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Bond denied to MSU students accused of trying to join ISIS By CONNOR GUYTON [email protected]

Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Assistant Superintendent Toriano Holloway addresses the Board of Trustees during Tuesday’s board meeting. (Photo by James Carskadon, SDN)

SOCSD holds first meeting without superintendent

Two former Mississippi State University students who were charged with attempting to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) were ordered held without bail Tuesday, pending federal grand jury action on the charges. Muhammad “Mo” Dakhlalla, of Starkville, and Jaelyn Delshaun Young, of Vicksburg, were arrested at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport Saturday. The two had tickets to Istanbul, from which they intended to cross the border into Syria, according to prosecutors. The two went before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander on Tuesday in Oxford. Alexander denied bail, saying that even though the pair have never been in trouble with the law and have relatives willing to oversee their confinement, she believed their desire to commit terrorism is “probably still there.” Dakhlalla and Young are charged with violating 18 U.S.C. § 2339B, which is defined in the criminal complaint as “knowingly provides material support or

By JAMES CARSKADON [email protected]

See ISIS | Page 8A

The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District board of trustees held its first regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday since the arrest of Superintendent Lewis Holloway on charges of simple assault by threats. No further action was taken regarding Holloway, who was placed on paid administrative leave Monday pending an investigation by the board attorney. Holloway was arrested Monday after allegedly firing a gun in the air during an incident Sunday evening. He was released on $1,000 bond shortly after being booked into Oktibbeha County Jail. Board President Eddie Myles said he has been receiving phone calls regarding Holloway since his arrest Monday. Most of those have been to ask questions, Myles said. “Some people are concerned and some aren’t,” Myles said. “We just have to wait on that investigation.” With Lewis Holloway absent, Assistant Superintendent Toriano Holloway took the lead role in addressing the school board during Tuesday’s meeting. The board accepted an auditor’s report from accounting firm Fortenberry & Ballard for fiscal year 2014. Brent Ballard, who was on hand to answer questions from the board, said the district’s finances were mostly in order. His main concerns were untimely bank account recon-

See MEETING | Page 8A

This Tuesday photo shows the Islamic Center of Mississippi in Starkville where 22-year-old Muhammad Dakhlalla was a member and his father, Oda H. Dakhlalla has served as one there. Muhammad Dakhlalla and 20-year-old Jaelyn Deishaun Young were charged in federal court Tuesday, with attempting to join the Islamic State and were ordered held without bail pending federal grand jury action on the charges. (Photo by Rogelio V. Solis, AP)

Vaughn’s DUI trial postponed again By JAMES CARSKADON [email protected] The driving under the influence trial for Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn was postponed again Tuesday in Oktibbeha County Justice Court. Vaughn was arrested on July 19, 2014 and charged with DUI and careless driving. Last month, County Prosecutor Haley Brown recused herself from the proceedings in Vaughn’s trial and said it would be better if someone outside of local politics prosecuted the trial. Brown’s position, like Vaughn’s, is an elected office. The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors appointed Eupora attorney George Mitchell as a special prosecutor for the case. Tuesday’s proceedings were the first to

be held since Mitchell’s appointment. Justice Court Judge Tony Boykin decided to reset the case until a future date that has not yet been determined. This came after Vaughn’s attorney, Ward 6 Alderman Roy Perkins, said he did not receive 14 pages of evidence until Tuesday morning. Those documents include a narrative arrest report, as well as statements from Vaughn, according to Perkins. “We just had 14 pages that contained some alleged statements made by the client and contain some booking information,” Perkins said. “This morning was my first time getting it. The prosecutor indicated it was attached to discovery. It’s some very serious allegations in these alleged statements, which we would like

time to contest. We object to the use of this.” Mitchell countered, saying Perkins could have obtained the documents himself from local authorities. Boykin said it was “unusual” for the case to still be ongoing a year after the arrest, but that had no bearing on his decision. “It’s very important to me both sides are prepared for trial,” Boykin said. “We changed prosecutors. To be fair, the defendant has not asked for a continuance. To make sure the defendant … can be satisfied with a fair trial, what I’m going to do is reset this case.” Perkins and Mitchell agreed to work together with Boykin to schedule a date for the trial.

Planning and Zoning board discusses future for city By ALEX ONKEN [email protected] Consultants asked Planning & Zoning commissioners their opinions of the city’s current strengths and upcoming challenges. The board was interviewed by two members of the team that are in the process of creating Starkville’s new comprehensive plan. “This is an update on the comprehensive plan,” said Phillip Walker, planning consultant with Walker Collaborative, LLC, to the board. “A comprehensive plan is sort of a blueprint for the city’s future. The last one was done in 2005. It paints a vision on how the city will grow in the future.” The board was asked questions questions regarding the board’s opinion on the city’s strengths, weaknesses, challenges the city now faces, Starkville’s housing market and the future of where new development – both commercial and residential – are placed in the city.

Planning and Zoning board member Tom Walker said that one of the biggest strengths that Starkville has is it is the home of Mississippi State University as well as the growing economic development in the community. A common challenge faced by citizens mentioned by the board was traffic. “We have 26,000 people and 20,000 students. During some times of the year we have 60,000 people come to town for a football game. It’s just gridlock,” said Michael Brooks, chairman of the planning and zoning board. “Our rush hour doesn’t really last an hour, but for 30 minutes that we do have rush half-hour it’s students coming from (MSU) campus and it clusters really bad in some places.” Tom Walker mentioned that it was almost impossible to drive down Academy Lane in the morning while students arrive for school at Starkville Academy, as well as traffic on Louisville Street as well. Following that, he also made a point that Starkville is lacking for places where

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residents can shop. When asked about the housing market, board member Jason Campbell said that finding a “starter” home for families in Starkville is a challenge. “South Montgomery is mostly off limits for most folks,” Campbell said. “There’s Green Oaks and Longmeadow, but there are really few places in Starkville that people can actually afford. This may not be the case but, just from driving around my neighborhood and stuff, as those (starter) houses come on the market, they’re bought up by property management companies who turn them into rentals.” As the subject of where typically new developments go in town, Tom Walker said that they end up on South Montgomery. Ira Loveless, planning and zoning board member said that new development should go north of Highway 182. The final plan is expected to be finished and presented in January. The proposed budget for

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this plan is $140,913 with $126,863 in professional expenses and $14,050 in expenses according to Walker Collaborative’s scope of services document. Before the interview was held, all three items on the meeting’s agenda were passed unanimously by the board: • A request by Michael Kracker for the subdivision of one parcel of land into two located on the northwest corner of Garrard Road and Old West Point Road. • A request for the final plat for the Bent Brook Subdivision. According to Holland Cox, a contractor working on the subdivision, the infrastructure for the 21 lots have been laid. The development is approximately 4.96 acres, according to the planning and zoning’s staff report. • A request for the final plat for Habitat for Humanity’s Owen’s Subdivision located off Dr. D.L. Connor Drive. Five additional plats will be added to the subdivision.

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

in the Play Pen at the Emerson Family Center. The topic will be Family Nutrition & Weaning.

AROUND TOWN ANNOUNCEMENT POLICIES The Around Town calendar is a free service offered by the Starkville Daily News. The calendars runs daily as space allows. Announcements should be submitted via e-mail to [email protected] by 2 p.m. the day prior to publication and be no more than 50 words in length. Religious events will be listed Saturdays on the Faith page. Recurring events will run on Sundays only. One-time events will run Monday through Friday.

Saturday

u Canoe Day—Noxubee Refuge will hold a canoe day on Bluff Lake from 7 a.m.1 p.m. Canoes, kayaks, life jackets and paddles will be available free of charge. u COCO Tutoring Program—Open enrollment is scheduled for the Council of Community Organization, Academic Booster Club tutoring program from 8:3010 a.m. Students grades K-12 are eligible.

Today u SMART Closed— Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit offices and routes will be closed for training purposes from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. u Public Hearing—Prairie Opportunity, Inc. Community Action Agency will hold its annual public hearing for Oktibbeha County at 3:30 p.m. All residents are welcome to attend.

Monday

u Rotary—Rotary will meet at 11:45 a.m. at Starkville Country Club. The program will be Chris Snyder, presenting on the MSU Shackouls Honors College. u Civitan—The Starkville Civitan Club will meet at noon at McAlister’s Deli.

Thursday u Computer Class—Emerson Family Resource Center will have a computer class focused on Microsoft Excel from 10 a.m.-noon. u NAACP Meeting—The Oktibbeha County brance of the NAACP will have its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at the Courthouse on Main Street. The meeting is open to the public. u Perseid Meteor Shower—Angelle Tanner is partnering with the refuge for a public viewing of the Perseid Meteor Shower from the Morgan Hill

Two local advisers for Ameriprise Financial Services joined 11 others at the River Hills Club in Jackson on July 25 to celebrate the firm’s 100th anniversary of serving Mississippi, according to a news release from Carla Chandler, client service manager for Ameriprise’s Starkville office. The company was previously known as Investors Syndicate. Front Row (from left): Lauren Norman-Fox of Tupelo, Linda Smith of Jackson, Carrie-Beth M. Randall of Starkville, and Susan Proaps of Brookhaven. Back Row: Bob Chestnut of Tupelo, Joe Brown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Ron Blackwood of Jackson, Rob Chestnut of Tupelo, Steve Rawson of Kosciusko, Jim Grove of Jackson, Jerry Nix of Jackson/Meridian, Eddie McNeal of Starkville, and Randy Garner of Hattiesburg. (Submitted photo) Prairie, located to the south bug repellant. of Loakfoma Lake from 9-11 p.m. Participants are encourFriday aged to bring a lawn chair, binoculars, a flashlight and u Breakfast with

Bulldogs—Breakfast with the Bulldogs will be held at 7:30 a.m. at Starkville Cafe. The speaker will be Straton the Karatasos, MSU associate

Tuesday

athletic director/development. u Le Leche League Meeting—Starkville Le Leche League will meet at 11 a.m.

u Active Parenting— Emerson Family Resource Center will have an active parenting class focused on responsibility and discipline from 11 a.m.-noon. u Parent Cafe—Emerson Family Resource Center will have its parent support group, Parent Cafe, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Isle of Capri Casinos announces closure of Natchez casino Associated Press NATCHEZ — Isle of Capri Casinos will close its casino in Natchez, one of the oldest gambling houses in Mississippi. St. Louis-based Isle of Capri has owned the Natchez property, a dockside casino with 520 slot machines and six table games, since 2000. “We are proud of all that we have accomplished together and we thank our team members for their dedication and hard work in the many years we have operated in Natchez,” said

Virginia McDowell, the Isle of Capri’s president and chief executive officer, said in a news release Tuesday. The Isle of Capri said it will sell its Natchez hotel and certain related non-gambling assets to Casino Holding Investment Partners, the parent company of Magnolia Bluffs Casino, for $11.5 million. The transaction is expected to close in October 2015, subject to customary closing conditions. The Natchez casino generated $23 million in revenue in fiscal year 2015. A company snap-

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shot published in June noted that since Magnolia Bluffs Casino opened in late 2012 the Isle of Capri’s gambling revenues in Natchez have declined — even as overall company revenues increased 5 percent in 2015. The Isle of Capri leases approximately 24 acres of land in connection with the Natchez operations, paying an annual rent of approximately $1.1 million. The company also leases approximately 7.5 acres for parking and owns six additional acres and the property in which its hotel is located. Mississippi Gaming Commission deputy ex-

Jackson proposes property tax increase Associated Press

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662-323-1642 Hometown Hero Nominations Modern Woodmen is seeking nominations of Hometown Heroes in Starkville and Oktibbeha County — individuals who go out of their way to do for others either in their line of work or as a volunteer. Deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. on August 24. Submit nomination online at http://tinyurl.com/ofze5v5. For more information, contact Jamey Bachman at 601.888.5826.

Humane Society Volunteer Orientation Have you wanted to volunteer at Oktibbeha County Humane Society/Starkville Animal Shelter? The first step is to attend their Volunteer Orientation Sessions to learn to be a helping hand for the shelter animals! Orientation will be on August 18 at 5:30. Note: you must apply online to attend the session. For more information, contact Sherry Wiygul at volunteer@ ochsms.org or (662) 338-9093.

Starkville Reads Advisory Board Starkville Reads is looking for individuals who have a passion for reading to join their Advisory Board to bring fresh ideas on how to promote reading in our community. The Advisory Board meets every third Wednesday of the month at 4:15 p.m. at the Starkville Public Library. To join, contact Board President Rob Brown at [email protected].

Starkville Church of God Food Pantry This food pantry was created to serve the people of Mississippi State University, Starkville, and the surrounding communities to give them more access and awareness of available food resources in this area. This service is anonymous, and can accommodate anyone in need! The next date will be August 18, 4-6 pm. To volunteer, contact Shayla Jefferson at [email protected].

For more information visit http://volunteerstarkville.org

ecutive director Jay McDaniel said no applications for changes or restructuring at either casino have been submitted yet. “We require plans when ownership changes, submissions for any kind of new structure or anything like that, making sure anything that needs to be approved through the commission is done correctly,” he said. “Typically a company makes a decision and we help them work through it.” The Isle of Capri is one of 18 casinos that run along the Mississippi River from Tunica to Natchez. There are 12 coastal casinos.

JACKSON — Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber’s proposed budget includes an 8 percent increase in property taxes along with furloughs and a hiring freeze. The mayor’s plan includes an 8 percent hike in property taxes, which if approved, would mean the owner of a house valued at $100,000 would pay $51 more a year in property taxes. According to local media reports, a mayor’s aide told council members that without the increase in property taxes, the city would take in about $600,000 less in revenue. City Councilwoman Margaret Barrett Simon suggested waiting to imple-

ment a property tax increase. “We’re having a lot of economic development projects going on that are going to be really bringing a lot of people into the city more than ever, and if we could just hold off on this tax increase until we can get some of that in place, I think things may take care of themselves,” she said. The mayor wants to increases fines for traffic violations and fees charged to keep cars in the city impound lot. There would also be no new vehicles purchased by the city for two years. Yarber also proposed large increases in permits for fire inspections and fireworks displays and boosting the fee for room rental at Smith Robertson Mu-

seum from $93 to $750. “We’ve got bills that are coming due,” Yarber said. “We’ve borrowed money, and now, the city has to look at how we pay that money back. Those bills are coming due this fiscal year.” Also, the city is trying to make up an estimated gap of $15 million in what department heads say they need to operate and the estimated revenue from property taxes that the city will receive for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. City Council President Melvin Priester Jr. said the council will spend the next month having budget hearings. “We’ll go over expenses with a fine toothed comb,” Priester said.

Feds to end oversight of Harrison County jail Associated Press GULFPORT — Since 1995, the Department of Justice has had authority over everything that happens at the Harrison County Jail. But that’s about to change. A court-ordered judgment that resulted from overcrowding at the lock-up is about to end. WLOX TV reports county

supervisors signed off on the motions Monday to dismiss that long standing federal decree which required jail oversight. Sheriff Melvin Brisolara, has worked to remove that federal oversight during his eight years in office. “I’m really proud of the employees here at the Harrison County sheriff’s office. It took every employee do-

ing their job to get us to this point. “This shows that the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is running the jail right. For the U.S. Justice Department to agree to walk away and give you control back, you’re doing something right,” Brisolara said. Getting that control back means reinstating the inmate work center.

“We can start looking at getting our work center back — which we’ll be able to house up to 100 inmates, if we want to get on the work program,” said Brisolara. Compliance came at a cost. Over the years since the decree was first enacted, Harrison County has spent more than $16 million on new facilities and other improvements at the county jail.

Biloxi council agrees to legal fees for BP claims From Wire Reports BILOXI — The city of Biloxi will get an additional $200,000 from the BP oil spill settlement. On Monday, the city council accepted a deal brokered by Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich with the Page, Mannino, Peresich & McDermott law firm to reduce the amount the city owed it in legal fees. The vote was unanimous by

the council, said city spokesman Vincent Creel. The law firm’s original contract with the city, going back to 2012, called for a 20 percent contingency fee. The contract, had it held up, would have netted the law firm about $1 million. That pushes the city’s portion from $3.9 million to $4.1 million, according to local media reports. “We’re in the middle of the budget

workshop preparation at this point in time. That’s our main goal is to make sure that the money gets to where the harm was done, and not only this $4.9 million, but also things that are coming over the next 15 or 16 years,” said Gilich. Law firm partner Ron Peresich requested that the city use the money to support the Seafood and Maritime Museum and the Ohr O’Keefe Museum, as well as the Biloxi Natatorium.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 • Starkville Daily News • Page 3A

Hackers accused of making $100M by peeking at press releases By DAVID PORTER Associated Press NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — An international web of hackers and traders made $100 million on Wall Street by stealing a look at corporate press releases before they went out and then trading on that information ahead of the pack, federal authorities charged Tuesday. Authorities said it was the biggest scheme of its kind ever prosecuted, and one that demonstrated another alarming vulnerability in the financial system in this age of increasingly sophisticated cybercrime. In a 21st-century twist on insider trading, the hackers broke into the computers of some of the biggest business newswire services, which put out earnings announcements and other press releases for a multitude of corporations. Nine people in the U.S. and Ukraine were indicted on federal criminal charges, including securities fraud, computer fraud and conspiracy. And the Securities and Exchange Commission brought civil charges against the nine plus 23 other people and companies in the U.S. and Europe. The case “illustrates the risks posed for our global markets by today’s sophisticated hackers,” SEC chief Mary Jo White said. “Today’s international case is unprecedented in terms of the scope of the hacking at issue, the number of traders involved, the number of securities unlawfully traded and the amount of profits generated.” The nine indicted include two people described as Ukrainian computer hackers and six stock traders. Prosecutors said the defendants made $30 million from their part of the scheme. Authorities said that beginning in 2010 and continuing as recently as May, the hackers gained access to more than 150,000 press releases that were about to be issued by Marketwired of Toronto; PR Newswire in New York; and Business Wire of San Francisco. The press releases contained earnings figures and other corporate information. The defendants then used roughly 800 of those news releases to make trades before the information came out, exploiting a time gap ranging from hours to three days, prosecutors said.

Obituaries Nell Ellis Hartness Nell Ellis Hartness, age 91, passed away on July 8, 2015 at Dugan Memorial Nursing Home in West Point, Mississippi. She was a retired homemaker, a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church USA in Starkville, MS, a faithful member of the Bible study of the First Presbyterian Church, EPC, in West Point, MS, and a member of the Oktoc Garden Club, Starkville, MS. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, August 13 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church USA in Starkville, with the funeral service following at 3:00.  Burial will be in the Oddfellows Cemetery in Starkville. Mrs. Hartness is survived by: 4 children, Rebecca Ruth Hartness Ferrell and husband, Kenneth of West Point, Homer Wayne Hartness of Theodore, Alabama, Barbara Lynn Hartness Dennehey and  husband, Patrick of Newport News, Virginia, and Jeffery Clark Hartness of Starkville; sister, Margaret Exyah Ellis Swain, Elsie Ray Daughtery, and Mollie Anne Ellis Echols; brother, M.C. Ellis; 7 grandchildren, Stacy Lynn Shaw, Robert Lewis Shaw, Jr., Dawn Ferrell Allen, Kendra Ferrell Goff, Cecil Hartness Ferrell, Benjamin Colin Ferrell, Thomas Wayne Hartness, and Joshua Hartness; seven great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin Calloway Ellis and Bettie Ruth Thompson Ellis; husband, Homer Billups Hartness; daughter, Hazel Hope Hartness Shaw; sister, Jacqueline (Jackie) Mae Ellis; brother, James (Jimmy) Thompson Ellis, and daughter-in-law, Debbie Hartness. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Palmer Home, P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703 or Women of the Church Scholarship Fund, First Presbyterian Church USA, 307 University Drive, Starkville, MS 39759.

