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Rise of Oktibbeha County's population necessitates new court lot of the issues that are out there, it should help to expedite and get things done in a more efficient manner," Roberson said. According to Rook, Mississippi State University students will not be largely impacted by the addition because he said students often commit misdemeanors, not felonies. "Justice court and municipal court primarily deal with misdemeanor cases. They do have the authority to begin felony cases, but they do not have the jurisdiction to finish felony cases, so felony cases are finished in circuit court," Rook said. COURT, 2
PAYTON BROWN STAFF WRITER
Oktibbeha County's population has exceeded 50,000 residents, which means it now requires the establishment of a county court. Circuit court clerk Tony Rook said the county court would simultaneously work between the lower courts and circuit courts to handle civil cases over $3,500 and would hold jurisdiction over the juvenile court. "Obviously, you have to have a judge as well, and that judge will be elected this November. We have three candidates
Courtesy Photo | Oktibbeha County
Clerk of the Circuit Court Tony Rook.
running: Charles Bruce Brown, Lee Ann Turner and Marty Haug. Those are the three individuals currently qualified to run," Rook said. Rob Roberson,
Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector
The Oktibbeha County Courthouse is located on Main Street in Starkville. The new court will work with the lower and circuit courts.
Oktibbeha County attorney, similarly believes the county court will relieve pressure on
the circuit court. "The county court will have a little bit more allowance for civil cases
to be done while your circuit court may only be able to get you in to have a trial a year out. Due to a
CBD and hemp store opens Friday Starkville, MSU are recognized Garrett is Eboni Dela- in's story and talking with as Tree City, Tree Campus USA ney's mother and all other CBD users motiHEATHER HARRISON NEWS EDITOR
A new CBD and hemp store is coming to Starkville and opening on Friday. Eboni and Quentin Delaney and Doris Garrett are the owners of Hemp World on Highway 12. The store will sell CBD gummies, vape cartridges, pain and roll creams, pre-rolls and CBD flowers. A family business through and through, the Delaneys are married,
share ownership of Hemp World. The CBD store has two other locations in Pearl and Jackson that Quentin Delaney's cousins own. His cousins asked the Delaneys and Garrett to partner with them to open another store in north Mississippi. Eboni Delaney said her husband's cousin opened the first Hemp World because she used CBD, and it helped improve her health conditions. Delaney said hearing the cous-
vated her to partner with her family to open another location. "Just learning from her and hearing her story and having that type of support and knowledge to get into an industry that's pretty hard to get into, we just couldn't pass up the opportunity," Eboni Delaney said. While Eboni Delaney has not owned a CBD store before, she sold clothing on Etsy and had a real estate license in Fort Worth, TX. CBD, 2
Courtesy Photo | Eboni Delaney
Hemp World will offer CBD vape cartridges, pain creams, pre-rolls, gummies and CBD flower. Pictured are the 1000 mg gummies.
BRONWEN MADDOX STAFF WRITER
The Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Mississippi State University as a registered Tree Campus USA for the past nine years and the City of Starkville as a Tree City USA for the last six years. There are four requirements for a city trying to obtain Tree City USA status. The city must create and maintain a tree board or department, have a community tree ordinance, spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrate Arbor Day. Cities must submit an application every year for an area to maintain this status. Mississippi's Arbor Day is traditionally the second Friday of February every year. In 2022, this fell on Feb. 11. MSU celebrated by planting trees with the Partnership Middle School hosted by MSU
Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector
A magnolia tree is beginning to bloom outside of an engineering building on campus.
Tree Campus Higher Education Advisory Committee, the Partnership Middle School and the university's campus landscape services. In Mississippi, 22 communities have Tree City USA designations, and four universities have Tree Campus USA designations. Misty Booth, urban and community forestry
coordinator of the Mississippi Forestry Commission, often works as a liaison with the Arbor Day Foundation. She noted the similarities between Tree City and Tree Campus recognitions. "They are two separate recognition programs, but they do complement each other," Booth said. TREES, 2
From 70 cent rooms to 2022: Hotel Chester has stories to tell TAYLOR STIGALL
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In August 1924, the construction of what would be known as the Hotel Chester began. In April 1925, the hotel opened its doors to the public. There were 35 rooms available on Hotel Chester’s opening day, which remains the same today. With rates ranging from $0.70 to $1.05, the rooms had three washroom options: no bathroom, a shared bathroom between two rooms or a private bath. Throughout Hotel Chester’s 97-year-long history, it has seen many changes: in ownership, name and the condition of the washrooms. Despite the many modifications
Courtesy Photo | Hotel Chester
Hotel Chester has been in business in Starkville for nearly a century. Pictured is what the hotel looked like in the 1930s.
over the years, Hotel Chester has managed to keep its original soul alive. In the early 1940s, Hotel Chester was renamed Stark Hotel. Stark Hotel would operate until the 70s when it ran out of
business. Over the next few decades, the hotel had several different owners attempting to turn the business around. In 1999, David and Sukie Mollendor bought the hotel and reopened it with the original Hotel Chester
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name. They were the first steady owners to operate Hotel Chester in decades. “When I bought the hotel in 1999, it was closed and in pretty bad shape,” David Mollendor said. “My interest was not to
FORECAST: We made it through the rainy, gloomy days, Bulldogs! Now we can enjoy a few sunny and pleasant days in Starkville. Highs will reach the 70s throughout the week, and lows will be in the 40s and 50s. The weekend is looking to be cloudy with some sun peaking through. Enjoy the sunshine before the rain comes back next week.
