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Friday | May 29, 2020

Manslaughter charge dropped against Canyon Boykin

AG’s Office will not try case against CPD officer who fatally shot Ricky Ball in 2015
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com
Nearly five years after the
fatal police shooting of a Co-
lumbus man during a traffic
stop, the Mississippi Attorney
General’s Office has dismissed
charges against former Colum-
bus police officer Canyon Boy-
kin.
Boykin, 30, was indicted
for manslaughter in 2016 for
the Oct. 16, 2015 shooting of
26-year-old Ricky Ball.
Jim Waide of Tupelo, along
with Jackson-based attorney
Jeff Reynolds, is representing
Boykin. Waide said Reynolds
had spoken to prosecutors with
Boykin Waide
the AG’s Office who said they
planned to ask newly-elected
Attorney General Lynn Fitch
to dismiss the charges several
months ago, but that neither of
them had heard any word since.
He learned of the dismissal on
Thursday from the media, but it
didn’t come as a surprise to him.
“They didn’t have anything
to go trial on,” Waide said.
Representatives from the
AG’s Office did not respond to
The Dispatch by press time.
Ball was the passenger in
a vehicle that Boykin and two
other officers pulled over in
North Columbus. When Ball
ran from the vehicle, Boykin
chased, and eventually shot
him.
Boykin, who is white,
claimed Ball, an African Amer-
ican, pointed a weapon at him
and that he shot in self-de-
fense. However, neither Boy-
kin nor the other two officers
at the scene turned on their
body cameras. Investigators
later found a weapon at the
scene that had been reported
stolen from another police offi-
cer’s home.
Waide said it was a “shame”
what happened to Ball, but that
there was never any evidence
that Boykin shot for any rea-
son other than self-defense.
“They found a pistol on the
guy,” Waide said. “There was
just nothing to contradict what
the police officer said about
it. They had to have some ev-
idence to go to trial. Just the
fact that the guy was killed is
not enough to make a criminal
case.”
He added he believes Boy-
kin was indicted because he is
white and Ball was black.
“This comes at a time when
the race issue is so prominent.
I guess this Minnesota thing
illustrates it,” Waide said, re-
ferring to a case in March of
this year when a police offi-
cer in Minnesota was filmed
holding a knee on an Afri-
can-American suspect’s neck
for minutes until the suspect
died. “It’s no wonder why the
black community’s upset with
the police officers looking at
the Minnesota case.”
However, because of inci-
dents like that, Waide argued,
some police officers who were
See BOYKIN, 3A

Professor: African
More than 260 people cited for curfew, other Americans in
shelter-in-place violations in Golden Triangle rural areas take
Columbus issued 134 citations
fewer pandemic
total during pandemic lockdown precautions than
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
those in urban areas
ialtman@cdispatch.com
Recent violence
Law enforcement officers in the Golden Tri-
angle issued at least 260 citations for violations against blacks could be
of curfew and other temporary restrictions im-
plemented in the wake of the COVID-19 pan-
byproduct of virus fears
demic — about half of which were written in BY SLIM SMITH
the city of Columbus alone. ssmith@cdispatch.com
Starting in late March, local municipalities
began passing 10 p.m-6 a.m. curfews and lim- Dr. Anthony Neal
iting the number of people who could gather lives in Atlanta, but
in groups to help spread the curb of the virus. in his role as an as-
The bulk of the restrictions followed Gov. Tate sistant professor of
Reeves, who issued executive orders closing philosophy at Mis-
businesses considered “nonessential” and pro- sissippi State Uni-
hibiting individuals from gathering in groups versity he makes the
of more than 10 (the order later widened to almost 300-mile trip
groups of more than 20). from his home to Neal
See CITATIONS, 6A Starkville twice a week.
On Thursday, Neal was the fea-
tured guest in MSU’s Institute for
the Humanities online interview
Number of citations issued for violation series hosted by the institute’s di-
of shelter-in-place orders and curfews rector, Julia Osman.
In the hour-plus-long interview
■ Columbus - 134
on the subject, “Experiencing
■ Lowndes County - 18
Blackness during the Pandemic,”
■ Starkville - 49
Neal shared his thoughts on CO-
■ Oktibbeha County - 34
VD-19’s unique impact on the black
■ West Point - 25
community.
■ Clay County - fewer than 12
How the black community sees
and responds to the virus is not
See NEAL, 3A

Insurance agent
Kyle Chandler, of
Galloway-Chan-
Clay supes double employee insurance
dler-McKinney
Insurance, goes
over insurance
deductible, brace for hike in premium costs
BY GARRICK HODGE health insurance policies: one from
premiums with the ghodge@cdispatch.com
Clay County Board Blue Cross Blue Shield and an addi-
of Supervisors tional gap policy.
WEST POINT — ­ The Clay Coun-
Thursday in West The premiums for Blue Cross Blue
ty Board of Supervisors renewed
Point. The board ap-
the county’s Group Health Policy on Shield will increase 25 percent, Gallo-
proved a renewal of way-Chandler-McKinney Insurance
the county’s Group Thursday, offsetting a rise in premi-
ums by doubling the employee deduct- Agent Kyle Chandler said, while the
Health Policy Thurs-
ible. gap policy premiums will decrease
day despite a rise
in both premiums All county employees, which range by 15 percent. Premiums for each
and deductibles. in total from about 84 to 90 covered employee are covered 100 percent by
Garrick Hodge/Dispatch Staff workers at a given time, have two See CLAY COUNTY, 6A

WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

1 What building method of gardening is done MEETINGS
without soil? June 1: Lowndes
2 The 16 feathers on a shuttlecock are taken from County Board of
the left wing of what kind of bird? Supervisors, 9 a.m.,
3 Which California city was the destination of the
County Courthouse
first commercial air flight carrying a passenger,
which left Chicago on July 2, 1927? June 1: West Point
Kameron Wright 4 Which television series revolves around a con- Board of Supervisors,
cierge doctor making house calls in the Hamptons? 9 a.m., Courthouse
Third grade, Annunciation
5 Which First Lady was a reporter and photogra- June 2: Columbus

86 Low 64
pher for the “Washington-Times Herald,” earning
City Council, 5 p.m.,
High $42.50 week?
Municipal Complex,
Mostly sunny, t-storm in spots Answers, 6B stream live at face-
Full forecast on
book.com/CityofCo-
page 3A.
lumbusMS/
June 4: West Point
INSIDE Board of Supervisors,
9 a.m. Courthouse
Classifieds 6B Obituaries 5A
Comics 3B Opinions 4A June 9: West Point
Crossword 4B Religion 4B Calvin Beaver works at Jordan’s Board of Selectmen,
141st Year, No. 68 Dear Abby 3B Barbershop in Columbus. 5:30 p.m. City Hall

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Minneapolis police station torched

amid George Floyd protest
Protests first erupted
Tuesday, a day after Twitter adds ‘glorifying violence’
man’s death in
confrontation with
warning to Trump tweet
police captured on
widely seen citizen video
BY TIM SULLIVAN AND AMY FORLITI
The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — Cheering
protesters torched a Minneapolis
police station that the department
was forced to abandon as three
days of violent protests spread to
nearby St. Paul and angry demon-
strations flared across the U.S. over
the death of George Floyd, a hand-
cuffed black man who pleaded for
air as a white police officer kneeled
on his neck.
A police spokesman confirmed
late Thursday that staff had evac-
uated the 3rd Precinct station, the
focus of many of the protests, “in
the interest of the safety of our per-
sonnel” shortly after 10 p.m. Lives-
tream video showed the protesters
entering the building, where fire
alarms blared and sprinklers ran as
blazes were set.
Protesters could be seen setting
fire to a Minneapolis Police Depart-
ment jacket.
Late Thursday, President Don-
ald Trump blasted the “total lack
of leadership” in Minneapolis. “Just
spoke to Governor Tim Walz and
told him that the Military is with
him all the way. Any difficulty and
we will assume control but, when
the looting starts, the shooting
starts,” he said on Twitter.
A visibly tired and frustrated
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey
made his first public appearance
of the night at City Hall near 2 a.m.
Friday and took responsibility for
evacuating the precinct, saying it
had become too dangerous for of-
ficers there. As Frey continued, a
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Twitter has added a warning to one of President
Donald J. Trump’s tweets about protests in Minneapolis, saying it vio-
lated the platform’s rules about “glorifying violence.”
Trump, a prolific Twitter user, has been at war with the company
since earlier this week, when it applied fact checks to two of his tweets
about mail-in ballots.
The third tweet to be flagged started as a message of support for the
governor of Minnesota, where there have been three days of violent
protests over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who
pleaded for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck.
Trump added at the end of his tweet, “Any difficulty and we will as-
sume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
Twitter did not remove the tweet, saying it had determined it might
be in the public interest to have it remain accessible. It does that only for
tweets by elected and government officials. A user looking at Trump’s
timeline would have to click to see the original tweet.
On Thursday, Trump targeted Twitter and other social media compa-
nies by signing an executive order challenging the lawsuit protections
that have served as a bedrock for online free speech.
reporter cut across loudly with a pass, Floyd slowly stops talking and
question: “What’s the plan here?” moving. The 3rd Precinct covers
“With regard to?” Frey respond- the portion of south Minneapolis
ed. Then he added: “There is a lot of where Floyd was arrested.
pain and anger right now in our city. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz earli-
I understand that ... What we have er Thursday activated the National
seen over the past several hours Guard at the Minneapolis mayor’s
and past couple of nights here in request, but it wasn’t immediately
terms of looting is unacceptable.” clear when and where the Guard
He defended the city’s lack of was being deployed, and none could
engagement with looters — only be seen during protests in Minneap-
a handful of arrests across the olis or St. Paul. The Guard tweeted
first two nights of violence — and minutes after the precinct burned
said, “We are doing absolutely ev- that it had activated more than 500
erything that we can to keep the soldiers across the metro area.
peace.” He said Guard members The Guard said a “key objective”
were being stationed in locations to was to make sure fire departments
help stem looting, including banks, could respond to calls, and said in
grocery stores and pharmacies. a follow-up tweet it was “here with
Protests first erupted Tuesday, the Minneapolis Fire Department”
a day after Floyd’s death in a con- to assist. But no move was made to
frontation with police captured on put out the 3rd Precinct fire. Assis-
widely seen citizen video. On the tant Fire Chief Bryan Tyner said
video, Floyd can be seen pleading fire crews could not safely respond
as Officer Derek Chauvin presses to fires at the precinct station and
his knee against him. As minutes some surrounding buildings.

Mitch McConnell stresses need to wear face masks in public

‘There should be no stigma attached to wearing a mask’
BY BRUCE SCHREINER
The Associated Press
W a d -
ing into a
p ol it i c a l l y
charged
issue, Sen-
ate Major-
ity Leader
Mitch Mc- McConnell
Connell on
Thursday preached the
importance of wearing
masks in public as the na-
tion’s economy reopens
from the “cataclysmic”
damage inflicted by the
coronavirus pandemic.
During a tour of hos-
pitals this week in his
home state of Kentucky,
the Republican leader has
stressed wearing masks
in public and following
social distancing guide-
lines.
“There should be no
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
stigma attached to wear-
ing a mask,” McConnell
said during an appear-
ance in Owensboro. “And
even among age groups
that are least likely to ei-
ther contract this disease
or die from it, you could
be a carrier. So I think
what we all need to do is
say, ‘OK, I’m going to take
responsibility not only for
myself but for others.’”
McConnell, who is in
his late 70s and is in the
midst of his own reelec-
tion campaign, has worn
masks at his appearances.
On Thursday, he stuffed
the face covering into
his coat jacket to speak.
He donned it again after-
ward.
His mask-wearing is
in stark contrast to the
unwillingness of a key po-
litical ally to do so. Pres-
ident Donald Trump has
refused to wear face cov-
erings, and polls find that
conservative Americans
are more likely to forgo
them. McConnell did not
mention the president
while touting the use of
masks.
Kentucky Gov. Andy
Beshear has repeatedly
stressed the use of masks
as people increasingly
venture out as the econo-
my gradually gets reboot-
ed.
“This is not a battle
between political parties
or ideologies,” the Dem-
ocratic governor said re-
cently. “It’s plain, basic
public health guidance
that’s out there from the
CDC and from every-
where else. It’s the same
guidance on the federal
and on the state level. And
it’s just smart, right?”
Even as government
restrictions to combat the
virus are easing, the fall-
out reached a flashpoint
in Kentucky last weekend
when armed protesters
gathered at the State Cap-
itol. Protesters swarmed
outside the Governor’s
Mansion and hanged
Beshear in effigy near the
statehouse.
The rally was billed
as a defense of constitu-
tional rights, including
the right to bear arms,
but turned into a protest
against coronavirus re-
strictions and Beshear’s
administration, according
to media reports. Beshear
condemned the rally and
vowed not to back down.
McConnell denounced
the protesters’ actions as
“completely outrageous
and unacceptable.”
On Thursday, McCon-
nell termed the pandemic
as a “cataclysmic event”
for the economy as busi-
nesses shuttered to try to
contain the disease.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 3A