James Rex “J. Rex” Parker Mr. James Rex Parker of Jackson, MS passed away on Friday, August 7 at the age of 77 at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. He had suffered poor health over the past

months and had been a resident at VA Nursing home in Jackson for a short time. Mr. Parker, known to family and friends as “J. Rex”, was born in Sunflower, Mississippi on June 16, 1938 to the late Alfred Rex and Essie Mae Cannon Parker. He grew up in the Brooksville, Mississippi and attended Brooksville High School. He entered the United States Air Force at age 18 and, after his discharge, attended East Mississippi Junior College. He worked for several years for the Mississippi State Board of Health before continuing his education at Mississippi State University, from which he graduated in 1968. He was soon employed with the Federal Land Bank of New Orleans, with which he was affiliated for over twentyone years. He and his wife, the former Jean Eaves, then moved to Tupelo, MS where he opened a staffing firm “Express Personnel” and later expanded the business with another franchise in Booneville, MS. In 2007, Mr. Parker divested himself of the business for health reasons and retired to Jackson, MS in 2012 to be nearer to their children. Mr. Parker was preceded in death by his parents, one brother: Bill Parker and in-laws Janie Eaves and Calvin Hull. Mr. Parker leaves behind his wife of fifty-five years, Jean E Parker, of Jackson, MS as well as one son: Jim Parker, also of Jackson and one daughter: Priscilla Kemmerer of Madison MS. He also leaves to mourn his passing two sisters: Dot Holmes (Bob) of Fairhope, Ala. and Lynn Black (Ed) of Starkville, MS. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Sarah and Rex Parker of Brandon, MS and Andrew and Parker Kemmerer of Madison, MS. James Rex Parker’s funeral service will be held on Saturday August 15, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. at Cockrell Funeral Home Chapel (3478 Jefferson Street) Macon, MS. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 11:00 A.M until 1:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Interment will immediately follow at Brooksville Cemetery. The family requests memorials be made to the Brooksville Cemetery Fund: Melanie Hines, 586 Hines Rd, Brooksville, MS 39739; Parkinson Foundation, 200 SE 1st St. Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131 or to your favorite charity. Cockrell Funeral Home of Macon, MS (www.cockrellfuneralhome.com) is entrusted with the funeral service.

Pope expected to challenge lawmakers BY ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press WASHINGTON — A political pope is sure to seize his opportunity when he addresses a political body. So both Democrats and Republicans are looking forward to Pope Francis’ remarks to Congress next month — and bracing for them, too. The pope thrills Democrats with his teachings on climate change, social justice and immigration. At the same time, his message on life and the Catholic Church’s traditional opposition to abortion comfort Republicans. There is genuine giddiness among Catholic Democrats — many of whom have long been uncomfortably at odds with their church over abortion rights — about the pope’s strong emphasis on addressing poverty and the environment. “I’ve been waiting for this pope all my life,” said liberal Massachusetts Democrat Jim McGovern, 57. “I find him inspirational and I know a lot of other people do, not just Catholics.” The pope comes to the Capitol on Sept. 24, where he will be the first pontiff to ever address a joint meeting of Congress. He will also appear on a West Front balcony to greet the public. There’s little doubt that Francis, who in a speech last month in Bolivia spoke out against unchecked capitalism before an assemblage of groups representing the poor, will seek to send a similar message to lawmakers representing the richest nation on earth. “Whether it’s climate change or hunger or taking care of the poor, the Pope’s message is really the embodiment of what Catholic social teaching has been about, historically,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who traveled to Rome to witness the pope’s installation two years ago. The pope was, of course, invited by the most powerful Catholic in Congress, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio., who will be accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden, another Catholic, in familiar seats behind Francis on the dais. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, also a Catholic, will occupy a prominent seat on her party’s side of the aisle. For joint addresses like the State of the Union or even the recent appearance before Congress by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, partisan politics is unavoidable. One side will jump to their feet while the other will sit on their hands. In September, however, most hope and anticipate such grandstanding can be avoided. “You will not know it’s the Congress,” said Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J. There’s also no glad-handing the pope as he walks down the center aisle, unlike the annual ritual in which lawmakers such as Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., and Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, comman-

deer a seat to press the flesh. The pontiff is expected to keep his hands clasped as if in prayer. A top adviser to Francis visited Washington in April and said the pope will speak “frankly but friendly” in his U.S. trip. “Even the Congress people can listen to other voices, to counsels, to advisers,” said Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, according to Religion News Service. “The one who receives advice commits less errors and is not mistaken. The one who does not like to listen to advice will have a lot of trouble. So I think the Congress will receive very well the advice (of the pope) — even if there are some things that will not be comfortable.” Francis’ recent encyclical chastised policymakers across the globe for inaction on the environment as the skies warm and the oceans are ravaged by overfishing and pollution.

“We may well be leaving to coming generations debris, desolation and filth,” the pope wrote. “The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet’s capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes.” In September, such warnings could be seen as a challenge directed to a Congress populated by GOP skeptics of proposals to reduce greenhouse gases like new curbs on coal-fired power plants. “You’re always stronger in terms of credibility when you stay closer to your church doctrine and church teaching and also what the Catholic Church has been about,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan, RAlaska. “Many people take a lot of pride, whether you’re Catholic or not, in terms of focus on the poor, focus on helping the most vulnerable.”

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

“Silent Knight” for Democrats

Robert Gray won the vote to avoid a run-off. Democratic nomination for This stunned establishment Governor in Mississippi afDemocrats and liberal insidter raising and spending no ers. The “Rethink Mississippi” money to campaign, and Twitter handle from the Wilnot even voting for himself. liam Winter Institute accused Gray, a truck driver with the “electoral gender bias.” State CB handle “Silent Knight,” Democratic Party chairman Brian Perry Rickey Cole suggested “low defeated trial lawyer Vicki Slater who reported spendSyndicated information voters.” There ing just shy of $200,000, was talk of some grand ReColumnist publican conspiracy to maand Dr. Valerie Short, an Air Force veteran with an OB-GYN prac- nipulate the election. I agree with Sid tice in Ridgeland, who spent just over Salter, “A more plausible explanation is $40,000. Gray took 51 percent of the the simpler one – the name ‘Gray’ comes

ahead of the names ‘Short’ and ‘Slater’ when arranged alphabetically. The first name on the ballot got the most votes.” In statewide elections the big draws on the ballots are at the top of the state races (governor) and the top of the local races (sheriff, clerks, supervisors). Those drawn out mostly by the top of the ballot often don’t even vote on local races; those drawn out by the local races usually identify with a candidate to choose at the top. This year, with the Democratic gubernatorial campaigns not engaging voters, few were drawn out for that race and those voting local, as Cole said,

weren’t or didn’t care to be informed. But there were plenty of local races worth watching across the state. While Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler fell short in her Republican Primary challenge against incumbent State Auditor Stacey Pickering (she lost 68 percent to 32 percent) she did score wins in her “Clean Sweep” campaign against two Republican incumbent Madison supervisors: John Bell Crosby who lost to Shelia Jones, and John Howland who lost to Trey Baxter. Incumbent Gerald Steen held on against his challenger Jill Ford with around a 50

vote advantage. Two Democrat incumbents face Republican challengers in November. So while Butler won’t be on the ballot, her fight continues. Blowback from the Singing River Health System pension fund scandal also inspired a clean sweep campaign against incumbent supervisors in Jackson County. Two – John McKay and Mike Mangum – lost while another two – Barry Cumbest and Troy Ross – are headed into run-off elections. At least five incumbent sheriffs lost

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Opinion

Preseason guessing game rarely pans out

Much ado has been made about the media picking Mississippi State to finish last in the SEC Western Division in the annual preseason media poll. As if it matters. Preseason polls mean nothing. We shouldn’t have them. Polls should start after Rick Cleveland the first half of the season in Syndicated mid-to-late October when Columnist we actually know something. As of now, we know next to nothing. Dan Mullen and I almost agree on this. In Mullen’s words: “I don’t put a lot of weight in preseason polls.” I don’t put any. We could spend hours examining the inaccuracy of preseason polls on an annual basis. But for time’s sake, let’s just look at last year when Florida State was nearly unanimous choice as the nation’s best college football team. The Seminoles finished fifth and sixth in the final polls, 39-point losers to Oregon in the semifinal playoff game. Meanwhile, Ohio State, picked fifth in the preseason, won it all. South Carolina, picked ninth in both preseason polls, was clocked at home by 24 points in its opener, finished 3-5 in the SEC out of the polls, and needed a 3-point Independence Bowl victory to avoid a losing season. Oklahoma, preseason No. 4, lost five games. And we could go on and on. Mississippi State, picked fifth in the SEC West in last season’s SEC Media Days poll, rose to No. 1 in the nation for weeks. South Carolina, picked to win the SEC East, finished fifth in the division, four games behind Missouri, which was picked fourth in

See CLEVELAND | Page 5A

Opinion

Show business over substance

The media is all abuzz literally front and center about The Donald and on the stage. The surprise last week’s debates on Fox. was not that Trump was Calling the prime time the only one to raise his event a “debate” is akin to hand, but that Fox would calling a three-ring circus a come out attacking canserious inquiry into the ordidates and pitting candiigins of life. The earlier dedates into personal attacks bate with the seven lower against each other. polling candidates in the Daniel Gardner My takeaway was to GOP presidential race was lower my expectations of Contributing much more informative. media covering substanColumnist Fox’s leading news antive policy differences chors - Bret Baier, Chris Wallace, and between candidates in either party. Megyn Kelly - went for entertainment America has become a ‘gotcha’ naand ratings over substance with their tion. Who can win the ‘gotcha’ wars? questions. Baier launched the first Over the past ten years or so divisions hand-raising question asking the ten among Americans have become hardmen who would not promise to sup- ened. Huge blocks of voters on both port the eventual GOP candidate for sides of the political divide have locked president, a rhetorical question aimed in their votes so that independents in directly at Donald Trump who stood the middle are the only ones left who

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are seeking the best for America. Large numbers of citizens voted for Barack Obama solely because he is black ... some more than once. Large numbers of citizens would vote for Hillary Clinton solely because she is a woman. No one would vote for Carly Fiorina solely because she’s a woman because she’s also a conservative, and those who vote for candidates solely because of their gender or race would never support conservative candidates. An administrator at Mississippi State University told me his view of leadership: a leader sees which way the crowd is going and runs to the front waving a flag. I don’t share that view of leadership, but plenty of people who’ve done that have been recognized as leaders by the media. In that regard, cable channels like Fox and CNN are more interested in ratings than reality.

CNN’s Chris Cuomo is so ideologically progressive, he is incapable of conducting a reasoned interview with a conservative candidate. Case in point: Cuomo interviewed Marco Rubio last week about Rubio’s stance on abortion. Rubio clearly explained his belief that life begins at conception, and that he favored protecting every human life from conception on. Cuomo does not interview conservatives; he debates them. The abortion issue has heated up lately with release of videos showing leading Planned Parenthood doctors and administrators - not low level technicians - casually discussing dismembering babies for their organs and selling them, literally adding millions of dollars to the organization’s bottom line annually. Even though Cuomo understood Rubio’s position on abortion, Cuomo

essentially argued that regardless of personal beliefs a politician should take popular stands in order to win elections. This is progressive ideology 101. Personal beliefs are best kept personal. Orthodox progressive ideology is god. Progressives view abortion as a political rights issue, not a human issue. Neither Fox’s debates nor other media follow-up like Cuomo’s debate with Rubio shed much light on candidates’ policy platforms. Don’t expect to see any media delve into any substantive revelations of candidates’ positions any time soon.

Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in Starkville, Mississippi. You may contact him at PJandMe2@ hotmail.com, or interact with him on the Clarion-Ledger web site http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion.

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015 • Starkville Daily News • Page 5A

Tupelo 89/64

Weather

Business

Today's Weather

Local 5-Day Forecast Wed

8/12

91/62

Greenville Thu 91/66

Fri

8/13

8/14

90/61

92/66

Sat Starkville 8/15 89/61

Mostly sunny. High 91F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.

Abundant A few sunshine.Jackson clouds. Highs in the94/70 Highs in the low 90s and low 90s and lows in the lows in the low 60s. mid 60s.

Sunrise: 6:14 AM Sunset: 7:44 PM

Sunrise: 6:15 AM Sunset: 7:43 PM

Sunrise: 6:16 AM Sunset: 7:42 PM

Area Cities

Meridian 91/65 92/67

National Cities City Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Denver Houston Los Angeles Miami

Hi 89 84 78 100 88 102 87 93

Lo Cond. 66 mst sunny 63 t-storm 64 pt sunny 76 sunny 62Jackson mst sunny 80 cloudy 94/70 66 sunny 78 t-storm

92/66

Isolated thunderstorms. Highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 60s.

Plenty of sun. Highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 60s.

Sunrise: 6:17 AM Sunset: 7:41 PM

Sunrise: 6:17 AM Sunset: 7:39 PM

Mississippi City Hi Lo At Cond.A Glance City Baton Rouge, LA 97 76 cloudy Biloxi 92 75 t-storm Birmingham, AL 90 63 sunny Brookhavem 93 70 pt sunny Cleveland 89 64 mst sunny Columbus 92 63 sunny Corinth 87 61 mst sunny Greenville 91 66 pt sunny Grenada 90 64 pt sunny Gulfport 92 74 t-storm Hattiesburg 94 71 pt sunny Jackson 94 70 pt sunny Laurel 92 69 pt sunny Little Rock, ARGreenville 90 66 mst sunny Mc Comb 95 71 pt sunny 91/66

Sun

8/16

Biloxi 92/75

Hi Memphis, TN 87 Meridian 92 Mobile, AL 93 Montgomery, AL 94 Natchez 94 Tupelo New Albany 86 New Orleans, 89/64 LA 94 Oxford 87 Philadelphia 92 Senatobia 88 Starkville 89 Tunica 87 Tupelo 89 Vicksburg 89 Starkville Yazoo City 93

Lo Cond. 64 mst sunny 67 mst sunny 74 t-storm 68 sunny 70 pt sunny 61 mst sunny 79 cloudy 60 mst sunny 65 mst sunny 61 mst sunny 61 mst sunny 61 pt sunny 64 sunny 63 pt sunny 66 mst sunny

City Hi Minneapolis 87 NewMeridian York 85 Phoenix 92/67 106 San Francisco 71 Seattle 88 St. Louis 86 Washington, DC 87

Lo Cond. 70 sunny 65 mst sunny 81 pt sunny 59 sunny 62 sunny 66 mst sunny 67 mst sunny

89/61

Moon Phases

PERRY

Startup energy brings Disney’s BB-8 droid toy to life BY RYAN NAKASHIMA Associated Press GLENDALE, Calif. — If it weren’t for someone willing to entertain a new idea, the new “Star Wars” droid, BB-8, wouldn’t be rolling into living rooms this holiday season. The robot — which looks like a mechanical head on a spinning ball — was the brainchild of filmmakers behind “Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens,” who were unaware their puppetry-animated character could function in real life. But in July 2014, the CEO of Lucasfilm-parent Disney, Bob Iger, showed secret images of BB-8 to a startup company called Sphero. It was one of the inaugural class of companies Disney brought into a three-month program meant to nurture their entrepreneurial spirit and maybe generate a money-making product. It was like Force lightning hitting pay dirt. Sphero’s founders dummied up a functioning prototype that very night, an innovation that now sits in a special locked room in its headquarters in Boulder, Colorado. “Imagine sitting down with Bob Iger and him pointing to something the whole world wants to know about,” said Sphero CEO Paul Berberian. “And you get to see something that you’ve been working on. What a magical stroke of luck.” Disney’s “accelerator” is the kind of

sippi. Jennings has served in the House since 1998. From page 4A Other House seats of interin the primaries: Democrats Ty- est include Democrat Reecy rone Lewis in Hinds County, Dickson (House 42) who failed Jerry Carver in Carroll County, to make a run-off; and DemoBob Huddleston Chuck Mayfield in Adams BiloxiFull (House Last NewCoun- crats First Gibbs ty, Darryl in 14Wayne 30) Aug 7 WoodsonAug Augand 22 Karl Aug 29 (House 92/75 CountyCities and Republican Ken- 36) both advancing to run-offs. Area Kathy Sykes Hiand neth Lewis in Simpson County. City City Index Hi Lo Cond. Lo Sam Cond. Begley UV meet again a run-off Hinds Baton Rouge, LA 97 76 sheriffs cloudy in Memphis, TN in 87 64 mstin sunny Others – including BiloxiWedCounty,92 75 t-storm 92 seat 67 mst Thu Fri Meridian Sun County Sat for the ofsunny DemoBenton Harrison CounBirmingham, AL 908/13 63 sunny 8/14Mobile, AL 8/15 93 74 8/16 t-storm 8/12 crat Jim Evans (House 70) who ty and Tishomingo County – are Montgomery, Brookhavem 93 1070 pt sunny 10 10 10AL 94 68 sunny 10 withdrew after94a 70 residency heading Clevelandto a run-off. 89 64 mst sunny Natchez pt sunnychalVery High Very HighsunnyVery High Very High86 61 Very High Columbus 92 63 New Albany mst Bomgar Only two incumbent district lenge. Republican Joel sunny Corinth 87 61 mst sunny New Orleans, LA 94 79 cloudy The UV Index is measured onfaced a 0 - 11 number scale, 68 took percent against attorneys statewide pri0 11Bruce Greenville 91 66 pt sunny Oxford 87 60 mst sunny with a higher UV Index showing the need for greater skin protection. Bartley for the of sunny retiring mary opposition. Shuler Philadelphia Grenada 90 Robert 64 pt sunny 92 seat 65 mst Gulfport(District 92 t-storm 88 (House 61 mst sunny Rita Martinson 58) in Smith 7: 74 Hinds Coun- Senatobia Hattiesburg 94 Hometown 71 pt sunny 89 61 mst sunny ©2010 American Profile Content Starkville Service Madison County. ty) and Brenda Mitchell (District Jackson 94 70 pt sunny Tunica 87 61 pt sunny Incumbent89Senators 11: Tunica, Quitman, Laurel 92 69 Coahoma, pt sunny Tupelo 64 sunny Nancy Little Rock, AR 90 both 66 mst sunny Vicksburg 63 ptand sunny Collins, Philip89 Gandy Kenny Bolivar Counties) defeated Mc Comb 95 71 pt sunny Yazoo CityJones 93 Wayne all 66 lostmst to sunny primary challengers. The big story from the leg- challengers. National In Republican senate races: islative racesCities was the ousting of City Hi Lo Cond. City Hi Lo Jenifer Branning & Cond. Mark Forsfour incumbent Republicans Atlanta 89 66 mst sunny Minneapolis 87 70 sunny man head to a run-off for the in DeSoto County targeted for Boston 84 63 t-storm New York 85 65 mst sunny Chicago pt sunny 106 81 pt sunnyGiles seat of retiring Senator their opposition78to64recent edu- Phoenix Dallas reform policies 100 76 sunny Francisco 59Chris sunnyCaughWard (Senate71 18); cation including San Denver 88 62 mst sunny Seattle 88 62 sunny man won outright with 57 percharter schools. Representatives Houston 102 80 cloudy St. Louis 86 66 mst sunny cent for the SenaPat Nelson, Gene Wanda Washington, Los Angeles 87 Alday, 66 sunny DCseat 87 of 67retiring mst sunny Miami 93 78 t-storm Jennings and Forrest Hamilton tor Perry Lee; Joseph Seymour were all defeated by challengers and Mike Tyson fight it out in a supported by Empower Missis- run-off to replace Senator Tony Moon Phases

Smith (Senate 47) who ran for Southern District Public Service Commissioner; and Senator Will Longwitz (Senate 25) fended off a challenge from Bill Billingsley. On the Democratic side: Tammy Witherspoon and Angela Brooks are in a run-off to replace Kelvin Butler (Senate 38) who won the Democratic nomination for Pike County Chancery Clerk. Juan Barnett leads going into a run-off for the seat of Haskins Montgomery (Senate 34). Statewide Republican candidates produced no Robert Gray drama. In the closest race, incumbent Treasurer Lynn Fitch beat challenger David McRae with 57 percent. Governor Phil Bryant won a nomination to a second term with the votes of 92 percent of Republicans. But then, like Gray, he was first on the ballot.

