ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI FREE! C DISPATCH.HECOM TARKVILLE ISPATCH T S HURSDAY ULY D T | J 5, 2018 Starkville increasing water, sewer rates increased water es the variable rate — or the variable rate won’t kick in un- Rate increase to take effect Sept. 1 as city and sewages amount charged for every 1,000 til after the first 1,000 gallons prepares for infrastructure upgrades costs. gallons of both water and sew- have been used. The new struc- age use — from $2.26 to $3.25. The new rates take effect BY ALEX HOLLOWAY Aldermen voted 6-1, with ture, proposed by With the increase, the board Sept. 1 and is expected to gen- [email protected] Ward 6’s Roy A. Perkins op- Ward 2 Alderman also adjusted the base rate to erate an additional $1.7 million posed, to raise rates at Tues- Sandra Sistrunk, include the first 1,000 gallons annually. Starkville is raising water day’s meeting. The board also keeps the month- Perkins of water and sewer. Currently, The city is looking to take and sewer rates and adjusting restructured how Starkville ly base rate for Starkville Utilities charges the on several big infrastructure its rate structure to help fund Utilities charges its base rate water service at $4 and raises base rate for service and the improvement projects. Officials planned infrastructure up- and for additional use to shel- the base sewage service rate variable rate for every 1,000 are looking to replace aging wa- grades. ter low-use customers from from $3.50 to $4. It also rais- gallons. With the change, the See ALDERMEN, 3A WAITING FOR THE BIG BOOM New Hope teen missing since Sunday 16-year-old last seen traveling toward Ethelsville, Alabama D ISPATCH STAFF REPORT Investigators with Lowndes County Sher- iff’s Office are searching for a missing juvenile from New Hope. Donavon Prather, 16, of Prather 90 Beatty Road, hasn’t returned to his home since he left about noon Sun- day, according to a LCSO press Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff release. Prather’s parents re- Antoinette Hathorn holds her two daughters, Sariya, 3, and Niya, 1, while waiting for the fireworks show to start at the Starkville ported him missing. Sportsplex Wednesday. “I want to hear big boom,” Niya said. The girls’ father is Job Hathorn. TOP OF PAGE: Several hundred LCSO investigators re- people attended the Independence Day Celebration at the Starkville Sportsplex Wednesday to watch fireworks and enjoy food leased an email Tuesday with and live music. Prather’s description, ask- ing the public to help look for him. According to the release, Prather was last seen trav- eling in a four-door silver or R ESTAURANT TAX gray Grand Marquise with an unknown white female and a young girl. They were in the Some restaurants still collecting expired sales tax New Hope area driving toward Ethelsville, Alabama. Customers can request refunds; otherwise The couple, who did not “I don’t think we’ll ask for Prather was wearing khaki want to be otherwise identi- a refund,” John said, when shorts with a dolphin print on over-collections go to state general fund fied, were only mildly curi- told their meal included not them and no shirt, the press re- ous, but a review of their re- only the standard 7-percent lease said. BY SLIM SMITH breakfast at McDonald’s on ceipt confirmed it. They were sales tax, but also a 2-percent Anyone with information on [email protected] Highway 45 in Columbus charged 32 cents in sales tax countywide restaurant tax Prather’s whereabouts is asked when they were alerted to the — 9 percent of their $3.58 bill. that had expired Saturday. to contact LCSO or Golden Tri- John and Ana were enjoy- fact that they may have been McDonald’s owed them a Kathy Waterbury, associ- angle Crime Stoppers at 1-800- ing their Independence Day overcharged for their meal. nickel. See RESTAURANT TAX, 6A 530-7151. WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS C ALENDAR LOCAO L F LKS PUB LIC 1 How many miles is a 10K road MEETINGS Today through Saturday July 10: Plan- race? ■ Crawford Cotton Boll Festival: 2 What rises 630 feet above the Mu- ning and Zoning Held in downtown Crawford, this festi- seum of Westward Expansion? Commission, 5:30 val celebrates those who helped make 3 What 1997 David Mamet film takes p.m. cotton a leading industry in the South. its title from the name of a classic July 10: Starkville confidence trick? It features live entertainment, speak- Oktibbeha Con- 4 In which country did women first get ers, a step show, food and more. For Nora Price solidated School the right to vote — Germany, Iceland, information, call 662-272-5164. Second grade, Caledonia New Zealand or the United States? District Board 5 Who wrote the books “Naked” and of