Jay Lacklen: All purple and fragrant

Of all Mother Nature’s gifts to mankind proffered to apologize for a long and miserable winter, none in Columbus catches my attention as stringently as wisteria.

Editorial: More of the story …

Mayor Robert Smith wants the record set straight.

Roses and thorns 4-11-10

A rose to the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau, Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation, historic home owners and all who have worked to bring the 70th annual Pilgrimage to the city of Columbus.

Betty Stone: Rhyme time versus worse verse

Somewhere along the way of trying to get educated, I think some teacher told me that many, if not most, nursery rhymes of our childhood were actually thinly veiled political comments.

David Creel: Seven words worth remembering

I love these seven words from our memories that are hardly used unless you have been lucky enough to eavesdrop on a conversation between two or three Southern belles from another time. Old in wisdom, but young at heart, these women’s mothers rode in carriages along brick city streets. Listen up, because the words these matriarchs in tweed suits, pearls and arched brows drop are the ones too special to be forgotten.

Pickens County sweeps after winning state title

At the beginning of the basketball season, Pickens County coach Russ Wallace believed his team was a year away from contending for a state championship.

Wallace experienced a tumultuous offseason when he had to kick two starters and three other players off the team, and he didn’t know how his players would respond.

Pickens Academy reaps top honors for title run

Prior to the opening tip of the basketball season, the Pickens Academy Lady Pirates set a goal to win a state championship.

Pickens Academy coach Wade Goodman and senior forward Callie Minor were confident the Lady Patriots could accomplish the feat after making it to the Elite Eight of the state playoffs the previous two years.

Apologizing isn’t enough

Thank you, Charlie Box, for making the motion before the City Council to reprimand Mayor Smith and Councilman Karriem for their embarrassing behavior last week. It is a small step toward reversing the bad publicity our city has received.

Airing ‘dirty laundry’

Re: Steve Mullen’s column, “Pardon our progress …”

As a lifelong resident of Columbus, I took offense to your article where you clearly pointed out some of the biggest flaws of Columbus.

Childhood diet and breast cancer

I was saddened to hear that tennis star Martina Navratilova was diagnosed with breast cancer, but I’m so glad she has an excellent prognosis.

One bridge worth rebuilding

Last week, city, county and state officials gathered at the base of the old Highway 82 bridge, heralding the state Department of Transportation’s $2 million grant to renovate the long-shuttered structure into a pedestrian park.

Belk Spring Charity Sale

Belk’s Charity Sale on May 1 from 6-10 a.m. will once again benefit local charities, schools and nonprofit organizations throughout the company’s 16-state market area, including Mississippi.

Smith, Karriem: Give peace a chance

Six days after their brawl at City Hall, Mayor Robert Smith and Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem shook hands and made up.

Gibson emerges as leader at EMCC

In his first season on the East Mississippi Community College baseball team, Hilton Gibson ranks among the team leaders in hitting and power production.

The freshman first baseman is third with a .376 batting average to go with two home runs and 20 RBIs.

But the production at the plate isn’t Gibson’s greatest contribution to the Lions, according to EMCC coach Tony Montgomery.

The Pope’s apology

Re: Sinead O’Connor’s April 2, 2010, column “The Pope’s Apology” (p. 5A).

“During a frustrating argument with a Roman Catholic Cardinal, Napoleon Bonaparte supposedly burst out ‘Your Eminence are you not aware that I have the power to destroy the Catholic Church?’”

Bad news travels fast

On Saturday, my husband was sitting at a local tire store in Tennessee. While waiting a man and his wife came in off the interstate with tire problems. The man started a conversation about their trip to Columbus. My husband and I are both from Columbus so what were the odds?

Appreciates Robert Smith

It was amazing to get texts and calls in my present location of Northern Virginia about my mayor being arrested for assault. Yes I say my mayor because no matter where I am in this world Columbus is home, that is where my heart and soul reside.

Stranger and stranger

Ah, our local leaders (past and present). Isn’t it bad enough that we have to put up with the childish behavior and antics of Leroy Brooks and the criminal actions of Kamal Karriem and Jim Terry? Now it’s Robert Smith and Kabir Karriem!

Jay lacklen: Saigon

Saigon, the defunct capital of South Vietnam, no longer exists except fondly in the memory of several hundred thousand American soldiers.

David Creel: Carpe diem — and the foundation!

Webster’s Dictionary defines “foundation” as “an institution supported by an endowment or an undergarment worn to shape the contours of the body.” But women near and far know the foundation I speak of will be that flesh-toned cosmetic we just can’t live without. It is used to even out the complexion and, quite frankly, is where all makeup begins.