ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI C DISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 9, 2015 Gunfire rings Bryant talks Syrian refugees During Columbus stop, out in north gov. addresses refugees, accomplishments Columbus BY ALEX HOLLOWAY [email protected] Police report no injuries in One of Phil Bryant’s top priorities is keeping Mississippians safe. the incident, still searching That’s what the Mississippi gover- nor told the Columbus Rotary Club for suspects and Lowndes County Republican Women on Tuesday during a meeting BY ISABELLE ALTMAN at Lion Hills Center and Golf Course [email protected] after an attendee asked about Syrian refugees being allowed into the state. Officers from the Co- Bryant is one of more than 30 gov- ernors who have said they do not want Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff lumbus Police Department Gov. Phil Bryant, right, speaks with Walt Starr at the Columbus Rotary Club responded to a call about to accept refugees of the Syrian Civ- and Lowndes County Republican Women meeting on Tuesday at Lion Hills gunfire in north Columbus il War in their state in the aftermath Center and Golf Course. of the deadly Nov. 13 Paris terror at- Tuesday. tacks. ugees before allowing them into the Bryant pointed to a November The shooting occurred Bryant said Tuesday he’d received country. incident when eight Syrians were a little after 4:30 p.m. at generally positive feedback on his “We’re all sympathetic Christian stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border as the intersection of Railroad Shelton stance from “average Mississippians.” people,” Bryant said. “But why not a evidence of the need to be wary of Street and Seventh Avenue The governor elaborated on his create a safe zone in Syria and put Syrian refugees. North, according to Interim Police Chief stance, saying he believed the ex- these refugees in it? Give them hous- “(Immigration and Customs En- Fred Shelton. Two shots were fired at a tensive destruction throughout Syria ing and food, put the United States forcement) stopped those, who we green SUV, according to Shelton. would make it very difficult to prop- military to guard it and leave them at fully believe were going to perpetrate See SHOOTING, 3A erly and thoroughly vet Syrian ref- home.” See BRYANT, 8A BRAND NEW TIARA Lowndes sees 38 percent rise in insurance premiums High number of claims in 2015 means rate increase for 2016 BY SLIM SMITH [email protected] A number of large claims will mean a major spike in insurance premiums for Lowndes County, according to Ralph Billingsley, the county administrator. Billingsley was on the agenda for Monday’s Board of Supervi- sors meeting to present a health insurance renewal proposal, Billingsley which goes into effect Jan. 1. The news was not good. Billingsley said 300 employees are current- ly on the county’s insurance plan, with 10 more Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff retirees still on the plan. While the employee India Kerneal, 3, right, looks up at her older sister, Zaire Kerneal, 6, while she puts on her new tiara her mother bought her at Leigh Mall on Saturday. Zaire participated in the Little Miss Christmas Pageant in New Hope before portion of the premiums will remain at $37.16 her mall visit. Zaire and India are the daughters of Tierria and Dematrick Kerneal, of Columbus. per month for most employees, the amount of money the county contributes will rise dra- matically. The county’s payments will go from See INSURANCE, 8A Investments continue to produce dividends for Lowndes INSIDE could take from the fund. As of Monday, investments have grown by 1.5 percent Since 2013, when the BY SLIM SMITH pervisors, who also serve Capital Management and state legislature approved [email protected] as the board for the $30 Renasant Wealth Manage- a measure that allowed million trust fund estab- ment. the county to diversify It won’t be the windfall lished when the county As of Monday, the two its investments through the county enjoyed last sold its hospital in 2001, groups showed a 1.5 per- stocks and bonds, the year, but the Lowndes met for a regular trustees cent return on its 2015 fund original trust fund has County Reserve and Trust meeting Monday. balance of $30,491,031 left produced a total growth of Fund should again turn a almost $3.2 million since The board was given after the county withdrew ■ the board entrusted the IT’S COOKIE TIME!: Fresh recipes profit the county can put an update on its invest- $942,000 in dividends in for the ‘12 Days of Christmas’ and more. to use for 2016 projects. ments from its two invest- February. That translates two investment firms with See FOOD, pages 5-7B. Lowndes