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    The death of a loved one is the 2,000 pound specter that sits in everyone's room. It is everyone's worst nightmare. Sharon Applewhite has lived the nightmare, shifting from shock to disbelief to numbness. She is both a troubled mother and a victims' advocate.

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    The death of a loved one is the 2,000 pound specter that sits in everyone's room. It is everyone's worst nightmare. Sharon Applewhite has lived the nightmare, shifting from shock to disbelief to numbness. She is both a troubled mother and a victims' advocate.

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    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    459 views24 pages

    RS 082912final

    Uploaded by

    rspublishing
    The death of a loved one is the 2,000 pound specter that sits in everyone's room. It is everyone's worst nightmare. Sharon Applewhite has lived the nightmare, shifting from shock to disbelief to numbness. She is both a troubled mother and a victims' advocate.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 24

    eal

    toRy
    THE
    ALWAYS THE TRUTH... NO COMPROMISE
    S
    R
    50
    SPORTS
    TALK
    PAGES 21 - 22
    a weekly publication Volume 1 Issue 30 realstorypublishing.com August 29, 2012
    Don t Mi ss An Issue. . .
    Subscri be Today!
    Sharon Applewhite: A Mother Faces Te Reality
    Of Her Daughters Untimely Death - Page 2
    Sharon Applewhite: A Mother Faces Te Reality
    Of Her Daughters Untimely Death - Page 2
    Mullen Must Deliver In 2012 -
    Page 21
    Te death of a loved one is
    the 2,000 pound specter that sits in
    everyones room and hovers in the
    psyche of all humanity. Tough no
    one really wants to talk about it; it is
    there, ever-present and looming, like
    a bad dream or scary tale. It is every-
    ones worst nightmare. Unfortunately
    for Sharon Applewhite, it has become
    her reality.
    Ever since the death of her
    daughter, Alida Nelson, at the age
    of 30, Ms. Applewhite has lived the
    nightmare, shifing from shock to
    disbelief to numbness. Her voice
    trembles as she talks about Alida.
    She is both a troubled mother and a
    victims advocate.
    Showing a range of emotions,
    Ms. Applewhite sat down with Te
    Real Story and discussed the pain,
    sorrow and concerns she has felt
    over the past seven years. Discuss-
    ing the fact that her daughters death
    has been tainted by the possibility of
    suicide, Sharon stands by her convic-
    tion that her daughter would not have
    committed such an act.
    Remembering the facts of that
    day, May 25, 2005, Ms. Applewhite
    spoke carefully, Alida had had a
    wreck in her new vehicle, the insur-
    ance estimator came to do an esti-
    mate, and I was trying to call her on
    her cell phone. She never answered.
    Te rest of Ms. Applewhites day
    became a search for her daughter.
    She lived right behind me, Sharon
    continued. We had become close
    over the past six or seven years afer
    she came back home (to Lowndes
    County.) Ms. Applewhites heart
    dropped at the thought of losing her
    daughter afer experiencing a rebirth
    of their relationship. Te pain of such
    an untimely ending to a renewed rela-
    tionship was apparent in her voice.
    What follows is Ms. Applewhites
    recollection of the events surround-
    ing her daughters death. Because this
    is an active case, some details have
    been modifed to ensure the case will
    not be compromised. Tese details
    will be placed in parenthesis.
    I got a call from (an acquain-
    tance of Alida) saying he had her
    phone, stated Ms. Applewhite. He
    was saying that she had lef it on his
    desk. Tis was around 10 a.m.
    Tis is around 3 (p.m.) some-
    thing. I found out she had lef a note
    on the seat of (her acquaintances) car.
    I am not sure if it was her writing,
    Ms. Applewhite stressed. She lef her
    children at the day care, but there was
    no call saying she would be late.
    With sadness and refection,
    Sharon moved on, Tis went on for
    two days.
    During the conversation, Ms.
    Applewhite did not paint a picture
    of the perfect daughter. She knew
    that Alida had problems and did not
    sugar-coat these facts. Lowndes
    County Investigator Greg Wright had
    a notice out for her [Alida] for steal-
    ing money from the humane society,
    Ms. Applewhite stated. However, she
    stood frm in her conviction that her
    daughter had not committed suicide.
    On a Friday, a church mem-
    ber heard the scanner and told me
    they had found the body, continued
    Ms. Applewhite. We met with Greg
    Wright, and we learned that the body
    was burned in a van.
    Ms. Applewhite remains con-
    vinced that her daughter did not
    commit suicide even if that prospect
    was brought forth. I do not feel
    that the case was investigated to its
    fullest. [Some aspects of this case
    are not being released because it is an
    active investigation.]
    Chief Deputy
    Marc Miley reiter-
    ated to Te Real
    Story that this
    case has not been
    closed, and that he
    would be unable to
    give further infor-
    mation on the case.
    Tis is standard
    operating proce-
    dure in cases of this
    magnitude. Chief
    Deputy Miley,
    however, did ofer
    his support to the
    family and indi-
    cated that he would
    be willing to meet
    with them at their
    convenience.
    Te untimely
    death of a loved
    one is one of the
    most shattering
    moments a person
    can experience.
    Law enforcement
    ofcials are aware
    that whether it is a
    suicide, a murder or a trafc accident,
    the family of the deceased will sufer
    trauma. Te victims family will be
    forever altered and scarred. It is not a
    question of if; it is only a question of
    to what degree.
    For many people, the death of a
    loved one will be the defning event in
    their familys existence. It will forever
    alter the relatives perception of real-
    ity. It will be a day that never dies. It
    is a continued cycle of sufering. It is a
    place where closure never occurs.
    Sharon Applewhite lives in this
    world every day a victim of sufer-
    ing she did not create, a mother who
    grieves for her child, not out of self-
    ishness, but out of love. She doesnt
    think her daughter was perfect; she
    just needs closure. She needs to know
    what happened on May 25, 2005. She
    needs answers. Answers that every
    mother would want.
    She needs to know what hap-
    pened to her daughter. Its that plain
    and simple.
    Anyone who has information on
    this case is encouraged to call Crime
    Stoppers at (662) 494-0109.
    Joseph B. St. John
    2

    editorsnote
    by Joseph B. St. John
    Editor-in-Chief
    Sharon Applewhite: A Mother Faces the
    Reality of Her Daughters Untimely Death
    contributors
    Joseph B. St. John is the Editor-in-Chief
    and Publisher. You can reach him at
    jbstjohn@realstorypublishing.com. He is
    a man who understands that everything
    that appears bad is not bad and every-
    thing that appears good is not good.
    Melinda Dufe is a certifed personal
    trainer, with additional expertise in
    nutrition counseling and life coaching as
    well as a bachelors degree in business.
    E-mail reaches her at mvpft@yahoo.com
    Meagan M. ONan is a trained and ex-
    perienced life coach, award-winning au-
    thor of the book, Creating Your Heaven
    on Earth, blogger, poet and supporter
    of the underdog. She has a life coaching
    practice in Columbus. Meaganonan.org
    Clare Mallory,L.Ac.,M.Ac.,holds a
    masters degree in Acupuncture and
    Oriental Medicine. She is the owner of
    North Mississippi Acupuncture in Co-
    lumbus. Visit her website at
    www.claremallory.com
    Whit Harrington is a Marine Corps
    veteran who has a bachelors degree in
    English (creative writing) from Texas
    State University. He enjoys reading and
    has been a working drummer for the
    past eight years.
    Brenda Minor is the Sales Manager at
    Te Real Story. Please contact her for
    more information on ad rates and sales.
    brenda@realstorypublishing.com A
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    p
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    3
    contents
    21
    Mullen Must Deliver In 2012
    10
    Caledonia Mayor George
    Gerhart and Ed Furnari
    13
    Cries of Stella! To Echo
    Troughout Downtown Co-
    lumbus
    15
    99 Words: A Fun Ride
    regular features
    2 .................. Editors Note
    4 ............................ Politics
    6 ................... Ask Meagan
    7 . Points For Your Health
    10 ........... Financial Focus
    11 ................. Community
    14 ................. Perspectives
    15 ... Portrait of the Artist
    15 .... Culturally Speaking
    16 ......................... Recipes
    20 .................... Crossword
    23 .................... Classifeds
    About the Cover
    real story reader
    \r(-)l str- r-dr\
    noun
    1. intelligent
    2. educated
    3. community oriented
    Sharon Applewhite, holding a priceless
    picture of her daughter.
    Photography by Renee Reedy.
    r
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    4
    politics
    EDITORIAL
    EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
    JOSEPH B. ST. JOHN
    stjohnjb@realstorypublishing.com
    SPORTS WRITER
    JEREMIAH SHORT
    jshort@realstorypublishing.com
    FEATURE COLUMNISTS
    RON PARLATO
    rparlato@realstorypublishing.com
    KATE SPENCER
    kate@realstorypublishing.com
    MEAGAN M. ONAN
    meagan@realstorypublishing.com
    EMILY GAITHER SMITH
    emilygsmith@gmail.com
    CLARE MALLORY
    clare@realstorypublishing.com
    MELINDA DUFFIE
    melinda@realstorypublishing.com
    WRITERS
    WHIT HARRINGTON
    PAIGE CANIDA-GREENE
    ABIGAIL HATHORN
    RYAN MUNSON
    ABBY MALMSTROM
    GUEST FEATURE WRITER
    DICK MAHONEY
    dmahoney@realstorypublishing.com
    ART & PRODUCTION
    ART/LAYOUT DIRECTOR
    RENEE REEDY
    renee@realstorypublishing.com
    PHOTOGRAPHERS
    MARTIN HOWARD
    RICK MANNING
    RENEE REEDY
    ADVERTISING
    SALES MANAGER
    BRENDA MINOR
    brenda@realstorypublishing.com
    662.251.1839
    DISTRIBUTION & CUSTOMER SERVICE
    Amelia McPherson
    amelia@realstorypublishing.com
    PUBLISHER
    JOSEPH B. ST. JOHN
    CONTACT US:
    ads@realstorypublishing.com
    info@realstorypublishing.com
    letters@realstorypublishing.com
    classieds@realstorypublishing.com
    subscriptions@realstorypublishing.com
    THE REAL STORY
    P. O. Box 403
    Columbus, MS 39703
    Editorial 662.497.2914
    Advertising 662.251.1839
    Check for daily updates online:
    http://realstorypublishing.com
    Facebook.com/rspublishing
    __________
    Dont miss an issue!
    SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
    $19.95 for 6 Months
    $34.95 for 12 Months
    Dont Miss An Issue...
    Subscribe Online!
    Or send your payment and
    address information to:
    P.O. Box 403
    Columbus, MS 39703
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    Clay County Supervisors Conduct E cient and Professional Meeting
    Te approach to the agenda for
    the Clay County Board of Supervisors
    last Tursday, Aug. 23, was e cient
    and professional, as Chancery Clerk
    Amy Berry oered up the items on
    the agenda.
    As the board unanimously
    passed the frst several items, Tax
    Assessor Paige Lamkin requested an
    increase in the mail fee from one dol-
    lar to two dollars for the new tags that
    will be available in October. Right
    now, we charge a dollar for the mail
    fee for those who want it mailed to
    them. When we get the new tags it
    will cost us $1.50 to mail them, so I
    want to make sure that were able to
    cover all of our costs, said Lamkin.
    Te board unanimously approved the
    request.
    Berry inquired about where
    funds would come from for money
    due on a mobile home tax refund. At
    the last board meeting I had asked for
    a refund for a mobile home, and they
    had already paid their 2012 taxes. At
    this point theres not enough settle-
    ment money, and as of September
    1, 2012 all mobile homes will be in
    the collection, so hopefully by then
    we will be generating more [money].
    Tey do need to be refunded because
    well get that money in January 2013,
    and they paid in January 2012. Were
    trying to get that refunded, that I [the
    county] do not have funds for.
    We can do one of two things,
    responded Lamkin. Either you can
    settle it from mobile home money to
    the general fund for prior settlements,
    or vote to have it refunded to these
    people.
    I talked to Mr. Adam Daven-
    port of 4-County Electric, and he
    assured me that every mobile home
    that comes through there that need
    lights turned on are coming through
    our o ce. He assured me that no
    lights were getting turned on without
    their registration fee, said Berry ac-
    counting for the funds for the county.
    Supervisor Luke Lummus advised
    Berry to discuss the issue further with
    Lamkin.
    Although most government
    entities are guilty of a sluggish pace
    in resolving issues that come before
    them, the Clay County Board of Su-
    pervisors approved everything on the
    agenda without delay and adjourned
    in under an hour.
    By Whit Harrington
    Lets establish this from the
    beginning: this is not a previously
    published article describing what
    occurred at some long-past meet-
    ing of the Columbus Convention &
    Visitors Bureau Board of Directors.
    It would be better for all us if it were.
    As tempting as it might be to simply
    re-print an old article, this account
    is actually about the August 20, 2012
    CCVB Board meeting.
    It all started innocently enough
    or so it seemed on the surface.
    Board President DeWitt Hicks and
    CCVB Executive Director Nancy
    Carpenter lavished praise on outgo-
    ing board member George Swales and
    even presented him with a scrap-
    book of sorts. Huh? What? By now,
    youre probably thinking, Didnt
    Swales submit his resignation from
    the board at the end of July? Well
    yes, folks indeed he did.
    You may remember that Swales
    submitted a letter of resignation,
    which we published, to the Lowndes
    County Board of Supervisors (who
    appointed him) on Tursday, July 26.
    Tis letter stated, such resignation
    to be eective on August 15, 2012 or
    on the appointment of a successor
    whichever comes frst.
    Tus, it no doubt came as a sur-
    prise to some when Swales showed up
    at the meeting, took a seat and began
    to participate in votes. Our research
    has led us to conclude that even some
    board members were caught o guard
    by Swales continued involvement in
    board matters.
    Here is the twist. Upon review-
    ing a copy of the minutes of the
    Lowndes County Board of Super-
    visors July 31, 2012 meeting, we
    discovered that the Supervisors had
    voted to accept Swales resignation,
    but that the resignation was to take
    eectSept. 4, 2012. Tats why Swales
    was able to participate in this most
    recent meeting of the CCVB Board.
    While all of this is within the
    letter of the law, it still smacks of the
    shenanigans for which the CCVB
    Board has, sadly, become known.
    Although it is not the medias
    role to be the CCVBs PR frm, here
    is a little unsolicited advice: If you
    (the Board) were more forthcoming
    with what you are doing, the public,
    including the media, would not be
    lef to speculate as to what goes on
    behind the scenes.
    Another matter that consumed
    a good portion of the meeting was
    a discussion of the incident that
    occurred at the regular July meet-
    ing, wherein then-President George
    Swales informed the media that
    they could not sit in the board room
    because moving chairs into the board
    room would scratch up the foor. If
    this matter were not so serious, that
    justifcation would be laughable. In-
    terestingly, the concern over the con-
    dition of the fooring was short-lived,
    as the CCVB allowed a high school
    reunion to be held at their o ces
    less than two weeks afer the crudely
    handled ejection of the media.
    During the CEO Report, which
    always comes at the end of the
    agenda, a motion was made to spend
    approximately $10,000 to purchase
    audio/video equipment that would
    allow the board members to be seen
    and heard in both the board room
    and the adjacent reception area. Dur-
    ing the discussion over this appropri-
    ation, Board member Harvey Myrick
    asked, We are not going to try to
    exclude the media from this room
    even afer we get this equipment?
    Both Hicks and Carpenter replied,
    No. No.
    In between these matters, the
    meeting was rife with the non-stop
    bickering for which the board has
    become known.
    Although regular attendees at
    CCVB meetings may have become
    jaded over the antics that take place,
    one frst-time visitor was heard to ex-
    claim, Well, that was an eye-opener!
    If you only knew the half of it!
    Dj vu All Over Again: The August 20, 2012 CCVB
    BoardMeeting
    The Real Story Staff Report
    4
    politics
    EDITORIAL
    EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
    JOSEPH B. ST. JOHN
    stjohnjb@realstorypublishing.com
    SPORTS WRITER
    JEREMIAH SHORT
    jshort@realstorypublishing.com
    FEATURE COLUMNISTS
    RON PARLATO
    rparlato@realstorypublishing.com
    KATE SPENCER
    kate@realstorypublishing.com
    MEAGAN M. ONAN
    meagan@realstorypublishing.com
    EMILY GAITHER SMITH
    emilygsmith@gmail.com
    CLARE MALLORY
    clare@realstorypublishing.com
    MELINDA DUFFIE
    melinda@realstorypublishing.com
    WRITERS
    WHIT HARRINGTON
    PAIGE CANIDA-GREENE
    ABIGAIL HATHORN
    RYAN MUNSON
    ABBY MALMSTROM
    GUEST FEATURE WRITER
    DICK MAHONEY
    dmahoney@realstorypublishing.com
    ART & PRODUCTION
    ART/LAYOUT DIRECTOR
    RENEE REEDY
    renee@realstorypublishing.com
    PHOTOGRAPHERS
    MARTIN HOWARD
    RICK MANNING
    RENEE REEDY
    ADVERTISING
    SALES MANAGER
    BRENDA MINOR
    brenda@realstorypublishing.com
    662.251.1839
    DISTRIBUTION & CUSTOMER SERVICE
    Amelia McPherson
    amelia@realstorypublishing.com
    PUBLISHER
    JOSEPH B. ST. JOHN
    CONTACT US:
    ads@realstorypublishing.com
    info@realstorypublishing.com
    letters@realstorypublishing.com
    classieds@realstorypublishing.com
    subscriptions@realstorypublishing.com
    THE REAL STORY
    P. O. Box 403
    Columbus, MS 39703
    Editorial 662.497.2914
    Advertising 662.251.1839
    Check for daily updates online:
    http://realstorypublishing.com
    Facebook.com/rspublishing
    __________
    Dont miss an issue!
    SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
    $19.95 for 6 Months
    $34.95 for 12 Months
    Dont Miss An Issue...
    Subscribe Online!
    Or send your payment and
    address information to:
    P.O. Box 403
    Columbus, MS 39703
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    t
    i
    o
    n
    Clay County Supervisors Conduct E cient and Professional Meeting
    Te approach to the agenda for
    the Clay County Board of Supervisors
    last Tursday, Aug. 23, was e cient
    and professional, as Chancery Clerk
    Amy Berry oered up the items on
    the agenda.
    As the board unanimously
    passed the frst several items, Tax
    Assessor Paige Lamkin requested an
    increase in the mail fee from one dol-
    lar to two dollars for the new tags that
    will be available in October. Right
    now, we charge a dollar for the mail
    fee for those who want it mailed to
    them. When we get the new tags it
    will cost us $1.50 to mail them, so I
    want to make sure that were able to
    cover all of our costs, said Lamkin.
    Te board unanimously approved the
    request.
    Berry inquired about where
    funds would come from for money
    due on a mobile home tax refund. At
    the last board meeting I had asked for
    a refund for a mobile home, and they
    had already paid their 2012 taxes. At
    this point theres not enough settle-
    ment money, and as of September
    1, 2012 all mobile homes will be in
    the collection, so hopefully by then
    we will be generating more [money].
    Tey do need to be refunded because
    well get that money in January 2013,
    and they paid in January 2012. Were
    trying to get that refunded, that I [the
    county] do not have funds for.
    We can do one of two things,
    responded Lamkin. Either you can
    settle it from mobile home money to
    the general fund for prior settlements,
    or vote to have it refunded to these
    people.
    I talked to Mr. Adam Daven-
    port of 4-County Electric, and he
    assured me that every mobile home
    that comes through there that need
    lights turned on are coming through
    our o ce. He assured me that no
    lights were getting turned on without
    their registration fee, said Berry ac-
    counting for the funds for the county.
    Supervisor Luke Lummus advised
    Berry to discuss the issue further with
    Lamkin.
    Although most government
    entities are guilty of a sluggish pace
    in resolving issues that come before
    them, the Clay County Board of Su-
    pervisors approved everything on the
    agenda without delay and adjourned
    in under an hour.
    By Whit Harrington
    Lets establish this from the
    beginning: this is not a previously
    published article describing what
    occurred at some long-past meet-
    ing of the Columbus Convention &
    Visitors Bureau Board of Directors.
    It would be better for all us if it were.
    As tempting as it might be to simply
    re-print an old article, this account
    is actually about the August 20, 2012
    CCVB Board meeting.
    It all started innocently enough
    or so it seemed on the surface.
    Board President DeWitt Hicks and
    CCVB Executive Director Nancy
    Carpenter lavished praise on outgo-
    ing board member George Swales and
    even presented him with a scrap-
    book of sorts. Huh? What? By now,
    youre probably thinking, Didnt
    Swales submit his resignation from
    the board at the end of July? Well
    yes, folks indeed he did.
    You may remember that Swales
    submitted a letter of resignation,
    which we published, to the Lowndes
    County Board of Supervisors (who
    appointed him) on Tursday, July 26.
    Tis letter stated, such resignation
    to be eective on August 15, 2012 or
    on the appointment of a successor
    whichever comes frst.
    Tus, it no doubt came as a sur-
    prise to some when Swales showed up
    at the meeting, took a seat and began
    to participate in votes. Our research
    has led us to conclude that even some
    board members were caught o guard
    by Swales continued involvement in
    board matters.
    Here is the twist. Upon review-
    ing a copy of the minutes of the
    Lowndes County Board of Super-
    visors July 31, 2012 meeting, we
    discovered that the Supervisors had
    voted to accept Swales resignation,
    but that the resignation was to take
    eectSept. 4, 2012. Tats why Swales
    was able to participate in this most
    recent meeting of the CCVB Board.
    While all of this is within the
    letter of the law, it still smacks of the
    shenanigans for which the CCVB
    Board has, sadly, become known.
    Although it is not the medias
    role to be the CCVBs PR frm, here
    is a little unsolicited advice: If you
    (the Board) were more forthcoming
    with what you are doing, the public,
    including the media, would not be
    lef to speculate as to what goes on
    behind the scenes.
    Another matter that consumed
    a good portion of the meeting was
    a discussion of the incident that
    occurred at the regular July meet-
    ing, wherein then-President George
    Swales informed the media that
    they could not sit in the board room
    because moving chairs into the board
    room would scratch up the foor. If
    this matter were not so serious, that
    justifcation would be laughable. In-
    terestingly, the concern over the con-
    dition of the fooring was short-lived,
    as the CCVB allowed a high school
    reunion to be held at their o ces
    less than two weeks afer the crudely
    handled ejection of the media.
    During the CEO Report, which
    always comes at the end of the
    agenda, a motion was made to spend
    approximately $10,000 to purchase
    audio/video equipment that would
    allow the board members to be seen
    and heard in both the board room
    and the adjacent reception area. Dur-
    ing the discussion over this appropri-
    ation, Board member Harvey Myrick
    asked, We are not going to try to
    exclude the media from this room
    even afer we get this equipment?
    Both Hicks and Carpenter replied,
    No. No.
    In between these matters, the
    meeting was rife with the non-stop
    bickering for which the board has
    become known.
    Although regular attendees at
    CCVB meetings may have become
    jaded over the antics that take place,
    one frst-time visitor was heard to ex-
    claim, Well, that was an eye-opener!
    If you only knew the half of it!
    Dj vu All Over Again: The August 20, 2012 CCVB
    BoardMeeting
    The Real Story Staff Report
    5

