Photo: Celebrating Union Academy
Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Cherie Labat addresses a group of local and state officials during the unveiling of a monument commemorating the 155th anniversary of Union Academy, the first public school for Black residents in Lowndes County, on Wednesday.
Photo: Starkville storm damage
Landon Nelson, a ground hand with MDR Construction, left, and Cole Stewart work to remove a downed power line from a pile of storm debris Thursday morning. A storm that hit Starkville overnight knocked over trees and left thousands of people without power.
Photo: Dancing to the music
Liliana Abrams, 14 months, dances to the music of Dawn Barham during Noon Tunes in Columbus Wednesday afternoon. Liliana is the daughter of Autumn Wright and Randy Abrams.
Photo: Mississippi House honors retired U.S. Marshal
The Mississippi House of Representatives honored Dennis J. Erby, center, holding resolution, for his service Wednesday as a United States Marshal of the Northern District of Mississippi and congratulate him upon his retirement in the last year.
Photo: Making Columbus beautiful
Tjajuan Boswell, left, a longtime Columbus beautification volunteer, is pictured with Mayor Robert Smith on Tuesday. Boswell has spent years coordinating the planting of flowers and trees throughout Columbus and creating city-wide cleanup efforts. The city recognized Boswell’s efforts for her beautification of Columbus with a marker and tree dedication in the median in front of City Hall.
Photo: Hyde-Smith visits Starkville
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith talks with Ryan Hamrick outside The Mill at MSU in Starkville Saturday. Hyde-Smith, who was appointed to her position when Sen. Thad Cochran retired in April, is running for one of Mississippi’s Senate seats in Tuesday’s election.
Photo: Oscar Lewis retirement
Columbus Police Chief Oscar Lewis, left, is presented a gift by Community Benefit Committee members Rhonda Sanders, Janie Shields and Dennis Tedford during Lewis’ retirement party at the Courtyard by Marriott in Columbus Thursday. Lewis is retiring after roughly 24 years in law enforcement, including 20 with CPD.
Photo: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders visit CAFB
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Khalyn sits inside a T-38C Talon as Capt. James Couch, 49th Fighter Training Squadron assistant upgrading instructor pilot flight commander, talks about some of the key features during a tour of the flight line at Columbus Air Force Base Mississippi on Monday. Numerous members of the cheerleading squad visited the base where they were shown the 14th Flying Training Wing mission and conducted a Cheer to Fitness Clinic for children at the Youth Center.
Photo: New CPD officers
New Columbus Police Department officers recently completed police academy training. Pictured Aug. 10 are, in front from left, Officer Raymond Lee, Director of Training Elizabeth Patrick, Public Relations Officer Rhonda Sanders, Officer Eugene Betts, Officer Haley Lucas, Officer Emily Konior, Officer Tommie Stinson, Officer Aaron Conley and Officer Erica Moody. On the second row are Assistant Chief Fred Shelton, Physical Fitness Instructor Kevin McCrary, Officer John Tulipan, Officer Alvin Ellis, Chief Oscar Lewis, Officer Raymond Cyr, Officer Kenneth Davis and Officer Jonathan Vergne.
Photo: Searching for the scissor-tailed flycatcher
Jeff Harris, bird enthusiast and president of the Oktibbeha Audubon Society, sets up his spotting scope to do some bird watching on Sessums Road in Starkville on Friday. “I’m watching the scissor-tailed flycatcher bird and her babies in the nest, they are a western bird so its unusual for them to be here. People have come from all over the state to see them”, he said.
Photo: Three empty chairs
Three empty chairs sat in front of constituents during a town hall meeting at the Oktibbeha County Chancery Courthouse in Starkville Thursday evening, in what was meant to be a discussion between citizens and their U.S. congressional delegation. Indivisible Golden Triangle staged the town hall, inviting Sen. Thad Cochran, Rep. Gregg Harper and Sen. Roger Wicker. All three declined. The questions constituents would have asked the men were written down and will be delivered to their respective offices.
Photo: Bikin’ for the Blues
Judie Holmes of the Richard E. Holmes II Memorial Foundation, left, and D.J. Jewell of VFW Riders Group Post 4272 meet at the Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market to finalize plans for Saturday’s Bikin’ for the Blues charity motorcycle ride. Check-in starts at 11 a.m. at the site; the ride begins at 1 p.m. Register at columbus-arts.org or call 662-328-2787. A $20 registration fee includes a post-ride cookout, event patch and door prize ticket. The ride is a Blues for Willie Festival event. The Columbus Arts Council’s festival is March 2-4.
Photo: Moment of silence for 9/11
From left, Mayor’s Youth Council volunteers Kerrigan Clark, 15, Reed Hairston, 17, and Christina Clark, 16, observe a moment of silence during the 9/11 Disaster Prep Rally at the Columbus Soccer Complex Sunday.
Photo: A prayer for first responders
First Baptist Church of Columbus pastor Sean Parker, Kingdom Vision International pastor R.J. Matthews, Fairview Baptist Church pastor Breck Ladd and Genesis Church pastor Darren Leach stand together at a multi-church service at the Columbus Riverwalk Sunday in remembrance of 9/11.
Photo: Peace Project launch
Johannah Jones-Owusu demonstrates painting “peace rocks” Sept. 1 at the Rosenzweig Arts Center in Columbus to promote the Columbus Arts Council’s Peace Project kickoff set for 8-10 a.m. Saturday.
Photo: Practice makes ‘purr’-fect
Hannah Leach, 8, and Olivia Anderson, 8, read books to cats up for adoption at the Oktibbeha County Humane Society during Book Buddies on Saturday.
Photo: A Goose and her goslings
Local fans of Mother Goose give her a big hug during the Mother Goose Picnic held at the Lee Home Friday.
Photo: First day of school
Landen Sparks, 4, holds his mother’s hand as he walks up to Joe Cook Elementary for his first day of Pre-K this morning. Landen is the son of Eulanda and Columbus Municipal School District board member Frederick Sparks of Columbus.
Photo: Discover Downtown Scavenger Hunt winners
Winners of the recent Discover Downtown Scavenger Hunt are from left to right: Kimone Simmons (second place), Cooper Goodman (first place), and Pamela Brownlee (third place).