May 23, 2025 • 46 mins
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Candidates for Ward 5, Mary Beth Jeter and Gary Jefferson, share their visions for Columbus while discussing crime, youth programs, and rejuvenating the city's image. The hosts also dive into the controversial naming process for the Columbus Fossil Park.
• Crime concerns in the city, with differing perspectives on whether enforcement or community building is the primary solution
• Jeter advocates for enforcing the juvenile curfew and increasing police presence
• Jefferson emphasizes that crime statistics show improvement while focusing on community engagement
• Candidates discuss positive developments in Columbus, with Jeter highlighting downtown growth and Jefferson naming local businesses in Ward 5
• Both agree on the importance of youth programs but differ on implementation approaches
• The hosts examine the Columbus Fossil Park naming controversy and broader policy implications
• Discussion about when and how public facilities should be named after individuals
Tips, questions, and comments welcome at tips@cdispatch.com.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
From the opinion page of the Commercial Dispatch.
This is Between the Headlines.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
This is Peter Imes, publisher of the Dispatch.
One of our hosts of Between theHeadlines is the managing
editor of our newsroom.
Typically, we try to keep newsand opinions separate, but
reporters have a unique insightinto the workings of local
government and their analysiscan be helpful for readers and
listeners.
The Dispatch remains committedto journalistic integrity and
(00:37):
our reporting will alwaysreflect that.
And now Between the Headlines.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
This week, on Between the Headlines, the Columbus
Municipal Panties are once againin a wad, this time over the
naming procedure of theforthcoming fossil park.
Also in the studio today wehave Ms Mary Beth Jeter and Mr
Gary Jefferson.
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(01:26):
And now a message frompolitical candidate Bill Strauss
.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
This is Bill Strauss, your 2025 candidate for mayor
of Columbus.
As election time draws near,ask yourself are you satisfied
with our city leadership?
What has been done to eliminateour flooding issues?
What has been done to eliminateour housing blight?
Are our streets safe?
Why have we not kept up withWest Point, starkville and
Tupelo?
We must have new leadership Outwith the old and in with the
(01:54):
new.
Elect Bill Strauss, your newmayor, paid for by campaign to
elect Bill Strauss mayor 2025.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
And now a message from political candidate Jason
Spears.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
Hello, I am Jason Spears.
Economic growth and optimismback to our city.
I, like you, believe we can getback on track and know that as
a community, we're going to makeit happen.
I approve this message and, onJune 3rd, vote Jason Spears for
Ward 6.
Paid for by the campaign toelect Jason Spears, Ward 6.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
You are listening to Between the Headlines with the
man with the healthiest prostatein the Golden Triangle and
managing editor of the, the alsoa fan of HIPAA, obviously Mr
Zach Pleer, and my name is DavidChisholm.
We have in the studio today MrGary Jefferson.
Welcome to you, sir and MissBarry Beth Jeter.
(02:59):
How are you Jeff?
Wait, I got that mixed up a fewtimes because I've seen the
signs I'm like wait, is his nameGary or is his name Jeff?
You go by Gary, right?
No, Gregory.
Gregory.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Good grief.
Do we just need to starteverything over?
I have no idea.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
I am Gary.
Okay, all right, welcome sir.
How are you today?
I'm fine.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
How are you, Ms Jeter ?
You doing all right.
Speaker 7 (03:27):
I'm good, I'm doing great.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
All right.
Well, thanks for joining ustoday and I want to jump right
in, ms Jeter.
I've heard you both speak onthe campaign trail a handful of
times.
I've heard you, ms Jeter, a fewmore times than Mr Jefferson.
When you've spoken on thecampaign trail, including at a
forum with my colleague not toolong ago.
You have spoken very starklyabout safety issues in the town,
(03:55):
safety issues in yourneighborhood.
The last time when you spoke toDavid here at the forum, you
talked about being afraid towalk to the Y and the
homelessness problem and peopleyelling and cussing at you when
you're going to the Y.
During those conversations Ihaven't heard you speak as much
(04:16):
about solutions that you see ifyou were a councilwoman.
So let's just start there.
How bad is it in your eyes andwhat do you intend to do about
it if you're elected?
Speaker 7 (04:27):
Well, the first thing that I would like to
investigate, or maybe discuss, Iguess, with the police
department, is our curfew.
We do have a curfew in LowndesCounty and my question to them
would be why aren't youenforcing it?
And let's see if we can gettogether and do something about
(04:47):
that, get it enforced or getsomething into play where these
people that are walking aroundlate at night, why can't we find
out why they're out and whythey're walking around our
neighborhoods Because cars aregetting broken into?
I even had a lady down behind apotential constituent if I'm
elected.
She lives down behind thehardware store, military
(05:10):
hardware.
Her house has been broken intoon two different occasions and
she was expressing that to me afew weeks ago when I talked to
her and she said you know, she'skind of afraid to stay by
herself anymore.
She's an older lady like me,and so I think that we need to
get a relationship with ourpolice, with the city council,
(05:32):
and let's get together with aplan, let's devise something
where we can get these youngpeople off the street.
I'm assuming they're youngpeople.
I've seen them on cameras.
They walk a lot faster and seema lot more limber than I am for
sure, I'm not trying to callanybody out by any means, but
they look like they're probablyyoung folks walking around late
(05:54):
at night.
And you know, we were all youngat one time we liked to stay
out late at night, but it's notvery safe.
And today, in the environmentwe have today, when you're going
up to someone's under theircarport which I've seen on the
cameras on Facebook, people putit on there where the kids look
(06:15):
like they're coming up under the, they are coming up under their
carports you know it's not safefor them either.
You know, I'm really afraidsomebody's going to get shot by
a homeowner at some point ifthis isn't taken care of.
So I think probably enforcingour curfew first and just being
boots on the street at late atnight, you know, I think that
(06:38):
would help.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
All right.
Well, Mr Jefferson and I knowthat you've talked about crime
on the campaign trail too, anddifferent ways of enforcing it
when you hear Ms Jeter talkabout the fear factor and the
rampant crime, is that whatyou're seeing?
What's your impression ofgenerally crime in the city and
(06:59):
crime in your ward and whatneeds to be done about it?
Speaker 6 (07:02):
Well, I actually was at the city council meeting so I
know that they got a credationsaying that crime is actually
down.
I just think one crime is onetoo many, but I also think that
the outlook that we put on it,it's a lot of negativity that we
(07:23):
put on crime.
I mean, like I said, one crimeis one too many, but crime has
been going down.
Nobody want their house to bebroken into, their cars to be
broken into.
Of course my car have beenbroken into.
Of course my house have beenbroken into.
But I think that communitypolicing if we get enough
(07:46):
polices to actually startwalking the beat, walking with
our chief, I mean talking withhim, seeing what we actually
need.
I know Mary Beth said they lookyoung and they could be.
They could be people of agewalking, regardless whoever they
(08:06):
are.
The curfew is a good thing tolook at, but I don't see a whole
lot of curfew people walking,younger people there's more.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Right, because it's a juvenile curfew, yeah that's a
juvenile curfew Do you think theviolent crimes that do occur?
Do you think they are largelydomestic in nature?
Do you think that some of it'sactually organized?
I mean, just in your purview ofeverything.
Speaker 6 (08:31):
I don't think it organized.
I know we deal with some gangsbut I don't think it organized.
I just think a lot of time someof the shooting be retaliated
or something that happened forthe most part on the shooting
and we know that it actually hasbeen down of late in my area.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Do you think that many of those retaliations are
drug transactions gone, badthings of that sort, or do you
think it's like ex-boyfriendtype situations?
I mean, I don't have the answer.
I'm genuinely curious.
Speaker 6 (09:09):
Well, I couldn't tell you exactly what caused it.
You know we just had to get outthere and work the community
and see what's going on.
I know I'm able to talk to somepeople and you know it can be a
mixture.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
What about technology ?
Is that the solution?
More cameras, more money, more,more people?
I mean, you mentioned, like aI'm kind of hearing from you a
neighborhood watch kind ofsituation and I think that's
helpful and it's certainlycheaper than hiring more
officers.
Um, is it both and Well both?
Speaker 6 (09:52):
Technology as many polices, as I know that the
chief said that hopefully by theend of the year or somewhere,
that we might actually be fullof staff, I think.
So we're up to 50, I think, orheading to 50 in the meeting
Tuesday night.
So that's a good thing.
So I think that we're headingin the right direction.
But the negative that we put onthe city of Columbus, I think
(10:17):
we as individuals, communityleaders, community leaders is
going to have to put a morepositive spotlight on.
I see in Starville they havejust as many crimes as Columbus.
I'm looking, I'm reading, butthey don't get the negative
(10:38):
publicity.
So why?
I don't know the answer, but myinput is to be a positive light
for the city of Columbus.
I don't know the answer, but myinput is to be a positive light
for the city of Colombo.
There's a lot of good inColombo's and there are some bad
, but I'm looking at thepositive side of Columbus.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Well, and that's where I want to jump in with you
, Ms Jeter.
You have talked a lot about thebad.
I have what's good in Columbusand specifically in your ward.
What do you see as the positivethings going on in your ward?
