ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI C DISPATCH.COM FREE! FRIDAY | JULY 1, 2016 Couple arrested for sexual abuse of children the same address, and charged Wilber Shepard was ar- Three children taken into protective custody her with rape and accessory af- raigned in court Tuesday and BY ISABELLE ALTMAN Wilber Shepard, 42, of 7371 ter the fact. his bond set at $1.2 million. Three children are in protec- Both Shepards are being held [email protected] Palestine Road in Pheba, and tive custody in relation to these in the Clay County Detention charged him with 10 counts of A Clay County couple has arrests, said Sheriff Eddie Center. been arrested on charges relat- sexual battery of a child and Scott. They will be questioned Investigators ask anyone ed to the sexual abuse of chil- two counts of rape of a child. by experts in child psychology with information about the case dren. On Wednesday, the depart- who will present a report with to contact CCSD at 662-494- On June 24, Clay County ment arrested Shepard’s wife, more details of the alleged 2896 or Golden Triangle Crime sheriff’s deputies arrested 35-year-old Tammy Shepard of crimes to the CCSD, he added. Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151. T. Shepard W. Shepard COLUMBUS, SCHOOLS SPAR DURING BUDGET MEETING Starkville honored at MML conference Wiseman: ‘It’s a great opportunity to spread the good news about the great things happening in our community’ DISPATCH STAFF REPORT The Missis- sippi Municipal League honored Starkville with the overall Municipal Excellence Award Mary Alice Truitt/Dispatch Staff at its 85th annual Columbus Mayor Robert Smith speaks during a public budget hearing held at Brandon Central Services Thursday evening. conference in Bi- loxi this week. Wiseman BY ALEX HOLLOWAY The city submitted its award [email protected] ‘I feel like a second class citizen the way I’ve been application under the economic development category, May- Tension occasionally punctuated a treated here today, along with the other citizens’ or Parker Wiseman said, but was chosen as the conference’s three-hour school board meeting that, Columbus Mayor Robert Smith at one point, featured Mayor Robert overall winner. Specifically, the Smith saying he felt Starkville’s award application session as city officials aimed pointed said the district had between $4 million he was being treated focused on the public-private INSIDE questions at the school district. and $5 million. partnership with developer like a “second class ■ CMSD BUDGET: City officials complained about the Smith asked the board if Holmes Mark Castleberry to construct citizen.” Columbus Munci- pal School District meeting’s procedure, which required didn’t know how much money CMSD The Mill at MSU conference The Columbus to tap reserves any citizens with questions to submit has in reserves, and Holmes fired back. center. Municipal School rather than raise them written on a piece of paper, rather “The fund balance number changes “It was a tremendous honor District board of taxes. PAGE 8A than freely asking questions while at the every day based on bills we’re paying, to be recognized with the award trustees hosted microphone. checks we’re cutting, monies we’re re- in front of our peers,” Wiseman a public hearing “I feel like a second class citizen the ceiving—those all are captured as a part said. “The conference has 3,000 Thursday evening to way I’ve been treated here today, along of the fund balance,” she said. attendees, who are elected offi- present the school district’s proposed with the other citizens,” Smith said. “We’re not inept,” she later added. cials and municipal government budget for Fiscal Year 2017. The board At one point, Smith asked how much “We’re not incompetent. We understand staff members. It’s a great op- will meet again on July 8 to consider money CMSD has in its fund balance as what a fund balance is. I want to make portunity to spread the good adopting the budget. of Thursday. CMSD Business Adminis- that clear, because when you’re attack- news about the great things The meeting grew contentious at trator Tammie Holmes, saying she did ing the credibility of me being knowl- happening in our community.” times during a question-and-answer not want to give an incorrect number, See MEETING, 3A See AWARD, 3A Judge blocks Miss. law on objections to gay marriage Federal judge says law is ‘the state’s attempt and history of the law show it is State attorneys are expect- mined at birth and cannot be “the state’s attempt to put LGBT ed to appeal his ruling, which altered. to put LGBT citizens back in their place’ citizens back in their place” in came overnight in response to It would allow clerks to cite response to last summer’s Su- two lawsuits filed weeks ago by religious objections to