County su- ment groups — Stephens into $465,816 the county See DIVIDENDS, 8A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 What was the last year a Republican MEETINGS Today Dec. 11: was elected president without a Nixon ■ Peking Dreams: Mississippi State’s Lyceum Series or a Bush on the ticket? Lowndes County presents one of China’s most distinguished circus troupes 2 What is the medical term for high School District at 7 p.m. in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium on campus. blood pressure? Board of Trust- 3 Who said, “Loneliness and the For ticket information, visit lyceum.msstate.edu or call the feeling of being unwanted is the most Center for Student Activities, 662-325-2930. ees, District Central Office, Ladrienna Williams terrible poverty”? 4 Who was Manfred von Richthofen’s 11 a.m. Third grade, West Lowndes Thursday alter ego? Dec. 14: ■ Festival of Trees: The Columbus-Lowndes Public Library 5 In Hindu mythology, who was the Columbus Mu- High Low god of fire? hosts an open house and Festival of Trees from 4-6 p.m., 64 43 with live music, refreshments and almost two dozen trees nicipal School Partly cloudy Answers, 9B decorated by area groups and businesses. For more infor- District Board Full forecast on mation, contact the library, 662-329-5300. of Trustees, page 2A. Brandon Central Friday through Sunday Offices, 6 p.m. ■ First Christmas: First Baptist Church in Columbus and Dec. 15: INSIDE the Shops at Brickerton present this reenactment of Bethle- Lowndes County hem from 6-8 p.m. each evening at the Shops at Brickerton Supervisors, Classifieds8B Obituaries 4A on Military Road, Columbus. The interactive event is for all Rodney Joiner works at Courthouse,9 136TH YEAR, NO. 132 Comics 7B Opinions 6A ages. For more information, contact FBC, 662-328-3915. The Commercial Dispatch. a.m. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? TV broadcasters try to drum up more campaign ads Wednesday Some 62,462 presidential ads have SALAZAR CELEBRATION A career celebration and going-away party for Haley Salazar appeared on TV already this year at the Lowndes County Courthouse Dec. 3 honored the retir- ing circuit clerk who has served six terms in office. BY JULIE BYKOWICZ Lanzano, chief executive Scene&Seen The Associated Press officer of TVB, as the televi- sion trade group is known. WASHINGTON — Lo- He said their campaign cal broadcast television is aimed at political oper- stations gobbled up almost atives — and the donors $3 billion in political adver- who pay their salaries. tising revenue during the Television viewers, par- 2012 elections. ticularly in the early pres- Four years later, their idential primary states of trade association is greet- Iowa and New Hampshire, ing a new crop of candi- could be forgiven for laugh- dates with a simple mes- ing off the notion that such sage: More, please. a reminder is necessary. The Television Bureau After all, some 62,462 of Advertising on Wednes- presidential ads have ap- day begins a public-rela- peared on broadcast air- tions campaign called “We waves already this year, get voters.” It features according to advertising commercials, a website tracker Kantar Media’s and sponsorship of politi- CMAG. cal events, including one The 2016 hopefuls at next week’s Republican and their related politi- presidential debate in Las cal groups, such as super Vegas. PACs, have plans to spend There’s a backstory, $133 million on broadcast too, a growing worry that TV by the beginning of broadcast television won’t March, CMAG informa- always be king of politics. tion shows. That’s almost Carlos Salazar, Tammy Prescott and Haley Salazar Across the economy, ad triple what’s planned for dollars are shifting from cable television, and it television sets to computer dwarfs ad buys on the ra- and mobile screens. dio and Internet. Not political ads, if Steve By Election Day 2016, Lanzano can help it. when down-ballot races “Our goal is to send a are factored in, political reminder that television spending on local broad- will be the key medium to cast is predicted to reach reaching any voter,” said as much as $3.6 billion. CONTACTING THE DISPATCH Office hours: Main line: n 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri n 662-328-2424 Jennifer Williams and Riley Potts Mary Clark and Irma Jones 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? n Toll-free 877-328-2430 n 662-241-5000 n Operators are on duty until Submit a calendar item? 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 6:30 - n Go to www.cdispatch.com/ 9:30 a.m. Sun. community Buy an ad? Submit a birth, wedding n 662-328-2424 or anniversary announce- Report a news tip? ment? n 662-328-2471 n Download forms at www.