Between the Headlines: Columbus
Between the Headlines dives deep into the stories shaping Columbus and Lowndes County, Mississippi. Hosted by The Commercial Dispatch managing editor Zack Plair and local businessman and commentator David Chism, this show goes beyond the front page to bring you the real conversations behind local politics, policies and people. Zack’s journalistic expertise and David’s insight deliver in-depth analysis, spirited debate, and behind-the-scenes context you won’t get anywhere else. It's honest discussion on what matters.
Between the Headlines: Columbus
A Pro‑Business Brain Trust For Growth PLUS CMSD's Superintendent Craig Chapman
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In our last episode of the year, we kick off with Councilman Jason Spears discussing a bold plan to turn Columbus' raw economic activity into real economic development: an action‑first advisory group made up of people who build, hire, lease, heal, and sell here. The hard questions aren’t dodged. What keeps self‑interest from creeping in? The committee’s mandate is to match supply to demand before the city courts the wrong projects.
Then we shift to the classroom, where stability becomes a strategy. Newly minted Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Craig Chapman shares why he accepted an 18‑month contract and what he’ll deliver: fill the assistant superintendent of operations role, align curriculum to Mississippi’s accountability, and hire on merit rather than familiarity.
We also discuss new legislation affecting vape stores, reflect on past podcast episodes and more. It's a fully-packed episode to end 2025.
Sponsors And Show Opening
SPEAKER_00From the opinion page of the commercial dispatch, this is Between the Headlines. This is Peter Imes, publisher of The Dispatch. One of our hosts of Between the Headlines is the managing editor of our newsroom. Typically, we try to keep news and opinion separate, but reporters have a unique insight into the workings of local government, and their analysis can be helpful for readers and listeners. The Dispatch remains committed to journalistic integrity, and our reporting will always reflect that. And now, between the headlines.
Introducing Councilman Spears
SPEAKER_05This is between the headlines. Thanks for joining us today on the program. We have Mr. Craig Chapman, who is the newly chosen superintendent, properly so called, for the Columbus Municipal School District. Also in the studio, Mr. Jason Spears of Ward 6. He'll be on to talk about the formation of a committee to look at Columbus economic and commercial development. Interesting things there. And we'll talk a little bit about the vape shop thing that went down earlier last week. But first, retirement looks different for everyone, so your plan should be built around you. For over 40 years, Financial Concepts has helped people create retirement strategies that fit their lives. Our team in Columbus takes the time to understand your goals and build a plan that works for you. Wherever you are in your journey, we're ready to help. We plan retirement. Financial Concepts is a registered investment advisor. Benton's Maintenance Mechanical makes easy work out of plumbing, electrical, heating, and air conditioner problems. You can book an appointment by phone or online, and rest assured they will show up at the appointed time. Call Bentons at 662-657-2583 or visit them online at Bentonsinc.com, that is BentonsINC.com. This episode of Between the Headlines is brought to you by Bank First, the locally owned bank that makes decisions right here at home by people who understand the needs of our community. That means local decisions, local support, and folks who care if your kid made the team. At Bank First, we're not just bankers, we're neighbors and friends. Whether you're buying a home or starting a business, or just need someone to explain what APR actually means, we're here right down the street. Stop by your Bank First branch or visit bankfirstfs.com to learn more. Bank First is a member of FBIC and Equal Housing Lender Bank in MLS 454063. At this time, we are pleased to welcome back into the studio Mr. Jason Spears, our Ward 6 Councilman, who uh has formed a committee and trying to trying to get ready to put that together. And um there's a lot of opinions out there. Where do we start with this, Mr. Zach?
SPEAKER_04Okay, well, I mean, first of all, this is for economic development. It's uh the way that I kind of picked up on it was it was sort of a for Columbus, by Columbus, uh brain trust is what you called it. So just kind of walk us through in your own terms here what uh what you'd like to see this thing do.
Economic Development vs Activity
SPEAKER_03Sure. Well, I appreciate the opportunity to be back here. Um glad to be able to serve the community and provide some insights to some of the different details you're talking about. Uh, one of the things that I want to clear up on the front end is that I learned years ago in Leadership Lowndes County, there's a big distinction between economic development and economic activity. And economic activity is a byproduct of economic development. So, right here in the city of Columbus, we have a great opportunity of a lot of economic activity to kind of harness all the different powers that may be uh going forward in the community to try to really streamline that into prosperity. And so this committee that we're putting together is really some uh what I would consider individuals who have been here, they've seen the good, the bad, they understand their specific types of businesses, everything from franchising to um kind of an economic building and and what goes on into the development aspects of bringing businesses here and kind of kick starting more and more cocktail uh businesses that follow along. And of and in addition to that, you know, getting residents, you know, one of the things we always looked at is how we're starting to see a lot of you know uh people moving outside the city. We're trying to reverse that trend. And to reverse that trend, what you have to do is you have to have reasons for people to be inside the city limits. You know, there are things that I know the city council's working on down the line to be able to lower taxes and things, but for this particular committee's focus, it's gonna be able to take information from the link, it's gonna be able to take from the CVB and other things and purify that to a degree to where we can actually make decisions off of it. And those recommendations from those committee members, based on whether it's health care related, whether it's gonna be retailing, whether it's going to be real estate, uh finance and different things, pull those together and then measure it out against policies that are already in place with the city and say, are we being too rigid? Are there things we need to broaden in the language to make it more conducive to bring more people here?
SPEAKER_04And we're talking about maybe things like zoning or or time.
SPEAKER_03Zoning, you know, permitting, you know, a lot of different things that go into that. Um traffic flows. I mean, are there things we need to do from a um calibrating our traffic flows to get more businesses, you know, visible and and everything? And and the biggest thing that you have to look at, and I think it was in the dispatch this morning, it's talking about tax collections. We collect a lot of money in sales tax, and if we're going to grow the city in the future, we have to do it not based upon what we're assessing on property values. That's a big component of it, but we have to get to the to the current century and we're gonna have to look at consumption because right now GDP in the U.S. is 66% consumption based.
SPEAKER_04Okay. Well, now you said that uh when you brought this idea forward at the at the work session, you said after that you'd already talked to several people, uh testing it out with them, gauging their interest, and you had some people in mind that you would like to serve. Uh how have those conversations gone? Like, and I'm not asking you for specific people that you've sure uh approached, but how have those conversations gone prior to the idea being brought up and even since it's been publicized that uh y'all are trying to do it? So and and has that uh has your approach changed? Has their reaction changed?
SPEAKER_03That's that's a very good question. You know, actually it's been well received, and I've received a lot of phone calls and text messages, people who are really interested in it. Um, you know, people I already had on my short list, you know, reached out before I could contact them about, hey, if I can help in any way. And I think that's a really good start to this effort. And it's not something that's gonna be cobbled together or and and just run out there to get it going. Like we're really strategically trying to put this together. You know, Mayor Jones and I have had good discussions about it. He's been very supportive of the issue because he sees the value in what we're doing. Um, one of the things that in the discussions I've had with those individuals, that whether they're in healthcare, whether they're in you know retailing or whatever, that have has actually been kind of funny to see how it plays out in their discussions, has been more along the lines of not of how can I advance this or anything, is did you know? Do you understand? And I think that type of approach is exactly what you want to have come to the table because those are people already thinking about problems they're trying to solve on the front line in their own businesses, but also they understand that for Columbus to be able to have a little bit more um dry powder to explode with in what we're trying to do. Well, okay.