Speaker 7 (11:12):
Well, I'm seeing, you know, part of our ward is in
the downtown area and I amseeing a lot of businesses
coming in the coffee shop over,going toward East Columbus and
some other clothing stores andstuff.
I'm seeing that I'm seeing ourdowntown area seems to be
looking really good.
As far as the beautification,you know, I know that Ms Piccolo
(11:35):
does a good job with that and Iappreciate her with all of her
input.
And I do see a lot ofbeautification coming in and you
know our soccer fields and wecertainly that's bringing in a
lot of, that's bringing in a lotof people to Columbus with the
(11:57):
soccer tournaments andeverything.
So that's something that's verypositive.
And of course, our otherfacility in West Lounds which is
, you know, bringing in a lot aswell.
So I see our industry out nearthe airport area, you know, and
that's a good thing so wehopefully can create more jobs
(12:18):
for people in Columbus.
So I do see a lot of positivegoing on in Columbus.
But my concern is, you know,let's clean up the city and
let's make it a better place tolive so people will come.
You know I'm in the real estatebusiness.
I work for a real estateattorney so I do all the title
work.
So I see who's buying homes here, as opposed to who's buying, or
(12:39):
how many people are buying, inWest Point and Starkville.
So we need to get our cityunder control so people will
come into this area.
And we do have a lot ofpositive here.
We have a lot to offer people,so let's get it going.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Have you been down to see the hunt renovation?
Speaker 7 (13:02):
I have not.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Okay, pretty nice renovation.
Have you been down to see it?
No, I haven't.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
The swamp is still behind it.
I talk about that every episode.
It's a problem.
I look forward to seeing thatmyself actually.
Now let me ask you about theyou talked about the looks of
things.
Is the negativity that kind ofhas a black cloud over our town
seemingly?
Is that branding?
Is that the talking heads onsocial media?
(13:31):
Miss Mary Beth, where do youthink that comes from and, as an
elected official, how do youthink you might be able to quell
that?
Speaker 7 (13:39):
Yeah, I think a lot of social media.
We do see, you know, a lot ofthings going on unfortunately on
social media.
That's not very positive forour town.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Well, people say things on there just to be a
squeaky wheel and to getattention and I think a lot of
that's unfortunate.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
I do too, get attention.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
And I think a lot of that's unfortunate, but, like
you know, when Leroy Brooks wasrunning for mayor, he was
talking about he's going to bethe smile of the city and he's
going to just rebrand.
Well, it's kind of hard to dohere because you know who are we
?
Who are we as a town?
Are we, are we the W?
Are we the owls?
Are we the Air Force people?
Speaker 7 (14:17):
I mean, how do you define Colombians?
Well, I think we're kind of allmixed in, because we do have
the W, we do have the Air ForceBase, we have our different
industries here, you know, and alot to offer, but we need to
work together.
I think we've become divided inColumbus as well, and I saw
(14:39):
that.
I think I told you all how Imoved out of the area and then
came back into the area and itseemed like there was a lot of
divide, and I think that wereally just need to reunite in
our little town and just cometogether to make it a better
place to live.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Mr Jefferson, I want to double back on asking you a
question.
I asked Ms Jeter a while agoabout what's positive in your
ward specifically, and Ms Jetermentioned specifically that
downtown was part of the wardand she talked about what was
positive there.
What is positive in your wardthat's not in downtown?
Speaker 6 (15:17):
Well, we've got a lot of little small business in our
ward and I mean we got aclothing store, we got venue, we
got a military hardware store,we got the school that come at
Hickstor's school, the Franklinsmall barbecue places.
(15:39):
So I mean she got the uptownit's.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Helen's Kitchen in your ward.
Speaker 6 (15:43):
Helen's Kitchen.
Man, that's good.
So we got a lot of positive inbusiness that not just pops up
but actually been in businessfor a pretty long time.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
So that's you know but actually been in business
for a pretty long time.
So that's you know.
How would you define thecharacter?
Speaker 6 (16:05):
of your ward in whole .
Well, from campaigning you knowthey are we.
It's a.
I guess we can't come together.
(16:28):
We actually got right now I'mtalking she said yeah, but I
said when I am elected that Iactually got people that's
willing to be block captains.
I don't have a lot of them, butI got a few people that have
already committed to helping mebe successful in the war, to
helping me be successful in theward, for not just cleaning but
to anything going like theNeighborhood Watch.
They ain't saying they're goingto be the Neighborhood Watch
program, but they will let knowwhen things look unfamiliar.
(16:50):
Actually, when I was coming uphere, a lady called me and
telling me that somebody and I'mlike, hey, we're a little
premature.
But she lady called me andtelling me that somebody and I'm
like a little premature, butshe's calling me and telling me
she got concern on her roadabout somebody bringing a basket
and dropping off stuff.
So I do think that we can, ourcharacter can be together if we
(17:13):
get a positive light on war atthe fire we get a positive light
on Ward 5.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Okay, and either one of you guys win, y'all will be
new to the council.
Y'all will be representing award that has had the same
representative for nine years,who could possibly also be still
in city office, just in adifferent capacity.
I guess what is y'all's visionfor sort of transitioning the
(17:46):
constituency of the ward tocoming to you guys?
What kind of you going to them?
What kind of leadership do youintend to provide on that front?
And we'll start with you, msJeter.
Speaker 7 (17:57):
Well, I work very well with other people to try
and get the jobs done.
I was in the oil and gasbusiness for several years and
when they gave us a map and toldus to go get the job done, we
have to drill this well in threemonths, and there's a lot
involved in drilling an oil andgas well and we would sometimes
only have five people to workwith, you know so.
(18:19):
So we had to get it done andget it done quickly, and there
was a lot of high pressure and Ialways worked well with all of
my you know co-workers and andwe would just get the job done
and we would just focus on whathad to be done.
And I think that's what I canbring to the table.
Whatever comes our way with thecity, I'll just focus on trying
(18:39):
to get it done and working withothers, you know, to get that
job done for the city.
I don't have I'm not in this forme at all.
As a matter of fact, I'm alittle bit like our former
president.
I don't really need all of this, but I want it Don't need the
(19:00):
job.
But I want it.
I really think I can make adifference and I want to do
what's best for our city.
And I have children that aregoing to.
They already live here, they'regoing to live here, they're
probably never going to move out, they have jobs here.
And then I have fourgrandchildren that will grow up
here and I want our city to bethe best place that it can be
(19:20):
for my family and their future,as well as everybody in Ward 5
and the other wards, becausewhen one ward is stronger, every
ward will get stronger.
So that's what we need to tryand do.
We need some better leadership,in my opinion, and just people
that will work together to getthe job do, and just.
We need some better leadership,in my opinion, and just people
that will work together to getthe job done, and that's what I
(19:40):
intend to do.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Okay, I want to give Mr Jefferson an opportunity to
answer that same question.
I mean stepping in a ward whereyou've had the same councilman
for nine years.
If you're elected, you would benew to the council and stepping
into that role.
So you know what's your visionfor how that's going to look as
far as how you are engaging theconstituency.
Speaker 6 (20:03):
Well, they are telling me they want unity, they
want common sense solution.
And so what?
That is just common sense.
If it don't seem to be right,they tell them we want you to
(20:24):
represent us with a person thatwe can be proud of.
They say they don't want meacting stupid.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
They say they want me to be Well where, I guess for
both of you guys.
Where have the problems been inthe last four years on the
council and the administrationthat you've said?
Oh, if I was on there Iwouldn't have done that.
Speaker 6 (20:52):
Well, my thing is, I'm always.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
I don't like what they call a Monday morning
quarterback.
That's all we do on thisprogram.
Speaker 6 (20:57):
I mean that's what it's about.
No, I might see it in adifferent light than someone
else.
So I really I try not toquestion.
Now it's easy for me to say Iwouldn't do that, I wouldn't do
that, I wouldn't do that.
But I don't think that it'sfeasible for me to just always
say that whatever, because somedecisions are very hard, some
(21:22):
are tricky, some is that youhave to maneuver stuff and my
ability is what can I do tobetter Columbus and work
together?
So that means that sometimesthey say you have to make
unpopular decision for what youthink is right.
(21:47):
At home I done had to make adecision that wasn't popular.
My wife and kid would say wedon't agree with you.
But then Guess what.
But I have to make those toughdecisions, so I don't.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
I know where you are on that?
Speaker 6 (22:06):
Yeah, I don't want you to second guess me.
I want you to see the outcomeof what I'm doing.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
Well, whichever one of y'all happen to get in there
I hope that you'll, and this isjust David Chisholm speaking but
just let some decisions be madebased on data, Because right
now, I don't see a whole heck ofa lot.
Just being honest, I don't seea heck of a lot of decisions
being made based on data madebased on data.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
So do you, ms Jeter?
The question of you talkedabout the foolishness.
You talked about some thingsthat have not gone well with the
council.
What do you see over the lastfour years where you're like
that needed to be donedifferently?
Speaker 7 (22:49):
Well, giving themselves a raise for one thing
, I think I was opposed to that,I just didn't agree with that.
