WWW.CDISPATCH.COM s COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI s 130TH YEAR, NO. 222 s $1.
00
THE COMMERCIAL DISPATCH
DEAD HUNTER’S WIFE ARRESTED FOR MURDER
SHOOTING: Couple had been hunting together Sunday when others nearby heard shot
BY TIM PRATT
Dispatch Starkville Bureau
tpratt@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — The
wife of a hunter found dead
V. Childs
Silent protest speaks volumes
MUW: Students
march to show
disapproval of
merger plan
BY JASON BROWNE
jbrowne@cdispatch.com
Approximately 50
Mississippi University for
Women students walked
silently across campus
Tuesday before standing
arm-in-arm in front of
Callaway Hall and Columbus
Hall.
It was a show of solidarity
in protest against a proposed
merger, which would see the
state’s smallest public uni-
versity merged with its
largest, Mississippi State
University. The symbolic
wall of people was the stu-
dents’ way of blocking
entrance to their school
while drawing attention to
their disapproval.
“They ask the board what
they think. They ask teach-
ers. They ask state officials.
They ask school officials.
See MUW, 3A
Mississippi University for
Women students line up in
front of Callaway Hall on
Tuesday in a silent protest
over plans to merge MUW
with Mississippi State
University.
‘There’s a reason they call it Black Friday’
HOLIDAY SHOPPING: Local retailers expect big crowds
BY KRISTIN MAMRACK
kmamrack@cdispatch.com
Columbus retailers are ready for
what they hope is their biggest shop-
ping weekend of the year, and city
officials are encouraging residents to
shop locally in this gift-giving season.
“The city benefits greatly from
TODAY’S
DISPATCH
Quotable
You bank on any friendship
where interest is paid.
Index
Abby 9B
Classifieds 10-12B
Comics 9B
Obituaries 5,11,12A
Opinions/Letters
Weather
4A
2A
HOME DELIVERY 328-2433, TOLL-FREE 877-328-2430 n ADVERTISING 328-2427 n CLASSIFIED 328-8484 n NEWS TIPS 328-2471
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Hundreds of bargains, free
local shopping guide inside
Former restaurant LEE, PATTERSON
now cluster of two players from
‘creative offices’ area in Egg Bowl
Business, Page 9A Sports, Page 1B
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
Sunday morning in western Oktibbeha County, was Jail on a $125,000 bond. A together off Hawkins Road,
Oktibbeha County was arrested by the Oktibbeha preliminary hearing will be not far from the Choctaw
arrested Wednesday for her County Sherif f’s set at a later date. County line, shortly after 7
husband’s murder. Department and was being Childes and her hus- a.m. Sunday when other
Verina Marie Childs, 37, held Wednesday afternoon band, Douglas Marion hunters in the area heard a
of 3875 Jeff Peay Road in at the Oktibbeha County Childes, 32, were hunting See MURDER, 10A
Council to vote
on smoking
ban next week
PUBLIC HEARING: Residents speak out
against ban; some want stricter rules
BY KRISTIN MAMRACK to this ordinance.
kmamrack@cdispatch.com “I also understand
these things are happen-
After a dozen residents ing, happening every-
spoke Tuesday during a where,” he continued.
public hearing on a pro- “(Starkville’s ordinance,
posed smoking ban, the which allows smoking on
Columbus City Council is restaurant patios) manip-
expected to vote on a ban ulated the market and
Dec. 1. allowed some restaurants
The majority of those and bars in town to have
who spoke Tuesday were an advantage over others.
opposed to a ban; I have one of those
although, several busi- (restaurants with no out-
ness owners asked for a side patio section), and it
complete ban, if one is very adversely affected
enacted at all. that business. In Tupelo,
“We’ve been through they have a 100-percent
this,” said John Bean, a ban in all places. I think
stockholder in The Eat restaurant and business
With Us Group, which owners would tell you it’s
owns several restaurants fair to everyone.”
— including Harvey’s, Asking the council to
Sweet Peppers Deli and “ban smoking 100 per-
The Grill — in Columbus, cent in all public places,”
as well as restaurants in Bean said doing so would
Starkville and Tupelo, ensure a “level playing
which both have city field for everyone.”
smoking bans. “As a busi- The ordinance, pro-
ness owner, I’m opposed See COUNCIL, 10A
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
THANKSGIVING CLOSINGS
n The Dispatch offices will be closed today.
n Golden Triangle Waste Services will not pick up today
for the holiday. Regular services will resume Friday, and
today’s pickups will be picked up Saturday.
tax collected within the city limits. n Columbus Light and Water and 4-County Electric
“In Mississippi, counties get no Power Association will be closed today and Friday.
residents and visitors shopping in sales tax, just cities,” he added. “And n The Columbus-Lowndes Development Link will be
Columbus, because of the 7-percent closed today and Friday.
n Columbus Public Library will be closed today through
for most towns and cities in this
sales tax revenue it generates,” said state, sales tax revenue received Saturday.
n Lowndes County offices will be closed today and Friday.
Columbus Mayor Robert Smith. back from the state represents 40
“That 7-percent amount goes to the
See SHOPPING, 3A n City of Columbus offices will be closed today and
Mississippi Tax Commission and Friday.
they send us back 18.5 percent. In INSIDE n Banks: All area banks will be closed today.
other words, the city gets 18.5 cents n OPINION: Give thanks for our n Columbus post offices will be closed today. The U.S.
on every dollar generated from sales retailers, and shop locally. Page 4A Postal Service will not deliver mail today, but will resume
services Friday.
Inside Five Questions Weather Calendar
1 What U.S. state requires film
crews to be blessed by a local
Friday
n Ninth annual Possum
Monday
n The MSU Symphony
priest before they can begin Town Grand Prix SLM Orchestra presents its first
shooting?
2 What secondary title did the
$2,000 plus NeSmith Fall
Nationals. For more informa-
concert at 6:30 p.m. in
McComas Hall on the MSU
tion, call Columbus Motor campus. Free to the public.
Miss America pageant axe in
1974, for being too much like a Speedway at 662-241-5004. Info: 662-325-3070.
popularity contest?
Sunday Monday through Tuesday
n Deborah Johnson, author n The 37th annual
3 What month features the Sap Hannah Crowley, third grade,
Moon? Caledonia
of “The Air Between Us,” is Mississippi State
4 What video series for toning
the posterior earned fame for fit- the featured author at the University Holiday Bazaar
Tonight: Clear, low 36 Columbus Convention and features more than 100 ven-
ness expert Tamilee Webb?
Holiday 5 What attacked three folks on
Waveland, Fla., beaches in
Tomorrow: Sunny, high 56 Visitors Bureau’s “No Dead
Authors” series of book
dors from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
both days at the Joe Frank
gifts 2001, for the first time in St. More weather, 2A readings and signings at 2
p.m. at the Tennessee
Sanderson Center on cam-
pus. Info: Campus Activities
Lucie County history – dolphins,
Gift ideas for an avid mobile otters or sea turtles? Williams Welcome Center, Board, 662-325-2910.
phone user. Page 7B 300 Main St., in Columbus.
Answers, 12B Refreshments will be served.
Info: Adele Elliott, 662-241-
9931.
2A THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com

SAY WHAT?

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Roman Polanski was granted
$4.5 million bail Wednesday,
clearing the way for the fugi-
tive director to move within
days from a
Swiss jail to
house arrest
and electronic
monitoring at
his Alpine
resort chalet.
The Swiss
Justice Polanski
Minister said
she saw no reason to appeal
the surprise decision by the
Swiss Criminal Court. Polanski
would have to remain in
Switzerland as authorities
assess whether to extradite
him to the United States for
having sex in Los Angeles in
1977 with a 13-year-old girl.
Ministry Spokesman Folco
Galli said the final decision on
transferring Polanski to his
Thursday
chalet in the Swiss resort of
“It turns out the wife was the one who shot him.”
Oktibbeha County Chief Deputy George Carrithers,
Gstaad would be made on a woman arrested in her husband’s shooting
“quickly.” death while the couple was hunting. Story, 1A
The widow of Sen. Edward M.
Kennedy told Oprah Winfrey
in an interview broadcast
Wednesday that even as her
husband knew he was dying of
brain cancer he had been “in
training” to make sure he had
enough strength to attend
President Barack Obama’s
inauguration. In the most
extensive interview since her
husband’s death in August,
Vicki Kennedy said she would-
n’t try to run for her husband’s
former U.S. Senate seat and
described how he battled brain
cancer — but she would not
talk about the last thing he
said to her before dying.
“I think I’ll just keep that one
to myself,” she told Winfrey on
“The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

CONTACTING THE DISPATCH

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Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
The National Thanksgiving Turkey, Courage, waits to be pardoned by President Obama, in a ceremony in the
North Portico of the White House, in Washington, Wednesday.

