A rose to our local elected officials who will be leaving office after the latest municipal election cycle. In Columbus, the list includes Keith Gaskin, Ward 2 councilman Joseph Mickens, Ward 4 councilman Pierre Beard and Ward 6 councilperson Jacqueline DiCicco. The list is a bit shorter in Starkville with only Ward 3 alderman Jeffrey Rupp and Ward 5 alderman Hamp Beatty leaving office. In Caledonia, alderwoman Amanda Boltwood was the only elected official not returning to office. Some chose not to run for re-election while others lost in either the primary or general elections. In either case, we congratulate them on their public service and are confident they will continue to be leaders in our communities in other ways. In turn, we congratulate those who will fill their positions. In Columbus, former councilman Stephen Jones will serve as mayor, with Roderick Smith (Ward 2) Lavonne Harris (Ward 4), Gary Jefferson (Ward 5) and Jason Spears (Ward 6) joining the city council. In Starkville, Kyle Skinner (Ward 3) and William Pochop (Ward 5) are new aldermen. Matt Chisholm joins the Caledonia Board of Aldermen. We are eager to see what these new faces will bring to our communities.

A rose to the FORGE Foundation, which kicks off its second Girls Construction day camp on the East Mississippi Community College Mayhew campus on Monday. The five-day camp brings together girls ages 12-15 from Lowndes, Clay, Lee, Alcorn, Hinds, Chickasaw, Oktibbeha, and Washington counties for a hands-on, immersive introduction to careers in construction and the skilled trades. The camp runs from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. each day  and will include instruction in design/carpentry, electrical, plumbing, drywall, painting, welding, concrete and roofing. The girls  will use what they learn to work on building projects. These types of skills were once considered something females couldn’t do. Fortunately, we’ve come to know better. For some of the campers, the instruction they receive may put them on a path toward careers in construction. But even those who choose a different career path can benefit from learning skills that can be applied to do-it-yourself projects in their homes. Have a great camp, ladies!

A rose to Becky Scott and her family, who have taken over the reins as the developer of the old Lee High/Lee Middle School property, a project that began with the purchase of the facilities by her late father, Scott Berry, in 2018. Before he passed away in 2021, Scott Berry had developed 22 apartments and an event venue called the Lyceum at Lee, now the permanent home of Golden Triangle Theater. Becky Scott’s efforts since her father’s passing include the sale of the Carr Gymnasium to the Columbus Soccer Organization, which hopes to use it as an indoor soccer venue. Scott is now looking for investment partners to renovate other areas, including the old cafeteria and teachers’ lounge. The 72-year-old school, which has been designated as a state landmark in 2018, closed in 2011. Berry’s purchase of the facility  continues to breathe new life into the old school complex and serves as inspiration for Franklin Academy, which saw its last day as a school last Friday.

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