And some of the things they'redoing now the last one, for
instance, that you know y'allreported on going on these trips
(23:09):
and they're not even going tobe city councilmen and women
anymore, or potentially, but oneof them for sure is not and I
don't agree with that.
I really don't agree with anyof the, the trips or the any of
the perks, unless it helps youdo your job.
If you need some continuingeducation or you need some
classes that will help you doyour job, then yes, go and get
(23:32):
that uh seminar for a day or butlet it be a benefit to the city
.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
Let it be a benefit to the city, definitely.
You know they put the waterhose on that after this episode.
When we talked about it, theywere like they shot that down as
they needed to.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
I think they're going to go in the next
administration.
Speaker 7 (23:51):
Well, hopefully that will happen, because that seemed
a little selfish to me.
Hopefully that will happen,because that seemed a little
selfish to me.
You know, and and I think maybethat's what we have seen over
the last four years Some peoplethat maybe are doing things to
benefit themselves rather thantheir city, and we really need
to focus on our city.
That's what we're here for.
We're we work for someone elseas a city council, you don't.
(24:12):
You know, it's not somethingthat should benefit you
personally.
It should benefit the wholecity, in my opinion.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
So do you all want to pick a winner for Tuesday
night's debate?
I'm about to put a plug in forthat.
Listen.
As of press time, there were300 tickets sold to that thing,
so probably like nearly 350.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Yeah, nearly, oh, that's excellent.
Yeah, also change the venue, asI have that, yes, so we're
gonna tell us about that yeah,we're gonna be at the nissan
auditorium, at the w now, uh,some complications at lyceum, at
lee, forced us to to move itand the uh, the w has graciously
agreed to let us do that andeverybody, everybody's still in
(24:56):
Same time.
Same rules, same procedures,just different venue.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
Tickets to be found at cdispatchcom slash forum.
Also speaking of cdispatchcom,we'd like to know what you think
of this interview.
Shoot us your questions, shootus your comments.
We love to hear that stuff.
Tips at cdispatchcom we love tohear that stuff.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Tips at cdispatchcom.
Mr Jefferson, you've had a lotof involvement with the youth
throughout just living in Ward 5.
A lot of people talk aboutyouth programs.
A lot of people talk about howthat's sort of the answer to
curbing crime, doing otherthings positive for the city,
(25:37):
moving forward.
What does that really look likein practice?
As a city councilman, what canyou do to enhance youth programs
, make things safer?
What does that look like to you?
Speaker 6 (25:49):
Well, the youth program that we have is great.
We have the AAU ball, we havethe parks, we have a lot
offering the youth.
But my thing that what I'mlooking at is trying to get the
youth parents.
A lot of the parents is stillyoung themselves and so many of
those kids that we're trying totarget is being left out, and
(26:12):
they're being left out becauseparents that 28, 29, 30 years
old that I'm trying to talk tothem to get them more involved
in their kids.
The programs are there but a lotof kids are getting left out
because they don't have rightsor you know the parents is busy,
(26:34):
you know the parents is busyand so since I've been
campaigning, I've been trying totalk to those.
You know, most of them singleparents that I've been trying to
talk to to try to get them moreinvolved in getting churches
(26:56):
are helping the kids and most ofthe kids that get brought to
those places is not truly thekids that need to be involved.
Most of those, some might bewhat we call troubled kids, but
for the most of them, the onesthat are able to come able to
play ball stuff like that,they're pretty good, but it's
(27:20):
the ones that I'm trying tofocus on and look at the parents
and say which ones that we areactually missing, to get them
involved, or personally tryingto get them involved.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Let me ask you a deep question on that.
Do you think that churches needto step up their game?
Do you think they may be alittle distracted in their
mission in terms of churchprograms?
I know it's a little bit offtopic, but I'm genuinely curious
about that because beforegovernment programs, the church
did this kind of stuff and theyseemed to have the ability to
(27:56):
reach those who were harder toreach.
Like you speak.
Of what?
Speaker 6 (28:00):
do you think?
Well, one of the things that Isee, I see a lot of churches
giving money.
You've got people that, as wesay, sky, that was up there,
churches that would donate tothose organizations.
But the church money is good,but we got to be focused on our
(28:22):
kids.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
You got to get those hands and feet out there, you
got to get those.
Speaker 6 (28:26):
you know my brother says send go and send go means I
give you the money to take care, but churches got to be more
involved.
At our church we try to stayfocused on the youth.
But it's a challenge the worldthat we live in now, because a
(28:46):
lot of the kids is on games.
They not as the ones, like Isaid, the ones that go out and
play baseball, basketball,football in the AAU or the
traveling leagues.
Those kids mostly, you knowthey make it, but it's those
ones that we don't see thatstill hanging out or parents
(29:09):
working and they taking care ofthemselves.
Those are the ones that I'mtrying to look at and find and
warfare.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Because you've talked about, ms Jeter, the, you know
enforcement with them, gettingthose kids inside someplace at
night.
But talking about it, I guessfrom this context is how do you
reach them in a proactive,productive way that isn't just
(29:37):
law enforcement or cleaning upthe streets?
Speaker 7 (29:40):
Yeah, and that's a hard thing.
I was raised by a single motherand I was a single mother for
most of my children's life.
Their father died when theywere five and eleven and that's
very hard and when you're asingle mother or a single father
, it's hard to come in late atnight and you know, and then you
have to, or later.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
It is indeed.
You have to get to a ball game.
Speaker 7 (30:03):
I know that song.
It's very hard to do andluckily I did have some help
with mine.
But some of these youngerparents do not, and I don't know
exactly how to, because itstarts at home.
It really does start at home,but when you've got one person
trying to do it all, it's veryhard.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
So we do need some programs.
Yeah, from the city perspective, outside of just enforcement,
what can the city do?
Speaker 7 (30:29):
Yes, we do need to do something more to get them
involved and, like Mr Jeffersonsaid, getting them back and
forth, because some of theparents are at work during that
time.
You know, I don't know if wecould maybe get a bus, like the
community bus, to get them hereand there.
I mean, I know that would posesome problems as well, but we
would probably just need to putour heads together and try and
(30:50):
get a solution to that.
You know, with these kids,because when they have time on
their hands at home and they areeither in front of a tablet or
maybe they don't have a tabletand they're just, you know, idle
time is the devil's workshop.
So, you know, they just findthemselves getting into trouble
more and more whenever they areby themselves.
(31:12):
And I realize the parents youknow a lot of them don't have
any choices and that is a badsituation and it's something
that the churches, yes, couldstep in more.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
And maybe just our neighbors could step in more.
You know and try, and if yousee someone struggling like that
, try and go and help them out.
I hear that calling all pastors.
The town needs your help,pastors both behind the pulpit
and pastors at heart.
So that's a good word you arelistening to Between the
Headlines with Zach and David.
More of the interview in just amoment.
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Speaker 1 (33:01):
Thank you all so much for joining us today, taking
time out of your evening, andgood luck to both of you in the
campaigns.
We'll see how it turns out.
We'll be talking to one of youas a council person next term.
Quite a bit, I'm sure.
Speaker 7 (33:11):
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 4 (33:12):
You'll be there Tuesday night.
Speaker 7 (33:14):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (33:16):
Gary.
Uh-oh, I put him on the spot.
You've got a fishing trip,you've got to work don't you,
I'm behind.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
I'm behind, I'm behind.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
Aren't we all?
Thank you guys for coming inhere today.
It means a lot.
You're welcome, okay.
Well, that was not a badinterview in the sense that we
had, in my opinion, two very Idon't want to say tranquil, but
I would say Civil, definitelycivil, definitely a contrast
from last week.
And I think that, just from aprofessional standpoint, I don't
(33:50):
think that either one of thosetwo candidates would be an
embarrassment to the city upthere on the platform during our
meetings.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Well, you know, it's clear that both of them care, I
think, in different ways.
One thing that stuck out to meas a small criticism of Ms Jeter
talking about her ward, thepositive parts of her ward, she
focused entirely on downtown andthen she left her ward
completely and started talkingabout Lowndes County and the
(34:21):
industrial park at the airport.
And I feel like if you're goingto represent Ward 5, you need
to walk it.
If you're going to representWard 5, you need to go more
places than just, you know, theMain Street, Columbus office or
whatever.
And I think that it's a similarcriticism to the one I've had
(34:42):
of Bill Strauss running formayor.
Bill heard it and has donesomething about it.
I'm challenging Ms Jeter to dothe same thing.
She needs to go somewhere inher ward besides her house in
downtown.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
Well, without overly criticizing Gary, who was
sitting across from me here, youalso can't just paint things as
rose-colored and think thatwe're going to get— no, I don't
think he was.
Well, we can't get thecommunity together and just play
the banjo and sing kumbaya.
There needs to be some strictenforcement of certain things to
(35:14):
make people afraid to break thelaw.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
Well, unfortunately there's not a lot of that left
anywhere.
I mean, I can tell you, livingover in Starkville, there's not
a lot of fear of breaking thelaw over there either.
I think that's more of a signof the times thing.
But I think it's very clear MrJefferson cares particularly
about the youth in the ward.
I think he's listening topeople and I think that he's
(35:38):
wanting to get on the counciland be a part of the solution.