Testimony concludes in LCSD teacher hearing

Board could have her contract Thursday morning.
A total of more than 10 wit-
until late August to nesses, including Suddith, gave
their testimonies over the past
decide whether to two days.
The hearing will remain
uphold non-renewal open, said hearing officer Perry
Sansing, until the hearing tran-
of Suddith’s contract scripts are finished and lawyers
representing Suddith and the
BY YUE STELLA YU school district file all the briefs.
syu@cdispatch.com
No more oral arguments will be
presented.
The second
Following a tentative sched-
day of the hear- ule, the hearing will officially
ing surrounding conclude on July 20, Sansing
Lowndes County said, after which he will make a
School District recommendation for the board
teacher Melissa to consider when deciding
Suddith’s ability whether to uphold the non-re-
to keep her job Suddith newal. The board will have 30
has drawn to an days, starting from the day after
end after three more witnesses the hearing concludes, to make
testified on the non-renewal of a decision, he said.
Suddith’s contract was
non-renewed in April, an action
she believed district officials re-
taliated against Suddith, Rich-
dith’s arguments didn’t hold
water because all those who
she believed to be retaliatory
following a series of grievances
ardson and her and threatened
“various courses of actions” in
“bullied” her are no longer with
the district — including former
she had filed over the past two
years and a lawsuit she jointly
multiple letters if they pursued
their bullying grievances.
superintendent Lynn Wright,
former assistant superintendent
filed with two other teachers — “We were scared we were Robert Byrd and former Caledo-
Norma Sanders and Anne Rich- going to get fired, because we nia High School principal Andy
ardson — against the school were warned that if we contin- Stevens.
board. ued to do that, we would lose “This lady is basically saying,
But Jeff Smith, LCSD board our positions,” she said.
‘The men that bullied and didn’t
attorney, argued Sanders said Smith, who
want me to teach are the reason
on both days cross-examined her as the board
that Suddith’s I’m being fired,’” he said. “This
attorney, was also among those
non-renewal did she filed grievances against and is perhaps as strong a case (of
not result from felt threatened by during email non-renewal) as I’ve seen.”
her complaints exchanges presented Wednes- Suddith’s lawyer, Preston
against former day. She teared up multiple Rideout of Greenwood, offered
school officials. times during Smith’s question- no comment other than he ap-
Sanders, who Smith ing on Thursday. preciated the chance to pres-
also filed griev- Smith denied he ever threat- ent his arguments in a public
ances against former school ened Sanders or Suddith in setting. Suddith could not be
administrators over the years, those letters. Regarding the reached for comment by press
testified Thursday. She said hearing, he said he thinks Sud- time.

Governor: Mississippi reopening plan has ‘freedom with risk’

‘COVID-19 is a deadly enemy that is still in our midst. We asking people who are
medically vulnerable to
will be allowed as long as
hospitals reserve at least
313 cases and 18 deaths
from the numbers report-
live in a dangerous time, and it is up to all of us to protect remain at home as much
as possible, even when
25 percent of their space
for COVID-19 patients.
ed a day earlier.
The number of corona-
ourselves and to protect our loved ones.’ his “safer at home” order
expires Monday. It will
“That will help us to
honor and achieve our
virus infections is thought
Gov. Tate Reeves to be far higher because
be replaced by a “safe re- original goal — to prevent
BY EMILY WAGSTER it is up to all of us to pro- plexes are allowed to re- turn” order, which will be our health care system many people have not
PET TUS tect ourselves and to pro- open Monday, although in place until at least June from becoming over- been tested, and studies
The Associated Press tect our loved ones.” concession stands will 15. whelmed,” Reeves said. suggest people can be in-
The Republican gov- remain closed. Indoor The new order sets The governor ordered fected with the virus with-
JACK- ernor said that although entertainment venues two rules for group gath- schools to close in mid- out feeling sick. For most
SON — new cases of the virus such as movie theaters, erings: March. He said that people, the coronavirus
Mississippi continue to be confirmed, museums, bowling alleys ■ For situations in starting Monday, schools
Gov. Tate causes mild or moderate
Mississippi has had a “pla- and trampoline parks also which social distancing may open their buildings
Reeves said symptoms that clear up
teau” rather than a sharp may reopen, with limits is possible, indoor gath- to make up for time lost
Wednes - during distance learning. within weeks. For others,
spike, and its hospitals on the number of custom- erings may have up to 50
day that he have not been near capac- ers. people and outdoor gath- “Local governments especially older adults
will allow ity. The state is also fac- Reeves set statewide erings may have up to may be more strict, but and people with existing
Reeves
all types ing economic problems, restrictions that took 100. we believe that this is the health problems, it can
of businesses to reopen including high unemploy- effect in early April. He ■ For situations in best path forward for our cause severe symptoms
Monday but they must ment. has been easing them in which social distancing state,” Reeves said. and be fatal.
follow safety guidelines to “Freedom with risk is recent weeks, already al- is not possible — which, The state Health De- The department said
try to minimize spread of better than a prolonged lowing reopening of bar- “let’s be honest, is most partment said Wednesday at least 1,767 cases of
the new coronavirus. shutdown that threat- bershops, beauty salons, of the time,” Reeves said that Mississippi — with a
the virus have been con-
“This does not mean ens livelihoods and lives tattoo parlors and casinos — indoor gatherings are population of about 3 mil-
the threat is gone,” through government ac- and allowing restaurants firmed in long-term care
limited to 20 people and lion — had at least 14,044
Reeves said. “COVID-19 tion,” Reeves said. “I trust to resume dine-in ser- outdoor gatherings may confirmed cases and 670 facilities such as nursing
is a deadly enemy that is you. I trust the people of vices with limits on cus- have up to 50. deaths from the coronavi- homes, with at least 341
still in our midst. We live Mississippi.” tomers. He said all types of rus as of Tuesday evening. virus-related deaths in
in a dangerous time, and Outdoor sports com- Reeves said he is health care procedures That was an increase of those facilities.

Boykin
Continued from Page 1A
justified in shooting Afri-
can Americans are being
unjustly indicted. He said
Boykin was a “victim” of
those attitudes.
Boykin was fired from
Columbus Police Depart-
ment after the incident
for violating several de-
partment policies, in-
cluding not activating his
body camera and having
an unauthorized passen-
ger in the vehicle. He lat-
er filed a federal lawsuit
against the city of Colum-
bus, which was settled
out of court.
A Lowndes County
grand jury indicted Boy-
kin for manslaughter,
and he was served the
indictment in September
2016, about three months
after District Attorney
Scott Colom announced
he was turning the inves-
tigation over to the AG’s
Office, then under the di-
rection of Jim Hood.
Waide said he is
pleased with the dismiss-
al and that normally pros-
ecutors without evidence
in a case will try to have
defendants plea to lesser
charges to “save face.”
“That’s what a pros-
ecutor is supposed to
do, they’re supposed
to dismiss a case when
they see there’s no ev-
idence of it,” he said.
“It’s the first case I’ve
known about with Attor-
ney General Fitch, and
that’s probably going to
be her attitude. I know
that’s (Lowndes County
District Attorney) Scott
Colom’s attitude, that
if you don’t have a case,
you ought to dismiss it.
I wish other prosecutors
would learn that that’s
what they ought to be
doing. That’s the honest
thing.”
Colom announced on
Facebook he will hold a
10 a.m. press conference
today at the Lowndes
County Courthouse to
discuss the AG’s Office
decision to dismiss the
charge against Boykin.

Neal
Continued from Page 1A
monolithic, he said, based
on the differences he sees
in his home in Atlanta
and his native Mississippi
as he travels to MSU on
those twice-a-week trips.
“I think the black
community in our major
cities take (COVID-19)
very seriously, more seri-
ously than what I see in
rural areas,” Neal said. “I
think a lot of that has to
do with how information
is disseminated. In rural
areas, people tend to get
their news from local TV,
whereas in urban areas,
people are far more like-
ly to watch the national
news and other sources.
They’re getting updates
on our phones all the time
and following the news
very closely. I think peo-
ple living in rural areas
the black community.
“When we talk about
blackness, we are talking
about those things that
are exterior to the culture
and many of them have to
do with the law, have to do
with other cultures that
are tangential to black
reality and have created
a certain type of environ-
ment that, in many ways,
facilitate a certain type of
oppressive moment,” he
said.
Neal said he sees dis-
turbing parallels between
today and the Spanish Flu
pandemic of 1918.
“In 1895, you had the
establishment of the sep-
arate but equal policy in
America, which estab-
lished separate hospitals,
separate schools and
things like that,” Neal
back, with poor whites
saying black are overus-
ing the resources. The
thought is, ‘Black people
are causing these prob-
lems. They have to go.’
… 1919 is what histori-
an Rayford Logan called
‘The Black Nadir,’ the red
summer, the worst year
for race relations with all
these lynchings.”
Neal said history sug-
gests the recent murders
of black men Ahmoud
Arber in Georgia and
George Floyd in Minneap-
olis may not be incidents
entirely unrelated to the
current pandemic.
“You see what hap-
pened in 1919 and then
you see what’s happening
now,” he said. “This is not
a new phenomenon. So,
SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates

have less access to infor- said. “Lo and behold, today, in the black com-
peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Fri. Sat.
7:19p
mation and that shapes in 1918, the flu comes. munity it has created al-
Major
Minor
6:53a
12:55p 2:04p
their responses.” The flu, as we know now, Major 6:53a 7:46a
most a dystopian feeling, Minor 1:54a 2:34a
As a result, Neal said hit the black communi-
‘Now, I’m dealing with
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
blacks in urban areas ty worse than the white
the pandemic, but I also

are more likely to wear
masks, observe social dis-
tancing and follow recom-
mendations of health ex-
perts than blacks in more
rural areas.
Neal said, based on
history, COVID-19 could
create a backlash against
community. Why? The in-
frastructure wasn’t there.
Black hospitals were over-
whelmed. White doctors
and nurses wouldn’t see
black patients.
“You began to see un-
rest,” he added. “In 1919,
you start to get this push-
have to be conscious of
these exterior problems
as well.’”
To listen to the full in-
terview, go to the Missis-
sippi State University In-
stitute for the Humanities’
Facebook page.
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Tell your child a bedtime story.

Opinion
4A FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

Dispatch
The
BIRNEY IMES SR. Editor/Publisher 1922-1947

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

BETH PROFFITT Advertising Director
MICHAEL FLOYD Circulation/Production Manager
MARY ANN HARDY Controller

MUSINGS
Kay’s letter
Editor’s note: The following was written on
May 18.

A
s some may
know, I have
“a thing for let-
ters.” I write them, re-
ceive. read and reread
them; I save them,
even write home about
them. Last week, mid
“lockdown,” I received
a letter I had written
in 1995! It had come
back to me decades
later, having made Marion Whitley
ocean crossings (by
air) and zig zag wanderings in New York City’s
postal zones. I’ve gone soft in the head trying to
follow its path, when it’s hard enough telling one
day from the next during the Pandemic of 2020.
Start at the beginning? I could try that, nothing
else works, (certainly not the smudged post
marks that makes a 3 look like an 8... and ends
up not mattering either way.)
So, I had arrived in the Fiji Islands as a Peace
Corps Volunteer in 1995, ready for the challenge
of a new job and life in a new (tropical island)
culture and anxious to share the details with
Kay, a fellow teacher back in Harlem. Back then,
Air Mail letters were written on near weightless
paper, not intended for multiple revisions or
reroutings, but I filled the red white and blue
bordered “Par Avion” envelope to the bursting
with details of my new adventure and sent it off
to Kay at her Bleeker Street address in America!
And back it came to me! An official red ink
hand commanded: “Return to Sender Unable
to forward.” I was miffed! I’d spent all that
Thanksgiving 1995 afternoon describing my
new life. It was all in that Par Avion envelope
on which I’d spent 63 Fijian cents! Unfair! In a
huff, I scratched out the Bleeker Street address
and all the other markings on the envelope, I
added that of the public school where we’d been
teaching together. The secretary there would
have official board of education updates on the
address of one Kay Rogers.
(Missing evidence... I wish I had, but I don’t,
the envelope in which the letter in its original
wrapping got from P.S. 92 to Kay’s new place on
Bleeker, but no matter! There’s more to come.
Ms. Secretary had completed the mission as I’d
known she would.)
Decades passed. I left Fiji, feted with floral
leis and wishing I could have fulfilled a fraction
of those 1995 dreams. Kay retired, we spoke
occasionally, not often. Lives pivot and turn. I
moved, three blocks north to where I’m living
now. Last week I got a box full of mail, appeals
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
for donations to veterans, police, animals as I try Looking at two statements to make sure justice is real for the drop someone onto earth from
to distinguish one day, one month from what’s Floyd family, that the protections this other civilization. Then we tell
coming next, and in the lot what seems to be... on one issue and the rule of law are real for ev- them about George Floyd and have
So she’d got the Fiji letter, early 1996, judged Statement #1: ery American, that officers in the them read these two statements
it a “keeper” till 2013-(18?), when, figuring I “These THUGS are dishonor- Floyd case must be held account- without telling them who said each
must have returned, she sent it off again to my ing the memory of George Floyd, able…” “If we’re not committed one. Imagine the look of astonish-
old address only to have it returned to her. Once and I won’t let that happen. Just as a nation, with every ounce of ment when we later tell them the
again, she shelved it... ‘til decluttering during spoke to Governor Tim Walz and purpose in our beings — not just President of the United States, the
the pandemic of May 2020, she took up a fresh told him that the Military is with to binding up this wound in hope most powerful man in the world,
envelope. A covering note warned of still anoth- him all the way. Any difficulty and that somehow the scab once again said statement #1, not #2.
er enclosure inside, and of its fragile condition we will assume control but, when will cover things over — but to Yes, I excerpted both state-
... “it’s falling apart.” I gathered up the pieces the looting starts, the shooting treat the underlying injury, we’re ments and provided more of
from the rug... starts. Thank you!” never going to eventually heal,” Biden’s. I don’t think that matters.
....the pieces of the red, white, and blue Statement #2: Statement #1 is from President There’s nothing in the parts I left
Par Avion envelope, holding, somewhat, that “We can’t ignore that we are Trump. Statement #2 is an excerpt out of President Trump’s tweet
Thanksgiving letter from 1995. in a country with an open wound from the statement released by Joe that, in my mind, would legitimize
Marion Whitley, who grew up in Caledonia right now — a wound far older Biden. the parts I showed here - or make
and Columbus, lives in Manhattan where she and deeper than…George Floyd’s Now. Let’s assume there is in- them the least bit excusable.
reads, writes and remembers. Her email address killing — and his brutal, brutal telligent life elsewhere in the uni- Paul Mack
is Whijmar8@aol.com. death captured on film. …We need verse, and that we could somehow Columbus

