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Wednesday | March 17, 2021

NEW HOPE MURDER

Granddaughter: Religious tension in family led to father’s murder

Lydia Martinez BY SLIM SMITH Manuel Vasquez at the family’s home in
sits alone at the ssmith@cdispatch.com New Hope.
defense table The trial is being held in Oktibbeha
during a recess STARKVILLE — Moments after County with Judge Lee Coleman presid-
of her murder taking her seat on the witness stand, ing.
trial, which began fighting back tears even before the first
Monday at the Christina Martinez, wife of Manuel
question had been asked, the young Vasquez, daughter of Lydia Martinez
Oktibbeha County
Courthouse. Mar- woman was instructed to point out the and mother of Alexa Vasquez, pleaded
tinez, 61, faces a defendant. guilty to second-degree murder in the
first-degree mur- Gasping for air and clutching a tissue death in 2019.
der charge in the in her left hand, she raised her violently Although arrested for murder along
2015 death of her trembling right hand and pointed in the with her daughter in July 2015, Lydia
son-in-law, Man- direction of the defense table — a young Martinez, 61, was initially indicted only
uel Vasquez. Her woman identifying her grandmother for accessory after the fact.
daughter, Chris- in the trial of her murdered father, the But by 2019, the prosecution, led by
tina Martinez, witness’ mother having already pleaded District Attorney Scott Colom, came to
pleaded guilty to
second-degree
guilty in the case. believe her role in the death of Manuel
murder in the For 2 1/2 often heart-wrenching Vasquez was not as a reluctant partici-
case in 2019 and hours, the testimony of Alexa Vasquez, pant in a cover-up, but as an active par-
currently awaits 24, dominated Monday’s opening day ticipant in the murder, and the charges
sentencing. of the first-degree murder trial of Lydia were elevated to first-degree murder.
Slim Smith/Dispatch Staff Martinez in the June 24, 2015, death of See TRIAL, 6A

CHALK ON THE WALK Food order

argument
leads to fatal
stabbing of
customer
Columbus Waffle House
employee arrested
in altercation
BY ISABELLE ALTMAN
ialtman@cdispatch.com

One person is dead and another

in custody after an argument led
to a fatal stabbing at the Columbus
Waffle House overnight.
Investigators believe an employ-
ee at the Highway 45 restaurant
attacked a customer after an argu-
ment began over a food order, Co-
lumbus Police Chief Fred Shelton
said. The employee, who has not
been identified by name, is in custo-
dy. The incident occurred at about
2 a.m. today.
Lowndes County Coroner Greg
Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff
EJ Gillis, 22 months, draws with sidewalk chalk at her home in New Hope Thursday. She is the daughter of Josh and Alyssa Gillis. Merchant did not release the vic-
tim’s name publicly by press time,
pending next of kin notification.
However, he said the victim was a
male and appeared to have been
stabbed to death.

Several southern states brace Shelton said in the press re-

lease that while the customer and
employee argued, “a weapon was

for possible intense tornado outbreak produced” and the customer “sus-
tained injuries that later led to his
death” at Baptist Memorial Hospi-
tal-Golden Triangle.
Storm Prediction Center warns that any that includes parts of Arkan-
sas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Mississippi and Alabama,
any storm cell that develops
“We won’t get into the details,
but at this time, it appears a food or-
storm cell that develops this afternoon Alabama and Tennessee. Wednesday afternoon “could
der started the argument in some
The area in the bullseye for quickly become a supercell
‘could quickly become a supercell possible tornadoes is home capable of producing strong
way, and it escalated quickly into
this sad ending,” Shelton said in the
to more than 8 million people tornadoes,” the Storm Pre-
capable of producing strong tornadoes’ and includes Memphis, Ten- diction Center warned.
release. “We continue to ask people
to walk away, call the police and let
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS does that travel for miles and nessee; Birmingham, Ala- More than a dozen Ala- us sort it out. This is our job, and
hail the size of tennis balls. bama; Little Rock, Arkansas; bama school systems can- please please call us first.”
ATLANTA — Some The Wednesday storms and Jackson, Mississippi. celed classes, planned online The press release said CPD will
schools in the South are clos- could produce intense torna- Parts of Texas, Oklahoma sessions or announced early charge the suspect after consulting
ing Wednesday as residents does, The Storm Prediction and Missouri will also be at dismissals because of the with the District Attorney’s Office.
in several states brace for the Center said in a briefing. risk of severe storms. threat. More could be added The Dispatch will update this
possibility of intense torna- At highest risk is a region In parts of Louisiana, to the list. story in Thursday’s edition.

INSIDE FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC

Classifieds 8B 1 Which fish does a chef need
Thursday, March 25 MEETINGS
Comics 4B a special license to be able to April 5: Lowndes
Crossword 2B prepare in Japan — koi, fugu or ■ Candidate forum: Hear Columbus mu-
County Super-
Dear Abby 4B tuna? nicipal candidates at the 2021 Candidate
visors, 9 a.m.,
Foods 5B 2 What long-running British sci-fi Forum at the Lyceum at Lee (former Lee
series introduced its first female Courthouse
Obituaries 5A High School). The event is co-sponsored
April 6: Columbus
Opinions 4A Time Lord in 2017? by The Dispatch and WCBI and will follow
3 Which ancient civilization did City Council, 5
a Q&A format with a moderator. COVID
not flourish in Mexico — Inca, p.m., livestreamed
Mayan and Aztec? precautions will be taken for a limited live
WEATHER 4 What is the name for the short audience and the event will be lives-
on City of Colum-
bus, MS — Mayor’s
sheath on the end of shoelaces treamed online by WCBI. Reserve free
High 78 Low 52
Possible strong t-storms
— aglet, ferrule or holster?
5 A flamingo can eat only with its
head upside down. True or false?
tickets online at cdispatch.com/forum
Office Facebook
page
April 12: Columbus
Full forecast on Friday, March 26 Municipal School
page 3A. Answers, 8B ■ Tennessee Williams 110th birthday District Board,
celebration: Visit the Tennessee Williams 6 p.m., Brandon
Home and Welcome Center, 300 Main St., Central Services
Columbus, at 10 a.m. for birthday cake, April 15: Lowndes
photos with “Tennessee” and his “moth- County Super-
er,” Edwina Dakin Williams, and register to Laquia Figueredo loves spending visors, 9 a.m.,
141st Year, No. 213 win dinner at Galatoire’s in New Orleans. time with her kids. Courthouse

DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471

2A WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

McConnell vows ‘scorched

earth’ if Senate ends filibuster
Senate Republican leader said the partisan
gridlock of the Trump and Obama eras would look
like ‘child’s play’ compared to what’s to come
BY LISA MASCARO
AP Congressional Correspndent
WASHINGTON — Senate Re-
publican leader Mitch McConnell
warned ominously of a “scorched
earth” landscape if Democrats use
their new majority to bring an end
to the Senate filibuster in hopes of
muscling legislation supporting
President Joe Biden’s agenda past
GOP opposition.
McConnell unleashed the dire
forecast of a Senate that would all
but cease to function, implying that
Republicans would grind business
to a halt by refusing to give consent
for routine operations — from the
start time for sessions, to the read-
ing of long legislative texts, to quo-
rum call votes.
“Let me say this very clearly for
all 99 of my colleagues: Nobody
serving in this chamber can even
begin — can even begin to imag-
ine — what a completely scorched
earth Senate would look like,” Mc-
Connell said Tuesday in a Senate
speech.
McConnell said the partisan
gridlock of the Trump and Obama
eras would look like “child’s play”
compared to what’s to come.
The GOP leader’s stark remarks
landed as the Biden administration
is taking a victory lap over the just-
passed $1.9 trillion American Res-
cue Plan, the big COVID-19 relief
package that was approved by Con-
gress without a single Republican
vote. Republicans acknowledged
privately they are struggling to pry
attention away from the bill, which
appears to be popular among Amer-
icans benefitting from $1,400 cash
payments, vaccine distribution and
other aid, as the GOP focuses on fu-
ture battles.
With the Senate evenly divided,
50-50, the rest of Biden’s priorities
face a tougher climb in Congress.
While the Democratic-controlled
House is able to swiftly approve a
long list of potentially popular bills
— to expand voting rights, extend
gun purchase background checks
and other measures — the rules of
the Senate are more cumbersome.
It typically requires 60 votes to
break a filibuster to advance most
legislation.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck
Schumer brushed off McConnell’s
remarks as a “diversion” and said
he hopes to work with Republicans
on the upcoming bills, but said all
options for filibuster changes are on
the table.
Biden told ABC News’ George
Stephanopoulos on Tuesday: “I
don’t think that you have to elimi-
nate the filibuster, you have to do it
what it used to be when I first got to
the Senate back in the old days. You
had to stand up and command the
floor, you had to keep talking.”
Senate Democrats are talking
privately about changing the de-
cades-old rules for the filibuster,
which allows a single senator to
block a bill by objecting. In earlier
eras, senators would seize the floor,
speaking for hours about their ob-
jections, as was done in the Holly-
wood movie “Mr. Smith Goes to
Washington.” They also used it to
stall civil rights legislation in the
middle of the 20th century.
Supporters of the process say it
protects the rights of the party not
in power, but detractors argue it is
being used to block popular bills.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said
Tuesday that nearly 65 years after
South Carolina Sen. Strom Thur-
mond’s record-setting 24-hour-plus
filibuster over the 1957 Civil Rights
Act, “the filibuster is still making a
mockery of American democracy.”

US: Putin approved operations to help Trump against Biden

Assessment found no evidence that any foreign actor believe Russia sought to
influence people close to
changed votes or otherwise disrupted the voting process Trump as a way to tip the
election in his favor.
BY ERIC TUCKER tional Intelligence rep- including voter registra- The report wades into
The Associated Press resents the most detailed tion, ballot casting, vote the politically charged
assessment of the array tabulation, or reporting task of ferreting out
WASHINGTON — of foreign threats to the results.” which foreign adversar-
Russian President Vlad- 2020 election. These in- The report is the latest ies supported which can-
imir Putin authorized cluded efforts by Iran to official affirmation of the didates during the 2020
influence operations to undermine confidence integrity of the election, election, an issue that
help Donald Trump in last in the vote and harm even as Trump support- dominated headlines last
November’s presidential Trump’s re-election pros- ers continue to make false year. Trump, whose 2016
election, according to a pects as well as Moscow claims of interference, campaign benefited from
declassified intelligence operations that relied on from foreign or domes- hacking by Russian intel-
assessment that found Trump’s allies to smear tic actors, and refuse to ligence officers and a co-
broad efforts by the Krem- Joe Biden, the eventual accept Biden’s victory. vert social media effort,
lin and Iran to shape the winner. Multiple courts and even seized on an intelligence
outcome of the race but ul- Despite those threats, Trump’s own Justice De- assessment from August
timately no evidence that though, intelligence offi- partment refuted claims that said China preferred
any foreign actor changed cials found “no indications of widespread fraud. The a Biden presidency —
votes or otherwise dis- that any foreign actor document makes clear even though the same
rupted the voting process. attempted to interfere in that even while Trump assessment also said Rus-
The report released the 2020 US elections by has cried foul about the sia was working to boost
Tuesday from the Office altering any technical as- legitimacy of the elec- Trump’s own candidacy
of the Director of Na- pect of the voting process, tion, intelligence officials by disparaging Biden.

White supremacist propaganda surged in 2020, report says

Anti-Defamation League: Last year marked highest level
of white supremacist propaganda seen in at least a decade
BY A ARON MORRISON
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — White
supremacist propaganda
reached alarming levels
across the U.S. in 2020,
according to a new report
that the Anti-Defamation
League provided to The
Associated Press.
There were 5,125
cases of racist, anti-Se-
mitic, anti-LGBTQ and
other hateful messages
spread through physical
flyers, stickers, banners
and posters, according
to Wednesday’s report.
That’s nearly double the
2,724 instances reported
in 2019. Online propa-
ganda is much harder to
quantify, and it’s likely
those cases reached into
the millions, the anti-hate
organization said.
The ADL, which was
founded more than a cen-
tury ago, said that last
year marked the highest
level of white suprema-
cist propaganda seen in at
least a decade. Its report
comes as federal authori-
ties investigate and pros-
ecute those who stormed
the U.S. Capitol in Janu-
ary, some of whom are
accused of having ties to
or expressing support for
hate groups and antigov-
ernment militias.
“As we try to under-
stand and put in perspec-
tive the past four years,
we will always have these
bookends of Charlottes-
ville and Capitol Hill,”
group CEO Jonathan
Greenblatt said.
“The reality is there’s
a lot of things that hap-
pened in between those
moments that set the
stage,” he said.
Christian Picciolini, a
former far-right extrem-
ist who founded the de-
radicalization group Free
Radicals Project, said
the surge in propaganda
tracks with white suprem-
acist and extremist re-
cruiters seeing crises as
periods of opportunity.
“They use the uncer-
tainty and fear caused
by crisis to win over new
recruits to their ‘us vs.
them’ narrative, painting
the ‘other’ as the cause
of their pain, grievances
or loss,” Picciolini told
the AP. “The current un-
certainty caused by the
pandemic, job loss, a heat-
ed election, protest over
extrajudicial police kill-
ings of Black Americans,
and a national reckoning
sparked by our country’s
long tradition of racism
has created a perfect
storm in which to recruit
Americans who are fear-
ful of change and prog-
ress.”
Propaganda, often dis-
tributed with the intention
of garnering media and
online attention, helps
white supremacists nor-
malize their messaging
and bolster recruitment
efforts, the ADL said
in its report. Language
used in the propaganda
is frequently veiled with
a patriotic slant, making
it seem benign to an un-
trained eye.

Biden: Cuomo should resign if investigation confirms claims

New York governor facing allegations said “yes” and added, “I
think he’d probably end
place harassment, includ-
ing demeaning them with
that he sexually harassed or behaved up being prosecuted, too.”
“It takes a lot of courage
pet nicknames or mak-
ing objectifying remarks
inappropriately toward multiple women to come forward so the about their appearance,
presumption is it should subjecting them to un-
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS tion confirms the claims be taken seriously,” Biden wanted kisses and touch-
against him. said. “And it should be es or asking them about
NEW YORK — The Biden made the re- investigated, and that’s their sex lives.
pressure against New marks in an interview what’s underway now.” Cuomo also faces an
York Gov. Andrew Cuomo with ABC News that is Cuomo is facing alle- allegation that he groped
over sexual harassment scheduled to air Wednes- gations that he sexually a female staff member
allegations reached the day. When asked by harassed or behaved in- under her shirt after sum-
White House on Tuesday, anchor George Stepha- appropriately toward mul- moning her to the gover-
with President Joe Biden nopoulos whether Cuomo tiple women, including nor’s mansion in Albany
saying Cuomo should should resign if the in- several former staffers. late last year. He has de-
resign if the state attor- vestigation confirms the The former staffers have nied touching any women
ney general’s investiga- women’s claims, Biden accused Cuomo of work- inappropriately.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 3A

Mississippi tax cut plan: Alive, then dead, then alive again
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman said the revived House
plan would erase most of the personal income tax and no longer
included new taxes on loggers, farmers or manufacturers
BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — A proposal
to overhaul Mississippi’s tax
structure was killed in the
Senate but then revived in the
House on Tuesday — a dispute
that creates conflict as legis-
lators enter the final weeks of
their annual session.
Tuesday was the deadline
for the Senate to keep House
Bill 1439 alive. The bill pro-
posed phasing out Mississip-
pi’s income tax and cutting the
7 percent state grocery tax in
half. It also proposed increas-
ing the sales tax on most items
from 7 percent to 9.5 percent
and increasing taxes on other
items, including tobacco, alco-
hol, farm implements and man-
ufacturing equipment.
Senate Finance Committee
Chairman Josh Harkins, a Re-
publican from Flowood, said
he was letting the bill die with-
out bringing it up for a vote.
Harkins said legislators need
more time to evaluate the po-
tential impact of decreasing
some tax rates and increasing
others. He said the House and
Senate could hold hearings
this summer.
“I just want to make sure
whatever we do is responsi-
ble,” Harkins said Tuesday.
Within hours, though, the
House revived most of the tax
plan by putting it into Senate
Bill 2971 — a bill originally
written to authorize the state
to borrow money for repair and
renovation projects at universi-
ties.
“Unfortunately, the Senate,
for now, has punted the ball on
the singular most impactful
legislation before us this year,”
House Ways and Means Com-
mittee Chairman Trey Lamar
said about the tax plan. “It’s
time for bold action, and it’s
time to continue to fight.”
Lamar, a Republican from
Senatobia, said the revived
House plan would erase most
— but not all — of the person-
al income tax. He also said the
revived plan no longer includ-
ed new taxes on loggers, farm-
ers or manufacturers.
Republican House Speaker
Philip Gunn and his allies in-
troduced House Bill 1439 on
Feb. 22, and it moved through
the House Ways and Means
Committee that day. It passed
the GOP-controlled House the
next day on an 85-34 vote that
was largely along party lines,
with only a few Democrats sup-
porting it and only one Repub-
lican opposing it.
Republican Gov. Tate
Reeves is pushing legislators
to phase out Mississippi’s per-
sonal income tax.
A federal coronavirus relief
package signed by President
Joe Biden last week prohibits
states from using federal relief
money to pay for tax cuts. But
the Mississippi tax cut plan
originated weeks before the
federal legislation was signed,
and Harkins said the federal
package did not affect his deci-
sion to kill the state plan.
Mississippi tax collections
for the first eight months of
the current budget year —
July through February — were
higher than for the same peri-
od a year earlier.
Gunn and other supporters
of the bill say it could help Mis-
sissippi compete with states
that already don’t have a per-
sonal income tax, including
Texas and Florida.
Public policy groups have
lined up for and against Mis-
sissippi tax cut proposals. Em-
power Mississippi is among
the conservative groups that
have said phasing out the in-
come tax would reward pro-
ductivity. The left-leaning
Center on Budget and Policy
Priorities has said four of the
five states that made deep cuts
to personal income taxes in
the first half of the 2010s later
lagged behind national averag-
es in job growth and personal
income.