I think that Ms Jeter does too.
I think that they have verydifferent views of what the
solution is.
Sometimes, if you want to getsomewhere, you got to get
uncomfortable.
Sometimes, if you want to getsomewhere, you've got to not be
willing just to get the bus butto be willing to drive the bus
(35:59):
with the kids in it.
I see Mr Jefferson driving thebus with the kids in it to the
program.
I don't see Miss Jeter doingthat, and that's the difference.
That would be the differencefor me, and I think that the
challenge to Miss Jeter is youknow, walk the ward, the whole
thing, and be the person who'lldrive the bus.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
Interesting take.
Also interesting imagery seeingmr gary in a bus with a bunch
of kids I bet he's done it.
Yeah so uh.
The main headline this weekthat caught our attention in
terms of programming was theattempted naming of the fossil
park, which has yet to be built.
(36:43):
The money has been allocated,or where are we money wise?
We're just in a talking phase,right?
Speaker 1 (36:52):
It's in the idea phase right now and basically
what?
It's?
A $700,000 project.
The city's asking the federalgovernment for 500 of that.
You know, that may be pie inthe sky, it may indeed come, I
don't know.
I think that they're justcasting a wide net.
But what?
(37:20):
Susan Wilder, the grantsadministrator, greg Lewis, the
parks director, and the wholecommittee that's sort of helping
plan this fossil park.
What they're wanting to do isthey're wanting to name this
fossil park after Dr Jack Coy,obviously a very well-known name
locally and in the state inthis particular field of study.
Speaker 4 (37:38):
Also a decorated World War II pilot.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
Decorated World War II pilot.
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (37:43):
That's bad to the bone right there.
Hey, pun, there you go.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
All right, I'll try to lay off the dad jokes today.
Well, yeah, you can tell asmany as you want to.
I look them up to tell mychildren and they groan and I
enjoy it.
Even the one that's graduatinghigh school tomorrow.
Congratulations, thank you.
They want the name so they canfundraise with it the Columbus
Fossil Park when they go towrite grants or they go to
(38:14):
present for money to try to getthis thing funded the Columbus.
Fossil Park is a little weak.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
The Jack Coy Fossil.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
Park is going to, in their view, make a difference in
how much money that they canget.
And so, from the standpoint ofand I feel like I can say this
because a lot of this was saidat the meeting from the
standpoint of the administrationyou know, keith and the grants
(38:42):
administrator, and and greglewis in this case, and the and
the committee planning it theirfundraising is being held up by
the lack of a name.
They've got brandingopportunities.
They can print it on shirts.
They can, they can start all ofthat process to try to um, to
sell it to people who want tobuy into it, and so that's where
(39:05):
they're coming from, where thecity's coming from, where the
council's coming from.
On the other end of that is, wedon't have a problem with that
name or eventually naming itafter Dr Coy.
What we have a problem with iswhat do we do next?
What do we do?
Because we don't have a policy,or we need to update our naming
(39:25):
policy, where we don't haveevery time Dick and Harry coming
in here wanting something namedafter them.
We've got to have a policy forhow we're going to do this for
city facilities, and so that'swhere the impasse is right now.
Speaker 4 (39:39):
So this obviously has gotten your goat to some extent
, and I'm curious as to why.
Speaker 1 (39:46):
Well, okay, so I get why the city needs a policy.
That's actually a good idea.
That should be the council'sposition on everything,
unfortunately, Well hold up.
Historically, that has not beenthe case with the council.
They make decisions all thetime without a policy, and so
this one is more of a slam dunk,and they won't make the
(40:07):
decision because now they all ofa sudden need a policy.
Speaker 4 (40:10):
Well, on the next issue do they not need a policy,
a policy for themselves?
I'm going to say, okay, I'mgoing to make a rule that David
Chisholm can only do this orthis or this, but then I look up
on the value menu and I breakthat policy that I had set for
myself.
Okay, is that not the samething?
Speaker 1 (40:30):
here they're making a policy that they themselves can
Well, let's get into it, okay.
So while they're getting sobent out of shape, of this
particular issue I couldn't tellyou other than maybe something
I'll mention in a minute.
But the part to me that is sortof aggravating is they came up
with this fossil park idea sevenmonths ago.
(40:52):
They presented it for the firsttime.
Speaker 4 (40:54):
Now, they didn't come up with this idea.
No, not the council I'm talkingabout they spent a heck of a
lot of money for some folks tocome up with this idea.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
Well, Ms Wilder came up with it, mr Lewis came up
with it, george Phillips waspart of that, rufus, I think, is
part of that.
Jamie Garrett has said now thatshe can get this thing together
by next Thursday.
What's been the holdup for thepast seven months?
And here's the other thing.
Jeff Turnage, the city attorney, and others have mentioned that
(41:22):
this policy is going to include.
You know the specifics on howto buy naming rights for certain
facilities and I agree withthat in certain cases.
You know fields at Probst Park,the stage at the amphitheater,
et cetera.
Speaker 4 (41:36):
There are certain things that are going to be
named after rich folk.
Speaker 1 (41:41):
Well, right and to my point.
But you know, some places havea more obvious.
They're more obviously suitedfor honorary names and that
shouldn't be for sale.
This isn't a city facility butthe you know, the Tennessee
Williams Home and Welcome Centercomes to mind.
This fossil park is anotherobvious.
There's one guy that you namethis after and you don't.
(42:03):
You know, I don't think thatthey're trying to find a way to
charge the family for it, but Idon't think you try to monetize
the name here other than tryingto get grants against it like
they're doing.
And how people can buy theirname onto something.
If the council gets too greedywith this or this policy is
(42:26):
written in a way that thehighest bidder can name any city
facility, where does that end?
Could we have the Will andLeslie Sorrell Municipal Complex
, chuck Yarborough FriendshipCemetery, china Garden presented
by J5?
Like, where does it stop.
Speaker 4 (42:44):
It sounds like a festival of bowl games right
here.
You know, I'm sitting herelistening to this and, as you
say, certain things lendthemselves toward being named
after a person of whatever suitor a company I mean companies
sponsor ball fields all the time.
What comes to mind is dead gum,denali, okay.
(43:05):
And William Seward decides hey,I'm going to put together a
plan and the United States isgoing to purchase this, all
right.
Hey, let's name it afterpresident.
Okay, now it's Mount McKinley,all right.
And then Obama comes along.
No, I don't think that wasright.
Those people were mistreated.
Let's call it Denali.
And then along comes.
(43:27):
Mr Trump, who doesn't like MrObama, and consequently, you
know, I just think that certainthings should not be named after
politicians or people ingeneral.
I mean, why can't it be theColumbusumbus fossil park?
No, no disrespect to to dr coy.
(43:47):
I mean, there's some prettyamazing things I've read about
him.
But just case in point, what'swrong with the lux of palila
fossil park?
Speaker 1 (43:55):
well, if the coy name helps you get closer to that
seven hundred thousand dollargoal, it seems like a slam dunk
to do it.
Speaker 4 (44:02):
Yeah, such as Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, I
suppose.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
Right or yes, whatever brings in or Duty Noble
Field at.
Speaker 4 (44:11):
Polk DeMint.
Speaker 1 (44:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (44:13):
In fact, I got something in the mail that said,
hey, if I'll donate I was anungodly amount of money They'll
name an entry gate at thestadium after me and my family,
and I'm like, and I'm like andI'm thinking about this um,
there's a lot of folks out therethat have things named after
(44:33):
them and then, uh, years laterthey turn out to be perverts or
um, bad things happen somethingyou know really terrible, and
and then it's like, well, whatdo we do?
Speaker 1 (44:41):
do we tear the place?
Speaker 4 (44:42):
down?
Do we get together?
Or something really terrible.
And then it's like, well, whatdo we do?
Do we tear the place down?
Do we get together and vote totake their name off the sign?
I mean, there's complicationsthere.
I'll tell you something else.
Everybody's going to be callingthe Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of
Mexico for years and years andyears, and probably forever.
The Gulf of Mexico for yearsand years and years and probably
(45:03):
forever.
Right, okay, look at Highway182, which everybody refers to
as 82.
Look at Waterworks Road.
It doesn't matter whichpreacher's name gets on the sign
down there.
Right, it's still.
It's always going to beWaterworks Road.
So people are a creature ofhabit, but maybe we just need to
(45:24):
wait on folks to die before wename something.
Speaker 1 (45:30):
Yeah, I mean Dr Coy passed away in 2012.
And I think not only do theyprobably need to be passed away
to get their name on something,a public facility of any kind
name on something, a publicfacility of any kind but they
also probably would need to havebeen deceased for you know a
little while 10 years, 15 years,I don't know.
Speaker 4 (45:53):
Yeah, well, I hear you and, to be honest, when I
first read the headline of thatparticular article I said oh
goodness, they're getting readyto name a fossil park after Mr
Leroy Brooks because of the agething and all.
Now, hey, you know he wouldlaugh at that joke if he were in
(46:13):
here.
It's been a good show today.
We want to thank our listenersfor joining us.
Be sure to subscribe, share andrate, and send us your comments
.
