Articles by Scott Colom
My take: Thanks for reading
I knew it was time to stop writing a weekly column when writing one about stopping became easier to write. Over the last year or so, writing this column has been a significant part of my life. It’s pushed me to think about Columbus. It’s encouraged me to meet new people and allowed me to share my thoughts with strangers. It’s also kept me up late many a Tuesday night.
My take: From the Delta to D.C.
Kenyon King’s life defies expectations. The day his mother, Tangenika King, dropped out of high school to get a diploma in motherhood, she had likely never heard of American University.
My take: St. John reappears as political gadfly
I’ll admit it. When I first heard St. John was starting a newspaper, I was skeptical.
Scott Colom: Death of charter school bill leaves lingering questions
Today’s death of the bill to authorize more charter schools in Mississippi means opponents of charter schools may win this year’s battle. But, to win the war over education, these opponents must offer a plan to improve public schools in Mississippi. If not, it’s only a matter of time before a charter school will be in a school district near them.
Scott Colom: Experiencing MSMS
I grew up hearing about the MS School for Mathematics and Science but I never really got the chance to experience it.
Scott Colom: Society’s focus should be on improving parenting
Ever since I read about the legislative bills to require welfare recipients to be drug tested and do community service, I’ve been asking myself why people associate public assistance with laziness and drug use.
Scott Colom: A high speed investment for the future
There is often much talk about how the government can support entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Scott Colom: Help paint the town
As a city planner, Christina Berry knows the importance of keeping up appearances. Since her appointment late last year, Christina has been busy putting together a strategic long term plan for the city. In the meantime, though, she’s also been thinking about easy ways to keep Columbus beautiful.
Scott Colom: Recent political appointments plus for Lowndes
When Calisolar announced its intention to open a plant in Columbus, people from across the state might have thought: what, them again? Envy is one of the byproducts of success, and when it comes to big industrial projects no other part of the state has been more successful in recent years than Lowndes County.
Scott Colom: The epidemic of absent fathers
This time every year, the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday invokes memories of King’s “I have a dream” speech. King’s description of an integrated America, one where we are all judged “by the content of our character rather than the color of our skin,” beautifully explains why people were willing to put so much effort and energy into the civil rights movement.
Scott Colom: Reflections on 2001 class reunion
Growing up, class reunions appeared to be a big deal. People would plan them for months; people would travel great distances to attend, and everyone would dress up and reflect on high school. It almost seemed like a school dance for adults.
Scott Colom: Advice for Chief McQueen
After being robbed last week, I went through the five stages of grief. First, I was too shocked to believe it. As I stared at the spot where my TV usually hung and the place where my X-Box 360 usually rested, I kept expecting the items to reappear.
Scott Colom: Omnova sale bad sign for unions
Trying to find a union in Mississippi is a lot like trying to find an animal on the endangered species list; the more time passes the harder they are to locate. And, with the recent news that Omnova Solutions Inc. sold its manufacturing operations and plans to cease manufacturing at its Columbus plant, unions may have inadvertently made it more difficult to remove themselves from the endangered list.
Scott Colom: A children’s museum
During a recent conversation with a friend about the Columbus Visitors’ Bureau, an idea for a new project for the CVB came to us. The discussion started because we, like many, have been surprised by the numerous controversies surrounding the CVB this year.
Scott Colom: CMSD’s next superintendent
The departure of Dr. Del Phillips prompted me to think about the obstacles waiting for the next superintendent. First, he or she must overcome the shadow of Dr. Phillips, a man who left with high approval ratings and a state of the art middle school as a monument to his success.
The future of the MS Democratic Party
The Democrat Party’s historical defeat in Tuesday’s election was a long time coming. It started in 1964 when Sen. Barry Goldwater became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Mississippi since Reconstruction. Then, in 1978, Senator Thad Cochran became the first Republican elected statewide in over a century. It took another 13 years for Kirk Fordice to become the first Republican elected Governor.
Scott Colom: Mississippi should adopt early voting
This Tuesday I witnessed the best evidence for early voting.