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Richard Thomas lives in Caledonia. He enjoys camping at Dewayne Hayes Campground.

PUBLIC MEETINGSJuly 15:

Lowndes County

Board of Super-

visors meet-

ing, 9 a.m.,

Lowndes County

Courthouse

July 21:

Columbus City

Council, Munic-

ipal Complex, 5

p.m. facebook.

com/CityofCo-

lumbusMS/

Dispatch file photoA monument honoring Confederate soldiers stands on the Lowndes County Courthouse lawn on June 15. Supervisors on Monday voted to move the mon-ument to city-owned Friendship Cemetery, and Columbus councilmen voted Tuesday to sell the county a parcel to place the monument for $1.

BY YUE STELLA YU, TESS VRBIN AND ZACK [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Employees and customers of businesses and city-owned build-ings in Columbus, Starkville and West Point must wear protective face coverings in order to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coro-navirus, all three cities decided Tuesday.

Rising numbers of confirmed cases of the virus led local leaders throughout the Golden Triangle to consider mask requirements, with Oktibbeha County enacting its own this week as well. Missis-sippi State University requires masks on campus as of June 29.

Columbus City Council unan-imously voted Tuesday night to allow City Attorney Jeff Turnage to draft a resolution that would re-quire mask-wearing in city-owned

facilities, retail stores and other businesses including restaurants and fitness centers, except for when citizens are eating or exer-cising.

The resolution will take effect Thursday, Turnage told The Dis-patch. Violations of the resolution could lead to a fine between $300 and $1,000, Mayor Robert Smith said during the meeting.

Despite voting in favor, some council members expressed con-

cerns about the legality and the enforceability of the resolution.

Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin, for instance, asked the council if the mask requirement would in-

fringe upon people’s Constitution-al rights.

“If we do this, could we look at backlash if somebody is com-ing up here and saying, ‘you are trenching upon my rights?’” he said.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Ethel Stewart said the argument of de-fending the Constitutional rights

Masks required in Starkville, Columbus, West PointColumbus, Starkville resolutions include penalties

BY SLIM SMITHssmith@cdispatch

On Monday, the Lowndes Coun-ty Board of Supervisors voted to re-locate the Confederate monument, which has resided on the southwest corner of the courthouse property since it was erected there in 1912.

The plan is to move the 32-foot marble and mortar structure to a site

at Friendship Cemetery, although some obstacles to the plan remain.

For all the controversy surround-ing the removal — there were some clashes between protesters and counter-protesters in the weeks lead-ing up to the vote, though no one was injured — the supervisors’ vote may turn out to be the easy part, said Key

Moving monuments like ‘taking apart and reassembling a jigsaw puzzle’Columbus Marble Works owner: Location, base, cost all factors to consider when moving Confederate statues

BY YUE STELLA [email protected]

In a unanimous vote, Co-lumbus City Council yielded a piece of land at Friendship Cemetery Tuesday night to Lowndes County for the re-location of the Confederate monument outside the county courthouse.

The Tuesday vote came one day after county supervisors voted unan-imously to move the statue, which has re-mained in its place for more than 100 years, to the cemetery contingent upon city agreement. The consensus among supervisors marked a victory for protesters who gathered outside the courthouse for weeks to call for the monu-ment’s removal and an end to systemic racism against the Black community.

The monument, erected in 1912 to honor soldiers who fought for the South during the Civil War, deemed the war a “noble cause.” State law forbids the removal of war monu-ments from public property, but allows a gov-erning body to move them to a more “suitable” location within its jurisdiction, which means the county needs to own part of the city-owned cemetery to move the monument there.

To facilitate the relocation of the monument, City Attorney Jeff Turnage said Tuesday night the city identified a piece of land at Friendship Cemetery and marked it at $1 for sale to the county. The parcel, which totals more than 1,700 square feet, will be located near the Con-federate section of the cemetery, he said.

During the meeting, Turnage reached into his wallet, drew a $1 bill and donated the money on behalf of the county so that the sale would be completed.

“We don’t have to worry about it collected,” he told The Dispatch.

Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box said he’s worried the monument would be placed upon unmarked Union soldier graves at the ceme-tery. Mayor Robert Smith assured Box that he knows of no graves at the suggested parcel.

Following the sale, the city and the coun-ty must submit a detailed plan to move the monument to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) for final ap-proval. Smith had previously voiced his will-ingness to split the cost of the relocation with the county, but the council has yet to discuss the possibility.

Key Blair, general manager of Columbus Marble Works, told The Dispatch the estimat-ed cost could be roughly $100,000.

Conflict disclosure: Managing Editor Zack Plair took part in editing this article. He is cur-rently involved in legal proceedings with the city of Columbus.

Columbus donates cemetery parcel to county for monument move1,700 square foot parcel located near Confederate section of cemetery

Turnage

See MONUMENT, 6A

StewartGavin

SEE ONLINE■ List of area doctors who signed letter opposing mask mandate.

See MASKS, 3A

BY TESS [email protected]

An outdoor seat-ing and dining space will temporarily occupy nine park-ing spaces on Main Street between Restaurant Tyler and Moe’s Original BBQ, thanks to a 5-2 board of aldermen vote Tuesday.

The Streatery was proposed and designed by the Carl Small Town Center in Mississippi State Univer-sity’s College of Architecture, Art and Design, and the board unani-mously approved the concept at its June 16 meeting.

It will hopefully bring activity and “a sense of place” to a down-town that has been subdued by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Lynn Spruill said.

“Multiple cities have done this across the country, and I think (it will create) opportunities to feel a little better about being in our downtown area,” she said.

The project will not use any city funds. The nearby restaurants will provide patio furniture, the city will provide its own planters and bench-es, and the Starkville Main Street Association will provide plants, all as in-kind donations. The seating will be placed six feet apart in keep-ing with social distancing protocols.

The Streatery will also include a painted design on the street, um-brellas and strings of lights hang-ing over the tables, cinder block barriers between the tables and the Main Street traffic, and ramps so wheelchair users can access the area. The Carl Small Town Center will spend $2,390 on the project, ac-cording to the budget provided with the meeting agenda.

Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver and Ward 6 Alderman and Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins were the two dissenting votes. Carver spoke in

Aldermen hope Streatery will boost business activity downtownBoard approves project 5-2 despite petition from some Main Street business owners and employees

See ALDERMEN, 6A

Spruill

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com2A WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

BY LEAH WILLINGHAM AND EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS The Associated Press

JACKSON — At least eight Mis-sissippi lawmakers have tested positive for the coronavirus after working several weeks in a Cap-itol where many people stood or sat close together and did not wear masks.

Among those who have publicly acknowledged having COVID-19 are Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who presides over the 52-member Senate, and House Speaker Phil-ip Gunn, who presides over that 122-member chamber.

The state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said Tuesday that there are also at least 11 other sus-pected cases of the virus among legislators and Capitol employees. In addition, Dobbs said the virus is spreading in social gatherings across the state. Dobbs said, for example, he was told about teenag-ers having a party on a Pearl River

sandbar in Jackson during the July 4 weekend and about people going without masks in restaurants and other public settings.

“You can’t put a lot of people to-gether in the middle of the worst pandemic in a century and expect nothing bad to happen,” Dobbs said during a news conference. “It’s just absolutely an insane thought pro-cess.”

Mississippi legislators were at the Capitol for most of June and on July 1, wrapping up their annu-al session that was interrupted for several weeks by the pandemic.

Gunn, 57, announced Sunday that he had tested positive for the virus. Hosemann, 73, has informed members of the Senate he test-ed positive for the virus and “will follow State Health Department guidelines by self-quarantining and working at home,” his spokeswom-an Leah Rupp Smith said Tuesday.

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, 46, said Monday he was in isolation

with his wife and their three daugh-ters at the Governor’s Mansion. They were tested for the coronavi-rus after he came into contact with a lawmaker who tested positive last week.

“My girls and I tested negative for COVID-19,” Reeves wrote Tues-day on Twitter. “Limited contact with the people who were diag-nosed, but better safe than sorry! If someone you know gets the virus, get a test!”

Reeves will follow social distanc-ing guidelines and “will continue to reduce contact with others as dramatically as possible, while still completing his duties as governor,” his spokeswoman, Renae Eze, said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says even if people test negative for COVID-19 and feel healthy, they should remain in quarantine since symptoms may ap-pear two to 14 days after exposure.

The Health Department said Tuesday that Mississippi — with a population of about 3 million — has had at least 32,214 confirmed cases and 1,158 deaths from the coronavi-rus as of Monday evening. That was an increase of 957 confirmed cases and 44 deaths from numbers re-ported a day earlier; the latest count included 10 deaths between June 17 and June 28, with information from death certificates arriving later.

At least 8 Mississippi lawmakers test positive for COVID-19‘You can’t put a lot of people together in the middle of the worst pandemic in a century and expect nothing bad to happen. It’s just absolutely an insane thought process.’

State health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs

BY EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS The Associated Press

JACKSON — A Mis-sissippi city named after former U.S. President An-drew Jackson will remove a downtown statue of him and put it in a less promi-nent spot.

The City Council in Jackson, Mississippi, vot-ed 5-1 Tuesday to relocate the bronze figure that has stood outside City Hall for decades.

It’s the latest of many changes in the United States as people recon-sider monuments to his-torical figures with con-nections to slavery and racism.

No immediate plans were made for a time or place to move the Andrew Jackson statue, which is a bit larger than life and shows him standing in a military uniform. The statue was made in 1968 and dedicated in 1972.

City Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay said it could go to a museum.

Councilman Kenneth Stokes proposed remov-ing the statue, saying the city is showing leadership by making the change. The only dissenting vote came from the council’s lone Republican, Ashby Foote.

Jackson is Missis-sippi’s capital city, with a population of about 160,600. About 82 percent of its residents are Afri-can American.

Andrew Jackson was the seventh president, serving from 1829 to 1837. In addition to own-ing enslaved people, he also oversaw the forced migration of Native Amer-icans in which many died. His face is on the $20 bill.

Four people have been charged with trying to pull down a large statue of Jackson near the White House during protests June 22 in Washington.

Andrew Jackson statue loses status in city named for himStatue was dedicated in 1972

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OXFORD — Officials in a Mississippi county unanimously voted to keep a Confederate monument where it stands, saying moving the statue wouldn’t fix racial tensions.

In a 5-0 vote, the La-fayette County Board of Supervisors rejected a proposal to relocate the Confederate statue, which stands in the middle of Ox-ford Square, news outlets reported.

The all white male board was not initially scheduled to vote on relocating the monument, but amended Monday’s meeting.

Several board members said they did not believe moving the statue would cause unity in the county and community.

District 4 Supervisor Chad McLarty said his African Americans friends and constituents have not told him “the monument was an issue.”

“I myself have been a victim of racism due to the color of my skin,” Mc-Larty said. “I’ve also been a victim of police brutality. What I do know is there are a lot of bad people in this world, and no matter how many statues, flags or pan-cake boxes you take down, they will still exist.”

District 2 Supervisor Larry Gillespie said he doesn’t “understand how things like statues and street names can be offen-sive to some.”

Board President and District 5 Supervisor Mike Roberts said the communi-ty lacks unity and protest-ers on both sides haven’t exhibited “common sense.”

Mississippi board votes ‘no’ on moving Confederate monument

CORRECTION

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

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Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi. Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MSPOSTMASTER, Send address changes to:

The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc.,

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Answers to common questions:Phone: 662-328-2424Website: cdispatch.com/helpReport a news tip: [email protected]

The DispaTch

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 3A

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■ In Tuesday’s edition, The Dispatch incorrectly reported elements of the Oktibbeha County mask requirement. The order does not apply to church-es and the vote was 5-0, with District 4 Supervisor Bricklee Miller attending the meeting by phone.

The Commercial Dispatch strives to report the news accurately. When we print an error, we will correct it. To report an error, call the newsroom at 662-328-2424, or email [email protected].

MasksContinued from Page 1A

is not an excuse to not wear life-saving masks during a pandemic. The number of cases in Lowndes Coun-ty, she said, serves as an alarming sign of the deadly pandemic.

“As elected officials, we don’t want to get ourselves into a bind,” she said. “But if you look at these numbers on this paper, we should be shut down right now. You’re either going to wait until you get into a super crisis, or we are going to make the decision to try to protect the people in this town.

“The person that says he cannot wear a mask? You get that COVID, the first thing you will be doing in the hospital is having a mask put on your face, or you would be put on a ven-tilator,” she added. “For anyone in this room that feels, ‘Well, it’s my personal right not to wear a mask,’ what you don’t have a right to do is show up in a meet-ing and crowd around other people.”

Turnage told the council he isn’t worried about any legal challenges that may face the city, since the pan-demic puts the city under a state of emergency.

“There may be very well a backlash, but I’m not worried about the merits of a lawsuit,” Turnage said. “This (resolution) does not stop a retailer from making money.”

Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens said he supports the mask require-ment but asked how the city could protect citizens with underlying health problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary dis-ease (COPD). They would have trouble breathing with a mask on, he said.

Turnage said vulnerable crowds, such as those with COPD, should, of all peo-ple, wear protective gears to avoid contracting the virus. Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones, who wore a face shield to the meeting, suggested face shields may serve as an alternative to masks.

“They should be wear-ing a mask more than anybody else, because if they had it, it’s going to kill them,” Turnage said.

Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box said he also wondered if it’s possible to effectively enforce the resolution with the police officers the city employs. The department now has 51 officers, said Police Chief Fred Shelton. Smith said police officers will do the best they can to enforce the regulations within the city.

Stewart urged Shelton to remind business owners — when clashing with violent customers who refuse to wear masks — to call the police instead of dealing with them themselves.

“You don’t want to take

it into your own hands and end up being hurt,” Stewart said.

As of 6 p.m. Monday, Oktibbeha County had 552 confirmed cases and 27 deaths of the virus, Lown-des County had 509 cases and 13 deaths and Clay County had 249 cases and 11 deaths, according to the Mississippi State Depart-ment of Health website. Mississippi has 32,214 confirmed cases and 1,158 deaths total.

Starkville passes requirement despite petition from 18 doctors opposed

Starkville requires busi-nesses as of today to mon-itor customers both at the entrance and inside in order to ensure that all custom-ers over the age of 6 wear masks and that everyone adheres to social distanc-ing, according to the reso-lution aldermen approved Tuesday. Stores must also provide signs at the door and markers on the floor re-minding people to stay six feet apart. Violators face a fine of up to $1,000.

The city enacted a sim-ilar mask requirement on April 28 and lifted it May 9 as businesses gradual-ly reopened on Gov. Tate Reeves’ orders.

The resolution passed with a 6-1 vote, and Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver was the sole dissenter. He asked Mayor Lynn Spruill how long the mandate will be in place, and she said it will un-til the board rescinds it.

“Rather than us going back and forth, I think this is going to be, at least on a temporary basis, a new nor-mal for us,” Spruill said.

The board heard four opinions in support of the mask requirement and two against it during the meet-ing. Cameron Huxford, a pulmonologist and the In-tensive Care Unit medical director at OCH Regional Medical Center, expressed his opposition to the re-quirement and provided the board with a petition signed by 17 other doctors who share his view.

The 18 doctors have a combined 309 years of medical experience, with specialties ranging from emergency room medicine to anesthesiology. They do not want to discourage the use of masks, but they oppose a government man-date because they do not be-lieve there is sufficient data to show that masks effec-tively prevent the spread of COVID-19, Huxford wrote in a letter to the board.

