A rose to the city of Columbus as it celebrated the re-opening of the Old Highway 82 Pedestrian bridge Sunday, 4 1/2 years after it was closed due to damage caused by a break-away barge. The historic bridge opened in 1925 and closed in 1993 after the highway was modernized and changed its route. In 2012, the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the city, Lowndes County and the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau came together with the idea of rehabilitating the bridge for pedestrians. The repurposed bridge officially opened on Oct. 18, 2013, and quickly became a popular spot for visitors who often used the bridge as a backdrop for wedding, graduation, birthday and other photo opportunities. The bridge brought an added amenity to the Riverwalk/Soccer Complex facilities. On Feb. 6, 2020, a barge broke loose on the Tombigbee and slammed into the bridge, seriously damaging the bridge infrastructure. The bridge was closed for safety purposes as the city sought reimbursement from two companies responsible for the accident. A settlement of $4.2 million provided the funds necessary to make the repairs, actually coming in $15,000 under budget. We are delighted that the bridge is now open and will continue to be a great place to enjoy for both tourists and residents alike.

A rose to the Mississippi State soccer team, which continues to scale new heights in what has been a magical season. The Bulldogs claimed their first-ever win over a No.1 ranked team a week ago, beating Arkansas, 1-0. The victory catapulted MSU to the No. 4 ranking, easily the highest ranking in program history. Following the historic win over Arkansas, the Bulldogs continued their winning ways Thursday with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Georgia. MSU, 11-1 overall, is now 5-0 in conference play and is the only team in the league without a conference loss. The Bulldogs’ success is built on a stifling defense. MSU has given up just four goals in 12 games for a goals-against average of .182, tops in the nation and well ahead of Buffalo, Canisius and Rutgers, who share second spot in the category with a .333 average. As the Bulldogs’ success grows, so have the crowds at MSU’s home pitch. Fans will have the chance to see the Bulldogs in action again on Sunday with a 6:30 p.m. match against visiting Missouri. Hail State!

A rose to the organizers of the Starkville Dachshund Derby, which was named the best large festival in the state by the Mississippi Main Street Association. This was likely an easy decision given the phenomenal success of the Derby in just its second year. In May, more than 50,000 visitors filled the Cotton District for the second running of the Derby, with guests traveling from as far away as Colorado and Kansas. Organized by the Starkville Sausage Dog Society, the inaugural Derby in 2023 drew 20,000 spectators, a clear indication that the event had struck gold. There’s no telling how big the event will ultimately become given both the success of the inaugural event and the massive turnout for the second. It’s a big shot in the arm for local businesses, as well as the Oktibbeha County Humane Society, the Derby’s chosen charity, which collected more than $40,000 from this year’s Derby. The Derby featured 150 “wiener dog” competitors, 64 local sponsors/donors and 13 vendors. Congratulations to all those who have helped make this event such a great success.

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

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