Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi
CDISPATCH.COM
Witnesses: Mother-in-law admitted to 2015 killing
Defense attorney questions accuracy
of alleged confessions on second day
of Lydia Martinez murder trial
BY SLIM SMITH
ssmith@cdispatch.com
During Wednesday’s ab-
breviated session of the Lydia
Martinez murder trial, the pros-
ecution focused heavily on the
events of July 22, 2015, when
authorities found what was
described as a suicide note/
Ridge Swain, 5, rides in his Spider-Man car at his home in Caledonia Tuesday afternoon. “I like Spider-Man because he has
webs,” Ridge said. He is the son of Mary Margaret Swain.
BUSINESS MOVES WITH MARY
Coffee and ice cream shop coming to Caledonia
PLUS: In-home bakery opens in Starkville
B
y mid April, folks leaving
Ola J. Pickett Park can
stop for an afternoon
treat.
Sonya Maclean is opening
Sweetie’s Café at 9641 Old
Wolf Road, across from the
Caledonia park. The new café
will start serving customers ice
cream, coffee, snowballs and
various desserts.
She added the new café will
continually offer specials and
seasonal treats.
“We’re going to keep things
INSIDE
Business 5B
Classifieds 6B
Comics 4B
Crossword 6B
Dear Abby 4B
Obituaries 5A
Opinions 4A
WEATHER
High 55 Low 43
Mostly cloudy, breezy
Full forecast on
page 3A.
confession in the defendant’s
bedroom, and when Martinez
allegedly admitted her guilt to
a paramedic as she was being
taken to the hospital.
The prosecution also intro-
duced forensic evidence found
at the home Martinez shared
with her family — the victim
Manuel Vasquez, daughter
SPIDER-MAN RIDE
changing, add items and keep
customers on their toes,” Ma-
clean said.
Once open, Maclean said
customers can stop by Tuesday
through Sunday 1-6 p.m.
“We wanted to do something
close to home,” Maclean said.
“We’re excited about being
there. I grew up in Caledo-
nia, we’re building a house in
Caledonia, so we’re ready and
excited to open up.”
Moving on, we’ve got a new
kind of kid’s sleepover.
FIVE QUESTIONS
1 What shape is a symphony
orchestra usually arranged in —
circle, semicircle or square?
2 Bats are members of the bird
family. True or false?
3 Which is not a color of card
shown by the referee during a
soccer game — red, yellow or
black?
4 What do the letters TMZ stand
for, in the name of the gossip
website?
5 In which city is Pierre Elliott
Trudeau International Airport
located?
Answers, 6B
DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471
FREE!
Thursday | March 18, 2021
NEW HOPE MURDER
Christina Marti-
nez and her three
ination of Lt. Tony Cooper of
the Lowndes County Sheriff’s
gone less than a minute.
“When she came back, she
grandchildren.
Martinez, 61,
Office, who testified Tuesday
about arriving at the Vasquez
was saying, ‘Help. My mom’s
hurt,’” he said.
is accused of home on July 22 with a sub- Cooper said he and two oth-
first-degree mur- poena to search the home and er deputies arrived in the de-
der in the killing take Christina Martinez to the fendant’s bedroom, where they
of her son-in-law, sheriff’s office for further ques- found Martinez lying on the
Martinez
Manuel Vasquez, tioning. bed with blood on her face and
in the early-morning hours of Cooper said Christina an- arms. Cooper said he noticed a
June 24, 2015. Christina Marti- swered the door and went up- jar with a small amount of liq-
uid on the nightstand. Another
nez pleaded guilty to second-de- stairs to the defendant’s bed-
gree murder in the case in 2019 room to tell her she needed her detective discovered a letter,
and is awaiting sentencing. mother to watch the children which Cooper said he read,
Wednesday’s testimony while she was at the sheriff’s describing it as a suicide note/
began with defense attorney office. confession letter.
Arthur Calderón’s cross-exam- Cooper said Christina was See MARTINEZ, 6A
Waffle House
employee who
allegedly stabbed
customer charged
with murder
Authorities identify
suspect, victim in
Wednesday morning
stabbing
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT
COLUMBUS —
Authorities have
charged a Waffle
House employee ac-
cused of stabbing a
customer to death
with murder.
Hezekiah Mani-
go, 22, of Columbus, Manigo
was arrested Wednesday morning
for the death of Davartex Artez
Fisher, 28.
Fisher was at the Waffle House
location near the intersection of
Highway 45 North and Highway 82
at about 2 a.m. Wednesday when
he and Manigo apparently got into
an argument over a food order,
Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff according to a Columbus Police
Department press release. The re-
See MANIGO, 6A
Kasey Duke
opened Local Little
Local Little
Teepees has various
Over in Starkville, we have a
new bakery in town — well, in
Teepee this month, themes including home.
bringing kids’ camouflage, sports Shae McGee opened Shae’s
sleepovers to “the themed, rainbow Treats this year from her own
next level.” and unicorns and kitchen.
“We offer full more. For now, McGee is baking
service party pack- “We wanted to out of her kitchen, but hopes to
ages that includes bring some creativ- expand to a brick and mortar
teepees, mattress- ity and versatility shop.
“I bake a lot,” McGee said.
es, linens, pillows to the party options
and the party décor offered in our com- “More than an average person
of your choice from Mary Pollitz munity,” Duke said. by far. My friends and family
our themes,” Duke Check out Local always get me to make treats
said. “Our packages include Little Teepee’s Facebook page for events. … Lately it’s been
delivery, set up and pick up to for pricing, scheduling and vari- weekly that I get asked to, so
the location of your choice in ous specials to make your kid’s I prayed about it and decided I
the Golden Triangle.” sleepover the talk of the school. See BUSINESS, 6A
CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC
Thursday, March 25 MEETINGS
April 5: Oktibbeha
■ Candidate forum: Hear Columbus
County Board of
municipal candidates at the 2021 Candi-
date Forum at the Lyceum at Lee (former Supervisors, 9
a.m., Chancery
Lee High School). The event is co-spon-
sored by The Dispatch and WCBI and will
Courthouse
April 6: Starkville
follow a Q&A format with a moderator.
Board of Aldermen,
COVID precautions will be taken for a
limited live audience and the event will be
5 p.m., City Hall
April 13:
livestreamed online by WCBI. Reserve free
tickets online at cdispatch.com/forum
Starkville-Oktibbe-
ha Consolidated
School District
Friday, March 26 Board of Trustees,
■ Tennessee Williams 110th birthday 6 p.m., Greensboro
celebration: Visit the Tennessee Williams Center
Home and Welcome Center, 300 Main St., April 19: Oktibbe-
Columbus, at 10 a.m. for birthday cake, ha County Board
photos with “Tennessee” and his “moth- of Supervisors,
er,” Edwina Dakin Williams, and register to Owen Byrd, 12, plays baseball 9 a.m., Chancery
win dinner at Galatoire’s in New Orleans. for Caledonia. Courthouse
2A THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Republicans seize on immigration

as border crossings surge
GOP hoping issue can
unite party heading into Despite headwinds, House set to
next year’s elections
BY JILL COLVIN
OK Democrats’ immigration bills
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Delegation WASHINGTON — Democrats seem poised to claim victory in the

trips to the border. Apocalyptic warn-
ings. A flurry of new conferences.
Republicans still divided over
former President Donald Trump’s
legacy are seizing on his signature
campaign issue, turning their focus
to immigration as they try to regain
the political upper hand.
Faced with President Joe Biden’s
early popularity, good news about
vaccinations, and Americans’ em-
brace of the COVID-19 relief bill
Washington Republicans opposed,
the GOP is leaning in on the highly
charged issue amid a spike in border
crossings. They hope immigration
can unite the party heading into next
year’s elections, when control of Con-
gress is at stake.
“Heading into the midterms, I
think that Republicans are increas-
ingly realizing that this can be one
of the most potent issues, both to
motivate our voters, but equally as
important, to appeal to” swing vot-
ers — especially in suburban swing
districts — who voted for Democrats
in 2020, said former Trump aide Ste-
phen Miller, the architect of his im-
migration policies. He said the issue
has been a subject of discussion in
his recent conversations with law-
House’s first votes this year on immigration, but moving legislation on
the divisive issue all the way through Congress to President Joe Biden
is an uphill fight.
The House was set to vote Thursday on one bill giving over 2 million
young Dreamer immigrants and others full legal status and a chance for
citizenship. A second measure would do the same for around 1 million
immigrant farm workers. Both seemed certain to pass.
But party divisions and solid Republican opposition mean pushing
legislation through the Senate on immigration remains difficult, es-
pecially for Biden’s goal of a sweeping measure helping all 11 million
immigrants in the U.S. illegally become citizens. The partisan battle
shows little promise of easing before next year’s elections, when Repub-
licans could use it in their effort to regain House and Senate control.
makers as child border crossings accompanied minors and families
have surged, straining U.S. facilities. remain lower than at various points
The situation at the southern bor- during the Trump administration,
der is complex. Since Biden’s inau- including in spring 2019. That May,
guration, the country has seen a dra- authorities encountered more than
matic spike in the number of people 55,000 migrant children, including
encountered by border officials, with 11,500 unaccompanied minors, and
18,945 family members and 9,297 around 84,500 migrants traveling in
unaccompanied children encoun- family units.
tered in February — an increase of But that hasn’t stopped Repub-
168 percent and 63 percent from the licans from seizing on the issue,
month before, according to the Pew led by Trump himself. They blame
Research Center. That creates an Biden, who has been deeply critical
enormous logistical challenge, since of Trump’s approach, for rolling back
children, in particular, require high- many of the former president’s hard-
er standards of care and coordina- line deterrence policies. And they lik-
tion across agencies. en Biden’s new, kinder tone to an in-
Still, the encounters of both un- vitation to would-be border crossers.

Asian Americans grieve, organize in wake of Atlanta attacks

BY TERRY TANG tor of the Atlanta-based targeted the spas because gunman “was very clear-
The Associated Press Asian American Advoca- of a “sex addiction.” Six ly going after a targeted
cy Fund, which does po- of the seven slain women group of people.”
Asian Americans were litical and advocacy work were identified as Asian. Being Asian American
already worn down by across Georgia. Law enforcement herself, Huang said the
a year of pandemic-fu- Many were also out- needs “some training shootings felt personal.
eled racist attacks when raged that the suspect, understanding what a She is worried that not
a white gunman was 21-year-old Robert Aaron hate crime is. This man
charged with attacking classifying the attack as a
Long, was not immedi- identified targets owned hate crime will “absolute-
three Atlanta-area mas- ately charged with hate by Asians,” said Marga-
sage parlors and killing ly discourage others from
crimes. Authorities said ret Huang, president and
eight people, most of them coming forward and seek-
Long told police the attack CEO of the Southern Pov-
Asian women. ing help.”
was not racially motivat- erty Law Center, which
Hundreds of Asian ed, and he claimed that he tracks hate groups. The
Americans and Pacific
Islanders turned to social
media to air their anger,
sadness, fear and hope-
lessness. The hashtag
#StopAsianHate was a top
trending topic on Twitter
hours after the shootings
that happened Tuesday
evening.
“I think the reason
why people are feeling so
hopeless is because Asian
Americans have been
ringing the bell on this
issue for so long ... We’ve
been raising the red flag,”
said Aisha Yaqoob Mah-
mood, executive direc-

IRS will delay tax

filing due date
until May 17
BY SARAH SKIDMORE SELL
AP Business Writer

Americans will be get-

ting extra time to prepare
their taxes. The Internal
Revenue Service says it’s
delaying the traditional tax
filing deadline from April
15 until May 17.
The IRS announced
the decision Wednesday
and said it would provide
further guidance in the
coming days. The move
provides more breathing
room for taxpayers and
the IRS alike to cope with
changes brought on by the
pandemic.
“The IRS wants to con-
tinue to do everything
possible to help taxpay-
ers navigate the unusual
circumstances related to
the pandemic, while also
working on important tax
administration responsi-
bilities,” IRS Commission-
er Chuck Rettig said in a
statement.
The decision postpones
when individual taxpayers
must file their return and
when their payment is due.
The IRS said taxpayers
who owe money would not
face any further penalties
or interest if they pay by
May 17.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021 3A