Man arrested, charged with capital murder in deputy slaying

If convicted, man could face a line with Louisiana.
Rohrbacker is accused
eight years and had been
“awarded the Life Saving
maximum sentence of life without of shooting Boutte as
he tried to get out of his
Medal for saving a child’s
life,” among other accom-
parole or death by lethal injection vehicle near a Hancock
County home where au-
plishments, according to
the sheriff’s department.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS vestigation in connection thorities were responding If convicted of the
with the Feb. 1 shoot- to an attempted suicide capital offense, which
GULFPORT — A Mis- ing death of Lt. Michael call. Rohrbacker fired is automatically applied
sissippi man accused of Boutte, according to an at a second responding whenever a law enforce-
fatally shooting a sher- agency statement. deputy who returned fire ment officer is killed,
iff’s deputy last month Until he was taken into and wounded him, Sheriff Rohrbacker could face a
was arrested Tuesday and custody, Rohrbacker had Ricky Adam said at the maximum sentence of life
charged with capital mur- been receiving treatment time. without parole or death by
der. at a Louisiana hospital for Boutte was airlifted lethal injection, the Sun
Joseph Michael Rohr- wounds sustained in the to a New Orleans hospi- Herald of Biloxi reported.
backer, 30, was taken into shooting, officials said. tal and later pronounced It was not immediately
custody without incident He is being held at a de- dead. He was an Air Force clear whether he had an
by special agents of the tention center in Gulfport, veteran who had been attorney who could com-
Mississippi Bureau of In- Mississippi, near the state in law enforcement for ment for him.

Man arrested in March 2020 shooting of judge

Meridian man is not eligible for a
bond ‘due to the nature of the crime
and other pending charges’
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MERIDIAN — A Mis-
sissippi man has been ar-
rested in the March 2020
shooting of a Chancery
Court judge.
Ernest Edwards, 41,
faces an attempted capital
murder charge for shoot-
ing Judge Charles Smith.
The shooting hap-
pened outside the Lauder-
dale County Courthouse
when Smith arrived
for work on March 16,
2020, WTOK-TV report-
ed. Smith was shot by a
high-powered rifle while
he was standing next to
his truck.
The judge was in crit-
ical condition and under-
went surgery at a Merid-
ian hospital. He was later
transported to Jackson
for treatment, according
to WTOK-TV.
After two months of
healing, Smith returned
to the bench in May 2020.
Smith’s district includes
Lauderdale and Clarke
counties. Among sub-
jects that chancery judg-
es in Mississippi handle
are divorces, child custo-
dy cases, adoptions and
guardianships.
Edwards, of Meridi-
an, is being held in the
Lauderdale County De-
tention Center. He is
not eligible for a bond
“due to the nature of the
crime and other pending
charges,” according to
a press release from the
Mississippi Bureau of In-
vestigation.
Smith became a judge
in January 2019 after
more than 20 years as a
youth court and county
court prosecutor.

AROUND THE STATE

Teen disappears under
water while wading in
creek and drowns
BIGBEE — A teenager
has drowned on a Missis-
sippi creek, authorities
said.
Emergency crews
were called to Town
Creek in Monroe County
on Sunday, The Northeast
Mississippi Daily Journal
reported.
Jazion Ezell, 16, was
among seven young peo-
ple who were wading in
Town Creek, Monroe
County Coroner Alan
Gurley said.
Witnesses say Ezell
suddenly disappeared
under the water. His
body was recovered the
next morning in the area
where he went under the
water.
Ezell was a freshman
at Amory High School.
Deputies capture
inmate accused of
assault on guard,
escape
HOLLY SPRINGS —
Authorities in Missis-
sippi have captured an into the north Holly
inmate who was accused Springs facility at around
of assaulting a jail guard, 3 a.m., she assaulted a fe-
stealing a patrol car and male guard and escaped
escaping from a secure from the building.
center over the weekend.
Roshanda Bowens was
initially taken into custo-
dy Saturday in connection
with a shooting in Mar-
shall County, news outlets
reported Sunday.
David Cook with the
Marshall County Sher-
iff’s Office said that while
Bowens was being booked

CORRECTION
■ In Tuesday's edition,
The Dispatch incorrectly
identified the lone "nay"
vote in a Lowndes Coun-
ty Board of Supervisors
decision at its regular
meeting Monday. Board SOLUNAR TABLE
The solunar period indicates
President Trip Hairston peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Wed. Thurs.
voted against extending a Major
Minor
X:XXa
X:XXa
X:XXa
X:XXa
countywide mask man- Major X:XXp X:XXp
date through the end of Minor X:XXp X:XXp
Courtesy of Mississippi Department

April. We regret the error.

of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

The Commercial
Dispatch strives to report
the news accurately. When
The Dispatch
The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
we print an error, we will
Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
correct it. To report an Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
error, call the newsroom at The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Website: cdispatch.com/help
662-328-2424, or email Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc., Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
news@cdispatch.com. 516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
Opinion
4A WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

Dispatch
The
BIRNEY IMES SR. Editor/Publisher 1922-1947

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

BETH PROFFITT Advertising Director
MICHAEL FLOYD Circulation/Production Manager
MARY ANN HARDY Controller

OUR VIEW
Down the stretch we come
I
f you think of the
COVID-19 pandemic in
horse racing terms, it could
be said we are coming out of
the final turn.
Cases are down from where
they were at the beginning
of the year and the nation’s
vaccination program is making
steady progress. As of this
week, roughly 30 percent of
adults in the U.S. have been
vaccinated. About 900,000 of
Mississippi’s 2.1 million adults
have had at least one dose of
the vaccine.
Monday, Gov. Tate Reeves
announced the vaccine is now
available to anyone over age
16.
While our state’s per-
formance in terms of other
precautions — mask wearing,
social distancing, avoiding
large gatherings — has been
inconsistent, it appears the
vaccination program, at this
point, has been well-received
and executed.
Mississippi may have bro-
ken poorly from the starting
gate, but the vaccination
program has allowed the state
to position itself square in the
middle of the pack as we round
the turn and head for home.
But as horse-racing fans
will tell you, the race is won
or lost in the home stretch,
so in many respects how we
do in the ensuing months will
determine just how successful
we will be.
Unlike horse races, we are
not competing against each
other, but as a group against a
common foe.
Winning will be determined
by our nation’s ability to reach
herd immunity, the point at
which the virus is starved of
the hosts required to sustain
it. Epidemiologists say that to
ensure the virus dies away, we
need an immunity rate of 80
to 90 percent, either through
vaccination or from prior
infection.
As noted, 30 percent of U.S.
adults have been vaccinated.
Another 10 percent (29.5 mil-
lion) have been infected.
That means we are well on
our way toward that 80 percent
magic number.
Of the two means of getting
to that herd immunity, the best
is, of course, by vaccination
and a big part of that effort
will be convincing people of
the safety and efficacy of the
vaccine.
According to Pew Research
data, two of the most com-
mon reasons people offer for
not getting the vaccine are
concerns about side effects (90
percent) and concerns about
its efficacy (80 percent).
Health experts, along with
state and national leaders,
celebrities and social media
influencers, are trying to
convince people those vaccine
fears are unfounded.
But, as is often the case,
the best marketing tool for the
vaccine is word of mouth.
If you have had the vaccine,
we encourage you to share
your experience with those
in your sphere of influence
— friends, family members,
co-workers.
What we have learned is
that the side effects — the one
reason given most often for
not getting the vaccine — have
been mild and short-lived.
That’s likely to be your
experience, too, and sharing it
may yet persuade the holdouts,
which pushes us a stride closer
toward the finish line.
As we have advocated since
the beginning, we also urge ev-
eryone — even those who have
been vaccinated — to continue
to observe the established
precautions, including mask
wearing, social distancing and
avoiding large gatherings.
Almost 7,000 Mississippians
have died from COVID-19.
That’s more than enough.
So, as the finish line at long
last comes into view, let’s not
falter, but instead redouble
our efforts as we strain for the
wire.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Questions Columbus
project manager
It is time to take a good look at our
city, our politicians, and our future.
When you look at the roads, infrastruc-
ture, and schools, do you get a good
feeling? Now, take a good look at the
politicians and city administrators
running this mess. We have a finan-
cial disaster on our hands and a lot of
unfinished projects.
In 2013, the Mayor of Columbus
introduced the city to his former cam-
paign manager, Jabari Edwards and
J5. The cost to us citizens was a base
retainer of $90,000 a year, plus six per-
cent of all city projects, thus creating
a city manager in addition to a chief
operating officer. The contract doesn’t
have a renewal date, only an out clause.
Who on the council has ever ques-
tioned Mr. Edwards ability to manage
city projects? Who on the council moni-
tors the job of J5 does and whether
that is, or ever was, money well spent?
It’s the city council’s job to enter into
contractual agreements, but who en-
ters a contract without an end date or a
renewal date without reviewing it over
the years? The city politicians just keep
handing J5 our tax dollars.
The Commercial Dispatch head-
line on April 24, 2019 revealed Mr.
Edwards’ companies owed around
$688,000 in federal tax liens. Mr.
Edwards stated he chose to pay his em-
ployees instead of the IRS. His compa-
THE NATION
Biden’s disastrous border policy
nies now have in excess of $1,800,000
to the IRS in tax liens. (These are for
J5, J5 Industrial, and North Atlantic Se-

is evidence of no planning
curity.) There could possibly be more
waiting to be filed.
Much of the debt to the IRS is from

C
employee withholdings that was not
paid to the IRS. An employer is trusted
with pay withheld from employees.
When an employer willingly fails to
repay those payments, the employer
may face felony charges under section
7702.
Most of these taxes were due before
COVID-19. Adding to that is the local
property taxes Mr. Edwards has
not paid. Some of these are with BH
Properties, which Mr. Edwards owns.
Based on public records as of February
16, 2021, the total of his delinquent
property taxes on over 20 pieces of
property are over $20,000. Our fire de-
partment was ordered to burn houses
for Mr. Edwards with our tax dollars,
while he doesn’t pay his.
The debts owed to the IRS may lead
one to conclude Mr. Edwards is not
a good manager of his own business.
How would that reflect on his ability to
manage the business of Columbus?
These public records are available
to anyone. For recorded liens go to the
Chancery Clerk’s website and property
taxes go to the Tax Assessor’s website.
Columbus deserves better.
Will Sanders
Columbus
Editor’s note: The author of this letter
is the Will Sanders closely affiliated with
A Better Columbus, not the Will Sanders
who is director of the Lowndes County
Port Authority.
A letter to the editor is an excellent
way to participate in your community.
We request the tone of your letters be con-
structive and respectful and the length
be limited to 450 words. We reserve the
right to edit letters for clarity, grammar
and length. Letters may be emailed to
voice@cdispatch.com or mailed to The
Dispatch, Attn: Letters to the Editor, PO
Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703-0511.
an you spell “hypo- a sign that says, “Free Republican when the situation is no
crite”? I’m starting food, free shelter and free different for our current Democratic
to think that it be- medical care for those who president? At its core, the same thing
gins with the letter “B” and illegally enter America.” that Trump experienced is happening
rhymes with “widen.” Unfortunately, the with Biden. The fact that it is hap-
Democrats were situation that greets these pening in the midst of the COVID-19
scathing critics of the young travelers once they pandemic makes it worse because the
Trump administration’s enter the United States is migrant children are being housed in
border policies. They were far from welcoming. We close quarters with few alternatives.
quick to lambaste former are hearing reports and Crowding at the Border Patrol
President Donald Trump seeing images of children facilities is so dire that at least
for “caging children” in being kept in lockup facili- 3,000 youths are being moved to the
squalid conditions and Armstrong Williams ties made for adults. Make convention center in Dallas and may
tearing babies from their no mistake: These are end up staying there for months until
mothers’ arms. Democrats prisons, plain and simple. they can be reunited with relatives
held up these bleak examples as proof People are locked behind bars, unable or placed with sponsor families. The
of Trump’s lack of humanity, painting to leave. federal government is footing the bill
him as a heartless leader who was In Biden’s America, children who — which means you and I are.
unconcerned about housing children cross the border illegally and alone ar- The bottom line? Actions have
in horrible conditions that put their rive to find themselves in a locked jail consequences. It is not enough to
health, and even their lives, at risk. cell with no clear plan for resolution. carp and complain. In their rush to
In fact, prolonged mistreatment We have seen a huge influx of dismantle Trump-era policies, the
of illegal children at the border and children crossing the border because Democrats thoughtlessly threw open
the separation of families became a they know the immigration policy has the floodgates and created a monster
talking point for then-candidate Joe changed and their chance of obtain- of a problem that is infinitely worse
Biden during the presidential debates. ing citizenship is greatly improved. than it was before.
Now, two months into his admin- Cynical parents from across Central This shows that the deterrence
istration, President Biden is allowing America are willing to risk sending policy the United States had under
unaccompanied children to cross the their children by themselves specif- Trump was actually effective. It
border, exempting them from a public ically to take advantage of the Biden worked because migrants knew they
health law that allows border patrol policy. would be turned away at the border.
agents to turn people away because of Those children ultimately may be But the Biden administration ripped
the pandemic. The result? The largest able to skip the citizenship line and up the Trump policy with glee, and
surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico become Americans if they make it now they are experiencing the fallout.
border in five years, with authorities through the labyrinth. It’s a shame, and it is going to hurt
scrambling to figure out ways to pro- What is especially egregious is Biden politically. But we shouldn’t be
vide them appropriate housing. that Biden reversed Trump’s “inhu- surprised.
Biden is quickly learning that it mane” border policy without provid- Despite all the positive focus the
is very different to oppose a policy ing an alternative, and he is com- new administration is placing on
and complain about it from the back pletely unprepared for the ramp-up coronavirus vaccinations, they are
benches than to sit in the Oval Office that predictably followed. What did imprisoning children at the border
and actually deal with it. In fact, Biden he think would happen, and where and putting them at even greater risk
is now being blasted for the same situ- did he think these unaccompanied of getting sick because of overcrowd-
ation for which he attacked Trump. children would go? The mayhem at ing. It’s not right, and it smacks of
What’s more, Biden has made a the border right now is completely his hypocrisy.
bad situation on the border much fault. Armstrong Williams is an American
worse by adopting a lax border-cross- Why should Trump be vilified and political commentator, entrepreneur,
ing policy that is akin to hanging painted with the mark of Cain as a author, and talk show host.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 5A

COVID vaccinations open up to all, people rush to book shots

Health Dept.: As of Tuesday, 592,500
people in Mississippi had received
one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
BY LEAH WILLINGHAM
The Associated Press/Report
for America
JACKSON — Appoint-
ments to get the coronavi-
rus vaccine in Mississippi
opened up for everyone
over the age of 16 on Tues-
day, and thousands of
residents rushed to book
their shots.
Robin McCall made
appointments for her
17-year-old twin daugh-
ters. She has a 15-year-old
son who has been treated
for leukemia.
“He has a compro-
mised immune system
so these vaccines for our
family are very import-
ant for him,” said McCall,
who got vaccinated weeks
ago because she has a
heart condition that made
her eligible.
As of Tuesday, 592,500
people in Mississippi had
received one dose of the
vaccine, according to
the state Department of
Health. Almost 60 per-
cent of all Mississippians
75 and over have received
at least one dose.
About 330,000 total
residents in the state of
around 3 million are fully
vaccinated.
State Epidemiologist
Dr. Paul Byers said he’s
pleased with the progress
the state is making, but
that “now is not the time
to be complacent.”
“When you’re in a pub-
lic place, it’s still a good
idea to wear a mask,”
he said. “It’s still a good
idea to gather in smaller
groups and remember
now that it’s even safer
when folks are fully vacci-
nated.”
People can get vac-
cinated at 24 state-run
drive-thru sites in coun-
ties across the state, at
private clinics and com-
munity health centers
and some pharmacies,
like at Walmart and Wal-
greens.
Dr. Victor Sutton, Di-
rector of the Department
of Health’s Office of Pre-
ventive Health and Health
Equity, said Tuesday the
state is partnering with
six community health
centers in a new initiative
to try to reach populations
vulnerable to the virus.
Community organiza-
tions, such as churches,
will be able to call a ho-
tline in order to host their
own vaccination events.
“It’s a way to bring
down the barriers,” Sut-
ton said.
A main target for the
program is Mississippi’s
Black residents. As of
Tuesday, 27 percent of the
total doses administered
in Mississippi have gone
to African Americans.
That’s up from 20 percent
on Feb. 12. Around 64
percent of everyone who
has been vaccinated in
the state is white.
Before Tuesday, vac-
cinations in Mississippi
were only available for
anyone ages 50 and older,
staff at K-12 schools, first
responders, health care
workers and those who
are at least 16 and have
health conditions that
might make them more
vulnerable to the virus.
McCall said her fami-
ly has been on lockdown
for a year to protect her
son, Andrew. Leukemia
left his body extremely
open back up.
Tyer said much of his
confident as he’s seen
numbers of new coronavi-
vulnerable; two and half
years ago, after receiving
work as an executive
coach and leadership
rus cases go down nation-
wide after people started
a bone marrow transplant,
he ended up in critical
development facilitator getting shots.
involves being in rooms “I believe it’s the right
condition on a ventilator with groups of people thing to do so we can hope
because of a respiratory working on projects. that our lives will get back
virus. “I’m really looking for- to normal,” Golden, a set-
“When coronavirus ward to being able to do up technician at an auto
showed up last year, we that without precautions supplier, said. “I’m sure
were kind of freaking out like masking and social many people are ready to
a little bit about it,” she distancing,” he said. get back to normal.”
said. “Some people may Coffeeville resident People eligible to re-
not take it as seriously or Adam Golden said he also ceive the coronavirus vac-
think, ‘I’m young, I’ll be made an appointment cine can make an appoint-
fine,’ but we don’t have Tuesday. Although he ment at COVIDvaccine.
that luxury.” admitted he’s been “skep- umc.edu or by calling the
McCall said her family tical” about the vaccine COVID-19 call center at
will still socially-distance in the past, he’s felt more 1-877-978-6453.
and wear masks even af-
ter they are all vaccinat-
ed, but having the shots
will give her “peace of
mind.”
Rory Tyer, 33, made an
appointment to get vacci-
nated Tuesday. His wife,
Heather, is a physician
assistant at a primary
care clinic in Tupelo, and
already received the vac-
cine.
“I’m hopeful that peo-
ple will take advantage
of these appointments,”
Tyer said, adding that the
more people get vaccinat-
ed, the faster the econo-
my and communities will

