Articles by Dispatch Editorial Board
Our View: 1964’s Freedom Summer, ignored by this paper at the time, is a story worth preserving
In 2006, Peter Norall returned to Columbus for the first time in 42 years to look for whatever traces of his first visit could be found. There weren’t many to speak of.
Roses and Thorns: 5-4-24
A rose to organizers, volunteers, vendors and visitors of the 28th Market Street Festival. The festival, which includes more than 200 arts, crafts and food
Our View: Release of school bond details a victory for district, citizens, newspaper
Two weeks before Columbus voters go to the polls to determine the fate of a $36 million bond issue for repairs and improvements in the Columbus Municipal School District, citizens finally have the information they need to make an informed decision.
Our View: Public deserves details on $36M CMSD bond
On May 14, the Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees and Superintendent Stanley Ellis will ask voters to approve a $36 million bond to add, improve and renovate facilities in the district.
Roses and thorns: 4-27-24
A rose to Henry Matuszak and other members of a new nonprofit that will honor the sports legends of Lowndes County. Matuszak, a former long-term
Our View: Is spring cleaning for hazardous waste? This weekend it is.
It may be tradition or, perhaps, that burst of energy you feel when spring weather arrives. Whatever the motivation, spring cleaning has become part of
Roses and thorns: 4-20-24
A rose to the hundreds of residents who turned out Tuesday for the official opening of the BankFirst Yards Sportsplex in west Lowndes County. The
Our View: Attendance policies are healthy for boards and their members
It’s fair to say that most towns and cities rely on volunteers to meet the needs of their citizens, mainly by serving on boards and commissions.
Our View: Historic places are chances to share a shared history
It seems self-evident today, but the most interesting aspect of the 181-year-old Friendship Cemetery is not the headstones and grave markers but what lies beneath them.
Roses and Thorns: 4-13-24
A rose to Chuck Yarborough and his history students at Mississippi School for Math and Science for another outstanding production of Tales From The Crypt.
Our View: Is third time the charm for OCH sale?
Noted mathematicians and historian Morris Kline once observed that the most fertile source of insight is hindsight.
Our View: Verdict shows feds were reckless with J5 men’s reputations, livelihoods
On Friday, Columbus business partners Jabari Edwards and Antwann Richardson were acquitted on all federal charges connected to alleged misuse of federal pandemic funds.
Roses and thorns: 4-6-24
A rose to Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Stanley Ellis for his efforts in making the case for a $36 million bond that will go
Our View: Clear-cut Trotter rental policy is a good move
Like crabgrass in the spring, the issue of free use of the Trotter Center keeps popping up.
Our View: Thanks to the county, annexation will be a fair fight
On Monday, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to provide up to $50,000 to secure an attorney to oppose annexation by the city of Columbus.
Roses and Thorns: 3-30-24
A rose to Starkville Strong which is implementing a new feeding program that collects unused food served at various luncheons to feed the hungry. Almost
Our View: When is the right time to have a tornado plan? Now.
This week, Consumer Affairs released its annual report on tornadoes using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which has been tracking tornadoes in the United States since 1950.
Roses and Thorns: 3-23-24
A rose to the community group New Hope Strong, for organizing and staging this weekend’s inaugural New Hope Festival. The event kicked off Friday with
Our View: Of the two school funding bills, INSPIRE Act may do it better
Each year, some of the most closely-watched legislation presented in the Mississippi Legislature involves funding for K-12 public education. For supporters of public schools, these
Our View: Now is not the time for apathy
The old phrase, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” is often used to describe a something-for-nothing attitude. But when applied to the health of a community, it is used as a reminder that the benefits we derive from being a part of a community carries with it obligations, and the quality of our community often relies on how well we meet those obligations.