Boil water advisory lifted for Warnock: GOP voting

all of Jackson, one month later restrictions resurrect
Mayor said the crisis has been caused in part by ability to update its system has
been a rapidly declining tax base
‘Jim Crow era’
decades of neglect of aging infrastructure because of “white flight.” Jackson’s ‘One person, one vote is being
tax base began crumbling decades
BY LEAH WILLINGHAM froze equipment at the city’s water ago, starting after the integration of threatened right now’
The Associated Press/Report for America treatment plant, thousands of wa- public schools.
Voters in 2014 overwhelmingly BY BILL BARROW
ter customers went weeks with low
JACKSON — After 30 days of pressure or no pressure at all, col- approved an extra 1 percent sales The Associated Press
boiling their water to get rid of con- lecting water in buckets from distri- tax for infrastructure repairs, but
taminants and sometimes no water the $15 million a year raised is only Sen. Raphael Warnock, whose
bution sites throughout the city to
at all, Jackson residents are finally a fraction of what Jackson needs. election as Georgia’s first Black
flush toilets and clean themselves.
able to drink the water from the tap Lumumba said close to $2 billion senator gave control of the cham-
National Guard members were
after officials lifted a boil water ad- is required to modernize the water ber to Democrats, used his first
called in to help distribute water.
visory put in place in mid-February system and other infrastructure re- floor speech on Capitol Hill to blast
Volunteers loaded tanks of water on
when a deep freeze wreaked havoc lated to sewer and roads. a wave of Republican-backed mea-
trucks to deliver to apartment com-
on their water infrastructure. The Democratic mayor wrote sures that would make it harder
plexes housing seniors and those
The city’s 43,000 surface water a letter to Republican Gov. Tate to cast ballots in states around the
without transportation. Warnock
connections were released Wednes- Reeves and other officials to re- country.
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba
day from the boil advisory put in quest $47 million in state and fed- Warnock noted Georgia’s and the country’s
said the crisis has been caused in
place on Feb. 16. A boil notice had part by decades of neglect of aging eral funding to begin repairing the history of allowing voter suppression against mi-
previously been lifted for the city’s infrastructure. Parts of Jackson’s water system. Since then, the mayor norities and the poor, and he warned that some
16,000 well water connections on water system are a century old, he and other city leaders have begun Republican lawmakers are trying to reopen those
March 10. said. meeting with legislative leaders to chapters with “draconian” restrictions he cast as a
After officials said cold weather A major factor affecting the city’s discuss options. reaction against Democratic victories like his.
“We are witnessing right now a massive and un-
abashed assault on voting rights and voter access
unlike anything we have seen since the Jim Crow
era,” Warnock said Wednesday. “One person, one
vote is being threatened right now. Politicians in
AREA ARRESTS my home state and all across America, in their cra-
The following arrests ven lust for power, have launched a full-fledged as-
were made by Lowndes sault on voting rights” and on “democracy itself.”
County Sheriff’s Office: The first-term senator’s speech followed Sen-
n Matthew Morrison, ate Democrats’ introduction of a sweeping elec-
29, was charged with sex tion law overhaul, called the “For the People Act,”
offender registration fail- that could override many of the restrictive mea-
ure. sures that Republicans are pushing at the state
n Reginald Bradley, 36, level. Warnock is the Senate bill’s lead sponsor.
was charged with sexual Morrison Bradley Dusenberry Williston B. Andrews Gardner The House passed its version in the previous Con-
battery, disorderly con- gress and again last month on a 220-210 vote that
duct, open container law fell along party lines.
and malicious mischief. Democrats cast their legislation as a way to
n Sean Dusenberry, 47, render most of the state GOP moves moot. Repub-
was charged with posses- lican leaders insist their approach, which follows
sion of methamphetamine. former President Donald Trump’s false assertions
n Adam Williston, 31, that the 2020 elections were “rigged,” is needed to
was charged with embez- prevent voter fraud and reassure voters that U.S.
Davis Pratt J. Andrews Warren Jordan Wells elections are legitimate.
zlement.
n Brandy Andrews, 30, Warnock blasted that reasoning Wednesday as
was charged with posses- part of a “big lie of voter fraud as a pretext for vot-
sion of methamphetamine. er suppression.” He added that “the same big lie
n Caleb Gardner, 21, led to a violent insurrection on this very Capitol,”
was charged with posses- as Congress met Jan. 6 to certify President Joe
sion with intent to distrib- Biden’s victory.
ute. Republican lawmakers in Georgia and other
n Damion Davis, 34, states are considering severely curtailing absen-
Hogan Spinks Norwood Edwards Vaughn Jerrell
was charged with felony tee voting; eliminating automatic and same-day
taking of a motor vehicle fice: hold for other agency. sion of a controlled sub- voter registration; and cutting back on early vot-
and failure to appear. n Sharon Jordan, 39, n Michael Spinks, 54, stance. ing opportunities, including Sunday “souls to the
n Fitzgerald Pratt, 36,was charged with domes- was charged with burglary n Jessie Jerrell, 24, was polls” voting days that are especially important
was charged with posses- tic violence-aggravated other than a dwelling. charged with possession to Black churches where parishioners lean over-
sion of cocaine. assault. n Elmer Norwood, 37, of a controlled substance. whelmingly Democratic.
n Jeremy Andrews, 30, n Ted Wells, 38, was was charged with a circuit
was charged with posses- charged with possession court order.
sion of methamphetamine. of a weapon by a felon, pos- n Lenquarius Ed-
n Louis Warren, 51, session of a stolen firearm, wards, 24, was charged
was charged with felony possession of marijuana with possession of a sto-
burglary-breaking inner more than 30 grams, care- len firearm, disregarding
door of dwelling. less driving and no drivers traffic signal, no drivers
license. license and false informa-
The following arrests n Jamichael Hogan, 21, tion.
were made by the Oktib- was charged with grand n Samuel Vaughn, 23,
beha County Sheriff’s Of- larceny, no insurance and was charged with posses-

SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Thurs. Fri.
Major 4:45a 5:31a
Minor 10:35a 11:11a
Major 5:08p 5:54p
Minor — 12:44a
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

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Opinion
4A THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021
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

OUR VIEW

A single business shouldn’t stop an otherwise prudent code change

W
hen considering code
regulations, cities
are often required to
walk a fine line. On one hand,
codes are an essential part of
protecting the public. On the
other hand, an overzealous
approach to codes can harm
the viability of existing busi-
nesses and discourage future
development.
The city of Starkville is
now in the process of walking
that line as it updates its code
requirements.
During Tuesday’s regular
meeting the Starkville Board
of Aldermen held the first of
two public meetings to get
feedback on a planned update
of its codes.
Most prominent in Tues-
day’s discussions was a
proposed code amendment
that would require a business
where alcohol is served that
has an occupancy of more than
300 people to be equipped with
a sprinkler system.
The public safety argument
for adopting this amendment
should be obvious. There is a
long and tragic history of night-
club fires. In fact, the deadliest
U.S. nightclub fire occurred in
Natchez in 1940, when boarded
up windows, flammable decora-
tions and overcrowding played
a factor in the loss of 200 lives.
In that respect, requiring
enhanced safety measures do
not appear to be inappropriate.
But on the other side of the
coin, there is a cost associated
with adding a sprinkler sys-
tem, one that could potentially
threaten a business’ ability to
remain open.
According to Starkville Fire
Marshall Mark McCurdy the
new sprinkler requirement
would affect just one existing
business — Level III bar.
“If this were to be adopt-
ed, it would require that one
business (Level III) to either
sprinkle his building or go out
of business basically,” Mc-
Curdy said.
The National Fire Protec-
tion Association estimates the
cost of retrofitting a commer-
cial building with a sprinkler
system is $1.35 per square
foot. That means it would cost
$6,750 to equip a 5,000 square
foot building with sprinklers.
Only the business owner
can determine whether the
requirement is cost-prohibitive.
Yet the fact that the new
requirement affects only one
business appears to have given
city officials pause. They cer-
tainly don’t want the perception
that they are singling out a sin-
gle business, nor do they want
to discourage future growth.
If the city truly believes
a sprinkler requirement is
needed to protect the public, it
should stand firm.
This speed bump shouldn’t
halt an otherwise prudent
code change. Either “grandfa-
thering in” Level III’s current
lack of sprinklers or allowing
them to phase in the changes
seem reasonable alternatives
to scrapping the code change
altogether.
The most important factor is
determining whether or not the
amendment is justified.
What do the fire experts
recommend?
City officials should follow
those recommendations while
finding a reasonable solution
for this single business.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE CARTOONIST VIEW

Supports DiCicco for Ward 6
I have supported the councilman for
Ward 6 in the past, but this year, I am
voting for Jacqueline DiCicco. I hope you
will too.
When the Ward 6 councilman went in of-
fice our police department had 75 officers.
Today we have 58. Are we surprised there
is a crime surge? Our debt was manage-
able at the beginning of his term, but it’s
skyrocketed to over $20 million (a stagger-
ing 252% increase). During the 12 years of
the councilman’s tenure, the city has not
accounted for its computers, vehicles, and
other fixed assets. And it’s the council’s job
to keep the mayor in check.
That’s why on April 6th, I plan to vote for
fresh, new leadership by doing my part in
putting Jacqueline DiCicco in office. DiCic-
co will serve with the same dedication,
focus, and work she’s practiced throughout
her life. I look forward to her bringing new
ideas and energy to city hall. She will be a
good steward of our tax dollars. Columbus
has a lot of potential and could be a desir-
able place for retirees, like me. But not if
we keep with the same regime going in the
wrong direction.
Beating a long-time incumbent is tough
but together, with your help, it can be done.
The momentum is on DiCicco’s side! I
am doing all I can by putting a Jacqueline
DiCicco sign in my yard, making calls, and
going door to door. It’s my hope you will
consider doing the same in your neighbor-
hood. This is a critical moment in our city.
Election Day is April 6, and the winner
of the primary is the next councilperson.
There is no general election for this race.
Will you join me at the Brandon polling
location to vote for Jacqueline DiCicco to be
our next councilperson for Ward 6?
Dr. Sarah P. Sanders
Columbus
THE NATION
Doesn’t think state is positioned to We don’t need Biden’s infrastructure binge
D
remove income tax onald Trump did will not only create jobs Even if the United States needs
Our tax policy needs to be formulated on many bad things but also boost our eco- more investment in particular areas,
what’s best for Mississippi, not as the winds as president, but nomic productivity. But that doesn’t mean the federal gov-
blow from D.C., Harkins said Monday. he deserves a smidgen of the Reason Foundation, ernment should pick up the tab.
That makes for a good sound bite since credit for what he didn’t which issues a detailed The great majority of infrastructure
most Republicans want the people to do: go on an infrastruc- report each year on the assets are owned by state and local
believe that to put our government in a bath ture spending binge. He nation’s highways, found governments, and it’s their con-
tub and drown it, would make us all live vowed that under him, that the percentage of stituents who would gain the most
better. our roads, bridges and urban interstates rated in from resurfacing roads or bolstering
But the fact is, for every $1 we pay in waterways would be “the poor condition was lower bridges. If they are going to reap the
taxes, the government pays us $2.88. envy of the world.” He said in 2018 than a decade economic benefits of such invest-
Of all the states that are takers and that in 2016 and was still earlier. Likewise with ru- ments, shouldn’t they be willing to
givers to and from the federal government, saying it in 2020. But his Steve Chapman ral interstates. For other pay for them?
Mississippi is #3 in takers. main achievement was to major rural highways, just In fact, they seem to be unwilling.
Gunn and other supporters of the bill make “infrastructure week” a source 1.23% were in bad shape in 2018. The Center on Budget and Policy
say it could help Mississippi compete with of hilarity. The foundation’s most recent Priorities reports, “State and local
states that already don’t have a personal Now President Joe Biden is hoping report found that “the general quality infrastructure spending as a share of
income tax, including Texas and Florida. to do what Trump didn’t do, and he and safety of the nation’s highways gross domestic product is at its low-
When you think of Texas, you think of has support from such divergent has incrementally improved as spend- est point since the early 1980s.” But
oil and gas. groups as the AFL-CIO and the U.S. ing on state-owned roads increased the fact that these governments don’t
When you think of Florida, it’s tourists Chamber of Commerce. During his by 9 percent, up to $151.8 billion” want to use their own money doesn’t
and wealthy retirees. campaign, he made gaudy promises compared with the previous year. mean they won’t be happy to use cash
When you think of Mississippi, it’s tim- to “transform” our transportation net- Bridges? Notes Brown University that falls out of the sky.
ber and poultry processing plants. works, “revolutionize” railroads and economist Matthew A. Turner in That’s the political beauty of feder-
It’s easy to tell which states can make up urban transit, and upgrade water sys- The Milken Institute Review, “There al infrastructure packages: The bene-
the lost revenue. tems, broadband, bike lanes, home were more bridges in good condition fits are obvious to people getting new
Our politicians probably know what they weatherization and just about any- and fewer crumbling bridges in 2017 projects, but the costs are invisible.
want to do, but would like to play around thing else you could think of. Biden than in 1992.” Mass transit? The The timing of this push is also
with a little bit. could make the Pledge of Allegiance average age of public transit buses awkward, because the COVID-19 ca-
But whatever they do, it will probably be an infrastructure issue. has declined during that period. “All tastrophe creates so much uncertain-
another favor rewarded to the corporations His price tag for all this? Two told,” writes Turner, “investment ty about how we will live, work and
and wealthy, not the people. trillion dollars. His plan to pay for it? in the interstate, in bridges and in travel going forward. “I’m not sure
It’s in the Republicans bloodline to do Unspecified. The White House has public transit buses has matched or that at this time we want to be pour-
those things. indicated a preference for tax increas- exceeded depreciation over the past ing concrete or buying equipment
James Hodges es on the wealthy and corporations. generation.” until we see how much of this shakes
Steens When asked recently how she and As with most things that require out for a year or two,” University of
her fellow Republicans would react to money, infrastructure projects are Chicago economist Allen Sanderson
A letter to the editor is an excellent way to that idea, Sen. Susan Collins report- subject to the law of diminishing told me.
participate in your community. We request edly “burst out laughing.” returns. “Countries with undevel- Under Trump, “infrastructure
the tone of your letters be constructive and But even if there were a good way oped infrastructure are likely to week” went nowhere, time after time.
respectful and the length be limited to 450 to finance all this spending, there benefit from a relatively high level of But it may be that one thing worse
words. Political endorsements are limited to may not be good enough reasons. investment,” said a 2018 report by the than an infrastructure push that fails
one per letter-writer. We reserve the right to The need for a massive program has nonpartisan Congressional Research is an infrastructure push that suc-
edit letters for clarity, grammar and length. been greatly exaggerated, and so has Service. “Countries with well-devel- ceeds.
Letters may be emailed to voice@cdispatch. the likely payoff. oped infrastructure, like the United Steve Chapman is a columnist
com or mailed to The Dispatch, Attn: Letters We are told that our highways and States, are likely to benefit much and editorial writer for the Chicago
to the Editor, PO Box 511, Columbus, MS bridges are falling apart from lack of less from a disproportionately large Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @
39703-0511. investment and that upgrading them investment.” SteveChapman13.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021 5A