“Mandating masks may also provide a false sense of security, leading to a de-creased conviction to per-form the more protective activities such as social dis-tancing and hand hygiene,”

Huxford said.OCH CEO Jim Jackson,

who spoke at the board’s request, said Huxford does not represent the hospital’s position on masks. Huxford was an independent practi-tioner when the pandemic began in March and started working for OCH in April.

OCH supports the mask requirement, following the advice of national as-sociations of health care professionals, State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs and National Institute of Aller-gy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci, who have all said masks ef-fectively limit the spread of COVID-19.

Local family doctor Em-ily Landrum expressed her support for the mask requirement and said she had personally spoken to Dobbs, who warned that Mississippi’s health care system would be over-whelmed with virus cases if people did not take safety precautions. The Missis-sippi State Department of Health has banned elective surgeries for the next two weeks in six counties to free up hospital resources to care for COVID-19 patients.

“Masks not only have the potential to prevent the spread of COVID-19 up to 90 percent of the time, but they also serve as social cues, reminding others to keep their distance and be mindful of their actions,” Landrum said.

Carver said he support-ed the opinions of the 18 doctors who signed the pe-tition, but Ward 5 Alderman Hamp Beatty said the city should do whatever it can to keep the virus at bay before MSU students return for classes next month.

The lack of consensus over how to combat the virus likely comes from Starkville’s experience with it largely occurring in long-term care facilities rather than the general communi-ty, Ward 2 Alderman San-dra Sistrunk said.

“These days, when you look at the changes in numbers from one day to the next, frequently you’re going to see that those are community transmissions,” she said.

The U.S. has 5 per-

cent of the world’s popula-tion but 25 percent of the world’s confirmed cases of COVID-19,

OCH has admitted 67 positive cases and seen 20 patients die of COVID-19 since March. This does not include patients who were treated in the emergency room and never admitted to the hospital.

OCH has the capacity to handle 14 positive cases of COVID-19 and had been av-eraging eight to 12 per day in June, but Jackson said the hospital had two as of Tuesday morning.

“We are far from being overwhelmed, and we cer-tainly have been able to meet the needs of this com-munity,” Jackson said.

West Point passes mandate with no enforcement

In West Point, select-men approved a mask “re-quirement” in a special-call meeting that included no enforcement procedures or penalties.

Mayor Robbie Robinson had to cast a tie-breaking vote to get even that.

The rift came from whether the city should recommend or mandate cit-izens wearing masks, pri-marily at indoor public gath-erings with several people or to enter most businesses. Robinson first presented it as a recommendation, which sparked a debate between Ward 5 Selectman Jasper Pittman and Ward

4’s Keith McBrayer.Pittman said citizens

likely weren’t going to change their behavior over a recommendation, so a mandate “holds people to a higher standard.” McBray-er said a mandate would cause more problems with police enforcement and pushed for shifting the re-sponsibility for enforcing mask wearing to business-es themselves.

Ward 2 Selectman Wil-liam Binder joined on the side of Pittman, arguing that after the city’s previ-ous two-week mandate on wearing masks expired in May — which was en-forced by police — people took it as permission to stop wearing masks altogether. And Ward 3’s Ken Poole, who ultimately voted with McBrayer, said even as a mandate, the new order wouldn’t change anything.

“People who are wear-ing them will keep wearing them,” Poole said. “People who don’t, won’t.”

Ultimately, the version Robinson pushed through with his vote was some-thing of a compromise.

It requires citizens to wear some type of covering over their mouth and nose when entering most indoor public spaces and business-es, while also practicing social distancing. It rec-ommends businesses post signage on their doors noti-fying people of the require-ments, and says patrons in such a space without a face covering “will” be asked to leave by the business owner

if they refuse to comply.“We’re hoping every

business buys into it,” Rob-inson told The Dispatch af-ter the meeting. “We don’t have the police power to en-force this. We’re appealing to the common good sense of most people.”

Leta Turner, of Ward 2, abstained from the vote, forcing Robinson to break the 2-2 tie in favor of issuing the requirement.

“Wearing a mask is a civic responsibility,” Turner said at the board table. “I’m just wondering how we en-force that. For that reason, I abstain.”

The order passed Tues-day offers several exemp-tions, including: religious beliefs that prevent wearing a face covering; those with medical or behavioral con-ditions who cannot wear one; restaurant patrons while dining; offices with fewer than 10 employees; settings like dentist offic-es and swimming pools where a mask is impracti-cal; banks, gyms or places where there are already physical partitions between customers and employees; small offices where the public doesn’t interact with the employer; and children under 12.

Businesses can also con-tact City Hall to obtain an exemption.

Conflict disclosure: Managing Editor Zack Plair took part in editing this article. He is currently involved in legal proceed-ings with the city of Colum-bus.

Tess Vrbin/Dispatch StaffOCH Regional Medical Center CEO Jim Jackson, left, presents data on the hospital’s COVID-19 patients to Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill, from right, Ward 5 Alderman Hamp Beatty and Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn during Tuesday’s meeting. OCH has admitted 67 positive cases and seen 20 patients die of COVID-19 since March. Jackson said the hospital supports the board’s order that employees and customers of Starkville businesses must wear protective face masks until further notice.

4A WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 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

STATE OF THE NATION

OUR VIEW

We’re not giving passes to elected officialsW henever a controversial topic

emerges in a community, scrutiny of how the news media

reports on the subject often emerges.Over the past three weeks, The Dis-

patch has reported extensively on com-ments made by Lowndes County Board of Supervisors president Harry Sanders on June 15, shortly after the board voted against a proposal to remove the Con-federate Monument from courthouse grounds.

The idea of moving the monument had both supporters and opponents in its own right. Sander’s comments served to turn a brush fire into a raging inferno, sparking protests and numerous calls for Sanders’ resignation.

The Dispatch has covered the events surrounding this issue as they have un-folded. At every step, our focus has been to provide fair and accurate accounts of these events. We stand by the integrity of our reporting.

Even so, there are some who feel that our coverage of this controversy has been one-sided. Critics allege that we have not treated District 5 supervisor Leroy Brooks, who has made heated remarks that some feel are directed against white people, as we have Sand-ers.

In explaining why Sanders’ decision to step down as board president was a meaningless gesture, Brooks said all it would do is put “another white person” at the head of the table. Brooks also said that if Sanders did not resign he would have “blood on his hands.”

The Dispatch reported both of those comments.

Without context, we can understand why Brooks’ comment would be consid-ered bigoted.

Yet when Brooks noted that a white person would likely replace Sanders, it’s a statement supported by facts. Since 2004, the board has elected a white

board president and white vice president each four-year term.

As for “blood on his hands,” it was clear to those in the meeting that Brooks was not making a threat of violence, but ascribing to Sanders the responsibility for the potential for violence in the emo-tionally-charged atmosphere created by Sanders’ comments.

In both cases, Brooks was engaged in a discussion where the question of race had already emerged.

Lest there are those who suggest we are giving Brooks a pass on racial-ly-charged comments, we will refer to you to occasions in 2012 and 2016 when Brooks raised questions of racism without merit. In each case, The Dis-patch was inequivocabile in condemning Brooks’ words.

We also note that none of the com-ments made by Brooks are even remotely comparable to those made by Sanders.

When Sanders said blacks were

“dependent” during the era of slavery and remain dependent today, there is no “other side” of the story we feel worthy of noting.

These were racists comments that cannot be defended.

We stand by that assertion.Our editorial page remains open to

anyone who has a view to share, regard-less of the opinion offered, including those that have been supportive of Sanders.

We will not willfully ignore opposing facts in the news stories we cover. But we are not in any way obligated to elevate an opposing argument beyond its merits.

We seek to provide thorough, accu-rate coverage. Having done so, we are content to let the chips fall where they may.

If it may appear to be “one-sided,” to some, it’s worth noting that there are many times when there are valid argu-ments to be made for “the other side.”

So much for Trump’s love of the militaryC hristopher Slutman, 43, had always

wanted to be a firefighter. He was that kind of kid, the kind who wants

to save people. He was also a Marine Reserves Staff Sergeant who had served in Iraq. Last year, he was assigned to duty in Afghanistan.

On April 8, 2019, just two weeks before he was scheduled to return home, he and two other Marines were killed when a roadside bomb exploded near Bagram Air Base. This may be one of the attacks Russia was sponsoring.

Also murdered that day were Cpl. Rob-ert A. Hendriks, 25, of Locust Valley, New York, and Sgt. Benjamin Hines, 31, of York, Pennsylvania.

The question that cannot be avoided is this: Did President Donald Trump — through laziness, dereliction or some still-inexplicable prostration to Vladimir Putin — make these Marines’ deaths, or those of other Americans, more likely?

The New York Times, Associated Press, The Washington Post, Fox News and The Wall Street Journal are all reporting that U.S. intelligence agencies had become aware that Russia was offering cash bounties to the Taliban to kill Americans and other coalition forces as early as March 2019. The intelligence was included in the president’s daily brief in the spring of this year. It was also the subject of a National Security Council meeting. “Given that there was an NSC meeting, I suspect that (Trump) did know” about the intelligence, former CIA and NSA director Michael Hayden told The Washington Post.

The president’s spokespeople are playing the word games. Pressed on whether the information was included in the PDB, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany sidestepped. The president “has not personally been briefed on the matter and that’s all I have for you today.” Well, that could mean merely that the information was not spoon-fed verbally. Besides, she added, the reports of Russian cash for American corpses were “unconfirmed” and there was “no consensus” in the intel community. But that is always the case with intelligence.

CIA Director Gina Haspel, by contrast, did not deny the intelli-gence. She acknowledged that when information is obtained that may affect the welfare of U.S. combat forces, it is “shared through-out the national security community — and with U.S. allies.

In fact, The Washington Post has reported that the intelligence was shared with the British. So the British were informed, but the president was kept in the dark? And if he was kept in the dark, what does that say about his leadership?

Trump, who maintains the highest vigilance about any harsh word from Joe Scarborough or Don Lemon, says he was unaware. “Nobody briefed or told me, @VP Pence, or Chief of Staff @Mark-Meadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an ‘anonymous source’ by the Fake News @nytimes,” he tweeted. He wasn’t finished. “Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us.”

Pause on that for a moment. “There have not been many attacks on us.” That must be a great comfort to the Hendriks, Hines and Slutman families.

Trump is not slow to anger, as we know. Yet when it comes to Vladimir Putin putting bounties on the heads of America’s warriors, he is strangely unperturbed. Knowing that Putin was reveling in American deaths, he invited him to attend the G-7 meeting in Sep-tember.

It is hardly news that Trump lacks empathy, but he has made concern for “our great military” one of his calling cards. Where is even a hint of rage at Putin for putting targets on their backs? All of his ire is directed at The New York Times, with none to spare for the Kremlin ghoul. Far from imposing a price, Trump rewarded him.

Trump’s vaunted “love” of the military is not for the real military, the one represented by Hendricks, Hines and Slutman. It’s to a twisted, gangster image of militarism. He ran for office promising that as commander in chief he would order the U.S. military to com-mit war crimes. While president, he pardoned war criminals. His “love” of the military is worse than phony. He has no appreciation of what sacrifice means. He has no understanding that serving means putting someone else’s welfare before your own. He thinks the mil-itary are a bunch of thugs. The thing that drew him to General Jim Mattis was the nickname “mad dog” — which Trump falsely later claimed to have bestowed on Mattis.

Robert Hendriks, Benjamin Hines and Christopher Slutman were patriots. Slutman, an Eagle Scout, was always contributing to his community. Robby Hendriks’s mother always knew he would serve his country. Ben Hines had a gift for lifting morale in his unit.

It is not credible to imagine that Trump was ignorant of Russia’s role in this. But in any case, it is now known to the world. Where, oh where, is Trump’s concern for them?

Mona Charen is a Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

CAMPAIGN 2020

A culture war battle Trump can winSpeaking at Mount

Rushmore on Friday, and from the White House lawn on Sat-urday, July 4, Donald Trump recast the presidential race.

He seized upon an issue that can turn his fortunes around, and the wounded howls of the media testify to the power of his message.

Standing beneath the mammoth carved images of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, Trump declared: “Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our founders, deface our most sacred memorials, and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities.”

These mobs are made up of Marxists, crim-inals and anarchists. Their cause is a cultural revolution. “Their goal is not a better America. Their goal is the end of America.”

After reciting the achievements of his four predecessors, Trump added: “No move-ment that seeks to dismantle these treasured American legacies can possibly have a love of America at its heart.”

Then he put it right into the basement hide-away of Joe Biden: “No person who remains quiet at the destruction of this resplendent heri-tage can possibly lead us to a better future.”

Trump is calling out Biden’s silence in the face of an onslaught against our heroes and his-tory as manifest political cowardice that makes Biden a moral accomplice of the mobs.

One day, Basement Boy is going to have to speak out.

Where was Biden when Trump was standing up for America on Independence Day?

As his Party tweeted that Trump’s trip to Mount Rushmore was aimed at “glorifying white supremacy,” Biden was wailing about the need “to rip the roots of systemic racism” out of America.

Does that sound like Harry Truman or JFK?So the lines are drawn for 2020.On one side are those who believe America

is a good country, the greatest the world has ever seen, and that the men who created this miracle should be respected, revered and remembered.

That is not the view of the left wing of the Democratic Party.

For even as the fireworks were exploding on the Mall, a Baltimore mob was tearing down, smashing up and dumping into the Inner Harbor a landmark statue of Christopher Columbus.

That statue stood next to the Baltimore neighborhood of Little Italy and had been dedi-cated in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan.

Do the haters of Columbus think that destroying Columbus’ statues across America

will not anger and alienate Americans of Italian descent who revere the explorer? Does Biden think Italian-Americans will reward a candi-date and party that will not renounce the mob that did this?

As the left wing of the Democratic Party embraces the “defund the police” movement, how long will it hold onto voters who are today watching murder rates climb to new records?

During Independence Day weekend in Chicago, 80 people were shot, and 17 of them killed.

In New York City, the number of shooting victims has risen this year by 50%. In June, there were 250 shootings, an increase of 150 over June 2019. Mayor Bill de Blasio’s response: cutting $1 billion from the NYPD budget.

Over July 4, an armed Black militia arrived at the reopening of the Stone Mountain monu-ment in Georgia, which features huge carved images of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. They want its destruction.

Trump is charged with “dividing the nation.”But it is not Trump trashing cops or provid-

ing cover for “protests” marked by looting and arson. Nor is it Trump tearing down memorials and monuments to the great Americans of the past.

Where the Democratic Party has been a portrait in indecisiveness, Trump has been clear. He stands with the cops who have gone through a hellish six weeks. He stands against defacing statues and destroying monuments. He has denounced the rioting, looting and ar-son that have accompanied protests the media never cease to describe as “peaceful.”

It is not Trump who is dividing America. He has pledged to resist the rampages with all the weapons in his presidential arsenal.

There are four months until November’s election, 18 weeks until America decides: Do we want to continue an era of protests that revert to rioting, looting and arson? Do we want to see police departments further constricted and trashed as neo-fascist?

Do we wish to see statues of presidents from Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln and Grant to Teddy Roosevelt trashed by mobs that hate America, hate her heroes and hate her history?