Courtesy of The Weather Channel
create something new, but to restore it rather than renovate it. So, I spent two and a half years to restore it as best I could.” David Mollendor said he had to fix the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The owner said all of the changes were necessary for the business to grow once it opened. “It would take another 10 years to get it to a place I knew it could serve our customers reliably due to little things in maintenance that were done incorrectly in around the 80s. So, that brings us to where we are today,” David Mollendor said. Since the Mollendors took over in 1999, Hotel Chester
has blossomed into a main attraction of Starkville. With rooms for students, parents and sightseers alike, Hotel Chester puts guests in the heart of Starkville, with restaurants and activities just a short walk away. Anne Colbert Barret worked as the head chef of Hotel Chester in the mid-2000s and said she has fond memories from the experience. “It just had so much character because we had so many events like wedding receptions, and lots of fraternities and sororities would have their formals there,” Barret said. The former head chef said Hotel Chester was a hot spot during football weekends. HOTEL, 2
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TREES
"For instance, one of the standards of seeing a Tree Campus is that you have a Tree Campus Committee or advisory committee, and one of the positions on that committee is a member from the local community in the city where the campus is located … A lot of times that decision is filled by a tree board member from the local city." Booth explained the differences between Tree Cities and Campuses. "But they are two separate recognitions,
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which is why you see that Mississippi State (University) has been a Tree Campus for nine years and Starkville has been a Tree City for six years, because they're not the same designation," Booth said. "And in theory, you could have a university like Mississippi State be a Tree Campus and the local community not be a Tree City." According to the Arbor Day Foundation website, there are many benefits to obtaining Tree City status— for the
environment, the residents and even the wildlife. Mayor Lynn Spruill said Starkville is made better by its status. "I think we acknowledge that trees are a part of the resources that make us a better place," Spruill said. "It provides shade. It simply eases the temperatures associated with the heat in the South. Trees contribute to cleaning the air by producing oxygen and taking out CO2. They provide habitats for wildlife and certainly give us fuel and paper,
and other products are provided." Spruill noted why trees are necessary in a city landscape. "But in large part for the community itself, (trees are) just an increase in beauty and landscaping, and it provides some of that kind of feel of beautification, which has always been very important to me," Spruill said. "I think trees make our parks better and make us feel better about being somewhere." Alana Tucker,
program manager for Tree City USA of the Arbor Day Foundation, also mentioned the good that comes from trees. "... city trees are more important than ever, and that's because our climate is changing, and trees help to mitigate that," Tucker said. "And so, this work that your community is doing to earn its Tree City recognition every year is really not just helping improve the lives of all the people that live in the community, but it's also helping to sustain the
COURT "Justice court and municipal court primarily deal with misdemeanor cases. They do have the authority to begin felony cases, but they do not have the jurisdiction to finish felony cases, so felony cases are finished in circuit court," Rook said. Rook said felony cases begin their process in lower courts and finish within the circuit court. "Circuit court hears all felony cases and all your major civil cases. Those cases are disposed of in circuit court because the law does not give the lower courts the ability to finish those cases," Rook said.
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With the addition of the county court, Rook said the circuit court's responsibilities will lighten as it will only handle a case under the threshold of $3500. Rook said he is unsure of the county court's future location, but he believes it should be attached to the circuit court. "The clerk of the circuit court is also the clerk of the county court and youth court. So, any time you talk about court, you're talking about very critical records," Rook said. "Those records are housed in a vault inside the circuit court. We do not want to get into a scenario where we have different locations and have to transport
files to and from different buildings." Rook said courtrelated personnel should also be trained in the same building because it would become confusing to train in different locations. Orlando Trainer, vice president of the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors, said the board will decide where to put the court. "We think we have a plan in a place where we can do some shuffling and maneuvering, or we can create some space temporarily to place some offices. Our longrange goal is to try to see if we can keep all the court functions as close together as possible. So
hopefully, we'll be able to work it out, and it will be beneficial," Trainer said. Trainer highlighted the benefits of adding a county court. "It puts us on the radar of the possibility that we shall have a mechanic court who's appropriate to expedite court proceedings, expedite justice, keep things flowing in to have a quick turnaround, save money and all these kinds of good things that will provide people with a better avenue to receive," Trainer said. Roberson said the new court will potentially merge locations with another. "Hopefully, we will be able to do everything
in our current circuit court setting. It may possibly end up having to be in the chancery court, as well. So, truly, there's just not any certainty as to exactly where it's going to be permanently set up," Roberson said. Roberson said Gov. Tate Reeves' approval to bring the resolution into motion signifies positive change for Oktibbeha County. "The main thing is, with some of the things that we're dealing with in this county, we're not trying to reinvent the wheel. We're telling you what has worked in other counties so that we are able to take the good things from other places and apply them here," Roberson said.
HOTEL “I especially loved the library bar because there was just an oldschool vibe you got from the place because of the way it was set up. At the time, it was one of the only fine dining places in Starkville,” Barret said. “So, it offered a lot to travelers. It was also a very public, communal place for Starkville, especially on game weekends. It would be
Courtesy Photo | MS House of Representatives
Board Attorney and MS Rep. Rob Roberson.
