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LOCAL FOLKS

Eric Kennedy is a preacher who likes to fish in the Oktibbeha County Lake.

PUBLIC MEETINGSJuly 7: Colum-bus City Council, Municipal Complex, 5 p.m., facebook.com/CityofColum-busMS/July 15: Lown-des County Board of Supervisors meeting, 9 a.m., Lowndes County CourthouseJuly 21: Colum-bus City Council, Municipal Complex, 5 p.m. facebook.com/CityofColum-busMS/

BY YUE STELLA YUsyu@cdispatch.com

The Confederate Monument that has sat outside Lowndes County Courthouse for more than a century is moving to Friendship Cemetery.

Lowndes County su-pervisors voted unan-imously Monday to relocate the monument to the cemetery where both Confederate and Union soldiers are buried. The vote came three weeks after su-pervisors voted 3-2 in June to leave it where it is.

During those weeks, Lowndes Coun-ty witnessed multiple protests calling for an end to systemic racism against African Ameri-cans, which were part-ly spurred by District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders’ comments to a reporter that Black people had remained “de-pendent” in society since the end of slavery. Between the two votes on the Lowndes monument, the Legislature voted to remove the Mississippi flag, which for 126 years has included the Confederate battle emblem in its up-per left corner.

Sanders, who made the racist comments while he was explaining his June vote to leave the monument

in place, told The Dispatch Monday he now no longer has a problem with relocating it.

“I just think it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “I talked to the Daugh-ters of the Confederacy people and they said they didn’t have a problem with moving it (to) the Friendship Cemetery as long as they had some say-so in the spot that’s going to be down at Friendship, and as long as they didn’t damage the monument. If they didn’t have a problem with it, I don’t have a problem with it.”

To move the monument in com-pliance with state law, Columbus will have to yield a piece of property at the city-owned cemetery to the county, the details of which are in the works, according to board of super-visors attorney Tim Hudson and city attorney Jeff Turnage.

Turnage told The Dispatch the city can either donate the land or sell it at a low price.

“The monument would then be relocated within the county to coun-ty-owned property,” Turnage said. “That will just take the city out of the loop except for making the con-veyance of the real property to the county.”

Trip Hairston of District 2 and John Holliman of District 3 on Monday also changed their original votes on whether to relocate the monument, which was erected in 1912 to honor Confederate soldiers who fought for the South during the Civil War. The inscription describes the war as a “noble cause,” and a stone statue of

Lowndes supes vote to move Confederate monument to Friendship Cemetery

Protesters continue calling for Sanders’ resignation

Claire Hassler/Dispatch File PhotoProtesters in June call for the removal of the Confederate monument in front of Lowndes County Courthouse. Though county supervisors originally voted to leave the monument in place, they voted unanimously on Monday to relocate it to Friendship Cemetery.

Sanders

Turnage

Brooks

See MONUMENT, 6A

BY TESS VRBINtvrbin@cdispatch.com

All visitors to Oktibbeha County-owned buildings, as well as churches and social gath-erings outside the Starkville city limits, must wear protective face coverings in order to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the board of supervisors voted 4-0 at Monday’s meeting.

District 4 Supervisor Bricklee Miller was absent, but the remaining four supervisors agreed that requiring masks is in the public’s best interest as confirmed cases of the virus have been on the rise in the Golden Triangle and the state over the past few weeks.

On Sunday, 357 new cases and three new deaths were reported to Mississippi State De-partment of Health. Overall, there have been more than 31,257 confirmed cases and 1,114 deaths from the virus since the pandemic be-gan.

Starkville aldermen will consider a similar ordinance at tonight’s meeting for businesses and gatherings within the city limits.

The mask requirement went into effect this

Masks now required in Oktibbeha CountyBoard will revisit the order in 2 weeks; violators could be fined up to $1,000 on third offense

See SUPES, 3A

BY ISABELLE ALTMANialtman@cdispatch.com

As of this month, Starkville Fire Department officially boasts a Class 3 rating from Mississippi State Rating Bureau, Chief Charles Yar-brough announced at a ceremony at Fire Station 1 Monday.

The Mississippi State Rating Bureau rates departments on a 1-10 scale, with 1 being the best and 10 the worst. SFD’s new rating puts it in a class with only five other depart-ments in the state, including Colum-bus Fire and Rescue, which earned a Class 3 rating in 2018.

“I am proud (of) the commit-ment to ongoing improvement at Starkville Fire Department,” said Yarbrough, who made a Class 3 rat-ing one of his goals for the depart-ment when he became chief in 2015. “The staff that make up this depart-ment care deeply about their work to improve the lives of the people of the

city of Starkville. … This improved rating validates the excellent ser-vice provided.”

Ratings for the department are based on factors from response times and number of personnel to training available for firefighters and fire hydrant placement, Yar-brough said.

In order to earn the rating, Yar-brough said, over the last few years the department has implemented several changes, including a repair-ing and replacing some of the city’s fire hydrants and fully staffing Fire Station 5 in December 2019. When Yarbrough first became chief, the

New SFD rating to lower home, business insurance premiumsClass 3 rating places SFD among 5 best departments in state

Claire Hassler/Dispatch StaffMayor Lynn Spruill shares how proud she is of the Starkville Fire Department during a press conference on Monday at Fire Station One. Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough announced that the Starkville Fire Department’s class rating has moved from Class 4 to Class 3. The new rating puts the Starkville Fire Depart-ment’s service abilities in the top 5 in Mississippi and means that Starkville residents’ insurance premium rates will decrease.

See SFD, 3A

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com2A TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

Hong Kong grappling with future under national security law

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam offered scant reassurance Tuesday over a new nation-al security law that critics say undermines liber-ties and legal protections promised when China took control of the former Brit-ish colony.

A year ago, Hong Kong residents felt se-cure enough in their free-doms under the territory’s “one-country, two-sys-tems” regime to bring their children to mass protests. Now, after the June 30 implementation of the security law, some are worrying they might be punished for what they post on Facebook Twitter or even TikTok.

Short-form video app

TikTok, which has sought to distance itself from its Chinese roots — it is owned by Chinese internet giant ByteDance — said Tuesday it will stop opera-tions in the city “in light of recent events.”

Hong Kong was prom-ised 50 years of semi-au-tonomy after the July 1, 1997, handover. That al-lowed the city’s 7 million residents to keep a free press and other freedoms forbidden in the commu-nist-ruled mainland.

Many of Hong Kong’s older generations fled political upheaval on the Chinese mainland. Young-er Hong Kongers grew up expecting to achieve more democracy in their lifetimes. All are strug-gling to understand the implications of the new law, which prohibits what Beijing views as secession-

ist, subversive or terrorist activities or as foreign in-tervention in the city’s in-ternal affairs.

“I didn’t have a strong view against formalizing a national security law but the way it was implement-ed is intrusive and dis-respectful,” said Jen Au, who works in the banking industry. “It’s basically just bullying. Hong Kong has come a long way in the last 20 years to warm up to China and this really just backfired.”

Lam, the city’s Bei-jing-backed chief exec-utive, said Tuesday the work of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security she chairs, which oversees enforcement of the law, will not be made public. So implementation rules giving police sweep-ing powers to enforce the law won’t be subject to ju-

dicial review.Asked if she could

guarantee that media can still report freely in Hong Kong without facing cen-sorship, Lam said, “If the Foreign Correspondents Club or all reporters in Hong Kong can give me a 100% guarantee that they will not commit any offenc-es under this national leg-islation, then I can do the same.”

Hong Kong was con-vulsed with massive, sometimes violent an-ti-government demonstra-tions for much of last year.

Initially, the protests were against extradition legislation, since with-drawn, that might have led to some suspects facing trial in mainland Chinese courts. But the protests ex-panded to encompass calls for greater democracy and more police accountability.

Doctors say experimental treatment may have rid man of HIVTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Brazilian man infected with the AIDS virus has shown no sign of it for more than a year since he stopped HIV medicines after an intense experimental drug therapy aimed at purging hidden, dormant virus from his body, doctors report-ed Tuesday.

The case needs independent verification and it’s way too soon to speculate about a possible cure, sci-entists cautioned.

“These are exciting findings but they’re very preliminary,” said Dr. Monica Gandhi, an AIDS specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. “This has happened to one person, and one person only,” and it didn’t succeed in four others given the same treatment, she said.

Another UCSF specialist, Dr. Steven Deeks, said: “This is not a cure,” just an interesting case that merits more study.

The case was described at an AIDS conference where research-

ers also disclosed an important prevention advance: A shot of an experimental medicine every two months worked better than daily Truvada pills to help keep unin-fected gay men from catching HIV from an infected sex partner. Hun-dreds of thousands of people take these “pre-exposure prevention” pills now and the shot could give a new option, almost like a temporary vaccine.

If the Brazil man’s case is con-firmed, it would be the first time HIV has been eliminated in an adult without a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. Independent experts want to see whether his remission lasts and for the intense drug com-bination that he received to under-go more testing.

“I’m very moved because it’s something that millions of people want,” said the 35-year-old man, whose spoke to The Associated Press on condition that his name not be published. “It’s a gift of life, a second chance to live.”

Transplants are how two other men, nicknamed the Berlin and London patients for where they were treated, were cured previous-ly.

“I’m the living proof it’s possible to be cured,” Adam Castillejo, the London patient, said in a news con-ference at the AIDS meeting, which is being held online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He and the Berlin patient, Tim-othy Ray Brown, had donors with a gene that confers natural immunity to HIV infection. Such transplants are too medically risky and imprac-tical to attempt on a large scale, so doctors have been trying other ap-proaches.

It’s hard to eliminate HIV be-cause it establishes an early “res-ervoir” of blood cells where it lies dormant and can’t be attacked by medicines or the immune system. Infections can be controlled with drugs, but as soon as patients stop taking them, the dormant virus ac-tivates and renews the disease.

AROUND THE WORLD

SOLUNAR TABLEThe solunar period indicates peak-feeding times for fish and game.

Courtesy of Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

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The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020 3A

Governor self-isolates, awaiting COVID test resultsTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

JACKSON — Mississippi’s Re-publican governor said Monday he is isolating himself after coming into contact with a member of the state House of Representatives who tested positive for the coronavirus.

In a tweet Monday, Gov. Tate Reeves said he received a virus test and is awaiting results.

“Best thing for all: if someone you know gets the virus, isolate until your test comes back at least. That’s my plan,” Reeves tweeted. “Stay safe and stay smart.”

Reeves did not identify the lawmaker, only that he came into contact with the individual “briefly” last week. Reeves was visibly in close contact last week with House Speaker Philip Gunn during the signing of a bill that removed the Confederate em-blem from Mississippi’s state flag.

Gunn announced Sunday that he had tested pos-itive for the coronavirus.

Gunn, a Republican from the Jackson suburb of Clinton, said in a video posted to Facebook that he got tested because he had been in close proximity to another member of the House who tested posi-tive. He didn’t identify the other lawmaker.

At least one other lawmaker, Democrat Rep. Bo Brown of Jackson, has announced a positive test re-sult in the last several days. During a Facebook Live video Monday afternoon, Reeves said a “large num-ber” of legislators have tested positive for the virus.

“I felt like I needed to go get myself tested just because I had been with this person and this morn-ing was informed that I too have tested positive for COVID,” Gunn said. “I feel very fortunate that I don’t really have very many symptoms and feel fine.”

Gunn said he called everyone he had been close to recently to advised them of his diagnosis and self-quarantine plan. He also called on the state’s residents to do likewise if they find out they’re in-fected. “We need to make sure that we do every-thing we can to get this past us as quickly as pos-sible.”

Gunn became the state’s highest-ranking politi-cal figure to publicly disclose a positive test for the coronavirus.

This is the second time Reeves has isolated himself after potential exposure to coronavirus. In March, Reeves isolated himself after returning from a family trip to Spain.

Drs. Oz and Roizen

Health tips from Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen

HealthHEALTH TIPn Eat eggs, preferably for breakfast: Eggs are incredibly healthy, especially if you eat them in the morning. They are rich in high-quality protein and many essential nutrients that people often don’t get enough of, such as choline.

Source: healthline.com

Tai chi improves heart patients’ quality of life

After Lou Reed’s death, Laurie Anderson published a eulogy about her musician husband: “He died on Sunday morning looking at the trees and doing the famous 21 form of tai chi with just his musician hands moving through the air.” Reed was a longtime practitioner of the Chinese martial art, and Anderson said when her husband practiced the form, he was looking for magic.

Reed was onto something. Research suggests that tai chi can have lasting health benefits and is great for strengthening your mind-body connection. It can improve balance and coordination, and calm the mind, thanks to its

focus on mindfulness, motion and breath. It has also been found to improve bone density and immune function. According to research recently published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, this mind-body exercise is linked to a boost in both mood and quality

of life in people with cardiovascu-lar disease.