SPEAKER_04Well, give me some examples here. Well, I mean, obviously without giving away identities for people, but sure. So some of the in these discussions, some of the primary did you know's that are coming out of these discussions about Columbus and you know, challenges and opportunities to attack here.
Committee Goals And Policy Barriers
SPEAKER_03Well, I've talked, for example, healthcare. You know, a lot of the different things that we look at, we have access to here, whether it's doctors, clinics, different things, a lot of the discussions I've had in that particular space is, you know, did you know people want to live here if they're going to practice in this particular area? So meeting the housing needs is a big part of it. You know, them, if they're on call, having to be within a certain radius of the hospital or something along those lines. So I already see, just for example, off of, you know, in Blue Cut area, there's a lot of houses for sale that are being purchased. There are a lot of houses being built. You know, how can we take that little segment of what we know, knowledge base, and be able to use that to be able to get more people that are looking to be in the healthcare field, a doctor or specialist or something like that, to attract them here. Um, there's some other things that may play out as we go into the next legislative session uh in Mississippi that may change another dynamic or two in certain respects, um, of how that people can, you know, transfer licenses and different things here. So I think that's a good start of what people saying, did you know? Is more along the lines of you know, understand how that they have to connect to, for example, if uh we have a very what I consider a robust residency program here. People come from Georgia, come from all over here to Baptist, here in Columbus, and they may fill a void here, but we have to make sure that we have the capital ready to deploy, for example, as far as housing, and I think capital, not just money, but capital and what they're going to need to have a practice they can enter into, that they're gonna be able to have a successful, you know, whatever it is that they're having to move into our community to have, whether schools or or you know, preferences, we'll call it, and we're gonna be able to meet those needs. And so for example, health care, that's just one that's a major staple in our community that we have the luxury of we're not having to drive for cancer treatments or mental health or everything. It's all right here.
SPEAKER_05Right. So when I first heard about this, my concern was well, we've had a lot of studies, some private, some public, and it kind of sounded to me uh initially like a duplicate effort. But as I hear you today, it this is an active thing, it's an ongoing thing, and as opposed to this being a big expensive study that got put in a binder and it's on a shelf somewhere, this is something that that's steadily uh evolving and changing and and watching the trends and the needs of the here and now.
SPEAKER_03Well, it's really a task to action type of approach. And so what I have been doing on the finance committee with uh Vice Mayor Stewart, myself, um Jamie Garrett, the CFO, Mr. Jim, and the mayor is we've been doing everything like, for example, the um short-term rental policy. That was something we took up with Mr. Katana, we fashioned it together with Jeff, and we were able to enact it and everything, work with the county, get that going and everything. So we're looking at those different things of how that we can find things like getting information from the link, getting information from the CVB, getting all those details together through the finance committee, putting them together and kind of like almost like a curriculum type binding way of doing it, and then taking it to this committee and saying, hey, we're trying to figure out these problems here. How can we not just spend money to do this? How can we actually make this into a project that you can show us how it's going to benefit the business community and also help us bring more here at the same time and not duplicate efforts? Like you're saying, duplicate as far as creating a study or duplicating efforts with the Main Street Columbus or whatever. This is something to where we're taking ideas and acting them through the finance committee to the city council and putting them to work. Um and all the other council members that I've talked to, they like this approach because the fact is that they can see what their needs are in Ward 2 and Ward 5 and everywhere else across the city, and they can bring those different ideas to us to kind of put into this work that we're doing through the finance committee and then take it to this group who can then at that point really break it down into ways that we can't do or understand to do, and then come back with us with like options of how we could do different things. I mean, think of just one other thing. Think of it this way when we do permitting, for example, okay. What if, you know, you see uh what if, for example, if you're gonna have a sizable type of investment, you can we as the city can make some type of incentive to where we reduce the permitting to give them more money to get things going. You know, that's just one little idea of how we might modify strategies as we go forward.
SPEAKER_04Uh has there has there been any uh trepidation from people who would otherwise serve in this, maybe from maybe some of the cross-examination that it's gotten since it's gone public that y'all are trying to do this, or just the idea that these are people who run private businesses who would be, you know, executive session or not, whether they'd be discussing stuff, they'd be on a public board and people would know they were on it.
SPEAKER_03Well, and that's the biggest thing is that you know, you have to look at people and what their preferences are. I haven't had any pushback from individuals that I've asked that said, hey, this is what I would like for you to really be your focus. And they've been receptive. A lot of them are saying, hey, I travel, I have a lot of different things, but I will make sure that I'm there. Uh because I believe they see the value in what's going on here. You know, this is maybe an approach that in certain ways may have occurred before, but hasn't really been as channeled and focused as what we're trying to make this happen. You know, another thing about, you know, if you say pushback and different things, this particular type of entity, like, you know, it's not something like the CRA that's managing public dollars or public dollars. So so there's not the same type of publicity to it when you come down to it. I mean, they're not gonna be handling and making executive rules for the city. They're gonna be coming in and being able to give us good sound advice, just like any type of uh panel that you would put together that's focused on a subject and then kind of go from there. Um, so you know, the fear of them saying something that's gonna be spread all over the news media isn't necessarily as profound as what you're gonna see if you're in the CRA, the city council, or something along those more public boards.
Healthcare, Housing, And Talent
SPEAKER_04So they bring you something. I mean, y'all are gonna have to vet that advice and y'all are gonna have to come up with an action plan, or y'all are gonna have to look at that advice every once in a while and say, uh probably not. So I mean, uh what what's that process gonna look like?
SPEAKER_03Well, that's good because see very good question. Because a lot of this originates in the finance committee. So what they're getting to work through isn't gonna just be, oh, well, we had to come to the meeting and think of our own di ideas. We want that for certain. We want them to bring us ideas and and I and ways of of making this work. But we're starting with looking at our policies, how things operate in the city, and what we really want to see to maximize growth, whether it's 2%, whether it's just general sales tax, uh, what duplications and services we already have to we can avoid how we're going to do our uh overall marketing of the city. And and that's going to be what we take to them. And then from there, based on their specific knowledge, and whether it's hotel or healthcare, whatever, real estate, then they can come back and say, this is how you need to build this into this plan. This is how you need to modify this policy. This is what we've seen has been a hindrance to us advancing our business or other businesses like ours in the city. You know, we don't need to build 15 more hotels here because we don't have the traffic flow here. Those type things.
SPEAKER_04Right. And so on the macro, I understand exactly what you mean by that, but there's another side to that that is a that's a real possibility. If you're a business owner, even if you're a business owner who's generally operating in good faith, um loves the town, you're not gonna be bally hooing a competitor a block from where you've been operating for 40 years. Like you're just not, right? Well, well, and so how how do you how do you solve for that when you're dealing with a bunch of business owners whose primary function is making money?
