A rose to Lowndes County sheriff’s deputies Clint Sims, Larry Swearingen and Scott Glasgow, who were injured Tuesday in a confrontation at a New Hope home. Sims and Swearingen suffered gunshot wounds while Glasgow sustained a cut to his hand during a confrontation in the Drake Hills neighborhood. Human nature generally dictates that when faced with danger, we run the other direction. Law enforcement, however, does just the opposite, sacrificing their own safety for the safety of the community. We are thankful that all three deputies are on the road to recovery. We are also reminded of the great risks our law enforcement face in securing our safety. For anyone interested in helping out the officers Larry Swearingen and Clint Sims, there has been a benefit fund set up at Cadence Bank. The fund is in the name Swearingen and Sims benefit fund. Donations can be made at any Cadence Bank. You can also make donations at the Lowndes County Sheriff Dept.
A thorn to the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau for its bizarre ending of Monday’s monthly meeting. Near the end of the meeting, as board member Bernard Buckhalter attempted to continue a discussion about an audit proposal, board president Dewitt Hicks declared him out of order and the two began attempting to talk over one another. Hicks then pounded his gavel and declared the meeting adjourned even though the board did not vote on the motion to do so. Buckhalter then called Hicks a “rough rider.” Board members got up from their seats and left the table. Board attorney Chris Hemphill said without a quorum remaining, no vote to adjourn could take place and he would have to research how to address the matter for next month’s meeting. “I’ve never seen that before,” Hemphill said. The odd end mars a relatively tranquil few months for the CVB. We hope this dust-up is an anomaly.
A rose to Mark Castleberry, who celebrated a milestone event Thursday with the official ground-breaking of the Mill project. Castleberry took over as the project’s developer about a year ago and has guided it through the maze of red tape that had bogged down the project for almost 10 years. His ability to move the project forward is worthy of celebration because, when completed, the Mill should represent a major break-through for economic development in Starkville.
A rose to Kevin Stafford of Neel-Schaeffer Engineering, who picked up an honor Thursday from the Mississippi chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC/MS) for his work in the design and construction of the Columbus Soccer Complex. Titled “Connecting our Community,” the $4.23-million project involved much more than building an athletic facility. Built on 40 acres of a 72-acre parcel near downtown Columbus, the complex is part of a park that contains more than a mile of sidewalks and trails that are used daily by citizens for exercise.
A rose to Columbus Fire & Rescue’s Ken Moore, who officially retired as the department’s chief. Under Moore’s direction, the department attained national certification, the only Mississippi fire department to earn that distinction and one of fewer than 200 nation-wide to carry the certification. Moore’s retirement ends a 30-year association with the department, a tenure that includes nine years as the department’s chief. Thanks for your service, Ken.
Do you have a suggestion for Roses and Thorns? Contact editor Slim Smith at [email protected].
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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