A rose to all of the candidates in Tuesday’s municipal primary elections. For some, the campaigning ended Tuesday, either in defeat or in victory in races where they face no opponent in the general election on June 3. For others, the primary race is the halfway point of their campaign. We urge the remaining candidates to put forth a positive message, one that focuses on the candidate’s strengths, not the opponent’s weaknesses. Voters want to have something to believe in when they go to the polls. Positive messages set an optimistic tone for the new local governments who will begin operations on July 1. Regardless of how they fared, we thank all candidates who put themselves forward to serve their community in these important positions. We also urge candidates whose campaigns have ended to pick up their campaign signs as soon as possible so that the landscape is not marred by signs that no longer serve any purpose.
A rose to the city of Starkville for its response to an incident that could just as easily have warranted a thorn. Larry “Luv” Johnson appeared before the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday to bring attention to a disagreement with a Starkville police officer involving access to his barbershop as the city’s redevelopment of the Highway 182 business district continues. Ongoing work on the project has created congestion in the area that is greatly compounded in the afternoon when parents are picking up their children from school. When Johnson asked a police officer to help him by keeping the entrance to his business clear, the officer told him he wasn’t a babysitter, which Johnson viewed as disrespectful. Turns out, both Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill and SPD Chief Mark Ballard agreed and apologized to Johnson, which we hope will defuse the hard feelings. While not condoning the officer’s words, we do understand that this project is a challenge for everyone, including police officers dealing with hundreds of motorists stalled in traffic. This is a teachable moment for officers involved. But we also urge everyone who is affected by the project to offer an extra portion of grace to each other. When completed, the renovations will be something business owners, shoppers and motorists will hopefully find well worth the short-term difficulties. Keeping that in mind is one way to mitigate the current inconveniences.
A rose to the Chuck Yarborough’s history students at Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science as they present the nationally-acclaimed Tales from the Crypt. The first two performances were held this week, but there are two more opportunities to enjoy the program, now in its 35th year. With performances ranging from a free man fighting in a Black infantry regiment during the Civil War to a Mississippi University for Women alumna who changed the course of medicine, students will portray an array of historical figures with ties to Columbus this coming Wednesday and Friday at 7 p.m. at the historic Friendship Cemetery. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in person or online at visitcolumbusms.org. Tales from the Crypt has established itself as a major event in the city of Columbus.
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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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