CLEVELAND

starters, but Mullen substituted liberally last year. His backups played a lot. Should you really believe State will finish last in the SEC West this season, consider: Last season, Mullen’s sixth at State, the Bulldogs were picked to finish fifth in the West and finished second and in the Orange Bowl. His Bulldogs have exceeded expectations in five of the six seasons he has been there. Indeed, the only year they didn’t exceed pre-season predictions was when they were picked fifth and finished fifth, demolishing Michigan in the Gator Bowl. Who expected that? So there’s a track record to consider. But again all this comes with this disclaimer: The Bulldogs could be a really good team and finish seventh. Somebody has to finish last.

scored the last 42 points. Had it been a prize fight, State would From page 4A have been declared winner by the preseason. TKO after the third quarter. Lastthe idea? New First Full accountGet And we There’s just Aug no Aug 7 Aug 14 Aug 22 29 haven’t even mentioned that ing for how new players will Auburn is the pick to win the influence a team’s season. Or UV SECIndex championship in 2015, injuries. Or breaks. Or, simply, despite is how theSat schedule falls. Wed the fact that Thu Alabama Fri Sun 8/12to win the 8/13 8/14 8/16 picked West. You 8/15 can guess, but you nev10 words come 10 10 er know.10 10 Two to mind: Very happen. High Very High Very High I Very High guess Verythat High AlaCan’t would predictions on bama, The I UVhave Index istwo measured on a 0 - 11 number scale, LSU, and Ole Miss 11 are with a higher UV Index showing the need for greater 0 thisprotection. coming season in the SEC three of the four most talentskin West: ed teams going into this SEC • Somebody is Hometown going toContent have Service West season. But all three will ©2010 American Profile to finish seventh and last, and feature unproven quarterbacks. • That somebody probably You cannot win the most difwill have a winning overall re- ficult division in college footcord and could conceivably be ball without above-average ranked in the Top 25. quarterbacking. We’ll see. AuThat’s just how strong the burn folks are calling junior SEC West is. Never forget that QB Jeremy Johnson the next the 2010 Mississippi State Bull- Cam Newton. He might be. dogs finished fifth in a then-six He looks the part. But who reteam division. Yes, and they ally knows? Not even Gus Malalso finished 15th in the coun- zahn, I’d venture. try and body-slammed MichiWhat we do know is that in gan by 38 points in the January Dak Prescott, State returns the 1 Gator Bowl. Michigan led most proven QB in the SEC. 14-10 after one quarter. State Yes, State has to replace several

program being adopted by big companies like Microsoft, Barclays, Nike and Volkswagen. The idea is to invest a small amount in a handful of startups, set them up in cheap office space, mentor them, and launch them on a trajectory for more funding, product development, and possibly business deals. Disney now plans to give the BB-8 toy made by Sphero a big push in September online and in Disney Stores before the movie opens in December. It also took a minority stake in Sphero, which has raised $81 million so far. Kevin Mayer, Disney’s chief strategy officer, says the accelerator program is less about earning a quick profit and more about dreaming up innovative products and injecting Disney’s upper management with energy and ideas. “There’s a different form of excitement that you get when you have new people whose company is on the line and it’s a make-or-break moment for them,” Mayer said. “All the executives who came in and mentored — to a person — enjoyed it tremendously and came out feeling more energized than they went in.” The secret to success? Corporations must “give first” — in other words, be free with their time, advice and contacts without an expected return, says David Cohen, the CEO of TechStars, which administers 18 different accelerators, half of which are linked to major corporations. Seeking an immediate benefit through

an exclusive distributor relationship or a guarantee of a future equity stake at a predetermined price can limit good ideas and turn away potential applicants on the cusp of trying to broaden their market reach. “That’s what corporate America is still learning,” Cohen said. “Once (corporations) are helpful, in turn, (the startups) are probably happy to have them invest more or buy the company.” Already funded with roughly $30 million before joining Disney’s accelerator, Sphero didn’t need the $120,000 investment that all participants are awarded. Instead, it was looking to tap into Disney’s storytelling expertise to humanize its toy and gain access to Disney’s senior management team. The relationship helped open the door to Sphero becoming the licensed maker of the BB-8 toy, get distribution agreements with major retailers and polish its instore presence. “I can’t express how much they’ve essentially backed up the truck to help us,” Berberian said. “It’s humbling.” Accelerators are becoming an increasing source of innovation for major companies. Accelerator operators like TechStars and Plug and Play Tech Center pair large companies like Home Depot, Johnson and Johnson, Citibank and Coca-Cola with startups that could benefit from their connections and experience. Meanwhile, large companies are scouring the landscape for ideas that can help them stay ahead.

Brian Perry is a columnist for the Madison County Journal and a partner with Capstone Public Affairs, LLC. Reach him at [email protected] or @CapstonePerry on Twitter.

Rick Cleveland (rcleveland@ msfame.com) is executive director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

East Mississippi Community College is a two-year college offering Career and Technical Programs, Academic Courses, Transfer/University Parallel Programs, and Workforce Development Services. East Mississippi Community College is committed to assuring that the college is free from discrimination and harassment based upon race, color, ethnicity, national origin, disability, age, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, status as a U. S. veteran, or any other status protected by state or federal law in its hiring practices or access to its programs, services, activities, in its treatment of individuals, or in any aspect of its operations. For more information on admission to any of EMCC’s Academic, Career or Technical, or Workforce Programs, or to review a listing of programs, services or activities offered by East Mississippi Community College, please visit the college’s web site at www.eastms.edu or call (662) 476-5000 to request a college catalogue and/or admission packet. The lack of English language skills shall not be a barrier to admission or participation in EMCC’s activities or programs. Para recibir una copia escrita de esta politica en español, por favor póngase en contacto Theresa Harpole (662) 476-5274. This notice is provided as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Questions, complaints, or requests for additional information regarding these laws may be forwarded to the designated Compliance Coordinator, the 504/ADA Coordinator, or the Title IX Coordinator. Theresa Harpole District Director of Human Resources P. O. Box 158, Scooba, MS 39358 (662) 476-5274 [email protected]

Dr. Paul Miller Title IX Coordinator P. O. Box 100, Mayhew, MS 39753 (662) 243-1902 [email protected]

Cathy Kemp 504/ADA Coordinator P. O. Box 100, Mayhew, MS 39753 (662) 243-1979 [email protected]

Page 6A • Starkville Daily News • Wednesday, August 12, 2015

St. Louis County chief regained control of Ferguson protests By JIM SALTER and ALAN SCHER ZAGIER Associated Press FERGUSON, Mo. — As another protest on Ferguson’s beleaguered West Florissant Avenue began to turn rowdy, Jon Belmar was among the first to confront protesters. Wearing neither a helmet nor a shield, the St. Louis County police chief strode directly toward demonstrators, telling them to get out of the street and urging calm. “They’re not going to take the street tonight,” Belmar told an Associated Press reporter standing nearby. “That’s not going to happen.” One night earlier, things turned dangerously violent when shots rang out and an 18-year-old black suspect was shot by police after he allegedly fired a handgun into an unmarked police van. Police used smoke to disperse the crowd. Three officers were injured. The scene was markedly different on Monday night and early Tuesday, after the St. Louis County executive declared a state of emergency, a move that gave Belmar — instead of interim Ferguson Police Chief Andre Anderson — control of security. This time, the police presence was far greater. Officers lined several blocks of West Florissant, rather than staying confined to a smaller area. And each time protesters left the sidewalk for the street, police converged. Unlike Sunday, there was no gunfire, no injuries and no reports of looting or property damage. More than 20 people were arrested. Police never deployed smoke or tear gas, though they were at times pelted with water bottles and rocks. Reaction from protesters was mixed. “I think they took command out of the hands of the new chief of Ferguson pretty fast,” Charles Mayo, leader of a moderate protest group that has sought to improve relations between protesters and police, said Tuesday. “They put the response in Belmar’s hands. Me personally, I think Belmar did a great job.” Ferguson resident and military veteran Hershel Myers Jr. criticized the police response as aggressive and unnecessary. He said Ferguson police should have been in charge. “This is treatment we’ve been putting up with forever,” Myers said.

Protesters march down Brentwood Boulevard on Monday in Clayton, Mo., to Enterprise Holdings, where they demanded that Enterprise Executive Chairman, Andrew Taylor, answer for one of Enterprises’s subsidiary, Keefe Group, that operates private prisons. The Keefe Group is a subsidiary that stocks prison commissaries where inmates can buy snacks, clothing, toiletries, prepaid telephone calling cards and other items. (J.B. Forbes, St. Louis Post-Dispatch,AP) “It’s always St. Louis County pushing us around and making up rules.” Ferguson Mayor James Knowles III disputed the notion that the county taking over was a negative reflection on Anderson and Ferguson police. It simply marked a change in tactic, he said. County Executive Steve Stenger said the state of emergency could be lifted as soon as Wednesday, depending upon how Tuesday night unfolded. Events marking the anniversary of Michael Brown’s death were peaceful until Sunday night, when multiple shots were fired and Tyrone Harris Jr. was shot. He is accused of firing into

an unmarked police van. The four plainclothes officers inside returned fire. Harris was struck multiple times and is hospitalized in critical condition. “Obviously, there’s a point at which you’ve got to put an end to it,” Knowles said. “Property and life needed to be preserved. Their (police) tactics were going to have to change.” St. Louis County police on Tuesday released a 13-second clip of security camera footage they say shows Harris minutes before he fired at plainclothes officers. The clip shows a person police identify as Harris grabbing a handgun from his waistband and running toward a parking lot,

police say in response to other shots being fired during the protests. Harris’ father disputed the police account Monday but declined to discuss his son’s shooting Tuesday. Demonstrations around the region had long been planned to mark the anniversary. Brown, 18, who was black and unarmed, was fatally shot during a confrontation with Ferguson officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9, 2014. Wilson was cleared of wrongdoing by a St. Louis County grand jury and the U.S. Department of Justice, but his death spurred a national “Black Lives Matter” movement. Earlier Monday, nearly 60 people were arrested for blocking the en-

trance to the federal courthouse in downtown St. Louis, where they called for the dissolution of the Ferguson Police Department and asked the federal Department of Justice to “do your job.” Later during afternoon rush hour, more than 60 others were arrested for blocking lanes of Interstate 70 in St. Louis County, a few miles west of Ferguson. The nighttime protest in Ferguson involved several hundred people, most of them well-behaved. On a few occasions, groups of people wandered onto the street and blocked traffic, even as an officer with a bullhorn threatened them with arrest. At one point, the group began marching aggressively toward police. That’s when Belmar directly approached the protesters and made it clear they needed to stop. Monday’s police presence was far more conspicuous compared with Sunday night. Perhaps 200 officers — mostly from St. Louis County and the Missouri State Highway Patrol — lined one side of West Florissant, allowing protesters to mingle on the other side, except when skirmishes arose. On Tuesday, Belmar was critical of an armed militia group patrolling the streets of Ferguson, saying the overnight presence of the Oath Keepers, who wore camouflage bulletproof vests and openly carried rifles and handguns along West Florissant Avenue, was “both unnecessary and inflammatory.” Stenger expressed a similar view. The far-right anti-government activist group is largely comprised of past and present members of the military, first-responders and police officers. John Karriman, an Oath Keepers leader from southwest Missouri, said members plan to remain in Ferguson at least through the end of the week. Last year, Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson led Ferguson security efforts during the massive protests that followed Brown’s death. Johnson took over after the county’s initial response was criticized as too heavy handed. Belmar and St. Louis city Police Chief Sam Dotson assisted. St. Louis city police have not been involved in security so far this year. Johnson has assisted, but Belmar was clearly in charge Monday and Tuesday.

Cuba’s tourism boom leaves some worries BY ANDREA RODRIGUEZ Associated Press SANTIAGO, Cuba — This 500-year-old city smells of fresh paint and varnish. Residents stroll along a recently completed harbor promenade under gleaming new streetlights, enjoying sea breezes while relaxing on newly installed metal benches. Missing are the tourists. As foreign visitors flood Havana and a select group of other colonial cities and beach resorts, Cuba’s secondlargest city is suffering a tourist drought. Santiago saw less than a tenth of the tourist traffic in Havana last year and less than a 20th of the visitors to the beach resort of Varadero even amid large-scale government investment in renovating the city for its 500th anniversary this summer. Other Cuban c are seeing similarly stagnant visitor numbers despite the dramatic surge in overall tourism set off by the announcement of detente between the U.S. and Cuba. That’s raising concerns that a rising tide of tourist dollars will leave some areas of Cuba booming and others struggling against a backdrop of broader economic stagnation. “They’re promoting Havana and the center of the country but they’ve forgotten about Santiago,” said Gladys Domenech, who rents tourists a room in her home in the historic center that features a terrace with a sweeping view of the Caribbean. The city sits about 500 miles (800 kilometers) east of Havana on highways that narrow outside the capital to horrifically rutted roads clogged with horse carts, bicyclists and stray cows. The journey by road can last 15 hours, and far longer in Cuba’s notoriously unreliable and uncomfortable inter-city buses. Train and domestic plane tickets are virtually impossible to obtain without waiting hours in lines that may or may not end in satisfaction. There are only three flights a week from the U.S. Cruise ships provide a promising new potential source of visitors, although dockings here remain relatively rare. “It’s tough for those who go to Havana and want to come here,” said Virgen Maria Jerez, owner of an elegant private restaurant near Domenech’s home in central Santiago. “Transport is vital and we’re disconnected.” Those who do reach Santiago find a city rich with history but hampered by what visitors and residents alike call substandard accommodations, few high-quality restaurants and a lack of fun things to do at night. Cu-

ban officials say Santiago has roughly 1,500 of Cuba’s 60,000 hotel rooms, far fewer than it needs. Santiago’s promoters lament that tourists are missing out on the city’s rich Afro-Cuban culture, its meandering streets, colonial architecture and its prized role as the home of Cuban musical genres such as trova and son. What’s more, it has a unique underwater park with seven ships sunk during the Spanish-American War, accessible by small boat or a scuba dive. “It’s a treasure that we have to show off,” said Vicente Gonzalez, head of Santiago’s Center for Cultural and Natural Underwater Heritage. Along with the new oceanfront malecon and the restoration of homes in the city’s historic center, the Cuban government has built a new theater and an artisanal brewpub as part of a broader reconstruction and improvement effort that began after Hurricane Sandy devastated the city in 2012. Another potential draw, particularly for American tourists, is the memorial to Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, who fought on the city’s San Juan Hill in one of the most famous battles of the Spanish-American War that freed Cuba from Spanish rule. But virtually every tourist establishment in the city closes at 10 p.m., leaving the streets dark and silent. Last year, Santiago had 297,918 visitordays, an industry measure of the number of tourists who arrived in the city multiplied by the number of days each stayed. That was a 6 percent rise over 2013, but the overall number remains tiny compared to flow of tourists in Havana, which had nearly 3 million visitor days, or Varadero with 7.8 million, according to Jose Luis Perello, a professor of tourism at the University of Havana. Some advocates of U.S. travel to Cuba says they are optimistic about Santiago’s future, particularly since American tourists remain barred from pure tourism and must participate mostly in cultural or educational activities well-suited to historic sites like Santiago. “The city and the region have much to offer. It’s just a question of time before tourism in Santiago starts growing,” said Tom Popper, head of insightCuba, one of the largest operators of U.S. tours to Cuba. “U.S. tourists can go to any part of the Caribbean for the beaches, but what they want to see is the Cuba that they haven’t been able to see for generations.”

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 • Starkville Daily News • Page 7A

Japan committed to nuclear power despite Fukushima BY ELAINE KURTENBACH and MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO — With the pull of a lever, control rods were lifted Tuesday from the reactor core at a plant in southern Japan, ending a ban on nuclear power following meltdowns at Fukushima in the northeast that forced tens of thousands of people to leave their homes, most of them for good. Crowded, energy-scarce Japan remains committed to nuclear power despite the March 2011 accident at the Fukushima DaiIchi plant and its messy aftermath, for economic, environmental and political reasons. Polls show that most Japanese don’t want nuclear power, but public opinion has been trumped by leaders who say keeping the country’s 43 workable reactors offline forever would be too damaging economically. Though two other nuclear reactors briefly resumed operations after the Fukushima meltdowns, Japan has gone completely without nuclear power for nearly two years under tighter new regulations. Reactors remained idle pending safety inspections. Nuclear plants had provided nearly a third of power generation before they were taken offline, so Japan ramped up use of coal, oil and gas to compensate. That has increased energy costs and slowed Japan’s progress toward reducing emissions. Utility companies, meanwhile, face mounting costs from keeping nuclear plants idle. Nuclear power is “indispensable,” industry minister Yoichi Miyazawa said Tuesday, pledging to put safety first as the Sendai No. 1 reactor resumed operations. “It would be impossible to achieve all these three things simultaneously: Keep nuclear plants offline, while also trying to curb carbon dioxide and maintain the same electricity costs,” he said. “I hope to gain the public’s understanding of the situation.” Former Prime Minister Naoto Kan was in office at the time of the 2011 Fukushima accident, which was triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people. On Tuesday, he stood shouting outside the gates of the Sendai plant, along with about 300 other protesters. “Accidents are unpredictable; that’s why they happen. And certainly not all the necessary precautions for such accidents have been taken here,” Kan said. The Fukushima disaster, the worst since the 1986 Chernobyl explosion, revealed dire problems within the nuclear industry, including lax contingency planning and inadequate precautions against tsunami, earthquakes and other natural disasters at some plants. Water is still being pumped into the Fukushima reactors to prevent further meltdowns, and huge amounts of it, now radioactive, have leaked out of the damaged containment chambers and into other parts of the buildings. Some has leaked outside and into the sea. Meanwhile, removal of melted fuel from three

of the plant’s six reactors — the most challenging part of the 30-to-40-year cleanup process — will not begin until 2022. Japan’s 126 million people live smack on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active region studded with volcanos and riven with major geologic faults. But the country invested heavily in nuclear power to help alleviate its nearly complete reliance on imported fuel, and many communities rely on tax revenues and jobs associated with the plants. Though its nuclear fuel recycling program at Rokkasho, on the northern tip of the main island of Honshu, is stalled by technical problems, Japan also faces pressure to use up its stockpile of more than 40 tons of weapons-grade plutonium — enough to make up to 50 nuclear weapons. After taking office in late 2012, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe rolled back a pledge by his predecessor’s government to phase out nuclear power by 2030. The government’s goal is to have nuclear power meet more than a fifth of Japan’s energy needs by 2030, a target that would require 30 working reactors. Up to 18 reactors are needed to burn the plutonium stockpile. The Nuclear Regulation Authority, itself restructured after Fukushima, affirmed the safety of the Sendai reactor and one other at the same plant last September, under stricter safety rules. The reactor that restarted Tuesday is expected to start generating power on Friday and reach full capacity next month. The second Sendai reactor is due to restart in October pending final approval. Utilities are seeking approvals for restarts of 23 other reactors, including the second at Sendai. Two others are under construction. But many communities don’t want their reactors back online, and experts say idled plants deteriorate quickly. Even with little to no nuclear power, Japan has managed to avoid power rationing and blackouts. Industries have moved aggressively to avoid disruptions by installing backup generators and shifting to new sources, such as solar power. Ultimately, nuclear power is a stopgap, medium-term solution for Japan’s energy needs. Even if more nuclear plants are allowed to restart, many will soon reach their 40-year operating limits, with a maximum potential extension to 60 years, raising the issue of whether and how they will be replaced. Meanwhile, the disposal and security of nuclear waste are issues yet to be resolved. While Abe and other officials say Japan’s new safety requirements are the world’s toughest, critics say this is untrue because evacuation plans are not mandatory requirements. Tomas Kaberger, chairman of the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation, notes that the peak output of Japan’s nuclear power industry was in 1998. Power companies have since pulled back from major new investments in atomic power due to rising costs and technical difficulties in operating the reactors, though Japanese manufacturers are eager to sell their nuclear equipment and expertise overseas. “The problems for the Japanese nuclear industry started long before the Fukushima accident,” he said.

