Shawn Parker: Thanks for help with shoebox mission

I would like to express appreciation to our mayor, city council, and city department heads and employees for helping last Monday with the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection effort. First Baptist Church serves as a Collection Center for this ministry and received over 18,500 shoeboxes this year from the surrounding region.

Marty Wiseman: Can the Democrats recover by 2012?

The implications of the 2010 mid-term elections are still evolving. What has become clear at this juncture is that there is more at stake in the 2012 Presidential elections than we have witnessed in several generations.

Rob Hardy: Punch

I am a strict and fervent teetotaler, so I might be the wrong person to review “Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl” (Perigee) by David Wondrich.

Rob Hardy: ‘Just My Type’

You are looking at it right now, and if it is doing its job, you don’t even notice it. It might represent a creation that has taken centuries to come to its current state of perfection, or it might be something that a dedicated specialist worked on for years and brought out a decade ago. It represents artistry directed within a circumscribed realm.

Betty Stone: Count your basic blessings

Thanksgiving. It is that special time of year when, since the early days of this nation, people have given thanks for the harvests that would feed them through the non-productive winter months. Of course, it was not official until Sara Hale, editor of “Godey’s Ladies Book,” persuaded President Abraham Lincoln to declare and designate a national Thanksgiving Day.

David Creel: Lightening up the ‘tween’ years?

A current conversation beginning in carpool lines and spilling over into fifth-grade homework time is less about long division and more about hair color. Yes, it’s true, young ladies are living in the shadows of highlighted older sisters, moms and grandmothers, so naturally the topic comes up.

Cameron Triplett: Entitlements

There are many “third-rail/sacred cows” in politics.

Roses and Thorns 11-28-10

West Point High School football team, the holiday spirit, Leslie Frazier, Black Friday shoppers.

Our view: Turkey, not texting, on Thanksgiving

Say “Thanksgiving” and the traditional Norman Rockwell painting comes to mind, with the family gathered in anticipation around a bountiful table as Dad prepares to carve the turkey. Others may think of the first Thanksgiving, with English settlers and American Indians coming together to break bread.

Harry Freeman: A rare moment

I’ve been going to Mississippi State football games for over 50 years. During that time I have not ever experienced anything as moving as Ms. Linda Bell, the mother of Nick Bell, going onto the field this past weekend during the pregame tribute to her son and ringing her cowbell after the “moment of silence” in memory of Nick.

Shannon Bardwell: Wishing for chickens

Lenora, my Prairie neighbor, asked if I could take care of their animals while she and her family ventured north in search of respite. I quickly agreed, only to find out this meant feeding horses, cats, a dog, rabbits and chickens.

Cameron Triplett Sr.: Two things …

It is extremely immature for someone to go berserk and fight arrest to the point that he has to be tased and sprayed multiple times. It is not a sign of “toughness” but stupidity. And people wonder why some wind up in jail more often than others.

Stephanie Ward: Supports Porter

The simple fact that Lee Coleman has spent eight times as much as Nebra Porter campaigning yet only lead the Nov. 2 election by 8.4 percent of the vote speaks volumes for how experienced Coleman is as a politician.

Aberdeen rallies to hand Belmont first defeat

Belmont arrived in Aberdeen for Friday’s Mississippi High School Activities Association’s Class 3A quarterfinal matchup with a perfect 12-0 mark, a record crafted on the Cardinals’ mastery of three phases of the game — scoring defense, rushing and their ability to play mistake-free football.

Vicky Hill: Supports Coleman

Supports Coleman

To Lowndes Countians: Thanks so much for your overwhelming support and vote for Lee Coleman for Circuit Court Judge Place 3 in the Nov. 2 election. As Lee’s campaign manager, I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting and talking with so many of you during this campaign.

I again ask for your support and vote for Lee Coleman on Tuesday, Nov. 23 in the run-off election. Lee will fulfill this position as judge with the honor, dignity, and trust that you, the citizens, deserve and expect.

Vote for Lee Coleman Circuit Court Judge on Tuesday, Nov. 23.

Vicki Hill

New Hope

Mark Duncan: A way to save money ignored

At the previous Starkville Board of Alderman meeting, a proposal was presented by Ward 3 Alderman Eric Parker to simply investigate the possible cost savings for the city by moving from the current method of garbage collection using the black trash bags to a wheeled bin. His preliminary research discovered there is the possibility of $600,000 in cost savings by making this move.

A.K. Rosenhan: Unhappy about parade fee

The GSDP (Greater Starkville Development Partnership) is organizing the Starkville Christmas parade. They are charging $25/entry. As the GSDP is a tax supported organization (with some interesting pay rates) and most, if not all, parade participants are charitable groups, churches, government reps, the question is why is there is a charge? What does it cost to organize a parade? Especially with personnel who are already being paid….again, by tax monies. It can’t be a big project to organize a Christmas parade. And I would think a volunteer organization, service club, or some group would do it for free.

Merry Christmas!

A.K. Rosenhan

Starkville

Roses and thorns 11/21/10

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A bounty of charity this Thanksgiving

Local school kids are out today for the Thanksgiving break. Families are either making plans to travel, or stocking up for visitors, or preparing for a quiet celebration of the holidays at home. Now is also the time that many of us are also looking, in earnest, beyond our own needs.

This Thanksgiving, thank a teacher

If Lowndes County’s teachers were to emit a warm glow, the Mississippi University for Women campus would have been bright as the sun Wednesday afternoon.