Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi

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Tuesday | January 5, 2021

Drive-through vaccine sites set up for health workers

Reeves announces plan to begin vaccinating citizens 65 and older this month
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com
Health care professionals in
Lowndes and Oktibbeha coun-
ties will have the opportunity
to receive a COVID-19 vaccine
from the Mississippi State De-
partment of Health this week.
MSDH officials will host
drive-through vaccination
sites at health departments
throughout the state for health
care workers at risk of being
exposed directly or indirectly
to COVID-19, according to MS-
DH’s website. A site will be set
up at Lowndes County Health
Department on Lehmberg Road
today and Thursday and at
Oktibbeha County Health De-
partment on Yeates Street on
Wednesday and Friday, from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Vaccines are available to
health care workers, both paid
and unpaid, who work at acute
care facilities, long-term acute
care facilities, inpatient rehabil-
itation facilities, nursing homes,
assisted living facilities, home
health care, mobile clinics and
outpatient facilities such as phy-
sicians’ offices, MSDH’s website
says.
Currently, the vaccine is only
available for health care work-
ers, but Gov. Tate Reeves an-
nounced at a press conference
Monday in Jackson that MSDH
will begin distributing vaccines
to individuals 75 and older next
week and 65 and older the week
after that.
“Right now the most import-
health care pro-
viders have been
ant task that we have is getting shipped 85,750
vaccines out to the public,” doses, 21,653 of
Reeves said. “That is our only which had been
way out of all of this.” administered as
Reeves said 163,750 doses of last week.
have been distributed to Missis- Health officials
Reeves
sippi as of late last week. Close said the vaccina-
to 80,000 are designated for tion at drive-through sites will
long-term care facilities through take about 10 minutes and that
a partnership with the feder- patients will receive a card re-
al government, CVS and Wal- minding them when to return
greens pharmacies. for their second dose — 21 days
As of late last week, 1,105 of after the first dose for those who
those doses had been distribut- take the Pfizer vaccine and 28
ed, Reeves said. Mississippi’s See VACCINE, 6A

Former LET’S GO!

Columbus
mayor to run
for alderman
in Starkville
Mayor, two councilmen
are the only Columbus
candidates to qualify
as of Monday
BY TESS VRBIN
tvrbin@cdispatch.com

Former Columbus
mayor Jeffrey Rupp
officially re-entered
politics Monday
when he qualified to
run for Ward 3 alder-
man in Starkville.
Rupp was one of
two non-incumbents Rupp
to file paperwork for
city elected seats
in Starkville on the
first day of qualify-
ing. William “Mike”
Brooks, the city’s
Planning and Zoning
Commission chair-
man, qualified to run Brooks
for Ward 4 alderman.
Aldermen David Little of Ward
3 and Jason Walker of Ward 4 both
announced in November they
would not run for reelection after
two terms each.
Rupp stepped down from his po-
sition as mayor of Columbus in 2006
to move to Starkville and work for
Mississippi State University, where
he serves as director of outreach
for the Center for Entrepreneurship
and Outreach.
“The work I’m doing here now
through the E-Center and the Idea
Shop downtown, so much of that is
community-based,” Rupp said. “It’s
community development, which I
think is a form of economic devel-
opment.”
He completed his master’s de-
gree in public policy and adminis-
tration in his first few years working
at MSU, and he said he believes this
makes him more qualified to hold
elected office than he was when he
served as mayor of Columbus.
See CANDIDATES, 6A
Slim Smith/Dispatch Staff
Isaac, a Labrador Retriever mix, is eager to explore the scenes and scents at West Point’s Kitty Dilly Memorial Parkway trail
on Monday. His owner, First United Methodist Church Pastor Darian Duckworth, takes the first Monday of each month off to
pray and meditate, which also means Isaac gets more time in the park.
Garrard retiring after 18 years with Oktibbeha Co.
Supervisors will start accepting applications for her successor president and District 4 Su-
pervisor Bricklee Miller the
BY TESS VRBIN description and start adver- tant and bookkeeper at MSU new vice president at the start
tvrbin@cdispatch.com tising for applicants. from 1980 to 1987. of the meeting. Williams was
“You’ve got to be careful In her time as county ad- vice president last year un-
Ok t ibbeha der previous president John
that you get somebody that’s ministrator, Garrard said,
County Admin- Montgomery of District 1.
got broad experience in man- some of the county’s achieve-
istrator Emily The board votes to change
agement, that’s familiar with ments include building a
Garrard will its leadership at the first meet-
all areas,” Garrard told the storm shelter, starting the
retire in June ing of every calendar year.
board at the meeting. “Per- development of North Star
after almost Williams told The Dis-
seven years in sonnel management is a big Industrial Park in collabora-
patch he is “grateful” to have
the position part of this job, and the big- tion with the city of Starkville
the board’s trust as president
and 18 working Garrard gest headache of this job.” and putting the Blackjack and to have a “very knowl-
for the county, she announced The responsibilities of the and Longview road projects edgeable” vice president in
at Monday’s board of supervi- county administrator job in- under contract. Miller.
sors meeting. clude overseeing all finances Board President and Dis- In other business, Coun-
She had told the board and properties as well as per- trict 5 Supervisor Joe Wil- ty Engineer Clyde Pritchard
in October she hoped to re- sonnel. liams said it will be a chal- told the board he is working
tire in December but agreed An Oktibbeha County lenge to find a replacement on submitting state aid fund-
to stay an extra six months native and Mississippi State for someone with so much ing applications to repair the
while the board searches for University graduate, Garrard institutional knowledge of the bridges at Harris Road, near
her successor, she told The was the county comptroller county. Oktoc, and Harrell Road,
Dispatch. The board voted from 2002 to 2014, and she The board unanimously northwest of the Oktibbeha
unanimously to clarify the job was an administrative assis- elected Williams the new County Lake.

INSIDE FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC MEETINGS

Classifieds 6B 1 After a corporate restructuring Today: Starkville Board of
Comics 4B in 2015, Google became a sub- Thursday Aldermen meeting, 5:30
Crossword 6B sidiary of what company? ■ Exhibit recep- p.m., City Hall
Dear Abby 4B 2 Which artist was not an Ab- tion: The Colum- Jan. 12: Starkville-Oktibbeha
Obituaries 2,5A stract Expressionist — Jackson bus Arts Council
Consolidated School District
Opinions 4A Pollock, Roy Lichenstein, William hosts a free
de Konning or Mark Rothko? Board of Trustees meeting, 6
reception, 5:30-7
3 What do people do during the p.m., 401 Greensboro St.
p.m., opening
annual worldwide Earth Hour “Southern Expres-
Jan. 14: Starkville-Oktibbeha
— recycle, meditate or turn off
WEATHER electricity? sions,” a show by
Consolidated School District
Board of Trustees meeting, 6
4 What baseball legend famous Leslie Peebles in

55 Low 30 the main gallery. p.m., 401 Greensboro St.

for his quirky quips was awarded
High the Presidential Medal of Free- Work by Kelsey Jan. 15: Starkville Board of
Sun and clouds dom in 2015? Cockrell will be Aldermen work session, 10
Full forecast on 5 Pope Francis made a historic displayed in Artist a.m., City Hall
page 3A. visit to the Dome of the Rock Jan. 19: Oktibbeha Coun-
Alley. Stop by the
and the Western Wall in what Rosenzweig Arts ty Board of Supervisors
city in 2014? Center, 501 Main meeting, 9 a.m., Chancery
Answers, 6B St., Columbus. Courthouse
662-328-2787 or Jan. 19: Starkville Board
columbus-arts. James Keith of Starkville likes to hunt of Aldermen meeting, 5:30
org. and fish. p.m., City Hall

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Trump says he’ll ‘fight like hell’ to hold on to presidency

‘I promise you this: On Wednesday, we’ll have our day in Congress’
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALTON, Ga. — With
mounting desperation, Don-
ald Trump declared he would
“fight like hell” to hold on to
the presidency and appealed
to Republican lawmakers to
reverse his election loss to Joe
Biden when they convene this
week to confirm the Electoral
College vote.
Electoral voters won by Pres-
ident-elect Biden are “not gon-
na take this White House!” he
shouted as supporters cheered
at an outdoor rally Monday
night in Georgia. Trump’s an-
nounced purpose for the trip
was to boost Republican Senate
candidates in Tuesday’s runoff
election, but he spent much of
his speech complaining bitterly
about his election loss — which
he insists he won “by a lot.”
Earlier, in Washington, he
Vice President Mike Pence
pressed Republican lawmakers
to formally object Wednesday
at a joint session of Congress
that is to confirm Biden’s vic-
tory in the Electoral College,
itself a confirmation of Biden’s
nationwide victory Nov. 3.
Though he got nothing but
cheers Monday night, Trump’s
attempt to overturn the presi-
dential election is splitting the
Republican Party. Some GOP
lawmakers backing him are
rushing ahead, despite an out-
pouring of condemnation from
current and former party offi-
cials warning the effort is un-
dermining Americans’ faith in
democracy. All 10 living former
defense secretaries wrote in an
op-ed that “the time for ques-
tioning the results has passed.”
It’s unclear the extent to
which GOP leaders in Congress
will be able to control Wednes-
day’s joint session, which could
drag into the night, though the
challenges to the election are
all but certain to fail. Trump
himself is whipping up crowds
for a Wednesday rally near the
White House.
Vice President Mike Pence,
who is under pressure to tip the
results for Trump, will be close-
ly watched as he presides in a
ceremonial role over Wednes-
day’s joint session.
“I promise you this: On
Wednesday, we’ll have our day
in Congress,” Pence said while
himself campaigning in Geor-
gia ahead of Tuesday’s runoff
elections that will determine
control of the Senate.

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
be submitted through funeral
homes unless the deceased’s
body has been donated to
science. If the deceased’s
body was donated to science,
the family must provide official
proof of death. Please submit
all obituaries on the form
provided by The Commercial
Dispatch. Free notices must be
submitted to the newspaper
no later than 3 p.m. the day
prior for publication Tuesday
through Friday; no later than 4
p.m. Saturday for the Sunday
edition; and no later than 7:30
a.m. for the Monday edition.
Incomplete notices must be re-
ceived no later than 7:30 a.m.
for the Monday through Friday
editions. Paid notices must be
finalized by 3 p.m. for inclusion
the next day Monday through
Thursday; and on Friday by 3
p.m. for Sunday and Monday
publication. For more informa-
tion, call 662-328-2471.
Tony Smith
NOXUBEE — Tony
Edward Smith, 60, died
Jan. 3, 2021, at Bap-
tist Memorial Hospi-
tal-Golden Triangle.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Macon.
Barbara Vail
MILLPORT, Ala.
— Barbara Ann Vail,
66, died Dec. 21, 2020,
at Northwest Medical
Center, in Winfield,
Alabama.
Graveside services
were held at 2 p.m.
Sunday, at Springhill
Baptist Church Cem-
etery, with Donald
Parker officiating. Dow-
dle Funeral Home of
Millport was in charge
of arrangements.
Mrs. Vail was born
Oct. 5, 1954, in Colum-
bus, to Doris Loper and
the late Floyd Pickens.
In addition to her
mother, she is survived
by her husband, Jimmy
Vail; daughter, Melissa
Tate; sons, Douglas
Murphree, Chris Mur-
phree, and Vic Gibson;
sister, Claudia Boone;
brother, Wayne Pickens;
nine grandchildren; and
three great-grandchil-
dren.
Pallbearers were
Eric Tate, Bailey Tate,
Hunter Tate, Noah Dis-
mukes, Danny Boone,
and Danny Boone II.
Patte Marines
COLUMBUS —
Patte Marines, 86, died
Jan. 3, 2021, at North
Mississippi Medical
Center, in Tupelo.
No services will be
held at this time. Lown-
des Funeral Home of
Columbus is in charge
of arrangements.
Ms. Marines was
born March 1, 1934, in
Columbus, to the late
Lewis Williamson and
Ludye Mable Weathers.
She was formerly em-
ployed as a bookkeeper
and was a member
of Fairview Baptist
Church.
In addition to her par-
ents, she was preceded
in death by her brother,
Ludy Weathers.
She is survived by
her daughter, Diana
Miller; two grand-
children; and one
great-grandchild.
Memorials may
be made to Fairview
Baptist Church, Youth
Department, 127 Air-
line Road, Columbus,
MS 39702.
Gary Tilley
COLUMBUS —
Gary Randal Tilley, 56,
died Dec. 24, 2020, at
Baptist Memorial Hos-
pital-Golden Triangle.
A private grave-
side service will be
held Wednesday, at
AREA OBITUARIES
Ethelsville Baptist
Church Cemetery, in
Ethelsville, Alabama,
with Redus Hall offici-
ating. Lowndes Funeral
Home of Columbus is
in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Tilley was born
Sept. 17, 1964, in Co-
lumbus, to Robert Tilley
and the late Wanda
Lynn Langford. He
was formerly employed
in maintenance with
International Paper and
was a member of Eth-
elsville Freewill Baptist
Church.
In addition to his
father, he is survived by
his wife, Donna Lan-
caster Tilley; daughter,
Kaitlynn Wheeler; and
brother, Robby Tilley
and Shane Tilley.
Pallbearers will be
Roby Tilley, Shane
Tilley, Danny Lancast-
er, Alex Wheeler, Steve
Moore, and Rodney
Moore.
Memorials may be
made to St. Jude Chil-
dren’s Research Hospi-
tal, 501 St. Jude Place,
Memphis, TN 38105.
Roosevelt Sims Jr.
WEST POINT —
Roosevelt Sims Jr., 86,
died Dec. 29, 2020,
at Aurora Health and
Rehabilitation, in Co-
lumbus.
Graveside services
will be at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, at Mt. Zion
M.B. Church Cemetery,
in West Point, with the
Rev. Erusia Culpepper
officiating. Burial will
follow. Visitation is from
10:30-11 a.m. prior to
services, at the ceme-
tery. Carter’s Mortuary
Services of West Point
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Sims was born
Jan. 27, 1934, in Ab-
erdeen, to the late
Roosevelt Sims Sr. and
Mary S. Sims. He was
formerly employed as a
farmer.
In addition to his tery. Visitation was one
parents, he was preced- hour prior to services
ed in death by his son, at the funeral home.
Roosevelt McKnuckles; Otts Funeral Home of
daughters, Patricia Sulligent was in charge
Wilson and Alice Faye of arrangements.
McKnuckles; and Ms. Bowman was
brothers, Wardell Sims, born Oct. 1, 1952, in Lorraine Smith
Willie Ray Sims, and Columbus, to the late Graveside Services:
Tuesday, Jan. 5 • 1 PM
Clifton Sims Sr. J.B. McDowell and
Greens Creek Baptist
He is survived by his Alma Johnson. She was Church Cemetery
wife, Claretha S. Sims; formerly employed with Carson, MS
Burial
daughters, Cassundra Gattman Sportswear Greens Creek Baptist
Sims, Virgie Cousin, and Amory Garment. Church Cemetery
Carson, MS
Nazareth Cannon, Mary In addition to her par- 2nd Ave. N. Location
Turner, Joyce Smith, ents, she was preceded
Brandon Sesser
in death by her broth-
Rosetta Park, and
Graveside Services:
Shellie Thomas; broth- ers, Buddy McDowell
Tuesday, Jan. 5 • 2 PM
ers, Melvin Sims, C.W. and Herbert McDowell; Friendship Cemetery
sister, Joyce Stockman; Burial
Sims, and Eddie Sims;
and one grandchild. Friendship Cemetery
sisters, Dorothy Kelly College St. Location
She is survived
and Fannie Mae Harris;
by her sons, Randy Nancy Campassi
25 grandchildren; and
Bowman and Danny Funeral Mass:
20 great-grandchildren. Friday, Jan. 8 • 11 AM
Bowman, both of Mc-
Comb, Ken Bowman
Annunciation Catholic Church
Burial
Katey Bowman of Vernon, and Bradley Friendship Cemetery
SULLIGENT, Ala. Bowman of Moulton; College St. Location
— Katey Mae Bowman, daughters, Charlotte
James Anderson III
68, died Dec. 31, 2020, Bowman, Rachel
Incomplete
at Northwest Medical Bowman, and Patricia College St. Location
Center, in Winfield, Bowman, all of Mc-
Alabama. Comb, and Shea Glenn Steve Van Asselt
Held At A Later Date
Services were at 1 of Moulton; brothers, College St. Location
p.m. Monday, at Otts Truman McDowell of
Funeral Home Chapel, Vernon and Tommy
with Arman McDill and McDowell of Columbus;
memorialgunterpeel.com
William Kirkman offici- and a host of grandchil-
ating. Burial followed at dren.
Pleasant Ridge Ceme- See OBITUARIES, 5A

