ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI C DISPATCH.COM FREE! WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 10, 2018 Columbus man arrested for Motel 6 murder found 27-year-old son of interest in the shooting. Authorities found suspect squatting in abandoned house Michael Garth CPD officers who found Ma- DISPATCH STAFF REPORT Road, Apt. No. 135, in an aban- Majors is charged with mur- outside the jors were aided by law enforce- building with a ment from Lowndes County doned house in Columbus der. A Columbus man has been gunshot wound. Sheriff’s Office, the combined Tuesday, according to a Colum- Authorities have been Garth died at the drug task force and the U.S. arrested for a fatal shooting bus Police Department press searching for Majors since scene. Marshal’s Service, the press outside Motel 6 last month. release. The release said offi- Dec. 22, the same day as the Later that day, release said. Authorities found and ar- cers believe Majors had been Motel 6 shooting. Shortly after Majors II CPD released CPD Chief Fred Shelton rested Johnathan Lee Majors sleeping in the house several midnight, CPD officers were Majors’ name and mugshot said Majors will likely go be- II, 27, of 300 South Lehmberg days. called to the motel where they and announced he was a per- fore a judge today. Architectural MAKING A MASTERPIECE review recommended for Starkville developments A joint letter to the city calls for a review process to ensure quality designs BY ALEX HOLLOWAY [email protected] The Starkville Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted to support a recommendation for creating an architectural review process for the city. The commission’s decision will go before the board of aldermen as a joint recommendation in part- nership with the Starkville Historic Preservation Commission, which Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff made the same request. Mississippi State University junior Jacamria Gunn paints on a canvas at Splatters during the first Masterpiece Monday event A letter co-authored by Michael in Starkville Monday. “We host paint ’n sip parties for adults, kids painting and on Valentine’s Day we’re hosting a couples Fazio, of the SHPC, and P&Z Chair painting night,” she said. Gunn is a fashion design major from Maben. Michael Brooks notes the need for a review process as Starkville continues to grow. The letter says Starkville is an attractive place for development but that projects often come from outside sources. It fur- ther adds that developmental pres- Camp Pratt sells to adjacent property owner sures, good and bad, will only grow in the future. Camp Henry Pratt to a camps that used Camp Pratt will contin- “New and re-development New owner promises Camp local businessman who ue this year. will have profound effects on the Rising Sun will still use owns property adjacent to “The Y will continue to provide Sum- Starkville landscape during ensu- the 70-acre site in south mer Day Camp and activities for kids,” ing decades, and often there is only property this summer Lowndes County. Boyd said in the press release announc- one chance to see that what is con- Although few details ing the sale. structed is attractive and conforms BY SLIM SMITH of the sale were released The YMCA holds three week-long to the city’s high standards,” the [email protected] and neither YMCA Direc- summer day camps each year and Boyd letter reads. tor Andy Boyd nor new will continue to use the facility for the City Community Development The Frank P. Phillips YMCA an- owner Ron Harper could be reached for camps under the terms of the sale. See DEVELOPMENTS, 3A nounced Tuesday it has agreed to sell comment, it appears the two summer See CAMP PRATT, 8A STATE OF THE STATE Bryant: Mississippi reality different from critics’ view ‘The proverbial critics would have you believe that one is is a reward “It is inhabited with InsiDE for finding caring, hard-working peo- ■ OUR VIEW: The state of the a declining state whose people are suffering mightily’ them.” ple of all races and ages state. Page 6A At the who strive valiantly every BY EMILY unemployment and is im- “The proverbial critics midpoint of day to make this wonder- during the three-month WAGSTER PET TUS proving its public educa- would have you believe his second ful state a better place to legislative session, he will The Associated Press tion system, Republican that one is a declining and final live and raise our chil- offer proposals to reduce JACKSON — Critics Gov. Phil Bryant said state whose people are term as gov- Bryant dren,” Bryant said. government regulations. are painting a negative Tuesday night in a State of suffering mightily,” Bry- ernor, Bry- He said billions