RACE IN AMERICA
Bird-watching while black
A
lifelong
bird-watcher
ventured into
a section of New
York’s Central Park,
the “Ramble,” at
7:30 a.m., hoping
to catch a glimpse
of waterfowl. In
previous days, he
had spied scarlet
tanagers, ovenbirds
and mourning war- Mona Charen
blers. On Memorial
Day, as he waited
quietly, an unleashed spaniel
scurried into the area — as
happens frequently in the park
during quarantine — though a
posted sign notifies owners that police. “Please call the police,”
all dogs must be leashed.
The bird-watcher asked the
owner to please leash her dog.
She was less than cooperative.
According to the birder, Chris-
tian Cooper, the conversation
went like this: “ME: Ma’am,
dogs in the Ramble have to be
on the leash at all times. The
sign is right there. HER: The
dog runs are closed. He needs
his exercise.” After more refus-
als from her to leash the pet, he the dispatcher, she ramps up
said, “Look, if you’re
going to do what you
want, I’m going to
do what I want, but
you’re not going to
like it” and reached
for dog treats that
he keeps for such
situations. Alarmed,
she yelled, “Don’t
you touch my dog!”
That’s when Mr.
Cooper began to
record the encoun-
ter. The dog owner,
whose name, coincidentally, is
Amy Cooper, demanded that he
stop recording her, and when he
refused, threatened to call the
Mr. Cooper responded. Dialing
her phone, she warned Cooper,
saying, “I’m going to tell them
there’s an African American
man threatening my life.”
Wait, it gets worse. She
reaches the police and twice re-
counts that she is in the Ramble
and that “an African American
man” is threatening her and
her dog. Apparently dissatisfied
by the response this gets from
the panic in her voice and cries:
“I’m being threatened by a man
in the Ramble. Please send the
cops immediately!”
The poor cocker spaniel,
all this while, was struggling
and twisting and being forced
to rise to his hind legs as Ms.
Cooper kept an iron grip on his
collar.
Since the release of the vid-
eo, Amy Cooper has been fired
by Franklin Templeton where
she had been an insurance
portfolio manager, lost her dog
to the rescue group from whom
she adopted him, and become
an overnight symbol of racism.
Frankly, I had heard about
the consequences before I
watched the video and my
anti-vigilante antennae were
quivering. But the video is
jaw-dropping.
It’s possible that Ms. Cooper
was overwrought because she
misinterpreted Mr. Cooper’s
comment that “you’re not going
to like” what he would do next.
But he reached into his pocket
and produced what? A gun? A
knife? No. Dog treats. Maybe
her imagination ran wild and
she feared that he was planning
to poison the pooch. But even if
that’s the case, she could have
picked up her dog and gone
home. Instead, she played upon
racial stereotypes of “scary
black men” to make a false
claim to police and, it’s safe to
assume, to intimidate him. He
merely asked her to respect the
park rules. There was zero rea-
son to call the police. There was
zero reason to tell the dispatch-
er that the man was African
American.
As someone who has written
about false accusations of rac-
ism (though I’ve never denied
that racism is real), these cell-
phone videos are grim remind-
ers that old-fashioned white
racism continues to have deadly
consequences. Eric Garner.
Ahmaud Arbery. George Floyd,
who died in Minneapolis this
week after an officer held him
down with a knee on his neck.
They and others are evidence
of what actor Will Smith said
in 2016: “Racism isn’t getting
worse. It’s getting filmed.” (The
four officers who were involved
in Floyd’s case have been fired
and the FBI is investigating.)
Amy Cooper told CNN
that her “entire life” is being
destroyed by this. She has apol-
ogized and claimed not to be a
racist. Does anyone ever admit
to racism? I think even David
Duke claims that he’s merely
standing up for white people.
Still, Amy Cooper can
salvage some grace from this
awful fall from it. She can start
by confessing that, yes, she is
a racist, and vowing to change.
She can volunteer for Big Broth-
ers/Big Sisters of America or
the Success Academy or some
other organization that works
to make life better for African
American kids. She can study
up on the history of slavery and
Jim Crow. And she can send
a check to the ASPCA while
she’s at it. She understand-
ably feels that her life is being
“destroyed,” but if she handles
this right, it could be vastly
improved. She could become a
symbol of redemption instead
of sin.
Mona Charen is a Senior
Fellow at the Ethics and Public
Policy Center.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 5A

Mississippi physician: ‘One wild weekend’ can spread virus

BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — Social gather-
ings are fueling the spread of
the new coronavirus in parts
of Mississippi, the governor
and the state health officer said
Thursday.
They said people need to
follow public health guidelines
even if they are tired of doing
so.
“Every county is one wild
weekend from falling off the
cliff,” said Dr. Thomas Dobbs,
the health officer.
Dobbs said south Mississip-
pi’s Wayne County has seen a
sharp rise in COVID-19 cases
since mid-May, including an in-
crease in those hospitalized. He
said ventilators at Wayne Gen-
eral Hospital were “maxed out”
Thursday, although hospitals in
other parts of the state still had
ventilators available.
Dobbs said he spoke to hos-
pital leaders and other officials
in Wayne County on Thursday
morning and they said peo-
ple have had large gatherings
where social-distancing guide-
lines were ignored. Dobbs said
there’s evidence that some of
those gatherings were points of
outbreak.
Dobbs said earlier this week
that a person with COVID-19
attended a funeral this month
in north Mississippi, and the
virus spread to others. The
Health Department released
details Thursday, saying about
100 people attended the funer-
al May 17 in Baldwyn. At least
seven Mississippi residents and
two out-of-state residents who
attended have tested positive
for the virus, and Health De-
partment workers are check-
ing whether other cases can be
traced to that gathering.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves
has been easing restrictions on
businesses, and he will allow
all types of businesses to start
reopening on Monday. Reeves
said Thursday that people need
to take personal responsibility
to slow the spread of the virus,
including wearing masks in
public and maintaining social
distance of at least 6 feet from
others in public.
Reeves acknowledged that
people are attending large gath-
erings.
“There are some things
government just can’t stop,”
Reeves said, although he ac-
knowledged that law enforce-
ment agencies have the power
to break up big groups.
“If you go to a social gather-
ing that has 100 or 200 or 300
people at it, the risks are going
to be higher than if you choose
personally to stay in your
home,” Reeves said. “I don’t
believe that I, as governor, have
the ability to order people to
stay in their homes for months
and months and months on
end.”