Prosecutor: Wisconsin pharmacist

thought vaccine was unsafe
Detective: Man told investigators
he intentionally tried to ruin the
vaccine because it could hurt people
by changing their DNA
BY TODD RICHMOND
The Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. — A
Wisconsin pharmacist
convinced the world was
“crashing down” told po-
lice he tried to ruin hun-
dreds of doses of corona-
virus vaccine because he
believed the shots would
mutate people’s DNA,
according to court docu-
ments released Monday.
Police in Grafton, about
20 miles north of Milwau-
kee, arrested Advocate
Aurora Health pharmacist
Steven Brandenburg last
week following an investi-
gation into the 57 spoiled
vials of the Moderna vac-
cine, which officials say
contained enough doses
to inoculate more than
500 people. Charges are
pending.
“He’d formed this be-
lief they were unsafe,”
Ozaukee County District
Attorney Adam Gerol said
during a virtual hearing.
He added that Branden-
burg was upset because
he and his wife are divorc-
ing, and an Aurora em-
ployee said Brandenburg
had taken a gun to work
twice.
A detective wrote in a
probable cause statement
that Brandenburg, 46, is
an admitted conspiracy
theorist and that he told
investigators he intention-
ally tried to ruin the vac-
cine because it could hurt
people by changing their
DNA.
Misinformation around
the COVID-19 vaccines
has surged online with
false claims circulating on
everything from the vac-
cines’ ingredients to its
possible side effects.
One of the earliest false
claims suggested that
the vaccines could alter
DNA. The Pfizer and Bi-
oNTech vaccine as well
as the Moderna vaccine
rely on messenger RNA
or mRNA, which is a fair-
ly new technology used
in vaccines that experts
have been working on for
years. MRNA vaccines
help train the immune sys-
tem to identify the spike
protein on the surface of
the coronavirus and cre-
ate an immune response.
Experts have said there is
no truth to the claims that
the vaccines can geneti-
cally modify humans.

If you don’t read The Dispatch, how are you gonna know?
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021 3A

Mississippi legislators set to finalize magnolia-themed flag

Voters approved the new flag design by a wide margin in November
BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — Mississippi
legislators are beginning their
2021 session Tuesday and one
of their first tasks will be to
finish adopting a new state
flag that voters approved, with
a magnolia blossom and the
phrase, “In God We Trust.”
Legislators voted in late June
to retire the last state flag in the
U.S. that included the Confed-
erate battle emblem — a red
field topped by a blue X with
13 white stars. The image was
in the upper-left corner of the
flag Mississippi had used since
1894. Critics had long said the
flag failed to represent a state
with the highest percentage of
Black residents in the nation.
Young activists and groups
representing business, sports,
religion and education finally
pushed legislators to surren-
der the old flag amid a national
reckoning over racial injustice.
The law retiring the old flag
said a commission would design
a new one that could not include
the Confederate image but that
must have the phrase, “In God
We Trust,” and that the single
proposed design would go on
the ballot in November. Voters
by a wide margin approved a de-
sign featuring the phrase and a
magnolia blossom. Legislators
must now vote to make the flag
an official symbol, and that is
expected to happen with little
fuss.
The magnolia flag has been
flying for months at some
homes, businesses, universities
and at a few public buildings
around the state, including Hat-
tiesburg City Hall. It has also
been put up in a display of state
flags at the U.S. Capitol.
Mississippi legislators are
scheduled to be in session until
early April, but they are return-
ing to the Capitol as coronavi-
rus cases are surging in the
state.
Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert
Hosemann said last week that
he thinks legislators should
handle a few immediate tasks
and then leave for several
weeks. That would provide time
for more people to be vaccinated
against COVID-19, and it could
prevent the Capitol from having
another outbreak. Republican
House Speaker Philip Gunn has
said legislators should stick to
their work schedule.
A few dozen legislators, in-
cluding Hosemann and Gunn,
tested positive for the corona-
virus during the summer after
working in close proximity.
Some in the Capitol at the time
ignored public health officials’
recommendations to wear
masks and keep distance from
others.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves
said Monday that he does not
have a strong opinion, one way
or the other, about whether
legislators should stick to their
original schedule or leave for
a few weeks and return later.
Reeves said most people with
private-sector jobs have been
getting up and going to work
throughout the pandemic.
“The legislative calendar is
the prerogative of the Legis-
lature,” Reeves said. “That is
a decision that they will make
themselves.”

Lowndes supes approve extending extra leave Decision day in

Georgia with Senate
policy for COVID-quarantined employees majority at stake
County offering up to 80 extra hours miss work because of the
COVID-related absenc-
employee
80 hours
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

‘until further notice’ after federal es listed in the federal

policy expired at end of 2020
BY SLIM SMITH
ssmith@cdispatch.com
Lowndes County su-
pervisors took the week-
end to explore their op-
tions for changing one of
the county’s COVID-19
policies, but on Mon-
day opted to accept the
recommendation made
at Friday’s meeting by
Lowndes County Admin-
istrator Jay Fisher.
During Friday’s board
meeting, Fisher had
alerted supervisors of
a change in the federal
COVID relief program
that could impact county
employees who contract
the virus or are required
to quarantine because of
exposure to someone who
had tested positive for the
virus. Under the original
CARES Act, Congress
had appropriated funds
to provide employees up
to 80 hours of sick time
if they met the policy
guidelines. However, the
new federal COVID relief
package does not include
that sick time provision.
On Friday, Fisher rec-
ommended the county
provide the 80 hours of
sick time that had been
removed from the feder-
al program, adding that
supervisors could use the
weekend to come up with
other options.
With Fisher absent
from Monday’s meeting,
Chief Financial Officer
Lloyd Price opened dis-
cussion on the subject.
“I think what the board
has to decide today is if
we want to
continue
the policy
from 2020
into 2021
or do some-
thing else,”
Price said.
“It was Jay’s Price
recommen-
dation that we continue
the policy, and we have
the authority to do that
by legislation passed by
the state Legislature in
March.”
Under the policy, em-
ployees would not have to
use sick time accrued as
part of their county ben-
efits program if forced to
COVID relief package ad-
opted in 2020.
“If we do decide to con-
tinue, it was Jay’s recom-
mendation that the policy
would be continued for an
extended period of time,
but I don’t know what that
extended period of time
should be,” Price said.
Board President Trip
Hairston recommended
that the board approve
continuing the policy “un-
til further notice.”
“Doing that would al-
low us to evaluate it as we
go along,”
Hairston
said. “The
circum-
s t a n c -
es could
change at
some point
during the Hairston
year, so this
would allow us to contin-
ue it only as long as it’s
necessary.”
Board members did
not suggest any alterna-
tives, but District 1 Super-
visor Harry Sanders did
ask for clarification on the
extent of the 80-hour sick
time provision.
“One of the things
in this is that it gives an
if he is ex-
posed to
ATLANTA — Georgia voters are set to de-
cide the balance of power in Congress in a pair of
the virus,” high-stakes Senate runoff elections that will help
Sanders determine President-elect Joe Biden’s capacity to
said. “We enact what may be the most progressive govern-
ing agenda in generations.
have some
Sanders
employees Republicans are unified against Biden’s plans
with six kids, nine kids. for health care, environmental protection and civ-
What happens if the em- il rights, but some fear that outgoing President
ployee is exposed more Donald Trump’s brazen attempts to undermine
than once because of the the integrity of the nation’s voting systems may
number of people in their discourage voters in Georgia.
household? Is it 80 hours At a rally in northwest Georgia on the eve of
every time?” Tuesday’s runoffs, Trump repeatedly declared
Price said that that the November elections were plagued by
shouldn’t be an issue. fraud that Republican officials, including his
“Remember, the policy former attorney general and Georgia’s elections
says up to 80 hours,” he chief, say did not occur.
said. “I interpret that to The president called Georgia’s Republican sec-
mean it would be a one- retary of state “crazy” and vowed to help defeat
time only thing or up to him in two years. At the same time, Trump en-
80 hours total.” couraged his supporters to show up in force for
Price said this morn- Georgia’s Tuesday contests.
ing he didn’t know how “You’ve got to swarm it tomorrow,” Trump told
many employees used the thousands of cheering supporters, downplaying
federal time off in 2020. the threat of fraud.
“I don’t have the specif- Democrats must win both of the state’s Senate
ic numbers, but I do know elections to gain the Senate majority.
that we’ve had some de-
partments, like the road
department, that have
used it a lot and some that
haven’t used it at all,” he
said.
The board unanimous-
ly approved the proposal
to extend the 80 hours of
sick time until further no-
tice.

3 Mississippi Supreme Court justices begin new 8-year terms

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSON — Three
Mississippi Supreme
Court justices are be-
ginning new eight-year
terms.
Those inaugurated
Monday were Chief Jus-
tice Mike Randolph, Pre-
siding Justice Leslie D.
King and Justice Josiah
Dennis Coleman.
Randolph is the lon-
gest-serving current
member of the nine-per-
son court, and he has
been chief justice since
February.
Randolph was appoint-
ed to the Supreme Court
in April 2004 by then
then-Gov. Haley Barbour.
Randolph was elected in
November 2004, Novem-
ber 2012 and November
2020. He has homes in
Hattiesburg and Ocean
Springs.
King lives in Green-
ville. He served in the
Mississippi House from
1980 to 1994 and was one
of the original members
elected to the Mississippi
Court of Appeals in 1994.
King became chief
judge of the 10-member
appeals court in April and Coleman is from the
2004, and he remained northern district.
in that role until Barbo- Justice Kenny Griffis
ur appointed him to the was also reelected to a
Supreme Court in March central district Supreme
2011. King was elected Court seat in November,
to the Supreme Court in but his new term doesn’t
2012 and 2020. start until January 2022.
Coleman was previous-
ly elected to the Supreme
Court in 2012 and 2020.
He lives in the Fentress
community in Choctaw
County.
Mississippi has three
Supreme Court districts.
Randolph is from the
southern district, King is
from the central district

AROUND THE STATE

Oxford mayor drops Democratic
label as she seeks new term
OXFORD — A prominent Democrat-
ic mayor in north Mississippi said she’s
seeking a second term this year but is
running as an independent.
Robbyn Tannehill had served as a
Democrat on the Oxford Board of Alder-
men before being elected mayor in 2017.
She was chosen in 2020 to serve on a
commission that designed a new Missis-
sippi state flag.
“I believe with all of my heart that at
greatest potential,” Tannehill said Mon-
day, according to the Oxford Eagle.
She said that garbage pickup, pot-
holes, clean water, fire protection and
police protection “aren’t Democrat or
Republican issues.”
“If we tune out politics and the rhet-
oric we hear on the national news, our
neighbors are just that. They’re our
neighbors,” said Tannehill, who was the
only candidate to enter the Oxford may-
or’s race on the first day of qualifying.
Most Mississippi cities are having SOLUNAR TABLE
elections this year. Party primaries are The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.

the local level we need to be as biparti- in April and the general election is in Major
Tues.
6:22a
Wed.
7:13a

The Dispatch
san as possible to be able to achieve our June. New four-year terms begin July 1. Minor 12:24a 1:32a
—
Major 6:47p
Minor 1:09p 1:43p

99.49%
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

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516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
Opinion
4A TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