    politics
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    City Council Raises Garbage Fees, Makes Cuts
    By Whit Harrington
    Although the Mayor and City
    Council were reluctant to increase
    taxes or fees of residents of Colum-
    bus or to agree to previous spending
    proposals, they had no other choice
    last Wednesday, August 22, in their
    attempt to balance the budget of fscal
    year 2012-13.
    In regard to the over-budget
    soccer complex and the $52,000 in
    additional funds needed from the
    city, Councilman Bill Gavin asked,
    Where are we supposed to come up
    with this money?
    I cant tell you where to fnd
    it, but I can tell you for that for 15
    months weve been watching the
    construction of this facility, and
    everybody has known for 15 months
    what was coming, and I dont think
    anybody expected us, when this $5
    Million project was completed, to
    throw up our hands and say How are
    you going to maintain it? ofered
    Director of CLRA Roger Short.
    Te county came up with $4.2
    million. We should defnitely be able
    to come up with our share, inter-
    jected Mayor Robert Smith. Tis
    is a commitment we made, and we
    have to honor it. Short needs $52,000
    from the city, but he said he could
    come up with $20,000. Tis would
    leave the city in the position of mak-
    ing enough cuts to come up with
    $32,000.
    Lowndes County Administrator
    Ralph Billingsley was at the meeting
    on the countys behalf. Were sup-
    posed to be in a 50/50 partnership
    with the city on E911, stated Bill-
    ingsley. Te majority of the trafc
    coming through dispatch is for city
    police and city fre versus county fre
    and Sherif Department calls. In the
    last few years, the county has been
    funding the majority of the excess
    costs. Tis year, the 50/50 would have
    been $124,476 each, and your budget
    is at $90,000. As you made a commit-
    ment to the soccer complex, you also
    made a commitment on purchases of
    sofware upgrades for E911, com-
    mented Billingsley on the $28,561 the
    city owes at a 50/50 split. Yall have
    not funded 50/50 in several years, and
    at some point, were not going to be
    able to cover these 50/50 agreements.
    Te council was able to come up with
    $36,453 to cover the remainder of the
    E911 debt.
    As the council dissected each
    department, the Police Department
    was hit hard. Te denial of four new
    police cars requested by Chief of
    Police Selvain McQueen was not the
    only area. Te council also suggested
    the cutting of three new hires, to
    which McQueen responded, You
    all [the council] said that you would
    give me whatever it takes to protect
    the citizens of Columbus. What are
    the citizens going to think if theres
    another increase like the burglaries
    weve been having? If we dont fll
    these three positions, were sitting on
    a time bomb. Te council only cut
    one new hire and kept an additional
    assistant chief and CID commander,
    whose combined salaries came to
    $147,000.
    As the defcit was whittled down
    to $449,000, Councilman Charlie Box
    made a motion to increase garbage
    rates by two dollars per month, giving
    the city an extra $222,000 toward the
    defcit. Part of serving the citizens is
    to keep the taxes down low enough
    so people want to stay in Columbus.
    I get a lot more calls about taxes than
    I do trash. I dont want to raise the
    garbage rate, but its either that or
    taxes, and Im not raising any taxes
    this year.
    Were going to come up short
    next year, and whether we like it
    or not, were going to have to raise
    taxes, said Smith.
    Boxs motion was passed 4-2
    along with the councils authorization
    to use $223,000 from the $2.5 million
    in reserve funds to cover the remain-
    der of the budget defcit.
    Columbus citizens can expect to
    see the garbage rate increase begin-
    ning October 1, 2012.
    Te Columbus City Council met
    on Tuesday Aug. 21, and unanimous-
    ly passed most items that came before
    them. However, they were not able to
    avoid controversy as questions about
    citizens protection against the West
    Nile Virus, as well as accusations over
    alleged comments, took center stage.
    Councilman Kabir Karriem
    questioned Director of Public Works
    Michael Pratt on the West Nile Virus
    and about alleged comments Pratt
    made regarding Karriems Ward 5.
    I have a couple of questions, stated
    Karriem. Ive had a couple of reports
    regarding the West Nile Virus, and
    one of the reports indicated that there
    had been one case in Lowndes Coun-
    ty. Is there anything that you have in
    place, or anything that we need to do
    to protect ourselves?
    Basically mosquitoes breed in
    standing water, so if you have any
    standing water around your house,
    get rid of it. Tats the best thing to
    do. If theres a ditch around your
    house, call the action center and well
    come out and put pellets in it, com-
    mented Pratt.
    Do you have any plans to clean
    these ditches out and make sure
    theyre not holding any water? asked
    Karriem.
    Tats our ultimate goal, yes,
    answered Pratt.
    Your ultimate goal? asked Kar-
    riem incredulously.
    Tere are a lot of ditches and a
    lot of water, said Pratt.
    Are the pellets better than the
    spray? inquired Karriem.
    Pratt responded, Yes. Te spray
    only works if it hits the mosquito.
    Te other question I have
    brings up a more serious matter, Kar-
    riem said of the gossip taking place
    involving his ward. It was brought to
    my attention that you told a pub-
    lic works employee that they were
    spending too much time in my ward.
    And I wanted to verify that to see if
    thats a true statement, said Karriem,
    in what would soon devolve into a
    classic he said, she said situation.
    I had a report that one of my
    employees was spending too much
    time in your ward, responded Pratt.
    You had a report? asked an
    agitated Karriem.
    Yes, responded Pratt.
    I want to state that this is not
    the frst time that this has been cir-
    culating amongst the council mem-
    bers about work that is not going on
    inside Ward 5. It was also stated that
    you made the comment that I ride
    continuously with our Chief Opera-
    tions Ofcer, David Armstrong, said
    Karriem.
    I did not make that statement,
    replied Pratt
    I want to state for the record
    that everybody up here [council
    members] has been complaining. Last
    week, I said we had one of the best
    meetings of our public works, and
    then I hear this, this week. I think its
    unfair that politics have been played
    to render service to the folks of Ward
    5. Anybody who rides to the north
    side of town knows compared to
    south side, the south side is like the
    Taj Mahal, and we are not getting any
    service on the north side of town. So I
    wanted to come straight to the horses
    mouth before this public body and
    ask you that because that is an untrue
    statement. And if he was working in
    Ward 5, so what? Tat ward has been
    neglected as well as the rest of north
    side. Its time to move past the petty
    issues and provide the services that
    are needed, ranted Karriem. What
    are we supposed to do Mr. Pratt?
    What is the procedure, so every-
    one can know? Te procedure has
    changed.
    Te best thing to do is call it
    in to the action center. Its the best
    way for us to make a copy of it, and
    enter it into the computer system,
    answered Pratt.
    I dont want to hear another
    employee telling me that they are not
    supposed to be working in my ward,
    and theyre giving me too much at-
    tention. Tat is untrue. Lets please
    cut all that out, please. Tank you sir,
    Karriem stated, ending the unpleas-
    ant confrontation.
    All other matters on the agenda
    were handled swifly and without in-
    terruption, and the meeting was soon
    adjourned.
    Health Concerns, Accusations Dominate City Council Meeting
    By Whit Harrington
    6