Despite skepticism, US confident it can monitor Iran deal BY KEN DILANIAN Associated Press WASHINGTON — Iran’s intelligence agencies have penetrated CIA front companies, executed Western agents and captured a sophisticated U.S. drone. So why should anyone believe American intelligence officials when they express confidence that they can monitor Iran’s compliance with the just-completed nuclear agreement? The main reason, according to a classified joint intelligence assessment presented to Congress, is that the deal requires Iran to provide an unprecedented volume of information about nearly every aspect of its existing nuclear program, which Iran insists is peaceful. That data will make checking on compliance easier, officials say, because it will shrink Iran’s capacity to hide a covert weapons program. “We will have far better insight (into) the industrial aspects of the Iranian nuclear program with this deal than what we have today,” James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, told an audience last month at the Aspen Security Forum. Outside experts don’t dispute that. But they question — considering past blunders of U.S. intelligence in the Middle East — whether American spying will really be able to detect every instance of Iranian cheating. “The intelligence community can rarely guarantee, ‘We’re going find the secret site,’” said David Albright, a former weapons inspector who heads the Institute for Science and International Security. “They have found them before in Iran and that’s good, but I think they are going to have to do more work and bolster their capabilities to find secret sites in Iran in an environment when Iran is taking counter measures against them.” Congress is expected to vote next month on a resolution rejecting the agreement. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that if Congress rejects the deal, the U.S. won’t be able to prevent allies from doing business with Tehran. But Chuck Schumer, the only Democratic senator to publicly oppose the deal so far, said separately that that even if the U.S. backs away and other countries lift their sanctions, Iran still will feel meaningful pressure from the U.S. penalties. The United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany reached the agreement with Iran on July 14 that would curtail its nuclear program in exchange

GOLDEN TRIANGLE WATER ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING DATE: AUGUST 17,2015 TIME: 7:00 P.M. PLACE: EMCC VO-TECH AUDITORIUM AT MAYHEW CAMPUS ALL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

In this file photo, Iran’s heavy water nuclear facility is backdropped by mountains near the central city of Arak, Iran. Intelligence officials say the deal requires Iran to provide an unprecedented volume of information about nearly every aspect of its existing nuclear program. That data will make checking up on Iran’s compliance with the deal easier, U.S. intelligence officials say, because it will shrink Iran’s capacity to hide a covert weapons program. (Associated Press) for billions of dollars in relief from economic sanctions. As part of that deal, Iran agreed to disclose nearly every element of its nuclear supply chain, including people, places, companies and infrastructure — “their entire nose-to-tail process for uranium production and processing,” as one U.S. intelligence official put it, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. Those disclosures would vastly increase the chances that intelligence agencies would catch cheating, officials told Congress in classified briefings. That’s because any illicit activity would have to take place outside the established network that had been laid bare to the West. Once the CIA knows all the places Iran has been importing and processing nuclear material, the country would have to develop new avenues to evade detection— a major undertaking. The briefings and the assessment were described by officials only on condition of anonymity. The intelligence assessment presumes Iran will try to cheat, say officials familiar with it.

While Clapper acknowledged the arrangement wasn’t “100 percent lock-proof guaranteed,” Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz later told Congress that the “far greater insight will persist, essentially, forever.” Even after 15 years, when restrictions on Iranian nuclear activities are lifted, Iran will still be prohibited from developing a nuclear weapon, and the U.S. will have more ability than it does now to detect any attempt, officials insist. Outside experts are not so sanguine. Former CIA and NSA Director Michael Hayden, who is advising Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush, noted that there are three pathways to a nuclear weapon: fissile material, weaponization and a delivery system. “We’re betting the farm that we can block and have knowledge of one critical path,” the fuel cycle, he said, noting that Iran is allowed to pursue ballistic missiles under the deal. “Which means that the margin for error in stopping them from having a usable nuclear weapon is more narrow than it otherwise would be.”

MEETING From page 1A

ciliations and some bond funds being put in the district’s general fund when they should have stayed in building accounts. Ballard said he and new school district CFO Tammie McGarr have fixed those issues. The board approved an indemnification agreement with the city of Starkville regarding relief from a city ordinance requiring sprinkler systems in all educational buildings. The portable classrooms put at Armstrong Middle School to handle the influx of new students form consolidation do not have sprinkler systems. Starkville Fire Department denied the school district’s request from relief from the ordinance, but the Board of Aldermen granted the waiver. “The School District shall defend, hold harmless and fully indemnify the City, and any of its employees, agents, or

Page 8A • Starkville Daily News • Wednesday, August 12, 2015 representatives, from any and all claims, suits, judgments, damages, attorney’s fees, costs, and any and all other expenses whatsoever arising out of or relating in any manner to the lack of automatic fire suppression (sprinkler) systems in the temporary educational structures located on the property of Armstrong Middle School so long as they exist,” the agreement reads. The portable buildings are expected to be used for elective classes until a new school can be built to address the school district’s capacity issues. The board held a lengthy executive session, but no motions were made. In open session, the board approved personnel items, which were not immediately available after the meeting. Another board meeting will be held Thursday at noon to approve the budget for fiscal year 2016.

ISIS

From page 1A resources to a foreign terrorist organization, or attempts or conspires to do so, . . . To violate this paragraph, a person must have knowledge that the organization is a designated terrorist organization . . . or that the organization has engaged or engages in terrorist activity.” “Material support or resources” can mean a list of things, including personnel — one or more individuals which may be or include oneself. During Tuesday’s hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner likened Dakhlalla and Young to Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, saying that like him, they could commit violence with knives, vehicles or homemade weapons. “They don’t need a gun to do harm,” Joyner said. “They don’t need military training to do harm. What they need is a violent, extremist ideology, and that’s exactly what they have espoused.”

Fearing stigma, Colorado contested Superfund status for mine From Wire Reports DENVER — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took full responsibility Tuesday for the mine waste spoiling rivers downstream from Silverton, Colorado, but people who live near the idled and leaking Gold King mine say local authorities and mining companies spent decades spurning federal cleanup help. They feared the stigma of a Superfund label, which delivers federal money up-front for extensive cleanups. They worried that corporations would kill a hoped-for revival in the area’s mining industry rather than get stuck with cleanup costs. And some haven’t trusted the federal government, townspeople say. The EPA pushed anyway, for nearly 25 years, to apply its Superfund program to the Gold King mine, which has been leaching a smaller stream of arsenic, lead and other wildlife-killing heavy metals into Cement Creek. That water runs into the Animas and San Juan rivers before reaching Lake Powell and the lower Colorado River, a basin serving five states, Mexico and several sovereign Native American nations. As millions of gallons of spilled sludge spread hundreds of miles downstream Tuesday, officials from the century-old mining towns of southwest Colorado defended their opposition to federal help. Mining companies don’t like to invest in Superfund sites because they’re heavily scrutinized and more costly to develop, said Ernest Kuhlman, a San Juan County commissioner and Silverton’s former mayor. Also, the stigma could have scared away rafters and anglers who helped bring $19 billion in tourism money to Colorado last year. “How many people want to go to a Superfund site for tourism or

The charges against the duo are a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The criminal complaint said both Dakhlalla and Young confessed their plans after their arrest. Dakhlalla, 22, is the son of Oda and Lisa Dakhlalla. The Dakhlalla family is directing all media inquiries to Columbus lawyer Dennis Harmon, who is representing the family. Oda Dakhlalla recently served as the imam of the Islamic Center of Mississippi in Starkville, but is not currently in that role, according to Harmon. “Oda is not the imam now, they rotate that every year or so,” he said. “Right now the imam’s name is Forage, I believe.” Lisa Dakhlalla is, to many, known as The Hummus Lady. Lisa Dakhlalla, with her husband, previously owned a restaurant — Shaherazad’s — in the Cotton District. The Middle Eastern restaurant served falafel, tabooli and hummus. After

closing the restaurant in 2009, she began cooking for the farmer’s market, each week bringing a variety of Mediterranean baked goods such as baklava, pita breads and basboosa to the market. Harmon said Oda and Lisa Dakhlalla were informed of Muhammad Dakhlalla’s arrest on Saturday morning. The FBI came to their home and asked for permission to search Muhammad Dakhlalla’s bedroom. “Oda and Lisa readily gave permission to the investigators,” Harmon said. “In fact, they have also told Mo to cooperate fully.” Harmon said Oda and Lisa Dakhlalla are still shocked by the situation. In referencing how Muhammad Dakhlalla was raised, Harmon said that Oda is a very devout Muslim. “Oda has always taught Islam as a peaceful religion and that Christians and Jews are also people of the book,” Harmon said. “Mo was expected to treat Christian and Jews as people of

recreation?” Kuhlman asked. Now they’ve got a bigger problem: Last Wednesday, a small EPA-supervised work crew inspecting the Gold King mine accidentally knocked a hole in a waste pit, releasing at least three million gallons of acidic liquid laden with toxic heavy metals. Dissolved iron in the waste plume — familiar to miners as “yellow boy” — turned the area’s scenic waterways a shocking orange hue. The EPA ordered stretches of the rivers closed for drinking water, recreation and other uses at least through Monday. Colorado and New Mexico made disaster declarations. The Navajo Nation declared an emergency, saying that at least 16,000 of its people, 30,000 acres of crops and thousands of livestock survive on water that’s now off-limits. In Washington, EPA administrator Gina McCarthy took full responsibility, saying “I am absolutely, deeply sorry that this ever happened.” She planned to tour Farmington and Durango, two of the cities most affected by the orange sludge. Since 1980, Superfund designation has helped remove or contain hazardous waste posing immediate dangers to human health. New York’s Love Canal, where hundreds of families had to be evacuated from homes built over a former chemical dump, spurred its creation, and many still associate that scandal with the program. Asked if Superfund designation could have helped to prevent this accident, regional EPA administrator Shaun McGrath indicated it could have. “Being listed under a national-priorities list ... makes available to a clean-up effort resources under the Superfund, which are significant resources,” McGrath said. “And it does allow for potentially more extensive clean-up.”

the book, with the respect that the Prophet had instructed. So for him, doing anything with ISIS is completely out of the blue.” Young’s father, Leonce Young, is a 17-year veteran of the Vicksburg Police Department. He and his wife were present for Tuesday’s hearing, but declined to speak to reporters afterward. In court, prosecutors said Jaelyn Young had been trying to convert her sister to Islam as well. While Muhammad Dakhlalla has been a lifelong Muslim, Young was a recent convert to the religion. The two met while attending Mississippi State University. Dakhlalla received his bachelor’s degree in psychology in May. Young was enrolled as a sophomore chemistry major through May, but never enrolled for fall classes. Harmon said the Dakhlalla family believed that Muhammad Dakhlalla was registered to begin graduate school at MSU on August 17 and that

he had met with a counselor recently. However, Sid Salter, MSU chief communication officer, said Muhammad Dakhlalla was accepted into the graduate program but never enrolled in classes. According to the criminal complaint, investigation began on Young in May 2015 when she was identified by an FBI employee through social media platforms as a supporter of ISIS. At the time, her Twitter page contained messages that showed she was trying to earn money to purchase plane tickets. She used hashtags such as “#baqiya,” an Islamic term that likely referred to an ISIS slogan, and “#IS,” a common abbreviation for ISIS, in the Twitter posts. Two FBI employees began engaging Young and Dakhlalla on various social media platforms in late May and early June. During one conversation, Young said she was preparing for hijjrah, a common reference to journeying to the

Islamic State. Young informed the undercover agents when the two applied for passports and as they made travel plans. Allegedly, the two ultimately purchased tickets for Delta Airlines flight 5073 out of Columbus, which would take them to Istanbul, Turkey with connections in Atlanta and the Netherlands. According to the criminal complaint affidavit, Young had expressed her readiness to swear allegiance and ISIS during the conversations with the agents. Around July 17, Young told an agent that watching news of the attacks on military installation in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where five U.S. military personnel were shot to death made her feel better. “What makes me feel bettee (sic) after just watching the news is that an akhi (brother) carried out an attack against US marines in TN! Alhamdulillan, the number of supports are growing. *better,” her message read.

Taste

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

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Sweetest chefs If you were to peruse my social media feeds, you’d see pretty quick that I follow a lot of chefs. One of those is Whitney Miller, the MasterChef winner that came to Starkville last year as our guest at Forks and Corks. Not long ago I happened to see something she had re-tweeted: a contest to win two tickets to an event in Jay Reed Ridgeland called Sweetest Chefs of the South, sponEats One Ate sored by Let’s Eat Y’all. I knew about it, but as intriguing as it was, I couldn’t figure how I would swing a trip like that in the middle of the week. But just for fun, I re-Tweeted it myself — and won the tickets — so I started re-figuring. The focus of the night was on female pastry chefs from all over the South: Mississippi, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama. Among those were two “celebrity” chefs, Whitney Miller and Martie Duncan. Whitney is a native Mississippian from Poplarville and was the first winner of Gordon Ramsay’s MasterChef competition. The treat at her table was Mississippi Mud Pie, but I assure you: it wasn’t your grandma’s version. Her take began with a Mason jar lid filled with buttery graham cracker crumbs, then topped with a brownie, garnished with a dollop of cream cheese mixed with whipped cream, and finished with pecans. The brownie was chocolatey and rich; in her demo we saw she used real baking chocolate (not just cocoa powder) and a little shot of coffee. I’ve served desserts in Mason jars before, but never in the lid — tasty and fun. I confess that I may have been a little star-struck with Martie Duncan. As an addict of the Food Network show, The Next Food Network Star, I remembered her from season 8. But I wasn’t so star-struck that I couldn’t bust up there and introduce myself, and we discovered that she’s just a good ‘ol girl from Alabama. In her demo she showed us how to make an extremely versatile pastry dough called Pate a Choux, which she used to make the bite-sized cream puffs that held her One Bite Banana Pudding. When I quizzed The Wife on the way home, she declared this her favorite of the evening. One of my favorites (there were several) was the S’mores Macaron from Stephanie Little, a private chef from Baton Rouge. Actually, Stephanie is from Oxford but works in the shadow of LSU, so I could identify with her a bit. The cookie part of the macaron represented the graham crackers, with a touch of fresh-ground cinnamon to give it a deeper flavor. For the Hershey Bar element, half the cookie was dipped in chocolate. And somehow (chef magic) she gave the marshmallow filling a smoky campfire flavor by infusing a special tea into the mix. Felicia Suzanne Willet (Felicia Suzanne’s of Memphis) made Butter Rolls with Brandy Peaches and Whiskey Anglaise. When I worked at Starkville Discount Drugs, we had a regular customer who rarely came in without mentioning his desire for butter rolls. I kept trying to get him to bring some to me, and I’m still waiting. It’s unlikely his had Anglaise sauce drizzled on them, but I’m glad I finally got one. Jen Adelsheimer (Broad Street Bakery, Jackson) had a table full of sweet stuff. Salted Peanut Butter Cheesecake, King Cake, Blackberry Peach Fruit Trifle, and a couple of other things I couldn’t pronounce. Corey Ellison (The Fairview Inn, Jackson) had tiny little peanut butter tortes with raspberries and lemon curd. Jacqueline Ladnier (French Kiss Pastries, Ocean Springs) brought Strawberry Cream Cheese Bavarian Cake. Dizzy yet? Nealy Frentz (LOLA in Covington, Louisiana) featured Hummingbird Cake. As I walked to her table, the host of the event walked by and told me (with a mischievous look) I wouldn’t like it. Personally, I think he was probably trying to trick me into leaving him the leftovers. As it turned out, Chef Nealy had made a pretty little hummingbird nest out of coconut on top. Nice digs for the hummingbird, but coconut and me, we don’t agree. But I’m pretty sure The Wife and The Host happily enjoyed my share. A couple of lemon-related desserts caught my attention. The Lemon Ice Box Pie from Erin Swanson (Restaurant R’evolution, New Orleans) was unlike any lemon ice box pie Granny ever made, topped with meringue sticks, blueberries, and cubes of limoncello gelee. Blueberries were also the garnish of choice for Jamie Foster (The Manship, Jackson), on her Lemon Panna Cotta with Blueberry Coulis, another favorite. Peaches were the popular fruit that night. Mary Jennifer Russell (Sugaree’s Bakery, New Albany) diverted from her famous cakes and brought us a Peach Pie Parfait. Danielle Smathers (Restaurant 356, Atlanta) made peach cakes: layers of peach pound cake filled with peach jam, topped with cream cheese frosting and dusted with fennel pollen. Just knowing I had eaten something dusted with fennel pollen (and liked it) made for an especially memorable dish. Finally, we made it to Von Larson’s station (Von’s Restaurant and Grill, Bayou La Batre, Alabama). Her dessert was simple: bread pudding with vanilla cream. I’ve had a fair amount of bread pudding in my life, and it can be hit and miss. Hers was definitely a hit, the kind that leaves you a bit dizzy from the richness while still wanting another piece.  To wash everything down, I picked up an iced “Ray au Lait” coffee drink from the Mississippi Cold Drip Coffee and Tea Company. (Recommended by Ray.) It didn’t exactly cut the sweet, but it did help keep me awake for the trip back to Starkville. Due to our work schedule that day, the Sweetest Chefs of the South had another name that night: dinner. Perhaps not the best plan for everyday dining, but when among pastry chefs, a baker’s dozen of deliciousness suited us just fine. Jay Reed is a local foodie and pharmacist. The culinary tastes expressed here are his and do not necessarily reflect the appetites of the Starkville Daily News or individual members of its staff. He welcomes your comments at [email protected]. More food musings can be found at www.eatsoneate.com.

Cotton – the fabric of our lives As we enter into the month of August, we think of school starting up, the hot weather beginning to diminish, as well as the hazy lazy days of late summer sometimes referred to as dog days. August is important to the farmers of Mississippi because the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation has designated August as cotton month. This month we will be promoting cotton as an important agricultural commodity. I have pondered over what I am I going to write about cotton in a section called Taste. Now don’t worry, I don’t Nelda Starks plan to give you any recipes for cooking cotton. By the way, cotton candy is Guest Columnist not made from cotton — that may be amusing to some of you, but we do have people who think this. However, cotton is a unique crop in that it is both food and fiber. Cottonseed is used as a supplement for animal feed and is also processed into oil. Uses for cotton fibers range from heavy industrial to fine fabrics. We are promoting cotton as a fiber, not a food source for humans. As far as I know cottonseed oil is the only edible part of the cotton, although I did read that cottonseed provides an excellent protein source and is used as high-protein concentrate in baked goods and other food products. So maybe we are eating cotton. That’s why it is important to read labels on processed foods — you may be eating cotton and not know it. Today, I would like to focus on cotton’s economic impact on Mississippi agriculture industry and highlight some information from a historical perspective. In 2014, there were 824 farms producing over 1 million bales of cotton for an economic value of $370 million, which is $36 million over the previous year. Twenty-nine counties in Mississippi produce cotton with most of these being in the Northwest part of the state and a few in the northeast area. Coahoma County was the top producing county in 2014. Oktibbeha County does not currently have any cotton producers, even though we have had in the past. Our neighboring county to the south — Noxubee County — produces a significant amount of cotton. Although cotton is not the King of the South like it once was, it is still a major crop in Mississippi. It ranks sixth behind poultry, soybeans, forestry, corn and cattle in state commodities. Mississippi producers plant approximately 1.1 million acres of cotton annually. This number seems to fluctuate depending on weather, price of production and current commodity markets. The highest acreage recorded in Mississippi was in 1930 when 4.163 million acres were planted to cotton. The highest production year was 1937 when 2.692 million bales were produced over 3.421 million acres. The highest cotton yields were received in 2004 with 1034 pounds of lint produced per acre. This same year there were 2.346 million bales produced almost as much as in 1937 with one third of the acreage. This yield beat the previous yield of 934 pounds in 2003. Cotton has been referred to as King Cotton for many years because of its economic significance. However, foreign imports, lower commodity prices and increased production costs in the last decade forced traditional cotton farmers to look at other crops and production decreased. In 2011 and 2012, cotton had a significant comeback because of increases in the price of cotton at the broker. No one knows exactly how old cotton is. Scientists searching caves in Mexico found bits of cotton bolls and pieces of cotton cloth that proved to be at least 7,000 years old. They also found that the cotton itself was much like that grown in America today. In the Indus River Valley in Pakistan, cotton was being grown, spun and woven into cloth 3,000 years B.C. At about the same time, natives of Egypt’s Nile valley were making and wearing cotton clothing. Arab merchants brought cotton cloth to Europe about 800 A.D. When Columbus discovered America in 1492, he found cotton growing in the Bahama Islands. By 1500, cotton was known generally throughout the world. Cotton seed are believed to have been planted in Florida in 1556 and in Virginia in 1607. By 1616, colonists were growing cotton along the James River in Virginia. Cotton was first spun by machinery in England in 1730. The industrial revolution in England and the invention of the cotton gin in the U.S. paved the way for the important place cotton holds in the world today. Eli Whitney, a native of Massachusetts, secured a patent on the cotton gin in 1793, though patent office records indicate that the first cotton gin may have been built by a machinist named Noah Homes two years before Whitney’s patent was filed. The gin, short for engine, could do the work 10 times faster than by hand. The gin made it possible to supply large quantities of cotton fiber to the fast-growing textile industry. Within 10 years, the value

Fried Pecan Okra Makes 6-8 servings Ingredients: 1 cup pecans 1 1/2 cups all-purpose baking mix 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 2 (10-oz.) packages frozen whole okra, thawed* Peanut oil

Directions: Place pecans in an even layer in a shallow pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring occasionally. Process pecans, baking mix, and next 2 ingredients in a food processor until pecans are finely ground. Place pecan mixture in a large bowl. Add okra, tossing to coat. Gently press pecan mixture into okra. Pour oil to a depth of 2 inches into a Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet; heat to 350°. Fry okra, in batches, turning once, 5 to 6 minutes or until golden; drain on paper towels.