SPEAKER_03Well, very good question. But here's the thing about it. Like, for example, I'm in financial services. Not one time have I felt like that I needed to be anything against any other advisor. I have great working relationships. And you may say, well, that's financial service is different than banking, it's different than real estate, it's different than you know, food service or whatever. And I get that. But it comes down to preferences, it comes down to their own effort as far as an individual business owner. And I feel like that in my betting and others that we're going through and vetting individuals for this, we're not gonna have those conflicts of interest. They're ethical people that live here in this city and run businesses. And so I'm questioning ethics.
SPEAKER_04I'm just quote, I'm just saying.
SPEAKER_03I don't question their motives. If they want to see it.
SPEAKER_04You don't think that there's any there you don't think that there's any room for uh uh conflict entering the back door here?
SPEAKER_03I do not. And I say that because the fact is that I believe there's enough people who are interested in making sure that Columbus can advance that we're not sitting here trying to undercut competition through this. Even if even if it loses them money. Well, look, you you're trying to strengthen your own business as well as other businesses in the community.
SPEAKER_04So when those two things collide, okay, when it's my business is gonna suffer if the if if we lift all the boats here. You're telling me that 100% of the people on this committee 100% of the time are gonna choose the city over the over their own book.
SPEAKER_03I s I I feel like they're gonna choose doing what's right, not just as the city, but doing what's right because I feel like that individuals, I maybe I don't have as skewed of a view of people's intentions a lot of times. Okay. I believe that people can do right on a lot of fronts if they want to. And I also go back to it's that I don't see that individuals who are willing to step up, you know, and I'll take myself for example, you know, I have always tried to put the best front forward. I didn't promote business, I didn't do things just to benefit me. And I feel like that there's a lot of other people who take that same approach to that same thing, to what's going on. And so in this particular committee, you know, you have a lot of uh backstops, for example, or or I would say filters. We'll call it. You have the finance committee, okay? Then of course you have this committee, and I think if anyone else on there were to see that was being played out, they're not going to allow that to just be because that affects them as well. Then you have the city council, you have so you have a multitude of other filters in place to ensure that that doesn't get out into creating this distorted outcome in the community.
SPEAKER_04Well, one of the things that right, and one of the things that you have said several times in the meetings and in in this interview here is talking about oversaturation of markets. If two years ago this committee existed, the finance committee as it is right now existed, and rural king came to y'all. Right. Is rural king in the old Kmart right now?
SPEAKER_05Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04Why? How?
SPEAKER_05Because Joe Mickins was not on the team. Right. Do what now? Please continue.
Action Over Studies And Finance Flow
SPEAKER_03Um you know, here's the thing is that that particular business wanted to be here. Right. Okay. And so they were working, it's my understanding, they may have been working with the person who owns that facility, and then the link got involved when they were trying to hash out those final details. It wouldn't have been something to where this company A or company B would have said, Oh, well, they sell a lot of what.
SPEAKER_04I mean, I've heard that grumbling in the town.
SPEAKER_03You hear grumbling about everything in the town. But but it doesn't necessarily mean that it rises to the level of what I think that this is kind of portrayed as is that it's going to be a negative for it. I mean, it happens all over. And even in even in the best intention, uh intended uh actions, there's going to be something that someone doesn't agree with. Sure. And there's going to be someone that opposes it. Sure. But the biggest thing that we have to look at is that really is the outcome being produced truly for the betterment of more than the few that are grumbling about it. And and and I and I also look at it this way is that we are pro-business here. We want to bring more. There's a thing about, you know, I and I don't want to get off into the weeds, but I want you to understand kind of where this really comes from. I think maybe to clear up some of the thinking about it, okay? So the Secret Service was created for what? For the treasury. Yeah. Well, yeah, to identify counterfeiting, right? Well, there's a in all the technology we have today and all the things that people can use to counterfeit. One of the things that people ask is like, how can people really keep up with all the ways that are identified as counterfeiting, right? You know how you do it. They don't worry about those things. They know the everything about the dollar, every characteristic about actual real currency so well to the point that they can spot a fake, not because they can identify the technology, whatever it's doing on the counterfeit, but because they know that so well. This is exactly the same philosophy in this area of what we're trying to do. We need to know Columbus so well that we can understand where our weaknesses are and how we are able to make sure that it is going to be the true product we want Columbus to be. And so when, you know, I was in here before, we talked about all the chaos and not working with the city or county and different things and who was drawing jobs away and residents away and stuff across the county line or or somewhere else and different things. Well, this approach is we're not worrying about what they do. They have their own factors that are completely unique to Stark Block Tebah County or Northport Tuscaloosa or Tupelo-Lee County. We're just going to know Columbus so well that when we sit at the table with somebody that might be a bigger franchisee for food or something that's going to go on in the healthcare space or real estate development or whatever it may be, that we know everything about Columbus so well because of this committee's efforts and the city council's uh efforts to make sure that we can grow Columbus's tax base and everything, that there won't be people pushing away from the table. There won't be people that are just trying to say, you're impeding my business because they're maximizing their own business inside of those same parameters.
SPEAKER_05So if I'm hearing between the lines, the the major means of of holding that particular team accountable is going to be the finance committee and other uh teams from within the purview of the city that look at that and say, hey, uh y'all have a certain pool man on there that's trying to keep other when that first off, it uh if I'm hearing you right, it'll become quite obvious if something like that's happening. And second, a lot of these people are diversified and they're just trying to uh trying to improve the overall bottom dollar and the way it flows freely.
SPEAKER_03Did I get that right? You did, you did. And the other side of it too is that this is the first iteration of what we're doing. The next and the next, the next may be as we get into late 26 or something, there may be need a more tailored approach to healthcare, a more tailored approach to real estate, and then you can kind of pull together even more people in that particular sector that can give more feedback to help us isolate variables that we're just not being able to tackle with the information we have or the approach we're taking. And so it's not something where it's a one and done, and they're gonna come up and they're gonna give us a report. It's gonna be an ongoing work, and the people that start on this may over time feel like, hey, I've given all I can do. There needs to be someone else who steps in. And that's how you involve the entire community. And one of the things, talking about the entire community, I was very clear when I met with Jamie and and um I'm sorry, um, Miss Garrett and the um mayor and Jim and everything. This isn't just stopping at the city limits. Like we want people that may live outside of you know the borders of the the separate school district kind of moving a little bit toward the county a little bit because they're invested in the city. They operate in the city, they want Lownds County and the city of Columbus to do well. And I think that appropriate and that's something, like I said, Mayor Johns is embraced because the fact is he realizes we've got to have all eyes and ears and minds at the table for us to advance from where we are today. We can't just hope that all the economic activity that is happening within the city limits will continue forever.
Guardrails, Conflicts, And Oversaturation
SPEAKER_04Right. Well, I've I've got two more questions for you. Um one, I I know that I took it from the angle of the business owners and looking out for their own business, but I want to ask the other question too, um, that I know that a lot of our listeners are gonna be screaming into their uh devices if I don't ask it. Um how can what are y'all gonna do about uh avoiding the frustrations and the burnout of these business owners that are coming in or these business people are coming in trying to help that might run into, you know, standard operating Columbus politics, maybe instructing he's not calling any names, he's he's putting forth ideas and policies they might run into. So uh, you know, what if they feel like how can y'all what are y'all gonna do to try to avoid making these people who are wanting to help you in good faith not feel like they're running into a political wall?