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President Barack Obama, right, with daughters, Sasha Obama, 8, Malia Obama, 11, reacts with Walter
Pelletier, chairman of the National Turkey Federation, as Malia reaches to pet a turkey, Courage, the day
before Thanksgiving, during a ceremony in the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Wednesday.
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
Published daily except Saturday. Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS
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The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703
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WEATHER REPORT
FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE AND SURROUNDING AREA
TONIGHT THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY
Breezy with Sunshine and Cloudy with a
Clear Mostly sunny Mostly cloudy
sunshine pleasant chance of rain

Low: 36° 56° 34° 57° 35° 62° 41° 61° 51° 59° 47°
ALMANAC DATA MISSISSIPPI WEATHER TOMORROW LOCAL WEATHER WORLD CITIES
Columbus yesterday Shown is Thu. Fri. Thu. Fri.
Temperature tomorrow’s City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W
weather. Corinth Baghdad 62/41/pc 65/41/s Moscow 41/36/r 41/34/c
High/low ............................ 65°/46° 55
Temperatures are 33/54 Beijing 47/26/pc 44/26/s Paris 52/43/sh 50/43/pc
Tunica
Normal high/low ................ 63°/39° tonight’s lows and Berlin 46/39/pc 45/37/r Rome 63/48/pc 63/50/sh
tomorrow’s highs.
38/54 Oxford Tupelo Fulton
Precipitation 38/56 36/55 Cairo 73/55/s 72/53/s Seoul 52/31/pc 45/25/s
35/53 Hong Kong 75/68/s 77/66/c Sydney 86/67/s 87/68/s
Yesterday .............................. 0.00" Tupelo
Month to date ........................ 0.63" Jerusalem 64/46/s 63/45/s Tel Aviv 70/53/s 68/53/s
Normal month to date ............ 4.05" London 54/43/sh 52/43/pc Tokyo 61/50/pc 63/51/c
Houston
Year to date ........................ 66.30"
Normal year to date ............ 49.90"
Grenada 37/56 NATIONAL CITIES
Greenville 36/56 Aberdeen Thu. Fri. Thu. Fri.
COLUMBUS
40/55 36/56 Vernon City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W
WEATHER HISTORY 35/56 Atlanta 58/35/s 57/36/s Los Angeles 82/52/s 70/50/pc
The Great Appalachian Storm of 1950 West Point Atlantic City 56/42/c 50/36/c Memphis 54/38/s 59/42/s
ARKANSAS

began Nov. 25. Wind gusted to 76 mph 37/57 Baltimore 58/39/pc 49/36/c Miami 82/58/c 71/54/pc
at Central Park in New York City and 55 Carthage Boston 54/47/c 53/40/r Minneapolis 36/27/c 45/32/pc
past 100 mph in New England. West of 36/57 Chicago 40/29/r 44/32/pc Nashville 50/36/pc 52/34/s
the storm, the temperature sank to Dallas 64/41/s 68/47/pc New York City 57/47/c 49/42/r
zero in Nashville, Tenn. Starkville COLUMBUS Denver 60/30/s 62/28/s Oklahoma City 60/36/s 67/42/s
Meridian 36/56 Des Moines 44/29/c 51/36/s Orlando 73/48/pc 64/41/s
38/57
36/56
Detroit 44/35/r 43/33/sf Philadelphia 58/46/c 48/36/c
SUN AND MOON 59
Aliceville Fairbanks 7/-1/pc 13/1/pc Phoenix 77/50/s 76/51/s
Sunrise today .................. 6:35 a.m. Jackson 20
38/57 Honolulu 82/73/pc 83/71/s Raleigh 65/37/pc 55/32/s
Sunset today .................. 4:47 p.m. 38/58 Houston 68/44/pc 68/50/pc Salt Lake City 46/25/s 44/25/pc
Moonrise today .............. 12:34 p.m. Jacksonville 66/38/pc 64/36/s Seattle 50/44/r 48/39/r
Moonset today ........................ none Macon Kansas City 48/32/pc 54/38/s Tucson 76/47/s 75/47/s
Natchez
Sunrise tomorrow ............ 6:36 a.m. 38/61
37/58 Las Vegas 68/41/s 68/42/s Wash., D.C. 58/40/pc 50/35/c
55 Brookhaven
Sunset tomorrow ............ 4:46 p.m. 37/59 59 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-par tly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
ALABAMA

Moonrise tomorrow ........ 1:01 p.m. r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.
Hattiesburg
Moonset tomorrow ........ 12:45 a.m. 38/61
RIVER STAGES
Sunrise Friday ................ 6:37 a.m. Yesterday Flood 7 a.m. 24-hr. NATIONAL WEATHER TOMORROW
Sunset Friday .................. 4:46 p.m. River stage yest. change -10s -0s 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s
Moonrise Friday .............. 1:29 p.m. Tombigbee
Seattle
Amory 20' 11.49' +0.16'
Moonset Friday .............. 1:43 a.m. LOUISIANA Biloxi Bigbee 14' 4.53' -0.28'
50/44

Forecasts and graphics provided Fulton 20' 8.80' none

MOON PHASES by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2009 41/63
Tupelo 21' 1.40' none
Billings
54/34

Full Last New First REGIONAL CITIES 10 Gulfport Black Warrior Minneapolis
36/27
Thu. Fri. 41/63 Bankhead Dam Chicago
Detroit
44/35
New York
57/47
City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Upper 255' 254.88' +0.71' San Francisco
Denver 40/29
61/49 Washington
™ Lower 189' 186.11' -0.57'
Dec. 2 Dec. 8 Dec. 16 Dec. 24
Baton Rouge 61/37/s 63/40/pc WEATHER TRIVIA Holt Dam
60/30
Kansas City
58/40

Biloxi 63/38/s 61/41/pc Which U.S. president was

48/32
Upper 187' 186.43' +1.10'
SOLUNAR TABLES
The solunar period schedule allows
Birmingham
Greenville
Gulfport
56/34/s
55/34/s
63/37/s
56/33/s
59/39/s
63/39/pc
Q: also an avid weather
observer?
A:
Lower
Luxapalila
140' 125.25' N.A. Los Angeles
82/52

El Paso
Atlanta
58/35

Jackson 58/34/s 60/35/s Columbus 15' 6.57' -0.05' 61/37

planning days so you will be fishing George Washington.
Fronts
Meridian 57/33/s 60/34/s
in good territory or hunting in good
cover during those times. Mobile 62/37/s 62/36/pc LAKE LEVELS Cold Houston
68/44

Day a.m. p.m. Monroe 62/35/s 63/41/pc UV INDEX TOMORROW Yesterday 7 a.m. 24-Hr. Warm Miami
82/58
Montgomery 58/35/s 60/36/s Lake Capacity yest. change Stationary
Major Minor Major Minor Natchez 61/34/s 60/37/pc 2 3 2 0 Aberdeen Dam 188' 163.29' +0.01'
Thu. 6:52 1:02 7:13 ---- New Orleans 64/41/s 63/46/pc 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. Stennis Dam 166' 137.44' +0.01' Showers T-storms Rain Flurries Snow Ice
Fri. 7:30 1:19 7:52 1:41 Shreveport 65/35/s 68/43/pc 0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate, 6-7: High, 8-10: Bevill Dam 136' 136.54' +0.06' Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs
Sat. 8:09 1:57 8:32 2:21 Tupelo 56/35/s 59/35/s Very high, 11+: Extreme Elevation in feet above sea level. for the day.
 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 3A

ONLINE CRIME NEWS DISPATCH E-EDITION

See a gallery of local mug shots, crime trends and Get a full, printable electronic version of The Dispatch
other law and order news at cdispatch.com/crime. every day. Go to cdispatch.com/eedition.

Shopping
Continued from Page 1A
percent to 50 percent (of the
city’s budget). It is about 46
to 47 percent of our budget;
that’s our main source of
revenue.”
“It’s a well-known fact
that every dollar spent local-
ly turns over, or multiplies,
seven times,” explained
Melissa Cook, vice presi-
dent of the chamber division
of the Columbus-Lowndes
Development Link. “In
other words, seven different
entities or individuals touch
that dollar and spend it,
whether it be on food, gas or
whatever. It pumps much
needed revenue back into
the local economy. This
allows local businesses to be
able to continue to operate
and provide us with shop-
ping opportunities. It just
makes sense to shop local-
ly.”
Local retailers, expecting
big crowds, are out to prove
shopping opportunities
abound in Columbus, as
they hold big after-
Thanksgiving sales this
weekend.
“We expect a big crowd,”
said Takiesha Prude, man-
ager at Old Navy, noting
jeans at the retailer, which is
holding a three-day sale, are
priced at $15 and up.
“Our Christmas Open
House was so successful
that I feel sure we’re going
to get swamped,” said
Gloria Herriott, owner of
Hollyhocks Gift Shop, in
downtown Columbus. “So, I
hired extra help. We are
having secret sales, and
there will be a lot of in-house
specials and sampling of
food, so people can get
Shelley Merideth and Ruby Brooks prepare sale signs
at Fashion Barn in downtown Columbus.
ready for the holidays.
“There’s a reason they
call it Black Friday,” she
continued, referring to day-
after-Thanksgiving sales
and noting Hollyhocks will
be open from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. Friday and Saturday
and every Sunday until
Christmas. “It is the day tra-
ditionally where we get into
the black. That is the turn-
ing point for us; fourth quar-
ter is where we actually
make money.”
“We expect a good crowd
after Thanksgiving,” said
Sarah Barefield of The
Purple Elephant, which also
is located in downtown
Columbus. “We’ll have a
percentage off of our
Christmas items, so we
expect a good weekend.”
“We expect huge
crowds,” said Mike Law, the
manager of JC Penney,
we’re all working 14-hour
shifts.
“Hopefully, we will have a
great turnout,” she said, not-
ing employees of Belk,
which will be open from 4
a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, will
give away Belk gift cards,
one of which will be worth a
$1,000 shopping spree, from
4 a.m. to 5 a.m. Friday.
“Business has been great
this month.”
“Usually, we have a good
crowd,” said Joanne Beaty,
co-owner of The Fashion
Barn, located in downtown
Columbus. “In the past,
we’ve had good days on
Friday and Saturday (after
Thanksgiving) and we
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff expect to do the same this
year. We’ll have a good sale
and we do offer lay-a-way
which is in Leigh Mall and (plans); we’ve noticed a lot
will be open from 4 a.m. to more people using lay-a-
way.”
11 p.m. Friday. “We’re
expecting a good turnout “The greatest induce-
ment in sales for us is a drop
for the weekend, particular-
in the temperature, so we’re
ly Friday. Everything’s on
sale, just about, and we’ll expecting a really great day,
since Friday and Saturday
have special prices up until
are all supposed to be below
about 1 p.m. (Friday).
“We feel like it’s going to 60 degrees,” said Lex
be pretty similar to last Jackson, manager of Reed’s
year,” he added. “We had a of Columbus, located off
big crowd at 4 a.m. and it Highway 45 North. “We
usually stays real, real busy can’t fight the Wal-Marts, K-
up until about 2 p.m. Then, Marts, Belks, price-wise,
it’s steady for about the rest but we have some specials.
of the day.” Basically, we try to have
“We are getting all the merchandise keyed into
merchandise out of the what people want.”
stockroom, into the aisles “I expect a big crowd,”
said Linda Stokes, manager
and the departments,” Belk
of The Shoe Dept., located
merchandise coordinator
in Leigh Mall. “We’re open-
Cindy Parker said Monday
ing at 6 a.m. We’re going to
of the store’s efforts prepar-
ing for the big shopping have several different
weekend. “We’re double- shoes, some purses, on
checking schedules, and sale.”
West Point employee on
leave for misuse of city car
BY JASON BROWNE
jbrowne@cdispatch.com
WEST POINT —
Another job may soon
be open in West Point
after an office manager
at the Water and Light
Depar tment was sus-
pended indefinitely
Monday.
Sources speaking on
the condition of
anonymity reported Jan
Wray was suspended
after her husband, Bill
Wray, owner of Bumper
2 Bumper Auto Parts,
was witnessed driving a
city vehicle as the two
traveled last week to an
out-of-town software
workshop. Only city
employees are allowed
to drive city vehicles.
Mayor Scott Ross and
City Administrator
Randy Jones both would
not comment on the
matter as it concerns
city personnel.
The Wrays have been
at odds with city offi-
cials in the past. In April
and May of this year,
Clay County Circuit
Cour t ordered West
Point to pay the Wrays
$7,500 in reimburse-
ment and attorney’s fees
after the city undertook
a clean-up project of Bill
Wray’s business in 2006.
Old cars and various
items were removed
from the Bumper 2
Bumper parking lot
without Bill Wray’s con-
sent.
During the hearing,
Wray claimed the city
clean-up panel’s warn-
ings to remove certain
items from the front of
the business were
“vague and contradicto-
ry.”
Bumper 2 Bumper
was also forced to com-
ply with a city sign ordi-
nance banning portable
billboards from parking
lots. A billboard current-
ly displayed in the front
window of Bumper 2
Bumper reads: “What
Sources speaking
on the condition
of anonymity
reported Jan Wray
was suspended
after her husband,
Bill Wray ... was
witnessed driving
a city vehicle.
would happen if I got a
DUI, Mr. Mayor,” a ref-
erence to rumors Ross
evaded a DUI charge.
Jan Wray is the sec-
ond Water and Light
employee to land in
trouble in recent weeks.
Light Depar tment
Interim Superintendent
Shasta Plunkett was
cleared of charges of
disturbing the peace
Oct. 27 in West Point
Municipal Court.

