A rose to Dr. Cherie Labat, who on Friday was chosen as the new Superintendent of Schools for the Columbus Municipal School District. Labat, Assistant Superintendent for the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District, was selected from a field of three impressive finalists — which also included Dr. Otha Belcher of Jackson and Columbus-native and former CMSD teacher and administrator Dr. Lois Kappler. We applaud all three candidates and also commend the CMSD Board of Trustees for its thorough and open search. Now it is time for the entire Columbus community to come together to support Dr. Labat in her important work.
A rose to all those who participated in Saturday’s Third Annual Island Paddle Fest, held on the Tombigbee River at the Columbus Riverwalk. This year’s race drew 45 entrants who made the 5.5 mile loop around The Island in kayaks and canoes in a fundraiser for the Lowndes County Imagination Library. The event has grown steadily each year — from 25 entrants in 2016 to 35 last year and this year’s 45. More importantly, the event raised $1,500 for the Imagination Library, enough to provide 60 children under age 5 with a book a month for a year. We congratulate all those who paddled, volunteers and donated to this important cause.
A rose to the Starkville Board of Aldermen for taking a proactive posture in addressing the city’s aging infrastructure, especially as it relates to water lines. During a work session Friday, Mayor Lynn Spruill urged the board to address the issue as it begins its budget preparations for Fiscal Year 2018-19. Undoubtedly, a major upgrade/renovation of the city’s water/sewer lines will be a costly proposal. Even so, it is a far better approach to the problem than a piecemeal approach that may be cheaper in the short-term but ultimately more costly in terms of ensuring the integrity of that infrastructure. Unlike the state, which has ignored costly infrastructure needs to the point where a crisis has emerged, Starkville is exercising good judgment in tackling this difficult, but critical, issue.
A rose to Amanda Boltwood, whose idea to bring a farmers market to Caledonia has proven to be a successful effort, not only for vendors and customers, but for the town. Boltwood, the chairman of the town’s Caledonia Days festival, noted the success of farmers’ markets in Columbus, Starkville and West Point and suggested the town give it a try too. The first of the town’s markets was held in May and will continue every other Friday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The response has been encouraging. Farmers’ markets aren’t just about buying and selling products. They are also community events, providing neighbors a chance to mingle and get to know each other a little better, which always serves to strengthen the community. We also commend the market for scheduling their market on days that are not in competition with the other farmers markets, which expands opportunities for our local entrepreneurs and growers.
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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