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

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

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

MISSISSIPPI VOICES
Our 2021 goal: Investing in Mississippi’s greatest asset, our citizens
L
ast year, the need to obtain a incentive for small-to-medium K-12 teachers. This Session, to address some of these issues
Legislature quality education, businesses which is competitive we will push legislation to raise and to safely expand parole
provided secure a mean- with neighboring states, easy to teachers’ salaries and attract eligibility.
computers to every ingful career, and calculate and understand, and more licensed professionals There are other initiatives
Mississippi student, engage in their transparent with taxpayer mon- to our K-12 classrooms. We including tax reform, the con-
increased connec- communities is the ey. The plan, tentatively called are also interested in increas- tinued streamlining of govern-
tivity to unserved single-best way to “MFLEX,” allows flexibility ing dual enrollment and dual ment, and access to healthcare,
areas, provided assure our State’s while requiring reporting and credit programs for 11th and to name a few, which will also
additional ICU bed future success. accountability. If the business 12th graders. Providing these be critical as we move forward.
capacity, and con- When the number of seeking the incentive does not opportunities for secondary From a flood covering our
tributed to the cost people employed in- meet their stated goals, they do students increases the likeli- Capital City, horrific tornadoes
of personal protec- creases, our health not receive the incentive. We hood that they will be career and hurricanes, a corrections
tive equipment for Delbert Hosemann outcomes improve, look forward to introducing or college ready by graduation crisis, and a worldwide pandem-
healthcare workers, our State becomes this innovative proposal, and day. ic which continues to threaten
cities and counties, more attractive for to eliminating tax incentives Finally, thousands of people our citizens’ safety and ravage
and much more. developers and investors, and which are seldom used or have who were previously incarcer- our economy, 2020 has been
The New Year is a time for we have more money circulat- generated a negative return. ated are released every year one of the most challenging in
setting new resolutions and ing through our economy for On education, research and reenter our working-age modern history. By keeping
paving a path to accomplishing our schools, roads and bridges, shows the number of people population. Neglecting to pro- our eye on the prize — helping
them. Our 2021 goals in the and other critical services and who are employed is directly vide these individuals with the more Mississippians find a
Lieutenant Governor’s Office infrastructure. correlated with educational tools they need to succeed, like meaningful job — our State is
center around investing in In terms of the driving attainment levels. This starts a driver’s license or workforce certainly headed for brighter
Mississippi’s greatest asset: our creators of jobs, our bench is with supporting our citizens training, only ensures recidi- days.
people. deep in Mississippi. We have who are most closely connected vism. We are working now with Delbert Hosemann is the
Equipping our citizens with worked with our local economic with growing the next genera- our Sheriffs, District Attorneys, Lieutenant Governor of the State
the skills and resources they developers to bring forward an tion of Mississippi leaders: our and citizen advocates on a bill of Mississippi.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Comments on Trump’s
Georgia phone call
Kudos to Kathie Baeuerlin
for bringing some much needed
levity into our political lives. It
is good not to take yourself too
seriously.
But it is hard not to take
certain facts seriously. In a world
where the number he ought to
be paying most attention to is
354,000, a number – and a pan-
demic – that escaped mention
in his Georgia rally yesterday,
President Trump instead tweet-
ed, “The number of cases and
deaths of the China Virus is far
exaggerated in the United States
because of the CDC’s ridiculous
method of determination com-
pared to other countries.” My
sense is that the President has
little knowledge of the statistical
methodology used by the CDC,
let alone by any other country.
That he was subsequently con-
tradicted by Dr. Anthony Fauci
and by his own Surgeon General
seems to support that. I suspect
most hospital workers would
agree.
No, the President is fixated
THE NATION
A vote at the crossroads
on another number. In a phone
call to the Georgia Secretary
of State, Brad Raffensperger, “I

W
just want to find 11,780 votes,
hat makes the special elec-
which is one more than we have
tion vote in Georgia histor-
(need to win in Georgia)” and
ic is not just the specific
“And there’s nothing wrong with
issues or the specific candidates for
saying that, you know, um, that
the Senate who are on the ballot.
you’ve recalculated.”
As a nation, we are at a crossroads
There are two possible in-
in the history of America. And if we
terpretations of the President’s
take the wrong road, we may never
remarks in that phone call: 1) the
get back again.
President is abusing his power
If Georgia voters send two Dem-
and trying to steal the election;
ocrats to the closely divided U.S.
or 2) there was massive election
Senate, that will give the Democrats
fraud in Georgia. But the facts Thomas Sowell
control of both houses of Congress,
and the courts agree that there
as well as the White House.
is no evidence whatsoever for
Senate Democrats’ leader, Senator Charles Schumer, has
any large-scale election fraud in
already announced what he has in store, if the Democrats get
Georgia or anywhere else. You
a majority in the Senate. So has President-elect Joe Biden.
decide.
And it goes way beyond specific policies. It includes institu-
These are difficult times and
tional changes that can be permanent, and almost guarantee But data from New York and Washington show that most
keeping our sense of humor will
one-party rule in this country, as far out as the eye can see. of the students in charter schools in these very same neigh-
certainly help but, personally, I
If more than 10 million people who are in this country borhoods pass these tests — often at a rate several times
don’t see anything funny about
illegally are given the right to vote — and most of those votes that in the local public schools.
the President’s apparent lack of
are almost certain to go to Democrats — that is a major new You can get the data for New York City from the Inter-
concern about this democracy’s
political reality that will be with us for generations. net web site of the New York State Education Department.
future and the welfare of its
In a democracy, a majority of the voters can change the Parents and others who care about the education of black
citizens.
government. But, by giving millions of illegal immigrants a children should check out how they do in regular public
Paul Mack
vote, the government can create enough voters to get a majori- schools compared to how they do in charter schools.
Columbus
ty. That is the opposite of democracy. When charter schools succeed where traditional public
More important, it is irreversible. Nor is that the only schools fail, that is welcome news to everyone to whom
A letter to the editor is an
irreversible institutional change the Democrats have on their black education matters. But it is bad news to failing public
excellent way to participate in your
agenda. school bureaucrats and to teachers unions, since charter
community. We request the tone
The Democrats’ agenda, if they get a majority in the Sen- schools attract students from unionized public schools.
of your letters be constructive and
ate, includes turning a city — Washington — into a state, with There are more than 50,000 public school students on
respectful and the length be limited
two Senators. It is no coincidence that Washington voters waiting lists to get into charter schools, in New York City
to 450 words. We reserve the right
have been voting overwhelmingly for Democrats for decades. alone. The education establishment is using every dirty
to edit letters for clarity, grammar
If the city of Washington gets the same power in the Senate as trick in the book to keep those students from actually trans-
and length. We welcome all letters
the state of Georgia or Texas, that is another major institution- ferring into charter schools.
emailed to voice@cdispatch.com
al change that is irreversible. It is the same story in other cities across the country.
or mailed to The Dispatch, Attn:
Among the groups likely to be hurt most by Democrats’ Another tactic is that, instead of trying to bring the other
Letters to the Editor, PO Box 511,
dominance of both houses of Congress and the White House schools up to the charter school level, many politicians —
Columbus, MS 39703-0511.
is the black population that has been the most loyal to the seeking teachers union support — have been imposing
Democrats for many generations. laws and policies to bring charter schools down to the other
In some fields, loyalty brings rewards. But, in politics, any schools’ levels.
group whose votes can be taken for granted by one party may These politicians are almost all Democrats. Presi-
Our View: Local Editorials not have their interests taken seriously by either party. One dent-elect Biden has already assured teachers unions that
Local editorials appearing in this party doesn’t have to work for their vote and the other party there will be no more federal money for charter schools.
space represent the opinion of sees little chance of getting it. The Trump administration gave more than $9 million to a
the newspaper’s editorial board: There is no more vital interest of black Americans than charter school network in New York’s ghettos. Do not look
Peter Imes, editor and publisher; the education of black children. The whole future of the race for that to happen in a Biden administration.
Zack Plair, managing editor; Slim depends on the quality of that education, more than on any Georgia voters have a lot of responsibility, not just for
Smith and senior newsroom staff.
other single factor. Georgia but for America, and not just for now but for future
To inquire about a meeting with the
board, please contact Peter Imes In many public schools in low-income minority neighbor- generations.
at 662-328-2424, or e-mail voice@ hoods, most of the students cannot pass tests in mathematics Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution
cdispatch.com. or English. In some ghetto schools, nobody passed either test. at Stanford University. Visit his website at www.tsowell.com.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021 5A

Obituaries Ruby Burkhalter

Continued from Page 2A
George Steel
COLUMBUS —
George Young Steel,
89, died Jan. 4, 2021, at
Trinity Personal Care,
in Columbus.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Memori-
al Gunter Peel Funeral
Home and Crematory,
Second Avenue North
location.
Nancy Campassi
COLUMBUS — Nan-
cy McConnell Campas-
si, 90, died Jan. 4, 2021,
at her son’s residence.
A funeral mass
will be held at 11 a.m.
Friday, at Annunciation
Catholic Church, with
Jeffrey Waldrop officiat-
ing. Burial will follow at
Friendship Cemetery.
cemetery. Visitation will Starkville is in charge Ruby Nell Burkhalter, age 94, of Millport, AL,
be from 2-6 p.m. Friday,
Marva Clark of arrangements. passed away January 2, 2021, at Baptist Memorial
STARKVILLE — Hospital, in Columbus, MS.
at Lavender’s Funeral She is survived by
Marva Faye Clark, 56, Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Wednesday,
Service. Lavender’s her husband, Julius L.
died Dec. 29, 2020. Clark; children, Anto- January 6, 2021, at Skelton Funeral Home Chapel,
Funeral Service of
Aliceville, Alabama is Graveside services nio V. Jenkins, the Rev. with Rev. Melvin Mordecai officiating. Burial
will be at Fox Ceme- will follow in Greenhill Memorial Gardens, with
in charge of arrange- Demario D. Jenkins
ments. tery. Visitation is from and Ravin M. Clark; Skelton Funeral Home of Reform directing.
Visitation will be one hour prior and immediately
3-6 p.m. today, at West siblings, Cassandra
following the service at the funeral home.
Betty Taylor Memorial Funeral Jenkins and Terrance
She was preceded in death by her husband,
COLUMBUS — Bet- Home. West Memo- Jenkins; and two
rial Funeral Home of grandchildren. Joseph Revis “Buck” Burkhalter; stepson,
ty Jean Cheeks Taylor, William K. “Billy” Burkhalter; son-in-law, Lynn
85, died Jan. 2, 2021, at Jordan; her parents; and eight brothers and
her residence. sisters.
Arrangements are Survivors include her daughter, Cathy Jordan;
incomplete and will be two sons, Carl Burkhalter (Holly) and Clark
announced by Carter’s Cooper; eight grandchildren, Felicia (Brandon),
Funeral Services of Tracy (Justin), Tiffany, Chrystal, Emily, Jonathan,
Columbus. Patrick and Ruby; eight great-grandchildren; and
numerous nieces and nephews.
Katherine Hawkins Ruby was born November 11, 1926, in Kennedy,
COLUMBUS — Alabama, to the late John Rushing and Eppie
Katherine J. Hawkins, Nabors Rushing. She was a retired employee of
74, died Jan. 3, 2021, American Bosch in Columbus, MS.
at Baptist Memorial Pallbearers will be Barry Wilson, Ryan
Hospital of Memphis, Pennington, Robert Stewart, Mark Jordan, Justin

Beverly “The Pie Lady”

Memorial Gunter Peel
Funeral Home and Cre-
matory, College Street
location, is in charge of
arrangements.
Tennessee. Vaughn, and Brandon Flowers.
Arrangements are In lieu of flowers, the family suggests
incomplete and will be memorials to your favorite charity.
announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of Moore Paid Obituary - Skelton Funeral Home
Columbus.

Johnny Pattman Jr.
FT. WORTH, Texas
— Johnny Earl Pattman
Jr., 64, died Dec. 31,
2020.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Hairston
and Hairston Funeral
Home of Columbus.
Hattie Sterling
ALICEVILLE, Ala.
— Hattie Mae Sterling,
91, died Jan. 1, 2021, at
her residence.
A home going cele-
bration will be at noon
Saturday, at New Salem
Baptist Church. Burial
will follow in the church
Brandon Sesser
Beverly Jeanette Havens
Moore, 83, of Millport, AL,
Lela Smith passed away Wednesday, De-
ALICEVILLE, Ala. cember 30, 2020, at her resi- November 18, 1980-December 21, 2020
— Lela Mae “Sut” dence.
Smith, 78, died Jan. 1, A graveside service was held Andrew Brandon Sesser,
2021, at DCH Regional Saturday, January 2, 2021, at 40, died December 21, 2020,
Medical Center of Tus- 11:00 AM at Friendship Cem- in Starkville, MS, following a
caloosa, Alabama. etery, Millport, AL, with Bro. short illness.
A home going cel- Jammie Turner officiating and Brandon was born Novem-
ebration will be at 11 Lowndes Funeral Home direct- ber 18, 1980, in Columbus, MS,
a.m. Saturday, at Bigbee ing. to Royce Scott Sesser and Mar-
Church Cemetery. Mrs. Moore was born March 13, 1937, to the ilyn Dossett Sesser. He attend-
Burial will follow in the late Percy James and Dorothy Sue Jewell Havens, ed New Hope schools through
church cemetery. Visita- in White Lake Township, MI, and moved to Mill- his junior year of high school,
tion will be from noon-4 port in 1984 from Montrose, MI. She was a mem- where he was a part of the New Hope Trojan
p.m. Friday, at Laven- ber of Asbury Community Church, Millport, AL, baseball team. Brandon moved to Eupora, MS,
der’s Funeral Services. and enjoyed going to the Country Junction. Mrs. his senior year of high school, and graduated
Lavender’s Funeral Moore was known as “The Pie Lady” for her from Eupora High School. Upon graduation, he
Services of Aliceville, fried pies that she sold to many retail outlets. She moved to Starkville, where he would remain for
Alabama is in charge of also loved working in her yard especially with the rest of his life.
arrangements. her flowers. Mrs. Moore worked for 15 years as a Brandon attended East Mississippi Communi-
seamstress at Vernon Garment Plant. ty College in Mayhew, Miss., where he took part
Mrs. Moore is survived by her daughters, Cin- in the school’s computer technology program.

