Articles by Slim Smith
Delta mechanic who died in Atlanta explosion considered New Hope home
Mirko Marweg left Columbus for Atlanta more than 30 years ago. Even so, his ties to the New Hope area and Mississippi remained strong, said his son, Andre Coleman.
Community Profile: Meeting the moment is herculean task for Brittany Sanders
Live in the moment, they say.
For Brittany Sanders, that’s the hard part.
Slimantics: If it can happen in Moss Point…
As many readers know, I’ve spent the last three years working for The Dispatch remotely. And I do mean remotely, 246 miles remote, according to my GPS.
Slimantics: Litella for president!
If I live to be 100, I’ll never understand how this could happen, but there’s no disputing it: Emily Litella is the Republican nominee for President of the United States.
Slimantics: Olympic Games have no peer
Of my 44 years as a newspaper journalist, 23 of them were spent in sports departments from Columbus to Biloxi to San Francisco to Phoenix. In 2005, I made the decision to leave sports to be a news columnist and while I’ve dabbled with sports journalism off and on since then, I can’t say I have regretted moving on from the games people play.
Community Profile: Shelter volunteer’s passion for pets turns into side hustle
Some people pay for therapy, but the way Tyler Gingras sees it, therapy pays him.
Slimantics: Readin’ and writin’ and culture warin’
On June 25, 1962, the United States Supreme Court outlawed prayer in schools. That’s been the accepted narrative by conservatives for more than 60 years.
Slimantics: 65 is calling…and calling….and calling
Research has shown that the leading cause of gun violence among persons about to turn 65 is people trying to sell them Medicare supplement insurance.
Slimantics: A republic… if we can keep it
On Thursday, we acknowledge the 248th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. We call it Independence Day.
Slimantics: The ideal Southern feast
If you’ve shopped at any of our local farmers markets recently, you know the season of Southern eating has arrived.
Slimantics: D.A. Williams and his Talladega portfolio bring back fond memories
I was not aware of the passing of David Allen Williams until I saw his obituary in the weekend edition of The Dispatch. Certainly, I was saddened to hear the news, but I could not help but smile as I remembered our long-ago association.
Slimantics: Willie Mays, Willie May and the importance of preserving the history of local sports
The passing of baseball legend Willie Mays on Tuesday stirred up some old personal memories and reminded me how important it is to keep the folklore and history of sports alive for generations to come.
Wil Colom aims to wrest Dem chairship from Taylor
The distance between Cheikh Taylor’s and Wil Colom’s residences may be only 30 miles, but philosophically, their views of how a state party chairman should approach making the Mississippi Democratic Party viable again are arguably much further apart.
Profile: Work ethic, community ties are key for Chamber director
Although she was born in Columbus, Carrie Martin has lived there for just 12 of her 42 years. Even so, she’s far from a stranger, which will undoubtedly serve her well as the president of the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce.
Slimantics: Comradery of elementary school may be a relic of a bygone era
I read with interest John Botes’ letter to the editor lamenting the consolidation and closures of the elementary schools in the city of Columbus.
In Memoriam: Long-time couple, Tom and Linda Segrest, pass away 17 days apart
For as long as anyone who knew them can remember, wherever you saw Linda Segrest, Tom Segrest was bound to show up pretty soon.
Slimantics: Was the third of June…
I’m not a songwriter, but I do have a suggestion for those who are.
Slimantics: Integrating stats makes baseball’s history more complete
The game of baseball, more than any other, is a game of numbers, and for almost 100 years, Ty Cobb’s career batting average of .366 was accepted as the best ever.
Slimantics: Supervisors should avoid a ‘monumental’ mistake
At some point, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors may be tempted to erect a monument on the grounds of the Lowndes County Courthouse to honor some significant event or fallen heroes.
Sewer line improvements complete in Green Oaks, Rolling Hills
The completion of a two-year project that refurbished 27,700 feet of sewer lines in the Green Oaks and Rolling Hills subdivisions in Starkville is an essential, if sometimes overlooked, factor in the city’s growth and development, Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said.
Holiday Handcrafts Bazaar accepting vendor applications
July 12, 2025
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