Expanded testing part of Biden administration school plans

‘The time is now, and schools must
act immediately to get students
safely back into school buildings’
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona
BY CAROLYN THOMPSON
The Associated Press
Pushing forward with
its plan to reopen schools
this spring, the Biden ad-
ministration is expand-
ing coronavirus testing
for teachers, staff and
students and convening
a summit for educators
to share “best practices”
for returning kids to the
classroom.
“The time is now, and
schools must act imme-
diately to get students
safely back into school
buildings,” Education
Secretary Miguel Cardo-
na said Wednesday.
President Joe Biden,
who was inaugurated on
Jan. 20, has pledged to
have most elementary
and middle schools open
to instruction by the end
of his first 100 days in of-
fice. The administration
has been promoting the
$1.9 trillion COVID-19
relief bill recently passed
by Congress as a way to
accomplish that. As part
of that effort, first lady
Jill Biden visited a school
in New Hampshire on
Wednesday.
The states will share
$122 billion for K-12
schools, with allocations
ranging from $285 million
for Vermont schools to
$15 billion for California,
according to the Educa-
tion Department.
The money can be
used to reduce class sizes
and modify classrooms to
enhance social distanc-
ing, install ventilation
systems and purchase
personal protective equip-
ment. It also can pay for
more nurses, counselors
and janitors, and summer
school.
Also Wednesday, the
Department of Health
and Human Services an-
nounced $10 billion for
states to support school
COVID-19 testing pro-
grams.
Most public schools
haven’t been able to afford
the robust testing seen as
critical to reopening safe-
ly, said Randi Weingarten,
president of the American
Federation of Teachers.
“With this investment,
help truly is on the way
to aid school systems in
implementing a testing
system that will help keep
summit with the goal of
sharing best practices
students, educators and
staff safe inside school
and connecting leaders,
educators and students
buildings,” she said in a from across this country
statement. who are navigating this
Cardona said a sum- challenge together and
mit scheduled for next finding creative solutions
Wednesday will give ed- to support our students
ucation leaders, teachers and bring them back to
and students an oppor- in-person learning,” Car-
tunity to share their ex- dona said.
periences in reopening
schools. The Education
Department said first
lady Jill Biden will deliv-
er opening remarks. Dr.
Rochelle Walensky, head
of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention,
also will speak.
“We are holding this

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Home.
Grave-
side
services
will be at
11 a.m.
Friday, at
Christian Clark
Love M.B.
Church Cemetery in
Macon, with Ricardus
Mixon officiating.
Visitation is from 2-6
p.m. today, at Carter’s
Funeral Services. Car-
ter’s Funeral Services
of Macon is in charge
of arrangements. Mrs.
Clark was born July 18,
1936, in Scooba, to the
late Ezell Mayberry
and Mattie B. Mayber-
ry. She was a member
of Christian Love M.B.
Church.
In addition to her
parents, she was
preceded in death by
her husband, Willie D.
Clark; son, Major Tate;
siblings, John Mayber-
AREA OBITUARIES
Spring, Michigan,
Caldonia Clark of Rog-
ers, Arkansas, Floyd
Clark of Baltimore,
Maryland, Willie Mae
Summers of Colum-
bus, Emogene Liddell
of Columbus, James
Clark of Macon, Marie
Chambers of Hartford,
Michigan, Edward
Clark of Bowie, Mary-
land, Charles Clark of
Columbus, Sylvester
Clark of Seattle, Wash-
ington and Patricia
Dooley Columbus; sib-
lings, Willie L. Hubbart
and Roosevelt Hubbart
both of Erie, Pennsylva-
nia; 37 grandchildren;
27 great-grandchildren;
and one great-great-
grandchild.
Joe Jones
COLUMBUS — Joe
Lee Jones, 93, died
March 17, 2021.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
North Mississippi Med- Arrangements are
ical Center in Tupelo. incomplete and will be
Graveside services announced by Carter’s
Linda Burns
will be at 11 a.m. at Funeral Services of Incomplete
Pheba Community Columbus. 2nd Ave. N. Location
Cemetery in Pheba,
with Willie B. Lairy
officiating. Visitation Ellis Rinehart
will be from 10:30-11 COLUMBUS — Ellis
a.m. prior to services at Wendell Rinehart, 62,
died March 17, 2021, at
the cemetery. Carter’s
Mortuary Services of his residence.
West Point is in charge Arrangements are
of arrangements. incomplete and will be memorialgunterpeel.com
Mr. Hogan was born announced by Lown-
Feb. 15, 1941 in Pheba,
des Funeral Home of
to the late Nash Hogan Columbus.
and Ruth Hogan. He
was formerly employed
as a mechanic with
General Motors.
Linda Burns
COLUMBUS — Lin-
da J. Burns, 73, died
March 18, 2021, at Bap-
tist Memorial Hospital
Golden Triangle.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Memori-

and Monday publication. For
more information, call 662-
328-2471.
Josephine Clark
COLUMBUS — Jo-
sephine Adams Clark,
84, died March 8, 2021,
at Aurora Nursing
ry, Tommie Mayberry
and Mary Thompson;
stepmother, Evalina
Mayberry; two grand-
children; and two
great-grandchildren.
She is survived by
her children, Mattie
C. Vergot of Berrien
announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Columbus.
Charles Hogan
WEST POINT
— Charles Anthony
Wayne Hogan, 80, died
March 10, 2021, at
al Gunter Peel Funeral
Home and Crematory,
Second Avenue North
location.
Davartex Fisher
COLUMBUS — Da-
vartex Fisher, 28, died
March 17, 2021.
Roy Smith
Roy Harvey Smith, 85, of
Columbus, Mississippi, passed
away quietly at his home on
January 20, 2021.
Roy, the oldest of four
siblings, was born on January
23, 1935, in Jefferson County,

Breyer mum as some liberals
urge him to quit Supreme Court
82-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer is
the oldest member of the court and
has served more than 26 years since
his appointment by President Clinton
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — al voices have said Breyer
Forgive progressives who
aren’t looking forward to
the sequel of their person-
al “Nightmare on First
Street,” a Supreme Court
succession story.
The original followed
Justice Ruth Bader Gins-
burg’s decision to forgo
retirement from the high
court, located on First
Street in Washington,
when Democrats con-
trolled the White House
and the Senate during six
years of Barack Obama’s
presidency, until 2015.
Despite some pointed
warnings of what might
happen, Ginsburg re-
mained on the bench un-
til her death last year at
age 87. President Donald
Trump replaced the liberal
icon with a young conser-
vative, Justice Amy Coney
Barrett, and cemented a
6-3 conservative majori-
ty on the court just over a
month before he lost his
bid for a second term.
In the updated version,
82-year-old Justice Stephen
Breyer plays the leading
role. He is the oldest mem-
ber of the court and has
served more than 26 years
since his appointment by
President Bill Clinton.
With spring comes the
start of the period in which
many justices have an-
nounced their retirement.
Some progressives say it
is time for Breyer to go,
without delay. Other liber-
should retire when the
court finishes its work for
the term, usually by early
summer.
“He should announce
his retirement immediate-
ly, effective upon the con-
firmation of his successor,”
University of Colorado law
professor Paul Campos
wrote in The New York
Times on Monday.
Campos’ plea stems
from the Democrats’ tenu-
ous hold on power.
A Democrat, President
Joe Biden, lives in the
White House and his par-
ty runs the evenly divided
Senate only because the
tie-breaking 51st vote be-
longs to Vice President Ka-
mala Harris.
But there is no margin
for a senator’s death or
incapacitating illness that
could instantly flip control
to Republicans. Campos
noted that the party com-
position of the Senate has
changed more often than
not in each two-year ses-
sion of Congress since the
end of World War II.
Breyer has remained
mum about his plans, at
least publicly. His last
comment on the topic of
retirement was made to
Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick in
an interview published in
December. “I mean, even-
tually I’ll retire, sure I will,”
Breyer said.
Wayne Parker
Charles Dewayne Parker, 61,
of Columbus, MS passed away
Monday, March 15, 2021, at his
residence.
A visitation will be Thursday,
March 18, 2021, from 6:00-8:00
PM at Lowndes Funeral Home.
The funeral service will be
Friday, March 19, 2021, at 2:00
PM at Lowndes Funeral Home
Chapel with Bro. Joe Fondren
officiating. Interment will be at Crossroads
Baptist Church Cemetery, Carrollton, AL
with Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS
directing.
Mr. Parker was born on November 1, 1959,
in Columbus, MS to the late Iva Mae Oglesby
Parker and Charles Tillman Parker. He loved his
grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with
his family, aunts, uncles, cousins. Mr. Parker
was a loving husband and father and known also
as “Warden” to his nieces. He was always willing
to help others and someone you can depend on.
Mr. Parker was a devoted Christian, Deacon, and
Sunday School teacher of Crossroads Baptist
Church. He worked at Twin River Transportation
as a Diesel Mechanic for 45 years. Mr. Parker
was a member of Bud Price Motorcycle Riders
and enjoyed riding and traveling with his friends.
He also enjoyed deer hunting.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Parker is
preceded in death by his sister, Debra Luker.
Mr. Parker is survived by his wife, Kathy
Jaynes Parker of Columbus, MS; son, Blake
(Monica) Parker; grandchildren, Riley and
Sarah; nieces, Chellie (Larry) Pittman, Crystal
Luker and Stephanie (Daniel) Luker.
Pallbearers will be David Falls, Tommy
Fondren, Jim Hancox, Buddy Henry, Jimmy
Henson, Wayne Henson, Darwin Holliman and
Tommy Yates.
Honorary pallbearers will be Deacons
of Crossroads Baptist Church, Twin River
Employees, Peggy Youngblood, Kathy Henry,
Ernie Jacobsen, Tonya Moore and staff of Jaco
and Ladies of Bud Price Motorcycle Riders.
Memorials may be made to Crossroads Baptist
Church Building Fund 1811 Lewis Crossroads
Rd. Carrollton, AL 35447.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
cdispatch.com
MS to Harvey and Ruth Smith.
After graduating high school in
Red Lick, MS, Roy joined the
United States Marine Corps, and he served his
country in Korea and Japan during the time of
the Korean Conflict. During his time as an active
Marine, he became a skilled marksman, and he
honed those skills all his life. After receiving
his honorable discharge, he went to work with
South Central Bell Telephone Company, where
he retired after 39 years. After a whirlwind
courtship, he married his sweetheart Opal in
1975, and they had a long, loving marriage of 44
years.
Roy was a quiet man, a hard worker, and his
favorite pastime was being outdoors and walking
in the woods. He valued the simple pleasures
of being at home with his family, having a good
meal, and reading a good book. He was proud to
be a life member of the NRA. He treasured all the
family stories he had heard as a child growing
up, and he enjoyed sharing them with his loved
ones. He was a loving and faithful husband to
his wife, a kind, proud, and generous father to
his children, and a very proud and loving Papaw
to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Roy and Opal were residents of Brookhaven, MS
for many years, but in their retirement moved
to Ethelsville, AL. They loved living there, and
Roy often said “the air just smells better in the
country!” In their golden years, Opal and Roy
enjoyed spending time with family, watching
wildlife in their backyard, going on drives along
country roads, and looking for collectibles at
local shops.
Roy was preceded in death by Opal, who
passed away in 2019. He was also preceded
in death by his mother, father and his brother,
Lucien “Pete” Smith.
He is survived by his children, Caryn Amaris
(Smith) Robinson and husband Jonathan, Jesse
Scott Smith and wife, Debra, Gail Boggan and
husband, Bob, John Bullock and wife, Dana;
grandchildren, Brent, Kimberly and Lindsey
Boggan, Krisha and Christopher Bullock, Gage
Querns, Logan and Andrew Smith and Eli
Robinson; great-grandchildren, Mason Bullock,
Harper Bullock-Hargrove, Maddie Sanford,
Adrian Querns and Hailyne Courtney; sisters,
Ruby Dickerson (John) and Margie Whittington
(James); sister-in-law, Betty Jean Smith; and
nieces and nephews.
Roy’s life will be celebrated and his and
Opal’s ashes laid to rest in a private memorial
ceremony for the family on April 17, 2021. Cards
& memorials may be sent to the family at 153
Cooper Road, Columbus, MS 39702.
Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
6A THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Bye Alpha, Eta: Greek alphabet

