ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI C DISPATCH.COM FREE! WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 9, 2017 Prather Reed’s closing after 45 years named GSDP tourism leader Partnership still looking for membership director BY CARL SMITH [email protected] Greater Starkville Development Part- nership Interim Di- rector of Tourism Jennifer Prather is losing the “interim” portion of her title and will continue to lead tourism efforts Prather on a permanent basis, the GSDP announced Tuesday. Prather, who joined the Part- nership in 2013 as its special events and projects coordinator, was named interim tourism leader in April after the GSDP’s Board of Directors created the position. In her role, she will lead the Starkville Convention and Visitors Bureau and Starkville Main Street Association, and develop programs and campaigns to further promote Starkville as a premier tourist destination in Mississippi and en- See GSDP, 3A Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff Lex Jackson, owner of Reed’s in Columbus, said he will be closing the clothing store in spring 2018. The store has been in business in Columbus for almost 45 years, including the last 20 at Jackson Square on Highway 45. Owner of Reed’s of Columbus announces spring as any to go ahead and announce it.” Reed’s, which has operated in Snyder running 2018 shutter of Jackson Square store Jackson Square on Highway 45 for 20 years, will close almost 45 years BY SLIM SMITH Jackson said the decision is one to the date the store first opened in for circuit [email protected] he’s been thinking about for several Columbus at Leigh Mall. It will also years. mean the end to Jackson’s 48-year t was a rainy Tuesday afternoon “We’re not closing until next partnership with the Reed family of clerk position and the weather seemed appro- Ipriate for the topic at hand. spring,” Jackson said. “It will be Tupelo, although Jackson will still Lex Jackson, who came to town business as usual through the fall manage the Jackson Square shop- Field now includes 5 45 years ago after a flood, told The and winter and then we’ll start ping center, which he owns jointly Dispatch, as the rain fell, he would ramping down. But I told my em- with the Reeds. candidates be closing his Columbus clothing ployees and a few friends and word “The Reeds are more than busi- BY CARL SMITH store in the spring. gets out, so this is as good as time See JACKSON, 8A [email protected] The field of Ok- tibbeha County cir- cuit clerk candidates grew to five last week after Stephanie Mor- MSMS ranks eighth among public high schools in US gan Snyder, a local public school teacher Website includes 3 area schools among top 50 in state mation on test scores, teach- of 15 years, qualified er-student ratio, graduation for the race. Snyder BY ISABELLE ALTMAN ranked eighth in the nation and analytics from the U.S. rates and other categories by Snyder, a National Board Cer- [email protected] and first in Mississippi on the Department of Education to both school district and indi- tified teacher who began her ca- niche.com Best Public High rank the best places to live vidual school. reer with the former Starkville The Mississippi School Schools list for 2018. and go to school all over the MSMS is a residential pub- School District, now teaches en- for Mathematics and Science Niche.com uses reviews country. It also provides infor- See RANKINGS, 8A See CIRCUIT CLERK, 3A Senator vows Republican comeback on health care Sen. Roger Wicker speaks Wicker compares recent Tuesday about the health INSIDE to members of care debate and more ex- ■ SLIMANTICS: the Columbus setbacks to Dunkirk tensively a few minutes Wicker continues to Rotary Club at later as he addressed The be out of touch on Lion Hills Cen- DISPATCH STAFF REPORT Lowndes County Republi- health care issue. ter on Tuesday. Page 6A can Women. Both events He spoke to U.S. Senator Roger Wicker said Republi- Rotarians and were held at the Lion Hills the Lowndes can efforts to repeal and replace the Patient Center. County Repub- Protection and Affordable Care Act, known “In the Senate, we came up one vote short lican Women most commonly as Obamacare, will continue of going to conference with the House with a mainly about despite failed efforts in both the House and plan,” Wicker told Rotary Club members. “My Republican ef- forts in Wash- Senate. team had a setback a couple of weeks ago, but