ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 75 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY THURSDAY | MARCH 7, 2019 Lawrence: Damage assessments to be completed Friday the tornado dam- at the Trotter, even if they or relocate after-school programs Officials update each other on current age. Only once their property were not harmed held at the Columbus Success needs in wake of flooding, Feb. 23 tornado there’s been a during the flooding or tornado. Academy, which was partially number attached Every report received will help destroyed by the tornado, for the BY AMANDA LIEN Wednesday, Columbus Lowndes to both flooding MEMA decide what amount of next two years while the school [email protected] County Emergency Manage- and the storm can funding to request from the fed- building, formerly Hunt High ment Agency Director Cindy Columbus and eral government. School, is repaired. Just how much monetary Lowndes County Columbus Municipal School Columbus Light and Water Lawrence said the Mississippi Lawrence damage a Feb. 23 tornado and Emergency Management Agen- officials request District Superintendent Che- general manager Todd Gale said days of flooding caused is still cy will likely not complete dam- state and federal funding to aid rie Labat said the spring break the CLW has removed meters being determined as city, coun- age assessments until Friday. with clean-up. programs typically held at Sim from 87 homes that have either ty and state officials continue to While a flooding assessment has Lawrence asked officialsScott Park will be relocated to been destroyed or so damaged coordinate recovery and assess- been completed, she said EMA present at the meeting to con- the Townsend Community Cen- that they cannot receive elec- ment efforts. won’t know how much it cost un- tinue to encourage residents to ter. She added the district is tricity. CLW workers are still in At a meeting of public officials til it’s combined with the costs of report their needs to volunteers currently looking for spaces to See DAMAGE, 3A Starkville mayor, aldermen ‘A lot of hand-holding’ talk annexation Caledonia Elementary SPED students partner with public at with 4th graders in Challenge of Champions Lunch and Learn Spruill: Annexation will help turn Starkville into the ‘star’ of the Golden Triangle BY AleX HOllOWAY [email protected] A Lunch and Learn session, host- ed by the Greater Starkville Develop- ment Partnership, of- fered a chance for city officials to discuss annexation with res- idents as Starkville Spruill continues work on an annexation ordinance. Mayor Lynn Spruill gave a pre- sentation — the same that consul- tant Mike Slaughter, who has been working with the city since it began its annexation study, presented to al- dermen in early February — during the Lunch and Learn. The presentation touched on a va- Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff Caledonia Elementary School fourth graders Aaron Dorsey and Kalynn Gonzales help kindergarten special ed- riety of topics, from how Starkville’s ucation student Micha Elgersman toss beanbags into buckets at the “Challenge of Champions” field day in the population will change to the num- school’s gym Wednesday. The event, organized by Junior Auxiliary of Columbus, saw fourth graders buddy up with ber and type of housing units in the the school’s special education students and help them complete field day activities. proposed annexation area, to the number of street lights needed for BY ISabelle ALTman the new area and how much sales [email protected] and ad valorem taxes it’s expected to generate. At Caledonia Elementary School The new area, which has been on Wednesday, 19 students in the split into two study areas, extends school’s special education depart- east along the Highway 12 and 182 ment became champions. corridor to Highway 82 and Clayton The students, who ranged in age Village. It also extends south on the from pre-K to fifth grade, got to par- east side of Mississippi State Univer- ticipate in their own field day, called sity’s campus to San Marcos Drive. the Challenge of Champions, in a Should the city move ahead with fun-filled morning of bean bag toss- approving the annexation ordinance, es, relay races and obstacle courses, which Spruill said she hopes will be all rounded out with a dance party. ready to go to the board in April, the While the activities were fun for new area will add 3.1 square miles the kids, SPED teacher Lindsay and increase the city’s population, Kerstetter said, what they liked based on 2010 census figures, from more was partnering up with one of 25,106 people to 27,146. CES’s fourth grade classes, along Spruill, who’s supported the an- with cheerleaders from Caledonia’s nexation since the city began seek- other schools