Smashed Fried Okra Makes 4 servings Ingredients: 1 lb. fresh okra 1½ cups buttermilk 2 cups fine yellow cornmeal Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Canola oil

Directions: Use a meat mallet to smash okra, starting at tip of pod and working toward stem end. Place buttermilk in a shallow dish, and place cornmeal in another shallow dish. Stir desired amount of salt and pepper into buttermilk and cornmeal. Dip okra in buttermilk; dredge in cornmeal, shaking off excess. Pour oil to a depth of 2 inches into a large Dutch oven; heat to 350°. Fry okra, in batches, 2 to 3 minutes or until brown and crisp, turning once. Remove okra, using a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Add salt and pepper to taste; serve.

Shrimp-and-Okra Hush Puppies Makes 8 servings Ingredients: 1 cup self-rising yellow cornmeal mix 1/2 cup self-rising flour 1 cup medium-size raw shrimp, chopped 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning 1/2 cup frozen diced onion, red and green bell pepper, and celery, thawed* 1/2 cup frozen cut okra, thawed and chopped 1 large egg, lightly beaten 3/4 cup beer Canola oil

Directions: Stir together cornmeal mix and flour in large bowl until combined. Sprinkle shrimp with Creole seasoning. Add shrimp, onion mixture, and okra to cornmeal mixture. Stir in egg and beer just until moistened. Let stand 5 to 7 minutes. Pour oil to depth of 4 inches into a Dutch oven; heat to 350°. Drop batter by level tablespoonfuls into hot oil, and fry, in batches, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on a wire rack over paper towels; serve immediately. Note: Keep fried hush puppies warm in a 225° oven for up to 15 minutes.

of the U.S. cotton crop rose from $150,000 to more than $8 million. Cotton holds a significant place in Mississippi’s history. The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia from a historical perspective explaining cotton’s economic impact before the Civil War. When cotton was king during the 1850s, Mississippi plantation owners—especially those in the Delta and Black Belt regions—became increasingly wealthy due to the great fertility of the soil and the high price of cotton on the international market. The severe wealth imbalances and the necessity of large-scale slave populations to sustain such income played a big role in state politics. Mississippi’s population

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015 • Starkville Daily News • Page 3B

COTTON

From page 1B grew rapidly, reaching 791,000 in 1860. Cotton production grew from 43,000 bales in 1820 to over one million bales in 1860, as Mississippi became the leading cotton-producing state. The textile factories of Britain, France and New England demanded more and more cotton, and little was grown outside the United States. In Mississippi some modernizers spoke of diversification, and vegetable and livestock production did increase, but King Cotton prevailed. Cotton’s ascension was seemingly justified in 1859, when Mississippi planters were scarcely touched by the financial panic in the North. They were concerned by inflation of the price of slaves but were in no real distress. Mississippi’s per capita wealth was well above the U.S. average. Planters made very large profits, but they invested it on buying more cotton lands and more slaves, which pushed up prices even higher. They did not feel at all guilty about holding slaves. The threat of abolition troubled them, but they reassured themselves that if need be the cotton states could secede from the Union, form their own country, and expand to the south in Mexico and Cuba. Until late 1860 they never expected a war.

As the Civil War began, cotton was still king and was used as a bargaining tool and for financing the war. Even after the war, cotton still reigned. The following is from Eugene R. Dattel, economic historian, in an article for “Mississippi History Now.”  After the war ended in 1865, the future of cotton land remained under white southern control. Northern Republican businessmen were firmly opposed to confiscation of lands from southern plantation owners and actively supported the resumption of cotton production by means of large plantations under the management of landowners. Therefore, the stage for Reconstruction was set. The economic importance of cotton had not diminished after the war. In fact, the federal government and northern capitalists were well aware that restoration of cotton production was critical to the financial recovery of the nation. Cotton exports were needed to help reduce the huge federal debt and to stabilize monetary affairs in order to fund economic development, particularly railroads. America regained its sought-after position as the world’s leading producer of cotton. By 1870, sharecroppers, small farmers, and plantation owners in the American south had produced more cotton than they had in 1860, and by 1880,

Page 4B • Starkville Daily News • Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Taste Peppery Grilled Okra with Lemon-Basil Dipping Sauce Makes 8 servings Ingredients: Cheesecloth or coffee filter 1 (32-oz.) container plain low-fat yogurt 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic 1/4 teaspoon sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided 1 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground pepper, divided 2 pounds fresh okra, trimmed 2 tablespoons olive oil Garnish: freshly ground pepper Directions: Line a wire-mesh strainer with 3 layers of cheesecloth or 1 (12-cup) coffee filter. Place strainer over a bowl. Spoon yogurt into strainer. Cover and chill 24 hours. Remove yogurt, discarding strained liquid. Preheat grill to 400° to 450° (high) heat. Combine strained yogurt, basil, next 3 ingredients, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Toss together okra, olive oil, and remaining 1 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper in a large bowl. Grill okra, covered with grill lid, over 400° to 450° (high) heat 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until tender. Cool 5 minutes. Transfer okra to a serving dish, and serve with dipping sauce. Garnish, if desired.

they exported more cotton than they had in 1860. For 134 years, from 1803 to 1937, America was the world’s leading cotton exporter. Historian Harold D. Woodman summarized the stature of cotton, “If the war had proved that King Cotton’s power was far from absolute, it did not topple him from his throne, and many found it advantageous to serve him.” As we entered the 20th century, several factors had an economic impact on cotton. The boll weevil was accidentally brought in from Mexico and this insect literally destroyed thousands of acres of cotton across the Cotton Belt. This event caused cotton production to move west to Arizona, New Mexico and California. The second factor was the textile mill development in the South which led to more jobs for the South and eventually these mills were producing more than those in New England. Exports of raw cotton continued to be an important factor in the nation’s economy. By 1911, revenue from cotton exports exceeded the nation’s next four largest groups of exports — wheat and wheat flour, meat and dairy products, iron and steel manufactures, and copper — by $53 million. In addition, exports of cotton textile products accounted for another $29 million. World War I and II also had a positive effect on the cotton industry, because of the increased goods to aid in the war efforts.

Pickled Okra Makes 7 pints Ingredients: Canner, jar lifter, and canning rack 7 (1-pt.) canning jars 2 1/2 pounds small fresh okra 7 small fresh green chile peppers 7 garlic cloves 2 tablespoons plus 1 tsp. dill seeds 4 cups white vinegar (5% acidity) 1/2 cup salt 1/4 cup sugar Directions: Bring canner half-full with water to a boil; simmer. Meanwhile, place jars in a large stockpot with water to cover; bring to a boil, and simmer. Place bands and lids in a large saucepan with water to cover; bring to a boil, and simmer. Remove hot jars 1 at a time using jar lifter. Pack okra into hot jars, filling to 1/2 inch from top. Place 1 pepper, 1 garlic clove, and 1 tsp. dill seeds in each jar. Bring vinegar, salt, sugar, and 4 cups water to a boil over medium-high heat. Pour over okra, filling to 1/2 inch from top. Wipe jar rims; cover at once with metal lids, and screw on bands (snug but not too tight). Place jars in canning rack, and place in simmering water in canner. Add additional boiling water as needed to cover by 1 to 2 inches. Bring water to a rolling boil; boil 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool jars in canner 5 minutes. Transfer jars to a cutting board; cool 12 to 24 hours. Test seals of jars by pressing center of each lid. If lids do not pop, jars are properly sealed. Store in a cool, dry place at room temperature up to 1 year. Today, more than 300,000 Americans are employed on cotton farms in gins and oil mills, cooperatives and warehouses, cotton merchandising firms and textile plants. Tens of thousands of other Americans work in cotton-related industries and businesses. Altogether the U.S. cotton industry supplies more than $20 billion in products and services, and contributes better than $50 billion to the nation’s economy. The world uses more cotton than any other fiber, and cotton is a leading cash crop in the U.S. At the farm level alone, the production of each year’s crop involves the purchase of more than $5.3 billion worth of supplies and services. This stimulates business activities for factories and enterprises throughout the country. Processing and handling of cotton after it leaves the farm generates even more business activity. Annual business revenue stimulated by cotton in the U.S. economy exceeds $120 billion, making cotton America’s number one value-added crop. Cotton is a part of our daily lives from the time we dry our faces on a soft cotton towel in the morning until we slide between fresh cotton sheets at night. It has hundreds of uses, from blue jeans to shoe strings. Clothing and household items are the largest uses, but indus-

Baked Polenta with Cheese and Okra Makes 6 servings Ingredients: 4 cups water, divided 6 small fresh okra pods 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking grits 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1/4 cup butter or margarine, cut into pieces 1 (8-ounce) block sharp Cheddar cheese, cubed*

Directions: Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat; add okra, and cook 10 minutes. Remove okra with a slotted spoon, reserving liquid in pan; cool okra slightly, and coarsely chop. Add remaining 2 cups water to reserved liquid; bring to a boil. Gradually stir in grits and salt; return to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 to 7 minutes. Gradually whisk about one-fourth of hot grits into eggs; add to remaining hot mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk in butter. Stir in okra and cheese. Spoon into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Bake at 350° for 55 to 60 minutes or until set.

trial products account from many thousands of bales. All parts of the cotton plant are useful. The most important is the fiber or lint, which is used in making cotton cloth. Linters — the short fuzz on the seed — provide cellulose for making plastics, explosives and other products. Linters also are incorporated into high quality paper products and processed into batting for padding mattresses, furniture and automobile cushions. The cottonseed is crushed in order to separate its three products — oil, meal and hulls. Cottonseed oil is used primarily for shortening, cooking oil and salad dressing. The meal and hulls that remain are used either separately or in combination as livestock, poultry and fish feed and as fertilizer. The stalks and leaves of the cotton plant are plowed under to enrich the soil. Cotton is the fabric of our lives – it touches us in many ways from the shirts on our backs to the furnishings in our homes to the money in our pocketbooks and wallets. As you shop for back to school clothes this August, remember cotton as the fabric of choice. It’s absorbent and breathable, it doesn’t stain easily, resists static, has a soft touch, can withstand high heat, and it’s inexpensive — so choose cotton. Today’s recipes will focus on another crop that is actually a cousin to the cotton plant — okra. This delectable pod thrives in the scorching heat of humid summers, soaring skyward in its semitropical glory. Originally from Africa, it is as southern as sweet tea and kudzu, whether it is fried, pickled or grilled. No other people embrace okra as southerners do. Recipes adapted from “Southern Living” magazine.

Sports

STARKVILLEDAILYNEWS.COM

I

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Inside 3c I

Section C

SHS drops home volleyball match

Football

Bulldogs ready T to start engines

SMITH ON SPORTS

Coleman knew how to get most out of Volunteers

we did last year and maximize our craft every day.” Despite being a unit that lost a pair of starters with the departures of Jameon Lewis and Robert Johnson, the MSU receivers don’t plan on doing any slowing down. Led by Wilson, the lone returning starter of the group and a preseason second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection by league media, the Bulldog wide outs feel they are primed and

here are some coaches who make a more lasting impression than others. When I was a young sports writer back in the mid 1980s, there were several people who helped me along in the quest to be the best I could be. I’ll never forget how football coach Willis Wright and girls basketball coach Glenn Schmidt even helped Smith me while I was still trying to complete my high school education. Upon graduation from Starkville High School, I began working part time for The Starkville Daily News while beginning my time at Mississippi State University. The opportunity to keep establishing relationships with the coaches and athletes of this area was something that I welcomed with open arms. There was one particular coach at Starkville Academy in the late 80s I will never forget. Ronnie Coleman coached the Volunteers for six football seasons and knew how to get the most out of his teams. His style may have been a little demanding, but it worked and his players respected him. During his 15 years of service in the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools, as it is now known, Coleman was a coach and athletic director at SA, Brookhaven Academy, North Sunflower Academy, Humphreys Academy and Greenville Christian School. This past Saturday in Pearl, Coleman was inducted into the MAIS Coaches Association Hall of Fame and it is much deserved. Coleman began his coaching career in 1974 as an assistant coach at Greenville Christian.  After giving up coaching in 1989 due to health reasons, Coleman had established quite an impressive resume. He had a career record of 101-48 and his teams won three bowl games, five conference championships, a pair of North State championships and one State championship. He was chosen a Conference Coach of the Year seven times, State AA Coach of the Year once, and he coached in four All-Star Games. The thing I will remember the most about Coleman is being extremely hesitant when talking about his football teams with the media. It wasn’t that Coleman didn’t want to give his program exposure, but he didn’t want to let very many secrets get out that opponents might use against him. That’s an understandable strategy. There’s nothing wrong with a coach caring so much about his squad that he doesn’t want to say too much. It must have worked in Coleman’s case because he became

See RECEIVERS | Page 4C

See SMITH | Page 3C

Mississippi State wide receiver De’Runnya Wilson (1) looks to pick up yardage against Georgia Tech in last season’s Orange Bowl. (Photo by Mary Liz Herrington)

Wilson compares MSU offense to NASCAR By JOEL COLEMAN [email protected]  Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to start your engines and try to keep the pace. The Mississippi State offense is about to crank it up, and it’s the wide receiving corps looking to make sure the Bulldogs are firing on all cylinders. “It is a NASCAR offense,” De’Runnya Wilson said. “We are trying to go faster than

High School Soccer Starkville Academy 11, Greenville St. Joseph 1

Lady Vols cruise to win in opener By DANNY P. SMITH [email protected] The season couldn’t have started much better for the Starkville Academy Lady Volunteers on the soccer field. Starkville Academy took a 5-1 halftime lead and went on to defeat Greenville St. Joseph, one of the newest members of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools, 11-1 Tuesday afternoon at the Starkville Sportsplex. It was just what coach James Hawkins wanted to see in the first match against a new opponent for his Lady Vols. “We didn’t know what we were up against, but at the same time, we played our game and we focused the whole game on what we wanted to do,” Hawkins said. “Within the first 10 minutes, we had gone up a couple of goals. By the end of the half, it was 5-1. No matter what happened with the unknowns, we wanted to make sure that we focused on our technique.” Starkville Academy got three goals each from senior captains Jacey Williams and Maris Moorehead.

Junior Sydney Passons scored both of her goals in the second half and said the Lady Vols “started the season like we wanted to.” “It was a great way to start,” Passons said. “We were starting out in a 4-4-2, then we really wanted to attack, score in a 4-3-3 and we kept moving and moving. That was a way to keep our intensity up.” Along with the scoring of Passons, Williams and Moorehead, SA got one goal each from Shelton Spivey, Rainey Wells and Amber Bock. Hawkins liked the leadership exhibited by seniors Williams and Moorehead and said they “stepped up” along with the juniors. “I’m very proud of (Williams and Moorehead) and the junior class backing them up,” Hawkins said. “I couldn’t be any prouder that they stepped up and took the lead and took Starkville Academy’s Sydney Passons scored a pair of goals control.” The next match for the Lady Vols will be at Lamar Thursday in Tuesday’s 11-1 season-opening victory. (Photo by Danny P. Smith, SDN) at 4:30 p.m.

Noteworthy

6

Graveman

Former MSU pitcher Kendall Graveman is winless in his last six starts with the Oakland Athletics.

BRIEFLY Cooper joins MSU softball team Coming off its fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, Mississippi State softball continued to improve with the addition of right-handed pitcher Cori Cooper. A native of Magnolia, Texas, Cooper lettered in softball in all four of her years at Magnolia High School and in volleyball on one occasion. “Cori will add depth to our pitching staff,” Mississippi State softball coach Vann Stuedeman said. “She is a 6-foot righty with a dominating presence. I am looking forward to getting in the pen with this young lady and seeing her in a Bulldog uniform.” For softball, Cooper received three all-district first team honors, one all-state first team honor and one nod for district pitcher of the year. During her senior season she recorded 163 strikeouts over 87 innings pitched for an earned run average of 0.97. Cooper also notched four no-hitters and one perfect game during her senior campaign. She collected one volleyball honor as she was selected to the academic all-district volleyball team in 2014. “I wanted to be a part of a program that is on the verge of some amazing things,” Cooper said. “The staff and team have been so welcoming to me that it just felt like a home away from home. You can tell how much they are invested in each other, even off of the field.”

Bulldogs play soccer exhibition Mississippi State soccer coach Aaron Gordon will get the first look at his youthful squad today, as Mississippi State will head north for an exhibition bout with UT Martin at 10 a.m. The contest will be held at Skyhawk Field in Martin, Tenn., and will be the first of two friendlies for the Bulldogs this season. MSU’s second exhibition comes Saturday when the Bulldogs host the University of Memphis for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Gordon’s squad will return 10 starters from last season’s club, with lone senior Shelby Jordan and All-Southeastern Conference Freshman Team member Mallory Eubanks anchoring the lineup. Eubanks will be MSU’s top returning scorer from last season with six points. She scored one goal while adding a team-high four assists in 2014. “The team is enthusiastic about getting the season started and their attitudes have been fantastic,” Gordon said. “I want to see our team compete at the college level, because we have a lot of talented freshmen that need to get into that. The volume of training we’ve had over the last few days is a little bit overwhelming for them at times, but they seem to be doing well.” Jordan has been a staple at the right back position since coming to campus. The Jackson, Tenn., native enters her final season bringing much needed experience to a young team after starting 53 of 55 games in her career. UT Martin will field a young team as well, after the Skyhawks lost 10 starters from last year’s squad that went 12-6-2. UTM’s roster will feature 14 true freshmen, with only one senior occupying the lineup. Junior midfielder Saphyra Coombs-James will be the returning points leader for the Skyhawks, after recording 10 points and five goals last season.