of dol- He said he supports ef- picture of Mississippi but the State speech that of- ant said. “They search ant said the state is filled lars have been invested in forts in the Republican-led the state is enjoying low fered a few new proposals. for problems as if there with progress. new jobs. Bryant said that See BRYANT, 8A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS C ALENDAR LOCAO L F LKS PUB LIC MEETINGS 1 Who once reigned over the largest empire in Thursday Europe since Ancient Rome and ended his life Jan. 12: Board ■ Preserving Family Photographs: The Columbus imprisoned in exile? of Aldermen 2 Who wrote “Deceptively Delicious,” a cook- Lowndes Public Library hosts this workshop with Kim Du work session, 1 book about sneaking vegetables into kids’ Boise from 9 a.m.-noon at the library, 314 Seventh St. N. p.m., City Hall food? Bring up to three family photos, negatives or films for eval- 3 IKEA’s ban of plastic bags at its stores is es- Jan. 15: Board uation. Free; limited seating. Register at 662-329-5300 timated to eliminate how many sacks annually of Supervisors, Emmalyn Tracey —15, 30 or 70 million? or email [email protected] by Jan. 5. 4 In what educational computer game do 5:30 p.m., Ok- Second grade, Caledonia players try to avoid dysentery while traveling tibbeha County in a covered wagon halfway across the United Thursday through Sunday Courthouse States? ■ Jan. 16: Board High 64 Low 42 5 What Mexican city is home to Sammy Mississippi Theatre Festival and Convention: Mis- Chance of rain Hagar’s cantina? sissippi University for Women hosts this statewide festival of Aldermen, Full forecast on Answers, 8B for community theater and high school theater produc- 5:30 p.m., City page 2A. tions, many of which are open to the public. K-12 students Hall may attend free Theatre for Youth Festival performances INSIDE Jan. 12 at Cook Elementary School (contact Sherri Maren- Classifieds7B Obituaries 4A go at [email protected]). Community theater Comics 4B Opinions 6A productions Jan. 12-13 at MUW are open to the public. Misty Monroe is the Crossword 8B NATS 7A Tickets at the door are $25 for all 15 productions, $15 for administrative assis- Dear Abby 4B Scene & Seen 2A all productions on one day, and $5 for a block of plays. tant for the Starkville Food 4B See full schedule at mta-online.org or call 601-201-9564. Area Arts Council. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? Bannon to exit Breitbart News Network after break with Trump Wednesday BY ZEKE MILLER that “he lost his mind” AND JONATHAN LEMIRE when he was pushed out The Associated Press of the White House last ROCKIN’ AT THE RITZ August. WASHINGTON — For- “Rockin’ at The Ritz” in West Point Dec. 29 kicked off area The president was livid celebrations on New Year’s Eve weekend. mer White House chief about Bannon’s remarks Scene&Seen strategist Steve Bannon — not just at the insults is stepping down as chair- about his family, but also man of Breitbart News at his former strategist’s Network after a public apparent intent to take break with President Don- credit for Trump’s elec- ald Trump. Breitbart announced tion victory and political Tuesday that Bannon movement, according to a would step down as ex- White House official and ecutive chairman of the two outside advisers not conservative news site, authorized to speak pub- less than a week after Ban- licly about internal conver- non’s explosive criticisms sations. of Trump and his family After days of silence were published in a new amid withering criticism book. from his former colleagues A report on the Breitba- and his largest benefac- rt website quotes Bannon tor, Bannon tried to make saying, “I’m proud of what amends. He issued a state- the Breitbart team has ac- ment Sunday praising the complished in so short a president’s eldest son, period of time in building Donald Trump Jr., whom out a world-class news he was quoted accusing platform.” of treasonous behavior in Trump lashed out at the book. Bannon did not Bannon for comments apologize for his criticism made in Michael Wolff’s of the president’s daugh- “Fire and Fury: Inside ter and son-in-law, Ivanka Peggy and Grady Davis, Judy and Wayne Ray, Glen Brown the Trump White House,” Trump and Jared Kush- which questions the presi- ner, with whom he had dent’s fitness for office. As squabbled inside the West Trump aides called him Wing. disloyal and disgraceful, Bannon’s departure the president branded his from Breitbart came as a former chief strategist on shock to some of his allies. Twitter as “Sloppy Steve,” One said Bannon was tell- an apparent reference to ing people as recently as Bannon’s often unkempt Monday that he expected appearance, and declared to stay on.