Clara Louise Elmore
ETHELSVILLE — Clara Louise Elmore, age
82, of Ethelsville, AL, died Friday, January 1,
2020, at her daughter’s residence, in Foley, AL.
Graveside services will be held at 10:30 AM
Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at Mt. Pleasant Baptist
Church Cemetery, in Gordo, with Rev. Phillip
Campbell officiating, and Skelton Funeral Home
of Reform directing. Visitation will be from 9:00-
10:00 AM Tuesday, at Skelton Funeral Home in
Reform.
She was preceded in death by her husband of
53 years, Joseph Charles Elmore; her parents;
and her grandson, Gabriel Elmore.
Survivors include her sons, Joseph “Joey”
Ray Elmore (Karen) and Michael S. “Mike”
Elmore (Claudia); daughter, Lisa Elmore Peters
dy (Richard) Yee, Roseville, MI, Debbie Hughes,
Millport, AL, and Norma Johnson, Springhill,
TN; son, Russell (Sandy) Hughes, Columbus,
MS; brother, Bruce (LaQuita) Havens, Louis-
ville, KY; 9 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchil-
dren and 2 on the way; 1 great-great-grandchild
and another one on the way; boyfriend, Jimmy
Barham and his great-granddaughter, Michaela;
sister in law, June Havens, Pontiac, MI and her
special canine companion, Daisy.
Her family served as pallbearers.
Memorials may be made to American Can-
cer Society, 1380 Livingston Lane, Jackson, MS
39213.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
After graduation, he worked with various compa-
nies helping them with their cybersecurity initia-
tives, before returning to East Mississippi Com-
munity College in 2006 as an instructor in their
computer program. Brandon would later become
the Information Systems Technology Depart-
ment Director at EMCC, and he worked for more
than 14 years to grow that program and inspire
hundreds of students who passed through the
doors. EMCC’s IST department offers a variety
of study concentrations, such as Computer Net-
working, Computer Programming, Cybersecu-
rity and Database Administration, and Brandon
worked diligently to acquire grants and further
training to help bring these programs to life. He
also helped high school students through EMCC,
preparing them for future careers in technology
fields.
He worked with many organizations, and

(Christopher); brother, Floyd “Butch” Goodyear;
three grandchildren, Jessica Murphy (Josh),
Kyle Elmore, and Edward “Teddy” Peters; three
stepgrandchildren, Allison DeGweck (Ben),
Ryan Peters, and Julia Praino; and nine great-
grandchildren.
Louise was born December 1, 1938, in Texas
to the late Harold O. And Mattie Pearl Granger
Goodyear. She was a retired teacher’s aid and
bus driver in the Pickens County School System,
where she worked with special needs children
and drove the special needs bus. She loved all
the children and frequently brought different
ones home for the weekend for picnics, fishing,
and just some fun. Children have always held a
special place in her heart and she shared her love
generously.
Paid Obituary - Skelton Funeral Home
Stanley Williams
Stanley Bob Williams, 63, of
Columbus, MS, passed away
Tuesday, December 29, 2020, at
his residence.
A graveside service was held
Saturday, January 2, 2021, at
1:00 PM at Community Baptist
Church Cemetery, Columbus,
MS, with Bro. Jaron Andrews
officiating and Lowndes Funer-
al Home directing.
Mr. Williams was born on November 10, 1957,
in Columbus, MS, to the late Henrietta Williams
and Bobby Williams. Stanley lived in Columbus,
MS all his life. He worked as a painter for over 45
years. Stanley was loved by many and his main
priority in life had always been his children and
helped establish the GT Hackathon, as well as
taking part in the Golden Triangle Comic-Con
for many years. In January 2020, Brandon was
named an Honorary Commander of the 14th
Communications Squadron at Columbus Air
Force Base. He never met a movie line he couldn’t
quote, and he passed his love of music on to his
son, Rain. He was a loving husband, father, son,
brother, uncle and friend.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Royce
Scott Sesser and Dr. Marilyn Dossett Sesser
Bowen.
Survivors include his wife, Amy Hill Sesser;
children, Rain James Sesser and Maisy Lilith Ses-
ser; siblings, Ryan Scott Sesser, Kathryn Clare
Sesser-Dorné (Hunter), William Brent Sesser,
Harli Malone Sesser, Rider Manning Sesser, Sar-
ah Green (Aaron), and Scott McCrevy (Amber);
mother-in-law, Merry Norma Thompson Lott;
stepmother, Michelle Manning Sesser; stepfa-

Ruby Hall
Ruby Zell Hall, 92, of Grants Pass, OR, former-
ly of Columbus, MS, passed away Wednesday,
December 16, 2020, at Asante Three Rivers Med-
ical Center, Grants Pass, OR.
A graveside service will be Tuesday, January
5, 2021, at 2:00 PM at Mt Zion Cemetery, Colum-
bus, MS, with Bro. Steve Lammons officiating
and Lowndes Funeral Home directing.
Mrs. Hall was born February 11, 1928, to the
late James Wilford Smith and Maudie Victoria
Taylor Smith, in Lowndes County, MS. She was a
1947 graduate of New Hope High School, a mem-
ber of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Columbus, MS,
and worked as a telephone operator with South
Central Bell for 25 years. Mrs. Hall enjoyed
camping in her leisure time.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Hall was pre-
ceded in death by her husband, Jobie Richard
Hall; sisters, Shirley Duffer, Laverne Westbrook,
and Willadean Junkins; and brothers, Felton
Smith and J.W. Smith.
Mrs. Hall is survived by her daughter, Ruby
(Ernest) Carolyn Peters, Grants Pass, OR;
grandchild, David (Jen) Peters, Seattle, WA; and
great-grandchildren, Natasha Peters and Madi-
son Noelle Peters.
Memorials may be made to the charity of the
donor’s choice.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
grandchildren. He was a member of Communi-
ty Baptist Church, where he was baptized and
gave his life to the lord. He loved his classic cars
and going to car shows. He had a one of a kind
personality we all loved, and he will be greatly
missed by many.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Williams is pre-
ceded in death by his brother, Robert Wyers.
Mr. Williams is survived by his wife, Nancy
Joanne Lucas Williams of Columbus, MS; son,
Shawn Verdin; daughters, Crystal (Roger) Ea-
sley and Joanna (Rick) Franks; grandchildren,
Taylor (Chad) Price, Kori Verdin, Whitney Ea-
sley, Cole Verdin, Kaitlyn Easley, and Kellen
Franks; great-grandchildren, Addison Price,
Cason Price, Zaylyn Advant, and Treves Easley;
brothers, Buddy (Teresa) Wyers and Paul Wil-
liams; brother-in-law, Gary (Geraldean) Lucas;
sisters-in-law, Karen (Dale) Matherne, Kathy
(Waymon) McDill, and Lynn (Jim) Plumb; and a
host of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Dylan Pounders, Chad
Price, Tony Williams, Jr., Adam Lucas, AJ Hicks,
and Cole Verdin.
Honorary pallbearers will be Ernie Jacobs,
Johnny Harrison, Trinity Wyers, Buddy Wyers,
Josh Williams, Michael Wyers, Sonny, and Gayle
Glenn, Ron and Nancy Harper, and Nancy Cash
Holman.
Memorials may be made to Stanley Williams
Memorial Fund C/O Lowndes Funeral Home,
1131 N. Lehmberg Road, Columbus, MS 39702.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
ther, Charles Michael Bowen and his children;
nephews and nieces; aunts, uncles and cousins.
He also leaves behind a multitude of friends and
co-workers who will forever hold a piece of him
in their heart.
Honorary pallbearers include Michael Cock-
rell, Tam Gray, his nephew, Daley Scott Sesser,
Chad White, and the entire IST Department at
East Mississippi Community College.
A small graveside service, with Randy Bridges
officiating, will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, at Friend-
ship Cemetery, in Columbus, MS, where his
ashes will be laid to rest by his father, Royce.
Masks will be required, and we ask that every-
one respect social distancing rules to keep his
tribute as safe as possible. Memorial Gunter Peel
Funeral Home & Crematory, 903 College Street
location, is in charge of arrangements.
Sign the online guest book at
www.memorialgunterpeel.com
903 College Street • Columbus, MS
Send in your church event!
Email editorialassistant@cdispatch.com
Subject: Religious brief
6A TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021
Health
Health tips from Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen
How much should you
weigh given your age
and height?
Comedian Kevin Hart,
41, is 5 feet, 2 inches tall
and weighs 141 pounds.
He doesn’t seem over-
weight. That’s because a
healthy weight depends
on age, muscle-fat ratio,
height, sex and body fat
distribution. Athletic
and muscled folks may
have a higher body mass
index but not have excess
body fat. Hart’s BMI
registers as overweight
(normal weight range for
his height is 101 to 136
pounds), but his level of
body fat is 15.8 percent
(that’s good), indicating
it’s likely he has a healthy
distribution of muscle and
fat.
How can you figure
out the right weight for
your optimal health? The
best way is to use several
measurements to see if
they reinforce the other’s
findings.
■ Figure your BMI
at CDC.gov; search for
“adult BMI calculator.”
Or try the Smart BMI
Calculator, which consid-
ers your gender and age
along with weight and
height at www.smartbmi-
calculator.com.
■ Determine your
waist to hip ratio: Mea-
sure your waist at its
narrowest part and divide
that number by a mea-
Vaccine
Continued from Page 1A
days for those who take
the Moderna. The sites at
Lowndes and Oktibbeha
health departments will
both distribute the Moder-
Candidates
Continued from Page 1A
Brooks has been on
the Planning and Zoning
Commission since 2013
and has been chairman
since 2015. He is also a
real estate broker and ap-
praiser.
“I’ve seen a lot of
changes over the last few
years,” Brooks said. “It re-
ally started, probably, with
the Dan Camp administra-
tion (from 2005 to 2009),
when we started adopting
policies and procedures to
move the city forward and
have a better relationship
Get promoted? Win an award? Send us your business brief.
surement
of your
hips at
their wid-
est part.
Below 0.9
= low risk
of cardio-
vascular
health
problems;
0.9 to
Drs. Oz and Roizen
0.99 =
moderate
risk; 1.0 or more = high
risk. Moderate or high
risk may indicate you’re
overweight.
■ Calculate your waist
to height ratio. Divide
waist size by height in
inches. Are you 0.5 or
less? Chances are you’re a would also be diagnosed
healthy weight.
■ Ask your doc for a
body fat assessment using
a pinch test. Fit non-ath-
letes come in at 14 percent let it serve as a wake-up
to 17 percent for guys and
21 percent to 24 percent
for gals.
Diabetes, your
dog and you
Between 2006 and
2016, the incidence of di-
abetes in dogs increased
almost 80 percent! It’s
now estimated that one
in every 300 pooches will
get the disease. Beagles,
bichons frises, cairn
terriers, dachshunds,
fox terriers, keeshonds,
poodles and pugs are the
most often diagnosed.
na vaccine.
Both Reeves and state
health officials urge those
who have taken the vac-
cine to continue practic-
with the university. … I
want to continue that if
there’s any way possible. I
want to be part of the city
moving forward.”
Mayor Lynn Spruill
and the remaining five in-
cumbent aldermen — Ben
Carver of Ward 1, Sandra
Sistrunk of Ward 2, Hamp
Beatty of Ward 5, Vice
Mayor Roy A. Perkins of
Ward 6 and Henry Vaughn
of Ward 7 — all submitted
their qualifying paper-
work Monday, City Clerk
Lesa Hardin said.
news@cdispatch.com subject: Business brief
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
HEALTH TIP
n Spend time alone: Spending regular time alone helps to get to know and stay in touch with yourself (we’re all
constantly growing and changing.) Alone time is an opportunity to check in with how you’re doing and what you
want, so you can live your most intentional life. Some people enjoying hiking, going for a walk or run, meditating or
even sunbathing as a healthy source of alone time.
As dis-
maying as
that info
is, it turns
out that it
also fore-
shadows
humans’
risk of de-
veloping
Type 2
diabetes.
A Swed-
ish study
published in the BMJ
followed more than
175,000 middle-aged dog
owners for six years. The
researchers found owning
a dog that had or devel-
oped diabetes increased
the risk that the owner
with the condition by 38
percent!
So, if your best pal is
diagnosed with diabetes,
call to you. Clearly you
both need more physical
activity. For most breeds,
walks lasting a total of 30
to 120 minutes a day will
keep them healthy. Ask
your vet for guidance.
And take advantage of the
dog-walking schedule to
get your full 10,000 steps
in (with a dog that doesn’t
dawdle too badly you can
get around 2,500-3,000
steps in 30 minutes). One
study found people who
walked a loaner dog five
days a week lost more
than 14 pounds over the
course of a year.
ing social distancing and
mask-wearing.
Health care workers
who want to receive vacci-
nations at a drive-through
The only candidates in
Columbus who have filed
paperwork as of Monday
afternoon are Mayor Rob-
ert Smith, Ward 2 Council-
man Joseph Mickens and
Ward 5 Councilman Ste-
phen Jones, city Registrar
Brenda Williams told The
Dispatch.
Both Ward 4 Council-
man Pierre Beard and
Ward 6 Councilman Bill
Gavin previously told The
Dispatch they were still
considering whether to
run for re-election. Beard
Source: https://fourwellness.co
Bonus tip: As you mind-body techniques. and work to banish your
reduce your risk for Now we know why. chronic stress responses.
diabetes one dog walk at a Researchers from New You can take up medita-
time, opt for diabetes-de- Zealand have found that tion (10 minutes morn-
feating nutrition with a so-called RFRP neurons ing and night); search
plant-based diet and lean at the base of the brain for links to free online
proteins (salmon, skin- get fired up when you meditation classes. Or
less chicken) and ditch are stressed and create download the Cleveland
ultra-processed foods, a cascade of biochemical Clinic’s Mindful Mo-
added sugars, and red and responses that suppress ments app. Great yoga
processed meats. fertility. Their study, classes are available at
published in The Journal DoYogaWithMe.com.
of Neuroscience, may Mehmet Oz, M.D. is
The link between stress be the key to developing host of “The Dr. Oz Show,”
and fertility a new way to overcome and Mike Roizen, M.D. is
When Beyonce gave infertility by selectively Chief Wellness Officer and
birth to Blue Ivy in blocking RFRP’s action. Chair of Wellness Institute
January 2012, it followed Until then, if you’re at Cleveland Clinic. To live
a year’s timeout, during having trouble getting your healthiest, tune into
which she backed away pregnant, we suggest “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit
from the intense stress you use these insights www.sharecare.com.
of life on the road and in
the public eye. Turns out
that may have helped her
conceive as well.
New research has
confirmed what Harvard
Medical School’s Alice
Domar has been telling
couples for decades —
stress reduction tech-
niques can greatly im-
prove a woman’s chances
of becoming pregnant. A
study by Domar’s Mind/
Body Fertility Program
found that 55 percent
of previously infertile
women who adopted
techniques such as mind-
ful meditation and hatha
yoga conceived within
six months after going
through the 10-session
program, compared to
only 20 percent in a con-
trol group that used no
site can make an appoint-
ment at covidvaccine.umc.
edu/.
The Associated Press
contributed to this report.
said he will announce his
decision this month.
Ward 5 Councilman
Charlie Box told The Dis-
patch in December that he
will not run for re-election.
Ward 1 Councilwoman
Ethel Stewart could not be
reached for comment.
The deadline to file for
candidacy is Feb. 5. The
primary election will be
April 6, and the general
election will be June 8.
Dispatch news editor Is-
abelle Altman contributed
to this story.
Sports
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021
B
SECTION

