School Districts Making Tentative Plans to Reopen Buildings for 2020-21
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ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM $1.25 NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY SUNDAY | JUne 28, 2020 MISSISSIPPI TAKES STEP TOWARD DROPPING REBEL IMAGE FROM FLAG generations in a state with a 38 ‘The eyes of the state, the nation and indeed the world are on this House’ percent Black population. Rep. Jason White Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Saturday for the first time BY EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS step toward erasing the Con- “The eyes of the state, the pi — have a date with destiny.” that he would sign a bill to The Associated Press federate battle emblem from nation and indeed the world are Mississippi has the last state change the flag if the Repub- the state flag, a symbol that on this House,” Republican Rep. flag with the Confederate bat- lican-controlled Legislature JACKSON — Spectators at has come under intensifying Jason White told his colleagues. tle emblem — a red field topped sends him one. He previously the Mississippi Capitol broke criticism in recent weeks amid On the other end of the Cap- by a blue X with 13 white stars. said he would not veto one — a into cheers and applause Sat- nationwide protests against ra- itol, Sen. Briggs Hopson de- Many see the emblem as racist, more passive stance. urday as lawmakers took a big cial injustice. clared: “Today, you — Mississip- and the flag has been divisive for See FLAG, 3A ‘It’s been time to get rid of that flag’: Local legislators react to vote on flag bill BY ISABELLE ALTMAN AND TESS VRBIN [email protected], [email protected] Golden Trian- gle legislators over- whelmingly supported the resolution passed in the state Capitol Saturday to suspend legislative deadlines and allow for a bill to change the state flag. Roberson “To me it’s an op- portunity for the state to choose a flag that represents everyone instead of a flag that only represents a few, so I think that’s a positive thing,” said Rep. Rob Roberson Karriem (R-Starkville) after the vote Saturday. Representatives Kabir Karriem (D-Co- lumbus) and Cheikh Taylor (D-Starkville) both called the vote a Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff “historic” day for Mis- Taylor The Mississippi state flag flies above the Lowndes County Courthouse, as shown on June 10. State legislators vot- sissippi, whose flag ed Saturday to suspend legislative deadlines to allow debate on a bill that would remove the Confederate emblem has featured the Confederate em- from the flag. blem since 1894. The flag has come under increasing criticism in the the House vote. “A lot of people have the athletic community, it’s just a and lobbyists’ “compelling speech- wake of nationwide demonstrations tried to get that flag taken down, perfect storm. Everything lined up. es about history and economics” — protesting the killing of George ever since it was commissioned in And it’s just time. It’s been time to multiple business leaders through- Floyd and other African Americans 1894, and today it’s coming down. get rid of that flag with that Confed- out the state had said the flag was by police. “Time brings about a change. erate emblem. It is an historical day, hurting attempts to bring industry “It’s a proud day for Mississippi, My mother says that all the time,” and I was proud to cast my vote rep- to the state — had swayed some of but particularly for the Black com- he added. “With the climate that’s resenting ... the people of the 41st the flag’s staunchest supporters. munity in the state and across the going on in the country, with the District.” country really,” Karriem said after pressure from the business and Taylor said he believed legislators See LEGISLATORS, 3A School districts making tentative plans to reopen buildings for 2020-21 Principal Julie Fanch- LCSD hopes for traditional safe, when the academic er presses a decal to year begins in early Au- remind people about classes; CMSD plans both gust. Transportation, safe- social distancing on ty protocols and effective the floor in the office in-person, distance learning curriculum delivery in a on Friday at Hender- learning environment sub- son Ward Stewart BY TESS VRBIN ject to quick changes are Elementary School [email protected] all important, Labat said. in Starkville. These “Another superinten- Labat decals are for con- Keeping track of the ever-changing dent told me even when you think you’ve gested office areas impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pan- where parents will thought of everything, something else demic is a lot of work, said Cherie Labat, be. Plain yellow stick- comes up, because there’s not a playbook ers will be placed the superintendent of