ditched for hurricane names
World Meteorological Organization: Practice was Braylen, Caridad and Deshawn and
ending with Will. There’s a new
confusing and put too much focus on the Greek back-up list for the Eastern Pacific
that runs from Aidan and Bruna to
letter and not on dangerous storm it represented Zoe.
Meanwhile, the National Ocean-
BY SETH BORENSTEIN when the Atlantic runs out of the ic Atmospheric Administration is
AP Science Writer 21 names for the year, saying the recalculating just what constitutes
practice was confusing and put too an average hurricane season. If it
With named storms coming
much focus on the Greek letter and follows the usual 30-year update
earlier and more often in warmer
not on the dangerous storm it repre- model, the new “normal” season
waters, the Atlantic hurricane sea-
son is going through some changes sented. Also, in 2020 with Zeta, Eta would have 19 percent more named
with meteorologists ditching the and Theta, they sounded so similar storms and major hurricanes. And
Greek alphabet during busy years. it caused problems. prominent hurricane experts want
But the Atlantic hurricane sea- The Greek alphabet had only meteorologists to rethink how they
son will start this year on June 1 been used twice in 2005 and nine warn people about wetter, nastier
as traditionally scheduled, despite times last year in a record-shatter- storms in a warming world.
meteorologists discussing the idea ing hurricane season. “Climate change is real, and it
of moving it to May 15. Starting this year, if there are is having an impact on tropical cy-
A special World Meteorological more than 21 Atlantic storms, the clones,” University of Albany atmo-
Organization committee Wednes- next storms will come from a new spheric scientist Kristen Corbosie-
day ended the use of Greek letters supplemental list headed by Adria, ro said.

Martinez
Continued from Page 1A
“The letter you found
implicated another sus-
pect, that being Paul
Vega, right?” Calderón
asked, naming a friend of
Vasquez.
“Correct,” Cooper said.
Cooper said after leav-
ing the Vasquez home, he
went to Vega’s home with
a search warrant and an
arrest warrant and took
Vega into custody.
Calderón then con-
firmed through Cooper
that Vega was released
the next day without ever
being charged.
“The information that
implicated (Vega) was in-
sufficient,” Cooper said.
“There was not enough
evidence to hold Mr. Vega,
and he was released. The
information that was ob-
tained was recanted.”
Calderón seized on
that.
“So the only thing
you have to go on are
statements that you later
learned to be inaccurate.
Is that right?” Calderón
said.
“I wouldn’t say that,”
Cooper responded.
Following Cooper’s tes-
timony, the prosecution
called on Greg Nester,
a crime scene specialist
with Mississippi Bureau
of Investigations, who
detailed the forensic evi-
dence found at the scene,
which included potential
blood evidence found
downstairs in the master
bedroom, bathroom, laun-
dry room and garage, two
bullet fragments found in
the master bedroom and
human remains found by
a cadaver dog outside the
residence.
During cross-exam-
ination, Nester acknowl-
edged that no forensic
evidence was found up-
stairs where Martinez’s
bedroom is located.
The day’s last witness
was paramedic Amy
Richardson, who treated
Martinez at the home and
during the drive to the
hospital.
Richardson said Mar-
tinez was conscious but
not communicative at the
home, but revived on the
way to the hospital, ask-
ing where she was.
At that point, Richard-
son did an assessment on
her mental state, asking
standard questions used
on all patients which she
described as “person,
place, time and event.”
Richardson said Mar-
tinez answered the ques-
tions correctly.
“At that point, I asked
her what happened,” Rich-
ardson said. “She said,
‘I want to die.’ So I asked
her why. She told me it
was because she killed
her son-in-law and burned
his body.”
Richardson said one of
the techniques used to as-
sess whether a patient is
in a stable mental state is
to repeat the question.
“So you killed your
son-in-law and burned his
body?” Richardson asked.
“ … She said, ‘I shot him
first, then I burned him.’”
During cross-exam-
ination, Calderón asked
Richardson if Martinez
had said Paul Vega helped
her kill Vasquez.
Richardson said yes.
Calderón then ques-
tioned whether Marti-
nez’s mental state was
stable, asking Richardson
about pills Martinez had
taken before she arrived.
“She did tell me that
she had taken some pills,
but she didn’t say what
kind,” Richardson said.
Judge Lee Coleman
suspended testimony at
noon because of threats of
severe weather.
Testimony continues
today.

Severe weather: Storms batter the South

Possible tornadoes in Alabama
knocked down trees, toppled power
lines and damaged homes
BY JAY REEVES
The Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM,
Ala. — A wave of storms
pounded the Deep South
on Wednesday, leaving a
trail of splintered trees
and damaged buildings,
and forecasters said still
stronger ones were on
the way with the potential
for massive tornadoes,
downpours and hail the
size of baseballs.
While nearly 16 mil-
lion people in the South-
east could see powerful
storms, the Storm Pre-
diction Center said, a
region of about 3 million
stretching from south-
eastern Arkansas and
northeastern Louisiana
across Mississippi into
Alabama was at high risk
for big twisters that stay
on the ground for miles,
straight winds up to 80
mph and destructive hail.
Possible tornadoes
knocked down trees,
toppled power lines and
damaged homes in rural
Chilton County and the
Alabama communities of
Burnsville and Mound-
ville, where power was
out and trees blocked a
main highway.
“Downtown Mound-
ville got it. Some roofs
and stuff got taken off
houses,” said Michael
Brown, whose family
owns Moundville Ace
Hardware. and Building.
“There’s a lot of trees
down. I guess it had to
be a tornado; it got out of
here pretty fast.”
Additional damage
was reported in Loui-
siana, Tennessee and
Mississippi, where vid-
eo showed an apparent
tornado at Brookhaven.
High winds blew down
signs and trees in north-
east Texas, and hail-
stones the size of base-
balls were reported near
the Alabama-Mississippi
line, the weather service
said.
More than 70,000
homes and businesses
were without power from
Texas to Alabama, and
radar showed additional
storms moving across
the region as initial clean-
up work began.

Business
Continued from Page 1A
should make it a business.”
Customers can reach out to McGee
on Facebook, Instagram or they can call
or text 870-917-8236.
McGee makes banana pudding, straw-
berry shortcake, brownies, cookies, tri-
fles, various cakes, petit fours and more.
If you’re interested in supporting this
new, incoming business to our area,
reach out to McGee. Her desserts are
available for either pick up or delivery.
Also in Starkville, we have a new
place to change your oil.
Take 5 Oil Change, 814 Hwy. 12, had
its grand opening last month.
The oil change franchise first opened
in the mid-1980s and has expanded to
more than 500 franchises throughout the
country.
Take 5 will be open Monday through
Friday 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-7
p.m. and Sundays 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Manigo
Continued from Page 1A
lease said “a weapon was
produced” and that Man-
igo attacked Fisher. Fish-
er was taken to Baptist
Memorial Hospital-Gold-
en Triangle where he
died.
Lowndes County Coro-
ner Greg Merchant, who
identified Fisher’s body,
told The Dispatch Fisher
apparently died of stab
wounds, though CPD in-
vestigators did not identi-
fy the weapon used in the
murder.
Fisher’s body will be
taken to the state medical
examiner’s office in Pearl
for autopsy, Merchant
said.
Manigo is currently
in custody at Lowndes
County Adult Detention
Center. His bond had not
been set as of Wednesday
afternoon.
Sports
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000 B
SECTION

THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021

Closed circuit: March Madness trip leads to life on lockdown

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS a glimpse of some green
grass, this is their op-
INDI A NA POLIS tion. Their only option.
— At Victory Field in This is life at a basket-
downtown Indianapolis ball tournament being
on Wednesday, a cou- played in a pandemic.
ple of coaches running The unspoken message:
laps around the warning If they came to India-
track passed different napolis hoping for fun
diversions scattered and games, they are not
across the minor league in the right place — at
ballpark. least not until tip-off.
In one section, a bad- “I’m in a bed for, like,
minton net. In others, a 15 hours a day,” Iowa
soccer ball and a foot- swingman Connor Mc-
ball. No sign of a basket- Caffery said in describ-
ball. ing his new, austere rou-
When the 1,500 or tine in Indy.
so players, coaches and It is, quite simply, how
staff members in town things have to be over
for the NCA A Tour- the next three weeks.
nament want to get a Starting Thursday, in an
breath of fresh air and attempt to get through
67 games uninterrupted,
the NCA A has placed
players, coaches and
staff under a virtual lock
and key. They don’t like
calling it a bubble, but
semantics aside, there
is no straying between
the team hotels, the ad-
jacent convention center
for practice, meetings
and 30 -minute windows
in the weight room, and
Victory Field, home of
the Triple A Indianapo-
lis Indians.
“We’ve been playing a
lot of Spades,” Alabama
forward Herb Jones USA TODAY SPORTS
said. Indianapolis prepared to host the 2021 NCAA Division I basketball tournament on
The Tar Heels might Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Indianapolis is hosting the entire tournament this
consider themselves year from the First Four to the National Championship game due to the coronavirus
See NCAA, 3B pandemic.

