ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI C DISPATCH.COM FREE! FRIDAY | MARCH 30, 2018 GROWING THE CHOIR Kelly Price/MSU Athletic Media Relations Mississippi State’s women’s basketball team huddles up during a practice in the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, in preparation for its Final Four match-up against Louisville. The Bulldogs will face the Cardinals at 6 p.m. for a shot to return to the national title game. From a small group of Bulldog believers to sellout crowds, women’s basketball sees boom in fan support MSU faces Louisville tonight for berth in national title game From left, Tommy and BDMY A A MINICHINO Terri Nusz, Brad Brad- [email protected] way, David Hunt, and former Mississippi COLUMBUS, Ohio — It didn’t take long for Tommy State women’s bas- Nusz to get to know Vic Schaefer. ketball coach Sharon Asked by then Mississippi State Director of Athletics Fanning-Otis and her husband, Larry Otis, are Scott Stricklin to meet Schaefer, Nusz spent about half part of a group of core of the free time at the August Road Dawgs Tour stop fans that has traveled to in 2012 in Houston, Texas, talking to Vic and his wife, follow the MSU women’s Holly. basketball team since “He is clearly passionate. He is infectious,” Nusz said. coach Vic Schaefer was “He is very persuasive.” hired in 2012. They Nusz said Schaefer communicated his vision for the will cheer the team on tonight against Louisville MSU women’s basketball program and outlined what in the national semifi- he needed to help the program reach the highest level. nals in Columbus, Ohio. USee MS , 6A Adam Minichino/Dispatch Staff Davis sole Hickman hearing reveals phone ‘threat’ applicant for T ermination proceeding for ex-CMSD school board post superintendent concludes today BY SLIM SMITH highlighted Thursday’s BY ALEX HOllOWay [email protected] [email protected] opening day of Hickman’s termination hearing at A recording of a tele- Starkville alder- Brandon Central Ser- phone call in which the men should be in vices. for an easy decision attorney for the Columbus The CMSD board of Tuesday when they Municipal School District trustees fired Hickman on vote to fill former said then-school super- Feb. 23. Hickman request- school board trustee intendent Philip Hick- ed a termination hearing, Melissa Luckett’s va- man threatened a board which began Thursday cant post. member with a lawsuit if and resumed at 8 a.m. to- Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff Davis Philip Hickman, right, talks with his attorney, Jeff Rime, during a Sumner Davis is the board member didn’t day. Starkville attorney hearing to appeal his termination as district superintendent at Bran- the only person who applied for the vote to extend Hickman’s Dolton McAlpin is con- don Central Services Thursday morning. The Columbus Municipal See SOCSD, 3A employment contract See HICKMAN, 6A School District board fired Hickman on Feb. 23. WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS C ALENDAR LOCAO L F LKS PUB LIC MEETINGS 1 What country does runner Caster Semen- Today through Sunday, ya — whose gender was a matter of great April 2: Board of controversy in 2009 — represent? March 30-31, April 1 Supervisors, 9 2 Where did Hilary Clinton erroneously ■ Living Pictures: An Easter a.m., Oktibbeha claim to have landed under sniper fire? tradition, Fairview Baptist Church’s County Court- 3 What “Saturday Night Live” character Living Pictures combines music house says, “Well isn’t that special?” and drama in this presentation at 4 What former Democratic vice-presidential April 3: Board of Bella Adams 6:30 p.m. at the church at 127 candidate gave a pro-McCain speech at the Aldermen, 5:30 Kindergarten, Caledonia Airline Road, Columbus. Free to the 2008 Republican National Convention? p.m., City Hall 5 What does the abbreviation LCD stand public. April 10: Plan- High Low for, as with a television? 66 40 ning and Zoning Partly sunny Answers, 8B Saturday, March 31 Commission, 5:30 Full forecast on ■ McKee Park Egg Hunt: A p.m., City Hall page 2A. community Easter Egg Hunt April 10: begins at 11 a.m. at McKee Park INSIDE in Starkville, across from the Starkville-Oktibbe- Sportsplex on Lynn Lane. Prizes, ha Consolidated Classifieds 8B Obituaries 5A candy, free food; sponsored by Life Bobbi Redmond works at School District Comics 6B Opinions 4A Church. For more information, go Happy Start Learning Center board, 6 p.m., Crossword 7B Religion 7B to lifechurchms.com or call 662- and enjoys going to church with Greensboro Dear Abby 6B 684-9099. family and friends. Center DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “Our concern is whether President Trump was more interested in picking a secretary who would be politically loyal ...” Barr, President Trump revel Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, on President Donald Trump’s selection of his White together in ‘Roseanne’ success Friday House doctor to run the Department of Veterans Affairs. Story, 5A. ABC’s sitcom brought Trump to reality TV in “The Apprentice,” reboot drew an for breaking the good news about “Roseanne.” A THOUSAND WORDS estimated 18.4 He said ‘Donald, I called just to say hello million viewers and to tell you did you BY LYNN ELBER see Roseanne’s ratings?’ The Associated Press I said, ‘Mark, How big were they?’” Trump re- LOS ANGELES — counted. Roseanne Barr is reveling “And it was about us,” in Donald Trump’s sup- the president continued. port for her returning sit- “They haven’t figured it com’s impressive debut, out, the fake news hasn’t which the president says quite figured it out yet. was a cultural and politi- ... But they will and when cal breakthrough. they do they’ll become “It was a thrill to get a congratulatory phone much less fake.” call from The President The White House con- of The United States of firmed the Wednesday America,” Barr tweeted night phone call from Thursday, two days after Trump to Barr. They did ABC’s “Roseanne” reboot not say if Trump had drew an estimated 18.4 watched the show. million viewers. The updated sitcom In the updated “Rose- starring Barr and her anne,” Barr’s support for original co-stars returned Trump is shared by her more than two decades af- character. For the pres- ter the first one ended its ident, it’s a rare bright hit run. The hour-long de- spot among the major TV but episode was watched series, award ceremonies by 10 percent more view- and late-night shows that ers than saw the May regularly skewer him. Trump seized on its 1997 finale of ABC’s origi- Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff ratings during a speech nal “Roseanne.” Barr said Trump was Tanner McKee crouches as catcher in a pretend baseball game with Cade Waltmon, both 11, outside the Thursday in Richfield, baseball field while Starkville Academy played against Heritage Academy Tuesday. “We play JV baseball and I Ohio, that was to be about happy for her. She said, love coming to watch my brother, Cam, play. He’s a senior,” Tanner said. Tanner is the son of Cathy and Steve infrastructure but hop- “I’ve known him for many McKee. Cade is the son of Ron and Amanda Waltmon. scotched through other years and he’s done a lot topics. He credited pro- of nice things for me over ducer Mark Burnett, who the years.” CONTACTING THE DISPATCH Officers face discipline for poor Office hours: Main line: n 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri n 662-328-2424 HOW DO I ... Email a letter to the editor? tactics in deadly shooting n [email protected] Report a missing paper? and training,” Stamper said. n Report a sports score? Experts: Bloodshed could have been avoided if 662-328-2424 ext. 100 Federal authorities consulted n n 662-241-5000 Toll-free 877-328-2430 two independent experts who con- n Baton Rouge officers had done more to defuse Operators are on duty until Submit a calendar item? cluded the Baton Rouge officers, 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. n Go to www.cdispatch.com/ the encounter with Alton Sterling Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II, Buy an ad? community employed poor tactics. One of them BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Sterling’s death fits a tragic pat- said “tactical problems” may have n 662-328-2424 Submit a birth, wedding The Associated Press tern of “utterly preventable” police escalated the situation. However, Report a news tip? or anniversary announce- shootings and reinforces an urgent ment? those use-of-force experts ultimate- n 662-328-2471 BATON ROUGE, La. — The in- need for sweeping cultural chang- n Download forms at www. vestigation of a deadly police shoot- ly concluded that the officers used n [email protected] es in law enforcement training and cdispatch.com.lifestyles ing that inflamed racial tensions in “reasonable” force against Ster- procedures, said former Seattle po- Louisiana’s capital city has ended ling, according to a report released lice Chief Norm Stamper, author of Tuesday by Louisiana Attorney Physical address: 516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39701 without criminal charges against two white officers who confronted the 2016 book “Protect And Serve: General Jeff Landry. Mailing address: P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703-0511 a black man outside a convenience How To Fix America’s Police.” The Landry ruled out charges against fatal shooting of an unarmed black the two officers nearly 11 months Starkville Office: 101 S.