Sid Salter: It was a light political year under the old Neshoba oaks
The tin roof of the Founder’s Square reverberated with a lot of political rhetoric this week – some of it serious and relevant and some of it, well, not so much.
Possumhaw: Back to nature
The rains came down day after day after a long drought where the grass didn’t grow and what was there started to brown.
Roses and Thorns: 7-27-24
A rose to the Possumtown Book Fest which has drawn an impressive collection of authors for its inaugural event, set for Aug. 24 at the
Thom Caraccio: That time I ruined Burt Reynolds’ plane
More tales from the film set.
A chore we were constantly doing was turning the boss’s helicopter and light plane into “SHERIFF”, “POLICE” and “FBI” air vehicles. Burt Reynolds rented them to the production company along with his sound stages at the B.R. Ranch, a common practice.
Ask Rufus: The W’s Puckett House, a Queen Anne treasure
Ken P’Pool, the retired longtime head of historic Preservation at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and someone I consider the foremost authority on Mississippi and Columbus historic architecture, has called the Puckett House on the Mississippi University for Women campus one of the finest examples of a brick Queen Anne style house to survive in Mississippi.
Our View: A show of friendship
All of us have a hierarchy of friends. Some are casual friends, friendships that exist almost exclusively in the workplace or church or club. Another subset of friends are those we socialize with. But the highest order of friendship is reserved for those we invite into our homes.
Locally grown and raised food enriches our palates and our economy
A hundred years ago, all food was locally sourced. There simply weren’t any other options. Mississippi’s climate was well-suited for agriculture, which made for an abundant supply of local food. We fared better than other states in that area.
Sid Salter: Biden’s choice more like Wilson in ‘20 than Johnson in ‘68
The easy political comparison to President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 U.S. presidential race is to point to incumbent Democratic President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s decision not to seek the presidential nomination of his party in the 1968 campaign.
Possumhaw: The years go by
Last week was pretty traumatic for most everyone I know. I spent more hours indoors than my usual outdoor time filling bird feeders, checking on Wilhelmina, watering and planting flowers, misting my pet tree frogs and Thomas the toad, while washing the laundry, and planning dinner. Even Sam noticed: “I’ve never seen you spend so much time in front of the television.”
Thom Caraccio: Send me lawyers, guns and money
A lion was walking through the jungle and he came upon another lion who was eating giraffe excrement. He stared in shock and asked his buddy, “Why are you doing that?!”
Roses and Thorns: 7-20-24
A rose to our school kids as the 2024-25 school year fast approaches. With most of our public schools using a modified schedule that shortens
Ask Rufus: The electric street cars of Columbus
I’ve been watching the progress of Deborah Mansfield and Marion Sansing painting a streetcar mural just down College Street from my house.
Our View: Street names are a confusing way to honor folks
The primary purpose of street names is to help identify locations of homes, businesses and other specific locations. That hasn’t always been the case, however.
Letter: Secret Service leader needs to go
President Biden, your director of the Secret Service should be fired! I know, she’s a pal from your VP days and you gave her this
Slimantics: Readin’ and writin’ and culture warin’
On June 25, 1962, the United States Supreme Court outlawed prayer in schools. That’s been the accepted narrative by conservatives for more than 60 years.
Our View: The balance between asking and coercion is tricky when panhandlers are concerned
Begging, panhandling, solicitation — whatever term you prefer — is a problem without a solution. At least, that’s what history suggests. It’s a matter that has drawn the attention from ancient philosophers to merchants to charities to modern politicians.
Sid Salter: Trump rally shooting points up how off the rails politics in our nation has become
If we are the American people we are supposed to be we are this week pausing from the caustic political exchanges on social media and thanking God for the fact that the assassination attempt at the campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania did not end in a state funeral.
Possumhaw: Country living
Growing up I lived in a new subdivision with a cotton field just beyond the backyard. The subdivision was full of youngsters to play with, carpool when necessary or walk together to the elementary school only a block away.
Thom Caraccio: Logan complains about the hippies and Lonnie steals my last $20
After two seasons, contract negotiations with ABC Entertainment broke down and “B.L. Stryker” broke down and they wouldn’t renew our show. I have the nerve to call it “our show” because the crew at all levels, even peasants like us – I was working in the film industry as a scenic artist – had become like family.
Roses and Thorns: 7-13-24
A rose to Helping Hands of Columbus, which recently announced it will join the network of food pantries across the state operated by Extra Table,
Thom Caraccio: Mission to Miami at Flipper’s house
June 21, 2025
By