That’s something that many of the nation’s 121.5 million people with cardiovascular disease can certainly benefit from. Nearly a quarter of those folks suffer from depression, and symptoms of heart disease, such as shortness of breath, can lead to lower qual-ity of life. The new study found practicing tai chi can alleviate such symptoms.

So, if you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease, one way to safe-ly and enjoyably increase physical activity and decrease stress is to take up tai chi. Google “online Tai Chi instruction” for a lot of free re-sources, and check out sharecare.com for in depth info and videos on the practice.

Reeves

cdispatch.com

SFDContinued from Page 1A

city’s newest fire station only operated once every three days with a full staff, according to previous re-porting by The Dispatch. Mayor Lynn Spruill said each fire station is staffed with a minimum of three firefighters per shift.

Other departments, such as Starkville Utilities and Oktibbeha County E-911 had to make their own improvements to help lower the city’s rating.

“It all came together for a Class 3 rating,” Yar-brough said.

He also credited the mayor and board of alder-men for their support of the department, particu-larly when it came to hir-ing and fully staffing Fire Station 5.

City officials, including Mayor Lynn Spruill and Ward 5 Alderman Hamp Beatty, attended Monday’s ceremony. Beatty, who joined the board of alder-men in a special election last year and who Spruill said has made SFD’s im-provement to a Class 3 one of his highest priorities, told The Dispatch the low-er rating will particularly help businesses within the

city because of the lower insurance premiums. It also will lower insurance premiums for homeown-ers.

Spruill said she didn’t know how much, exactly, the insurance premiums will improve, pointing out that it likely depends on the individual insurance company. However, she expects insurance premi-ums to lower 5- to 10-per-cent “at a minimum.”

Beatty said the new rat-ing puts the department in an “elite class” of fire departments throughout the state.

“This is a testament to our commitment to pub-lic safety in the city of Starkville,” he said.

Spruill said the city’s

firefighters have particu-larly shown their colors in recent weeks, referencing an accident they respond-ed to at a construction site on South Montgom-ery Street where two con-struction workers died when a trench collapsed on them on May 20. Fire-fighters spent more than two hours trying to free the victims from the de-bris.

“I can’t say enough about what you guys have done,” Spruill said. “They have been showing their stuff for the last few weeks. They did an incredible job when we had that tragedy in the trench, and now for you guys to be awarded a Class 3, it’s just wonderful. I’m so very proud.”

SupesContinued from Page 1A

morning and will last un-til at least the supervisors’ next meeting on July 20. District 1 Super v isor and Board P r e s i d e n t John Mont-gomery said the board will recon-sider the o r d i n a n c e at each subsequent meet-ing depending on public health data.

Montgomery told The Dispatch last week he did not see the need for a mask requirement out-side county buildings, but District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer changed his mind during the meeting by suggesting a countywide ordinance.

“I wish we didn’t have to employ any of this, but safety first,” Montgom-ery said. “The customer comes in expecting a safe environment to shop in just as much as the busi-ness owner expects cus-tomers to come in and be safe as well, so I think it’s a two-way street.”

Businesses are re-quired to have signs and door monitors at their entrances to make cus-tomers aware of the ordi-nance and to prevent peo-ple without masks from entering. Both customers and business owners who do not adhere to the rule will get a warning for a first offense, a fine of up to $500 for the second and

up to $1,000 for the third.County employees are

required to wear masks too, and Chancery Court Clerk Sharon Livingston said the lack of door mon-itors at county buildings recently has accidentally allowed some people with COVID-19 to enter. She suggested placing bailiffs at the doors, but Sheriff Steve Gladney said they would be unlikely to take on another responsibility.

“They only make $55 per day, so if you stand them out there in front of this courthouse, I don’t know if you’re going to get anyone who wants to do that, especially at their age,” Gladney said.

He also said it will be difficult to hold people who defy the mask re-quirement accountable, since they will most likely have left a business before deputies arrive if a busi-ness owner calls. He and the supervisors agreed that the responsibility for compliance and enforce-ment mainly falls on the owners and customers.

District 3 Supervisor Marvell Howard said he would support any efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in line with Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention rec-ommendations, including wearing masks.

“It’s incumbent on us as leaders to do every-thing we possibly can to protect the citizens,” he said. “Sometimes I

know it’s aggravating to a citizen to have to wear a mask, but this is not all about that individual. This is about protecting other citizens.”

New structural challengesat county lake dam

The Oktibbeha Coun-ty Lake Dam’s structural issues now include the w e a r i n g down of the west side of the levee, to the point that 24 per-cent of it is gone, Coun-ty Engi-neer Clyde Pritchard told the board.

Pritchard said in 2016 that the levee might need to be completely replaced after he found excessive slope failures on the same side of the levee, the side facing the lake. He told The Dispatch the new slides are not in the same place but just north of the repaired section from 2016.

Pritchard found a mud-slide on the other side of the levee in January that posed a threat of breach-ing and flooding the surrounding area. The supervisors have since been debating whether to spend about $8 million on replacing the dam, which Pritchard says is the saf-est option.

If the board votes to replace the dam, con-

struction crews can use dirt from within the ex-isting dam to repair the west side of the levee, Pritchard told the board.

“Some of the materi-al that’s in the lake, we can probably use, and it’s cheaper than going to Louisville or somewhere and getting better-quality dirt,” he said.

Pritchard said he no-tified both the board of supervisors and the Mis-sissippi Department of Environmental Quality of the new slides as soon as he found them, and he gave them an update Monday on the plans he has been drafting since March to replace the dam if the board allows it.

The plans include a new emergency spillway, since the existing one is less than one-third the size it needs to be in or-der to expel water quickly enough to keep the dam from overflowing in a haz-ardous rain event, he said.

He maintains his po-sition that the county should authorize the re-placement of the dam instead of more research to determine whether it’s truly necessary, he said.

“It’s hard for me to look the county in the eye and say we need to spend money to evaluate this when I can look at (the spillway) and see that it’s cracked and busted and know I have to replace it anyway,” Pritchard told The Dispatch.

Pritchard

Montgomery

4A TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

OpinionPETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/PublisherBIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003BIRNEY IMES SR. Editor/Publisher 1922-1947

ZACK PLAIR, Managing EditorBETH PROFFITT Advertising DirectorMICHAEL FLOYD Circulation/Production ManagerMARY ANN HARDY ControllerDispatch

the

SLIMANTICS

Beyond the pain, there is potentialM onday,

the Lown-

des County Board of Su-pervisors voted unanimously to have the Con-federate Memo-rial relocated from the court-house grounds, presumably to Friendship Cemetery, although a few obstacles are yet to be navigated.

That decision came exactly three weeks after the same board rejected a proposal to relocate the monument by a 3-2 vote strictly along racial lines.

Today, it is easy to speculate how things might have been different had the board chosen to relocate the statue back on June 15 when it first had the opportunity.

So much of the pain and anguish we have experienced could have been prevented. Faith in the board’s ability to represent all of the citizens of Lowndes County would have been sustained. The reputation of the board’s presi-dent would not have been unalterably destroyed.

All that was required on the morning of June 15 was a single white vote.

It couldn’t be found. In the intervening weeks, Board

President Harry Sanders has been the target of the backlash, not so much for his vote, but for his appalling comments in explaining his vote. Sanders sug-gested that the demand to relocate the monument was due to the Black com-munity’s inability to assimilate as other racial/ethnic groups have managed. Blacks who were “dependent” on slave owners during the era of slavery remain dependent today, he claimed.

Such overt, unapologetic racism has made Sanders a pariah. His refusal to resign from the board has only cement-ed his infamy.

Sanders remains defiant in his refus-al to step down. Those calling for his resignation remain equally committed in their demands for his resignation. Where it all leads, no one can confident-ly predict.

What we can say with confidence is that what has happened in our commu-nity could have been easily avoided.

Yet in another sense, that fateful deci-sion on June 15 may ultimately work to the benefit of our community.

In the same way that Joseph rede-fined the betrayal of his brothers — “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,” he told his brothers — the pain inflicted on our community by Sanders, Trip Hairston and John Holliman may ultimately work out for our benefit.

Over the past three weeks, the Black community has rallied together, aided by growing support of white citizens. Community leaders from every endeav-or have lent their support in rejecting Sanders’ racist attacks and demanding his resignation. Black and white citi-zens are having those often difficult conversations about race and justice and finding common ground.

It is a moment of unity that provides an opportunity that must be swiftly grasped.

The monument will soon be gone. Harry Sanders will someday be gone as well.

What will remain is to what extent we will address the issues uncovered by this painful episode.

Imagine if our community, especially all those leaders who have finally raised their voices, applied the same commit-ment to addressing the racial disparities that have long plagued our community.

Imagine those voices unified in a commitment to supporting our public schools, investing in our depressed Black neighborhoods and providing opportunities too long denied many of our Black citizens.

Think what might emerge from the ashes.

We have the power to make June 15 a day of change, not one of infamy.

Carpe diem!Slim Smith is a columnist and feature

writer for The Dispatch. His email ad-dress is ssmith@cdispatch.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Defends letter from NAACP to businessesLast week a letter was sent out on behalf of the

Columbus-Lowndes County NAACP to fellow members of the Chamber of Commerce asking them to state their position about the recent racist comments made by Supervisor Harry Sanders. Most have responded to this letter in solidarity with the NAACP’s position that Mr. Sanders’ continued presence on the board hurts the wellbeing of our community. However, there have been a few business owners and community members, like Mr. Lee Roy Lollar, who have expressed concern with the NAACP vocalizing its intent to find out which businesses stand against racism and leverage the economic power of the NAACP in response to that information.

I find it revealing that Mr. Lollar mentions our letter was “sent by Nadia Colom, the wife of the local D.A.” Nadia is a volunteer with the NAACP and will occasion-ally help me with communications. Her name was on the email because she helped me create the email account. The email was from the branch, not from her. Why men-tion Nadia is married to the D.A. instead of noting any of her professional and community accomplishments? The 1950s called and they want their sexism back.

This is a moment of reckoning for our community, one where we’re forced to answer whether the status quo will continue. While grappling with this question many re-cently chose to speak out against that status quo, calling for a better, more culturally inclusive Mississippi. And as a result, the divisive and painful confederate battle flag no longer represents our great state.

We know, however, that it was not the moral argu-ment against this flag alone that pushed it through the legislature, but also the economic pressure that the state faced if it chose to maintain the old flag. Simply put, the NCAA has a choice where to place their dollars, just as Mr. Lollar did when he felt ignored in a Black-owned business and chose not to continue to patronize them. The NAACP in its correspondence to the business com-munity simply pointed out that its supporters, too, have a choice in where to place their dollars.

While there have been many businesses like those standing with the LINK in calling for his resignation, there have also been too many reaping the benefits of our support while remaining silently complicit with Mr. Sanders’ comments. To go to the extreme of calling this extortion is nothing more than an example of entitlement and privilege. Turbulent waters towards a better commu-nity, we will not fall into the counterproductive narrative that this is “just about race again” as Mr. Lollar seems to suggest. The stakes are too high for such a narrow-mind-ed approach.

Lavonne HarrisPresident, Lowndes County Branch NAACP

Proposes alternate monumentGentleman of the Lowndes County Board of Super-

visors, I commend you all on the vote to remove the Confederate monument from the public grounds of our courthouse. Adding to that august achievement, I have a modest proposal which I trust you will eagerly entertain. Why don’t we erect in its place a monument in commem-oration of the victorious Union Army?

Make no mistake, although we fondly use the term “Union Army” to coin our gallant men in blue, who the South was fighting against was really the United States Army. Every insignia, badge, horseflesh, wagon and firearm with which every lad carried into battle bore the letters USA, not Union. In other words, these were American soldiers fighting an enemy who had disavowed his allegiance to the United States of America in a bloody conflict of arms which would have assured the chattel subjugation of a whole class of non-offending people.

Now, why would any loyal, red blooded, patriotic American be against erecting a glorious monument on behalf of those American soldiers and naval men who, during the smoke and blast of hellish civil war, had laid down their lives on the sacred altar of freedom?

James Clayton TerryColumbus

Asserts Sanders’ First Amendment right but thinks he should resign

Mr. Sanders’ comment was wrong and inappropri-ate and only served to fan the flames of social discord. However, we must be steadfast in upholding his First Amendment right.

With regards to responses to Sanders’ refusal to re-sign, I urge Mr. Brooks and others to read about the Nazi movement prior to WWII. The similarities will make the

hair on the back of your neck stand out.Mr. Sanders, I hope you love the citizens of Columbus

to step down and bring peace to our city. However, do not resign due to outside pressures. When we become afraid to speak up or voice our opinions, then that will be the beginning of the end of democracy!

