A rose of condolence to the family and friends of Spencer Perkins, who died Friday. Roses also go out to community members for their support of the Perkins family as their son remained in the hospital for five days after a hunting accident. The Perkins family thanked “the thousands” who prayed for them, as they cope with the ordeal.
A Facebook prayer page was started the night of the accident; it now has thousands of fans. Local churches and schools also prayed for Spencer and his family. His school, Heritage Academy, postponed many activities, to show its respects for the family”s plight.
Roses to local teachers who go above and beyond the call of duty, spending an average of $200 a year out of their own pockets to supplement their classroom materials. As budgets get tighter, the needs of the classroom do not shrink with them. So teachers reach even more into their own wallets for supplies.
A thorn to U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, the Democratic incumbent for Mississippi”s 1st District Congressional seat, for citing The Dispatch in his recent ad campaign against challenger Republican Alan Nunnelee.
The Childers ad attacks Nunnelee for supporting an across-the board national sales tax, which would replace the sales tax. The attributes “Commercial Dispatch Online” as one of its sources claiming Nunnelee supports the so-called “fair tax.” The Childers campaign actually excerpted an anonymous online response to a story on The Dispatch website. The story was about a Childers” campaign stop in Columbus and made no mention of Nunnelee or taxes.
A rose to the Columbus City Council for reinstating its previous funding allocation to the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library. The library stood to lose four employees if the city went through with plans to reduce its share of library funding from $250,000 to $225,000. The city, facing a deficit itself, has made cuts nearly across the board. But cutting library funding would have meant the library losing a State Library Commission personnel grant, which contributes an average $100,000 annually. We commend the city for its prudent decision-making, protecting a valuable asset to the community.
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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