Starkville Academy boys shut out Heritage Academy

BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
STARK VILLE — his score was even rem-
Asked to expound on
his crucial first-half goal
during Monday’s boys
soccer match against
Heritage Academy,
Starkville Academy’s
Isaac Lepard provided
an apt analogy.
“It was awesome,” the
junior said. “It was like
some FIFA stuff.”
The way Lepard ex-
cellently slotted home
a perfect cross from
freshman Micah King in
the 13th minute to dou-
ble the Volunteers’ lead,
the comparison wasn’t
far off. Lepard’s slight
tangle-up with Patriots fourth straight shutout
goalkeeper Andre So- and their fifth in six
tomeneses right after matches this winter.
“We isolated him,
iniscent of a graphical kept him from creating
glitch of sorts. the way he likes to cre-
But the 3-0 win ate,” Starkville Acade-
Starkville Academy de- my coach John Morgan
livered against its rival said of Sharp. “I think
in Monday’s MAIS Class after that, we just kind
A A A A, Division II East of filled in and did the
opener was far from rest. When you play
any video game. For the teams that have one of
streaking Volunteers (6 - those big play-makers
0, 1-0 division), the win and creators, if you can
was plenty real. shut that off, you can se-
“It felt great,” Lepard verely hamper what they
said. “It was just what can do. I thought we did
we wanted.” a good job of that.”
The Volunteers held While the Vols locked Theo DeRosa/Dispatch Staff
Heritage Academy and down on defense, they Heritage Academy’s Drew Knittig (12) protects the ball from a Starkville Academy
star striker Todd Sharp put up enough goals attacker during the first half of Monday’s match at the Starkville Sportsplex. The
at bay and posted their See SOCCER, 3B Volunteers beat the Patriots 3-0.

MISSISSIPPI STATE
MEN’S BASKETBALL
MISSISSIPPI STATE FOOTBALL ANALYSIS

In a year of ebbs and flows, MSU’s

NOTEBOOK
Bulldogs
preparing
for upstart future feels bright
Missouri
team
BY GARRICK HODGE
ghodge@cdispatch.com

When Mississippi
State men’s basketball
coach Ben Howland
watched his team defeat
Missouri for the second
time in the 2019-2020
season last February,
he left Columbia im-
pressed with the talent
the Tigers had return-
ing in a year. The sixth-
year coach even went as
far to predict Missouri
would be a tournament
team one calendar year
later.
As MSU (6 -4, 1-1
SEC) prepares to face
the Tigers (7-1, 1-1) at
8 p.m. Tuesday at Hum-
phrey Coliseum, How-
land’s prediction looks
pretty accurate. Mis-
See BASKETBALL, 3B

March
Madness
will be Mississippi State athletics
Mississippi State defensive back Emmanuel Forbes was one of many MSU freshmen that made noticeable improvements in the back half

played of the 2020 season.

entirely in
Indiana
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS —
The NCA A is giving In-
diana an exclusive tick-
et to showcase March
Madness and the bas-
ketball-crazed state
can’t wait to take center
stage this spring.
The NCA A an-
nounced Monday that
its showcase event —
the Division I men’s
basketball tournament,
all 67 games of it — will
be played entirely in or
near Indianapolis. The
hope is to limit the pos-
sibility that the corona-
virus pandemic cancels
the wildly popular and
lucrative tournament
for a second consecu-
tive season.
“There are a number
of world-class facilities
in a close location and
that was critical be-
cause you have to run a
large number of games
simultaneously that
you can manage and
control,” NCA A Presi-
See NCAA, 3B
BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARK VILLE — In a sea-
son that saw more ebbs and
flows than the Gulf of Mexico,
Mississippi State capped off
its first season under Mike
Leach with an Armed Forces
Bowl victory over No. 24 Tul-
sa last week. And while a post-
game brawl marred the imme-
diate aftermath of the contest,
the Bulldogs’ win put a bow on
a year that boasted incredible
highs and dismal lows.
In short, 2020 was a re-
building year in Starkville.
The import of Stanford gradu-
ate transfer signal-caller K.J.
Costello, former top-100 re-
cruit Tyrell Shavers and a sup-
porting offensive cast that in-
cluded senior receiver Osirus
Mitchell and junior running
back Kylin Hill offered opti-
mism at an immediate fix. A
win over then-No. 6 LSU in
Baton Rouge the same day it
lifted the 2019 national cham-
pionship banner added to the
excitement.
Oh, but how things fell off.
After MSU’s emphatic
open to the year, the Bulldogs
went 1-6 over its next seven
games and offered outputs in
which there quite literally ar-
en’t enough iterations of the
word “bad” to describe. A 24-2
loss to Kentucky saw Costello
throw his third pick-sx in as
many games and marked the
first time in 19 years a Leach-
coached team failed to score
even three points. Abysmal
outputs against Alabama, Tex-
as A&M and Vanderbilt also
followed.
More pressing, it was the
MSU offense that sputtered
over that span. The Bulldogs
failed to pass for more than
275 yards four times, includ-
ing a 163-yard passing output
against No.1 Alabama on Hal-
loween.
MSU also saw double-digit
players leave the program for
varying reasons between the
time Leach took over in Jan-
uary through the end of the
season.
“We’re going to have to
check some of our group and
see who really wants to play
here,” Leach said after MSU’s
loss to Kentucky on Oct. 10.
“Because any malcontents,
we’re going to have to purge a
couple of those.”
Yet for as deep as 2020’s
valleys were, the Bulldogs
inspired kool-aid-drinking
worthy confidence in the lat-
ter half of the season. Near
misses at Ole Miss, Georgia
and against Auburn offered a
glimpse of what the offense
could be as freshman play-
makers Will Rogers, Jaden
Walley, Jo’quavious Marks,
Dillon Johnson and Emman-
uel Forbes made noticeable
marks in the back half of the
season.
Walley emerged as a bona-
fide star at wide receiver with
four-straight 100 yard games
over the final five contests,
while Marks and Johnson
delivered a one-two punch
reminiscent in running style
of USC’s Reggie Bush and
LenDale White in the early
2000s — albeit to a much low-
er output and usage. Forbes,
too, proved a stalwart along-
side sophomore Martin Emer-
son Jr. at cornerback and his
three interception returns for
a touchdown were the most of
any player in America.
And then there’s Rogers.
A three-star passer coming
out of high school, the Bran-
don native was initially re-
cruited by Leach and his staff
at Washington State before he
committed to Joe Moorhead.
Taking over as the full time
starter once Costello suc-
cumbed to an undisclosed in-
jury against Alabama, Rogers
finished the year with 1,976
yards and 11 touchdowns to
seven interceptions. His 69.1
completion percentage was
also the best among all fresh-
man quarterbacks.
But for as solid as Rogers
was in relief of Costello, 2021
brings a new challenge to his
throne. Southern Mississippi
transfer Jack Abraham, who’s
played at quite literally every
level of college football in the
state, arrives in Starkville
after a prolific career in Hat-
tiesburg including 27 games
worth of experience.
The Bulldogs also added
four-star signal caller Saw-
yer Robertson and three-star
passer Daniel Greek in the
early signing period. Robert-
son will arrive at MSU as the
highest-rated quarterback to
ever sign with the Bulldogs
during the recruiting rank-
ings era after he finished
among the top 15 in Texas
high school football history
in career completions, touch-
down passes and passing
yards.
Leach has long shown a
propensity for siding with old-
er quarterbacks dating back
to his days at Texas Tech, but
with Rogers, who will again
be a true freshman next year
due to the NCA A’s free pass
on eligibility this season,
boasting the track record he
See MSU, 3B
2B TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Saints passed tests of resilience heading into playoffs

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS —
New Orleans Saints coach
Sean Payton can draw
encouragement from the
fact that his team enters
the playoffs having won
11 of 13 games despite a
lack of stability at several
key positions.
“We are always looking
to find players that will
help us with some versa-
tility,” Payton said Mon-
day, a day after his team
defeated Carolina 33-7
despite losing all of its
regular running backs —
including the record-set-
ting Alvin Kamara — to
COVID-19 protocols.
“It starts with a culture
we believe we’ve kind of
created,” Payton contin-
ued. “We’re looking for
like-minded players that
can fit, that we feel like we
have a vision for.”
The Saints managed
to rush for 156 yards by
relying primarily on Ty
Montgomery, a reserve
who’s been doing the bulk
of his work in practice
as a receiver in recent
weeks. New Orleans also
was able to turn to stur-
dy and versatile reserve
QB Taysom Hill for some
read-option runs.
Drew Brees was ef-
ficient in the passing
game despite two start-
ing receivers — Michael
Thomas and Tre’Quan
Smith — being out. And
New Orleans’ defense
came through with five
interceptions despite the
absence of starting safety
Marcus Williams (ankle),
nickel back C.J. Gard-
ner-Johnson (COVID-19
reserve) and defensive
back D.J. Swearinger
(COVID-19 reserve).
With the lopsided vic-
tory, the Saints clinched
the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
“We’ve dealt with some
adversity, obviously, and
I think we were able to
perform well, at a high
level and in all phases,”
said linebacker Alex An-
zalone, who was inserted
as a starter after Kwon
Alexander was lost for the
season with an Achilles
tendon injury last week.
“It’s one for the scout-
ing department for get-
ting the right players in
here. I think it is a credit
to the coaches for getting
guys prepared and a cred-
it to the players for going
out and performing.”
Earlier this season,
Brees missed 4 1/2
games because of rib and
lung injuries. The Saints
hung on to win the game
that Brees left at halftime
and won the next four
that Brees missed entire-
ly. Michael Thomas, the
2019 Offensive Player
of the Year, missed nine
games, of which New Or-
leans won six.
Now, as the Saints
enter the playoffs for a
fourth straight season,
they’ve not only passed
tests of their resilience,
but also appear on the
brink of getting some top
players back.
Thomas (ankle) and
2019 All-Pro returner
Deonte Harris (neck) are
both eligible to come off
injured reserve. Kamara
and fellow running back
Latavius Murray could
be eligible to come off the
club’s COVID-19 list by
Sunday’s playoff opener.
The same goes for Gard-
ner-Johnson. And Brees
has had three games to
round back into form
since returning from his
injuries.
“We still got the job
done, which was good to
see,” tight end Jared Cook
said while reflecting on
the regular season. “But
we all know that playoffs
is a totally different level.”
What’s working
The Saints can thank
their defense for much of
their success this season.
The unit ranked fourth in
the NFL against the run
(allowing 93.9 yards per
game) and fifth against
the pass (217 yards per
game). The Saints’ 18 in-
terceptions tied for first
in the NFL, their 45 sacks
ranked eighth and their
points allowed per game
(21.1) tied for fifth.
What needs help
While the Saints have
been lacking in very few
areas this season, they
have not had much suc-
cess separating opposing
offensive players from
the ball. New Orleans’ six
forced fumbles ranked
30th in the league.
Stock up
Montgomery. He had
been trying to carve out a
role as a receiver in recent
weeks until suddenly late
last week the Saints had
to scratch all of their reg-
ular running backs from
Sunday’s game at Caroli-
na. Montgomery moved
back to running back on
little more than a day’s
notice and rushed for 105
yards on 18 carries.
Stock down
Reserve QB Jameis
Winston has not appeared
to be as good a fit with the
Saints as he or the club
hoped. He saw limited
action this season despite
Brees missing four-and-
a-half games. Winston
attempted 11 passes, com-
pleting seven for 75 yards
and was sacked twice.
Perhaps the playoffs will
provide an unexpected
opportunity for Winston,
but his chances of return-
ing next season appear
slim.
Injured
It’s not yet clear wheth-
er safety Marcus Wil-
liams, who has missed
two games with a ankle
injury, will be ready for
the playoffs. Receiver
Tre’Quan Smith would
not be eligible to come off
injured reserve until the
second postseason game
at the earliest.
Key number
9 — The number of
playoff seasons for Drew
Brees, who wears No.
9, since he and Payton
joined forces 15 seasons
ago in 2006.
Next steps
The Saints host Chica-
go to open the playoffs on
Sunday. The Saints pulled
out a victory in overtime
at Chicago earlier this
season.