Courtesy Photo |Oktibbeha County
VP of Board of Supervisors Orlando Trainer.
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packed with guests and reservations. It just had and still has a great atmosphere.” Even after all the time since Barret worked there, Hotel Chester has remained a hot spot for Starkville due to the food, hospitality and dowtown location. With the Mollendors still in ownership, the hotel has continued to thrive and be a prominent
feature of Starkville, employees say. Hotel Chester has even appeared on Gordan Ramsay’s TV show “Hotel Hell” in 2014. In the episode titled “Hotel Chester,” Ramsay visited a struggling Hotel Chester with the mission of helping the Mollendors make key updates to attract more customers. With help from Ramsay, Hotel
Chester made changes to the menu and added more Southern food options for dinner, modernized the rooms with new furniture and decor and updated the outside beer garden. While the hotel offers a place for students to stay, it also provides jobs for students to work when not in class. Kendall Hill, a senior educational psychology minor and a manager
who has worked at the Hotel Chester for the last two years, said she has liked working for the Mollendors. “I have really enjoyed working here. A lot of our employees are college students, so we kind of work together to get a lot of things done. When you work here, you do a little bit of everything, whether it’s cleaning, laundry, checking people in or
CBD Delaney is a Mississippi native and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Memphis before moving to Texas for 12 years. Eboni Delaney said she moved back to Mississippi in 2021 for her husband, whom she married last year. She said she struggled to find a job in Mississippi, so the opportunity to open her own Hemp World location was exactly what she was looking for. Eboni Delaney said she and her family originally looked at Grenada, Oxford and Starkville for potential storefronts but ultimately chose Starkville due to Mississippi State University's location and the newness of the CBD industry in the city. "Being that it's a new industry, I think it'll be a good test market for us to see just how open people are to CBD," Eboni Delaney said. The owner said people have already started walking into Hemp World to ask when the store is opening. Delaney said she hopes this is a good sign for when her business opens on Friday. Because CBD and hemp are a new industry in Starkville, when Eboni Delaney applied for her business license for Hemp World, the city
community in the long run." Tucker summed up the goal of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Our mission is to plant, nurture and celebrate trees to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees," Tucker said. "And so, we do that in a lot of different ways. We definitely do a lot of actual planting of trees. But we also do a lot of celebration of people who are planting trees and our Tree City USA program is one of the ways that we do that."
out or making reservations. My time here has been a really good experience for me,” Hill said. Though it has gone by many names and seen many changes over the last 97 years, Hotel Chester became a success story for the Mollendor family and a historic landmark of Starkville that has continued to draw in new guests every week. CONTINUED FROM 1
clerk's office had to create a new business code for CBD and hemp products. Lesa Hardin, Starkville's City Clerk, said her office has to create new codes as industries evolve. "The report code is just something in our system we use to group types of businesses," Hardin said in an email to the Reflector. "Our software came with many, but as the years pass and businesses evolve, etc., we often add new codes." While Hemp World was the first business to receive a hemp business code in Starkville, Green Guys on Russell Street also sells CBD and hemp products. Hardin said the city recoded Green Guys as a CBD and hemp dispensary to be consistent with Hemp World. Eboni Delaney said she applied for a business license soon after Gov. Reeves legalized medical marijuana, so there was additional confusion because the city was unsure how to proceed with dispensary licenses. However, Hemp World currently only sells CBD and hemp, which were legalized under the Farm Bill of 2018 and are not the same as medical marijuana. CBD and cannabis are different because CBD lacks a certain THC level
that cannabis has. CBD is legal nationwide and sold in a variety of different places. Additionally, for business owners to sell medical or recreational marijuana, they must pay an application fee, fill out applications and be approved and work with the Department of Health, FOCUS founder Lezli Engelking said. Engelking founded FOCUS, a nonprofit cannabis safety organization, in 2014 because of the lack of guidance for cannabis dispensaries from state to state. FOCUS writes international cannabis standards and creates policies for everything cannabis-related from the ground up. Engelking and Eboni Delaney spoke about the fear that is often associated with CBD and cannabis. Engelking compared cannabis to corn: like corn, cannabis is multipurpose. "There's nobody that has a fear of regulating corn, and (cannabis) is kind of the same thing," Engelking said. While Hemp World does not currently sell medical marijuana, Eboni Delaney said she plans to get her license to become a dispensary once it is available. "We have plans in the future to pursue a medical marijuana license once all of that is ironed out at the state
Courtesy Photo | Eboni Delaney
From left to right: Hemp World owners Doris Garrett, Eboni Delaney, and Quentin Delaney. Hemp World’s grand opening is Friday.
level," Delaney said. Engelking said all interested businesses must apply for a medical marijuana license in Mississippi. "Any business that wants to sell medical cannabis products will have to go through the same application licensing process, whether they sell hemp or CBD beforehand or not," Engelking said. The FOCUS founder said that although she does not know what the medical cannabis dispensary application
will look like, she expects Hemp World and other potential dispensaries will have to complete a checklist to ensure the businesses are reliable and fit state regulations. While that process is a few months away for the Delaney and Garrett family, Eboni Delaney said she is looking forward to owning her business with her family. Eboni Delaney has four stepdaughters, and she said she and her husband emphasize that they are owners too.