SPEAKER_03Well, I mean, I I go back to is that I think people have had enough time to measure out this current council and the way that it operates. You know, we've had our battles, we've had our successes together, but overall, people come to the meeting, I think they make really good decisions, they're well informed and prepared coming to the meetings. I mean, they're reading it well ahead in advance of what's going on. And I feel like that people have more faith in what we're doing. And that's why they, like I said, since this was really announced in the work session and had kind of started moving out, that I've received as many, you know, contacts and different things, is because people are excited. Like this is the first time I believe people are truly excited about the trajectory of where Columbus is moving. And are there gonna be things that happen in the global economy and the state economy and that's gonna cause an impact here locally? Absolutely. Are there things that people aren't gonna like that may come out of this? Absolutely. But that's the whole point of what we work and do is that we're gonna have to get ideas that are gonna be really good and people push back on them to find out what's the best idea. Sure. And everything. But I believe that as far as people coming in and and getting exhausted by what they're doing, everything, I don't feel like that the people that have reached out, the people I've reached out to and asked them, hey, would you be interested, have pushed back to a point to where they're like, no, I don't want to do it. They've been receptive almost to the point of like, hey, I'm gonna make sure I can be there. I travel a lot, but if you let me know the dates, I'll make sure that I'm there. Sure. And I think that that reception is kind of universal because it's not something to where people are saying, well, I might hit a political wall. They're not gonna like my ideas, so it's just be wasting my time that I could been spent. I don't feel like that's the case because this council, in my opinion, and I'm right there in the thick of it, is very proactive and progressive in trying to move the needle for the city of Columbus. And that's evident by a lot of the things we've already done, the efforts we've made with the county. Um, and I think it will just take more time for people to see that continue to evolve to the point that I see it moving and I feel it's going for everyone else to embrace it the same way.
SPEAKER_04All right. Last question I have. You brought it up in the work session. Uh Mayor Jones brought it up uh a couple of times in interviews with me. How is this a springboard for getting corporate names on the amphitheater and the probe's park fields?
SPEAKER_03Well, I mean, that's a good point because one of the things I've noticed in going through, and that's part of one of our meetings we had early on in the finance committee, is Columbus is really doesn't have a lot of corporate investment in it. And I've sat down with you know bank presidents, and I'm not gonna call names, I've sit down with others in the community and just flat out ask. And the responses I got were actually kind of something like, huh, I didn't see it that way. Because you just think, oh, well, nobody wants to put their money on something in the city of Columbus. And really what it's changed is the dynamics. Like for the last meeting that I had, he said, Well, we have to make those requests in our budgeting time in order to get the dollars to be able to do that. Others have said, well, because we're such a large institution outside of what our core market is, right? Well, I mean, and I and everything, like they're not putting out to a lot of the other areas unless it's like a special cause that they would do and everything. And so, so I think that this particular thing will give us ideas from business-minded people, whether they're small or large, what type of frame, you know, framework of business they do will be able to help us tailor make how we approach that. It's better time those requests, better time it, or if it's or if they don't do those type of requests, they could maybe give us ideas of ways that we could approach getting some other type of dollars. And the biggest thing is that, you know, some people say we just haven't been asked. And so I think at some point, whatever reason, things got so caught up in the action-to-action day-to-day that we quit just operating and doing the things, you know, and asking people for this. I mean, I know that, you know, JDS Well, we sponsor things. We got our name, you know, on a field out at the um uh county ball fields. You know, we're gonna, you know, when they we're asked, we'll we'll put one over here at Propes Park. And I just think it goes back to is just asking people, having different points of where people feel like, well, I can't do a$5,000 donation. I can do a$500 donation or a$50 donation and finding what their interests are. I've had conversations where people said, you know what, because of our market, we're really central. We only want local people, like maybe from the adjoining counties, because the way that we operate, we don't, we're not worried about people traveling from Jackson or from Tupel or whatever. We only want the local. So if you have an option to where we could do$2,000 a year, we'd like to be able to be in this area because it's going to be the local people this particular uh site serves. And I'm not gonna tell that site because then somebody else might want it type thing. You understand my point? So so it's really going back to understanding the actual information that is relevant to today and not what we used in the past. And I think that's what this type of setup is going to do is really gonna try to show us more of what we thought we knew and realize we didn't know in order to enact policies, to enact strategies and incentives or whatever for today and the you know coming future. All right. Anything else you want to add? Yeah. Well, if I call, please answer the answer the phone. I guess would be the best way to go. But no, I I go back to I appreciate y'all doing this. I I really feel like that, like any idea, you need to have pushback, you need to have criticism. I am all about that because it it really does cut to the core of what a subject really is. And it also kind of debunks a lot of the myths that exist. That the those those myths that exist because people don't understand it. It's new, it shouldn't be new, but it is new in our city, and I feel like that that's gonna be a lot more what we see in the coming years is this trend of us doing things differently than before that's gonna result in an advancement of the city of Columbus. So it's we've never done it that way.
SPEAKER_05You ain't from around here, right? We are not accustomed.
SPEAKER_03Well, thanks for joining us today. Thank you for having me. I've enjoyed it very much.
SPEAKER_05All right, you've been listening to Between the Headlines. That was Mr. Jason Spears, uh councilman for Ward 6, who is putting together, shall we call it, the Columbus Doge? Or no, okay, not gonna do that. All right, all right, what Columbus Secret Service Economic Development Advisory Committee. Yeah, financial advisory. Thanks for coming on, Jason.
unknownAll right.
SPEAKER_03Thank you.
SPEAKER_05All right. So the friendly city, the ethical city, the uh whatever we want to say about it. Um I'm I'm sitting here thinking about what Jason has said about this committee that I think is gonna get formed. And I just know this town well enough to understand that cynicism is going to be there and to progress, we're gonna have to fight through some of that cynicism.
Accountability Filters And Next Steps
SPEAKER_04I think so. Now, let me let me be clear. I don't necessarily on its face think that this is a bad idea, and I think that the idea of putting this thing together, seeing how it works, troubleshooting it along as you go, um, could be very good for the city in the long term, but you can't be Pollyanna about it. I'm not gonna say that that Jason is being Pollyanna about it. I'm not gonna say that, but uh I am gonna say to your point, I mean, you're going to be facing you know potential conflicts eventually. You're gonna be facing that. You're gonna be facing that cynicism, you're gonna be facing that political wall where you know maybe the the business community is bringing something, uh the finance committee thinks it largely thinks it's a good idea, and then you've got somebody being obstinate on the council for or maybe the mayor himself uh for a bit, a personal reason or for a professional reason, or you know, because I mean this is Columbus. And and then there's another thing too that you've gotta uh take into account. It's um looking at something that that Jason said specifically about how this was going to be so Columbus specific, and it wasn't gonna be worried about uh it wasn't gonna be worried about all of these other things that was gonna be, you know, looking at Columbus for Columbus. And I, you know, I wonder if that isn't going to um introduce opportunities to not be able to see the force for the trees sometimes.
