A rose to Columbus High basketball star Robert Woodard II, who is proving to be as big a winner off the court as he is on it.
Last week, Woodard, a 6-foot-6 junior guard, was honored as Mississippi’s Gatorade Player of the Year. The honor carried a $1,000 grant, which he donated to the Boys & Girls Club of the Golden Triangle.
But Woodard’s contributions to the club went much further than that. During the ceremony, Woodard announced his essay on the importance of Boys & Girls Clubs won a $10,000 spotlight grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program, and that he is going to donate that to the club as well. That’s an $11,000 shot in the arm for our local club, and all the more reason Woodard stands out not only for his excellence athletic ability, but for his character, intelligence and community spirit.
A rose to our universities, for all the benefits they provide our communities. While the economic boost Mississippi State and Mississippi University for Women are obvious, there are many other ways in which they enrich our non-student residents. We were reminded of this yet again last week when MSU hosted Allan McDonald, whose dramatic account as his role as a whistle-blower during the 1986 Challenger disaster captivated the audience.
MSU and The W regularly are a source of intriguing speakers, cultural events and educational programs for students and non-students alike.
These are the kinds of attractions are normally found only in much larger cities. We truly have the best of both worlds: The charm of small-town living and the educational and cultural opportunities of big cities, thanks to the presence of our two outstanding universities.
A rose to U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly, whose call for bi-partisanship during his speaking engagement at Tuesday’s Columbus Rotary Club was a breath of fresh air in these bitterly partisan times. Kelly, who represents north Mississippians of District 1, said that while some issues are naturally partisan, others – including health care – need not be.
Kelly said elected officials must put people over party and look for common ground in the issues they tackle. That is easier said than done, of course, and politicians are mindful not to stray too far from the political views of those who put them in office.
Even so, calling for bi-partisan solutions is rhetoric we rarely hear – and rarer still see put in practice. We encourage Kelly not only the talk the talk, but walk the walk on behalf of all of the people of his district and the country.
A rose to the Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce for its annual program that celebrates students and teachers in our eight schools. The Chamber recognized 30 students and five teachers for their outstanding performance over the school year, which ends next month. The top award went to Cheyanne Allred, a senior at New Hope High School, who also received a $1,000 scholarship from the Golden Triangle Development LINK. The other award winners from each our schools, were given $500 scholarships. We applaud the students and teachers for their performances and the Chamber and LINK for taking time to recognize their achievements.
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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