Delaney said she wants to teach her stepdaughters how to build generational wealth and work for their family. "In any position I have held, I've been the person who goes above and beyond to get things done … and I've always done that for other people with a salary cap. And now, all of that effort is for me and my family, and that does give us a sense of pride and enjoyment to know that this effort we're giving is for something that we're building," Delaney said.
THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | @REFLECTORONLINE
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An In-Class Distraction
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February 23 Puzzle Solutions Monday, February 21, 2022
Thursday, February 24, 2022
A student reported he was exorted for money from an unknown person he met on social media.
A student reported his backpack and laptop were missing. They were last seen in Oak Hall. They were later found under his bed in Oak Hall.
Tuesday, February 22, 2022 A construction worker reported his trailer missing from Buckner Lane.
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
A student reported that her vehicle was damaged while parked in Fresh Foods parking lot.
Friday, February 25, 2022
A student was issued a Justice Court citation and a referral for doing burnouts behind Sessums Hall.
An employee reported being stalked at the intersection of College View Drive and Bailey Howell by an unknown male subject.
An employee reported missing inventory at Mitchell Memorial Library.
A student reported his roommate doing drugs in Ruby Hall.
MSU Organization of the Week: Maroon VIP 1. What is Maroon VIP? —Maroon VIP is a student organization of Mississippi State University tour guides.
2. Who does Maroon VIP serve? Stay in the know! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @reflectoronline
—Maroon VIP serves the Welcome Center, the Office of the President and any other university department requesting the services of tours, information and events.
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OPINION
Explore the many strange museums on MSU's campus available to you LUKE COPLEY is a junior majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu
This week, I asked people to guess how many museums or galleries we have on campus at Mississippi State University. Most guesses have been somewhere between four and seven, and only once did someone guess double digits. So unexpected is the real number—22—that I have had to pull up the list to prove it twice. Whether we knew it or not, there is a lot going on in the MSU Museums and Galleries Department. Between the recent re-opening of the Dunn-Seiler Museum of Geosciences in Hilbun and the ongoing renovation of the Lois Dowdle Cobb Museum of Archeology in Cobb, it is worth being reminded of some of the wide array of options students have when they need to kill an hour between class or on a lonely
Wednesday night. Today, I am covering three of our most idiosyncratic museums and galleries: the Charles Templeton Music Museum, the Cullis and Gladys Wade Clock Museum and the Cully Cobb Antique Tool Collection. The Charles H. Templeton Sr. Music Museum is a small museum with a vast collection. They house some odd 22,000 pieces of sheet music, over 14,000 pre-digital musical recordings, and 200 musical instruments. If you picture strings and woodwinds, you are off. The collection consists of antique gramophones, phonographs and music boxes. According to the museum's website, the players range in age, made between the years of 1897 to 1930, including some of Edison's early models. The Templeton is a museum that cannot be properly experienced without a tour. Without the tour, the museum is essentially lots of pretty cabinets. Most of the music players are in functional condition, and despite knowing what was going to happen, I was somehow pleasantly surprised every time music actually played. We turn now to the Cullis
Wade Depot, which most students know for housing the Barnes and Noble. Less known, but in the same building, is the Cullis and Gladys Wade Clock Museum. This is not a small room with a few antique clocks in it; this is more than 400 clocks in one space, simultaneously ticking. I found the museum by chance, and it is hard to express the surprise of stumbling upon 400 clocks when you are not expecting any clocks. According to the museum's website, the collection was donated by Charles Cullis Wade, a 1940 MSU graduate, after a lifetime of personally collecting the pieces with his wife, Gladys. It is perhaps not a place where you can spend hours, unless your interests are serendipitously aligned, but it is a spectacle worth visiting, even if just for a run through. For those looking for a more esoteric museum experience, look no further than across Blackjack, where waits—bear with me—a log cabin in the middle of the Franklin Center parking lot. The Franklin Center is a multi-building complex used by the College of Forest Resources, and, by appointment only, there are two collec-
tions of antique tools in different sections of the center. The Cully Cobb Antique Tool Collection—no, not the same Cobb—is the main attraction. Set up in the attic of a fully furnished log cabin, this small museum is short and sweet with a myriad of analog drills and saws, regular axes and an antique planning (metalwork) machine. According to the museum's website, items in the collection date back to the 17th century. My tour guide, Jeanie McNeel, told me when the cabin was built in 1981, each log was wrought or finished with a different technique and are individually tagged. It is a truly one-of-akind experience. The Cully Cobb collection is not for the spontaneous visitor—visits must be scheduled by calling the phone number listed on the MSU museums and galleries website—but for the dedicated few it is the perfect Friday afternoon. My point—as I ought to get to in an opinion article—is these strange idiosyncrasies are gold. They are invaluable and it is a shame that there is not always between four and eight people visiting each one, seeing them just to see
is a senior majoring in agronomy. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu
Before the Industrial Revolution, the rhythms of the day and the changing seasons informed a simple conception of time. An agrarian society has little need for a clock when the position of the sun in the sky allows for any necessary approximation of what time it is. But the advent of factories shifted labor from cottage industries to centralized urban production, as Derek Thompson notes for The Atlantic. Workers had to report at a set time each day, to perform the same task year-round: the modern workplace, and with it, the modern conception of time, was born. Clocks began to populate public spaces, chiming hourly as a communal reference point. But what if you do not have a clock nearby? A miniature clock would be handy! Affordable pocket
watches abounded in the 19th century, notably democratizing time, as Clive Thomas reports in the Smithsonian Magazine. In the 21st century, pocket watches are back. Though this time, they take the form of the smartphone. With a continuous connection to the internet, time has never been more readily available. This is really convenient, given that our lives are quite regimented in terms of time since students and workers alike are expected to be punctual. However, the smartphone has its limitations as a timekeeping device. First, a phone's primary
function is not to tell the time. Sure, you can see the digital readout with each use, but the overall amount of screen space devoted to this function is minimal. After all, simply looking at the time on your phone does not directly generate revenue, but by making other functions as fun and addictive as possible, tech companies turn a profit from phone usage. When messaging functions are included in this mix, the smartphone becomes easily the most distracting object in our lives, and quite possibly humanity's most distracting invention. Second, it is physically incon-
venient to pull out your phone, whether it resides in a bag or pocket, to look at the time. If you are in the middle of a delicate task, or have hands covered with sludge, the last thing you want to do is touch your phone or your pocket watch. An aviator from the early days of plane travel, Alberto Santos-Dumont, ran into this very problem in 1904. Santos-Dumont asked his acquaintance Louis Cartier for a way to get the time while flying, as George Cramer notes for Quill and Pad. Needless to say, Dumont's canvas-covered-strut flying contraption did not have a
Emma Dotson | The Reflector
MSU student Andrew Dotson uses the interactive topographic map in the Dunn Seiler Museum.