MUW
Continued from Page 1A
They ask teachers. They
don’t ask students. This is
our way of saying something
without being asked,” said
Lizzie Locker, a sophomore
creative writing major and
organizer of the protest.
While it may be unlikely
legislators in Jackson will
take notice of 50 students
standing in a line in
Columbus, Locker said the
protest also was aimed at her
fellow MUW students.
“There are a lot of stu-
dents who still don’t even
know what’s going on. A lot
of us just live in our little
study-and-work holes and
don’t even think about it.
And that’s how it should be
in college. You shouldn’t
have to worry about your
school being absorbed by
something else,” she said.
“We need to make sure
everybody on campus
groups, is hoping to help
MUW raise $3 million to off-
set state budget cuts and
never again face merger or
closure.
Students are speaking
out, too, to explain what’s at
stake if MUW loses its inde-
pendence.
“We have world-
renowned nursing and edu-
cation programs,” said sen-
ior education major Laura
White. “In Mississippi, you
can get a job in education
just for being a W grad. You
can’t get that anywhere else.
You can’t go to Mississippi
State and get a job because
you’re a Mississippi State
grad.”
A follow-up event, W Day
at the Capitol, is planned for
Jan. 11 in Jackson, White
said.
Counting the costs
concern scholarships avail- ies major Stacey Jones says
able to MUW students would that could cost MUW to lose
be lost in the merger. Shirley some promising young pro-
Boudreau, a senior studio grams.
arts student who attends “Some of the programs
MUW along with her daugh- here are just starting to
ter, April, expressed similar develop. Like the counseling
program is starting to
concerns.
“There are more scholar- become very well developed.
ships here and more activi- I’m scared if we merge with
ties I can be a part of. And it’s State the counseling center
easier to blend in with the might be moved over there
younger kids here. That’s and the administrator would
just one of those things you have to follow their rules,”
can’t get at a larger school,” said Jones.
she said. Amber Parker, a senior
communication major, is
concerned the W’s commu-
Tuition concerns, identity nication program will be
crisis absorbed into MSU’s
Michelle Johnson, a sen- because MSU has more
ior psychology student, is money and equipment. In
able to pay her own tuition addition, she said, MUW, as
and doesn’t want that to well as the three HBCU’s
change. stand to lose their identity in
“Honestly, I’m not ready mergers.
to pay more tuition each
chopping block at MUW is
the Hearin Leadership
Program, since MSU already
has its Day One Leadership
Program.
“This university has
everything that makes us
better citizens and leaders,”
said Emily Sullivan, a senior
education student and
Hearin participant. “All these
great leaders, when they
leave here, impact their grad-
uate schools.”
For senior education
major April Boudreau,
there’s no more reason to
merge MUW and MSU than
any other two state schools.
MUW’s tradition make it
worth maintaining independ-
ently, she said.
“There’s something
about the W that people hold
with pride. I want to be able
to have that. I want my kids
to be able to have that, and
future generations,” she
said. “They could do so
many other things. They
could combine State and Ole
Miss. If they said that, let’s
see what would happen.
Let’s see how many protests
would go on.”
If merger talks persist,
MUW students say there will
be more protests, and they
hope to get more students on
board.
“We had a pretty good
turnout today,” said sopho-
more history major Audrey
Avery of the protest march.
“But if there’s another one, it
should be 10 times this.”

Gold Card Days

knows what’s going on and Autumn Mason, a fresh- semester. I get no financial Its own niche
what they can do to stop it.” man speech pathology stu- aid from the school, yet I’m “We’re going to lose a lot
dent, is concerned the mone- willing to stand here and say of good quality students who

Nov. 27th - Dec. 7th

Merger won’t fly
Stopping the merger may
not be necessary as a num-
ber of influential state legisla-
tors have publicly opposed
Gov. Haley Barbour’s pro-
posal to merge MUW with
MSU as well as his proposal
tary benefits being touted by
Barbour — $35 million in
savings by 2012 — won’t jus-
tify the losses to MUW.
“One of the great things
about MUW is it has a uni-
versity education with a com-
munity college price, which
this is my home. If we are chose those institutions
merged with another school, because they have their own
I think of it like we will be
"GNC's Longest Franchise!"
niche. With eight public uni-
eaten by another school, versities, each one has its
because it just won’t exist own niche to separate it from COLUMBUS STARKVILLE-SMOOTHIE
anymore,” said Johnson. other schools in the area,” Leigh Mall Jo Ann M. Walk-Ferguson 911 Hwy 12 W. • Ste 206 B
Franchisee/Owner
MUW students likely will said Parker. 328-4450 323-4919
Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Howard Ferguson Mon.-Sat. 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
face a tuition increase One of the unique pro- Sun. 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Owner Sun. 1p.m.-6 p.m.

to merge the state’s histori-
cally black colleges —
Jackson State, Delta State
and Mississippi Valley State.
Legislators have told MUW
President Dr. Claudia
Limbert merging was off the
table, Limbert said Sunday
during a Friends of the W
makes it much more avail-
able to many students who
wouldn’t have been able to
go to college,” said Mason.
“When they merge, it would
mean that price we have now
would go up to level out what
they have at MSU.”
Resident tuition in 2010
regardless. Limbert told the grams which could be on the
Friends of the W Sunday
immediate increases in
enrollment and tuition likely
would not offset the budget
cuts.
If the money cannot be
raised, according to Limbert,
merger might be the
Est. 1905

meeting.
But students, faculty and
alumni aren’t relaxing. The
Friends of the W, a non-affili-
for MUW will be $4,423, the
lowest among state schools.
Tuition at MSU will be a
state-high $5,150.
Reed’s T-Shirts
school’s only option, result-
ing in a shuffling of adminis-
trators and academic pro-
grams.

