BROWNING ON BUSINESS Inside, See page 4A ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI C DISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY THURSDAY | MARCH 19, 2015 Former Airbus exec. running for Congress tion to replace the late Rep. Alan Nunnelee, Adcock joining field of hopefuls who died in February. BY ZACK PLAIR “Airbus offered me an opportunity to take a [email protected] leave of absence, but I decided resigning was more appropriate,” Adcock said. “This is not Sam Adcock An aerospace businessman of 19 years, an adventure. This is not a lark. I’m in this race announces Sam Adcock of Columbus quit his job Tues- to win.” his intentions to run for day. Adcock said that in 2001 he led a delegation Congress Adcock, the former general manager and that helped bring an American Eurocopter during a vice president for Airbus Helicopters’ Missis- (now Airbus) to the Golden Triangle, locating press confer- sippi operations, announced his resignation next to GTRA at the Lowndes County Indus- ence held at during a press event at Golden Triangle Re- trial Park. Since then, more than 800 aircraft the Golden gional Airport so he can run for Mississippi’s have been assembled, repaired or replaced at Triangle Re- the local Airbus facility, and more than 340 gional Airport vacant U.S. representative seat for Mississip- on Wednes- pi’s First Congressional District. He plans to Lakota aircraft from the facility have been de- day. join a field of hopefuls in a May 12 special elec- See ADCOCK, 8A Mark Wilson/Dispatch Staff A NICE RIDE Turner appeals DEC decision to remove him from ballot Candidacy issue now goes to circuit court BY ZACK PLAIR [email protected] Would-be District 5 supervisor candidate Marty Turner is ap- pealing the Lowndes County Democratic Executive Commit- tee’s decision to ex- Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff clude him from the Turner Kyle Conner takes his wife, Elaine, and their dog, Sophia, on a Sunday drive in their 1929 Model A Roadster. They stopped Aug. 4 primary ballot. at the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam to look over the water and enjoy the warm afternoon. Turner filed hisINSIDE appeal with Lowndes ■ OUR VIEW: County Circuit Court Hearing lead- on Wednesday. Cir- ing to Turner’s cuit Clerk Haley Sala- removal from ballot stinks. zar said her office Page 6A. Golden Triangle sales tax rises would notify the chief justice of the Missis- Columbus, Starkville see substantial growth Starkville saw record sales tax rev- sippi Supreme Court of the appeal, enue in March, receiving $460,872. and he would assign a circuit judge BY ZACK PLAIR eral sales tax in March, up $53,601 That’s up $23,727, or just more than to hear the case. [email protected] (roughly 8 percent) from the same 5 percent, from March 2014. The city The DEC ruled during executive month last year. The city also received received $142,777 from its restaurant session not to certify Turner — who Two of the Golden Triangle’s three $130,930 from its restaurant tax, up sales tax, up $22,025 from last March; now serves as Ward 4 Columbus city largest cities saw increases in sales tax $16,728 from March 2014; and $18,236 and $23,780 from its hotel/motel tax, councilman — for the ballot, follow- revenue received in March. from its motel tax, up $4,800 from last up $12,940 from March 2014. ing a hearing Tuesday where Turner Columbus received $685,351 in gen- March’s total. See SALES TAX, 3A See TURNER, 3A ‘Mississippi Idols’ give advice for burgeoning musicians her music career. blessed to have been a the show’s atmosphere Barker, Middleton talk about their “I had a great experi- part of that and to have and being around the experiences on American Idol ence,” Barker said in a learned as much as I did.” judges all day. phone interview with The Barker’s rendition of “Getting to be around BY ISABELLE ALTMAN in Hollywood, California, Dispatch. “There was so Tanya Tucker’s “Delta Keith Urban and Harry much to gain from that Dawn” earned her a tick- Connick Jr. and Jennifer [email protected] on the hit reality show, and just experience expo- et to Hollywood in Janu- Lopez and Ryan Seacrest and Qassim Middleton’s It has been a good year sure, friendship, connec- ary. She later performed — I would say that that Barker Middleton for native Mississippians