ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY THURSDAY | APRIL 20, 2017 Ex-girlfriend: Man confessed to murder Taylor, 29, break-in were all arrested for you also have someone who is Joshua Taylor’s trial in the killing of Reform, Ala- the crime later that month deceased because of a decision of a teen in New Hope continues today bama, is accused after Cox talked to investiga- that (Taylor) made.” of breaking into tors with the Lowndes County Cox was one of seven wit- a home on Har- Sheriff’s Office. At the time, nesses during the prosecu- BY ISABELLE ALTMAN told her he shot the New Hope rison Road early investigators had several other tion’s case Wednesday, in- [email protected] teen. the morning of men unconnected with Taylor That’s what Cox told a jury May 20, 2011, in custody for the shooting. cluding 31-year-old Brandon A few days after 19-year-old in Lowndes County Circuit and shooting Taylor “I loved him,” Cox said of Brown, one of four other peo- William Stallings was shot and Court Wednesday during Tay- Stallings while the victim was Taylor during her testimony ple with Taylor the night of the killed in Lowndes County in lor’s capital murder trial. If asleep on a couch. Taylor and Wednesday. “And I knew it was murder. The state will contin- 2011, Alabama resident Lacee convicted, Taylor faces the four other men who were al- over, but you also have three ue calling witnesses today. Cox’s boyfriend Joshua Taylor death penalty or life in prison. legedly with him during the people that was locked up and See TRIAL, 3A HONORING INDUSTRY SLIMANTICS Challenger tragedy and the man who tried to prevent it Engineer discusses 1986 tragedy with MSU engineering students STARKVILLE — At the be- ginning of his lecture Wednesday evening in the Foster Ballroom at the Colvard Student Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff Union on Raj Shaunak, vice president of the MTE Division of East Mississippi Community College, speaks during the 28th annual Mississip- Industry Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday. The luncheon recognized industries in the Golden Triangle for their contribu- pi State’s tions to the economy and local communities over the last year. Steel Dynamics earned Industry of the Year honors. campus, Allan McDonald had some Slim Smith difficulty with his power-point presentation. Oktibbeha considers GPS trackers for road equipment “Why can’t I get this to work?” he muttered. “It’s not rocket sci- 2 supervisors argue purchase would help work efficiency; ing a quote from the ence.” Starkville-based Securi- For most, it would have been an another concerned about employee morale ty Solutions for 25 units off-hand comment. For McDonald, at a monthly $25 per-unit it was a line that filled the ballroom BY CARL SMITH hicles to May after supervisors raised rate. The total cost — with laughter. [email protected] questions Monday about employees’ less than 10 cents each After all, McDonald was a rock- productivity and how such a tracking day for an individual unit et scientist, and in that capacity Oktibbeha County punted a decision system would affect morale. per month — includes in- Miller he played a dramatic role in one of on placing Global Positioning System Supervisors began discussing stallation, setup services the nation’s most heart-wrenching (GPS) trackers in road department ve- the pending purchase after receiv- See GPS TRACKERS, 3A tragedies — the explosion that took the lives of seven crew mem- bers, including America’s first “Teacher in Space” — when the space shuttle Challenger disinte- grated 73 seconds into its launch on Jan. 28, 1986. Since then, many have told the story. But no one tells it the way McDonald does. No one can. SPECIAL At the time of the tragedy, Mc- TREE Donald worked for Morton Thiokol HOUSE: Thaxton as project director for the rocket Stone, 4, booster program. Morton Thiokol, climbs in the based in Utah, had the contract to tree house provide the boosters NASA used to his dad built launch its shuttles into orbit. at his home McDonald’s lecture was pre- in New Hope sented by the Bagley College of on Wednes- Engineering, and the audience of day. Thaxton about 250 was made up primarily is the son of Shawn and of young engineering students, Callie Stone. none of whom were alive at the Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff See SLIMANTICS, 8A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 In which year of the 1960s did Bob MEETINGS Today April 28: Lown- Dylan “go electric”? ■ Tomato time: Sign up for the Lowndes County 2 In which decade of the 20th century des County Board Extension Office’s third annual Tomato Battle (or just did the Irish Free State become a of Supervisors, come to learn) at this free half-hour tomato-growing republic? 