Jed MooreMillport, Alabama

Thinks Sanders’ comments are divisiveHarry Sanders must resign totally.Yes, he resigned from being president of the Board

of Supervisors, but that is not enough. With that kind of mindset, that’s a bad influence on the people who live in District One. He must no longer serve as supervisor of District One.

Many people in District One are not going to forget what he said. My grandmothers calls it “low rating.” He “low rated” the African American people in Lowndes County. Many are not going to trust him anymore with that kind of mindset.

Romans 12:2 says: And be not conformed to this workd: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and accept-able, and perfect, will of God.

Matthew 15:18-20 says: But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the hear proceed evil thoughts, murderers, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defiles a man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

The mind and heart has to change. Mr. Sanders must totally resign. If he doesn’t it’s only going to divide our Black folks and our white folks who are kin folks biologi-cally, even more.

Yes, Black folks and white folks here are kin folks. It’s a shame to have us fighting against each other like that. We want the community to unite in love.

That mindset that Harry Sanders has is dangerous, therefore he needs to resign totally.

Susie SheltonColumbus

Sees lack of leadershipThe year 2020 has been something we have never

seen before. We seem to have had problems everywhere we turn. This coronavirus has seen the world basically come to a halt. On top that, we continue to see the sense-less death of African Americans. This has caused an uproar in the world for social justice. This country is built on coming together and helping each other and making sure everyone is allowed the freedom which is promised to us. It seems like everyone has forgotten this feeling, from the very top

in Washington D.C., to here in Lowndes County. When the country needs a unifying voice, there has not been one. The very President of the United States is running a campaign basically on a racist platform. That is the base that got him elected and that is the platform his is going to die for! We haven’t heard a unifying voice tell all citizens that we need to come together and work things out. Then come all the way down to Lowndes County, where the former president of the board of supervisors condemns an entire race of people. To make matters worse, he double downs the next day. He later puts out your standard apology and expects thing to go back to normal. It can not! If Mr. Sanders wants to do what’s best for the county he would resign. All these leaders and no unifying voice.

Over the last few weeks I’ve seen people say well freedom of speech. Yes, freedom of speech exists. You also have to have consequences of what you said. I am all for the forgiveness of Mr. Sanders, but he has to have consequences for the continual divide here in the country and county. If you are really the leader you say you are, you would resign and allow the people to heal. I leave you with this quote for Nelson Mandela: “It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.”

Jarion JonesColumbus

Thoughts on statue move fundingIf the statue is going to be moved, I think the ones

wanting it moved should be the ones to pay for it.Elaine Miller

Millport, Alabama

Slim Smith

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020 5A

Trump donors among early recipients of coronavirus loans

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — As much as $273 million in federal coronavirus aid was awarded to more than 100 companies that are owned or operated by major donors to President Donald Trump’s election efforts, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal data.

Many were among the first to be approved for a loan in early April, when the administration was struggling to launch the lending program. And only eight businesses had to wait until early May before securing the aid, according to the AP’s review of data released Monday.

The Trump-connect-ed companies obtained the aid through the Pay-check Protection Pro-gram, which extends a lifeline to small business-es struggling to navigate the pandemic. Fast-food chains like Muy Brands, oil and gas companies and white-collar firms were all granted a slice of more than $659 billion in low-interest business loans that will be forgiven if the money is used on payroll, rent and similar expenses.

All told, the Trump supporters who run these companies have contrib-uted at least $11.1 mil-lion since May 2015 to Trump’s campaign com-mittees, the Republican National Committee and America First Action, a super PAC that has been endorsed by Trump, the AP review found. Each do-nor gave at least $20,000.

There is no evidence the companies received favorable treatment as a result of their ties to Trump, and the business-es account for just a frac-tion of the overall spend-ing under the program.

But the distribution of relief money is com-ing under heightened scrutiny after the Trump administration initially refused to reveal which companies received loans, only to cave under growing bipartisan pres-sure from Congress. On Monday, the Treasury Department released the names of companies that

received loans that were greater than $150,000, though they didn’t release specific dollar figures and instead gave ranges for the dollar value of the aid.

Among the recipients named Monday was the conservative website NewsMax, which was ap-proved for a loan up to $5 million on April 13, the data shows. NewsMax CEO Christopher Ruddy has donated $525,000 to political committees sup-porting Trump, records show. He did not respond to a request for comment.

Muy Brands, a San An-tonio, Texas-based com-pany that operates Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Wen-dy’s franchises, was ap-proved for a loan worth be-tween $5 million and $10 million. Its owner, James Bodenstedt, has donated $672,570 to Trump since 2016, records show. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

Irving, Texas-based M Crowd Restaurant Group, which owns 27 Texas restaurants including the Mi Cocina chain, was approved for between $5 million and $10 million. Ray Washburne, one of the company’s founders, was vice chairman of the Trump Victory Commit-tee in 2016 and donated $100,000 to the PAC last August. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

“The PPP was a huge success and saved 51 million American jobs, including at Joe Biden’s old law firm and many companies associated with Obama Administra-

tion alums,” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Samantha Zager. “When the rent or mortgage was due, tens of millions of Americans kept receiv-ing paychecks thanks to President Trump’s leader-ship.”

Government watchdog groups say they have lit-tle faith in the administra-tion conducting oversight of the program, noting Trump has ousted numer-ous inspectors general and has broadly resisted efforts to add transparen-cy.

“When you don’t have proper safeguards, such as timely disclosure and effective inspectors gen-eral, then all these things look more suspicious and raise more questions,” said Larry Noble, a for-mer general counsel at the Federal Election Commission. “When you see these people getting assistance quickly and they have contributed to the campaign, then it is going to raise questions.”

Companies typically must have fewer than 500 workers to qualify for the Paycheck Protection Pro-gram. About $130 billion was unclaimed as the ap-plication deadline closed June 30.

With money still avail-able, Congress voted to extend the program just as it was expiring, setting a new date of Aug. 8.

The public may never know the identity of more than 80% of the nearly 5 million beneficiaries to date because the adminis-tration has refused to re-lease details on loans un-

der $150,000 — the vast majority of borrowers.

That secrecy spurred an open-records lawsuit by a group of news organi-zations, including the AP.

Still, the release of the data is the most complete look at the program’s re-cipients so far.

And Trump donors ar-en’t the only people with ties to the president who have benefited.

The Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy in New Jersey, which is named after Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kush-

ner’s grandfather, was approved for a loan in the range of $1 million to $2 million on April 5. Jared Kushner’s parents’ fam-ily foundation supports the school, NBC News reported.

Kasowitz Benson Tor-res, the law firm found-ed by Trump’s longtime personal attorney Marc Kasowitz, was approved for a loan worth between $5 million and $10 million.

Transportation Secre-tary Elaine Chao’s fami-ly’s business, Foremost Maritime Co., was cleared for a loan valued between $350,000 and $1 million. She is married to the Sen-ate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Broadcasting compa-ny Patrick Broadcasting, which is owned by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a firebrand conservative and former talk radio host, received a loan of $179,000, according to Patrick’s senior adviser Sherry Sylvester. Patrick is the Texas chairman of Trump’s presidential cam-paign.

The money was used to cover the payroll and expenses of 13 employ-ees.

“The loan did not cov-er his salary, but he was able to save the jobs of all his employees, many of whom have been with him for decades,” Sylves-ter said.

More than 100 companies that are owned or operated by major donors received as much as $273 million in federal coronavirus aid

Visit uson the web atcdispatch.com

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com6A TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

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Log cabinWHATZIT ANSWER

MonumentContinued from Page 1A

a soldier holding a flag in his left arm stands atop the statue.

Hairston, who moved to relocate the monument Monday, said his district residents have urged him to reconsider his June vote over the past two weeks, which he said changed his heart.

“Refusal of me to do otherwise, in my opinion, would not be representing the will of the majority of people in District 2,” he said Monday.

State law prohibits the removal or relocation of war monuments on public property, Hairston pointed out during the meeting. Government bodies can move the monuments to a more “suitable” location, but the location has to be within the jurisdiction of the same governing body, Hairston said, quoting from two opinions from for-mer Attorney General Jim Hood’s office in 2017.

Columbus Mayor Rob-ert Smith voiced his sup-port June 16 for moving the monument to the cemetery and splitting the cost with the county.

Turnage said he and Smith have found a spot ad-jacent to the Civil War sec-tion of the cemetery, where they think would be a good fit for the monument. He said he is tasked with draft-ing up a deed of the parcel at Friendship Cemetery, which could be up for dis-cussion at today’s council meeting.

If the city agrees to turn over part of the property to the county, the two parties must present a detailed plan to the Mississippi Depart-ment of Archives and His-tory for its final approval, MDAH trustee Nancy Car-penter told The Dispatch. She said she believes the department will approve the relocation quickly.

District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks told The Dis-patch Monday he is glad the board has finally reached a consensus regarding the monument.

“I’ve heard complaints

about that monument for years,” he said, “so now (that) it’s finally removed, all ... we have to do is get Harry to leave, and I think we can begin to get back in the middle of the road.”

Holliman told The Dis-patch Monday evening he changed his mind in hopes that the community can start healing after weeks of protests, many of which called for Sanders to resign from the board.

“I just feel like it would be best to go ahead and do it, and that’s a good spot,” he said. “I’m just trying to bring some peace and har-mony back to the board.”

District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith could not be reached for comment by press time.

Sanders’ ouster remains ‘one goal’ for protesters

As protesters both in-side and outside the court-house cheered for the soon-to-come departure of the monument, their calls for Sanders to resign from the board also persisted.

Ward 4 Councilman Pierre Beard said he spear-headed a petition drive to gather signatures from District 1 voters to remove Sanders by law. Lowndes County NAACP President Lavonne Latham Harris and Columbus resident Jermaine Shanklin, both of whom are a part of the initiative, said they hope to gather 5,000 signatures within a week.

The governor has the authority to remove any elected officials who “knowingly or willfully” failed, neglected or re-fused to fulfill their duty in their official capacity. For the governor to con-sider a recall, or “removal” election, constituents who elected the official must launch a removal petition and gather signatures from at least 51 percent of registered voters in their district. In District 1, where there are 8,635 reg-istered voters, the petition would need a minimum of

4,404 signatures.The petition process

can only begin after the official has served at least one year of his current term, meaning a petition for Sanders’ removal can’t be formally launched until after Jan. 1, 2021.

The community may have to wait months to kick-start the petition pro-cess, Beard said, but col-lecting 5,000 signatures from District 1 would send a strong message to Sand-ers. Those who wish to sign the petition can con-tact Jermaine Shanklin at 662-570-2397.

Speaking to a crowd of roughly 100 outside the courthouse, Columbus resident John Hampton also urged Sanders to step down for the community.

“Harry, if you can vote to take the statue down, you can vote to take your-self out of office,” he said. “Now, we have one goal. There’s one obstacle re-maining and we’re going to keep coming back until Harry goes.”

Jamal Wilson, lead pas-tor at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Colum-bus, asked Sanders to step down from the board during the meeting on be-half of all the parishioners and pastors in the county. Wilson told The Dispatch he has reached out to roughly 100 pastors in the county and has received support from roughly 30

so far. As the outcry for Sand-

ers’ removal continued, the standoff between board supervisors pro-gressed.

Brooks, who replayed at the Monday meeting the audio recording of Sanders making the racist remarks June 15, urged him to resign and refused to sit at the table next to Sanders. Except for voting on the monument, Brooks abstained from every oth-er vote to boycott Sanders’ refusal to resign. Smith abstained with him.

“He has shown no shame,” Brooks said of Sanders at the meeting. “You may be like Hercu-les, you can stand a hell lot of pressure on your shoulder. But we just want you to know the pressure is coming. The pressure is coming.”

Brooks, who moved for the meeting to adjourn last week and left an agenda full of items undiscussed, told The Dispatch he has yet to decide what he will do next.

“I think everybody needs to understand it’s not going to be business as usual with Harry still sitting there,” he said. “Whatever course of ac-tion I have to take to indi-cate my dissatisfaction, I’m going to do it.”

Dispatch reporter Slim Smith contributed to the report.

Claire Hassler/Dispatch StaffEthel Stewart and Johnny Stewart chant during a protest demanding District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders’ resignation on Monday outside the Lowndes County Courthouse. Ethel is on the Columbus City Council for Ward 1.

Claire Hassler/Dispatch StaffHolly Krogh holds a sign reading “Remove racist supervisors and racist monuments too!” on Monday outside the Lowndes County Courthouse. People chanted, sang and listened to speakers during the protest. Local activists Jermaine Shanklin and Johnny Hampton led cheers and introduced speakers throughout the protest.

SECTION

BSPORTS LINE662-241-5000Sports

THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

MISSISSIPPI STATE VOLLEYBALL

BULLDOGS ADD LIPSCOMB TRANSFER MYRICK

FROM SPECIAL REPORTS

The Mississippi State volleyball team continues to add new players to the mix for its 2020 season.

