Articles by Carl Smith
Recusal saves plus-one insurance expansion
Starkville will again allow its employees to place same-sex partners on the city’s insurance plan after the board of aldermen fell one vote shy of overturning Mayor Parker Wiseman’s veto of their action to limit the expansion to only legally married couples Tuesday.
Man stunned after alleged school break-in attempt
Starkville police arrested a local man Sunday after he allegedly damaged public school property and charged at an officer.
Wynn’s vote is crucial in plus-one insurance battle
When aldermen vote tonight whether to override Mayor Parker Wiseman’s veto of a board action that limited Starkville’s plus-one health insurance policy to only legally married spouses, both supporters and detractors of the change will turn their attention to Ward 2 Alderman Lisa Wynn for her decision to either abstain or take a stance on the issue.
ZZ Top concert postponed until April 10
ZZ Top’s Oct. 30 concert is postponed to April 10 due to a hip injury to bassist Dusty Hill, Mississippi State University announced Monday.
Mayor vetoes insurance change, challenge coming
Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman vetoed aldermen’s recent action to limit expanded health insurance coverage to legally married couples, and the four aldermen who pushed for the change are expected to call for an override during Tuesday’s 5:30 p.m. recess meeting at City Hall.
Focus on Parks’ finances increasing into next fiscal year
Starkville Parks Commission Chairman Dan Moreland will get a $60,000 bailout to meet payroll, retirement and bill payments this month, but aldermen expect the autonomous department to pay the money back and balance its revenue shortfalls with increased sports participation fees next year.
Starkville police arrest alleged pot dealer
A Starkville narcotics investigation yielded one arrest Tuesday after numerous complaints of drug dealing were filed with the police department.
Aug. insurance letter acknowledged ‘domestic partnership’ coverage
An August report delivered to Starkville and provided in the city’s e-packet before Sept. 2’s meeting clearly identifies “domestic partnerships” as a beneficiary to an expanded plus-one insurance package that the board first unanimously approved earlier this month and then rescinded Tuesday.
Starkville revokes same-sex insurance
Starkville aldermen specifically removed same-sex partners from the city’s new plus-one insurance coverage Tuesday after an hour-long public comment session that yielded support of the move from the city’s religious base and sharp criticism from those who self-identified as members of Starkville’s LGBT community.
Oktibbeha supes approve cost of living adjustment
While their city counterparts are struggling to find money for pay raises and bailout struggling departments, Oktibbeha County supervisors approved an across-the-board, 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment for its employees Monday without increasing the county’s operational tax levy.
Starkville aldermen preparing $60K Parks bailout
Starkville aldermen are expected to approve a $60,000 loan to Starkville Parks Commission today so the group, which ran out of money for September’s payroll and public retirement payments, can get above water before the end of the fiscal year.
Plus-one insurance policy again up for discussion
Fresh off the heels of a closed-door session last week on Starkville’s new plus-one insurance policy, aldermen again will take up the matter during their 5:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting.
Overall county millage rate increasing .91 mills for school needs
Oktibbeha County supervisors on Monday are expected to approve an overall 111.88-mill governmental and school ad valorem tax rate, which is almost a mill increase from the current levy.
Starkville guarding detailed FY 2014-2015 budget
Starkville employees asked The Dispatch and a Starkville resident to file Freedom of Information Act requests Thursday for its upcoming Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget, an act that could shield the intricacies of the city’s guiding financial document from public inspection before Tuesday’s board of aldermen meeting.
Starkville Parks’ finances reaches ‘critical’ situation
Starkville Parks Commission leader Dan Moreland is making a last-minute call for additional Fiscal Year 2014-2015 funding after sending a letter to aldermen stating his autonomous city department is forecasted almost $57,000 short for September and operated at an estimated $10,000 monthly loss for at least a portion of the current fiscal year.
City insurance policy survives challenge
Starkville’s new plus-one insurance policy survived a board challenge Tuesday, but not before residents hammered aldermen for perceived transparency issues and the proposed change’s potential impact to same-sex partners.
Public memorial for Cristil Thursday
Mississippi State University will host a public memorial 6 p.m. Thursday at Humphrey Coliseum for longtime “Voice of the Bulldogs” Jack Cristil, who died Sunday.
Alleged Club Rock shooter arrested in Memphis
U.S. Marshals on Thursday arrested a Starkville man in Memphis that allegedly participated in March’s Club Rock shooting.
Wiseman: New employee insurance tiers will help all city workers
After Starkville aldermen unanimously approved a change in employee’s insurance options Tuesday, officials downplayed an unauthorized press release by Human Rights Campaign that applauded the city for extending coverage to workers’ LGBT partners, instead saying the new, tiered-rate packages provide cost-saving options for all employees, rather than a specific group.
Little tests water with minimum design standards
Ward 3 Alderman David Little’s attempt to set basic design standards for metal buildings in Starkville could find traction in future discussions after few public comments against the proposal emerged Tuesday.
Bulldogs announce 2025-25 men’s golf schedule
July 24, 2025
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