Alabama, Ohio State travel different paths to title game

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alabama breezed
through the regular sea-
son and college football’s
semifinals, surviving
a solitary scare in the
Southeastern Conference
championship game to
reach its expected desti-
nation.
Ohio State wasn’t ex-
actly a shoo-in with its
abbreviated schedule but
resoundingly proved it
belonged in the College
Football Playoffs with a
semifinal thrashing of
Clemson.
The Buckeyes and
Crimson Tide traveled
different paths to get to
Monday’s title game at
Hard Rock Stadium in
South Florida, but both
had to navigate the chal-
lenges of a pandemic-al-
tered season
“I know this has been
a little bit of a trying year
for a lot of folks,” Nick Sa-
ban, the top-ranked Crim-
son Tide’s coach, said
Monday.
It’s not a finale that
could be taken for grant-
ed.
No. 3 Ohio State’s odys-
sey included an abbreviat-
ed Big Ten season with
three games canceled
because of COVID-19 is-
sues, including the Buck-
eyes’ own outbreak.
“This team, this pro-
gram, we persevered
through so much,” Ohio
State running back Trey
Sermon said Monday. “To
have the opportunity to
play on such a big stage, it
means a lot to us.
“We’ve been through
a lot. I mean, we fought
to just play, and just to be
able to get the job done, to
make it to this level, it just
means a lot to us.”
The Tide (12-0) ad-
vanced with a 31-14 win
over Notre Dame in the
Rose Bowl, played in Ar-
lington, Texas not south-
ern California in yet an-
other example of just how
different this season has
been.
Before that Alabama
navigated 11 straight SEC
games, including wins
over three teams current-
ly ranked among the top
11 before facing Notre
Dame.
The Tide also won the
Iron Bowl against Auburn
with offensive coordina-
tor Steve Sarkisian —
who takes over the Tex-
as Longhorns program
following the game —
running the show while
Saban was sidelined by
COVID-19.
In addition to Sarki-
sian’s imminent depar-
ture, Alabama has to take
care of some Heisman
Trophy business while
preparing for the match-
up with Ohio State. Both
wide receiver DeVonta
Smith and quarterback
Mac Jones are among the
four Heisman finalists,
along with quarterbacks
Trevor Lawrence of Clem-
son and Kyle Trask of
Florida.
Smith isn’t interested
in talking about the award
being handed out virtual-
ly on Tuesday, saying his
focus is on preparing for
the Buckeyes.
“Right now I’m not
really worried about the
Heisman Trophy,” he said.
Monday’s game is a re-
match of a semifinal game
in the first College Foot-
ball Playoffs six years
ago. Ohio State (7-0) won
that meeting en route to
the national title.
There were questions
whether this Buckeyes
team deserved to be in
CFP, but Ohio State rout-
ed favored Clemson, eras-
ing sentiments that anoth-
er Tigers-Crimson Tide
title showdown was all but
inevitable.
If Smith shared those
expectations, the Ala-
bama wide receiver kept
them to himself.
“I mean, I’m not part of
the committee, so I have
no say-so in who they put
in and who they wanted
to put in,” Smith said. “At
the end of the day, we just
show up here, practice,
and get ready for whoever
the next opponent is.”
The big question for
Ohio State Monday was
the health of quarterback
Justin Fields, who took a
vicious shot to the side
in the first half against
Clemson.
Buckeyes coach Ryan
Day didn’t give details on
the nature of provide any
detailed updates Monday
on the QB’s injury but
said: “I definitely expect
him to play.”
Here’s a look at each
team’s path to the Mon- against Northwestern.
day’s showdown: Then he outshined Law-
rence with an impressive,
Alabama 22-of-28, 385-yard perfor-
Overview: Has most- mance when he set a Sug-
ly coasted into the title ar Bowl record with six
game with few challeng- touchdown passes.
es, outscoring opponents
by an average of 48-19
points. The Tide ranks sec-
ond nationally in scoring
offense, behind only Kent
State, fifth in scoring and
sixth in total offense.
Best regular season
win: While the win over
No. 5 Texas A&M looms
largest now, then-No. 2
Alabama rallied from a
halftime deficit against
third-ranked Georgia with
21 unanswered points in a
41-24 win.
Toughest hurdle: Flor-
ida. The Tide withstood a
second-half rally attempt
to beat the Gators 52-46
in the SEC championship
game. Najee Harris scored
five touchdowns, three re-
ceiving and two rushing.
Best player: Smith has
shattered Alabama and
SEC receiving records with
a season that has made him
a leading Heisman Trophy
candidate. Smith caught
three touchdown passes
against Notre Dame.
OHIO STATE
Overview: Like many
teams, Ohio State faced
major obstacles during the
pandemic. First the Big
Ten canceled fall football.
After an about-face, an ab-
breviated scheduled led
to questions about Ohio
State’s inclusion in the final
four. The Buckeyes validat-
ed the decision, going up
three touchdowns by half-
time against Clemson in
the semifinals.
Best regular season
win: 42-35 win over No. 7
Indiana, a victory that lost
some of its luster after the
Hoosiers fell to Mississippi
in the Outback Bowl. The
Buckeyes withstood a chal-
lenge after giving up two
touchdowns early in the
fourth quarter.
Toughest hurdle: The
Buckeyes silenced the
naysayers with a 49-28 win
over Clemson and Law-
rence.
Best Player: Fields
looked like a Heisman
contender much of the
season, before a lacklus-
ter performance in the Big
Ten championship game
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021 3B

Basketball
Continued from Page 1B
souri enters the match- dominating presence has to focus on his post
up with impressive vic- in the post, averaging game. Every kid wants
tories against Oregon, more than 13 points to shoot and wants to
Arkansas and Illinois. per game in addition to work on facing up and
The Tigers’ lone loss around eight boards a shooting 3’s. That’s
came against Southeast- night. been his focus outside
ern Conference presea- The Western Ken- of practice and he’s got
son favorite Tennessee tucky transfer hasn’t to focus on being able to
last week, but excluding had the same success in use his (frame) to score
that, they’ve been dead- conference play thus far. on people with his back
ly. “He just needs to slow to the basket. That is
“I think they play very down in the post,” How- something we worked
good defense,” Howland land said. “Sometimes on today.”
said. “They are one of the pace is going too
the better defensive fast and he’s got to slow
teams in our league and down and get settled. First NET rankings
they really do a good That comes with expe- revealed
job in their man de- rience and players are The NCA A revealed
fense. They will isolate bigger and stronger.” its first NCA A Eval-
ball screens and switch The 6 -foot-10 forward uation Tool (NET)
some ball screens. They scored seven points rankings of the season
really get out and deny against both Georgia Monday, with MSU sit-
things. When you pen- and Kentucky, with the ting at 113 nationally.
etrate everybody is col- sophomore convert- Meanwhile, Missouri
lapsing and forcing you ing just 2 of 11 shots in sits at 10th. Obviously, a
to kick it back out.” MSU’s double-overtime quadrant one victory win
Missouri has four loss to the Wildcats Sat- would do wonders for the
players averaging dou- urday. Bulldogs’ NCA A tourna-
ble figures, including “He got in a lot of ment resume. According
Mississippi State athletics
Xavier Pinson (15 points film work (Sunday) and to the NCA A, NET rank-
Mississippi State forward Tolu Smith (35) hopes to bounce back against Missouri
per game), Mark Smith Tuesday after only scoring 7 points in contests against Georgia and Kentucky. came in and did some ings are a tool used by
(12.5 ppg), Dru Smith extra work this morning the NCA A tournament
(11.4 ppg) and Jeremiah to push it very hard as streak against Missou- last nine games against for an hour,” Howland selection committee that
Tilmon (10.4 ppg) it was (when we played) ri, sweeping the season the Tigers. said. “He’s got a great ranks all 357 Division I
“I think they are exe- Kentucky and with series a season ago with attitude, a great work teams based on game re-
cuting well, offensively,” Georgia. So we got to a four-point win on the ethic. He is going to sults, strength of sched-
Howland said. “They do a good job of transi- road and a 27-point win
Smith hoping to “slow keep getting better and ule, game location, scor-
push the ball hard in tion defense with these at Humphrey Coliseum. down” in the post he is leading the league ing margin (capping at
transition on missed guys, as well.” MSU has dominated the In MSU’s eight non- in rebounding as of to- 10 points per game), and
or made shots. You are The Bulldogs are on series in recent memo- conference games, for- day. net offensive and defen-
going to see them try a three-game winning ry, winning eight of the ward Tolu Smith was a “Offensively, he just sive efficiency.

Soccer
Continued from Page 1B
for a comfortable win.
Lepard’s score came
just two minutes after
seventh grader Nathan
Miller beat Sotomene-
ses to break a scoreless
tie in the 11th minute.
“It’s amazing to have
some seventh-graders
who can get out there
and just dominate,” Lep-
ard said.
Senior Brody Pierce
cashed in on one of sev-
eral chances in the sec-
ond half, picking him-
self up after tripping to
power a shot past new
keeper Jared Gruseck
and into the net as
Pierce fell on his back
with the effort.
Still, Morgan ac-
knowledged his team
had plenty of chances
to score a lot more than
three goals Monday
night.
“We had great match-
ups all over the field,”
he said. “We just didn’t
put the ball in the back
of the net when we need-
ed to.”
Heritage Academy
(2-2, 0 -1) struggled
even more against the
Vols’ stout defense. Pa-
triots coach Tom Velek
acknowledged his team
never found a rhythm
between its midfielders
and its forwards.
“Combination play
in your attacking third
is what wins games,”
Velek said. “We could
never get it going, and it
showed.”
While seventh grader
Cole Shelton performed
admirably in lieu of
usual starting defense-
man Jayden Glasgow,
Velek said Glasgow’s
loss was felt when the
Vols moved the ball ably
upfield. The chances
Starkville Academy cre-
ated were just too much
for Sotomeneses, who
spent the first half in
goal, and Gruseck, who
played the second.
“The two goals that
were in the center of
the field, you can’t leave
that open,” Velek said.
“That puts too much
pressure on your keep-
ers.”
Heritage Academy
regrouped in the final
minutes and challenged
Vols goalkeeper Charlie
Cox multiple times but
to no avail as Starkville
Academy finished off
the shutout.
But despite the Vols’
win Monday, Velek said
his team has plenty of
motivation headed into
the two teams’ next
matchup Jan. 28 in Co-
lumbus.
“We play home and
away,” he said. “Next
time, it’s at our house.”
Velek knows well
the difference that can
make. Both he and
Morgan coach their
schools’ girls teams,
and in the first matchup
between the pair of ri-
vals this fall, Starkville
Academy won 3-0 on its
home field. In the sec-
ond game, the Vols just
squeaked by with a 1-0
win.
So Morgan, too,
knows all too well that
Heritage Academy will
come prepared in a few
weeks.
“They’ll be ready for
us the next time,” he
said of the Patriots. “I
know they will.”
Other scores
Girls Basketball
Pickens Academy
(Ala.) 49, Heritage
Christian Academy
(Ala.) 21
HOOVER, Ala. —
The Pickens Academy
(Alabama) girls basket-
ball team beat Heritage
Christian Academy
(Alabama) in Monday’s
road game.
Lily Lowery had 19
points to lead the Pi-
rates. Kate Wilkins had
10, and Britney Fitch
had seven.
Louisville 50, Noxubee
County 37, Saturday
Boys Basketball
Pickens Academy
(Ala.) 42, South Choc-
taw Academy 35, Satur-
day
TOXEY, Ala. — The
Pickens Academy boys
beat South Choctaw
Academy 42-35 in Satur-
day’s road game.
Rafe Brown scored
13 points to lead the Pi-
rates. Hayden Dyer had
11, William Parker had
nine points, and Drake
Lowery added eight.
Noxubee County 49,
Louisville 47, Saturday.

MSU
Continued from Page 1B
did this fall, it remains to be seen
whether that falls by the wayside?
“From fall camp until now I think
I have improved so much, and I think
it is because of reps and repetition,”
Rogers said after the bowl game. “I
saw some action early but really felt
like after the Vanderbilt game, and
the way we were practicing, it felt dif-
ferent being around the facility and
out there on the practice field. You
could tell guys were ready and things
were starting to click. I am really
excited about things where they are
heading into the future.”
Finishing 4-7 in 2020, it’s unclear
what the Bulldogs’ 2021 ledger will
look like given the COVID-19 pan-
demic and the rearranging of 2020
schedules. A return to an eight game
Southeastern Conference slate would
certainly help Leach rack up a few
more wins against a handful of FCS
and Group of Five cupcakes. It’s also
fair to assume MSU will begin its
home-and-home against an upstart
NC State team it was supposed to face
in the nonconference this year.
In stops at Texas Tech and Wash-
ington State, Leach never won less
than six games in his second sea-
son. Given the Bulldogs led the na-
tion heading into bowl season with
26 first-time starters in 2020, it’s ex-
pected both the offense and defense
— which locked up defensive coordi-
nator Zach Arnett to an extension in
mid-December — will take another
step forward.
Leach’s first season in Starkville
was headed for a disaster. Late wins
over Missouri and Tulsa salvaged
that. Heading into a 2021 season
that should include at least some
semblance of spring practices and a
normal-ish offseason, it will be up to
Leach and his staff to show noticeable
improvement in the win column.

