A rose to the 50 or so people who traveled to Jackson on Monday to show their support for Mississippi University for Women. The group attended a hearing by the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee on a bill that would give the Institutes of Higher Learning authority to proceed with a name change for MUW. While the bill died for lack of a motion, the turnout offered tangible evidence of support for the school. We”re disappointed that Reps. Gary Chism, Jeff Smith and Ester Harrison didn”t show. Chism did stop by long enough to say hello, but Sen. Terry Brown was the only member of the local delegation who bothered to attend the hearing.
A rose to New Hope High School junior Meredith Barefield, the 2011 Lowndes County Junior Miss.
Meredith was one of six contestants in the Junior Miss program held Jan. 23 at Joe Cook. The Lowndes Jr. Miss program awarded $3,650 in college scholarship awards. High School juniors compete in categories of Interview, Talent, Scholarship Achievement, Fitness and Self Expression.
Meredith is the daughter of Curtis and Sarah Barefield.
Roses to the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation for hosting a weekend of events as a tribute to area”s rich black history. Catfish is the Alley was hosted Friday evening, hailing back memories of when the area around the famed Jones” Restaurant was part of a booming business district. The nearby area was dubbed Catfish Alley because of the smell of catfish cooking. Tours Saturday took patrons on a tour through Columbus, pointing out areas significant to black history — including Catfish Alley, Columbus Riverwalk, Sim Scott Park, the old Queen City Hotel site, Burns Bottom, The Haven, Temple Heights” 1837 kitchen house, Missionary Union Baptist Church, Sandfield Cemetery, Union Cemetery, Union Academy and the Seventh Avenue Historic Business District.
A rose to Gen. Joseph Fant who was instrumental in organizing the annual Town and Tower community breakfast. Fant was one of the founders of the event and has worked the past 10 years to keep it going. On Thursday about 50 people attended the breakfast, which brings community members together in observance of the National Day of Prayer.
Town and Tower club meets on the campus of MUW and is a group dedicated to helping the community collaborate with the college.
A rose and congratulations to Kabir Karriem and other organizers of the Seventh Avenue Festival. The Southeast Tourism Society named the festival in Columbus one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast for September 2010.
This year”s Seventh Avenue Heritage Festival will take place Sept. 30-Oct. 2.
The festival is a celebration of the culture what was once a highly profiled African-American business and entertainment district.
Seventh Avenue”s former Queen City Hotel hosted entertainment royalty like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Fats Domino, B.B. King and Little Richard.
Last year”s event drew a record crowd, featuring Grammy-nominated artists K-Ci and Jojo.
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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