An example of how The W enriches

As the Alumnae of MUW come together to defend The W, we are given a beautiful example of the importance of the university to the community in the work of Professor Al Holen. (”MUW, Arts Council join in exhibits”).

Ware leads way for EMCC men’s basketball team

CoCo Ware has high aspirations for the East Mississippi Community College men’s basketball team.

The EMCC sophomore believes the Lions have the potential to have a season to remember.

“If we keep playing the way we’re playing we will win the state and we will win the region and advance to the national tournament and compete for the national championship,” Ware said.

Rob Hardy: Googled

It might be that right now, a couple of guys in a garage are coming up with the next big thing, an item of software or hardware that is going to change our way of doing things or looking at the world. This is just what Bill Gates, head of Microsoft, used to say he worried about. And then it happened. Maybe leaders at Google now worry about the same sort of thing. After all, Sergey Brin and Larry Page were just a couple of young nerds tinkering with a new idea for a search engine in 1998, and now everyone knows what Google is and many people use it in some fashion everyday.

Rob Hardy: The good life in Newport

There is no city in America that has so extraordinary a history as Newport, R.I. This is chiefly due to its being a destination for visits, first by well-heeled New Yorkers and Southerners in the 1850s, and then most famously by the rich society swells who installed showplace mansions especially along the magnificent rugged coastline, and then by tourists who come to see the mansions. The mansions (erected by rich people who enjoyed the ironic humor of calling them “cottages”) and the society within them are not the whole Newport story, but any social history of the city is going to concentrate on them.

CAFB training crash ruled pilot error

A July crash of a Columbus Air Force Base training aircraft near Mantee, which left the pilot with minor injuries, has been ruled pilot error, the Air Force said today.

Biloxi man dies in Monroe accident

A 29-year-old Biloxi man is dead after a Monday crash on Highway 45 Alternate in Monroe County, county Coroner Alan Gurley reports.

City schools accept bid on junior high kitchen

School officials accepted a bid Monday for almost $1 million in kitchen and cafeteria renovations and site improvement at Armstrong Middle School, nearly bringing to a close the projects funded districtwide by a $26.5 million bond issue, approved by voters in 2007.

Incidents at school prompt uniform policy

Starkville school officials intend for their students to wear uniforms in class next year as part of stepped up safety efforts, but the policy change came on a split decision.

MSU fall recycling a ‘success;’ next steps begin

Mississippi State officials are report that more than 75,000 pounds of material were collected during the university’s fall recycling trial program.

Hush money for Joe Johnson

Good grief. What is the city thinking?

Joe Johnson, the man who would be police chief, but who has been passed over three times, is starting the new decade with a tidy handout courtesy of Columbus taxpayers.

MUW supporters head to Capitol today

The Friends of The W today are hosting a meet-and-greet with legislators, from 3-5 p.m. at the Capitol and a reception at the Old Capitol Inn from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Administrator sues Lowndes schools for reverse discrimination

The case of a white administrator suing the Lowndes County School District for racial discrimination is scheduled to be heard by a jury in U.S. District Court, Feb. 8.

Religion, happiness and education levels

Guest editorials the Natchez Democrat and the Biloxi Sun Herald citing the latest Pew Forum results, pats us on the back for our top position as religious believers along with our elevated status as some of the happiest people in the country. Noting that we seem to fall into last place and flounder in so many other categories, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a correlation in the findings and, if so, the reason.

Roses and thorns 1-10-10

Columbus City Council;The Friends of The W and Junior Auxiliary of Columbus

Shannon Bardwell: Technology run amuck

Sharon knew her husband was cheating. She lined up four friends with cell phones along a likely route. As the husband left the marital abode the first friend followed and alerted the other friends along the way. The husband led the posse right to the front door of his love nest. Photographs were taken, proof garnered — divorce, a done deal.

Holiday season sees fewer violent crimes, burglaries

As 2009 came to a close, Columbus Police Department Chief Joseph St. John said his department dealt mostly with accidents during the holiday season.

Waide: Settlement officially reached in Johnson suit

A settlement has officially been reached between the Columbus City Council and Columbus Police Department Assistant Chief Joe Johnson regarding his racial discrimination lawsuit against the city, according to Johnson’s lawyer, Jim Waide.

Court dates, bond set for two charged in shooting

Bond and preliminary court dates have been set for two West Point men charged in a December shooting.

Tired of waiting in doctors’ offices

What is it with the Doctor’s offices here in Columbus? My question is, “Why do I spend so much of my life in your waiting rooms?” Our lives are important too, some of us have deadlines and other appointments to attend.

Mr. Brooks goes to Washington

In the “From Our Web Site” column In the Jan. 5 Commercial Dispatch, there is a “Supervisor angles for money for rural parks – 1/2/2010” article from “Walter.” Walter touts all the many strengths of Mr. Brooks and how he “single-handedly” battles against all others for his constituents; etc, etc, etc, etc, and oh well, let’s do another etc.