NCAA
Continued from Page 1B
dent Mark Emmert said.
“There were a number
of cities that were very
interested in hosting
this event, but the im-
mediate opportunity to
do this in Indianapolis
was pretty self-evident
for several reasons. For
one, we were already go-
ing to be there.”
Indy was already
scheduled to host the
Final Four and it didn’t
take long for the city to
emerge as the favorite.
The original plan was
for the 67 games to be
played at 13 sites across
the country, starting
with the First Four in
Dayton, Ohio. Regional
sites were set for Min-
neapolis, Denver, New
York City and Memphis,
Tennessee.
Instead, the buzzer
beaters and jaw-drop-
ping performances will
all take place in a state
known perhaps more
than any other for its
love of basketball.
“I really don’t care
if they play the tourna-
ment on Saturn or in
Indianapolis,” Louisville
coach Chris Mack said.
“Hopefully, we’re a part
of it and we do our part
to get there. And wher-
ever they put it, they put
it.”
Logistically, Indy
made sense, too.
Dozens of restaurants
of hotels are within
walking distance of Lu-
cas Oil Stadium, home
of the NFL’s Indianap-
olis Colts, and Bankers
Life Fieldhouse, home
of the NBA’s Indiana
Pacers and WNBA’s In-
diana Fever. Many of
those businesses and
venues are connected
by skywalks that allow
players, coaches or fans
to stay indoors.
Hinkle Fieldhouse,
the historic home of the
Butler Bulldogs, and the
Indiana Farmers Coli-
seum, where the IUPUI
Jaguars play, are just
short drives from the
downtown area. Mackey
Arena at Purdue and As-
sembly Hall at Indiana
also are about an hour’s
drive from downtown.
All of those venues
are slated to host games.
Playing in a state
where the sport is re-
vered and basketball
stars are considered
royalty doesn’t hurt, ei-
ther. Oscar Robertson,
Larry Bird, Rick Mount,
Damon Bailey and the
late John Wooden were
all stars here at one level
or another. Bob Knight,
Gene Keady and the late
Tony Hinkle, originator
of the orange basket-
ball, all coached in the
state, which for decades
had a single-class state
tournament won fa-
mously in 1954 by Milan
High, the inspiration for
Hollywood’s “Hoosiers.”
So perhaps bringing
March Madness back
home to Indiana, home
of the NCA A’s head-
quarters, was the natu-
ral choice..
“Last year, we had
to rip March Madness
away from all the teams
and all the fans at the
very last minute,” Em-
mert said. “We know it
was the right thing to
do, but it was a painful
thing to do. So we want
to deliver this year on
the promise of March
Madness. They deserve
it.”
Some things aren’t
expected to change.
Selection Sunday is
still set for March 14, the
tourney field is expected
to remain at 68 and the
Final Four games are
still scheduled for April
3 with the title game two
days later. CBS Sports
and Turner Sports will
continue to televise and
stream the games.
But this tourney will
have dramatically a dif-
ferent atmosphere.
Two courts will be
constructed inside cav-
ernous Lucas Oil Sta-
dium, though only one
game will be played at
a time because of po-
tential distractions from
whistles and horns go-
ing off. NCA A vice pres-
ident of basketball Dan
Gavitt said fewer games
may be played each
day because of longer
breaks needed to prop-
erly clean the facilities.
Preliminary round dates
have not yet been set.
“If we’re going to be
able to do it, it’s got to be
done safely,” Creighton
coach Greg McDermott
said. “The more you can
limit travel the better.
To do it in the middle
of the country makes it
easier for everybody. ...
You want to be there,
you want to be part of it.
It’s going to be an his-
toric event.”
Fewer fans are ex-
pected, too.
NCA A officials said a
limited number of fam-
ily members of players
and coaches can attend
games, but they will
consult local and state
public health officials
to determine final atten-
dance.
COVID-19 testing
will be conducted before
each game and each
team will be assigned
its own floor and its own
meeting spaces inside
its hotel.
“We’ve very inten-
tionally talked about
this being a controlled
environment,” Gavitt
said. “The NBA and
WNBA had much more
of a bubble. We’re not
going to be able to cre-
ate that specifically but
we will come incredibly
close to that.”
Gavitt cautioned that
the holding the tourna-
ment will present many
challenges. Scores
of college basketball
games have been can-
celed or postponed
this season because of
COVID-19 issues, with
games called off on a
near-daily basis.
Emmert said an an-
nouncement about the
Division I women’s
tournament is expect-
ed soon. San Antonio,
which was scheduled to
host this year’s women’s
Final Four, is believed to
be the front-runner for a
potentially similar tour-
ney.
Evansville, an south-
ern Indiana city just
across the Ohio River
from Kentucky, will host
the Division II cham-
pionship, while Fort
Wayne, in northeastern
Indiana, will host the Di-
vision III championship.
4B TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021
Alabama’s Smith could set new standard for Heisman receivers
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DeVonta Smith would
be a Heisman Trophy win-
ner unlike any other.
The Alabama star re-
ceiver is considered the
favorite to win the award
Tuesday night over three
quarterbacks: Crimson
Tide teammate Mac
Jones, Clemson’s Trevor
Lawrence and Florida’s
Kyle Trask.
Smith would be the
fourth wide receiver to
take home the Heisman,
but none of the previous
winners had his resume.
Unlike Michigan’s Des-
mond Howard, Notre
Dame’s Tim Brown and
Nebraska’s Johnny Rod-
gers, who bolstered their
cases by being dynamic
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
kick returners and more
than occasional run-
ners out of the backfield,
Smith has barely dabbled
in that stuff.
The explosive evolu-
tion of the passing game
has made receivers more
important than ever. Sim-
ply being the best pass
catcher is all Smith need-
ed to make a case for be-
ing the best player in col-
lege football.
“I think that the emer-
gence of 7-on-7 has in-
creased the skill level of a
lot of receivers and quar-
terbacks, and they get the
ball on the perimeter a lot
faster than maybe they
did 10 or 20 years ago,
spreading the field hori-
zontally and vertically,”
Ohio State coach Ryan
FAMILY CIRCUS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Day said. “And we’re al- things that they deserve.
ways looking for ways to So if you work for things,
create explosives, and the you’re going to get the
easiest way to create an things that you deserve.”
explosive is to throw the The senior has 105
football.” catches for 1,641 yards
Day and the Buck- and 20 touchdowns this
eyes (7-0) will be faced season.
with figuring out how to When Rodgers won the
slow down Smith and the Heisman in 1972, he had
Crimson Tide (12-0) in 58 catches for 1,013 yards
the national champion- and nine touchdowns, but
ship game on Jan. 11 in he also ran the ball 73
Miami Gardens, Florida. times for 348 yards and 10
Not one to brag, Smith touchdowns and returned
doesn’t see himself as two punts for scores.
carrying the banner for After Rodgers’ win, the
his position group as Heisman when to running
much as representing the backs 11 straight times.
grinders. Brown fit the mold of
“I guess you could say Rodgers when he won
that,” Smith said Monday. the award with relatively
“The person that goes out modest stats: 990 yards
and just puts in the work, from scrimmage and
they’re going to get the seven total touchdowns,
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY: I
am a single
father of
three wonderful
kids. When my
wife and I sepa-
rated, we agreed
to 50/50 custody
and a property
settlement.
Everything went
smoothly. A year
later I requested,
and was granted,
full custody of my
children. Their
mom has visita- Dear Abby
tion, but that’s it.
Shortly after
my separation, I met a woman
and we became good friends.
I waited about a year before
introducing her to my children
because I wanted to make
sure I knew her first.
Although we are not “offi-
cially” in a relationship, she
has been more than willing to
step in and help with the chil-
dren. In a few instances she
has disciplined them because
of bad behaviors. It usually
entails talking to them about
what they did wrong and some
sort of consequence — loss of
toys or privileges.
When they went to visit
their mother and she heard
about it, she wasn’t happy.
She called me very upset
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 5)
Relationships are your treasure,
and you’ll put in effort to make
them special. Everything you
put into socializing will pay
you back. Family celebrates
and invests in you. The spring
scene you fall into is a natural
fit for your talent. As a result,
you’ll accomplish heaps of work
and sock away an impressive
amount of money. Aries and
Libra adore you. Your lucky num-
bers are: 9, 1, 15, 23 and 27.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
Like a traveler in the fog, you
may only be able to see a few
inches in front of you at a time,
but that can be enough to get
where you’re going, especially if
you have guidance from a better
vantage point on the outside.
including three via punt
return.
Howard was closer to
the modern receiver, but
again versatility was part
of the package. In addi-
tion to his 19 touchdown
catches, Howard ran for
two scores and had a kick
and a punt return for a
touchdown. His famous
Heisman pose came after
a returning a punt for a
score against Ohio State.
Howard said that
back in his day there just
weren’t many passes com-
ing the way of even the
best receivers.
“We had to use other
means to show our tal-
ents,” Howard told AP.
“I’m playing for (Michi-
gan coach) Gary Moeller
in (former coach) Bo
saying my friend
had no right
to discipline
our kids. I see
nothing wrong
with it, but I am
second-guessing
myself. Some
advice, please?
— CONCERNED
DAD IN CALIFOR-
NIA
DEAR CON-
CERNED DAD: If
your lady friend’s
“discipline” EVER
went further than
a talking-to, then
their mother is
right. Because you have pri-
mary custody of the children,
YOU should be the parent
who levies penalties if they
misbehave and a punishment
is warranted.
DEAR ABBY: I’m a very
social person and part of a
close-knit friend group, but my
boyfriend is on the introverted
side. Although he is sweet and
thoughtful, he doesn’t have
many friends of his own, and
he tends to enjoy independent
hobbies.
Since learning that my
friendships are very important
to me, he has made a huge
effort with my friends and their
boyfriends. In the past, he in-
vited them to movies, reached
TAURUS (April 20-May
20). To perform at your highest
capacity, it helps to feel good
inside and out. Sleep, water and
nutrition in the proper amounts
are the cornerstone of your
most excellent work.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
You become what you focus on,
so focus on what you love. It’s
not that your adoration in and of
itself will bring a circumstance
into being, but the concentra-
tion of energy will tip off a string
of actions that eventually land
you there.
CANCER (June 22-July
22). The brain isn’t technically
a muscle. Nonetheless, you
can train this complex cellular
structure in much the same way
as you would your arms, legs or
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions
Schembechler’s offense.
We’re not quite airing the
ball out. You have to shine
in other ways.”
After Howard won, re-
ceivers were rarely more
than fringe Heisman con-
tenders.
Randy Moss from
Marshall finished fourth
in the Heisman voting in
1997 and Larry Fitzgerald
of Pittsburgh was second
behind Jason White of
Oklahoma in 2003. Nei-
ther of those future NFL
greats needed more than
their receiving stats to get
Heisman consideration.
As quarterbacks piled
up Heisman victories in
the 2000s, recognition
for the guys catching all
those passes started to
pick up.
out and attempted to engage
them in multiple ways.
I have watched from a dis-
tance, hoping they could forge
a connection, but they ignore
or avoid him, and he recently
shared his worry that they
don’t like him. I don’t blame
him for thinking that, and I’m
starting to feel sad for him and
frustrated with my friends. At
what point do I talk to them
about this? Should I just let
the relationships happen
organically (if they happen)?
Should I interfere at all? —
TORN IN TEXAS
DEAR TORN: You didn’t
mention how old you are, or
how long you and your boy-
friend have been involved. I do
not think it would be interfer-
ing to ask your friends why
they seem unwilling to accept
him. Their answers might be
enlightening.
At some ages, circles have
formed and it’s difficult to
break in and gain acceptance.
If there is something about
your boyfriend that makes
them uncomfortable, it would
be better if you knew what it
was. However, ultimately, he
should socialize with you and
these friends at his comfort
level. You may also need to
seek out new friends and
cultivate relationships together
as a couple.
core. Design a plan for strength,
flexibility, agility and endurance.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22).
Reading isn’t everyone’s favorite
way to get information, and for
some people it doesn’t even
make the short list. But today,
it’s going to be your amazingly
convenient route to a success-
ful outcome.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Wishing and waiting has its pur-
pose in a life, but you’ve already
been there and you’re too busy
now to return. It’s no mystery
why opportunity keeps coming
your way. It’s because you make
things happen.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
What you bring to the table is
a very unique offering, born
of your place in the world — a
place no one else occupies. It
follows that your point of view
offers angles no one else could
know. Bank on it today.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
As for your messes — you can
hide them, clean them up or
work with them. Just don’t curse
them. Evolutionary history has
proven the enormous potential
in even the grossest blob of
slime.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). It’s not so hard to have the
socially correct response to a
situation once you get out of
yourself, step back and view it
objectively. What is the primary
emotion being shared? Respond
in kind.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). Today’s snag will present
itself like a one-off, but be
careful how you handle it. Do
it in a way that you’d be happy
to repeat a few times, because
you just might have to.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). For what you’re working
on today, the practice is not a
means to a result. The practice
is the result. It’s all you can
control, and therefore it is all
that matters and is worthy of
the best of your attention.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). Everywhere you go today
you create comfort. You don’t
have to be talking to do this.
Either consciously or subcon-
sciously, you’ll mirror back the
emotions of others and help
them feel like they are not in it
alone.
SOLUTION:
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021 5B
 J.P. MORGAN MORTGAGE AC-

Classifieds
QUISITION CORP.,
PLAINTIFF,

VS. Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,

DELORES A. ATKINS; JOHN
DOE N/K/A MARTY ATKINS
AND THE UNKNOWN OCCU-
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
PANTS OF 106 Westview Lane.
Columbus, MS 39705
DEFENDANTS.
To place ads starting at only $12,
CASE NO. 2020-0045-CV2
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
SUMMONS
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021 n 6B
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

TO: Unknown Occupants

Legal Notices Legalhave
You Noticesbeen made a Defend- Apts For Rent: West Houses For Sale: East

LEGALS
ant in the suit filed in this

VIP
IN THE COUNTY COURT OF Court by J.P. Morgan Mortgage FSBO: 4BR/2BA. New roof,
LOWNDES COUNTY Acquisition Corp., Plaintiff, new paint, fenced
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI seeking possession of prop-

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backyard, driveway leads
Call us: 662-328-2424 J.P. MORGAN MORTGAGE AC-
erty at 106 Westview Lane,
Columbus, MS 39705. Defend- behind house. $128,000.
QUISITION CORP., ants other than you are De- 662−889−1443.
Legal Notices PLAINTIFF, lores Atkins and John Doe, Apartments & Houses
n/k/a Marty Atkins. Lots & Acreage
THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES
HAVE BEEN ABANDONED AT
VS.
You are summoned to appear 1 Bedrooms 1.75 ACRE LOTS: Good/
COREY HERRING AUTOMOTIVE, DELORES A. ATKINS; JOHN
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$499/mo. Eaton Land,
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2007 FORD FUSION
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VIN# 3FAHP07Z17R246669
the Lowndes County Court loc-
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Merchandise
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SUMMONS
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case of your failure to appear
Lease, Deposit
2012 KIA SOUL and defend a judgment will be & Credit Check
VIN# KNDJT2A52C7356348 THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI entered against you for the
money or other things deman- viceinvestments.com Ads starting at $12
2001 FORD MUSTANG
VIN# 1FAFP40441F110974
TO: John Doe, n/k/a Marty
Atkins
ded in the Complaint or Peti-
tion. 327-8555 General Merchandise Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER

