CD: Unemployment jumps across Golden Triangle in January, report shows

DISPATCH STAFF REPORT

New jobless numbers released by the state provided little good news for the Golden Triangle, with new evidence that unemployment continues to tighten its grip on the area.

Unemployment rates rose across the Golden Triangle in January, according to the state Department of Employment Security report that showed Clay County had the third highest unemployment rate in the state. In Columbus, nearly one in five workers was unemployed, while Oktibbeha County joined the majority of Mississippi counties reporting double-digit unemployment.

Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Clay counties all experienced jumps in county unemployment rates for the month.

In Lowndes, the January rate was 13.4 percent, compared to 11.6 percent in December 2009 and 10.1 percent in January 2009.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

Press Release from Dux D’Lux

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Haley Montgomery, Art Director
Dux D’Lux Advertising
301 C.C. Clark Rd
Starkville, MS 39759
Phone: 662-323-1503
Email: haley.montgomery@duxdlux.com???For Immediate Release

DUX D’LUX ADVERTISING TO HOST ONLINE ?WOMEN IN BUSINESS FORUM
Starkville, MS – March 8, 2010
Dux D’Lux Advertising, a Starkville-based full service advertising agency will host an online Women in Business Forum, March 15 – 26, 2010. The Forum is a creative collaboration between Dux D’Lux and the Paducah, KY-based coaching and consulting company, Her Executive Coach. The Women in Business Forum will be hosted exclusively on the social networking website, Facebook, with discussions featured on the “fan pages” of both companies.
Targeting women entrepreneurs, business professionals and small business owners, the Women in Business Forum aims to provide opportunities for learning, interacting and networking in a unique venue.
“Social networking websites such as Facebook offer unprecedented opportunities for finding resources and sharing expertise. We felt that the collaboration between our two companies on Facebook “fan pages” provided the perfect vehicle for bringing professional women together in a format that was convenient for time-conscious entrepreneurs and small business owners and would also allow for maximum networking opportunities,” said Haley Montgomery, Art Director of Dux D’Lux.
The first week of the Forum event will be hosted at the Her Executive Coach fan page. Jennifer Wyatt, owner and resident business coach for Her Executive Coach will facilitate discussions on small business coaching topics such as assessing current business practices and strengths, shifting or updating business priorities and re-focusing business strategies.
Dux D’Lux Advertising will host the second Forum week on its Facebook page. Haley Montgomery, one of the design and marketing specialists with Dux D’Lux will facilitate discussions on small business marketing including an outline of marketing essentials for small businesses, budget-friendly marketing strategies and ways to market through new media such as social networks and blogs.
“Jennifer Wyatt has collaborated with our staff for more than 8 years in helping to promote and market a number of small business start-ups. When we came up with the idea of an online information-sharing forum, Her Executive Coach was the obvious choice for a partnership,” Montgomery said.
Women in Business Forum online participants are invited to “become a fan” of each company’s Facebook profile before or during the March 15-26 event. Facebook ?“fans “ may view and participate in the ongoing discussions that will be posted throughout the two-week period, as well as download available topic materials. In addition, two “real-time” mentoring sessions are scheduled with Debra Shafer, owner of Dux D’Lux. Debra will field questions and share her perspectives on being a woman entrepreneur and a successful 30-year small business owner.

For more information about the online Women in Business Forum, please visit http://facebook.duxdlux.com

CD: Arsenal of history: Starkville man turns Civil War collection into museum

TIM PRATT

The building sits just off Troy Lane in the Sunset subdivision west of Starkville.

From the outside, it has no distinct features. The brown metal, coupled with white bay doors, gives the 2,200-square-foot structure the appearance of a storage unit. It doesn’t even have an address.

But a step inside takes visitors back to the 1860s.

It’s the Starkville Civil War Arsenal and it opened recently under the auspices of curator Duffy Neubauer, a seasoned battle re-enactor and Civil War artifact collector who has called Starkville home since the early 1970s.

