What are you thankful for?

It’s been a difficult year for millions of Americans — a pandemic that has infected 12 million Americans and killed a quarter-million, ugly incidents of racial injustice, and a bitterly contested presidential election. Yet today, Americans pause for a moment to recognize our blessings and good fortune and express our hopes for the future on this Thanksgiving Day. We asked Golden Triangle residents what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Long-term care facilities ‘making best’ of Thanksgiving

Even as she talks about plans for this year’s Thanksgiving preparations, there’s a wistful tone in Judy Otts’ voice.

On Thursday, the 47 residents of Carrington Nursing Center in Starkville will still enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal and some will have visits from relatives. The common areas will still be decorated for the holiday.

From Confederates to Cavaliers

Caledonia’s new mascot is the Cavaliers, but there was nothing cavalier about the process used to select it.

Slimantics: Food for thought on Thanksgiving

On Nov. 26,1621, the settlers of Plymouth Colony and members of the Wampanoag Indian Tribe met to celebrate the first Thanksgiving, or so the story goes.

Area hospitals brace for increase in COVID cases

The surge in COVID-19 cases that is sweeping the state may finally be arriving in the Golden Triangle, administrators from hospitals in Columbus, Starkville and West Point acknowledge.

Slimantics: The Governor’s $3-million re-education camp plan

Gov. Tate Reeves used Monday’s Coronavirus briefing to unveil his legislative budget plan for 2021.

I don’t blame him. Given his handling of the pandemic, I’d want to give folks something else to talk about, too.

Columbus volunteers ask for donations to cook, deliver Thanksgiving meals to those in need

When Sherry Ellis left Georgia to return to her hometown of Columbus two years ago, she threw herself into community service.

“I grew up in Columbus and always was involved in community service,” Elllis said. “I always had a heart for it. So when I came back home, I wanted to do anything I could for the community.”

Rural health study prepares to recruit Oktibbeha residents

For most of the 20th Century, experts hailed the health benefits of country living. Fresh air, less-crowded living conditions and homegrown food sources were lauded as a preferable alternative to urban living.

Slimantics: Asking the better question

When it became clear that Joe Biden would become the next President of the United States, I found myself spending the better part of the weekend pondering two questions posed long ago and about 20 years apart.

Former Caledonia water manager charged with embezzlement

The former manager of the Caledonia Water Department has been arrested for embezzlement, the State Auditor’s Office announced Monday.

CMSD unveils new Falcon logo

For 15 years, the image of a purple falcon in flight has been a ubiquitous presence throughout the Columbus Municipal School District, adorning everything from letterheads to signage to sports uniforms.

4-County announces nominal rate cut for members

When Grey Land heard the news that 4-County Electric Power Association would be reducing its rates for the next 12 months, he didn’t immediately start making his retirement plans.

He kept on bush-hogging.

Circuit clerks laud successful election despite pandemic, record turnout

Oktibbeha County Circuit Clerk Tony Rook and Clay County Circuit Clerk Kim Brown Hood didn’t have a frame of reference by which to compare Tuesday’s presidential election, but both were amazed by its scale.

Slimantics: A vote for the future honors the past

By the time you read this, you may have already voted in this year’s election. If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?

Supes grant incentives for possible $60M solar farm

For the second time in nine months, Lowndes County supervisors have tentatively approved a fee-in-lieu of taxes (FILOT) agreement with a solar power provider.

MDAH approves permit to relocate Confederate monument

Efforts to relocate the Confederate monument which has stood on the grounds of the Lowndes County courthouse to a site at Friendship Cemetery cleared its last procedural hurdle on Friday.

West Point resident’s ‘warrior spirit’ tackles breast cancer three times

In her role as regional community development manager for the American Cancer Society, Jennifer James has detected something in the breast cancer survivors she works with that is hard to quantify, but always present.

“Cancer is a scary thing,” James said. “But I think what it does, for all the bad and negative things that are part of it, is brings something up from within you, a spirit that says, ‘I’m going to whip this.’ It’s a warrior spirit. They all have it.”

Among the women James works with, there is no greater warrior than Josetta Jefferson.

A different kind of Halloween: COVID fears likely to mean fewer trick-or-treaters, parties

All dressed up and no place to go.

Welcome to Halloween 2020.

Slimantics: Will medical marijuana go up in smoke?

It is almost comical the lengths Mississippi’s establishment has gone to make sure Mississippi does not have a medical marijuana program.

Absentee voting up more than 50 percent from 2016 in Golden Triangle

Months ago, long before absentee voting for the Nov. 3 election began, Clay County Circuit Clerk Kim Brown Hood was notified by the Secretary of State’s office to expect a lot more people to vote by absentee than during the 2016 presidential election.