Tennessee Williams Tribute opens ‘Streetcar’ rehearsal to seniors, students

Preparations are well underway for the Tennessee Williams Tribute and Tour of Victorian Homes Sept. 7-13 in Columbus.

Joseph St. John: National Night Out on Tuesday

Burglaries, larceny, robberies, violent crime – we read about it every day. Our media is full of the images and sounds of society ills. It is the lead story daily. It has often been said, “If it bleeds, it leads.” Crime is always on the top of everyone’s concerns and is often the topic of community debate.

Maroon Edition volunteer project expands with real ‘Painted House’

STARKVILLE — The Maroon Edition First-Year Reading Experience at Mississippi State University is joining with Starkville Habitat for Humanity to add a service learning component to the new program.

Excitement building for StarShine Aug. 7-8

Excitement about the Starkville Area Arts Council’s StarShine is building. With a cooking demonstration, local celebrity chef cook-offs, and one of the South’s top chefs, Robert St. John, the event is sure to deliver delicious results.

Swim Columbus, Shockwave swim teams come away with awards

CLEVELAND — Members of Swim Columbus and the Shockwave swimming teams delivered solid performances last weekend at the 2009 MSI Long Course State Championships at Delta State University.

White wins Heart O’ Dixie; Earnest throws gem

PHILADELPHIA — Starkville’s Kelly White was the top female finisher Saturday at the 30th annual Heart o’ Dixie triathlon.

White, 30, finished the half-mile swim, the 27.5-mile run, and the seven-mile run in a time of 2 hours, 16 minutes and 55 seconds.

Her finish was just one of many from area participants.

MUW combines programs, names new dean for School of Professional Studies

Dr. William “Bill” Mayfield has joined Mississippi University for Women as dean of the School of Professional Studies. This comes as a result of combining the College of Business and Legal Studies and Culinary Arts Institute.

Little Artesia to hold fourth annual Artesia Day

Next weekend, Artesia will have another chance to prove its motto, “The small town that does big things.”

The fourth annual Artesia Day festival will take place on Main Street in downtown Artesia Friday through Sunday. Admission will be free.

Burttram to represent Lowndes County at state Junior Miss

Rachel Burttram, of Columbus, the daughter of Dawn and Tim Burttram, leaves today for Meridian to participate in Mississippi’s Junior Miss scholarship program.

PAWS project educates future animal owners

MISSISSIPPI STATE — Mississippi State University veterinary students are not satisfied learning about animals themselves; they want to lay the educational foundation for future pet owners, as well.

Carol Littlejohn: Lucky

Does it seem to you, as it does to me, that more and more friends are leaving this earth? Two people that were long time friends of mine died this past two weeks and I find myself, yet again, thinking, “I cannot believe they are gone.” Gen Colvin Bennett and Carl Jaynes were not the closest friends I have, but they shared some of my days, some long ago and some recent. It seems that “puff” and they were gone.

3,000-pound sculpture delights MC Law School audience

JACKSON — Sam Gore’s newest masterpiece attracted art patrons, legal scholars, students and scores of other admirers of his craft to the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson.

New book of essays on Faulkner probes global themes

OXFORD — A new book on the writing of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner offers a new angle to explore the Mississippi native’s work.

Columbus 7-year-olds win South State title

GRENADA –– Prior to playing in the Dizzy Dean 7-year-old South State Invitational, the Columbus All-Stars paid special attention to hitting in practice.

It paid dividends as Columbus didn’t lose a game en route to winning the tournament.

Columbus averaged 23.3 runs per game in beating Batesville 25-9 on Friday, Grenada 25-10 on Saturday, and Starkville 20-12, and Grenada 23-8 on Sunday.

Polk, Palmeiro inducted into College Baseball Hall of Fame

LUBBOCK, Texas — New inductees from the fourth class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame expressed gratitude Friday for long careers and for the people who helped them achieve college baseball’s highest honor.

The Class, which included former Mississippi State coach Ron Polk and former Mississippi State outfielder Rafael Palmeiro, brought the Hall’s membership to 44.

In addition to Polk and Palmeiro, the group includes outfielder Joe Carter and pitcher/designated hitter Darren Dreifort (Wichita State), pitcher Kirk Dressendorfer and catcher/utility Keith Moreland (Texas), shortstop Barry Larkin, Michigan; and second baseman Todd Walker (LSU).

Columbus Nationals win South State Tournament opener

WINONA –– The Columbus Nationals won their opening two games Thursday in the Dizzy Dean 12-year-old South State Tournament.

The Nationals beat West Point 14-7 and Ackerman 12-1 to advance to Saturday.

The Nationals, coached by Marty Stillman, had seven hits against West Point and eight against Ackerman.

Diversified dining: Unique dishes, tableside cooking and mariachi bands

Eating out in Columbus and Starkville is less and less about wolfing down Southern staples.

Three recently established restaurants in the cities offer food or experiences that may be new to people.

Robbie Coblentz: Requiem for a Camp

Dan Camp has served this city as a community developer, a member of the Starkville School District Board of Education and, most recently, mayor.

Kosciusko earns berth in World Series championship game

During the 2008 Dizzy Dean High School World Series, Kosciusko finished one win shy of reaching the championship game by losing to New Hope in the semifinals.

But on Sunday night, Kosciusko had what it took to make it to this year’s championship game by beating Holmes County, of Bonifay, Fla., 16-6 in six innings at New Hope High School’s Trojan Field.

It was the second year in a row for Kosciusko to eliminate Holmes County from the World Series.

Big innings do in New Hope in two losses

New Hope was sitting pretty with a 7-0 lead going into the fourth inning against Ridgeland on Saturday night in game three of the Dizzy Dean High School World Series.

But Ridgeland rallied with 16 runs the next two innings to beat New Hope 16-10.

Ridgeland scored 12 runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by three home runs.