Columbus Munici- for this,” she said. throughout the rest pal School District. Mississippi Department of Education of the school to keep Public health data is just one factor released a set of guidelines on June 8 for students socially for school administrators to consider in districts to consider for their reopening distanced. their decisions about whether to reopen plans. MDE presented three options: a Claire Hassler/Dispatch Staff schools, or to what extent reopening is See SCHOOL DISTRICTS, 5A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 Ouagadougou is the capital of which MEETINGS African nation? June 30: Lowndes County 2 Which actor portrayed Bumblebee’s Board of Supervisors pal Sam Witwicky in the 2007 sum- meeting, 9 a.m., Lowndes mer blockbuster “Transformer”? County Courthouse 3 Which 20th-century U.S. president July 6: Lowndes County wrote a novel titled “The Hornet’s Board of Supervisors Bradley Butler Nest”? 4 Which book, written by philoso- meeting, 9 a.m., Lowndes Third grade, Annunciation pher Adam Smith in 1776, outlines County Courthouse free-market capitalism? July 7: Columbus City High 90 Low 72 5 How many color stripes were in the Council, Municipal Com- Partly sunny, chance of rain Apple logo designed in 1977? plex, 5 p.m., facebook. Answers, 7B Full forecast on com/CityofColumbusMS/ page 3A. July 15: Lowndes County Board of Supervisors meeting, 9 a.m., Lowndes INSIDE County Courthouse Classifieds7B Lifestyles 1B July 21: Columbus City Comics 11,12B Obituaries 2,3B Council, Municipal Com- Crossword 4B Opinions 4A Hazel Owens is a stylist at Jordan’s plex, 5 p.m. facebook. 141ST YEAR, NO. 92 Dear Abby 5B Sports 11,12A Barbershop in Columbus. com/CityofColumbusMS/ DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2020 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com ASK RUFUS Flags and Heritage he 1st Campbell, the flag on display at the Missis- who had 1884-85 World’s Indus- T sippi joined trial and Cotton Centen- Regiment, Tombigbee nial Exposition in New better known Volunteers Orleans. Jefferson Davis as the Missis- in Columbus. wrote her that due to his sippi Rifles The Tombig- health he could not go or Riflemen, bee Volun- and again see the “flag stood fast at teers were that would have revived the Battle of first com- so many conflicting Buena Vista manded by memories.” He further and scaled Capt. Alexan- stated, “I am glad it was the walls of a Rufus Ward der McClung placed on exhibition by Mexican fort and upon his one who bore such near at Monterey promotion relations to my gallant during the Mexican to lieutenant colonel by and dear friend Gen. American War in 1846 Capt. William Rogers. Mott ....” and ‘47. Among the he- The lieutenants were In 1903, both Mrs. roes of the 1st Mississip- William Patterson and Billups and Mrs. Tamplet pi were Lt. Christopher William Townsend. claimed each of their H. “Kit” Mott of Co. I, the The other flag of the flags was the regimental Marshall Guards of Holly 1st Mississippi Riflemen flag of the 1st Mississippi Springs, and Lt. Col. was in the Columbus Regiment. On Febru- Alexander McClung, the home of Mrs. John ary 25, 1903, an article former Captain of Co. K, Billups. Mrs. Billups’ appeared in The Colum- the Tombigbee Volun- first husband had been bus Dispatch discussing teers of Columbus. Christopher Mott. The the flags. An account by At the storming of a Marshall Guards were Mrs. Tamplet with an Mexican fort at Monterey commanded by Capt. illustration of her flag the official report cites Alexander Bradford, then appeared in a 1904 Lt. Col. McClung as the and upon his promotion publication titled “Texas Tell your child a bedtime story. first American “to gain to major by Capt. James Today.” the parapet.” Col. Jeffer- Taylor. The lieutenants See ASK RUFUS, 10A son Davis then wrote, were Christopher Mott, “turning to the regiment Samuel Dill and W.E. (McClung) waved his Epps. sword over his head in During the Civil War that position to cheer his Mott was colonel of the men on to further dan- 19th Mississippi Regi- ger.” Shortly afterward ment and L.Q.C. Lamar McClung was seriously was lieutenant colonel. wounded. Davis also In 1862, Jefferson Davis referred to the gallant authorized Mott’s pro- actions of Lt. Mott. motion to general but he The legacy of those was killed at the Battle of men left a mystery that Williamsburg before the would arise 56 years orders arrived. Lt. Col. later. In 1903, there were Lamar then assumed two flags with a claim command of the regi- to be the celebrated flag ment. of the 1st Mississippi After Mott’s death, Riflemen. One flag had Thaddeus Randolph of made its way from Holly Holly Springs, the former Springs to Columbus, 1st Mississippi Regiment and the other flag had color bearer, presented made its way from Co- the then Mrs.