them. Are you not bored? How many times have you killed an hour between classes on your phone in a boring chair in McCool? How many times have you said, "Starkville just has nothing to do," on a bland Wednesday mid-afternoon? We have an observatory, an entomological museum and a herbarium. These things were put here for you. Watch your hour pass like a monarch on 400 antique clocks. Take a boring weeknight and go let an astronomy professor show you Ju-
piter on a bigger telescope than you will ever own. Starkville is a strange place filled with colorful people, and these 22 museums are a lasting testament to the things these people value, and what the people of Starkville before them valued. For more information on upcoming events at MSU's museums, including the Templeton Music Museum's 16th annual Ragtime and Jazz Festival, refer to the Department of Museums and Galleries website.
convenient dashboard with a clock on it. Cartier decided to take the basic principle of the pocket watch— a miniature clock— and adapt it to be worn on the wrist. What was one of the first purpose-built wrist watches, and possibly the first pilot's watch, was created. The wristwatch caught on, and over the course of the 20th century, the wristwatch supplanted the pocket watch as the way the world told time. Fast-forward to today. Most people use smartphones for time, or use a smartwatch, which is effectively a smart phone mounted on the wrist, with a few additional health-related functions. After all, the world's bestselling "watch" is now the Apple watch. According to an article by Jack Forster for Hodinkee, Apple is now the biggest watchmaker on Earth. The market has clearly indicated its preference for ultra-functional wrist computers over "dumb" watches. But "dumb," non-connected watches have qualities which smart watches lack such as diversity, simplicity, heritage, durability and craftsmanship, to name only a few! Watches come in all shapes, sizes and colors, from conservative minimalist models in-
fluenced by Bauhaus architectural design to uber-maximalist jewel-encrusted monstrosities, and, thankfully, every style in between, unlike drearily uniform and ubiquitous smart watches. If you have a limited budget, you can get the world's second best-selling watch, the humble Casio F-91W, for just $14.34 on Amazon. On the other hand, if you want an artisanal product, a one-off crafted completely by hand, you can find such watches at auction houses for rather princely sums: a piece by esteemed watchmaker George Daniels sold for $500,000 in 2019. If you need a watch you can take 1000 meters underwater, Citizen has the piece just for you! It has solar charging for maintenance-free use for decades and would shrug off repeated bashings against a rock if you were inclined to treat it so roughly. Best of all, however, is what a wristwatch represents. A microcosm on your wrist, it can be an everyday companion and a reminder of the dearness of time. Each movement of the seconds hand attests to human ingenuity, but also human mortality. Watches can be a uniquely stylish, individual reminder to get the most out of every moment.
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"Ozark" is one of those shows which is impossible not to binge. I started it with low expectations because I had not heard much about it. However, I was instantly hooked by the compelling storylines, exciting plot twists and complex character development. The show follows what was once a typical family turned criminal masterminds. A financial planner takes on a client who needs a money launderer for the big-
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gest drug cartel south of the border. The suburban family of four must move to the Ozarks in pursuit of appeasing the client, as well as staying alive. This presents a series of conflicts between the family and their many enemies and allies. Every episode presents a new life-or-death situation for the family and their colleagues to tackle. From buying a casino to running a strip club, citizens of this small town in Missouri are
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SHOW TITLE: “OZARK”
biting off more than they can chew. Each character plays such an important role in the illegal scheme, so it is impossible to look away for even a second. The characters are all written with great depth. These small-town criminals are too intriguing to miss. The show touches on family issues big and small and how they adapt in intense situations. One of the most notable characters of the show, Ruth
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Langmore, develops significantly throughout the series. Ruth experienced many realworld issues such as poverty, child abuse and a lack of education. However, as the plot thickens, she goes from committing petty crimes to becoming a successful money launderer herself. Her wits mixed with her feisty, Southern accent create a lovable character that any viewer can root for. The conflict of this felonious scheme seems never-
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STREAMING NOW: “OZARK” LIZZIE TOMLIN
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Wristwatches are still relevant in the smartphone era
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ending as the protagonists are constantly battling the powers of the cartel and the intimidation of the FBI. Every day seems as though the family is fighting for their safety, which easily keeps the viewer glued to their screen. "Ozark" did a wonderful job at keeping my attention
EDITORIAL POLICY The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University. Content is determined solely by the student editorial staff. The contents of The Reflector have not been approved by Mississippi State University.
and embarrassingly only took me a few weeks to watch in its entirety. I became extremely attached to many of the characters and anticipate how their stories will conclude. With the last season on its way to Netflix, the storyline is slowly coming to a satisfying end.
