Apparently someone in Starkville has it in for the Commercial Dispatch (Lola maybe?).

The Jackson, MS-based Clarion Ledger sent a letter to Columbus residents earlier this week notifying them that their daily paper was reducing publication as a weekly advertiser and they would like to take their place at the breakfast table.

Trouble is- that’s not true. So much for verifying sources.

According to published reports, someone from Starkville notified the Ledger that the Dispatch was cutting back and they ran with it. The letter flooded Columbus and caused almost panic in the streets.

Anyone out there want to ‘fess up?

JULY 23, 2009 10:25:00 AM

TIM PRATT

STARKVILLE — Residents of some Starkville neighborhoods soon might not have to look at the same drab street signs as other parts of the city.

Thanks to the efforts of the Starkville Central Neighborhood Foundation and Downtown Business Association, new, colorful street signs, complete with custom logos, could begin showing up in the city’s historic districts as soon as this fall. They would replace the standard white signs with black lettering seen throughout the city.

Jamie Mixon, a graphic design professor at Mississippi State University and board member of the Starkville Central Neighborhood Foundation, is designing logos for each neighborhood with input from fellow board members, businesses and residents. She already completed the logo for signs in the Greensboro District. Those signs will feature the same design found on the facade of the Greensboro Center.

Mixon also will complete designs for the Nash Street Historic District, Overstreet School Historic District and Old Main District downtown after she receives additional input.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

JULY 23, 2009 10:36:00 AM

JORDAN NOVET

STARKVILLE — As Richard Kaminski strolled about his backyard with a glass of red wine Wednesday, he had a sunset to see and a breeze to praise.

“Isn’t it beautiful here?” asked Kaminski, who lives in the Stonegate subdivision. “That’s why we bought this place.”

But not all was well. He was concerned about what would become of the creek, or riparian corridor, at the end of his yard — never mind what would turn up on the other side.

Inching closer to the creek, Kaminski, a professor of wildlife and associate dean of the College of Forest Resources at Mississippi State University, lamented the possibility of the creek being replaced with a pipe.

A pipe would not boast the advantages of a natural body of water, which include the ability to send excess water into surrounding soil for absorption, he said.

“A travesty would be to lay a concrete pipe through a creek,” he said.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

JULY 22, 2009 10:55:00 AM

TIM PRATT

STARKVILLE — The Starkville Board of Aldermen approved a controversial zoning change Tuesday night, despite the wishes of several dozen residents who showed up in opposition.

With a 5-1 vote, the board approved the rezoning of 12.7 acres on Academy Road from a C-2 general business district to a R-3A single-family, medium density zone. The land, which is a pasture, is located on the south side of Academy Road, east of Hummingbird Lane.

Only Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver voted against the rezoning. Ward 3 Alderman Eric Parker recused himself from the vote because until recently he worked with the land’s developer, Frank Brewer.

Brewer plans to build 63 single-family homes on the property, according to plans filed with the city.

Residents of the nearby Academy Place and Stonegate subdivisions, however, were adamantly against the zoning change and housing plans. After the meeting, John Gaskin, who serves as president of the Academy Place Homeowner’s Association, wasn’t happy with the board.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

The board voted 5-1 to approve zoning change for the Brewer property on Academy Road from C2 to R3A. Ward 3 alderman Eric Parker recused himself from the vote.

7:50 AM: Appears the Ben Carver fan club is one step closer to becoming reality. (Chaired by Lola and Amazed). The SDN has their article up. Appears that this may end up in court.

JULY 21, 2009 11:19:00 AM

TIM PRATT

STARKVILLE — Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman Monday said a new municipal complex should be “the highest priority” for the city, and he expects the issue to come to a referendum by next summer.

“The timeline that I would like for us to be on is, within a year, I would like for us to be ready to start a project,” Wiseman said after speaking at the Starkville Rotary Club’s weekly meeting. “And I’m saying this assuming, which in all likelihood will be the case, there will need to be a referendum for a bond issue.”

“Barring some unforeseen stream of revenue, the project will in all likelihood require a bond issue, given this project has been in the public eye for nearly a decade,” Wiseman later said. “I think the public expects a referendum before any bonds are issued and they are probably justified in that expectation.”

Wiseman said he would like the city to form a committee, possibly with a representative from each of Starkville’s seven wards, to research possibilities for a new complex. The existing City Hall building at one time was an armory, Wiseman said, and was donated to the city in 1968. The building houses the offices of the mayor, city department heads and other personnel, as well as municipal court and Starkville Police Department.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.