‘Meet the Jackets’ nears Starkville High School will how “Meet the Jackets” on Thursday at Yellowjacket Stadium. At this time, the athletic teams and cheerleaders will be introduced. The activity is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Starkville QB Club hits milestone The Starkville Quarterback Club is celebrating its 50th year as a club supporting Mississippi State football. The club meets at the Starkville Country Club with a social beginning at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., and the program beginning at 7 p.m. The club meets on Thursday night preceding a Saturday game and on a Tuesday preceding a Thursday night game. Individuals do not have to be a member of the Starkville Country Club to be a member of the Starkville Quarterback Club. At each meeting, MSU coaches will give a scouting report on the upcoming football game, which is always interesting and informative. Main speakers will include MSU athletic officials and head coaches (football, basketball, baseball), former players, and other notables from the Southeastern Conference region. A good line up of speakers is planned. The 2015 dues are $185 and checks can be mailed to Starkville QB Club, P.O. Box 1937, Starkville, MS 39760. Anyone who wishes to join the club can get information from www.starkvillequarterbackclub.com. There will be a place to print a sign up form. For more information call club president, Joe Baker at 662-418-5457. If the club receives the sign-up form and check by August 27, the name will be entered into a raffle for a MSU football helmet. The helmet will be presented to the winner at the first meeting on September 3.

SPRD offer flag football league Starkville Parks and Recreation Youth Flag Football registration will remain open until 7 p.m. on Thursday. The fee for registrations turned in by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday is $50. All registrations submitted on Thursday will be considered part of “late registration,” and will be $60. On-site registration and skills testing will be held upstairs at the Sportsplex from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday. Call William Pochop at 662-323-2294 for more information.

SSA youth scholarships available A limited number of recreational soccer scholarships are available for the upcoming 2015-2016 seasonal year, primarily for youth aged 4 to 11. Interested parents should register their child online at www.starkvillesoccer.com and email a copy of their child’s letter of acceptance into the National School Lunch Program to SSA Registrar Tina Green at registrar@starkvillesoccer. com. Alternatively, a copy of the letter can be dropped by Leach Chiropractic Clinic at 214 Russell Street in Starkville by August 21.

Quoteworthy

Page 2C • Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Scorecard Starkville Daily News

Major League Baseball At A Glance All Times EDT National League East Division W L Pct New York 61 52 .540 Washington 58 53 .523 Atlanta 51 62 .451 Miami 45 68 .398 Philadelphia 45 68 .398 Central Division W L Pct St. Louis 71 40 .640 Pittsburgh 65 44 .596 Chicago 62 48 .564 Cincinnati 49 61 .445 Milwaukee 48 65 .425 West Division W L Pct Los Angeles 62 50 .554 San Francisco 59 52 .532 Arizona 55 56 .495 San Diego 53 60 .469 Colorado 47 64 .423

Starkville Academy soccer coach James Hawkins on facing Greenville St. Joseph for the first time.

The Area Slate Today GB — 2 10 16 16 GB — 5 8½ 21½ 24 GB — 2½ 6½ 9½ 14½

Monday’s Games N.Y. Mets 4, Colorado 2 Arizona 13, Philadelphia 3 San Diego 2, Cincinnati 1 Washington 8, L.A. Dodgers 3 Tuesday’s Games Tampa Bay 2, Atlanta 0 Miami 5, Boston 4, 10 innings N.Y. Mets 4, Colorado 0 Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs, late Pittsburgh at St. Louis, late Philadelphia at Arizona, late Cincinnati at San Diego, late Washington at L.A. Dodgers, late Houston at San Francisco, late Today’s Games Cincinnati (R.Iglesias 2-4) at San Diego (Shields 8-4), 3:40 p.m. Philadelphia (Nola 2-1) at Arizona (Ch. Anderson 5-4), 3:40 p.m. Houston (Feldman 4-5) at San Francisco (Heston 11-6), 3:45 p.m. Boston (E.Rodriguez 6-4) at Miami (Conley 1-0), 4:10 p.m. Atlanta (Wisler 5-2) at Tampa Bay (Odorizzi 6-6), 7:10 p.m. Colorado (J.De La Rosa 7-4) at N.Y. Mets (deGrom 10-6), 7:10 p.m. Milwaukee (Garza 6-12) at Chicago Cubs (Hammel 6-5), 8:05 p.m. Pittsburgh (G.Cole 14-5) at St. Louis (Wacha 13-4), 8:15 p.m. Washington (Zimmermann 8-7) at L.A. Dodgers (Kershaw 9-6), 10:10 p.m. Thursday’s Games Colorado at N.Y. Mets, 12:10 p.m. Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m. Pittsburgh at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m. Cincinnati at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. Washington at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m. American League East Division W L Pct New York 61 49 .555 Toronto 62 52 .544 Baltimore 57 54 .514 Tampa Bay 57 56 .504 Boston 50 63 .442 Central Division W L Pct Kansas City 67 44 .604 Minnesota 55 56 .495 Detroit 54 58 .482 Chicago 52 58 .473 Cleveland 51 59 .464 West Division W L Pct Houston 61 52 .540 Los Angeles 59 52 .532 Texas 55 55 .500 Seattle 52 61 .460 Oakland 51 63 .447

“No matter what happened with the unknowns, we wanted to make sure that we focused on our technique.”

GB — 1 4½ 5½ 12½ GB — 12 13½ 14½ 15½ GB — 1 4½ 9 10½

Monday’s Games Kansas City 4, Detroit 0 Chicago White Sox 8, L.A. Angels 2 Baltimore 3, Seattle 2 Tuesday’s Games Toronto 4, Oakland 2 Tampa Bay 2, Atlanta 0 Miami 5, Boston 4, 10 innings N.Y. Yankees at Cleveland, late Detroit at Kansas City, late L.A. Angels at Chicago White Sox, late Texas at Minnesota, late Baltimore at Seattle, late Houston at San Francisco, late Today’s Games Baltimore (Gausman 2-3) at Seattle (Iwakuma 3-2), 3:40 p.m. Houston (Feldman 4-5) at San Francisco (Heston 11-6), 3:45 p.m. Boston (E.Rodriguez 6-4) at Miami (Conley 1-0), 4:10 p.m. Oakland (Brooks 1-0) at Toronto (Buehrle 12-5), 7:07 p.m. Atlanta (Wisler 5-2) at Tampa Bay (Odorizzi 6-6), 7:10 p.m. N.Y. Yankees (Sabathia 4-8) at Cleveland (Salazar 9-6), 7:10 p.m. Detroit (Da.Norris 2-2) at Kansas City (Volquez 11-6), 8:10 p.m. L.A. Angels (Heaney 5-1) at Chicago White Sox (Joh.Danks 6-9), 8:10 p.m. Texas (N.Martinez 7-6) at Minnesota (Pelfrey 5-7), 8:10 p.m. Thursday’s Games Oakland at Toronto, 12:37 p.m. Texas at Minnesota, 1:10 p.m. N.Y. Yankees at Cleveland, 7:10 p.m. L.A. Angels at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m. National League Leaders BATTING-Goldschmidt, Arizona, .338; Harper, Washington, .333; Posey, San Francisco, .332; GParra, Milwaukee, .328; DGordon, Miami, .326; LeMahieu, Colorado, .318; Panik, San Francisco, .309; YEscobar, Washington, .309. RUNS-Harper, Washington, 77; Pollock, Arizona, 74; Goldschmidt, Arizona, 71; Fowler, Chicago, 70; Braun, Milwaukee, 66; MCarpenter, St. Louis, 66; Blackmon, Colorado, 65. RBI-Arenado, Colorado, 81; Goldschmidt, Arizona, 81; Posey, San Francisco, 75; McCutchen, Pittsburgh, 74; BCrawford, San Francisco, 71; Harper, Washington, 69; Frazier, Cincinnati, 68; AGonzalez, Los Angeles, 68. HITS-DGordon, Miami, 136; Goldschmidt, Arizona, 133; Markakis, Atlanta, 130; Pollock, Arizona, 128; LeMahieu, Colorado, 127; Posey, San Francisco, 126; HKendrick, Los Angeles, 124. DOUBLES-Frazier, Cincinnati, 30; MCarpenter, St. Louis, 29; Rizzo, Chicago, 28; Arenado, Colorado, 27; Bruce, Cincinnati, 27; Duda, New York, 27; AGonzalez, Los Angeles, 27; McCutchen, Pittsburgh, 27. TRIPLES-DPeralta, Arizona, 8; Grichuk, St. Louis, 7; Blackmon, Colorado, 6; DGordon, Miami, 6; Revere, Philadelphia, 6; 6 tied at 5.

College Soccer Mississippi State at UT Martin, 10 a.m. (exhibition)

WHAT’S ON TV Today GOLF 3 p.m. FS1 — USGA, U.S. Women’s Amateur, first round, at Portland, Ore. LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL 2 p.m. ESPN — Southeast Regional, semifinal, at Warner Robins, Ga. HOME RUNS-Harper, Washington, 29; Arenado, Colorado, 27; Frazier, Cincinnati, 27; Stanton, Miami, 27; CaGonzalez, Colorado, 26; Goldschmidt, Arizona, 22; AGonzalez, Los Angeles, 22. STOLEN BASES-BHamilton, Cincinnati, 52; DGordon, Miami, 34; Blackmon, Colorado, 29; Pollock, Arizona, 26; Revere, Philadelphia, 24; SMarte, Pittsburgh, 22; GPolanco, Pittsburgh, 20. PITCHING-GCole, Pittsburgh, 145; Wacha, St. Louis, 13-4; Arrieta, Chicago, 13-6; CMartinez, St. Louis, 12-4; Bumgarner, San Francisco, 12-6; Greinke, Los Angeles, 11-2; Heston, San Francisco, 11-6; Harvey, New York, 11-7; Scherzer, Washington, 11-8. ERA-Greinke, Los Angeles, 1.71; deGrom, New York, 2.13; Arrieta, Chicago, 2.38; GCole, Pittsburgh, 2.39; Scherzer, Washington, 2.44; SMiller, Atlanta, 2.48; Kershaw, Los Angeles, 2.51. STRIKEOUTS-Kershaw, Los Angeles, 197; Scherzer, Washington, 191; Shields, San Diego, 160; Arrieta, Chicago, 158; TRoss, San Diego, 150; Bumgarner, San Francisco, 148; Liriano, Pittsburgh, 144. SAVES-Melancon, Pittsburgh, 35; Rosenthal, St. Louis, 34; Kimbrel, San Diego, 32; Familia, New York, 31; Storen, Washington, 29; Casilla, San Francisco, 27; FrRodriguez, Milwaukee, 26. American League Leaders BATTING-Kipnis, Cleveland, .326; Fielder, Texas, .325; NCruz, Seattle, .324; Hosmer, Kansas City, .318; Brantley, Cleveland, .313; Bogaerts, Boston, .313; LCain, Kansas City, .309. RUNS-Donaldson, Toronto, 82; Dozier, Minnesota, 78; Trout, Los Angeles, 78; Bautista, Toronto, 74; Gardner, New York, 73; LCain, Kansas City, 71; MMachado, Baltimore, 71. RBI-Donaldson, Toronto, 83; CDavis, Baltimore, 82; KMorales, Kansas City, 81; Bautista, Toronto, 79; Teixeira, New York, 77; JMartinez, Detroit, 74; NCruz, Seattle, 69; Trout, Los Angeles, 69. HITS-NCruz, Seattle, 139; Fielder, Texas, 137; Kinsler, Detroit, 134; Kipnis, Cleveland, 132; Bogaerts, Boston, 130; Donaldson, Toronto, 130; Hosmer, Kansas City, 130; MMachado, Baltimore, 130. DOUBLES-Brantley, Cleveland, 33; Kipnis, Cleveland, 31; KMorales, Kansas City, 31; Donaldson, Toronto, 30; Dozier, Minnesota, 29; Cespedes, Detroit, 28; Kinsler, Detroit, 28. TRIPLES-Kiermaier, Tampa Bay, 11; RDavis, Detroit, 8; Eaton, Chicago, 8; ERosario, Minnesota, 8; DeShields, Texas, 7; Gattis, Houston, 7; 6 tied at 6. HOME RUNS-NCruz, Seattle, 33; Trout, Los Angeles, 33; Donaldson, Toronto, 31; CDavis, Baltimore, 30; JMartinez, Detroit, 30; Pujols, Los Angeles, 30; Teixeira, New York, 30. STOLEN BASES-Altuve, Houston, 30; Burns, Oakland, 23; LCain, Kansas City, 20; JDyson, Kansas City, 19; DeShields, Texas, 18; RDavis, Detroit, 17; Gose, Detroit, 16; Reyes, Toronto, 16. PITCHING-FHernandez, Seattle, 14-6; Keuchel, Houston, 13-6; McHugh, Houston, 13-6; SGray, Oakland, 12-4; Lewis, Texas, 12-5; Buehrle, Toronto, 12-5; 6 tied at 11. ERA-SGray, Oakland, 2.06; Kazmir, Houston, 2.08; Kazmir, Houston, 2.08; Price, Toronto, 2.35; Price, Toronto, 2.35; Keuchel, Houston, 2.40; Archer, Tampa Bay, 2.62. STRIKEOUTS-Sale, Chicago, 193; Archer, Tampa Bay, 190; Kluber, Cleveland, 186; Price, Toronto, 156; Carrasco, Cleveland, 147; FHernandez, Seattle, 145; Keuchel, Houston, 143; Salazar, Cleveland, 143. SAVES-Perkins, Minnesota, 30; Boxberger, Tampa Bay, 28; Britton, Baltimore, 28; Street, Los Angeles, 26; Uehara, Boston, 25; GHolland, Kansas City, 25; AMiller, New York, 24. College Football Amway Top 25 Poll The Amway Top 25 football coaches preseason poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, 2014 records, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, and 2014 final ranking: Record Pts Pvs 1. Ohio State (62) 14-1 1598 1 2. TCU (1) 12-1 1487 3 3. Alabama (1) 12-2 1452 4 4. Baylor 11-2 1365 8 5. Oregon 13-2 1260 2 6. Michigan State 11-2 1230 5 7. Auburn 8-5 1103 23 8. Florida State 13-1 1057 6 9. Georgia 10-3 1026 9 10. Southern Cal. 9-4 1014 21 11. Notre Dame 8-5 883 NR 12. Clemson 10-3 838 15 13. LSU 8-5 727 NR 14. UCLA 10-3 697 10 15. Mississippi 9-4 668 19 16. Arizona State 10-3 577 14 17. Georgia Tech 11-3 573 7 18. Wisconsin 11-3 470 13 19. Oklahoma 8-5 407 NR 20. Arkansas 7-6 377 NR 21. Stanford 8-5 365 NR 22. Arizona 10-4 299 17 23. Missouri 11-3 229 11 24. Boise State 12-2 190 16 25. Tennessee 7-6 166 NR Others receiving votes: Mississippi State 164; Texas A&M 149; Oklahoma State 89; Virginia Tech 70; Utah 40; Kansas State 37; Louisville 27; Nebraska 27; Minnesota 25; Penn State 20; South Carolina 18; Miami (Fla.) 16; Texas 8;

6 p.m. ESPN2 — Southwest Regional, semifinal, at Waco, Texas MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 2:30 p.m. MLB — Regional coverage, Houston at San Francisco or Baltimore at Seattle 7 p.m. ESPN — Pittsburgh at St. Louis Illinois 7; Duke 6; Air Force 5; Louisiana Tech 5; Marshall 4; Utah State 4; Brigham Young 3; North Carolina State 3; West Virginia 3; Florida 2; Georgia Southern 2; North Carolina 2; Central Florida 1; Cincinnati 1; Kentucky 1; Maryland 1; Michigan 1; Washington 1. National Football league Preseason Schedule All Times EST Sunday’s Game Minnesota 14, Pittsburgh 3 Thursday, Aug. 13 New Orleans at Baltimore, 7:30 p.m. Green Bay at New England, 7:30 p.m. N.Y. Jets at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. Miami at Chicago, 8 p.m. Washington at Cleveland, 8 p.m. Dallas at San Diego, 10 p.m. Golf PGA Tour Schedule Oct. 9-12 — Frys.com Open (Bae Sangmoon) Oct. 16-19 — Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (Ben Martin) Oct. 23-26 — The McGladrey Classic (Robert Streb) Oct. 30-Nov. 2 — CIMB Classic (Ryan Moore) Nov. 6-9 — Sanderson Farms Championship (Nick Taylor) Nov. 6-9 — WGC-HSBC Champions (Bubba Watson) Nov. 13-16 — OHL Classic at Mayakoba (Charley Hoffman) Jan. 9-12 — Hyundai Tournament of Champions (Patrick Reed) Jan. 15-18 — Sony Open in Hawaii (Jimmy Walker) Jan. 22-25 — Humana Challenge (Bill Haas) Jan. 29-Feb. 1 — Waste Management Phoenix Open (Brooks Koepka) Feb. 5-8 — Farmers Insurance Open (Jason Day) Feb. 12-15 — AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (Brandt Snedeker) Feb. 19-22 — Northern Trust Open (James Hahn) Feb. 26-March 1 — The Honda Classic (Padraig Harrington) March 5-8 — Puerto Rico Open (Alex Cejka) March 5-8 — WGC-Cadillac Championship (Dustin Johnson) March 12-15 — Valspar Championship (Jordan Spieth) March 19-22 — Arnold Palmer Invitational (Matt Every) March 26-29 — Valero Texas Open (Jimmy Walker) April 2-5 — Shell Houston Open (J.B. Holmes) April 9-12 — The Masters (Jordan Spieth) April 16-19 — RBC Heritage (Jim Furyk) April 23-26 — Zurich Classic of New Orleans (Justin Rose) April 29-May 3 — WGC-Cadillac Match Play (Rory McIlroy) May 7-10 — THE PLAYERS Championship (Rickie Fowler) May 14-17 — Wells Fargo Championship (Rory McIlroy) May 21-24 — Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (Chris Kirk) May 28-31 — AT&T Byron Nelson Championship (Steven Bowditch) June 4-7 — Memorial Tournament (David Lingmerth) June 11-14 — FedEx St. Jude Classic (Fabian Gomez) June 18-21 — U.S. Open Championship (Jordan Spieth) June 25-28 — Travelers Championship (Bubba Watson) July 2-5 — The Greenbrier Classic (Danny Lee) July 9-12 — John Deere Classic (Jordan Spieth) July 16-19 — The Open Championship (Zach Johnson) July 16-19 — Barbasol Championship (Scott Piercy) July 23-26 — RBC Canadian Open (Jason Day) July 30-Aug. 2 — Quicken Loans National (Troy Merritt) Aug. 6-9 — Barracuda Championship (J.J. Henry) Aug. 6-9 — WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (Shane Lowry) Aug. 13-16 — PGA Championship, Whistling Straits-Straits Course, Kohler, Wis. Aug. 20-23 — Wyndham Championship, Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C. Aug. 27-30 — The Barclays, Plainfield Country Club, Edison, N.J. Sept. 4-7 — Deutsche Bank Championship, TPC Boston, Norton, Mass. Sept. 17-20 — BMW Championship, Conway Farms Golf Club, Lake Forest, Ill. Sept. 24-27 — TOUR Championship, East Lake Golf Course, Atlanta Oct. 9-11 — The Presidents Cup, Jack Nicklaus GC Korea, Incheon City, South Korea. PGA Tour Statistics Through Aug. 9 FedExCup Season Points 1, Jordan Spieth, 3,838.809. 2, Bubba Watson, 2,357.614. 3, Jimmy Walker, 2,014.333. 4, Jason Day, 1,858.666. 5, Robert Streb, 1,640.566. 6, Dustin Johnson, 1,624.219. 7, Justin Rose, 1,591.559. 8, Zach Johnson, 1,558.742. 9, Patrick Reed, 1,554.809. 10, Danny