    thewholeperson
    Dear Meagan,
    I moved to Columbus from
    another city recently. Im a grown
    woman but feel very youthful in spirit,
    and men here call me maam. I know
    this is a traditional form of respect,
    but every time I hear this, I cringe a
    little inside. e book Fiy Shades of
    Grey by E.L. James even has a scene
    in one of its chapters referring to this
    saying. Ana, a character in her early
    20s, receives a package from the deliv-
    eryman. He has been instructed to set
    it up; when she questions him about
    this, his reply is, Only following
    orders maam. She thinks to herself,
    Did he just call me Maam? Have I
    aged 10 years overnight? ere it is
    again! is seems to be a universal
    feeling to some, and I wanted to know
    if you have a better way of process-
    ing how to respond to being called
    maam without cringing a little
    inside every time I hear it?
    Sincerely,
    Youthful Spirit
    Dear Youthful Spirit,
    I grew up in Mississippi, and the
    women I called maam were women
    who were much older than meat
    least my moms age. When you are a
    little girl, your moms age seems im-
    possible to reach, until you get there.
    I think it is typical for anyone who is
    younger than you to use maam as
    a sign of respect, but yes, it does ac-
    knowledge that they see you as older
    than they. So, in my humble opinion,
    I believe that when you are called
    maam, it makes you acknowledge
    that you are actually getting older -
    and that is an uncomfortable feeling
    for many.
    As women, our culture makes
    us feel like getting older is something
    that isnt beautiful. Its therefore very
    easy to fear aging, knowing that you
    might not be perceived as you once
    were. However, your perception of
    yourself is what matters most, and
    even with time passing and wrinkles
    appearing, you can glow and feel good
    about where you are in life.
    Each time someone calls you
    maam, consider it an opportunity to
    accept life as it is, wherever you are.
    e cringe that you are feeling is a
    cue to you to love yourself more and
    to be okay with where you are in life.
    Take a look back to your childhood,
    and acknowledge what your percep-
    tion was then of being the age you are
    now. Aer you have done that, notice
    if who you are now actually matches
    that perception. Be willing to let go of
    what you think being your age means,
    and then let it go. If time has gone by
    too quickly for you and you feel you
    still have things you want to do with
    your life, now is the time to do those
    things, so that embracing your age
    and where you are in life will be easier
    to do.
    One way to move on from feeling
    the cringe when someone calls you
    maam is to focus on your passions.
    Begin to paint, or write, or knit - do
    things that make you feel good about
    you, and use those passions to express
    the frustrations you have with change
    and growth. Allow yourself to dive
    into who you want to be in the world
    so that you can embrace it fully and
    feel good about who you are.
    e most beautiful and intel-
    ligent women I know are always older
    than me, and always wiser - they are
    people I learn from and respect. So, if
    I ever run into you out on the street
    and naturally say maam to you,
    please remember that I am looking up
    to you and learning from you - and
    maybe that I nd you beautiful, too.
    Meagan ONan
    Do you have questions about your life,
    career or relationships? Ask Meagan!
    E-mail reaches her at meagan@realsto-
    rypublishing.com. Personal informa-
    tion, such as your name, will NOT be
    divulged.
    Yes Maam!
    Meagan ONan
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    Some days, the coee just tastes
    better. Or the tea. You know what I
    mean. You take your rst sip in the
    morning, and your taste buds say,
    ahhhhh. You breathe. You enjoy the
    experience fully, stretching it out for
    as long as you can. And everything
    is right in the world. For a moment,
    anyway.
    I dont know what goes into
    making such experiences. Im sure its
    a combination of your mood, your
    state of relaxation, how the coee/tea
    was made, what you ate for dinner
    the night before, what time you woke
    up, the weather, how you slept and a
    billion other things. And so, when it
    happens, because it doesnt happen
    nearly as frequently as most of us
    would like, we revel in the moment,
    lapping it up, like sun on a ower.
    at feeling of everythings
    right that comes with such an
    experience is the present. Its the
    experience of being fully in the mo-
    ment. We are relaxed and focused
    on what is going on in the moment
    only, and all of our focus is here,
    now. And when that happens, our
    fears are gone, along with all our
    busy thoughts and the millions of
    things that constantly run through
    our minds, and we relax. We are here,
    now, enjoying the taste of our drink
    fully, focused on nothing else in the
    world, even if only for a second. How
    lovely.
    I believe life hands us experi-
    ences like this to remind us of the
    magic of being in the present mo-
    ment. ese experiences remind us
    that we spend so much of our time
    doing things automatically, without a
    second thought, that we never truly
    appreciate whats going on around us
    in that moment. I also believe that
    these experiences are reminders that
    things dont have to be that way. We
    can experience life like that all the
    time. We may not have control over
    our taste buds and how they respond
    to our morning beverage, but we do
    have control over our awareness of
    the present moment.
    Fear comes from focusing on the
    past and the future. But it is only the
    present moment that is real. Every-
    thing else is in our minds. Worry is
    obsessing about the future based on
    the past. Neither is here and now. e
    only thing that is real to every one
    of our senses is the present moment,
    and we spend most of our lives ignor-
    ing it.
    e way out of fear is in the
    present. Its in appreciating the mo-
    ment. It doesnt mean we dont need
    to think about the future, but to make
    the future our reality instead of whats
    actually real in every moment is to
    live a life of illusion and denial; and
    most of us live there, unfortunately.
    Buddhists have a saying, What,
    in this moment, is lacking? If you
    really think about a moment, it is an
    innitesimal amount of time, and in
    that amount of the present, no matter
    what your situation is, you will nd
    that nothing is lacking. What lacks is
    in our minds because of our expec-
    tations and our experiences - our
    interpretations of life. So bringing
    ourselves to the present moment, just
    for a moment, is actually a huge gi;
    it enables us to escape our suering
    - just for a moment - and be. Medita-
    tion does this too. It isnt the negation
    of suering - ev-
    eryone suers to
    some degree and
    at some point in
    their life - but its
    a relief from it, if only for an instant.
    e beautiful thing is that, with
    practice, we are able to get to a place
    of choice between worry and not
    worry, where we didnt even know
    there was a choice before. We see
    that the present moment exists apart
    from our brains, and that when we
    separate ourselves from our thoughts
    and enjoy that moment, everything is
    right again. And the best part about
    it is that its there for the taking, any
    time we want.
    So next time youre mindlessly
    sipping your coee - or tea - stop for
    a moment, and savor it. e past is
    gone, tomorrows not yet here. All
    you really have is right in front of
    you, in this moment.
    In the words of one of the great-
    est minds we know, Life is a prepa-
    ration for the future; and the best
    preparation for the future is to live as
    if there were none (Albert Einstein).
    Drinking in the Moment
    The Real Story Staff Report
    Lime Special for $35 per acre for the
    month of August
    I saw something on a recent
    weekend that will inspire me forever.
    It all started on a Saturday morning at
    about 7 a.m. Afer being awake since
    3:30 a.m. from the strong winds and
    sounds of intense thunder, I made
    my way down Wilkins Wise Road
    toward the Marina for the frst annual
    Possum Town Triathlon. Te storms
    ended at about 6:15 a.m., just in time
    for the athletes to arrive for the event.
    I saw folks of all ages, shapes and
    sizes. From youths to seniors, athletic
    to overweight, over 100 men and
    women of the Golden Triangle and
    surrounding areas came to Columbus
    with one goal in mind: To fnish.
    For many, it was their frst tri-
    athlon. So its no wonder nerves were
    high before the starting gun went
    of. I mean, how many times in your
    life do you have your arms marked
    in permanent marker and your age
    written across the back of your leg?
    Te rows of expensive racing bikes
    and running shoes neatly placed next
    to each bike can intimidate even the
    most seasoned triathlete.
    I had the privilege of placing my
    bicycle (a Walmart-bought, Schwinn
    Mountain Bike with broken gears)
    on the rack with a $1,000 triathlon
    bicycle on my right and a young kids
    mountain bike to my lef. For me, it
    was a sigh of relief. I selfshly thought
    to myself, I wont be the only one
    riding a mountain bike for those
    17 long miles. My mountain bike
    neighbor, though, could not have
    been over 16 years old.
    As we were setting up our
    bikes in preparation for the start of
    the race, I asked my mountain bike
    neighbor if this was his frst triathlon.
    With excitement in his eyes, he said
    yes! He wasnt doing the race as a
    relay. He was going to complete all
    three events in the triathlon - swim-
    ming 1/3 mile, biking 17 miles and
    running 3.1 miles. His excitement
    rubbed of on me and took away a
    few of my pre-race jitters. I knew
    it would be tough for him, riding
    a smaller mountain bike along the
    course, but I wished him luck, and as
    I walked away to the start, all I could
    do was to say, Have fun out there. It
    doesnt matter what anyone else does
    today. Its all about you having fun.
    When I fnished my bike ride,
    in transition for the run, my legs felt
    like a tub of heavy Jell-O. I saw that
    my bike neighbor was still out on the
    course, so I said a quick prayer that
    he was still out there having fun.
    Ten I set of on my 5K run. I
    knew I wouldnt win the race, since
    someone had already fnished before
    I even got to the run. But I had to run
    my race. Afer all, only one person
    can win. Te rest of us are there to
    just do the best that we can.
    As I crossed the fnish line, 32
    very long minutes afer starting the
    run, I gulped some nice cool water
    and made my way back to the bicycle
    rack. My bike neighbor was still not
    there. My heart sank. All I could do
    was wait and hope he made it back
    from that 17 mile trek. No more than
    fve minutes later, in ride two bik-
    ers, the young man on the mountain
    bike and his father, who had already
    fnished the race himself. Everyone
    cheered as the young athlete put his
    bike right next to mine on the rack
    and ran out with his dad to fnish his
    frst triathlon with a 5k run. It was 2+
    hours down, and he was still smiling.
    He was going to do it!
    All I know is that it doesnt
    matter how fast or slow you go. You
    have the choice to be intimidated or
    the choice to be inspired. You have
    the choice to smile along the way
    or frown. You have the choice to do
    something or to stand still. You can
    fnd inspiration in the most unknown
    places. Just put your heart and soul
    into what you want to accomplish.
    I may never see my mountain bike
    neighbor again, but knowing he
    inspired me without ever realizing it
    means that maybe, just maybe, my
    actions are inspiring someone else.
    And Im okay with never knowing.
    You never know who you can inspire
    today.
    7
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    Most people know that eating a
    lot of veggies is good for constipation,
    but Ive found that with the majority
    of my patients the average persons
    knowledge on the topic ends there.
    Sometimes (too ofen, unfortu-
    nately), prescription drugs are a main
    culprit in the development of consti-
    pation. However, this doesnt mean
    that you cant work with your diet
    to alleviate some of the symptoms.
    Changing a few things in your diet
    may help reduce the amount of addi-
    tional drugs you have to take to deal
    with the drug-induced constipation.
    Whether you sufer from short-
    or long-term constipation, there are
    some basic guidelines that you can
    follow with your diet to help alleviate
    your condition. Following are a few
    tips for constipation suferers:
    Eat fber. Foods high in fber
    include oatmeal, nuts, whole-wheat
    products and soy (note: if you are
    gluten-sensitive or think you might
    be, avoid the wheat, and only eat
    gluten-free oatmeal; if you have a thy-
    roid condition, avoid soy altogether).
    Eat fruits and vegetables. Tese
    help move things along. Try not to
    add a ton of butter or oil to them,
    though, as that will work against you
    (see below). Apples and pears, in
    particular, are great fruits to keep you
    regular.
    Fat and oil contribute to
    constipation. You want to be sure
    you are getting your healthy oils, but
    minimize fried foods and fatty meat
    (especially if it isnt organic).
    Eat fermented foods such as
    yogurt, kefr, or sauerkraut. Tey help
    immensely in the digestive process.
    If you are dairy intolerant and cant
    stand sauerkraut, kombucha is a great
    fermented food choice.
    Avoid the following:
    Dairy (except for a daily
    yogurt or kefr, if thats your ferment-
    ed food). Tis includes cheese and
    whole milk.
    Cafeine: Causes water
    retention and contributes to consti-
    pation. Tis includes tea as well as
    cofee and cafeinated sodas.
    Iron: Is ofen associ-
    ated with constipation. Check your
    multivitamins, especially if youre a
    man, or if youre a woman who is no
    longer menstruating and you have
    no history of cancer; your vitamins
    should not have iron in them. Liver
    and oysters are high in iron.
    Alcohol: Contributes to
    constipation.
    Whites: Baking powder;
    baking soda; white four; white sugar;
    white rice; white bread.
    Processed foods in general:
    Tese have numerous preservatives in
    them that can mess with your diges-
    tion.
    Last, but defnitely not least:
    Drink water!!!! In fact, drinking water
    is so vital to regulating your bowel
    movements that its getting its own
    paragraph (or three) here. If you are
    not drinking water, no matter how
    well you eat, your digestion will not
    be optimal and you will most likely
    remain constipated. Your body needs
    water to fush everything out.
    When patients come in for con-
    stipation, the frst thing I do is have
    them increase their water intake (99%
    of the people I have met in the South
    do not drink nearly enough water).
    Once their water intake is up, one
    quick acupuncture treatment usu-
    ally solves the problem. If their water
    intake is not up, I refuse to treat them
    for constipation because otherwise
    the body will try to move the stool
    through, and it will cause a particu-
    larly painful situation to occur.
    Te recommended daily amount
    of water is half
    your body
    weight in
    ounces (i.e.,
    if youre a 150-pound woman, you
    should be drinking 75 ounces of wa-
    ter a day). And water means water -
    not tea (defnitely not sweet tea), not
    Gatorade, not Coke, not cofee - just
    plain water. I ofen tell people that if
    they dont like the taste they should
    try just drinking it at room tempera-
    ture; that way, you can just gulp it
    down in one fell swoop.
    If you do sufer from constipa-
    tion and none of the above helps, I
    cant recommend highly enough that
    you seek care from a practitioner who
    is knowledgeable about nutrition and
    respects the individuality of you as a
    patient. Every person is unique, and
    each persons situation is unique, and
    so, while the above are good rules
    of thumb, you may need some more
    personal attention in terms of fgur-
    ing out what you can change in your
    diet to help your digestion.
    Remember - taking charge of
    your health now will save you a ton of
    time, money and misery in the long
    run!
    Constipation
    By Clare Mallory

    thewholeperson
    points for
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    By Abby Malmstrom
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    8

