Birney Imes: Oak Slush Creek revisited

While battling a case of cabin fever on a cold, rainy afternoon the Sunday before Christmas, I sent Craig Hill a text asking if he wanted to go paddling. We'd had a lot of rain and the river was high.

Ask Rufus: A Town Called Mill Port

I have been asked about the history and story behind Millport, Alabama, which is located 24 miles up Highway 50 from Columbus.

Wyatt Emmerich: Lack of funding is choking state-run parks system

Mississippi has a lot of wonderful people. One of them is Sam Polles, 27-year executive director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

Possumhaw: A good day for somebody

Once I lived where there were four distinct seasons all within their proper boundaries. It was quite predictable, though the winter seemed long and ice and snow turned to brown slush lasting well into spring. There's a certain advantage to growing up and living in the South. Very often all four seasons come within the same week.

Partial to Home: Mission Mississippi

It is not every day you drive down Seventh Avenue North in Columbus -- a timeworn neighborhood made more so by a tornado 10 months ago -- and see young Amish women in calico skirts toting power tools through red clay mud.

Ask Rufus: The Land Pirates

The headline in Friday's Dispatch read "A Pirate Comes Ashore," referring to Mike Leach's arrival in Starkville on Jan. 9 to become Mississippi State's new football coach. Also, on Jan. 9 -- but in 1836 -- The Natchez Daily Courier ran a notice that "The Western Land Pirates" had arrived at the Natchez steamboat Landing.

Possumhaw: Time is not on my side

Some of the suggestions from A. J. Jacobs' book "Drop Dead Healthy" bear repeating since it's January and we've all overindulged a bit -- and a lot of the gyms were closed for the holidays and, even if they were open, we weren't able to go because we had all the holiday festivities and guests to attend to.

Ask Rufus: The Year of Wonders

Recently I have had people ask me about an old Indian trail that crossed Tibbee Creek near the location of Highway 45 Alternate, about early steamboats and about the New Madrid earthquake.

Slimantics: A Reeves-Hosemann showdown seems inevitable

When the Mississippi Legislature convenes for its annual session on Tuesday, it may be business as usual on the House side, but the Senate is under new management.

Possumhaw: Something has got to go

Another Christmas is behind us, and soon another year. All the wrappings, boxes, bags, ribbons, and bows lay strewn across the floor, crammed into garbage bags, or neatly hand-pressed and folded for another year.

Ask Rufus: A Sporting Heritage

With the holidays and the approaching new year, many friends have had to decide between watching ball games or going hunting. The Golden Triangle area has a grand and centuries-old heritage of both.

Slimantics: The end of reaggravation

I was sitting in my recliner Thursday evening, working on The Dispatch crossword puzzle, part of my evening ritual, when I noticed something on the TV, which I had employed as background noise while pondering a six-letter word for "game quest."

Possumhaw: Accoutrements of Christmas

If Santa Claus was inspired by the generous bishop of Myra, then where did the reindeer and sleigh, the wreath and the tree, the lights and the cheery little poinsettia come from?

Partial to Home: Josh Frady: Restoring dreams

On a July day in 1966, MSU student and future Oktibbeha sheriff Dolph Bryan walked into the Starkville Ford dealership with the intention of buying a new car. As it happened, a salesman was sitting in the car Bryan would buy. He was reading a newspaper.

Ask Rufus: 'No Personal Antagonism'

At the South Side Christmas party last night, the subject of one of my earliest columns came up.

Slimantics: When Christmas music goes horribly wrong

I don't know when radio stations first decided to start playing Christmas music 24/7 from the day after Thanksgiving right through Christmas but whenever that was, it was a very bad day.

Possumhaw: Jolly ole Saint Nicholas

Best of the Triangle 2019

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2019 Dining Guide