experi-
ence as a medical assist- Mobile Homes for Rent
ant in an OB/GYN setting
or other clinical medical
setting is required. Re- RENT A CAMPER!
sponsibilities will include CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
patient care and office sup- Utilities & cable included,
port. Full job description from $145/wk − $535/mo
will be discussed at the Columbus & County School
time of interview. This is a locations. 662−242−7653
part-time or full-time posi- or 205−442−2011.
tion. Availability needed
Monday-Friday. Benefits
offered for full-time posi- RV/MOBILE HOME SITE
tion after waiting period. East or West Columbus or
Email resume to near CAFB, Caledonia
job108@cdispatch.com schools. 601−940−1397.

Office Spaces For Rent

Real Estate

ads.cdispatch.com
REAL ESTATE office needs
OFFICE SPACE FOR ACROSS
LEASE. 1112 Main St.,
Administrative Office Ste. 5. 3700 sq. ft. 1 Classify
Assistant to work 35 hours Plenty of private parking. 5 Hide away
weekly, M-F. Must possess: 662−327−9559. 10 Scout group
organizational skills with
12 Sorceress of

attention to detail; com-
puter skills including
Microsoft office, Excel,
Outlook & QuickBooks; pro-
fessional and courteous
communication skills with
clients, public & co-work-
ers. Send resume' to
Blind Box 674 c/o The
Commercial Dispatch,
P. O. Box 511,
Columbus, MS 39703.
Rentals
Ads starting at $25
Apts For Rent: West
Service Directory
myth
13 Was furious
14 Earlier,
quaintly
15 Had a snack
Promote your small business starting at only $25 16 Airline
expense
Carpet & Flooring General Services General Services Painting & Papering 18 Hotel suite
feature
A & T TREE SERVICES CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY Lloyd’s Painting 20 Spot
Bucket truck & stump $545 plus Filing Fee For All Your Residential 21 Mideast
removal. Free est. Interior & Exterior
CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY sultanate
Serving Columbus Painting Needs,
since 1987. Senior All Attorney Fees Through The Plan Call Shelby Lloyd. 23 Tack on
citizen disc. Call Alvin @ Jim Arnold, Attorney 662−836−6016 24 Ore source 44 Alabama city 17 History chunk
242−0324/241−4447
"We’ll go out on a limb for 662-324-1666 • 601-656-6914 26 Pipe bends 45 Convenes 19 Physique,
you!" 104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville QUALITY PAINTING. 28 Frank holder 46 College head slangily
Ext/Int Painting. 29 Japanese 22 Formidable
Sheet Rock Hang, Finish &
Repair. Pressure Washing. sport DOWN rival
DAVID’S CARPET & WORK WANTED: Lawn Care / Landscaping

VIP
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING AND
Licensed & Bonded.
Free Estimates. Ask for 31 Cooling 1 Sipping aid 24 Swiss lake
Carpentry, minor electrical, JESSE & BEVERLY’S specials! Larry Webber, devices: Abbr. 2 Give an 25 Facing the
Rentals
DISINFECTING 1 Room minor plumbing, insulation, LAWN SERVICE
− $50 painting, demolition, Mowing, cleanup,
662−242−4932. 32 Windowsill address audience
2 Rooms − $70 gutters cleaned, pressure landscaping, sodding, sunner 3 Thesaurus 27 Whole bunch
3+ Rooms − $30 EA
Apartments & Houses Rugs−Must Be Seen
washing, landscaping,
cleanup work, moving help.
& tree cutting. SULLIVAN’S PAINT 36 Annual state- author 28 Diminutive
662−356−6525 ment amount
SERVICE 4 Sock part 30 Good times
1 Bedrooms
Car Upholstery 662−242−3608. Special Prices.
Interior & Exterior Painting. 39 Live and 5 “Get lost!” 33 Elevator lifter
Cleaning Available
2 Bedroooms 662−722−1758 HILL’S PRESSURE LAWN CARE 662−435−6528 breathe 6 Minor spat 34 Fragrance
3 Bedrooms 40 Prepare for a 7 Stirring state 35 LBJ, for one
WASHING. Commercial/ Mowing, weed eating,
Residential. House, blowing, etc. game
General Services concrete, sidewalks & 8 Diatribes 37 Bouncy tune
Furnished & Unfurnished
Free estimates.
mobile washing. Free est. Reasonable prices. 41 Office desk 9 Was an obedi- 38 Addition
DUMP TRUCK HAULING. fixture ent dog column
1, 2, & 3 Baths Slag − $400
662−386−8925. 662−549−3790
43 Protractor 11 “A Mind to 42 Homer’s
Lease, Deposit Clay Gravel − $250
Driveway & Trailer Park SKILLED CRAFTSMAN. measure Murder” author neighbor
& Credit Check Grating. Columbus. Call Any kind of work! We can SAM’S LAWN SERVICE
build, paint, drywall, clean No lawn too large or too
Grow your business
Walter, 662−251−8664.
viceinvestments.com & cut grass. Reasonable small. Mowing, trimming &
327-8555 ads.cdispatch.com
rates. Safe & Reliable.
662−386−3658.
weedeating.
Call 662−243−1694 with classifieds.

Buy. Sell. Discover.

In the Classifieds section.
On the web: ads.cdispatch.com • Or call: 662-328-2424
One call will bring you results. 662-328-2424
6B THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com