A rose to all the candidates who are running for office this year, and a reminder that one indication of a good candidate is his/her commitment to following the rules. One of those rules involves where and how campaign signs can be displayed. Every year, there are some candidates who do not follow those rules, so much so that the Mississippi Department of Transportation has sent out a notice reminding candidates that it is illegal to place campaign signs on the right of ways on state highways. MDOT says these improperly-placed signs contribute to the state’s $3.2 million litter problem. Candidates should not only be aware of that prohibition, but should check with county and city officials to ensure that their signs are legally displayed. Otherwise, you are sending the wrong kind of message to voters.
A rose to Starkville’s Day of Prayer event, one of thousands of observations of Thursday’s National Day of Prayer. By holding the event on the grounds of a local church, the organizers not only provided a convenient site well-suited for the event, but avoided violating the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion. It also forbids Congress from promoting one religion over others. When such events are held on public property, it unnecessarily violates that basic tenet. Starkville’s Day of Prayer was in no way diminished, restricted or otherwise harmed by choosing the proper venue for its event. We encourage other cities to follow Starkville’s example.
A rose to the Galaxy Garden Club and the city of Columbus for its successful campaign to have a state historical marker placed at Sandfield Cemetery. That distinction was provided to Friendship Cemetery long ago and was well-deserved. Now, visitors and residents are reminded that there are not one, but two, cemeteries of historical significance in our city. Sandfield is an important part of the city’s history as the final resting place of numerous black leaders of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It tells a part of our city’s history that is, unfortunately, all too often overlooked. Fittingly, the marker will be officially dedicated Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. as part of the city’s Eight o’ May celebration presented by the Mississippi School for Math and Science.
A thorn to Yokohama Tire Company, whose response to its failure to meet expected production goals at its West Point facility appears to be to throw its workforce under the bus. In responding to the release of its third-quarter production report, which showed production far below its goals, the company said in a statement that insufficient training and education due to a high turnover-rate was responsible for the shortfall, along with unspecified “production inefficiencies.” This is an unfortunate posture for a major employer to maintain and one other area industries, who are no less reliant on the local workforce, do not seem to find a barrier to success. The company would do well to take a hard look at its own practices. It would also do well to respect and value its workforce. We do not know why the company has failed to live up to expectations, but we do know Yokohama cannot succeed without its workers.
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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