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body has been donated to
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the family must provide official
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Monday through Thursday; and
on Friday by 3 p.m. for Sunday
and Monday publication. For
more information, call 662-
328-2471.
Jimmie Turner
NOXUBEE — Jim-
mie Lee Turner, 78,
died May
25, 2020, at
his resi-
dence.
A private
family
gravesides
service
Turner
will be at
2 p.m. Sat-
urday, in Bethel MBC
Cemetery, with Willie
Murray officiating.
Visitation is today from
is from 2-5 p.m. today,
at Carter’s Funeral Ser-
vice. Carter’s Funeral
Service of Macon is
in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mr. Turner was born
Sept. 23, 1941, in Noxu-
bee County, to the late
Fred and Louise Turn-
er. He was formerly
employed with Penick
Organic Company and
was a member of Miller
Chapel MBC.
In addition to his
parents, he was pre-
ceded in death by his
siblings, Annie Murray,
Chester Turner and
Bennie Turner; and one
grandchild.
He is survived by
his wife, Olivia Turner;
children, Sandra May-
berry, Wonda Shelton
both of Macon, Timo-
thy Thomas of Gordo,
Alabama and Angelia
Hill of Brooksville; sib-
lings, Freddie B. Turn-
er of Marietta, Georgia,
Laura Richardson of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
Annie Pearl Turner of
Chicago, Illinois and
Hazel Hayden of Jack-
son; 11 grandchildren;
and seven great-grand-
children.
Raphel Brand
STARKVILLE —
Raphel D. Brand, 55,
died May 25, 2020.
Graveside services
will be at 11 a.m.
Saturday, in Mt. Peiler
Cemetery II. Visitation
is from 2-6 p.m. today at
West Memorial Funeral
Home. West Memo-
rial Funeral Home of
Starkville is in charge
of arrangements.
He is survived by
his wife, Regina Brand;
children, Markitta
Brand and Rashon
Brand; and siblings,
Annette Brown, Oph-
elia Spearmon, Evelyn
Williams, Kareader
Trainer and Henry
Gibson.
Laura Wilkins
DALLAS, Texas —
Laura Harris Wilkins,
92, died May 6, 2020.
Graveside services
will be at 11 a.m.
Saturday, in Sixteen
Section Cemetery. Cen-
tury Hairston Funeral
Home of Starkville is
in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mrs. Wilkins was
born Dec. 29, 1927, in
Oktibbeha County, to
the late Eliga and Annie
Harris.
She is survived by
her children, Deirdre
Kline of Paso Robles,
California,Demarias
O’Banner of Dallas,
Texas and Demetrias
Luscious of Starkville;
four grandchildren; and
four great-grandchil-
dren.
Clyde Williams
STARKVILLE —
Clyde Lee Williams, 60,
died May 24, 2020.
Graveside services
will be at 1 p.m. Sunday,
in St. Paul M.B. Church
Cemetery. Visitation
will be from 1:30-6:30
p.m. at West Memorial
Funeral Home. West
Memorial Funeral
Home of Starkville is
in charge of arrange-
ments.
He is survived by his
wife, Martha Mobley
Williams; children,
Danielle McGee,
MeShonda Lucious,
Shakila Seals and
Clyde James Williams
II; mother, Helen L.
Williams; and siblings,
Patricia Ratliff, Kent
Williams, Roosevelt
Williams and Bennie
Williams.
Gee Hampton
BROOKSVILLE —
Gee Hampton, 66, died
May 23,
2020.
Grave-
side
services
will be
noon Sat-
urday, in Hampton
Hopewell
M.B.
Church cemetery. Vis-
itation is from 2-5 p.m.
today, at Lee-Sykes
Funeral Home. Lee
Sykes Funeral Home of
Columbus is in charge
of arrangements.
Mr. Hampton was
born Oct. 28, 1953, in
Brooksville, to the late
Lucille Johnson Monroe
and Willie B. Hampton.
He was a member of
Hopewell M.B. Church.
In addition to his par-
ents, he was preceded
in death by his chil-
dren, Algene Hampton
Jr. and Trice Hampton;
and brother, Lonnie
Hampton.
AREA OBITUARIES
He is survived by Martin of Los Angeles, Funeral Home. Lee- Home. West Memorial
his children, Algene California, Clara E. Sykes Funeral Home of Funeral Home of West
Hampton, Tamrio Sewell of Temple Hill, Columbus is in charge Point is in charge of
Taylor of Virginia and Maryland and Julius of arrangements. arrangements.
Cleopatra Hampton of Jackson of Olympia Mr. Brown was She is survived by
St. Louis, Missouri; Fields, Illinois. born May 15, 1959, to her children, Gregory
and siblings, Doris J. Charles Dock Brown Ingram and Karen
Tate of Virginia, Betty Sherman Patterson and Flora Beneva Rowe; and siblings,
Shields of Brooksville, NOXUBEE — Sher- Brown. He was a Lula Dee Carter, Willie
Sarah Mosley, Lou Ann man “Rock” Patterson, graduate of S.D. Lee Lou Tyree, Shirley
Hampton both of Co- 68, died High School and Dudley, Sallie Mae Car-
lumbus, Toni Mosley of May 20, Tougaloo College. He ter and Isiah Carter.
California and Gerome 2020. was formerly employed
Hampton of Starkville. Ser- as a sports writer with
Clarion Ledger, The
vices will
Julia Tucker be at 1 Commercial Dispatch,
STARKVILLE — p.m. Sat- Monroe Star-World,
Julia Mae Tucker, 98, urday, at The Valdosta Times,
died May 23, 2020. Noxubee Patterson Florida Times, USA
Graveside services County Today, Gannett News
will be at 2 p.m. Satur- High. Burial will follow Service, Fort Worth
Star-Telegram and
day, in Public Ceme- in Macedonia Ceme-
tery. Visitation is from tery. Visitation is from KKDA Morning Show.
4-6 p.m. today, at West noon-5 p.m. today, at He is survived by
Memorial Funeral Lee-Sykes Funeral his children, Michael
Home. West Memorial Home. Lee-Sykes D. Dora, Ryan Briana
funeral Home of Macon Brown and Rylan
Funeral Home of West
is in charge of arrange- Brooks Brown; sib-
Point is in charge of
ments. lings, Kenneth “Ken-
arrangements.
Mr. Patterson was ny” Anthony Brown
She is survived by
born Oct. 25, 1951, to and Alicia Brown
her children, Mattie
the late Wilford Pat- Young; and two grand-
Parker, R. W. Tucker,
terson Sr. and Mable children.
Vera Tucker, Annie
Sherman and Julia Ann Stewart Patterson. He
Williams; and sib- was a graduate of B.F. Geraldine Ingram
lings, Booker T. Davis, Liddell High School STARKVILLE —
Sylvester Davis and and East Mississippi Geraldine B. Ingram,
Louise Gaines. Community College. 73, died May 18, 2020.
He was formerly Graveside services
employed with Bryan will be at 11 a.m. Sat-
Carrye Jackson Foods. urday, in Bethel Ceme-
CHICAGO, Ill. — tery. Visitation is from
In addition to his
Carrye W. Jackson, 73, noon-6 p.m. today, at
died May 24, 2020, at parents, he was pre-
ceded in death by his West Memorial Funeral
Holy Cross Hospital of
brother, Clinton E.
Chicago.
Patterson.
A private family
He is survived by his
funeral service will
wife, Doris S. Patter-
be at 1 p.m. Sunday,
son; children, LaMan-
in Tibbee Community
da, Laura Morant and
Cemetery. Visitation is
Daniella Hawkins;
from 10-noon Sunday,
siblings, LaVelle Rice,
at Carter’s Funeral Ser-
vices. Carter’s Funeral Panesha Trimble, Car-
nell, Glenn and Wilford
Services of Columbus
is in charge of arrange- Jr. “Boo” Patterson; and
three grandchildren.
ments.
Mrs. Jackson was
Roger Brown
Mary McGairty
born April 29, 1947, in
Columbus, to the late DALLAS, Texas —
Nelson and Bertha Roger Benard Brown,
Smith Jackson. She was 61, died Mary Sutton McGairty, 68
formerly employed with May 18, of Columbus, MS passed away
Clayton and Garden 2020. Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at
Cleaners. Services her residence.
In addition to her will be at A family funeral service will
parents, she was pre- 10 a.m. be Friday, May 29, 2020, at
ceded in death by her Saturday, Lowndes Funeral Home Chapel
siblings, Eliza, Marth, at Sim with Bro. Kenny Gardner
Brown
Estella, Leanna, Julia, Scott Park. officiating. Interment will be at
Joseph and Nelson. Visitation Memorial Gardens Cemetery,
She is survived by is from noon-6 p.m. Columbus, MS, with Lowndes Funeral Home
her siblings, Mary V. today, at Lee-Sykes directing. Friends may view the service live
online at www.lowndesfuneralhome.net.
Mrs. McGairty was born on October 19,
1951, to the late Floyd and Lena Pate Sutton in
Gordo, AL, and married Virgil Wayne McGairty
July 29, 1967, in Aliceville, AL. She worked as a
seamstress at the garment plant for many years.
Mrs. McGairty was a member of Community
Baptist Church, Columbus, MS. She was very
proud of her family and loved spending time with
her grandchildren. She was a loving mother and
grandmother. Mrs. McGairty loved cooking and
gardening her flowers.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. McGairty
was preceded in death by her brothers, Marvin
Sutton, Melvin Sutton and Murray Sutton.
Mrs. McGairty is survived by her husband of
52 years, Virgil Wayne McGairty, Columbus, MS;
sons, Mark (Teri Atkins) McGairty, Columbus,
MS and Brian (Emily) McGairty, Pearl, MS;
brothers, Marshall Sutton, Max Sutton, Mike
Sutton, Morris Sutton, Marty Sutton and Milton
Sutton; sisters, Margie Woolbright, Melba Parish,
Mable Price and Mickey Kerr; grandchildren,
Lindsey McGairty, Macy McGairty, Jon
Davis McGairty, Tatum McGairty and Tucker
McGairty.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis,
TN 38105.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
6A FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Citations
Continued from Page 1A
The curfews did not
apply to adults 18 or old-
er who had to go to work,
pick up food or medicine
or attend to other essen-
tial business.
Violators faced fines of
up to $1,000, though most
of those fines have not yet
been paid because those
issued citations haven’t
had their court dates yet.
Most municipalities could
see fines totaling between
$18,000 and $50,000,
while Columbus fines as-
sessed to Columbus viola-
tors could total more than
$100,000.
“In America, we love
our freedom, and some
people felt
like ... their
rights were
being taken
away from
them,” said
Columbus
Police Chief
Fred Shel- Shelton
ton, whose
department cited 101 peo-
ple for COVID-19 related
restrictions in May alone.
“But here’s what I want
to point out: We were not
restricting people’s move-
ment. We didn’t say that
you could not go out or
that you could not take
care of essential business.
We didn’t say that. All we
were saying is, if you’re
going to be out, be safe,
practice social distanc-
ing, wear your masks and
wear your gloves. That’s
all we were asking peo-
ple.”
In Columbus, police
wrote 134 citations to-
tal, including about eight
or 10 to area businesses
that remained open when
they were prohibited from
doing so or allowed too
many people in the busi-
ness at one time. The
“bulk” of the citations
went to people who violat-
ed the 10 p.m.-6 a.m. cur-
few implemented in late
March, Shelton said. The
citywide curfew was lifted
last week.
In Starkville, police
wrote 49 such citations —
43 for shelter in place vio-
lations and six for curfew
violations, according to
information provided by
Starkville Police Depart-
ment Public Information
Officer Brandon Lovela-
dy. In West Point, police
issued 25 citations for the
catch-all “COVID-19 so-
cial distance violations,”
said West Point Munici-
pal Court Clerk Monica
Lairy.
West Point Police Chief
Avery Cook said the ma-
jority of the 25 citations
issued were for those who
violated Clay County’s 10
p.m.-6 a.m. curfew imple-
mented March 26.
Shelton said he be-
lieves Columbus had a
higher number of cita-
tions issued not only be-
cause Lowndes County
has more people than Ok-
tibbeha and Clay counties
— particularly given most
students from Mississip-
pi State University left
Starkville after the univer-
sity closed its campus and
moved to online classes in
late March — but because
police were constantly re-
ceiving calls from other
citizens tipping them off
about parties going on in
their neighborhoods.
“We had numerous
calls from citizens com-
plaining about people in
large groups, and espe-
cially the parties where
people were in large
groups,” Shelton said. “I
think one of the things
that helped us is ... there
was a lot of concern about
people gathering and the
rules not being enforced.
They were asking that we
enforce the rules.”
Violations
in the counties
Outside city limits,
county deputies issued far
fewer citations.
“We probably gave 200
warnings but probably
less than
a dozen ci-
t ations,”
Clay Coun-
ty Sheriff
Eddie Scott
said.
W h e n
the restric- Scott
tions were
first implemented, dep-
uties, operating under
the assumption that most
people didn’t know about
them yet, primarily broke
up parties and told those
out after 10 p.m. that they
had to go home. By and
large, Scott said, people
complied, and the coun-
ty’s traffic has gradually
died down. Those who
were cited were primarily
younger “knuckleheads,”
he said, who defied the
curfew and gathering re-
strictions.
“We gave a lot of warn-
ings for the first couple of
weeks, but after that it re- — and that he didn’t re- ended, except for Clay
ally tapered,” he said. member writing citations County’s, which extends
In Lowndes County, for anyone at large gath- through June 9. However,
Sheriff Eddie Hawkins erings where people re- several officers still urged
said his deputies didn’t fused to go home. citizens to remain cau-
have any problems enforc- “We had a party or tious about not spreading
ing the curfew and shel- two,” he said. “And we the virus.
ter in place restrictions would go “I just want the public
either. Lowndes County say, ‘Look, to understand that the
deputies wrote a total of y’all need coronavirus is still alive
18 citations, all of which to break and well,” Shelton said.
were curfew violations. this party “… Although there’s no
Eight of those, Haw- up. (It’s) a regulations (any longer)
kins said, were arrest- violation of that say you have to, we’ve
ed for other, unrelated these ex- still got to practice safety.
charges, such as having ecutive or- Watson The numbers in the state
a weapon illegally or hav- ders.’ They would move are still going up, the
ing drugs in their vehi-
cle when deputies pulled
on. We didn’t have to re- number of positive cases
peat anything like that. and the number of deaths,
them over for violating the
Our goal through all of so we’re not out of the
county curfew, which was
this was to keep people woods yet and we need to
lifted earlier this month.
safe, not to go out and protect ourselves when
“There were a lot of
write a bunch of cita- we go out. It’s as simple
warnings given out,” Haw-
kins said. tions.” as putting on a mask and
“We don’t Each of the city and putting on gloves and so-
do written county curfews have cial distancing.”
warnings,
we just ver-
bally told
them time
to take it
in and they Hawkins
normally
would.
“Everybody pretty
much complied with the
ordinances and the gov-
ernor’s order,” he added.
“We didn’t have any prob-
lems with businesses in
the county.”
Oktibbeha County had
the highest number of ru-
ral citations with 34, said
Oktibbeha County Sher-
iff’s Office Capt. Brett
Watson. He said almost
all of those were curfew
violations — unlike most
of the others, Oktibbeha
County’s curfew ended
at 5 a.m. instead of 6 a.m.

Mississippi legislators could extend their disrupted session

BY EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — The Republican-led
Mississippi Legislature is working
to extend its session that has already
been disrupted by the coronavirus
pandemic.
Senators and representatives
originally were scheduled to be at
the Capitol from early January until
early May to enact new laws, plug
holes in the current year’s budget
and write a new state budget for the
year that begins July 1.
Legislators were sent home in
mid-March because of the pandem-
ic. Since then, they’ve been back at
the Capitol only a few days. They re-
turned Tuesday with plans to work at
least three days each week to finish
the session by July 12.
With bipartisan support, the
House adopted a resolution Wednes-
day that could extend the session
until Dec. 31. Legislators would not
remain at the Capitol the whole time.
The extension gives House
Speaker Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov.
Delbert Hosemann the power to
bring legislators back to the Capitol
at any time to deal with any issue,
without the need for Republican Gov.
Tate Reeves to call a special session.
In a special session, the governor
tells legislators which issues they
may consider. During a regular ses-
sion, legislators have more leeway to
handle the issues they want to con-
sider.

Clay County
Continued from Page 1A
the county, but if an indi- and how we’ll keep them and end of the work de- es,” Scott said.
vidual chooses the family safe going out from jail tail. The supervisor of the Goggles and gloves
plan they are responsible and then coming back work detail will also have will have to be worn at
for those additional pre- into jail,” Scott said. “... his or her temperature certain stations, while
miums. They’re ready to go to checked. Furthermore, wearing masks will be en-
“What’s driving these work.” workers will have to couraged. Hand sanitizer
Blue Cross rates is the Scott said once the change clothes immedi- will also be available, and
loss ratio from last year, green light is given for ately upon arriving back workers will not be al-
which was 135 percent,” inmates to return to work, to prison upon completion lowed to interact with the
Chandler said. some precautions will in- of their work. public.
The board considered clude taking an inmate’s “With this stuff being “A lot of it is just com-
tabling the renewal deci- temperature twice a day, on surfaces, we just don’t mon sense with social dis-
sion until its next meeting once at the beginning want to take any chanc- tancing,” Scott said.
on Monday, but decided to
approve the renewal and
increase each employee’s
deductible from $500 to
$1,000 to mitigate the rate
hike by roughly $23,000.
If the board had elected
to keep the $500 deduct-
ible, the yearly increase
in premiums would cost
the county $155,232. By
raising the deductible to
$1,000, the county’s pre-
mium increase will total
$131,514.
Chandler said open
enrollment for employees
begins in June.
Also at Thursday’s
meeting, Clay County
Sheriff Eddie Scott said
COVID-19 related restric-
tions would begin to be
loosened for inmates who
are part of the joint state
county work program. An
exact return to work date
wasn’t specified.
Some projects inmates
work on involve cleaning
up abandoned or neglect-
ed cemeteries and public
roads of the county.
“They want to know
what our game plan is