7
ated alliance of alumni Mason also expressed Sophomore family stud-

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4A THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
Opinion
AMERICAN HISTORY
America’s Be thankful, shop local
national day
of Thanksgiving
This is the proclamation which set the
precedent for America’s national day of
Thanksgiving.
Sarah Josepha Hale, a prominent
magazine editor, wrote a letter to Lincoln
in 1863 urging him to have the “day of
our annual Thanksgiving made a
National and fixed Union Festival.” She
wrote, “You may have observed that, for
some years past, there has been an
increasing interest felt in our land to
have the Thanksgiving held on the same
day, in all the States; it now needs
National recognition and authoritive fix-
ation, only, to become permanently, an
American custom and institution.”
According to an April 1, 1864, letter
from John Nicolay, one of President
Lincoln’s secretaries, this document was
written by Secretary of State William
Seward, and the original was in his
handwriting.
A proclamation by the president
of the United States of America
The year that is drawing towards its
close, has been filled with the blessings
of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To
these bounties, which are so constantly
enjoyed that we are prone to forget the
source from which they come, others
have been added, which are of so
extraordinary a nature, that they cannot
fail to penetrate and soften even the
heart which is habitually insensible to
the ever watchful providence of
Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of
unequaled magnitude and severity,
which has sometimes seemed to for-
eign States to invite and to provoke
their aggression, peace has been pre-
served with all nations, order has been
maintained, the laws have been respect-
ed and obeyed, and harmony has pre-
vailed everywhere except in the theatre
of military conflict; while that theatre
has been greatly contracted by the
advancing armies and navies of the
Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of
strength from the fields of peaceful
industry to the national defence, have
not arrested the plough, the shuttle or
the ship; the axe has enlarged the bor-
ders of our settlements, and the mines,
as well of iron and coal as of the pre-
cious metals, have yielded even more
abundantly than heretofore. Population
has steadily increased, notwithstanding
the waste that has been made in the
camp, the siege and the battle-field; and
the country, rejoicing in the conscious-
ness of augmented strength and vigor,
is permitted to expect continuance of
years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor
hath any mortal hand worked out these
great things. They are the gracious
gifts of the Most High God, who, while
dealing with us in anger for our sins,
hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper
that they should be solemnly, reverent-
ly and gratefully acknowledged as with
one heart and one voice by the whole
American People. I do therefore invite
my fellow citizens in every part of the
United States, and also those who are at
sea and those who are sojourning in
foreign lands, to set apart and observe
the last Thursday of November next, as
a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our
beneficent Father who dwelleth in the
Heavens. And I recommend to them
that while offering up the ascriptions
justly due to Him for such singular
deliverances and blessings, they do
also, with humble penitence for our
national perverseness and disobedi-
ence, commend to His tender care all
those who have become widows,
orphans, mourners or sufferers in the
lamentable civil strife in which we are
unavoidably engaged, and fervently
implore the interposition of the
Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of
the nation and to restore it as soon as
may be consistent with the Divine pur-
poses to the full enjoyment of peace,
harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereun-
to set my hand and caused the Seal of
the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this
Third day of October, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-three, and of the Independence of
the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham
Lincoln
William H. Seward
Secretar y of State
EDITOR’S VIEW
For many, this long week-
end is about family and
friends, turkey and football,
and most of all, gathering
around a table and giving
thanks.
It’s also about shopping.
Black Friday isn’t actually
the busiest shopping day of
the year — the Saturday
before Christmas typically
earns that honor — but it’s
the traditional kickoff of the Steve Mullen
Christmas shopping season.
It’s opening day at the box office. It’s the with cash, but we’re getting the most for
ceremonial first pitch.
Shop owners are watching that first
pitch of the season very carefully.
They’re looking for George W. Bush in
Yankee Stadium after 9/11. They want to when you picked up the paper this morn-
see us collectively thumb our noses to
hardship, stride to the mound with confi- (OK, the papers aren’t as thick as they
dence, wind up and deliver a perfect
strike.
Yet many experts expect our ball to
fall short of the plate.
According to several polls out there,
most of us plan to spend about the same
this year as last. This year’s National
Retail Federation’s forecast said as much. this year, so far, than it has in the last
Locally, shoppers The Dispatch talked to eight. We’re on track for the worst earn-
during open house sales in Columbus a
few weeks ago said the same thing —
this Christmas will look a lot like last
THANKSGIVING MEMORIES
Thankful for gangsta rap
Another November,
another year of
Thanksgiving memories.
Should I be thankful or dis-
appointed that nothing out
of the ordinary or even
downright weird happened
this holiday?
Most of my
Thanksgiving holidays have
gone off without a hitch.
But a few have been real
lulus. Take my most memo- Greg Kane
rable Thanksgiving
moment.
Actually, it happened the night
BEFORE Thanksgiving. I was in my
house, sitting on the couch watching
television. Suddenly my son – a teenag- kept a firearm handy in my house ever
er at the time – shot through the door
with a look of utter terror on his face.
“Oh, this CAN’T be good,” I thought occurred a few years. It actually hap-
to myself. No sooner had the thought
formulated than a guy I didn’t know
from Rudyard Kipling shot through the Detroit to attend her mother’s funeral.
door, dead on the heels of my son. He
was wearing a white T-shirt; blood-
stains dotted the back. Unknown guy
shut the door and he and my son
quickly bolted it, just in time to avoid
letting some other unknown guy in.
From my son and the bleeding
unknown guy I soon learned what had
happened. My son and a buddy were
standing on our front porch chatting.
(“Kickin’ it” is the proper slang term.)
Unknown guy ran on to my front lawn, turkeys,” I pictured the roadrunner
with a knife-wielding maniac close on
his heels. Knife-wielding maniac starts to me.”
stabbing unknown guy ON MY FRONT
LAWN. Figuring nothing good could
possibly come from this situation, my
son’s buddy bolted. My son decided it
was best to probably spend the rest of
the evening indoors. Unknown guy
READER COMMENT
From our Web site
The messages below are excerpts from
reader comments posted at the end of on-
line reports at www.cdispatch.com.
The gulf between town and tower -
11/23/2009
Dave: Yes, the towns people better
wake up. If one looks at the pending
budget cuts I am afraid The W campus
would be like the ugly step child for
MSU and be forgotten. (Think Mary
Holmes in West Point) Remember once a
closure or merger happens there is no
going back!
pam: As a “W"grad-’75 I am totally dis-
appointed to see what is happening in
Columbus concerning the school. On a
recent visit to the area- my first in 30
years- I was appalled at the lack of con-
cern from local citizens and shop owners
in downtown when I asked about what
was happening at my school. They didn’t
THE
DISPATCH
year’s.
Even so, we may see
more crowds on Black
Friday this year. Why?
Because shoppers are get-
ting more and more thrifty.
We’re sniffing out deals.
Marketers call us “thrifty
researchers” — a consumer
segment that has grown
about 30 percent nationwide
just this year. We’re the folks
who actively seek out bar-
gains. We may be buying
our buck.
And when do the best deals of the
year kick in? Black Friday.
If you felt your old hernia open up
ing, you know what we’re talking about.
used to be, but everything is relative.)
Deals are all over the place.
Locally, retailers are hoping Black
Friday won’t lead to a blue Christmas.
And, as a city, we can hardly afford one.
The state Tax Commission has
returned less sales tax money to the city
ings year since 2001. Just comparing this
year to last, through October, we’ve
spent $39 million less at Lowndes County
sees the open door as a
means to salvation.
My wife and I called 911
and then applied anything
we could find to put direct
pressure on unknown guy’s
wounds. Paramedics arrived
and took over. Cops arrived
and took unknown guy’s
statement, urging him to
cooperate with police and
not to take matters into his
own hands and seek
vengeance on knife-wielding
maniac.
Thanksgiving dinner the next day
passed with me occasionally and nerv-
ously glancing at the front door. I’ve
since that incident.
The strangest Thanksgiving moment
pened about a week before
Thanksgiving. I was driving a friend to
We were driving west on I-70 in
Maryland when we saw a turkey run-
ning east on our side of the road.
And I’m talking BOOKING. This
critter was the Usain Bolt of the turkey
world. He sure as heck was the
smartest. I figured the gobbler had put
two and two together, figured out what
was about to happen to him in about a
week’s time and decided to jet.
“It’ll happen to the rest of you
wannabe saying, “but it ain’t happening
If my friend and I didn’t have impor-
tant and pressing business in Detroit, I
swear I would have turned the car
around and followed the turkey to see
where he ended up. How desperate
was he?
seem to care. Regardless of whom or
what they support they need to unite to
save this school. … Where is the other
support ? Why aren’t the city leaders
having planning sessions with legisla-
tors...why aren’t the Main Street people
hanging signs of support, where are the
billboards on 45 that would support and
promote the school, who is going to
come up with a “slogan” that everyone
(including the feuding alums) can use to
show support to the ENTIRE state? Get
off your behinds Columbus … you (the
city) will be the “biggest loser.”
Birney Imes: Georgia school offers
example for MUW - 11/21/2009
Jekyll Man at 11/23/2009: Apples and
Oranges - As an alum of MSU - and
GC&SU - and with a “W” alum as my bet-
ter half, I can really say there really is no
comparison between the W and GC&SU.
BIRNEY IMES SR. Editor/Publisher 1922-1947
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher
PETER IMES Operations Manager
STEVE MULLEN Managing Editor
TERRI COLLUMS Business Manager
BETH PROFFITT Ad Director
JEFF LIPSEY Production Manager
JERRY HAYES Pressroom Superintendent
businesses (an 11 percent decrease).
What can we do? Many households
have no choice but to spend less. We’re
no different — that was an easy decision.
Since we have kids, the tough part is
pulling them onto the lap and explaining
why Santa will be dropping off fewer
presents. “You see, Santa was overinvest-
ed in bank stock. He thought Citi was
going under, and he sold at the bottom.
Santa’s workshop is a toxic asset. The
elves got downsized; those left are doing
more with less. So, don’t look for that
iPod Touch.”
What we can do, though, is shop
locally when we do spend.
We have much to be thankful for in
Columbus, retail-wise. We have lots of
great locally owned specialty shops
downtown, along Highway 45, and else-
where that could use our love. We have
an Old Navy and a Belk’s and a Reed’s
and a Penney’s. We have a Sears and a
couple of Fred’s, and of course, a Wal-
Mart. We have a lot of options for city
our size.
And we have a hunger for deals.
They’re out there. Especially on Friday.
Let’s all be thankful for that, and let’s
shop in Columbus. Because we’re all sit-
ting around the same table.
Steve Mullen is managing editor of The
Dispatch. Reach him at smullen@cdis-
patch.com.
He was headed to a city nicknamed
“Bodymore, Murderland” to make his
escape.
In “the weirdest thing I’ve ever
given thanks for” category, rap music
would win hands down.
You read that correctly: the soon-to-
be 58-year-old man likes rap music.
And I like it for a reason.
Rap helped kill disco. I owe rappers
and rap music a debt I can never repay.
Yes, I know many in my generation put
down rap music – especially gangsta
rap – but if the genre helped kill disco,
it can’t be all bad.
And there are other genres of rap
besides gangsta (which I’m NOT a fan
of, by the way). There’s even gospel
rap. Yeah, I know, it sounds like an oxy-
moron. Kind of like “good disco
music.” Let’s not condemn an entire
genre of music just because of one neg-
ative offshoot.
I say it’s possible to like rap while
having a total disdain for gangsta rap.
In fact, I cite gangsta rap as one of the
three factors in the decline of black stu-
dent achievement. From the 1960s to
around 1988, experts agree the
achievement level of black students
increased dramatically, with the
achievement gap between black and
white students getting narrower. Then
it stopped.
I’ve blamed gangsta rap, the crack
cocaine epidemic and the frightening
obsession too many young black men
have with the movie “Scarface” for the
decline. Yes, I know it sounds silly, and
I’ve been told so.
But that’s my theory, and I’m stick-
ing to it.
Kane is a self-syndicated columnist
who lives in Baltimore. His e-mail
address is gregkane@mac.com.
I also happened to be on the campus of
GC&SU in the mid-90s when the resur-
gence there began and had Dr. Wilson as
my thesis adviser.
The Georgia Board of Regents made
the decision in the 1960s to change the
focus and mission of GC when they
changed the name. The IHL and the MS
Legislature - have not changed the name
or the mission (and hopefully will not).
Why not compare The W to a successful
women’s university like Texas Western
to show what the W could be?
Birney Imes replies: Texas Woman’s
University is often mentioned as a model
for The W by those opposing name and
mission change. I’m not sure why as there
are significant differences: TWU has the
benefit of having campuses in Denton,
Dallas and Houston, all metropolitan
areas, and male enrollment at the school is
only 5 percent.
 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 5A

