Our View: Student performance will be ultimate measure of year-round school

One of the best arguments for modified school calendars, commonly referred to as “year-round school,” is that it allows teachers to work with struggling students during both the fall and spring.

Roses and thorns: 8-21-22

A rose to the arrival of high school football. Friday, area private schools began their seasons, getting a one-week headstart on our public school teams.

Our View: Police chief hiring committee members bring relevant experience

In July, when Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin announced a search committee would be formed to identify qualified candidates for city police chief, we admit we were a little skeptical.

Our view: For Baby Boomers, $30 trillion deserves a plan

It is an immutable fact: All generations pass away.

Most leave something behind – memories, certainly, but also traditions and culture and family relics.

Roses and thorns: 8-14-22

A rose to Dennis Dupree Sr., who has come out of retirement to serve as interim Superintendent of Schools for the Columbus Municipal School District.

Our view: Proposed tax increase won’t cover full wish list of city raises

As Columbus mayor Keith Gaskin and city council begin work on putting together the 2023 budget, we are reminded of a line from the movie, “All About Eve.”

Our view: In times of great uncertainty, grace is needed

We are barely into the 2020s and can’t help but note the irony of the numerology of the decade: “20/20” is used to describe clear

Our view: Labat’s resignation is a blow to Columbus schools

Here we go again.

On Tuesday, Cherie Labat resigned as the Columbus Municipal School District superintendent of schools, which means the district will be looking for its sixth superintendent in 11 years. Edna McGill filled the position on an interim basis in 2014.

Our view: Taxpayers are the real losers in dispute between county and school district

For three years now, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors and Lowndes County School District Board of Trustees have been engaged in a bare knuckles fight over school district funding.

Roses and thorns: 8-7-22

A rose to all of our students, teachers, staff and parents as the 2022-23 school year begins. The Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District was the

Our View: CRA appointment is key for the city

As a routine part of its regular meetings, the Columbus City Council is updated on pending openings on the city’s various boards as they arise. Although every city-appointed board serves a role in our city, some positions stand to have a larger impact than others.

Roses and thorns: 7-31-22

A rose to Mississippi State graduate student Eric Anderson, whose invention will be of great use in the fields of archeology and anthropology. Anderson’s invention,

Our View: New opportunities to share base news

Today marks the end of an era at Columbus Air Force Base. When today’s edition of Silver Wings, a newspaper devoted to those who work and train at the base, rolled off The Dispatch’s press around 7 A.M. today, it marked the publication’s last regular print edition (a special print edition will be published as part of CAFB’s annual anniversary celebration in September).

Our View: Free legal clinics a valuable resource for low-income individuals

Our nation’s legal system, despite its flaws and failures, remains the best in the world, but our courts are conducted in a language with which ordinary people are not familiar.

Our View: South Fifth Street transforms

When the Princess Theater closed in the spring of 2020 emotions were no doubt mixed.

Roses and thorns: 7-24-22

A rose to West Point Police Department Ramirez Ivy for his role in solving a case involving a savage rape and attempted murder of a

Our View: Police chief hire should favor qualifications over everything else

Tuesday, the Columbus city council took a first and important step in the process of hiring a new police chief to replace Fred Shelton, whose retirement after five years as chief goes into effect on Aug. 15.

Roses and thorns: 7-17-22

A rose to Golden Triangle Regional Airport for securing an $11.3-million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration, money it will use

Our View: Steel mill continues to be catalyst for economic growth

When you think of steel, you probably think of Pittsburgh.

Our View: CPR should be a skill we all learn

July 4th could have ended in tragedy for Frank Elam and his family.