cdispatch.com
Sports
ELLIOTT ENDS WEEK OF MISERY WITH OVERDUE CUP VICTORY
The field passes empty stands during the Alsco Uniforms 500 on Thursday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Weather delayed the race by a day.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CONCORD, N.C. —
Chase Elliott’s streak
of bitter defeats in NA-
SCAR’s frantic first push
of rescheduled races fi-
nally ended with his first
Cup victory of the season.
Elliott won Thursday
night in the rain-delayed
event at Charlotte Motor
Speedway to close a bru-
tal 12 days for NASCAR.
The event, postponed
Wednesday night, was
the fourth Cup race since
the series resumed racing
May 17.
Elliott had two frustrat-
ing losses in that span,
including defeat Sunday
night in the Coca-Cola
NFL
League coaches could return
to team facilities next week
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NFL Commissioner
Roger Goodell is hopeful
that coaches will be able
to return to their team fa-
cilities by next week.
Goodell said Thurs-
day following an owners
conference call that the
virtual offseason is being
extended for two more
weeks. In a memo sent
to the 32 teams and ob-
tained by The Associated
Press, he outlined the
next phase of reopening
of club facilities, which
can begin Monday.
“We expect that next
week clubs will be per-
mitted to include mem-
bers of their coaching
staffs among the employ-
ees permitted to resume
work in the club facility,”
Goodell wrote. “We are
actively working with
governors and other state
and local authorities in
those states that have not
yet announced definitive
plans and will confirm
the precise date on which
coaches can return to the
facility as soon as possi-
ble.”
Ticket offices, retail
shops and other “custom-
600 when a caution flew
two laps from the finish
with Elliott leading.
“Man, it’s been a tough
week for sure,” Elliott
said. “We’ve had some
tough losses but that deal
on Sunday night was a
heart-breaker.”
Elliott’s frustration
began last week — three
Cup races ago — when he
was trying to race for the
lead at Darlington Race-
way and was wrecked by
Kyle Busch.
Then he had the 600
checkered flag in site
until a caution caused by
his own teammate. Elliott
pitted from the lead, took
four tires and couldn’t get
back to the front in the
er-facing facilities” that
comply with state and lo-
cal regulation can open,
with employees counting
in the current maximum
number of employees (no
more than 50 percent of
staff not to exceed 75 per-
sons) allowed.
As for allowing players
to return other than those
undergoing rehab who
currently are allowed at
team complexes, Goodell
added: “We are also con-
tinuing to work with the
NFLPA on developing
protocols that will allow
at least some players to
return to your facilities
on a limited basis prior to
the conclusion of the off-
season program.”
NFL owners tabled a
proposal that would have
offered a fourth-and-15
play as an alternative to
the onside kick. They ap-
proved testing expanded
use of video replay in the
preseason to aid in offici-
ating.
Atlanta Falcons Pres-
ident Rich McKay said
there were more clubs re-
ceptive to the onside kick
alternative than in the
past and it will be further
See NFL, 2B
NASCAR: ALSCO UNIFORMS 500
two-lap overtime sprint.
There was little sus-
pense in this one. Elliott
reeled in Kevin Harvick
with 27 laps remaining
and closed out the victory.
Elliott also won the Truck
Series race Tuesday night
at Charlotte to give him a
pair of victories in a four-
race stretch at the track
a few minutes away from
Hendrick Motorsports
headquarters.
“It’s not the Coke 600,
but any win in the Cup se-
ries is really hard to get,”
Elliott said. “I just really
appreciate everybody at
Hendrick Motorsports
across the street here. Ev-
erybody’s been working
really hard.”
MISSISSIPPI STATE SOFTBALL
MSU commit named Kentucky
Gatorade player of the year
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
Riley Hull knew that
if she was going to be
named the 2019-20 Ga-
torade softball player of
the year for the state of
Kentucky, the news was
going to come by email.
She just didn’t know
when.
It’s why Hull woke
up time after time in the
middle of the night just
to check her email, but
she was left disappointed
on each attempt. After a
fourth refresh yielded no
results, Hull went back to
sleep for the final time.
Then she woke up to
her mom, Angie Taylor,
shaking her awake and
yelling, “You won, Riley!
You did it!”
“I thought my heart
was going to come out of
my chest,” Hull told The
Dispatch via email on
Thursday.
The Mississippi State
softball commit in the re-
cruiting class of 2021 had,
in fact, earned the distinc-
tion — one she hoped to
but never really expected
to receive.
Elliott was charging
hard on Harvick with
about 35 laps remaining
when he asked if he had
enough fuel to make it
to the finish. Crew chief
Alan Gustafson replied,
“Yup. Go hard.”
Elliott did just that. But
after passing Harvick,
with nothing but clear
track in front of him, El-
liott couldn’t help but feel
haunted by Sunday night.
“I was just waiting for
the caution to come out,”
he said. “If the caution
didn’t come out, I was
thinking I was probably
going to break something
or I was going to crash.
After the last last couple
weeks, surely it was going
Pulaski County’s Riley Hull, an MSU commit, was
named Kentucky Gatorade player of the year Thursday.
“I have always
dreamed of this recogni-
tion ever since I was little
but never wrapped my
head around the thought
of actually winning!” Hull
said.
According to Gato-
rade, the award — given
to one player in each state
in, football, volleyball,
boys and girls basket-
ball, boys and girls soc-
cer, boys and girls cross
country, boys and girls
track and field, softball
and baseball — is allot-
ted based on academic
achievement and stand-
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020
Gerry Broome/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Network
to go green until the end.
“Hopefully we’re back
on the right path.”
Denny Hamlin fin-
ished second in a Toyota
with three crew members
sitting at home under sus-
pension for an infraction
Sunday night. His crew
chief, car chief and en-
gineer earned automatic
four-race suspensions
when a piece of tungsten
fell off Hamlin’s car on a
pace lap.
Because NASCAR is
holding all its events as
one day shows without
qualifying or practice,
Hamlin said his Joe Gibbs
Racing team was able to
push through the upheav-
al.
Courtesy of Riley Hull
out character in addition
to athletic accomplish-
ments.
Hull checked all three
boxes.
Through her junior
year at Pulaski County
High School in Somer-
set, Kentucky, the junior
catcher holds a 3.98 GPA.
In addition to volunteer-
ing at a women’s shelter,
Hull helps coach youth
softball players around
the area, including coach-
ing in a youth league
with some of her Pulaski
County teammates.
“It’s so fun just to teach
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
B
SECTION
“The one day format
makes it easier for us,”
Hamlin said. “If we had
qualifying it would defi-
nitely hurt. But under
these circumstances that
we are in it doesn’t hurt
that bad.”
Ryan Blaney was
third in a Ford for Team
Penske, followed by
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for
JTG-Daughtery Racing,
a tremendous boost af-
ter a bad resumption of
the season. Stenhouse
wrecked on the first lap of
the first race and finished
last, then was 25th and
24th before Thursday.
Blaney, who is one of
Elliott’s closest friends,
See NASCAR, 2B
the younger generation
and know you have the
power to affect their lives
for the better,” Hull said.
The Bulldogs pledge
said her academic tal-
ent and volunteer efforts
should pay dividends
down the line when her
college and softball ca-
reers eventually come to
an end.
“I think that every-
thing I do within the com-
munity will help me in the
long run because not only
am I creating connections
everywhere I go, but I am
gaining so much respect
for the community I’m
living in and have the
chance to impact others’
lives to where they hope-
fully will always remem-
ber me,” Hull said.
Her accomplishments
on the diamond are no
mean feat, either. Hull
has a remarkable 115 hits
to zero strikeouts in her
high school career, and
she hit .403 and drove in
41 runs last July to help
her Tennessee Mojo
club team win the Junior
Olympic Cup 16-and-un-
See HULL, 2B
2B FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

NASCAR
Continued from Page 1B
has been hosting NA-
SCAR’s most popular
driver as the sport has
raced four times in five
nights at Charlotte. He
said Elliott was able to re-
focus on the Truck Series
race after losing the 600,
then after beating Busch
to earn a $100,000 bounty,
Elliott shifted his atten-
tion to the Cup race.
“We talked about the
race and that is just bad
luck. He has had a lot of
back luck,” Blaney said.
“With the 600, that stunk
for him. We talked aobut
it that night but he was
ready for the Trucks race.
We did talk and there was
a couple hours of it. But
he moved on and showed
he could win two in a row.”
Hamlin thought all the
focus on Elliott’s losses
was overblown.
“Sometimes cautions
are not going to fall your
way,” Hamlin said. “I
think everyone feels bad
because it is Chase and
everyone loves him.”
Asked if he felt sorry
for Elliott, Hamlin an-
swered with a definitive
“No.”
Elliott’s victory was the
first for a Chevrolet driver
in NASCAR’s return to
Cup racing. Harvick won
the first race back in a
Ford, Hamlin won the sec-
ond race in a Toyota and
Brad Keselowski won the
600 in a Ford.
But Elliott and his
Hendrick teammates
have been very strong
since the series came
back from a 10-week shut-
down for the coronavirus
pandemic. Elliott, Alex
Bowman, William Byron
and seven-time NASCAR
champion Jimmie John-
son have all led laps — a
huge boost for a team
that has been rebuilding
for much of the last three
seasons.
The rescheduled
Thursday event was dis-
rupted by lightning and
rain for nearly 75 minutes
after 30 laps had been
completed.
NASCAR next goes to
Bristol Motor Speedway
in Tennessee on Sun-
day for a fifth Cup race
in 15 days as the series
attempts to reschedule
eight events in a frantic
stretch of racing through
Southern states.

NFL
Continued from Page 1B
explored.
“There were lots of re-
ally good questions about
the impact and nuances”
such a change would in-
volve, McKay said. “This
was the longest discus-
sion, I imagine 20 to 30
minutes on that. We end-
ed up tabling it after tak-
ing a pulse where teams
stood on it. We’ll bring it
back at some point.”
The 32 owners also
increased the number of
players who may be des-
ignated for return from
the injured list during a
season from two to three.
Also passed was mak-
ing permanent the expan-
sion of automatic replay
reviews to include scor-
ing plays and turnovers
negated by a foul, and any
successful or unsuccess-
ful extra points.
The competition com-
mittee’s recommendation
to expand defenseless
player protection to a
kickoff or punt returner
who is in possession of
also was approved. McK-
ay said such incidents on
punt returns were rare
but “there were enough
that gave us concern.”
Another
recommendation
approved
stops
teams from manipulating
the game clock by com-
mitting multiple dead-ball
fouls while the clock is
running — an issue that
came up several times in
2019, including during
the postseason.
Using video replay for
pass interference calls
was dropped after a one-
year experiment that led
to more uncertainty than
clarity. Many people in
the league cited the pres-
ence of too much subjec-
tivity in the reviews.
Tabled was a propos-
al to have a booth judge
serve as an eighth official
on each crew and call for
reviews on certain plays.
The league will experi-
ment with additional re-
view options during the
preseason as requested
could do in the preseason,
this test allows for the ref
to have communication
with the replay assistant,”
McKay explained. “We
have always allowed that
communication, and now
there are more areas giv-
en them to seek consulta-
tion. We always liked that
idea.”
The preseason is
scheduled to begin on
Aug. 6 with the Pro Foot-
ball Hall of Fame game
between Pittsburgh and
Dallas. It’s an uncertainty
— as is the NFL’s regular
season — because of the
coronavirus pandemic.
But the league has stated
it plans to play everything
as scheduled while mak-
ing contingency plans
that could include no fans
at games, moving or de-
laying games.
Also Thursday, the
NFL:
— Revamped the offici-
ating department. Al Riv-
eron, who has been over-
seeing the office, will lead
the day-to-day operations,
including outreach to the
league’s head coaches
and general managers.
Walt Anderson, a 24-year
on-field official, becomes
a senior vice president in Are You Ready
charge of game officials,
including enhanced train- to Discuss Your
ing and performance eval-
uations, scouting, recruit- Long Term
ment and development of
officials.
All will report to foot-
Care Options?
ball operations chief Troy Are you struggling to provide care for a loved one?
Vincent. Are you concerned about long term care costs?
“Our intentions are Do you have questions about how to protect your
to implement meaning- assets if you need long term care?
ful improvements to the Are you confused by Medicare and Medicaid
game and officiating,” and their requirements?
Vincent said. “We will At Dunn & Hemphill, we can help you answer these and many
continue to make every other difficult questions by creating a plan tailored to fit you and
your family’s needs. Contact us at (662) 327-4211 (ext.#0)
effort to improve officiat-
to discuss your long term care planning goals.
ing and pursue officiating
excellence.”
— Loosened rules on
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© The Dispatch

Providing Our Clients Expertise With

the ball but has not had by the referee to the re- the league’s replay review at home on another net-
Over 50+ Years Of Combined Experience
time to avoid or ward off play assistant. process. Former coach work. In 2019, that was
contact of an opponent “What we thought we Perry Fewell will handle allowed twice.

Hull
Continued from Page 1B
der tournament.
And as long as her
state’s high school activ-
ities association permits
it, Hull will be back on the
field with the Mojo this
summer.
“We have tournaments
lined up for June and July,
so I pray we can find our
way on the field soon,” she
said.
With one more season
to play before coming to
Starkville, Hull is ready
to keep proving herself
as one of the best players
in the nation. As a sopho-
more, she won the Johnny
Bench Award for Ken-
tucky’s best catcher, and
she’s also the first player
from her high school to
earn the Gatorade nod.
“Not many people from
my small town get recog-
nized,” Hull said, “so to be
able to say I’m from small-
town Pulaski County and
represent them makes me
so happy.”
Hull, who hopes to be
named Gatorade player
of the year again next
May, said that winning
the award as a junior “just
means more motivation.”
But she’s ready for that.
“I know I have a lot of
kids now who will look up
to me, and I know that not
only do I have to be a role
model, but I have to keep
pushing myself to become
the best of my ability,”
Hull said.

Pickens Academy’s Lowe

also earns honor
Shelby Lowe of Pickens
Academy was named Ala-
bama’s Gatorade player of
the year on Thursday as
well.
Lowe, an Auburn sign-
ee, didn’t get to complete
most of her senior season
due to the COVID-19 pan-
demic, but she impressed
nonetheless, going 8-0
with a 0.76 ERA and strik-
ing out 96 hitters.

