Our View: A good project; a bad process
During Wednesday’s city council work session, council members learned Mayor Stephen Jones had signed a $37,500 contract with CS Digital Productions for an Alva Temple documentary without council approval or a complete legal review. The issue emerged while the council debated meal funding for filmmakers traveling to Denver to interview 102-year-old Tuskegee Airman James Harvey.
Our View: Betting scandal throws sports integrity for a loss
For more than a century, there has been just one unforgivable sin in pro and college sports. Over that long span, those sports have forgiven all sorts of felons, scoundrels and lowlifes and allowed them to return to the game.
Our View: In the beginning, there was Weyerhaeuser
When the history of economic development in Lowndes County is discussed, the story usually begins with the arrival of Severstal/Steel Dynamics and PACCAR in the western part of the county. The steel mill began operations in 2007 while PACCAR opened in 2010.
Our View: From fossil finds to kayak rides
Throughout history, access to waterways is one of the single most powerful drivers of a city’s development, economy, and culture. There is a reason almost every major ancient and modern metropolis — from New York and New Orleans to London, Istanbul and Tokyo — is situated next to a river, lake, or ocean.
Our View: Betting on trouble
On Nov. 18, 1865, the New York Saturday Press published a short story written by an obscure former miner and steamboat pilot writing under the name Mark Twain.
Our View: Starkville High’s $125 million wish list needs less silence, more specifics
Last month, the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District board approved a $101 million bond for a new high school.
Our View: City property sales need an expert’s hand
The story is told that Henry Ford once called in engineering genius Charles Steinmetz to find a solution for a malfunctioning generator that had stumped his own engineers.
Our View: Starkville’s unofficial mascot? We suggest Connie the Traffic Cone
Most cities and towns have official seals or logos featuring images that tell a part of their stories, but only a few of them have mascots.
Our View: An idea with real bones behind it
In November 2024, the Columbus City Council gave its blessing to a group of local officials, paleontologists and fossil enthusiasts to begin soliciting grants for a fossil park to be located adjacent to Propst Park on Luxipalila Creek. For decades, the Lux had been a popular place to discover fossils, some dating back as far as 80 million years.
Our View: Restoring a fire department tradition
The Columbus City Council broke from a long hiring tradition when it voted to hire Charles Yarbrough as the city’s fire chief in March.
Roses and Thorns: 5-16-26
A rose to Mona Vance-Ali for her 15-year effort to preserve historic Lowndes County documents and photos by converting the materials to digital format. Vance-Ali,
Our View: Get thee to the Renaissance Festival
Ye olde Renaissance festivals may once have been sticklers for historical authenticity, almost to the point of pedantry.
Our View: Let 18-year-olds answer the call
Fire and police departments are facing serious staffing shortages. The same goes for the building trades. The military is just now coming out of a period of shortfalls, too.
Our View: Amphitheater construction finally nears its curtain call
During Tuesday’s meeting, the Columbus City Council was ready to approve the contract that will complete the Terry Brown Amphitheater.
Our View: A simple case of wrong and wrong
Sometimes, it comes down to a matter not of right and wrong, but of wrong and wrong.
Our View: Gamel embodied TV’s golden age
There was a time when the people who brought us the local news were stars. This was particularly true in smaller cities and towns where the local TV anchor, weatherman or show host was instantly recognizable, conspicuous by his or her presence at local events. They were the parade grand marshals, the masters of ceremonies and the judges at a variety of local competitions.
Our View: Real estate, real optimism
When Nic Parish and Saunders Ramsey joined forces to purchase and develop Burns Bottom last August, there was an emotional component in the decision.
Our View: From BRAC to Blech and beyond
You don’t have to have lived in Columbus too long to remember a time when any discussion of the future of Columbus Air Force Base was more ominous than optimistic.
Our View: ‘Train your own’ is a smart move for Columbus
On Tuesday, the Columbus City Council approved a new employment strategy that covers the cost of training in exchange for the employee agreeing to stay with the city for five years.
Our View: MUW culinary arts deserves a bigger audience
It might surprise many to learn that Mississippi University for Women’s culinary arts program has been around for 30 years now. For much of that time, the program was a low-key operation for students whose career paths would take them into different fields.
