A rose of sympathy and support to Columbus Mayor Robert Smith and his family in the wake of an unspeakable tragedy. Last week, funeral services were held for the mayor’s son, Robert Smith Jr., who was killed by a gunshot wound on Dec. 14. The mayor’s grandson, Davius Roshard Smith, 20, has been charged with the killing. Hundreds turned out for the visitation and services for the mayor’s son, and we are sure it was a comfort to the family. But the unique circumstances of this horrific tragedy mean the pain and grief the family faces will linger far into the future. It is hard to even contemplate the emotional toll that such an event must be taking on the family. We offer our sympathies to the Smith family as they proceed with this difficult journey.
A rose to some truly deserving — and easily neglected — “heroes” on this Christmas Day. While we are thankful for all those public servants and essential workers for whom even Christmas Day is a work-day, we also acknowledge another group for their efforts. As you open Christmas gifts sent to you via mail or delivery services from relatives and friends, take a moment to thank all the men and women who have worked long hours to make sure those gifts arrived on time. For postal workers and those in the private delivery industry, the past couple of weeks have been exhausting. The massive scale of their undertaking — millions upon millions of parcels delivered to every corner of the country and beyond in just a couple of weeks time — is hard to comprehend. So, thanks to you all. We hope today finds you at rest. You have certainly earned it.
A rose to Savion Lucious and Cameron Wilson, two Columbus High seniors, members of the school’s Jazz Band, who set up Thursday evening in front of the Rosenzweig Arts Center and played Christmas music on their saxophones for passersby. Friday the two young musicians returned, this time a few doors down in front of Thai by Thai restaurant. We appreciate these young men’s effort to spread Christmas cheer and hope these won’t be their only impromptu appearances downtown.
A rose to the Mississippi State women’s basketball team, which continues to reach unprecedented heights. With just one game remaining on the calendar year, MSU has put together a 13-0 record en route to a No. 5 national ranking. The win-loss record alone hardly tells the story. Of those 13 games, 11 have come away from MSU’s home court as the Bulldogs criss-crossed the country taking the best shots of opponents from Maine to Hawaii to Iowa to Los Angeles. Even without the services of its fiery defensive standout Dominique Dillingham, who has missed the last six games due to injury, the Bulldogs haven’t missed a beat. This indeed has the look of a very special team.
A rose to the Starkville Board of Aldermen, whose act of fiscal restraint in October appears to have been proven a wise move. By a 4-3 vote, aldermen voted down a $1.35-million tax-increment funding (TIF) request from a developer planning to build a Walmart Neighborhood Market in the city. The funding was requested to provide infrastructure — including a road — to the site. The decision not to grant the TIF was seen, in some quarters, as a end to the project. But this week, the same developers returned to the board, asking not for a TIF but for a renewal of its plat on the site, an indication that the project may resume without taxpayer money. Although it’s not a “done deal” yet, this does serve as an example that taxpayers don’t always have to help foot the bill to attract new businesses. Each case should be evaluated on its merits.
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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