Boras to clients in memo: Don’t bail out baseball owners
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Agent
Scott Boras recommends
his clients refuse Ma-
jor League Baseball’s
attempt to cut salaries
during negotiations with
the players’ association,
claiming team financial
issues caused by the coro-
navirus pandemic have
their origin in manage-
ment debt financing.
In an email obtained
by The Associated Press,
Boras wrote that players
should not alter terms
of the March 26 agree-
ment between MLB and
the union that called for
players to reduce their
salaries to a prorated rate
based on a shortened sea-
son. MLB on Tuesday pro-
posed a series of tiered re-
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
ductions that would cause
top stars to receive the
biggest cuts.
“Remember, games
cannot be played without
you,” Boras wrote. “Play-
ers should not agree to
further pay cuts to bail out
the owners. Let owners
take some of their record
revenues and profits from
the past several years
and pay you the prorated
salaries you agreed to ac-
cept or let them borrow
against the asset values
they created from the use
of those profits players
generated.”
Boras is baseball’s
best-known agent and
represented 71 players
on active rosters and in-
jured lists as of Aug. 31,
the most among player
representative firms. His
FAMILY CIRCUS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
California-based compa- more salary cuts to bail
ny negotiated more than them out of the invest-
$1.2 billion in contracts ment decisions they have
during the offseason. made,” Boras said. “If
Salaries were set to this was just about base-
range from $563,500 ball, playing games would
for players at the major give the owners enough
league minimum to $36 money to pay the players
million for Mike Trout their full prorated sala-
and Gerrit Cole, the lat- ries and run the baseball
ter a Boras client. Under organization. The own-
the March agreement, ers’ current problem is a
the range would be cut to result of the money they
roughly $285,000 to $18 borrowed when they pur-
million for the 82-game chased their franchises,
regular season MLB has renovated their stadiums
proposed. Under the eco- or developed land around
nomic proposal made by their ballparks. This type
MLB this week, the range of financing is allowed
would be reduced to and encouraged by MLB
about $262,000 to $8 mil- because it has resulted in
lion, including shares of significant franchise valu-
a bonus all players would ations.”
receive if the postseason “Owners now want
is played. players to take additional
“Owners are asking for pay cuts to help them pay
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY: I
have been in
a relation-
ship with my boy-
friend for a little
over five months.
We have enjoyed
spending time
with each other,
but we never have
deep, meaningful
conversations,
and I feel that
it’s negatively
impacting our
relationship.
Because of
the coronavirus
Dear Abby
quarantine, we
can’t see each other because
we are still in our teens and
don’t live together. If we don’t
start having conversations that
mean something to either of us
over the phone, I’m afraid we’ll
break up before we are allowed
to see each other again. Please
give me some advice. — STUCK
IN QUARANTINE
DEAR STUCK: You may be
worrying needlessly. Stop for a
moment and ask yourself what
kind of conversations you had
with your boyfriend BEFORE the
pandemic. How deep were they?
Express how you have been
feeling lately, but, if you can,
try to keep your conversations
upbeat. Share stories and
videos with him that make you
laugh. If he wants to discuss
his concerns, be prepared to
listen, but don’t push him in that
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (May
29). Relationships you can rely
on will allow you to develop
yourself. Emotional muscle
tone enables you to achieve
what you couldn’t before. You’ll
accept a new post and revel in
the responsibility. You’ll make
a big sale and be part of a
remarkable team that turns out
work of which all can be proud.
Leo and Scorpio adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 40, 12, 28,
44 and 17.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
What you have now is not an
alliance of two parts working
together but rather a blending
with two parts becoming one
these loans. They want a
bailout,” he added. “They
are not offering players
a share of the stadiums,
ballpark villages or the
club itself, even though
salary reductions would
help owners pay for these
valuable franchise as-
sets. These billionaires
want the money for free.
No bank would do that.
Banks demand loans be
repaid with interest. Play-
ers should be entitled to
the same respect.”
Commissioner Rob
Manfred has said 40% of
MLB’s revenue is related
to the gate. Teams told
the union on May 12 that
MLB would lose $640,000
for each game played in
empty ballparks without
fans. MLB claimed that
playing with prorated sal-
direction. Space
your calls so there
will be something
fresh to talk
about. And always
end your chats by
telling how much
you care about
him, which will
probably make
him smile.
DEAR ABBY:
I have several
adult nieces and
nephews whose
dysfunctional
upbringing makes
them react in a
very hostile and
aggressive manner to anyone
they perceive as disagreeing
with them. They verbally abuse
anyone they view as opposing
them. They have so alienated
their parent’s new spouse that
they are no longer welcome in
that parent’s home at any time,
for any reason.
I would like to remain on
semi-friendly terms with them,
but I am unwilling to accept their
verbal abuse. Is there any way
this can be fixed? — DISTANC-
ING IN OKLAHOMA
DEAR DISTANCING: Unless
your nieces and nephews are
willing to accept that they have
anger management issues that
need addressing, this isn’t a
problem that anyone other than
a licensed professional can
fix. If one of them unleashes a
tirade on you, CALMLY point out
as it happens with the joining of
flames or water.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
You do not go places just to be
able to say you went, nor do you
do things so you can tick them
off your list. You bring every
ounce of your attention to the
current experience, inviting it to
change you.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
You’ll be extremely content as
you untangle a messy situation.
This was caused by someone
who is not as practical and de-
tail-oriented as you. You could
place blame, but you’ll give
thanks instead.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 3B
aries in empty ballparks
would cause a $4 billion
loss and give major league
players 89% of revenue.
Washington pitcher
Max Scherzer, among
three Boras clients on the
union’s eight-man execu-
tive subcommittee, issued
a statement late Wednes-
day night saying “there’s
no need to engage with
MLB in any further com-
pensation reductions.”
Boras asked clients to
“please share this concept
with your teammates and
fellow players when MLB
request further conces-
sions or deferral of sala-
ries.”
He added salaries have
been flat for several years.
The opening day average
has been in the $4.4 mil-
lion range since 2016.
that you prefer not to be abused
and end the conversation by
absenting yourself. Do it once,
and I guarantee the word will
spread.
DEAR ABBY: I’m at my wits’
end. I love my husband, but
when we have company, he
dominates the conversation,
usually repeating the same
stories over and over. If friends
and family tell him they’ve heard
the story before, he just ignores
the remark and continues.
He is retired, and I realize he
doesn’t socialize enough. His
health has not been the best.
By the end of the evening, I am
worn out. What can I do? — PAIN
IN HOSTING
DEAR PAIN: That your hus-
band is retired and isolated may
contribute to his problem. As
soon as it’s feasible, encourage
him to get out of the house and
involve himself in some new
activities where he can put his
talents and experience to good
use. However, if his repeti-
tiveness is new behavior, this
should be discussed with his
doctor so he can be evaluated,
because it could indicate the
onset of a medical or neurologi-
cal problem.
Dear Abby is written by
Abigail Van Buren, also known
as Jeanne Phillips, and was
founded by her mother, Pauline
Phillips. Contact Dear Abby
at www.DearAbby.com or P.O.
Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA
90069.
While others boast about their
problem-solving abilities or
humblebrag to bring attention
to their luxury of options, you
will stay quiet and let the work
speak for itself. Not everyone
will get it, only those who
matter!
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Just
as asking for money means
you’re in need of it, when you try
to conjure up a state of mind,
it affirms the opposite state of
mind from whence the request
comes. Instead of asking, act
as though it’s already granted.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Everyone has faults. Confidence
is not ignorance of those faults;
rather, it’s the acceptance of
them and the assurance that no
matter what happens, you have
your own back.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
Remember when you let go of
things beyond your grasp? It
wasn’t easy or hard; it was just
time. Now, it’s once again time
to let go. Open up your hands.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). When you’re not sure
whether to comply with what’s
being asked of you, stall. It will
give you time to understand the
dynamics at play. Better to have
the benefit of a strategy than be
at the whim of your reactions.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). The value of money is what
people say it is. It’s not exactly
arbitrary. Instead, it’s a social
agreement made by an entire
society, or, in today’s case,
between two people.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). You know how to be
sensitive to what others need,
but when was the last time you
aimed those super-sensors
back to yourself? Self-care is
the worthiest cause today.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). There’s a stress cycle in
which you’re taking part with
periods of tension followed by
release. Monitor and observe
yourself. Is this necessary? Is it
fun? Is it good for you?
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). You can close yourself off
to energy or open yourself up to
it at any time. Right now, you’re
not sure which way you should
go. Observe those already im-
mersed in the game for clues.
A near miss
SOLUTION:
4B FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Word and Song
Canaan Baptist Church, 1008 N.
Lehmberg Road, hosts its Word and
Song Sunday, May 31 at 10:30 a.m.
The public is invited to attend. For more
information, contact Patsy Robertson,
662-327-7448.
CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER
NOTICE Forgive and Live
Forgive and Live meets from 6-7
p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday
of each month in the downtown YMCA
Board Room and every third Wednesday
at Vibrant Church Cafe. Inquire and seek
information to succeed spiritually, phys-
ically and financially and be eager to be
a blessing to the community, churches
RELIGIOUS BRIEFS
Grief Support Group
The Oil of Joy for Grief and Mourning
offers a grief support group at 6 p.m. every
second Thursday of the month at United
Christian Baptist Church, 232 Yorkville
Road East. “Making your grieving journey
easier.” For more information, call 662-327-
0604 or e-mail unitedchristian@cableone.
net.
Celebrate Recovery
The Assembly Church, 2201 Military
Road, and Meadowview Church, 300 Linden
Circle in Starkville, host Celebrate Recovery
at 6 p.m. every Sunday at The Assembly
Church (next to Lowe’s) and at 6 p.m. every
Tuesday at Meadowview Church. Get help,
healing and support for any habit, hurt or
Women Prayer, Worship Service
Church of the Eternal Word, 106 22nd
St. S., holds a prayer and worship service
every Thursday from 5-6 p.m. Call Marie
Nabors, 662-549-4322 or 662-329-
1234, for prayer requests.
Prayer Ministry
New Beginning Everlasting Outreach
Ministry invites the public to call in with
their prayer requests at 662-327-9843.
Prayer Service
Church of the Eternal Word, 106
22nd. St. S., Columbus, holds prayer
service Thursday nights 5-6 p.m. Contact
Marie Nabors, 662-549-4322. Church
service times: Sunday school 10 a.m.;
Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER

and families through the Word of God.

The public is invited to attend. For more
hang-up using the Christ-centered 12 steps. Sunday worship 11:15 a.m.; Tuesday
Bible study 7 p.m. For information, call
Sudoku
Sudoku is a number-
placing puzzle based on
Yesterday’s answer
information, call Pat Fisher Douglas, Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 1 3 9 7 4 5 8 6 2
Prayer for Youth Pastor District Elder Lou Nabors, 662-
ber-placing
given numbers.puzzleThe object 7 5 2 8 9 6 3 1 4

2020 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

662-251-5899. 329-1234.
Every second and third Saturday, Pleas- based onthe
is to place a 9x9
numbers 8 6 4 2 1 3 5 9 7
ant Ridge Faith Center hosts a prayer for grid
1 to 9with
in theseveral
Fellowship Dinner, Youth Ser- the youth from 2-3 p.m. Fitness Transformations given
so that numbers.
empty spaces
each row, eachThe
9 4 3 5 8 7 6 2 1
vice 6 7 5 9 2 1 4 3 8
The Transformational Church, 2301 object
column and each 3x3 the
is to place box 2 8 1 6 3 4 9 7 5
Pleasant Ridge Faith Center, 923 Prayer, Free Coffee Jess Lyons Road, hosts boxing lessons numbers
contains the1same to 9 number
in
4 1 7 3 5 9 2 8 6
Ridge Road, hosts a fellowship dinner Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church,
Mondays and Wednesday from 5-7 p.m., the empty spaces so
only once. The difficulty 5 9 8 1 6 2 7 4 3
and youth service every third Sunday. 2221 14th Ave. N., hosts free coffee and
weight-loss boot camp Tuesdays and that each row, each
level increases from
a prayer community outreach service from
Thursdays 5-7 p.m. and both on Satur- column and each 3 2 6 4 7 8 1 5 9
Mondayboxtocontains
Sunday.
Gospel Book Club 8-9 a.m. every fifth Saturday. For informa-
days 9-11 a.m. 3x3 Difficulty Level 5/28

Friendship M.B. Church, 1102 12th
Ave. S., invites the public to join its Com-
munity Gospel Book Club from 6-7 p.m.,
on the fourth Friday of each month, to
study and share views of the Holy Bible.
Open to all ages and ethnicities. For
more information, call Barbara Mattison
or Lillian Murray, 662-570-5595.
tion, contact Jesse Slater, 662-328-4979.
Radio Program
Apostles Patrick Perkins invites the pub-
lic to tune in to WTWG, radio 1050 AM for
Perfecting the Saints Broadcast, Wednes-
days 8:30 a.m.
the same number only once. The difficulty level
Youth Fellowship increases from Monday to Sunday.
The Transformational Church, 2301
Jess Lyons Road, hosts Youth Fellowship
from 7-8:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Games,
prayer, service, food, and more. Trans-
portation available. For information, call
Iris Roberson, 662-295-7456.