We would love to hear from youTips at cdispatchcom.
You can also follow me onFacebook or X at D Chisholm
double zero, Signing off untilnext week from Catfish Alley
Studios in historic downtownColumbus.
(46:34):
Your host has been Zach Playerand I am David Chisholm.
Until next time, y'all keep itfriendly.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
And in this room we will keep it friendly.
And in this room we will keepit real.
Opinions expressed on this showare those of the speakers and
not necessarily those of thecommercial dispatch.
From the opinion page of the Commercial Dispatch.
This is Between the Headlines.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
This is Peter Imes, publisher of the Dispatch.
One of our hosts of Between theHeadlines is the managing
editor of our newsroom.
Typically, we try to keep newsand opinions separate, but
reporters have a unique insightinto the workings of local
government and their analysiscan be helpful for readers and
listeners.
The Dispatch remains committedto journalistic integrity and
(00:37):
our reporting will alwaysreflect that.
And now Between the Headlines.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
This week, on Between the Headlines, the Columbus
Municipal Panties are once againin a wad, this time over the
naming procedure of theforthcoming fossil park.
Also in the studio today wehave Ms Mary Beth Jeter and Mr
Gary Jefferson.
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(01:26):
And now a message frompolitical candidate Bill Strauss
.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
This is Bill Strauss, your 2025 candidate for mayor
of Columbus.
As election time draws near,ask yourself are you satisfied
with our city leadership?
What has been done to eliminateour flooding issues?
What has been done to eliminateour housing blight?
Are our streets safe?
Why have we not kept up withWest Point, starkville and
Tupelo?
We must have new leadership Outwith the old and in with the
(01:54):
new.
Elect Bill Strauss, your newmayor, paid for by campaign to
elect Bill Strauss mayor 2025.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
And now a message from political candidate Jason
Spears.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
Hello, I am Jason Spears.
Economic growth and optimismback to our city.
I, like you, believe we can getback on track and know that as
a community, we're going to makeit happen.
I approve this message and, onJune 3rd, vote Jason Spears for
Ward 6.
Paid for by the campaign toelect Jason Spears, Ward 6.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
You are listening to Between the Headlines with the
man with the healthiest prostatein the Golden Triangle and
managing editor of the, the alsoa fan of HIPAA, obviously Mr
Zach Pleer, and my name is DavidChisholm.
We have in the studio today MrGary Jefferson.
Welcome to you, sir and MissBarry Beth Jeter.
(02:59):
How are you Jeff?
Wait, I got that mixed up a fewtimes because I've seen the
signs I'm like wait, is his nameGary or is his name Jeff?
You go by Gary, right?
No, Gregory.
Gregory.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Good grief.
Do we just need to starteverything over?
I have no idea.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
I am Gary.
Okay, all right, welcome sir.
How are you today?
I'm fine.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
How are you, Ms Jeter ?
You doing all right.
Speaker 7 (03:27):
I'm good, I'm doing great.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
All right.
Well, thanks for joining ustoday and I want to jump right
in, ms Jeter.
I've heard you both speak onthe campaign trail a handful of
times.
I've heard you, ms Jeter, a fewmore times than Mr Jefferson.
When you've spoken on thecampaign trail, including at a
forum with my colleague not toolong ago.
You have spoken very starklyabout safety issues in the town,
(03:55):
safety issues in yourneighborhood.
The last time when you spoke toDavid here at the forum, you
talked about being afraid towalk to the Y and the
homelessness problem and peopleyelling and cussing at you when
you're going to the Y.
During those conversations Ihaven't heard you speak as much
(04:16):
about solutions that you see ifyou were a councilwoman.
So let's just start there.
How bad is it in your eyes andwhat do you intend to do about
it if you're elected?
Speaker 7 (04:27):
Well, the first thing that I would like to
investigate, or maybe discuss, Iguess, with the police
department, is our curfew.
We do have a curfew in LowndesCounty and my question to them
would be why aren't youenforcing it?
And let's see if we can gettogether and do something about
(04:47):
that, get it enforced or getsomething into play where these
people that are walking aroundlate at night, why can't we find
out why they're out and whythey're walking around our
neighborhoods Because cars aregetting broken into?
I even had a lady down behind apotential constituent if I'm
elected.
She lives down behind thehardware store, military
(05:10):
hardware.
Her house has been broken intoon two different occasions and
she was expressing that to me afew weeks ago when I talked to
her and she said you know, she'skind of afraid to stay by
herself anymore.
She's an older lady like me,and so I think that we need to
get a relationship with ourpolice, with the city council,
(05:32):
and let's get together with aplan, let's devise something
where we can get these youngpeople off the street.
I'm assuming they're youngpeople.
I've seen them on cameras.
They walk a lot faster and seema lot more limber than I am for
sure, I'm not trying to callanybody out by any means, but
they look like they're probablyyoung folks walking around late
(05:54):
at night.
And you know, we were all youngat one time we liked to stay
out late at night, but it's notvery safe.
And today, in the environmentwe have today, when you're going
up to someone's under theircarport which I've seen on the
cameras on Facebook, people putit on there where the kids look
(06:15):
like they're coming up under the, they are coming up under their
carports you know it's not safefor them either.
You know, I'm really afraidsomebody's going to get shot by
a homeowner at some point ifthis isn't taken care of.
So I think probably enforcingour curfew first and just being
boots on the street at late atnight, you know, I think that
(06:38):
would help.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
All right.
Well, Mr Jefferson and I knowthat you've talked about crime
on the campaign trail too, anddifferent ways of enforcing it
when you hear Ms Jeter talkabout the fear factor and the
rampant crime, is that whatyou're seeing?
What's your impression ofgenerally crime in the city and
(06:59):
crime in your ward and whatneeds to be done about it?
Speaker 6 (07:02):
Well, I actually was at the city council meeting so I
know that they got a credationsaying that crime is actually
down.
I just think one crime is onetoo many, but I also think that
the outlook that we put on it,it's a lot of negativity that we
(07:23):
put on crime.
I mean, like I said, one crimeis one too many, but crime has
been going down.
Nobody want their house to bebroken into, their cars to be
broken into.
Of course my car have beenbroken into.
Of course my house have beenbroken into.
But I think that communitypolicing if we get enough
(07:46):
polices to actually startwalking the beat, walking with
our chief, I mean talking withhim, seeing what we actually
need.
I know Mary Beth said they lookyoung and they could be.
They could be people of agewalking, regardless whoever they
(08:06):
are.
The curfew is a good thing tolook at, but I don't see a whole
lot of curfew people walking,younger people there's more.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Right, because it's a juvenile curfew, yeah that's a
juvenile curfew Do you think theviolent crimes that do occur?
Do you think they are largelydomestic in nature?
Do you think that some of it'sactually organized?
I mean, just in your purview ofeverything.
Speaker 6 (08:31):
I don't think it organized.
I know we deal with some gangsbut I don't think it organized.
I just think a lot of time someof the shooting be retaliated
or something that happened forthe most part on the shooting
and we know that it actually hasbeen down of late in my area.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Do you think that many of those retaliations are
drug transactions gone, badthings of that sort, or do you
think it's like ex-boyfriendtype situations?
I mean, I don't have the answer.
I'm genuinely curious.
Speaker 6 (09:09):
Well, I couldn't tell you exactly what caused it.
You know we just had to get outthere and work the community
and see what's going on.
I know I'm able to talk to somepeople and you know it can be a
mixture.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
What about technology ?
Is that the solution?
More cameras, more money, more,more people?
I mean, you mentioned, like aI'm kind of hearing from you a
neighborhood watch kind ofsituation and I think that's
helpful and it's certainlycheaper than hiring more
officers.
Um, is it both and Well both?
Speaker 6 (09:52):
Technology as many polices, as I know that the
chief said that hopefully by theend of the year or somewhere,
that we might actually be fullof staff, I think.
So we're up to 50, I think, orheading to 50 in the meeting
Tuesday night.
So that's a good thing.
So I think that we're headingin the right direction.
But the negative that we put onthe city of Columbus, I think
(10:17):
we as individuals, communityleaders, community leaders is
going to have to put a morepositive spotlight on.
I see in Starville they havejust as many crimes as Columbus.
I'm looking, I'm reading, butthey don't get the negative
(10:38):
publicity.
So why?
I don't know the answer, but myinput is to be a positive light
for the city of Columbus.
I don't know the answer, but myinput is to be a positive light
for the city of Colombo.
There's a lot of good inColombo's and there are some bad
, but I'm looking at thepositive side of Columbus.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Well, and that's where I want to jump in with you
, Ms Jeter.
You have talked a lot about thebad.
I have what's good in Columbusand specifically in your ward.
What do you see as the positivethings going on in your ward?
Speaker 7 (11:12):
Well, I'm seeing, you know, part of our ward is in
the downtown area and I amseeing a lot of businesses
coming in the coffee shop over,going toward East Columbus and
some other clothing stores andstuff.
I'm seeing that I'm seeing ourdowntown area seems to be
looking really good.
As far as the beautification,you know, I know that Ms Piccolo
(11:35):
does a good job with that and Iappreciate her with all of her
input.