Hawkins

Lee, 1,535.327. Scoring Average 1, Jordan Spieth, 68.795. 2, Bubba Watson, 69.399. 3, Brooks Koepka, 69.649. 4, Sergio Garcia, 69.730. 5, Dustin Johnson, 69.746. 6, Henrik Stenson, 69.806. 7, Will Wilcox, 69.816. 8, Jason Day, 69.819. 9, Zach Johnson, 69.852. 10, Brandt Snedeker, 69.923. Driving Distance 1, Dustin Johnson, 319.0. 2, Bubba Watson, 315.8. 3, Jason Day, 314.0. 4, Adam Scott, 312.2. 5, J.B. Holmes, 310.9. 6 (tie), Charlie Beljan and Brooks Koepka, 309.5. 8, Tony Finau, 309.1. 9, Patrick Rodgers, 307.8. 10, Gary Woodland, 306.8. Driving Accuracy Percentage 1, Francesco Molinari, 77.03%. 2, David Toms, 74.20%. 3, Jason Bohn, 72.40%. 4, Zach Johnson, 72.18%. 5, Chez Reavie, 71.90%. 6, Steven Alker, 71.53%. 7, Colt Knost, 71.40%. 8, Justin Leonard, 71.34%. 9, Brendon Todd, 70.82%. 10, Henrik Stenson, 69.86%. Greens in Regulation Percentage 1, Henrik Stenson, 73.47%. 2, Jim Herman, 72.79%. 3, Stewart Cink, 72.77%. 4, Will Wilcox, 72.45%. 5, Paul Casey, 71.39%. 6, Russell Knox, 71.18%. 7, Francesco Molinari, 70.86%. 8, Adam Scott, 70.80%. 9, J.J. Henry, 70.37%. 10, Billy Horschel, 70.09%. Total Driving 1, Henrik Stenson, 48. 2, Keegan Bradley, 63. 3, Will Wilcox, 67. 4, Justin Rose, 83. 5, Graham DeLaet, 87. 6, Charlie Beljan, 89. 7, Hideki Matsuyama, 96. 8, Russell Henley, 99. 9, Adam Scott, 102. 10, Hudson Swafford, 103. Strokes Gained-Putting 1, Jimmy Walker, .882. 2, Aaron Baddeley, .738. 3, Freddie Jacobson, .665. 4, Ian Poulter, .662. 5, Brooks Koepka, .638. 6, Brendon Todd, .606. 7, Jordan Spieth, .600. 8, Daniel Summerhays, .578. 9, Lee Westwood, .564. 10, Russell Henley, .563. Birdie Average 1, Jordan Spieth, 4.58. 2, Jason Day, 4.56. 3, Vaughn Taylor, 4.50. 4, Justin Rose, 4.38. 5, Bubba Watson, 4.27. 6, Jimmy Walker, 4.23. 7, Dustin Johnson, 4.21. 8, Justin Thomas, 4.17. 9, Tony Finau, 4.11. 10, Patrick Reed, 4.10. Eagles (Holes per) 1, Bubba Watson, 66.5. 2, Brooks Koepka, 68.6. 3, Hideki Matsuyama, 95.5. 4, J.B. Holmes, 97.5. 5, Matt Kuchar, 102.5. 6, Justin Thomas, 103.2. 7, Dustin Johnson, 104.0. 8, Will Wilcox, 108.0. 9, Lee Westwood, 113.1. 10, Jason Dufner, 114.0. Sand Save Percentage 1, Chris Kirk, 65.22%. 2, David Toms, 65.12%. 3, Kevin Na, 64.71%. 4, Luke Donald, 64.04%. 5, Justin Rose, 63.75%. 6, Chad Collins, 63.56%. 7, Matt Kuchar, 63.33%. 8 (tie), S.J. Park and Will Wilcox, 63.08%. 10, Danny Lee, 63.01%. All-Around Ranking 1, Will Wilcox, 218. 2, Jason Day, 262. 3, Jordan Spieth, 270. 4, Hideki Matsuyama, 312. 5, Brooks Koepka, 325. 6, Justin Thomas, 326. 7, Justin Rose, 344. 8, Bubba Watson, 389. 9, Matt Kuchar, 394. 10, 2 tied with 419. Transactions

BASEBALL American League BOSTON RED SOX — Placed RHP Koji Uehara on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Saturday. Optioned INF Deven Marrero to Pawtucket (IL). Reinstated OF Mookie Betts from the 7-day DL. Recalled LHP Tommy Layne and RHP Ryan Cook from Pawtucket. CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Sent 2B Emilio Bonifacio to Charlotte (IL) for a rehab assignment. CLEVELAND INDIANS — Placed OF Ryan Raburn on the bereavement list. Recalled INF/OF Zach Walters from Columbus (IL). LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Placed OF Matt Joyce on the 15-day DL. OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Sent LHP Sean Doolittle to Nashville (PCL) for a rehab assignment. TEXAS RANGERS — Optioned RHP Luke Jackson to Round Rock (PCL). Recalled RHP Keone Kela from Frisco (TL). National League CHICAGO CUBS — Optioned OF Matt Szczur to Iowa (PCL). Activated C David Ross from the bereavement list. LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Placed RHP Carlos Frias on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Aug. 2. MIAMI MARLINS — Placed RHP Jose Fernandez on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Saturday. Recalled LHP Justin Nicolino from New Orleans (PCL). MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Announced the resignation of general manager Doug Melvin, who will remain as president of baseball operations. NEW YORK METS — Sent RHP Rafael Montero to St. Lucie (FSL) for a rehab assignment. PITTSBURGH PIRATES — RHP Vance Worley accepted assignment to Indianapolis (IL). SAN DIEGO PADRES — Designated RHP Dale Thayer and INF Taylor Lindsey for assignment. Assigned C Tim Federowicz outright to El Paso (PCL). Agreed to terms with RHP Bud Norris on a oneyear contract. Selected the contract of RHP Colin Rea from El Paso. Placed RHP Brandon Maurer on the 15-day DL, retroactive August 10. WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Agreed to terms with RHP Juan Gutierrez on a minor league contract. BASKETBALL National Basketball Association INDIANA PACERS — Signed G Toney Douglas. FOOTBALL National Football League ARIZONA CARDINALS — Released S D.J. Campbell. Re-signed S Ross Weaver. ATLANTA FALCONS — Waived-injured S Terell Floyd. BUFFALO BILLS — Signed CB Lavelle Westbrooks. Designated WR Caleb Holley as waived/injured. CHICAGO BEARS — Traded G Ryan Groy to New England for LB Matthew Wells. DETROIT LIONS — Placed TE David Ausberry on injured reserve. Signed CB Jocquel Skinner. GREEN BAY PACKERS — Released WR Ricky Collins. NEW YORK JETS — Released LB Ikemefuna Enemkpali. Signed CB Javier Arenas. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Signed CB Marc Anthony. PITTSBURGH STEELERS — Waivedinjured QB/WR Devin Gardner. Signed PK Garrett Hartley. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Signed DT Tony McDaniel and P Karl Schmitz. Activated WR Louis Murphy from the non-football injury list.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 • Starkville Daily News • Page 3C

High School Volleyball Olive Branch 3, Starkville 1

Starkville High School volleyball coach Lauren Love, left, visits with her team during a timeout of Tuesday’s match against Olive Branch. (Photo by Danny P. Smith, SDN)

Lady Jackets drop home match By ROBBIE FAULK [email protected] The Starkville High Yellowjackets treated the fans to a barn burner in the first match of the season. Starkville couldn’t bounce back from falling behind by a set, but battled hard in a 3-1 loss against the Lady Conquistadors Tuesday night. “We came out a little flat which is unfortunate in your first home game,” SHS coach Lauren Love said. “You want to come out and give your best effort. “The girls realized that if everybody takes care of what they needed to do individually, we are a competitive team. I think it sparked a bit.” After the Lady Jackets dropped the first set of the evening 2512, they adjusted in a big way. Olive Branch started set two with a commanding 7-0 lead, but SHS came back to take a 14-12 advantage. With the set tied at 17, OBHS ran away with it and went on to a 25-20 win and 2-0 lead at that point. The Lady Jackets were down but not out. They won set three,

SMITH

25-20 and were ready to continue to keep the match alive. The fourth set was an intense one that went back and forth all the way to point 24 with things all knotted up. A relentless volley finally ended with the Lady Conquistadors taking the final two points and the match 3-1. “Olive Branch is a good team and run a fast offense so that’s tough to defend,” Love said.  “It’s great to see them in the first match of the season and helps us realize what we need to get in the gym and work on.” SHS was led by Kelsey Jones, who had a double-double of 16 digs and 10 kills. Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star April Reese added 14 digs and eight kills, Tybra Windsor had 10 digs and Emily Woomer put up three digs, three kills and two aces. “(Tuesday) was a collective effort and that’s the thing with this team we don’t have a particular standout,” Love said. “April did a really great job and she hit the floor more than anybody. Everybody contributed and had a little bit of a big play.” The Lady Jackets are back in action on Friday and Saturday as they participate in the Set-it-Off Challenge in Jackson. 

too early. He missed getting to know and love From page 1C his six grandchildren, but I very successful. understand they got to attend Coleman died at a very the induction ceremony. It’s young age of 49 and way nice to know that they got to

April Reese of the Lady Yellowjackets prepares to serve on Tuesday night. (Photo by Danny P. Smith, SDN)

see their grandfather honored in such a way. Whether it was a high school player in Greenville, as a collegiate player at Mississippi State and Delta State, or as a

coach at Starkville Academy He definitely made me a and other stops, Coleman better person and it was good influenced many people. that he was recognized by the Even though I didn’t get to MAIS. know Coleman extremely well, I’m glad our paths crossed. Danny P. Smith is sports

editor and columnist for the Starkville Daily News. The opinions in this column are his and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Daily News or its staff.

Page 4C • Starkville Daily News • Wednesday, August 12, 2015

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL

Kiffin returns for 2nd year as Bama OC From Wire Reports

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Lane Kiffin is back for Year 2 as Alabama’s offensive coordinator, despite being up for at least one NFL job. Kiffin faces a much different challenge this year with another search for a starting quarterback and no Amari Cooper, but for the Crimson Tide just having him back is good news. Reportedly a candidate for the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator job, Kiffin stuck with coach Nick Saban and the Tide. “The calls that come, obviously you’re going to listen to them,” he said Sunday at Alabama’s media day. “I just really felt that we had done so many good things in Year 1, but this chapter wasn’t over yet. There’s still so many things to learn from Coach. “Just going into the offseason, it’s kind of like being a freshman. I’ve said that to one of our coaches. I feel like a sophomore now where last year you’re a freshman just trying to figure it out, trying to get the scripts ready, get to practice and stuff. Now you really start to understand how and why he does it and why it’s so successful.” The former Southern California, Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Volunteers head coach guided one-year starting quarterback Blake Sims to a school record for passing yards en route to the national semifinals. Now, Kiffin has five quarterbacks to choose from before the opener Sept. 5 against Wisconsin, led by Jake Coker and David Cornwell. He said the competition is “wide open” but mostly declined to discuss specific candidates just a few days into preseason camp. The combination of Saban and the outspoken Kiffin, which seemed potentially combustible, ended up working well. Part of that might be because the preseason media day is the only time the head man allows his coordinators to speak to reporters before the postseason. They took advantage of Sims’ style of play to switch to a more fast-paced offense, which Kiffin said was Saban’s idea. Cooper wound up being a Heisman Trophy finalist and a top-five NFL draft pick after shattering a number of Alabama receiving records. Now, the Tide must replace three starting offensive linemen, the three leading receivers and tailback T.J. Yeldon, the program’s No. 4 career rusher. It’s another sizable challenge for Kiffin, but at least he’s not a freshman any more.

Alabama’s offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin leads the quarterbacks to run throwing drills with other quarterbacks during practice. (Photo by Brynn Anderson, AP) “We’re going to find our players and get them the ball the best way we can,” he said. “It’s not Little League, where everyone gets the same amount of touches. You saw it last year with Amari and everything being so lopsided. It came down to OK, if he’s your best player, give him the ball. “It’s a basketball mentality. If LeBron’s (James) got 30 at half, you’re not going to stop passing it to him. I think Amari had 47 catches in the first quarter of games alone. Now he’s gone, so where are those catches going to go?” They will be divvied in some fashion among veteran receiver Chris Black and an assortment of highly rated young recruits, including Robert Foster, ArDarius Stewart

RECEIVERS From page 1C

ready to continue their success from a year ago. In 2014, MSU receivers accounted for 2,608 yards. Over 80 percent of that total came from individuals who will return to the roster for 2015. “We have a bunch of guys that started games coming back and a bunch of guys who had pretty good numbers coming back like Fred Ross, Fred Brown, Gabe Myles and Joe Morrow,” Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen said. “Those are all nonstarters coming back that had pretty legitimate numbers at the receiver position. I think we do have a lot of depth there, maybe more than what it looks like on paper.” Wilson, last year’s leading receiver with 47 catches for 680 yards and nine touchdowns, will deservedly capture much of the attention of opposing defensive coordinators. The scary proposition is that Wilson still has room to improve. This season will be just Wilson’s fourth to play football as he didn’t begin performing on the gridiron until his senior year of high school. The 6-foot-5 wide out has proven to be a quick learner however, and coaches expect him to show even more development this year, possibly earning himself a selection in the 2016 National Football League Draft. “He understands where he’s at right now,” co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales said. “He’s got a great mindset. His only objective right now is to get better day-by-day and if he continues to get better day-by-day…if (the NFL) were to be something that comes about, they are the ones that will come back and visit with coach Mullen about that. From my standpoint, we’ve got a lot more developing to do to get him better to make sure that he is one of the best receivers in the SEC.” Even with his high ceiling, Wilson is far from a one-man show. Ross, Brown, Myles and Morrow should all be big contributors for the Bulldogs through the air, as could January enrollees Donald Gray and Malik

and freshmen Daylon Charlot and Calvin Ridley. Tight end O.J. Howard, a swift 6-foot-6, 242-pounder, also could be more of a receiving target. The offensive stalwarts early on, at least, might be 242-pound running back Derrick Henry, who actually led the Tide in rushing last season, and versatile backfield mate Kenyan Drake. “Our whole offense can surprise people this year because we have basically a new identity,” Howard said. “We have a lot of guys that are going to play this year that haven’t really played a lot. I think just in general our whole offense will be surprising to a lot of people when they see what kind of guys we have that can make plays.”

Dear. Ross, who can line up in the slot or at split end, has already proven he can be an explosive threat for MSU. Last season, he hauled in 30 catches for 489 yards and five touchdowns, and had 100-plus yard receiving performances against both Arkansas (107) and Georgia Tech (102) in the Capital One Orange Bowl. Ross said now, as a junior, he feels an increased responsibility to both be a leader and perform on the field. To help his cause, Ross and quarterback Dak Prescott worked all summer long to improve their chemistry. “(Prescott and I) ran routes every day,” Ross said. “Even on off days we came up here and ran routes. Days when I really didn’t feel like running routes, we came up here and ran them. Hopefully, it’ll pay off.” Prescott believes Ross will see the fruits of his labor. “(Ross) is a very dynamic player,” Prescott said. “I believe he is probably one of the best in the SEC. He is very talented and his routes are great. He is always improving and trying to get better at every aspect of the position.” Myles should also push for playing time in the slot after showing flashes of his versatility in 2014. Last year, the former Starkville High School player caught 22 passes for 178 yards, rushed four times for 35 yards and completed an 11-yard pass. “(Myles is) dynamic with the ball in his hand,” Mullen said. “As a former high school quarterback, if you put the ball in his hand he can make things happen. It’s going to be him improving as an all-around wide receiver, which we really hope this is the year he takes a step forward in that role.” Morrow and Brown are the other returning Bulldogs that should factor into the receiving plans. Morrow is coming off a season that saw him record career highs in receiving yards, yards per catch and touchdowns. He finished the 2014 campaign with 17 catches for 344 yards and four touchdowns. Brown had 18 catches for 299 yards and two scores last year. Even with all the returning experience, Gray figures to play

a big part in the Mississippi State mix. Rated the No. 6 junior college prospect in the country out of Copiah-Lincoln by ESPN. com, Gray was selected a 2014 National Junior College Athletic Association All-American after hauling in 55 receptions for 989 yards and 10 touchdowns. The question for Gray is simple. Can he carry his previous success onto the field in the SEC? Gonzales thinks so. “(Gray) has got great speed,” Gonzales said. “He’s got great make-you-miss (moves) and that’s just in the first couple of days of practice, so from this point on, it’s really about how hard he continues to work and you want to make sure you feed him by levels. You’ve got to make sure you don’t give him too much, but he’s got to continue to learn. Athletically he’s got all the intangibles, but at the same time, we’ve got more than one player that has those intangibles. He’s got to continue to work, got to continue to get better and make improvements, and if he can do that, then hopefully, he will have an opportunity to help us. He does show those signs that he can be a difference maker.” Time will tell how big of an impact other newcomers like Dear or Keith Mixon might have. For those guys, and others, to get chances though, Gonzales said it’s not just about making the big catches, but sparking big gains by any means necessary. “Within my specific position, we talk about making five big plays (per game),” Gonzales said. “For us, a big play is to have 20 yards or more on a play and if we can help a running back on the perimeter, blocking to get that 20-yard play, that goes down as one of those five for us.” The arm of Prescott will obviously be a key factor as MSU receivers look to make big plays. Having worked tirelessly with them, Prescott says he enters the season fully believing in the teammates he’s throwing the ball to, regardless of who his target is. “Our receivers are very, very talented,” Prescott said. “A lot of guys will rotate in and out because we have size and speed. They all have a wide range of skills. I think we have a very talented group that is going to make my job easier.”

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 • Starkville Daily News • Page 5C

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Oregon quarterback Jeff Lockie answers questions from the media on Monday at Autzen Stadium in Eugene., Ore. The Ducks started their fall camp on Monday. (Photo by Andy Nelson, The Register-Guard, AP)

Oregon opens fall camp with uncertainty at QB By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon opened fall camp with ongoing uncertainty about who will replace Marcus Mariota as starting quarterback. Jeff Lockie was the backup last season, but saw little playing time as Mariota led Oregon to the championship game. Now, Lockie is the top player in camp to succeed Mariota — at least until the anticipated arrival of former Eastern Washington star Vernon Adams. Adams is supposed to join the Ducks as soon as he finishes the last course he needs to graduate. The fifth-year senior can’t play for the Ducks until he’s got a diploma. He was supposed to arrive in June, but that was pushed back. As the Ducks opened practice on Monday, Adams was still a few days away from completing a final math class. He may join the Ducks this week. Lockie, meanwhile, was making the most of the extra time to make his case, especially when it comes to leading a team he already knows well. “The main thing I’ve been focused on is improving myself and doing all the natural leadership things that I can do,” he said. In 19 games, Lockie has completed 29 of 41 passes for 264 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In the spring game, the 6-foor-2, 205-pound junior completed all nine of his passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns, leading his team to a 35-29 victory. Mariota, the Heisman Trophy winner, led the Ducks to a 13-2 season that included a Rose Bowl win against Florida State before a 42-20 loss to Ohio State in the national championship game last January. Leaving with a year of eligibility, Mariota was selected second overall by the Tennessee Titans in the NFL draft. “I don’t think anyone can fill Marcus’ shoes — very few could do that — we’re just trying to be ourselves and do what we do best,” Lockie said of Oregon’s quarterbacks group. There are five quarterbacks on Oregon’s roster, minus Adams. Coach Mark Helfrich said the quarterback competition, whatever that looks like in the end, will sort itself out. He said

that ideally it will be apparent before the opener. “In my opinion you can’t say that by August 29th, or whatever the date, you’re going to name a guy. That has to play out,” Helfrich said. “It’s kind of like leadership.” Adams was a two-time Big Sky Conference offensive player of the year and a two-time All-American. He threw for 10,438 yards and 110 touchdowns in three seasons at Eastern Washington. Two of Adams’ most memorable games came against the Pac12: He passed for 411 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 107 yards and two TDs in a 2013 win at Oregon State, and he threw for 475 yards and seven touchdowns in a 59-52 loss at Washington last season. Senior Byron Marshall, who has played at both running back and receiver for the Ducks, said the sideshow is amusing. “It’s like, ‘Well, when is he coming in? Is he going to be the starter? Is it Lockie? Is it Vernon? Is it Lockie? Is it Vernon?’ I’m like, I don’t know. It’s whoever the best man is, is going to play,” Marshall said. “The coaches will see that and we’ll see that. It will be obvious on the field who will be better. Right now, I don’t care, really, I just want to play football.” Oregon returns eight starters on offense, including wide receiver Bralon Addison and left tackle Tyler Johnstone, who missed last season with injuries. In addition to Mariota, key departures on offense include center Hroniss Grasu and left tackle Jake Fisher. The Ducks lost five defensive starters, including defensive end Arik Armstead, who left school with eligibility remaining. As fall camp started, Oregon was hurt by the loss of running back Thomas Tyner, who was expected to miss the season after left shoulder surgery on Friday. Tyner struggled with the injury last season and Royce Freeman had a breakout freshman year. The two were expected to be a potent ground attack for the Ducks. Marshall, who was expected to take on more of a receiver role this season, now may see plays running the ball. Oregon is also awaiting word on the status of receiver Darren Carrington and whether he must sit out half of the season after failing an NCAA-run drug test during the football playoffs.