Researchers studying the impact

of pandemic cancer screening pause
About 75 cancer organizations recently urged a return to
prepandemic screening levels as soon as safely possible
BY MARILYNN
MARCHIONE
AP Chief Medical Writer
John Abraham’s colo-
noscopy was postponed for
several months because
of the pandemic. When
he finally got it, doctors
found a growth too big to
be removed safely during
the scope exam. He had to
wait several weeks for sur-
gery, then several more to
learn it had not yet turned
cancerous.
“I absolutely wonder if I
had gotten screened when
I was supposed to have, if
this would have been dif-
ferent” and surgery could
have been avoided, said
Abraham, a mortgage
banker in Peoria, Illinois.
Millions of colonos-
copies, mammograms,
lung scans, Pap tests and
other cancer screenings
were suspended for sev-
eral months last spring
in the United States and
elsewhere as COVID-19
swamped medical care.
Now researchers are
studying the impact,
looking to see how many
cancers were missed and
whether tumors found
since then are more ad-
vanced.
Already, there are hints
of trouble. University of
Cincinnati researchers
found that when CT scans
to check for lung cancer
resumed in June, 29 per-
cent of patients had sus-
picious nodules versus 8
percent in prior years.
Multiple studies sug-
gest that fewer cancers
of tests that can be done
at home. In Philadelphia,
a large church partnered
with local doctors and
were diagnosed last year, used its drive-thru flu shot
likely because of less program to also pass out
screening. About 75 can- stool tests for colon cancer
cer organizations recently screening.
urged a return to prepan- “We’re not afraid to try
demic screening levels as anything as it relates to
soon as safely possible. health and wellness,” said
But tumors take years the Rev. Leroy Miles of
to develop, and some re- Enon Tabernacle Baptist
ports suggest that a few Church.
months’ delay in screen-
ing for certain types of
cancer may not have been
as bad as feared. For ex-
ample, researchers in the
Netherlands found that
a lapse in that country’s
mammography program
did not led to more can-
cers being found at a late
stage after screening re-
sumed.
The pandemic also
bred some creative solu-
tions, such as wider use

AREA OBITUARIES
COMMERCIAL DISPATCH her residence. Mrs. Holmes was
OBITUARY POLICY Arrangements are born Sept. 4, 1962, in

Obituaries with basic informa-
tion including visitation and
service times, are provided
free of charge. Extended
obituaries 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 unless the deceased’s
body has been donated to
incomplete and will be
announced by Lown-
des Funeral Home of
Columbus.
Leslie Thomas
COLUMBUS — Les-
lie Thomas, 39, died
March 16, 2021, at her
residence.
David Runnels
Columbus, to Clarence
and Ruth Holmes.
She was a graduate of
David Thomas Runnels, 68,
Caldwell High School passed away at Vineyard Court,
and attended Alcorn Columbus, MS, his home since
State University. She 2013, on Sunday, March 14,
was formerly employed
2021.
as a teacher with Sam A visitation will be held on
Houston High School. Thursday, March 18, 2021
from 5:00 - 6:00 PM at Lowndes

science. If the deceased’s
body was donated to science,
the family must provide official
proof of death. Please submit
all obituaries on the form
provided by The Commercial
Dispatch. Free notices must
be submitted to the newspa-
per no later than 3 p.m. the
day prior for publication Tues-
day 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 editions. Paid
notices must be finalized by 3
p.m. for inclusion the next day
Monday through Thursday; and
on Friday by 3 p.m. for Sunday
and Monday publication. For
more information, call 662-
328-2471.
Teresa Barksdale
COLUMBUS — Te-
resa M. Barksdale, 60,
died March 16, 2021, at
Send in your church event!
Email editorialassistant@cdispatch.com
Subject: Religious brief
Melissia Beatty
Arrangements are
incomplete and will be Funeral Home in Columbus and
announced by Carter’s Friday, March 19, 2021, at 12:00
Funeral Services of PM followed by a 1:00 PM graveside service at
Melissia Edmonson Beatty, Canton Cemetery in Canton, MS. David’s first
Columbus.
58 of Columbus, MS passed cousin, Rev. Gary Roberts will conduct the
away, Monday, March 15, 2021, service with Lowndes Funeral Home directing.
Yalinda Holmes at her residence. David was raised in Canton, Mississippi
COLUMBUS — Ya- Visitation will be Thursday, and born to Marion Thomas Runnels and Inez
linda Holmes, 58, died March 18, 2021, from 1:00 PM Buffington Runnels, May 10, 1952. Mr. Runnels
March – 2:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral graduated from Mississippi State University in
2, 2021, Home with a memorial service Landscape Architecture and served in the Army
in Grand following at 2:00 PM with Bro. National Guard six years. David was fun-loving,
Prairie, Grant Mitchell officiating in the never met a stranger and loved music, MSU
Texas.
Lowndes Funeral Home chapel. Bulldogs, his family and especially his daughter
Grave- Mrs. Beatty was born April 23, 1962, to the late Jill Runnels.
side Dalton and Helen Miles Edmonson in Columbus, He is preceded in death by his parents. David
services MS. She worked as a dispatcher with a trucking is survived by his daughter, Jill of Biloxi, MS
Holmes
will be company. Mrs. Beatty enjoyed gardening, going and one brother, Sidney (Mary Jane) Runnels of
at 2 p.m. to the casino, riding motorcycles, and fishing. Columbus, MS. He is also survived by nephews
Friday, at Memorial She was a loving wife, mother, granny, and sister. and niece, Sy Runnels of Mobile, AL, Clara
Gardens. Visitation
Mrs. Beatty is survived by her husband, (Chris) Armstrong of Grenada, MS, Jeffrey
will be from 4-6 p.m. Lindley Beatty, Jr.; daughter, Amanda Badeau; (Bliss) Runnels of Nashville, TN; as well as great
Thursday, at Lee-Sykes son, Zachary Phipps; step-daughter, Susan niece and nephew Madison and Cole Armstrong
Funeral Home. Lee- Stafford; step-son, Scott Beatty; grandchildren, of Grenada.
Sykes Funeral Home of Brett Badeau, Brianna Badeau, Brayden Badeau Memorials may be given to First Baptist
Columbus is in charge and Macie McCormick; sisters, Melinda Welch, Impact Building Fund, P.O. Box 829, Columbus,
of arrangements. Myra Rogers and Michelle DeRouse. MS 39703.
Memorials may be made to Columbus Lowndes The family wishes to thank the staff of
Humane Society, P.O. Box 85, Columbus, MS Vineyard Court Nursing Home for their loving
39703. care through the years.
Compliments of Compliments of
Lowndes Funeral Home Lowndes Funeral Home
www.lowndesfuneralhome.net www.lowndesfuneralhome.net
6A WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

A THOUSAND WORDS

Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff

Walker Robertson, 4, helps her dad, Tad Robertson, shovel mulch at their home near downtown Columbus Friday
afternoon. “I’m shoveling,” said Walker. They are planting lilies. Walker’s mother is Libby Robertson.

Trial
Continued from Page 1A
Throughout the first
day’s testimony, Colom
attempted to place Lydia
Martinez in the middle
of every stage of the plan-
ning, murder and cov-
er-up, calling five witness-
es — including Alexa’s
brother, Alec Vasquez,
22, who initially refused
to take the stand, but ul-
timately provided largely
inconsistent testimony
in response to questions
from Colom and defense
attorney Arthur Calderón.
But it was Alexa
Vasquez’s testimony that
proved most compel-
ling — and perhaps most
damning, At one point,
she recounted a conver-
sation where her grand-
mother approached her to
ask permission to kill her
father after Manuel had
taken Alexa’s car away for
attending her senior prom
in defiance of his wishes.
Alexa said the relation-
ship between her parents
became strained after the
family relocated to Lown-
des County from their
home in San Antonio,
Texas. She said the de-
cision to move was made
by Manuel, who wanted
to pursue a more religious
lifestyle near friends who
held similar religious
views in Mississippi,
among them Paul Vega.
“When my dad became
more religious, my mom
did not agree with it, so it
caused tension between
them,” Alexa said.
‘He would always
tell me bye’
The testimony of Al-
exa, her brother, Alec,
and a law enforcement re-
cording of the defendant,
which was played for the
jury later in the day, told
the story of a father whose
religious zeal had started
to alienate him from his
family.
Alexa testified her
father did not want her
to wear makeup, cut her
hair or wear short skirts
or dresses. Alec said his
father had liked sports
and encouraged his sons
to play sports before mov-
ing to Mississippi, but dis-
couraged them after his
religious views began to
become more strict.
In the police recording
made on July 21, 2015, af-
ter the family had report-
ed Manuel Vasquez miss-
ing, Lydia Martinez said
that Manuel attended Bi-
ble studies at Paul Vega’s
home, but did not attend
any church because Vega
told him “all churches
were (prostitutes).”
In the recording, she
said Vega told Manuel
that sports were a bad
influence on his children
and that if his daughter
went to the prom, she
would become pregnant.
She said Christina had
talked about getting a di-
vorce.
The tipping point, the
prosecution appeared to
argue, was the prom.
Alexa said that while
her father forbade her
from going to the prom,
her mother and grand-
mother were supportive.
“My mom, she planned
everything,” Alexa said,
saying that her moth-
er planned a trip to San
Antonio for herself and
Manuel at the time of
the prom, which would
allow Alexa to attend the
prom without her father’s
knowledge while under
her grandmother’s super-
vision.
Alexa testified that her
father later learned that
she had defied his wishes.
“I wasn’t a good daugh-
ter to him,” she said,
breaking down in tears.
Upon learning she had
attended the prom, her
father became angry, tak-
ing away her car keys, she
said. Soon afterward, she
said, she heard Manuel
and Lydia Martinez argu-
ing, although she couldn’t
hear what they were say-
ing.
Alexa said that she
had just gotten out of the
shower a short time later
when Lydia came into her
room.
“She was full of emo-
tion because she has been
arguing with my dad,” Al-
exa said.
Colom asked her what
her grandmother said to
her, but Alexa broke down
and was unable to answer
clearly.
“Did she ask you if she
could have permission to
kill your father, Manuel
Vasquez?” Colom asked.
“Yes,” she said softly.
“Was she serious?”
“Yes,” Alexa answered.
“Did your mother ever
say anything about could
she kill your father?” Co-
lom asked.
“She offered to beat
herself with an orange to ing Christina Vasquez’s
make it look like he hit name.
her,” Alexa said. Turner testified that
“But she didn’t say any- she visited the Vasquez
thing about killing your home in early July and
father?” Colom asked. was asked by Christina
“No,” she said. and Lydia to take the wa-
Calderón asked Al- ter tank away.
exa if Lydia had actually The prosecution
asked for permission to believes the tank was
kill her father. used to cremate Manuel
“I don’t remember the Vazquez’s body. The tank
exact words,” Alexa said. was recovered on the Tun-
Days later, on the er’s property.
morning of June 24, Alexa Alexa said that her
said she had gotten out of mother and grandmother
bed and was met by her had been burning some-
mother at the bottom of thing in the tank for “a
the stairs. couple of days,” and that
“She asked me if I when her youngest broth-
had heard any bangs er went out to see what
that night and I told her I they were burning, Lydia
hadn’t,” Alexa said. told him to go back inside.
Her mother also told “He was upset because
her that her father had she snapped at him,” Al-
left the home early that exa said. “She had never
morning to go on a reli- snapped at him like that
gious retreat, something before.” cdispatch.com
that disturbed her, Alexa The trial will resume
testified. today.
“I asked her why he
didn’t tell me goodbye,”
she said, sobbing. “He
would always tell me bye.
Even in the middle of the
night, he always woke us
up to say goodbye.”
Alec Vasquez said he
was awakened by two
“popping noises” that
night and when he got up
to see what had happened,
he saw his grandmother
holding a gun.
But on cross-exam-
ination, Alec said he saw
his grandmother leaving
her upstairs bedroom —
Manuel’s and Christina’s
bedroom was downstairs
— when he got up to
check out the noises. Also
under cross, Alec agreed
with Calderón’s statement
that he had previously
said he had seen Marti-
nez holding a gun case.
On redirect, Colom
asked Alec if it was a gun
or a gun case he saw in
his grandmother’s hand
or whether she was up-
stairs or downstairs when
he saw her.
Alec Vasquez said he
could not remember.
Other witnesses in-
cluded Phillip Brown,
owner of Brown’s Farm
Supply, and Rosie Turner,
whose grandson was dat-
ing Alexa Vasquez at the
time.
Brown testified that a
2x2x6 galvanized water
tank had been purchased
at his store on June 24
with a credit card bear-

Atlanta-area shootings leave 8 dead, many of Asian descent

BY K ATE BRUMBACK
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — A series of shootings
over nearly an hour at three Atlanta area
massage parlors left eight people dead
and raised fears that the attack was yet
another hate crime against people of
Asian descent.
Police arrested a 21-year-old Georgia
man and said the motive wasn’t imme-
diately known, though many of the vic-
tims were women of Asian descent.
The attacks began Tuesday evening,
when five people were shot at Youngs
Asian Massage Parlor in Acworth,
about 30 miles north of Atlanta, Chero-
kee County Sheriff's Office spokesman
Capt. Jay Baker said. Two people died
at the scene, and three were taken to a
hospital where two died, Baker said.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 7A

Schools weigh whether to seat

students closer together
Even as more teachers receive COVID vaccinations,
social distancing guidelines have remained a major
hurdle for school districts across the U.S.
BY COLLIN BINKLEY
AP Education Writer
BOSTON — New evidence that
it may be safe for schools to seat
students 3 feet apart — half of the
previous recommended distance —
could offer a way to return more of
the nation’s children to classrooms
with limited space.
Even as more teachers receive
vaccinations against COVID-19, so-
cial distancing guidelines have re-
mained a major hurdle for districts
across the U.S. Debate around
the issue flared last week when a
study suggested that masked stu-
dents can be seated as close as 3
feet apart with no increased risk to
them or teachers.
Published in the journal Clinical
Infectious Diseases, the research
looked at schools in Massachusetts,
which has backed the 3-foot guide-
line for months. Illinois and Indiana
are also allowing 3 feet of distance,
and other states such as Oregon are
considering doing the same.
The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention is now exploring the
idea too. The agency’s director, Dr.
Rochelle Walensky, said the 6-foot
guideline is “among the biggest
challenges” schools have faced in
reopening.
The CDC included the larger
spacing in its latest school guide-
lines, which were issued in Febru-
ary and concluded that schools can
safely operate during the pandemic
with masks, distancing and other
precautions. It suggested 6 feet and
said physical distancing “should be
maximized to the greatest extent
possible.”
Other organizations have issued
more relaxed guidelines, including
the World Health Organization,
which urges 1 meter in schools.
The American Academy of Pedi-
atrics says to space desks “3 feet
apart and ideally 6 feet apart.”
Dan Domenech, executive direc-
tor of AASA, a national superinten-
dents group, said he expects more
states and schools to move to the
3-foot rule in coming weeks. With
the larger guideline, he said, most
schools only have space to bring
back half of their students at a time.
Moving to 3 feet could allow about
75 percent at a time, he said.
“There are districts that have
been doing 3 feet for quite some
time without experiencing any
greater amount of infection,” he
said.
In Illinois, health officials said
last week that students can be
seated 3 feet apart as long as their
teachers are vaccinated. Before,
state officials required 6 feet.
With the state’s blessing, the
Barrington district near Chicago
reopened middle schools Tuesday
using the smaller spacing rule. Any
student will be allowed to attend
in-person classes, although the dis-
trict expects roughly 30 percent to
continue with remote learning.
Questions around spacing have
led to a battle in Massachusetts,
where teachers and some schools
oppose a state plan to bring young-
er students back five days a week
starting next month. The plan calls
on schools to seat students 3 feet
apart, although many have been
using 6 feet as a standard. Districts
that fail to meet the reopening dead-
line would risk losing state funding.

