Dandy dressings: Time to pull out the cookbooks and decide on the dressing

Remembering the Thanksgivings of my childhood conjures warm memories. I can clearly see gleaming china, sparkling crystal, the turkey-shaped gravy bowl and a large cornucopia my mother often used as a centerpiece. It overflowed with artificial apples, oranges and grapes that, to a kid, looked good enough to eat. In fact, I daresay there were some tiny teeth marks on the underside of a couple.

‘Good guys’: Good Sam members give police officers another tool for the job

Rufus Beason eats breakfast almost every morning at Hardee’s in North Columbus with a group of other retired men. One particular morning, Beason saw Columbus Police Department Patrol Officer Canyon Boykin come into the restaurant. He has known Boykin for years; the policeman is a longtime friend of Beason’s grandson.

History and mystery highlight Ghosts and Legends Tour Nov. 8-9

Pam and Hal Bullock have opened the doors of their 1872 house, Griffin Eyrie, for historic home tours before, but those visitors rarely heard of

Hazard Series to conclude with ‘Warfare on the rivers of Mississippi’

To truly understand the American Civil War in any state, one must first understand the rivers and railroads. “Nothing makes sense without them,” said Dr.

Columbus cook is contestant on new Food Network show

Seonkyoung Longest of Columbus is wasting no time in pursuing her culinary passion. After earning an apron as one of the top 40 home cooks out of 40,000 original aspirants on “MasterChef” Season 4, which premiered in May, the 29-year-old military spouse is now one of nine contestants selected for “Restaurant Express,” a new Food Network program hosted by Robert Irvine.

Small boxes, powerful gifts: 30,000 boxes or bust is area goal for Operation Christmas Child’s Collection Week

The gifts are small — a stuffed animal, pencils, a pretty hair clip, bar of soap or tiny model car. But they deliver a powerful message. One that says, “You are not forgotten. Someone cares.” To a little girl in an orphanage in Rwanda, or a boy living in a Peruvian village hut, or in any of more than 100 other underserved countries, the modest gifts can make a difference.

Annual forum showcases antiques, free events and Jackson’s Military Road

Have you ever wondered how Military Road in Columbus got its name? The upcoming Decorative Arts and Preservation Forum and Antiques Show and Sale Oct.

Ulysses S. Grant to visit Columbus Monday for Hazard Lecture Series

A personage from the past will be the featured speaker Monday, Oct. 28 when the 2013 Hazard Lecture Series presents the second of three programs

A Columbus cook has a way with finger foods at Halloween

Whether they’re toppling governments in “World War Z” or peddling cell service and cars in TV commercials, zombies seem to be America’s ghoul du jour. So Linda Jenkins is right in sync this Halloween with her signature zombie finger cookies. The Columbus cook’s family counts on her to bake up a batch every October, as the month wanes toward All Hallows’ Eve.

Changes afoot (ahoof) for Columbus Christmas parade

The Columbus Christmas parade will welcome some new four-footed entries this year. Main Street Columbus Executive Director Barbara Bigelow has announced that a hitch of

Library’s Bateman Building celebrates 40 Monday–and it won’t be the same without you

When Columbus-Lowndes Public Library director Erin Stringer travels in Mississippi library circles, it’s not unusual for her to hear something like: “Oh, Columbus — that’s

Bigger and brighter — Columbus’ new Humane Society shelter hosts open house Oct. 29

Several days ago, Karen Johnwick stepped into the dingy, cramped and cracked building that only a few weeks ago was home to the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society.

“When I walked in I wondered again — how did we work here so long?” the shelter’s executive director said.

Some like it hot: Chilifest ushers in a savory season

What’s not to love about autumn? Lap blankets on game day, hayrides, pumpkins on the porch — and chili. Hot, mild, beef, chicken, sausage, beans, bean-less, vegetarian. However you prefer yours, it’s about time to stock up on ingredients and pull out that big pot.

Bridge grand opening festivities set for Oct. 18

A celebration marking the restoration of the Old Tombigbee River Bridge at the Columbus Riverwalk will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.

It all starts with that first book: One Columbus group is on a mission to make First Book a household name in the battle against illiteracy

A troop of zany aliens is headed to Earth, but not to take over the planet, oh no. They’re just out to steal underwear — from woolly long johns to pink frillies. And what do you call a grandpa who drags his grandson to a monster truck show in the middle of a tornado? Awesome, that’s what.

Overdue? Library offers fine-free weekend

You know the feeling: you’ve got a library book that somehow slipped between the cracks. You’ve had it so long now you’re ashamed to take

Three-part Hazard Lecture Series begins with a look at Gettysburg

The Hazard Lecture Series presented annually in Columbus usually consists of two stimulating programs, but this fall three presentations will explore the War Between the States in a series themed “The Voyage from the Past: The Sesquicentennial of the Civil War.”

The clay lady: Inspired by the living world around her, Sheila Clark just can’t get enough – of making pottery, that is

Sheila Clark is nature’s child, open to textures, shapes and hues that surround her. The bark of a tree, veins in a leaf or the swirl of a mollusk shell may be her muse. Once inspired — and she’s always inspired — her hands recycle the gift, channeling it into pottery pieces, both large and small.

Chart-topping Christian contemporary trio to appear in Columbus

Phillips, Craig and Dean have occupied the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Christian Soft Adult Contemporary chart for eight weeks, as of this writing. With

Fish and Wildlife connects with Palmer Home children

Banks around Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge were filled with young fishing enthusiasts Sept. 28 as 55 children from Palmer Home’s Columbus and Hernando campuses were treated to a day in the great outdoors, thanks to 24 U.S. Fish and Wildlife employees participating in the Advanced Leadership Development Program.