Articles by Dispatch Editorial Board
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.
Our View: Starkville errs in putting too many ARPA eggs in one basket
Since President Biden signed the American Recovery Rescue Plan (ARPA) into law in March, a program that pumps millions of dollars directly to cities and counties throughout the country, local governments have been pondering how to use those funds most effectively.
Roses and thorns 9-19-21
A rose to our “Best of the Triangle” award winners, which are featured in a special section available in our print edition and our online
Our view: Further city-county collaborations could benefit citizens
Two local governments approved annual budgets Wednesday, and the contrast could not be more stark.
Our View: County’s handling of Longview Road project is inexcusable
The stretch of road that connects Highway 12 and Highway 25 in Oktibbeha County is named Longview Road.
Our View: Budget oversight signals need for more attention to detail, but city transparency should be commended
On Monday, Columbus City Council discovered what it thought would be a $550,00 surplus in its proposed FY 2022 budget was instead a $1 million deficit.
Roses and thorns 9/12/21
A rose in remembrance of 9/11 and the days that followed the tragic events of the day. Twenty years ago today America woke — if
Our View: Getting debt plan in place is first step to better finances
If you’ve ever consulted a financial advisor to sort out your finances, you know that the first thing that expert will likely do is look at your debt — particularly credit card debt.
Roses and thorns 9-5-21
A rose to Nancy Guerry, who stepped down as executive director of Helping Hands after 32 years, and to her successor Jennifer Garrard, for whom
Our View: Feeding hospital staff is a great way to show appreciation
COVID-19 has been a part of our lives for more than 18 months now. By this point, virtually everyone knows someone — a family member, friend co-worker, neighbor — who has died from contracting the virus. Beyond that, the virus has altered some of the daily rhythms of life. We are not back to “normal,” and we don’t know when that day will come.
Our View: Higgins’ board resignation signals Communiversity concerns
Long before the phrase “workforce training” became a mantra of every candidate for statewide office, Joe Max Higgins was sounding the alarm about Mississippi’s shortage of skilled manufacturing workers.
Roses and thorns: 8/29/21
A rose to the Facebook group “Friends of Lake Lowndes” for their efforts to clean up and beautify the state park in the eastern part
