Articles by Dispatch Editorial Board
Our View: Sale of First Baptist building is encouraging for city
When First Baptist Church decided to relocate to a site on Bluecutt Road more than 15 years ago, we wondered what would become of the downtown property it vacated.
Roses and thorns: 10-31-21
A black rose on this Halloween day to all those who celebrate America’s quirkiest holiday. Halloween arrived in the United States in the mid-1800s, brought
Our View: Declining numbers not a reason to slack on vaccinations
The worst of COVID-19 may be behind us. After an enormous spike in cases and deaths in August as a result of the delta variant, cases and deaths are declining throughout the country.
Roses and thorns: 10/25/21
A rose to Starkville and the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors for joining an incentive program that may help bring new businesses to the county.
Our View: There are other possible uses for Propst Park
During its meeting Tuesday, the Columbus City Council discussed efforts to renovate Propst Park, something city leaders have been talking about for the last two decades.
Our View: CMSD certification program could lead to better teacher retention, student performance
You see it often on decorative signs, usually in kitchens: “Happy Wife, Happy Life.”
Roses and thorns: 10-17-21
A rose to Columbus Ward 3 councilman Rusty Greene whose idea to hold work sessions prior to council meetings may go a long way in
Our View: Work sessions may be answer to city’s communications crisis
It has been a brutal week in city government in Columbus.
Our View: Taylor set the standard for workforce education
Under normal circumstances, the departure of a community college administrator who served only two years would be little-noted.
Roses and thorns 10/10/21
A rose to the Starkville Police Department for its efforts to coordinate its surveillance camera with those of private citizens and businesses. Such camera systems
Our view: A treasure of nostalgia
In the summer of 1972, the management of Sears decided to bury a time capsule at the location of its new store as part of its grand opening celebration. Citizens were invited to add momentos to the time capsule before it was deposited into the ground in the parking lot outside the Sears store at Leigh Mall to be unearthed on Columbus’ bicentennial in 2021.
Our view: Mayor will need coalitions to move policies forward
During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin planned for the city council and the public to hear presentations from a pair of forensic auditing firms, take two weeks to digest the information and then ask the city council to approve proceeding with the audit at their next meeting on Oct. 19.
Our View: In Mississippi, half of us are ALICE
It’s probably not a common term, but just about everybody in our community and state knows ALICE.
Roses and thorns: 10-3-21
A rose to the Columbus Municipal School District for its selection into the League of Innovative Schools, a national coalition of forward-thinking K-12 school districts
Our view: Number of EMCC board applicants is encouraging
Too often, when local governments seek to fill board appointments it becomes a matter of beating the bushes to find a competent person to fill those positions. While some boards have a limited scope and naturally attract only a few applicants, there are many boards whose importance should warrant a deep and talented pool of applicants.
Our view: Reinventing young professionals group a productive move
Tonight at Courtyard by Marriott, the Columbus Young Professionals will hold a meeting to discuss its rebrand.
Our view: Medical marijuana as a distraction
One of the best things about the attention medical marijuana is commanding these days is diverting attention from another issue that emerged when the Mississippi Supreme Court struck down the Constitutional Amendment passed by a 3-1 margin in November.
Roses and thorns for 9/26/21
A rose to the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District for using a grant to help students hear instructors more clearly through audio enhancement electronics, an innovative
Our View: City is right to hold off on ARPA fund decisions
During its Tuesday meeting, the Columbus City Council earmarked $1.3 million of its $5.6 in American Recovery Plan Act allocation to provide one-time $5,000 stipends to city employees.
