ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY THURSDAY | JUNE 21, 2018 CMSD board approves sale of Lee Middle property a restaurant, converting the CMSD sells Lee Middle to Columbus Redevelopment Authority gymnasium into grocery store BY MARY POLLITZ after a 20-minute executive ses- on the property in July 2016, space and constructing more [email protected] sion, which was the final hurdle and then extended the option retail spaces and apartments. CRA needed to clear before it for another $1 a year later. The Originally built as Lee High Columbus Municipal School could execute a $450,000 sale option from CMSD allowed School in the early 1950s, the District’s board of trustees of the property to Military Lee. CRA to market the property to original campus housed white unanimously approved the sale CRA will meet in the coming potential developers. students during the final years of the former Lee Middle School weeks to finalize the deal with In November, CRA an- of segregation in Columbus — a property during a special-call Military Lee, according to CRA nounced there was a developer Castleberry Spears fact that ostensibly earned the meeting on Wednesday. board member Mark Castleber- interested in the property who en as the registered agent. CRA property state landmark status Columbus Redevelopment ry, who attended Wednesday’s had purchased an option on it representatives have since con- from the Mississippi Depart- Authority announced Saturday CMSD meeting. from CRA, but it did not release firmed local businessman Scott ment of Archives and History in Military Lee LLC agreed to “We are extremely excit- the developer’s identity until Berry is the lead developer for a May. It later became Lee Mid- purchase the 15-acre property ed,” Castleberry said. “We’ve this month. proposed project at the Lee site dle School, which shut its doors with the shuttered school for a worked for over two years on Military Lee was formed and — where he plans to convert in 2011 after Columbus Middle redevelopment project. CMSD this. I believe it’s the right de- registered with the Mississippi the main building into 24 one- School was built on Highway trustees OK’d the $1 sale of Lee veloper.” Secretary of State’s Office in and two-bedroom apartments, 373. Middle School property to CRA CRA purchased a $1 option May with attorney Steve McEw- converting the cafeteria into See LEE MIDDLE, 6A A banana in-hand MSU alum, convenience store owner gives away Rally Bananas to MSU fans in Omaha BY BREtt HUDSON [email protected] eLone Wilson wanted it known that Mississippi State Dbaseball fans joining him in Omaha, Nebraska, for the College World Series were specifically welcomed in his convenience stores, and he hung a banner outside his downtown storefront to prove it. His wife went a step further: Why Wilson not feed the Rally Banana craze by giving MSU fans free bananas? The Cubby’s parking lot has been packed ever since. Wilson is a MSU grad who is pres- ident of Cubby’s, a chain of conve- nience stores throughout Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota with 36 loca- tions, according to its website, most Westburg of them around the Nebraska-Iowa border Omaha occupies. Their downtown store on the corner of South 13th and Jackson streets, about a mile from TD Ameritrade Park, has been flooded with MSU fans seeking to join the Rally Banana faithful. “We’ve probably given away at least three cases of bananas, I’d say an average of about 120 banan- as per case. It’s about 40 pounds per box,” said Dustin Vander Wel, the store’s manager. “I ordered a bunch of extras. We haven’t made it through them yet, but we should.” Cubby’s is one part of what has become a national “thing.” Before MSU’s first game in the College World Series, Dole — one of the world’s biggest distributors of bananas — sent a press release announcing the company’s support of the team’s Rally Banana and picking it to win the national championship. The press release pointed out Dole has had a presence at the port in Gulfport for more than 50 years. “In addition to being fun for players and fans, bananas have been shown to help athletes recover faster after peak performance than sports drinks and other foods — so there is science behind our pick, too,” Bill Goldfield, the director of commu- nications for Dole Food Company, said in the statement. Chiquita, another national produce company known for bananas, has tweeted its support of the Bulldogs. Brett Hudson/Dispatch Staff Cubby’s convenience store manager Dustin Vander Wel restocks bananas Tuesday The