Extent of COVID vaccine waste remains largely unknown

The reasons for the waste vary from shoddy record-
keeping to accidentally trashing hundreds of shots
BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI
The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn.
— As millions continue
to wait their turn for the
COVID-19 vaccine, small
but steady amounts of the
precious doses have gone
to waste across the coun-
try.
It’s a heartbreaking re-
ality that experts acknowl-
edged was always likely
to occur. Thousands of
shots have been wasted in
Tennessee, Florida, Ohio
and many other states.
The reasons vary from
shoddy record-keeping
to accidentally trashing
hundreds of shots. How-
ever, pinning down just
how many of the life-sav-
ing vials have been tossed
remains largely unknown
despite assurance from
many local officials the
number remains low.
To be sure, waste is
common in global inoc-
ulation campaigns, with
millions of doses of flu
shots trashed each year.
By one World Health Or-
ganization estimate, as
many as half of vaccines
in previous campaigns
worldwide have been
thrown away because
they were mishandled,
unclaimed or expired.
By comparison, waste
of the COVID-19 vaccine
appears to be quite small,
though the U.S. govern-
ment has yet to release
numbers shedding in-
sight on its extent. Offi-
cials have promised that
may change soon as more
data is collected from the
states.
In the interim, state
health agencies are much
more inclined to tout how
fast they’ve administered
the shots while keeping
mum on the number of
doses that end up in the
trash.
Ohio’s Department of
Health resisted the use of
the term “wasted” when
asked by The Associated
Press for a total number
of tossed doses. Instead
a spokesperson for the
agency said that the state
tracks “unusable” vac-
cines reported by state
providers.
“With 3.2 million dos-
es administered as of
March 9, 2021, the 3,396
unusable doses reported
by state providers make
up about 0.1 percent of
the doses administered
— less than the CDC ex-
pectation of 5 percent of
unusable doses,” Alicia
Shoults, an Ohio Depart-
ment of Health spokes-
person, said in an email.
According to a log
sheet provided by the de-
partment, Ohio providers
reported almost 60 inci-
dents where doses were
unused. The largest inci-
dent occurred earlier this
year, when a pharmacy
responsible for distribut-
ing the vaccine to nursing
homes failed to document
storage temperatures for
leftover shots, resulting
in 890 doses being wast-
ed.

Battle over Floyd’s 2019 arrest highlights key trial issue

Prosecutor: Former police officer’s
lawyer is trying to smear George
Floyd to excuse his client’s actions
BY STEVE K ARNOWSKI
AND AMY FORLITI
The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — lier arrest admissible:
A lawyer for the former
Minneapolis police offi-
cer who pressed his knee
against George Floyd’s
neck wants to bring up
Floyd’s history of drug
use and a previous arrest
in an effort to show jurors
that Floyd was partly to
blame for his own death.
A prosecutor says it’s
irrelevant and that Derek
Chauvin’s lawyer is trying
to smear Floyd to excuse
his client’s actions. Chau-
vin is charged with mur-
der and manslaughter.
Now it’s up to Henne-
pin County Judge Peter
Cahill to decide the criti-
cal question of how much
the high-profile trial will
revolve around Floyd’s
own actions on May 25,
when the Black man was
declared dead after Chau-
vin, who is white, pressed
his knee against his neck
for about nine minutes.
Floyd’s death, captured
on a widely seen bystand-
er video, set off weeks of
sometimes-violent pro-
tests across the country
and led to a national reck-
oning on racial justice.
The judge previous-
ly rejected Chauvin’s
attempt to tell the jury
about Floyd’s May 2019
arrest — a year before
his fatal encounter with
Chauvin — but heard
fresh arguments Tuesday
from both sides. He said
he would rule on the re-
quest Thursday.
Defense attorney Eric
Nelson argued that new
evidence makes the ear-
Drugs were found last De-
cember during a second
search of the car Floyd
was in, and were found
in a January search of the
squad car into which the
four officers attempted to
put Floyd.
He also argued the
similarities between the
encounters are relevant:
Both times, as officers
drew their guns and
struggled to get Floyd out
of the car, he called out
for his mother, claimed
he had been shot before
and cried, and put what
appeared to be pills in
his mouth. Both search-
es turned up drugs in
the cars. Officers noticed
a white residue outside
his mouth both times, al-
though that has not been
explained.
In the first arrest,
several opioid pills and
cocaine were found. An
autopsy showed Floyd
had fentanyl and metham-
phetamine in his system
when he died.
“The similarities are
incredible. The exact
same behavior in two in-
cidents, almost one year
apart,” Nelson said.
Paramedics who ex-
amined Floyd in 2019
warned him that his blood
pressure was dangerous-
ly high, putting him at
risk for a heart attack or
stroke, and took him to a
hospital for examination.

Advocates, some AGs wary of Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan

BY GEOFF MULVIHILL
The Associated Press
Some state attorneys
general and opioid ad-
diction activists pushed
back Tuesday against
a settlement offer from
OxyContin maker Purdue
Pharma, saying it didn’t
include enough money
and goes too far in pro-
tecting the company and
family members who own
it from future liability.
A group of nearly half
the state attorneys gener-
al said it was disappointed
in the plan Purdue filed
late Monday night in fed-
eral bankruptcy court
and some said they would
seek changes. The luke-
warm reaction from them
and others raised doubts
about how soon the com-
pany could emerge from
bankruptcy and begin to
compensate victims.
“We think it’s a step
in the right direction,
but we’ve got a long way
to go,” said Joe Rice, one
of the lead lawyers rep-
resenting local govern-
ments that have sued Pur-
due and other companies
over the toll of opioids.
The $10 billion plan
calls for turning the Con-
necticut-based pharma-
ceutical giant into a new
company, with its profits
going toward efforts to
combat the opioid crisis.
Members of the Sackler
family who own Purdue
would contribute about
$4.3 billion.
A new public health-ori-
ented arm of the trans-
formed company would
produce addiction treat-
ment and overdose anti-
dote drugs, and a trove
of company documents
would be made public.
Most of the money
would go to trusts that
would distribute it to state
and local governments.
They would be allowed to
use it only on initiatives
that address the opioid
crisis, which has contrib-
uted to more than 470,000
deaths in the U.S. since
2000.
8A WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Racial diversity in children’s

books grows, but slowly
Racial diversity in children’s books has been
picking up since 2014, reversing a 25-year plateau
BY CHRISTINE FERNANDO
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — In the world of
children’s books, villagers can
protect their water from a black
snake, dark skin is as beautiful as
the night sky, and a little girl’s two
puffs of hair can make her feel like
she’s floating above the clouds.
Kids are seeing more of these
possibilities in the books they read
as authors make a bigger push to
reflect the diversity around them.
Racial diversity in children’s books
has been picking up since 2014, re-
versing a 25-year plateau, according
to Kathleen T. Horning, director of
the University of Wisconsin-Madi-
son’s Cooperative Children’s Book
Center.
But despite the gains, progress
has been slow. Children’s books
written by authors of color in 2020
increased by 3 percent to 26.8 per-
cent compared with 2019. Chil-
dren’s books written about racial-
ly diverse characters or subjects,
however, grew by only 1 percent
to 30 percent, according to prelim-
inary data provided to The Asso-
ciated Press by the CCBC, which
has been tracking statistics on chil-
dren’s book representation since
1985.
Meanwhile, books about Latino
characters saw a slight decrease in
2020, from 6.3 percent to 6.2 per-
cent, while the number of books
both by and about Native people
stayed flat, Horning said. Books
both by and about Black and Asian
people saw small but steady in-
creases.
Horning notes that it can take
years for a children’s book to be
written, illustrated and published,
so whatever progress was made
in 2020 may not be apparent until
2022 or 2023.
Still, Horning would like to see
more people of color writing about
their own communities.
“We want people to feel empow-
ered to tell their own stories,” she
said.
Ellen Oh, CEO of the grassroots
advocacy nonprofit We Need Di-
verse Books, said one barrier to
achieving diversity in children’s
books is the myth within the pub-
lishing industry that books about
people of color don’t sell.
“Because of this myth, pub-
lishing never gives these books a
chance,” Oh said.
In reality, books written by and
about people of color have made
it on the New York Times’ best-
sellers’ list, including “Hair Love”
by Matthew A. Cherry, “Sulwe” by
Lupita Nyong’o and “We Are Water
Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom.

Former poet laureate to receive Mississippi humanities award

Other honorees include a Mississippi traditional narratives.”
“Her work is a tes-
ities Educator for leading
a bilingual family read-
State associate professor for his work tament to the power of
truth and remembering
ing program at the Horn
Lake public library.
on the Mississippi tour of Smithsonian in coming to terms with The Hawkins vs. Town
the weight of our history,” of Shaw Project also will
Institution’s ‘Waterways’ exhibit he said in a news release. be honored. The project
The 2021 Public Hu- produced a play and a se-
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS the author of five poetry manities Awards will ries of historical markers
collections, including be presented at 7 p.m. telling the story of a local
JACKSON — Former the Pulitzer Prize-win-
Mississippi and U.S. March 26 on the Human- freedom movement in the
ning “Native Guard.” She ities Council’s Facebook Mississippi Delta that
Poet Laureate Natasha also wrote the nonfiction
Trethewey and others will and YouTube channels. culminated in a federal
book, “Beyond Katrina: A James Giesen, associ- civil rights case.
be honored with Missis-
Meditation on the Missis- ate professor of history at The Humanities Part-
sippi Humanities Council
awards, with a ceremony sippi Gulf Coast.” Mississippi State Univer- ner Award will go to the
being held online this Stuart Rockoff, ex- sity, will receive the Hu- Mississippi Book Festi-
year because of the coro- ecutive director of the manities Scholar Award val.
navirus pandemic. Mississippi Humanities for his work with the Mis- The 2020 and 2021 Hu-
Trethewey, a Gulfport Council, said Trethew- sissippi tour of the Smith- manities Teacher Awards
native, will receive the ey has used her art to sonian Institution exhib- will be given to faculty
Cora Norman Award in “give voice to people who it, “Waterways.” in traditional humanities
recognition of her liter- have too often been over- Marta Smally will be fields at each of Missis-
ary career. Trethewey is looked, hidden from our recognized as Human- sippi’s universities.
Sports
PREP BASEBALL
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021
B
SECTION

Oak Hill Academy’s Harden providing ‘spark’ once again

BY THEO DEROSA East Central Communi- to be there and feel like
tderosa@cdispatch.com ty College tournament part of the team.”
in Decatur, Harden
Standing in the dug-
out in a gray pinstriped
stepped to the plate for
the first time all season.
Glad to know
jersey, Ty Harden knew A couple of weeks
After undergoing elbow after Oak Hill played a
it was time. surgery in November, he
Ten times before this series of summer scrim-
made a pinch-hit appear- mages against Heritage
spring, the Oak Hill ance against the Gen-
Academy sophomore Academy, Harden be-
erals — his first game gan feeling pain in his
had donned his No. 9 action for the Raiders
uniform but never got throwing arm. Every
since the COVID-19 pan- day when he threw to
a chance to get it dirty. demic shut down spring
Harden watched from stay fresh, the pitcher
sports in 2020. felt like something was
the dugout in his jersey And although Harden
and shorts as the Raid- pulling on him, and his
hasn’t fully recovered velocity was down a bit.
ers played the game he from his injury just yet,
loved — without him. He took the rest of the
he’s glad to be contrib- summer off from compe-
This time, it was dif- uting again on the dia-
ferent. tition. Courtesy of Ty Harden
mond for Oak Hill. In early August, he
During Monday’s Ty Harden throws a pitch during the fall of 2019. Harden hasn’t pitched since
“It was great,” Hard- visited a doctor in Co- undergoing UCL surgery in November but hopes to return to the mound soon. The
game against Newton en said. “I was just hap-
County Academy at the lumbus to get his arm Oak Hill Academy sophomore made his hitting debut Monday against Newton County
py to be dressed out and See HARDEN, 3B Academy.

MSU MISSISSIPPI STATE BASEBALL

football
adding
former
Bulldogs down Samford for seventh
Southern
Miss head
straight win heading into SEC opener
BY BEN PORTNOY

coach Jay
bportnoy@cdispatch.com

STARK VILLE — One by

Hopson to
staff
BY BEN PORTNOY
bportnoy@cdispatch.com
Mississippi State is
adding an experienced
piece to its football
staff.
A source confirmed
to The Dispatch Tues-
day that former South-
ern Mississippi head
coach Jay Hopson will
join head coach Mike
Leach’s staff as a de-
fensive analyst. MSU
officially announced
the hire later Tuesday
afternoon.
“I am excited about
this opportunity and
really want to thank
Coach Leach,” Hopson
said in a news release.
See MSU, 3B
PREP SOFTBALL ROUND UP
New Hope
falls twice
at Gulf
one, Mississippi State cleared
the fences at Dudy Noble
Field.
First it was sophomore
Luke Hanock who sent a pitch
from Samford reliever Carson
Hobbs over the wall in right
field and just short of clear-
ing the bleachers alongside
Adkerson Plaza. Two batters
later, fourth-year junior Josh
Hatcher smoked the first of-
fering he saw from Hobbs
over the center field wall for
the Bulldogs’ second home
run in five pitches.
Combined, Hancock’s and
Hatcher’s long balls equat-
ed to MSU’s 22nd midweek
victory in 23 tries since 2019
and gave the Bulldogs (14-3) a
10 -2 win over Samford (7-10).
“I think I’ve just matured as
a hitter a lot since my fresh-
man year,” Hancock said of
how he’s improved at the dish.
“My plate discipline has got-
ten better. I’m swinging at
good pitches, being aggres-
sive, being in counts where
I know it’s heavy fastball
counts.”
Just three days shy of its
Southeastern Conference
opener against No. 19 LSU
in Baton Rouge, MSU’s win
over Samford on Tuesday was
the latest addition to its re-
cent early-run outputs. After

Coast recording just 16 runs in the

Classic
DISPATCH STAFF
GULF SHORES, Ala.
— The New Hope soft-
ball team lost to host
Gulf Shores (Alabama)
7-5 in five innings Tues-
day at the Gulf Coast
Classic.
The Dolphins scored
two runs in the top of
the fifth to break a 5-5
tie, and the Trojans (4-
8) couldn’t come back.
New Hope scored
two runs in the second
inning, one in the third
and two in the fourth.
Gulf Shores scored five
in the third.
Zoe Goodman drove
in two runs to lead New
See PREP, 3B
first three innings of their pre-
vious 11 games, the Bulldogs
notched 11 over that frame
in its five contests last week.
Tuesday, MSU again struck
early, notching its first run of
the day on a double to left field
scored Hatcher from second
base.
Following in tune with
weeks past, though, it was
in the middle innings that
the Bulldogs did the bulk of
their damage. After Kamren
James walked on four pitches
and swiped second, Hancock
brought him home with his
mammoth shot to right field,
marking the fourth time he’s
left the yard this spring. Two
batters later, Hatcher roped
a first-pitch delivery from
Hobbs to dead center for his
first homer of the year.
“I’ve hit some balls really
hard the last couple games,”
Josh Hatcher’s homer was one of three Mississippi State long balls in Tuesday’s win over Samford.
Hatcher said. “They haven’t
fallen, been right at people.
But I think that’s what comes
with being an older player.
You learn to cope with that,
and then you just keep playing
your game.”
Not to be outdone, Hancock
cleared the fences for the sec-
ond time in the evening when
he narrowly overshot the out-
stretched glove of Samford
left fielder Ryan Crockett to
earn the Bulldogs’ first multi-
home run game of the season.
With Hancock’s homer
in tow, the Bulldogs added
a trio of RBI singles in the
frame from Lane Forsythe,
Scotty Dubrule and James, an
RBI fielder’s choice courtesy
of Tanner Allen and a bas-
es-loaded walk for a six-run
sixth inning.
Stretching its offensive
explosion over a 40 minute
bottom of the sixth, MSU has
now scored 48 runs between
the fifth and sixth innings
this year -- good for just shy of
40 percent of its total run pro-
duction on the season.
While the offense clicked
early Tuesday, head coach
Chris Lemonis trotted out a
plethora of pitchers out of the
well documented Bulldog bull-
pen. Starter Houston Harding,
who allowed four hits -- three
of which were doubles -- in 3.1
innings, threw just 36 pitches
in a shorter-than-anticipated
outing.
“He’s such a competi-
tive kid,” Lemonis said. “He
still gets outs when he’s not
great. His (velocity) was a
little down, but he was in the
Mississippi State athletics
middle of the plate, which he
hasn’t been all year.”
Third-year sophomore
Brandon Smith also notched
sixth appearance of the year
with 1.2 innings of relief be-
hind Harding. In 14 innings
of work this year, Smith has
recorded 12.1 consecutive
scoreless frames and five-
straight scoreless appearanc-
es. His strikeout to walk ratio
also now stands at a stagger-
ing 8 to 1.
After another recently rou-
tine outing from Smith, Le-
monis turned to his youthful
contingent of Xavier Lovett,
Dylan Carmouche and KC
Hunt. Northwest Community
College import Parker Stin-
nett, too, recorded his third
inning of work this spring,
See BASEBALL, 3B
2B WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Gonzaga, Baylor dominate AP All-America teams