Six local MISSISSIPPI STATE FOOTBALL ANALYSIS

prep
powerlifters
punch tickets
Three burning questions heading into
to state
tournament
Mississippi State’s spring practices
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com

Cierra Crusoe didn’t

look.
The Columbus High
School sophomore
powerlifter didn’t even
glance at the board
bearing the amount of
weight she was about to
bear in a critical lift in
the MHSA A Class 5A
north state champion-
ship meet Thursday at
Lafayette High School.
Instead, Crusoe
looked at Falcons coach
Tyler Armistad, who
hadn’t told Crusoe how
much she was lifting
in fear of getting in her
head. Armistad jolted
his heavyweight lift-
er in action with three
simple words.
“Go lift it.”
That was all it took.
Crusoe completed her
See STATE, 3B

PREP ROUND UP
Starkville Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports

Academy Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach walks the sidelines during the first half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Amon G.
Carter Stadium.

baseball BY BEN PORTNOY

picks up
three wins
in two days
at Battle at
the Beach
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
OCEAN SPRINGS
— Micah McGee drove
in three runs as the
Starkville Academy
baseball team beat St.
Martin 9-6 on Wednes-
day at the Battle at the
Beach tournament in
Ocean Springs.
The Volunteers (10 -
4) scored six runs in the
first inning as they won
their third game in two
days.
John Paul Buckner
and Porter Skelton each
drove in two runs. Skel-
ton had two hits, includ-
ing a home run, and
Ayden Alsobrooks had
two hits.
Alsobrooks struck
out seven in six innings
See PREP, 2B
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
STARK VILLE — Mike
Leach’s second spring in
Starkville is taking on a dif-
ferent look.
With the COVID-19 pan-
demic under slightly more
control, Mississippi State is
expected to get a full spring
slate ahead of its maroon and
white game scheduled for
April 17.
But things won’t be com-
pletely settled when MSU gets
back into the swing of things
over the next few weeks.
Here’s a look at some of the
most pressing position battles
heading into spring ball:
Is Will Rogers the de facto
No. 1 quarterback, or does
Jack Abraham supplant him?
Will Rogers was far from
sharp when he was thrust into
a near-impossible situation of
relieving K.J. Costello early
last season. But for as errat-
ic as Rogers was to start, he
clearly improved over the fi-
nal two months of the 2020
season, completing at least
58 percent of his passes in all
seven games he appeared in.
Yet for as much as Rogers
progressed, it’s no guaran-
tee he sticks as the starter in
Starkville.
Jack Abraham arrives at
MSU as a walk-on, but his
ability is far from it. In 27
career games at Southern
Miss, Abraham recorded over
7,000 yards passing on 859
attempts. In 2019, he became
just the third Golden Eagle
quarterback to ever throw
for more than 3,000 yards in
a season, while his 463-yard
day against Troy was the sec-
ond-best mark in school histo-
ry.
Most compelling, however,
was Abraham’s 2018 season.
Taking over under center in
Hattiesburg following a spell
at Northwest Mississippi
Community College, he fin-
ished third in the nation with
a 79.3 adjusted completion
percentage according to Pro
Football Focus under the guid-
ance of then-offensive coordi-
nator Shannon Dawson. Daw-
son, of course, is a longtime
confidant of Leach and Hal
Mumme disciple and Houston
head coach Dana Holgorsen,
and his system closely mimics
his mentors’ schemes.
Rogers heads into this
spring with a slight edge in the
competition if only since he’s
spent a year in Leach’s sys-
tem, but given Abraham’s past
success in an air raid scheme,
there’s reason to believe the
Southern Miss import will be
taking No. 1 reps when MSU
opens the season against Lou-
isiana Tech on Sept. 4.
(This also doesn’t include
four-star prospect Sawyer
Robertson, who won’t arrive
on campus until the summer
and could hypothetically fac-
tor into the competition as
well).
How does MSU balance its
receiving corps?
With Osirus Mitchell opt-
ing to chase professional aspi-
rations, the Bulldogs are sud-
denly in need of playmakers
on the outside heading into
Leach’s second fall, though
they aren’t lacking for options.
Most likely, it will be Jaden
Walley who becomes MSU’s
No. 1 go-to target, if he wasn’t
already. Bursting onto the
scene during his first season
at MSU, Walley dazzled on-
lookers with his burst off the
line of scrimmage and ability
to make catches in tight cov-
erage. Named a second-team
freshman all-American by
The Athletic, he broke MSU’s
43-year-old freshman receiv-
ing record and became the
first pass catcher since Fred
Ross in 2015 to notch four con-
secutive 100 -yard games.
Blessed with arguably the
best footspeed of any receiver
on the roster, senior JaVonta
Payton has played in the slot
and on the outside during
his time in Starkville. So far,
that’s only amounted to 28 re-
ceptions for 372 yards and one
touchdown, but the potential
is there to play opposite Wal-
ley.
There are, of course, a
handful of other options that
should give the Bulldogs a
wealth of depth. California
transfer Makai Polk arrives at
MSU after recording 36 recep-
tions for 478 yards and three
touchdowns in just 17 games
with the Golden Bears. He’ll
be expected to compete for a
starting spot immediately.
Freshman Lideatrick
“Tulu” Griffin and former
four-star junior college re-
cruit Malik Heath figure to
get a handful of more oppor-
tunities in their second go-
rounds. Griffin was a prolific
tool in the return game a year
ago but spent the bulk of the
year adding size to his 5-foot-
10 frame. Heath was a major
fixture in last year’s puzzle,
and he’ll be expected to ele-
vate his game in a larger role
this season.
MSU also brought in a
See MSU, 2B
2B THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