9 a.m. Lowndes 3 In Hugh Lofting’s novels, what was seminar at 6:30 p.m. at 485 Tom Rose Road. Toma- County Courthouse the name of Dr. Dolittle’s parrot? to plants will be distributed to anyone interested in May 1: Lowndes Madison Boykin 4 Which class of reptiles secretes the participating in the Battle ($5 contest entry). Open to poison bufotoxin? County Board of Second grade, New Hope the public. For more information, call 662-328-2111. 5 Which sport is governed by the Fed- Supervisors, 9 eration Aeronautique Internationale, a.m., Lowndes High Low holding its first World Championships Today through Saturday 87 61 in 1951? County Courthouse Mostly sunny ■ “The Taming of the Shrew”: Mississippi Universi- May 2: Columbus Full forecast on ty for Women Department of Theatre and Blue Line Answers, 8B City Council, 5 page 2A. Shakespeare present this Shakespearean comedy at 7:30 p.m. in Cromwell Theatre on campus. Tickets p.m., Municipal are $10 at the door; $5 for students. Complex INSIDE ■ “The Crucible”: Theatre MSU and the Department May 15: Lowndes Business 4A Dear Abby 6B of Communication present “The Crucible” by Arthur County Board of Classifieds7B Obituaries 5A Miller at 7:30 p.m. in McComas Theatre on campus. Supervisors, 9 Comics 6B Opinions 6A Tickets are $10 at the door, or in advance at comm. Madyson Crawley likes a.m., Lowndes 138TH YEAR, NO. 35 Crossword 8B msstate.edu/theatre/. to read. County Courthouse DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “The M over S means a lot more to me than the script A.” Fox News Channel dismisses Mississippi State outfielder Jake Mangum. Story, 1B. O’Reilly, its biggest star Thursday ‘It is tremendously O’Reilly, who continued to deny any wrongdoing disheartening in a statement hours after A THOUSAND WORDS he was fired. Dozens of that we part ways his show’s advertisers fled within days, even though due to completely O’Reilly’s viewership in- creased. unfounded claims’ O’Reilly’s exit came Bill O’Reilly, in a nine months after his for- statement to his viewers mer boss, Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, was ousted BY DAVID BAUDER AP Television Writer following allegations of sexual harassment. NEW YORK — Fox Following the Times News Channel’s parent story, 21st Century Fox company fired Bill O’Reil- said it had asked the same ly on Wednesday follow- law firm that investigated ing an investigation into Ailes to look into O’Reil- harassment allegations, ly’s behavior. 21st Century bringing a stunning end Fox leaders Rupert Mur- to cable news’ most popu- doch and his sons Lachlan lar program and one that and James said in a memo came to define the brava- to Fox staff that their de- do of his network over 20 cision to ax O’Reilly came years. following an “extensive re- O’Reilly lost his job on view” into the charges. the same day he was pho- “I understand how diffi- tographed in Rome shak- cult this has been for many ing the hand of Pope Fran- of you,” Rupert Murdoch cis. By the evening, “The said in a memo to Fox staff. O’Reilly Factor” no longer O’Reilly, denied a bore his name, simply ti- chance to say goodbye to tled “The Factor.” his Fox viewers, did so via The downfall of Fox’s a statement. most popular — and most “It is tremendously dis- lucrative — personality be- heartening that we part gan with an April 1 report ways due to completely un- in The New York Times founded claims,” he said. that five women had been “But that is the unfortu- paid a total of $13 million nate reality that many of us to keep quiet about dis- in the public eye must live turbing encounters with with today.” CONTACTING THE DISPATCH Office hours: Main line: n 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri n 662-328-2424 Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff HOW DO I ... Email a letter to the editor? Justyce Baldwin, 9, and Malik Baldwin, 7, play at their home on 19th Street South in Columbus on Monday. n [email protected] Justyce is the daughter of Shawuala and James Baldwin. Malik is the son of Rochelle Shelton and Marcus Baldwin. 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