SPEAKER_05Oh, I don't know. He he was so fast-paced and he he was like a chihuahua on caffeine today. I mean it was it was fantastic. Like some of it was going over my head, honestly. But you know, as I listened, I I was thinking, you know, there this particular team is probably uh either gonna be in dialogue with other towns or uh for certain a lot of them will have assets and interests. Yeah, they'll have other experience experience. I don't think they're gonna have tunnel vision. I don't. Um and and to your earlier point, I do think that guardrails are necessary. Yes. If you put up those guardrails and say, hey, um we're gonna have uh I don't know, uh a little mini constitution for this group here. And these things we cannot do. Uh and and as soon as that comes up, that's against our bylaws.
SPEAKER_04We just serve it, you sign it, and and and you, and this is what you're this is what you're doing. And I, you know, and I don't think that that's something that, you know you're boxing them in in that. I just think that that's a nice little reminder when you're having a s when you're having to sign something like that. Yeah. It reminds you of what the mission is, it reminds you what the vision is. And I do think that uh a a large part of the Columbus commun business community who would volunteer to serve on something like this is gonna be doing it ostensibly in good faith. Yeah. Um and does want the city to grow. And I think that I I I yeah.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, and and if they are advisory in nature, I think we'll be in good shape. So hats off to him for coming on the program. Yeah. And uh hopefully putting together this team, get us uh in the direction of some momentum and uh getting some houses built for these high-faluting doctors that are gonna be coming into town.
SPEAKER_04Or just or you know, or just any anybody, any professional wants to come into town. But uh to your point, you just you just can't be blind to challenges. Uh you can't be you've gotta know it when you see it, and you've got to address it when it happens. And I think that if everybody is kind of in one accord on this is what we are going to expect and and we're gonna call out we're gonna call out any efforts to try to abscond uh with the mission for your personal uh well-being or personal advancement. Um if you got you gotta know that's gonna happen and you've gotta have and you've gotta have uh processes for that, and you can't be blind to it. That that that's all I'm saying.
SPEAKER_05And some of that might actually be self-defeating, like it could be counterproductive, because if somebody uh just wants to be an ass and try to do that, then it's gonna be obvious and it's not gonna make them look good in the long run. I thought I'd put that out there. Uh, before we have our next guests in, let's listen to these guys.
SPEAKER_01The Good for Business Podcast features interviews, tips, and tricks from owners, operators, and innovators. Here are the inspiring stories of growth and life lessons from guests in Mississippi and around the world. Hosted by entrepreneur, fundraiser, and real estate broker Colin Krieger. The podcast is based right here in the Golden Triangle community.
SPEAKER_05So now we welcome to the studio the newly minted superintendent of Columbus Municipal School District, no longer interim, but the main man. Welcome in here today, uh, Mr. Craig Chapman, who is uh, by the way, working on a PhD at Mississippi State, I hear.
SPEAKER_02That's that's correct. I'm glad to be here. Thank you for thank you for allowing me to this opportunity to to join you.
SPEAKER_05Good deal. Well, congratulations upon your new calling, shall we say. Where do we want to begin, Mr. Zach?
SPEAKER_04Well, I mean uh the there was a five-day gap between when they offered you the job and when you took it. Correct. Kind of um and and I know that part of that had to do with um uh the length of the contract being 18 months instead of the standard three or four years they have offered in the past. Take me through that process of that five days between, okay, am I gonna do this and okay, yeah, I'm I'm I'm satisfied with this arrangement.
Hosts Reflect On Risks And Guardrails
SPEAKER_02Uh yeah, no uh problem with that. Normally when um there's a a superintendent evaluation, um there it usually does not take place immediately after the evaluation. Um kind of give you an update or a brief of what the outcome of it would be. Sure. Um so the it just so happened on that particular day I was called to, you know, with the offer, so really not understanding what what took place and having an opportunity to speak to the board. So it was mainly about just getting an understanding of the 18-month contract and uh just learning some expectations of what the board wanted to see within those 18 months, because we knew there were some there are some challenges, some things that we have to do as any superintendent. Right. Um and having you know just 18 months, you have to make sure that um you're gonna meet those expectations and um for what for what they want to see. So within that time, I was just trying to think about you know, what are some things. That I could do to help support the district within that time. And I think m some of it was about being able to get the board together to be able to hear from me. Because it was leaning towards the end of that week.
SPEAKER_04And walking out of there, what were your understanding of what you're expected to achieve in 18 months?
SPEAKER_02Well, uh as a as any uh superintendent, it's still the expectations to help move the district forward. Right. And just continue with the momentum that we're already, that we're moving forward with. We know there were some, there's still some areas that I have to fill, even with the position that I'm sitting in myself, and just making sure that we have a team on board. Uh, but also just looking at some of the um some of the inconsistencies that we've had with our curriculum, just making sure that we are on one accord and trying to move forward with our because we know the accountability has changed for the state of Mississippi. And we just want to make sure that we are in a good position, the people in the right seat to make sure that we're moving the district forward. So um after leaving out, I was, you know, I was confident that I could, you know, the team that I built uh that we're working through right now, that we we will be headed in the right direction uh once we continue to fill those other vacancies and meeting those expectations that the board has for us.
SPEAKER_04Um not trying to throw you too much of a curveball here, but some uh a couple of things that have been said publicly um in advance of the hire and after. When I spoke with uh uh uh Mr. Robert Smith, board president, uh, afterward, he made mention of a leader is only as good as the team he builds around him, and we're gonna be watching that. Mr. uh Richardson, board member uh James Richardson, uh the previous Monday during the regular meeting made references to a history of picking a friend for certain positions instead of people who are qualified and the danger of leaning on favoritism over qualifications, particularly in administrative positions. Where is that coming from and what is sort of your uh what how are you dealing with that?
SPEAKER_02Well, I I you know they that was a question that came up about that. And I explained to um uh Mr. Richardson, you know, um that you know it happens. It it does happen. Uh and that's why you have to make sure you have the right people in those meetings when you're you're going through those interviews to make sure you get the best, the most qualified applicant forward. Um and usually when you sometimes you may see that. Uh and so and and it and I understand where he's coming from with it, because you want to make sure that you have the right when you're interviewing that the most qualified person are in those seats. Um qualified people are in those seats. You don't want to continue to because it sometimes that can continue with the cycle that you have of not being successful if you're not putting the right people in those seats. And I and that that's comes from what Mr. Smith is saying as well. Um not they're really not making references to anything that I've done, uh, but just the things that have been that have taken place in the past. And so what I usually what I do now with my interviews and what I've done in the past is just making sure that we are putting people who are the most qualified and can help the district move forward. And it's not about who you know or how you know them and um their relationship to others. It's just making sure that they're the most qualified person who can help support the district regardless of who that may be, um, giving them that opportunity.
SPEAKER_04And what parts of the team just at Brandon Central Services are you still needing to build positions you're needing to fill?
