A unique opportunity

Tuesday, a group of planners, architects and designers will begin a three-day series of meetings and workshops, collectively termed a “charrette,” meant to help Columbus form a plan for future growth and city revitalization.

Message in a bottle

The domino theory is being proven in northeast Mississippi. Within days of Starkville’s decision to allow Sunday beer sales and to petition the state to allow restaurants to sell wine and liquor on Sundays, other municipalities have looked to open the tap on their own alcohol intake.

Backing into Burns Bottom

Before more money, time and energy are spent vetting site for soccer park, questions need to be answered first

When asked about the Columbus Country Club’s offer of land for the city and county soccer field plan last week, Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders made an interesting comment: “Unless something comes along that prevents us from getting the Burns Bottom land, I would say we are pretty much committed to it.”

Sanders is certainly committed to Burns Bottom as the location for soccer fields.

A new possibility: Country Club’s offer adds new twist to search for soccer park site

A new wrinkle has been thrown into the debate over the best location for a Columbus soccer field complex, with the Columbus Country Club’s offer to the county to sell its back nine holes — land amounting to between 65-70 acres — to the county for the project.

Bravos for Claudia and Sallie

Two people received standing ovations at MUW’s convocation Monday morning, both of them well deserved: Sallie Reneau and Claudia Limbert.

Reneau University

The saga to find a new name for Mississippi University for Women enters a new phase today. With this morning’s announcement by MUW President Claudia Limbert that the campus choice is Reneau University, the rough and tumble business of selling it to the IHL Board, Legislature and alumni begins.

Out-of-town guests

A visit yesterday from a delegation from Guntersville, Ala., only served to remind us of the many assets of this place many of us call home. The group, comprised of public officials and involved citizens, spent a day in Columbus on a fact-finding exchange.

One step forward, two steps back

If you’re planning to watch the broadcast of the Lowndes County Supervisors’ Tuesday meeting, let us warn you; it’s not a pretty sight. In a production that more resembles a badly acted high school drama than a meeting of elected officials, Harry Sanders plays the role of a school-yard bully; a wronged Leroy Brooks becomes the class loudmouth; Frank Ferguson and John Holliman are spineless turncoats and Jeff Smith is the well-meaning but unsuccessful peacemaker.

Unfinished business: City school superintendent Del Phillips should stick around

Back when he was selling a package of school improvements that included a new middle school, magnet schools and most recently an extended school year, Superintendent Del Phillips often invoked a Stephen Covey chestnut: “The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing.”

Charging ahead

It is disappointing, though not surprising that the Lowndes Supervisors are charging ahead with the Burns Bottom site for a soccer complex. At their Monday meeting, the supervisors announced plans to begin acquiring options to purchase land for that purpose. Joe Higgins of the Link has been activated for the task.

A new newspaper for Starkville

On March 12, 1922, the occasion of the merger of Columbus’ two papers into The Commercial Dispatch, publisher Birney Imes Sr. offered an editorial, much of it relevant today.

A new day: Columbus voters cast out two more incumbents bringing a total of four new council members

Voters on Tuesday handed pink slips to two incumbents giving the Columbus City Council four new faces. In Ward 5 political activist and restaurant owner Kabir Karriem trounced Republican incumbent Jay Jordan with over 62 percent of the vote. Political newcomer Joseph Mickens ousted Susan Mackay in Ward 2 with a 52-percent margin.

Voters in all three Golden Triangle communities will elect mayors on Tuesday; we urge you to be part of the process

If you live in the city of Columbus, Starkville or West Point, you have a right and a responsibility to fulfill tomorrow; that is to vote.

A new mayor for Starkville

With city-funded curbside recycling pickup, a “green” city building ordinance, bike and walking paths (and plans for more) and a smoking ordinance, Starkville leads the Golden Triangle in innovative movements.

Case closed (we hope): CPD’s handling of Vicksburg episode less than professional

With the punishment of four Columbus police officers Tuesday for their juvenile behavior May 5 at Vicksburg National Military Park, and an apology from the Columbus Police Department, we are hoping all parties can move on.

The budget, please: Legislature needs to pass long-overdue budget

A state of limbo. That’s the best description of the effect of the Mississippi’s Legislature’s failure to agree on a state budget has on education, health care and other essential services. The House and Senate need to get over their differences and pass the budget. They need to do it when they resume their protracted annual session May 26.

Keystone cops: Four of Columbus’ ‘finest’ attend seminar in Vicksburg, return an embarrassment to city

So a few guys are riding through the military park in a police cruiser, one in the driver’s seat, one in the passenger’s seat. Another two are seated in the popped trunk.

Market Street: Festival offers opportunity to experience pleasures of downtown, mix with your neighbors

If you take a look around downtown, you’ll notice the well-preserved historic buildings, beautiful landscaping, complete with flowers placed with care.

A victim of political correctness

Well, so much for Reneau and Waverley as names for Mississippi University for Women. In the case of Reneau, it’s a shame. We’re not sure how Waverley, the name of a Sir Walter Scott novel and, subsequently, the Clay County antebellum mansion, made the cut other than it begins with a “W,” a pet name some want to preserve.

Just do it: Cigarette tax increase would offer much needed revenue; would offset car tag increase

The state Legislature shouldn’t be faulted for delaying adoption of the state budget as it awaits more information about how to spend the federal economic stimulus money Mississippi is getting. But, to say the least, it’s alarming the House and Senate have been unable to agree on how much to raise the cigarette tax.