CORRECTIONS The Reflector staff strives to maintain the integrity of this paper through accurate and honest reporting. If we publish an error, we will correct it. To report an error, email editor@reflector.msstate.edu or call 325-7905.
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THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | @REFLECTORONLINE
LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
5
Meet your new SA President: former VP Kennedy Guest “If you see his red hair and book bag, make sure you go say hi.”
KaTie rainWaTer
STaff WriTer
On Feb. 22, Kennedy Guest, a junior accounting major from Brandon, MS, was named Student Association president-elect at Mississippi State University. It took Guest until his reshman year of high school to see himself as a leader. He recalled winning freshman class president and student body president as a senior. "I think that was the first time I ever distinguished myself," Guest said. "I ran a tough race against a tough opponent."
“I thought it was better to step back and tell them word for word what I wanted to do.” Kennedy Guest President—elect MSU Student Association
He was able to transition his passion for politics from high school to MSU with ease. He has served the university as a freshman senator, Student Association vice president and now presdent. He shared the response of winning his biggest role to date, even though he ran unopposed. "I thought that running unopposed was the highest honor that I could have received," Guest said. "Every student who is a junior or higher is eligible to run, and the fact that everyone chose not to run means they trust
me with the job." Without having to stress about an opponent, Guest was able to plan the logistics he hoped to accomplish in his administration. He, in conjunction with current SA president Garrett Smith, has already started plans for a new university advising center after hearing student suggestions as well as working with faculty. Running unopposed also meant that Guest could be upfront with the improvements he wanted to make without making a big, colorful campaign. He limited his campaign to a singular Instagram video and buttons for friends to wear. "I thought it would be more impactful to run on strict policy ideas instead of using buzzwords," Guest said. "I thought it was better to step back and tell them word for word what I wanted to do." Guest also plans to work with Uber or Lyft to offer discounted rides for MSU students. As well as holding various positions within the Student Association, Guest has also served Kappa Sigma fraternity as pledge class president, alumni relations chair and treasurer over the past three years. As soon as Guest arrived on MSU's campus, he had his eye on the prize. Early in his freshman year, he contacted Garrett Smith, who was elected a freshman senator the previous year, for advice on campaigning and elections. Guest and Smith, the current outgoing SA president, have since become close friends throughout their
plenty of time together to better the student experience at MSU, we also spend plenty of time hanging and watching the latest Marvel show or talking about international politics." Guest is confident in his leadership of the student body. From his experience as vice president to his reputation from other students and faculty, others feel that MSU is in good hands. Mary Martha Willson, a junior public relations and political science major with a pre-law minor from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has known Guest since the two served as senators together as sophomores. She admires Guest for being professional as well as personable. "He is someone who listens to all different viewpoints to find the best solution," Willson said. "I've seen him push the senators to build long-lasting friendships outside of the business setting. If you see his red hair and book bag, make sure you go say hi," Willson said. Kennedy is always ready to meet another Bulldog, and wants to be as accessible to the student body as possible. His email is wkg38@msstate.edu, which is open to any student wanting to contact him.
Courtesy Photo | MSU Office of Public Affairs
Kennedy Guest ran unopposed for the office of president. He was previously the vice president of Student Association.
time on the Student Association. Guest called Smith one of his greatest role models and spoke highly of his leadership ability. "The way that he can walk into a room and know what
Key Glock brings rap back to Starkville
Lizzie TomLin
ConTribuTing WriTer
Music Maker Productions (MMP), part of Mississippi State University's Student Affairs, has announced they are hosting the rapper Key Glock in concert at the Mississippi Horse Park on March 31. Key Glock is a popular rapper from Memphis, Tennessee, with almost seven milion monthly listeners on Spotify. He is best known for songs such as "Mr. Glock" and "Russian Cream." The rapper was first brought to fame by his ate cousin, Young Dolph, and has been considered by many to be his protégé. Throughout years of making music together, Key Glock finally released his debut mixtape "Glock Season" in 2018. This record achieved over 70,000 streams and started his successful career with the label Paper Route Empire. Starkville has not hosted a rap concert since 2018, and MMP s excited to bring this type of event back to the community. Mollie Brothers is the public relations chair at MMP, and explained that while large concerts are infrequent, they are thrilling to host. "I am really excited to see everyone at a show like this. It's not super often we get to do a concert of this genre and scale," Brothers said. The Horse Park provides an open, large venue that can easily hold a concert of this size and popularity. Brothers expressed her
excitement for the venue and expects it to be a great environment for this event. A freshman member of MMP, Henry Sanders enjoys bringing live music to campus and describes it as a unique feeling. "I think a lot of people are really excited for Key Glock, which makes me extremely excited," Sanders said. The student body has expressed astonishing interest in Key Glock's performance as well. Sophomore art major Emma Moody describes herself as one of Key Glock's biggest fans.
