Articles by Carmen K. Sisson
McConnell can’t resist the call of the kids
Two years ago, Dr. Germain McConnell was enjoying life with his family in Oxford, his ambition focused on a deanship at the University of Mississippi, where he had served as assistant dean since 2003.
Mastectomy: Radical or sensible?
When actress Angelina Jolie recently revealed she had undergone a preventative double mastectomy, it was a very personal decision that sparked a very public debate.
Veteran says Vietnam taught invaluable lessons
Turner Jackson was 21 when he left Columbus, headed for the jungles of Vietnam. As a young black man, the first lesson he had to learn was trust.
First annual Veterans Memorial Walk/Run to be held Sunday
Every Memorial Day, Drs. Richard and Judie Holmes commemorate the life of their son, a United States Army veteran who paid the ultimate price for his time in uniform.
EMCC’s renovation at Lion Hills nears completion
The transformation is complete, with only a few minor details left in what has been a whirlwind $279,000 renovation of East Mississippi Community College’s latest crown jewel — Lion Hills Golf Club, formerly Columbus Country Club.
Palmer Home to open own school in fall
For more than a century, Palmer Home for Children has provided safety, shelter and love for children in need. Now, the Columbus facility is adding a new facet to its services — a library and school for the 90 children who call the 110-acre campus their home.
Brock chosen to direct United Way of Lowndes County
This year’s United Way of Lowndes County pacesetters may want to get a running start before trying to keep up with their new leader.
Caledonia candidates focus on annexation, traffic
As the Town of Caledonia grows, elected officials will face new challenges: maintaining that growth, providing the infrastructure to support it and coping with the less positive consequences.
Cracker Barrel pulls plug on Columbus plans
A local Realtor who was brokering a deal to bring Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant to Columbus said Monday that negotiations are off and, to his knowledge, the popular food chain has decided not to build a store in the area at this time.
Volunteers determined to preserve church as a link to generations of worshipers
Most of the time, the little country church stands vacant, but Sunday morning, its double doors were thrown wide, welcoming visitors with the same genial charm it has exuded for more than a century.
Calling all classes: Caledonia High’s celebration spans the generations
Mother’s Day weekend is typically a time for families to come together, and one of Caledonia’s largest families will kick the weekend off early tonight, gathering in Caledonia High School’s cafeteria/auditorium for an event that has become one of the town’s most cherished traditions.
Rain insurance no help to Market Street Festival
Country music singer Eddie Rabbitt might have loved a rainy night, but organizers of last weekend’s 17th annual Market Street Festival could have lived with a little less of the wet stuff — or a little more, depending on your point of view.
Town of Caledonia names first park director
After months of discussion, the board selected Rural Hill resident Allan Glenn from a pool of six applicants for the $25,000 per year position, which offers state benefits and health insurance. His first day on the job was May 1.
Parents need savvy approach to social media and kids
Two weeks ago, the Dow Jones industrial average plummeted more than 128 points within seconds. The reason? The Associated Press had sent a message to nearly 2 million followers on its Twitter account, stating that two explosions had rocked the White House, injuring President Barack Obama.
Robinson cruises into mayor’s office
West Point mayoral candidate Robbie Robinson intended to watch the municipal election returns Tuesday night with his supporters at Anthony’s Good Food Market, but when the numbers started rolling in, he headed back to the Civic Center, where a large crowd gathered to wait for the results.
A barbed wire halo: Morton was Noxubee County’s unconventional angel
Death did not ride in with a thundering of horses’ hooves on a cloud of gun smoke, though no doubt Heaven is a bit more lively since Macedonia native Bessie Morton’s arrival April 27.
Optimism abounds at West Point voters go to polls
By Tuesday night, West Point will have a new mayor, and at least three of the five selectmen races will be decided. Republicans failed to field a single candidate, and only Wards 3 and 5 face the possibility of a runoff.
Replica ships weigh anchor in city until Monday
The work is hard but the life is enviable. They wake to greet the dawn and fall asleep by the light of the stars. They have seen Nicaragua, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal. They are assured three meals a day and the adventure of a lifetime.
Rookie named district’s top trooper
Josh Jarvis grew up watching his father, retired Mississippi Highway Patrol Captain Bill Jarvis, don the blue and gray each day, and it made him proud. He always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, and in December 2011, he took his first step — graduating from the MHP cadet class and joining the motorcycle unit in September 2012.
Organizers say National Prayer event much needed after recent tragedies
On a postcard-perfect, blue-sky Monday, two bombs rocked downtown Boston, ripping through the fabric of Americans’ collective conscious and staining the sidewalks red. But instead of tearing the country apart, many say it drew them closer together — a nation brought to its knees, not by violence but by faith.