ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 75 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY FRIDAY | AUGUST 2, 2019 CPD focuses on removing illegal guns from streets Shelton also discusses officer conduct, community policing at overview meeting BY ISABELLE ALTMAN [email protected] Getting stolen guns off the street has become a pri- ority for Columbus Police Department, Chief Fred Shelton told the CPD Over- view Committee Shelton during its meeting Thursday at the Columbus Municipal Complex. The topic came up when board member Leroy Lollar asked how 17-year-old Curtis Lathan, who has been charged with murder, got the gun that killed 16-year-old Arykah See OVERVIEW COMMITTEE, 3A Amanda Lien/Dispatch Staff Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Superintendent Eddie Peasant speaks with SOCSD convocation speaker and original Freedom Writer Manny Scott at Lee Hall on Mississippi State University’s campus on Thurs- day. Scott encouraged teachers to build better relationships with students by recounting how one of his high school teachers in Los Angeles helped change his trajectory. Alabama man ‘Freedom Writer’ recounts inspiration arrested for he received from high school teacher shooting teen Manny Scott encourages SOCSD faculty to prioritize building student relationships Alleged shooter is BY AMANDA LIEN Still, he said, prayer never hurts. at Wilson High School in Los An- [email protected] “I just had this feeling that teach- geles, California where, more than second suspect to be ers here needed the reminder of 30 years ago, he was part of Erin STARKVILLE — While driv- their ability to be the salt and light Gruwell’s English class. Scott spoke arrested in the case ing through the Golden Triangle, in classrooms, where it’s needed about how he and his fellow students Manny Scott began to pray for guid- most,” he said, referencing a Bible — most of whom were struggling ac- DISPATCH STAFF REPORT ance in what he should say to the verse. “I sensed there are many ademically, all of whom came from Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated Christians in this district, so I want- broken and violent neighborhoods An Alabama man School District teachers, staff and ed to bring up that modern example — initially thought this “new, white has been arrested administrators during Thursday’s of a way to put that verse into ac- cheerleader” of a teacher wouldn’t for the shooting of convocation. tion.” stick around. a teenage girl last He is no stranger to Mississippi As keynote speaker for SOCSD’s “Some of the guys tried real hard weekend. — some of his family lives a few min- convocation in Lee Hall’s Better- to get her to quit,” he said. “And Justin Dewayne utes outside Jackson and he visits as sworth Auditorium at Mississippi she’d sometimes cry at her desk af- Dunlap, 27, of Jasper, often as he can — so he could make State University, Scott’s speech ter school. I’d see her. But she’d al- has been charged a few educated guesses about the centered around his turbulent child- ways get up and come back the next with aggravated Dunlap topics teachers would receive well. hood and, most notably, experience See SCOTT, 6A assault, manifesting in extreme indifference to life. Columbus See ARREST, 3A Area students enter medical school through rural physicians scholarship After graduation, each will work in clinic serving a tors serving rural com- recipients must remain munities in Mississippi in the state and work in Mississippi community of fewer than 15,000 residents — which will provide a a clinic serving an ap- $30,000 scholarship each proved rural community BY AMANDA LIEN distance a 2018 Pew Re- tuition at University of year of her medical school for at least four years af- [email protected] search Survey found res- Mississippi Medical Cen- education. After graduat- ter completing their resi- idents in the region travel ter School of Medicine in ing medical school, she, dency. In Austyn Holden’s like all MRPS recipients, to access medical care. Jackson, where the schol- Right now, Holden is hometown of Coldwater Holden Laird must enter a residency It’s also a number that arship program is based, considering a residency — where the population program in one of five led Holden, a junior biol- over four years. things can happen. So I hovers between 1,200 primary care specialties: in obstetrics and gynecol- understand the need from and 1,300, according to ogy major at Mississippi “It’s scary because family medicine, general ogy, although she is also the 2016 estimates — University for Women, to it takes so long to get to a very real perspective.” internal medicine, pedi- giving pediatric medicine the nearest hospital is a apply for the Mississippi the nearest hospital,” she Holden is one of 61 re- atric medicine, obstetrics some serious thought. 