Neubauer, who spends his days as operations coordinator at Mississippi State University’s Humphrey Coliseum, became interested in cannons and other military ordnance when he was growing up in Wisconsin. He became a full-fledged collector 35 years ago and only recently put those items on display at the Starkville Civil War Arsenal.

When visitors enter the Arsenal, they encounter Neubauer dressed in Civil War garb. After a short presentation, visitors can tour the collection of rolling stock and carriages which made up Union and Confederate battery during the Civil War.

Among the collection sits three cannons that were used in the war. One dates back to 1861, another to 1862 and the third was constructed in 1863, though Neubauer built each of the carriages on which they rest. The cannons still fire. Neubauer also put two replica cannons on display.

About two dozen authentic Civil War projectiles, from 3-pound shots to a 100-pound shell, also are featured, along with 150 to 200 period tools, photographs and other items.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

CD: Starkville school board candidate ruled ineligible

TIM PRATT

One of the candidates vying for a seat on the Starkville School District Board of Trustees has been declared ineligible by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.

Ann Carr lives outside Starkville corporate limits, but in a portion of Oktibbeha County served by the Starkville School District. Eighteen percent of Starkville School District students and two school board members — Keith Coble and Bill Weeks — also live outside Starkville’s corporate limits, but within the school district’s boundaries.

According to state statute, if at least 15 percent of students live outside corporate limits, but within a school district’s boundaries, at least one person living in that area must serve on the Board of Trustees. State statute also says if more than 30 percent of students live in the added area, no more than two members of the Board of Trustees can live there.

The Starkville Board of Aldermen, which is responsible for appointing the person to fill the vacant seat, was unclear whether or not Carr would be eligible to serve since she would be the third Board of Trustees member who lives outside the city’s corporate limits. Their confusion was based on conflicting Attorney General’s opinions dating back to 1981, and because the Starkville School District’s student population living in Oktibbeha County is greater than 15 percent, but less than 30 percent.

Attorney General’s opinions from 1991 and 2004 say anyone can serve on the school board as long as he or she lives within the school district. An Attorney General opinion from 1981, however, states that only two school board members can live in an area added on to the original school district, like the portion of Oktibbeha County added to the Starkville School District, regardless of the percentage of the student population living there.

In a letter to city officials dated March 5, Attorney General Jim Hood supported the 1981 opinion, which would limit the SSD to two Board of Trustees members who live in the county, and modified the opinions from 1991 and 2004.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

CD: Woman tries to put out fire, suffers smoke inhalation

TIM PRATT

STARKVILLE — A Starkville woman was treated for minor smoke inhalation this weekend after fire broke out in her home on Highway 25 South and she tried to extinguish the blaze herself.

The Starkville Fire Department was dispatched just before noon Saturday to a duplex at 1429 Highway 25 S., in the Conner Heights subdivision, for a report of a residential fire. The resident, Carlene Ware, had arrived home to find a small fire in the kitchen/laundry area, SFD Chief Rodger Mann said.

Ware attempted to put out the blaze with two fire extinguishers and suffered minor smoke inhalation, Mann said. Starkville firefighters arrived at the scene and extinguished the blaze; Ware was transported to Oktibbeha County Hospital, where she was treated and released, Mann said.

“A small fire can still produce a lot of smoke,” Mann said.

Mann described the damage to Ware’s apartment as “light to moderate,” but said it is now uninhabitable.

Ware and her son, who was not home at the time of the blaze and was not identified by fire officials, were displaced due to the damage, though it is unclear where they are staying now. The Oktibbeha County Red Cross was unaware of the fire when contacted Monday.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

Black and Gold Thursday in Starkville! Show your spirit Jacket Nation! And Pass It On!

Celebrate the Jackets Championship! Mayor Parker Wiseman has declared Thursday Black and Gold Day in Starkville!

