ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY THURSDAY | JUNE 15, 2017 Juneteenth CVB hires sports tourism director festival starts Friday Smaller festival this year due to delayed planning start BY ALEX HOLLOWAY [email protected] Columbus’ long-running June- teenth festival may have fewer ven- dors than normal this year, but organizers are still looking for- ward to a busy week- end. This year marks the 21st Juneteenth event in Columbus. It will be held Friday Brooks and Saturday at Sim Scott Park. Juneteenth cel- ebrates the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday was born from the arrival of arrival of Union Major Gener- Lawrence al Gordon Grangers Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff arrival in Galveston, Texas, on June The Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau’s new Sports Tourism Director Thomas Berkery works in his new 19, 1965, with word that the Civil office at CVB in downtown Columbus on Wednesday. The former Major Leaguer and Mississippi State baseball player said War was over and slaves were free. he hopes to build on an already successful sports tourism base in the city. Locally, according to event ad- viser and Lowndes County District Former MSU baseball player, Major Leaguer, hopes to Tupelo or wherever else. And there’s 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks, the a lot of phone calls to operations guys Juneteenth celebration started as to bolster Columbus as sports destination for visiting teams for all the different a small festival in 1996 that drew sports, (so we’ll try) to present to them about 1,000 people. In the years BY ALEX HOLLOWAY trying to grow it.” why they should stay here.” since, it’s grown to a festival that [email protected] Berkery said there are opportuni- Berkery said he will also work with draws more than 10,000 people ties to use the Tennessee-Tombigbee local hotels to put together packages to from across the region. Sports tourism is already strong in Waterway to draw more events and vis- help attract visitors. Brooks said planning this year’s Columbus, Thomas Berkery said. If he itors to the city. Berkery’s salary is $50,000 plus festival fell behind because the Co- has his way, it’s about to become much He said he will also work to draw benefits, according to CVB Director lumbus-Lowndes Convention and stronger. more people who come to the region Nancy Carpenter. Visitors Bureau board didn’t have a Berkery began working as the Co- for athletic events at Mississippi State quorum for when the event’s fund- lumbus-Lowndes Convention and Vis- University — which he said is CVB’s Sports background ing was first slated to be approved. itors Bureau’s sports tourism director biggest sports tourism asset—to Co- Berkery, 34, is from Sarasota, Flor- CVB agreed to provide $10,000 about two weeks ago. lumbus. ida. He attended Mississippi State for Juneteenth this year, including “We’re looking to add to what “We will be doing our best to pro- University, where he played baseball half up-front and half after the event they’ve already got set in place, which mote Columbus and present these vis- from 2002-06. After finishing at MSU, is over. is a great foundation of events,” he iting fans with a great experience while he played three years with the Texas “It’s been a slow year this year said. “It’s about doing more than what they’re here in town,” he said. “We try Rangers in the Major Leagues. See JUNETEENTH, 8A they’ve got so we’re going to continue to attract folks to stay here as opposed See CVB, 8A FROM TIGER LILIES TO DAISIES Noxubee rife with unverified convict sightings BY ISABELLE ALTMAN [email protected] Authorities have so far been unable to ver- ify numerous reports in Noxubee County that two escaped con- victs from Georgia have been spotted in the Macon area. Dubose The Noxubee County Sheriff’s Of- fice began receiving the reports early Wednesday morning. The two suspects in question — Georgia Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff Department of Cor- Linda Spearing waters her garden on Sixth Avenue South in Columbus on Tuesday. Spearing has more than 50 different rections inmates Don- Rowe kind of flowers in her garden and has been adding to it for the past 15 years. “From tiger lilies to daisies,” Spearing said. See CONVICTS, 7A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 To which animal group does the MEETINGS Today June 19: Colum- Australian bandicoot belong? ■ Sounds of Summer: Swingshift 2 In the 1930s, in which sport was an bus-Lowndes entertains at this free concert from unsuccessful bid made to ban players Convention and over 6 feet in height? 