OBITUARY POLICY: Obituaries
with basic information includ-
ing relatives, visitation and
service times, are provided
free of charge. Extended obit-
uaries with a photograph,
detailed biographical informa-
tion and other details families
may wish to include, are avail-
able for a fee. Obituaries must
be submitted through funeral
homes. Free notices must be
submitted to the newspaper
no later than 3 p.m. the day
prior for publication Tuesday
through Friday; no later than
4 p.m. Saturday for the
Sunday edition; and no later
than 7:30 a.m. for the
Monday edition. Incomplete
notices must be received no
later than 7:30 a.m. for the
Monday through Friday edi-
tions. Paid notices must be
received by 3 p.m. for inclu-
sion the next day; and on
Friday for Sunday or Monday
publication. For more informa-
tion, call 328-2471.
Helen Naugle
ATLANTA, Ga. — Dr.
Helen Bernice Harrold
Naugle, 89, died Nov. 20,
2009, in Atlanta.
Graveside service are
Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in
Greenwood Cemetery in
West Point.
Mrs. Naugle was born
Aug. 11, 1920, in West
Point to the late Nancy
Helen Weddle Harrold
and Judson Nixon
Harrold. She was the first
female professor at the
Georgia Institute of
Technology where she
was recognized with
numerous awards. She
served as head of the
Regents exam committee,
the Rhodes Scholar
search committee and
presented at international
conferences. She was a
member of St. John
United Methodist
Church.
She was preceded in
death by her parents.
She is survived by her
James Hollingshed
STARKVILLE —
James Lee Hollingshed,
66, died Nov. 22, 2009, at
Veterans Affairs Medical
Center in Birmingham,
Ala.
Services are Friday at
2 p.m. at First Baptist
Longveiw Church with
the Rev. Larnzy Carpenter
officiating. Burial will fol-
low in the church ceme-
tery. Visitation is today
from 1-6 p.m. at West
Memorial Funeral Home.
West Memorial Funeral
Home is in charge of
arrangements.
Mr. Hollingshed was
born in 1943 in Oktibbeha
County. He was of Baptist
Faith.
Laura Rich
STARKVILLE — Laura
B. Rich, 88, died Nov. 18,
2009, at her family home.
Services are Friday at
11 a.m. at Second Baptist
Church with the Rev.
Riddley Rich Jr. officiat-
ing. Burial will follow in
Rest Haven Cemetery.
Visitation is today from
4-6 p.m. at West Memorial
Funeral Home. West
Memorial Funeral Home
is in charge of arrange-
ments.
Mrs. Rich was born in
1921 in Oktibbeha
County. She was a home-
maker and of Baptist faith.
Neily Ledbetter
WEST POINT —
Neily F. “Pete” Ledbetter,
78, died Nov. 23, 2009, at
the Specialty Hospital of
Meridian.
Services were
Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Calvert Funeral Home
Chapel with the Bro.
Jonathan Childress offici-
ating. Burial followed in
Memorial Garden
AREA OBITUARIES
years with Bryan Foods,
then he worked as a sales
representative for Vee
Chemical Company for 20
years. He was a member
of West End Baptist
Church and he was a vet-
eran.
He was preceded in
death by his parents.
He is survived by his
wife, Doris M. Ledbetter,
of West Point; daughters,
Debbie L. Turman, of
West Point, Kim White,
of Cedar Bluff; son,
William F. Ledbetter, of
West Point; and two
grandsons.
Pallbearers were Jeff
Cartee, Terry Martin,
Mike Weeks, Tim
Boatner, Justin Atkinson
and Wayne Crosswhite.
Memorials may be
made to Diabetes
Foundation of Mississippi,
800 Avery Blvd., Suite
100, Ridgeland, MS 39157-
5225.
Peter Hodo
Peter Hodo Jr., 82, died
Nov. 23, 2009, at his resi-
dence.
Services were
Wednesday at 1 p.m. at
First United Methodist
Church with the Rev. Don
Bishop officiating. Burial
followed in Amory
Masonic Cemetery.
Mr. Hodo was born
June 13, 1927, in Amory
to Peter Thomas Hodo
and Nona Mary Seay. He
retired as chairman of the
Board of First National
Bank in West Point in
1997 after having served
as President. He was
active with the West Point
Municipal School District
board for almost 20 years,
and was active in service
to his church.
In addition to his par-
Hattiesburg; sisters, McKinney, Bud Sadie Steel
Carolyn Hodo Cope, of Tumlinson and Jim
Sadie Steel, 95, died
Jackson, Winnie Hodo Helveston. Nov. 24, 2009, in Steens.
Frey, of Lansing, Ill., Gaila Memorials may be Arrangements are
Hodo Williams, of made to the First United incomplete and will be
Hamilton; and four grand- Methodist Church, P.O. announced by Lee-Sykes
children. Box 293, West Point, MS Funeral Home of
Pallbearers were Peter 39773 or the Bryan Public Columbus.
Thomas Hodo IV, Mark Library at P. O. Box 675,
See OBITS, 11A
Hazard, Sonny Jameson, West Point, MS 39773.
Billy Milican, Kyle
Chandler, Steve
SERVING YOU
John “Huey” Sanders
SINCE 1893 John Hughlett Sanders, 55 of Columbus,
MS passed away Monday, November 16, 2009
Ethel Esther Troskey at Baptist Memorial Hospital –GT, Columbus,
Services:
2:00 pm MS.
Fri., Nov. 27, 2009
Central United Methodist A memorial service will be held at a later
Church
Burial: date.
Friendship Cemetery
Visitation: Mr. Sanders was born January 25, 1954 in
5:00-7:00 pm
Thurs., Nov., 26, 2009
Grenada, MS to the late John Sanders and
Memorial Funeral Home Doris Cunningham Sanders. He was a resident
memorialfuneral.net
of Columbus, MS for the past 15 years having
James E. Chandler
Graveside Services: moved from Grenada, MS. Mr. Sanders was a
10:00am
Sat., Nov. 28, 2009 truck driver, loved his family and music. In
Rowan Cemetery
Visitation:
addition to his parents he is preceded in death
5:00-8:00 pm by his wife, Loretta “Jan” McGonagill.
Fri. Nov. 27, 2009
Gunter & Peel Mr. Sanders is survived by his sons –
Funeral Home
gunterandpeel.com Sean Sanders, Grenada, MS; Levi McGonagill
Bob Boone Rodgers, Columbus, MS; mother-in-law Helen
Services:
10:00 am Wheeler, Columbus, MS; sister-in-law,
Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 Melinda Sams, Columbus, MS; brother-in-law,
Fairview Baptist Church
Visitation: Chris (Alicia) McGonagill, Calhoun City, MS;
6:00-8:00 pm
Thurs., Nov. 26, 2009 nieces, Heather Williams, Holley McGonagill,
Gunter & Peel
Funeral Home Anna Grace McGonagill; nephews, Blake
Burial: Williams, John Thomas Sams and Patrick
Pine Grove Cemetery
gunterandpeel.com McGonagill.
Bessie M. Bates In lieu of flowers, memorials may be
Services:
2:00 pm made to the Levi McGonagill Rodgers benefit
Sat., Nov. 28, 2009
First Baptist Church account, c/o Melinda Sams, 168 Delwood Dr.,
Visitation:
1 hour prior to
Columbus, MS 39702.
service at church
Burial:
Friendship Cemetery Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home
Memorial Funeral Home
memorialfuneral.net www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
~~~~~~~~~
Our Dedicated, Caring,
Professional & Affordable
Funeral Services Ethel Esther Troskey
Continue To Make Us Ethel Esther Troskey,
Your Leading age 84, died Tuesday,
Funeral Service Providers
November 24, 2009 at her

husband, Jefferson B.
Naugle; sister, Ida Judson
Memorial
M
Memoriall
Cemetery. Calvert ents, he was preceded in
death by his sister,
residence in Columbus,
Funeral Home of West

Harrold Wilkerson;
daughter, Helen Naugle
Deibler; four granddaugh-
ters and two great-grand-
children.
Memorials may be
made to St. John UMC or
Georgia Tech Wesley
Foundation.
When Caring Counts...
Point is in charge of
arrangements.
Mr. Ledbetter was
born June 5, 1931, in
Nashville, Tenn., to the
late Ferrell Lee
McPherson Ledbetter and
Neily Taft Ledbetter. He
was a supervisor for 17
Complete
& Total
Gunter &Peel
Frances Hodo Pierce. MS. Services will be held
He is survived by his Friday, November 27 at
wife, Patsy Milstead Funeral Homes 2:00 pm at Central United
Hodo, of West Point; sons, “Someone to Count on Methodist Church with
Peter Thomas Hodo III, of When Caring Counts”
Rev. Curtis Petrey of
West Point, Patrick memorialfuneralhome.net • 662-328-4432
Petrey, AL and Rev.
William Hodo, of gunterandpeel.com • 662-328-2354
Jonathan Speegle of Columbus officiating.
Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery.
Bob Boone Visitation will be held Thursday, November 26
from 5 until 7 pm at Memorial Funeral Home.
Bobby Sam "Bob" Boone, age 74, of
Columbus, MS, died November 23, 2009, at his
Mrs. Troskey was born on April 3, 1925 in
Clinton, Indiana to the late Andrew Benton
residence. Funeral services will be Friday,
November 27, 2009, at 10:00 AM at Fairview
Gunnoe and the late Anna Gunnoe Pepelea.
Esther met her husband-to-be, Francis Thomas

FUNERAL HOME Dedication Baptist Church with Rev. Mickey Dalrymple,

Rev. Sammy Crawford, and Rev. Tommy Gillon
Troskey, in high school. They married while he
was in the Navy at the end of WWII. They had
& CREMATORY
To You officiating and Gunter & Peel Funeral Home
directing. The body will be at the church one
three children, Gene Thomas, Janet Marie, and
Philip Andrew. During the course of her life,
1131 Lehmberg Rd. Columbus
662-328-1808
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
& Your Family hour prior to the service. The interment will
immediately follow at Pine Grove Cemetery in
Esther worked at two defense plants during
WWII, was the secretary to the President of
Pickens County, AL. Visitation will be Hanover College, and, later, worked as a secre-
Thursday, November 26, 2009, from 6:00-8:00 tary at Mississippi State University. While
James E. Chandler PM at Gunter & Peel Funeral Home.
Mr. Boone was born July 12, 1935, in
working at MSU, she earned a Bachelor’s
James E. "Jim" Chandler, age 75, of Degree in Sociology. She was the owner/man-
Haywood County, NC, to the late Columbus T. ager of two bicycle shops, one in Columbus
Warsaw, IN, formerly of Columbus, MS, died
and Ethel Angeline Cope Boone. He moved to and one in Starkville, and is still known as the
November 23, 2009, at Kosciusko Community
Columbus from Toleda, WA in 1979 to help “Bicycle Lady.” Later, she became the secre-
Hospital in Warsaw, IN. Graveside services
build the Weyerhaeuser plant in Columbus. Mr. tary for her husband’s business, “Frank
will be Saturday, November 28, 2009, at 10:00
