A rose to 100+ Women Who Care Columbus, which announced its latest award this week in the amount of $18,500 to the Golden Triangle Theatre group. Contact Helpline and Trinity Place Sunday Fund also received $500 each. Since its first award in June 2019, the group has made nine awards totaling $158,100 to nonprofits serving Lowndes County residents. This movement is unique in the respect that 100 Women Who Care groups across the country hold no fundraisers nor do they solicit donations. All funds used to provide Awards come from the members, each of whom give $100 toward each award given. We salute these wonderful women for the good they are doing in our communities.
A thorn to Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science Executive Director Donald Cook for his dishonest response to a Dispatch reporter on Wednesday when asked if there were discussions about moving MSMS from The W to Mississippi State’s campus in Starkville. Cook responded to Dispatch reporter Jessica Lindsey on the record, “I don’t know who starts these rumors, but that is strictly a rumor.” Subsequent reporting has revealed that just an hour prior to speaking to Lindsey, Cook had sent a memo to MSMS Foundation members and employees addressing “the idea of potentially relocating,” including speculating on a specific location adjacent to MSU for a new facility. There were any number of ways Cook could have avoided answering the question if he wasn’t ready to speak about a possible move for the school. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a case of misspeaking or being evasive. It was a falsehood, and it seriously damages his credibility.
A rose to Columbus Ward 3 Councilman Rusty Greene for pushing back on the city’s plans to build for new baseball ballfields at Propst Park, a $3.3 million project that would require the city to borrow $2 million to complete. Greene asked city recreation director Greg Lewis how many baseball teams currently play at Propst Park. Told that just seven teams are playing on the existing six fields, Greene expressed his reservations about the wisdom of building four new fields when participation is so low, arguing that the city has done a poor job maintaining its current fields. We believe Greene’s points are valid and urge the council to table this plan while pursuing more inspired plans for the city’s largest park. Recreation funds should be spent where they can be of the greatest value to the community. There is no evidence that building more ballfields meets that standard.
A rose to Stromboli’s Italian Eatery which closed Thursday after 21 years on University Avenue in Starkville. During that time, Stromboli’s became one of the city’s most loved restaurants. When owners Tim and Janet Thurman announced on the restaurant’s Facebook Page Wednesday that the restaurant would close the following day, more than 1,000 people responded and a large group of patrons lined up outside the restaurant on Thursday to say their goodbyes and order the pizzas, stromboli, calzones and desserts that made the restaurant popular, especially among Mississippi State students. The closing will allow Tim and Janet the opportunity to retire and pursue other interests. We hate to see the end of Stromboli’s, of course, but we extend our best wishes to the Thurmans and thank them for 21 years of great Italian food and friendly service. Arrivederci and buona fortuna!
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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