On Monday, the Bull-dogs officially announced the transfer of Lauren Myrick, who spent her freshman year at Lip-scomb in 2019. Myrick is immediately eligible to play and will have three years of eligibility re-maining.

As an outside and right-side hitter at Lip-scomb, Myrick had 177 kills and 84 digs in 29 matches in her freshman season last year. She helped lead Assumption High School in Louisville, Kentucky, to back-to-

back USA TODAY nation-al championships.

“We are excited to welcome Lauren to the family,” Mississippi State head coach Julie Darty said in a news release. “She has played for three highly respected volley-ball programs since the start of her prep career.

“Lauren is a competi-tor,” Darty added. “She is driven, she is tough and she is a great volleyball player. Her experience at a variety of positions will add depth and confidence to our team immediately. Having someone with her versatility in Starkville is huge, and we are just so excited for her arrival.”

Myrick joins a talented

class of incoming fresh-men and transfers set to take the court for the Bulldogs this year. Fresh-man Akacia Brown leads the high school signing class, with Lilly Gunter, Francesca McBride, Sky-lar Buckley and Shania Cromartie completing the five-player crop.

N.C. State transfer Jessica Kemp, Stephen F. Austin transfer Margaret Dean and East Carolina transfer Alden Willis are Mississippi State’s other incoming players.

Additionally, former Arkansas transfer Logan Brown is now eligible to play for the Bulldogs after sitting out last season.

Myrick initially an-

nounced she would trans-fer to Mississippi State on her Instagram page June 15.

MSU women’s golf lands UTEP transfer Mendizabal

Mississippi State women’s golf announced an addition of its own Monday, making Valeria Mendizabal’s transfer to Starkville official.

Mendizabal played her past three seasons at Texas-El Paso, earning first-team Conference USA honors her junior season with a 71.6 stroke average. The Guatemalan golfer finished in the top 10 six times and never shot above 75.

“It’s not too often a player like Val comes up in the transfer por-tal,” head coach Ginger Brown-Lemm said in a news release from Missis-sippi State. “She is a sea-soned international com-petitor, brilliant student and has dominated her time in the college ranks with her team’s MVP award and an under-par 71.6 stroke average. She fits with who we are as a program and university, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to add her to the family.”

Mendizabal joins Jarutrawee “Saiparn” Khotchagrai of Bangkok, Thailand, in the Bulldogs’ recruiting class.

MLB releases shortened schedule amid testing delaysTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Major League Base-ball released its pandem-ic-shortened schedule Monday, featuring a tan-talizing season opener between the New York Yankees and World Se-ries champion Washing-ton Nationals, even as some teams were still bogged down by corona-virus concerns.

By the time MLB re-vealed each team’s 60-game slate Monday eve-ning, the Nationals and Houston Astros — last year’s pennant winners — had canceled workouts because of COVID-19 testing delays that one executive worried could endanger the season.

Nick Markakis be-came the second Atlanta Braves veteran to opt out of the season, swayed by a phone call with team-mate Freddie Freeman, who has been stricken with COVID-19. The Tex-as Rangers said All-Star slugger Joey Gallo tested positive and is asymp-tomatic.

Opening night on July 23 will feature the Yan-kees and their new ace, Gerrit Cole, visiting the Nationals. On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Dodgers and their big offseason acquisition, Mookie Betts, will host the rival San Francisco Giants.

Everybody else will be in action by the next day. Teams will play only their division rivals and teams in the corresponding geographic division in the other league.

One quirk of the 60-game schedule is that division foes will play 10 times each, but not necessarily five times in each city. For instance, the Yankees and Red Sox will play seven games in the Bronx but just three in Boston.

Combined with anoth-er quirk of this bizarre season — a new rule awarding teams an auto-matic runner on second base to start each inning after the ninth — home-field advantage could be a huge difference maker, even in empty ballparks.

“I think it does tip the scales to favor the home team if you do get to an extra-inning scenario with this rule in place,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

The schedule was a bright spot on an other-wise shaky day in base-ball’s reboot following a shutdown of more than three months. The steady stream of players testing positive and opting out is leading to a growing un-ease that the full season might not be played.

“Sixty games looks pretty good on paper, but when you go through it day by day, it gets more difficult to kind of see that, the end of the finish line,” Minnesota Twins catcher Mitch Garver said.

“There’s a ton of play-ers out there quoted saying this, but it almost feels like you’re wait-ing on bad news, right? You’re just waiting on somebody’s camp to break out. You’re waiting for travel restrictions to be shut down across the nation. You’re waiting for a second wave, where

See MLB, 2B

Trump sideswipes NASCAR, Wallace over flag and nooseTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — NASCAR’s layered rela-tionship with President Donald Trump took a sharp turn Monday when Trump took a sideswipe at the racing organization for banning the Confed-erate flag and wrongly accused the sport’s only full-time Black driver of perpetrating “a hoax” when a crew member found a noose in the team garage stall.

Trump suggested Bubba Wallace should apologize after the sport rallied around him after the noose was found in his assigned stall at Tal-ladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Federal author-ities ruled last month the noose had been hanging since October and was not a hate crime. NA-SCAR and the FBI have exclusively referred to the rope — which was used to pull the garage door closed — as a noose.

It was the only garage pull out of 1,684 stalls at 29 inspected NASCAR tracks to be fashioned as a noose.

NASCAR President Steve Phelps has bristled at suggestions the noose was a hoax. Wallace was shown a photograph of the noose, never person-ally saw it, and was told by NASCAR officials he was the victim of a hate crime.

“Has @BubbaWallace

apologized to all of those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX?” Trump tweeted. “That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER!”

The tweet came after Trump used a pair of Inde-pendence Day speeches to dig deeper into Amer-ica’s divisions by accus-ing protesters who have pushed for racial justice of engaging in a “merci-less campaign to wipe out our history.” The re-marks served as a direct appeal to the Republican president’s political base,

including many disaffect-ed white voters, with less than four months to go before Election Day.

Wallace responded on Twitter with a note to “the next generation and little ones following my foot steps” in which he urged people to use their plat-form and not be detracted by “hate being thrown at you.”

“Love should come naturally as people are TAUGHT to hate,” Wal-lace tweeted. “Even when it’s HATE from the PO-TUS .. Love wins.”

White House press secretary Kayleigh McE-nany defended the pres-ident’s decision to wade into the Wallace case, likening it to actor Jussie

Smollett’s claims he was a victim of a hate crime. McEnany criticized the press in a White House briefing, calling Trump’s tweet a “complete indict-ment of the media’s rush to judgment.”

McEnany declined to explain why the pres-ident thought Wallace should have to apologize given he didn’t report the noose. McEnany refused to say whether or not the president supports NA-SCAR’s ban on the Con-federate flag.

NASCAR did not di-rectly address the Trump tweet in a Monday state-ment.

“We are proud to have Bubba Wallace in the NA-SCAR family and we com-

mend his courage and leadership,” NASCAR said. “NASCAR contin-ues to stand tall with Bubba, our competitors and everyone who makes our sport welcoming and inclusive for all racing fans.”

Andrew Murstein, co-owner of the Richard Petty Motorsports team that fields Wallace’s car, called Trump’s tweet “a late, misinformed, and factually incorrect state-ment.” He also said it was unwarranted and cited the photo NASCAR re-leased of the noose.

“A picture is worth a thousand words,” Murstein said in a state-ment. “Bubba has reacted in a truthful, professional, level headed manner. The NASCAR community and those in the know all stand by him.”

Wallace led the push for NASCAR to ban Confederate symbols at tracks. Two weeks later, the noose was found at the first race some fans were allowed to attend since the shutdown. On the same day, a plane pulling a banner of the Confederate flag that read “Defund NASCAR” was circling the track and protesters outside the speedway displayed their flags.

Two NASCAR drivers came to Wallace’s defense Monday. Seven-time NA-

See NASCAR, 2B

Matt Slocum/Pool Photo via USA TODAY NetworkBubba Wallace walks down pit row prior to the Pocono Organics 325 on June 27 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

Courtesy of Lipscomb AthleticsOutside and right-side hitter Lauren Myrick is joining Mississippi State for her sophomore season this fall. The Lipscomb transfer is the Bull-dogs’ ninth incoming player and fourth transfer of the class. “Lauren is a competitor,” head coach Julie Darty said in a news release.

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com2B TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

things become unplay-able and sports take a backseat. We’re all just kind of going day to day right now, making sure that we’re ready for the given day and looking forward to that.”

The Nationals and Astros were idled after not receiving test results from Friday. That came a day after Nationals re-liever Sean Doolittle crit-icized slow test results and a lack of some per-sonal protective equip-ment.

“Without accurate and timely testing, it is simply not safe for us to continue with summer camp,” Na-tionals general manager Mike Rizzo said. “Major League Baseball needs to work quickly to resolve issues with their process and their lab. Otherwise, summer camp and the 2020 season are at risk.”

MLB said in a state-ment that 95% of its intake testing had been complet-ed and the Utah laborato-ry it’s using had reported 98% of results, a majority of those a day after sam-ples were collected. MLB said it addressed delays caused by the holiday weekend, doesn’t expect them to continue and commended teams for canceling workouts.

But it’s clear that play-ers, managers and coach-es have a lot more to wor-ry about than just getting in shape and rounding out rosters.

“You get around the cage and you know you’re not supposed to be touch-ing the cage,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “You have this mask on all day, which is quite honestly cumbersome when it’s hot and you’re working. But it’s some-thing you get used to. When you’re out there and guys are working, it looks exactly the same. You totally forget about it. You can get past it, for sure.”

Mattingly said he tries to be as careful as possi-ble before and after work-outs: “You go to touch a door and you’re like, ‘If I can open that without ac-tually having to grab it,’ you’re trying to do that. That’s everywhere now. All the stuff we’re having to do everywhere in the world, especially in the South Florida area where it has been rough lately, that’s what we’re trying to do here.”

Testing hasn’t been an issue everywhere.

“We have not had any, I wouldn’t even say hic-cups,” Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona said. “Our trainers and our medical staff and then the testers, I don’t know what the term is exactly, collectors, what-ever. They’ve been terrif-ic. They’ve been on time.

I think maybe the first morning we might have had a little hiccup where they were a little late, but from then on, it’s been terrific.”

Indians All-Star short-stop Francisco Lindor said it’s incumbent upon the players to follow ev-ery protocol and guide-line if baseball is going to be able to re-start — and finish. He also knows there could be more play-ers who opt out for health or family reasons.

“It seems like we’re going to be in a good spot, God willing. That being said, we under-stand there’s high risk of getting the virus at some point. Hopefully we don’t get it,” Lindor said.

The 36-year-old Markakis joined Braves teammate Félix Hernán-dez in opting out. Dodg-ers pitcher David Price, Washington infielder Ryan Zimmerman and Colorado outfielder Ian Desmond are among the other players who have opted out.

Markakis said he talk-ed to Freeman, a four-time All-Star, a few days ago.

“Just hearing him, the way he sounded on the phone, it was tough,” Markakis said. “It was kind of eye-opening. With everything that’s going on, not just with baseball but all over the world, it makes you open your eyes.”

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Luis Urias and pitcher Angel Perdomo tested positive for corona-virus prior to the intake screening and are asymp-tomatic.

Manager Craig Coun-sell said there have been no issues with testing, allowing him to focus on getting his team ready for the season.

On Sunday, Counsell had many of the players’ wives and kids appear on the Miller Park score-board via a Zoom session while the team was work-ing out.

“The purpose of the call was to really high-light not only are we as a team connected, all of our families are part of this as well, and more than ever before, we are all mak-ing sacrifices together, right?” Counsell said.

Brewers reliever Brent Suter said the surprise session “was awesome. I saw a few guys tearing up — I teared up a little bit. That was a great move by Counsell and the wives did a great job keeping it under wraps. It was such a cool, touching moment. It kind of reinforced why we’re here and doing all these things to keep each other safe because it’s about our families, as well.”

MLBContinued from Page 1B

SCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, currently side-lined with the coronavi-rus, posted an image of Wallace’s No. 43 that had been used by drivers in an earlier #IStandWithBubba campaign. Rookie Tyler Reddick tweeted but later deleted a reply to Trump that read: “We don’t need an apology. We did what was right and we will do just fine without your sup-port.”

LeBron James and Chelsea Clinton were among those outside of NASCAR who backed Wallace on social media, with James stating he stands with Wallace.

NASCAR’s complex relationship with Trump dates to early in his cam-paign when former chair-man Brian France brought a contingent of drivers to a rally in Georgia.

France later sent a memo to NASCAR em-ployees stating his polit-ical beliefs were his own and he was not speaking on behalf of the orga-nization. France was replaced as chairman following his arrest for driving while impaired in 2018.