Trump’s stand for tradition and against mob rule is the only stand the president can take. And it is a necessary stand. For this culture war is going to last long after this presidency. And it is going to determine what kind of coun-try we shall become.

Will it be the great and glorious republic of the past or the social and cultural Marxist hellhole that is the promise of the mobs?

Trump just played the patriotism card, the correct card to play, and it may just work for his reelection.

Patrick J. Buchanan, a nationally syndicated columnist, was a senior advisor to presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. His website is http://buchanan.org/blog.

Mona Charen

Patrick Buchanan


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BY ALAN FRAM The Associated Press

WA S H I NG T ON — President Donald Trump’s June began with his Bible-clutch-ing photo op outside a church after author-ities used chemicals and batons to scatter peaceful demonstra-tors. It never got less jarring or di-visive.

By month’s end, he was down-playing a coronavirus pandemic upsurge that was forcing Western and Southern states to throttle back their partial reopening of busi-nesses. And Republican strategists already straining to retain Senate control in November’s elections were conceding that Trump’s per-formance could make it harder to defend their majority.

One said key Republicans were telling Trump they’re worried about his campaign and he should heed polls showing him in trouble. An-other pointed to surveys showing diminished public optimism and many voters’ views that Trump is poorly managing the surging virus and languishing economy. Still an-other said Republicans worry the GOP brand of cutting taxes could be overshadowed by Trump’s drive to defend Confederate monuments.

All spoke on condition of ano-nymity to describe internal GOP

thinking, and each said Republican prospects for holding the Senate re-main viable. Yet their willingness to discuss the problem, plus carefully worded assessments by Republican senators and others in the party, highlight GOP worries about a June that saw Trump feed inflammatory rhetoric to his deeply conservative base, risking support from more moderate voters.

“In all elections, the political en-vironment shapes how things come out, and sometimes you can’t con-trol that,” No. 2 Senate Republican leader John Thune of South Dakota said last week. He said GOP candi-dates “need to do what they need to do to win. And in some states, he will be a benefit in some parts of the country. In other parts of the coun-try, less so.”

“It is the reason the president is sitting behind in the polls right now, because he can’t stay on a message that is a unified message and one that is a positive one for the country,” Rick Santorum, a former GOP Pennsylvania senator who challenged Trump for the party’s 2016 presidential nomination, said Tuesday on CNN’s “New Day.”

Republicans control the Senate 53-47. Democrats must gain three seats to gain the majority if they win the White House because of the vice president’s tie-breaking vote, four if they don’t.

Even measured against the

warp-speed news cycle now routine under Trump, June was remark-able.

He repeatedly used cataclysmic language to denigrate nationwide protests for social justice, mostly peaceful gatherings that he cast as mobs unleashing violence. He called for the U.S. military to “dom-inate” the streets of American cit-ies, drawing rebukes from military leaders and his own current and former top Defense Department of-ficials.

He held his first campaign ral-ly in the coronavirus era in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where many in a modest crowd that Trump aides said would be far larger wore no masks. Crit-ics called him racially insensitive for choosing a city that saw one of the 20th century’s worst spasms of racial violence and originally scheduling it on June 19, date of the Juneteenth holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States.

John Bolton, his former national security adviser, released a book claiming Trump asked China’s pres-ident to buy more farm products to bolster his reelection. Trump also used the month to refuse to erase Confederate commanders’ names from U.S. military bases, retweet an image of a Florida supporter shouting, “White power!” and ques-tion reports that Russia had placed bounties on U.S. troops in Afghan-istan.

“Republican Senate candidates will have to defend things Presi-dent Trump says and does between now and Election Day,” said Rory Cooper, a Republican strategist and longtime Trump foe. Cooper said many Trump positions “are toxic to mainstream voters and will make down-ballot Republican candidates equally toxic.”

GOP worries Trump’s divisive June imperils Senate control‘It is the reason the president is sitting behind in the polls right now, because he can’t stay on a message that is a unified message and one that is a positive one for the country’

Former GOP Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum

Trump

BY LOLITA C. BALDOR The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The top U.S. general for the Mid-dle East said Tuesday that the intelligence suggest-ing that Russia may have paid Taliban militants to kill American troops in Af-ghanistan was worrisome, but he is not convinced that any bounties resulted in U.S. military deaths.

Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command said in a tele-phone interview with a small group of reporters that the U.S. did not in-crease force protection measures in Afghanistan as a result of the information, although he asked his intel-ligence staff to dig into the matter more.

“I found it very wor-risome. I didn’t find that there was a causative link there,” said McKenzie, who is the first Pentagon official to speak publicly at length about the issue.

US general skeptical that bounties led to troops’ deaths

BY KEVIN FREKING The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is setting a brisk pace lately in issuing executive orders and he’s just get-ting started as he tries to position himself as a man of action on everything from foreign policy to ra-cial justice in an election year. The impact of some of the orders, though, is less than meets the eye.

Trump has so far is-sued 33 executive orders this year, though he was a critic of such actions when running for office. He’s on pace to exceed his high of 55 executive orders issued during his first year in office.

Mark Meadows, Trump’s chief of staff, says the president is con-

sidering more orders in coming days dealing with topics such as immi-gration, jobs and China. He contrasted Trump’s

efforts with members of Congress who are return-ing to their home states and districts for much of July. They’re expected

to come back for a short while before heading out again for most of August.

Trump increasingly turning to executive orders, more to come


MonumentContinued from Page 1A

Blair of Columbus Marble Works.

“Moving it is going to be a challenge, I be-lieve,” said Blair, whose family has owned Co-lumbus Mar-ble Works since 1908. First opened in 1846, Co-lumbus Mar-ble Works is easily the oldest continually operat-ing business in Lowndes County. “It’s a pretty big production. These things weren’t put up with the mindset of moving it one day.”

Under the ownership of the family patriarch, Arthur McGahey, Colum-bus Marble Works built and erected six Confeder-ate monuments across the state between 1907 and 1926, including the one at the Lowndes County Courthouse, according to

the Mississippi Depart-ment of Archives and His-tory.

Now, a century or more later, Columbus Marble Works is charged with removing many of those monuments. Blair said he’s talked with officials in Macon, Okolona and Greenwood about relocat-ing their monuments. Al-though he has yet to dis-cuss the Lowndes County monument, he expects to hear from county officials, too.

“There aren’t a whole bunch of people who do this,” he noted.

Later this month, Co-lumbus Marble Works will relocate the Confed-erate Monument on the Ole Miss campus, which he said will give him some idea of what the company might face if it is contract-ed to move the Lowndes County monument.

“The one at Ole Miss is pretty simple: It’s more

of a shaft with a statue on top,” Blair said. “It’s not as large as the one in Co-lumbus, either. But there are things we’ll learn do-ing that that will help us if we wind up relocating the one in Columbus.”

Blair said relocating monuments is like taking apart and then reassem-bling a jig-saw puzzle.

“You start at the top and work your way down, piece by piece,” he said.

The Lowndes County monument is an especial-ly big puzzle, Blair noted.

The monument in-cludes three statues, in-cluding a 7 1/2-foot Con-federate soldier holding a flag on the top, four 9-foot columns and a 16-foot marble base.

There are other com-plications that make relo-cating the Lowndes Coun-ty monument tricky.

“We’ll have to have a larger crane because we have to be able to reach

over the trees next to the monument,” Blair said. “Another question is the location. There’s not much room and there’s a lot of traffic there. Where do you put the crane? Where do you put the flatbed trailer and truck? There’s a lot of logistics involved.”

One of the biggest challenges, Blair said, is removing the base.

“We really won’t know what we’re getting into until we begin to take it up,” Blair said. “A piece of marble that big is proba-bly not solid, so it’s proba-bly sitting on some type of raised foundation.”

That’s where the expe-rience of moving the Ole Miss monument is likely to prove helpful.

“We know that the base at the one at Ole Miss isn’t solid because a car hit it a year or so ago and we had to make a piece to repair it with,” he said. “What we saw is that there was some

kind of brick foundation that the monument was sitting on. I’m guessing it’s the same with the one here, but we won’t know that for sure until we start pulling it up.”

That’s a problem of its own. Because the big equipment needed for the job is rented on a daily basis, a new foundation with the same dimensions must be ready at the new site so that there is no long delay in reassembly.

Another challenge will be accessing the new site, Blair said.

“The place where the Confederate soldiers are buried is a problem,” he

said. “How are we going to get a crane in there? How are we going to get an 18-wheeler in there? The little road (through the cemetery) has too many twists and turns for an 18-wheeler, so that’s an-other part of the puzzle.”

Blair hesitated to esti-mate the cost of relocat-ing the monument. Right now, he said, there are too many unknown cost factors.

“If I had to guess, I’d say $100,000 maybe,” he said. “That’s another prob-lem. None of these places we’re talking to budgeted for this. Where’s the mon-ey going to come from?”

Blair

AldermenContinued from Page 1A

favor of the Streatery at the June 16 meeting but changed his mind Tuesday after hearing ob-jections from attorney Charles Bruce Brown, who gave the board a list of signatures from citizens with businesses and of-fices on Main Street opposed to the Streatery.

Brown’s office sits between Restaurant Tyler and 929 Coffee Bar, right in front of the Streat-ery’s future home. He claimed the Streatery would only ben-efit a few restaurants — Tyler, 929 and Moe’s — and there-fore would violate the state law prohibiting the use of a public space for a private business or industry.

“The message the board is sending is that y’all care about one business and not the rest of us downtown,” Brown said.

City Attorney Chris Latimer explained that the Streatery is legal because it is “a repurpos-ing of public space for a differ-ent public use” and should ben-efit more businesses than just a handful on the south block of Main Street.

“Someone could go across

the street to the Pita Pit and grab a sandwich and come eat at one of the tables,” Latimer said. “Someone could go to the courthouse and check out a file and review that file at that table. Somebody could buy a book at

Book Mart and start to read that book at one of those tables, (and) someone could be in Mr. Brown’s lobby and take a break to go outside while someone else is being consulted in his office.”

Carver said he wanted to respect the wishes of those who signed the petition that Brown provided.

“This list of names (includes) people that we know personal-ly, not only busi-ness owners but also people who are involved with chancery, circuit and city court,” Carver said.

Brown also expressed concerns about re-ducing the availability of park-ing on Main Street, and Carver agreed, but other aldermen and Spruill said downtown Starkville has plenty of parking.

Spruill said she sought the approval of the SMSA board, comprised mostly of down-town business owners, before she brought the concept of the Streatery before the aldermen. Ward 3 Alderman David Little is a member of the SMSA board and said the downtown area is

“hemorrhaging businesses” due to the pandemic.

The Streatery will help “keep these restaurants going downtown after 5 p.m. when business offices close and get a little bit of night-life down there,” Little said.

In other busi-ness, the board voted to restore full pay to city d e p a r t m e n t heads, a cost-cut-ting measure enacted in April in anticipation of a sales tax revenue shortfall due to the pandemic. Ward 2 Alderman Sandra Sistrunk amended the resolution to allow for all city staffers indefinitely furloughed, another cost cut, to be restored to full-time employment July 17 if the city’s sales tax revenues are no more than $135,000, or 20 percent, less than they were at this time last year.

The board approved the resolution unanimously via the consent agenda with no discus-sion.

DISPATCH STAFF REPORT

Last week, Lowndes County nar-cotics agents arrested a West Point man in connection with a drug traf-ficking operation in which investiga-tors uncovered more than $33,000 in cash and nearly 1,000 dosage units of ecstasy, among other illegal drugs.

C h a r t e r i o u s Laquess Moore, 27, has been charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance and con-spiracy to traffic a controlled substance, according to a Lown-des County Sheriff’s Office press release issued Tuesday. The coun-ty’s joint drug task force, along with officers with the federal Drug En-

forcement Agency, seized $33,200 in cash, 990 dosage units of ecstasy, one pound of methamphetamine and three pounds of marijuana during the investigation that led to Moore’s arrest on July 1.

Authorities expect more arrests in connection with the drug traffick-ing operation in the coming days, the press release said.

Moore has been released from Lowndes County Adult Detention Center on $12,500 bond.

West Point man arrested for possessing 990 dosage units of ecstasy, other drugsLowndes deputies also seize $33K in cash

Tess Vrbin/Dispatch StaffCharles Bruce Brown, left, an attorney with an office on Main Street, explains his opposition to the Streatery, an outdoor seating and dining area that will temporarily occupy nine parking spaces on Main Street, right outside Brown’s office. He provided May-or Lynn Spruill, right, and the board of aldermen with a petition signed by citizens who work along Main Street and also oppose the Streatery, but the board approved the project 5-2 in hopes of boosting business activity downtown.

Latimer

Carver

Little

Moore


BY LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent

WA S H I NG T ON — An eviction mor-atorium is lifting. Extra unemployment benefits are ending. Parents are being called to work, but schools are strug-gling to reopen for fall as the COVID-19 crisis shows no signs of easing.

With Congress bracing for the next coronavirus aid package, Sen-ate Majority Leader Mitch McCon-nell is outlining Republican priori-ties as earlier programs designed to ease Americans through the pan-demic and economic fallout begin to expire. He is eyeing $1 trillion in new aid.

“This is not over,” McConnell said during a visit to a food pantry Monday in Louisville, Kentucky.

The GOP leader’s next virus aid package is centered on liability pro-tections, a top priority for Repub-

licans seeking to shield doctors, schools, businesses and others from coronavirus-related lawsuits brought by patrons claiming inju-ries during reopenings.

McConnell is also considering a fresh round of direct payments, noting they are especially helpful for those earning $40,000 a year or less. He wants the liability shield to run for five years, retroactive to De-cember 2019.

“Liability reform, kids in school, jobs and health care,” he said. “That’s where the focus, it seems to me, ought to be.”

Democrats have proposed a far more ambitious aid approach in the $3 trillion House-passed coro-navirus rescue package, setting the outlines of a robust debate over how best to help Americans as COVID-19 cases surge in hot spots nationwide, threatening pub-lic health and economic livelihoods.

Congress is away for a two-week recess, but the contours of the de-bate are taking shape before law-makers resume session July 20.

Deadlines for many programs ex-pire by the end of the month.

McConnell’s earlier decision to hit “pause” on new relief has infuri-ated Democrats, especially as state and local governments clamor for aid to prevent worker layoffs.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement Tues-day that McConnell “has created needless uncertainty and pain for millions of families who are still reeling from the public health and economic crises.”

Schumer said, “Senator McCon-nell ought to be working across the aisle to prevent mass evictions, a new hunger crisis, and the layoff of more essential state and local gov-ernment employees — all things that will happen if Republicans con-tinue to delay action or act stingily.”

The earlier rounds of aid, includ-ing the sweeping $2 trillion coro-navirus aid package approved in March, were the biggest in U.S. his-tory. And while aid was approved almost unanimously, it is now divid-ing the parties. Many Republicans view the outlay as excessive, and they want to avoid another round of big-ticket spending. Democrats argue that more aid is needed, and their bill includes new worker health and safety protocols to en-sure a safe reopening.

McConnell eyes virus aid as evictions, benefits cuts loomGOP leader’s next virus aid package is centered on liability protections, a top priority for Republicans seeking to shield doctors, schools, businesses and others from coronavirus-related lawsuits

BY MATTHEW DALY AND BRIAN SLODYSKO The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — At least a dozen lawmakers have ties to organizations that received federal coro-navirus aid, according to newly released govern-ment data, highlighting how Washington insiders were both author and beneficiary of one of the biggest government pro-grams in U.S. history.

