Letter: New words
Neologisms (new words) are tricky. A new word can seem useful but have no social staying power. It can outrage the pedantry of the language
Thom Caraccio: The Pelican Hotel: The band’s nightmare
A story from the annals (or anals?) of my music career.
Ask Rufus: The tangled web of art and history
The interconnecting web of history can be fascinating.
Home Base: Democracy dies
Two of my teachers growing up had an outsized impact on my life. They helped build the foundation for my becoming a journalist.
Letter: Former Social Security employee shares concerns over DOGE
DOGE and the gang of teenage mutants descended on the Social Security Administration demanding control of all the SSA records. Almost every man, woman and
Letter: 5 Questions correction
I would like to comment on the first question which appeared in the February 19 edition of The Commercial Dispatch which reads as follows: “
Letter: Mississippi must prioritize appropriately funding MSMS
Every fall, approximately 120 11th graders enroll at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS) in Columbus, Mississippi. They come from all over the
Letter: Voters deserve a debate with both Democratic candidates
The citizens of Columbus deserve to see a nonpartisan, independent and fairly administered democratic debate between Councilman Stephen Jones and Supervisor Leroy Brooks on February
Sid Salter: Legislature offers different fuel tax plans to maintain roads and bridges
Both the Mississippi State Senate and the Miss. House of Representatives have passed measures designed to increase funds to maintain the state’s roads and bridges. The plans differ in that under the Senate proposal, an additional 3 cents per year for 3 years (9 cents total by 2027) indexed for inflation. Senate leader estimated the increase would generate about $212 million a year for MDOT.
Letter: The US dollar is being diminished
I wrote earlier about Dick Cheney proclaiming the U.S. dollar to be almighty. The almighty dollar is the stuff of legend. It never occurred to
Our View: Judge’s order to remove editorial undermines press freedom
On Feb. 8, the Clarksdale Press-Register published an editorial saying the city of Clarksdale had failed to notify the newspaper of a special call meeting despite the city claiming it had.
Our View: Should we remove the Old West Point Road bridge?
Stop us if you’ve heard this one over and over and over.
The Highway 82 overpass at Old West Point Road is closed and awaiting repairs from the Mississippi Department of Transportation after a truck hit it in October. This past weekend, it was stuck again by an eastbound oversized vehicle.
Letter: Thinks food assistance is mismanaged
As anyone who buys groceries already knows, food prices have gotten way out of hand. Sleepy Joe’s failed economic policies (Bidenomics) led to sky high
Letter: Would not have sent son to MSMS if it had been at MSU
The proposed relocation of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS) from the Mississippi University for Women (MUW) campus to Mississippi State University (MSU)
Letter: If you build it, they won’t come
All MSMS current parents and those anticipating sending children to MSMS, stop and consider for a moment. Everyone’s concern over having resident high school students
Letter: DOGE interested in destroying government
Back in the W. administration, Vice-President Darth Vader (a.k.a. Dick Cheney) scowled at the television camera and growled, “Deficits don’t matter.” He was right. The
Possumhaw: The Cat’s Meow
Middle of last week I stayed mostly inside, as did Wilhelmina. The rain was torrential, and the ground was full of slippery mud and very large puddles.
Letter: Form letter for writing lawmakers about MSMS
Editor’s note: The following letter was written by Columbus city attorney Jeff Turnage. Turnage encourages readers to use this letter as a template for reaching
Roses and Thorns: 2-15-25
A rose to Mississippi State baseball players Hunter Hines and Stone Simmons and Simmons Erosion Control for putting together an NIL package for the benefit
Local Voices: Action needed to fight for MSMS
I would like to commend the Dispatch’s “Our View” opinion article in Tuesday’s edition and agree wholeheartedly with everything therein. I especially appreciate the maroon ink quip. Brilliant! I would like to let your readers know how I see a few things from the trenches regarding this issue.
Deputies searching for two suspects in Sunday double homicide
June 29, 2025
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