A rose to Starkville Public Library for partnering with Mississippi State’s Name Image and Likeness (NIL) collective – Bulldog Initiative – and the nonprofit Champions for Literacy, in a summer reading program designed to make the library and reading more appealing to kids. Each Wednesday MSU athletes will read to kids and talk about the importance of reading and learning about all the things libraries have to offer. SPL Children’s Librarian Loraine Walker said the idea was born from a partnership between the library and a nonprofit that combines sports and reading to promote childhood literacy. Kids look up to athletes, so having MSU athletes involved sends a strong message: that reading is fun. The program also plays a role in making sure kids are mentally engaged during summer breaks, which helps with knowledge retention and improving reading skills. We appreciate these athletes’ efforts to give back to the community by volunteering their time throughout the summer.
A rose to Main Street Columbus, which will begin implementing a downtown beautification program next week. Main Street Director Barbara Bigelow said there are three components of the program: a long overdue make-over for Leadership Plaza at Fifth Street and College Street, a mural painted by noted West Point artist Deborah Mansfield depicting a scene from Columbus circa 1905 on wall near Catfish Alley and an upgrade to the city’s Walking Tour by providing audio to inform tourists as they move through places of interest on the tour. Main Street is funding the program with $100,000 in ARPA funds. Too often when we think of beautification it’s a “one and done” proposition. In truth, it takes a never-ending effort to make downtown appealing to residents and visitors alike. Downtowns are the storefront window of a community, reflecting – for better or worse – the health of a city. We commend Main Street for their continuous efforts to keep downtown Columbus attractive and inviting.
A rose to owner Abby Thompson, designer Megan Hancock and developer Mark Castleberry for bringing new life to a historic building in downtown Starkville. The building on Lafayette Street began as one of the Golden Triangle’s first car dealerships, was later the home to a candle-making factory and, most recently, the site of the Starkville Korean Church. Normally, there’s nothing remarkable about a building attracting a new tenant, but when Thompson and Hancock worked out a deal to bring their home design store to the site, they collaborated with Castleberry to restore the building’s interior to its original condition. Castleberry, who is familiar with such restorations of historic properties, worked with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and the National Park Service in the $1.4 million restoration project. Anytime a new tenant arrives at a vacant downtown property, it’s a cause for optimism. But a new tenant for a building that has been restored to its historic condition is a particular point of pride. Thompson’s business – The Collective Design House – will open in August as the finishing touches on the building renovation are in progress.
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.