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    Krispy Kreme Doughnuts,
    Inc. will ofcially turn on its signa-
    ture Hot Doughnuts Now sign in
    Columbus at 1725 Highway 45 on
    Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 6:00 a.m. Te frst
    12 lobby and drive-thru customers
    will receive one free dozen Original
    Glazed doughnuts every week for
    a year. Te next 88 lobby customers
    will receive one free dozen Original
    Glazed doughnuts every month
    for a year. In addition, the frst 100
    customers will each receive a variety
    of Krispy Kreme gifs and prizes. A
    ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled
    for 10:00 a.m.
    Te Krispy Kreme Cruiser will
    also be making a stop at the grand
    opening from 9-11 a.m., as part of
    its 2012 Glaze the Notion tour.
    Reminiscent of the early 1940s when
    Krispy Kreme mobilized its small
    feet of delivery trucks to bring its sig-
    nature doughnuts to fans of all ages,
    the 2012 Glaze the Notion Tour is
    setting out to bring a celebration to
    Krispy Kreme fun-atics across the
    country.
    Were excited to be extend-
    ing the Krispy Kreme hot doughnut
    experience to Columbus for the frst
    time, said owner Billy Dorgan, Jr.
    And we look forward to becoming
    an active member of this community.
    Te Columbus store will be open
    daily from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
    Te Columbus Krispy Kreme
    will feature the trademark Hot
    Doughnuts Now sign. When illu-
    minated, the Hot Light announces
    to customers that the store is making
    hot, fresh Original Glazed dough-
    nuts. Hot Original Glazed dough-
    nuts will be made throughout the day
    at the new store.
    Other features include a glass
    doughnut theater viewing area so
    customers can watch the doughnuts
    being made. Te new Columbus store
    will be about 2,600 square feet and
    employ a team of approximately 40
    employees.
    Krispy Kreme ofers 15 varieties
    of doughnuts, including the signa-
    ture Hot Original Glazed, made
    from a still-secret recipe created over
    75 years ago. To assure quality and
    consistency, Krispy Kreme produces
    its own doughnut mix and its own
    doughnut-making equipment at
    the Krispy Kreme headquarters in
    Winston-Salem, N.C.
    Te Columbus store will also
    serve Krispy Kremes new quality
    cofee line, which features a signature
    house blend, a signature dark roast
    and a signature house decaf, all made
    from high-quality cofee beans and
    roasted to perfection. In addition, a
    line of espresso-based drinks, frozen
    beverages and milks prepared with
    a variety of proprietary favors will
    be available. Among these favors
    is Original Kreme, which dupli-
    cates the favor and aroma of Krispy
    Kremes signature Hot Original
    Glazed doughnut. Krispy Kreme cof-
    fees are truly worthy of being paired
    with their doughnuts.
    Founded in 1937 in Winston-Sa-
    lem, N.C., Krispy Kreme is a leading
    branded specialty retailer of premium
    quality doughnuts, including the
    companys signature Hot Original
    Glazed. Krispy Kreme currently
    operates more than 694 stores in 21
    countries including the United States;
    Australia; Bahrain; Canada; China;
    the Dominican Republic; Indonesia;
    Japan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Malaysia;
    Mexico; the Philippines; Puerto Rico;
    the Republic of Korea; Qatar; the
    Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Tailand;
    Turkey; the United Arab Emirates;
    and the United Kingdom.
    Krispy Kreme can be found at
    www.krispykreme.com.
    August Specials
    Taaka 1.75
    Pinnacle 1.75
    360 Flavored Vodka
    Jim Beam L
    Salvadors Margarita
    Barefoot 1.5 (All varieties)
    Woodbridge .750 (All varities) -
    Kendall Jackson Chardonnay
    $11.49
    $18.99
    $15.99
    $16.79
    $8.99
    $11.29
    $5.49
    $11.79
    All the BEST parties start at Rooks!
    662-328-4800
    2118 Hwy 45
    Across from Belk
    662-328-4800 662-328-4800 662-328-4800 662-328-4800
    Voted #1 Liquor
    Store in the
    Golden Triangle
    Area
    ROOKS WINE CELLAR ROOKS WINE CELLAR
    R
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    Cracked Windshield???
    Auto Glass
    1519 E. Gardner Blvd
    Columbus
    662.329.1733
    Special To The Real Story
    Krispy Kreme Brings The Hot Doughnut Experience To Columbus, Miss.
    Lef: Pictured on the set of the Tennessee Williams play,
    Te Rose Tattoo, at Mississippi University for Women are
    Master Carpenter Ed Moody andSet Designer Claude Simp-
    son. Te play will be presented September 4,5, 7 and 8 in Rent
    Auditorium. Tickets may be purchased at the door each eve-
    ning beginning at 6:30 p m, and all high school and college stu-
    dents will be admitted FREE with I. D. For a complete schedule
    of the 11thAnnual Tennessee Williams Tribute and Tour of
    Victorian Homes visitwww.muw.edu/tennesseewilliams.
    Right: Melanie Hintz, director of the Tennessee Williams Trib-
    utes production of Te Rose Tattoo, observes a rehearsal from
    the front row.
    National Contractors
    Insurance Ltd.
    Presents the
    AWARD OF
    EXCELLENCE
    for Risk Control
    to
    Phillips Contracting
    Company
    August 14, 2012
    Greater Mt. Zion Church To Host
    Youth Health Fair
    Te Greater Mt. Zion Church will host a Youth Health
    Fair on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
    for ages 5 years and up at the Fellowship Hall. Te
    theme will be Time To Make A Change.
    Tere will be several speakers discussing such topics as
    bullying, STDs, abstinence and drug awareness. Other
    topics include babysitting, CPR and nutritional informa-
    tion.
    Please make plans for your youth to attend. Lunch and
    snacks will be provided.
    If you have questions or need additional information,
    please contact Evon Bush at 662-425-0009 or by email at
    cebush@cableone.net.
    ..
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    Roast -n- Boast 2012
    Our national anthem, a sof but
    sobering melody, rolled through the
    room as an 11 year old girl began the
    3rd Quarterly Veterans Ceremony.
    Te ceremony was held at the Colum-
    bus Municipal Complex on Tursday,
    Aug. 23, 2012. Veterans ceremonies
    are meetings held so that both lo-
    cal veterans and the general public
    can learn how to use their veteran
    benefts, discuss current events in the
    community and honor the soldiers
    who made the ultimate sacrifce for
    our great nation.
    Local restaurants donate a wide
    variety of food that is spread across
    six tables to feed the attendees at the
    conclusion of the meeting.
    A local World War II veteran
    was frst to speak and began by of-
    fering the local veterans an opportu-
    nity to partake in an honor fight, in
    which volunteers donate $500 and as-
    sist the veteran on a roundtrip fight
    to Washington D.C. Te fight and
    tour of the museum are free for the
    veteran, but lest we forget, freedom
    is not.
    Vietnam veteran Paul Mims was
    welcomed onto the stage next and be-
    gan by relating his experience in that
    war. Mims and his best friend, Rock-
    ford Rocky Grey Everett enlisted
    together, and both went to Fort Polk,
    LA for Basic Training and Advanced
    Individual Training (AIT). Mims
    returned to post one day to fnd that
    Everett had been shipped out to war;
    he was placed in a diferent platoon
    than Mims. Mims and Everett never
    spoke again. Mims heard that Ever-
    ett paid the ultimate price on April
    12, 1968. Mims went on to graduate
    NCIOC School at Fort Benning and
    landed in Nam shortly thereafer.
    Mims explained, NCOIC School was
    supposed to prepare us better than
    the majority for the war. Tey said
    the better prepared you are, the bet-
    ter your chances of making it home.
    Well, I found out being well prepared
    and trained didnt mean your chances
    were better. It was totally random.
    Its hard to stand here in front of you
    and tell you that Im standing here
    because my name started with an
    M. As an infantryman in the 4th
    division, Mims was what was called a
    grunt. Tey lived in the jungle run-
    ning four man patrols. Tese patrols
    consisted of walking all day, digging
    foxholes to sleep in at night; and then
    doing it all over the next day. Teir
    objective was to fnd enemy move-
    ment and call in air strikes.
    Towards the end of the meeting,
    audience members had an opportuni-
    ty to hear an uncommon story about
    another casualty of war. Mims began
    telling us, One night, my friend Sam
    Jones had a patrol to the west, and I
    had one to the north. You didnt talk.
    You didnt make noise. Youd touch
    your buddy to let him know it was
    his shif to watch for VC (enemy).
    Because we had to stay so quiet, wed
    click our radios once to let the other
    patrol know we were OK and twice
    if something was wrong. It got to be
    Sams turn to click, and he clicked it
    twice. I called him on the radio, and
    Sam said he couldnt fnd one of his
    guys. He couldnt get up to look for
    him. Te next morning we joined pa-
    trols to fnd his man. We found pieces
    of him stretched from the foxhole all
    the way down to a creek where a huge
    Bengal tiger sat eating his body.
    Te ceremony came to a close
    shortly afer Mims shared his experi-
    ences with us. We were ushered out
    by another Vietnam Veteran to the
    tune of an old blues song.
    Te 4th Quarterly Veterans
    Ceremony will be held on Veterans
    Day, November 11, at 1:00 p.m. at the
    Columbus Municipal Complex.
    Freedom is Not Free, Lest We Forget!
    By Brent Davidson
    BUSH HOGGING
    662.574.1570
    Southern Cruisers Car Club
    Te Southern Cruisers Car Club hosted their 21st Annual Pride
    and Joy Car Show at the Columbus Lock and Dam-East Bank on
    Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. A number of classic and antique cars and
    trucks were on display at the event, which also serves to raise both
    funds and awareness for various local charities.
    Quick-service dining is com-
    ing to Caledonia, with the pro-
    jected November 2012 opening of
    a Subway restaurant that will be
    located on Gin Site Road, near Te
    Loox hair salon.
    Dirt work for the restaurant,
    which included fll and foundation
    work, began on Aug. 23.
    Chan Patel, the owner of the
    new business, anticipates hiring
    5-6 people.
    Ed Furnari, owner of Inte-
    grated Waste Solutions and whose
    facility is also located on Gin Site
    Road, is excited about this new
    business venture which will result
    in increased revenue and employ-
    ment for Caledonia. In fact, all
    of the employers in the area are
    looking forward to having a new
    neighbor.
    Tis new business, along with
    the others that have opened in
    recent years, serve to illustrate that
    Caledonia is on the move.
    Tere is also the possibility
    of a banking institution locating
    in Caledonia, making banking
    more convenient for the citizens of
    Caledonia.
    George Gerhart, mayor of Caledo-
    nia
    10
    Next week, we observe Labor
    Day, which honors all the hard-
    working men and women in the
    United States. As an investor,
    youd like to think that all your
    investments are working hard,
    too - including the ones that are
    producing income. But can your
    income-oriented investments
    be productive when short-term
    interest rates are at historic lows?
    Or can you fnd other investment
    possibilities that could potentially
    boost your cash fow?
    Te answer to both these
    questions is yes - but you may
    have to take a closer look at where
    you stand on the risk-reward
    spectrum.
    For example, you might need
    to consider longer-term income
    producers, which typically pay
    higher yields than shorter-term
    equivalents. Longer-term fxed-
    rate securities, such as bonds,
    must pay these higher rates to
    reward investors, who face both
    interest-rate risk - the possibility
    that interest rates will rise, caus-
    ing the value of existing bonds to
    fall - and infation risk, the threat
    of losing purchasing power by the
    time long-term bonds have ma-
    tured. Still, you may be willing to
    accept these risks in exchange for
    the higher yields.
    However, you may be look-
    ing for income producers that can
    work hard for you without having
    to hold them for a long period
    to maturity. Tis is because the
    yield curve - the line that plots
    the relationship between yield and
    maturity - is fairly steep right now,
    which, in English, means you can
    gain noticeably higher yields just
    by modestly increasing the ma-
    turity of your investments. Your
    fnancial advisor can suggest some
    short-term and intermediate-term
    vehicles that may be appropri-
    ate for your needs. And while
    these rates will still not be as high
    as those ofered by longer-term
    vehicles, they do ofer fexibility
    - along with less interest-rate risk
    and infation risk.
    You can also help protect
    yourself from these risks by build-
    ing a ladder consisting of short-,
    intermediate- and longer-term
    bonds and certifcates of deposit
    (CDs). Once youve built your
    ladder, it can help you weather
    changing interest-rate environ-
    ments. When market rates are low,
    youll still have your longer-term
    bonds and CDs earning higher
    interest rates. And when market
    rates rise, youll be able to reinvest
    your maturing short-term invest-
    ments at the higher levels. If you
    need the cash, you can liquidate
    the maturing bonds and CDs.
    Tus far, weve only looked
    at fxed-rate investments, but you
    may also be able to boost your in-
    come by owning dividend-paying
    stocks. Some companies have paid
    - and even increased - their stock
    dividends for many years in a row.
    If youre not in need of the cash,
    you can reinvest the dividends
    and boost your ownership stake,
    which is a key to increasing your
    wealth. But if you do need the
    money, you can take the dividends
    as cash. Keep in mind that income
    producers are not a sure thing
    because companies can decide to
    reduce, or even discontinue, their
    dividends at any time. In addition,
    history tells us that you may expe-
    rience more price volatility from
    stocks, and they can be worth
    more or less than the original
    investment when sold.
    As you can see, you can fnd
    ways to keep income-producing
    investments working hard for you,
    despite the prevailing low interest
    rates. So consider your options,
    weigh the risks, and then work
    with your fnancial advisor to
    make those choices that are right
    for you.
    Tis article was written for use by your
    local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
    For questions, please contact Ryan Mun-
    son at ryan.munson@edwardjones.com
    Keep Income Producers Working Hard...
    Even When Rates are Low

