ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 75 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY TUESDAY | JUNE 25, 2019 SUMMER MEALS FOR STUDENTS After multi- year deficits, CLW adds to its reserves Columbus utility provider hits the brakes on internet service BY MARY POLLITZ [email protected] After taking hits in last two fiscal years, Columbus Light and Water expects to see a prof- it for the Fiscal Year 2020. Executive Director Todd Gale said CLW has taken funds from its reserves to make up for lost revenue the past few years. After dipping into more than Gale $800,000 in reserves, Gale said the board decided to increase its customer rates last October. “We were zero or negative,” Gale said. “We had to do some- thing. After it’s all said and done, we’re hoping to make $145,000. That would go towards building our surplus account we’ve been Bernsen using for the last few years.” Courtesy photo Gale said thanks in part to last year’s 2.7 percent rate increase, the CLW will start to add to its reserves rather than rely on them. Columbus, Starkville participate in federal “We had a fairly substantial rate increase,” Gale said. “(Tennesse Vallety Authority) had a rate increase. We had to have it because low to no growth as far as sales. As far as numbers of program to combat summer food insecurity customers, that’s staying flat. People aren’t us- ing as much electricity and we have fixed costs that need in times when kids can’t such as personnel.” More than 1,400 children access free (or) reduced meals like CLW has almost 12,500 electric customers they can in school. That’s what this and 10,500 water customers. receive free meals daily is about.” The board unanimously approved the fiscal year budget for 2020 during the June regular BY AMANDA LIEN is implemented at school districts board meeting on Thursday. [email protected] in Columbus and Starkville, as Columbus Columbus Munic- Chairman Michael Tate said it was good well as through other community to see a balanced budget this year. As of now, ore than 1,000 children organizations, where the majority ipal School District whose families struggle voted unanimously Chief Financial Officer Mike Bernsen said the of students are eligible for free and CLW has a little more than $3.5 million in its Mwith food insecurity reduced lunch during the school during a special-call receive free breakfasts and lunches meeting Monday reserves. Bernsen told board members this year. The Mississippi Department year’s budget was better than previous years. every week day in Columbus and of Education reimburses schools morning to extend “We did real good on our budget,” Bernsen Starkville. the program costs with funds from its summer feeding said. “We are better off. We are doing pretty Providing those meals is a the USDA. program to July 26. decent.” collaborative effort that draws on “In Mississippi, Board President Spears Gale said he likes to have at least twice its volunteers, donations, city support something like one Jason Spears said largest bill from the TVA — from which the lo- and federal funding to make it in four kids doesn’t that normally, a vote like this is not cal utility purchases power — in the reserves. work. know when they’re needed to continue the program, That, Gale said, hasn’t happened in some time. The United States Department going to get their which feeds more than 350 kids “Rule of thumb is two times the highest TVA of Agriculture funds the federal next meal,” said daily, but the unique set of circum- Summer Food Service Program MDE Child Nutrition stances this year forced CMSD to bill,” Gale said. “The bill is probably $3.5 mil- (SFSP), which provides free Director Scott Cle- use June as a trial month to see lion in the summer. A rule of thumb is we need breakfast and lunch for children ments. “With these Clements where resources for the program to have $7 million in reserve. It’s our financial during the summer to help curb programs in areas could best be allocated. plan. That’s our goal.” Gale added this year’s major capital proj- summer hunger. The program with low incomes, we can help with See MEALS, 6A ects include replacing two transformers, one See CLW, 6A Longview Road project funding approved, work could begin in late July day, said it will take about three cations, there will be a 300-day Oktibbeha supervisors approve $2.2 million weeks for the contracts to be ap- schedule for the project, which proved before work can begin. means the paving will likely be bid from Columbus contracting company “I think, probably, you’re completed a year from now. “It’s been a long time com- BY Slim SmitH looking at work starting around [email protected] Peggy Rogers was one of the end of July,” Pritchard said. ing, “ Rogers observed. about 20 residents who live on Pritchard said the project to Efforts to have the road fixed During a Monday meeting, the unpaved road who watched pave the roughly 4-mile stretch date as far back as the mid- Rogers Pritchard Oktibbeha County supervisors silently as supervisors gave the of road will be done in phases. 