and athletes from Mis- ing it, said she views the population sissippi University for Women, all of Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff growth as particularly important in Evan Ballard, a fourth grader at Caledonia Elementary School, Christian whom worked with the children and Self, a pre-school student in CES’ special education program, Kalynn an effort to turn Starkville into the helped them complete the activities. Gonzales, another fourth grader, and Heidi Matthews, a senior softball “star” of the Golden Triangle. “All of our students have been player at Mississippi University for Women, all participate in a hula hoop “Any growth, in my opinion, is a See CHAMPIONS, 6A activity during the “Challenge of Champions” field day at CES Wednesday. positive thing,” Spruill said. “Our neighbors are contracting. Colum- See ANNEXATION, 3A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 Hyannis, Massachusetts, is home MEETINGS Today through Saturday Today: Colum- to the compound of what political ■ Music by Women Festival: Perfor- dynasty? bus Municipal mances, lecture recitals, papers and 2 In the 1997 re-release of “Return of School District the Jedi,” what actor replaced Sebas- presentations on music composed, tian Shaw in the final scene? taught and performed by women Board regular 3 Who was the first African-American highlight this third annual event at meeting, 4 p.m., Arthur Dawson U.S. Secretary of State? Mississippi University for Women’s Brandon Central 4 What animal does Christopher Fourth grade, Heritage Poindexter Hall. For more information, Services Robin call a heffalump in “Winnie-the- March 18: Co- Pooh”? email [email protected]. lumbus-Lowndes High 58 Low 49 5 What former Surgeon General is a spokesperson for the company known Friday Convention and Partly sunny, chance p.m. rain for the phrase, “I’ve fallen and I can’t Visitors Bureau Full forecast on ■ Exhibit reception: A free reception get up!”? Board regular page 2A. Answers, 6B from 5:30-7 p.m. opens a combined show: “tomboyART Collective” by meeting, 4 p.m., Yolande van Heerden, and “Functional CVB office INSIDE Mud,” a pottery exhibit by Three Oaks March 15: Business 5B Dear Abby 4B Pottery at the Columbus Arts Council’s Lowndes County Classifieds6B Obituaries 5A Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main Joseph David hopes the weath- Supervisors, 9 Comics 4B Opinions 4A St. Lukuise Swanigan will fabric art in er will get warmer soon because a.m., County 139TH YEAR, NO. 203 Crossword 6B Artist Alley. Free to the public. he’s tired of wearing gloves. Courthouse DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? R. Kelly in jail over child support; TV interview to resume Thursday Embattled singer told a judge he could not pay $161,000 in back child support MSBA DAY AT THE CAPITOL BY TAMMY WEBBER could backfire if it gives AND DON BABWIN prosecutors more informa- The Associated Press tion to use against him at trial. That’s why most de- CHICAGO — R. Kelly’s fense attorneys urge clients day began with a nation- to keep quiet. ally televised broadcast in “In my history as a pros- which he whispered, cried ecutor, I loved it when a de- and ranted while pleading fendant would say things or with viewers to believe him: make comments about his He’d never had sex with or her defense,” said Illinois anyone under 17 and nev- Appellate Judge Joseph Bir- er held anyone against her kett, who said he did not will. watch the Kelly interview The day ended with a trip and was speaking only as a to jail after the embattled former prosecutor. “I would R&B singer told a judge he document every word they could not pay $161,000 in said ... (and) I could give back child support he owes you example after exam- his children’s mother. ple where their statements Kelly no doubt hoped backfired.” the raw interview aired A spokeswoman for the Wednesday on “CBS This Cook County Sheriff’s Of- Morning” would help sway fice said Kelly would not be public opinion about the released from jail until he charges filed last month pays the full child-support that accuse him of sexual- debt. His next hearing was ly abusing three girls and scheduled for March 13. a woman. The interview After his Feb. 22 ar- was his first public defense rest in Chicago, Kelly since being charged and spent a weekend in jail be- the first time he addressed fore someone posted his allegations in the Lifetime $100,000 bail. His defense series “Surviving R. Kelly,” attorney said at the time which aired in January. The that Kelly’s finances were documentary alleged that “a mess.” he held women captive and CBS said it interviewed ran a “sex cult.” Kelly for 80 minutes. More But experts said his ap- of the interview is expected pearance was also risky and to air Thursday.