A rose to Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin for discovering funds to greatly offset the cost of providing the Columbus Police Department with 62 new handheld digital radios, a long-needed upgrade. For several years, CPD has asked for updated radios that would allow them to communicate with area and state law enforcement and improve communications within the department. The sticking point had always been costs until Gaskin discovered that each time the CPD issued a ticket, $3 of the citation goes into a state wireless communication fund that’s run by the Department of Public Safety. Chief Financial Officer James Brigham told The Dispatch the city had about $160,000 in the fund. The total cost of the radios comes to $264,905, with a total yearly payment of $62,543 over five years at 5.65 percent interest, but all but about $100,000 will come from already available funds. This will be a great improvement for the department at a minor cost to taxpayers.

A rose to the Oktibbeha County Humane Society and volunteers, including students from Mississippi State’s veterinary program, for providing low-cost rabies vaccinations and microchipping for pets at a time when many pet-owners are bearing the brunt of inflation and the tight budgets it has caused. On Jan. 15, the OCHS annual program provided these services to 186 pets, almost double what it normally provides. The cost for pet-owners ($5 for the chip, $15 for the vaccination) was 60 percent lower than what pet-owners generally pay for those services. Much of the cost reduction came from volunteers from veterinarians and MSU vet students. This program improves the safety not only for pets, but for people who may come in contact with them. We congratulate OCHS and thank the volunteers for providing this opportunity.

A rose to International Paper which is partnering with Earth’s Birthday Project to bring environmental education to area kids in a fun way. IP will be providing, free of charge, a limited number of butterfly and sunflower kits for kindergarten through fourth grade classrooms in the area. These kits include lesson plans and materials designed to coordinate with the elementary school science curriculum while providing an unforgettable, hands-on learning experience.

While going on an adventure through science, students observe butterfly caterpillars grow, create chrysalises and transform into beautiful butterflies. Students will also learn how to sprout and grow sunflowers from seed to bloom. Now through Feb. 3, local schools have the opportunity to apply to receive a limited number of these kits. A child who develops a love of the natural world takes that into his adult life, which is critically important in grasping the implications of climate change. These children are likely to grow up to be advocates for nature and our environment. Educators can apply at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CelebratePlanetEarth2023.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.