Other members of the France family welcomed Trump to Daytona for the season-opening race in February. Many drivers and owners mingled with Trump and posted selfies with the president.

Wallace, who was born in Alabama, has taken an active role in the push for racial equality. He has worn a shirt saying “I Can’t Breathe,” and raced with a Black Lives Matter paint scheme in Virginia.

Ramsey Poston, a

former NASCAR con-sultant and now head of crisis management firm Tuckahoe Stategies, said Trump’s tweet is harmful to NASCAR’s push for in-clusion. Wallace is one of just a handful of non-white drivers. Daniel Su-arez is Mexican and Aric Almirola is of Cuban de-scent. Kyle Larson, who is half-Asian, was fired in April for using a racial slur.

“The brewing cultural war within NASCAR for equality has just erupted and the sport’s efforts to separate from its past just got tougher,” Poston said. “The president’s comments are essential-ly a rallying call for peo-ple who support the Con-federate flag to challenge the sport’s recent flag ban and create chaos.”

While Trump claimed

NASCAR’s ratings are down, they are actually up. Michael Mulvihill, executive vice president at Fox Sports, tweeted that Fox viewership is up 8% since the sport returned from the pan-demic hiatus on May 17. NBC took over the broadcast rights this past weekend and said its ratings for Sunday’s race were up 46% from last year’s event at Indi-anapolis.

Sen. Lindsey Gra-ham, R-SC, pushed back against Trump’s NASCAR tweet on Fox News Radio, saying NA-SCAR is trying to grow the sport by removing divisive symbols.

“I don’t think Bubba Wallace has anything to apologize for,” Graham said.

NASCARContinued from Page 1B

The bubble awaits: NBA teams set to start Disney arrivalsTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

After four months of waiting and planning, the NBA bubble is ready to be tested.

The first six teams — Brooklyn, Denver, Orlan-do, Phoenix, Utah and Washington — are sched-uled to arrive Tuesday at the Disney complex. An-other eight teams arrive Wednesday, the last eight arrive Thursday, and with that training camps will be on the cusp of be-ginning.

If the plan works, all teams will be at Disney for at least 5-1/2 weeks and some teams will be there for more than three months. And not every-one in the league has an abundance of optimism that the experiment — in-volving daily testing, sep-aration from friends and family for weeks if not months, and strict regula-tions regarding just about everything imaginable at Disney — will be enough to complete the season.

“I’m not very con-fident,” New Orleans guard Brandon Ingram said. “But they’ve got us going ... so we’ll see.”

The process for arriv-als will be streamlined — players and team staff will be immediately tak-en to the testing room at their Disney hotel after clearing security when arriving on the premises. They’ll receive a short briefing on the testing

program and other mat-ters, receive what will serve as their room key, then go through initial testing for both the coro-navirus and the presence of antibodies. Virus test-ing will continue daily; the antibody testing is intended to be a one-time event at Disney.

In their rooms, a wel-come kit including a ther-mometer, pulse oximeter and two optional items — a physical distancing sensor and an Oura Ring that tracks sleep and ac-tivity — will be awaiting players and staff, as will some personal protective equipment such as wipes to clean the exterior of their luggage.

“I think we’re on the right path, we’re on the right plan,” Houston general manager Daryl Morey said. “But I think every day there’s new in-formation so ... I think if anyone’s certain about anything right now I think they’re making a mistake. I think we all have to intelligently con-tinue to understand the risks, manage the risks versus the potential outcomes, and go from there.”

For some teams, the getaway comes not long after the reality of the vi-rus struck yet again. Mi-ami closed its facility late last week following posi-tive test results, Milwau-kee and Sacramento fol-lowed over the weekend

after the same circum-stance, and now seven of the 22 Disney-bound teams have had to shutter their practice gyms.

All this, of course, comes with coronavirus numbers in Florida still rising and the percentage of positive test results simply overwhelming what the standards were a few weeks ago.

“As long as we try to (abide) by the rules, I think that’s going to help get us through the season,” Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball said. “I can’t really tell you whether it’s going to work or not.”

And not every team is having its entire trav-el party arrive at once. Phoenix general manag-er James Jones said some Suns players will be ar-riving separately, adding that some decisions have yet to be made.

“The initial adjust-ment will be tough,” Jones said. “The first five or six days – you’re talking about quarantine, trying to get acclimated to new surroundings, trying to figure out your flow and rhythm. But once the games start, they’re every other day, I think the players will be fine. You play a game on Monday, you’re tired and recover on Tuesday, then you’re right back at it on Wednesday.”

And there are some teams, including Wash-ington, that are still ap-

parently figuring out who will go. Wizards coach Scott Brooks said Mon-day that the team is still waiting for a final deci-sion on guard Bradley Beal, who has indicat-ed that he is weighing whether participating in the restart would be his best move.

“No final decision,” Brooks said. “We’re all still day by day and he’s looking great. ... We hope that everybody goes down there.”

The Wednesday ar-rivals are scheduled to include Boston, Dallas, the Los Angeles Clip-pers, Memphis, Miami, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Sacramento. On Thursday, Houston, Indiana, the Los Ange-les Lakers, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Portland, San Antonio and Toronto make their way into the bubble.

Spurs forward Rudy Gay has a son who hap-pens to be a big Disney fan, and wanted to know why the family didn’t take its traditional Dis-ney vacation this year. Gay hasn’t had the heart yet to tell him that he’s headed to Disney for several weeks, and was asked Monday if he has a special souvenir in mind to bring home.

“A healthy father,” Gay said. “A corona-free fa-ther, hopefully.”

Contacting the Sports DepartmentIf you need to report game scores or statistics, you can call us at 662-327-2424 ext. 126. If you need to reach

sports editor Garrick Hodge, email him at ghodge@cdispatch.com. If you need to reach sports writer Ben Portnoy, email him at bportnoy@cdispatch.com. If you need to reach sports writer Theo DeRosa, email him at tderosa@cdispatch.com.

Game Coverage / ResultsHigh school football coaches who don’t speak to a reporter from The Dispatch are asked to email informa-

tion to the sports department from their games. The Dispatch will include its prep football coverage in Sunday’s edition, so we will contact coaches Friday night or Saturday to get details. Coaches, please let us know what is the best time for us to contact you.

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020 3B

Comics & PuzzlesDear AbbyDILBERT

ZITS

GARFIELD

CANDORVILLE

BABY BLUES

BEETLE BAILEY

MALLARD FILLMORE

HoroscopesTODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July

7). Your cosmic birthday gift is a surge in vitality brought on by an inspiring relationship. Your powers will be augmented in the months to come, and you’ll repair what’s been torn down, heal injury and set justice in motion. Professional luck kicks in for 2021, and through your acts of service you’ll accomplish a major goal. Gemini and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 10, 44, 48 and 39.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). There’s something you’ve told yourself a lot lately. You know it’s just a story, but it’s your story, and it seems to be hold-ing your sense of self in place, although honestly, you’ll be fine either way.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The artist can turn any act into an act of art. The warrior can turn any act into an act of war... and it follows for the teacher, the lover, the provider. Who are you being?

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Material values are problematic because they can never be satisfied in any lasting way. New things wear out, and what’s hip and cool becomes old and dated, whereas values of the heart do not age.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). In lunging for the brass ring, you risk a fall. You could avoid a tumble by avoiding the ring, but that would be off-brand for you. Anyway, your odds are better than usual today. Take

the chance. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22).

When you were younger, you crossed lines and felt the sting as the universe put you back in place. Because of this, you now display a self-generated restraint and grace that will win you all kinds of favor.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). While some are motivated by a reward that is just out of reach, you’re in no mood to waste time chasing a thing that ultimately doesn’t make you happy. Get a taste of what you’re in for so you can decide upfront if it’s worthwhile.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The time you spend fine-tuning your image will be worthwhile, not because these details make a tremendous difference in the eyes of others but because you’ll learn about yourself in the process.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The ancients built temples that still endure: grand offerings to vast and higher powers. Lofty purposes are more visible and ever-present reminders of their own maintenance needs.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The best things in life are not free; they are very much earned and bartered through investments of duty, loyalty, passion, respect or other emo-tional currencies such as what you’ll be wielding today.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There are uncomfortable things that come up. In the past, you would have avoided this, but now you confront with pleasure because life is so much easier when you take it head-on.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The truth that was supposed to set everyone free didn’t quite. That is because no one could agree on what it was. Maybe it’s more of a feeling than a word — a feeling found in silence.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It’s easy to do the right thing when you have already built the moral character for it. What’s hard is doing the clever thing. Today’s situation needs you to think above, beyond and ahead of how the others are thinking.

SOLUTION:Split level

FAMILY CIRCUS

DEAR ABBY: I have a wonderful

husband of almost 20 years and two teenage children. My husband is incredibly hardworking in his stressful career and has provided a very comfortable life for us. The trouble is, he puts work ahead of any self-care. He works most waking hours, doesn’t eat well, exercises rarely, is overweight — the list goes on. When I ask/encour-age/nag him to make positive lifestyle choices, he reminds me of the life insurance he has and turns it around on me and says I am stressing him.

Abby, I love my husband, and I worry that this will cut his life and our life together short. Can you help? — BESIDE MYSELF WITH WORRY

DEAR BESIDE YOURSELF: I wish I could wave a magic wand and make your husband recep-tive to what you are trying to do for him. But until he’s ready to address these issues and do something about them, nothing will change.

If he enjoys his career and takes pride in the fact that you and your children are — and will

be — provided for, then he’s living the life he has chosen for himself. This does not mean you must give up en-tirely suggesting healthy lifestyle choices, but per-haps do it a little less often and in terms of activities he might enjoy.

DEAR ABBY: After a long and successful life, my uncle recently passed away.

His wife is my mother’s sister. During one of our phone calls, she told me she and my cousins had written his obituary and that it would be published soon. To my shock and dismay, I located the obituary and discovered that my sister and I were not men-tioned as his niece and nephew. I am still terribly hurt. Why would they do this?

My sister and I grew up spending every major holiday and birthday with my uncle. The obituary did include his other niece and nephew who live on the opposite side of the country and kept in touch only with an occasional phone call and holi-day card. I included my cousins in my parents’ and sister’s obit-uaries, all of whom have passed in the last few years.

I feel that I must address this with them, but I don’t want to add to the pain they are going through while they mourn their loss. I now dread attending the memorial because I’m worried friends of our family may bring it up, and I won’t know what to say. — HURT NEPHEW IN ILLINOIS

DEAR NEPHEW: Even when a death is expected, many people go into a state of shock, which interferes with their ability to se-quence facts. It is entirely possi-ble that the obituary was written when your aunt and cousins weren’t thinking straight, which is why you were omitted. If someone brings it up at the memorial — which I doubt will happen — rather than nurse hurt feelings, I hope you will point out that the family, including you, is grieving. Period.

DEAR ABBY: How do you po-litely ask a neighbor to mow his lawn at reasonable times of the day? Mine seems to be doing it three days a week and always when we want to enjoy our back-yard. — TRYING TO RELAX

DEAR TRYING: If you are on speaking terms with this neighbor, explain that the noise from his lawnmower interferes with your ability to enjoy your backyard and ask POLITELY if he could schedule it at another hour of the day. If he is a good neighbor, he should be willing to accommodate you.

Dear Abby

NHL, players’ union announce plan to resume play on Aug. 1THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The NHL is not only in a position to resume playing within the next month, the league has the potential of enjoying labor peace through 2026.

The National Hock-ey League and the NHL Players’ Association on Monday announced reaching a tentative deal on a return to play format which is coupled with the two sides agreeing to a memorandum of under-standing on a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement.

Should both agree-ments be ratified, the NHL would proceed im-mediately to its expanded 24-team playoff format, with play beginning on

Aug. 1. Under the plan, training camps would open July 13, with teams traveling to their respec-tive hub cities for exhibi-tion games on July 26.

A person with direct knowledge of the agree-ments told The Associ-ated Press that the NHL has selected Toronto and Edmonton, Alberta, to be the hub cities in hosting the qualifying round and at least first two playoff rounds.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymi-ty because the league and NHLPA have not released this information. The person said, the league is being cautious, and allowing itself flexibility in the event of potential spikes in COVID-19 infec-

tions in not yet determin-ing which cities will host the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final.

The agreements need two-thirds approval by owners. On the union side, the agreements must first be approved by a majority of the NHLPA’s 31-member executive committee before going to a vote to the full mem-bership.

The executive commit-tee is expected to make its recommendation by the end of day Tuesday. If approved, the players would be expected to complete their voting pro-cess by Friday.

Extending the CBA, which was set to expire in September 2022, was considered a necessary

step in restarting the sea-son, which was placed on pause in March as a result of the pandemic.