Oklahoma linebacker Shannon returns after 1-year suspension By MURRAY EVANS Associated Press NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma linebacker Frank Shannon said he planned to return to the Sooners after a one-year suspension following a Title IX sexual misconduct investigation, although he wondered at times if it would happen. Oklahoma media relations personnel indicated Tuesday that Shannon would only answer “football questions.” Shannon said he owed it to his teammates and linebackers coach Tim Kush to return. “Coach Kish, we always kept in touch with each other throughout the whole thing,” Shannon said. “He supported me a lot. When I was at home, the only thing I focused on was coming back to school.” Shannon led the Sooners in tackles in 2013, a season that ended with a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. In April 2014, an Oklahoma student accused Shannon of sexual assault. The Cleveland County District Attorney’s office declined to file charges, but the university conducted an investigation and suspended Shannon. Shannon went to court and a Cleveland Country District Court judge issued a

temporary restraining order against the university. But the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled last September that the university could enforce Shannon’s suspension. Shannon, who has maintained his innocence, practiced with the Sooners while the court case was pending but didn’t play in any games. He said he attended classes at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, not far from his Dallas home, and worked out on his own. “I couldn’t work out with any teams,” Shannon said. “I ran. I lifted. I did a lot of workouts. That’s all I did, work out and go to school.” Oklahoma President David Boren — who played a leading role in pursuing the enforcement of Shannon’s suspension — addressed the issue with the Tulsa World. Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon, also suspended one year by the university, accepted a year of probation after being charged with punching a woman and breaking her jaw at a restaurant in July 2014. “To me, it’s over,” Boren told the newspaper. “It’s just like being a parent. Sometimes you have to punish but then you still care about people. Then you give them every advantage to work their way back into

the fold. They’ve done that.” At 6-foot-1 and 238 pounds, Shannon is noticeably bigger than he was in 2013. He returns to a squad that is deep at linebacker, with four other players on the roster — including 2014 All-America third-team selection Erik Striker — who have starting experience. Shannon knows a starting job is not guaranteed. “I figured it was going to take some work,” he said. “I couldn’t come back and just jump right in. I missed a lot of playing time and stuff. I knew I was going to have to come back and work hard and still show the coaches I could play. “Even though I was running, I wasn’t as fit like I was when I was here. Through the whole summer, I worked hard and got back in shape and made a tremendous turnaround.” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has been impressed with Shannon so far in preseason practices. “He looks really good,” Stoops said. “Frank’s really, really moving well. He’s a guy that’s played a lot of football and a very experienced player that you can tell makes a difference in there, not only playing, but getting calls, making sure everyone else is on the same page as well.”

Page 6C • Starkville Daily News • Wednesday, August 12, 2015

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Graveman, A’s suffer 4-2 loss against Toronto By IAN HARRISON Associated Press

TORONTO — Jose Bautista hit a solo home run, Drew Hutchison pitched seven strong innings and the Toronto Blue Jays won their ninth straight game, beating the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Tuesday night. Toronto starting pitchers have held the opposition to three earned runs or fewer in 15 consecutive games. Hutchison (11-2) allowed two runs and four hits in sevenplus innings. The right-hander hadn’t completed seven innings since a complete-game victory over the Chicago White Sox on May 25. Hutchison is 9-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 12 home starts and 2-1 with a 9.00 ERA in 11 road outings. Hutchison left to a standing ovation after Marcus Semien’s infield single to begin the eighth inning. Aaron Sanchez came on and surrendered an RBI single to Billy Burns but escaped by striking out Coco Crisp looking and getting Josh Reddick on a comebacker. Roberto Osuna finished for his 11th save. The Blue Jays thought they had turned a double play to end the top of the first but a replay challenge showed Reddick beat out shortstop Troy Tulowitzki’s relay throw. Former Toronto infielder Danny Valencia followed with an RBI double past a diving Kevin Pillar in center, giving the Athletics a 1-0 lead. Oakland’s run snapped a stretch of 26 consecutive scoreless innings by Blue Jays pitchers, a streak that began in the third inning of Friday’s 10-inning victory over the New York Yankees. It also marked the first time Toronto had trailed since the second inning of their Aug. 5 game against Minnesota, a 44-inning stretch. Oakland wasn’t in front for long. Chris Colabello opened the Blue Jays second with a double that bounced over the head of Crisp in left, then scored on a throwing error by shortstop Semien. Justin Smoak followed with an RBI double, Pillar reached on Eric Sogard’s fielding error and Ryan Goins made it 3-1 with a grounder. Bautista made it 4-1 with a two-out homer into the second deck in the fifth, his 27th. Toronto has homered in 10 consecutive games and 22 of 23 since the All-Star break. Oakland right-hander and former Mississippi State pitcher Oakland Athletics starting pitcher and former Mississippi State Bulldog Kendall Graveman throws against the Toronto Blue Kendall Graveman (6-8) allowed four runs, two earned, and five hits in 4 2-3 innings. Graveman is winless in six starts. Jays on Tuesday. (Photo by Fred Thornhill, AP)

Kiermaier homers, Ramirez pitches Rays past Braves From Wire Reports ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Erasmo Ramirez pitched efficiently into the eighth inning for his first win in a month, Kevin Kiermaier hit a tworun homer in the seventh and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Atlanta Braves 2-0 Tuesday night. Kiermaier’s fifth home run of the season — and first since June 3 — came off Williams Perez one out after Asdrubal Cabrera’s infield single. Cabrera’s seventh multihit game in his last eight gave him a .358 batting average since coming off the disabled list July 28. Perez (4-3) gave up four hits in his first career complete game. In his third start since coming off the DL, he walked four while striking out one. Ramirez (9-4) won for the first time in five starts since July 10. He gave up five hits and no walks, needing only 70 pitches to get through seven-plus innings. Xavier Cedeno got two outs for his first save. The Braves nearly scored in the first inning on Nick Markakis’ double. Cameron Maybin, aboard on a single, was out at the plate on a relay throw by second baseman Logan Forsythe. After consecutive singles by Adonis Garcia and Andrelton Simmons in the second, Ramirez retired 16 straight before Garcia bounced a single

up the middle leading off the eighth. Brandon top two teams. Gomes came on and pitched 1 1-3 hitless innings. Yadier Molina tied it with a sacrifice fly and rookie Stephen Piscotty singled in the go-ahead run on consecutive at-bats off Jeff Locke (6-7) in Mets 4, Rockies 0 the fifth inning. Kolten Wong singled twice for NEW YORK — Matt Harvey pitched four- his first multihit game of the month and Piscotty hit ball for eight innings, Ruben Tejada had a go- had three hits. Trevor Rosenthal struck out the side in ahead single in the sixth and the New York Mets beat the Colorado Rockies for the eighth straight the ninth for his 34th save in 36 chances. The Cardinals lead the Pirates by six games in the time at Citi Field on Tuesday night. Juan Lagares had a two-run double in the NL Central and are 6-5 in the season series with eighth to help the Mets improve to 40-18 at seven of the games decided by one run and five home, matching last season’s win total when in the final at-bat. St. Louis is 72-40 overall, at 32 over .500 it they lost 41 at Citi Field. matches the season’s high water mark, and 41-16 Harvey (11-7) was dominant for a fourth at home — both major league bests. straight start. He walked none for the third straight outing and struck out four, pitching to contact rather than overpowering the Rockies. He was lifted for pinch-hitter Curtis Granderson with the bases loaded in the eighth.

Cardinals 4, Pirates 3 ST. LOUIS — Carlos Martinez was strongest at the end of his eight innings and Jason Heyward had two hits and two RBIs, helping the St. Louis Cardinals edge the Pittsburgh Pirates in a matchup of the National League’s

White Sox 3, Angels 0 CHICAGO — Carlos Rodon threw seven scoreless innings, Trayce Thompson hit his first career home run and the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels. Rodon (5-4) had struggled in his previous four starts, going 1-2 with a 9.33 ERA. He did considerably better Tuesday, striking out a career-high 11, allowing four hits and finishing seven innings for the first time for the White Sox,

who have won the first two of the three-game series. Hector Santiago (7-6) was making his first start at U.S. Cellular Field since being acquired by Los Angeles from the White Sox in a December 2013 three-team deal. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up three runs and four hits while striking out four.

Marlins 5, Red Sox 4, 10 innings

MIAMI — Dee Gordon tripled to lead off the 10th inning and scored on a walk-off base hit by Justin Bour to lift the Miami Marlins to a comefrom-behind win over the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox led 4-0 in the sixth inning before the Marlins climbed back into the game with two runs in the sixth, one in the seventh and one in the ninth before Bour’s heroics in the 10th. Gordon lined a triple to left-center field off Craig Breslow (0-2) as center fielder Mookie Betts’s dive was unsuccessful. Breslow intentionally walked Martin Prado and struck out Derek Dietrich before Bour lined a base hit to left-center, ending the game. Bryan Morris (4-3) earned the victory with a scoreless 10th.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 • Starkville Daily News • Page 7C

CrossworD

comics horoscope by Jacqueline Bigar

ARIES (March 21-April 19) You might feel pressured to find a solution to a personal matter. You would benefit from speaking to an adviser whom you trust. The ideas will flow naturally in a brainstorming session. As a result, you will see the right path to follow.

The logic puzzle ThaT makes you smarTer.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Your playfulness comes out when dealing with a loved one. Your focus will be on your personal life. You might wonder which would be the best way to move forward. A discussion with a close friend will offer you some solutions. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Your concerns can easily be handled with a little self-discipline and a lot of energy. Once you grasp the power of your inner strength, you will be able to deal with an issue concerning your daily life. A conversation could be very important. CANCER (June 21-July 22) You could be at your wits’ end when dealing with an inquisitive person in your life. You might want to establish a stronger budget or tap into your self-discipline when going shopping. Be more direct with those around you.

BeeTle Bailey

henry

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) You might be slow to rise in the morning, but by the afternoon, the Lion within you will wake up and put you back in control. Postpone as much as you can. Financial extremes could make you uncomfortable. Be ready to say “no” to a request. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You might have to deal with someone who has caused you a great deal of pain. Stay on top of what you must get done. Don’t let this situation affect you in a negative way. Your creativity is likely to emerge when dealing with this matter. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Take your time researching a key question. What you find out could point you in a new direction. A meeting could prove to be important, as it allows you to test out several ideas. A discussion with a friend will help you consolidate a plan.

suDoku

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You might feel overtired and withdrawn later in the day. Unfortunately, you are likely to be called upon by others to offer your knowledge. Slow down and take a break around lunch if you can. You will be happier as a result.

popeye

hi anD lois

hagar The horriBle

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Deal with a close child or loved one directly. The conversation you have might be confidential, and it could make the other party feel vulnerable. Remain sensitive and deal with others on an individual level. You know what you need to do. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) One-on-one relating will cause you to question certain decisions that you recently have made. Honor a change of pace, and know where you are going. Once you accept your personal goals, your decisions could change substantially. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Emphasize what you can complete in the morning. Sometime in the afternoon, others are likely to encourage you to take a break or to network, depending on what the situation is. You will flourish with a change of pace.

Here’s How It Works:

To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box.

Cryptoquip

MuTTs

BlonDie

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Tap into your creativity for solutions in the morning. You might want to pay more attention to this sector of your life. By midafternoon, you will re-energize and be willing to spend more time on your work and other responsibilities.

Dennis The Menace

aMazing spiDerMan

Barney google & snuffy sMiTh

Rules:

1. Each row and column must contain the numbers 1 through 5 without repeating. 2. The numbers within the heavily outlined set of squares, called cages, must combine (in any order) to produce the target number in the top corner of the cage using the mathematical operation indicated. 3. Cages with just one box should be filled in with the target number in the top corner. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not in the same row or column.

Page 8C • Starkville Daily News • Wednesday, August 12, 2015

GOLF

Woods has goal to get better By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — Tiger Woods knows the concept of going through a transition, just not the numbers associated with this one. His world ranking is No. 278. Throw out some of the past champions and the 20 club pros at the PGA Championship, and his ranking is the worst of all but two players at Whistling Straits — Nick Taylor and Darren Clarke. He has not won a tournament in two years, and he has only one top 10 on the PGA Tour since. And while his winless streak in the majors is at 23 dating to the 2008 U.S. Open, only once in the last six years has he gone into the final round within three shots or fewer of the lead. That was at Muirfield two years ago, and he closed with a 74 to finish five shots behind. This is the new world of Woods at the majors. Expectations are lower than ever. There wasn’t a lot of talk about Woods winning the PGA Championship. His main theme was taking baby steps. “I’m just trying to get better,” Woods said after playing nine holes with Davis Love III. “I’m just trying to get up there where I can win tournaments, get my game organized so I can be consistent on a tournament basis where I’m going to give myself a chance to win each and every event I play in. That’s what I have done over most of my career. And I’d like to get to that point again where I could do it.” Even if expectations are low, he is still Tiger Woods.

He had one of the largest galleries for a morning practice round at Whistling Straits, and he stopped to sign autographs heading to the next tee, which is unusual for him. Hundreds of fans stood below the steps of the media center when they saw Woods walk in, all of them holding flags for him to sign. Woods, who turns 40 at the end of the year, made it clear at the Memorial (where he shot a career-high 85) that he was in this for the long haul. Different from past swing changes is that he is coping with what he keeps calling a “perfect storm” because the switch followed back surgery and recovery that cost him half the 2014 season. Steve Stricker played with him two days at The Greenbrier Classic, where Woods tied for 32nd while posting his lowest 72-hole score (273) since his last win. “He’s going through some down times,” Stricker said. “It looks like he’s getting things pushed back into shape and he’s getting stronger and healthier. I’ve talked to him. He’s feeling better. And it’s just about getting that confidence level back, him settling on what he wants to do with his swing and going from there, and then that confidence level will come back. ... I expect him to get it back and get it going again.” Still, it’s odd for Woods to be at a major and attract so little attention. The majors this year have been about Jordan Spieth, the Masters and U.S. Open champion who missed by one shot a chance at the third leg of the Grand Slam at St. Andrews. Still in play at Whistling Straits is a chance to sweep the U.S. majors, which has never been

Tiger Woods talks in the media room after a practice round for the PGA Championship Tuesday. (Photo by Julio Cortez, AP) done. Rory McIlroy, the world’s No. 1 player, returns from an ankle injury that has kept him out since the U.S. Open. Dustin Johnson has had at least a share of the lead in four rounds at the majors this year and comes back to the course where a two-shot penalty on the final hole cost

Watson, Palmer two greats that never won PGA Championship By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — Tom Watson played the PGA Championship for the final time last year as a courtesy extended to Ryder Cup captains. He did not cross an iconic bridge. There were no tears, no fanfare. The PGA Championship was the only major he never won. There weren’t many great memories. Of the 16 players who have won three of the four professional majors, Watson and Arnold Palmer are the only ones without a Wanamaker Trophy. But they are not alone. To consider the five best players to have never won the PGA Championship is to ignore Bobby Jones, who never played it because he was an amateur, and the likes of Harry Vardon, J.H. Taylor and James Braid because the PGA was after their time. In this case, “best” can be defined as career achievement and lost chances at a major. So here’s one view of the five best to have never won the PGA Championship, looking from 1958 when it switched to stroke play:

5. ERNIE ELS The Big Easy must have a hard time going to Riviera without thinking what might have been. He set the 54-hole record at 197 and had a threeshot lead until he closed with a 72 and missed the playoff by two shots in 1995. Imagine what it would have done for his psyche if he had two majors before Tiger Woods turned pro a year later. Els also missed a playoff by one shot at Whistling Straits in 2004 when he three-putted from about 100 feet for bogey on the final hole. He has two U.S. Opens and two British Opens. The Masters is what he craves. The PGA Championship is one he should have won.

4. BILLY CASPER Casper got overlooked in the era of the Big Three and he finished his career with three majors. He won the U.S. Open twice and the Masters, and he only played the British Open five times. That was not unusual in his era. A year before he won his first major, Casper had his first close call at the PGA. One shot behind Sam Snead going into the final round, he shot even-par 70 and both were passed by Dow Finsterwald in 1958, the first year of stroke play. Casper finished one behind. He was runner-up again in 1965 to Dave Marr, and he was one shot behind Gary Player in 1972 at Oakland Hills and shot 74 to tie for fourth.

3. NICK FALDO Faldo got only halfway to the career Grand Slam — three green jackets, three claret jugs. He was closer than it appears. Faldo lost the U.S. Open in a playoff to Curtis Strange at Brookline in 1988, and he finished one shot out of a playoff in the 1990 U.S. Open at Medinah. He had three straight top fives — second, third and fourth — at the PGA starting in 1992, though his only good chance was at Inverness in 1993. In one of the strongest leaderboards for a major — Paul Azinger, Greg Norman, Faldo, Vijay Singh and Watson in the top five — Faldo shot 68 the final round and missed the playoff by one shot.

2. ARNOLD PALMER When the King played his final U.S. Open in 1994 at Oakmont, the USGA put him with a local Pittsburgh player (Rocco Mediate) and John Mahaffey, which seemed cruel. Mahaffey’s only win was the one major Palmer never won — and Mahaffey won it at Oakmont. USGA executive director David Fay later explained that one of Palmer’s best friends at Oakmont was Jack Mahaffey, so he went with the surname. Palmer created the modern version of the Grand Slam, so he is linked more than Watson as the player missing only the PGA. He won all seven of his professional majors from 1958 to 1964, and Palmer never had many chances at the PGA. He finished three shots behind Bobby Nichols in 1964, and one shot behind Julius Boros in 1968. Most peculiar of all is that Palmer had the lead only one time after a round — a 67 in the first round at Firestone in 1960.

1. TOM WATSON Watson led wire-to-wire at Oakmont in 1978 and had a five-shot lead with nine holes to go. He made double bogey on No. 10 and shot 73 to give way to the greatest comeback in PGA history. John Mahaffey shot 66 to make up a seven-shot deficit, and he beat Watson and Jerry Pate on the second playoff hole. Watson bounced back a year later with a 66 in the opening round at Oakland Hills, only to fade. And he never really got another chance. The last opportunity was in 1996 at Valhalla when he pulled within a shot of the lead through 12 holes on Sunday. That loop (Nos. 10-12) were close to the clubhouse, and the media center emptied to see if a 46-year-old Watson could finally get it done. He hit into the water on the 13th, and the press headed back in.

him a spot in the playoff. Zach Johnson goes for backto-back majors. Jason Day is trying to win his first after being in contention in the last two. It’s a long list. And at the moment, that list doesn’t include Woods. The greatest player of his generation, at the moment, is

an afterthought. Woods was going through swing changes during his two previous trips to Whistling Straits — with Hank Haney in 2004 (tie for 24th) and he was just starting to work with Sean Foley in 2010 (tie for 28th). So it’s not as if he has positive memories from this course.

“Tiger’s game has been flatlined for the last couple years, and we’re starting to see a sign here or there that he might be able to orchestrate something at Whistling Straits,” longtime friend Notah Begay III said. “But it’s not a golf course that particularly suits his eye or his game.”