banana magic seems to be working. in Omaha, Nebraska. Cubby’s is handing out free bananas to Mississippi State Uni- Started by freshman third baseman Jordan versity fans in honor of MSU baseball’s participation in the College World Series. See RAllY BANANAS, 6A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 What was left out in the rain in the information call The Part- MEETINGS Today nership at 662-323-3322. July 2: Lown- song “MacArthur Park?” ■ Superintendent recep- 2 What’s the value of the Roman des County tion: The Columbus-Lown- numeral MDXIV? Supervisors, 9 des Convention & Visitors Friday 3 What Fox News commentator a.m., Court- Bureau invites the public ■ Viva Las Elvis: The published the novel “The Christmas house to a welcoming reception Columbus Arts Council Sweater?” July 9: Lown- 4 What is the 1/4+1/3+1/6? for new Columbus Munici- presents a Viva Las Elvis Haley Palmer des County 5 In what special glass is brandy pal School District Super- Party at 7 p.m. Dance to First grade, Caledonia Supervisors, often served? intendent Cherie Labat at music by The Dips at 8 recreation work 5 p.m. at CVB offices, 117 p.m., plus Elvis and Priscil- Answers, 6B session, 9 a.m., High Low Third St. S. la look-alike contests and 83 70 Courthouse T-storms likely ■ Sounds of Summer hamburger plates (7-8:30 July 16: Full forecast on postponed: Sounds of p.m., $10; purchase food Lowndes County page 2A. Summer has been post- tickets by Thursday) at the Supervisors, 9 poned until June 28 due to Rosenzweig Arts Center, a.m., Court- inclement weather. 501 Main St. Members INSIDE house ■ Downtown at Sun- $15 advance/$17 at Michael Sykes is in the Business 5B Dear Abby 4B down: A decision will door; nonmembers $20 Air National Guard, study- Classifieds6B Obituaries 5A be made at noon about advance/$22 at door. Get ing aerospace engineering Comics 4B Opinions 4A whether to hold the 7 p.m. tickets at columbus-arts. at MSU and born, raised 139TH YEAR, NO. 87 Crossword 2B outdoor concert. For more org or call 662-328-2787. and lives in Columbus. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “I think the kids were thirsty to get better and learn.” MSU assistant coach Mike Brown, talking about how the members of the team’s coaching staff helped The Mouse chases the Fox: keep the players focused after a slow start to the Disney makes $71B counteroffer Thursday season. Story, 1B. Bidding war comes after AT&T bought Time Warner for $81 billion A THOUSAND WORDS BY MAE ANDERSON tar” and other movies from AP Technology Writer Fox’s studios would help beef up Disney’s upcoming NEW YORK — The streaming service. Dis- mouse is chasing the fox. ney, which already owns Disney is offering more Marvel, would get back than $71 billion for Fox’s the characters previously entertainment businesses licensed to Fox, setting in a counterbid to Com- the stage for X-Men and cast’s nearly $66 billion the Avengers to appear to- offer . gether. If Comcast wins, it The battle for Twen- would get a larger portfolio ty-First Century Fox re- of cable channels including flects a new imperative FX and National Geograph- among entertainment and ic. telecommunications firms. In a call with analysts, They are amassing ever Iger said he believes Dis- more programming to bet- ney’s bid is superior to ter compete with technolo- Comcast’s from a regulato- gy companies such as Ama- ry perspective. He said that zon and Netflix for viewers’ six months of dealing with attention — and dollars. regulators both in the U.S. The bidding war comes and internationally has giv- after AT&T bought Time en Disney a “meaningful Warner for $81 billion. head start.” Disney’s move had been Comcast, based in Phila- expected since Comcast delphia, did not immediate- made its bid last week. ly respond to a request for Disney said it’s raising its comment. Fox previously offer because Fox’s val- rejected a bid from an un- ue increased due to “tax named company, widely reform and operating im- believed to be Comcast, be- provements.” cause of fears it would face “After six months of in- regulatory objections. But Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff tegration planning we’re a federal judge’s approval Colin Cunningham, 10, relaxes on his pool float at Lion Hills Center Tuesday. “I like to come here and play even more enthusiastic and of AT&T’s bid for Time baseball most in the summer,” he said. “I also am looking forward to my family vacation soon.” He is the son confident in the strategic Warner signals that the of Susanne and Jeff Cunningham of Columbus.