And I do see a lot ofbeautification coming in and you
know our soccer fields and wecertainly that's bringing in a
lot of, that's bringing in a lotof people to Columbus with the
(11:57):
soccer tournaments andeverything.
So that's something that's verypositive.
And of course, our otherfacility in West Lounds which is
, you know, bringing in a lot aswell.
So I see our industry out nearthe airport area, you know, and
that's a good thing so wehopefully can create more jobs
(12:18):
for people in Columbus.
So I do see a lot of positivegoing on in Columbus.
But my concern is, you know,let's clean up the city and
let's make it a better place tolive so people will come.
You know I'm in the real estatebusiness.
I work for a real estateattorney so I do all the title
work.
So I see who's buying homes here, as opposed to who's buying, or
(12:39):
how many people are buying, inWest Point and Starkville.
So we need to get our cityunder control so people will
come into this area.
And we do have a lot ofpositive here.
We have a lot to offer people,so let's get it going.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Have you been down to see the hunt renovation?
Speaker 7 (13:02):
I have not.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Okay, pretty nice renovation.
Have you been down to see it?
No, I haven't.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
The swamp is still behind it.
I talk about that every episode.
It's a problem.
I look forward to seeing thatmyself actually.
Now let me ask you about theyou talked about the looks of
things.
Is the negativity that kind ofhas a black cloud over our town
seemingly?
Is that branding?
Is that the talking heads onsocial media?
(13:31):
Miss Mary Beth, where do youthink that comes from and, as an
elected official, how do youthink you might be able to quell
that?
Speaker 7 (13:39):
Yeah, I think a lot of social media.
We do see, you know, a lot ofthings going on unfortunately on
social media.
That's not very positive forour town.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Well, people say things on there just to be a
squeaky wheel and to getattention and I think a lot of
that's unfortunate.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
I do too, get attention.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
And I think a lot of that's unfortunate, but, like
you know, when Leroy Brooks wasrunning for mayor, he was
talking about he's going to bethe smile of the city and he's
going to just rebrand.
Well, it's kind of hard to dohere because you know who are we
?
Who are we as a town?
Are we, are we the W?
Are we the owls?
Are we the Air Force people?
Speaker 7 (14:17):
I mean, how do you define Colombians?
Well, I think we're kind of allmixed in, because we do have
the W, we do have the Air ForceBase, we have our different
industries here, you know, and alot to offer, but we need to
work together.
I think we've become divided inColumbus as well, and I saw
(14:39):
that.
I think I told you all how Imoved out of the area and then
came back into the area and itseemed like there was a lot of
divide, and I think that wereally just need to reunite in
our little town and just cometogether to make it a better
place to live.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Mr Jefferson, I want to double back on asking you a
question.
I asked Ms Jeter a while agoabout what's positive in your
ward specifically, and Ms Jetermentioned specifically that
downtown was part of the wardand she talked about what was
positive there.
What is positive in your wardthat's not in downtown?
Speaker 6 (15:17):
Well, we've got a lot of little small business in our
ward and I mean we got aclothing store, we got venue, we
got a military hardware store,we got the school that come at
Hickstor's school, the Franklinsmall barbecue places.
(15:39):
So I mean she got the uptownit's.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Helen's Kitchen in your ward.
Speaker 6 (15:43):
Helen's Kitchen.
Man, that's good.
So we got a lot of positive inbusiness that not just pops up
but actually been in businessfor a pretty long time.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
So that's you know but actually been in business
for a pretty long time.
So that's you know.
How would you define thecharacter?
Speaker 6 (16:05):
of your ward in whole .
Well, from campaigning you knowthey are we.
It's a.
I guess we can't come together.
(16:28):
We actually got right now I'mtalking she said yeah, but I
said when I am elected that Iactually got people that's
willing to be block captains.
I don't have a lot of them, butI got a few people that have
already committed to helping mebe successful in the war, to
helping me be successful in theward, for not just cleaning but
to anything going like theNeighborhood Watch.
They ain't saying they're goingto be the Neighborhood Watch
program, but they will let knowwhen things look unfamiliar.
(16:50):
Actually, when I was coming uphere, a lady called me and
telling me that somebody and I'mlike, hey, we're a little
premature.
But she lady called me andtelling me that somebody and I'm
like a little premature, butshe's calling me and telling me
she got concern on her roadabout somebody bringing a basket
and dropping off stuff.
So I do think that we can, ourcharacter can be together if we
(17:13):
get a positive light on war atthe fire we get a positive light
on Ward 5.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Okay, and either one of you guys win, y'all will be
new to the council.
Y'all will be representing award that has had the same
representative for nine years,who could possibly also be still
in city office, just in adifferent capacity.
I guess what is y'all's visionfor sort of transitioning the
(17:46):
constituency of the ward tocoming to you guys?
What kind of you going to them?
What kind of leadership do youintend to provide on that front?
And we'll start with you, msJeter.
Speaker 7 (17:57):
Well, I work very well with other people to try
and get the jobs done.
I was in the oil and gasbusiness for several years and
when they gave us a map and toldus to go get the job done, we
have to drill this well in threemonths, and there's a lot
involved in drilling an oil andgas well and we would sometimes
only have five people to workwith, you know so.
(18:19):
So we had to get it done andget it done quickly, and there
was a lot of high pressure and Ialways worked well with all of
my you know co-workers and andwe would just get the job done
and we would just focus on whathad to be done.
And I think that's what I canbring to the table.
Whatever comes our way with thecity, I'll just focus on trying
(18:39):
to get it done and working withothers, you know, to get that
job done for the city.
I don't have I'm not in this forme at all.
As a matter of fact, I'm alittle bit like our former
president.
I don't really need all of this, but I want it Don't need the
(19:00):
job.
But I want it.
I really think I can make adifference and I want to do
what's best for our city.
And I have children that aregoing to.
They already live here, they'regoing to live here, they're
probably never going to move out, they have jobs here.
And then I have fourgrandchildren that will grow up
here and I want our city to bethe best place that it can be
(19:20):
for my family and their future,as well as everybody in Ward 5
and the other wards, becausewhen one ward is stronger, every
ward will get stronger.
So that's what we need to tryand do.
We need some better leadership,in my opinion, and just people
that will work together to getthe job do, and just.
We need some better leadership,in my opinion, and just people
that will work together to getthe job done, and that's what I
(19:40):
intend to do.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Okay, I want to give Mr Jefferson an opportunity to
answer that same question.
I mean stepping in a ward whereyou've had the same councilman
for nine years.
If you're elected, you would benew to the council and stepping
into that role.
So you know what's your visionfor how that's going to look as
far as how you are engaging theconstituency.
Speaker 6 (20:03):
Well, they are telling me they want unity, they
want common sense solution.
And so what?
That is just common sense.
If it don't seem to be right,they tell them we want you to
(20:24):
represent us with a person thatwe can be proud of.
They say they don't want meacting stupid.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
They say they want me to be Well where, I guess for
both of you guys.
Where have the problems been inthe last four years on the
council and the administrationthat you've said?
Oh, if I was on there Iwouldn't have done that.
Speaker 6 (20:52):
Well, my thing is, I'm always.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
I don't like what they call a Monday morning
quarterback.
That's all we do on thisprogram.
Speaker 6 (20:57):
I mean that's what it's about.
No, I might see it in adifferent light than someone
else.
So I really I try not toquestion.
Now it's easy for me to say Iwouldn't do that, I wouldn't do
that, I wouldn't do that.
But I don't think that it'sfeasible for me to just always
say that whatever, because somedecisions are very hard, some
(21:22):
are tricky, some is that youhave to maneuver stuff and my
ability is what can I do tobetter Columbus and work
together?
So that means that sometimesthey say you have to make
unpopular decision for what youthink is right.
(21:47):
At home I done had to make adecision that wasn't popular.
My wife and kid would say wedon't agree with you.
But then Guess what.
But I have to make those toughdecisions, so I don't.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
I know where you are on that?
Speaker 6 (22:06):
Yeah, I don't want you to second guess me.
I want you to see the outcomeof what I'm doing.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
Well, whichever one of y'all happen to get in there
I hope that you'll, and this isjust David Chisholm speaking but
just let some decisions be madebased on data, Because right
now, I don't see a whole heck ofa lot.
Just being honest, I don't seea heck of a lot of decisions
being made based on data madebased on data.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
So do you, ms Jeter?
The question of you talkedabout the foolishness.
You talked about some thingsthat have not gone well with the
council.
What do you see over the lastfour years where you're like
that needed to be donedifferently?
Speaker 7 (22:49):
Well, giving themselves a raise for one thing
, I think I was opposed to that,I just didn't agree with that.
And some of the things they'redoing now the last one, for
instance, that you know y'allreported on going on these trips
(23:09):
and they're not even going tobe city councilmen and women
anymore, or potentially, but oneof them for sure is not and I
don't agree with that.
I really don't agree with anyof the, the trips or the any of
the perks, unless it helps youdo your job.
If you need some continuingeducation or you need some
classes that will help you doyour job, then yes, go and get
(23:32):
that uh seminar for a day or butlet it be a benefit to the city
.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
Let it be a benefit to the city, definitely.
