A rose to Columbus Air Force Base for again providing our community one of our most anticipated public events, the biennial “Wings Over Columbus Airshow” being held this weekend at CAFB. The air show featured the return of the Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force’s elite precision flying team featuring aircraft flying in carefully choreographed formations. An A-10 “Warthog” demonstration and a performance by stunt pilot Rob Holland are also crowd-pleasers, among others. The flight performances are only part of the show. This year, three airplanes from Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, as well as an unmanned aircraft system are part of the event’s STEM presentation. If you missed Saturday’s show, you have an opportunity again today. Gates open at 10 a.m. and performances start at noon. We thank the Air Force and CAFB for putting this awe-inspiring event together for the community.
A rose to Starkville Convention and Visitors Bureau for securing a grant that will help exposure to Mississippi State’s Mitchell Memorial Library museums. The $20,000 grant is funded by the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area, an alliance geared toward promoting heritage and tourism in Northeast Mississippi and the money will be spent to showcase artifacts from library’s four museums, including the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, at new exhibit space in the Greater Starkville Development Partnership’s downtown office. The exhibit will encourage visitors to Starkville to visit the museums while further strengthening the synergy that exists between the city and the university.
A rose to the “new and improved” Columbus Pilgrimage Jubilee of Homes, which started Thursday and will continue through April 16. After a one-year, pandemic-induced hiatus, the Pilgrimage resumes under new management, the Preservation Society of Columbus, a group of historic home owners who promised to broaden the scope of the event to include a more complete history of Native Americans and Black residents. The ambitious program includes programs sharing that history while continuing with the traditions that have been a part of the event for years, including Tales From the Crypt staged annually by history students at Mississippi School for Math and Science. The home tours will also include the return of one of Columbus’ most extraordinary homes, Riverview, which has been renovated and is ready for public viewing. For a complete schedule of event, visit preservecolumbus.com.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