For top U.S. virus experts, faith

and science work together
‘One of the great things about faith is, you can approach
life with a sense of hope — no matter what the challenges
you’re dealing with, that there’s a path forward’
Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
BY ELANA SCHOR
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The
relationship between faith
and science has faced
its share of strain during
the coronavirus pandem-
ic — but for some scien-
tists leading the nation’s
response, the two have
worked in concert.
National Institutes of
Health Director Francis
Collins founded a nonprof-
it focused on “the harmo-
ny between science and
biblical faith.” Anthony
Fauci, NIH’s senior infec-
tious disease specialist,
has said he isn’t active
in organized religion but
credited his Jesuit school-
ing with burnishing the
values that drive his pub-
lic service.
And Robert Redfield,
director of the Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention, describes his
faith and his public health
work as mutually reinforc-
ing.
“One of the great
things about faith is, you
can approach life with a
sense of hope — no mat-
ter what the challenges
you’re dealing with, that
there’s a path forward,”
Redfield told The Associ-
ated Press.
The influence of faith
on some of the govern-
ment’s top coronavirus
fighters illustrates its
complicated connection
to science. While tensions
over public worship’s
effect on public health
arise amid the pandemic
— with President Don-
ald Trump declaring reli-
gious services “essential”
— personal spirituality, in
all of its forms, remains an
unquestioned guidepost
for some scientists guid-
ing the U.S. response.
Redfield said that
during major crises he’s
faced, such as his role re-
sponding to 2010’s Haiti
earthquake and the death
of his son, his faith had
helped orient him toward
the potential for “greater
good” to arise from trage-
dy. Faith and science have
not been in tension for
him, Redfield said.
During the early weeks
of the pandemic, the
68-year-old virologist was
not as much of a fixture at
the televised White House
briefings as Fauci, his
fellow Catholic. But Red-
field’s modesty is itself a
facet of how his faith plays
out in his public persona,
as his longtime friend
William Blattner put it.
Redfield sees people of
faith as “not holier than
anybody — we’re just who
we are,” said Blattner,
who co-founded Univer-
sity of Maryland’s Insti-
tute of Human Virology
alongside Redfield and a
third prominent AIDS re-
searcher, Robert Gallo, in
the mid-1990s.
“You don’t see him
jumping up to the micro-
phone. You see him speak-
ing as he’s required,” Blat-
tner said of his friend.
Faith helps Redfield “fil-
ter out the noise and dis-
traction” of the push to
contain the virus, Blattner
added, affording “him,
and us, the ability to see
more clearly.”
Redfield was tapped by
Trump, while Collins and
Fauci’s stints as govern-
ment scientists predate
2016. Collins, for his part,
was already a vocal advo-
cate for communicating
what he sees as the consis-
tency between religious
belief and evidence-based
science before he was
named to lead NIH.
After writing a 2006
book about his journey
from youthful atheism to
belief in God, the 70-year-
old Collins founded the
BioLogos Foundation to
help further a dialogue
about religion’s relation-
ship to science. Since the
pandemic began, he has
received a major religion
prize for his work. ACROSS
“I see science as the 1 Prince of India
most reliable way to study 6 Cardiff’s land
nature — and that in- 11 “Hello” singer
cludes this virus,” Collins
12 Texas land-
said by email.
mark
“But science doesn’t 13 Nick of “48
help me with deeper ques- HRS”
tions like why suffering 14 Low point
exists, what we are sup- 15 Ore source
posed to learn from it, 17 Memory unit
what is the meaning of 18 Some babies
life, and whether there is 20 Seth’s father
a loving God who grieves 22 Crunch
with us at a time like this,” targets
he added. “For that, I rely 23 Man or
on what I have learned as monkey
a person of faith.” 26 Energy 46 Sports spot setting
choice 18 Game fish
28 Braves DOWN 19 Clarinet’s kin
legend 1 Operated 21 Tuning knob
29 Shore em- 2 Fuss 23 Brit’s baby

Court orders defiant Michigan barber to close his shop

‘If they want to put me in jail, put
me in jail. ... I will be governed — fair
governing — but not ruled. This is a
police state action.’
BY ED WHITE
The Associated Press
DETROIT — A Mich-
igan court on Thursday
ordered a barber to close
his shop and stop defy-
ing the state’s coronavi-
rus restrictions, though
he vowed to keep cutting
hair.
The Michigan appeals
court overturned a de-
cision by a Shiawassee
County judge and direct-
ed him to sign an injunc-
tion sought by state regu-
lators.
Karl Manke, 77, said
he’s not backing down. He
told The Associated Press
that he got the news while
cutting someone’s hair
and he doesn’t intend to
comply with it.
“I could care less,” he
said by phone from his
shop in Owosso, about
70 miles northwest of
Detroit. “If they want to
put me in jail, put me in
jail. ... I will be governed
— fair governing — but
not ruled. This is a police
state action.”
Gov. Gretchen Whit-
mer has kept barbershops
and hair salons closed for
weeks, citing a high risk
of virus transmission as
stylists cut hair and peo-
ple wait for their turn.
bankment 3 Tony-nominat- carriage
31 Dr.’s field ed musical of 24 Low digits
32 Convoy truck 1992 25 Cuts off
“Uncontroverted
idence clearly revealed
ev- have traveled from all
over the state to get a
33 Pert talk
34 Salamanders
4 Some singers
5 Listen to
27 Impressive
30 Pert talk
that COVID-19 is a highly
communicable illness,”
haircut and endorse his
defiance.
36 Spot for laps
38 Captain’s
6 Pale 33 Ping producer
7 Crimson Tide’s 34 Jane Austen
the appeals court said in
a 2-1 decision. “Uncontro-
Manke gave free hair- superior home book
cuts last week during a 40 Scoundrel 8 1974 Labelle 35 Ump’s call
verted evidence revealed protest at the state Capi- 43 Heat setting hit 37 Gumbo base
that COVID-19 is spread tol. Texas hair salon own- 44 Speed 9 Give off 39 Relieve
by infected persons show- er Shelley Luther, who checker
10 Ticked off 41 Big truck
ing no symptoms that was briefly jailed for open- 45 Ready for war 16 Cochlea 42 Pitching stat
could serve to warn oth-
ing her shop, appeared at
ers of the possibility of
a rally outside Manke’s
infection.”
business.
Manke’s attorney, Da-
Elsewhere in Michi-
vid Kallman, later asked
gan, state regulators in-
the Michigan Supreme
spected Ardor and Grit
Court to intervene.
Manke reopened his Salon in Holland, accord-
shop on May 4, saying ing to the Mackinac Cen-
he needed to make mon- ter Legal Foundation.
ey and declaring that the The owner, Sarah Huff,
“government is not my participated in the Capitol
mother.” He has been protest, and her shop has
ticketed for violating been open since May 15.
Whitmer’s orders. Sepa- “She needs to make a
rate from the court case, living and she believes
he’s had his shop and bar- she can do so safely,” at-
ber’s licenses suspended. torney Patrick Wright
Nonetheless, customers said.

Send in your church event!

Email editorialassistant@cdispatch.com Subject: Religious brief
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 5B

