Articles by Mary Pollitz
Columbus home becomes state’s first eScore 10
As bad luck would have it, Jamie Alford’s air conditioner started losing its gumption last summer, and she knew costly repairs were coming soon.
Sixth candidate jumps into Ward 4 race
A sixth candidate has qualified to run in the Aug. 20 special election for Ward 4 councilman.
Business Moves with Mary: Developer purchases downtown building
Gayle Guynup continues to revitalize downtown.
Guynup, a judge from Santa Rosa, California, owns several Columbus commercial properties including the Oddfellows Building on Main Street, the Parker Furniture Complex, the old Depot and the Alford Drugs building.
Abraham focuses Chamber talk on leadership
More than 200 business and community representatives heard a year in review of the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce and a short presentation on leadership and success at the Chamber’s annual luncheon Wednesday at Lion Hills.
Young entrepreneur buys unconventional space for first home
Unconventional. If Hagan Walker is anything, it’s that. And he doesn’t mind it.
The Mississippi State graduate turned down a job at Tesla to start his own drink light company, Glo, in Starkville a few years ago. Now, at 26, he’s purchased his first home — which, incidentally, is an old grocery store built nearly 100 years ago.
Cameras, earlier close time possible at Propst
City officials plan to increase police presence and security at all city facilities in wake of Saturday night’s fatal shooting at Propst Park.
City backs off $109 charge for records of councilman’s bounced check
Columbus city administration on Monday reversed course on a week-long effort to charge The Dispatch $109.18 for records that show a city councilman’s check to rent space in the Trotter Convention Center for his wedding in May bounced.
The one-term, ‘busy’ council: Two surviving 1969-73 Columbus councilmen recall accomplishments, challenges
Every time Frank Griffin walks into the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, he smiles and chill bumps start covering his arms.
Watching children listening to stories, college students researching and patrons using computers, Griffin holds his head high remembering how he and five other Columbus councilmen secured $600,000 in local, state and federal funds by 1973 to build the library that remains a fixture in Lowndes County.
Eminent domain action begins for 12 lots in Burns Bottom
After four years of unsuccessful negotiations with property owners, the Columbus Redevelopment Authority has moved to begin eminent domain action to mandate the sale of 12 properties in the Burns Bottom Redevelopment District.
Business Moves with Mary: Southern Snow Shack opens
Ideally, Ashley Beard would love to see families playing cornhole on a shady afternoon before ordering a snowcone from her counter.
‘No other fighter has done what he’s done’: City to dedicate street ‘Henry Armstrong Way’
Twenty-seven consecutive wins by knockout. Simultaneous world titles in three weight divisions.
The “Henry Armstrong Way” led straight to the top of the professional boxing world in the 1930s. But it started with the legendary boxer’s birth in Columbus and will now be commemorated for posterity on Third Street North downtown.
Ward 4 race swells to five candidates
The special election field to fill the Ward 4 city council vacancy has swelled to five candidates.
New firms have shot at holding hospital trust funds
After more than five years, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors is re-evaluating the investment firms that handle the county’s hospital trust fund.
Steve Wallace becomes CVB board chair
Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau trustee Steve Wallace has traded seats with Dewitt Hicks after board members unanimously voted Wallace board chairman Monday.
Business Moves with Mary: Kicking off Fourth of July with a bang
Forty years ago when Orbit Fireworks first opened in Columbus, Deborah Turman was just 10 years old helping her dad sell bottle rockets and Roman candles and count the profits they stored in an old cigar box.
Fred Jackson resigns from Columbus council
Ward 4 Councilman Fred Jackson has resigned from the Columbus City Council, effective immediately.
State officers to shoot coyotes in north Columbus
Wild coyotes in north Columbus have been named the culprit for some injured and missing pets in the area.
After resistance, CVB director vows to fund county festivals
The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors and the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau appear to finally be on the same page with regard to local festival funding.
‘He’s obviously a fighter’: Former Marine fights paralysis, earns third-degree black belt
With tears swelling in his eyes, Dave Dampier helped martial arts instructor Ken Moore stand from his wheelchair — which he’s been confined to for 10 years — to receive his third-degree black belt in Taekwondo.
Rep. candidates spar over education, tourism funding
Like Jeff Smith or not, he’s the state representative for District 39, at least until January.
The Caledonia Republican made that plain to Columbus Exchange Club members and their guests Thursday at Lion Hills Center, during a candidate forum that included the incumbent and his Republican challenger, local Realtor Dana Underwood McLean.