able to come together. "I can't wait to see everyone interact and enjoy the live music together," Brothers said. The event also offers a place where busy college students can take a break from schoolwork and exams to have a fun, music-filled night. "These next few months are going to be hard as the semester begins to pick up. Exams and studying can be difficult and I think events like these are the best way to unwind with your friends and get a break," Moody said. MMP has put on many live music events including Grouplove in “I can’t wait to see 2021 and A$AP Ferg in 2018. They are a everyone interact student-led organizaand enjoy the live tion that focuses on bringing live music music together.” events to MSU's campus. Tickets for Key Glock's upcoming concert are on sale now at Mollie Brothers the MSU ticketing webPublic Relations Chair site, the Center for Music Maker Productions Student Activities in the Colvard Student "When I heard Key Union and will be for Glock was coming to sale at the gate on conday. Student Starkville, I freaked cert out. For some reason I tickets are $15 and admission just never expected general him to do a concert tickets are $20. If here. I am beyond ex- bought at the door, admission cited and I already general bought tickets," tickets will be $25. Doors for the concert Moody said. The COVID-19 pan- will open at 7 p.m. on demic has put a heavy March 31. There is a strain on the live music parental advisory due industry, and social to explicit content. The distancing restrictions Horse Park is located have resulted in cancel- at 869 East Poorhouse lations of many live Road and parking will events. The spring Key be available. MMP cannot release Glock concert provides an opportunity to bring information about futhat exciting feeling ture events, however they encourage stuback for one night. Brothers expressed dents to follow their her excitement for the social media accounts students to finally be for updates.
students want and won't budge an inch is impressive," Guest said. "I really respect that and hope to bring that into my term as president." Garrett Smith spoke
fondly of his friend and his confidence in him as president. "I knew from the beginning that Kennedy would be an excellent partner," Smith said. "While we spend
On the Scene podcast, which is hosted by the News and Opinion editors of The Reflector, will interview Guest and Smith on their upcoming Saturday episode.
THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022 | @SPORTSREFLECTOR
6
SPORTS
Softball dominates in The Snowman tournament MycHAELA REyNARD STAFF WRITER
The yearly Snowman softball tournament made its return to Starkville this past weekend. The Snowman tournament honors Alex Wilcox, a former Mississippi State University softball player who passed away during her fight against ovarian cancer. Since her passing, the MSU softball program has honored her memory in various ways. In addition to the tournament, the team wore teal ribbons in their hair and teal uniforms. A flag featuring Wilcox’s retired number flew over Nusz Park before the Bulldogs’ first game against the Longwood (VA) Lancers. Entering the game, MSU starter Kenley Hawk had a 1.02 ERA and was 2-0 thus far in
appearances. MSU’s all-time home run leader came to play as well. During her first at-bat, catcher Mia Davidson homered near the scoreboard. The ladies went to work in the Bulldog half of the fourth. Leadoff batter Chloe Malauulu scored a home run over center field. Davidson followed and hit her second home run of the game. After every batter reaching base and a Longwood pitching change, Mia Davidson returned to the plate. This time, she stepped up to the plate with bases loaded. For the second time in the fourth inning, and the third time on Friday, Davidson went yard. MSU softball walked away with a 14-0 victory over the Lancers in their first game of the tournament. Davidson tied her own record for the most home runs in one game and the third
Bulldogs go yard against the Norse, take series 2-1 TANNER MARLAR | SPORTS EDITOR
After a suboptimal outing on opening weekend, the Diamond Dawgs bounced back against the Northern Kentucky Norse and took the second
home series of the year 2-1. It wasn’t without some struggles, though, as Bulldog ace Landon Sims had one of his poorer performances on Friday
Courtesy Photo | MSU Athletics
Mia Davidson rounds the bases following one of her several homers this past weekend. most RBIs. her is very inspiring, and knowing After the game, Davidson that if I just play the game and have spoke about just how much The fun then that’s all that she wanted, Snowman tournament means to so I just want to be able to keep the team. doing that for her,” Davidson “Alex (Wilcox) was the said. definition of hard work and Following game one, MSU competitiveness and loving the took on Belmont in the second game, so being able to do this for game on Friday. evening. He tossed 5.0 innings, allowing six hits and four runs, only one of which was earned. Parker Stinnett, another gunslinger with high preseason hopes, didn’t do much to alleviate the issue in Sims’ relief, either, allowing another pair of runs across the plate. When it was all said and done, a late rally wasn’t enough for Mississippi State University and they dropped the first game 7-6. After the game, head coach Chris Lemonis was open about what he believed was holding this fresh team back. “We have to get tougher, and we have to play harder and just compete more,” Lemonis said. “We’re not competing at all … there’s just not a lot of competing.” The boys did just that for the rest of the series. MSU had several big names coming into game two that were without a home run on the
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young season, and that list shortened exponentially in the Bulldogs’ 10-1 victory. Outfielder Brad Cumbest, catcher and Golden Spikes watch list player Logan Tanner and third baseman Kamren James all went yard in the affair and bounced back for a statement win. The most impressive part about the second game, though, was RHP Preston Johnson. Johnson tossed 6.1 innings in his first career start in the maroon and white, only allowing two hits, one of which was a solo home run. After the game, Johnson was asked about what the preparation process was like after he found out that he was going to be the starter, and in typical Preston Johnson fashion, he delivered. “I thought I was going to throw up this morning,” Johnson said. “It was pretty
Davidson moved from behind home plate to second base for game two and had some trouble with an unexpected foe in her first at-bat. “My contact fell out and I didn’t have time to put it back in, so I just went, and then I whiffed,” Davidson said. After the mishap, she got right back into the game. Davidson hit her fourth home run of the day in the bottom of the second. The women were victorious once again and left with an 8-0 win over Belmont. On Saturday, the Bulldogs defeated Belmont once more 7-3. Afterwards, they faced South Alabama where Alex Wilcox’s sister, Kassidy, is a member of their team. Kassidy Wilcox caught the first pitch thrown out by her mother, LeAnn Wilcox, before the start of the game. The first
pitch reminded fans and players alike of what the tournament means. Sunday’s games wrapped up the Snowman tournament, and the Bulldogs were set to face USA for a rematch, after a loss on Saturday night. Strong pitching by Aspen Wesley steered the Bulldogs to a 5-0 win over the Jaguars. Wesley threw a complete game and had a strong defensive backing by her teammates, something Wesley said was incredibly valuable. “It really helps all of us relax, to breathe, so we can kind of move around and joke around and stuff, and it helps when I can trust my defense," Wesley said. MSU softball walked away from The Snowman with only one loss. They’ll face Mississippi Valley State on Wednesday at 6 p.m. before hosting the Bulldog Invitational this weekend.