You know they put the waterhose on that after this episode.
When we talked about it, theywere like they shot that down as
they needed to.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
I think they're going to go in the next
administration.
Speaker 7 (23:51):
Well, hopefully that will happen, because that seemed
a little selfish to me.
Hopefully that will happen,because that seemed a little
selfish to me.
You know, and and I think maybethat's what we have seen over
the last four years Some peoplethat maybe are doing things to
benefit themselves rather thantheir city, and we really need
to focus on our city.
That's what we're here for.
We're we work for someone elseas a city council, you don't.
(24:12):
You know, it's not somethingthat should benefit you
personally.
It should benefit the wholecity, in my opinion.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
So do you all want to pick a winner for Tuesday
night's debate?
I'm about to put a plug in forthat.
Listen.
As of press time, there were300 tickets sold to that thing,
so probably like nearly 350.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Yeah, nearly, oh, that's excellent.
Yeah, also change the venue, asI have that, yes, so we're
gonna tell us about that yeah,we're gonna be at the nissan
auditorium, at the w now, uh,some complications at lyceum, at
lee, forced us to to move itand the uh, the w has graciously
agreed to let us do that andeverybody, everybody's still in
(24:56):
Same time.
Same rules, same procedures,just different venue.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
Tickets to be found at cdispatchcom slash forum.
Also speaking of cdispatchcom,we'd like to know what you think
of this interview.
Shoot us your questions, shootus your comments.
We love to hear that stuff.
Tips at cdispatchcom we love tohear that stuff.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Tips at cdispatchcom.
Mr Jefferson, you've had a lotof involvement with the youth
throughout just living in Ward 5.
A lot of people talk aboutyouth programs.
A lot of people talk about howthat's sort of the answer to
curbing crime, doing otherthings positive for the city,
(25:37):
moving forward.
What does that really look likein practice?
As a city councilman, what canyou do to enhance youth programs
, make things safer?
What does that look like to you?
Speaker 6 (25:49):
Well, the youth program that we have is great.
We have the AAU ball, we havethe parks, we have a lot
offering the youth.
But my thing that what I'mlooking at is trying to get the
youth parents.
A lot of the parents is stillyoung themselves and so many of
those kids that we're trying totarget is being left out, and
(26:12):
they're being left out becauseparents that 28, 29, 30 years
old that I'm trying to talk tothem to get them more involved
in their kids.
The programs are there but a lotof kids are getting left out
because they don't have rightsor you know the parents is busy,
(26:34):
you know the parents is busyand so since I've been
campaigning, I've been trying totalk to those.
You know, most of them singleparents that I've been trying to
talk to to try to get them moreinvolved in getting churches
(26:56):
are helping the kids and most ofthe kids that get brought to
those places is not truly thekids that need to be involved.
Most of those, some might bewhat we call troubled kids, but
for the most of them, the onesthat are able to come able to
play ball stuff like that,they're pretty good, but it's
(27:20):
the ones that I'm trying tofocus on and look at the parents
and say which ones that we areactually missing, to get them
involved, or personally tryingto get them involved.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Let me ask you a deep question on that.
Do you think that churches needto step up their game?
Do you think they may be alittle distracted in their
mission in terms of churchprograms?
I know it's a little bit offtopic, but I'm genuinely curious
about that because beforegovernment programs, the church
did this kind of stuff and theyseemed to have the ability to
(27:56):
reach those who were harder toreach.
Like you speak.
Of what?
Speaker 6 (28:00):
do you think?
Well, one of the things that Isee, I see a lot of churches
giving money.
You've got people that, as wesay, sky, that was up there,
churches that would donate tothose organizations.
But the church money is good,but we got to be focused on our
(28:22):
kids.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
You got to get those hands and feet out there, you
got to get those.
Speaker 6 (28:26):
you know my brother says send go and send go means I
give you the money to take care, but churches got to be more
involved.
At our church we try to stayfocused on the youth.
But it's a challenge the worldthat we live in now, because a
(28:46):
lot of the kids is on games.
They not as the ones, like Isaid, the ones that go out and
play baseball, basketball,football in the AAU or the
traveling leagues.
Those kids mostly, you knowthey make it, but it's those
ones that we don't see thatstill hanging out or parents
(29:09):
working and they taking care ofthemselves.
Those are the ones that I'mtrying to look at and find and
warfare.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Because you've talked about, ms Jeter, the, you know
enforcement with them, gettingthose kids inside someplace at
night.
But talking about it, I guessfrom this context is how do you
reach them in a proactive,productive way that isn't just
(29:37):
law enforcement or cleaning upthe streets?
Speaker 7 (29:40):
Yeah, and that's a hard thing.
I was raised by a single motherand I was a single mother for
most of my children's life.
Their father died when theywere five and eleven and that's
very hard and when you're asingle mother or a single father
, it's hard to come in late atnight and you know, and then you
have to, or later.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
It is indeed.
You have to get to a ball game.
Speaker 7 (30:03):
I know that song.
It's very hard to do andluckily I did have some help
with mine.
But some of these youngerparents do not, and I don't know
exactly how to, because itstarts at home.
It really does start at home,but when you've got one person
trying to do it all, it's veryhard.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
So we do need some programs.
Yeah, from the city perspective, outside of just enforcement,
what can the city do?
Speaker 7 (30:29):
Yes, we do need to do something more to get them
involved and, like Mr Jeffersonsaid, getting them back and
forth, because some of theparents are at work during that
time.
You know, I don't know if wecould maybe get a bus, like the
community bus, to get them hereand there.
I mean, I know that would posesome problems as well, but we
would probably just need to putour heads together and try and
(30:50):
get a solution to that.
You know, with these kids,because when they have time on
their hands at home and they areeither in front of a tablet or
maybe they don't have a tabletand they're just, you know, idle
time is the devil's workshop.
So, you know, they just findthemselves getting into trouble
more and more whenever they areby themselves.
(31:12):
And I realize the parents youknow a lot of them don't have
any choices and that is a badsituation and it's something
that the churches, yes, couldstep in more.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
And maybe just our neighbors could step in more.
You know and try, and if yousee someone struggling like that
, try and go and help them out.
I hear that calling all pastors.
The town needs your help,pastors both behind the pulpit
and pastors at heart.
So that's a good word you arelistening to Between the
Headlines with Zach and David.
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Speaker 1 (33:01):
Thank you all so much for joining us today, taking
time out of your evening, andgood luck to both of you in the
campaigns.
We'll see how it turns out.
We'll be talking to one of youas a council person next term.
Quite a bit, I'm sure.
Speaker 7 (33:11):
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 4 (33:12):
You'll be there Tuesday night.
Speaker 7 (33:14):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (33:16):
Gary.
Uh-oh, I put him on the spot.
You've got a fishing trip,you've got to work don't you,
I'm behind.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
I'm behind, I'm behind.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
Aren't we all?
Thank you guys for coming inhere today.
It means a lot.
You're welcome, okay.
Well, that was not a badinterview in the sense that we
had, in my opinion, two very Idon't want to say tranquil, but
I would say Civil, definitelycivil, definitely a contrast
from last week.
And I think that, just from aprofessional standpoint, I don't
(33:50):
think that either one of thosetwo candidates would be an
embarrassment to the city upthere on the platform during our
meetings.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Well, you know, it's clear that both of them care, I
think, in different ways.
One thing that stuck out to meas a small criticism of Ms Jeter
talking about her ward, thepositive parts of her ward, she
focused entirely on downtown andthen she left her ward
completely and started talkingabout Lowndes County and the
(34:21):
industrial park at the airport.
And I feel like if you're goingto represent Ward 5, you need
to walk it.
If you're going to representWard 5, you need to go more
places than just, you know, theMain Street, Columbus office or
whatever.
And I think that it's a similarcriticism to the one I've had
(34:42):
of Bill Strauss running formayor.
Bill heard it and has donesomething about it.
I'm challenging Ms Jeter to dothe same thing.
She needs to go somewhere inher ward besides her house in
downtown.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
Well, without overly criticizing Gary, who was
sitting across from me here, youalso can't just paint things as
rose-colored and think thatwe're going to get— no, I don't
think he was.
Well, we can't get thecommunity together and just play
the banjo and sing kumbaya.
There needs to be some strictenforcement of certain things to
(35:14):
make people afraid to break thelaw.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
Well, unfortunately there's not a lot of that left
anywhere.
I mean, I can tell you, livingover in Starkville, there's not
a lot of fear of breaking thelaw over there either.
I think that's more of a signof the times thing.
But I think it's very clear MrJefferson cares particularly
about the youth in the ward.
I think he's listening topeople and I think that he's
(35:38):
wanting to get on the counciland be a part of the solution.
I think that Ms Jeter does too.
I think that they have verydifferent views of what the
solution is.
Sometimes, if you want to getsomewhere, you got to get
uncomfortable.
Sometimes, if you want to getsomewhere, you've got to not be
willing just to get the bus butto be willing to drive the bus
(35:59):
with the kids in it.
I see Mr Jefferson driving thebus with the kids in it to the
program.
I don't see Miss Jeter doingthat, and that's the difference.
