Articles by Dispatch Editorial Board
Our View: Much to like in Lowndes County’s ARPA plan
It has been a year since Congress passed the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, providing $1.9 trillion to states, counties and cities throughout the country.
Roses and thorns 3-13-22
A rose to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School. District Board of Trustees for its efforts to inform and solicit feedback from the public during its search
Our view: Spears’ financial skills make him the obvious choice for CMSD Board
Columbus Municipal School District has its challenges, some of which have stubbornly persisted over a long period of time. But there is one area that CMSD has proven to be an unqualified success over the past 10 years, a period that coincides with Jason Spears’ membership on the CMSD Board of Trustees: finances.
Our View: Spirit of cooperation benefits both county and city
There was a day, not that long ago, when what George Irby proposed at the Monday Lowndes County Board of Supervisors’ meeting would have been an exercise in futility.
Roses and thorns: 3-6-22
A rose to the New Hope boys, Columbus girls and Noxubee County girls basketball teams, each of which fell just short of a state championship
Our View: Mayor, put out the fire, assign blame later
When firefighters respond to the scene of a burning house, they don’t first huddle together to determine what caused the fire or who is responsible. No, the first order of business is to put out the fire. There will be time enough to address the whys and whos later.
Our View: A locally-based way to help Ukraine
In times of tragedy, there is a natural instinct to help.
Roses and thorns: 2-27-22
A rose to alderman Hamp Beatty for his tireless work in advocating for recycling in Starkville. When curbside recycling in the city was abandoned due
Our View: CMSD town halls offer opportunity to engage with school leaders
Communication is key to any healthy relationship.
Our View: Cut taxes lead to cut services
On Monday, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing where they will discuss asking the state legislature to sell the 6,000-acre Black Prairie Wildlife Management Area off Fire Tower Road near Crawford.
Our View: A temptation the city should avoid
The city of Columbus has been awarded a $1 million MDOT grant to improve pedestrian access along Fifth Street North, roughly between the Magnolia Bowl and Highway 82. One hitch: The city must complete its overdue 2020 audit before it can accept the funds.
Roses and thorns: 2-20-22
A rose to Mike Hainsey, who announced his retirement Friday after 19 years as executive director of the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. It will be
Our View: Loaves and fishes or birds and bushes?
In December, the city of Columbus hired Waggoner Engineering to help develop plans for spending its $5.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Roses and thorns: 2-13-22
A rose to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office which has enlisted the public’s help in tracking down fugitives through its “Feature Fugitive of the Month”
Our View: On medical marijuana, TVA isn’t ‘pulling the plug on anyone’
When Gov. Tate Reeves signed Senate Bill 2095 into law, making Mississippi the 37th state to sanction medical cannabis, entrepreneurs both large and small throughout the state began implementing plans that, in some cases, they have been developing for years.
Our View: Citizen apathy may be the biggest Propst Park challenge
Monday evening, the city of Columbus held a public meeting at Trotter Convention Center to discuss survey results for Propst Park and provide a draft plan for the park based on those results.
Roses and thorns: 2-6-22
A rose to Berkley Hudson for his tireless quest to preserve and champion the photographic legacy of O.N. Pruitt. Hudson’s efforts (which have spanned decades)
Our View: Hiring with urgency but not out of desperation
It’s been six months or more since the departure of the Chief Operation Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Information Technology Director for the city of Columbus and two months since the application deadline for those positions.
Our View: Town marshal idea is just the latest result of a mayor who doesn’t listen
Bad ideas come and go, generally with no harm done.