Championship Parade will begin at 4 pm. Lineup is in the Starkville Daily News parking lot. Parade will head north on Jackson, west on Main and south on Louisville, ending on Yellowjacket Drive at SHS. Victory Rally will begin at 4:30 pm or immediately following the parade at SHS in The Beehive.

Pick up your children from school and head to Main Street to wave to the team! And then join us in The Beehive for a Victory Rally!

Special thanks to Parents for Public Schools, City of Starkville, and Greater Starkville Development Partnership for facilitating and organizing the celebration. It would not have happened without their support!

The proclamation from the Mayor is below:

A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE STARKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL “YELLOWJACKETS” BOYS
BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE MHSAA
STATE TOURNAMENT

WHEREAS, the Starkville High School “Yellowjackets” Boys Basketball
Team slam dunked the Class 6A State Championship; and

WHEREAS, the “Jackets” beat Meridian 57-51 to capture the school’s
first state title since 1961; and

WHEREAS, Rashad Perkins, Dandy Dozen senior, earned the Cellular South
Player of the Game award for his double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds;
and

WHEREAS, Perkins and fellow teammate, Edward Townsel, were named to the
All Tournament Team for their showcase of athleticism and leadership during
the tournament; and

WHEREAS, the determination of the championship team to bring home the
Gold Ball trophy is matched by the dedication of Head Coach Greg Carter, who
has given each student athlete great confidence in their talents and
abilities; and

WHEREAS, the championship Yellowjacket Basketball Team is as follows:
Rashad Perkins, Edward Townsel, Keon McKinney, Michael Brand, Nathan Ball,
Shaquille Hill, Steven Brand, Gavin Ware, Brandon Johnson, Calvin Young,
Jaquez Johnson and Tory Rice; and

WHEREAS, the Yellowjackets demonstrate good sportsmanship in victory,
and each player displays a positive attitude and winning spirit, bringing
great pride and honor to Starkville High School and their community:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED I, PARKER WISEMAN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, do hereby congratulate the Starkville High School
“Yellowjackets” Boys Basketball Team and Head Coach Greg Carter on their
extraordinary victory in the State 6A Championship, declare Thursday, March
11, 2010 Black and Gold Thursday in Starkville, and encourage the Starkville
community to show their support for this talented team during the
Championship Celebration Parade and Victory Rally.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Head Coach
Greg Carter, Athletic Director Bill Lee, Starkville High School Principal Keith Fennell and Starkville School District Superintendent Judy Couey on this 11th day of March in the year 2010.

Your Turn: Can America Go Broke?

Daniel L. Gardner

Guest Columnist

I don’t know anybody who believes America could go broke a la Iceland, Greece, or the former USSR. But, a lot of conservative economists – whom I don’t know personally – continue to say if Washington continues to spend trillions of dollars more than we raise in revenue annually, America will go broke. Nobody wants to think about what that may mean for our society.

Can America go broke? Nobody believes that. We’re America, the most powerful nation on earth! We have more resources than any nation in history! We are too big to fail!

But, what if we could go broke? What does that mean?

When a person goes broke, he loses everything…his home, car, and assets; anything of value is taken away from him through bankruptcy.

When a business goes broke, banks and creditors sell assets, close doors, and all workers go looking for other jobs.

When an international company with hundreds of billions of dollars goes broke, Washington pumps huge sums of taxpayer dollars into the business to bail it out, and CEOs and upper level management get hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses.

This is America! Capitalistic opportunities abound for those with connections in Washington.

What is ‘broke’ anyway? Is that when one owes more than one owns? Or, is ‘broke’ when one owes more than one could ever reasonably repay?

Consider the following current fiscal year numbers:
National Debt - $12.5 trillion
National Deficit - $1.4 trillion
Medicaid/Medicare Spending - $762 billion
Social Security Spending - $682 billion
Defense/War Spending - $662 billion
Interest on Debt - $190 billion
Federal Tax Revenue - $2.1 trillion

(Note I’ve spelled out billion and trillion because newspaper columns aren’t wide enough to incorporate whole numbers.)

