Roses to those who turned out to vote in the Republican primary. Low voter turnout was expected, and, unfortunately, voters delivered on that prediction.
In Lowndes County, all votes had been counted by around 9:20 p.m. Alan Nunnelee took the county, with 1,924 votes, compared to 1,335 for Henry Ross and 475 for Angela McGlowan. The count included affidavit and absentee ballots, and represents a turnout of 9.3 percent.
In Clay County, fewer than 1,000 total votes were cast in the primary, for a 7.6 percent turnout. Nunnelee was the Clay County favorite, with 563 votes, compared to Ross” 350 and McGlowan”s 81.
Nunnelee will face First District Democratic incumbent Travis Childers in November.
In Oktibbeha County, for the Third Congressional District Democratic Primary, Joel Gill of Pickens got 261 votes; James Jackson of Brandon got 185 votes, and Shawn O”Hara of Hattiesburg got 87 votes; there were seven write-ins.
Numbers, of course, usually are much lower for primary elections than general elections. But even those see low voter turnout in the area. Let”s step it up and get out to the polls come November.
A rose to Starkville School District for reaching out to the community for input on schools.
The Starkville School District is forming a group of parents and community members to meet with school officials for roundtable-type discussions.
The Superintendent”s Roundtable will meet for the first time July 15 and will meet quarterly with the SSD administration to provide input, discuss issues affecting the district and consider new initiatives.
The Roundtable group is made up of Anne Buffington, Jennifer Burgess, Ann Carr, Heather Carson, Carrie Copeland, Hugh Griffith, Katherine Hackett, Paul Luckett, Lynn Richardson, Jeffrey Rupp, Anne Stricklin and Cordell Wilson. Additional members could be named at a later time, Couey said.
The group ranges from parents to community members to university officials.
Roses to Columbus” Lewis brothers — Johnathan Lewis, 27, for earning a degree at the U.S. Military Academy and Gabriel Andrew “Drew” Lewis, for following in his brother”s foot steps. He”s headed there this month. Columbus High School graduates, have begun a military lineage of their own.
After finishing his training at West Point, Jonathan served five years as a field artillery officer in the Army. And as Jonathan leaves the Army, Drew is beginning his military career.
A posthumous rose to John Thomas, who rightfully is referred to as a “trailblazer.” One of the first two black police officers to serve on the Columbus police force. He went on to serve with the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Department, for a total of more than 44 years in law enforcement.
Thomas is remembered as not only a good lawman, but an active father, a role model and a workaholic. Roses also go out to Thomas” family, friends and community as we mourn for this local hero.
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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