performances are still tions that I made. You’re “Butterfly Fly Away” by was the best part of the on American Idol. capturing the enthusiasm make it as far on Idol as there in the midst of the Miley Cyrus for judges in experience — feeling like Amory local Priscilla of audiences and judges she would have liked, she big time and there’s noth- Los Angeles, California. that was a normal day, Barker made it to the first alike. said the whole experi- ing less that you can take The best thing about the every day,” she said. round of performances Though Barker did not ence was important in from that. I’m just really experience, she said, was See IDOL, 8A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC MEETINGS 1 What is the world’s largest country? Today: LCSD Bond Info Friday, March 20 Meeting, West Lowndes High 2 What does legend say started the ■ Golden Gala: The Columbus Arts Coun- great Chicago fire of 1871? School, 6 p.m. 3 What book does each girl receive cil’s 50th anniversary Golden Gala begins at March 17: Columbus City as a Christmas present at the start of 6 p.m. at the Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Council, Municipal Complex, “Little Women”? Main St. Call for ticket availability ($50) 5 p.m. 4 What Aussie animal can be Com- to this event that includes cocktails, hors March 17: Columbus High mon, Northern Hairy-Nosed or South- Chloe Artz d’oeuvres, dinner, live music, and silent and School Parents Meeting on ern Hairy-Nosed? live auctions. Contact the CAC, 662-328- Fourth grade, Col. Christian 5 How many squares are there on a New Principal, CHS cafete- Scrabble board? 2787 Tuesdays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ria, 5 p.m. High Low March 19: CMSD Town Hall 72 56 Answers, 7B Meeting on “Pathways” pro- Mostly cloudy, chance rain Saturday, March 21 gram, Townsend Community Full forecast on ■ African-American treasures: A page 2A. reception opening the prestigious “African Center, 6 p.m. American Treasures from the Kinsey Collec- March 24: CMSD Town tion” begins at 6 p.m. in the Grisham Room Hall Meeting on “Pathways” of Mississippi State’s Mitchell Memorial program, Brandon Central INSIDE Library. (Bernard Kinsey speaks March 22 Office, 6 p.m. at 3 p.m. in Lee Hall to offer insight into the March 26: LCSD Bond Info Classifieds6B Obituaries 5A exhibit.) Call 662-325-6634 for information, Jaiden Randle lives in Meeting, Caledonia High 136TH YEAR, NO. 7 Comics 4B Opinions 4A or email library.msstate.edu/Kinsey. Columbus. School, 6 p.m. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “It was hard for me to sleep. I was a little excited and just thinking about everything that happened.” Ole Miss’ M.J. Rhett, who had a career-high 20 points in a 94-90 come-from-behind victory against Thursday BYU on Tuesday. Story, 1B. A THOUSAND WORDS AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File In this 2014 file photo, Donald Trump speaks in Des Moines, Iowa. Trump announced plans Wednesday to form a presidential exploratory committee. Trump launching presidential exploratory committee ‘I am the only one who can make America truly great again’ BY STEVE PEOPLES House bid. Trump said The Associated Press he’s already hired political aides in Iowa, New Hamp- WASHINGTON — shire and South Carolina, Donald Trump announced which host the first three plans Wednesday to form contests on the presiden- a presidential exploratory tial nominating calendar. committee. “I have a great love “I am the only one who for our country, but it is a can make America truly country that is in serious great again,” the Republi- trouble,” Trump said in a can businessman and real- wide-ranging statement ity television star declared that called for rebuilding in a statement announcing the nation’s infrastructure, the move. improving border security, While a step short of a strengthening the military formal campaign launch, and improving the econo- the formation of an explor- my. “Americans deserve atory allows him to begin better than what they get raising money and hire from their politicians who staff as he weighs a White are all talk and no action.” CONTACTING THE DISPATCH Office hours: Main line: n 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri n 662-328-2424 HOW DO I ... 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