45-minute drive. Rural Physicians Scholar- said. “And we have farm- cipients of the MRPS — a and gynecology or pedi- Either way, she would be That’s more than ship. It will fund $120,000 ers and heavy equipment state-funded effort to ad- atric care. As a condition trained in an area that three times the average of her medical school out here and kids, so dress the shortage of doc- of the scholarship, MRPS See STUDENTS, 6A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR COMING SUNDAY PUBLIC 1 What paleontologist played himself MEETINGS Today Aug. 5: Lowndes on an episode of “The Simpsons” that ■ “Mississippi Characters 2”: involved a fossilized angel skeleton? County Supervi- Friday only, Columbus Arts Council 2 What sport did Tonya Harding switch sors, 9 a.m., Coun- to after figure skating? and Columbus Community Theatre 3 Which is not a Hawaiian island — Youth present this walking tour ty Courthouse Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu or through the Rosenzweig Arts Aug. 6: Colum- Axel Huntley Waikiki? Center, 501 Main St., to meet bus City Council 4 What ‘80s movie series starred Mi- Kindergarten, Caledonia Mississippi characters. $5 CAC regular meeting, chael J. Fox in the original and Jason 5 p.m., Municipal Bateman in the sequel? members; $7 non-members at Complex Court- High Low 5 Talk-show host Jerry Springer was columbus-arts.org, 662-328-2787. 89 71 mayor of what Ohio city? room Mostly sunny, chance t-storm Aug. 15: Lowndes Full forecast on Saturday Answers, 6B County Supervi- page 2A. ■ Back to School Bang: This celebration at Ola J. Pickett Park sors, 9 a.m., Coun- includes Market on Main vendors ty Courthouse INSIDE and antique car show 6-8 p.m.; Aug. 15: Colum- bus Light and Classifieds6B Obituaries 2,5A the band Win Wheel 8-10 p.m., Comics 4B Opinions 4A and fireworks at 10 p.m. Conces- Don’t miss The Dispatch’s Voter’s Water utility meet- Crossword 2B Religion 5B sions available. Catfish plates by Guide, with candidate profiles and ing, 12 p.m., CLW 140TH YEAR, NO. 123 Dear Abby 4B pre-order only, 662-251-6262. precinct info, in Sunday’s paper. office building DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “If you embrace him, he’ll embrace you. If you attack him, he’ll attack you. That’s the definition of colorblind.” Katy Perry, others ordered Rev. Robert Jeffress, pastor of the Southern Baptist megachurch First Baptist Dallas, on debate over labeling President Donald to pay $2.78M for copying song Friday Trump a racist. Story, 5B. Amount fell well came here seeking justice, and they feel they received short of the nearly justice from a jury of their peers.” Trump denounces Democrats $20M sought Perry herself was hit for just over $550,000, with by attorneys for Capitol Records responsi- at rally, plays down race ble for the biggest part of Christian rapper the award — $1.2 million. THE ASSOCIated PRESS Defense attorneys had ar- ‘The Democrat party is now being led BY ANDREW DALTON gued for an overall award AP Entertainment Writer CINCINNATI — President Don- by four left-wing extremists who reject of about $360,000. ald Trump used a revved-up rally LOS ANGELES — Katy Perry’s attorney, Chris- in Cincinnati to tear into the Dem- everything that we hold dear’ Perry, her collaborators tine Lepera, said they plan ocrats he has been elevating as his and her record label must to vigorously fight the de- new political foils, attacking four President Donald Trump at a Thursday pay more than $2.78 mil- cision. liberal congresswomen of color and rally in Cincinnati lion because the pop star’s “The writers of Dark their party’s urban leaders, while of the rally that he would prefer Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. 2013 hit “Dark Horse” cop- Horse consider this a trav- also directing fire at those he could his supporters avoid the chant. He But the fleeting mention did ied a 2009 Christian rap esty of justice,” Lepera be facing in 2020. largely stuck to a greatest hits per- not lead to further chants. Nor did song, a federal jury decid- said. But the president mostly avoid- ed Thursday. “Dark Horse,” which formance. an extended attack on Democrat- ed the racial controversy that has But while he did not mention ic leaders of urban areas, which It was an underdog combines elements of pop, dominated recent weeks as he victory for rapper Mar- hip-hop and trap styles, Omar or her three colleagues by Trump has laced into in recent days basked in front of the raucous name in the opening moments of as part of his incendiary broadsides cus Gray, a relatively ob- was a mega-hit for the San- crowd Thursday for nearly 90 his Ohio gathering, the target of his against Rep.