Under pressure from Congress and outside groups, the Trump ad-ministration this week

disclosed the names of some loan recipients in the $659 billion Paycheck Protection Program, launched in April to help smaller businesses keep Americans employed during the pandemic. Connections to lawmak-ers, and the organizations that work to influence them, were quickly appar-ent.

Among businesses that received money was a California hotel partial-ly owned by the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as a ship-ping business started by

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s family. Chao is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Car dealerships owned by at least three Republi-can House members — Reps. Roger Williams of Texas, Vern Buchanan of Florida and Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania — received money. So, too, did fast-food franchises owned by Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., a law firm owned by the husband of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and the former law firm of Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa.,

which employs his wife.Money also flowed to

a farming and equipment business owned by the family of Rep. Vicky Hart-zler, R-Mo., and a region-al casino company led by the husband of Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev.

Members of Congress and their families are not barred from receiving loans under the PPP, and there is no evidence they received special treat-ment. Loans were grant-ed to Democrats and Republicans alike, some-thing President Donald Trump’s campaign was quick to highlight when records showed donors to his campaign coffers were among the earliest beneficiaries.

Data: Congress created virus aid, then reaped the benefitsMembers of Congress and their families are not barred from receiving loans under Paycheck Protection Program, and there is no evidence they received special treatment

BY WILL WEISSERT The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Joe Biden is promising to shift production of medi-cal equipment and other key pandemic-fighting products “back to U.S. soil,” creating jobs and bolstering a domestic supply chain he says has been exposed as inade-quate and vulnerable by the coronavirus outbreak.

The presumptive Dem-ocratic presidential nomi-

nee’s campaign released a plan Tuesday to reinforce stockpiles of a “range of critical products on which the U.S. is dangerous-ly dependent on foreign suppliers” in places like China and Russia. That includes medical equip-ment and pharmaceuti-cals, but also energy and grid resilience technolo-gies, semiconductors and key electronics, as well as telecommunications infrastructure and raw materials.

It marked the Biden campaign’s most compre-hensive statements yet on how it would better equip the nation to fight the coronavirus and fu-ture pandemics and other threats — though the pro-posal did not include spe-cifics on how much doing so would cost. If elected in November, Biden prom-ises to initiate immedi-ately a 100-day review of “critical national security risks across America’s in-ternational supply chain,” while asking Congress to create a permanent, man-datory review process.

The former vice pres-

ident envisions creating a “critical supply chains workforce” that would be part of a larger job cre-ation and economic re-covery plan his team has spent weeks promising it will soon release.

Before the pandemic, the U.S. got much of its medical supplies from China. But that country limited exports earlier this year amid its own fight against the virus. When the U.S. stockpile ran short, states that had only minimal supplies were left scrambling to try to buy needed equip-ment.

Biden wants US to produce more of its own pandemic supplies

McConnell

BY COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer

President Donald Trump launched an all-out effort pressing state and local officials to re-open schools this fall, ar-guing that some are keep-ing schools closed not because of the risks from the coronavirus pandemic but for political reasons.

“They think it’s going to be good for them po-litically, so they keep the schools closed,” Trump said Tuesday at a White House discussion on

school plans for the fall. “No way. We’re very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools.”

The White House’s round-table gathered health and education lead-ers from across the nation who said schools and col-leges are ready to open this fall and can do so safely. They argued that the risks of keeping stu-dents at home outweigh any risks tied to the coro-navirus, saying students need access to meal pro-

grams and mental and be-havioral health services.

“We want to reopen the schools,” Trump said. “Everybody wants it. The moms want it, the dads want it, the kids want it. It’s time to do it.”

But that bright out-look was met with skepti-cism by some beyond the White House. The pres-ident of the nation’s larg-est education union said Trump is more interested in scoring points for the November election than in keeping students safe.

“Trump has proven to be incapable of grasping that people are dying — that more than 130,000 Americans have already

died,” said Lily Eskelsen García, president of the National Education Asso-ciation. “Educators want nothing more than to be back in classrooms and on college campuses with our students, but we must do it in a way that keeps students, educators and communities safe.”

At the White House event, Trump repeated his claim that Democrats want to keep schools closed for political rea-sons and not health rea-sons. He made the same claim on Twitter a day before, saying: “They think it will help them in November. Wrong, the people get it!”

Trump pushes state, local leaders to reopen schools in fallPresident said some officials keeping schools closed for political reasons

Before pandemic, the U.S. got much of its medical supplies from China


BY TOM HAYS AND COLLEEN LONG The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and street protests over the police killing of George Floyd, exhausted cities around the nation are facing yet another challenge: a surge in shootings that has left dozens dead, including young children.

The spike defies easy explana-tion, experts say, pointing to the toxic mix of issues facing America in 2020: an unemployment rate not seen in a generation, a pandemic that has killed more than 130,000 people, stay-at-home orders, rising anger over police brutality, intense stress, even the weather.

“I think it’s just a perfect storm of distress in America,” said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms after a weekend of bloodshed in her city.

Jerry Ratcliffe, a Temple Univer-sity criminal justice professor and host of the “Reducing Crime” pod-cast, put it more bluntly: “Anybody who thinks they can disentangle all of this probably doesn’t know what they’re talking about.”

President Donald Trump has seized on the violence for political gain, accusing Democrats of being weak and suggesting the crime

wave is being driven by recent pro-tests calling for racial justice, police reform and drastic cuts in law en-forcement funding.

“Law and order are the build-ing blocks of the American dream, but if anarchy prevails, this dream comes crumbling down,” White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said last week.

Police officials in New York City and elsewhere say the recent blood-shed has shown there are conse-quences to some reforms they see as misguided, particularly on bail reform, enacted before the protests happened but exacerbated by the moment.

Emboldened criminals feel “that the cops can’t do anything any-more, that no one likes the police, that they can get away with things, that it’s safe to carry a gun out on the street,” New York Police De-partment Chief Terence Monahan said this week.

Monahan’s remarks came af-ter a holiday weekend that saw a wave of shootings leaving 10 dead. Through Sunday, shootings were up more than 53 percent — to 585 — so far this year.

The recent spasm of violence was captured in a New York Post

headline about a crime-ravaged city crying out for help. It was nearly identical to one that ran 30 years ago — when there were more than 2,000 murders a year. But crime has been declining for more than a decade — there were about 300 last year.

Crime has spiked in other major cities, too. In Dallas, violent crime increased more than 14 percent from April to June. In Philadelphia, homicides were up 20 percent for the week ending July 5 over last year at this time. In Atlanta, 31 peo-ple were shot over the weekend, five fatally, compared with seven shoot-ings and one killing over the same week in 2019.

Some police unions say officers just aren’t doing their jobs over fear of being charged with crime.

Bottoms, a Democrat, lashed out after an 8-year-old girl was shot and killed near the Atlanta Wendy’s restaurant where Rayshard Brooks died three weeks earlier in a con-frontation with police who were lat-er charged criminally.

“That’s an important movement that’s happening,” she said at a news conference. “But this random, wild, wild West shoot ‘em up be-cause you can has got to stop.”

Trump’s Georgia campaign arm claimed Atlanta was a “war zone” brought on after Bottoms “lost con-trol of the city after what started out as peaceful protests, quickly turned violent. In a flurry of anti-police ac-tivity.”

Exhausted cities face another challenge: a surge in violencePresident: Crime wave is being driven by recent protests calling for racial justice, police reform and drastic cuts in law enforcement funding

BY DYLAN LOVAN The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville police called off a warrant search of Breonna Taylor’s apart-ment after a drug suspect was located elsewhere, but then went ahead with the deadly raid to look for other suspects with no connection to Taylor, her family says in a new court filing.

Taylor, a emergency medical technician who had settled down for the night at her Louisville apartment, was fatally shot

when officers burst into her apartment in the early morning hours of March 13. The shooting set off weeks of protests, policy changes and a call for the officers who shot Taylor to be criminally charged. Global protests on behalf of Taylor, George Floyd in Minnesota and others have been part of national reckoning over racism and police brutality.

“Connecting the dots, it’s clear that these officers should never have been at Breonna Taylor’s home in the first place, and that they invaded the residence

with no probable cause,” national civil rights attor-ney Ben Crump said in a statement. Crump and other Louisville attorneys are representing Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, in a civil lawsuit, which was amended this week to include new allegations about the night of the shooting.

Louisville police have declined to comment on the investigation, and an internal probe of the of-ficer’s actions has been turned over to the Ken-tucky attorney general for review. The FBI is also

investigating potential civ-il rights violations by the police.

The warrant used to en-ter Taylor’s home just af-ter midnight was secured by police observing an alleged drug dealer, iden-tified in the complaint as “JG,” at Taylor’s home two months earlier.

Breonna Taylor’s family argues police had no cause for raid

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY AND AMANDA SEITZ The Associated Press

Facebook keeps tell-ing critics that it is doing everything it can to rid its service of hate, abuse and misinformation. And the company’s detractors keep not buying it.

On Tuesday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg met with a group of civil rights lead-ers, including the orga-nizers of a growing adver-tising boycott over hate

speech on Facebook. One of those leaders, NAACP President Derrick John-son, said Facebook’s ex-ecutives offered little but cheap talk that skirted major commitments to new rules or actions that would curb racism and misinformation on its plat-form.

“We’ve watched the conversation blossom into nothingness,” Johnson said. “They lack the cul-tural sensitivity to under-stand that their platform is actually being used to cause harm. Or, they un-

derstand the harm their platform is causing and they’ve chosen to take the profit.”

The NAACP was one of several groups that sent Facebook a list of 10 demands for policy change. Those includ-ed hiring a civil rights executive; banning pri-vate groups that promote white supremacy, vaccine misinformation or violent conspiracy theories; and ending an exemption that allows politicians to post voting misinformation.

Civil rights groups denounce Facebook over hate speech

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THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

EMCC basketball coaches prepare for season’s new challengesBY THEO [email protected]

East Mississippi Com-munity College women’s basketball coach and athletic director Sharon Thompson makes it a point to exercise every day, but she knows well enough that getting out of the habit can be costly.

“Once you take off a few days, it’s like start-ing over from scratch,” Thompson said.

She said the same ef-fect is likely to happen whether the intermission is brief or — as in the case of EMCC’s basket-ball players — lengthy. The Lions have been off since March because of the COVID-19 pandem-ic, and men’s basketball coach Billy Begley ac-knowledged that the long break hasn’t been ideal for anyone.

That’s not exclusive to basketball, either.

“I don’t care if it’s play-ing checkers,” Begley said. “If you don’t play checkers for four months, you’re gonna be pretty rusty.”

With nine freshmen from last year all return-ing, Begley said his team will attempt to shake off that rust when workouts begin in August.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who already know what’s in place; it’s just that they haven’t done anything in four months,” he said.

Right now, Begley said, his players would be in their second session of summer classes — an ideal time to study as well as put on weight and add muscle.

For those who don’t have access to basketball courts or weight sets at home, working out on campus is “kind of what the summer’s for,” Begley said.

But his team is miss-ing out on that, and so is Thompson’s. The Lions women won the MACJC championship last year and hope for a repeat once players move in Aug. 13 and first get in the weight

room Aug. 17.Thompson said the

team will allow only 10 players to lift weights at a time — one per sta-tion — and each station will be wiped down with a sanitizing agent, then allowed to sit for 10 min-utes, before another group of players enters. At the end of each week, the team will use a disin-fectant fogger to clean the

weight room thoroughly and reach spots the Lions may have missed before.

Begley said he will keep groups as small as possible in workouts and practices and emphasize with his players the im-portance of washing their hands, sweeping floors and cleaning their equip-ment and the locker room in order to stay virus free.

“It’s going to be a

group effort,” Begley said. “It’s not something that one person can do. It has to be an everyday thing.”

Thompson said that responsibility is inherent upon coaches, managers and players alike if they want to play basketball this fall. She has told her players to wear their masks and ensure they protect themselves and

other people.“If you want to have a

season, you need to do your part,” Thompson routinely tells the Lions.

As of now, the season that EMCC intends to have already looks a little different. Based on a June 19 ruling by the National Junior College Athletic Association, practice can begin Sept. 14, and games

can start Oct. 16. The NJ-CAA also encouraged member schools to limit competition between the Thanksgiving holiday and Jan. 1.

Last year, the Lions men started play Nov. 1 and the women Nov. 4, but Begley and Thomp-son both said they expect to open their season Oct. 16 — as soon as they can. Instead of playing into mid-December — last De-cember, the men played three games, and the women played four — the Lions will compete until a few days before Thanks-giving then take a six-to-eight week hiatus before finishing out their sched-ule.

“It’s going to be kind of like two seasons,” Begley said.

Thompson, though, pointed out that the Lions’ limited December slate in the past means the new schedule isn’t too big of a change.

“To me, we’ve always had two seasons, so it’s nothing different other than starting a little earli-er,” she said.

Begley said no one is sure that the season will start on time or be played in full, admitting a de-layed start in January or outright cancellation are both possibilities.

“Nobody knows what the next step is,” he said. “You’ve got to be prepared for whatever comes.”

EMCC football sets start date

EMCC football players will move in July 30, take their athletic physicals that day and begin work-outs Aug. 1, Thompson said.

In an attempt to ac-climate the Lions to the fierce Mississippi heat, players can practice in shorts only from Aug. 1-3. On Aug. 4 and Aug. 5, they can add helmets to the mix; on Aug. 6 and Aug. 7, shorts, helmets and shoulder pads are all allowed.

Full practice is permit-ted to begin Aug. 8.

Courtesy of EMCC AthleticsEMCC women’s basketball coach and athletic director Sharon Thompson said she plans to bring in her players Aug. 13 and start workouts Aug. 17. It would mean a layoff of more than four months for the Lions.

MISSISSIPPI STATE ATHLETICS

Leach headlines first ‘stop’ on virtual tourBY BEN [email protected]

STARKVILLE — The 2020 Road Dawgs Tour is off and running — virtu-ally, that is.

Trading in breweries and restaurants around the South for weekly Zoom calls, Mississippi State foot-ball coach Mike Leach was among the three-coach con-tingent that kicked off this year’s on-line version of the annual event.

Joined by softball coach Samantha Ricketts and track and field coach Chris Woods, Leach spent almost an hour answering questions re-garding his team’s return to play, video conference meetings and more.

“I think we’re in about as good a space as we can be because every-body is really excited to get out there,” Leach said. “When we were al-lowed to start working out some, to be perfectly honest, I’ve never seen a group more excited to get out there and work out.”

Speaking in reference to the team-wide Zoom calls he and the rest of the MSU coaching staff have grown accustomed to during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Leach noted the visual medium gives his players a chance to catch up and poke fun at one another in ways they hadn’t pre-viously had during the varying stages of quar-antine that have endured across the country.

That said, Leach did add that the meetings don’t have quite the same feel as those in-person

sessions he and his staff have grown accustomed to.

“I find them quite awk-ward, because to me, if a meeting is working, peo-ple are engaged, people are locked in, and there’s at least a body language exchange,” he conceded. “So you kind of lack that, but there has definite-ly been an enthusiasm around our meetings.”

While actual workouts have been relatively lim-ited in recent months, Leach also noted he’s had over 40 socially distanced and masked individual meetings with players in an attempt to learn his roster heading into his first year in Starkville.