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gonzaga and Baylor
spent almost the entire
season holding down the
top two spots in the Top
25.
Makes sense they’d
hold down a bunch of
spots on The Associat-
ed Press All-America
teams.
The Bulldogs’ Corey
Kispert and the Bears’
Jared Butler led the way
with first-team nods
Tuesday from the na-
tional panel of 63 media
members that vote each
week in the AP Top 25
poll. They were joined
by unanimous pick Luka
lor, which earned a No. 1
seed for the NCA A Tour-
nament, has had a first-
team All-American.
“These awards are
just team awards,” said
Butler, who withdrew
from the NBA draft to
return for his junior
year. “I wouldn’t be here
without my teammates
just playing with me and
giving me confidence.
It’s been nice.”
Kispert also withdrew
from the draft and also
led his team to a No. 1
overall seed, along with
helping the Bulldogs
finish a perfect regular
season. He joined Dan
Dickau, Adam Morri-
him, the tougher that
gets for him,” Hawkeyes
coach Fran McCaffery
said. “So I just have been
really impressed with
his relentlessness to
continue to improve and
to handle anything that
comes his way.”
Like the Hawkeyes,
the Fighting Illini had
never had a first-team
pick until Dosunmu
came along. The two-
time All-Big Ten guard
led them to the confer-
ence tournament title
last weekend and a No. 1
seed in the NCA A tour-
ney.
Joining those veter-
ans — seniors Garza and
ketball’s youth.
There was Suggs, the
freshman who led Gon-
zaga to high-profile wins
over Kansas and Iowa
early in the season, and
Timme, the sophomore
who went from key re-
serve to crucial starter
for the West Coast Con-
ference champs.
Joining them were a
trio of post players: Kofi
Cockburn of Illinois,
Hunter Dickinson of
Michigan and Evan Mo-
Sudoku
bley of USC. YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
“Very proud of Evan,
Sudoku
his development,” Tro- Sudoku is a number- Yesterday’s answer
jans coach Andy Enfield. placing puzzle based on
“He’s really improved as Sudoku
a 9x9 gridis witha several
num- 1 7 8 6 4 5 2 3 9
ber-placing
a player throughout the given numbers.puzzleThe object 5 4 6 9 3 2 1 7 8

2021 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Garza of Iowa, a two-time son and Kelly Olynyk as Kispert, juniors Butler season and we are going based onthe a 9x9 9 3 2 8 7 1 5 6 4
is to place numbers
selection, along with Ayo first-team All-Americans grid
and Dosunmu — is Cun- to need him to play at a 1 to 9with
in theseveral
empty spaces 2 5 1 3 8 7 9 4 6
Dosunmu of Illinois and from Gonzaga. given
Cade Cunningham of
ningham, the favorite to high level starting the so that numbers.
each row, eachThe 7 6 9 2 1 4 8 5 3
“He’s the epitome of object
Oklahoma State.
be chosen first overall end of this week.” column and each 3x3 the
is to place box 4 8 3 5 9 6 7 2 1
a college athlete. He’s a numbers
Kispert and Butler poster child for the term
in the NBA draft. The contains the1same to 9 number
in
8 2 4 7 6 9 3 1 5
the empty spaces so
had plenty of company, student-athlete, great
calm freshman forward THIRD TEAM only once. The difficulty
that each row, each 6 9 7 1 5 3 4 8 2
helped engineer an up- Baylor’s Mitchell was level increases from
though. student, great ambassa- column and each 3 1 5 4 2 8 6 9 7
set of Baylor in the Big joined on the third team Monday
The Bulldogs also dor for the program, our 12 tourney and will lead 3x3 boxtocontains
Sunday. Difficulty Level 3/16

landed big man Drew
Timme and freshman
sensation Jalen Suggs on
the second team while
Joel Ayayi was an honor-
able mention pick. The
Bears had Davion Mitch-
ell on the third team and
MaCio Teague as an hon-
orable mention.
“Thinking about me
as a freshman coming to
Baylor and not knowing
what I’m getting myself
into, having no expecta-
tions for how well I’m go-
ing to be or how good I’m
going to be — it means a
lot to come full circle,”
said Butler, the Big 12
player of the year and a
third-team All-American
last season.
It is the first time Bay-
school and college ath-
letics in general,” Gonza-
ga coach Mark Few said.
“It’s all been because of
the work, the time he’s
put in, and his growth
physically and mentally.
He’s just an unbelievable
guy.”
So is Garza, the bril-
liant big man from Iowa,
who came up two votes
of being a unanimous
choice last season. In
fact, he’s been so domi-
nant that the school’s ca-
reer scoring leader will
have his No. 55 jersey
retired at the end of the
season.
“He’s the focal point
of every defense every
time we take the floor.
The more tape that’s on
the fourth-seeded Cow-
boys into the NCA A
Tournament.
“Oklahoma State,
last year wasn’t the year
that they were proud of,”
Cunningham said, “but I
know there’s a bunch of
guys that wanted to win
and were going to do ev-
erything that it took to
win. So having a group
of guys like that, with
the coach we have and
staff we have, that’s what
I want to surround my-
self with.”
SECOND TEAM
While the first team
was full of upperclass-
men, the second team
belonged to college bas-
by Quentin Grimes, the the same number only once. The difficulty level
high-scoring guard from
increases from Monday to Sunday.
Houston; Herb Jones
of Alabama; Cameron
Krutwig of mid-major
darling Loyola Chicago;
and Chris Duarte of Or-
egon.
Just like the first- and
second-team All-Amer-
icans, their teams also
will be playing in the
NCA A Tournament this
week.
“You never want to
take winning for grant-
ed,” said Krutwig, a
member of the Ramblers
team that reached the Fi-
nal Four in 2018. “We put
a lot of hard work into it.
But we were sitting there
saying, ‘There’s so much
more to go.’”

Sister Jean thrilled to join Loyola Chicago for NCAA

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Loyola
Chicago is back in the
NCAA Tournament. And
Sister Jean will be there,
too.
The 101-year-old team
chaplain’s lobbying paid
off Tuesday when the
school reversed course
and announced she will
go. That means she gets
to watch her beloved
Ramblers in person for
the first time this season
when Loyola meets Geor-
gia Tech in Indianapolis
on Friday.
Sister Jean Dolores
Schmidt couldn’t be hap-
pier.
“I kept saying to people
I want to go not because
of myself,” she said Tues-
day. “I want to go because
of the team. I want to be
present for them. I want
to be present for (coach
Porter Moser) and I want
to be present for Loyola. I
said you have to remem-
ber what happened in
2018.”
Who can forget?
Loyola made a surpris-
ing run to the Final Four,
charming the nation with
one last-second victory
after another. Along the
way, it shined a light on
the 1963 team that broke
racial barriers on the way
to what remains the lone
NCAA championship for
an Illinois school.
Above all else, at age
98, Sister Jean became a
celebrity, with national
TV interviews and even
her own bobblehead.
It was quite a ride.
But it was not clear if she
would be along — in per-
son, anyway — this time.
Loyola (24-4) leaped
into the AP Top 25 for the
first time since March
1985 and hit the 20-win
mark for the fourth year
in a row. The eighth-seed-
ed Ramblers come in
with the nation’s stingiest
defense, allowing 55.5
points per game.
“This is what we’ve
wanted,” Moser said.
“We’ve wanted to sustain
success. We wanted to get
it back here. That’s what
drives us.”
Having Sister Jean
along makes it a little
sweeter.
She did not travel to
St. Louis for the Missouri
Valley tournament, which
Loyola won for the sec-
ond time in four years.
Though she is fully vac-
cinated, there were safety
and logistical issues, and
it was the same with the
NCAA Tournament.
“It was a little struggle
going along the journeyed
path,” she said, “but I fi-
nally said to one of our
executives, ‘You know,
I’m just going to sound
like the old woman in the
Gospel who kept after the
judge and after the judge
for what she wanted. And
finally the judge said, ‘Let
her do what she wants.’”
Sister Jean acknowl-
edged she has felt “lone-
ly” not being around the
team. It’s been “very dif-
ficult” for her to watch
games on TV because the
facility she lives in doesn’t
have all the channels.
Sometimes, she listens on
the radio and follows the
play-by-play online.
When she goes to In-
dianapolis, she will have
a nurse and security
with her and will eat in
her hotel room. She’s not
sure where she’ll be seat-
ed when Loyola meets
ninth-seeded Georgia
Tech at Butler’s Hin-
kle Fieldhouse, one of a
half-dozen Indiana ven-
ues being used to host the
tournament, but she’ll be
safe.
She won’t be allowed
up-close contact with the
Ramblers because teams
are isolating. But just be-
ing there figures to be a
boost.
After all, Loyola play-
ing in the NCAA without
Sister Jean just doesn’t
seem right. Had she not
gotten the green light to
go, Sister Jean had some
backup.
“One alum wrote and
told me that her husband
was willing to drive me
down,” she said. “Some-
body else told me she was
going to sneak me out of
the university. And anoth-
er couple said that they
felt they would like to kid- and there was no food
nap me and then Loyola available, they were giv-
would have to search for en a pass.
me. Loyola didn’t know It resulted in a big
any of those things. I shake-up of the officiat-
didn’t tell them until af- ing corps for the games,
ter.” 52 of which take place
No one will have to Thursday through next
sneak out Sister Jean or Monday at different
kidnap her. She’ll be there arenas in Indianapolis,
cheering on her Ram- Bloomington and Pur-
blers, just like in 2018, due. Though the NCA A
and that sure will be a brought plenty of backup
welcomed change for her. referees, the mass de-
Sister Jean hasn’t been parture served up yet an- ACROSS
on campus since the start other illustration of how 1 Emerald Isle
of the pandemic. things can go wrong. city
She starts work at “It’s not ever going to 7 Shoebox
7:30 a.m. and tries to fin- be perfect in a pandem- number
ish by 3:30 p.m. so she ic,” NCA A vice president 11 Morphine, e.g.
can watch Jeopardy. She Dan Gavitt said. “It’s an 12 Hunted animal
keeps in touch with play- unfortunate and disap- 13 Goose’s mate
ers through emails and pointing circumstance 14 Script bit
leads the team in prayer for all involved. But I don’t 15 Text additions
before each game. She think there’s something 17 “You know
also gives Moser scouting that can be pinpointed as how —”
reports. a kind of failure here. Just 20 Different
As for this tournament? an unfortunate set of cir- 23 Neither
Sister Jean has Loyola cumstances.” follower
getting to the Elite Eight, Earlier, questions 24 Gaelic wailer
knocking out top-seeded arose after coach Rick 26 Mahershala of
Illinois and Tennessee be- Pitino ran a late-night “Moonlight”
sides Georgia Tech, in her practice with his Iona 27 Ram’s mate city 18 Apartment
bracket. Her pick to win it team as part of the 28 Horace’s “— DOWN sign
all? Gonzaga. NCA A’s late and un- Poetica” 1 Pound occu- 19 Mutton dish
“I’m just gonna be so announced change in 29 Gets comfy pant 21 Like Poe tales
excited when I get there,” testing protocol, first re- 31 Carnival city 2 — tree 22 Plant anew
she said. “It’s a whole year ported by The New York 32 One of the 3 Storage site 24 “Twilight”
since I’ve seen them play Barrymores 4 Stows cargo heroine
Times.
in a game (in person). 33 Gush forth 5 Article 25 Stunned
Gavitt portrayed that
I just want to see them. 34 Radio prob- 6 Notorious wonder
as a “practical adjust-
I’ve watched their videos lem emperor 30 Wyoming
ment,” and not a major
and stuff like that. It’s just 37 Roman censor 7 Breaks apart range
change.
gonna be like old home 39 Loves to 8 Instrument on 33 Unhappy look
He said players were
week to me, to see them pieces some euros 35 Distinct flavor
initially going to be
again.” 43 Plow pullers 9 Buddhist 36 Notion
required to pass two
44 City on the school 37 Force member
COVID-19 tests no less
6 officials out of NCAA than 12 hours apart on
Passaic 10 Retina setting 38 Log chopper
45 Chapel 16 Music’s 40 Unrefined
Tournament after 1 different calendar days to seating Quincy 41 Pitcher’s stat
tests positive be eligible to practice af- 46 Emerald Isle 17 Laughable 42 Sun setting
INDIANAPOLIS — ter they arrived. Iona took
Parts of the NCAA’s fine- its two tests in the same
ly honed plan for playing day, and Gavitt said the
March Madness amid change had been OK’d by
the pandemic came into the NCAA medical advi-
question Tuesday just as sory group and the local
teams began gearing up health department.
for practices to tune up for Pitino said he was giv-
the games later this week. en the green light for the
One referee tested pos- Sunday night workout,
itive for COVID-19, forc- and so, he went. Iona
ing him and five others missed 60 days in the
who went out to dinner middle of the season be-
with him, out of the tour- cause of the virus.
nament. “I gave four guys the
Their excursion ran night off,” Pitino said.
counter to a protocol that “We practiced a lot of the
called on all players and other guys who didn’t get
staff to eat at their NCA A a lot of minutes” in Iona’s
hotels, but because the league championship
refs’ rooms weren’t ready game win Saturday.

If you don’t read The Dispatch, how are you gonna know?

