Starkville’s Pilot club to install kids’ music trail

Thanks to efforts by the Starkville Pilot Club, children visiting McKee Park on Lynn Lane will soon be hearing — and making — the sounds of music.

Table Talk tackles organic farming

Scott Enlow, USDA certified organic farmer and owner of Black Creek Farms, is the June 22 speaker at the Friends of the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library and Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market Table Talk series.

Art ‘in little’ exhibit to visit Columbus library

The Miniature Artists of America’s traveling exhibition of miniature art will be on display at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library July 1 through Aug. 31.

‘Voice of the Bulldogs’ Jack Cristil to be honored Monday

The public ceremony officially dedicating a portion of U.S. Highway 82 in honor of legendary Mississippi State sports announcer Jack Cristil takes place Monday on the university campus.

Marriages and divorces 6-16-11

May 9-June 13

Economic Development: Link has $3B worth of prospects

The Columbus-Lowndes Development Link is wooing more than $3 billion worth of economic development projects that could translate into 4,000 jobs. Link CEO Joe Higgins made the announcement at the agency’s quarterly luncheon, held Wednesday at East Mississippi Community College’s Mayhew campus.

Crawford receives grant to rebuild homes

CRAWFORD — The town of Crawford recently was awarded a $293,350 grant to rebuild four homes along Lodge and Flower streets.

Signs to honor state’s notables

JACKSON — Mississippi highways are peppered with signs honoring sports figures, civil rights figures, military heroes and law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, among others.

More will come this year. The 2011 Legislature authorized 21 signs to be erected along Mississippi roads to honor individuals or groups.

Murphy leaves LSU to return to Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama Director of Athletics Mal Moore announced Sunday afternoon that softball coach Patrick Murphy has returned to the school as head coach after leaving Thursday to take the job as head softball coach at LSU.

Murphy contacted LSU officials Sunday to let them know he had decided not to accept the job, and Moore accepted Murphy’s request to return to Alabama when the coach contacted him Sunday.

Umi’s steakhouse coming to Columbus

Umi’s Japanese Steakhouse has signed a lease with Castle Properties to open a restaurant in Windchase Center in Columbus.

Camp Rising Sun: ‘Just a regular summer camp’ and so much more

Saturday was water fun day at the week-long Camp Rising Sun based out of Camp Henry Pratt. Kids were running, laughing and playing on a slip and slide, a dunking booth, and the camp had brought in an inflatable water slide, where there was a 10-person line waiting all afternoon.

Generals forever: Lee Class of ’46 holds 65th reunion

The S.D. Lee High School Class of 1946 held its first reunion in 1976, 30 years after graduation. It was determined at that time to meet every five years, and we did, until the last one at Lake Norris in 2001.

JA of Columbus garners regional recognition

Junior Auxiliary of Columbus has been recognized across the Southern region as a leader in community service.

MUW student and Columbus High student meet for cultural exchange

When Sarah Harmon, a 17-year-old honor student at Columbus High School, leaves for a foreign mission trip to India and Nepal later this month, she will be equipped with some valuable information.

Table Talk serves up the buzz on bees

The Friends of the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library and Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market present Birney Imes, avid amateur beekeeper and editor/publisher of The Commercial Dispatch, as the featured speaker at the June 15 Table Talk series.

Slice of Life: A look behind the counter at Starkville’s Shep’s Cleaners

“In by 8, out by 4,” is the motto of Shep’s Cleaners on Highway 12 in Starkville. The calling card of any good dry-cleaning business, quick and efficient service remains the focus at Shep’s, even as the summer presses on and ushers in more three-digit temperatures.

Business Briefcase 6-8-11

Cadence Bank makes new appointments, Citizens National names new executives

Tune in to HGTV Friday for local slant

Friday’s episode of “Hometown Renovations” on the Home and Garden Television cable network will have a decidedly local flavor.

West Point converts police cruisers to propane auto gas

The city of West Point announced Wednesday they will convert eight 2009 Ford Crown Victoria police cruisers for the use of propane auto gas.

Lightning hits Miss. military base; 77 to hospital

CAMP SHELBY — Two Air Force Reserve cadets were taken to a hospital by ambulance and 75 others by bus after a lightning strike Wednesday at a southern Mississippi military training base, a spokeswoman said.