Working through the analogous mix of players, the former Washington State head coach said the stiffest challenge has been keeping tabs on players’ physical shape

given the limitations his staff has in terms of in-person practice capa-bilities.

Beyond the football field, Leach further in-dulged listeners into his past as a law student at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, during the mid-1980s. Having completed his undergraduate work at Brigham Young Univer-sity, the 20-year coaching veteran initially headed to Pepperdine to pursue a career in law. And while Leach has never worked as a practicing lawyer, he noted the lessons learned in law school have helped him throughout his coaching career.

“I think it’s definitely helped,” Leach said of his law degree. “I think that any amount of knowledge helps. Any knowledge anyone gets I think is

Leach

See LEACH, 2B

Safe at home? Off-field behavior will be decisive

MLB


MIAMI — Reliever Nick Vincent signed last week with the Miami Marlins and settled in for two days of quarantine in his hotel room while awaiting clearance to join workouts.

“That was a little bit different,” he said. “In 48 hours, you’re definitely a little stir-crazy.”

Vincent spent a lot of time watching TV, includ-ing the news, which rein-forced that it was wise to lay low with the corona-virus crisis worsening in Florida and much of the country.

And as Major League Baseball attempts to sal-vage the 2020 season, behavior away from the ballpark will help deter-

mine the outcome. Just like on the field, success will depend on how many players are safe at home.

“That’s going to be the biggest challenge for this game to move forward — the off-the-field stuff and what guys do,” said Vin-cent, an eight-year major league veteran. “It’s just going to take one team to mess it up for everybody. I hope everybody gets that. It’ll take five guys to get a whole team sick, and then if a whole team is sick, that could end the season for everybody else.”

Multiple issues could sabotage baseball’s re-launch. Some players — including David Price of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ryan Zimmerman of

See MLB, 2B

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com2B WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

helpful because I think people draw more from the whole picture than they realize … I felt like law school organizes your thinking to a point. It’s not just about ‘OK, this is against the rules; this isn’t,’ but it organizes your thinking and, in oth-er words, how to address an issue.”

With Leach serving as the headliner for the first

of what will be a five-part series held each Tuesday via Twitter and Facebook over the coming month, Woods and Ricketts sounded off on their re-spective programs and where they stand during the current pandemic cli-mate.

“Our communication with our team has been really (good),” Woods said. “Our different event

coaches, they’re talking to the kids on a weekly basis.”

“It’s been an adjust-ment for all of us,” Rick-etts added. “Just making sure that we’re providing them with the tools they need to continue to work and also be successful and take care of them-selves in the meantime.”

LeachContinued from Page 1B

MLBContinued from Page 1B

the Washington Nation-als — decided not to take part because of the health risk, and testing glitches further raised concerns. Positive tests for four At-lanta Braves, including four-time All-Star first baseman Freddie Free-man, underscored the fragility of MLB’s plan to navigate the pandemic.

There’s also worry regarding what happens when players are away from work and beyond whatever bubble can be created at the ballpark.

“Guys are 23, 24. They’re young. They’re in a sense bullet-proof,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “But if we’re going to run around at night and do whatev-er we want to do, we’re going to put everybody’s family at risk.”

Long lines of cars at the virus testing site at the Marlins’ ballpark pro-vide the team with a daily reminder of the hazards off the field.

Players broadly ac-knowledge they must police themselves — and each other. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw said he trusts his teammates to act responsibly away from the ballpark, but he acknowledged it might be harder for players who are single or living in con-fined spaces like apart-

ments.“Everyone has to take

accountability for being as safe as possible, and I have trust in that,” Ker-shaw said. “If you want to see the season through, if you want to give it the best shot, you can’t be stupid.”

MLB has given players guidance regarding off-the-field conduct during the pandemic, discourag-ing the sort of after-the-game activities that have been part of baseball since before Babe Ruth toasted his first home run.

Or, as Chicago Cubs manager David Ross put it: “We’re not going to be able to go out to bars. That would be an ex-tremely selfish move.”

Potential repercus-sions extend beyond any player seeking a thirst-quencher to his family, teammates, opponents and even the sport’s abil-ity to continue.

Part of the motivation for good behavior might be the same thing that drives most things in baseball — wins and loss-es.

The defending NL East champion Braves were rocked at the start of camp by the positive tests. Their setback un-derscored the new weight of the annual preseason

mantra, “If we can stay healthy ...”.

“I think we all recog-nize that the team that is hit the least hard by the virus, that’s able to keep themselves healthy out there, is going to have the best chance to compete,” Houston Astros gener-al manager James Click said.

For a major leaguer, it’s counterintuitive: Avoid crowds.

Teamwork can help players adopt an appro-priately low-key lifestyle.

“I just make Chris-tian Yelich get me every-thing, man,” Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun said. “That’s my strategy. I send him text messages with my gro-cery requests, all my food requests.”

Braun was joking, of course, but Brewers man-ager Craig Counsell said each player must decide how seriously to take the virus.

“Everybody treats COVID differently,” Counsell said. “Everyone has their own viewpoint of it. In this case, we all have to understand what can happen if there’s a number of positive tests — it’s not going to work. So, we have to all do this together.”

Mahomes’ gamble on football pays off with $503 million dealTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Patrick Mahomes risked everything when he opted for football over baseball.

Turns out, he got base-ball money anyway.

One day after the for-mer two-sport star got a 10-year deal worth up to $503 million, the rich-est contract in American sports history, the reign-ing Super Bowl MVP repeatedly insisted this deal was about more than money. He wants to be the cornerstone of a dy-nasty in Kansas City.

“That’s how I’ve al-ways been built — to fol-low my passions and do things to the best of my ability,” the Chiefs quar-terback said Tuesday on a Zoom call. “It’s never been about money for me. I’m glad we have this done and I can go out and be the same player that I was and the same person that I was.”

The Chiefs are bank-ing on it.

They rewarded the 24-year-old Mahomes with $477 million in guar-antee mechanisms, a no-trade clause and opt-out clauses if he doesn’t hit those guarantees — clauses more commonly associated with baseball contracts than football deals.

But almost from the moment Kansas City trad-ed up to select the Texas Tech star with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2017 draft, the front office had been mapping out a strat-egy to keep Mahomes.

“Going back to the first free agency I was part of in 2018, we had the idea of structuring deals with Pat in mind,” general manager Brett Veach said.

“The one thing, as Pat’s success kept going

on, the numbers kept big-ger and bigger. So it took off and that was a good challenge to have. But I remember when this first came out, (director of football administration) Brandt (Tilis) came to me said ‘Pat’s going to be a baseball contract, he’s that good.’”

He certainly has been the past two seasons.

His strong arm, fleet feet and uncanny abil-ity to accurately throw from different angles already have made the 24-year-old into one of the league’s big stars. His humble, charming per-sonality has resonated with fans and teammates alike, and the resume is starting to fill up, too.

After throwing only 35 passes as a rookie, Mahomes broke virtu-ally every single-season franchise passing record in 2018 when he was the league’s MVP, the Asso-ciated Press Offensive Player of the Year and led the Chiefs to their first AFC championship game in a quarter century.

Then, despite missing two games with a dislo-cated right kneecap last season, Mahomes closed the regular season with six straight wins and capped the season by ral-lying Kansas City with two fourth-quarter touch-down passes to give the Chiefs their first Super Bowl title in 50 years.

That’s all coach Andy Reid needed to see a long-time investment would be worth every cent.

“I’m so happy for Pat, for the Kansas City Chiefs organization and really for the city of Kansas City for having this opportu-nity to have a true fran-chise quarterback here, one that was drafted here which hasn’t happened for almost the duration of

the Chiefs organization,” Reid said.

“I think Brett did a phenomenal job of orga-nizing this. I joked that he and (former general manager John) Dorsey wore me out about bring-ing Pat here, saying he was the best player they’d ever seen.”

And it almost never happened.

Mahomes was a top baseball prospect out of high school and might have followed his father, Pat, and his godfather, LaTroy Hawkins to the big leagues if he had been selected earlier in the 2014 draft.

Some thought he was worthy of a $1 million deal. But the fear of Ma-homes spurning the base-ball world for football sent his draft stock sliding, un-til the Detroit Tigers took him in the 14th round.

That was the only sign Mahomes needed.

But he still found a way to cash in with a deal that surpasses Mike Trout’s previous record with the Los Angeles Angels of $426.5 million.

Mahomes wanted even more from the Chiefs.

By agreeing to a deal that would keep him in Kansas City for 12 more years, Mahomes wanted to make sure the 62-year-old Reid would still be coaching and that the Chiefs had enough flex-ibility under the salary cap to reward his team-mates.

Once he checked those two boxes, Ma-homes was ready to sign for the half-billion dollar paycheck.

“I knew from the mo-ment I stepped on Arrow-head Stadium field that this was where I wanted to spend my entire ca-reer,” Mahomes said.

Column: Jimmie Johnson finds his voice during last NASCAR seasonTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jimmie Johnson stood alone on the track at Po-cono Raceway, empty grandstands in front of him, a ghost town of a ga-rage behind him. He was posing for photos to com-memorate his final start at the Pennsylvania track but seemed to be the only one at the party.

This final full-time season in NASCAR for the seven-time champion has hardly been the send-off tour anyone imagined. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were feted at nearly every track in their retirement seasons with gifts, spe-cial mentions and rousing ovations from the crowd.

Johnson has been de-nied all of the attention. The coronavirus pandem-ic halted racing for 10 weeks, spectators have largely been banned and pre-race programs that would have honored John-son have been scrapped.

Then came the cru-elest blow of all: John-son tested positive for the coronavirus and his streak of 663-consecu-tive starts — most among active NASCAR drivers — came to an end Sun-day when he missed the Brickyard 400 at India-napolis Motor Speedway.

Johnson won’t be cleared to race until he tests negative twice in a 24-hour span. Johnson is expected to be retest-ed this week in an effort to get back in the No. 48 Chevrolet for Sunday’s race at Kentucky Speed-way.

This farewell party has been an absolute bust, but Johnson isn’t feeling sorry for himself.

“I can be down and out on my situation, but if I turn on the news and I see how this virus has impacted so many others, I quickly feel thankful that I’m asymptomatic and that I don’t have any major issues,” Johnson said. “We’re hopeful that through our situation that maybe some others can learn from this as well.”

Both Johnson and his wife, Chani, tested pos-itive. He said their two young daughters tested negative.

The positive test stunned Johnson, a fit-ness freak who has studied nutrition, cycled through the mountains with Lance Armstrong, swam with Olympians and completed the Bos-ton Marathon. He insist-ed his family, led by “rule follower” Chani, was dili-gent in trying to protect themselves from the vi-rus and have no idea how it was contracted.

In fact, in his compul-siveness to stay ahead of the virus, Johnson was tested for antibodies in the early days of the pan-demic. He tested positive, which he believed gave him a “data base,” but now understands the test-ing at that time may not have been accurate.

So Johnson is the first NASCAR driver to test positive — the last one anyone would have expected — and under-stands that it gives him an opportunity to educate others on COVID-19.

In his 19th and final full season, Johnson has found his voice and has been a leader for the in-dustry on and off the track. Although he has always been a philan-

thropist — the Jimmie Johnson Foundation has donated nearly $8 mil-lion to K-12 schools and other organizations — the laid-back Californian morphed into a polished corporate spokesman as he racked up 83 Cup wins and tied Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with those sev-en championships.

But Johnson rarely said anything controver-sial and stayed on mes-sage, careful not to wade into topics that could cause him problems with his sponsors or his team. Now 44, he has reversed course and taken a very prominent role in NA-SCAR’s push for diversi-ty.

Johnson was one of the leaders of a video drivers made during the nationwide unrest fol-lowing George Floyd’s death while in the cus-tody of Minneapolis po-lice. When the industry learned a noose had been found last month in Bub-ba Wallace’s garage at Talladega, it was John-son who said on a group chat among his peers that he planned to stand alongside Wallace during the national anthem. His idea spawned an unfor-gettable moment of unity in which all the drivers pushed Wallace’s car to the front of the grid and stood behind him.

On Monday, after President Donald Trump tweeted Wallace should apologize for a “hoax,” Johnson posted on Twit-ter the blue square with Wallace’s No. 43 that had been used during an #IStandWithBubba cam-paign after the noose was found.

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 3B

Comics & PuzzlesDear AbbyDILBERT

ZITS

GARFIELD

CANDORVILLE

BABY BLUES

BEETLE BAILEY

MALLARD FILLMORE

HoroscopesTODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July

8). You will often be moved by sudden emotion like sponta-neous joy, extreme curiosity or effervescent attraction. You’ll take on projects with zest. Your unbeatable attitude will have you competing with top perform-ers and landing in the winner’s circle. A new responsibility in 2021 will bring on a shift in how you spend your time. Aries and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 13, 22, 3 and 5.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). The way to get people to take your advice is to find out the action they want to take, and then advise them to take it.

Pointless? Maybe. But people want to do what they want to do and not feel so alone in it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Be cool, go at a relaxed pace, believe that you, like the gods, have all the time in the world. With a laid-back attitude, you will get there amidst people who feel as comfortable as you do.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The one in charge may not be better than the others on the team, but someone has to lead. You’ll respect and defer to au-thority because it’s the proper and smart thing to do.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Before you set out to work, make sure the ingredients and

tools you need are right where you need them. This gives you the best advantage in an already challenging task.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Once you get into a creative mode, even the worst messes are not mistakes. Everything is a building block for some-thing else. Your mindset is to problem-solve, time and again, until you can make something beautiful out of it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll get the job if you believe you’ll get the job. The same goes for getting the attention you would like or any other result for that matter. Believe you can and you can.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Togetherness, like food, air and shelter, is a basic human need. Don’t be afraid to reach out today. Chances are that the other person will want to join forces, too.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Even though you are content with your own company, you don’t necessarily want to date someone who is just like you. You’ll love the banter that burbles up with an unlikely partner.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You are not careless with other people’s hearts. You will be careful to pace relationships and manage expectations so that all involved are likely to experience a comfortable, slow-growing bond.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You believe that the best way to learn something is to teach it. You personalize the lesson. This isn’t just infor-mation; it’s also a feeling that comes from you and goes straight to the hearts of others.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There’s not a lot you need, but the temptation to get what you don’t need is pretty strong now. You’re trying to make your life more convenient, though each new purchase comes with a responsibility.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). To whatever extent you can control your own destiny, you will, as long as you keep your mind focused. Beliefs can be more addicting than substanc-es. Stick to the thoughts that help you.

SOLUTION:Age before beauty

FAMILY CIRCUS

DEAR ABBY: Three years ago, I found

out my husband had sexually abused one of his nieces. He took a lie detector test, failed it and con-fessed. Learning the truth was devastating, and I felt like a fool for having believed him.

We have two children together, both teenaged boys. I had to give my boys the bad news about what their father had done and the reason I could no longer be with him. He had to move out because he was restricted from being with minors. There were so many changes.

Then came the news that their father was arrested and sentenced to six years in pris-on. I was emotionally drained. I have always been honest with my boys and have never kept anything from them. Be-cause I’ve had to give them so much bad news, I have tried my best to give them the hap-piest times that I could. Soon after, he was sent away.

