A rose to all those who have fallen in military service to our nation, and to VFW Post 4272 and American Legion Post 69 whose efforts help keep that sacrifice at the forefront on this Memorial Day weekend. This week, as they have done for years now, the two veterans groups adorn the graves of fallen soldiers in cemeteries throughout Lowndes County with American flags. Often, during holidays, we are prone to forget the meaning behind our holidays as we enjoy time away from the routine with family and friends. Thanks to the work of the VFW and American Legion, we have a visual reminder to pause and reflect on those who have died to preserve or freedoms.
A rose to all the kids out there now that the school year has ended. By mid-week all classes at all public and private schools had ended. It’s been a long school year, so a well-deserved rest is in order. Summer provides an opportunity to play and rest. It also allows students to pursue interests that the demands of the school year do not generally allow. We encourage kids to get up, get busy, get involved and make the most of the summer break. We also remind students that the end of the school year should not mean the end of learning. Instead, it’s an opportunity to build knowledge and skills. The best part of that is the student gets to choose where those energies will be directed.
A thorn to Starkville Alderman Henry Vaughn, whose claims that the city’s annexation plans are based on an effort to dilute black voting strength in the city is not supported by the facts. The Ward 7 alderman made that claim during Tuesday’s board of aldermen meeting. “We know this is all about drawing the lines to make wards unequal,” Vaughn said. With all due respect, we don’t know that at all. According to an annexation study report commissioned by the city, white population in the city would increase by just 0.3 percent while black population would decrease by 0.5 percent, numbers too small to suggest that there is an orchestrated effort to change the racial makeup of the city in any meaningful way. As one of two black aldermen, we respect and applaud Vaughn’s role as an advocate for the black community. But that role also carries with it an obligation to act wisely in those efforts. Introducing race into a debate where it is not a credible factor does no service to anyone, black or white.
A rose to the Lowndes County Community Foundation’s educational task force for leading the effort to gain “Excel By 5” certification. The LCF identified education as a top concern through a community meeting last year. Seeking this certification is a response to that community need. The “Excel by 5” program plays a key role in preparing children for school. Too often, children enter the school system with undiagnosed or improperly treated disabilities — everything from dyslexia to poor vision/hearing to autism. For these students, the presence of these challenges can impede educational growth even before formal schooling begins. Making sure parents are aware of the resources available to their children before they reach school age can make an enormous difference. When the LCF identified their top areas of concern in the community, we applauded their good intentions but wondered if these efforts would produce tangible results. In multiple ways, the community has benefitted from the various task forces that have emerged. We believe the education task force’s commitment to “Excel by 5” is evidence the LCF’s work will continue to go beyond talk.
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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