A rose to officers with the Columbus Police Department and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, whose cooperative efforts may have prevented a tragedy on Tuesday in north Columbus. The incident began Tuesday afternoon when a suspect fired shots during a traffic stop, then fled the scene. Working together, the CPD and LCSD quickly cornered the two suspects in a house and the sheriff’s departments Special Response Team breached the home around 5:30 p.m. and arrested the suspects. The quick response and coordinated effort of the two law enforcement agencies undoubtedly produced the best possible outcome. The arrests were made and no one was injured.
A rose to First United Methodist Church’s “Backpack Buddies” program, which provides weekend meals to schoolchildren who might otherwise not have meals when school is out on Saturdays and Sundays. FUMC began to program three years ago, feeding 35 students, but has been able to expand the program to 130 K-12 students thanks to the contributions of other groups, including the local Girl Scouts, Starkville Church of Christ, Knights of Columbus, Starkville Junior Auxiliary and donations from various groups. More than 200 people volunteer for the program. No child should ever go hungry. “Backpack Buddies” is committed to fighting that possibility in Starkville.
A rose to the Columbus Cultural Heritage Festival, which held its Decorative Arts and Preservation Forum and Antiques Show and Sale in downtown Columbus this weekend. This year’s event was titled, “Coming For to Carry Me Home: 19th Century Mourning Customs.” The forum brings together leading historians, authors, floral designers, educators and antiques dealers to celebrate the arts and rich culture and heritage of Columbus and the South.
A rose to Oktibbeha County District 5 Supervisor Joe Williams who is proposing the county expand its plans for the Blackjack Road project from the planned three-lane expansion to four lanes. With the continued development of the area and its proximity to the Mississippi State campus, it is wise to address the future demands now rather than risk the area becoming a traffic nightmare a few years from now.
While four-laning the road is more expensive, it will be worth the additional funds. It is far cheaper to bite the bullet on those costs now than adding a future lane somewhere down the road.
There is no reason to expect that a four-lane Blackjack Road would ever be considered unnecessary. Future residents will certainly applaud the proposal, if supervisors approve it.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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