Boone worked in management for 30 years Troskey, Forest Manager and Consultant.”
AM, at Rowan Cemetery in Steens with mili-
before he retired in 1991 after 36 years of serv- Esther participated as a volunteer in various
tary honors and Gunter & Peel Funeral Home
ice. He continued to work as a consultant for organizations throughout her life: Cub Scouts,
directing. Visitation will be Friday, November
the next nine years. He attended Fairview the Pink Lady organization at Baptist Memorial
27, 2009, from 5:00-8:00 PM at Gunter & Peel
Baptist Church and was preceded in death by a Hospital in Columbus, Contact Crisis Center,
Funeral Home.
son, Earl Craig Boone. and adult literacy. She was a fervent Christian
Mr. Chandler was born March 13, 1934
Survivors include his wife, Edna Boone and was a member of Central United Methodist
in Columbus, MS to the late James Alfred and
of Columbus, sons, Donnie Jones of Columbus, Church for many years. Esther had a very full
Sue L. Cain Chandler. He had lived in Warsaw,
Raymond Scott Boone (Lindy) of Toleda, WA, life. She had the companionship of her husband
IN, for the past 49 years and was a retired semi
and Daniel Kim Boone (Stephanie) of Silver for over 62 years, and had a loving, caring rela-
truck driver for Stump's L. P. Gas of Pierceton,
Lake, WA, daughters, Ceal Pate (Joe) of tionship with her children, family members,
IN. Mr. Chandler served in the Army National
Greenwood, MS, Yolanda Sue Murray (Paul) of extended family, and friends. She did work that
Guard of Mississippi and honorably discharged
Kelso, WA, and Barbara K. Tobias of Toleda, she enjoyed and was fortunate enough to travel
in May of 1955. He was also a member of the
WA, brother, Edwin Roger Boone (Dottie) of extensively. She was well-loved by all who
North Webster American Legion Post #253 and
Longview, WA, grandchildren, Leah, Christina, knew her and was an unofficial wise counselor
the Warsaw Moose Lodge. Mr. Chandler was
& Heather Pate, Joshua Jones, Cindal & Nick to more than a few troubled people. In addition
preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Bell
Tobias, Raymond, Nesha, Kelcee, Alinia, & to her parents, she was preceded in death by
McCool Chandler.
Tyrah Boone, Mandy, Nathan, & Russell three brothers, and one sister. She is survived
Survivors include his wife, Jerry
Williamson, great grandsons, Sayre & Harley by her husband, their three children, ten grand-
Chandler of Warsaw, IN, son, Buddy Chandler
Williamson, and a number of nieces and children, and four great-grandchildren, one
(Patti) of Pierceton, IN, daughters, Mary
nephews. brother, Dr. Charles Gunnoe of Corona,
Conway (Jim) of North Webster, IN, Kathy
Pallbearers will be J. B. Cox, Wayne California, and one sister, Mabel Pugh of
Hutchins (James) of Duncanville, AL, Anita
West, E. C. Patterson, Ed Atkins, Ray Crane, Clinton, Indiana. Pallbearers will be relatives
Stump (Jack) of Silver Lake, IN, and Connie
Ralph Taylor, and Tim Cox. Honorary pallbear- and other loved ones. In lieu of flowers, we ask
Chandler of Pierceton, IN, sister, Essie Mason
ers will be friends, the Friendly City Good that memorials be made to Central United
of Gordo, AL, 14 grandchildren, 24 great grand-
Sams, coworkers at Weyerhaeuser, Dr. Walter Methodist Church, 1201 College Street,
children, and 11 great great grandchildren.
Cosby, Dr. Rob Jones, and Dr. John Whitecar. Columbus, MS 39701, or Palmer Home for
Memorials may be made to the
Memorials may be made to Fairview Children, P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703
Salvation Army 501 Arthur St. Warsaw, IN
Baptist Church 127 Airline Rd. Columbus, MS or The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 8, Columbus,
46580.
39702 or Baptist Memorial Hospice Program MS 39703.

View all Gunter & Peel obituaries and View all Gunter & Peel obituaries and
P.O. Box 1307 Columbus, MS 39703.

sign the guestbook online sign the guestbook online

Expressions of Sympathy May Be Left At

www.gunterandpeel.com www.gunterandpeel.com
www.memorialfuneral.net
6A THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 7A
8A THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com

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Business
Bringing the arts to north Starkville
BUSINESS: Former
restaurant now a
cluster of ‘creative
offices’ for small
businesses
BY TIM PRATT
Dispatch Starkville Bureau
tpratt@cdispatch.com
STARKVILLE — Jim
Lytle can’t help but get a
little teary-eyed when he
talks about his new busi-
ness, Mediagraphix
Photography, on North
Jackson Street.
Lytle for years served
as chief photographer at
Mississippi State
University’s Office of
A g r i c u l t u r a l
Communications. He also
has shot for The
Associated Press for more
than 20 years.
But Lytle’s dream has
always been to open his
own photo gallery and stu-
dio. These days, he’s liv-
ing that dream.
Mediagraphix
Photography is one of a
handful of businesses
which opened recently in
“The Studios on North
Jackson,” located in the
1000 block of North
Jackson Street.
“In the back of my
mind I’ve always wanted
to do this,” Lytle said with
a smile from his new stu-
dio space. “I never
believed, never dreamed,
that this could ever
become possible. You
know, this truly is a life-
long dream.”
Robbie Coblentz, presi-
dent of Broadcast Media
Group, purchased the old
Black Eyed Pea restau-
rant and divided the 9,200-
square-foot building into
three “creative offices.”
Toyota
replacing
4M gas
pedals that
could jam
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON —
Toyota Motor Corp. said
Wednesday it will replace
accelerator pedals on about 4
million recalled vehicles in
the United States because
the pedals can get stuck in
the floor mats, another blow
to the reputation of the
world’s largest automaker.
Toyota said dealers will
offer to shorten the length of
the gas pedals by about 3/4
inch beginning in January,
as a stopgap measure while
the company develops
replacement pedals for their
vehicles. New pedals will be
installed by dealers on a
rolling basis beginning in
April, and some vehicles will
have brake override systems
installed as a precaution.
MARRIAGES
AND DIVORCES
Marriages
n Trent Lenard Ivy and Peggy
Nov. 17-24
n Rodney Lamont Sherrod and
Denise Robinson
n Charles Henry Jones and
Tanoya McKeesha Wilson
Beverly Jean Atkins
Divorces
n Jeffrey Lee Montgomery and
Nov. 17-24
n Linda Faye Lathan Walker
Tracy Harper Montgomery
n Cassondra McGraw
and James Monroe Walker
Galloway and James Thomas
n Sherman Jennings and
Galloway
n Marvin Murray and Terrilyn
Shundra Jennings
n Linda Hill and Landry Hill
Murray
THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 9A
MONEY TIP
n When shopping for a new car, negotiate price over the phone
with several dealers. Because it is easier for you to end a phone
conversation than walk out of a dealership, you are likely to get a
better price. If the dealer won’t talk price with you over the phone,
call another dealer.
Source: www.americasaves.org
Courtesy Photo
The exterior of The Studios on North Jackson is shown.
Tim Pratt/ Dispatch Staff
Jim Lytle discusses his new studio and gallery space with friend Valerie Phillips last
week during an open house at Lytle's business, Mediagraphix Photography. The
business opened in The Studios on North Jackson — a project spearheaded by
Robbie Coblentz, president of Broadcast Media Group.
L ytle and The northern space other items, is designed
M e d i a g r a p h i x contains six individual for the working man,
Photography occupy the offices Coblentz is renting Kathleen Griffin said.
Courtesy Photo
southernmost end; the to individual businesses. “We’re real excited In the seating area of The Studios on North Jackson is
middle area contains Three tenants rent the about getting this up and Richie Davenport, in the foreground, Charlie Griffin and
Broadcast Media Group’s space so far, including a running in the U.S.,” she Olof Almstrom, right.
production offices, includ- start-up company which said. “This is a brand new
the building this summer. are housing five business-
ing three state-of-the-art offers high-quality work thing.”
“I think it’s a real asset, es, two of them (Jobman
Griffin also commend-
“In the back of my mind I’ve always ed Coblentz for the work not only for Starkville, but and Mediagraphix) start-
he’s done to rehabilitate for this area of North ups,” Coblentz said. “We
wanted to do this. I never believed, the building. The struc- Jackson,” Griffin said. are cleaning up a corner
The north side of town that has been neglected
never dreamed, that this could ever ture was built in the early
1950s and first served as a is often seen as underde- and creating a new profes-
become possible. You know, this truly car dealership. It has veloped and neglected, sional work space. On top
since been a truck repair Coblentz said. He lives in of that, we have installed
is a lifelong dream.” shop, a nightclub, a Plantation Homes, down state-of-the-art video pro-
Jim Lytle owner if Mediagraphix Photography restaurant and a commu- the street from The duction suites alongside a
nity counseling center. Studios on North Jackson. new video studio and pho-
high definition video-edit- clothes. Coblentz estimated he He wanted to change what tography studio. All this
ing bays, an 850-square- Jobman Workwear is a
put a “a couple hundred he called an “eyesore” happening in the middle
foot studio and mass DVD company which is based thousand” dollars worth into state-of-the-art work- of a recession.”
duplication equipment, out of Sweden, but Charlie
of work into the building. space. Main Street Arts also
plus conference areas and and Kathleen Griffin Griffin and the other ten- “Bottom line is that we plans to relocate from its
office space. Coblentz recently opened a U.S.
ants appreciate the hours took a vacant and under- downtown location to The
moved his office to The office in The Studios on Coblentz and his wife, utilized building, invested Studios on North Jackson,
