A rose to the nonprofit Community Recovery of Lowndes County (CRLC) which celebrated the completion of its first major project this week. CRLC, with partners United Methodist Committee on Relief and Mennonite Disaster Services, celebrated the completion of a house On Seventh Avenue North that was rebuilt after the February 2019 tornado, which ripped through portions of the city. CRLC is currently working on two other rebuilds after having assisted in smaller repairs in the area. CRLC is funded through the United Way of Lowndes County as well as a $200,000 grant from MEMA. The group is still seeking donations to help fund the completion of the two rebuilds. We urge folks to donate to this worthy community project.
A rose to the Starkville Unity Park Commission for its selection of two new honorees. Plaques bearing the names of George W. Evans and Fenton Peters will be permanently displayed at the park, although COVID-19 will prevent the usual ceremony. Both Evans and Peters were barrier-breakers in the city’s history. Evans is believed to have held the first integrated Boy Scout event in 1942, a campout, while Peters served as Starkville High School’s first black principal in 1970. Both men endured the criticism that often comes when barriers are broken, but calmed the unrest through their personal dignity, character and sense of fairness. In doing so, they became heroes in the community for both black and white citizens.
A rose to a group of Columbus High graduates who have chosen to devote a “day of service” at Franklin Academy ahead of its Feb.12 bicentennial. Lloyd Perrigen and Vince Britton, who both work for TVA, and Stephen Little, the school district’s maintenance director, will make electrical repairs at the state’s first public school. While the district has set aside funds for other repairs at the historic school, that work won’t be done until after the bicentennial celebration. We applaud these men for volunteering their expertise for this special occasion.
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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