Daniel L. Gardner: International relations is about business, not politics
Politicians and political movements are only interested in staying in power. President Obama didn’t care about President Putin’s move to take Crimea.
Thom Caraccio: Give me a sign… now!
From the world of movie production.
You probably think of the motion picture industry as a fairly modern thing, but in reality it’s a pretty old business seeped in all kinds of traditions with its own outdated jargon and words. Titles like “best boy” and “grip” date from the 19th century.
Ask Rufus: The theft of the Steamboat Alice
One of the more interesting river stories out of Columbus was the theft in 1880 of the steamboat Alice from under the nose of the Lowndes County sheriff.
Letter: Starkville business owner expresses concern about increased parking fee proposal
Dear Mayor Spruill, Thanks for contacting me about your upcoming request to charge Saturday parking in the areas that Park Mobile serves, and the fee
Roses and Thorns: 8-16-25
A rose to Jim Davis, who is closing Jim’s Clothing, the Columbus clothing store he opened in 1971. Although he still had the support and
Letter: Wishes columnist would chill out
Sixty years ago, in the hippie sixties, I sat in many circles and passed a joint around. Of course, I never inhaled. Those who did
Our View: The barn still stands. So does the effort to erase its story.
On Saturday, Wright Thompson will deliver the keynote address for the Possumtown Book Fest at the Rosenzweig Arts Center’s Omnova Theatre, and the timing could
Our View: Starkville Police increasingly keep public in the dark
When readers are asked to identify the type of news they value most, crime news is typically at the top of the list. It easily outranks topics such as sports, entertainment, government reporting and food/cooking.
Our View: Hoping for many more risings of the Blue Moon
When Chris Curtis’ dad opened a drive-in theater in Guin, Alabama, in 1996, he decided to name it the Blue Moon. The name foreshadowed what was to become the ultimate fate of a cultural icon of post-World War II America.
Daniel L. Gardner: Mankind’s uneasy peace
Before his second term, President Trump had four years to clean shop and reload. Now we are well on our way to leading the world toward stability and an uneasy peace.
Possumhaw: The name game
Okay, most of my friends who are about my age or older confess how hard it is to remember all the names of people we know or people we have known for our entire lives. That can be pretty embarrassing if suddenly you can’t remember your neighbor’s son’s name who went off to college and now lives somewhere in Montana.
Thom Caraccio: Grandma’s long distance romance with Oral Roberts
The last thing I would ever do is disparage the name Oral Roberts.
Roses and thorns: 8-9-25
A rose to Columbus Ward 4 councilperson Lavonne Harris for her part in tabling a proposal to hire a part-time public information officer at a
Ask Rufus: ‘Veritably a howling wilderness’
Lately there have been a lot of news reports of increasing bear sightings in Mississippi and occasionally someone still mentions black panthers too.
Our View: In defense of ‘allegedly’
In Wednesday’s edition, The Dispatch reported the arrest of a teenager, who allegedly threatened and hit another minor with a gun while recording a video that quickly went viral.
Our View: Automotive program needs instructor, and community can drive the solution
The year was 2018. The Lowndes County School District’s $11 million Career Tech Center was set to open when students returned to classes in August while work on East Mississippi Community College’s $38 million Communiversity was well on its way to completion.
Letter: Critique of Trent Kelly’s Big Beautiful Bill email
How do you tell if a politician is lying? He sends an email. Trent Kelly just sent me a whopper. In it, he claims the
Jiben Roy: Need a vaccine to make people civilized
Under the present Government, there have been changes in the U.S. vaccine program. Our Health Secretary is a longtime anti-vaccine activist. Thus, there were budget cuts, including pulling out of global initiatives.
Slimantics: Revenge of the old me
On July 9, 1948, Satchel Paige, already a legend in the Negro Leagues, made his Major League debut with the Cleveland Indians amid much speculation about his age.
Letter: Open letter to Gov. Tate Reeves about the loss of forests
I am writing from a place of deep concern and heartbreak over the rapid loss of our precious forests to development, including solar farms and