Droughts over: Drexel, Rutgers lead charge back to NCAAs
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA —
The last time Drexel bas-
ketball made more than
local headlines, TMZ
was on the scene be-
cause Philadelphia 76ers
star Ben Simmons and
model Kendall Jenner
were in the bleachers for
a game on the West Phil-
adelphia campus.
Maybe real basketball
junkies remember when
Zach Spiker’s 2018 team
rallied from a 34-point,
first-half deficit to stun
Delaware in the biggest
comeback in Division I
men’s basketball history.
The rest of Drexel’s
tradition doesn’t have a
whole of March Madness
in it. Spiker, though,
had to cut off a sugges-
tion that he took over a
program in 2016 devoid
of much hoops histo-
ry, noting the Dragons
did represent the North
Atlantic Conference in
the NCA A Tournament
three straight years.
“Timeout. Timeout,”
Spiker said by phone.
“We won three straight
titles from ‘94 to ’96. I
mean, we beat Memphis
in the tournament, you
know?”
Long the outsider in
Philadelphia’s rich bas-
ketball scene, the Drag-
ons snapped that 25-year
streak with a Colonial
Harden
Continued from Page 1B
checked out. After un-
dergoing an MRI, he
was diagnosed with a
strain. He was told he
could continue to pitch
in hopes the injury
would go away.
Harden kept throw-
ing. The pain kept get-
ting worse.
In October, he made
an appointment with Dr.
Ryves Moore with the
Specialty Orthopedic
Group in Oxford. Moore
sent Harden for anoth-
er MRI in which con-
trast dye was inserted
through a vein in his arm
to improve the quality of
the image. The results
showed something that
either hadn’t been there
before or that Harden’s
previous doctors had
missed: a partial tear of
the right ulnar collateral
ligament.
“Everybody had been
telling me that it was
probably just a strain
and I just needed to
throw it out,” Harden
said. “Honestly, I think
I knew from the start. It
was painful. I was glad
Baseball
Continued from Page 1B
striking out the side in
the sixth, while Stone
Simmons capped off the
whole-staff effort with a
MSU
Continued from Page 1B
“I am looking forward
to being a part of the
Bulldog Family, and all
the exciting things hap-
pening at Mississippi
State.”
Hopson resigned
from his post in Hatties-
burg after just one game
this year. In parts of five
seasons at Southern
Miss Hopson compiled
a 28-23 record. He was
previously 32-17 as the
head coach at Alcorn
State prior to his run at
Southern Miss.
The Vicksburg native
brings a wealth of expe-
rience to the Bulldogs’
Prep
Continued from Page 1B
Hope. Madyson McBrayer pitched all five innings,
striking out five.
Jo Byrns (Tenn.) 8, New Hope 1, four innings
New Hope lost Tuesday’s earlier game 8 -1 to Jo
Athletic Association
Tournament champion-
ship that earned them
the No. 16 seed and a
game against No. 1 Illi-
nois on Friday.
Drexel is back in the
bracket — and some
long-forgotten teams
have tagged along.
Remember Appala-
chian State? The Moun-
taineers have only two
previous NCA A appear-
ances — under coaches
Bobby Cremins (1979)
and Buzz Peterson
(2000) — and ended a
21-year skid.
Oral Roberts is part
of March Madness for
the first time since 2008,
Cleveland State returned
for the first time since
2009, and Morehead
State snapped a drought
that dates to 2011. UC
Santa Barbara made
consecutive NCA A tour-
naments as a No. 15 seed
in 2010 and 2011 and is
back as a 12 seed. Geor-
gia Tech is back for the
first time since 2010.
Those are drops in
the 3-point basket com-
pared to Rutgers making
the field for the first time
in 30 years.
One piece of advice
seems universal: Enjoy
the moment, and that
applies as well to the
two tourney newcom-
ers (Grand Canyon and
Hartford).
to finally know.”
Still, Harden’s heart
dropped when he heard
the news. Oak Hill
coach Mitch Bohon had
a similar reaction.
“When he told me it
was a partial tear, that
he was done probably
for the year, it was a kick
in the gut,” Bohon said.
“He was going to be our
No. 1 arm or right there
with a couple other of
our guys at the top of
our rotation.”
Instead, Moore told
Harden, he wouldn’t be
playing at all — let alone
pitching — for at least
six months.
Building back up
On Nov. 5, Harden
underwent surgery in
Tupelo to repair his
UCL. Because the liga-
ment wasn’t fully torn,
he avoided “Tommy
John” surgery, which
involves replacing the
ligament with a tendon
taken from somewhere
else in the body.
Still, recovery from
1-2-3 ninth inning.
Now riding a sev-
en-game win streak
heading into Friday’s
staff. Ahead of his time
as a head coach, Hop-
son worked in varying
capacities at Ole Miss,
LSU, Florida and Mich-
igan. He also served as
the defensive coordina-
tor at Southern Miss be-
tween 2005 and 2007.
Hopson came under
some scrutiny during
the 2019 offseason when
he considered disgraced
former Baylor head
coach Art Briles for his
then-vacant offensive
coordinator job. Briles
was fired from his post
at Baylor over a slew of
concerns regarding sex-
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
“At the high-major lev-
el, guys just want to get
to the NBA. At our level,
guys just want to play in
the NCA A Tournament,”
Appalachian State coach
Dustin Kerns said. “And
there is an element now
of, ‘Hey, how can I get
the NBA?’ But we told
them when we got here,
’Hey listen, App State
has been to the NCA A
Tournament. This pro-
gram has been twice. So
if we can go before, we
can do it again.’”
For every mid-major
dreaming of blossoming
into the next Gonzaga
-- or pulling off a UMBC
-- the reality is most of
these one-bracket won-
der programs fall back
into obscurity and won’t
pop up on Selection Sun-
day for years or decades
to come.
That won’t stop the
fun this weekend.
Look at Drexel. The
Dragons aren’t part of
Philadelphia’s famed Big
5 — Villanova, Penn, La
Salle, Temple and Saint
Joseph’s comprise the
city’s 65-year-old rivalry
series — and let former
coach Bruiser Flint stick
around for a 15-year run
without an NCA A Tour-
nament appearance.
So when the Dragons
clinched a berth in the
face of the pandemic,
the school partied like
the procedure wasn’t
easy. For two weeks af-
terward, Harden was out
of school with his right
arm immobilized in a
sling and fitted snugly
into a restrictive brace.
Showers were out of the
question — the contrap-
tion wasn’t allowed to
get wet — and mundane
tasks like eating and
writing were next to im-
possible.
“It was pretty hard at
the beginning to recov-
er,” Harden said.
But the pain and stiff-
ness went away with
time. Harden consult-
ed with a friend, 2019
West Point High School
graduate Roe Ketchum,
who had undergone the
same injury on what to
expect. He rested his
arm often to let it heal
naturally and also at-
tended physical therapy
four to five days a week.
He did other exercises
on his own time, using
Jaeger Sports’ stretchy
“J-Bands” or squeez-
ing a ball to build up
strength in his arm.
SEC opener against LSU,
MSU will look for its
first series win in Baton
Rouge since 2016 and just
ual assaults allegedly
committed by football
players and how the uni-
versity handled such is-
sues.
Terms of Hopson’s
deal are unclear at this
time.
MSU guard JaMya
Mingo-Young to enter
transfer portal
Mississippi State
sophomore guard JaMya
Mingo-Young announced
Tuesday she intends to
leave the program.
Mingo-Young, who just
wrapped up her sopho-
Byrns (Tennessee) in four innings.
The Red Devils scored six runs in the third and
two in the fourth.
Taylor Brownlee drove in New Hope’s only run
in the first inning.
it was 2019. The Drag-
ons returned to campus
with a police escort and
students lined sidewalks
cheering them on. Drex-
el put up a big screen
outdoors and threw a
watch party with music,
giveaways, and fire pits
for the selection show.
“Even though it’s a
pandemic, we want our
guys to have an expe-
rience, and have a mo-
ment,” Spiker said. “By
doing little things like
that, we’re able to do
that.”
Most of these teams
weren’t in the NCA A
mix last season when
the tournament was can-
celed because of the pan-
demic. Rutgers, though,
went 20-11 and seemed
a safe bet to make the
2020 field before it was
waved off the court mo-
ments before its Big Ten
Tournament opener. The
Scarlet Knights, who
received a No. 10 seed,
pushed forward this sea-
son with Ron Harper Jr.,
Geo Baker and Jacob
Young to go 15-11 and
end the drought.
“None of us were
alive,” guard Paul Mulca-
hy said. “But there’s
also been a lot of people
who have supported the
program for 30 years
through the ups and
downs. I’m just really
happy for those people,
In early February,
Moore cleared Harden
to begin a hitting pro-
gram. On Sunday, the
sophomore received the
green light to play in a
game. He was limited
to hitting and playing
first and second base —
pitching would have to
wait.
Still, Harden had
done what he needed to
in order to return to the
field. He beat Moore’s
estimated six-month
timeline by more than
seven weeks. Eventual-
ly, he said, he expects
to be 100 percent recov-
ered.
“It sucked really bad
to have even torn it at
all, but a full tear would
have been much worse
because I would have
been out for a lot longer
than what I was,” Hard-
en said.
‘Know your own limit’
Harden needs no fur-
ther reminders of his
injury than the “big old
scar” gracing his right
its second since 2006.
“We’ve had a chance to
see a lot out of our team,”
Lemonis said. “We like
more season in Starkville,
released a statement via
Twitter that she plans to
enter the transfer portal
after two years at MSU.
“This was not an easy
decision to make, but
after much thought and
consideration with my
family, friends and career
mentors, I have decided
to enter my name into
the transfer portal,” she
wrote. “I am grateful for
the opportunity to pursue
my degree at Mississip-
pi State University and
play basketball for such a
great program these last
two years.”
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021
that they finally get to
experience this as well.”
Rutgers had a taste
of March success in the
1970s under coach Tom
Young when they played
in four tournaments
from 1975-1983 and
reached the 1976 Final
Four.
The playing field be-
tween perennial power
programs with their
Hall of Fame coach-
es and one-and-done
first-rounders and every-
one else was somewhat
flattened this season. In
other cases, it was find-
ing the right coach.
Before Dennis Gates
was hired in 2019,
Cleveland State’s pro-
gram had endured five
straight seasons of at
least 21 losses. The
Horizon League champs
went 19-7 and might
lean on their postseason
past when they play sec-
ond-seeded Houston.
In 2009, the Vikings
knocked off No. 4 seed
Wake Forest in the first
round. In 1986, they
stunned Bob Knight’s
Indiana team and made
it to the Sweet 16 be-
fore losing to Navy on a
last-second shot by Da-
vid Robinson.
“It’s a glimpse of
hope,” Gates said of his
team’s tourney berth.
“It’s a glimpse of excite-
ment and building and
elbow.
He said he’s fairly
confident of what ulti-
mately was its cause.
“I overworked myself,
realistically,” he said. “I
worked out every day.
I threw every day. I hit
every day. I just did too
much.”
Harden his injury can
be a cautionary tale for
teammates who could
be putting themselves
in similar positions —
although a strong work
ethic like his isn’t neces-
sarily a problem.
“You have to take
care of your arm, and it
shows, but it’s never a
bad thing to work hard,”
he said. “You’ve got to
know your own limit.”
Harden has found
his. He knows he can’t
continue the habits that
may have gotten him in
trouble ultimately, and
he’s willing to wait in
order to pitch again. He
said there’s a chance
he could return to the
mound by around the
time the Raiders hope to
begin their playoff run.
where we’re at right now.
We’re excited going down
there to Baton Rouge. We
know it’ll be tough. It’s al-
Mingo-Young was rat-
ed a four-star recruit and
the No. 97 player in the
2019 class according to
ESPN HoopGurlz. Over
two seasons in Starkville,
the Louisiana native av-
eraged 4.9 points, 2.8 re-
bounds and 2.1 assists per
game.
Following a limited
out[put her freshman
year, Mingo-Young dou-
bled her minutes per
game while notching 5.6
points, three assists and
3.9 rebounds per contest
this season.
She also becomes the
second player to enter the
McBrayer had three strikeouts in 3.1 innings in
the circle.
Goodpasture Christian (Tenn.) 11, Caledonia 4
3B
innovation. I think it
will carry and be talked
about for a long period of
time.”
College athletics is
big business and the
boon from making the
tournament often goes
well beyond more invest-
ed fans in office pools.
The repetition of
school names on the
ticker and social media
— and maybe a stunning
upset or two on national
television like Florida
Gulf Coast’s “Dunk City”
Sweet 16 run in 2013
— has often led to in-
creased interest among
potential students and
donors to dip into those
deep pockets to spruce
up athletic facilities or
other buildings on cam-
pus.
“It’s the schools that
aren’t in it every year
that get the notoriety ev-
ery time the teams that
are in the tournament
(are listed),” Spiker said.
“Our name comes up
there for the past week,
whether it’s on ESPN,
CBS, Fox Sports - people
talk about it: ‘Drexel’s
in.’ People start to look
up Drexel.”
For all the expecta-
tions that a tournament
berth and a week of ex-
posure will do wonders
for a program, the reali-
ty is most never sustain
that success.
“I love pitching,”
he said. “That’s like
my thing. If I get that
chance, that’d just be
great. I’d be really hap-
py with that.”
For now, Harden will
support his teammates
— including pitchers
Brian Buchanan, Gunter
Reed and Drew Wright
— from the infield, the
dugout and the plate.
Bohon said Harden is “a
big team guy” who hap-
pily cheered on his fel-
low Raiders even while
out with the injury.
“It was kind of a freak
thing that happened, but
he’s bounced back,” Bo-
hon said. “He’s in good
spirits. I think he’s go-
ing to be a spark to us
hitting the ball and play-
ing defense.”
Harden feels that
spark, too. After a long
recovery process, he’s
back where he belongs.
“It’s honestly one of
the best feelings just to
be out there on the field
and be with these guys,”
Harden said.
ways tough getting wins
out of there, but that’s
SEC play. I mean, we’re
ready to go.”
transfer portal in the past
10 days after junior for-
ward Xaria Wiggins did
so last week.
MSU concluded its
2020-21 campaign, its
first under head coach
Nikki Mccray-Penson,
10-9 (5-7 SEC) and
missed the NCAA Tour-
nament for the first time
since the 2013-14 season.
A source with knowledge
fo the situation told The
Dispatch Monday the
school turned down an
invitation to the WNIT in
recent days.
4B WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021
New Mexico hires Pitino, as Minnesota aims higher once again
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
After an amicable split
with Minnesota, Richard
Pitino headed west for New
Mexico, no longer a young
man relying more on name
recognition than coaching
experience.
Both the mid-major
team he’s inheriting and
the power-conference pro-
gram he’s leaving behind
are searching for a spark to
bring fans back to their sto-
ried arenas.
Hours after Minnesota
finalized his firing follow-
ing eight seasons on the
job, the 38-year-old Pitino
was hired as New Mexico’s
coach to succeed Paul Weir,
who went 58-63 in four sea-
sons for the Lobos.
“He is his own person.
He knows his name is a
Comics & Puzzles
DILBERT
ZITS
GARFIELD
CANDORVILLE
BABY BLUES
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
name he’ll carry with him
the rest of his life, and he
owes a lot to his dad for giv-
ing him an opportunity, but
the fact is he has built the
successes and the reason
he is here today is because
of who he is and what he
has done,” New Mexico ath-
letic director Eddie Nuñez
said on a video conference
call with reporters.
Dad in this case, of
course, is Rick Pitino, the
Hall of Fame coach who has
returned this year to the
NCAA Tournament with
his fifth different team,
Iona.
When Minnesota picked
Richard Pitino for the job,
he had one season of prior
experience as a head coach
at Florida International
and was far from the first
choice.
FAMILY CIRCUS
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
Though Pitino went just
54-96 in conference play
with only three finishes in
the rugged Big Ten high-
er than 10th place, he took
the Gophers to the NCAA
Tournament twice and went
there five other times as an
assistant at Louisville un-
der his father and at Florida
with Billy Donovan. Two of
Pitino’s other teams at Min-
nesota, including this year,
were on an NCAA Tourna-
ment track before injuries
led to a late-season demise.
“I love Minnesota. It was
an eight awesome years,
but I’ve landed in a spot
where I know we can win
big,” Pitino said on KFAN
radio in the Twin Cities.
Nuñez played for and
coached under Donovan.
Gophers athletic director
Mark Coyle was another
vital reference for Nuñez,
who also considered former
Nebraska coach Tim Miles
among others for the vacan-
cy. Coyle and Pitino grew
close, even though Coyle
didn’t hire him, and the
strength of their relation-
ship made an impression
on Nuñez.
“He is one of my favor-
ite people. I respect him.
I know he’s going to do
wonderful things at New
Mexico, but in terms of at
Minnesota, I just felt like it
was time in my heart that
we needed to go in a dif-
ferent direction and try to
find a new leader to help us
accomplish the goals that
I firmly believe we can ac-
complish here,” Coyle said.
New Mexico last
reached the NCAA Tour-
nament in 2014, in coach
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
I have seen
letters in
your column from
people upset that
their guests don’t
help them after
dinner. I am the
opposite. I held
onto a poem you
printed years
ago and had it
perma-plaqued
and posted on a
kitchen cabinet.
For more than
20 years, my
husband and I
hosted a dinner Dear Abby
every Sunday
after church. I
set the table for 10, but we
often had more. When guests
offered to help, I handed them
a copy of that poem. Could you
print it again for your readers?
— FAITHFUL FOLLOWER IN
MASSACHUSETTS
DEAR FOLLOWER: Gladly.
That poem has been requested
many times over the years. It
resonates with hosts who are
territorial about their space
when entertaining. It is includ-
ed in my booklet “Keepers,”
which is a collection of poems,
essays and letters readers
have told me they clipped and
saved to reread until they were
yellowed with age and fell
apart. You were clever to per-
ma-plaque yours. “Keepers” is
both witty and philosophical. It
covers many subjects including
Horoscopes
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March
17). You may not believe you
have mystical power, but that
won’t stop unexplained and
wondrous events from happen-
ing to you. A secret wish will
be answered. You’ll find a sort
of treasure when you follow
through on an uncanny feeling
for where to “dig.” And you’ll
be credited for making all the
difference for someone. Libra
and Taurus adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 30, 22, 14,
4 and 17.
ARIES (March 21-April
19). There’s no ideal condition
for bringing out the best in a
human. What works for one
person is useless for another.
Whatever condition makes
you want to be where you are
— that’s the right one for you
Craig Neal’s first year. The
Lobos, playing in the Moun-
tain West Conference, went
three times in six seasons
under Neal’s predecessor,
Steve Alford. Playing in
their eclectic arena, The
Pit, they’ve had their share
of strong teams over the
last several decades.
“The way people view
this program is so high, and
it has earned that because
of the passionate fan base
that we have,” Nuñez said.
Nuñez said he was work-
ing on a six-year contract
for Pitino with an annual
salary similar to what Weir
had ($775,000). At Minne-
sota, Pitino’s base salary
was $2 million. His $1.7
million buyout will be sig-
nificantly lessened by his
new employment. Coyle
declined to be specific
children, par-
enting, animals,
aging, death,
forgiveness and
more. It can be
ordered by send-
ing your name
and address, plus
check or money
order for $8 (U.S.
funds) to Dear
Abby Keepers
Booklet, P.O.
Box 447, Mount
Morris, IL 61054-
0447. Shipping
and handling are
included in the
price.
It’s a quick
and easy read
as well as an inexpensive gift
for newlyweds, pet lovers, new
parents and anyone grieving or
recovering from an illness.
STAY OUT OF MY KITCHEN
by Susan Sawyer
Please stay away from my
kitchen
From my dishwashing, cook-
ing and such;
You were kind to have
offered to pitch in
But thanks, no, thank you
so much!
Please don’t think me
ungracious
When I ask that you leave
me alone;
For my kitchen’s not any too
spacious
And my routine is strictly
my own.
Tell you what: You stay out
today.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
Whatever you do, get warmed
up for it. When you’re warm,
you’re supported internally. You
can trust yourself. Just as cold
muscles are prone to injury,
cold states of being are prone
to mistakes.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
You’re that risk-taker who is
beloved because you’re not
afraid to be yourself. If they
laugh, even better. You welcome
levity whether you come by it
accidentally or on purpose. All
will be raised by you.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
Maybe you’re not sure what you
have to say, but you can be sure
that you have something to say.
Think and write about it. Talk
it over. Others will benefit from
about how much.
The Gophers play
at Williams Arena, the
93-year-old, barn-shaped
building with the unique-
ly raised floor that some
analysts and boosters
have pointed to as a hin-
drance to sustained suc-
cess for the program in
such an unrelenting con-
ference with big-spend-
ing competitors.
Pitino, in his radio in-
terview, said he didn’t
think recruits were dis-
suaded by it. He does,
however, believe it’s a
factor in declining atten-
dance when fancier pro-
fessional-team venues are
surrounding it in the area
with the NHL’s Wild, the
NBA’s Timberwolves, the
NFL’s Vikings and MLB’s
Twins.
of my kitchen
With its sodden, hot, lack-
luster lures —
When you’re here, stay out
of my kitchen
And I promise to stay out
of yours!
DEAR ABBY: I had weight-
loss surgery six months ago. I
haven’t had the dramatic trans-
formation that some people
experience. I’ve only lost about
50 pounds.
My problem is, friends who
know I had the operation keep
asking me how much weight I
lost. I think it’s a rude question
and none of their business. I
understand people are curious,
especially since they haven’t
seen me in person because of
COVID restrictions. How do I
answer without saying, “None
of your business”? — LOSING
IN NEW JERSEY
DEAR LOSING: Your friends
may just be curious and want to
congratulate you on a big loss,
and 50 pounds is one. That
said, you do not have to answer
every question that is asked.
All you need to say is, “I’ll let
you guess once you see me
again.” If they ask for a hint,
stick to your guns and change
the subject. Then consider
this: They may be gauging the
success of your surgery for
themselves.
DEAR READERS: Today’s
the day for the wearing of the
green. A very happy St. Pat-
rick’s Day to you all! — LOVE,
ABBY
hearing your unique take.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It
makes you feel cool when you
give recommendations that
others turn out to love or spread
awareness about a piece of
culture that opens minds and
brightens worlds. Guess what?
You ARE cool. Share your good
taste today.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
You never know how loved ones
are going to respond to your
work. They might be jealous that
the work got your attention and
not them. Or they might be over
the moon. Go forward, seeking
neither permission nor blessing.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
Even the hard-boiled pragmatist
you know will soften and bend
to your whimsical charms be-
cause, bottom line, you’re fun.
Life is more interesting when
you’re giving that carefree part
of yourself.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
It doesn’t matter that some
come by certain proficiencies
easier than others. For the
current task, what’s required is
a willingness to break down the
learning to the right-sized chunk
and then practice until you know
it well.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). Fight your two biggest ene-
mies: fear and distraction. You
might also consider that distrac-
tion is fear in disguise. It’s an
excuse that fear uses to keep
you from dedicating yourself to
what you really want.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). When the environment
is habit-forming, the person
doesn’t have to be. Take pres-
sure off yourself by being in the
location that will do the heavy
lifting for you because it’s struc-
tured and organized around a
particular task.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). As humans, we have a
limited understanding of our
own motives. What you do know
is that, at the very least, you’re
trying to create unity, not dis-
cord. With this as your lodestar
and the willingness to check
yourself, move forward.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20). Solid organization helps
you deal with the unexpected.
And more importantly, it allows
you to be confident and relaxed
whether things are going to plan
or not.
Turnabout
SOLUTION:
Food
A brunch spread
FIT FOR SPRING
Pastry Brunch Cups make an excellent appetizer and can be made ahead of time.
FAMILY FEATURES
F
rom tasty small bites to a
filling feast and even dessert
for breakfast, brunch options
are nearly endless. Take your spring
brunch to the next level with recipes
that appease appetites of all kinds.
First, start with portioned pastry
cups perfect for appetizers. Bring
out the protein-packed breakfast
burritos for the main course then,
for a final touch of sweet delicious-
ness, offer up lemony doughnuts to
cap off the feast.
Appetizer-sized portions and
small bites of all sorts are ideal for
breakfast spreads, and these Pastry
Brunch Cups are perfect for starting
a morning meal with loved ones. Or,
if a busy schedule looms, try baking
a batch and separating into appro-
priate serving sizes for a simple way
to meal prep heading into a new
week.
Find more breakfast recipes at
Culinary.net.
See BRUNCH, 6B
Slurping
on sunshine
FAMILY FEATURES
I
t’s that time of year again
when nearly everyone wants to
be outside all day, every day.
These are the times kids have
been waiting for all year long.
The sun is shining bright in the
sky, the flowers are blooming and
the temperature is rising every
minute. Spring and summer are
typically full of fun, laughter, fam-
ily and friends – not to mention
great recipes everyone can enjoy
indoors and outdoors throughout
the warmer months.
Try this Sunshine Smoothie for
something cool and refreshing
during the sunny seasons. This
recipe will have nearly everyone
feeling re-energized and ready for
more warm weather. It’s a perfect
afternoon pick-me-up after a long
day of yard work, sunbathing or
swing-set climbing. It can cool you
down and has a fruity flavor that is
almost irresistible.
When thinking about recipes
to try this spring, consider taking
advantage of fresh fruits and
vegetables at grocery stores and
farmer’s markets. There can be
so many wonderful flavors to try.
For example, this recipe includes
grapefruit (a less commonly
used fruit), fresh orange and ripe
bananas.
With the heat coming and fresh
See SMOOTHIE, 6B
These Breakfast Burritos are packed with vegetables and protein.
Fast, flavorful meals when you’re short on time
FAMILY FEATURES
Q
uality meals don’t
have to drain hours
from your day;
satisfying taste is possible
in just minutes when you
have a few strategies that
can help make meal prep
easier and the results more
enjoyable.
Eat better with veggies.
If eating better is your
goal, explore veggie-based
recipes that are hearty
and filled with nutrients
and vitamins. This Brown
and Wild Rice Bowl with
Veggie Burger is perfect for
a meatless Monday or any
other day when you need
a fast, filling and flavorful
meal in short order. If you
don’t have veggie burgers
at home, or simply prefer
a meat-based option, a
cooked frozen beef patty is
a good time-saving alter-
native.
Make simple swaps for
variety. When you find a
dish that’s easy and tasty,
you may find yourself
falling back on the same
thing again and again.
Prevent taste bud boredom
by mixing up your ingre-
dients. You can transform
a rice-based recipe by
changing up the veggies,
cheese, dressing and other
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 n 5B
familyfeatures.com
familyfeatures.com
Beef and Broccoli Garlic Rice can be made with portion-controlled minute rice.
toppings. Try pickled jala-
penos for spice. Add corn if
you like things sweet. Swap
a creamy dressing with a
zesty vinaigrette for fewer
calories and a whole new
taste.
Shop for convenience.
Takeout may let you skip
prep time completely,
but you can easily make
versions of many favorite
to-go meals at home in just
LIFESTYLES EDITOR
Jan Swoope: 328-2471
familyfeatures.com
This Bacon Banana Bread com-
bines two morning meal classics in
one easy-to-enjoy bite.
Make breakfast
better with bacon
FAMILY FEATURES
W
armer spring weather
makes the season a
perfect time for families
to enjoy breakfast together. From
classic combinations like bacon
and eggs to more extravagant
offerings, a breakfast spread offers
a blank canvas for creativity and
opportunities to enjoy your loved
ones’ favorite morning noshes.
For your next breakfast celebra-
tion, whether it’s a special occasion
or just an excuse to spend time
together, consider adding what
may become a new family favorite
to the menu. This Bacon Banana
Bread combines two morning meal
classics in one easy-to-enjoy bite.
Plus, it’s made using Coleman
Natural Bacon so you can feel
confident you’re feeding your
family all-natural pork sourced
from American Humane Certified
family farmers who raise their
animals the way nature intended –
100% crate-free without antibiotics
or added hormones. The prepara-
tion is simple (just 10 minutes in
the kitchen) so you can put this
dish together and catch up with
loved ones while baking a sweet
and savory snack.
For more breakfast recipe ideas,
visit ColemanNatural.com.
BACON BANANA BREAD
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 70-80 minutes
Servings: 6-8
Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
3 medium bananas, mashed
See BACON, 6B
familyfeatures.com
a few minutes. This Beef Tempt your taste buds
and Broccoli Garlic Rice with more convenient meal
uses perfectly portioned ideas at minuterice.com.
Minute Ready to Serve
microwavable rice cups
that help you put together
BROWN AND WILD RICE
a delicious lunch or dinner BOWL WITH VEGGIE
without measuring or over-
eating. Choosing products BURGER
Prep time: 5 minutes
like portion-controlled rice Servings: 1
and other ready-to-serve
ingredients can help shave 1 cup Minute Ready to Serve
time off your prep work. See RICE, 6B
6B WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Brunch
Continued from Page 5B
PASTRY BRUNCH CUPS
Servings: 18
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
2 sheets puff pastry
18 eggs
2 cups diced ham
chopped fresh green onions
■ Heat oven 375 F.
■ In small saucepan, melt
butter. Whisk flour with
butter. Gradually pour in milk,
whisking each time. Bring to
simmer, whisking until mixture
starts to thicken. Remove from
heat; stir in Swiss cheese. Set
aside.
■ Use rolling pin to thin out
puff pastries. Cut each into
nine squares. Line pastry
squares in muffin cups,
pressing bottoms down firmly
and moving pastries up sides
for edges to come up just over
muffin tins. Fill each cup with 1
teaspoon cheese sauce. Crack
one egg into each cup and
sprinkle each with diced ham.
■ Bake 10-15 minutes
until eggs set. Sprinkle with
chopped green onions.
BREAKFAST BURRITO
1 Silver Fern Farms New
Zealand 100% Grass-Fed New
York Strip Steak (10 ounces)
oil
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, sliced
lengthwise
4 large mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2-1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tomato, finely chopped
8 eggs
1/2 cup milk
4 large tortillas
1 cup spinach
1 1/2 ounces feta cheese,
crumbled
1/4 cup cilantro
1 avocado
lime wedges (optional)
hot sauce (optional)
■ Remove steak from packag-
ing and set aside 10 minutes.
Once steak reaches room
temperature, heat pan over
medium-high heat.
■ Rub steak with oil and
season with salt and pepper,
to taste.
■ Cook until medium-rare,
approximately 3-4 minutes
each side. Remove from pan
and cover loosely with tinfoil
to rest 5 minutes.
■ Reduce heat to medium
and add splash of oil. Add
onion; cook 1 minute. Add red
bell pepper and mushrooms;
cook 1 minute.
■ Add cumin, paprika and
chili powder; stir through.
■ When veggies are ten-
der (about 2 minutes), add
tomato and cook until soft.
Season with salt and pepper,
to taste.
■ In large bowl, whisk eggs,
milk and salt and pepper, to
taste.
■ Heat pan to medium heat
and add splash of oil.
■ Pour egg mixture into pan
and cook, lifting and folding
eggs until thickened and no
visible liquid egg remains. Do
not stir constantly.
■ Lay tortillas on flat surface
or plate.
■ In center of tortilla, add
cooked veggies and top with
thinly sliced beef. Add handful
of spinach, scrambled eggs,
crumbled feta, cilantro and
avocado. Fold bottom of torti-
lla and roll.
■ Serve with lime wedges
and hot sauce, if desired.
LEMON RICOTTA
DOUGHNUTS
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 7 minutes
Doughnuts:
Vegetable oil, for frying
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cups Domino Golden
Sugar, divided
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lemon zest
5 large eggs
1 3/4 cups ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon pure vanilla
extract
Lemon Curd (optional):
1 stick unsalted butter,
softened
1 1/2 cups Domino Golden
Sugar
2 large eggs
2 egg yolks
4 lemons, zest and juice only
1/8 teaspoon salt
■ To make doughnuts: In
large saucepan, preheat oil to
350 F. Prepare cookie sheet
with paper towel to drain
doughnuts once out of hot oil.
■ In bowl, mix flour, 3/4 cup
sugar, baking powder and
salt. Add lemon zest, eggs,
ricotta cheese and vanilla ex-
tract; mix until well combined.
■ Use ice cream scoop to
scoop small amounts dough
into oil, 4-5 pieces at a time.
Fry each batch until golden
brown, about 7 minutes. Keep
oil at or near 350 F; if oil is
too hot, doughnuts will turn
golden brown but centers may
still be raw. Remove from oil
and drain in paper towel. Re-
peat with remaining dough.
■ While still hot, toss dough-
nuts with remaining sugar.
■ To make lemon curd, if de-
sired: In large bowl of stand
mixer, cream butter and sugar
until light and fluffy. Add eggs
and egg yolks, one at a time.
Add lemon zest, lemon juice
and salt.
■ Transfer mixture to sauce-
pan and cook at low-medium
heat until thick and creamy,
stirring constantly. Remove
from heat and let cool before
serving with doughnuts.

