Greta Monfee
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ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI C DISPATCH.COM FREE! WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 14, 2019 Wright accused of holding vo-tech post for himself “I said, ‘I need to know something. Because im director meant only to work through December. Meanwhile if y’all do not want me as superintendent ... Wright has attempted to transfer other administrators to different I could appoint myself to the Career Tech campuses, allegedly in an effort to keep the vocational director position and put someone there as an interim.’” post in play. LCSD Superintendent Lynn Wright “(The other applicants) were not looked at because Mr. Wright BY AMANDA LIEN board member Brian Clark called was holding the job for himself if [email protected] out Wright for leaving open the he does not become superinten- position of district level vocational dent,” Clark said at the board ta- LOWNDES COUNTY — director, which oversees LCSD’s ble Tuesday. Amanda Lien/Dispatch Staff Lowndes County School District Career Technology Center, so Wright has served as a publicly Lowndes County School District Board President Robert Barks- Superintendent Lynn Wright is Wright could take the job if he is elected superintendent for almost dale, left, Board Attorney Jeff Smith and Superintendent Lynn looking for job security at Lown- not hired as superintendent at the eight years, with his second four- Wright listen to New Hope Elementary School teachers voice their des County School District one year term expiring Dec. 31. The complaints about the board’s decision to move two administrators end of the year. to previously-held positions. During the meeting, a board member way or the other. Despite 34 candidates apply- Legislature has done away with accused Wright of attempting to hold the vocational director job During a special-call school ing for the vocational director elected county superintendents, open for himself if he isn’t appointed superintendent in December. board meeting Tuesday night, job, it’s been filled by an inter- See WRIGHT, 3A SOCSD, MSU partner ‘Who we are as a state’ for school-to- Meridian’s The MAX celebrates 600 plus Mississippians prison pipeline who made world-famous contributions to the arts BY ISABELLE ALTMAN research [email protected] Jerome Trahan can still remem- ber when students from Carver Study hopes to identify Middle School in Meridian visited issues causing young the new Mississippi Arts and Enter- tainment Experience, also known people to end up as The MAX, in downtown Merid- ian. in prison Some of the students had never been in an interactive museum, eat- BY Tess VRbin en at a downtown restaurant or even [email protected] ridden on an elevator, said Trahan, The MAX’s director of marketing. The Starkville-Ok- The students’ teacher later wrote tibbeha Consolidated to The MAX describing the visit School District will as “life changing” for many of the collaborate with Mis- kids, who were now taking guitar sissippi State Uni- lessons or art classes because they versity to examine were inspired by the arts center, the local impact of which at that time had been open the school-to-prison May less than a year. pipeline by interview- But Trahan remembers one par- ing middle and high ticular girl who introduced herself school students and to him and said: “I just want you to creating a variety of know, I’m going to be on that wall focus groups. one day.” The SOCSD Board She was referring to The MAX’s of Trustees voted Hall of Fame, which features 28 unanimously on Tues- prominent Mississippi artists, mu- day to approve the Burton sicians, writers and dancers known proposed research the world over. project by David May, a sociology “She sees Oprah Winfrey, Char- professor at MSU and recipient of a lie Pride and Tennessee Williams, grant to gather and publish data on William Faulkner and Eudora Wel- the school-to-prison pipeline. May’s ty, and she realizes now that she efforts aim to identify common rea- can be a part of that,” Trahan told sons why young people end up in members of Columbus Rotary Club prison, what schools are doing that during its weekly meeting at Lion could be expediting that process Hills Center Tuesday. “She can be and ways schools can instead stem whatever it is she wants to be. And the problem. Courtesy photo that does my heart good.” The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience (The MAX) in downtown The board approved the district’s The MAX opened Aug. 18, 2018. Meridian features a museum honoring more than 600 Mississippians who participation in the project last year, The arts center hosts a museum made world famous contributions to literature, music and other creative arts. pending May’s receiving the grant. with immersive exhibitions telling At the time, May requested Brandi stories of