I received word that when he gets out, he will be deported to Mexico. This is something I haven’t told my boys yet. They are talking

about having a life with their father. When he gets out, they will both be adults. My youngest talks about living with him. When they find out, they will be heart-broken.

They have been doing so well. We’ve come a long way, and we’re finally in a happy place. I don’t know how or when

to tell them. Should I do it now or wait until closer to his release date? I’m just over the sadness. — EMOTIONALLY DRAINED

DEAR EMOTIONALLY DRAINED: Hang onto your hap-piness because you deserve all of it that is coming your way. You and your sons have been put through an ordeal not of your making. I see no reason to burden them further with this unhappy news until closer to the time of your hus-band’s release. By then they will be older and better able to adjust to what it will mean if they choose to live with or spend time with their dad.

DEAR ABBY: I am an older woman who is not very attrac-tive. I didn’t inherit good looks. This bothers me because all

my women friends are married or have been in relationships.

People say looks don’t matter, but they are mistak-en. The first thing someone sees is your face and physical presence. I keep myself neat and nicely groomed, but I’m not pretty. What do I do to lift myself from this depression? I’m ashamed of my face. — FACING IT IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR FACING IT: Everyone has strong points that make them unique. My mother used to say that the most effective cosmetic is a smile. You might have better luck if you focus less on what you think you don’t have and start concen-trating on what you DO have to offer.

Not everyone is a beauty contest winner, and they manage to couple up and have healthy relationships with the opposite sex (and sometimes the same sex). Do you have a special talent, a pleasing personality or a good sense of humor? You appear to have a serious case of low self-es-teem.

The solution to your prob-lem might be as simple as wid-ening your circle of acquain-tances by getting involved in activities you enjoy. But before doing that, it might be in your interest to talk with a licensed mental health professional for help in becoming less critical of yourself.

Dear Abby

NBA teams on the cusp of having real practices againTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Practice facilities in the NBA have been open for a couple of months, with one major element missing from them.

No team has had an ac-tual practice yet.

Most of the work that has gone on in those buildings during the NBA’s shutdown has been voluntary, and all of it has been of the individual va-riety — one player work-ing at one basket with one ball. That changes start-ing Thursday, when the first handful of teams at the Disney complex will be permitted to have full-fledged practices again.

“Every day will be an adventure, a little bit of, ‘OK, here’s where we are

today, this practice will reflect this, tomorrow’s practice might be totally different,’” Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said. “And that’s what makes it inter-esting. It makes it fun. But it’s a little bit like a train-ing camp. Every year you know you lay out all these grand plans and about the third practice you go, ‘Ooop, they’re out.’”

The teams that arrived at Disney on Tuesday, as-suming quarantines are completed and other is-sues haven’t popped up, will likely be permitted to practice sometime Thurs-day. More teams arrive Wednesday and Thurs-day, so their first practice sessions, in theory, would be as early as Friday and Saturday respectively.

Teams will be assigned a three-hour window and be able to run practice on a pair of side-by-side courts, with training and weight rooms nearby. Dis-ney staff will clean and disinfect everything after one team leaves, prepar-ing it for the next team.

“Just like with probably everything the league is doing, I think it’d be wise to have a degree of flexi-bility sprinkled in with everything that you’re planning, a degree of be-ing able to either back off or turn it up a little bit, either way,” Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said. “But to be honest with you, that happens a lot even in the normal sea-son. There’s a plan for the first practice, and we’ll

see how it goes.”Players haven’t even

been allowed to play 1-on-1 yet at team facilities, per the rules of the individual workouts. That all chang-es at Disney, where teams will be able to practice for about two weeks before a series of three scrimmag-es begin on July 22.

The season resumes on July 30. Players have said throughout the shut-down that having only three weeks of actual practice to get ready for game action may not be enough — but that’s what the league ultimately de-cided

Most NBA coaches — D’Antoni, Budenholzer, Dallas’ Rick Carlisle and more — are going into this believing that plans

have to be flexible.“It’s not going to be

a typical training camp where you jump in on Day One and just go full-bore,” Carlisle said. “Our players have done a great job of working on their individual conditioning with individual workouts with the coaches on the floor on a 1-to-1 basis ... so I feel really good about where we’re at. But this is a different situation, it’s a different time, it’s a differ-ent set of circumstances.”

Toronto, the reigning NBA champion, has been on the road for a couple of weeks already, getting their individual work in at a pre-camp of sorts in Fort Myers, Florida. The Raptors couldn’t get their pre-Disney work in at

home because of travel re-strictions that would have applied to players coming into Canada from the U.S.

Raptors coach Nick Nurse said his players haven’t dreaded the 1-on-0 work that they’ve been limited to so far, saying his team has approached these weeks with “great professionalism” and that his plans for Disney are fairly loose right now.

“I don’t really know where we’re at,” Nurse said. “I can see individ-ually. I think we look re-ally good. But, what will that translate to when we get back into, you know, calling plays and running defenses and doing some things? ... I know that I’m sensing they really want to play basketball.”


Anderson CollinsAnderson Bolton Collins, 96, died Sunday, July

5, 2020, at his residence. He was born September 17, 1923, in Hamilton,

MS to Lee Collins and Melissa Bolton Collins. He was a life long resident of Hamilton. He was a retired fork lift driver for Walker Manufacturing Company. Mr. Collins was a member of Hamilton Presbyterian Church.

Services will be Thursday, July 9, 2020, at 10:00 A.M. at Tisdale-Lann Memorial Chapel with Bro. George Collins, Jr. and Bro. Danny Rushing officiating. Burial will be in Ross Cemetery. Tisdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home in Aberdeen is in charge of the arrangements.

He is survived by one daughter, Margaret Adkins (Charles) of Columbus, MS; one sister Betty Swanzy of Columbus, MS; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 73 years, Tennie B Collins; three sisters Mabel Summerford, Bessie Lou Stanford and Pattie VanCamp; and four brothers, infant brother, L. W. “Dub” Collins, George Collins, Sr. and Charles Collins “Chess”.

Pallbearers will be Charles Stanford, Tommy Clegg, John Wesley Imel, Johnny Imel, Mike Savage and Randy Boyd.

Honorary pallbearers will be Kindred Nurses and Aides, Dr. Authur Brown and Dr. J. Barton Williams.

Visitation will be Wednesday, July 8, 2020 ,from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at Tisdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to www.tisdalelannmemorial.com.

Paid Obituary - Tisdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home

Amber HattawayMrs. Amber Eskridge

Hattaway, age 40 of Vernon, AL, passed away Sunday, July 5, 2020, at her residence.

Amber was born January 4, 1980, in Columbus, MS. She graduated from Lamar County High School in 1998 and was salutatorian of her class. She attended Bevill State Community College in Fayette where she received her RN degree in 2001. Amber then started working at Northwest Medical Center in Winfield for one year, and then at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus for two years. While later working for the Lamar County Home Health for ten years, Amber returned to school to work on her Nurse Practitioner degree at UAB. After graduating from UAB in August 2017, Amber began working with Dr. William Davis at the Vernon Medical Clinic. Throughout her nursing career, Amber-enjoyed taking care of people in the community and became friends with those she took care of.

Amber married the love of her life, Jason Hattaway, in 2001. Together they raised two daughters, Olivia and Annslee. She was a member of Vernon First United Methodist Church. She enjoyed singing and riding horses. Amber was also a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend who will be missed by many.

There will be a visitation Thursday, July 9 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Vernon First United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to The Amber Hattaway Breast Cancer Relief Fund (on Facebook) or the Vernon First United Methodist Church.

Amber was preceded in death by her grandparents, T.J. and Adine Eskridge, Rozella Harper, M.H. and Christine Harbour and Jean Walker.

Amber is survived by her husband, Jason Hattaway of Vernon, AL; two daughters, Olivia and Annslee of Vernon, AL; her parents Tommy and Connie Eskridge, and Carole Martin; two sisters, Amanda (Ben) Maddox and Eve McIntosh; two brothers, Tom (Leigh Ann). Eskridge and Jerry McIntosh; her grandparents, Terry and Rosalee Faulkner and Lewis Walker; her father and mother-in-law, Kenneth and Judy Hattaway; and a host of other family and friends.

Paid Obituary - Chandler Funeral Home

Birtis GriffinIncomplete

College St. Location

Catherine BasingerIncomplete

2nd Ave. North Location

Owen AdamsIncomplete

College St. Location

memorialgunterpeel.com

AREA OBITUARIESCOMMERCIAL 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.

Ollan RowellABERDEEN — Ol-

lan Kenneth Rowell, 91, died July 3, 2020, at the Mississippi Veterans Home in Oxford.

Services will be at 3 p.m. today, at Tisdale-Lann Memo-rial Chapel, with Van Moore officiating. Burial will follow in Pine Crest Cemetery. Visitation is one hour prior to services. Tisdale-Lann Memo-rial Funeral Home of Aberdeen is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Rowell was born Feb. 23, 1929, in Trem-ont, to the late James Kelcy and Molene Park-er Rowell. He was a veteran of the Navy and the Air Force. He was formerly employed with Ingalls Ship Building.

In addition to his parents, he was preced-ed in death by his wife, Barbara Scarborough Rowell; and siblings, James Darrel Rowell and Mary Ann Rowell Crosby.

He is survived by his children, Rich-ard Kenneth Rowell, Stephen Parker Rowell and Leigh Anne Row-ell Phillips; siblings, William Thomas Tem-ple and Martha Jean

Rowell Morrison; and 11 grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Hoxie, Kaden Rowell, Vlad Rowell, Aubrey Phillips, Phillip Rowell, Billy Ray Row-ell, William Rowell and John McBeth.

Ricky ThompsonHAMILTON, Ala.

— Ricky Thompson, 58, died July 4, 2020, at North Mississippi Med-ical Center of Hamilton, Alabama.

A private funeral ser-vice was held Tuesday at Otts Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in Allman Cemetery of Sulligent. Otts Funeral Home of Sulligent was in charge of arrange-ments.

Mr. Thompson was born Nov. 29, 1961, in Guin, Alabama, to the late Sylvia Thompson. He was formerly em-ployed in the garment industry.

In addition to his mother,he was pre-ceded in death by his sister, Olivia Elam.

He is survived by his sister, Kathy Bankhead.

Pallbearers will be Jathan Jackson, Billy Wayne Williams, Tahje Tabbs, Da Da Johnson and Marvin Thompson.

George MitchellCOLUMBUS —

George Mitchell,97, died July 7, 2020 at Au-rora Health and Rehab.

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

Emma HarrisCOLUMBUS —

Emma Harris, 90, died July, 1, 2020.

Grave-side services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, in Oak Grove M.B. Church Cemetery, with the Rev. Therman Cunningham officiat-ing. Visitation is from 1-5 p.m. today, at Cen-tury Hairston Funeral Home. Century Hair-ston Funeral Home of

Columbus is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Harris was born Oct. 12, 1929, in Columbus, to the late L.C. Harris and Ellen Humphries Harris. She was formerly employed as a housekeeper.

She is survived by her children, Freddie Harris, Sammy Harris, John W. Harris and J.C. Harris; eight grand-children; and nine great-grandchildren.

Owen AdamsFT. WALTON

BEACH, Fl. — Owen Byrd Adams, 92, died July 7, 2020, at West-wood Nursing and Rehabilitation.

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

Anthony BarnesALICEVILLE,

Ala. — Anthony “Jay” Barnes, 58, died July 6, 2020, at his residence.

A home going celebration will be at noon Saturday, at Spirit and Truth Pentecostal Church. Burial will follow in New Ceme-tery. Visitation will be from 2-6 p.m. Friday, at Lavender’s Funeral Service. Lavender’s Funeral Service of Aliceville is in charge of arrangements.

SD KirklandALICEVILLE, Ala.

— SD Kirkland, 63, died July 6, 2020, at Al-iceville Manor Nursing Home.

A graveside home going celebration will be at 11 a.m. Monday, in Little Vine Primitive Baptist Church Ceme-tery. Visitation will be from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, at Lavender’s Funeral Services. Lavender’s Funeral Service of Aliceville is in charge of arrangements.

James MosleyCRAWFORD —

James Earl Mosley, 74, died June 28, 2020.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, at Oakland

Cemetery. Visitation is from 1-6 p.m. today, at West Memorial Funeral Home. West Memo-rial Funeral Home of Starkville is in charge of arrangements.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Mos-ley; and siblings, Flor-ence Roberson, Marva, Louise, Cornelius, Jessie, Wanda, Felicia and Bobby Watts.

Emma Hull GRIFFIN, Ga. —

Emma Lee Short Hull, 73, died June 27, 2020.

Ser-vices will be at noon Thursday, at Lee-Sykes Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Mt. Ary Church Cemetery of Brooksville. Visitation is from noon-5p.m. today, at the funeral home. Lee-Sykes Fu-neral Home of Colum-bus is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Hull was born Dec. 2, 1946, in Brooks-ville, to the late Elijah and Mary Short. She was a graduate of B.F. Liddell High School and Jackson State University. She was for-merly employed with Chicago Public School Board of Education and as a physical education teacher with Kenwood Academy. She was a member of Mr. Ary Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by

her siblings, Sam, William, John, Elijah “JR”, Sammy and LC Short.

She is survived by her husband, Ward Hull; children, Ladonna Short and Carlton

Brown Jr.; step-son, Troy Hull; siblings, Hattie Stephens, Pearlie Powell, Louise Short, James Short and Willie Short; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Harris


SEATTLE — Mary Kay Letourneau, a teach-er who married her for-mer sixth-grade student after she was convicted of raping him in a case that drew international head-

lines, has died. She was 58.

Her lawyer David Geh-rke told multiple news outlets Letourneau died Tuesday of cancer. He did not immediately return an email from The Associat-ed Press.

Mary Kay Letourneau, teacher jailed for raping student, dies

Hull

BY KRISTIN M. HALL AP Entertainment Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Charlie Daniels, who went from being an in-demand session musician to a sta-ple of Southern rock with his hit “Devil Went Down to Georgia,” has died at 83.

A statement from his publicist said the Country Music Hall of Famer died Monday at a hospital in Hermitage, Tennessee, after doctors said he had a stroke.

He had suffered what was described as a mild stroke in January 2010 and had a heart pacemak-er implanted in 2013 but continued to perform.

Daniels, a singer, gui-tarist and fiddler, start-

ed out as a session mu-sician, even playing on Bob Dylan’s “Nashville Skyline” sessions. Begin-ning in the early 1970s, his five-piece band toured endlessly, sometimes do-ing 250 shows a year.

“I can ask people where they are from, and if they say `Waukegan,’ I can say I’ve played there. If they say `Baton Rouge,’ I can say I’ve played there. There’s not a city we hav-en’t played in,” Daniels said in 1998.

Daniels performed at White House, at the Super Bowl, throughout Europe and often for troops in the Middle East.

He played himself in the 1980 John Travolta movie “Urban Cowboy” and was closely identified

with the rise of country music generated by that film.

Country rocker and fiddler Charlie Daniels dies at age 83

THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 n 5B

LIFESTYLES EDITORJan Swoope: 328-2471

BY JAN [email protected]

I t’s no exaggeration to say some of the best corn I’ve ever had came from a

farmers market — the Hitching Lot in Columbus, to be exact. The sight of the butter-yellow cobs on a market vendor’s stand always reminds me of that. It sometimes also brings to mind my maternal granddaddy, who moved from Memphis to Pontotoc in retirement. He and Grandmama returned to their upbringing, one might say. They rehabbed a farm there, com-plete with chickens, requisite cow and horse, and a garden where they grew much of what they ate. I was too young to be of any help, but I have wisps of memory of tagging along to the garden, where, among other veggies and fruits, Granddaddy tended his tall stalks of corn. Enjoying that corn later with them was an early lesson in farm-to-table.

