Articles by Slim Smith
GTRA: International travel slow to return after lifted restrictions
When the United States lifted international travel restrictions, effective Nov. 8, it was good news for the Golden Triangle Regional Airport.
Scott Colom recommended for federal judge seat
Scott Colom has been recommended as judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi.
With parking lots built, horse park ready for first big event
Since 2017, travelers along Highway 82 between Columbus and Mayhew could note the progress of one of Lowndes County’s biggest capital improvement projects.
Slimantics: In a town this size, Mosby was a giant
Ray Mosby, who until Tuesday was editor and publisher of The Deer Creek Pilot in the little Delta town of Rolling Fork, often began his columns with a verse of poetry, song lyrics or a familiar quotation.
With bikes unavailable, group looks for new way to help kids at Christmas
For the past 10 years, Rhonda Sanders has led a law enforcement initiative to provide bicycles for needy children each Christmas.
Downtown First Baptist property under contract
When First Baptist Church of Columbus broke ground on its new campus on Bluecutt Road in 2009, one of the biggest challenges was selling its downtown property, a site covering two-thirds of a city block the church has occupied for almost two centuries.
Slimantics: Abby’s kind of holiday
When you lose a child, there is a period of time when he or she is transformed into something of a mythic figure — the good qualities magnified, flaws diminished to the point of irrelevance.
A once small hayride, haunted house event in Steens now draws visitors from all over North Mississippi
About 15 years ago — no one can quite remember the exact year — the Sudduth family put together its own hayride and haunted house on family property in Steens.
$50M FedEx Ground facility being built in Lowndes
It isn’t the biggest development to ever come to Lowndes County, but Wednesday’s announcement that a new FedEx Ground facility is underway at the Golden Triangle Industrial Park off Highway 82 is something of an outlier in one respect, Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins said.
Paving delays accrue penalties for contractors
A standard part of capital improvement projects include penalties for not completing work on schedule.
FORGE career expo returns Wednesday
As a young teen, Anne Marie Chilcutt never gave much thought about staying in the family business, a building supply company that had been in her family for four generations.
That began to change when she was in high school and worked as a volunteer during a Habitat for Humanity build.
Slimantics: Stalin was right
By the end of the week, Mississippi will likely reach a grim milestone: 10,000 COVID-19 deaths since the first Mississippian, a Hancock County man, died of the virus on March 19, 2020.
Slimantics: Louisville sawmill challenges perception about wages
Long ago, someone explained the difference between white collar and blue collar workers. If you take your shower before going to work, you’re a white collar worker. If you take your shower after you get home from work, you’re a blue collar worker.
Taylor leaving Communiversity for statewide role
As a part of the search committee charged with finding a director for East Mississippi’s $42 million Communiversity in 2019, Macaulay Whitaker recognized almost immediately that Courtney Taylor was just the person for the job.
Preparation for Haunted House underway at Fairgrounds
Rhonda Sanders’ enthusiasm for Halloween is hard to match.
Coloms encourage more rehabilitation, restoration in justice system
One is a district attorney. The other is a retired judge.
But on a fall day 20 years ago, one was just a student at Millsaps College and the other just a mom helping her son move into his apartment.
Slimantics: Emotion clouds reason on forensic audit debate
On Tuesday night, by a vote of 4-2, the Columbus City Council voted not to hire a forensic auditor to examine the city’s finances.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: COVID-19 creates ‘mammogram hesitancy’
Even under normal circumstances, many women delay or skip the annual mammograms the American Cancer Society recommends.
Former Vibrant church intern sues for sexual harassment
A Lowndes County woman has filed suit against Vibrant Church of Columbus, members of its leadership, an umbrella corporation the church operates under and 25 other yet-to-be-identified defendants on five counts, including discrimination/sexual harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. It seeks actual, compensatory, pain/suffering and punitive damages as determined through a jury trial.
Young professionals group turns toward service
In 2019, John Almond was building beds in Columbus, Dickie Bryan was opening up a recovery home for addicted or homeless men in West Point and Evie Vidrine was joining the Columbus Young Professionals.
Group distributes 528 backpacks, school supplies at Lock and Dam
July 13, 2025
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