A rose to organizers Mike and Jackie Savage and everyone who turned out to make Caledonia’s inaugural Fourth of July Parade a star-spangled success. Since moving to Caledonia 31 years ago, the Savages always wanted a parade to celebrate Independence Day. They finally got the ball rolling themselves, acquiring a permit from the town’s board of aldermen. Because the couple promoted the event on social media and word of mouth, the turnout was anybody’s guess. By the time of the parade, more than 40 groups had signed up to participate in all sorts of conveyances – everything from tricycles, bicycles, four wheelers, ATVs, trucks and vintage cars – adding a small-town charm to a patriotic day. The success of the parade is a testament to the community spirit Caledonia has long been known for. We applaud the Savages for their efforts and all those who turned out for this special celebration.
A rose to The Southside Blues Festival, a two-day event which wraps up today at Townsend Park. Established by District 4 supervisor Jeff Smith and the late city councilman Fred Stewart in 2006, the event features live music, vendors and a softball tournament, a new wrinkle for the event. In addition to celebrating the cultural aspects of Blues Music, the event is a rallying point for Southside residents – almost an extended family reunion for the community. Those who attend can attest to the quality of the music, food and opportunities the festival provides each year. We thank all those who have volunteered for keeping the Southside Blues Festival a part of the city’s tradition.
A rose to a trio of Mississippi State track-and-field standouts who have qualified to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics, which begin July 24 in Paris. Marco Arop, Curtis Thompson and Navasky Anderson are the latest MSU athletes in a long pipeline of track and field athletes from Starkville to the Olympics. Arop, who will represent Canada, is the reigning world champion in the 800 meters and is making his second trip to the Olympics. Thompson, a member of Team USA, won the NCAA javelin title for MSU in 2016 and has three national javelin championships in his career. Paris will also be Thompson’s second Olympic appearance. Anderson, representing Jamaica, will compete against his MSU teammate Arop in the 800. At the 2022 NCAA Championships, Anderson finished in second place and set the Jamaican national record at 1:45.02 before breaking that record last July with a time of 1:44.70. He is now off to the Olympics for the first time in his career. We’ll be rooting for our Bulldogs at the Paris Games. État de la grêle! (Hail State in French).
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 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