Studios on North Jackson North Jackson. The cloth-
Bonnie, spent renovating in a significant rehab and owner Linda Wade said.
from his old building ing, which includes pants,
down the street. jackets, long-johns and
the Expert on Air Travel
www.gtra.com
W IDE
Mike Hainsey, A.A.E.
STORE ff
Q:
Executive Director
I am about to fly on a commercial
flight for the first time in my life. 10% O
What do I need to do to make the
A:
trip easier?
Congratulations on taking a big step towards traveling on the safest mode
of transportation there is. Here are a few hints from some seasoned
travelers:
1. Use the internet to save money. Most airlines now offer discounts for
using the online system for everything from making a reservation to
checking in for your flight.
2. Pack smart--you are allowed one small carry-on bag and one personal bag (purse, laptop,
etc). Other bags must be checked and not exceed 50 pounds. Check the airline website for
size and costs for checked baggage.
3. Arrive a minimum of one hour prior to your flight (an hour and a half at larger airports).
Most airports stop checking baggage 30 minutes prior (45 minutes at larger airports) and the
gate closes 10 minutes prior to departure so the crew can get the engines started and depart
on time.
4. Know what you can bring through security, especially for liquids. www.tsa.gov has a list
of approved items and good information on items such as medicines, baby formula, etc.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you fly out of a smaller airport such as GTR, the people
at the airport can help answer any questions you have.
© The Dispatch
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Golden Triangle Regional Airport!
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10A THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com

Murder
Continued from Page 1A
gunshot and a cry of
“Oh no.”
Douglas Childs was
found dead from a sin-
gle gunshot wound,
OCSD Chief Deputy
George Carrithers
said.
“It turns out the wife
was the one who shot
him,” Carrithers said.
Carrithers wouldn’t
disclose where
Douglas Childs was
shot, but did say he
believes Verina Childes
used a rifle.
A relative at the
Childs home, located
south of Maben in
Oktibba County, said
the family had no com-
ment Wednesday after-
noon.
Hemphill wins judge race by four votes; Cooke won’t seek recount
BY JASON BROWNE
jbrowne@cdispatch.com
The race for Lowndes County
District 1 Justice Court judge was
decided by four votes Tuesday
night.
Interim Justice
Court Judge Chris
Hemphill defeated
former Justice Court
Judge Ron C. Cooke
430-426, or 50.2 per-
cent-49.8 percent.
Hemphill
Hemphill won
despite carrying just two of seven
voting precincts and a majority of
absentee ballots. With all precincts
reporting, Cooke held a nine-vote
lead before the absentee ballots,
which were last to be counted.
“I was behind the whole night.
When I lost Columbus High School
(precinct) 59-10 I thought that pret-
ty much sealed it up,” said Hemphill.
“But my absentee ballots really
came through.”
Hemphill’s biggest victory came
in Caledonia, where he received 57
percent of 326 votes, the largest
turnout for any precinct. Of a total
14,001 eligible voters in the seven
precincts, just 5.79 percent, or 811
voters, participated in Tuesday’s
runoff election.
Cooke, who received 405 votes to
Hemphill’s 322 in the Nov. 3 primary
election, said he likely won’t ask for
a recount unless a procedural mis-
take or error is reported.
“At this point, no. Unless some-
thing comes to their attention that
may have been a problem with the
machines,” he said of requesting a
recount.
Lowndes County Circuit Clerk
Haley Salazar confirmed four blank
ballots were cast, but said blank bal-
lots occur in every election, even
back in the days of paper ballots.
“It’s not unusual. It is ironic that it
was four and (Cooke) lost by four,”
said Salazar.
Voters using the electronic vot-
ing machines are given two chances
to review their choices before cast-
ing their ballots, she said. Her theo-
ry is several people heard of an elec-
tion in their district and turned out
to vote before realizing they knew of
neither candidate or had no prefer-
ence.
Furthermore, Salazar said,
Cooke has the right to a box review,
which is not unusual in close elec-
tions. The blank ballots alone, how-
ever, will not prompt a recount, she
noted.
Cooke is satisfied his team did
the best they could and may consid-
er running again when the seat is
back up for election.
“We were pleased with our
results because we worked real
hard. We beat the bushes out there.
I was satisfied with what we got. I
wish we got five more,” said Cooke.
Hemphill, who has filled the late
Phillip Robertson’s term for the past
year, will return to court Monday.
“I just feel blessed. The voters of
District 1 have put their trust in me.
I give all glory to the Lord. I’ve got
court Monday morning, I’m told,
and I’ll be there serving the people,”
he said.
The special election was held to
fill the judge’s seat left empty when
Robertson died in November 2008.
Hemphill was appointed by
Lowndes County supervisors to fill
the seat in the interim.
Precincts participating in the
Tuesday election were Caledonia,
Steens, Immanuel, Airbase, Lee
Middle, portions of Columbus High
and portions of Brandon.

Council
Continued from Page 1A
posed by Ward 3 exceptions.”
Councilman Charlie Box,
bans smoking in “all
enclosed public places,”
including restaurants.
However, the ordinance,
which largely is modeled
after a Tennessee state law,
allows smoking in “age-
restricted venues,” or bars,
restaurants and other estab-
lishments which only allow
people age 21 or over to
enter, and “private clubs,”
which restrict access to the
general public.
As written, the ordinance
allows businesses with
three or fewer employees to
designate enclosed smok-
ing rooms, inaccessible to
the general public.
Additionally, exemptions
are provided for “non-
enclosed areas of public
places, including, open-air
patios, porches or decks.”
“I’m in favor of a smoking
ban, but in no way in favor of
the ban as it’s written,” said
William “Bart” Lawrence, a
co-owner of The Princess
Theater. “I believe the only
way for this to be fair is if it
is across the board. I don’t
believe anything good can
come from loopholes and
A decision for the
business owners
“Most business owners
feel like it’s a decision for
them,” said Clyde Rhea, a
non-smoker who also is a
co-owner of Sey’s Sports
Bar and Grill. “I think they
should have a right to make
their decision, without the
government, on their own.
People should have enough
sense to know whether they
should or should not (fre-
quent or own a smoking
establishment). That being
said, it seems the ordinance
is inevitable. But I was going
to thank you for having the
foresight to not have a rub-
ber-stamp ordinance. I
thank you for giving Sey’s
the option to be age-restrict-
ed.
“A sports bar like ours is
different from a regular
restaurant,” he continued.
“Someone comes to a place
like ours to watch a ball
game or to sing karaoke and
they’re going to stay a while.
If they’re a smoker, they’re
not going to stay. It will put a
business like ours out of
business; that’s a fact.”
“I’m opposed to any ordi- “I can’t see why they were non-smoking, I sit at Sey’s and talk to
nance banning smoking, can’t just leave it the way it would’ve moved there,” he friends, but there’s no way I
because I feel like the cus- is,” Kenny Wiggins said of continued. “As new execu- can go into that establish-
tomers and business own- Columbus not having a tives come in, they’re going ment at all. It is a quality-of-
ers should decide that,” said smoking ban. “If people to have a choice between life issue, and quality of life
Carl Hogan, who also is a don’t allow smoking, they Columbus and Starkville to is very important to all of us.
co-owner of Sey’s Sports have a sign (prohibiting reside and, believe you me, It is important to our com-
Bar and Grill. “It should not smoking). And people (who we’re going to suffer. For munity.”
be forced on them.” are bothered by smoke), the benefit of the general “People smoke,” noted
“To sit back and try to they don’t have to go there. economy, we need to pass a Helen Willis. “They make
convince yourselves it does- I think you’d be better off to smoking ban. The vast their choices; they under-
n’t have an effect on the leave it the way it is.” majority of folks want it non- stand the pros and cons of it.
economy is to fool your- “I feel if there’s going to smoking.” All of the people seem pret-
selves,” he added, showing be a ban, it should be 100 “I respect others that ty content (without an ordi-
the council data he said sup- percent across the board,” don’t smoke, but I ask it nance). Don’t take a per-
ported restaurants and bars said Brian Roberts, a co- should be the owner’s right son’s civil rights away, a
in California and other owner of The Princess whether to allow smoking,” choice to make that decision
states were hurt by smok- Theater. “It should be in full, said Ronald Darnell on our own. We send people
ing bans. so no one has leverage over Clowers. to the military to die for our
another. All of us should rights, and we’re trying to
Petition of ‘discontent’ have to obey the same rules Past efforts give them away. The ban, to
Hogan also presented a and there should not be an Susan Mackay, who for- me, is ridiculous.”
petition with 428 signatures age restriction that changes merly served as Ward 2
of residents expressing it.” councilwoman and spear- Health concerns
their “discontent” over the headed earlier efforts for “I have serious health
the council to enact a smok- issues, and it’s unfortunate I
proposed ban.
“The decision should be
Columbus versus ing ban, said she’s “for an haven’t found that many
left solely to the proprietor,” Starkville all-out smoking ban.” places in Columbus that
he said, noting he signed a “You’ve got to step into About two years ago, the don’t allow smoking,” said