    community
    By Ryan Munson
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    ~la, ..l, &~.~ ~ :.!
    A Quaint Cozy Restaurant and Market
    513 MAIN STREET
    Looking for a relaxing atmosphere, delicious cuisine, a sophisticated are with attractive prices, CONTINENTAL MARKET & BISTRO offers that and so much more.
    Continental Market & Bistro is your place for social lunches, business meetings, Garden Club meetings, girls night out, bunko, bridal showers & luncheons,
    private wine and cheese tasting parties.
    .t.~:l .l~ a v.
    .t.~:l .l~ a v.
    A few of the house originals:
    Danas French Onion, Tomato Basil & Roasted
    Garlic Potato Soups Caprese Salmon & Dill,
    Shrimp & Asparagus Quiches Butterkase Baby,
    The Marilyn & The Duke Grilled Cheeses
    Summer & Holiday Chicken Salads
    Gorgonapple Salad ShrimpACodo Salad
    Handmade Chocolates - Two Bites of Heaven
    One of a kind desserts
    The Market offers gourmet
    food items, wine accessories,
    candles, comeback sauce, brie
    condiments & bakers, creme
    brulee mixes, lots of great
    cookbooks and much, much
    more.
    MARKET HOURS BISTRO HOURS
    TUESDAY - FRIDAY 10 AM-3PM 11AM-2-PM
    SATURDAY 8 AM-3PM 8 AM-2PM
    CONTINENTAL MARKET & BISTRO 513 MAIN STREET COLUMBUS MS 662-328-2021
    Caledonia Mayor George Gerhart and Ed Furnari, owner of Integrated Waste
    Solutions, stand at the site of the new Subway restaurant being constructed in
    Caledonia.
    Subway Is Coming To Caledonia
    By George Gerhart
    If you fnd yourself in downtown
    Columbus at about 6 p.m. on Friday,
    Sept. 7, you may hear some plain-
    tive shouts echoing throughout the
    streets. Tese shouts will, in all likeli-
    hood, be interspersed with raucous
    applause. Teres no cause for alarm,
    however. Tis is the annual Holly-
    hocks Stella Shouting Contest.
    Held every September during
    the Tennessee Williams Tribute, this
    exciting event takes place on Fifh
    Street South, in front of Hollyhocks,
    that eclectic boutique right next to
    Leadership Plaza.
    Sponsors for this years event
    include WCBI, Te Real Story, Better
    Brands, Main Street Columbus and
    the Tennessee Williams Tribute. Te
    event would not be possible without
    these sponsors and the hard work and
    dedication of Hollyhocks owner Glo-
    ria Herriott and a team of volunteers.
    Te audience will start gather-
    ing around 5 p.m., with registration
    for participants beginning at 5:30
    p.m. Te Saint and the Priest will
    be entertaining the crowd, and beer,
    sodas, and food will be available for
    purchase.
    Ten, at 6 p.m., the real excite-
    ment begins! One afer another,
    would-be Stanleys will take their
    turn shouting to the lovely Stella
    (portrayed by Leigh Allison Phillips),
    who will encourage them to give their
    all.
    Steve Rogers will emcee the
    proceedings, and a panel of judges
    will score the contestants eforts
    based upon emotion, originality and
    loudness.
    Te initial batch of shouters
    will be whittled down to a group
    of fve fnalists, each of whom will
    reprise their eforts.
    One valiant participant will be
    named the winner and will receive a
    prize package, his/her name on the
    Stella Shouting Contest trophy, two
    tickets to see Te Rose Tattoo (the
    signature production of this years
    Tribute), a carriage ride to and from
    the play, and a Tennessee Williams-
    inspired dinner on the balcony from
    which our local Stella gazed at the
    throngs below.
    Tis fun and exciting event,
    which is free and open to the public,
    draws people from throughout the
    Golden Triangle and beyond.
    Everyone is invited to come
    out and be a part of this wonderful
    experience!

    11
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    Cries of Stella! To Echo Throughout
    Downtown Columbus
    Special To The Real Story
    HOLLYHOCKS
    PRESENTS THE ANNUAL
    STELLA
    SHO UTING CO NTEST
    Channel your inner Brando and shout
    up to Stella on the balcony
    Winner will be judged on emotion,
    originality, and loudness
    * FREE * FUN * PRIZES *
    Limited to the first 25 shouters
    Grand prize is dinner for two
    and a carriage ride
    to the Tennessee Williams play
    Friday, September 7, 2012
    Sign up starts at 5:30 pm
    Shout Off starts at 6:00 pm
    On the street in front of HOLLYHOCKS
    Call 662-329-0025 for info.
    Tennessee Williams
    Tribute
    &
    Tour of
    Victorian Homes
    East Mississippi Community College honored its longest-serving employees at
    the annual Convocation meeting Aug. 13 on the Scooba campus. Employees
    with 10, 15, 20 and 30 years of experience were recognized with distinguished
    service pins. Pictured are, frst row from lef: Stan Rice (of Starkville, 10 years);
    Ruth Huerkamp (of Columbus, 10 years); Cynthia Logan (of Starkville, 10
    years); Felissa Boyd (of Toomsuba, 10 years); Margie Agnew (of Scooba, 10
    years); and Renee Sanders (of Columbus, 15 years). On the second row, from
    lef, are Gary Gammill (of Starkville, 10 years); Jodi Pierce (of West Point,
    10 years); Pat Clowers (of Columbus, 10 years); Eddie Sciple (of DeKalb, 15
    years); and Mary Hopson (of Porterville, 10 years). On the third row, from
    lef, are Barbara Hanna (of Louisville, 10 years); Lori Smith (of West Point, 10
    years); Zelma Fulgham (of Maben, 20 years); Melissa Mosley (of Scooba, 15
    years); Karen Gray (of Sturgis, 15 years); and Judy Higginbotham (of Preston,
    30 years). On the fourth row are, from lef, Joe Cook (of Starkville, 10 years);
    Otis Taylor (of Columbus, 10 years); Bob Lovelace (of Maben, 15 years); Jim
    Gibson (of Livingston, Ala., 10 years); Mike Tvarkunas (of Meridian, 15 years);
    Catherine Penick (of Macon, 10 years); and Dr. Linda Farrar (of Macon, 15
    years). Not pictured are Bo Cummins (of Columbus, 15 years); Marilyn Ford (of
    Columbus, 15 years); Deborah Borganelli (of Louisville, 10 years); and Roxanne
    Williams (of Macon, 10 years).
    Tenured EMCC Employees Recognized
    At Convocation
    Special To The Real Story
    East Mississippi Community College
    District Accounts Receivable Manag-
    er Judy Higginbotham of Preston was
    the only employee recognized for 30
    years of service during the colleges
    2012 convocation on Aug. 13 on the
    Scooba campus.
    13 12
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    A Bit Of Local Culture....Through The Eyes Of Rick Manning
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    A Bit Of Local Culture....Through The Eyes Of Rick Manning
    Dear Editor:
    Te Oktibbeha County Board of
    Supervisors unanimously approved
    the purchase of a $75,000 sofware
    upgrade to the county emergency
    dispatch system during the Aug. 20th
    board meeting. It sounds like money
    well-spent. I think the fnancial ac-
    counting sofware for Oktibbeha
    County may also need an upgrade.
    About two years ago, the Mis-
    sissippi Center for Public Policy
    requested Oktibbeha Countys
    checkbook registers for the last six
    years in any format that could be fed
    intoSeeTeSpending.orgs web-
    site.SeeTeSpending.orgis a state-
    wide searchable database that shows
    how taxes were spent by most coun-
    ties in Mississippi. Twelve counties
    have not provided the requested data.
    Oktibbeha County is one of
    those that has not complied.
    It is the responsibility of Chan-
    cery Clerk, Monica Banks, and/
    or the Oktibbeha County Board of
    Supervisors to provide the records.
    Te county generating the records is
    solely and exclusively responsible for
    the accuracy of the information and
    for compliance with the Mississippi
    Public Records Act of 1983. Te Act
    provides that all public records are
    public property, and any person shall
    have the right to inspect records or
    obtain a copy thereof.
    Just about every type of fnancial
    sofware can output data compatible
    with a spreadsheet-type format. Why
    Oktibbeha County has not complied
    with the data request is inexplicable,
    and it indicates that something is
    severely wrong.
    Te Supervisors of Oktibbeha
    County should turn their attention
    to the fnancial sofware. Tey should
    insist that it serve the requirements
    of fnancial transparency and be able
    to provide data in a spreadsheet-
    compatible format to the Mississippi
    Center for Public Policy even if it
    costs money to do so.
    Elaine Vechorik
    Sturgis
    Dear Editor:
    I just saw a report on WCBI of
    the meeting, here in Columbus, of
    representatives of the Mississippi Bed
    and Breakfast Association, Depart-
    ment of Archives and History, Mis-
    sissippi Development Authorityand
    local B&B owners at the W this week.
    Te head of the Tupelo Convention
    and Visitors Bureau was bemoan-
    ing the fact that Columbus has many
    B&Bs, and that Tupelo has none. He
    stated that tourists, business and in-
    ternational travelers ofen look for the
    favor of history in an area, and their
    research shows that Tupelo should
    develop at least one B&B. So, good
    for you, Columbus. We have some-
    thing Tupelo doesnt. Although they
    will always have Elvis, we also have
    the birthplace of Tennessee Williams!
    Good for you, Columbus, with all
    your history and architecture - folks
    are searching for you on the internet.
    Brenda Caradine
    14

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    Emily Matchar has written an
    interesting article in the Te Wash-
    ington Post on how Millennials
    (born from 1982-99), despite their
    characterization as pampered and
    unrealistically self-confdent, will
    change the workplace. Tanks to
    them, we will have more fextime,
    more paid maternity leave, more
    independence and autonomy, more
    vacations, and fewer working hours;
    and the workplace will become a
    more congenial place, closer to home,
    comfort and value than it ever was.
    Tink again.Te law of supply
    and demand rules all, and if there is
    an over-supply of eager, willing work-
    ers in a given feld, those who are
    unhappily employed will simply be
    let go and more complaisant, hungry
    applicants will take their place.
    I recently worked in an organi-
    zation where there was an oversupply
    of idealistic young workers. Armed
    with newly minted masters degrees
    in public health from Johns Hopkins
    and Harvard, and eager to do their
    part to improve the lot of the impov-
    erished, marginalized and underpriv-
    ileged, they lined up at the door.Te
    pay was low, the hours brutal, the
    workload fendish, and there was
    no work/life balance to speak of.
    Company survey afer survey showed
    that the employees were unhappy and
    felt that the solution was simple: Hire
    more people and reduce each em-
    ployees workload.
    Te company did not listen. Its
    business model was fawless given
    an oversupply of applicants, man-
    agement can extract the most out of
    them and replace them when they
    burn out. Te only companies that
    care about work/life balance are those
    which are desperate for qualifed ap-
    plicants and will do anything to keep
    them.
    Despite the recession, or per-
    haps because of it, corporations are
    eager to hire and retain the best, most
    talented Gen Y workers. In this risky
    economic environment, the energy,
    insight and high-tech know-how
    of Gen Y-ers will be essential for all
    high-performing organizations, said
    a 2009 study on Gen Y from Deloitte,
    the professional services giant.
    Te operative phrase here is the
    best, most talented Gen Y work-
    ers.In my company, the job required
    little else than paying attention to
    detail, getting work in on time and
    writing within rigid, proven outlines.
    It was not rocket science, and anyone
    with a modest college BA could do
    the job.Not so for advanced genetics
    or neuroscience
    In the face of these persistent
    employee demands, and knowing
    that the employees never had to do
    anythingsubstantive, my company
    management ofered a few cheap
    sops Starbucks vouchers and in-
    creased positive feedback (a pat on
    the back from supervisors and a job
    well done!).Of course, the minions
    wanted either a salary that was com-
    mensurate with their hours of work
    or less work, but the company wasnt
    hearing any of it.
    Most young workers stayed as
    long as their will and constitutions
    allowed. When they lef, manage-
    ment simply hired other MPHs just
    as eager to work for a company which
    did good works.
    Te current corporate culture
    simply doesnt make sense to much
    of middle-class Gen Y. Since the
    cradle, these privileged kids have
    been ofered autonomy, control and
    choices. Teyve been encouraged to
    show their creativity and to take their
    extracurricular interests seriously.
    When they want something, theyre
    not afraid to say so. And what the
    college-educated Gen Y-ers enter-
    ing the workforce want is engaging,
    meaningful, fexible work that doesnt
    take over their lives, states Matchar.
    I am afraid that these teacup
    kids (for their supposed emotional
    fragility); boomerang kids (who
    always wind up back home); trophy
    kids (everyones a winner!); and the
    Peter Pan generation (wholl never
    grow up) will be disappointed.Un-
    less they are willing to work for a
    pittance in return for a congenial
    work environment, they will hit the
    corporate buzz saw and, bruised and
    demoralized, will move from job to
    job.
    Of course this is not true for
    everyone.I worked with some
    extremely intelligent, talented and
    ambitious women who used the com-
    pany as much as the company used
    them.Tey took every experience the
    frm had to ofer before they lef.
    Tere is no doubt that demands
    made by Gen Y fextime, job-shar-
    ing, unlimited paid vacation com-
    mensurate with productivity will be
    heard by those companiesfor whom
    demand exceeds supply and who
    will do anything to attract and keep
    good talent. Unfortunately, most
    companies have no interest in either
    enhancing salaries and benefts or
    improving work/life balance.
    Tere might be a chance for
    Gen Y workers to change the work-
    place even in an oversupply situation,
    but the labor unions which exacted
    money and benefts from employers
    through work stoppages, strikes and
    muscle are long gone. In this every-
    man-for-himself environment, the
    immutable law of Econ 101 supply
    and demand -will rule.
    I cannot think of a rosy scenario
    for the majority of young work-
    ers.Perhaps corporations might
    actually see the light and do the right
    thing, but that would be like asking a
    dog not to scratch his feas.Compa-
    nies are in business to make money
    to increase profts by reducing costs
    and increasing productivity.Tey are
    not in the business to make life easier
    for employees unless this will lead to
    increased profts.
    Te non-proft world is no more
    enlightened.My for-proft company
    competed with non-proft organiza-
    tions all the time; and these non-
    governmental organizations were
    as cutthroat and aggressive as any
    money-making shop.While some
    NGOs chose to limit their size and
    focus on quality, most others were as
    interestedin relentless growth and
    expansion as for-profts. While profts
    were not the end result for these
    NGOs, fame, status and recognition
    were, and theirCEOs fogged em-
    ployees just as mercilessly.
    Matchar concludes her article
    thus:
    So we could continue to roll
    our eyes at Gen Y, accuse them of be-
    ing spoiled and entitled and clueless
    little brats. We could wish that theyd
    get taken down a peg by the school of
    hard knocks and learn to accept that
    this is just the way things are. But if
    were smart, well cheer them on. Be
    selfsh, Gen Y! Be entitled! Demand
    what you want.
    I dont know anyone who wants
    to take Gen Y idealists down a peg.At
    the very least, they are making their
    demands known.To assume that they
    will make a diference in an environ-
    ment where supply exceeds demand
    in most sectors, where labor unions
    have been neutered or eliminated,
    and where cost-cutting and recession-
    based retrenchments will be the rule
    for many years to come, is unrealistic.
    Spoiled Millennials In The Workplace
    By Ron Parlato

