Community Profile: Sonny Cole has seen it all

Sonny Cole didn’t volunteer to be a member of the New Hope booster club. Rather, he was enlisted.

Slimantics: Fate of our hospital system rests in three men’s hands

November’s general elections will be upon us sooner than we think, so it’s never a bad time to brush up on Mississippi Civics, something that is only briefly touched upon in public schools these days.

Swedenburg’s business is a ‘sod’ story

When Roger Swedenburg opened his sod business near Reform, Alabama, in 1990, he left little doubt as to what he expected the company’s future to look like.

Slimantics: Fitch is fighting the bad fight

Mississippi has made great progress when it comes to civil rights. White politicians in our state generally agree on this.

Slimantics: Sorry, ‘Oppenheimer,’ but ‘Barbie’ is the bomb at the box office

On July 23, Tess and I decided to see a movie and like millions of Americans there were two obvious choices.

In Memoriam: Gildea’s passion for the arts was her gift to the community

It’s fair to say Columbus wasn’t ready for the last of Trudy Gildea’s kids to get out of school.

Slimantics: Back to school: ‘Both siding’ slavery, Jim Crow

Beginning this week, millions of American children will be headed back to school to resume their studies of the Three Rs (readin’, ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic).

Community Profile: Retired lawyer Bill Threadgill, age 100, believes activity is key to longevity

People in Columbus come and go, Bill Threadgill being a notable exception.

Slimantics: Odd political ad choices from the Governor

At this time three years ago, cities and counties in Mississippi were busy fashioning their own COVID-19 policies, waiting for Governor Tate Reeves to issue a state-wide order.

Slimantics: Peace after a 52 year debt is paid

I turned 10 years old in the summer of 1969, a year like no other in terms of all the incredible things that happened over the course of that single 12-month period.

Slimantics: Citizens’ Council still alive in spirit

Tuesday marked an important, if painful, anniversary in Mississippi.

Slimantics: Pleading The Fifth…of July

Today is generally agreed to be the day after American colonists declared independence from Great Britain, and I’m wondering what folks, especially those who signed the Declaration of Independence, were thinking a day later.

Slimantics: Groomed to hate

Hugh is a queer.

That was the word that circulated through the school playground and among the kids at our church, which Hugh also attended.

Slimantics: A spider’s web and Juneteenth

For the past month, I’ve been watching a spider construct a web on our front porch.

Slimantics: Trump indictment ain’t built on air

My dad was opposed to gambling on moral grounds, but on practical grounds as well.

Slimantics: Ifs, ands or butts?

I think we’re all a bit unnerved by the frequency of shootings we’ve seen in the Golden Triangle recently.

Slimantics: Vote for your favorite waitress this November

A few months ago, my health insurance company insisted that I have a thorough check-up, perhaps on account of my age.

‘We certainly need more people like Billy Ray’

If there was one word to describe Billy Ray Adams, it was tough.
Given his circumstances, he had to be.

Slimantics: The truth about Southern summers

The passing of Memorial Day has come to be accepted as the beginning of summer, although officially the season does not arrive until the summer solstice on June 21.

Slimantics: Raid stirs pool hall memories

When I was growing up, my dad worked for the Tupelo Water and Light Department and sometimes had to work a 4-hour shift as a dispatcher on Saturday.