Local corn is a prime reason to get to the farmers market nearest you. Sweet, tender, fresh, usually only hours out of the garden, there’s no better season to enjoy these “niblets of sunshine.” We’ve explored be-fore flavorful ways to dress up corn-on-the-cob — grilled with lime butter, mayonnaise, garlic butter, Parmesan, chipotle-ci-lantro butter, and the list goes on. But will we spend our sum-mer eating just corn-on-the-cob? The time is ripe for other favorites, like corn fritters. The small fried cakes can be sweet or savory. They work as an appetizer or a side for dinner. Make them round, or flattened a bit as patties; keep it basic (as in the second recipe below), or flavor them up, as with the first recipe, calling for onions, paprika, olive oil and a touch of

Don’t miss out on fresh corn, one of summer’s best gifts

Margaret’s mayoBY JAN SWOOPE [email protected]

Oops! Our sto-ry about Dot Reichle and her

mother’s homemade mayonnaise that ran July 1 was a delight to do, but the recipe for Margaret Evans’ mayo contained an error in the salad oil ingredient measurement — which would have become apparent when reading directions. We correct-ed it quickly online at cdispatch.com and ran a correction in the paper, but I’d like to run the recipe again for anyone who missed it, espe-cially since it’s a family recipe. Apologies for any inconvenience — happy mayo-making.

MARGARET’S HOME-MADE MAYONNAISEMakes 2 pints

2 whole eggs4 tablespoons lemon juice1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon dry mustard1 teaspoon pepper2 cups salad oil

n Put eggs, juice, salt, dry mustard and pepper in blend-er. Add 1 cup oil and spurt the blender on and off until it begins to form.n Add remaining oil gradually and stir with spatula as you blend with blender.(Source: Dot Reichle, a recipe used by her mother, Margaret Evans)

FoodFood

pinterest.comFresh corn is in season, no better time for not only corn-on-the-cob, but favorites including delicious corn fritters.

SUMMERfritters

FAMILY FEATURES

A distinctive and unexpected ingredi-ent like rice vinegar is an easy way to bring faraway flavors to your favorite

summer dishes. This pantry staple adds an Asian-inspired flavor to recipes of all kinds, from marinades to high-end meals.

Explore a new way to enjoy steak this summer with a recipe for zesty, marinat-ed beef paired with crisp broccolini and peppers to give a familiar dish a fresh makeover using flavors from another origin. Give fajitas an Asian makeover with shrimp seared in a decadent hoisin-ginger sauce or try a fresh take on a crunchy salad with this Mexican-meets-Asian layered approach that’s perfect for lunch.

Include seasonal produce like cucum-bers, bell peppers and tomatoes to enhance your summer flavor fusions. Pantry staples like black beans and canned corn also offer accessible ways to make elevated summer classics.

Capture Asian flavors with ingredients like NAKANO Rice Vinegar, which has perfected its rice vinegars over eight generations to offer unique and delicious flavors perfect for making mouthwatering Asian-inspired recipes at home.

Find more flavorful ways to put an Asian twist on your summer dishes at nakanofla-vors.com.

Pro flavor-fusion tipsn The key to a successful stir-fry is to

use high heat to quickly cook meats and vegetables in stages without overcrowding the pan. This ensures that veggies stay slightly crisp, and meats develop a deli-cious sear instead of steaming.

n Avocado oil has one of the highest smoke points, making it a great choice for high-heat cooking like stir-frying.

n Hoisin sauce, which you can find in the Asian section of most grocery stores, is used frequently in Chinese and Vietnam-ese cuisine. It’s a salty, fermented soybean paste often combined with garlic, chiles and five-spice powder, which adds a sweet, umami-rich, aromatic flavor to the dish.

n Shishito peppers are slender, mild, green Japanese peppers available in the produce section of well-stocked gro-cery stores or Asian markets. If shishito peppers are unavailable, substitute with multicolored mini peppers.

n To accommodate those who love a lot of spice and those who prefer less spice, serve mild-to-medium-spicy foods with additional chili sauce on the side.

SIZZLING SHRIMP FAJITA STIR-FRYPrep time: 15 minutesCook time: 10 minutesServings: 6

1 1/2 pounds large, raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (21-25 shrimp total)2 tablespoons soy sauce, divided4 teaspoons cornstarch, divided1/4 cup NAKANO Roasted Garlic Rice Vinegar3 tablespoons hoisin sauce2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

1 red onion, cut into thin slivers1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips1/2 pound shishito peppers, stemmed6 warmed corn or flour tortillas1/2 cup finely shredded red cabbage1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions

n In medium bowl, combine shrimp, 2 teaspoons soy sauce and 2 teaspoons cornstarch; let stand 5 minutes to marinate. n In separate bowl, whisk remaining soy sauce, remaining cornstarch, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce and ginger until blended.n In large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil until shimmering. Add half of shrimp; cook 1 minute on each side. Transfer to clean bowl; repeat with remaining shrimp. Wipe out skillet with paper towel.n In same pan, heat remaining oil until shimmering. Add red onion, bell pepper and shishito peppers. Cook, stirring, 2-4 minutes until peppers begin to blis-ter. Add vinegar mixture; cook, stirring, 1-2 minutes, or until sauce is slightly thickened. Add shrimp to pan. Cook, tossing well until shrimp and vegetables are coated with sauce. n Fill tortillas with shrimp mixture, cabbage and green onions.

SPICY STEAK AND BROCCOLI Prep time: 20 minutesCook time: 10 minutesServings: 6

1 beef tenderloin (1 1/2 pounds), cut into 2-inch cubes1 tablespoon soy sauce1 tablespoon cornstarch1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper1/2 teaspoon garlic powder3 tablespoons avocado oil, divided2 cups multicolored, mini sweet peppers, cut into thin rings1/4 pound broccolini, cut into 3-inch sections2 large shallots, chopped

Make a flavorful brunch favorite

FAMILY FEATURES

Plan ahead for your weekend brunch with this Farmer’s Cas-

serole. It packs a hearty combination of meat, cheese, eggs and a hint of spice from jalapenos.

You can prepare this recipe the night before and let it chill overnight for a ready-to-serve dish that just needs to be popped in the oven.

Find more meal inspira-tion at Culinary.net.

FARMER’S CASSEROLE Cook time: 50-55 minutesServings: 6

Nonstick cooking spray3 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese1 cup diced cooked ham, cooked breakfast sausage or Canadi-an-style bacon2 green onions, sliced4 eggs, beaten1 1/2 cups milk1/8 teaspoon salt1/8 teaspoon black pepper2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped

n Heat oven to 350 F.n Coat 2-quart, square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange hash browns evenly in bottom of dish. Sprinkle cheese, ham and green onions over hash browns.n In bowl, combine eggs, milk, salt, pepper and jalapenos. Pour egg mixture over hash brown mixture in dish.n Bake, uncovered, 50-55 minutes, or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. (Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens)

Update summer classics with Asian-inspired flair

Flavor fusion

See FUSION, 6B

familyfeatures.com

See FRITTERS, 6B


SudokuSudoku is a num-ber-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty spaces so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s answer

ACROSS1 Texas border town7 Toledo setting11 Became frosted12 Jack or joker13 Give the meaning of14 Pine or palm15 Showed fear17 Tampa team20 One of the Titans23 “— little teapot ...”24 Internet stop26 Knight’s title27 Annex28 French denial29 Chess finish31 Punk rock offshoot32 Energy choice33 Cold War side34 Fly or flea37 Circus sight39 Reunion group43 Finished44 Soup holder45 Effortless46 ForwardedDOWN1 Pot part

2 Great serve3 Field worker4 Works copy5 Sahara sight6 Ready for business7 Big singing groups8 Uncompromis-ing positions9 Rage10 Keats work16 Black color17 Gets up18 — acids19 Gridiron markings21 Molecule’s

makeup22 Madrid mister24 Sports25 Avenue tree30 Launch site sight33 Road reversal35 Puts away36 Detective’s find37 Sandal sight38 Mendes of movies40 Got together41 “The Matrix” hero42 Roadhouse

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Sudoku YESTERDAY’S ANSWER

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty spaces so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level increases from Monday to Sunday.

Log cabinWHATZIT ANSWER

FusionContinued from Page 5B

1/4 cup NAKANO Seasoned Rice Vinegar1 tablespoon sugar1teaspoon sambal oelek (Asian-chili garlic sauce) or sriracha1/4 teaspoon kosher salt2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger.

n In medium bowl, combine beef, soy sauce, cornstarch, black pepper and garlic powder.n In large nonstick skillet over medi-um-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add peppers, broccolini and shallots; cook 3 minutes, or until tender crisp. Transfer to clean bowl.n In same skillet over high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil until shimmering. Add half of beef in single layer. Cook undisturbed 2 minutes, or until bottoms are browned. Stir. Cook 1 minute, or until outer surfaces are no longer pink. Transfer to bowl with vegetables. Repeat with remaining oil and

beef. Return beef and vegetables to skillet over medium-high heat. n In small bowl, combine rice vinegar, sugar, sambal oelek, salt and ginger. Add mixture to pan. Cook 2 minutes, or until sauce is slightly thickened.

GLASS JAR LAYERED TACO SALADPrep time: 10 minutesServings: 1

1/2 avocado1/4 teaspoon serrano pepper1 tablespoon cilantro2 tablespoons NAKANO Organic Seasoned Rice Vinegar2 tablespoons sesame oil1 teaspoon lime juice1/3 teaspoon salt1/2 cup corn

1/2 cup red cabbage, shredded1/2 cup jicama, diced1/2 cup black beans, rinsed1/2 cup shdded green cabbage1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved1/2 cup extra-firm tofu, diced1/2 cup corn chips, crushed1/2 cup spinach1 tablespoon queso fresco

n In bowl, mash avocado and add serrano pepper, cilantro, rice vinegar, sesame oil, lime juice and salt. Stir to combine.n Build salad in layers of corn, cabbage, jicama, black beans, cabbage, tomatoes, tofu, corn chips, spinach and queso fresco while adding drizzles of dressing between layers.

FrittersContinued from Page 5B

cayenne. Customize with ched-dar cheese, jalapenos, crushed red peppers or a pinch of garlic powder, if you like. Variations are plentiful. One recipe I came across (as in the second fritter recipe on page 5B) called for milk and a bit of sugar.

Pointers for crispnessThe best corn fritter is a crisp

corn fritter. Tips from Meghan Splawn at thekitchn.com for the crispiest include using a wide, heavy-bottomed pan (like cast iron) and hot oil. Use at least 1/8th of an inch of oil to cover the pan, she recommends. Heat the oil for several minutes before adding the fritter batter to the pan. Don’t overcrowd; frying fewer fritters at a time will result in crispier eats.

The batter tends to “sit up” a bit when dropped in the pan; gently press with a spoon or spatula to flatten it out and cook more evenly. Move fried fritters to a paper tow-el-lined plate to drain and sprinkle with a bit of salt.

When ready to serve, you could finish up with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle of chives. En-joy your fritters alongside broiled tomatoes, crispy bacon, chicken or a side salad.

Fresh summer corn, on the cob, in fritters, in a salad, in a soup — however you best like it, it’s one of this season’s simple pleasures, starring now at a farmers market near you.

CORN FRITTERSMakes 4-6 servings

2 cups fresh corn kernels (from 3-4 medi-um ears of corn)2 tablespoons all-purpose flour2 large eggs, separated1/4 cup finely chopped spring onions1/2 teaspoon kosher salt1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika1/4 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne1/4 cup olive oil1 tablespoon unsalted butter

n In a large bowl, stir together the corn, flour, egg yolks, onions, salt, paprika, pep-per, and cayenne. n In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Stir one-quarter of the

beaten egg whites into the corn mixture. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the remaining egg whites into the corn mixture in three additions.n In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat until butter has melted. Carefully drop some of the corn mixture by tablespoons into the hot oil, taking care not to crowd the pan. Cook each fritter until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn each fritter over and brown the other side, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the fritters to a platter lined with paper towels. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Repeat until all of the corn mixture has been used. Serve hot.(Source: piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/sweet-corn-fritters, Cate Whitting-ton)

EASY CORN FRITTERS1 cup pancake mix1 large egg, lightly beaten1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons, 2-percent milk1 can (7 ounces) whole kernel corn, drainedCanola oil

n In a small bowl, combine the pancake mix, egg and milk just until moistened. Stir in the corn.n In a cast-iron or electric skillet, heat 1/4 inch oil to 375 F. Drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls into oil; press lightly to flatten. Cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side.(Source: tasteofhome.com)

FAMILY FEATURES

Provide a tasty snack to tide appetites with this Caprese

Avocado Toast. Featuring Filippo Berio Classic Balsamic Glaze as one of

the key ingredients, this aesthetically appealing appetizer brings tangi-ness and artistic flair for a flavorful bite. Simple preparation precedes only five minutes of time in the oven, meaning you

can put this tasty snack on the table in a hurry. Find more recipes at filippoberio.com.

CAPRESE AVOCADO TOAST WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE 2 tablespoon Filippo Berio Robusto Extra Virgin Olive Oil1/4 cup Filippo Berio Classic Balsamic Glaze4 slices rustic Italian bread, about 3/4-inch thick1 large clove garlic, halved2 small ripe avocados, peeled and pitted1 tablespoon lemon juice1/4 cup torn fresh basil, divided1/2 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground pepper, divided1 large ripe tomato, sliced8 ounces fresh mozzarella

cheese, sliced1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

n Preheat oven to broil; position rack to highest level. Brush olive oil over both sides of each slice of bread; broil, turning once, for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown. Rub cut side of garlic clove over bread while still hot.n Mash together avocados, lemon juice, and half of the basil, salt and pepper; spread over one side of each slice of bread. Top with tomato slices; season with remaining salt and pepper. Top with mozzarella slices; sprinkle with hot pepper flakes.n Drizzle each slice of bread with balsamic glaze. Sprinkle with remaining basil; serve immediately.Tip: Serve with sliced dry cured salami or prosciutto for a side of protein.

A small savory plate for summer

familyfeatures.comCarprese avocado toast with balsamic glaze makes an impressive appetizer or snack.

FAMILY FEATURES

Despite the hustle and bustle of summer, you don’t have to sacrifice time spent enjoying

meals and snacks with loved ones. These Crunchy Jalapeño Potato Poppers make for a simple snack during family activities or as a side dish to accompany classic grilled meals like burgers or sliders.

Find more summer-centric reci-pes at BobEvansGrocery.com.