three-year lease for Sey’s the 21st Century,” Bob sitting council and an inter- Anne Allen. “I don’t have
based on the failure of the McGrath, a resident who governmental relations any problem with people
previous ordinance to pass. moved to Columbus five committee of city and coun- having a right to smoke, as
“But if it’s passed, (the ban) years ago, told the council. ty officials considered a long as it doesn’t interfere
should be the same as those “This is ridiculous. Most smoking ban, but the matter with my right to breathe.
in Tennessee. Without states have gone no-smok- never went to a vote. I’m sure there are lots of
smoking, we will not sur- ing. Restaurants have, and I “I think it’s very impor- smokers who aren’t aware
vive.” don’t see where it’s affected tant,” Mackay explained. “I they make someone sick. A
their business. suffer from asthma, and the smoking ban would be a gift
“All things being equal, only thing that brings it out to those of us who have
five years ago, if Starkville is smoke. I would like to go health problems.”

First United
Methodist Church
2009 Advent &
Christmas Schedule
“HANGING OF THE GREENS” SERVICE
Sunday, November 29 at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.

LIGHTING OF THE CITY TREE, CHRISTMAS

CAROLS & WASSAIL FEST
Friday, December 4 beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Next to the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center.
FUMC Elementary Singers will be singing at the tree lighting; FUMC’s
Chancel Choir will be caroling.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Sunday, December 6
Dinner will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the Artz Fellowship Hall with the program
immediately following.

MESSIAH
Tuesday, December 8 at 6:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. at Annunciation Catholic
Church.

93RD ANNUAL WHITE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

Sunday, December 13 at 5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

“DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?”

CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Featuring, Christian recording artists, Todd Agnew, Rush of Fools &
Meredith Andrews
Thursday, December 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Artz Fellowship Hall.
Tickets are $10.00 in advance and are available at the First United
Methodist Church office.
Sponsored by the United Methodist Men.

FIRST METHODIST’S CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Sunday, December 20 during the 11:00 a.m. Worship service in the
Sanctuary.

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICE

Thursday, December 24 at 5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27TH WORSHIP SERVICE

ONE Worship service at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.
No Sunday School or evening programs.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 3RD WORSHIP SERVICE

ONE Worship service at 10:00 a.m. in the Artz Fellowship Hall.
No Sunday School or evening programs © The Dispatch

602 Main Street, Columbus, MS

www.columbusfumc.org • (662) 328-5252

Obit
Continued from Page 5A
James Robbins
MACON — James K.
“Jimmy” Robbins, 79, died
Nov. 23, 2009, at Winston
County Medical Center in
Louisville.
Services are Saturday
at 10 a.m. at Macon
Independent Methodist
Church with Bro. Gary
Shelton officiating. Burial
will follow in Odd Fellows
Cemetery.
Visitation is Friday
from 6-8 p.m. at Cockrell
Funeral Home of Macon.
Mr. Robbins was born
Aug. 18, 1930, in Macon to
the late James Ward and
Bessie Rebecca
Thompson Robbins. He
worked at the Macon
Beacon as printer and
publisher until his retire-
ment. He was a member
of the Macon Independent
Church. He was a mem-
ber of Macon Masonic
Lodge No. 40 F and AM
and served as grand mas-
ter.
He was preceded in
death by his parents.
He is survived by his
wife, Patricia Robbins;
stepmother, Nannie
George Robbins; daugh-
ter, Rebecca Robbins
Sims; sons, Jeff Robbins
and Jim Robbins; and two
granddaughters, all of
Macon.
Daisy Burgin
Daisy Burgin, 81, died
Nov. 19, 2009, at her resi-
dence.
Services are Friday at 1
p.m. at Carter’s Funeral
Chapel with Minister
Mickey Watson officiating.
Burial will follow in Brick
Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Burgin was born
Jan. 22, 1928, in Lowndes
County to the late Grace
Wallace.
In addition to her moth-
er, she was preceded in
death by her husbands,
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Fred Jenkins
Sr., and
ating. Burial will follow in Ala., and Adrianna
Wallace, of Columbus;
born Oct. 17, 1918, to the
late Wilson and Minnie
15 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers are Brian
Fairview Cemetery.
George Visitation is Friday 6-8 brothers, Foster Wallace Thomas Brown. She was a Duckworth, T. J.
Burgin; p.m. at the funeral home. Jr., of Guin, Ala. and two member of Friendship Duckworth, Billy Curboy,
sons, Brian Mr. Wallace was born stepbrothers; sisters, Baptist Church and a mem- Chris Curboy, Todd
Jefferson March 25, 1949, in Lamar Brenda Sullivan, of ber of the Rachel Chapter Dudley, Jonathan Pate and
Burgin, County, Ala., to the late Beaverton, Ala., and two No. 145 Order of Eastern Jeff Wynne.
David Burgin Foster Lee Wallace Sr. and stepsisters. Star. She was a retired Memorials may be
Jenkins and Janie Lee Flemmings employee of Westinghouse made to Alabama School
Troy Burgin; and brother, Wallace. He was a mem- Ruth Duckworth in Reform. for the Blind, P. O. Box,
Willie Mitchell. ber of the Roxanna Baptist REFORM, Ala. — Ruth In addition to her par- 698, Talladega, AL 35161 in
She is survived by her Church. He previously Gray Brown Duckworth, ents, she was preceded in memory of Amanda Driver,
children, Fred Jenkins, of worked at Winfield Cotton 91, died Nov. 22, 2009, at death by her husband, Sam or to Hospice of West
Detroit, Mich., Mary her family’s home. J. Duckworth; son, Sam Alabama, 3851 Loop Road,
Mill and Webster Auction
Grace Burgin and Tommie Services are Saturday at Duckworth Jr.; and grand- Tuscaloosa, AL 35404.
Company.
Lee Burgin, both of 11 a.m. at Skelton Funeral daughter.
In addition to his par-
Columbus, Richard Lee Home Chapel with the Rev. She is survived by her
ents, he was preceded in See OBITS, 12A
Jenkins, of Detroit, Mary Ralph Smith officiating. daughters, Diane Allen, of
Joyce Burgin, of death by his brother, Whitinsville, Mass., and
Charlie Wallace; stepmoth- Burial will follow in Unity
After-school fun:
Columbus, Betty Ann Grove Methodist Church Marilyn Driver, of Gordo,
Jenkins, of Jackson, er, Anice Wallace; and Ala.; sons, Arthur
Boys and Girls Club
stepsister, Michele Cemetery in Palmetto.
Bobby Jenkins, of Duckworth, of Palmetto,
244-7090
Swanigan. Visitation is Friday from
Columbus and Stanley 6-8 p.m. at the funeral Ala., and Jerry Duckworth,
Jenkins, of Columbus; and He is survived by his of Ethelsville, Ala.; brother,
daughters, Kiki Phushea home.
brother, Jimmy Mitchell, Mrs. Duckworth was Preston Brown, of Navarre,
of Columbus; several Thomas, of Birmingham, Fla.; ten grandchildren and
grandchildren and great-
grandchildren.
Charles Smith
Charles Smith, 51, died
Nov. 24, 2009, at
Sanctuary Hospice in
Tupelo.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Carter’s
Funeral Services of
Columbus.
Robert Brandon
Robert Brandon, 88,
died Nov. 25, 2009, at
North Mississippi Medical
Center in Tupelo.
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be
announced by Lowndes
Funeral Home.
Thomas Wallace
CARBON HILL, Ala. —
Thomas Wallace, 60, died
Nov. 20, 2009, at Consult
America of Carbon Hill.
Services are Saturday
at 1 p.m. at Otts Funeral
Home Chapel with Elder
Joe Mack Bankhead offici-
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12A THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com

Obits
Continued from Page 11A

Rosie Reed
WEST POINT — Rosie
M. Reed, 54, died Nov. 21,
Attorney William (Bill) Bambach
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2009, at Central Mississippi p.m. at Mt. Pisgah MB died Nov. 20, 2009, at ents, he was preceded in Woodland; 12 grandchil-
Medical Center in Jackson. Church in with Pastor North Mississippi Medical death by his son, William dren and six great-grand-
Services are Saturday 1 Mary Kyle officiating. Center in West Point. Earl Davidson; sister, children.
Burial will follow in Tibbee Services are Saturday at Dorothy Jean Davidson;
Cemetery. 3 p.m. at Town Creek MB brothers, James Davidson, Johnny Chandler
Visitation is Friday from Church with Dr. Charles Willie Davidson, Woodrow WEST POINT —
4-6 p.m. at Carter’s Funeral Davidson officiating. Burial Davidson and Robert Louis Johnny Chandler, 81, died
Home in West Point. will follow in the church Davidson. Nov. 19, 2009, at West Point
Flowers may be deliv- Community Living Center.
cemetery. He is survived by his
ered on Friday after 1 p.m. Visitation is Friday from son, Dr. Charles Davidson, Services are Saturday at
Carter’s Funeral Home 3-6 p.m. at Carter’s mortu- of West Point; daughters, 11 a.m. at Carter’s
of West Point is in charge ary Service Chapel. Tina Smith, of Woodland, Mortuary Services with the
of arrangements. Mr. Davidson was born and Angela Davidson, of St. Rev. Jerome Gill officiating.
May 23,1937, to the late Louis, Mo.; brothers, Joe Burial will follow in Poole’s
William Davidson Fred and Ethel Lee Gilliam- Davidson, of St. Louis, Memorial Gardens
WEST POINT — Davidson. Arnold Davidson and Cemetery.
Visitation is Friday from
© Commercial Dispatch
William L. Davidson, 72, In addition to his par- Sterling Davidson, both of
3-6 p.m. at the funeral
home.
Mr. Chandler was born
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In addition to his par-
ents, he was preceded in
death by his wife, Jannie
Mae Chandler; brothers,
Richard Chandler, Willie
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Chandler; and sister, Lila
Johnson.
He is survived by his
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