A rose to the Lowndes County Master Gardeners which set the stage for the arrival of spring with a program featuring radio personality and garden columnist Gary Bachman Thursday evening at the Trotter Center. About 100 gardening enthusiasts turned out to hear Bachman speak, no doubt whetting their appetites for the upcoming spring planting season. For years, the Master Gardeners have blessed our town with their talents, adorning our public downtown spaces with delightful seasonal displays. Their efforts add an element of charm that always brings a smile. We can hardly wait to see what they have in store as warm weather approaches.
A rose to organizers and performers at the Columbus Arts Council’s Blues for Willie Festival, honoring bluesman Willie King, a native of Prairie Point. The event, held Thursday through Saturday, featured performances by Eden Brent, Vasti Jackson and Starkville-based Stormy Monday, along with blues historian and radio host Scott Barretta. King played his last show here on May 7, 2009, dying the next day. The success of the event speaks not only to the talent assembled to honor the performer, but to the deep affection King still evokes among blues lovers eight years after his passing.
A rose to organizers of today’s special historical program which features four speakers addressing aspect of the state’s history. Mississippi celebrates its 200th anniversary this year and the program takes a look at several aspects related to that event. Speakers Jack D. Elliott Jr. and Mike Bunn will focus closely on the period of time in which it was unclear whether Columbus was a part of Alabama or Mississippi. Phillip Carroll Morgan will address the culture of the period, including relations between native Indians and settlers. Clay Williams will discuss the Creek War and its impact on the state’s future. The event begins at 2 p.m. at Nissan Auditorium on the MUW campus and is free to the public.
A rose to Eddie Peasant, who was selected as the new superintendent for the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District last week. Peasant, who takes over the position from Lewis Holloway, comes to Starkville from Tupelo, where he served as assistant superintendent. The former Mississippi Administrator of the Year, brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the job, including serving as a principal at the high school and middle school level. His experience in overseeing the Tupelo School District’s secondary education, athletics programs, technology and dual enrollment programs make him an excellent choice as the SOCSD moves forward. We welcome Dr. Peasant to town and wish him every success as he begins his duties on July 1.
A rose to Columbus Air Force Base for being selected as the top state/government recycler in the state for 2016. The award was announced Thursday at the Capitol by the Mississippi Recycling Coalition. Last year CAFB recycled more than 295 tons of material. The base recycles cardboard, white and mixed paper, scrap metal, glass, plastics and batteries. This would not be happening without the support of CAFB leadership, nor does it happen unless all CAFB personnel unite to form a culture of protecting and respecting our environment. The honor is yet another example of how the men and women at CAFB set a good example for the broader community.
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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