1990s, when county officials voted unanimously to accept the go-ahead for the long-await- “I’m not sure exactly how sought federal matching funds low bid of $2.2 million from Phil- ed project. Rogers opened her relay race,” Rogers said after that will work, but I’m sure for the project that never mate- lips Contracting of Columbus to bed-and-breakfast, DIMJ Guest the supervisors’ vote. “For 25 they’ll keep the road open for rialized. pave Longview Road. House Properties, on Longview years, people have been trying traffic most of the time, using About a year ago, the coun- It’s the final move to secure Road shortly after retiring as a to get this done. I’m just the last traffic control,” Pritchard said. ty succeeded in persuading a project that has been in the Lowndes County school admin- one to pick up the baton, but “There may be some hours the Office of State Aid Road works for years. istrator two years ago and has we’re not to the finish line yet.” where the road is closed, but Construction to reclassify the Longview Road connects been a vocal proponent of the County engineer Clyde most of the time, one lane will road to make it eligible for state Highway 12 and Highway 25 just project since. Pritchard, who gave the pre- be open as they do the work.” funding. “This has been kind of like a sentation on the project Mon- west of the Starkville city limits. According to the bid specifi- See LONGVIEW, 6A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 What was the first hip-hop group to MEETINGS Thursday, June 27 July 1: win an Academy Award? ■ Sounds of Summer: Bring lawn chairs or 2 Who is recognized in the United Lowndes County blankets to enjoy music by the Juke Joint Gypsies States on the third Monday in Janu- Supervisors, 9 from 7-9 at the Columbus Riverwalk. Food and ary? a.m., County beverages available for purchase. Free. For more 3 How many sonnets did William Courthouse Shakespeare write — 16, 88 or 154? information, contact Main Street Columbus, 662- July 2: 4 At the beginning of Daylight Savings 328-6305, or Columbus Lowndes Chamber of David Leonard Columbus City Time, do you move the clock forward Commerce, 662-328-4491. Kindergarten, Annunciation or back? Council regular 5 What rapper is on the boat in SNL’s meeting, 5 High 80 Low 69 “I’m on a Boat”? Thursday, June 27 and Tuesday, July 2 p.m., Municipal ■ TWT auditions: The Tennessee Williams Tribute Isolated downpour Answers, 6B Complex Full forecast on holds auditions for “Death of a Streetcar Named Courtroom page 2A. Virginia Woolf: A Parody,” by Tim Sniffen, at 6:30 July 15: p.m. June 27 and 6 p.m. July 2 at the Columbus Columbus- Arts Council’s Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main Lowndes INSIDE St. (Production dates Sept. 5-7.) Roles for men Tonya Lovato enjoys coming Convention and Classifieds6B Health 6A and women. May come prepared with a one-minute to work at the Food Giant. Visitors Bureau Comics 5B Obituaries 5A comic monologue, if desired. Contact the CAC, In her free time she likes to Board regular Crossword 4B Opinions 4A 662-328-2787, if you need an individual audition spend time with her husband meeting, 4 p.m., 140TH YEAR, NO. 90 Dear Abby 5B at a different time. and grandchildren. CVB office DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2019 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? Stakes high for NBC News ahead of 2-night Democratic debate Tuesday THE ASSOCIatED PRESS wraps details like time lim- its for answers or whether IN WASHINGTON NEW YORK — Don’t candidates get opening or envy NBC News executive closing statements. Rashida Jones, who is be- The goal is to focus at- hind this week’s inaugural tention where it should Acting Pentagon chief Esper on Democratic presidential be, said Jones, NBC News’ debate and will have to senior vice president for juggle 20 candidates, five specials. global stage amid Iran crisis news personalities and, it’s “The show is not about likely, one tweeting presi- the moderators,” she said.