Sponsor Break
SPEAKER_02I think one of the most um most important positions is the um assistant superintendent of operations. Um as I explained to you. So that was you until the other day. That was me. Uh as to June, well, you're right. Uh so uh still doing some of that uh work. That's a very important position. Uh and as I explained to the Board of Trust Trustees, that's that position, usually that's the first contact for administrators, uh, because if anything takes place in the buildings or or outside or any type of um safety concerns, the assistant superintendent of operation has to be available. And the great thing about, you know, with me being in that role, I was five minutes away from everything, was able to get there and be able to support them. So uh that's a very important position. Uh I'm still working through, still working managing some of those roles right now, but leaning a lot on the directors for those different departments to kind of help um address some of the issues. But, you know, it's a it's a like I said, it's a very, very, very good position, very important position, and I and I've enjoyed the time working in it.
Welcoming Superintendent Craig Chapman
SPEAKER_05So one of the main things you'll be tasked with doing is attracting and hiring highly qualified teachers right here in Columbus. Um you got any tricks up your sleeve to make that happen for us?
SPEAKER_04And and to piggyback on that, what have the challenges been for specifically for Columbus in doing that over the last little while?
SPEAKER_02We we we have to get out and just um sell who we are, our brand. And that's what I plan to do. You know, is I can't you know, we we have to do better better better with advertising the roles, um, getting across different platforms, you know. So what is that brand though?
SPEAKER_05Sorry to interrupt, but like if I I get the the notion that people who live elsewhere in the state and in parts of Alabama, when they look at Columbus, you know, they might have to Google it and they'll see, well, it's a historic town, but they just don't know a whole lot about us. What is our brand?
The 18‑Month Contract And Expectations
SPEAKER_02That's exactly. They don't know a lot about us, and that's what we need them to see. We have, you know, there's a lot of opportunities here in Columbus. I've been here from and I've worked in different locations. I worked in North Mississippi and um North Panola, South Panola area, and even on in Gulfport. Uh, but I explained to people I've been here probably longer than I was in my hometown, and I've enjoyed it. It's been a great place, it's been wonderful for my family, and and and I think people as to see there's a there are a lot of great opportunities here, you know, even with the W just a few minutes away in Mississippi State and Tuscaloosa. So it's uh it's it's a great place for um young families and even you know some a good retirement area. So uh we're in the middle of everything. We're in the middle of everything. And we, you know, in our system, our education system, we continue to grow and build on it. We've seen a lot of um success in the last couple years, and we just have to continue with that. And so we have a lot to offer here um and even with Columbus Municipal School District. So we we just have to make sure people because even when I was um growing up, I didn't know a lot about Columbus. Um, I just remember playing in the bowl when I was playing with Sabinola, we would come over, and that was the only thing I knew about it.
SPEAKER_05Are you talking about the Magnolia Bowl? Yes, that's dude. Speaking of that, did they put it in your contract that you would have to be a part-time realtor for Franklin Academy?
SPEAKER_02That's a great thing. But you know, it's um yeah, it um and we've been talking about Franklin Academy a lot. Um Franklin Academy is a lot to the state of Mississippi and definitely to Columbus. And um, but yeah, uh so just getting people to know and understand what's what what's here to offer. So um that's just what we know.
SPEAKER_04Well, I mean, I guess uh what what is your role right now in uh pushing the Franklin narrative forward or what the future of Franklin Academy will be? Like what is your role as a superintendent in getting that out there?
SPEAKER_02Well, my my role would be um I've been working closely with our board of trustees on just trying to learn and you know, we're getting ready for a process of just being able to speak with um the community and developers of of how do we what do we want to see from Franklin? How do we want to see it? So part of my role would just be kind of you know, kind of help supporting and guiding that, um, getting the idea out of this is you know the place of education and just supporting as far as any any any offer any any ideas of what we can do with it. I know that's that's just a process that we're working through right now, but help also helping understand that this is a historic site and there are things we can and cannot do with this historic site, but um we are looking forward to try to advance it and make sure that people still see that it's you know keep it on, keep it up for for for years to come.
SPEAKER_04So I know that we talked a we've talked a little uh bit about the board, we will some more uh later, but I want to uh kind of shift toward what you've seen from the patrons of the district, from people who s are sending their kids to school at the district, maybe people who are taxpayers in the district who aren't, and what uh you feel like you need from them or that the district needs from them and what they can expect from you.
Hiring On Merit And Key Vacancies
SPEAKER_02Um well support and uh a little patience and understanding of um because I we want to provide the stability and consistency throughout the district. Um so what I I want people to know and I'm I'm willing, I'm I'm I'm willing to work with the community um and listen to the community. Um there may be times where I may not see something, but I'm available to listen and make the adjustments for it. I just had a conversation this morning about, you know, just community members. Hey, anytime you feel that you want to sit and talk about something that may be a concern, I'm willing to listen. And whatever we can do to make sure we help address those issues and move the not only the district but the city forward, you know, I'm I'm here for it. Um I'm I'm not here to push my own agenda. I'm just here to provide that consistency and stability for the district where you know we can be, you know, I know people, you know, it's always talking about what what used to happen and what took place. Well, hey, what do we need to do to get back to that point? So that's support.
SPEAKER_04Well, and and I'm gonna ask this, and maybe it's not a fair question because I'm not an insider or really, but I I have seen, you know, I've seen pictures of the stands at the football games, I've seen pictures of stands at the basketball games, I um heard from different people in the district different things. Do you do you feel like there is a malaise within the district right now? And do you feel like that's playing out in what you see at in the football stands and the basketball stands? And how do you reverse that?
SPEAKER_02Well, I I I believe there's um it goes back to um taking ownership of who we are, of where we are, and building on that. We, you know, we know I know what it has looked like in the past um since I've been here, and there's that pride that you have to take into it. And once when you are putting, when you have people in specific roles, you know, that pride in in everything has to it it pretty much has to bleed over into whatever you do. And so I think what we have what we have to do um is make sure that when we are are moving forward with our district, whatever that may be, you know, in those particular areas, we you know, we demonstrate that pride. Um and and just get people to understand and see that we're we're you know we're making try we're making changes and just that patience and support is what we'll need. So um you're right. You we we there's been some you know a lot of talk about just the difference in that, but we we have to uh make sure we have to ensure that everyone understands our goal. And and then whenever we have our and when we put those in place, need the support, please be a part of that, join us and and whatever that could be to sub, you know, to to help us grow.
SPEAKER_04Well, I mean, where did the pride go, I guess.
SPEAKER_02Um I don't I I don't think the pride has ever left the people from Columbus and the ones who the the graduates because they're they're still part of that. But uh and that that goes back to we for me, when I I'm I'm not I didn't graduate from Columbus. Sure. But I have a lot of pride in in Columbus because I'm here and I want to be here. And so that's what I want to instill in, you know, those hires that I bring in. I want you to treat I want you to to as if you graduated from here and you understand and you want to put that much effort in everything that you do.
SPEAKER_05Do you think that part of this narrative is simply manufactured in the sense that kids just have a lot of interest these days and they're they're on the gadget way too much and consequently just not at the game, right?