Smoothie
Continued from Page 5B
ingredients available,
this smoothie may quick-
ly become one of your
family’s new favorites.
It’s light, smooth and has
that fresh fruit taste you
often crave when the sun
is blazing.
To make this recipe,
blend 2 cups of grape
juice, 2 cups of orange
juice, two ripe bananas,
1 cup of vanilla yogurt
and 1 teaspoon of vanilla
extract until the ingredi- familyfeatures.com
ents are smooth. Be sure These smoothies feature orange juice, grapefruit juice
to serve cold. and bananas.
It’ll be nearly impos- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
sible to resist a sweet, SUNSHINE SMOOTHIE ■ In blender, blend orange
bright and creamy Servings: 2-4 juice, grapefruit juice, banana
smoothie after a long day chunks, yogurt and vanilla
2 cups orange juice extract until smooth. Serve
of play out in the sun. 2 cups grapefruit juice immediately.
Find more seasonal 2 bananas, peeled and cut ■ Note: If smoothie is too
recipes and ideas at Culi- into chunks tart, reduce to 1 cup grape-
nary.net. 1 cup vanilla yogurt fruit juice.

Rice
Continued from Page 5B
Brown and Wild Rice
1 precooked veggie burger
patty
1/2 cup shredded lettuce
1/2 cup halved grape toma-
toes
2 tablespoons shredded ched-
dar cheese
2 tablespoons ranch dressing
■ Prepare rice according to
package directions.
■ Break veggie burger into
large chunks and place in
small, microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave on high 60-90
seconds, or until veggie burger
is heated through.
■ Toss together rice and veg-
gie burger. Top with lettuce,
tomatoes and cheese. Drizzle
with ranch dressing.
BEEF AND BROCCOLI
GARLIC RICE
Prep time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
1 cup Minute Ready to Serve
Garlic and Olive Oil Jasmine
Rice
1/2 cup fresh broccoli florets
1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper
2 tablespoons diced water
chestnuts
3 ounces cooked beef, sliced
into strips
3 tablespoons teriyaki glaze
soy sauce (optional)
■ Heat rice according to
package directions.
■ In large, microwave-safe
bowl, combine broccoli, bell
pepper and water chestnuts.
Microwave on high 1 minute.
Add beef and microwave on
high 1 minute.
■ Stir in glaze and rice. Top
with soy sauce, if desired.
Source: Minute Rice

Bacon
Continued from Page 5B
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 slices Coleman Natural
Bacon, cooked and cut into
1/4-1/2-inch pieces
■ Preheat oven to 325 F.
Lightly grease 9-by-5-inch loaf
pan with nonstick cooking
spray.
■ In large bowl, combine 1
cup flour, baking soda, baking
powder and sugar. In separate
bowl, combine mashed banan-
as, canola oil, eggs and vanilla
extract.
■ Add banana mixture to dry
ingredients, stirring until just
combined.
■ In small bowl, toss bacon
and remaining flour until bacon
is lightly coated.
■ Fold flour-coated bacon
into batter. Pour batter into
prepared loaf pan.
■ Bake 70-80 minutes, or
until toothpick inserted near
center comes out clean.
■ Cool in pan on wire rack
20 minutes before inverting
bread onto wire rack to cool
completely.
■ Cut and serve.
Source: Coleman Natural Foods