world-famous Mississip- a church because that’s one of the he wrote for the state’s bicentennial Burton, the district’s grants and in- pians who left a legacy in music, communities that really impacts celebration about a year ago. The novative strategies specialist, as the arts, entertainment and even the Mississippi — it smells like an center also hosts temporary exhibi- liaison between MSU and SOCSD. culinary world. It takes about three- old country church. Sight, sound, tions. In answer to a question from a May will lead focus groups of and-a-half hours to walk through smells, it’s a great experience.” Rotary member, Trahan said as The teachers, school police officers, the museum, and visitors, includ- The MAX also features an am- MAX becomes more well-known administrators and counselors, stu- ing children, can interact with the phitheater that seats up to 1,100, throughout Mississippi, he hopes dents and their parents. They will exhibits. educational centers such as art it can partner with local organiza- later administer a 30-minute survey, “When you step into the kitchen, studios and a new recording stu- tions throughout the state such as with parental consent, to the gener- it sounds like your grandmother’s dio which country and blues singer the Columbus Arts Council for pro- al student populations of Armstrong kitchen,” he said. “When you step Steve Azar recently used to record grams and events. Middle School and Starkville High into the church — and yes we have the song “One Mississippi,” which See THE MAX, 8A School. Past studies of the school-to-pris- See RESEARCH, 3A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS C ALENDAR LOCAO L F LKS PUB LIC Kannawermz. Get tickets MEETINGS 1 What New Orleans chef gave up Friday a scholarship to the New England in Starkville at Book Mart, Aug. 16: Board Conservatory of Music in favor of a through Sunday the Heritage Museum or of Aldermen, culinary career? ■ Sturgis Bike Rally: This The Partnership. For more 5:30 p.m., City 2 What was the name given to the Af- 20th annual motorcycle information, call 662-323- Hall rican-American regiments of the U.S. rally features multiple live 0211. Army that served in the West after the bands, vendors and more ■ Anse Rigby in concert: Madison Sanders Civil War? 3 What is the name of Sherlock in Sturgis in Oktibbeha The Columbus Arts Council Pre-K, West Lowndes Holmes’s arguably smarter brother? County. Armbands are presents the Southern 4 What food does half the world’s $15. Register online at Americana music of High Low population subsist wholly or partly on? msrally.com. singer-songwriter Anse 91 69 5 What skiing term comes from the Partly sunny w/t-storms Rigby at 7 p.m. in the Viennese for “small hill”? Rosenzweig Arts Center Full forecast on Answers, 8B Saturday page 2A. ■ Denim & Diamonds: Omnova Theater, 501 Gene Reid moved to Columbus This Oktibbeha County Main St. CAC member from Birmingham 20 years ago. Heritage Museum benefit tickets $15 advance/$17 He is a contractor doing work INSIDE begins at 6:30 p.m. at at door; non-members on Zachary’s, as well as other Classifieds7B Food 5B the Starkville Country $20 advance/$22 at door. downtown buildings. Shortly after Comics 4B NATS 5A Club. Tickets are $50 and Get tickets at columbu- moving to Columbus, Reid met Crossword 4B Obituaries 4A include a barbecue dinner sarts-org or call 662-328- his wife Denise. They have now Dear Abby 4B Opinions 6A and entertainment by 2787. been married for 17 years. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? ‘Chrisley Knows Best’ stars charged with federal tax evasion Wednesday 12-count Tuesday afternoon said he was with a client and would indictment also have no comment. “Chrisley Knows Best” accuses the pair follows the tight-knit, bois- US homeland security chief: terous family living in the of conspiracy, Nashville area. Much of the series emphasizes Todd Racism is fueling some terrorism bank fraud Chrisley’s obsessive yet co- medic efforts to keep tabs ‘These attacks not only end lives, they also cans, to perform these raids in this and wire fraud on three of his kids, two of community. ICE turned the first whom are in their 20s, and degrade our society and diminish the integrity day of school, a special day that is to BY KATE BRUMBACK his mother. be filled with smiles and happiness, The Associated Press The series has aired of our national values’ into a fearful memory for many of on USA for seven seasons Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin K. McAleenan the children in Mississippi.” ATLANTA — A feder- McAleenan told NBC on Sunday al grand jury in Atlanta on and recently premiered a spinoff called “Growing Up BY EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS Others at the forum described that the timing of the raids was “un- Tuesday indicted reality The Associated Press the threat in similar terms.