Classifieds
LEGALS
Call us: 662-328-2424
Legal Notices
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF DANA DOUGLAS, DE-
CEASED
NO. 2020-0092-JNS
JENNIFER DOWDY, PETITIONER
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to
Jennifer Dowdy, Executor of the of William E. Pratt, Deceased
Estate of Dana Douglas, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi, on the 26 day of May,
2020. This is to give notice to Pratt, seeking the Determina-
all persons having claims
against said estate to Probate
and Register same with the
Chancery Clerk of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, within
ninety (90) days from this date.
A failure to so Probate and Re- you in this action at 9:30
gister said claim will forever
bar the same.
THIS the 26 day of May, 2020. house at Starkville, Missis-
/s Jennifer Dowdy
Jennifer Dowdy, Executor
OF COUNSEL:
Crowell Gillis & Cooper, PLLC
Post Office Box 1827
Columbus, MS 39703
(662) 243-7334
wcooper@cgclawpllc.com
PUBLISH: 5/29, 6/5, &
6/12/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN RE: THE ESTATE OF LEROY
DAVIS, SR., DECEASED
BETHANY L. CASIMIR AND
LEROY DAVIS, JR.,
CO-ADMINISTRATORS
CAUSE NO. 2020-033-PDE
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS-AT-
LAW OF LEROY DAVIS, SR., DE-
CEASED
You have been made a re-
spondent in a matter filed be-
fore this Court by Bethany L.
Casimir, seeking a determina-
tion of heirship in accordance
with the laws of the State of
Mississippi. Those claiming to
be lawful heirs and beneficiar-
ies of Leroy Davis, Sr., de-
ceased, are Samantha Davis
Moody, Daryl Lee Davis, Leroy
Davis, Jr., William Andrew Dav-
is, III and Bethany L. Casimir.
You are summoned to appear
and defend the Petition to De-
termine Heirs at Law before the
Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi on the 1st
day of July, 2020, at 9:30
o’clock a.m. at the Oktibbeha
County Courthouse in Stark-
ville, Mississippi, to show
cause, if you can, in Cause No.
2020-033-PDE, wherein you
are a respondent, why Sam-
antha Davis Moody, Daryl Lee
Davis, Leroy Davis, Jr., William
Andrew Davis, III and Bethany
L. Casimir should not be de-
clared the sole heirs at law and
beneficiaries of Leroy Davis,
Sr. deceased, and for such oth-
er relief as prayed for should
not be granted. In case of your
failure to appear and defend, a
Decree will be entered finding
the above-named persons to
be the sole heirs at law and be-
neficiaries of Leroy Davis, Sr.,
deceased.
You are not required to file an
answer or other pleading, but
you may do so if you desire.
ISSUED UNDER MY HAND AND
SEAL OF COURT, this the 27th
day of May, 2020.
LOWNDES COUNTY CHAN-
CERY CLERK
BY: Shantrell W. Granderson
PUBLISH: May 29, June 5 and
12, 2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE OF TALMADGE COX
SHELTON, also known as TAL-
MAGE COX SHELTON, DE-
CEASED
CAUSE NO.: 2020-0083-RPF
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
Letters of Administration have
been granted and issued to the named Defendants (as involun-
undersigned upon the Estate of tary Plaintiffs) are the owners
Talmadge Cox Shelton, also
known as Talmage Cox
Shelton, deceased, by the
Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, on the
19th day of May 2020. This is hand deliver a written re-
to give notice to all persons
having claims against the Es-
tate of Talmadge Cox Shelton, Gary Street Goodwin, Attorney
also known as Talmage Cox
Shelton, Deceased, to Probate fice address is Post Office Box
and Register their claims with
the Chancery Clerk of Lowndes 39703-0524, and whose street
County, Mississippi, within
ninety (90) days from the first
publication date of this Notice
to Creditors. A failure to so Pro-
bate and Register their claims
will forever bar them.
This the 21st day of May
2020.
/s/ Valerie Shelton, Adminis-
tratrix
PUBLISH: 5/29, 6/5 &
6/12/2020
One call will bring you results.
Legal Notices
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATIER OF THE ES-
TATE OF WILLIAM E. PRATT, DE- You have been made Defend-
CEASED
BILLIE MASON PRATT, Adminis- that Plaintiff and the three
tratrix PETITIONER
v.
THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW firmed as a matter of law.
OF WILLIAM E. PRATT, DE-
CEASED RESPONDENTS
CAUSE NO. 2019-0111-DE
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
TO: The unknown heirs at law
You have been made a Re-
spondent in the suit filed in
this Court by Billie Mason
tion of the Heirs at Law of Willi- LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS
am E. Pratt, Deceased.
You are summoned to appear
and defend against the com-
plaint or petition filed against
o'clock A.M. on the 1st day of
July, 2020, in the courtroom of AGAINST YOU FOR THE MONEY
the Oktibbeha County Court-
sippi, and in case of your fail-
ure to appear and defend a
judgment will be entered
against you for the money or
other things demanded
complaint or petition.
in the reasonable time afterward.
You are not required to file an
answer or other pleading but
you may do so if you desire.
Issued under my hand and the COUNTY CHANCERY CLERK
seal of said Court, this the
18th day of May, 2020.
CINDY E. GOODE
LOWNDES COUNTY CHAN-
CERY CLERK
BY: Tina Fisher
DEPUTY CLERK
(SEAL)
PUBLISH: 5/22, 5/29 &
6/5/2020
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
WILLIE L. ARMISTAD PLAINTIFF
VS.
ISAAC BARRY, ET AL DEFEND-
ANTS
CAUSE NO.2020-0097
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
TO: The unknown heirs at law,
devisees and legatees of Jeff
Hamilton, Lizzie B. Hamilton,
Cora Hamilton, Mary Lang Petty
and Ronnell Petty and/or any
and all persons having or
claiming any legal or equitable
interest in the real property de-
scribed as follows:
A tract of land being located in
the Southwest Quarter (SW
1/4) of the Northwest Quarter
(NW 1/4) of Section 30, Town-
ship 17 North, Range 17 East,
Lowndes County, Mississippi
and more particularly de-
scribed as follows:
Commencing at a fence corner
marking the Southeast corner
of the Southwest Quarter (SW
1/4) of the Northwest Quarter
(NW 1/4) of said Section 30;
run thence North 89 degrees
12 minutes West a distance of
105.9 feet to an iron pin and
the point of beginning of the
herein described tract:
Continue thence North 89 de-
grees 12 minutes West a dis-
tance of 385.2 feet to an iron to earn money for college.
pin; run thence North 00 de-
grees 48 minutes East a dis-
tance of 1357.0 feet to an iron tion, valid driver's license
pin on the East right-of-way of & insurance. Delivers on
Nick Hairston Road; run thence Sunday morning and Mon-
South 89 degrees 12 minutes
East a distance of 385.2 feet
to an iron pin; run thence
South 00 degrees 48 minutes
West a distance of 1357.0 feet No phone calls please.
to the point of beginning and
containing 12.0 acres, more or
less.
Subject to said right-of-way for
Nick Hairston Road along the
West side of the herein de-
scribed tract.
And if any of those persons be puter skills including
deceased, then to their un-
known heirs at law, devisees,
legatees, administrators, ex-
ecutors, creditors and assigns. communication skills with
All of whom are adult non-resid- clients, public & co-work-
ents of the State of Missis-
sippi, or not to be found
therein after diligent inquiry, Columbus, MS 39705.
and whose post office ad-
dresses, except as set forth
Medical / Dental
above, are unknown to the
Plaintiff after diligent inquiry.
You have been made Defend-
ants in the above suit by
Plaintiff, seeking a judgment
that Plaintiff and the three
of the real property described
above and their title be con-
firmed as a matter of law.
You are required to mail or
sponse to the Complaint filed
against you in this action to
for Plaintiffs, whose post of-
524, Columbus, Mississippi
address is 501 7th Street
North, Suite 10, Columbus,
Mississippi 39701.
YOUR RESPONSE MUST BE
MAILED OR DELIVERED NOT
LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS
AFTER MAY 29, 2020, WHICH
IS THE DATE OF THE FIRST
PUBLICATION OF THIS SUM-
MONS. IF YOUR RESPONSE IS
NOT SO MAILED OR DE-
LIVERED, A JUDGMENT BY DE-
FAULT WILL BE ENTERED
AGAINST YOU FOR THE MONEY
OR OTHER THINGS DEMAN-
DED IN THE COMPLAINT.
You must also file the original
of your Response with the
Clerk of this Court within a
reasonable time afterward.
Issued under my hand and the
seal of Court, this the 26th day
East a distance of 385.2 feet
to an iron pin; run thence
South 00 degrees 48 minutes
West a distance of 1357.0 feet
to the point of beginning and
containing 12.0 acres, more or
less.
Subject to said right-of-way for
Nick Hairston Road along the
West side of the herein de-
scribed tract.
And if any of those persons be
deceased, then to their un-
known heirs at law, devisees,
legatees, administrators, ex-
ecutors, creditors and assigns.
All of whom are adult non-resid-
ents of the State of Missis-
Legal Notices
sippi, or not to be found
therein after diligent inquiry,
and whose post office ad-
dresses, except as set forth
above, are unknown to the
Plaintiff after diligent inquiry.
ants in the above suit by
Plaintiff, seeking a judgment
named Defendants (as involun-
tary Plaintiffs) are the owners
of the real property described
above and their title be con-
You are required to mail or
hand deliver a written re-
sponse to the Complaint filed
against you in this action to
Gary Street Goodwin, Attorney
for Plaintiffs, whose post of-
fice address is Post Office Box
524, Columbus, Mississippi
39703-0524, and whose street
address is 501 7th Street
North, Suite 10, Columbus,
Mississippi 39701.
YOUR RESPONSE MUST BE
MAILED OR DELIVERED NOT
AFTER MAY 29, 2020, WHICH
IS THE DATE OF THE FIRST
PUBLICATION OF THIS SUM-
MONS. IF YOUR RESPONSE IS
NOT SO MAILED OR DE-
LIVERED, A JUDGMENT BY DE-
FAULT WILL BE ENTERED
OR OTHER THINGS DEMAN-
DED IN THE COMPLAINT.
You must also file the original
of your Response with the
Clerk of this Court within a
Issued under my hand and the
seal of Court, this the 26th day
of May, 2020.
CINDY GOODE, LOWNDES
P.O. BOX 684
COLUMBUS, MS 39703
BY: Shantrell W. Granderson,
D.C.
(SEAL)
PUBLISH: 5/29, 6/5 &
6/12/2020
All notices must be
emailed to
classifieds@
cdispatch.com.
Employment
Call us: 662-328-2424
Customer Service
LOCAL LAW FIRM is seek-
ing Receptionist/Secretary.
Previous experience
helpful but not necessary.
Computer skills a must.
Email resume to:
job109@cdispatch.com
General Help Wanted
EXPERIENCED AUTO Body
Repair man & painter
needed. Call
662-617-9320 to discuss
terms and conditions.
JAMIE'S SALON is seeking
a barber, cosmetologist or
nail technician. Must have
clientele. Ask for Jamie,
662-327-3132.
THE COMMERCIAL
DISPATCH seeks a motiv-
ated, contracted carrier for
the Brooksville & Macon
area. Excellent opportunity
Must have good transporta-
Fri afternoons. Apply at The
Commercial Dispatch, 516
Main Street in Columbus.
Real Estate
COLEMAN REALTY seeks
Administrative Office
Assistant. Must possess:
organizational skills with
attention to detail; com-
Microsoft office, Excel,
Outlook & QuickBooks;
professional & courteous
ers. Send resume' to
P.O. Box 9306,
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
Transportation
FLATBED DRIVERS
WANTED. Steel Coil
experience required.
$1,000+ per week oppor-
tunity. Home most nights &
every weekend. Health
insurance available. Paid
vacation. Columbus.
662-251-4536.
Leave msg if no answer.
Rentals
Ads starting at $25
Apts For Rent: North
Studio apartment for rent.
Hwy 45 between CAFB and
Columbus. $400 a month
+ $400 deposit. No pets.
No smoking. Water, sewer,
and trash included.
205−243−3653
Apts For Rent: West
VIP
Rentals
Apartments & Houses
1 Bedrooms
2 Bedroooms
3 Bedrooms
Furnished & Unfurnished
1, 2, & 3 Baths
Lease, Deposit
& Credit Check
viceinvestments.com
327-8555
Apts For Rent: Other
1ST MONTH − RENT FREE!
1−2 BR Apt: $350−435
1−2BR TwnHm: $625−650
Lease, Dep, Credit Check.
Coleman Realty
662−329−2323
Have a rental property?
List it here for fast results.
ads.cdispatch.com
Place an ad safely
from home with
the Classifieds.
ads.cdispatch.com
Service Directory
Promote your small business starting at only $25
Building & Remodeling
HOME REPAIRS &
MAINTENANCE Work
wanted. Carpentry,
concrete, electrical &
plumbing, shingle & metal
roofing, fascia & soffit
repairs, pressure washing
& mobile home repairs.
No Job Too Small.
662−549−7031.
Carpet & Flooring
CARPET INSTALLATION.
Re−Stretch & Repair also
avail. I accept select jobs.
Call Walt, 662−574−8134.
DAVID’S CARPET &
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING
1 Room − $50
2 Rooms − $70
3+ Rooms − $30 EA
Rugs−Must Be Seen
Car Upholstery Cleaning
Available
662−722−1758
Place your ad online.
ads.cdispatch.com
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 n 6B
Apts For Rent: Other Lots & Acreage
Community
1.75 ACRE LOTS.
Good/Bad Credit Options.
Good credit as low as 10%
down, $299/mo. Eaton Ads starting at $12
Land, 662−361−7711.
Special Notices
Waterfront Property
NEWLY RENOVATED three ATTENTION:
bedroom, two 1/2 bath If you or someone you
home in private community know worked out of
with community boat Plumbers/Pipefitters
Union Local 714 (or
landing. Property sits on
Tibbee Creek and is 619) between 1967
conveniently located to and 1970 or worked for
West Point, Columbus, and Warren Kleban
Starkville. Home has a Engineering between
screened in back patio with 1967 and 1969 please
a deck that overlooks call Rebecca at
Tibbee Creek. $198,800. Simmons Hanly Conroy
662−549−2768 toll−free at (855) 988−
2537. You can also
email Rebecca at
Garage Sales
rcockrell@
COLEMAN simmonsfirm.com
RENTALS
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS Two free signs
Lady in Black & White
1 BEDROOM Estate Sales
Striped Shirt Would the
nice lady who waited
2 BEDROOMS
with me and offered me
3 BEDROOMS BOB GRAY ESTATE SALE
136 Brown Street.
a ride home after my
accident on Saturday,
LEASE, Sat May 30, 7am−12pm
© The Dispatch
25 April, at about
Antiques, Lionel Train 10:00am in the
DEPOSIT collection, glassware, morning at the
AND furniture & more! intersection of Bluecutt
662−549−0722
CREDIT CHECK
and Hwy 45 please call
me? 662−328−1286
Garage Sales: New Hope
662-329-2323 2212 New Hope Rd. Travel & Entertainment
Tables, clothes, chairs,
2411 HWY 45 N etc. 662−370−9356.
PUBLIC CATFISH POND
COLUMBUS, MS Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon, 6a−6p.
@ 130 Hillcrest Drive.
Open Tues−Sat, 7a−5p
Mobile Homes for Rent 662−386−8591
Merchandise
Call for pricing.
2BR/2BA MH. Window AC,
natural gas heat. Stove/
fridge incl, fenced yard,
storage shed & carport.
$375/mo + $375 dep.
Ads starting at $12
Need a new
662−352−4776. Appliances
companion?
CENTRAL AC UNIT. Only
Real Estate
used 1 day, too small for
space. Revolv brand, 2.5
btu, 208−230 voltage.
$900. Crawford, MS.
Ads starting at $25 662−497−2754.
General Merchandise
Houses For Sale: New Hope
16 WIDNER IN NEW HOPE WHITE POSTER BOARD
Newly remodeled. 3BR/
24"x23"
2BA home. Approx. 1,500 $0.50 each
sqft. Has 25’x30’ wired 100 in stock
metal shop w/ roll−up front Visit 516 Main Street
& side door. $158,500.
662−549−9298.
or call 662−328−2424
When looking
for a new pet,
Lawn & Garden
HAYES DAYLILLIES
Open mornings. M−S.
1069 New Hope Rd. Call adoption is
662−251−6665.
always a
Vehicles
good option.
Ads starting at $12
Autos For Sale
Five Questions:
2004 FORD T−BIRD. Two
tops, hard & soft. Little
1 Hydroponics
over 100k mi. Excellent
Condition. Call Holly at
Eaton Motor Company in
2 Goose
Houston, 662−705−1143.
Motorcycles & ATVs
3 San Francisco
1993 KAWASAKI
VOYAGER XII Only 25,500
miles. Runs & looks good.
No problems. $3000 OBO.
4 “Royal Pains”
Can be seen local.
501−545−7750.
Read local. 5 Jacqueline
cdispatch.com Kennedy
Childcare General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping
Emmanuel’s Christian WORK WANTED: Jake’s Mowing
Academy−Child care Licensed & Bonded. Mowing, Weed−eating,
AVAILABLE SOON For ages Carpentry, minor electrical, Blow off walks, Trim shrubs
6 weeks to 12 years old. minor plumbing, insulation, Free quote. Great pricing.
emmanuelsca@yahoo.com painting, demolition, Call, text, leave message.
or text 662−245−6998 gutters cleaned, pressure 662−570−8815
washing, landscaping,
Electrical cleanup work, moving help. JESSE & BEVERLY’S
662−242−3608. LAWN SERVICE
Mowing, cleanup,
HILL’S PRESSURE landscaping, sodding,
WASHING. Commercial/ & tree cutting.
Residential. House, 662−356−6525
concrete, sidewalks &
mobile washing. Free est.
LAWN CARE
662−386−8925. Mowing, weed eating,
blowing, etc.
PRESSURE WASHING Free estimates.
MOUNTING TV’S AND Commercial & residential.
Reasonable prices.
HIDING WIRES Bricks, concrete & siding. 662−549−3790
Mount TV: Call for quote,
$60/TV (mount not incl) 662−295−6880. SAM’S LAWN SERVICE
Mount TV & hide wires: No lawn too large or too
$120/TV (mount not incl)
Johnny Beamon CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY small. Mowing, trimming &
662−251−8472 $545 plus Filing Fee weedeating.
Call 662−243−1694
CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY
General Services All Attorney Fees Through The Plan
Painting & Papering
Jim Arnold, Attorney
A & T TREE SERVICES
Bucket truck & stump 662-324-1666 • 601-656-6914 QUALITY PAINTING.
104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville Ext/Int Painting.
removal. Free est. Sheet Rock Hang, Finish &
Serving Columbus
Repair. Pressure Washing.
since 1987. Senior SKILLED CRAFTSMAN. Free Estimates. Ask for
citizen disc. Call Alvin @
Any kind of work! We can specials! Larry Webber,
242−0324/241−4447 build, paint, drywall, clean 662−242−4932.
"We’ll go out on a limb for & cut grass. Reasonable
you!" rates. Safe & Reliable.
SULLIVAN’S PAINT
662−386−3658. SERVICE
Are you a painter?
Special Prices.
Interior & Exterior Painting.
Advertise here! 662−435−6528
662-328-2424