Washington has spent $3.5 trillion dollars so far this fiscal year. We have already spent $1.4 trillion dollars more than we have brought in. If Washington were an American household making $50,000 per year, we would have made nearly $21,000 to-date, and we would have already spent $35,000.

While we’re looking at our credit card bill of $14,000 not counting interest, our spouse suggests we could save money by buying more health insurance now to offset costs we expect to have in 20 years.

They say money disputes are the leading causes of divorce in America.

America has unfunded liabilities of $108 trillion: we have taken money from taxpayers to pay for Medicare, Social Security, and Prescription Drugs, and we owe $108 trillion more than we have collected so far for just these three entitlements.

If America were broke, Washington could not send checks to pay for Medicaid/Medicare, Social Security, Unemployment, Food Stamps, Welfare, or any other entitlements. Washington could not pay federal employees – including military – or retirees.

America is broke. We are bankrupt. We can’t save money by spending more money. If Washington collected 100 percent of every paycheck in America, we could not put a dent in the debts we owe.

President Obama wants to spend $1 trillion on healthcare reform, creating nearly 200 new bureaucracies in Washington ‘to save money.’ Taxpayers will have to pay higher taxes to pay for this new spending.

Every paycheck in America will see larger deductions for Federal Income Tax, Social Security, and Medicare, not to mention state and local taxes. Plus, taxes will go up on everything we buy.

Washington should cut spending now and balance the budget.

Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com

His column does not reflect the views of Starkville-Now.com.

CD: MSU students arrested for stealing beer

TIM PRATT

The Starkville Police Department arrested two Mississippi State University students Sunday morning for breaking into a convenience store on Highway 182 and stealing several 12-packs of beer.

Officers on patrol responded to an alarm at Sprint Mart, at the corner of Highway 182 and Jackson Street, Sunday between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., SPD Sgt. Chadd Garnett said. When officers arrived at the store, they found one of the front windows busted out with what appeared to be a chunk of concrete, Garnett said.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

CD: First lady recognizes Starkville schools

TIM PRATT

First Lady Michelle Obama gave kudos to the Starkville School District Wednesday for its efforts to improve the health of city students.

During a speech at Brinkley Middle School in Jackson, Obama encouraged students to pursue healthier lives and recognized the Starkville School District’s removal of deep fryers from school cafeterias as a step toward achieving that goal.

“Here in Mississippi, another thing that’s happened is that they’ve taken fryers out of the school and put in more ovens, right?” Obama said to a round of applause. “And just imagine, just because of that, in Starkville, two schools in that area, they’ve cut out about 3 million calories — 3 million calories — just by not having fried potatoes. Those are the kind of little things that make a difference.”

Although fryers actually were removed from three schools in the Starkville School District, not two, district officials were thrilled with Obama’s comments.

“It is quite an honor to be recognized for the effort,” district Director of Child Nutrition Beverly Lowry said. “And I think the fact that she said even the small things make a difference, I mean, when you look at french fries every day, the small things do add up. That’s a lot of calories.”

The fryers were removed from Starkville High School, Armstrong Middle School and Sudduth Elementary School, and replaced with combi ovens, which use steam, hot air, or a combination of both to prepare food. Costing about $35,000 per unit, the Starkville High School combi oven was paid for with a John D. Bower Foundation grant, while the ovens at Armstrong and Sudduth were paid for with district Child Nutrition Department funds, Lowry said.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

CD: Foster homes needed for Starkville puppies

SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH

STARKVILLE — Six puppies from the Oktibbeha County Humane Society need temporary foster homes for the next two weeks before being transported to New England where their forever homes await them.

Foster families provide a much-needed service to OCHS as they provide a temporary home where the puppies can experience living in a home setting, socialize with other people and animals, and be observed for any medical or behavioral issues. Foster homes are needed from March 5th until the transport on March 20th. Foster families receive food and supplies to care for the animal(s) they take in. All animals are up-to-date on shots and spayed/neutered.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

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