The CBA extension covers numerous on- and off-ice issues, including the NHL’s potential re-turn to the Olympics, the person said.

If approved, players would be in a position to compete at the Beijing Olympics in 2022 and Cortina Milan Games in 2026. In order for that to happen, the NHL would first have to resolve its outstanding issues, which include marketing rights and health insurance, with the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation.

The NHL, NHLPA

and IIHF had what were called productive talks earlier this year.

The NHL participated in five consecutive Olym-pics from 1998-2014 be-fore skipping 2018 in Py-eongchang.

Financially, this CBA extension would address the monetary hit affect-ing the league and play-ers as a result of lost rev-enues stemming from the remainder of the regular season being wiped out and with the resumption of games being played in empty arenas.

A second person fa-miliar with the proposed agreement told The AP, that players would defer 10% of salaries next sea-son which owners would pay back over three con-

secutive seasons starting in 2022-23. The salary cap will remain at $81.5 million for at least next season, the person added, and spoke on the condi-tion of anonymity because details were not revealed.

Escrow payments to owners to even out hock-ey-related revenue at 50/50 would be capped at 20% next season, with the cap decreasing through-out the deal, the second person said. If owners are still owed money from the players, the CBA would be extended for an addi-tional season.

Over the weekend, the league and players agreed to an extensive series of return-to-play protocols involving training camps and games.

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com4B TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

Robbie UnderwoodMrs. Robbie Fay Baggett

Underwood, age 89, of Columbus, MS, passed away July 3, 2020, at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. Graveside service will be Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at 11:00 AM at Friendship Cemetery with Billy Ferguson officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until 10:45 AM at Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home & Crematory, 903 College St. location.

Mrs. Underwood was born February 2, 1931, in Rogersville, AL, to the late Robert O’Neal and Ethel Haraway Baggett. She was a graduate of Lauderdale County High School. Mrs. Underwood retired from South Central Bell Telephone Company after 28 years and the Columbus Municipal School District after 12 years. She was an active member of the Columbus Church of Christ. In addition to her parents and twelve siblings, she was preceded in death by her husband, Maynard Edward Underwood.

Mrs. Underwood grew up on a farm in Rogersville, Alabama. She met her husband Maynard on a blind date and they were married for 47 years until his death in 2002. She was passionate about her work and began her career as a telephone operator for BellSouth in Sheffield, AL. She worked her way up and was one of the first females to hold a man’s job at South Central Bell in Columbus. After retiring from the telephone company, she became an assistant teacher at Franklin Academy. After her second retirement, Mrs. Underwood enjoyed traveling with her church group ‘The Prime Timers’, volunteering with the Telephone Pioneers charity and serving with the Columbus Church of Christ Nursing Home Ministry for 20 years. She also enjoyed gathering for monthly luncheons with the Arrington Park Neighborhood Ladies Group, her friends from the Franklin Retired Teachers Group, and celebrating birthdays with her special ladies club. However, her happiest days were spent sitting around a bridge table with her dear bridge friends engaging in challenging games and joyous laughter.

Survivors include her daughters, Dana Underwood McLean of Columbus, MS and Diahn Underwood Brauss and her husband Kevin of Tampa, FL; and granddaughters, Madison O’Neal McLean and Avery Nicole Brauss. Her granddaughters were the loves of her life and her utmost pride and joy.

Pallbearers include Kevin Brauss, Mike Smith, Dan Harris, Les Chaffin, Shawn Dickey and Paul Bennett.

Honorary pallbearers include the Columbus Church of Christ members & The Prime Timers and her beloved bridge friends.

Memorials may be made to Columbus Church of Christ, 2401 7th St. North, Columbus, MS, 39705.

Sign the online guest book at www.memorialgunterpeel.com College Street • Columbus, MS

Melanie BrownMelanie (Mel) Ash Mitchell

Brown, 45, died Thursday, July, 2, 2020, at her home in Madison of ovarian cancer surrounded by her family and friends.

A Celebration of Melanie’s life be held on Tuesday July 7, 2020, at 2:00 PM Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at Pinelake Baptist Church of Madison at 223 Old Jackson Road Madison MS. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM Tuesday at the church.

Melanie was born on March 16, 1975, in Spokane, Washington. A graduate of Mississippi State University, Melanie married Brandon Brown in Columbus, MS on May 6, 2000. A longtime resident of Madison, she worked as Realtor with Kennedy and Company.

Melanie cherished spending time with her family and especially enjoyed watching her children participate in their extra-curricular activities. She was a faithful member of Pinelake Baptist Church of Madison.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Mitchell of Monroe, Georgia and Mr. and Mrs. John Chancey of Boynton Beach, Florida.

Melanie is lovingly survived by her husband, Brandon Brown and their children Heath and Bella Brown all of Madison; her parents, Hank and Becky Gunter of Columbus, MS and Gawyn and Dawn Mitchell of Columbus, MS; her siblings, Angi Wilson (Harry) of Madison; IV Gunter of Columbus, MS; Allyson Lett (Cody) of Columbus, MS; Kathryn Phillips (Bob) of Columbus, MS; Nichole Rutherford of Columbus, MS; nieces and nephews, Ashton Wilson, Harrison Wilson, Ayden Mitchell, Harris Gunter Lilly Grace Gunter, Grey Gunter, Gunter Phillips, Blake Phillips, Beth Phillips, Bill Phillips, Brooke Hill, Will Burris, Dorsey Burris and Mary Katherine Smith.

Memorials may be made in memory of Melanie to Madison Ridgeland Academy , 7601 Old Canton Road Madison, MS 39110 as a daily reminder for Health and Bella Brown of their loving mother.

Paid Obituary - Sebrell Funeral Home

Compliments ofLowndes Funeral Home

www.lowndesfuneralhome.net

Alma ShawAlma Mae Morgan Shaw,

91, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Friday, July 3, 2020, while living at Traceway Nursing Home in Tupelo, MS. Her loving daughters, Beverly and Cindy, were with her when she peacefully passed.

A visitation will be Wednesday, July 8, 2020, from 10:30-11:00 AM at Lowndes Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM in the Chapel with Dr. Kennon Vaughan officiating. Interment will be in Millport City Cemetery, Millport, AL with Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Shaw was born on April 20, 1929, in Brilliant, AL, the youngest of four children to Ethel Mae Spillers Morgan and Acie Dickerson Fritz Morgan. She always said her life was good, and she doted on by her older siblings. Family was important to her and she loved sharing memories. She lived through the Great Depression and World War II. She loved this country in which she had witnessed so much change throughout her lifetime. She loved reading and kept up with politics, never hesitating to share her beliefs. Her family moved during her high school years to Millport, AL where she loved playing Basketball and being a Cheerleader. She was a member of the Millport Methodist Church all of her life and even though she lived in other places, she always called Millport home. Mrs. Shaw was generous and caring. She cared for her father, her mother, and her husband through their later years of sickness and counted it a joy to be able to do so. In her later years, she moved into a small, lovely cottage at Traceway Retirement Center in Tupelo, MS where she continued to live independently and happy for the next 14 years. During these years she cultivated a beautiful flower garden, continued to cook, and share her perfection with family and friends. Her pride and joy was her own secret Chocolate Cheesecake recipe. She also began to paint and share her art with others. Mrs. Shaw loved to shop and she loved all things beautiful. Being from the Greatest Generation, she believed in always looking her best. She was bossy and funny, made the best of every situation, and was always positive. She loved to travel and left many memories of her life through her art, her writing, and her photographs. Her heart was always full of love and that love was returned to her by all who knew her. Her faith in God was strong. She believed in the power of prayer and trusted God in all her circumstances. She always lived life to the fullest. Many times she reminded her family to not grieve for her when she left this earth but to rejoice in her well-lived life, confident she was going to a better place.

Alma is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Katie Flippo; and two brothers, L.C. Morgan and Aubra Morgan.

Mrs. Shaw is survived by her daughters, Beverly (Bobby) Hooks of Starkville, MS and Cindy (Stan) Brewer of Decatur, AL; three granddaughters, Kathryn (Kennon) Vaughan of Germantown, TN, Morgan (Daniel) Trotter of Cave Creek, AZ and Marylea (Joshua) Thronton of Maben, MS; and 11 much-adored great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Steve Morgan, Ken Trull, Daniel Trotter, Joshua Thornton, Stan Brewer and Bobby Hooks.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN where Mrs. Shaw was a faithful supporter.

COMMERCIAL DISPATCH OBITUARY POLICYObituaries with basic informa-tion including visitation and service times, are provided free of charge. Extended obituaries with a photograph, detailed bi-ographical information and oth-er details families may wish to include, are available for a fee. Obituaries must be submitted through funeral homes unless the deceased’s body has been donated to science. If the de-ceased’s body was donated to science, the family must provide official proof of death. Please submit all obituaries on the form provided by The Commer-cial Dispatch. Free notices must be submitted to the newspaper no later than 3 p.m. the day prior for publication Tuesday through Friday; no later than 4 p.m. Saturday for the Sunday edition; and no later than 7:30 a.m. for the Monday edition. Incomplete notices must be received no later than 7:30 a.m. for the Monday through Friday 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 informa-tion, call 662-328-2471.

Grace MarlerSTARKVILLE —

Grace “Mamalene” Arlene Marler, 87, died July 2, 2020, at Mont-gomery Gardens.

A family service will be held at a later date. Welch Funeral Home is in charge of arrange-ments.

Mrs. Marler was born Aug. 10, 1932, in Isola, to the late Willie and Myrtis Durr. She was a member of Park-way Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Marler.

She is survived by her children, Ken Marler of Franklin, Tennessee, Max Marler of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Phil Marler of Coos Bay, Oregon and Brad Marler of Starkville; siblings, Thelma Waldrop, Polly McCall and Ella Mai Dexter; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Jillavonnie WattNOXUBEE COUN-

TY — Jillavonnie Watt, 27, died July 4, 2020.

Arrangements are

incomplete and will be announced by Carter’s Services of Macon.

Danella JamisonNOXUBEE COUN-

TY — Danella Jamison, 81, died July 6, 2020.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Carter’s Services of Macon.

Henry CraigPRAIRIE — Henry

M. “Buddy” Craig, 77, died July 3, 2020, at Baptist Memorial Hos-pital-Golden Triangle.

Funeral services are at 10 a.m. today, at West Point Menno-nite Church in West Point, with the Reb. Errol Wedel officiat-ing. Burial will follow in Oddfellows Rest Cemetery in Aberdeen. Tisdale-Lann Memo-rial Funeral Home of Aberdeen is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Craig was born May 21, 1943, in Aberdeen, to the late Henry M and Jessie Haston Craig. He was a member of West Point Mennonite Church.

He is survived by his wife, Patsy ; chil-dren, Carol Smith, Lee Holdeman and Melinda Litwiller; sister, Faith Craig; 15 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Mary WilsonCOLUMBUS —

Mary Wilson, 71, died July 6, 2020, at Baptist Memorial Hospi-tal-Golden Triangle.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Carter’s Funeral Services of Columbus.

Charlotte LoperCOLUMBUS —

Charlotte Loper, 68, died July 6, 2020, at Baptist Memorial Hos-pital-Golden Triangle. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Lown-des Funeral Home of Columbus.

Latisha HenleyCOLUMBUS — Lati-

sha Henley, 25, died

July 5, 2020. Arrangements are

incomplete and will be announced by Carter’s Funeral Services of Columbus.

Martha HowardHOLLY SPRINGS

— Martha Bridges Howard, 71, died July 6, 2020, at her resi-dence.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Carter’s Funeral Services of Columbus.

William Jones Jr. COLUMBUS — Wil-

liam Jones Jr., 50, died July 5, 2020.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Carter’s Funeral Services of Columbus.

Luther Hunter Sr.STARKVILLE —

Luther Hunter Sr., 82, died June 24, 2020.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, at West Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Visita-tion is from 4-6 p.m. today, at the funeral home. West Memo-rial Funeral Home of Starkville is in charge of arrangements.

He is survived by his wife, Allie Jean Hunter; children, Versie Treanatta Cuth-bert, Lurther Hunter Jr., Treandes Hunter, Darrin Hunter, Richell Doss, Schwann Logan,

Marcia Cross, April Hunter, Terrance Hunt-er and Terrell Hunter; and siblings, Winter Jean Williams, Darnell Williams, Diane Long, Robin Long and Willie Dee Long Jr.

Lisa ChandlerCOLUMBUS — Lisa

Chandler, 53, died June 27, 2020.

Graveside funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, in Sessums Community Cemetery. Visitation is from 1-5 p.m. today, at West Memorial Funer-al Home. West Memo-

rial Funeral Home of Starkville is in charge of arrangements.

She is survived by her mother, Bessie Chandler; children, Ja-mar Chandler and LaR-

on Neal; and siblings, Barry Bell, Douglas Pete Fulton, Jenie Chandler Tate, Rhonda Thomas, Lynn Staples and Mary Allen.