Trustees, 6 High 92 Low 72 “Me Talk Pretty One Day”? Thursday, July 12 p.m., Greensboro ■ Sounds of Summer: Stormy Chance of a p.m. t-storm Answers, 6B Center Full forecast on Monday entertains from 7-9 p.m. at July 12: Pecan page 2A. the Columbus Riverwalk in downtown Acres Public Columbus. Bring lawn chairs or blan- Hearing, 5 p.m., kets. No coolers or pets. Concessions Greensboro available for purchase. For more Center INSIDE information, contact Main Street Co- July 13: Board of Classifieds5B Dear Abby 3B lumbus, 662-328-6305, or Columbus Aldermen Work Comics 3B Obituaries 5A Lowndes Chamber of Commerce, Alando Rodgers likes to play bas- Session, noon, Crossword 6B Opinions 4A 662-328-4491. ketball and works at Wendy’s. City Hall DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “I found a vicious rhythm.” Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, who ate a record 74 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes Wednesday to Protester’s climb shuts down win the Nathan’s Famous July Fourth hot dog Statue of Liberty on July 4 Thursday eating contest. Story, 1B. Woman protesting immigration policy held police at bay for four hours A THOUSAND WORDS BY JENNIFER PELTZ Okoumou, told police she AND JAKE PEARSON was protesting the separa- The Associated Press tion of immigrant children from parents who cross NEW YORK — A pro- the U.S.-Mexico border test against U.S. immi- illegally, according to a gration policy forced the federal official who was evacuation of the Statue of briefed on what happened Liberty on the Fourth of but wasn’t authorized to July, with a group unfurl- discuss it and spoke on the ing a banner from the ped- estal and a woman holding condition of anonymity. A police at bay for hours af- message left at a possible ter she climbed the base phone number for Okou- and sat by the statue’s mou wasn’t immediately robes. returned. The woman and at least The climber was among a half-dozen demonstrators about 40 demonstrators who displayed the banner who earlier unfurled a ban- were arrested, while the ner calling for abolishing climb forced thousands of the federal government’s visitors to leave the iconic chief immigration enforce- American symbol on the ment agency, said Jay W. nation’s birthday. Walker, an organizer with About 100 feet abo- Rise and Resist, which ar- veground, the woman en- ranged the demonstration. gaged in a four-hour stand- Walker said the other off with police before two demonstrators had no idea officers climbed up to the the woman would make base and went over to her. the ascent, which wasn’t With the dramatic scene part of the planned protest. unfolding on live televi- “We don’t know wheth- sion, she and the officers er she had this planned edged carefully around the before she ever got to Lib- statue toward a ladder, and erty Island or whether it Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff she climbed down about was a spur-of-the-moment Andy and Laura Greenhaw ride their bikes through downtown Starkville Saturday back to their home after going 25 feet to the monument’s decision,” Walker said. to the Farmers Market and buying tomatoes and bell peppers for “a nice salad,” Laura said. observation point and was Regardless, he said he taken into custody. felt the publicity would The woman, Therese help the group’s cause. CONTACTING THE DISPATCH Government blesses omitting Office hours: Main line: n 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri n 662-328-2424 race from admissions, enrollment HOW DO I ... Email a letter to the editor? n [email protected] Report a missing paper? Administration rescinding Obama-era guidance diversity efforts as before. n 662-328-2424 ext. 100 Report a sports score? The action comes amid a n Toll-free 877-328-2430 n 662-241-5000 meant to promote diversity among students high-profile court fight over Har- n Operators are on duty until vard University admissions that Submit a calendar item? BY ERIC TUCKER has attracted the government’s at- 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. icies, which have repeatedly been n Go to www.cdispatch.com/ The Associated Press challenged before the Supreme tention, as well as Supreme Court Buy an ad? community Court. turnover expected to produce a WASHINGTON — The Trump n 662-328-2424 The Obama administration more critical eye toward schools’ Submit a birth, wedding administration said the govern- or anniversary announce- memos encouraging schools to race-conscious admissions policies. Report a news tip? ment would no longer encourage The court’s most recent signifi- n ment? take race into account were among 662-328-2471 schools to use race as a factor in cant ruling on the subject bolstered n Download forms at www.