    letterstotheeditor
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    131 Gardner Blvd. Columbus
    (662) 549-9943
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    arts
    99 Words: A Fun Ride
    The Real Story Staff Report
    Speaking Speaking
    It is common knowledge that the
    best writers in the world come from
    the South. Mississippi is the home of
    internationally famous authors and
    Pulitzer Prize winners such as Ten-
    nessee Williams, William Faulkner
    and Eudora Welty. Crops thrive in
    our fertile Delta mud, and a lot of tal-
    ent, as well.
    Tere are many theories about
    why this is true. Te ultimate author-
    ity on southern writers is Professor
    Kenneth Holditch, a research
    professor emeritus of Ameri-
    can literature at the Universi-
    ty of New Orleans, where he
    taught for 32 years. A native
    of Mississippi, he has a cur-
    riculum vitae a mile long and
    gives literary walking tours of
    the French Quarter.
    Dr. Holdich lectures
    about the rich cultural
    traditions of the South and
    its history of literature and
    storytelling. Some common
    themes are a sense of place,
    strong family relationships
    and an abundant complexity
    of language and character.
    Certainly, this part of
    the world is still produc-
    ing literary talent that may
    not be quite as famous as
    the Williamses, Weltys and
    Faulkners, but great they are,
    nonetheless.
    We have liv-
    ing writers
    who are now turning out some won-
    derful books, poems and stories.
    Tis month, there is a new
    release entitled 99 Words by
    Columbus writer John Dorroh. You
    may know him from his many years
    as a teacher in the Columbus and
    Lowndes County school systems. Or
    you might have heard him read his
    hilarious White Trash Poetry at
    open mic nights around town.
    Each of Dorrohs witty stories
    is only 99 words long! Many (but not
    all) of these shorts areRoman clef,
    a literary device in which fctitious
    names represent real people. Locals
    will have fun trying to unravel the
    mystery of which stories are based
    on people here and which are strictly
    fction.
    In keeping with the spirit of
    brevity - and perhaps too much mod-
    esty - Dorroh says about his book,
    Not great literature, just great fun.
    Tere is a wicked vein that runs
    through many of the tales. Surprise
    endings and unexpected twists will
    make the reader laugh out loud. But
    dont let the length fool you. Tis
    is not childrens literature. Dorroh
    deals with subjects like drinking and
    unexpected pregnancy, and one or
    two that lean toward male-humor
    grossness.
    99 wordsis the perfect book
    for those who havent time for War
    and Peace, or readers with a short
    attention span. Lets face it, we are
    just getting too overwhelmed and too
    busy for a really long read. But reader
    be warned: Like Lays potato chips,
    you will not be able to stop with just
    one.
    99 Words is available at black-
    rosewritingbooks.com, amazon.com
    and barnesandnoble.com.
    Te stories are short, and the
    price is small ($14.95). But you will
    probably need more than 99 words
    of praise for John Dorrohs charming
    little book.
    Get out and get your culture on!
    15
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    Tanks to the internet and all
    of the various media outlets, many
    talented individuals, especially musi-
    cians, get plenty of exposure (perhaps
    too much).
    Ricky Hudgins may be the most
    talented musician that you may never
    have heard of.
    Hudgins was born in Aliceville,
    Ala., but he has lived in Columbus
    for many years. He frst started play-
    ing instruments at the tender age of
    seven, but he didnt really take music
    seriously until he started playing gui-
    tar in church when he was 17. It was
    then that he started paying attention
    to playing chords.
    Hudgins, like many local musi-
    cians, is self-taught. In describing his
    learning method he said, I watched
    where other musicians put their
    hands and then placed mine the same
    way when I got home. Now, he plays
    guitar (electric and acoustic), bass
    and a little piano.
    Hudgins has been a bit of a
    wanderer, having lived in Louisiana,
    Florida, and now Mississippi, among
    other locales.
    He spent about ten years in
    Louisiana, mostly in the small town
    of Vidalia. As a matter of fact, he
    won Louisiana Hayride in the early
    80s. For those of you too young to
    remember it, the Hayride could best
    be described as an old-school battle
    of bands but it was a big deal back
    then.
    Afer he lef Louisiana, Hudgins
    traveled to Florida where he won the
    biggest singing contest in the state in
    1988.
    When asked, Hudgins cited
    Marvin Gaye, Wilson Pickett and Te
    Hinsons as inspirations.
    Over the years, he has per-
    formed with some really talented
    musicians including fddler Big Jim
    Brock, dowbrow master Josh Graves,
    Bobby Shannon and the Gilleys (of
    Mickey Gilleys roadhouse fame). Te
    list of bands with which he has per-
    formed is too lengthy for this space,
    but it includes local band Freeway.
    Hudgins has also performed
    at numerous venues throughout the
    South including the world-famous
    Bluebird Caf in Nashville.
    Besides being a talented guitar
    player, Hudgins is a songwriter as
    well. He has written a number of
    tunes including one that most old-
    time country and western fans would
    recognize from back in the early
    80s. In regards to his songwriting,
    Hudgins says, I write what I feel.
    Unfortunately, a number of years
    ago an industrial accident derailed
    what many agreed would have been
    a very promising career in the music
    business. Hudgins doesnt dwell on
    what might have been. He simply en-
    joys playing music and will continue
    to do so as long people are willing to
    listen.
    You can reach Hudgins at (662)
    386-5060, or you may catch him play-
    ing at Words and Music, the month-
    ly series of open mic nights that are
    held at Tampico Bay Restaurant (1515
    College Street | Columbus). Either
    way, you should really hear this
    talented individual. You are sure to be
    impressed I know that I was!
    Portrait Of The Artist: Ricky Hudgins
    The Real Story Staff Report
    Prayers and Squares Ministry
    Prayers and Squares is a ministry that provides prayer quilts that
    will be shared with individuals who are going through difculties
    or illnesses. We welcome all quilters, skilled, or not so skilled,
    men, women, and teenagers who would like to be involved in this
    special ministry.
    Columbus SDA Church
    (Fellowship Hall)
    301 Brooks Rd. (of Lehmberg Rd.)
    Monday nights at 6:00 p.m.
    Come join us for an enjoyable fellowship time together.
    For more information
    contact Diane Sturges at 662-497-2041
    dianecooksturges@gmail.com
    (We are also accepting donations of fabric)
    LOW COST AGGREGATE LOW COST AGGREGATE
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    To purpchase contact Golden Triangle Mill Service Co. located inside
    the Severstal Steel Mill, 1947 Airport Rd., Columbus, MS 39701. Please
    call plant offce to verify product availablility.
    Max Chesebro - Plant Offce
    (662) 244-3400
    John Murphy - Sales Manager
    (574) 876-0466
    16
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    lifestyles
    With the 2012 presidential
    election coming up, I think its safe
    to say the gloves have been taken
    of, stomped on and thrown at the
    opposite partys face. Wow. I dont
    know why I even get surprised by
    the negative rhetoric anymore, but I
    still do.
    You need only look at Face-
    book for a sampling of slams against
    both candidates - and also to learn
    that some of your friends support
    complete nut-bar opinions. I am
    trying to stay as neutral as I can
    this year - a frst for me. I can tell
    you right now, with no hesitation, I
    have no idea whos getting my vote.
    I will also say that I have never, in
    my 17-year voting history, voted for
    a Republican for president, so the
    Mayans may be right. Tis year may
    be the end of days.
    A couple of weeks ago, I was
    briefy listening to Rick and Bubbas
    radio show. I dont know why, as I
    would never normally do this - I
    dont think theyre funny, and I
    think they perpetuate a stereotype
    about the South as complete red-
    neck morons. However, on this
    particular day, I learned they are
    more malicious than I ever would
    have thought.
    Apparently, Brad Pitts mother
    had made some statement against
    gay marriage and was later quoted
    as saying that she feared for her
    life for her conservative statement.
    Rick and Bubba went on to say
    that liberals were the worst when
    it came to disagreeing with them,
    that they were sneaky and calculat-
    ing, and they wouldnt be surprised
    if her life was in danger. Afer I
    fully digested what they had said, I
    quickly changed the channel and re-
    ally thought about their statements.
    Tere are zealots on all sides
    of any issue, and the last time I
    checked, the people who have typi-
    cally been the brunt of danger and
    violence, politically speaking, are
    abortion doctors and clinics and
    homosexuals, and the conservative
    nuts are the ones perpetuating the
    violence. Rush Limbaugh and Ann
    Coulter seem to spew nothing but
    hate, vitriol and blanket negativity,
    with nothing ofered to counter-
    balance.
    I adore free speech; its a tough
    thing to love sometimes, but it of-
    fers Americans a right few other
    countries are aforded. However,
    when election time comes around, I
    wonder - and may always wonder -
    why politicians cant stand on their
    merits rather than point out the
    other guys faults, which are usually
    manipulated for the press and not
    entirely true.
    I think I just want someone
    to be honest and speak truthfully
    about what they can and cant do.
    Dont promise delivery of the moon
    when all we need is to see it and
    know its there. Our expectations
    have been lowered to the point
    that just doing what you say will be
    enough. Really.
    Posing As
    An Adult
    Posing As
    An Adult
    Where Politics Go,
    Negativity Follows
    By Emily Gaither Smith
    Recipes from
    Good Housekeeping
    Creamy Potato Salad
    4 pounds medium red potatoes, unpeeled
    2 1/2 teaspoons salt
    1/3 cup cider vinegar
    1 tablespoon sugar
    1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
    1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
    1/2 cup mayonnaise
    2 stalks celery, thinly sliced crosswise
    1. In 4-quart saucepan, place potatoes, 2 teaspoons salt and enough water to
    cover; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer
    10 to 15 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender. Drain; cool slightly.
    2. Meanwhile, in large serving bowl, combine vinegar, sugar, mustard, pepper
    and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
    3. When potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut each into quarters or eighths
    if large. Add warm potatoes to dressing in bowl; gently stir with rubber spat-
    ula until well-coated. Let potato mixture stand 30 minutes to absorb dressing,
    stirring occasionally.
    4. Gently stir mayonnaise and celery into potato mixture until evenly coated.
    Serve warm or cover and refrigerate up to 1 day to serve cold.
    Each serving: About 200 calories, 8g total fat (1g saturated), 5mg cholesterol,
    275mg sodium, 32g total carbs, 3g dietary fber, 3g protein.
    Light Slaw
    1 bag (16 ounces) shredded cabbage mix for coleslaw
    2 medium carrots, shredded
    1 green onion, chopped
    1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
    1. In large bowl, combine cabbage mix with remaining ingredients, tossing to
    mix well. If not serving slaw right away, cover and refrigerate up to 6 hours.
    Toss well before serving. Serves 6.
    Each serving: About 45 calories, 0g total fat (0g saturated), 0mg cholesterol,
    380mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate, 0g dietary fber, 1g protein.
    For thousands of triple-tested recipes, visit our website at www.goodhouse-
    keeping.com/recipefnder/.
    (c) 2012 Hearst Communications, Inc.
    All rights reserved

