A rose to the Facebook group “Friends of Lake Lowndes” for their efforts to clean up and beautify the state park in the eastern part of the county. For several years now, the underfunded Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has struggled to maintain some of its state parks and Lake Lowndes has been no exception. That’s where this group has risen to the occasion. On Aug. 21, a group of about 40 “friends” turned out for a work-day to clean up the park. It figures to be the first of many. The next clean-up day is set for Sept. 11. For anyone who would like to join this worthwhile effort, check out “Friends of Lake Lowndes” on Facebook.
A rose to long-time downtown Columbus resident and property owner Bill Strauss, who didn’t need a Facebook group — or anyone else — to perform a service to his community. Strauss, who is also a Realtor, has been spotted walking the streets of Columbus and spraying weed killer along roads and sidewalks in the mornings. He does it without fanfare or to seek publicity. No doubt, there are others who perform similar acts of service to their community without prompting. We urge citizens everywhere to use Strauss as an example. If you see an opportunity to help beautify your community, take it. If everyone performed these simple tasks, the beauty of our city would be enhanced immeasurably.
A rose to United Way of Lowndes and Noxubee County, which kicked off its annual fund-raising campaign Thursday with a food truck event at the Hitching Lot Farmers Market in Columbus. United Way has a goal of $500,000, but director Renee Sanders is hoping to raise a far more ambitious amount: $1 million. United Way supports 15 nonprofit organizations in our communities that offer a wide variety of services. So if you are looking for a way to make a difference but aren’t sure exactly how, a donation to the United Way is an excellent option. To join the effort, visit https://www.uwlc-ms.org or call the office at 662-370-1922 to set up automatic bank account withdrawals or billing, Sanders said. The campaign season ends the Friday before Thanksgiving. Let’s make it a million-dollar Thanksgiving!