NCAA teams hit by COVID pauses take hope from antibodies

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — Evan Miyakawa, a
Baylor coach Scott Drew
could sympathize with
Kansas counterpart Bill
Self when the Jayhawks
had a positive COVID-19
test during the Big 12
Tournament, forcing
them to withdraw and
putting their NCAA Tour-
nament hopes in limbo.
After all, the Bears
went through their own
pause this season. Twice.
They struggled might-
ily coming out of it, too,
barely squeaking by
Iowa State before Kan-
sas dealt them their only
regular-season loss. They
still have not looked like
the national title contend-
er they were before the
pauses.
“ My heart went out
to them,” Drew said of
the Jayhawks, “because
I know how the players
feel about that, and how
tough it is on them, and
I know the concerns the
coaching staff will have
to have with safety going
forward.”
Then again, maybe
coaches won’t be quite as
concerned.
All those pauses that
27 of the 68 teams in the
NCAA Tournament went
through during the sea-
son could end up benefit-
ting them now that they’ve
arrived in Indianapolis.
Players, coaches and staff
members who tested pos-
itive still have lingering
antibodies, making them
less susceptible to getting
COVID-19 again — and
potentially forcing their
team to withdraw from
the biggest tournament of
their lives.
“While you can be-
come reinfected with
COVID, and it looks like
new variants may be
able to evade some of the
immune response, rein-
fections are not that fre-
quent,” said Dr. Tara Kirk
Sell, a former Olympic
swimmer and an assistant
professor in the Depart-
ment of Environmental
Health and Engineering
at Johns Hopkins. “I’d
imagine players who have
had COVID-19 are less
likely to get it now.”
Nobody knows quite
how effective antibodies
are, nor how long they
last. But recent research
suggests someone who
has recovered from
COVID-19 has a measure
of immunity for eight
months, possibly longer.
That could be good
news for nearly half the
field, and especially good
for Baylor, Florida State,
Drexel, Grand Canyon,
Iona and Norfolk State.
Those six schools en-
dured two pauses; the
Gaels of coach Rick Piti-
no went 16 days during
one and 51 days during
the other, the longest that
any team was inactive this
season.
Those who got the vi-
rus felt lousy for days or
weeks. When they came
back, it often took sever-
al games for teams to get
their legs — and lungs —
back in shape.
doctoral candidate in sta-
tistics at Baylor, broke
down how teams fared
this season when they
emerged from pauses.
He found an average drop
in adjusted efficiency
margin for teams follow-
ing outbreaks was 0.016,
which corresponds to a
point-margin drop of 1.12
in a typical game.
In other words, a team
that analytics projected to
win by 4.2 points before
the pause was projected
to win by 3.1 afterward.
The Bears wound up be-
ing one of the most nega-
tively affected teams.
Other teams, such as
Iona, actually fared bet-
ter coming out of pauses.
But regardless of how
they performed — better
or worse — what they
all have in common are
the antibodies that those
teams brought with them
to the dance.
“We would hope if a
group has been exposed
and infected previous,
their probability of expe-
riencing an outbreak or
several members being
infected would be less,”
said Dr. Dana Hawkin-
son, medical director of
infection prevention and
control at the University
of Kansas Health System.
“People who have been in-
fected still have a possibil-
ity of being reinfected; we
just hope they have less
risk of disease, severe dis-
ease, death and transmit-
ting the virus to others.”
That’s why teams that
have had COVID-19 still
don’t have freedom to run
amok in Indianapolis.
Having had the dis-
ease might lower the
amount of stress on some
players and coaches, but
every member of a team’s
travel party must still
test daily. They remain
confined largely to their
hotel rooms, unless they
are headed to practice
or some other approved
event. Masks remain
ubiquitous, hand-washing
pervasive.
“It’s how the world
is right now,” Oklaho-
ma State forward Cade
Cunningham said with a
shrug. “We just try to take
care of ourselves, test
negative as many times as
we can and stay positive,
I guess.”
Even then, the virus
can slip through the
best-laid plans. That was
the case when a referee
tested positive early this
week. He and five others
who went out to dinner
were sent home before
the tournament even be-
gan.
“It’s not ever going to
be perfect in a pandem-
ic,” NCAA vice president
Dan Gavitt said. “I don’t
think there’s something
that can be pinpointed as
a kind of failure here. Just
an unfortunate set of cir-
cumstances.”
Perhaps the COVID-19
pauses throughout the
season will turn out to
have delivered some
measure of protection for
March Madness.
“The whole season has
given us pause, right? But
you can only do so much,”
Oklahoma State coach
Mike Boynton said. “It is
not like the virus is going
to just disappear. You re-
spect it, you try to be dil-
igent but you can’t really
hide from it.”
Not NCAA Property:
Players push for reform
on social media
INDIANAPOLIS — mester as was originally
Several prominent play-
ers at the March Madness
basketball tournament
took aim at the NCAA on
social media Wednesday,
demanding changes to
how they are allowed to
be compensated in the lat-
est organized display of
power by college athletes.
Isaiah Livers of Mich-
igan, Geo Baker of Rut-
gers and Jordan Bohan-
non of Iowa were among
those pushing for NCAA
reforms with the hashtag
#NotNCAAProperty. The
athletes, who are stay-
ing at hotels a short walk
from NCAA headquarters
in downtown Indy, are
urging the association to
allow them to earn mon-
ey for things like spon-
sorship deals, online en-
dorsement and personal
appearances.
“The NCAA OWNS
my name image and like-
ness,” Baker tweeted.
“Someone on music schol-
arship can profit from an
album. Someone on ac-
ademic scholarship can
have a tutor service. For
ppl who say “an athletic
scholarship is enough.”
Anything less than equal
rights is never enough. I
am #NotNCAAProperty”
The tweets were post-
ed on the eve of the tour-
nament. Because of the
pandemic the event is
being played entirely in
Indiana with all 68 teams
staying in what the NCAA
describes as a “controlled
environment.” Players are
largely limited to their ho-
tels, practices and games.
The tournament gener-
ates nearly $900 million
in revenue for schools
and conferences from
the NCAA’s media rights
deal with CBS and Turner
Sports to broadcast the
games.
“It’s become clear to
even the biggest NCAA
apologist that we are play-
ing this tournament pri-
marily to deliver content
to media rights partners,”
said ESPN’s Jay Bilas,
a former Duke player.
“That’s what this season
was about.”
The NCAA is in the
process of trying to
change its longstanding
rules to allow athletes to
profit from their names,
images and likenesses.
But those efforts have
bogged down since the
start of 2021.
The NCAA was sched-
uled to vote on NIL legis-
lation in January, but that
was delayed after a letter
from the Justice Depart-
ment warned the pro-
posed changes could vi-
olate antitrust laws. Now
the DOJ is backing plain-
tiffs against the NCAA in
a case that will be heard
by the Supreme Court,
further complicating the
situation.
Earlier this week,
NCAA President Mark
Emmert told The Asso-
ciated Press he was frus-
trated by the delay in NIL
reform and hoped rules
would be in place for the
start of the next fall se-
intended.
But there is a good
chance the gridlock
doesn’t let up until after
the Supreme Court hands
down a decision.
“I know the members
are ready, willing and
able to act on (NIL), but
there’s no doubt that this
is all been made more
complex because of their
position, the DOJ, the an-
titrust division’s position
and our uncertainty about
it and its connection to
the Supreme Court case,”
Emmert said.
Critics say the NCAA is
years overdue in address-
ing name, image and like-
ness issues, and college
sports leaders have only
themselves to blame for
giving state lawmakers
the opportunity to force
the issue.
“They lead from be-
hind,” said David Rid-
path, associate professor
of sport management at
Ohio University and a for-
mer compliance officer
for Division I schools who
has been a sharp critic of
the NCAA.
With dozens of states
working on NIL-relat-
ed bills, the NCAA has
turned to Congress for
help in the form of a fed-
eral law. The athletes de-
cided enough is enough
and grabbed the spotlight
as the nation’s attention
turns to the tournament.
Livers, the sec-
ond leading scorer for
top-seeded Michigan,
simply Tweeted: “I am
#NotNCAAProperty”
Bohannon has been a
vocal proponent for NCAA
reforms that give athletes
more rights. Earlier this
year he was among sever-
al college athletes in Iowa
to publicly back the state
legislature’s NIL bill.
“It’s been far too long,”
he tweeted. “Time for our
voices to be heard. #Not-
NCAAProperty”
Among the other play-
ers who jumped on board
throughout the day were
Baker’s Rutgers teammate
Ron Harper; Creighton
star Marcus Zegarowski;
Maryland’s Darryl Mor-
sell, the Big Ten defensive
player of the year; Colo-
rado standout McKinley
Wright; Villanova’s Jer-
maine Samuels Jr., and Al-
abama’s Jahvon Quinerly.
While in Indianapolis,
players are being shielded
from the general public,
tested daily for COVID-19
and strongly encouraged
to limit their movements to
the hotels where they are
staying and the attached
convention center where
practice courts and meet-
ing rooms are set up.
There have been a trick-
le of complaints about cold
food and not much to do.
Baker went to Twitter on
Tuesday night to point out
the inequities some players
see.
“Think you can defi-
nitely be grateful to play
this game while also un-
derstanding there’s more
that should be on the table.
Players ISOLATED entire
year to help make this tour-
nament happen. NCAA:
rewarded w/ $900 million.
Players: rewarded w/ free
deodorant and small boxed
meals,” Baker tweeted.
Player empowerment
has been one of the themes
of this past year as college
sports strained to find
ways to play during the
pandemic. Football players
from the Pac-12 threatened
boycotts over concerns
about COVID-19 protocols,
social justice issues and
economic rights for college
athletes.
Players also led move-
ments to play after the Big
Ten and Pac-12 canceled
their fall football seasons
— only to reverse course
and play abbreviated sea-
sons.
Now as players gather
in the NCAA’s hometown
for its signature event they
are again speaking up.
“OUR VOICES WILL
BE HEARD. #NotN-
CAAProperty,” Morsell
tweeted.
Michigan St, Izzo in
new spot as First Four
participants
INDIANAPOLIS —
Michigan State and coach
Tom Izzo are in an unfamil-
iar position.
Last time there was an
NCAA Tournament, the
Spartans reached the Fi-
nal Four in 2019 -- the most
recent of eight trips under
Izzo.
This time, Michigan
State needed a late surge
just to get into the Big
Dance, and they’ll have
to win an extra game,
too. The Spartans (15-12)
will face UCLA (17-9) on
Thursday in a First Four
matchup of No. 11 seeds in
the East Region.
Izzo is just thankful to
be playing, all things con-
sidered.
“You know and I know
that three weeks ago no-
body gave us a chance,
including probably most
of you and probably even
me,” Izzo said. “We fought
our way through, and that
took some courage and
guts, and I’m proud of
them for that.”
It’s fitting that the Spar-
tans will have just a little
bit tougher road ahead
than most of the qualifiers.
Even in the most difficult
of years, Michigan State
faced extra challenges.
Izzo contracted
COVID-19 early in the
season, yet the Spartans
opened with six straight
wins. They started Big Ten
play with three straight
losses on their way to drop-
ping nine of 13 overall, but
they eventually bounced
back late in the season
with victories over Ohio
State, Michigan and Illi-
nois -- which all finished
in the top seven of the final
AP poll.
Now, the Spartans will
need to win Thursday’s
matchup in West Lafayette
to reach the final 64 and
play No. 6 seed BYU on
Saturday. That winner will
face No. 3 seed Texas or
No. 14 seed Abilene Chris-
tian on Monday.
“I’m not worried about
facing anybody in this
tournament,” Izzo said. “I
don’t feel comfortable with
UCLA and BYU or Texas,
but I don’t feel afraid of
UCLA, BYU or Texas or
anybody else because we
truly, truly have played the
best teams in the country
on a night-in and night-out
basis, and especially in the
last two to three weeks.”
With all the complica-
tions this season, Izzo is
simplifying the situation.
“I still want to win the
weekend,” he said. “The
weekend just became a lit-
tle longer. So, in this year
of the pandemic, in this
year of 2020-21, I might
as well experience some
more new things.”
Aaron Henry, a junior
forward from Indianap-
olis, leads the Spartans
with 15.3 points and 5.7
rebounds per game. Joey
Hauser, another junior for-
ward averages 9.7 points
and 5.7 rebounds. Senior
guard Joshua Langford
averages 9.6 points per
contest.
Michigan State has had
11 players start at least five
games. UCLA coach Mick
Cronin is impressed with
how Izzo has made it work.
“He’s got a different
kind of team this year be-
cause he’s played many,
many different lineups
-- they can change at the
drop of a hat and go with
different guys, so there’s
a lot of personnel for our
guys to digest becuase
they play so many guys,”
he said. “Some of that is
him searching, and some
of it’s strategy to match up
with his opponent.”
Cronin said as long as
Izzo is around, the Spar-
tans are a threat.
“It means we’ve got to
beat a Hall of Fame coach,”
Cronin said. “One thing
about coach Izzo -- the
reason he has survived so
long and he’s had such a
great career is that they’re
never easily defeated. He
refuses to give in. That’s
why he was able to rally his
team.”
UCLA counters with a
trio of sophomore guards.
Johnny Juzang has aver-
aged 14 points per game
in his first season since
transferring from Ken-
tucky. Jaime Jaquez Jr.
averages 11.7 points and
6.0 rebounds and Tyger
Campbell averages 10.5
points and 5.6 assists.

MSU
Continued from Page 1B

plethora of talented first year players
in four-star receivers Teddy Knox and
Antonio Harmon along with three-
star prospects Rodarius Thomas and
Jacobi Moore. Junior college product
Caleb Ducking, who didn’t see any ac-
tion last year, also figures to be in the
mix for time this fall.
In short, MSU has plenty of options
to replace Mitchell’s production. The
question here is moreso who sees the
field when, versus whether legit op-
tions exist.
Erroll Thompson is gone, so what
happens at linebacker?
For the first time in what seems
like 20 years, Erroll Thompson will no
longer patrol the middle of the MSU
defense. Thompson, who opted to
chase professional opportunities over
returning for another season, will now
watch as sophomore Nathaniel Wat-
son presumably slides into his spot.
Watson, who received wide ac-
claim from defensive coordinator
Zach Arnett and teammates a season
ago, burst onto the scene in playing
all three linebacker spots during the
2020 campaign. With Thompson now
out of the picture and sophomore Aar-
on Brule slated to take on a role on
the outside, it’s expected Watson will
command the middle of the defense.
This isn’t to say there won’t be
some challenges to his throne. The
Bulldogs signed four-star inside line-
backer John Lewis out of German-
town in their 2021 class, while former
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
teammates Jordan Davis and Tyrus
Wheat are back in the fold — though
they could play on the outside or even
move down toward the line of scrim-
mage.
MSU finished the 2020 season fifth
in the SEC in total defense despite
a youthful unit. Now one year older,
Watson and his compatriots stand to
be a force in the middle of Arnett’s
3-3-5 scheme with another spring un-
der their belts.

Prep
Continued from Page 1B
on the mound. Colby Allen had three strikeouts in do 11-1 on the run rule in four innings. at Ocean Springs High School.
a scoreless frame. Starkville Academy scored four runs in the first The Vols broke a 2-2 tie with three runs in the
Starkville Academy will face Resurrection Cath- inning and added six in the second sixth inning.
olic at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Biloxi High School. Alsobrooks had two doubles and drove in five Colby Allen led Starkville Academy with two
runs. Drew Williams pitched a complete game to hits, and Randall Futral drove in two runs.
Other scores earn the victory.
Prep Baseball Prep Softball
Starkville Academy 11, Hernando 1, four innings Starkville Academy 5, Ocean Springs 3, Tuesday At Gulf Coast Classic, Gulf Shores, Ala.
— at St. Martin Buckner struck out nine in a complete game as Tuscaloosa County 8, Caledonia 2, Monday
Earlier Wednesday, the Vols took down Hernan- the Vols beat Ocean Springs 5-3 on Tuesday night Fairhope (Ala.) 12, Caledonia 0, Monday
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021 3B

NCAA
Continued from Page 1B
lucky. They’re among
the few teams not play-
ing their first games in
Indianapolis. Instead,
North Carolina will
face Wisconsin at Pur-
due’s home court, 70
miles away. It means
the Heels get to practice
there, too.
“Today, the monoto-
ny is really going to be
broken up,” coach Roy
Williams said. “We’re
going to have two and
a half hours in the bus.
... It hasn’t exactly been
Maui.”
Or Spokane. Or Oma-
ha. Or Raleigh.
Normally, on the
Wednesday before the
start of the tournament,
parking lots at arenas
in cities such as those
would be open, with mu-
sic playing, hot dog ven-
dors working and fans
in face paint streaming
in to take advantage of
free admission to team
shootarounds. Cer-
tainly not much to see
there in the way of real
basketball, but the band plan here to give the
plays, the cheerleaders student-athletes the
cheer and everyone gets opportunity to play the
pumped for the next games successfully,”
day’s action. NCA A vice president
This year, bands, Dan Gavitt said. “We’re
mascots and cheerlead- very confident the stu-
ers are staying at home dent-athletes, coaches
(at least through the and teams want that
Elite 8), because teams environment to have
are restricted to 34 the best chance to play
members for their trav- these games.”
el squads. On Wednes- None of the 68 teams
day, the four arenas in notified the NCA A they
Indianapolis (and the would have to with-
ones in West Lafayette draw by Tuesday night’s
and Bloomington) were deadline. Gavitt said it
mainly empty, save for also was encouraging
the occasional deliv- that, of the 6,900 coro-
ery truck or work crew navirus tests analyzed
heading in through a so far, only seven have
service entrance. come back with positive
Illinois Street, which results. He said players
cuts through the heart from Virginia, the only
of downtown in front of team of the 68 not yet in
the convention center, Indianapolis because of
was a veritable speed- a COV ID-19 outbreak
way, with nothing more last week, would need
than typical lunchtime to clear three tests af-
traffic passing the ter arriving in Indy on
NCA A-sanctioned ho- Friday afternoon to be
tels. approved to play Ohio
“We have no reser- on Saturday night.
vations at all about the Gavitt also clarified
circumstances sur- and at the convention
rounding the six ref- center was fine.
erees who were sent “ There may be teams
home this week — one that are being more
who tested positive and restrictive,” he said.
five who were out with “But as long as teams
him to dinner. It’s true, are staying in the con-
Gavitt said, that they trolled environment,
had not checked into we’re providing as
their hotel when they much f lexibility as pos-
went out and, so, were sible.”
not officially in the Gavitt said takeaway
NCA A protocol. containers are piling
up in hallways as the
“But it was not NCA A players order out, then
staff that encouraged have the food delivered
meals to be had in to their rooms by staff
restaurants,” he said. who have been cleared
“At no time was there to move around the ho-
direction to go have a tel.
meal at a restaurant Food isn’t all that’s
outside the controlled being delivered. One
environment.” team ordered whiff le
In addressing a smat- ball bats. Wisconsin
tering of complaints coach Greg Gard said
from holed-up players, a ping-pong table ap-
Gavitt also said there peared in to the Badgers’
was no specific instruc- team room Tuesday. And
tion that players could the newest craze for the
only be in their rooms Badgers: spikeball.
while at the hotel. He “I didn’t realize some
said moving around the
“controlled environ-
ment” inside the hotels
of our players were so
good at it,” Gard said.
It could be a long
three weeks, though
the NCA A expects con-
ditions to improve when
52 of these teams head
home following their
losses over the first two
rounds.
If a “trip” to the
Sweet 16 isn’t motivation
enough, Gavitt dangled
this little carrot: “We’re
going to take some
teams to Top Golf, where
we’ll have the whole fa-
cility to ourselves,” he
said.
All of which fits in
with Gonzaga’s plan.
“I brought a few golf
balls, a putter and I kind
of line up a water bottle
at the end of the room,”
said Corey Kispert of
the top-seeded Bull-
dogs. “Gotta make sure
the game’s sharp by
the time springtime
comes.”