    How to Wear Vintage
    Tis week in Te Adventures of
    the VIP, I am going to discuss How
    to Wear Vintage. Before I get started,
    lets take a look at the defnition of
    vintage. According to the Merri-
    am-Webster Dictionary, vintage is a
    seasons yield of grapes or wine from
    a vineyard. Wait, wait, wait! I am
    sorry, but that is not the defnition
    we need. Hold on. Lets keep read-
    ing through all these defnitions. Yes,
    here it is: Characterized by excel-
    lence, maturing, and enduring appeal;
    classic. Doesnt that sound lovely?
    Enduring appeal and classic! Ac-
    cording to Etsy, an online shopping
    heaven, an item must be 20 years of
    age or more to qualify as vintage. To
    a vintage buf like me, vintage is an
    item with aged quality and a traceable
    history.
    What is so fabulous about buy-
    ing and wearing vintage is that, with a
    few standard vintage pieces, one can
    create daring outfts by simply mixing
    the old with the new. Vintage tops
    supercharge jeans, vintage boyfriend
    blazers harmonize with modern
    dresses, and vintage jewelry comple-
    ments any top in the closet. Now,
    without further ado, I introduce to
    you three examples of How to Wear
    Vintage.
    To the ribbon-cutting ceremony
    of Te Real Story, I sported a bedaz-
    zled, stellar vintage cocktail blouse,
    my DIY Dip-Dye Denim shorts and
    darling black heels. Tis comfortable
    outft will defnitely catch attention
    as it shimmers and sparkles with
    fashionista pride! Te VIP declares
    vintage cocktail tops as a must-have
    for all for fall.
    For my dads birthday dinner,
    I strutted the streets of Louisville,
    Miss., in my tomato red, high-waisted
    shorts, a pitch black Metallica band
    tee, a distressed jean vest, a leopard-
    print belt and studded toe heels. Tis
    firty and ferce ensemble is a perfect
    way to leave a forget-me-not impres-
    sion at a birthday gathering. Te VIP
    declares band tees a must-have for all
    vintage-inspired fashionistas.
    A vintage 1970s foral button-
    up, dark denim jeans rolled at the
    bottom, with a neutral belt and eye-
    popping orange wedges make for a
    dreamy back to school outft! Tis
    retro preppy ensemble delivers all
    the impact needed to start the school
    year of fashionably. Te VIP declares
    vivid vintage button-ups a must-have
    for the retro closet.
    Drum roll, please. Now, it is time
    for the famous - well, kind of famous
    - VIP tips. Tis weeks tips are for
    those vintage-loving fashioni-
    stas who are looking for ways
    to wear and pair those timeless
    pieces. Remember, when buy-
    ing vintage clothing, to invest
    in sturdy pieces that can stand
    up to everyday life and be worn
    without being damaged. I have
    sufered the embarrassing rip
    from a delicate classic piece!
    VIP Tips on How to Wear Vin-
    tage:
    Pair with Denim: Vibrant
    vintage high-waisted shorts or an A-
    Line skirt play well with a modern or
    vintage band tee and a jean jacket or
    vest. Denim on denim is very hot for
    the fall! Invest in modern and vintage
    denim to give your wardrobe a strik-
    ing combination.
    Sequins, Sequins, Sequins!:
    Vintage cocktail tops pair well with
    jeans and classic trousers. For the
    daring, pair with 80s-style miniskirts
    or leggings! No need to stress about
    accessories because the sequins say
    it all. Im here. Te party can now
    begin.
    Edgy Leather: A well-loved
    leather jacket adds a certain sassy,
    edgy depth to that boxy style vintage
    dress. What is even more appeal-
    ing is that leather never goes out of
    style, my dear fashionistas! Tis
    year-round classic is totally worth
    the investment, says Marie Claire
    magazine.
    Boy Meets Girl: Take the Mary
    Kate and Ashley Olsen (of Elizabeth
    & James and Te Row) philosophy
    when it comes to wearing vintage
    with modern apparel. Tis season,
    we played a lot with rich textures,
    layering, and striking a balance
    between masculine and feminine.
    You can easily pair a sweet, white lace
    top with a Grease-style leather jacket
    for a boy-meets-girl, daring fashion
    statement.
    Lets Hear It For the Boys!: A
    dashing vintage top coat layered over
    an edgy band tee or preppy sweater
    works well with jeans or khakis for an
    absurdly good-looking vibe that will
    have all the girls singing, Lets Hear
    It for the Boys! It is the vintage (or
    modern) article that every ravishing
    man needs for fall.
    According to the Vintage Fash-
    ion Guild, Expect to pay a fair
    price to the seller who has found an
    item, cleaned it, and researched it.
    Finding good quality vintage can be
    hard to do, but when you fnd it, it is
    totally worth the investment! Te frst
    step of being able to wear vintage is to
    locate and purchase striking vintage!
    Stay tuned to Te Real Story and
    my blog, Vintage Inspired Passioni-
    sta, for tips on locating and buying
    these enduring classic pieces.
    Be sure to join me next week on
    Te Adventures of the VIP as I take
    you on another fabulous fashion jour-
    ney in my fashionista time machine!
    Wouldnt it be great if time machines
    really did exist?
    Dont forget to like the VIP
    on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
    vintageinspiredpassionista, and fol-
    low me on Twitter @Abbysauce_ and
    Instagram @VintagePassionista! Also,
    check out my blog website, www.
    vintageinspiredpassionista.com, to
    gather even more fashion tips and id
    eas!
    Stay Fabulous!
    17
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    lifestyles
    The
    Adventures
    of the
    V.I.P.
    Abby
    Hathorn
    One of our most famous and
    well-documented ghosts is Miss Nel-
    lie. She lives in Errollton, an exquisite
    antebellum home on the Southside in
    Columbus.
    Errollton was built by Miss
    Nellies father, William Weaver. Te
    exterior is grand, with futed columns
    and elegant arches, and is wrapped
    with wide verandas. Te interior, as
    well, was tastefully decorated with
    imported fabrics and the most fash-
    ionable furniture of the 1800s.
    Tis was the backdrop for the
    beautiful young Nellie, William
    Weavers only daughter. She was
    known as a gracious hostess and was
    a very popular belle of Columbus.
    Miss Nellie had many admirers
    and suitors. However, she gave her
    heart to a dashing freman named
    Charles Tucker. Tey courted for just
    one year and were married in 1878.
    Te bride was so happy and so in love
    that she used her diamond engage-
    ment ring to etch her name into the
    glass of a window in the south parlor.
    Te couple had a sweet baby
    whom they named Ellen.
    Sadly, it was not happily ever
    afer for Nellie and Charles. Afer
    only a few years, Charles lef his wife
    and daughter, making Nellie what
    was then known as a grass widow
    (someone whose husband has not
    died but who has abandoned his
    wife).
    Miss Nellie never lef her be-
    loved Errollton. She and Ellen contin-
    ued to live there. She started a private
    school for children to support herself
    and her daughter. Tis was a meager
    existence, so very diferent from the
    luxury that had surrounded her in
    her youth. Te mansion fell into ruin
    from years of neglect.
    Miss Nellie spent her last years
    rocking on the broad porch, telling
    stories about her past flled with balls
    and parties. It is said that she was
    oblivious to the crumbling manse
    surrounding her. She died tragically
    in a fre in the 1930s.
    Around 1950, the home was
    purchased by the Bateman family.
    Tey began the immense and over-
    whelming process of renovating the
    dilapidated structure. Mrs. Bateman
    soon found the word Nellie which
    had been written so long ago on a
    pane of glass.
    Unfortunately, during this proj-
    ect, a clumsy workman accidentally
    dropped a ladder against the window.
    Te pane was replaced. Nellies mark
    was shattered and, for the most part,
    forgotten.
    And that should have been the
    end of the story. But it wasnt. A few
    years later, Mrs. Bateman was adjust-
    ing the curtains in the south parlor
    when some scratches in the glass
    caught her eye. You guessed it. Nel-
    lie was once again etched into the
    window pane.
    Tis is not the only way that
    Nellie has made sure she is not for-
    gotten. She is known for pulling the
    covers of of guests feet and hiding
    small objects.
    Look closely at the front porch
    as you drive past. Miss Nellie just
    might be there, rocking and waiting
    for a visitor to talk with her about the
    grand old days.
    Miss Nellie of Errollton
    The Real Story Staff Report
    By Aimee Shaw
    Many philosophies teach that
    life on earth is for learning, that this
    world is a sort of school. And those
    who accept reincarnation believe that
    we keep coming back - usually, many
    times over - until we get it right.
    Maybe humans are such slow learners
    because we have been following the
    wrong teachers.
    Some of the best gurus may not
    be human at all. Perhaps we should
    consider looking to the animal
    kingdom for a few hints on how to
    behave.
    Dog lovers know about uncon-
    ditional love and forgiveness. You can
    fuss at your puppy for an indiscretion
    in the wrong place, really yell at him
    and give him a swat on the rear. And
    seconds later, your dog will be at your
    feet, looking up at you with adora-
    tion, ever the faithful companion.
    Tere are few feelings as heart-
    warming as coming home to a dog.
    Tey are so very happy to greet us
    when we open the door. Tat excite-
    ment is incredibly rewarding afer
    a day at work. Tey love a walk or
    a ride in the car, but they are most
    happy just to veg out in front of the
    TV, sharing your snacks.
    And the happiness of a dog is
    contagious. Tey are never in a bad
    mood. We could learn a bit about at-
    titude adjustment from them.
    Dogs are perfectly content with
    an inexpensive toy or a blanket to tug
    on. How diferent that is from human
    children who demand brand-name
    shoes and clothing adorned with
    pricy logos.
    Cats, too, are great teachers.
    Tese days, do any of us ever get
    enough of the rest we so badly need?
    Well, cats do. Tey spend many hours
    lounging and napping. But do not
    let them fool you. Just because their
    eyes are closed, it does not mean
    they are asleep. One of our readers is
    convinced that they are listening to
    everything we say. Dont be surprised
    if one day you read a tell-all book,
    written by a kitty, exposing their
    owners foibles.
    Cats are also fastidious crea-
    tures. We would all look a lot better if
    we emulated some of their grooming
    habits. Of course, that is impossible.
    Even, Kim Kardashian doesnt spend
    as much time on her toilette as a cat!
    Both cats and dogs are true
    empaths. Tey understand when we
    are sad. Tey come close to us, as if to
    say, please do not feel bad, remem-
    ber how much I love you.
    Outside of our windows, birds
    sing sweetly, rambunctious squirrels
    chase each other around tree trunks,
    and even the crickets and frogs
    chime in with cheerful sounds. Te
    animal kingdom has much to teach
    us about being happy and being in
    the moment. Lets all pay attention
    and learn from out furry mentors. It
    might mean that the next time we go
    to heaven, we can stay there, and not
    worry about that pesky reincarnation
    thing!

    petcorner
    By Sam Mazzotta
    Paws
    Corner
    Paws
    Corner
    DEAR PAWS CORNER:
    Being a retiree trying to make
    ends meet, its been hard to pay for
    health care for my two Corgis. Are
    there free clinics in my area where I
    can get my dogs shots more cheaply?
    -- Francis H., Oklahoma City, Okla.
    DEAR FRANCIS:
    Low-cost and sometimes free
    vaccination clinics for pets are avail-
    able at diferent times of the year
    across the country. Tese are held
    by public service agencies (such as
    county or city shelters), though some
    are privately sponsored. Te clinics
    typically ofer the immunizations
    required of dogs and cats (and some-
    times other animals like ferrets) and
    license tags. Some also ofer services
    like health checks and microchip-
    ping. Prices range from $5 to $25, on
    average.
    Te problem, of course, is fnd-
    ing one of these near you.
    Tese days, the Internet is a
    great resource for locating announce-
    ments for low-cost clinics. However,
    not everyone has access to the Inter-
    net. And sometimes, the agencies or
    institutions sponsoring those clinics
    cant advertise widely, or are hard to
    locate in an Internet search.
    In these cases, your best bet is
    to regularly check locally published
    newspapers and magazines that focus
    on your community for announce-
    ments about upcoming clinics. An-
    other way is to call the local shelters,
    or the city or county government,
    to fnd out if any such clinics will be
    held in the near future.
    Ill do my best to list upcoming
    clinics in as many locations as pos-
    sible at www.pawscorner.com. In the
    meantime, keep checking with your
    local government or animal shelter
    for the next dates, times and locations
    of their low-cost clinics.
    Send your questions or com-
    ments to ask@pawscorner.com,
    or write to Paws Corner, c/o King
    Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box
    536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. If
    your question or comment is used in
    the column, youll receive a free copy
    of Fighting Fleas, the newest book-
    let from Paws Corner!
    (c) 2012 King Features Synd.,
    Inc.
    18
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    Finding Afordable Pet Health Care
    May 21, 2012 - Te day that
    started it all.
    Tis was the day that 11 pit
    bulls were seized from a home in
    Caledonia and put to sleep without a
    chance of fnding a new home. Let me
    clarify, I am not blaming the Humane
    Society - it is their policy not to adopt
    out pit bulls. However, it was this
    event that put the idea in my mind
    that a local American Pit Bull rescue
    was necessary. Little did I know that
    it was going to come to fruition much
    sooner than I thought!
    Most of you know about the pit
    bull puppy we re-homed in late June,
    and the Mama dog we found at the
    Lux the next day. Mama Girl, as we
    named her, found her forever home
    about a month later, with a very nice
    family. She is living her dream and
    being loved and cared for.
    OUR MISSION STATEMENT
    Our goal is to provide abused,
    abandoned or homeless pit bull dogs
    the medical attention they need, as
    well as the love and attention they
    deserve to heal both emotionally and
    physically. We will work to facilitate
    the rescue of abused or abandoned
    pit bulls, with placement into respon-
    sible homes, and we will participate
    in fundraising to provide pit bull
    owners the means to seek veterinary
    treatment, spay or neuter them, and
    provide them food and shelter. We
    are dedicated to fostering responsible
    pit bull ownership through low-cost
    veterinary spay/neuter options, edu-
    cation, adoption and breed advocacy.
    We ran our frst ad in Te Real
    Story Aug. 15. We received six sur-
    rendered pit bulls the following Sun-
    day, Aug. 19. What originally began
    as we can only house one pit bull at
    a time quickly got blown out of the
    water! But we cant turn our back on a
    pit bull in need. We are also accepted
    a pit bull/lab mix from Houston this
    Saturday, Aug. 25. Apparently, there
    was a great need for a local pit bull
    rescue operation!
    Te dogs we received on Aug. 19
    werent in the best of shape, but they
    are quickly fattening up and learning
    their roles. Te two younger dogs are
    very skittish, but we are working with
    them to let them know what a won-
    derful life they could have if they just
    let people in. Tey are not aggressive,
    just scared. Te older dogs are very
    people-friendly and get along well
    with each other. We are looking for
    approved fosters or forever homes,
    if anyone is interested. Teir photos
    can be seen on our website, shawpit-
    bullrescue.com, and our Facebook
    page,https://www.facebook.com/
    ShawPBR.
    We are currently in the process
    of fling for all of our licenses, cor-
    poration paper and non-proft status
    - and just about any other type of
    permit or application you can think
    of, it seems! We cant actually ask for
    tax-exempt monetary donations until
    the 501(c)3 status is granted. How-
    ever, if you are interested in helping
    our cause, please visit our website for
    more information and to see our wish
    list. We also have Hate Pit Bulls?
    t-shirts available for $15 each - or
    free with dog food donation (either
    a 40-pound bag or a small bag and
    several cans of puppy food).
    We are also in the process of
    contacting businesses and veterinary
    clinics about the possibility of plac-
    ing donation jars at their locations to
    beneft the pit bulls at Shaw Pit Bull
    Rescue. If you would be interested in
    allowing us to do this, please let us
    know. We are also looking for ideas
    and sponsors for fundraisers.
    Our dear friends Heather and
    Wayne McIntyre have also become
    pit bull advocates and are currently
    fostering a beautiful young male pit
    mix. Tey were fostering a rescued pit
    bull, but Susie has become a perma-
    nent fxture in their home! See what
    the love of a pit bull can do?!
    Starting this rescue has been
    pretty labor-intensive, but it is also
    richly rewarding on many levels.
    Finding a new, loving home for a
    rescued pit bull represents a victory
    in our life-saving
    work. Every person
    we reach with our
    message of com-
    passion and care
    for these wonder-
    ful dogs will share
    it with others...and
    that ripple of com-
    passion will keep
    growing and grow-
    ing. Tat, in itself,
    is reward enough
    for what we are
    trying to do.
    Never doubt
    that a small group
    of thoughtful,
    committed citizens
    can change the
    world; indeed, it is
    the only thing that
    ever does (Marga-
    ret Mead).
    Pet Training
    The Real Story Staff Report
    Animal
    Antics
    Shaw Pit Bull Rescue: A Labor Of Love
    19
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    For the Week of September 3, 2012
    Salomes Stars
    ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You
    might not like the sudden setback in
    your plans. But keep that headstrong
    Arian temperament in check and wait
    for explanations. Tings will begin to
    clear up by weeks end.
    TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Enjoy
    the respite from your recent hectic
    schedule, but be ready to plunge into
    a new round of social activities. A
    new contact holds much potential for
    the future.
    GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A
    trusted colleague has news that could
    change your perception of a cur-
    rent workplace situation. What had
    seemed unfair might prove to be
    highly favorable afer all.
    CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You
    still need to watch what you say and
    how you say it. What you assert as
    honesty, others might perceive as
    Crabbiness. Be patient. Tis difcult
    period clears up by the weekend.
    LEO (July 23 to August 22) Your
    Royalness needs time away from the
    limelight to catch up on things, from
    tidying your desk to making those
    calls youve put of. Youre back in the
    center of things by the weekend.
    VIRGO (August 23 to September 22)
    Honesty is the best policy, of course.
    But youll do better at achieving your
    goals if you can be less aggressive and
    more circumspect in how you phrase
    your comments.
    LIBRA (September 23 to October 22)
    Your ability to maintain your balance
    in confusing situations continues
    to work for you. Stay on the steady
    course, one step at a time. Te week-
    end shows improvement.
    SCORPIO (October 23 to November
    21) Your indecisiveness could simply
    be your keen Scorpian sense warning
    you to be wary of making a commit-
    ment. Take this time to do a more
    thorough investigation.
    SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to
    December 21) Good news: New
    information comes your way to help
    you make a more informed decision
    on how to deal with the opportunity
    that has opened up for you.
    CAPRICORN (December 22 to
    January 19) Tis is a good time to
    reinforce your self-confdence by
    acknowledging your good qualities to
    yourself. A lull in your social life ends
    by the weekend. Have fun.
    AQUARIUS (January 20 to Febru-
    ary 18) Its a good time to let those
    recently pent-up emotions fow more
    freely. Why not start by letting the
    people you care for know how you
    really feel about them?
    PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
    Resist ofers, no matter how well-
    intentioned, to help with a personal
    decision. Only you know what must
    be done, and you have the emotional
    strength to follow through.
    BORN THIS WEEK: You have a
    talent for getting things done. You
    also have a gif for bringing people
    together in both personal and profes-
    sional relationships.
    (c) 2012 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

    comicsandpuzzles
    1. What is the name of the military post where Beetle Bailey and Sgt.
    Orville Snorkle are stationed?