AREA OBITUARIES

See OBITS, 5B

Robbie UnderwoodVisitation:

Tuesday, July 7 • 9-10:45 AMCollege Street LocationGraveside Services:Tuesday, July 7 • 11 AM

Friendship CemeteryCollege St. Location

Birtis GriffinIncomplete

College St. Location

Catherine BasingerIncomplete

2nd Ave. North Location

memorialgunterpeel.com

Hazel HughesHazel Christine Geno Hughes, 93, of

Booneville, MS passed away on July 3, 2020.A private family service will be arranged for

a later date. Survivors include husband, Charles Kenneth Hughes; daughter, Patricia Hughes Matthes of Columbus, MS; daughter-in-law Sandy Hughes of Pace, Florida; grandchildren, Kim Matthes Hall (Chad) of Columbus, MS, Matthew Matthes (Amanda), Trevor Hughes of Portland, Oregon, Chris Hughes of Pace, Florida, Claire Hughes of Birmingham, Alabama; and great-grandchildren, Alexis, Kinsley, Jalynn, Skylar and Madyson.

Hazel Hughes had a long career as an office nurse with Dr. Doyle Sumrall’s practice. She and Charles Hughes were married for 72 years. Charles is a retired U.S. Air Force Veteran. After Hazel retired from being a nurse, she devoted her time to her family.

Paid Obituary - Mack Funeral Home

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020 5B

Today is Tuesday, July 7, the 189th day of 2020. There are 177 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On July 7, 1865, four people

were hanged in Washington, D.C. for conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln: Lewis Powell (aka Lewis Payne), David Herold, George Atzerodt and Mary Surratt, the first woman to be executed by the federal government.

On this date: In 1846, U.S. annexation of Cal-

ifornia was proclaimed at Monterey (mahn-tuh-RAY’) after the surrender of a Mexican garrison.

In 1898, the United States annexed Hawaii.

In 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War erupted into full-scale conflict as Imperial Japanese forces attacked the Marco Polo Bridge in Beijing.

In 1941, U.S. forces took up posi-tions in Iceland, Trinidad and British Guiana to forestall any Nazi invasion, even though the United States had not yet entered the Second World War.

In 1948, six female U.S. Navy reservists became the first women to be sworn in to the regular Navy.

In 1954, Elvis Presley made his radio debut as Memphis, Tennessee, station WHBQ played his first record-ing for Sun Records, “That’s All Right.”

In 1963, a Navy jet fighter from Willow Grove Naval Air Station in Pennsylvania crashed into a picnic area, killing seven people; the pilot, who ejected, survived.

SOURCE: AP

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ObitsContinued from Page 4B

Vernon Rice STARKVILLE —

Vernon Rice, 60, died June 27, 2020.

Graveside funeral services are at 2 p.m. today, in Bethel Cem-etery. West Memori-al Funeral Home of Starkville is in charge of arrangements.

He is survived by his siblings, Fannie Wil-liams, Cara Thomson, Betty Baker, Cecelia Ashford, Elizabeth Wadlington, Sammie Rice, Melvin Rice, Rob-ert Rice, Aaron Rice and Edward Rice.

James HeritageMCSHAN, Ala. —

James Harold Heritage, 91, died July 5, 2020, at his residence.

Funeral services are at 11 a.m. today, at Mineral Springs Baptist Church, with the Rev. David Blakney officiat-ing. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will follow at

the church. Skelton Fu-neral Home of Reform, Alabama is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Heritage was born Aug. 6, 1928, in Pickens County, Ala-bama, to the late John Sanford Heritage Sr and Mary Elizabeth Wright Heritage. He was a member of Mineral Springs Baptist Church.

In addition to his par-ents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Annie Lunenia Noland, Betty Jane Jacobs, John Sanford Heritage Jr., David Olen Heritage and Lester Owen Heri-tage.

He is survived by his wife, Christine Taylor Heritage; children, Brenda Heritage Man-ning and Terri Heritage Andrews; siblings, Willard Heritage and Edward Heritage; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchil-dren.

Pallbearers will be Jack Heritage, David

Heritage, Ken Shirley, Brad Andrews, Steve Harris, Kenny Harris, Mike Harris and Billy Strickland.

Memorials may be made to Mineral Springs Baptist Church Building Fund, 401 1st Street N, Reform, AL 35481.

Birtis GriffinCOLUMBUS — Bir-

tis Griffin, 36, died July 6, 2020, at his residence.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home and Crematory College Street location.

Catherine Basinger COLUMBUS —

Catherine Basinger, 90, died July 7, 2020, at Windsor Place.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home and Crematory Second Avenue North location.

TODAY IN HISTORY

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legalS

Legal Notices

LEGAL GRANTS(Block Grants)

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OFHUMAN SERVICES

Division of Community ServicesLegislative Public Hearing

The Mississippi Department ofHuman Services, Division ofCommunity Services will beconducting the Legislative Pub-lic Hearing on the CommunityServices Block Grant and Low-Income Home Energy Assist-ance Programs under Title 26of the Omnibus Budget Recon-ciliation Act of 1981, asamended. The hearing for the2021 programs is scheduledfor Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at11:00 am at Multi-County Com-munity Service Agency, 2906St. Paul Street, Meridian, Mis-sissippi.

The Community Services BlockGrant provides funds for arange of activities to amelior-ate the causes and effects ofpoverty. For Fiscal Year 2021,at least 90 percent of thefunds allocated to the Statethrough these grants will becontracted to non-profit com-munity action agencies, mi-grant seasonal farm worker or-ganizations or community-based organizations that meetthe eligibility requirements asdescribed in Section 675 ofthe Community Services BlockGrant Act, as amended. The eli-gibility requirements for theprogram are outlined in the ap-plication process.

The Low-Income Home EnergyAssistance Program assists eli-gible households to pay thecosts of home energy bills andother energy-related services,for example, wood, kerosene,electricity, gas, heaters,blankets, fans and air condi-tioners. For Fiscal Year 2021,at least 90 percent of thefunds allocated to the Statethrough these grants will becontracted to private, nonprofit,and public agencies desig-nated in accordance with Pub-lic Law 97-35, as amended.The eligibility requirements forthe program are outlined in theapplication process.

Copies of the state plans areavailable for review at the Mis-sissippi Department of HumanServices by calling 601-359-4768 or 1-800-421-0762.

Inquiries, comments or sugges-tions regarding the block grantplans and/or eligibility require-ments must be received on orbefore July 28, 2020 by the Di-vision of Community Services,P. O. Box 352, Jackson, Mis-sissippi 39205. Public com-ments will be reviewed beforefinalizing the 2021 State Plansfor these programs.

State of MississippiCounty Of Lowndes

NOTICE OF SALE LIQUIDATION

WHEREAS, the following ten-ants entered into leases withThe Grove Mini Warehouses forstorage space in which to storepersonal property and

WHEREAS, default has beenmade in the payment for rentand The Grove Mini Ware-houses pursuant to saidleases is authorized to sell thepersonal property to satisfy thepast due rent and othercharges owed to it by the fol-lowing tenants:

Apryl SherrodA16$165.00

Lonnie SanderA32$483.80

Eldwyien DonaldA33$176.95

Tammy CrimmA38$261.95

Cyretha BallA40$236.95

Marissa PerkinsB25$296.95

Renise LyshonB35$296.95

Cheryl FerghsonC13$400.65

NOW, THEREFORE, notice ishereby given that The GroveMini Warehouses liquidationsale will take place at 510Lehmberg Road, Columbus, MS39702 on July 24, 2020 at10:00 A.M.

PUBLISH: 7/7, 7/14 &7/21/2020

Legal Notices

IN THE CHANCERY COURT OFLOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-SIPPI

IN RE: MATTER OF THE LASTWILL AND TESTAMENT OFDOROTHY PIERCE, DECEASED,MELISSA A. TURNER, EXEC-UTRIX

CAUSE NO. 2020-0103-PDE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Letters Testamentary were is-sued unto me as Executrix ofthe Last Will and Testament ofDorothy T. Pierce, deceased, bythe Chancery Court of LowndesCounty, Mississippi on the10th day of June, 2020.

Notice is hereby given to allpersons having claims againstthe Estate of Dorothy T. Pierceto have the same probated andregistered by the ChanceryClerk of Lowndes County, Mis-sissippi within ninety (90) daysof the date of the first publica-tion of this Notice, or they willbe forever barred.

WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, thisthe 15th day of June, 2020.

s/MELISSA A. TURNERMELISSA A. TURNER,EXECUTRIX

Publish: June 23, June 30, andJuly 7, 2020

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

STATE OF MISSISSIPPICOUNTY OF LOWNDES

Letters Testamentary havebeen granted and issued forthe undersigned upon the Es-tate of Todd Taggart, De-ceased, by the Chancery Courtof Lowndes County, Missis-sippi on the 10th day of June,2020. This is to give notice toall persons having claimsagainst said estate to probateand register same with theChancery Clerk of LowndesCounty, Mississippi, within 90(ninety) days from this date. Afailure to so probate and re-gister said claim will foreverbar the same.

This the 15th day of June,2020

/s/ J. FowlerJanice FowlerExecutrix of the Estate of ToddTaggart, Deceased

PUBLISH: 6/23, 6/30 &7/7/2020

THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE HASBEEN ABANDONED AT COREYHERRING AUTOMOTIVE, 1230GARDNER BLVD, COLUMBUS,MS.

2009 TOYOTA COROLLAVIN# 2T1BU40E29C116030

2013 HONDA ACCORDVIN# 1HGCR2F37DA047351

2003 ACURA MDXVIN# 2HNYD188X3H533698

IF NOT CLAIMED THESEVEHICLES WILL BE PUT UP FORPUBLIC SALE ON THE 11THDAY OF JULY 2020 AT COREYHERRING AUTOMOTIVE, 1230GARDNER BLVD., COLUMBUS,MS 39702.

PUBLISH: 6/23, 6/30 &7/7/2020

IN THE CHANCERY COURT OFLOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-SIPPI

EDWARD MICHAEL OGLESBYand JUDY OGLESBY PLAINTIFFS

VERSUS

PARKWAY MORTGAGE, INC.;WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., suc-cessor by merger to WachoviaBank of Delaware, N.A., f/k/aFirst Union National Bank ofDelaware; CITIBANK, N.A.,a/k/a Citi Mortgage; J.P. MOR-GAN CHASE & CO., d/b/aChase Bank; CAPITAL ONEHOME LOANS, LLC, OperatingSubsidiary of a National Bank;BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., suc-cessor by merger to BAC HomeLoans Servicing, LP, f/k/aCountrywide Home Loans Servi-cing, LP; MORTGAGE ELEC-TRONIC REGISTRATION SYS-TEMS, INC., a/k/a MERS, Inc.;SETERUS, INC.; FEDERAL NA-TIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCI-ATION, a/k/a Fannie Mae; NA-TIONSTAR MORTGAGE, LLC,d/b/a Mr. Cooper; and ALLOTHER UNKNOWN PERSONSOR ENTITIES HAVING ORCLAIMING ANY INTEREST IN ORTO THE PROPERTY DE-SCRIBED IN THIS COMPLAINTDEFENDANTS

NO. 2020-0257-DE

PUBLICATION SUMMONS

THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

TO: All other unknown personsor entities having or claiming alegal or equitable interest in orto the property described in theattached Complaint and below

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT

You have been made a Defend-ant in the suit filed in thisCourt by Edward MichaelOglesby and Judy Oglesby,Plaintiffs, seeking confirmationand quieting of title and vari-ous other relief. The real prop-erty, which is the subject ofthis Complaint is described asfollows:

A tract or parcel of land loc-ated in the Northeast Quarter(NE ¼) of Section 22, Town-ship 17 South, Range 17 West,Lowndes County, Mississippi,and being more particularly de-scribed as follows:

Commencing at an existing ironpipe at the Southeast corner ofthe Northeast Quarter (NE ¼)of Section 22; thence North 87degrees 10 minutes Westalong the South line of the saidNortheast Quarter (NE ¼) ofSection 22, a distance of300.02 feet to an iron pin andbeing the Point of Beginning ofthe herein described tract ofland; thence continue North 87degrees 10 minutes Westalong the South line of the saidNortheast Quarter (NE ¼) ofSection 22, a distance of291.18 feet to an iron pin;thence North 58 degrees 15minutes West a distance of372.82 feet to an iron pin onthe Southerly right-of-way lineof the Columbus Millport Road;thence North 52 degrees 16minutes East along said South-erly right of way line a distanceof 94.17 feet; thence continueNortheasterly along said South-erly right-of-way line and beinga curve to the right a distanceof 399.3 feet to an iron pin;thence South 22 degrees 07minutes East a distance of512.65 feet to the Point of Be-ginning. Containing 3.58 acres,more or less.