State
Continued from Page 1B
lift to find she’d qual-
ified for the Class 5A
state tournament with
a total lift of 775 pounds
across three events:
bench press, squat and
deadlift. She’ll be com-
peting on April 16 in
Jackson for a chance at
a state title.
“I’m hoping to win
the whole thing, get a
ring, everything — just
hoping for the best,”
Crusoe said.
Crusoe is one of six
local MHSA A powerlift-
ers who will be taking
part in the champion-
ship event, which will
be held at the Missis-
sippi Coliseum. Girls
will compete on April 16
with boys the following
day.
“It felt great because
some people don’t get
to that point and some
people don’t reach that
level,” said New Hope
junior Jeremiah Jeffer-
son, who qualified in the
Class 5A boys heavy-
weight division with his
performance in Oxford.
Jefferson finished
third in the north half
with a total lift of 1,280
pounds. A standout on
the Trojans’ offensive
line, Jefferson stayed
after football practice to
put in extra powerlifting
work, according to Seth
Stillman, who coaches
both sports.
“He works really, re-
ally hard at it,” Stillman
said. “He’s a great foot-
ball player, but he works
his tail off in the weight
room.”
Jefferson is one of
four area football play-
ers to qualify for the
state powerlifting tour-
nament. Starkville ju-
nior Javalon Gandy and
sophomore Eric Thom-
as punched their tickets
in Class 6A’s 242-pound
division, and West Point
junior Chris Dean qual-
ified in the 182-pound
weight class in Class
5A. Gandy lifted 1,300
pounds, Thomas fin-
ished at 1,250, and Dean
placed third with 1,150.
The Yellow Jackets
also saw junior Michaela
Baker qualify in the girls
165 -pound weight class.
Starkville girls power-
lifting coach Mauriesa
Blackwell said Baker
improved her form and
upped her maximum lift
by 55 pounds to reach
590 pounds and book
her berth in the state
meet.
“Michaela has a very,
very strong work ethic, “I’ve always told her to meet, he bowed his
and she is a very natural do the best she can, so head and prayed, hop-
athlete,” Blackwell said. she really tries to do ing he would qualify.
“I really enjoyed see- what I’ve told her.” “I guess that prayer
ing her qualify because Used to weightlifting worked,” Jefferson said.
she’s an athlete who will from his high school So did Jefferson’s
push herself.” days playing football for own immense willpow-
Crusoe, too, has the Falcons, Crusoe Sr. er — something shared
seen a lot of improve- said it was an “out-of- by his fellow state qual-
ment from one year to body experience” see- ifiers. Blackwell said
the next. She upped ing his daughter com- Baker’s ability to accept
her maximum by 10 -15 pete in the sport as well. coaching and her men-
pounds from districts He’ll be there in Jackson tal toughness pushed
March 3 to north half next month as she goes her up from sixth in
just more than a week for a state champion- north state from one
later, and Armistad ship. year to the next.
said he expects her to “I’m very proud of “When she sets her
improve by the same her to see her excel in mind to it, she can do
margin by the time the sports or anything she
it,” Blackwell said. “I’m
state tournament rolls wants to do,” Crusoe Sr.
excited to see what
around. said.
she can do at the state
“She’s gotten a lot Crusoe began pow-
championship because I
stronger,” Armistad erlifting in the 2019-
know that her numbers
said. “I think she’s built 20 school year, but
a great amount of con- COVID-19 canceled the can go up even further.”
fidence — not only in remainder of the sea-
her self-esteem but also son, including the state
regarding some of the tournament. When Ar-
abilities that she didn’t mistad put together his
know that she had. I team — which currently
think she’s grown tre- consists of five girls and
mendously as an indi- 10 boys — for the cur-
vidual as well as a com- rent season, he made
petitor.” sure Crusoe wanted to
Crusoe also plays bas- come back.
ketball and competes in “Coach,” she told
shot put for the Falcons’ him, “I’m in.”
track and field team. At New Hope, Jeffer-
While Columbus’ bas- son too was in after fail-
ketball season wrapped ing to make the top five
up in late February, Cru- and qualify for state as
soe has remained busy a sophomore in his first
in her efforts to stay year lifting competitive-
fresh in both shot put ly.
and powerlifting. Her fa- “When I knew that
ther, Carlos Crusoe Sr., didn’t make it, I was
said she’s practically al- like, ‘I’ve got to make
ways leaving one sport it this year,’” he said.
and heading for the oth- “‘I’ve got to.’”
er. Jefferson finished
“She doesn’t want first in his weight class
to be mediocre, so she in the Region 1-5A tour-
tries to do the best she nament, held at Nesho-
can in everything she ba Central High School.
does,” Crusoe Sr. said. Before the north state

Cheap thrills.
Go for a walk.
4B THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021
Column: Patriots reboot, but enough to win without Brady?
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Watching Tom Brady
win a Super Bowl while
his own team floundered
should have been enough
to put a scowl on Bill Be-
lichick’s face, assuming
there wasn’t one already
permanently attached.
Still, forgive Belichick
if he’s tempted to crack
a smile now that Patriots
owner Robert Kraft seems
determined to make sure
he’s got a chance to win
another one himself.
A spending spree in
recent days has brought
New England a ton of new
talent. Now it’s up to Beli-
chick to make his case in
the debate over whether it
was the coach or the quar-
terback who was most re-
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
sponsible for all the Super
Bowls the Patriots won.
A pair of tight ends as
good as any on the mar-
ket. A wide receiver who
has flown under the radar.
Some badly needed help
on the defensive side.
Who knows, if Cam
Newton can find a way
to regain his throwing
touch maybe Patriots fans
can hope the glory days
return, and the road to
the Super Bowl can once
again run through Fox-
borough.
Then again, with all of
Kraft’s money that Beli-
chick has been throwing
around, there might be
another quarterback in
New England’s future,
too.
None of it is enough,
FAMILY CIRCUS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
of course, for the Patri- lichick seems to have an
ots to become automatic unusually free hand to
favorites in sports books spend this offseason as
across the country to win he tries to undo the dam-
another championship. age Brady’s departure
That ranking was lost caused the franchise.
when Patrick Mahomes It’s enough to make
broke out in Kansas City even the spoiled New En-
and Brady left for Tampa gland fan base a bit excit-
Bay. ed. And it seems to have
There certainly won’t lit a fire under Newton,
be another run of six Su- who was underwhelming
per Bowl titles in upcom- as Brady’s replacement
ing years. Those kind of last season.
things just don’t happen “When you realize
in the parity-driven NFL, things are already dif-
and they won’t happen in ferent ... the second go
New England with Brady round!!” Newton wrote
playing elsewhere. in a video he posted on-
But $60 million in line of him walking out
salary cap space can of Gillette Stadium.
make the difference be- Belichick and the Pa-
tween a 7-9 season and triots are certainly in
one that includes a trip need of another reboot
to the playoffs. And Be- after missing the play-
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
My fiancee
and I have
been together
for four years. I
have lost A LOT
of people in my
life, so I am used
to death. She, on
the other hand,
didn’t experience
it until two years
ago, when she
lost her grand-
father. The next
year, her mother
passed, and
Dear Abby
last year we lost
a child — her oldest — my
stepson.
Abby, she is so lost. She’s
no longer the same person
she once was, and I totally
understand that. I’m sad and
depressed, too, but she’s bad.
I love this woman like I have
never loved any other. I can’t
picture life without her, but
lately I have begun to wonder
how it would affect me, her
and the kids if I left. I’m not
equipped to deal with someone
else’s depression on top of my
own. I have been trying, but I’m
finding myself getting more and
more angry. What should I do?
— TORN IN THE EAST
DEAR TORN: You mentioned
that you, too, suffer from de-
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March
18). There’s the option of stick-
ing with what’s expected of you,
but you get better results when
you forget about the “mature”
move and fall into carefree mo-
ments, finding and making fun,
letting go. You’ll take something
you’re good at and raise it to
such an exceptional level that
an elite world will open to you.
Taurus and Gemini adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 11, 5,
20, 14 and 28.
ARIES (March 21-April
19). Not only will you see what
others overlook but you’ll also
turn these details and aspects
around in your mind until you
start to see how they might fit
together in a more useful, inter-
esting or lucrative way.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
offs for the first time
in 12 years in the wake
of Brady’s departure.
While the Patriots were
watching at home, Brady
led Tampa Bay to a Super
Bowl win, picking up his
seventh championship
ring — and first outside
of New England.
The debate when
Brady decided to leave
was whether the quarter-
back or the coach should
get the credit for New
England’s amazing suc-
cess over the years. Ex-
hibit No. 1 in any court of
public opinion was Brady
holding yet another Su-
per Bowl trophy, this time
without the frowning Be-
lichick at his side.
For that to change, it
has to happen quickly.
pression. Are you
receiving treat-
ment for it? If
you are seeing a
psychologist (and
being medicated),
discuss this with
the person who is
working with you.
You may need a
change in your
medication.
It isn’t sur-
prising that with
so much loss all
at once in her
life, your fiancee
is grieving and de-
pressed. Frankly,
while I might sug-
gest she join a support group
for help in coping with the loss
of her child, she may also need
help from a licensed mental
health professional.
Although you are tempted,
I don’t think now is the time to
abandon your fiancee and her
children. Once she is stabilized,
you may not want to leave at
all.
DEAR ABBY: My 13-, almost
14-year-old daughter, “Gabbi,”
is a shining star of responsibil-
ity and being self-driven. She
also likes nice things.
Gabbi has been babysitting
for my sister for several months
and has saved almost every
penny, which amounts to hun-
dreds of dollars. I’m proud of
You use your time well and your
energy efficiently. As others
observe how you focus yourself,
they will decide straight away
that you are not someone to
trifle with. They’ll approach in a
way that won’t waste your time.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
By using your time, energy and
vitality very well, you let others
know that you’re in control of
your life. They will not try to de-
rail you or distract you, because
they see the futility in that.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
Emotional and physical bruises
work in the same way: They’re
tender until healed. You avoid
touching them until one day, you
realize that there are no painful
sensations associated with
the area. Today brings such a
realization.
And the Patriots are load-
ing up like they believe
the Super Bowl is their
birthright, with or with-
out Brady.
No, Newton didn’t
come close to filling
Brady’s big shoes in his
first season under center
for the Patriots. But he
didn’t have a lot to work
with either.
Now he’s got a new
pair of tight ends that
were the best available
by far. Hunter Henry
and Jonnu Smith may not
make Patriots fans for-
get Rob Gronkowski, but
they should give Newton
some big targets, espe-
cially if Belichick reverts
to the two tight end sets
that worked so well in the
past.
her discipline. However, I think
she should start buying some
of her “frivolous wants” herself.
I’m willing to buy her and my
other children gifts when I can
and on special occasions on my
single income, but Gabbi often
asks me for $10 here and $10
there. Because it’s more than I
can afford, I have to say no and
see her silent disappointment.
I know the simple answer is
to not give in, but I want my
daughter to learn that it’s OK
to spend a little on herself here
and there. I’m not sure what
words to use to convince her.
Can you help? — MOM ON A
BUDGET
DEAR MOM: Your daughter
is old enough for an honest
conversation with her mom.
Start by telling her how proud of
her you are that she has shown
how disciplined and responsi-
ble she is because those traits
will serve her well in years to
come.
Tell her you feel bad about
disappointing her when you
refuse her requests, but now
that she’s nearly 14, she’s
mature enough to understand
you are the sole wage earner,
money is tight and her frequent
requests put a strain on the
budget. Then point out that she
has saved quite a bit of income
from her babysitting, and she
should direct some of it toward
the items she’s asking you for.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your
heart is open for business, and
you’re in for lively exchanges
until closing time brings the wel-
come lull. In solitude, you can
rest, process and ready your
heart for another round.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.
22). There is a thing you want
because you’d like to see their
faces when you get it. But if no
one else could know, would you
still want it? That’s the litmus
test that will reveal your true
heart’s desire.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
You need humor. It’s not an
option; it’s a requirement.
Laughter releases the tension,
elevates your point of view, lifts
your mood and aligns you with
the people who get you on a
soul level.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). Remember how noisy
places allowed for a raucous
time without the pressure of
conversation? With your longing
for such environments peaking,
you’ll still seize the opportunity
to work on developing communi-
cation skills.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). If all the options that used
to be readily available were on
offer now, you wouldn’t see the
golden opportunity of this day:
to seize what is within your con-
trol. Don’t wait for the change.
The change is you.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). A new relationship will have
you seeing an old relationship
differently. Certain history will
take on altered significance,
meaning and scale as though
you’re looking at it through
someone else’s prescription
glasses.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). The excitement comes
with a realization that you don’t
have to stay stuck -- you can let
go of something and, suddenly,
there’s wiggle room. Let go of
something else and you can
practically walk right out of that
jam.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). Most of the opportunities
blend into the background
with the stylish camouflage of
people wearing suits made out
of the wallpaper they are stand-
ing in front of. If you scan the
scene, you’ll miss it. You have
to really look.
Game, set and match
SOLUTION:
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021 5B