    2. What was name of the Illinois Central Railroad train on which
    Casey Jones normally served as engineer?

    3. Captain James T. Kirk was the commander of the starship Enter-
    prise. What does the T stand for?

    4. What is the magic word that changes Billy Batson into Captain Mar-
    vel and back again?

    5. What was the name of the Government Indian College in Pennsyl-
    vania for which the great Jim Thorpe played football?
    Answers on Page 21
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    20
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    comicsandpuzzles
    21
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    sports
    Jackson State (0-0) At Mississippi State (0-0) Preview
    By Jeremiah Short
    Trivia Answers
    1. Camp Swampy.2. Cannonball Express.3. Tiberius.4. Shazam.5. Carlisle
    Location: Starkville, Miss. (Davis-
    Wade Stadium)
    Time: 6:00 p.m.
    TV: Fox Sports Net, ESPN3
    Initial Analysis: Te Mississippi State
    Bulldogs enter their opening season
    tilt versus the Jackson State Tigers,
    looking to put a disappointing 2011
    season behind them. As I mentioned
    in my season preview, there is a lot
    of optimism surrounding the season.
    Te Tigers dont present the Bulldogs
    with a tough challenge, but it does
    give them a chance to hit someone
    other than their own teammates.
    I will now breakdown the key stats,
    players to watch and keys to victory
    for both teams.
    Ofensive Stats
    Jackson State (Multiple)
    2011 Scoring Ofense: 35.8
    2011 Passing Yards Per Game: 348.1
    2011 Rushing Yards Per Game: 142.8
    MSU (Spread Option)
    2011 Scoring Ofense: 25.3
    2011 Passing Yards Per Game: 181.8
    2011 Rushing Yards Per Game: 175.3
    Defensive Stats
    Jackson State (4-3)
    2011 Scoring Defense: 15.3
    2011 Passing Yards Per Game Al-
    lowed: 165.9
    2011 Rushing Yards Per Game Al-
    lowed: 118.2
    MSU (Multiple Fronts)
    2011 Scoring Defense: 19.3
    2011 Passing Yards Per Game Al-
    lowed: 197.2
    2011 Rushing Yards Per Game Al-
    lowed: 153.5
    Players To Watch
    Jackson State
    A. Joseph Lebeau: Lebeau was a force
    last year in the Southwestern Athletic
    Conference. He had 16 sacks on the
    season and was named an All-Con-
    ference performer. While the talented
    edge-rusher did his damage on the
    lower division level, he should pose a
    challenge for inexperienced Bulldog
    ofensive tackles.
    B. Rico Richardson: Richardson
    had a stellar season in 2011, with
    37 catches, 896 yards and 11 touch-
    downs. Again, he did it at the F.C.S.
    level, but he is someone the Bulldog
    secondary should keep an eye on.
    C. Qua Cox: Afer looking at Coxs
    highlights and career numbers, this
    kid is a legit NFL player who just so
    happens to be playing for J-State.
    Hes only one guy, but Tyler Russell
    better be aware of which side of the
    feld the talented defender is posi-
    tioned.
    MSU
    A. Tyler Russell: Russell is fnally
    the man, afer three long seasons
    behind Tyson Lee and Chris Relf.
    He has taken charge of the team and
    seems ready to be a top-shelf SEC
    quarterback. Although the Meridian
    product isnt facing great competi-
    tion, it will be interesting to see if
    he can start the season with a bang.
    It would be huge for his confdence
    going into the frst SEC game against
    Auburn.
    B. Devon Bell: Bell is just a true
    freshman, but he could be a vital cog
    during the 2012 season. He will serve
    as the kickof specialist and possi-
    bly kicker or maybe even punter,
    if Baker Swedenburg gets hurt. Te
    kickofs have been moved up fve
    yards, and if Bells leg is as good as
    advertised, he could virtually elimi-
    nate the opponents kickof return
    game.
    C. Blaine Clausell: Clausell, as I
    noted in my season preview, will be
    protecting Russells blindside. It will
    be interesting to see how he handles
    the role against a great pass-rusher,
    Joseph LeBeau.
    3 Keys To Victory
    Jackson State
    A. Unleash Te Tigers: Ive always
    felt that, when a team is overmatched
    the way the Tigers are in this match-
    up, they need to pull out all the stops
    ofensively and defensively. It seems
    to be the Tigers style, anyway, and I
    expect nothing less in the frst game.
    B. Dont Get Rattled: It would easy
    for the Tigers to feel the pressure
    against a superior opponent, but they
    must maintain their composure in a
    tough environment.
    C. Capitalize On Turnovers: If the
    Tigers are able to force turnovers on
    Saturday, they must fnd a way to
    score every time. Te Bulldogs wont
    give them much, but when they do,
    the Tigers must take advantage.
    MSU
    A. Send A Message: Te Bulldogs
    goal in this game is not just to win
    but to win convincingly. I think they
    must exorcize some demons from
    the 2011 season against the Tigers.
    I know some people dont believe in
    running up the score, but I feel it is
    necessary in some cases. Tis is one
    of those cases - and Im talking 70-
    plus points.
    B. Get Young Players Reps: Tis is
    a pretty straightforward point. Te
    Bulldogs must take care of business
    early and get their inexperienced
    players some reps. Tey must build
    up their depth for the stretch run, and
    playing underclassmen will accom-
    plish that goal.
    C. Be Efcient: I will understand if
    the Bulldogs are vanilla against the
    Tigers, but the key is to be efcient
    with the plays that are called. Te
    kinks need to be worked out before
    they play Auburn in Week 2.
    Final Analysis: While I would love
    to sound analytical and write that the
    Tigers have a chance, I dont believe
    that is likely. Te Tigers do have a
    solid ofense, and have a few play-
    makers, but I feel that the Bulldogs
    superior talent will take over before
    the frst half is over.
    Te Bulldogs will win and win big.
    My Prediction: 56-14
    Whos the man? Dan Mullen
    is - or at least that is what the average
    Mississippi State fan will tell you.
    Mullen, 40, has received extraor-
    dinary acclaim since taking over as
    the Bulldogs head coach on Decem-
    ber 10, 2008. Its been warranted, con-
    sidering Mullen has taken the team
    to two bowl games in three years and
    raised the national profle of a pro-
    gram that was a laughingstock for the
    seven years prior to his arrival - with
    only one winning season (2007) dur-
    ing that period. Furthermore, until
    the recent NCAA investigation came
    to light, it appeared that Mullen ran a
    clean program.
    Also, the fourth-year coachs
    success is one of the main reasons
    the Bulldog administration was able
    to secure a new multi-million dollar
    football facility and expand Davis-
    Wade Stadium (2014).
    With these credentials, Im sure
    some people will say, What can you
    criticize about this guy, J. Short?
    Well, I think there is plenty to cri-
    tique, even though he has accom-
    plished so much in his short tenure.
    Te credit for most of the
    Bulldog victories the past three years
    has gone to Mullen, but I think there
    are other factors that people must
    consider.
    For one - and most importantly
    - Mullen has won with Sylvester
    Crooms talent. I repeat, Mullen has
    won with Crooms talent! In 2010,
    Mullens best season, 20 of 22 ofen-
    sive and defensive starters were either
    already on the roster or committed to
    Croom when Mullen was hired.
    Now, Mullen has developed and
    nurtured that talent, but another man
    is responsible for them becoming
    Bulldogs, and it should be noted.
    To be honest, he has failed to
    beat a legitimate team during those
    years. Te landmark games that the
    Bulldogs have won (Georgia, Florida
    and Michigan) came when those
    teams were experiencing down years.
    I know some fans dont want to hear
    that, but its the truth.
    While Mullens ofense has failed
    to take of the last three years, he has
    been blessed with good defensive
    coordinators - Carl Torbush, Manny
    Diaz and Chris Wilson - who have
    covered up the fact that the ofensive
    game planning has been less than
    stellar.
    I know some people are reading
    this column at this point, and think-
    ing, Man, J. Short really hates Mul-
    len. And my response would be that
    you are incorrect. I celebrate the job
    Mullen has done overall, but in my
    opinion, he could have done more.
    I feel that Mississippi State fans
    sufered through so much bad foot-
    ball before Mullen arrived, that they
    are, in a way, satisfed with any form
    of progress.
    But if everyone were to take a
    step back, they would realize that
    beating Ole Miss and Kentucky every
    year isnt getting the job done on the
    feld, and it should not pacify them.
    Te fact that the fan base has
    been giving Mullen a relative pass
    may be in part due to his selling them
    a dream - the dream of making it
    to SEC Championship games, B.C.S.
    bowls and the National Title game.
    Mullen didnt do himself any
    favors in making the following state-
    ment at SEC Media Days:
    Weve had the opportunity to
    beat every one of those teams, right
    down to the fourth quarter, the last
    plays of the game. Te big diference
    for us is that we have to make those
    game-winning plays. I think three of
    those teams have won the national
    championship.
    When you look, the great thing
    I guess in our program, the SEC
    West, were not far of from there,
    which means were not far of from
    the national title. As youre develop-
    ing, as youre building the program,
    the confdence that comes in our
    guys, I think they see that. Tey see
    that, Hey, were not far of from these
    teams, and these teams have won the
    national title, are ranked in the top
    fve in the country. We can be right
    there.
    Tis proclamation made him a
    trending topic on Twitter and excited
    the Bulldog fans. Mullens mentioning
    national title and State in the same
    sentence may have amped up the
    pressure on him to the next level.
    With everything I have present-
    ed taken into consideration, I feel it is
    time - and I mean time - that Mullen
    deliver on his promises with a nine-
    plus-win regular season.
    Te task isnt daunting, as the
    Bulldogs have an easy early season
    slate and get Arkansas and Alabama
    at home. He also has the talent to
    make it happen. Te Bulldogs have
    stability at the quarterback position,
    a bevy of running backs, an experi-
    enced receiving core, an improved
    ofensive line and a defense that is
    considered the best in years, featuring
    several All-SEC candidates.
    Basically, I feel that the time for
    excuses and throwing players and
    coaches under the bus is OVER.
    Do you feel Mullen needs to
    deliver in 2012?
    Mullen Must Deliver In 2012
    By Jeremiah Short
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    sports
    Te dash between those two
    dates represents a life well lived and
    well loved by generations of baseball
    fans in New England and beyond.
    John Michael Paveskovichs death, at
    age 92, marks the passing of a Red
    Sox legend. Numerous tributes, even
    from Yankees fans, poured in for
    one of the great ambassadors of the
    game of baseball. Better known as
    Johnny Pesky, the native of Seattle
    journeyed far from home to establish
    his reputation and legacy in Boston.
    Signing a professional contract with
    the Red Sox in 1939, with but minor
    excursions to Detroit and Washing-
    ton during his playing days, his direct
    association with the Fenway Flock
    lasted for more than 60 years. During
    his tenure, he also managed the Sox
    (1963 and 1964) and served as coach,
    color analyst in the broadcast booth,
    scout, spring training instructor, and
    general ambassador for the Red Sox.
    He would suit up and hit fungoes well
    into his 80s at spring training. His
    straight-up pop fies for catchers were
    cloud scrapers.
    He was an active player for 12
    years, eight with the Red Sox, with
    three seasons missed due to his ser-
    vice in World War II. His best years
    were with the Sox, and he fnished
    his active career with a .307 lifetime
    batting average. Part of his legacy will
    notably be the play in the 1946 World
    Series, where the Cardinals Enos
    Slaughter scored all the way from
    frst base on a single to win the series.
    Many felt Pesky held the relay throw
    from Leon Culberson (a substitute
    in the game for Dom DiMaggio) too
    long and was therefore tabbed as the
    goat of the Series. Later analysis of
    the game footage suggests he did not,
    but the legend became part of base-
    ball lore. However, as long as there
    is a Fenway Park, the right feld foul
    pole around which he curled some
    home runs will be the better part of
    that legacy, being ofcially named
    Peskys Pole on his 87th birthday in
    2006. His number 6 was retired in
    2008.
    Peskys friendship with team-
    mates Bobby Doerr, Ted Williams
    and Dom DiMaggio was legendary,
    depicted in the book, Te Team-
    mates. He was also close to 1946
    World Series teammate Dave Boo
    Ferriss of Cleveland, Miss., and Delta
    State University fame.
    In a phone conversation, Boo
    stated, Johnny was a terrifc team-
    mate and person, really the heart
    and soul of Boston baseball for years.
    He will be sorely missed. Now, only
    Bobby (Hall of Famer Doerr - now
    94) and I remain from that 46 club.
    While he never hit many homeruns,
    he was a terrifc hitter and set the
    table for Ted Williams.
    Another phone conversation,
    this time with Dalton Jones of Lib-
    erty, Miss., resulted in one of many
    stories that revealed much of Johnny
    Peskys character. Dalton played nine
    years in the major leagues as a suc-
    cessful utility player, still holding the
    Red Sox record for pinch hits with
    55 in his six years there. Te story
    centers around the frst of those pinch
    hits.
    Dalton related, I came up
    in 1964 as a 20-year-old with
    Tony Conigliaro, and Johnny
    was the manager. In an early
    April game at Fenway against
    the Angels, we were down 5-3
    in the bottom of the ninth.
    Always eager to hit, I had
    adopted a practice of walking
    back and forth in the dugout in
    front of Johnny while holding
    a bat, suggesting Id be willing
    to pinch hit. So at this point,
    Johnny said to me, Okay, kid,
    if the pitcher gets up, youre
    pinch hitting. Well, the pitcher
    was up sixth, so I fgured Id
    never get up, especially afer
    the Angels got two quick outs.
    But then, due to a hit and two
    walks, I was sent up, with the bases
    loaded and two outs. My knees were
    knocking pretty bad while the pitcher
    threw three straight balls. Figuring
    a walk, I was taking the pitches, and
    the pitcher threw two strikes - so
    with two out, bases loaded and a
    3-2 count, my knees were doing a
    tap dance. Te pitcher then made a
    mistake, pitching from a full wind-
    up, and by the time the pitch arrived,
    Roman Mejias from frst base was
    already to second - and I lined one up
    the middle, scoring all three runs and
    winning the game. Pesky was so ex-
    cited about winning that he grabbed
    me afer the post-game interviews,
    took me into his ofce, closed the
    door and called my parents to share
    his excitement with them. Ive never
    forgotten that, and it just shows how
    much Johnny cared about his players
    and the Sox.
    My own numerous memories
    over a span of over 25 years of rather
    frequent association with Johnny as a
    freelance writer substantiate the com-
    ments from both Boo and Dalton. He
    was always approachable; a friendly,
    engaging person and a class act. My
    favorite memory was on the occasion
    of sitting with him for an entire Sox-
    Rangers spring game in the bullpen
    and his introducing me as Mo from
    Mississippi to the Colonel, a long-
    time presence at the Winter Haven
    training site. Later, afer seeing his
    picture in a Time magazine story, I
    found out that the Colonel was also
    named Dick Mahoney, and that led to
    a friendship for 10 years until the Sox
    lef Winter Haven for Fort Myers.
    To Johnny Pesky, one of the
    most popular players in the history of
    the Boston Red Sox, may you rest in
    peace!
    The Legacy Of John Michael Paveskovich
    - Sept. 27, 1919 - Aug. 13, 2012
    By Dick Mahoney
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    23
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