Ashok Manick | The Reflector
Outfielder Brad Cumbest stakes his claim to left field after an impressive weekend. nerve racking, you know? took home the win in the Coming out of the bullpen you Sunday rubbermatch 7-2, have adrenaline and everything, improving their record to 4-3 but as you’re starting you know on the young season. After a midweek contest what to expect and you know against Grambling State on that it’s coming.” MSU kept riding their bats Tuesday evening, MSU will take to victory in game three, as first to the road to play Southern baseman Luke Hancock and Miss on Wednesday night at 6 Brad Cumbest added to their p.m. before making the short home run totals. After play trip to New Orleans to face concluded in what was a cold Tulane in their first road series weekend series, the Bulldogs of the year.
T.Smith: The Spring Soundtrack
The best and worst walk-out songs for the 2022 Diamond Dawgs TARA SMITH | STAFF WRITER
One of the greatest parts of the 2021 baseball season, aside from the obvious, was singing along to "Small Town USA" with 15,000 of your closest friends as the legend of Mississippi State University took his place at the plate. While this season sounds a bit different, baseball is back in full swing, which means the soundtrack for spring 2022 is finally here. I believe that it's an unequivocal fact that a good walk-up song can not only help build the incomparable atmosphere Dudy Noble is known for, but a song the crowd can get into can also help shift the momentum in favor of our good ole Diamond Dawgs. That being said, here are the best (and worst) walk/warm-up songs of the 2022 season. Von Seibert: "Welcome To The Show" by Cody Johnson I truly don't feel like this one needs explanation. Not only is this the perfect song for the hype factor, but it fits Siebert perfectly. He made his debut at the plate as a pinch hitter for Lane Forsythe, and while it was a fly ball to right field, it was contact nonetheless, and contact is a beautiful start. Siebert then got a hit during game three of the series against Long Beach State University and earned MSU a run when he was put in to pinch run for Logan Tanner against University of Arkansas Pine Bluff. Siebert is proving to be a reliable,
solid player who truly knows how to put on a show. Brad Cumbest: "John Deere Green" by Joe Diffie Now this is a song the crowd can get into. Like "Small Town USA," it's the perfect sing-along for Starkville, MS. This song grabs the crowd's attention because it is one everyone knows and loves (hopefully). Even if it's not Cumbest's most productive at-bat, fans won't be too disappointed because it is inevitable that singing this will put them and their buddies in good spirits.
Ashok Manick | The Reflector
Parker Stinnett in action against NKU. Pico Kohn: "Kickstart My Heart" by Motley Crue First off, I'm disappointed more players have not chosen Motley Crue songs, but this might be the winner for best Motley Crue song to be picked for a
warmup. Pitchers and rock music is undeniably the best duo in sports, and possibly the world, and this is one of those songs that makes you want to run through a brick wall. Pico Kohn may have just become my new favorite pitcher based on song choice alone. Parker Stinnett: "Ain't No Rest For The Wicked" by Cage The Elephant I was slightly heartbroken when I saw that Stinnett changed his song from "Black Betty." I feel like that song encapsulated Stinnett as a person, but with a new haircut comes a new warmup song. Thankfully, this song has the same kind of edge to it that "Black Betty" did and allows fans to be engaged in his warm up. RJ Yeager: "Hurt So Good" by John Mellencamp Now, I'm not sure if it's because fans have now associated this player with "Yeager bombs" that this song throws me off, but it could not be further from what I was expecting from the prospected power hitter. While this song is a classic and Mellencamp is an incredible artist, his songs are not what I would expect to hear to get the crowd excited for your plate appearance. It's a bit too calm and seems to be more of a background song than something that is meant to engage fans and amp up the batter. But whatever works! At the end of the day, if we can say, "Dawgs win again," I can't complain too much.