Becoming ‘fearless’: A former Miss Mississippi finds her calling

Jasmine Murray is making a name for herself in the music business and that name is Fearless.

City, county summer intern programs get green light

In city government, budget surprises are rarely good news.

Slimantics: ‘Identity politics’ takes on different meaning with Sherman

Howard Sherman has lived, off and on, in Meridian for the past 18 years.

New county building inspector starts June 1

A familiar face will soon take over as Lowndes County building inspector, at least to the person responsible for the hire.

Local sports legend Brewer dies at 83

Billy Brewer, who made a habit of getting what he was never really supposed to have and going places where he was never supposed to go, is coming home.

Disc golf coming to Ola J. Pickett Park

Rarely will you see a proposal greeted more warmly than that presented by Derrick McEwen at Monday’s meeting of the Caledonia Park Commission.

Columbus, Starkville post offices participating in Saturday food drive

Saturday is a rare day. The one day a year you can place something at your mailbox and have it delivered without worrying about having proper postage.

Depot developer talks progress, hopes for historic building

The Depot building on the corner of Main Street and 13th Street South was once a bustling location, with tens of thousands of travelers arriving and departing at the train station.

Huebner resigns as president of EMCC

Thomas Huebner has resigned as president of East Mississippi Community College, EMCC Board Chairman Jimmie Moore confirmed Wednesday.

Slimantics: Death, taxes and tuition increases

If you’re a college student in Mississippi, the cost of your education went up last week. Again.

Restaurant tax: Juneteenth, Southside Blues festivals canceled over tax uncertainty

Even as the Columbus Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau still works on a revised budget to stay in operation through the end of the year, organizers for two of the nine festivals the CVB helps fund have announced they will cancel this year’s event.

Rite Aid closing on Highway 45

The Rite Aid Pharmacy, located at 1800 Highway 45 N., will close its doors this month after a March deal between the company and Walgreens, the nation’s largest pharmacy chain.

Requiem for a heavyweight: Unyielding fighter remembered for persistence, dedication to children

When Shannon Miller stepped into the boxing ring at Trotter Convention Center on the evening of Jan. 6, he hadn’t won a fight in almost six years, a string of nine consecutive losses that had dropped the 42-year-old light-heavyweight’s record to 25 wins, 56 losses and eight draws, according to BoxRec.com.

Columbus council could fill two key CPD positions this month

Columbus City Council could fill two key positions in the police department as early as its next meeting on May 15.

Local pastor proposing solar farm near Kerr-McGee site

When the Columbus Light and Water board of directors meet on May 17, it will consider adopting a policy that may be the first step in bringing the first solar farm to the city.

Slimantics: Girls in Scouts BSA won’t ruin the world

The end of Western Civilization arrived Wednesday, when the Boys Scouts of America announced it was dropping “boy” from its name and will now be known simply as “Scouts BSA.”

Rep. Chism recovering well from stroke

This time, it was different.

In 2009, State Rep. Gary Chism suffered a stroke.

County backs off plan for separate soccer league

A plan to begin a county soccer program was abruptly put on hold during Monday’s Lowndes County Board of Supervisors meeting after a letter to the editor from Columbus Mayor Robert Smith in Sunday’s edition of The Dispatch questioned the board’s motives.

Supervisors agree to tax compromise

As late as Saturday, Lowndes County Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders said he intended to urge fellow supervisors during Monday’s meeting to stick with their February resolution calling for the floor to be removed from the county’s 2-percent restaurant sales tax.

City, county once again at impasse on restaurant tax

After last week’s meeting of the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Trustees, those following the fate of the county’s 2-percent restaurant tax were left wondering what’s next.

The answer to that question appears it’s back to square one, with the county and city divided on what each body will present to the legislature.