Roses to the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and UPS workers who are scrambling this time of year to get all those Christmas cards, letters to Santa, and gifts and packages delivered on time.
We hear about how the Internet has reduced the volume of “snail mail.” But Christmas cards are still popular — last Monday alone, the post office in Columbus processed more than 90,000 letters and 22,000 parcels. Many of these items are sorted by hand.
It would be enough to make anyone go postal. But our local professionals are keeping it in stride.
A rose of condolences to the family of 12-year-old Traveres R. Malone Jr., who died Wednesday at the University Medical Center in Jackson while awaiting a a heart transplant.
Traveres, a student at Hunt Intermediate School, suffered heart problems from birth and also had trouble breathing. He would take breathing treatments at school.
Prior to this year, he was able to attend school regularly. But six weeks into the school year, doctors at UMC advised his mother to keep him at home, and Columbus Municipal School District assigned Traveres a homebound teacher.
Services for Traveres are Monday at 1 p.m. at Hunt Intermediate, on 20th Street North. Visitation is today from 3-8 p.m. at Carter”s Funeral Services on 14th Street North in Columbus.
A rose to the Columbus Municipal School District, which is, to date, the largest contributor to the United Way of Lowndes County.
This year, Columbus schools raised just over $80,000, campaign coordinator Marilyn Agnew announced to board members Monday night.
In addition to employee contributions, schools host special events, such as concerts and dances, and also offer incentives, such as a day without school uniforms, to students and staff who contribute to United Way.
The number is particularly astonishing considering the United Way has raised only $420,000 so far in its capital campaign this year. That”s well short of the organization”s $600,000 goal.
It isn”t too late to give, of course. Consider helping the United Way and its worthy charitable organizations this year.
A rose of condolences to the families of two Starkville men who were killed on icy highways in north Mississippi as cold weather caused slick roads and bridges Wednesday morning.
Dave Tate, 39, and Earnest York, 41, both of Starkville, were killed after Tate”s 2004 Ford F-150, headed north on Highway 45 Alternate near Monroe County, passed over an ice-covered bridge and then left the roadway, flipping several times, near the Prairie community in Monroe County.
Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper Brian Mobley said neither man was wearing his seat belt. The accident is a grim and tragic reminder for all of us to buckle up, especially as roads and bridges ice over during the winter season.
A thorn to the vandals who broke out the windows of three cabs and two businesses in the 1700 block of Eighth Avenue South last weekend.
The vandalism of the City Wide Cab company and the Nothing Like It Boutique was reported Monday morning, said Columbus police spokesman Donnie Elkin.
No one has been arrested.
Acts of petty vandalism like this happen across town each weekend, some reported, some not. But we can”t advance as a community until we all take a little pride in our surroundings and respect in ourselves.
To whomever is responsible: Grow up.
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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