That would be the differencefor me, and I think that the
challenge to Miss Jeter is youknow, walk the ward, the whole
thing, and be the person who'lldrive the bus.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
Interesting take.
Also interesting imagery seeingmr gary in a bus with a bunch
of kids I bet he's done it.
Yeah so uh.
The main headline this weekthat caught our attention in
terms of programming was theattempted naming of the fossil
park, which has yet to be built.
(36:43):
The money has been allocated,or where are we money wise?
We're just in a talking phase,right?
Speaker 1 (36:52):
It's in the idea phase right now and basically
what?
It's?
A $700,000 project.
The city's asking the federalgovernment for 500 of that.
You know, that may be pie inthe sky, it may indeed come, I
don't know.
I think that they're justcasting a wide net.
But what?
(37:20):
Susan Wilder, the grantsadministrator, greg Lewis, the
parks director, and the wholecommittee that's sort of helping
plan this fossil park.
What they're wanting to do isthey're wanting to name this
fossil park after Dr Jack Coy,obviously a very well-known name
locally and in the state inthis particular field of study.
Speaker 4 (37:38):
Also a decorated World War II pilot.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
Decorated World War II pilot.
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (37:43):
That's bad to the bone right there.
Hey, pun, there you go.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
All right, I'll try to lay off the dad jokes today.
Well, yeah, you can tell asmany as you want to.
I look them up to tell mychildren and they groan and I
enjoy it.
Even the one that's graduatinghigh school tomorrow.
Congratulations, thank you.
They want the name so they canfundraise with it the Columbus
Fossil Park when they go towrite grants or they go to
(38:14):
present for money to try to getthis thing funded the Columbus.
Fossil Park is a little weak.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
The Jack Coy Fossil.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
Park is going to, in their view, make a difference in
how much money that they canget.
And so, from the standpoint ofand I feel like I can say this
because a lot of this was saidat the meeting from the
standpoint of the administrationyou know, keith and the grants
(38:42):
administrator, and and greglewis in this case, and the and
the committee planning it theirfundraising is being held up by
the lack of a name.
They've got brandingopportunities.
They can print it on shirts.
They can, they can start all ofthat process to try to um, to
sell it to people who want tobuy into it, and so that's where
(39:05):
they're coming from, where thecity's coming from, where the
council's coming from.
On the other end of that is, wedon't have a problem with that
name or eventually naming itafter Dr Coy.
What we have a problem with iswhat do we do next?
What do we do?
Because we don't have a policy,or we need to update our naming
(39:25):
policy, where we don't haveevery time Dick and Harry coming
in here wanting something namedafter them.
We've got to have a policy forhow we're going to do this for
city facilities, and so that'swhere the impasse is right now.
Speaker 4 (39:39):
So this obviously has gotten your goat to some extent
, and I'm curious as to why.
Speaker 1 (39:46):
Well, okay, so I get why the city needs a policy.
That's actually a good idea.
That should be the council'sposition on everything,
unfortunately, Well hold up.
Historically, that has not beenthe case with the council.
They make decisions all thetime without a policy, and so
this one is more of a slam dunk,and they won't make the
(40:07):
decision because now they all ofa sudden need a policy.
Speaker 4 (40:10):
Well, on the next issue do they not need a policy,
a policy for themselves?
I'm going to say, okay, I'mgoing to make a rule that David
Chisholm can only do this orthis or this, but then I look up
on the value menu and I breakthat policy that I had set for
myself.
Okay, is that not the samething?
Speaker 1 (40:30):
here they're making a policy that they themselves can
Well, let's get into it, okay.
So while they're getting sobent out of shape, of this
particular issue I couldn't tellyou other than maybe something
I'll mention in a minute.
But the part to me that is sortof aggravating is they came up
with this fossil park idea sevenmonths ago.
(40:52):
They presented it for the firsttime.
Speaker 4 (40:54):
Now, they didn't come up with this idea.
No, not the council I'm talkingabout they spent a heck of a
lot of money for some folks tocome up with this idea.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
Well, Ms Wilder came up with it, mr Lewis came up
with it, george Phillips waspart of that, rufus, I think, is
part of that.
Jamie Garrett has said now thatshe can get this thing together
by next Thursday.
What's been the holdup for thepast seven months?
And here's the other thing.
Jeff Turnage, the city attorney, and others have mentioned that
(41:22):
this policy is going to include.
You know the specifics on howto buy naming rights for certain
facilities and I agree withthat in certain cases.
You know fields at Probst Park,the stage at the amphitheater,
et cetera.
Speaker 4 (41:36):
There are certain things that are going to be
named after rich folk.
Speaker 1 (41:41):
Well, right and to my point.
But you know, some places havea more obvious.
They're more obviously suitedfor honorary names and that
shouldn't be for sale.
This isn't a city facility butthe you know, the Tennessee
Williams Home and Welcome Centercomes to mind.
This fossil park is anotherobvious.
There's one guy that you namethis after and you don't.
(42:03):
You know, I don't think thatthey're trying to find a way to
charge the family for it, but Idon't think you try to monetize
the name here other than tryingto get grants against it like
they're doing.
And how people can buy theirname onto something.
If the council gets too greedywith this or this policy is
(42:26):
written in a way that thehighest bidder can name any city
facility, where does that end?
Could we have the Will andLeslie Sorrell Municipal Complex
, chuck Yarborough FriendshipCemetery, china Garden presented
by J5?
Like, where does it stop.
Speaker 4 (42:44):
It sounds like a festival of bowl games right
here.
You know, I'm sitting herelistening to this and, as you
say, certain things lendthemselves toward being named
after a person of whatever suitor a company I mean companies
sponsor ball fields all the time.
What comes to mind is dead gum,denali, okay.
(43:05):
And William Seward decides hey,I'm going to put together a
plan and the United States isgoing to purchase this, all
right.
Hey, let's name it afterpresident.
Okay, now it's Mount McKinley,all right.
And then Obama comes along.
No, I don't think that wasright.
Those people were mistreated.
Let's call it Denali.
And then along comes.
(43:27):
Mr Trump, who doesn't like MrObama, and consequently, you
know, I just think that certainthings should not be named after
politicians or people ingeneral.
I mean, why can't it be theColumbusumbus fossil park?
No, no disrespect to to dr coy.
(43:47):
I mean, there's some prettyamazing things I've read about
him.
But just case in point, what'swrong with the lux of palila
fossil park?
Speaker 1 (43:55):
well, if the coy name helps you get closer to that
seven hundred thousand dollargoal, it seems like a slam dunk
to do it.
Speaker 4 (44:02):
Yeah, such as Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, I
suppose.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
Right or yes, whatever brings in or Duty Noble
Field at.
Speaker 4 (44:11):
Polk DeMint.
Speaker 1 (44:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (44:13):
In fact, I got something in the mail that said,
hey, if I'll donate I was anungodly amount of money They'll
name an entry gate at thestadium after me and my family,
and I'm like, and I'm like andI'm thinking about this um,
there's a lot of folks out therethat have things named after
(44:33):
them and then, uh, years laterthey turn out to be perverts or
um, bad things happen somethingyou know really terrible, and
and then it's like, well, whatdo we do?
Speaker 1 (44:41):
do we tear the place?
Speaker 4 (44:42):
down?
Do we get together?
Or something really terrible.
And then it's like, well, whatdo we do?
Do we tear the place down?
Do we get together and vote totake their name off the sign?
I mean, there's complicationsthere.
I'll tell you something else.
Everybody's going to be callingthe Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of
Mexico for years and years andyears, and probably forever.
The Gulf of Mexico for yearsand years and years and probably
(45:03):
forever.
Right, okay, look at Highway182, which everybody refers to
as 82.
Look at Waterworks Road.
It doesn't matter whichpreacher's name gets on the sign
down there.
Right, it's still.
It's always going to beWaterworks Road.
So people are a creature ofhabit, but maybe we just need to
(45:24):
wait on folks to die before wename something.
Speaker 1 (45:30):
Yeah, I mean Dr Coy passed away in 2012.
And I think not only do theyprobably need to be passed away
to get their name on something,a public facility of any kind
name on something, a publicfacility of any kind but they
also probably would need to havebeen deceased for you know a
little while 10 years, 15 years,I don't know.
Speaker 4 (45:53):
Yeah, well, I hear you and, to be honest, when I
first read the headline of thatparticular article I said oh
goodness, they're getting readyto name a fossil park after Mr
Leroy Brooks because of the agething and all.
Now, hey, you know he wouldlaugh at that joke if he were in
(46:13):
here.
It's been a good show today.
We want to thank our listenersfor joining us.
Be sure to subscribe, share andrate, and send us your comments
.
We would love to hear from youTips at cdispatchcom.
You can also follow me onFacebook or X at D Chisholm
double zero, Signing off untilnext week from Catfish Alley
Studios in historic downtownColumbus.
(46:34):
Your host has been Zach Playerand I am David Chisholm.
Until next time, y'all keep itfriendly.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
And in this room we will keep it friendly.
And in this room we will keepit real.
Opinions expressed on this showare those of the speakers and
not necessarily those of thecommercial dispatch.
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