SPEAKER_02That that maybe. It may be. Yeah. But um that's that's a possibility that they're on the gadget, they're entertained by, you know, the social media and different things like that. But um you know, being a part of just that the game life and being out in the stand socializing with people, um that face-to-face interaction, I don't think it's gone. I don't think it's gone. I think it's just we we just have to do a better job of creating ways and bringing it back together.
SPEAKER_04Well, and I mean and part of that too is the um you know that relationship with the town and building that relationship with uh with the town just at large. So um how do we like what's the plan for, what's the process for, according to Mr. Chapman, getting more falcons painted in more windows and more businesses?
Recruiting Teachers And Defining Brand
SPEAKER_02Well, that's gonna start with me getting out. Um I think even well, I know even my my interim role and just the assistant superintendent role, I built some, uh really built some great relationships with people in the community. Um when I was uh when I accepted the position, I received um text, messages, and emails from uh from just people around in the community of Columbus, just um just excited and congratulating me forward. So um even in the meetings and conversations that I've had with them, and I just let them know, hey, I'm I'm gonna be leaning on you. I'll be reaching out to you uh because that's what that's what it's about. Um like you said, putting the just the Falcon in the window downtown or somewhere, just so people can see, hey, this is Columbus and this this is Falcon. Um so I have some ideas of you know people that I want to continue to meet with and discuss and bring them together and find ways that we can help you know get that Falcon spirit across the city, all across the city.
SPEAKER_05I have one more for you, and what, he laughing. I haven't even laughed yet. Um I don't know what Jason White's going to do, but I do have the feeling that we have a busybody legislature this time, and you're kind of the new guy, but not really. What are you going to do if the legislature passes a bill either for educational freedom or let's say forced consolidation?
SPEAKER_02Um fight for Columbus. Just fight for Columbus. And that that means going into those uh speaking with those senators and representatives saying, hey, this is where we are. And I'm and I'm thankful for our Board of Trustees for um supporting um not moving forward with the with the with the bill to uh for education uh education choice. I'm glad for I'm glad our board did pass that um in our one of my previous board meetings because um we have to we have to preserve what's ours and and preserve what's Columba's and that's what I want to do. And um being a part of those conversations, just letting them know this is where we are and this is what you know how we feel and stuff.
SPEAKER_05Sure. But if it passes, I know. Yeah, what then?
SPEAKER_02Well, um, I guess that's we get to that point, we we'll we'll we'll we're gonna have to know what our next steps are. But I know everything that we can. We want to try to make sure that we keep students, keep our keep the students here and keep them coming to Columbus. And I know that that's it's gonna be a tall task for any district, but um just my conversation with other superintendents, but you know, just trying to make sure that we continue to support what we need to do for Columbus and getting those um students here.
SPEAKER_05With other superintendents, how does that make you feel? Well, that's it.
SPEAKER_02Conversations with other superintendents. I don't, you know, I really like you're in the club. Well, you know, I really don't see it that way because I always try to just remain humble and um, you know, with my not get too far, you know, above myself. And I I just I I guess I really don't think about it like that. I just want to continue to be the down-to-earth person that people have always seen me uh sing to think I am, and just whatever that may be. I heard you talk about that the other day uh on your podcast, and I was like, you know what, he hit it right on the nail. I'm just I'm humble, and that's what I I want to continue to do and continue to be that person.
SPEAKER_04Well, and and not to take anything away from that, the last question I have for you is this we've talked a lot about uh what the board's expectations are of you. Um what are your expectations of the board over the next 18 months?
SPEAKER_02Well, we over the last few months, we've built a really good relationship on um and there with them being able to trust what um some of the things what what I'm doing, and and that's what I want to continue with, building that building that trust for them that I am going to be open and honest with them about things that are happening in the district and um and what we need to do to move forward. So uh, and and and that's support. And they made sure to let me know that they're here to support me uh when I met with them Monday. Do you feel like that's the case? I do, I do feel like that's the case. They've been great about supporting me um over the last few months, and I just want to continue what I'm doing to help support um this district and what they want to see. So um that's the main thing right now with just providing the support and that trust of I'm doing what we what we need to do to make sure that we are moving in the right direction.
SPEAKER_04All right. Well, we appreciate you coming by today. Is there anything you want to add?
SPEAKER_02No, I I don't. I just want to say it's great that always a great day to be a Falcon. Um I thank you for this opportunity to come in and speak. I know we I had one scheduled at the early part of the uh the school year. I was not able to make it, but I'm glad I was able to make it today and be a part of it. And uh look forward to other times that you let me out. I'm sure we'll have you back at some point. Yes, sir. I appreciate you. Thank you.
SPEAKER_05Absolutely. Well, thanks for your public service. Thanks for uh putting yourself out there, and thanks for listening to the program. That means a lot to us. All right. So that was Mr. Craig Chapman, um, a very soft-spoken Craig Chapman, and I was just um filled with warmth listening to him talk about consistency and stability within the Columbus Municipal School District. Yes, uh I was.
Franklin Academy’s Future And Heritage
SPEAKER_04I um I I really do think that this community needs to give Mr. Chapman a chance, they need to rally around him. Um I know that this is a community that's very weary by rallying around superintendents that didn't work out for one reason or another. Um this is a a soft spoken guy. He seems to have the nuts and bolts of how to do this down, and he and he seems to have enough knowledge of this community where you know you're not gonna have somebody coming in here trying to reinvent the wheel, uh, you know, trying to come in like one of these major football coaches and we're going to redo the offense and redo the defense and without the money to do it. Yeah, yeah. I I think that this is that Mr. Chapman's somebody who is going to understand what resources are there, try to leverage those in the best way possible. And and what you've got to understand from a position of any organization, it's not going to be overnight, oh my God, what happened to Columbus Municipal School District? This is the best school district in the state now. This is going to be the stability is going to provide the opportunity for gradual improvement. Gradual improvement steady improvement that might be sustainable and the community's got to buy you.
SPEAKER_05Yeah and and I need him to think outside of the box a little bit though. I I just and it I don't mean this to sound critical but but some of the questions I was asking you know that the answer was kind of what I expected to hear. I want him to throw some curveballs in there. I want him to make certain people feel uncomfortable. Because when they feel uncomfortable they might do better. And I'm not I'm not targeting anyone specifically I'm just saying to have goals you have to have a little bit of anxiety and stress. And not that it's not there already. I mean we're talking about the education field but but some pressure needs to be put in certain places for the better one of these kids, you know.
SPEAKER_04And the d the real balancing act for him is going to be um establishing that Robert Smith and James Richardson cannot push him around but not making that combative. We're making it as as making it as non-combative as possible. You're not gonna I'm gonna respect you but you're not gonna push me around that relationship has to be established immediately or this next eighteen months is going to be the longest eighteen months of Craig Chapman's life.
SPEAKER_05I do not particularly envy that part of the job.