7-9 p.m. at the Columbus Riverwalk, 3 Which Japanese city was once a presented by Main Street Columbus Visitor’s Bureau base for pirates and also gives its and the Columbus-Lowndes Cham- Board, 4 p.m., Wesley Caroline Shelton name to a type of porcelain? ber of Commerce. Food and cold 117 3rd Street 4 Of which British group was Roy beverages available for purchase. First grade, Annunciation Wood a member before forming South Wizzard? Bring lawn chairs or blankets; no June 20: Colum- 5 Which evangelist’s reputation grew pets or coolers. For more informa- bus City Council, High 86 Low 71 tion, contact MSC, 662-328-6305. in the 1940s as a result of his radio 5 p.m., Munici- Chance of t-storms broadcasts and appearance at the Full forecast on Youth for Christ rallies? pal Complex page 2A. Answers, 8B Monday, June 19 June 22: Colum- ■ Dinner with Dak: This benefit bus Municipal with Dak Prescott for Columbus’ School District, INSIDE Annunciation Catholic School is public budget Business 4A Dear Abby 6B 6-9 p.m. at Old Waverly Golf Club in Classifieds7B Obituaries 5A West Point. Tickets are $2,500 per hearing, 5:30 Comics 6B Opinions 6A couple. RSVP to rsvp@nicholasair. Sara Vonkanel, 12, is a cheerlead- p.m., Brandon 138TH YEAR, NO. 82 Crossword 8B com by June 12. er at Hamilton Junior High School. Central Services DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2017 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “I’ve loved every minute of wearing the maroon and white and two years isn’t enough.” Mississippi State outfielder Jake Mangum, talking Jury in Bill Cosby trial wraps about his decision to return to MSU next season. up Day 3 without verdict Thursday Story, 1B. ‘Can you find 12 ner while a court reporter raced to transcribe that people who will portion of last week’s tes- SCENES FROM THE J.L. KING CENTER timony. agree? That’s As deliberations crossed the 27-hour mark, some ju- the question.’ rors closed their eyes and tilted their heads down as BY MARYCLAIRE DALE a court reporter reread AND MICHAEL R. SISAK Cosby’s January 2005 in- The Associated Press terview. One slunk down in NORRISTOWN, Pa. his seat, looking angry. — With fatigue appear- “Can you find 12 people ing to set in, jurors in Bill who will agree? That’s the Cosby’s sexual assault question,” said criminal trial reviewed portions of lawyer Alan J. Tauber, who his accuser’s testimony wasn’t involved in the case. Wednesday as they delib- On Wednesday, the erated for a third day over group wanted to hear from whether the 79-year-old both Cosby and his accus- star drugged and molested er. her at his suburban Phila- Constand testified last delphia estate. week that Cosby gave her Jurors made the request pills that left her woozy, to have portions of Andrea helped her to a couch and Constand’s testimony read then violated her while she back to them but ended was passed out, unable to the day without a verdict say no or fight his advanc- in a case that has already es. helped demolish Cosby’s The 44-year-old Toron- nice-guy reputation. They to woman, who spent sev- will resume deliberations en hours on the stand last Thursday morning. week, was in the gallery as The panel of seven men portions of her testimony and five women worked were read back to the jury. late for the third night in a The panel also wanted row, asking for testimony to hear again from Cosby, about a detective’s inter- who didn’t testify at his tri- view with Cosby in early al but gave a deposition as Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff 2005, about a year after part of Constand’s civil suit Desmond Woods, left, and Joshua Calmes, both 8, listen to Americorps Vista volunteer Betty Robertson on Constand says the come- against him and submitted how to prepare a healthy snack during the Kids in the Kitchen program at the J.L. King Center in Starkville on dian assaulted her. They to a police interview about Wednesday. Desmond is the son of Talisha and Willie Woods. Joshua is the son of Oddie and Bobby Calmes. ordered strombolis for din- her accusations. Kids in the Kitchen is one of many programs that will be offered at the center throughout June. CONTACTING THE DISPATCH Office hours: Main line: n 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri n 662-328-2424 HOW DO I ... Email a letter to the editor? n [email protected] Report a missing paper? n 662-328-2424 ext. 100 Report a sports score? From left, Gene- n Toll-free 877-328-2430 n 662-241-5000 sis Woods, 15, n Operators are on duty until Submit a calendar item? Genise Woods, 6 p.m.