Roses to the Columbus City Council for supporting an outright ban on texting while driving. Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens proposed the ban, which City Attorney Jeff Turnage is researching to present a draft.
In 2009, the state passed a law banning drivers under the age of 18 from text messaging while driving. The city is considering an ordinance that would ban drivers of all ages from the hazardous practice.
Roses to organizers of the Seventh Avenue Heritage Festival and the Sam Hairston celebration. Heritage Festival organizers already have lined up big names Dru Hill, Bobby Blue Bland, K-Ci & JoJo and the Jackson State marching band. Entertainment committee members for the Sam Hairston celebration hope to bring Percy Sledge and Dan Penn, as well as Bland to the Friendly City. With such big-name acts, the festivals are bound for success. The Seventh Avenue fest continues to grow and outdo itself. This year the event is scheduled for the last weekend of September. The October Sam Hairston fest also is gaining momentum and is expected to draw many members of the Hairston family — including Major Leaguers still in the game today.
A rose to local architect Bryan Brown, who offered his services free of charge to design a new Lowndes County animal shelter.
The Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society is raising money to build a new shelter. They have outgrown the current facilities off Airline Road.
Brown is the lead architect for the new Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau building behind the Tennessee Williams Home on the corner of College Street and Third Avenue South.
A thorn to Starkville”s curfew task force for opposing a juvenile curfew. All but one member of the task force is opposed to the proposed curfew. The group plans to make a recommendation against it to the Board of Aldermen. A curfew makes sense, especially during summer months when juvenile crime spikes. It”s something to be seriously considered. Columbus has a curfew, which police enforce seriously. And it offers parents a second way to enforce their own curfews.
A rose to the Starkville School District for its Go Play initiative. Through a grant, a very special playground is being constructed at The Hill — the Ward Stewart Henderson complex. The playground is made to promote problem solving and team building while also offering the elementary students a chance to get in some exercise. The grant footing part of the bill for the Confidence Course also requires the district to put in some sweat equity and teachers to be heavily involved in the project.
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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