CRUNCHY JALAPENO POTATO POPPERS Prep time: 25 minutesCook time: 15 minutesServings: 48

1 package (24 ounces) Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded4 ounces diced jalapeño peppers, drained8 ounces taco flavored tortilla chips2 large eggs6-8 tablespoons vegetable oil1/3 cup all-purpose floursour cream (optional)

n Stir together cold mashed potatoes with Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses and diced jalapeños.n Scoop 48 tablespoonfuls of potato mixture and place on parchment- or wax paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate 15-20 minutes.n In bowl of food processor, pulse tortilla chips to fine crumbs or place chips in large, zip-top bag and smash using rolling pin. Pour crumbs into shallow bowl.n Beat eggs and pour into separate shallow bowl. Set aside.n In fryer or Dutch oven, heat oil to 350 F.n Remove mashed potato scoops from refrigerator and roll into balls. Roll each

mashed potato ball in flour, tapping off ex-cess. Once potato balls are coated in flour, dip each into egg, allowing excess to drip off, then into tortilla chip crumbs, making sure to coat evenly. Set on clean baking sheet. Discard excess flour, egg and tortilla chip crumbs.n In hot oil, fry small batches of mashed

potato poppers until golden brown, 30-40 seconds. Remove from fryer and place on paper towel to drain excess oil. Repeat until all poppers are cooked. Serve hot with sour cream, if desired. Note: To reheat poppers, bake 6-8 minutes at 350 F.

Spicy summer snacking

familyfeatures.comNeed a snack with a kick? Try crunchy jalapeno potato poppers.

The DispaTch • www.cdispatch.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 7B

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legalS

Legal Notices

SUBSTITUTED TRUSTEE’S NO-TICE OF SALE

STATE OF MISSISSIPPICOUNTY OF Lowndes

WHEREAS, on the 28th day ofOctober, 2008 and acknow-ledged on the 29th day of Octo-ber 2008, Cecil D Meeks Jr asingle person, executed anddelivered a certain Deed ofTrust unto Jack H. Hayes, Jr.,Trustee for Mortgage Electron-ic Registration Systems, Inc.as nominee for The CitizensNational Bank of Meridian, Be-neficiary, to secure an in-debtedness therein described,which Deed of Trust is recor-ded in the office of the Chan-cery Clerk of Lowndes County,Mississippi in Mortgage Book2008 at Page 26062 andrerecorded in Mortgage Book2008 at Page 27151; and

WHEREAS, on the 15th day ofApril, 2020, Mortgage Electron-ic Registration Systems, Inc.as nominee for The CitizensNational Bank of Meridian , as-signed said Deed of Trust untoOrigin Bank, by instrument re-corded in the office of theaforesaid Chancery Clerk inMORT Book 2020 at Page13725; and

WHEREAS, on the 24th day ofApril, 2020 the Holder of saidDeed of Trust substituted andappointed Dean Morris, LLC asSubstitute Trustee by instru-ment recorded in the office ofthe aforesaid Chancery Clerk inMORT Book 2020 at Page13723; and

WHEREAS, default having beenmade in the payments of theindebtedness secured by thesaid Deed of Trust, and theholder of said Deed of Trust,having requested the under-signed so to do, on the 29thday of July, 2020, I will duringthe lawful hours of between11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., atpublic outcry, offer for sale andwill sell, at the south east frontdoor of Lowndes County Court-house, 505 2nd Ave. North atColumbus, Mississippi, forcash to the highest bidder, thefollowing described land andproperty situated in LowndesCounty, Mississippi, to-wit:

That part of Lots 6, 7 and 8 inSquare 69, North of MainStreet in the City of Columbus,Mississippi, more particularlydescribed as follows: Begin-ning at a point on the Eastboundary line of said Square adistance of 165 feet North ofthe Southeast corner, thenceNorth 55 feet; thence West159.5 feet; thence South 55feet; thence East 159.5 feet tothe point of beginning; beingleasehold property from theMayor and City Council of saidCity of Columbus, Mississippi,as successors in office to theTrustees of Franklin Academyfor a term of 99 years from Au-gust 1, 1920, renewableforever.

I will only convey such title asis vested in me as SubstituteTrustee.

WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, this30th day of June, 2020.

Dean Morris, LLCSubstitute Trustee855 S Pear Orchard Rd., Ste.404, Bldg. 400Ridgeland, MS 39157(318) 330-9020jeh/F19-0469

PUBLISH: 7/8/20, 7/15/20,7/22/20

IN THE CHANCERY COURT OFLOWNDESCOUNTY, MISSIS-SIPPI

IN THE MATTER OF THE ES-TATE OF GLORIA JANE BUTLER,DECEASED

CAUSE NO. 2020-00090-PDE

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION

THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

TO: All Unknown Heirs at Lawof GLORIA JANE BUTLER, de-ceased, and Any Unknown Per-sons in Interest

You have been made a defend-ant in the Petition for Determin-ation of Heirship, seeking todetermine the heirs-at-law ofGLORIA JANE BUTLER Otherthan you, the only other inter-ested parties in this action are:Anthony Butler and MelanieButler

You are summoned to appearand represent your interestsagainst said Petition before theHonorable Paula Drungle-Ellis,Chancellor of the 14th Chan-cery District, at 9:30 A. M. onSeptember 10, 2020 at theOktibbeha County Courthouse,in Starkville, Mississippi, andin case of your failure to ap-pear your interest in this mat-ter will not be considered.

You are not required to file ananswer or other pleading, butyou may do so if you desire.

Issued under my hand and theseal of said Court, this the29th day of June, 2020.

HONORABLE CINDY EGGERGOODECHANCERY CLERK LOWNDESCOUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

(SEAL)By: Shantrell W. Granderson

PUBLISH: 7/1, 7/8 &7/15/2020

Legal Notices

IN THE CHANCERY COURT OFLOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-SIPPI

IN THE MATTER OF THEGUARDIANSHIP & CONSERVAT-ORSHIP OF P.W.A. (X ) ANADULT

BY PETITIONER(S) AMANDABARTON AND THERESA B.MOORE

CAUSE NO. 2020-0099PDE



TO: CHRISTIE BRADLEY

You have been made a Defend-ant in the suit filed in thisCourt by AMANDA BARTON ANDTHERESA B. MOORE, Petition-ers(s), seeking a Petition forGuardianship and Conservator-ship over P.W.A. Interestedparties other than you in thisaction are Peggy Barksdale,Troy Whitten, Jr., and TerryWhitten.

You are summoned to appearand represent your interestsagainst said Petition before theHonorable Paula Drungole-Ellis,Chancellor of the 14th Chan-cery District, at 9:30 A. M. onSeptember 10, 2020 at theOktibbeha County Courthouse,in Starkville, Mississippi, andin case of your failure to ap-pear your interest in this mat-ter will not be considered.

You are not required to file ananswer or other pleading, butyou may do so if you desire.Issued under my hand and theseal of said Court, this 29thday of June, 2020.

HONORABLE CINDY GOODECHANCERY CLERKLOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-SIPPI

(SEAL)By: Tina Fisher

PUBLISH: 7/1, 7/8 &7/15/2020

IN THE CHANCERY COURT OFLEE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

KATHY D. MCGEE, PLAINTIFF

V.

ANTHONY A. MCGEE, SR.,DEFENDANT

2016-01441-41-MM



TO: ANTHONY A. MCGEE, SR.Last Known Address812 13th Street North, Apt. D4Columbus, MS 39701

You have been made a Defend-ant in the suit filed in thisCourt by Kathy D. McGee,Plaintiff(s), seeking a Com-plaint for Divorce and Other Re-lief.

You are required to mail orhand deliver a written re-sponse to the Complaint filedagainst you in this action toKathy D. McGee, whose ad-dress is 908 Mercer Street, Tu-pelo, MS 38804.

YOUR RESPONSE MUST BEMAILED OR DELIVERED NOTLATER THAN THIRTY DAYSAFTER THE 8TH DAY OF JULY,2020, WHICH IS THE DATE OFTHE FIRST PUBLICATION OFTHIS SUMMONS. IF YOUR RE-SPONSE IS NOT SO MAILED ORDELIVERED, A JUDGEMENT BYDEFAULT WILL BE ENTEREDAGAINST YOU FOR THE MONEYOR OTHER RELIEF DEMANDEDIN THE COMPLAINT.

You must also file the originalof your Response with theClerk of this Court within areasonable time afterward.

Issued under my hand and theseal of said Court, this 22ndday of June, 2020.

Bill Benson-Chancery Clerk ofLee County, Mississippi

By: Lisa Dialto-DC

PUBLISH: 7/8, 7/15 &7/22/2020

IN THE CHANCERY COURT OFLOWNDES COUNTYSTATE OF MISSISSIPPI

ESTATE OF TERRANISHALACHELLE BUTTS,

BY DWAYNE THOMAS BUTTSAND PATRICE SHONDELLBUTTS, PETITIONERS

CAUSE NO. 2020-0114-S



TO: HEIRS-AT-LAW OF TERRAN-ISHA LACHELLE BUTTS, DE-CEAS-ED

You have been made a Defend-ant in the suit filed in thisCourt by Dwayne Thomas Buttsand -Patrice Shondell Butts, Pe-titioners-, seeking determina-tion of heirship. There are noother defendants in this action.

You are summoned to appearand defend against the com-plaint or petition filed againstyou in this action at 9:00 A.M.on the 25th day of August2020, in the courtroom of the--Lowndes- Coun-ty Courthouse atColumbus, Mississippi, and incase of your failure to appearand defend a judgment will beentered against you for themoney or other things deman-ded in the complaint or peti-tion.

Issued under my hand and theseal of said Court, this 24thday of June, 2020.

Cindy Egger Goode,Lowndes County Chan-ceryCourt Clerk(SEAL)

By: Shantrell W. GrandersonDeputy Clerk

Publication Dates: July 1,2020; July 8, 2020; and July15, 2020-.

Legal Notices

IN THE CHANCERY COURT OFLOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-SIPPI

SSC PROPERTIES VI, LLCPLAINTIFF

VERSUS

DAVID L. BUCKLEY; ALL UN-KNOWN HEIRS OF DAVID L.BUCKLEY; SHELBY BULLARD;ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS OFSHELBY BULLARD; WILLIAM E.ROBERTS: ALL UNKNOWNHEIRS OF WILLIAM E.ROBERTS; LOWNDES COUNTY,MISSISSIPPI; SCOTT COLOM,IN HIS CAPACITY AS DISTRICTATTORNEY FOR LOWNDESCOUNTY, MISSISSIPPI; STATEOF MISSISSIPPI; AND ALL OTH-ER PERSONS, FIRMS AND COR-PORATIONS HAVING OR CLAIM-ING ANY LEGAL OR EQUITABLEINTEREST IN THE WITHIN DE-SCRIBED LAND LOCATED INLOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-SIPPI, WHICH WAS SOLD FORLOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-SIPPI AD VALOREM TAXES ONAUGUST 28, 2017VIZ: PT W4 OF NE4 OF NW4LAKE LOWNDES RD LOT 32 1BPARCEL NO.: 75W000003100S-T-R: 05-19S-17W PPIN:24574YR 2016 DEED BOOK 2005PAGE 6606 DEFENDANTS

CAUSE NO.: 2020-0241



DAVID L. BUCKLEY; ALL UN-KNOWN HEIRS OF DAVID L.BUCKLEY; SHELBY BULLARD;ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS OFSHELBY BULLARD; WILLIAM E.ROBERTS: ALL UNKNOWNHEIRS OF WILLIAM E.ROBERTS; LOWNDES COUNTY,MISSISSIPPI; SCOTT COLOM,IN HIS CAPACITY AS DISTRICTATTORNEY FOR LOWNDESCOUNTY, MISSISSIPPI; STATEOF MISSISSIPPI; AND ALL OTH-ER PERSONS, FIRMS AND COR-PORATIONS HAVING OR CLAIM-ING ANY LEGAL OR EQUITABLEINTEREST IN THE WITHIN DE-SCRIBED LAND LOCATED INLOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-SIPPI, WHICH WAS SOLD FORLOWNDES COUNTY, MISSIS-SIPPI AD VALOREM TAXES ONAUGUST 28, 2017VIZ: PT W4 OF NE4 OF NW4LAKE LOWNDES RD LOT 32 1BPARCEL NO.: 75W000003100S-T-R: 05-19S-17W PPIN:24574YR 2016 DEED BOOK 2005PAGE 6606

NOTICE

This is a suit by SSC PROPER-TIES VI, LLC, to quiet and con-firm title in themselves to thatcertain property legally de-scribed as:

PT W4 OF NE4 OF NW4 LAKELOWNDES RD LOT 32 1B PAR-CEL NO.: 75W000003100 S-T-R: 05-19S-17W PPIN: 24574YR 2016 DEED BOOK 2005PAGE 6606

The above being property ac-quired by DAVID BUCKLEY whoobtained his interest in thesubject property by virtue ofthat certain Quitclaim Deedand Assignment granted byWalter Arnold Kleis and MyraJean Kleis dated September 9,2005 and recorded on Septem-ber 9, 2005 in Book 2005 atPage 6606 in the Office of theChancery Clerk of LowndesCounty, Mississippi. Plaintiff,SSC Properties VI, LLC, ob-tained its interest in the sub-ject property by virtue of aQuitclaim Deed and Assign-ment granted by SunshineState Certificates VI LLLP,dated December 4, 2019 andrecorded on January 13, 2020in Deed Book 2020 at Page625 in the Office of the Chan-cery Clerk of Lowndes County,Mississippi. Sunshine StateCertificates VI LLLP, being thehighest and best bidder at thetax sale dated August 28,2017 for the 2016 LowndesCounty, Mississippi ad valor-em taxes which were not re-deemed, and was granted aChancery Clerk’s Conveyancefor the subject property onDecember 30, 2019, recordedin Deed Book 2019 at Page9491 in the Office of the Chan-cery Clerk of Lowndes County,Mississippi. If you have a legalor equitable claim or interest inthe real property or personalproperty contained therein, youare required to mail or hand-de-liver a copy of your response tothe Complaint to Quiet andConfirm Title and For Other Re-lief to the attorney for thePlaintiffs, Lewie G. Negrotto IV,Esq., whose physical addressis 133 Davis Avenue, Suite L,Pass Christian, Mississippi39571. YOUR RESPONSEMUST BE MAILED OR DE-LIVERED WITHIN THIRTY DAYSFROM THE 1st DAY OF JULY,2020, WHICH IS THE DATE OFFIRST PUBLICATION OF THISSUMMONS. IF YOUR RE-SPONSE IS NOT SO MAILED ORDELIVERED, A JUDGMENT BYDEFAULT WILL BE ENTEREDAGAINST YOU FOR THE RELIEFDEMANDED IN THE COMPLAINT

You must also file the originalof your Response with theClerk of this Court within areasonable time afterward. Theaddress of the Clerk of thisCourt is 505 2nd Ave. N,Columbus, MS 39701

CHANCERY CLERK LOWNDESCOUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

BY: Shantrell W. GrandersonDEPUTY CLERK

DATED: June 29, 2020

Publish for (3) times: 07-01-2020 07-08-2020 07-15-2020

emPloymentcall uS: 662-328-2424

General Help Wanted

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

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.

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

THE COMMERCIALDISPATCH seeks a motiv-ated, contracted carrier forthe Caledonia area. Excel-lent opportunity to earnmoney for college. Musthave good transportation,valid driver's license & in-surance. Delivers onSunday morning and Mon-Fri afternoons. Apply at TheCommercial Dispatch, 516Main Street in Columbus.No phone calls please.

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.

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.

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.

garage SaleS two free SignS

Garage Sales: New Hope

66 POTTERS Pl

Sat. 7a.−until. Furn., decor,kids/baby clothes, toomuch to list!!

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.

General Merchandise

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

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.

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[email protected].

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