A rose to Old Man Winter for not overstaying his welcome this week. As Ben Franklin once noted, “Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.” That is why Wednesday’s snowfall, which ranged from four-to-eight inches, gave us all the pleasure of something not too common in our area without the extended misery that often ensues. By Thursday, sunny skies started doing nature’s clean-up after the beauty of Wednesday’s snow, making our roads passable and allowing us to enjoy the winter beauty without the hardships that often follow. We enjoyed your visit, Old Man Winter. See ya next year.
A rose to all the folks out there who came to the aid of strangers in need. Wednesday’s snowfall made roads treacherous over night and we are impressed by the reports of people pitching in to help motorists who slid off the roads or found themselves unable to negotiate slick streets. While tow companies were busy helping those in distress, far more people where aided by regular folks who stopped to lend a hand. These acts confirm that our community is one where people still lend a hand to those in need.
A rose to the Columbus Art Council, Mississippi University for Women and everyone involved in the staging of the production of “The Cat in the Hat.” at Rent Auditorium last week for area school children and the public. Cast members included Graham Young (Cat), Chris Ambrose (Fish), Gavin Mendus (Boy), Karen Thead (Sally), Allison Jones (Thing 1), Abi Wiggins (Thing 2), Candice Lee Monteith (Kitten 1), Sau’dai Jackson (Kitten 2) and Ryan Savage (Kitten 3). Behind the scenes, we salute Alison Miller (stage manager), Jonathan Best (sound engineer), Katie Welch (assistant stage manager(, Gabriel Lestrade (sound technician), Ray Sizemore (lighting designer), Leah Thompson (costume designer), Parker Yarbrough (props master) and Kevin Barkman (master electrician). David Carter, associate professor and chair of the Department of Theatre, was the technical director. As Dr. Seuss once noted, “It’s fun to have fun, but you have to know how!”
A rose to Mississippi State basketball coach Rick Ray, who showed great sportsmanship in providing the University of Kentucky basketball team access to the Bulldogs’ practice facility on Thursday. The top-ranked and unbeaten Wildcats, who handed MSU a resounding defeat Wednesday evening, found themselves unable to travel after Wednesday’s snow storm. Ray graciously extended an invitation for the UK team to practice at the Bulldogs’ facilities Thursday as they waited for the weather to clear enough to allow the team to return to Lexington. MSU has had a difficult season, but their act of good sportsmanship reflects well on Ray and the MSU basketball program.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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