Articles by Zack Plair
Officials raise alarm on what W merger could mean long-term
Keith Gaskin is still waiting for state Sen. Dennis DeBar to return his calls.
Home Base: The past matters, and not just for nostalgia
Al Cowlings drives a white Ford Bronco down a Los Angeles freeway while O.J. Simpson, wanted for a double murder, sits in the back. A cameraman in a helicopter above captures the low-speed chase for posterity.
Baptist bore up during 2019’s devastating storm
A violent storm that produced a tornado knocked out power through much of Columbus just after 5 p.m. Feb. 23, 2019.
Miskelly Furniture eyeing old Vowell’s spot
All that’s apparently keeping Miskelly Furniture from opening a location in the old Vowell’s Marketplace is whether the city and county will abate a developer’s property taxes.
Righting a monumental wrong
On the Lowndes County Courthouse lawn in October, Dylan Wiley portrayed a man named Charles Williams for the second time. It was part of a “Community Read” partnership between Columbus and Mississippi University for Women meant to highlight local Black history.
Attempted murder suspect nabbed in Houston hotel
A Mathiston man faces an attempted murder charge for a Feb. 6 shooting on Sturgis-West Point Road in Oktibbeha County.
Ask The Dispatch: What’s going on at the pedestrian bridge?
You may not see it, but there’s progress on repairs to the pedestrian bridge across the Tombigbee River.
MSU becoming ‘flagship’ of Ultimate Frisbee in Mississippi
Dawson Archer took over as president for the Mississippi State University Ultimate Frisbee Club in fall 2022, inheriting what he said had essentially been a
Mayor: CRA giving interested investor cold shoulder
It started with assurances from Mayor Keith Gaskin that new officers and more cameras would soon help stem violent crime in the city. From there Gaskin admitted, without prompting, that his wife had to hide his phone from him to keep him off Facebook over the weekend.
Community Profile: May the dogs be with you
It started in March of last year when Alden Thornhill was eating lunch in the Cotton District.
Stabbing in Walmart leads to quick arrest
A suspect is in custody for allegedly stabbing a man Thursday inside Walmart on Highway 45.
Home Base: Think keeping the MUW name is bright? Well …
Spring 2000. Sophomore year in high school. My first run at the ACT is in the books. The postal service finally delivers some evidence to my South Arkansas home that colleges know I exist.
Home Base: A doggone lesson in market demand for the Bark Park
Growing up an Arkansas Razorback basketball fan in the 1990s, I held head coach Nolan Richardson in the highest regard.
Ask The Dispatch: All your questions answered about the ‘shelved’ Hwy 45 bypass
Ten years ago, momentum seemed to favor building a Highway 45 bypass west of Columbus. Studies funded with federal dollars produced a route, along with
Just hours into new year, Oktibbeha marks shooting death of 2024
It took less than 2 1/2 hours into the new year for Oktibbeha County to record its first shooting death of 2024.
Oktibbeha’s Year in Review: MSU football changes leaders, Cornerstone Park opens, Amazon coming to NorthStar
A disappointing football season led to Mississippi State changing horses at head coach. Starkville opens Cornerstone Park while grappling with how to hang onto federal grant money for Highway 182 improvements. Amazon announced it will soon have a presence at NorthStar Industrial Park.
Home Base: Won’t you be my neighbor? If you are, I probably still don’t know you
Until I was almost 14, I lived on a dead-end street in a south Arkansas town not far from the Louisiana border.
Home Base: A very Veronica Christmas tradition
A couple of Sundays ago, my wife and I finally decided to clean out and reorganize our basement.
Rehab, decommissioning still options for county lake
There are people who want to repair the Oktibbeha County Lake dam and others who want to see the lake decommissioned.