Business
Treasury: $242 billion in new
relief payments already sent
Roughly 150,000 checks
worth about $442 million
also mailed to individuals
BY MARTIN CRUTSINGER
AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON — The Treasury
Department says it has sent out 90 mil-
lion economic impact payments totaling
$242 billion since President Joe Biden
signed a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief
plan last week.
The bulk of those payments were
made by the IRS as direct deposits,
which recipients starting seeing in their
bank accounts last weekend, officials
said Wednesday.
In addition, Treasury has mailed out
roughly 150,000 checks worth about
$442 million.
Processing of the payments began
last Friday, the day after Biden signed
the American Rescue Plan, which autho-
rized direct payments of up to $1,400 to
qualifying individuals.
Treasury said the first batch of pay-
ments went to eligible taxpayers who
provided direct-deposit information on
their 2019 or 2020 tax returns. Includ-
ed were people who don’t typically file a
return but who used a non-filers tool at
IRS.gov last year to be included in two
earlier rounds of COVID-19 relief pay-
ments.
Officials said additional batches of
payments will be sent in coming weeks
by direct deposit and through the mail
as a check or debit card.
No action is needed by most taxpay-
ers to receive the payments, which will
be automatic and similar to how people
received their first and second round of
economic impact payments in 2020.
The payments, which are being made
to cushion the blow from the coronavirus
pandemic, started with $1,200 payments
in the first round last spring and $600
payments in a second round of payments
approved by Congress in December.

Wall Street closes higher after

Fed says will keep rates low
BY DAMIAN J. TROISE
AND ALEX VEIGA
AP Business Writers
Stocks closed higher
Wednesday, reversing an
early slide after the Fed-
eral Reserve reassured
Wall Street that it expects
to keep its key interest
rate near zero through
2023.
The central bank’s
renewed commitment
to leaving rates at rock
bottom lows comes even
as its latest economic
forecast calls for growth
of 6.5 percent this year
and for inflation to climb
above 2 percent for the
first time in years. Wall
Street has been anxious
about the potential for
higher inflation to drive
up bond yields further
and has been looking
for signs that the central
bank shares its concerns.
Fed Chair Jerome
Powell’s remarks during
a news conference ap-
peared to do the trick.
Major stock indexes had
been down for most of the
day, led by another wave
of selling in technology
companies as bond yields
rose, driving the closely
watched 10-year Treasury
yield up to 1.68 percent at
one point, the highest lev-
el since January 2020.
After Powell spoke
stocks gradually pivoted
higher and bond yields
fell. The turnaround
nudged the S&P 500 and
Dow Jones Industrial Av-
erage to all-time highs
and pulled the tech-heavy
Nasdaq out of the red.
“He reassured the mar-
ket that the Fed is going
to the extent possible be
patient about even talking
about raising rates,” said
Willie Delwiche, invest-
ment strategist at All Star
Charts.
The S&P 500 rose
11.41 points, or 0.3 per-
cent, to 3,974.12, recov-
ering from a 0.7 percent
slide. The benchmark
index has now notched an
all-time high 14 times this
year. The Dow gained
189.42 points, or 0.6 per-
cent, to 33,015.37. The
Nasdaq, which had been
down 1.5 percent, rose
53.64 points, or 0.4 per-
cent, to 13,525.20.
Banks, industrial
stocks and companies
that rely on consumer
spending helped lift the
market. Those gains out-
weighed a pullback in
health care, utilities and
other sectors.

LOCAL GAS PRICES

Source: gasbuddy.com

BUILDING PERMITS COLUMBUS

2.53 MURPHY USA
■ Tameka Givens; 5091 Hardy
Lowndes County Billups Road; set up mobile 1913-A US-45 N
March 17, 2021 home; owner
■ Richardson; 672 Bent Tree
Trail; construct pool; Sobley
■ Tameka Givens; 5091 Hardy
Billups Road; move mobile
2.54 TEXACO
2110 US-45 N

Pool Company
2.54 KROGER
home; Columbus Mobile
■ Tim Anderson; 9641 Wolfe
Homes 1829 US-45 N
Road; construct storage/shop;
■ McShella Harris; 85 Ray Har-
owner
■ Annie Rogers; 275 Farmers
ris Road; construct storage/ STARKVILLE
2.48 MURPHY USA
shop; owner
Market; set up mobile home;
West Malone ■ Robert and Amy More; 2073 1012 MS-12

■ Annie Rogers; 275 Farmers Hughes Road; construct s/f

Market; move mobile home;
Southern Housing
residence; McNeese Construc-
tion
2.49 TEXACO
416 MS-182 E

2.51 MARATHON
■ Tyshon Rogers; Lodge ■ John Gibbons; Breland Over-
Street; construct storage/ look; construct s/f residence; 405 Russell St.

shop; owner Don White Construction

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Main Street in Columbus.
No phone calls please.
Transportation
CLASS A CDL DRIVER with
Truck & Lowboy/Dump
Trailer experience to load,
haul, & unload heavy
construction equipment/
material. Overnight travel
required. Only qualified
applicants with clean MVR,
current medical examiner’s
5 Montréal
Columbus, MS miles. $13,000.
Real Estate
662−251−1515
Call 662−312−6617.
Lawn & Garden
Ads starting at $25
Farms & Timberland
Merchandise
Ads starting at $12
203 ACRES
PRIME TIMBERLAND Burial Plots
$270,000
Exc deer, turkey hunting 2 BURIAL PLOTS
Good Investment Located in Veteran location
(615)719−8329 @ Memorial Gardens of
Columbus, MS. Must have
cash, $7500. A savings of
$1500. Plots include burial
LAMAR COUNTY, AL: 63 vaults and can be
ACRES on County Road 34. exchanged for any spot
Exc hunting, some timber, other than a veteran.
power & county water. Call 662−386−4080 or
$1,150 per acre. 205−712 662−386−4081.
−5606 or 205−799−9846.
Lots & Acreage

Shop
certificate and no
accidents need apply. 1.75 ACRE LOTS. Good/
Email resume to chastity@ Bad Credit Options. Good
sitemastersms.com credit as low as 20% down,
$499/mo. Eaton Land,
662−361−7711.
Classifieds
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
OPERATORS needed for
local project. Must be able
to maintain & operate
dozers and excavators.
Email resume to: chastity@
sitemastersms.com

Rentals
Ads starting at $25 ACROSS
1 Flight part
Apts For Rent: North 5 Gives over
10 Caruso, for
3BR/1BA GATED FACILITY
Central Heat & Air one
Appliances 12 Decree
$600/mo. plus sec. dep., 13 Make blank
No pets. No HUD.
662−327−0587 14 Specialized
market
15 Lob path
FOX RUN APARTMENTS
1 & 2 BR near hospital.
16 Go every
$595−$645 monthly. direction
Military discount, pet area, 18 Be important
pet friendly, and furnished 20 Frothy brew
corporate apts.
24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL 21 Methods
GYM. ON SITE SECURITY. 23 In addition
ON SITE MAINTENANCE. 24 Italy’s shape
ON SITE MANAGEMENT.
24−HOUR CAMERA 26 Grace finish DOWN 24 Peachy
SURVEILLANCE. Benji & 28 Ab’s neighbor 1 Iron output cocktail
Ashleigh, 662−386−4446. 29 Ump’s call 2 Latin land 25 Maritime
31 Pamplona cry 3 Make into law 27 Got together
Apts For Rent: West
32 Potential 4 Not neg. 28 Appears
pancakes
VIP
5 Pro wrestler/ unexpectedly
36 Old-time actor John 30 Tad Lincoln’s

Rentals
record 6 Fix a story dad
39 Freud topic 7 Give orders 33 Colorful fish
Apartments & Houses 40 Mideast 8 Flying forma- 34 Snowy wader
peninsula tion 35 Perch
1 Bedrooms 41 Lead-in 9 Sound system 37 “Toodle-oo!”
2 Bedroooms 43 Merge 11 Does usher- 38 Draws
3 Bedrooms 44 Massage ing work 42 Right away
targets 17 Weep
Furnished & Unfurnished

Service Directory
45 Print units 19 Binary base
1, 2, & 3 Baths 46 Power unit 22 Game quests
Lease, Deposit
& Credit Check
viceinvestments.com
327-8555 Promote your small business starting at only $25
Building & Remodeling General Services General Services Lawn Care / Landscaping
Apts For Rent: Other
HOME REPAIRS &
MAINTENANCE
DUMP TRUCK HAULING.
Slag − $400 BANKRUPTCY JESSE & BEVERLY’S
LAWN SERVICE
Work wanted. Carpentry, Clay Gravel − $250 CHAPTER 7 Spring Cleanup, Tree
concrete, electrical & Millie for Driveways − $375 BANKRUPTCY Cutting, Landscaping,
plumbing, shingle & metal Available for hauling any $545 plus Filing Fee Sodding & Bush Hogging
roofing, fascia & soffit materials. Filling in 662−356−6525
repairs, pressure washing swimming pools. CHAPTER 13
& mobile home repairs. Columbus. Call Walter, BANKRUPTCY Painting & Papering
No Job Too Small. 662−251−8664. All Attorney Fees Through The Plan
662−549−7031. Jim Arnold, Attorney QUALITY PAINTING
WORK WANTED: Ext/Int Painting
General Services
Licensed & Bonded. 662-324-1666 Sheet Rock Hang, Finish &
TILL SMALL GARDENS. 104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville Repair. Pressure Washing.
A & T TREE SERVICES Carpentry, minor electrical, Please visit our website: Free Estimates. Ask for
Bucket truck & stump minor plumbing, insulation, jimharnold.com specials! Larry Webber,
removal. Free est. painting, demolition, Saturday morning appointments 662−242−4932.
Serving Columbus gutters cleaned, pressure available for Starkville Office.
since 1987. Senior washing, landscaping, &
citizen disc. Call Alvin @ cleanup work. SULLIVAN’S PAINT
242−0324/241−4447 662−242−3608. SERVICE
"We’ll go out on a limb Are you a painter? Special Prices.
for you!" Advertise here! Interior & Exterior Painting.
ads.cdispatch.com 662−435−6528