Defendants other than you inthis action are Parkway Mort-gage, Inc.; Wells Fargo Bank,N.A., successor by merger toWachovia Bank of Delaware,N.A., f/k/a First Union Nation-al Bank of Delaware; Citibank,N.A., a/k/a Citi Mortgage; J.P.Morgan Chase & Co., d/b/aChase Bank; Capital One HomeLoans, LLC, Operating Subsidi-ary of a National Bank; Bank ofAmerica, N.A., successor bymerger to BAC Home LoansServicing, LP, f/k/a Country-wide Home Loans Servicing,LP; Mortgage Electronic Regis-tration Systems, Inc., a/k/aMERS, Inc.; Seterus, Inc.; Fed-eral National Mortgage Associ-ation, a/k/a Fannie Mae; andNationstar Mortgage, LLC,d/b/a Mr. Cooper.

You are required to mail orhand deliver a copy of a writ-ten response to the Complaintto Elizabeth F. Jones, the attor-ney for the Plaintiff, whose ad-dress is Post Office Box 1827,322 Main Street, Columbus,Mississippi 39703-1827. Yourresponse must be mailed ordelivered within thirty (30) daysafter June 30, 2020, which isthe date of the first publicationof this Summons. If your re-sponse is not so mailed or de-livered, a judgment by defaultwill be entered against you forthe money or other relief de-manded in the Complaint.

You must also file the originalof your response with the Clerkof this Court within a reason-able time afterward.

ISSUED UNDER MY HAND ANDSEAL OF SAID COURT, this26th day of June, 2020.

CHANCERY COURT OFLOWNDESCOUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

BY: /s/ Tina FisherDeputy Clerk

Publish: 06/30/202007/07/202007/14/2020

Legal Notices

IN THE CHANCERY COURT OFLOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-SIPPI

EDWARD MICHAEL OGLESBYand JUDY OGLESBY PLAINTIFFS

VERSUS

PARKWAY MORTGAGE, INC.;WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., suc-cessor by merger to WachoviaBank of Delaware, N.A., f/k/aFirst Union National Bank ofDelaware; CITIBANK, N.A.,a/k/a Citi Mortgage; J.P. MOR-GAN CHASE & CO., d/b/aChase Bank; CAPITAL ONEHOME LOANS, LLC, OperatingSubsidiary of a National Bank;BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., suc-cessor by merger to BAC HomeLoans Servicing, LP, f/k/aCountrywide Home Loans Servi-cing, LP; MORTGAGE ELEC-TRONIC REGISTRATION SYS-TEMS, INC., a/k/a MERS, Inc.;SETERUS, INC.; FEDERAL NA-TIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCI-ATION, a/k/a Fannie Mae; NA-TIONSTAR MORTGAGE, LLC,d/b/a Mr. Cooper; and ALLOTHER UNKNOWN PERSONSOR ENTITIES HAVING ORCLAIMING ANY INTEREST IN ORTO THE PROPERTY DE-SCRIBED IN THIS COMPLAINTDEFENDANTS

NO. 2020-0257-DE

PUBLICATION SUMMONS

THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

TO: All other unknown personsor entities having or claiming alegal or equitable interest in orto the property described in theattached Complaint and below

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT

You have been made a Defend-ant in the suit filed in thisCourt by Edward MichaelOglesby and Judy Oglesby,Plaintiffs, seeking confirmationand quieting of title and vari-ous other relief. The real prop-erty, which is the subject ofthis Complaint is described asfollows:

A tract or parcel of land loc-ated in the Northeast Quarter(NE ¼) of Section 22, Town-ship 17 South, Range 17 West,Lowndes County, Mississippi,and being more particularly de-scribed as follows:

Commencing at an existing ironpipe at the Southeast corner ofthe Northeast Quarter (NE ¼)of Section 22; thence North 87degrees 10 minutes Westalong the South line of the saidNortheast Quarter (NE ¼) ofSection 22, a distance of300.02 feet to an iron pin andbeing the Point of Beginning ofthe herein described tract ofland; thence continue North 87degrees 10 minutes Westalong the South line of the saidNortheast Quarter (NE ¼) ofSection 22, a distance of291.18 feet to an iron pin;thence North 58 degrees 15minutes West a distance of372.82 feet to an iron pin onthe Southerly right-of-way lineof the Columbus Millport Road;thence North 52 degrees 16minutes East along said South-erly right of way line a distanceof 94.17 feet; thence continueNortheasterly along said South-erly right-of-way line and beinga curve to the right a distanceof 399.3 feet to an iron pin;thence South 22 degrees 07minutes East a distance of512.65 feet to the Point of Be-ginning. Containing 3.58 acres,more or less.

Defendants other than you inthis action are Parkway Mort-gage, Inc.; Wells Fargo Bank,N.A., successor by merger toWachovia Bank of Delaware,N.A., f/k/a First Union Nation-al Bank of Delaware; Citibank,N.A., a/k/a Citi Mortgage; J.P.Morgan Chase & Co., d/b/aChase Bank; Capital One HomeLoans, LLC, Operating Subsidi-ary of a National Bank; Bank ofAmerica, N.A., successor bymerger to BAC Home LoansServicing, LP, f/k/a Country-wide Home Loans Servicing,LP; Mortgage Electronic Regis-tration Systems, Inc., a/k/aMERS, Inc.; Seterus, Inc.; Fed-eral National Mortgage Associ-ation, a/k/a Fannie Mae; andNationstar Mortgage, LLC,d/b/a Mr. Cooper.

You are required to mail orhand deliver a copy of a writ-ten response to the Complaintto Elizabeth F. Jones, the attor-ney for the Plaintiff, whose ad-dress is Post Office Box 1827,322 Main Street, Columbus,Mississippi 39703-1827. Yourresponse must be mailed ordelivered within thirty (30) daysafter June 30, 2020, which isthe date of the first publicationof this Summons. If your re-sponse is not so mailed or de-livered, a judgment by defaultwill be entered against you forthe money or other relief de-manded in the Complaint.

You must also file the originalof your response with the Clerkof this Court within a reason-able time afterward.

ISSUED UNDER MY HAND ANDSEAL OF SAID COURT, this26th day of June, 2020.

CHANCERY COURT OFLOWNDESCOUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

BY: /s/ Tina FisherDeputy Clerk

Publish: 06/30/202007/07/202007/14/2020

emPloymentcall uS: 662-328-2424

General Help Wanted

Experienced Cabinet As-sembler: 1+ years experi-ence recommended as wellas a good knowledge ofother woodworking tasks.Must be able to operatepower tools & have validdriver’s license.Call 662-245-04007:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Thursday to speak withGreg or Thomas.

Experienced Cabinet andMill Work Installer: 2+years experience highly re-commended. Must have avalid driver’s license & bewilling to travel overnight.Must have own tools.Call 662-245-04007:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Thursday to speak withGreg or Thomas.

THE COMMERCIALDISPATCH seeks a motiv-ated, contracted carrier forthe Brooksville & Maconarea. Excellent opportunityto earn money for college.Must have good transporta-tion, valid driver's license& insurance. Delivers onSunday morning and Mon-Fri afternoons. Apply at TheCommercial Dispatch, 516Main Street in Columbus.No phone calls please.

General Help Wanted

AREA BUSINESSis seeking a mature,

motivated person whoenjoys interacting withpeople, being outdoorsand multitasking. Skillsrelated to maintaining

equipment and/or farmwork are desired but not

required. Person needs tobe flexible enough to pitchin where ever needed but

also keep their coreresponsibilities in mind.

If you enjoy a different ex-perience on the regular,meeting new people and

believe in customersatisfaction this job might

be for you.Please submit resume to:

Blind Box 675 c/o TheCommercial Dispatch

PO Box 511Columbus, MS 39703

CALEDONIA BUSINESSneeds General Laborer.Experienced weed-eater,$10-12/hour. Valid driver'slicense, transportation &experience helpful. CallJesse & Beverly's LawnService at 662-356-6525.

rentalSaDS Starting at $25

Apts For Rent: North

FOX RUN APARTMENTSfoxruncompany.com1 & 2 BR near hospital.$595−$645 monthly.Military discount, pet area,pet friendly, and furnishedcorporate apts.24−HOUR PROFESSIONALGYM. ON SITE SECURITY.ON SITE MAINTENANCE.ON SITE MANAGEMENT.24−HOUR CAMERASURVEILLANCE. Benji &Ashleigh, 662−386−4446.

Apts For Rent: West

VIPRentals

Apartments & Houses

viceinvestments.com327-8555

1 Bedrooms2 Bedroooms3 Bedrooms

1, 2, & 3 BathsLease, Deposit& Credit Check

Furnished & Unfurnished

Apts For Rent: Caledonia

2 BR, 1 BA w/ W/Dconnections. ApplicationFee, Background and CreditChecks required. $500.00662−436−2255

Apts For Rent: Other

COLEMANRENTALS

TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS

1 BEDROOM2 BEDROOMS3 BEDROOMS

LEASE,DEPOSIT

ANDCREDIT CHECK

662-329-23232411 HWY 45 N

COLUMBUS, MS

© Th

e Disp

atch

Houses For Rent: North

HOUSE FOR RENT BY

OWNER. 220 MclemoreRoad, Columbus. 1750sqftBrick house in quiet neigh−borhood. 3 bedrooms & 2full baths. No HUD,Columbus City schooldistrict. $1000/mo with1 mo deposit. Seriousinquiries only please. Call662−574−3202 to see thehouse or make application.

HOUSE FOR RENT

2−3 Bedroom w/ 1.5 BathFenced in yard. $675.

662−549−9555.Ask for Glenn or text.

Houses For Rent: North

HOUSE FOR RENT.

56 Mason Dr. No HUD. Nopets. 3BR/1.5BA. Asking$760/ per month. Dep.$760. 662−549−9298.

Houses For Rent: East

3BR 2B House for rent

New Hope School district.No pets. No HUD. Available

late July. $790/mo.Call 662−549−0144.

Houses For Rent: Other

248 BYRNES CIR. 3BR/2BA with extra room. $650rent + $650 dep. Call 662−364−7969 for more info.

Mobile Homes for Rent

RENT A CAMPER!

CHEAPER THAN A MOTEL!

Utilities & cable included,from $145/wk − $535/moColumbus & County Schoollocations. 662−242−7653

or 205−442−2011.

real eStateaDS Starting at $25

Lots & Acreage

1.75 ACRE LOTS. Good/Bad Credit Options. Goodcredit as low as 20% down,$499/mo. Eaton Land,662−361−7711.

merchanDiSeaDS Starting at $12

Appliances

CENTRAL AC UNIT. Onlyused 1 day, too small forspace. Revolv brand, 2.5btu, 208−230 voltage.$900. Crawford, MS.662−497−2754.

General Merchandise

2018 40FT Gooseneck

Trailer w/ 5ft dovetail, 12ton axles, 10−4inch straps& tarps. $7,000.662−251−3001.

FREE HORSE MANURE,

mixed with sawdust.By appointment. Will load.West Lowndes.662−364−6990.

HORSE SADDLE

with all attachments. $250OBO Call 662−328−9316.

WHITE POSTER BOARD

$0.50 each − 24"x23"Visit 516 Main Streetor call 662−328−2424

vehicleSaDS Starting at $12

Autos For Sale

2013 NISSAN ALTIMA.

AUTOMATIC TRANS, ALLPOWER OPTIONS, 148KHWY MI, SV PACKAGE,CHARCOAL GREY, STILLLIKE NEW. $7,800.662−574−3596

Autos For Sale

2001 Ford F150 XLT,

4WD, Supercrew, 5.4 L V8,1 owner. Green.

Fiberglass lockable bedcover, bed liner. $4,000.

228−806−1429.

Campers & RVs

2002 SUNNYBROOK LITE

RV FOR SALE:

RENOVATED FARMHOUSEINTERIOR DESIGNEDCOMES WITH: QUEEN SIZEDYNASTY MATTRESS, TWINSIZE SOFA MATTRESS,GALLEY SUPPLIES, TV,NEW BATTERY, DININGCHAIRS, OUTSIDERECLINERS. $6,500.00662−251−9915

communityaDS Starting at $12

Good Things To Eat

RED & GREEN TOMATOES.

Other vegetables comingsoon. 662−251−1000 or662−855−0085.

Travel & Entertainment

PUBLIC CATFISH POND

@ 130 Hillcrest Drive.Open Tues−Sat, 7a−5p

662−386−8591Call for pricing.

Five Questions:

1 Monarch butterfly

2 Tom Seaver

3 Crimea or Crimean Peninsula

4 Robert Redford

5 Circumnavigate the world

Read local.cdispatch.com

All notices must be emailed to

classifieds@cdispatch.com.