SPEAKER_04But I mean it can I I feel like it can be done if if he can establish with them you will respect me um I will respect you but you're not you're not you're not gonna you're not going to do superintendent by proxy. I'm the superintendent. I'm not gonna do board member by proxy. You're the board members we each have different roles and we're going to play those roles and this is what that 18 months is going to look like and if he stands his ground and he does it that way then I think that um but I I think that's going to make the district better. I think it's gonna make the board better. I think that's gonna make Craig Chapman better and I think it's going to make all I think it's gonna guarantee that he's gonna get an extension at the end of 18 months.
SPEAKER_05Yeah that 18 month deal I I'm sitting here listening to you and wondering if that was not placed in there simply as a way for certain people as mentioned to put their finger on the scale and say look this is my leverage.
SPEAKER_04Well the thing with you know and I mentioned this to him and he or asked him about it and he's you know he talked about how that was something that maybe happened in the past but you know you've got James Richardson talking about you know favor for a friend type hires and then you've got Robert after the board meeting where uh Mr. Chapman accepted the job saying that that was one of the priorities for him was making sure that the team that was built around him was capable of advancing the district. So there is real concern there from the board whether that's valid or not in this case and that's something that he's gonna have to that Mr. Chapman's gonna have to answer for. I mean he's gonna have to hire a team around him that is going to satisfy or assuage rather the fears that that that Robert and Mr. Richardson are bringing up but Mr Smith and Mr. Richardson cannot be putting their finger in that either.
SPEAKER_05Well if I were him uh especially if if I if I just had that that warmth that I could exude I would hire people that nobody likes. I would hire I would hire people that that I myself don't like. That way they could hold my feet to the fire and you know wisdom comes in the council of many and I think if he does that um the package that ends up coming out of it's gonna be something that'll be a little more dynamic. All right so Zach this is episode 45 and it is the last episode that we will do for the 2025 year and um I gotta tell you it's been pretty good on here. I it's not what I thought it would be. Uh you hollered at me back in March and said hey I've got an idea and I came on here and boy I was nervous as a cat.
SPEAKER_04I think you were too oh man this was not ever something that uh this was not ever something that I thought that I could do competently or well.
Community Support, Pride, And Engagement
SPEAKER_05Maybe I don't do it competently or well but I enjoy it and I and I and well folks listen to us and and we're certainly thankful for that um I I tell you when I remember when we first started doing this we would call each other up the night before and we would say okay I'm gonna be uh pro phone pole or anti phone pole and we would just kind of get a feel for each other of of of where the um where things were going to land but here lately um actually for quite some time it's been more like no let's just get in here get in here and figure it out yeah see what happens.
SPEAKER_04Yeah and I and I tell all of the uh guests that we uh invite I'll invite a guest and well what are we gonna talk about and it's like well you know we don't give the questions in advance but generally these subjects and I always add the caveat and I have no idea what Chisholm's going to ask you.
SPEAKER_05Well Chisholm doesn't always know what he's gonna ask so it's just as well. What what have been some of the highlight moments for this year?
SPEAKER_04Uh man covering that election this this uh we started this in the middle of the city election cycle and we were fortunate to get a lot of buy-in from the candidates a lot of very interesting debates uh a lot of oh yeah if you if you want to call uh Pierre and and your boy uh uh was Robert Johnson is that his yeah that one was that one was pretty stout Robert Johnson the fourth him and Pierre I although I do think that Pierre versus Kabir was much better. Oh yeah that was that was that one was heavyweight right yeah that one was uh you you had two people uh they uh when one of them hit got hit the other one hit back and that that was uh that was usually that that usually works out better for a debate but um you know we've had uh former mayor Robert Smith in here uh good candid conversation about the school district um we've had you know we had uh uh mayoral candidates Stephen Jones and Leroy Brooks in here that one at it yes um and I really enjoyed you know any time that we got an opportunity to go out into the public I know that we uh uh we got the mics out and went out to the field the first time for the uh for the little weekly No Kings protest and I think that that uh I re I really enjoyed doing that as well. Take a wild guess what our highest rated episode was let's see no idea it was Trip Harston and Lynn Spruell discussing the firing of Joe Max Higgins I I believe it that was a that was a heck of an interview too heck of an interview they did well Brent Lakala oh man he was a good interview and and and really you know I know we talk about politics a lot but you know that was something that a lot of people are interested in that outdoor in the outdoors and deer hunting I am myself I learned a lot and it and it's a big driver in the uh tourism economy here it just you know it is people buy a lot of corn and buy a lot of apparel and I learned a lot from him but I've learned a lot from everyone that's come on here and I think that's the beauty of this show is that people out there listening they they don't want to hear the stump speeches they don't want to hear the prepared bullet points they just want to get a sense of who a person is right uh in their deepest part right you know and and and the way that that they pr project themselves uh in a comfortable setting just like they're in the room talking without a microphone here just like that yeah and we really appreciate our audience I feel like our audience is really uh bought in and really listened to the show for what it is and they let us know and they let us know about it.
SPEAKER_05And we're glad they do.
SPEAKER_04Absolutely and I hope that they will continue uh all of you to do just that Zach what are three things that I need to know all right number one construction of 15 high-end corporate apartments is underway at the former First Baptist Church on 7th Street North developer Vince Rapasarta said the fully furnished one bedroom apartments should be move in ready by February and are expected to run about sixteen hundred dollars a month.
SPEAKER_05Yeah good man I appreciate you doing that sir and um I'm glad the city council didn't run you completely away from us.
SPEAKER_04All right number two with a pending closure of a section of 7th Avenue North that will disconnect that road from the soccer complex county officials and developers of the Parkview project in Burns Bottom are trying to find a solution that won't bog down traffic for soccer events particularly bus traffic. Tentative plans as of now are to widen Coretta Street on the west side of the soccer complex to alleviate ingress and egress issues. All right Nick don't leave your cones out there forever let's get her done number three after printing in-house for more than a hundred years and on our current offset press since 1969 the dispatch's New Year's Eve paper will be the last one run on its Goss Urbanite Press. A capacity crowd of past and current employees and members of the public have signed up to watch the press run for the last time beginning in 2026 the paper will be printed in Tupelo and truck to Columbus. So we will still have a print edition it's just going to be printed at another place.
Legislative Unknowns And District Strategy
SPEAKER_05Yeah I want to talk about that. All right first off the paper's not going anywhere just correct where it gets printed is going to change and it's gonna be as I hear a little better quality you know that old machine that that that's being used now it some of the colors sometimes get out of line or this and that. I think it'll actually be a little better of a product but I'll just be honest I like a physical paper. When I read the paper I want it to be something that crumbles between my hands and makes sounds as I look at it. Okay? So we still get that advantage and we still have the great journalism right here. I know what people have said in the past and most of the time when they say the things that they say they don't have a specific story to back it up. So as I always say read the daggum paper. Amen we still got it and that will do it from Catfish Alley Studio where it is 12 days and counting until the completion of the Columbus Amphitheater pursuant to the mayor's campaign promise.
SPEAKER_00We thank you for listening as always talk our show up and more importantly talk our town up be sure to follow us continue to publicly comment you can reach me Facebook or ex at dchishm double zero so signing off until next year happy holidays and merry Christmas my name is David Chisholm your host has been Zach Player this has been Between the Headlines y'all keep it friendly and we'll keep it real dispatch.
