03.08.19

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134th YEAR ISSUE 39

FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2019

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Blackjack Road is one step closer to being fixed COURTNEY CARVER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Courtney Carver | The Reflector

Cones are on the side of Blackjack Road near the forestry complex to warn drivers of potholes.

The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors is working on getting the ball rolling for the Blackjack Road Project, which the county has worked on for several years now. This project will fully widen and reconstruct Blackjack Road, and District 5 Supervisor Orlando Trainer said the project will be significant. “There will be quite amount of base work, a quite amount of widening and drainage,” Trainer said.

“I know the total amount is about $7 million. Some of those funds are coming through MSU and MDA (Mississippi Development Authority). The county is putting about a little bit more than $4.5 million in the project.” Because of the unsafe road conditions students and residents face when driving on Blackjack Road, Trainer said the project will possibly be finished in two calendar years. “I would say in complete entirety, give it two years,” Trainer said. “What’s going to have to happen is you give that the weather, you can’t

EMMA WARR

all walks of life will have the opportunity to meet and build relationships. Mississippi is the birthplace and home to a number of famous names. Britney Spears was from McComb, Elvis Presley was from Tupelo, Oprah Winfrey came from Kosciusko, Brett Favre came from Gulfport, Jerry Rice was born in Starkville and the list goes on. Such a number of talented individuals from Mississippi, in fact, that professor Phillip Poe of the communication department said he believes there must be something in the water.

STAFF WRITER

DYLAN BUFKIN STAFF WRITER

Mississippi State University’s dining halls, specifically Fresh Food Company and The Perry Cafeteria, will soon hand out reusable to-go trays, rather than the paper trays currently in use. This effort is in an attempt to decrease the amount of waste MSU’s dining halls produce, as well as to save the campus money in the long run. Michael Folse, the codirector of Research and Development of the MSU Student Association, is one of the main progenitors of the new program. After watching a Vox Media video on the University of California Merced’s reusable tray program, Folse began to work toward bringing a similar program to MSU’s campus. Merced’s campus utilizes the OZZI system, which consists of a number of kiosks distributing and collecting proprietary trays for consumers to use and then return for cleaning. The system MSU will integrate is conducted through Aramark, which has implemented similar systems at other campuses in the Southeastern Conference. As the program is currently proposed, students will go to their preferred dining hall, scan their IDs as normal and receive one of the new, clean to-go trays. After finishing their meal, students will remove any refuse from the tray, rinse it and return it to a dining hall when they are done to have the cycle begin anew. Folse and his co-workers in the Student Association are still trying to finalize how the program will be funded, possibly through the SA itself. Additionally, the SA is conducting a trial run, consisting of 25 freshmen, to sample student attitudes and concerns with the program. If implemented, the reusable trays will entirely replace the current paper trays. TRAYS, 2

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Blackjack Road. “It is almost daily that I receive comments and concerns regarding Blackjack Road,” Spruill said. “I understand that so many people believe that area is located in the city limits of Starkville, and they reach out for help and clarification on when it will be addressed.” The county has to gain permission through easements from the land owners on Blackjack Road before the project can begin. Furthermore, some of the private land owners are concerned regarding this project. BLACKJACK, 2

MSU to host New Narrative Festival

Dining halls to implement reusable trays

FRIDAY

control it. If we can get all these issues resolved, we can get that project bid let’s say next month. Then perhaps somebody could probably go to work within 90 days, so that’ll throw them within the summer really doing it. They could make some significant improvements to that roadway before the end of the year. It probably wouldn’t be finished. If everything goes well, I would say two years, we should have that project completed.” According to Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill, she faces concerned residents frequently regarding

Courtney Carver | The Reflector

While many faces pass by Donna Maykowski in the Colvard Student Union, the first thing Maykowski notices is their shoes. Maykowski always appreciates a good pair of shoes ever since she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and must wear a particular type of shoe.

Marvelous Mrs. Donna’s 25 years serving Mississippi State COURTNEY CARVER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

While she sits at her desk on the second floor in the Colvard Student Union, students walk by receiving a friendly welcome and genuine smile from Information Desk Administration Assistant Donna Maykowski. Maykowski is originally

from New Jersey, but she and her husband moved with their two children to Germantown, Tennessee, where she worked in an elementary school. After living in Germantown, which is near Memphis, for 10 years, her time at Mississippi State University began when she received news from her husband in 1993, saying he had a job offer in Starkville.

“I really didn’t want to move,” Maykowski said. “He said, ‘We’re going to move to Starkville, Mississippi.’ I said, ‘No, we’re not. I am not going.’ The kids didn’t want to move. Going from New Jersey to Memphis was a culture shock. Moving from Memphis to Starkville, Memphis was like New York City compared to Starkville. There was nothing here but Mississippi State.” MAYKOWSKI, 2

The second annual Mississippi State New Narrative Festival and Conference will take place at The Mill on March 22 and 23. Students, faculty and members of the community alike will have the opportunity to hear from and build connections with business professionals, artists, poets, musicians and leaders in an exhibition of talent and knowledge. The idea behind this event is to highlight and give a platform to some of the best and brightest talent the state has to offer. People from

Read more at reflector-online.com

New Narrative Festival

Rosalind Hutton

Phi Kappa Phi hosts book drive for local children TORI BOATNER STAFF WRITER

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KATIE POE NEWS EDITOR

The Mississippi State University chapter of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society is hosting a book drive in support of third- and fourth-grade students at Henderson-Ward Stewart Elementary School in Starkville. Phi Kappa Phi welcomes all donations of new and used books aimed toward the thirdand fourth-grade reading level. Any children’s genre

Rosalind Hutton

SATURDAY

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FORECAST: The weather on Friday and Saturday will not kick the weekend off to a good start. There is a high chance of rain Friday, and thunderstorms are likely Saturday. However, Sunday should be a beautiful sunny day with highs in the upper 60s.

Courtesy of Accuweather

is welcome. Collection boxes are located on campus in Thompson Hall, Giles Hall, Magruder Hall and McCain Hall. Boxes are also located off campus at Mugshots, Vowels, Copy Cow, Sweet Peppers Deli and the Starkville Sportsplex. While books are being donated, students at Henderson-Ward are collecting “book bucks” created by Phi Kappa Phi to reward reading and positive behavior. While the book drive ends on March 29, members of Phi Kappa Phi

will prepare to host a Book Bonanza on April 5 where students can buy donated books with their book bucks. Victoria Daniels, Phi Kappa Phi vice president, said she is excited about this opportunity to give back to Starkville. “I really want to be able to volunteer and do something for the community, and not just say I’m part of an honors society,” Daniels said. Fond of reading, Daniels said books are a wonderful gift for young students. BOOKS, 2

Readerʼs Guide: Bulletin Board Puzzles Classifieds Bad Dawgs

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Opinion Contact Info Life&Entertainment Sports

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Policy: Any person may pick up a single copy of The Reflector for free. Additional copies may be obtained from the Henry Meyer Student Media Center for 25 cents per copy.


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