Classes begin at new Columbus Middle School

Cinderella is finally at the ball — Cinderella being more than 900 middle-schoolers, and the ball being a $19.1 million state-of-the-art school.

MONDAY PROFILE: Meet downtown Columbus’ big cheeses

If you call, the voice on the other end of the phone may answer, “Cheese shop.” But a trip to Le Gourmet offers much more than exotic and gourmet cheeses.

Area schools adjust calendars for snow days

Area school children may have gotten an unexpected break due to snow and ice this year, but they’ll have to make them up. And area districts already are deciding where to add the extra days.

New Hope soccer field renovations in the works

Lowndes County School District’s board of education is moving forward on the potential renovation of the New Hope soccer field. The field’s bleachers are deteriorating from age.

Post office mural raises questions of racial sensitivity

It was 1939. Beulah Bettersworth of New York was in Columbus, taking in the scenery, for inspiration for her next work of art.

People touring new Columbus Middle School impressed with details

Community members visiting Columbus Middle School for the first time, Wednesday, described the new facility with one word: Wow.

‘No comparison:’ teachers marvel at new Columbus Middle School

Close your eyes and visualize a middle school anywhere in Mississippi. Chances are, you are not imagining dance, art and broadcast studios, a food court that looks like it should be in an airport or mall rather than a school, and a library with an atmosphere rivaling Barnes and Noble.

Middle school tours on for Wednesday, Thursday

It’s been a busy weekend for Columbus Middle School. And those planning to participate in open houses on Wednesday and Thursday won’t be disappointed, said Alma Turner, Columbus Municipal School District board president.

Relay for Life kicks off campaign Tuesday

Organizers are hoping for sunshine and blue skies as they plan for this year’s Relay for Life. Last year’s Columbus event was called off early due to rain.

Columbus Middle School construction comes down to wire

Construction crews were still wrapping up work on the new Columbus Middle School just 10 days before the 155,000-square-foot facility admits students, but the building’s contractor said Friday it will be move-in ready.

Eurocopter rings in new year with new contract

EADS North America started the new year with a contract to build 12 more UH-72A light utility “Lakota” helicopters for the U.S. Army at Columbus’ American Eurocopter plant.

Ridgeland man dies in car wreck

STARKVILLE — A Ridgeland man is dead after a Monday afternoon wreck on Highway 25 near Starkville.

For half century, Dispatch’s McDaniel always delivered

At 12:30 p.m., a lonely white Geo Tracker is parked at the Friendly City Mini-Warehouses storage units off Highway 45 North, near The Grill restaurant. Sitting atop the small SUV is a round amber-colored light, poised for its mission.

Annie McDaniel is always the first newspaper carrier waiting at the dropoff location.On Dec. 31, McDaniel will deliver her last Dispatch newspapers.

A passion for the past: Lee, Hunt alums work to preserve school artifacts

Filing cabinets and boxes line the walls of a 20-by-15-foot room, fondly named “the vault.” Stacks of paperwork also make their home in the room at Brandon Central Services. Off to the side, sits a heavy wooden chest. And tucked inside the 4-foot-tall box are class composites, dating from the ’20s to 1992, when the last class of Generals graduated from Lee High School.

Hunt student remembered as people person

It was a sad way to begin the holiday break for teachers, students and staff at Hunt Intermediate School. Thursday, they got the news a student at the school passed away the day before. Twelve-year-old Traveres R. Malone Jr. died at the University Medical Center in Jackson, Thursday morning; he needed a heart transplant.

Columbus schools raise $80K for United Way

Columbus Municipal School District is the largest contributor to the United Way of Lowndes County. And each year, the district outdoes itself.

Pilot program rewards teachers’ successes

Do incentives like increased pay make for more effective teachers? That’s the question the state of Mississippi wants to answer by 2015. And Columbus Municipal School District is one of eight districts in the state chosen to pilot a teacher-incentives program.

New Columbus Middle School opening delayed

The new Columbus Middle School is on schedule for completion before students return from Christmas break. But the state-of-the art, technology-savvy building won’t open for business until Jan. 19, after the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.

Fighting spirit: Columbus 12-year-old battles bone cancer

On Nov. 9, the world changed for 12-year-old Jeffrey Amos. He was diagnosed with bone cancer. Tired but still cheerful, Jeffrey sat in his room at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and reminisced about school.

Community reaches out to feed its own

In 2009, across America, 17.4 million households — nearly 15 percent of the country — weren’t sure where their next meal would come from.