cdispatch.com
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 7B

Classifieds
LEGALS
Call us: 662-328-2424
Legal Notices
The following vehicle has been
abandoned at
Auto Mart LLC
1009 Gardner Blvd
Columbus, MS 39702
2002 Ford SLT
VIN# 1FMCU04162KA39621
This vehicle will be put up for
sale on the 18th day of March TOWNSHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE
at 10am at Auto Mart LLC,
1009 Gardner Blvd., Colum-
bus, MS 39702.
Publish: 3/12 & 3/17/2021
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
CAUSE NO.: 2021-0040-F
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
LOWNDES COUNTY
Letters Testamentary have
been granted and issued to the DEGREES 32 MINUTES EAST A
undersigned upon the estate of DISTANCE OF 132.8 FEET;
BETTY GIBSON PRICE, de-
ceased, by the Chancery Court 4 MINUTES EAST A DISTANCE
of Lowndes County, Missis-
sippi, on the 5th day of March, SOUTH 3 DEGREES 26
A.D., 2021. This is to give no-
tice to all persons having
claims against said estate to
Probate and Register same
with the Chancery Clerk of
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
within ninety (90) days from
this date. A failure to so Pro-
bate and Register said claim
will forever bar the same.
This the 8th day of March,
2021.
/s/ Ray Daniel Price
RAY DANIEL PRICE
PUBLISH: 3/10, 3/17 &
3/24/2021
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
RE: THE WILL AND ESTATE OF
LOUISIANNER HARRIS
HUGHES, DECEASED
NO. 2021-0011
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
WHEREAS, Letters Testament- property is believed to be good,
ary upon the Estate of Louisi-
anner Harris Hughes, de-
ceased, were duly issued to
the undersigned as Executor of
the estate by the Chancery
Court of Lowndes County, Mis- ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY
sissippi, on the 3rd day of
March, 2021; therefore, legal
notice is hereby given that all
persons having claims against Rubin Lublin, LLC
the estate are required by law
to have them filed, probated,
and registered with the Clerk of Oxford, MS 38655
the Chancery Court of Lowndes rlselaw.com/property-listing
County, Mississippi, at Colum- Tel: (877) 813-0992
bus, Mississippi, within ninety
(90) days time from the public-
ation of this notice, and the
failure to file, probate, and re- 03/24/2021, 03/31/2021,
gister their claims with the
Clerk within the time will
forever bar the claims.
/s/ Rosie Harris Turner ,
ROSIE HARRIS TURNER, EXEC- MISSISSIPPI,
UTRIX OF THE ESTATE OF
LOUISIANNER HARRIS
HUGHES, DECEASED
Prepared by:
J. Gordon Flowers (MSB No.
5378)
Drew C. Bigelow (MSB No.
105663)
BRUNINI, GRANTHAM, GROW-
ER & HEWES, PLLC
Attorneys at Law
190 E. Capitol Street, Suite
100
Post Office Drawer 119
Jackson, Mississippi 39205
Telephone: (601) 948-3101
Email: gflowers@brunini.com
dbigelow@brunini.com
PUBLISH: 3/10, 3/17 &
3/24/2021
NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE
TRUSTEE’S SALE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF LOWNDES
WHEREAS, default has oc-
curred in the performance of
the covenants, terms and con-
ditions of a Deed of Trust
dated May 16, 2013, ex-
ecuted by PAUL N. STEWART,
conveying certain real property
therein described to REAL ES-
TATE CLOSING SERVICES INC,
as Trustee, for REVERSE
MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.,
Original Beneficiary, to secure
the indebtedness therein de-
scribed, as same appears of
record in the office of the Chan-
cery Clerk of Lowndes County,
Mississippi filed and recorded
May 22, 2013, in Deed Book
2013, Page 14797 ; and
WHEREAS, the beneficial in-
terest of said Deed of Trust
was transferred and assigned
to Reverse Mortgage Solutions,
Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Rubin Lublin, LLC
has been appointed as Substi-
tute Trustee; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the holder
of said Deed of Trust, having
requested the undersigned so
to do, as Substitute Trustee or
his
Legalduly appointed agent, by vir-
Notices
tue of the power, duty and au-
thority vested and imposed
upon said Substitute Trustee
shall, on April 14, 2021 within
the lawful hours of sale
between 11:00AM and 4:00PM
at the southeast front door of
Courthouse proceed to sell at
public outcry to the highest and
best bidder for cash or certi-
fied funds ONLY, the following
described property situated in
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
to wit:
BEGINNING AT THE SOUTHW-
EST CORNER OF SECTION 31,
TOWNSHIP 18 SOUTH, RANGE
17 WEST, LOWNDES COUNTY,
MISSISSIPPI; THENCE NORTH
1 DEGREE 20 MINUTES WEST
561 FEET; THENCE NORTH 1
DEGREE 00 MINUTES WEST A
DISTANCE OF 466 FEET TO
THE INITIAL POINT OF BEGIN-
NING OF THE PROPERTY
HEREIN DESCRIBED; THENCE
CONTINUE NORTH 1 DEGREE
00 MINUTES WEST A DIS-
TANCE OF 298 FEET; THENCE
NORTH 3 DEGREES 26
MINUTES EAST A DISTANCE OF
240 FEET; THENCE NORTH 23
DEGREES 32 MINUTES EAST A
MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.,
Original Beneficiary, to secure
the indebtedness therein de-
scribed, as same appears of
record in the office of the Chan-
cery Clerk of Lowndes County,
Mississippi filed and recorded
May 22, 2013, in Deed Book
2013, Page 14797 ; and
WHEREAS, the beneficial in-
terest of said Deed of Trust
was transferred and assigned
to Reverse Mortgage Solutions,
Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Rubin Lublin, LLC
has been appointed as Substi-
tute Trustee; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the holder
ofLegal
saidNotices
Deed of Trust, having
requested the undersigned so
to do, as Substitute Trustee or
his duly appointed agent, by vir-
tue of the power, duty and au-
thority vested and imposed
upon said Substitute Trustee
shall, on April 14, 2021 within
the lawful hours of sale
between 11:00AM and 4:00PM
at the southeast front door of
Courthouse proceed to sell at
public outcry to the highest and
best bidder for cash or certi-
fied funds ONLY, the following
described property situated in
Lowndes County, Mississippi,
to wit:
BEGINNING AT THE SOUTHW-
EST CORNER OF SECTION 31,
17 WEST, LOWNDES COUNTY,
MISSISSIPPI; THENCE NORTH
1 DEGREE 20 MINUTES WEST
561 FEET; THENCE NORTH 1
DEGREE 00 MINUTES WEST A
DISTANCE OF 466 FEET TO
THE INITIAL POINT OF BEGIN-
NING OF THE PROPERTY
HEREIN DESCRIBED; THENCE
CONTINUE NORTH 1 DEGREE
00 MINUTES WEST A DIS-
TANCE OF 298 FEET; THENCE
NORTH 3 DEGREES 26
MINUTES EAST A DISTANCE OF
240 FEET; THENCE NORTH 23
THENCE SOUTH 89 DEGREES
OF 435.3 FEET; THENCE
MINUTES WEST A DISTANCE
OF 200 FEET; THENCE NORTH
87 DEGREES 44 MINUTES
WEST A DISTANCE OF 10 FEET;
THENCE SOUTH 00 DEGREES
14 MINUTES EAST A DIS-
TANCE OF 476 FEET; THENCE
NORTH 87 DEGREES 44
MINUTES WEST A DISTANCE
OF 478 FEET TO THE INITIAL
POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE
PROPERTY HEREIN DE-
SCRIBED AND CONTAINING
7.31 ACRES, MORE OR LESS,
LYING AND BEING SITUATED IN
THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF
SECTION 31, TOWNSHIP 18
SOUTH, RANGE 17 WEST,
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI.
PROPERTY ADDRESS: The
street address of the property
is believed to be 119 SONIA
DRIVE, COLUMBUS, MS
39702. In the event of any dis-
crepancy between this street
address and the legal descrip-
tion of the property, the legal
description shall control.
Title to the above described
but I will convey only such title
as is vested in me as Substi-
tute Trustee.
THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPT-
INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL
BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
428 North Lamar Blvd, Suite
107
Fax: (470) 508-9401
PUBLISH: 03/17/2021,
04/07/2021
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY,
IN RE: REBECCA HIELCHER
DECEASED
CASE NO: 2020-378
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION
having been granted on the
21st day of September 2020
to Laverne Cooper, by the
Chancery Court of Lowndes
County, Mississippi, upon the
Estate of Rebecca Hielcher,
Deceased, notice is hereby giv-
en to any and all persons hav-
ing claims against said Re-
becca Hielcher, Deceased to
present the same to the Clerk
of said Court for probate and
registration according to law
within ninety (90) days from the
first publication of this notice,
otherwise, said claim will be
forever barred.
THIS the 8th day of March
2021.
s/ Laverne Cooper
LAVERNE COOPER
Administratrix of the Estate of
Rebecca Hielcher
OF COUNSEL:
Gerald Gaggini, MSB 99905
2500 Hickory Wood Dr.
Tupelo, MS 38801
Telephone: 601-212-3696
PUBLISH: 3/10, 3/17 &
3/24/2021
All notices must be
emailed to
classifieds@
cdispatch.com.
Legal Notices
IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-
SIPPI
IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-
TATE REBECCA HIELCHER, DE-
CEASED
CAUSE NO. 2020-378
RULE 81 SUMMONS
BY PUBLICATION
TO: ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS AT
LAW OF REBECCA HIELCHER,
DECEASED
You have been made Respond-
ents in the suit filed in this
Court by Laverne Cooper, Ad-
ministratrix of the Estate of Re-
becca Hielcher, Deceased,
seeking a Petition to Determ-
ine Heirs at Law. You are
summoned to appear and de-
fend against the Petition filed
against you in this action at
9:00 a.m. on the 23rd day of
April 2021, before the Honor-
able Joseph N. Studdard Chan-
cery Court Judge, in Judge
Studdard’s courtroom at the
Lowndes County Chancery
Courthouse located at 505 S.
Ave N., Columbus, MS 39701
and in case of your failure to
appear and defend a judgment
will be entered against you for
money or other things deman-
ded in the Petition. You are not
required to file an Answer or
other pleading, but you may do
so if you desire.
Issued under my hand and the
seal of the Court, this the 5th
day of March, 2021.
CHANCERY CLERK
BY: Shantrell W. Granderson
(SEAL)
Gerald Gaggini, MSB 99905
2500 Hickory Wood Dr.
Tupelo, MS 38801
Telephone: 601-212-3696
PUBLISH: 3/10, 3/17 &
3/24/2021
Employment
Call us: 662-328-2424
General Help Wanted
PERSONAL CARE: Full or
part-time position available
at small personal care
home in Columbus, MS.
Must pass background
check & health screening.
Call Collegeview Personal
Care 662-327-9463.
FULL TIME CARPENTER
needed for local company.
Please contact (662) 570-
5570 for more info.
THE COMMERCIAL
DISPATCH
is seeking a part time
employee for approxim-
ately 2-3 hours of work per
day. Driving required.
Must have reliable trans-
portation, valid driver's
license & auto insurance.
$9 per hour plus mileage.
Apply at our office at 516
Main Street in Columbus
or via email to Mike Floyd
at mfloyd@cdispatch.com
ROSES DAY SPA
Licensed Nail Tech needed
for pedicures, manicures &
shellacs. Good pay. 662-
327-7718, ask for Logan.
THE COMMERCIAL
DISPATCH
seeks a motivated,
contracted carrier for the
Caledonia area. Excellent
opportunity to earn money
for college. Must have
good transportation, valid
driver's license & insur-
ance. Delivers on Sunday
morning and Mon-Fri after-
noons. Apply at The Com-
mercial Dispatch, 516
Main Street in Columbus.
No phone calls please.
SEASONS OF COLUMBUS,
which is a new senior
citizen residential facility, is
currently taking applica-
tions for the following posi-
tions: Property Operations
Assistant and Resident As-
sistant. For more informa-
tion, job description, or an
application, please call
Mrs. Taylor at 662-657-
1661.
Transportation
CLASS A CDL DRIVER with
Truck & Lowboy/Dump
Trailer experience to load,
haul, & unload heavy
construction equipment/
material. Overnight travel
required. Only qualified
applicants with clean MVR,
current medical examiner’s
certificate and no
accidents need apply.
Email resume to chastity@
sitemastersms.com
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
OPERATORS needed for
local project. Must be able
to maintain & operate
dozers and excavators.
Email resume to: chastity@
sitemastersms.com
Rentals
Ads starting at $25
Apts For Rent: North
3BR/1BA GATED FACILITY
Central Heat & Air
Appliances
$600/mo. plus sec. dep.,
No pets. No HUD.
662−327−0587
Ads appear in The Commercial Dispatch,
The Starkville Dispatch and Online
To place ads starting at only $12,
call 662-328-2424 or visit ads.cdispatch.com
THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 n 8B
Apts For Rent: North Mobile Homes for Rent
Merchandise Community
FOX RUN APARTMENTS RENT A CAMPER!
1 & 2 BR near hospital. CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!
$595−$645 monthly. Utilities & cable included,
Military discount, pet area, from $150/wk − $555/mo Ads starting at $12 Ads starting at $12
pet friendly, and furnished Columbus & County School
corporate apts. locations. 662−242−3803 Burial Plots Travel & Entertainment
24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL or 601−940−1397.
GYM. ON SITE SECURITY. 2 BURIAL PLOTS CALL & GET YOUR NAME
ON SITE MAINTENANCE.
Located in Veteran location ON THE LIST for Constance
Real Estate
ON SITE MANAGEMENT. @ Memorial Gardens of lovely talk show. Greatest
24−HOUR CAMERA
Columbus, MS. Must have talent show in town!
SURVEILLANCE. Benji & cash, $7500. A savings of Singers/comedians/group
Ashleigh, 662−386−4446.
$1500. Plots include burial dancers. 310−993−9884
Apts For Rent: West
Ads starting at $25 vaults and can be or email kandeyessence
exchanged for any spot @yahoo.com.
Farms & Timberland other than a veteran.
VIP
Call 662−386−4080 or
662−386−4081.
Rentals Need a new
203 ACRES
General Merchandise
PRIME TIMBERLAND
Apartments & Houses
$270,000
Exc deer, turkey hunting
Good Investment
CAMPER FOR SALE, $150.
Need a little care.
companion?
1 Bedrooms (615)719−8329 Brown sofa w/ matching
2 Bedroooms
love seat & reversible
pillows, $550.
3 Bedrooms LAMAR COUNTY, AL: 63
Entertainment Center, $80.
Queen Mattress w/
ACRES on County Road 34.
Furnished & Unfurnished Exc hunting, some timber,
railings, $75.
Call 662−549−5332.
power & county water.
1, 2, & 3 Baths $1,150 per acre. 205−712 Sporting Goods
Lease, Deposit −5606 or 205−799−9846.
& Credit Check
ED SANDERS GUNSMITH
Lots & Acreage Open for season!
viceinvestments.com Tue−Fri: 9−5 & Sat: 9−12
327-8555
1.75 ACRE LOTS. Good/ Over 50 years experience!
Bad Credit Options. Good Repairs, cleaning, refin−
credit as low as 20% down, ishing, scopes mounted &
When looking
Apts For Rent: Other $499/mo. Eaton Land, zeroed, handmade knives.
662−361−7711. Located: Hwy 45 Alt, North
of West Point, turn right on
for a new pet,
Yokahama Blvd, 8mi & turn
NEW HOPE AREA:
left on Darracott Rd, will
+/− 1 acre. Open land with see sign, 2.5mi ahead
adoption is
water & electricity nearby. shop on left.
$17,900. Call or text,
662−494−6218.
662−435−0401.
Wanted To Buy
always a
Garage Sales
TREADMILL
good option.
Looking to buy a working
treadmill. Good condition.
Call 662−251−6621.
Two free signs
Vehicles
Estate Sales
Lacy Estate Sale
2604 Boyd Rd.
Columbus, MS 39705 Ads starting at $12 Five Questions:
Fri. March 19, 9am−4pm
Sat. March 20, 9am−5pm Autos For Sale
Sun. March 21, 1pm−5pm
Selling partial estate with 1 Fugu
COLEMAN
2015 GMC Canyon Pickup
some nice items. Turn off white, 4 door, 4 cylinder,
Hwy. 45 onto Holly Hills
extra clean, 137,000
RENTALS Rd., Boyd Rd. is the 3rd miles. $13,000.
2 “Doctor Who”
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS road to the right, watch for Call 662−312−6617.
our estate sale signs. King
1 BEDROOM bedroom suite, chest, Motorcycles & ATVs
2 BEDROOMS desk, 3 sewing machines,
washer, dryer, older fridge, ’05 HONDA REBEL 250
3 BEDROOMS
3 Inca
blue willow, sofa, chairs, Black, red & grey. Actual
Peter’s pottery bowl, miles, 1,432. $1200.
LEASE,
© The Dispatch
McCarty Bird, pearl handle 662−364−0120.
DEPOSIT knife sets, stoneware,
foreign money, sm. bench,
AND
CREDIT CHECK
Wedgwood, quilts, stamp
collection, wicker set, Sell idle items 4 Aglet
musical instruments, Reed
with a quick action
662-329-2323
& Barton and Oneida
stainless, baskets, Tools, classified ad.
5 True
paintings, art, mid−century,
2411 HWY 45 N iron yard items, tools,
curio, kitchen items,
COLUMBUS, MS books, & we are still
Houses For Sale: Other
unboxing their items.
Houses For Rent: North See photos @
www.estatesales.net
COLONIAL TOWNHOUSES. Stewart’s Estate Sales
2 & 3 bedroom w/ 2−3 Benny Shelton
bath townhouses. $650 to
Columbus, MS
$750. 662−549−9555. 662−251−1515
Ask for Glenn or text.
Mobile Homes for Rent
3BR/2BA MH in New Hope.
$650 dep + $650/mo. Read local.
No pets, quiet area. Leave cdispatch.com
voicemail with full name &
message, 205−712−6697.
Loans
Service Directory
Promote your small business starting at only $25
Building & Remodeling General Services General Services Painting & Papering
HOME REPAIRS & DUMP TRUCK HAULING. WORK WANTED: SULLIVAN’S PAINT
MAINTENANCE Slag − $400 Licensed & Bonded. SERVICE
Work wanted. Carpentry, Clay Gravel − $250 TILL SMALL GARDENS. Special Prices.
concrete, electrical & Millie for Driveways − $375 Carpentry, minor electrical, Interior & Exterior Painting.
Available for hauling any minor plumbing, insulation, 662−435−6528
plumbing, shingle & metal
roofing, fascia & soffit materials. Filling in painting, demolition,
swimming pools. gutters cleaned, pressure
repairs, pressure washing
& mobile home repairs. Columbus. Call Walter, washing, landscaping, &
No Job Too Small. 662−251−8664. cleanup work.
662−549−7031. 662−242−3608.
General Services BANKRUPTCY Lawn Care / Landscaping
CHAPTER 7 JESSE & BEVERLY’S
BANKRUPTCY LAWN SERVICE
A & T TREE SERVICES
Bucket truck & stump $545 plus Filing Fee Spring Cleanup, Tree Got leaky pipes?
Cutting, Landscaping,
removal. Free est.
Serving Columbus
CHAPTER 13 Sodding & Bush Hogging Find a plumber in the
since 1987. Senior BANKRUPTCY 662−356−6525 classifieds.
All Attorney Fees Through The Plan
citizen disc. Call Alvin @ Painting & Papering
242−0324/241−4447 Jim Arnold, Attorney
"We’ll go out on a limb
662-324-1666 QUALITY PAINTING
for you!"
104 South Lafayette Street, Starkville Ext/Int Painting LIST YOUR
Please visit our website: Sheet Rock Hang, Finish & BUSINESS HERE!
Repair. Pressure Washing.
jimharnold.com Ads starting at $25
Are you a painter? Free Estimates. Ask for
Saturday morning appointments specials! Larry Webber, ads.cdispatch.com
Advertise here! available for Starkville Office.
662−242−4932.