recuse BY EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS it was set to take effect Friday, preme Court ruling that legal- gay and straight plaintiffs. themselves from issuing mar- The Associated Press ruling it unconstitutionally es- ized gay marriage nationwide. The law sought to protect riage licenses to same-sex cou- tablishes preferred beliefs and “In physics, every action has three beliefs: That marriage is ples, and would protect mer- JACKSON — A federal judge creates unequal treatment for its equal and opposite reaction,” only between a man and a wom- chants who refuse services to blocked a Mississippi law on gay people. Reeves wrote. “In politics, ev- an; that sex should only take lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans- religious objections to same- U.S. District Judge Carlton ery action has its predictable place in such a marriage; and gender people. It could affect sex marriage moments before Reeves wrote that the title, text overreaction.” that a person’s gender is deter- See HB 1523, 8A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR INDEPENDENCE PUBLIC 1 What was the first submarine to DAY CLOSINGS MEETINGS Today July 5: Starkville sink an enemy warship? ■ Fireworks on the Water: Visit Columbus and Co- The following 2 In what country did the basset businesses will be Board of Alder- lumbus Air Force Base present this free Independence men, City Hall, hound originate? closed in observance of 3 In “Shaun of the Dead,” what is the Day celebration at the Stennis Lock and Dam East 5:30 p.m. Independence Day. name of Shaun’s girlfriend? Bank in Columbus from 5-10 p.m. Nashville recording July 11: Oktibbe- 4 Who is the only player to be named artist Danika Portz and Swing Shift entertain. Chil- ha County Board ■ Members First Community Damian Brooks Super Bowl MVP on the losing team? dren’s activities and fun on inflatables also precede a of Supervisors, 5 In poetry, how many lines, tradition- Fifth grade, West Lowndes major fireworks show choreographed to music. Food Credit Union county court- ally, make up a villanelle? ■ Lowndes County Clerk’s and drink vendors will be on site. Bring lawn chairs and house, 9 a.m. Answers, 8B blankets. office July 12: High 93 Low 64 ■ Columbus Light and Water Starkville-Oktib- Mostly sunny Monday ■ 4-County Electric beha Consolidat- Full forecast on ■ The Golden Triangle De- ed School Dis- ■ Plantation Pointe Fireworks: Plantation Pointe Re- page 2A. velopment Link trict, Greensboro tirement Community in east Columbus presents a fire- Center, 6 p.m. works display at dark, weather permitting. Free parking ■ Special notice: Golden is available on the grounds. Lawn chairs welcome; no Triangle Waste Services will INSIDE glass containers. Plantation Pointe is located just east be delayed a day. of Highway 82 East, between Highway 50 and Lehm- ■ The Dispatch will not have Classifieds 7B Obituaries 4A berg Road. For more information about the fireworks a paper Monday. Operations Comics 5B Opinions 6A show, contact Jan McCafferty, 662-241-0001. will resume Tuesday. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “I definitely think from a progression standpoint because she is getting a lot better every year.” MSU track and field coach Houston Franks, talking about distance run- Here come the virtual reality ner Marta Freitas, who finished second in the 1,500 meters to qualify Olympics ... for Samsung users Friday for the 2016 Rio Olympics. She will represent Portugal. Story, 1B. NBC says it will provide 85 hours of virtual reality programming during A THOUSAND WORDS the Rio Olympics in August BY MAE ANDERSON headsets, which can be AP Technology Writer pricey. Still, coverage is grow- NEW YORK — Ath- ing. In May, NBC broad- letes in Rio will compete cast the Kentucky Derby to be the fastest sprinter in 360 video. The NBA and highest jumper at the has broadcast some of its Olympics this August. But games in virtual reality, there’s another test un- and Fox Sports broadcast derway as well: How well VR streams from the U.S. can virtual reality capture Open at Oakmont in June. sporting events? Gary Zenkel, President, NBC says it will provide NBC Olympics, said Rio 85 hours of virtual reality will be a showcase for the programming during the “cutting-edge” technology. Rio Olympics in August The Olympics video, — though only to users which will be presented on of Samsung Galaxy smart- delay during the games, phones and the Samsung will include opening and Gear VR headset. It’s the closing ceremonies, men’s first time Olympics pro- basketball, gymnastics, gramming will be available and track-and-field events. in VR. Other virtualized sports Virtual reality coverage will include beach volley- of sports, essentially 360 ball, diving, boxing and video, has been growing fencing.