Sudoku
You have been made a Defend- You are not required to file an
Yesterday’s answer
2003 PONTAIC GRAND AM
VIN# 1G2NF52E73C257027 ant in the suit filed in this answer or other pleading but Apts For Rent: Other Roper Dryer, standard size, Sudoku is a number-
Court by J.P. Morgan Mortgage you may do so if you desire. good condition, $200. placing puzzle based on
2006 CHEVY HLT Acquisition Corp., Plaintiff, 662−312−6617. Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis a several
with num- 1 3 9 6 8 4 5 7 2
VIN# 3GNDA23D06S611549 seeking possession of prop- Issued under my hand and the
erty at 106 Westview Lane, seal of said Court, this 8th day ber-placing
given numbers.puzzle
The object 8 2 6 9 7 5 1 4 3

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

IF NOT CLAIMED AND PAID FOR Columbus, MS 39705. Defend- of December, 2020.
Sporting Goods based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 4 5 7 1 2 3 6 9 8
ants other than you are De-
CHARGES, THESE VEHICLES
WILL BE PUT UP FOR PUBLIC lores Atkins and the Unknown Lowndes County Court Clerk grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 3 4 1 2 5 7 8 6 9
Occupants of 106 Westview 502 2nd Avenue ED SANDERS GUNSMITH given numbers. The
SALE ON THE 30TH DAY OF
Columbus, MS 39703 so that each row, each 5 7 8 4 9 6 2 3 1
JANUARY 2021 AT 7:00 A.M. Lane, Columbus, MS 39705. Open for season! object
column is andtoeach
place
3x3 the
box
AT COREY HERRING AUTOMOT- Tue−Fri: 9−5 & Sat: 9−12 6 9 2 3 1 8 7 5 4
IVE, 1230 GARDNER BLVD., You are summoned to appear (Seal) Over 50 years experience! numbers 1 to 9 in
contains the same number
COLUMBUS, MS 39702. and defend against the Com- By: Ann Marie Langford, D.C. Repairs, cleaning, refin− the empty spaces so 2 6 5 8 3 9 4 1 7
plaint or Petition filed against only once. The difficulty
ishing, scopes mounted & that 7 8 3 5 4 1 9 2 6
you in this action at 1:30 PUBLISH: 12/22/20, each row, each
PUBLISH: 1/5, 1/12 & level increases from
zeroed, handmade knives. column
1/19/2021 o'clock P.M. on the 14th day of 12/29/20 & 1/5/21 and each
Located: Hwy 45 Alt, North Monday to Sunday.
9 1 4 7 6 2 3 8 5
January, 2021, before Judge Al-
lison Kizer, in the courtroom of
3x3 box contains
of West Point, turn right on
Difficulty Level 1/04

IN THE COUNTY COURT OF the Lowndes County Court loc- Yokahama Blvd, 8mi & turn the same number only once. The difficulty level
LOWNDES COUNTY
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
ated at 502 2nd Avenue,
Columbus, Mississippi, and in
case of your failure to appear
Employment left on Darracott Rd, will
see sign, 2.5mi ahead
shop on left.
increases from Monday to Sunday.
J.P. MORGAN MORTGAGE AC- and defend a judgment will be
QUISITION CORP., entered against you for the Call us: 662-328-2424 662−494−6218.
PLAINTIFF, money or other things deman-
ded in the Complaint or Peti- Customer Service
VS. tion.
DELORES A. ATKINS; JOHN LOCAL LAW FIRM is seek- Too much
STUFF?
You are not required to file an
ing Receptionist/Secretary.
COLEMAN
DOE N/K/A MARTY ATKINS answer or other pleading but
AND THE UNKNOWN OCCU- you may do so if you desire. Previous experience
PANTS OF 106 Westview Lane. helpful but not necessary.
Columbus, MS 39705 Issued under my hand and the RENTALS
DEFENDANTS.
Computer skills a must. TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
seal of said Court, this 8th day Email resume to:
of December, 2020.
CASE NO. 2020-0045-CV2 job116@cdispatch.com 1 BEDROOM
Please re-submit your re-
SUMMONS
Lowndes County Court Clerk
502 2nd Avenue sume if sent before 12/31 2 BEDROOMS
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
Columbus, MS 39703 3 BEDROOMS
Government
(Seal)
LEASE,
© The Dispatch

TO: Delores A. Atkins By: Ann Marie Langford, D.C.

You have been made a Defend-
ant in the suit filed in this
Court by J.P. Morgan Mortgage
Acquisition Corp., Plaintiff,
seeking possession of prop-
erty at 106 Westview Lane,
Columbus, MS 39705. Defend-
ants other than you are John
Doe, n/k/a Marty Atkins and
the Unknown Occupants of 106
Westview Lane, Columbus, MS
39705.
Town of Millport DEPOSIT
PUBLISH: 12/22/20, Police Officer
12/29/20 & 1/5/21 AND
The Town of Millport has CREDIT CHECK
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF an opening for a police
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
officer. Applications and
job requirements may be 662-329-2323
picked up at the office of
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF LEON EARL HINES,
the Town Clerk located 2411 HWY 45 N
within Millport Town Hall,
DECEASED

You are summoned to appear
and defend against the Com-
plaint or Petition filed against
you in this action at 1:30
o'clock P.M. on the 14th day of
January, 2021, before Judge Al-
lison Kizer, in the courtroom of
the Lowndes County Court loc-
ated at 502 2nd Avenue,
Columbus, Mississippi, and in
case of your failure to appear
CAUSE NO.2020-0098PDE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters of Administration hav-
ing been granted and issued to
the undersigned upon the Es-
tate of Leon Earl Hines, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi on the 17th day of
December, 2020. This is to
920 Black Street, Millport
AL 35576. All completed
applications must be
returned to Town Hall.
Applications are due no
later than January 22,
2021. Call 205-662-4228
if you have any questions.
Rentals
COLUMBUS, MS Start your
Houses For Rent: North de-cluttering by
placing a garage
COLONIAL TOWNHOUSES.
2 & 3 bedroom w/ 2−3
sale ad today!
bath townhouses. $650 to
$750. 662−549−9555.
Ask for Glenn or text.
Ads starting at...
Houses For Rent: Caledonia

and defend a judgment will be
entered against you for the
money or other things deman-
ded in the Complaint or Peti-
tion.
1 day $10
give notice to all persons hav-
ing claims against said estate 3BR/1.5BA, small house
for small family. NO DOGS.
to probate and register same
Ads starting at $25
3 day $18
with the Chancery Clerk of NO HUD. Caledonia School
Lowndes County, Mississippi Dist. 8155 Hwy 12 near
within 90 days from the date of Apts For Rent: North Old Country Store.
the first publication of this no-

6 day $34
You are not required to file an Available 1/5/21. $775/
answer or other pleading but tice. A failure to probate and mo + $775 dep. 662−245
register this claim will forever FOX RUN APARTMENTS
you may do so if you desire. 1 & 2 BR near hospital. −1191 or 662−549−9298.
bar the same.
$595−$645 monthly.
Issued under my hand and the
seal of said Court, this 8th day This the 29th day of December, Military discount, pet area, Mobile Homes for Rent Price includes 4 lines of text;
2020.
of December, 2020. pet friendly, and furnished
corporate apts.
$1/line after base cost.
3BR/2BA MH in New Hope.
Lowndes County Court Clerk /s/ LEE ASHLEY SINGLETON 24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL $650 dep + $650/mo. No ACROSS
502 2nd Avenue LEE ASHLEY SINGLETON, AD-
GYM. ON SITE SECURITY. 1 Slate-colored
Five Questions:
MINISTRATOR pets, quiet area. Leave full
Columbus, MS 39703 ON SITE MAINTENANCE. name & message,
PUBLISH: 1/5, 1/12 & ON SITE MANAGEMENT. 205−712−6697. 5 Disgusting
(Seal) 24−HOUR CAMERA 10 Try to hit
By: Ann marie Langford, D.C. 1/19/21
12 Main artery
1 Alphabet
SURVEILLANCE. Benji &
IN THE COUNTY COURT OF Ashleigh, 662−386−4446. RENT A CAMPER!
PUBLISH: 12/22/20, 13 Person in a
12/29/20 & 1/5/21 LOWNDES COUNTY CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI Utilities & cable included, fashion ad
from $145/wk − $535/mo
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF 15 For each
2 Roy
J.P. MORGAN MORTGAGE AC- Columbus & County School
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS- QUISITION CORP., locations. 662−242−3803 16 Pig’s place
SIPPI PLAINTIFF, or 601−940−1397. 17 Notre Dame’s
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF KEITH WARD PAR-
VS. It’s a classified Lichtenstein Parseghian
18 Become
Real Estate
RISH, DECEASED DELORES A. ATKINS; JOHN
DOE N/K/A MARTY ATKINS rule-of-thumb: sharply attentive
3 Turn off
KAREN MCDANIEL, EXECUTOR AND THE UNKNOWN OCCU-
20 Went out, as
NO.2020-00246-RPF
PANTS OF 106 Westview Lane.
Columbus, MS 39705 We tell readers Ads starting at $25 a fire
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
DEFENDANTS.
what they need electricity 21 Glossy
CASE NO. 2020-0045-CV2 Farms & Timberland 22 Son of Seth
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to SUMMONS to know to buy 23 Hog the DOWN 20 Jeans ma-
4 Yogi Berra mirror 1 Surprised terial
Karen McDaniel, Executor of 203 ACRES
the Estate of Keith Ward Par-
rish, deceased, by the Chan-
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
what they need. PRIME TIMBERLAND
$270,000
25 Horn sound sounds 24 Cake courses
cery Court of Lowndes County, TO: Unknown Occupants Exc deer, turkey hunting 28 Whiskers 2 Turns red, 25 Honchos
Mississippi, on the 21st day of
31 Just perhaps 26 Tooth layer
5 Jerusalem
December, 2020. This is to You have been made a Defend- Good Investment
give notice to all persons hav- ant in the suit filed in this (615)719−8329 32 “Paper Ros- 3 Ignoring ethics 27 Writer Leon-
ing claims against the estate Court by J.P. Morgan Mortgage
es” singer Marie 4 Ox of Asia ard

Service Directory
to Probate and Register same Acquisition Corp., Plaintiff,
with the Chancery Clerk of seeking possession of prop- 34 Sleuth Spade 5 Like venison 29 Horror direc-
Lowndes County, Mississippi, erty at 106 Westview Lane,
within ninety (90) days from the Columbus, MS 39705. Defend-
35 Take wing 6 Aussie hopper tor George
date of first publication of this ants other than you are De- 36 Homer’s 7 Decree 30 Was a noisy
Notice. A failure to so Probate lores Atkins and John Doe,
and Register the claim will n/k/a Marty Atkins.
bartending pal 8 Sound system sleeper
forever bar the same. 37 Firefighters, 9 Leafy courses 33 Office fixtures
THIS the 22nd day of Decem-
Promote your small business starting at only $25
You are summoned to appear
and defend against the Com-
in slang 11 Fragrance 35 Club costs
ber, 2020. plaint or Petition filed against 40 Like Poe tales counter bottle 38 Young one
General
you Services
in this action at 1:30 General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping
Estate of Keith Ward Parrish o'clock P.M. on the 14th day of
41 Spock’s father 14 Mouth of a 39 Faucet
By: Karen McDaniel, Executor January,
A & T2021,TREEbefore Judge Al-
SERVICES WORK WANTED: Licensed TERRA CARE 42 Winter gliders furnace
lison Kizer, in the courtroom
& stump of 43 Seed holders
OF COUNSEL:
Bucket
the Lowndes
truck
removal. Free est. loc-
County Court
& Bonded. Carpentry, minor
electrical, minor plumbing,
LANDSCAPING L.L.C.
Phone: 662−549−1878
19 Energetic
John W. Crowell (MSB 7906) ated at 502 2nd Avenue,
Crowell Gillis & Cooper, PLLC Serving Columbus insulation, painting, demo− Landscaping, Property
Columbus, Mississippi, and in
Post Office Box 1827 case of your failureSenior
since 1987. to appear lition, gutters cleaned, Clean Up, Plant Care,
Columbus, MS 39703 andcitizen
defenddisc. Call Alvin
a judgment will @
be pressure washing, land− Bush Hogging,
PHONE: (662) 243-7308 242−0324/241−4447
entered against you for the scaping, cleanup work. Herbicide Spraying
jcrowell@cgclawpllc.com "We’llorgoother
money out things
on a limb
deman-for 662−242−3608.
ded in the Complaint
you!" or Peti-
PUBLISH: 12/29/20, 1/5/21 tion. Painting & Papering
& 1/12/21 Lawn Care / Landscaping
You are not required to file an QUALITY PAINTING.
answer or other pleading but Ext/Int Painting.
you mayLIST YOUR JESSE & BEVERLY’S
do so if you desire.
Read local.
LAWN SERVICE Sheet Rock Hang, Finish &
BUSINESS HERE! Fall Cleanup, Tree Cutting, Repair. Pressure Washing.
Issued under my hand and the
seal Ads starting
of said at $25
Court, this 8th day Landscaping, Sodding & Free Estimates. Ask for
cdispatch.com ads.cdispatch.com.
of December, 2020. Bush Hogging specials! Larry Webber,
662−356−6525 662−242−4932.
Lowndes County Court Clerk
502 2nd Avenue

Buy. Sell. Discover.

Columbus, MS 39703

(Seal)
By: Ann Marie Langford, D.C.

PUBLISH: 12/22/20,
12/29/20 & 1/5/21

In the Classifieds section.

On the web: ads.cdispatch.com • Or call: 662-328-2424