ington to repeal Wicker, the junior senator from Mississip- we’re still determined to get the job done.” Obamacare. pi, spoke briefly at the Columbus Rotary Club See WICKER, 8A Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 The southernmost tip of South Ameri- ■ Friday Night Jams: MEETINGS Friday The West Point/Clay can is part of which country? ■ “The Help”: The Aug. 11: 2 Which actress became the oldest Os- County Arts Council Columbus Arts Council Starkville Board car recipient for her role in “Driving Miss hosts free live music, of Aldermen Daisy”? presents a free screen- 7 p.m. at the Louise ing of “The Help” work session, 3 Of which 1963 treaty, signed by the Campbell Center for (PG-13) at 7 p.m. in 11 a.m., City U.S., Britain and Russia, was W. Averell the Arts, 235 Com- the Rosenzweig Arts Hall Preston Dimino Harriman the chief U.S. negotiator? merce St., West Point. 4 Dermot O’Byrne was the literary Center. 662-328-2787. Aug. 15: Pre-K, Annunciation Starkville Board pseudonym of which 20th century English ■ Operation Christ- of Aldermen, composer of Dutch descent? mas Child: Come Saturday 5:30 p.m., City High Low 5 What name is given to the art of making to a meet and greet ■ Sizzling Second 81 71 maps based on photographs? Hall Chance of t-storms with the new Opera- Saturday: It’s a Back Answers, 8B Aug. 21: Full forecast on tion Christmas Child to School Bash at the Oktibbeha page 2A. regional manager from Hitching Lot Farm- County Board Atlanta, 11 a.m.-2 ers’ Market, Second of Supervisors, INSIDE p.m., Beans & Cream, Avenue/Second Street 9 a.m., county Classifieds 8B Obituaries 5A 60 Brickerton St., North, Columbus. Pony courthouse Comics 7B Opinions 6A Columbus, for new rides, Project CHEW Crossword 8B NATS 7A guidelines for OCC box- watermelon smooth- Dear Abby 7B Scene & Seen 2A es. Email Nelda Brown, ies, Mother Goose, Tanissa Ringo loves draw- Food 5B [email protected]. music, more. ing and painting. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2017 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? Glen Campbell, ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ singer, dies at age 81 Wednesday ‘Glen is one of the greatest voices ARTESIA DAY The Artesia Day Festival this past weekend featured ven- there ever was in the business and he dors, speakers, music and ball games. was one of the greatest musicians’ Scene&Seen See more photos on page 4A. Dolly Parton THE ASSOCIATED PRESS many years May you rest in peace my friend You will NASHVILLE, Tenn. — never be forgotten,” wrote Glen Campbell, the affable Charlie Daniels. One of superstar singer of “Rhine- Campbell’s daughters, Ash- stone Cowboy” and “Wich- ley, said she was heartbro- ita Lineman” whose appeal ken. “I owe him everything spanned country, pop, I am, and everything I ever television and movies, died will be. He will be remem- Tuesday, his family said. He bered so well and with so was 81. much love,” she wrote on Campbell’s family said Twitter. the singer died Tuesday “You were a shining morning in Nashville and light in so many ways,” publicist Sandy Brokaw Brad Paisley tweeted. confirmed the news. No In the late 1960s and cause was immediately giv- well into the ‘70s, the Ar- en. Campbell announced in kansas native was seem- June 2011 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s ingly everywhere with his disease and that it was in its boyish face, wavy hair and early stages at that time. friendly tenor. He won five “Glen is one of the great- Grammys, sold more than est voices there ever was 45 million records, had 12 in the business and he was gold albums and 75 chart Emily Durrah, Kayla Mosley, William Rush, Alexia Thompson, Courtney Beckwith and Makiya Minor one of the greatest musi- hits, including No. 1 songs cians,” said Dolly Parton in with “Rhinestone Cowboy” a video statement. “He was and “Southern Nights.” a wonderful session musi- He twice won album cian as well. A lot of people of the year awards from don’t realize that. But he the Academy of Country could play anything and he Music and was voted into could play it really well.” the Country Music Hall of Tributes poured in on Fame in 2005. Seven years social media. “Thank you later, he received a Gram- Glen Campbell for sharing my for lifetime achieve- your talent with us for so ment. 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? 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