A rose to Nancy Carpenter, who has announced she will retire from her position as CEO of the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau, effective March 31. During her tenure, which began in 2011, Carpenter’s extensive networking and boundless enthusiasm has resulted in a host of events and celebrations. Notably recently, she worked with county, city and LINK leadership to help craft a 10 year restaurant tax renewal, which provides steady revenue for tourism, parks and economic development. Her work elevated the profile of the area for tourism and events under care always met a high standard of quality. We thank Carpenter for her work in building and nurturing tourism in our community and wish her success in whatever is next for her.
A rose to the Mississippi State soccer team, which will learn Monday if they will host a first-round NCAA playoff match for the second straight year. The Bulldogs, ranked 18th in the latest polling (the team’s highest ranking ever) before falling in the Southeastern Conference Tournament to top-seeded Arkansas in the semifinals (MSU had never gone that far in the SEC Tournament before). The Bulldogs are No. 23 in the latest RPI ratings, which are used to determine seeding and host site in the playoffs. That rating should secure a home match in the opening round. The Bulldogs hosted and defeated New Mexico State in the first round last season, then lost a neutral-site game in the second round to Memphis. This year, they drew a program-record 9,034 fans to the MSU Soccer Field, including 1,523 against Ole Miss. We congratulate the Bulldogs on their success. The program is building something pretty special in Starkville.
A rose to celebrate the beginning of repair work on the pedestrian bridge at The Riverwalk. Forty-five months ago, (Feb. 6, 2020), a runaway barge hit the bridge’s eastern support pier, damaging it and leading to its closure. Any hopes to quickly begin work to repair the bridge were lost when the city had to go to court against the barge’s owners, ultimately securing a $4.2 million settlement to cover the costs of the repairs. Malouf Construction was awarded the repair contract earlier this year. Work was delayed while Malouf relocated several large cranes to the worksite. Repairs are estimated to take about six months. The historic Highway 82 bridge was built in 1927 and closed in 1991. In 2012, the city of Columbus, Lowndes County and the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau each agreed to fund a project to convert the bridge into a pedestrian walkway as an enhancement to the Riverwalk. Work on the $2.2 million conversion was completed in October 2023. Since its opening the bridge had become a popular place for visitors, often used as a backdrop for photos. The work is expected to be completed in six months and we eagerly look forward to the re-opening of the bridge.
A rose to the Columbus Arts Council which continues to provide opportunities for local artists to showcase and sell their work. The CAC has long held gallery showings and events at the Rosenzweig Arts Center, but in recent years has expanded these opportunities to new venues.
On Nov. 11, the CAC, in collaboration with Mississippi University for Women, will present the inaugural Under the Oaks Art Festival. Welty Drive on campus will be lined with local artisans showcasing their work. The road also is lined with Oak trees, hence the name, Under the Oaks.
More than 20 unique artists will be set up for the event, and they will offer their art to prospective buyers as well. The event is free and open to the public. Additionally, there will be live music and food trucks. The event serves not only to highlight The W’s campus, but it also brings the university and the community closer together. The MUW event is modeled on another recent offering by the CAC, the Burns Bottom Arts Festival, which CAC has been hosting for a few years. Both are an attempt to highlight the beauty and history of the respective places while providing important exposure and sales opportunities for our local artists.
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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