A rose to organizer Annie Barry, the Community Action Center in Columbus and all those who made donations or volunteered during this year’s annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, which provided holiday meals with all the trimming for the less fortunate residents of our community. For three weeks prior to Thanksgiving, residents dropped off turkeys as donations, which were cooked over a three-day period prior to the holiday. On Thanksgiving morning, some 200 volunteers took time off from their own holiday to help arrange and distribute the meals to about 1,700 residents. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting way to express thankfulness than by sharing with others.
A thorn to the players from Mississippi State and Ole Miss, whose lack of restraint marred an otherwise spirited rivalry Egg Bowl game on Thanksgiving evening in Oxford. At the end of the third quarter and, again after the game had ended, players from both teams traded blows and briefly brawled, again casting the rivalry and the universities the players represent in a poor light. While Mississippi State dominated the game on the field, winning 35-3, the focus unfortunately shifted from the field to the sidelines as tempers flared and players from both teams failed to maintain their composure. It was a black eye for all involved. We applaud the passion players from both teams display in the game. But those passions must be confined to the field of play. Anything beyond that discredits the wonderful old rivalry.
A rose to all those who will serve as a volunteer bell-ringer or adopt a child as part of The Salvation Army’s two biggest annual projects. This year, the Columbus Salvation Army hopes to raise $80,000 from its annual Red Kettle campaign while Starkville’s Salvation Army has set a goal of $56,000. The success in meeting those goals relies not only on the charity of those who drop money into the kettles, but by volunteers who man the kettles. Meanwhile, more than 200 children will benefit from the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program in the two cities. Each year, the names of children who are in need are placed on an “angel” decoration on the trees. Participants take the name of the child and provide Christmas gifts tailored to each child’s wishes. Both programs help make sure that the good work of the Salvation Army continues on Christmas and throughout the year. We encourage you to volunteer or donate to these programs.
A rose to all those who will continue to perform their civic duty by turning out to vote in Tuesday’s runoff elections. After an excellent turnout during the Nov. 6 general election, we hope that voters will be encouraged to turn out yet again during the runoffs, which will decide who represents the state in a U.S. Senate race and, depending on where you live, who will serve in the important role of chancery judge. We encourage all registered voters to take the time to vote. See you at the polls!
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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