A rose to Mississippi Math and Science history students, whose annual Eighth of May Emancipation Celebration performance will include a special guest that two MSMS students discovered during research for the project. The students found a letter written by Freedom Summer volunteer Bernard Wasow of Los Angeles to his parents while he served in Columbus. Wasow, one of about 1,000 students who traveled to the South to register voters and promote education, will travel from his home to watch the performance Friday at 6 p.m. at Sandfield Cemetery. In addition to student portrayals of important Black figures in the history of Columbus, the celebration will also include performances from the Columbus High School Drum Line, the MSMS Voices in Harmony choir and A.H. Jerriod Avant, University of Mississippi writer-in-residence. We applaud MSMS teacher Chuck Yarborough and his students for their effort to bring a new feature to the event.

A rose to Alden Thornhill and his team for another record-setting “Starkville Derby,” a field consisting entirely of dachshunds, whose odd shape and enthusiasm make the races memorable. The event was held April 25 in the Cotton District. The event was founded by dachshund owner Alden Thornhill, who came up with the idea to fill a gap in the Starkville event calendar. The Starkville Derby was a hit from the start, recognized by Mississippi Main Street as its Large Event of the Year. Thousands of racing fans and 300 dachshund competitors turned out, helping the event generate $75,000 for the Oktibbeha County Humane Society, the event’s official charity. We applaud everyone associated with the event for their hard work in staging one of the most popular, family-friendly events in the Golden Triangle.

A rose to the Starkville Fire Department and Starkville Police Department animal control personnel for teaming up on a different kind of rescue. On Wednesday, a tiny kitten was found trapped inside a storm pipe on Lampkin Street. With patience, teamwork and a whole lot of care, crews were able to safely reach the kitten and bring it back to the surface — cold, wet and a little shaken up — but safe. The kitten is doing well and will soon be available for adoption at the Oktibbeha County Humane Society. We believe “Piper” would be an excellent name for the kitten. The event reminds us that our police and firefighters are part of our community and are eager to help when their skills are needed.

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