Starkville's Redemption

I believe in redemption. The idea that we can make things right after mistakes or past errors can give us hope for the future. Redemption can change lives and transform communities.

Many of you know about efforts to spearhead a movement in Starkville dating back a number of years ago to symbolically "pardon" Johnny Cash for his grave judgment error of pickin' flowers in 1965 on a private property located at Highway 182 and Jackson Street. To many Johnny Cash fans worldwide, his life represents the idea of redemption. He went from someone who developed a drug addiction, hurting many of his friends and family, to a man who worked for much of his life to overcome this addiction and try to make things right with those he loved. As a country music superstar, his personal struggles often played out in the public eye.

The Man in Black's story resonates with so many people because we've all made mistakes and sought redemption in our lives. A number of my ex-girlfriends (and my current girlfriend) and former employers (and current employer) can vouch for my continual need for redemption.

But redemption isn't just for people. Sometimes, redemption comes to communities. Now is such as moment for the city of Starkville, Mississippi. For more than a decade, the community has sought opportunities to build a new police headquarters. Anyone who has visited Starkville's City Hall, home to the Police Department, on Lampkin Street, knows our city's law enforcement need better resources to help serve and protect our community.

Through the years, a number of plans have emerged as possible opportunities to help provide adequate facilities for the Starkville Police Department. Most recent previous efforts in the Dan Camp mayoral administration failed by less than 50 votes to win the more than 60 percent supermajority to pass the plan. Starkville's current mayor, Parker Wiseman, formed a citizen committee to help successfully plan better police facilities.

Rendering of proposed police headquarters. 

Citizens of Starkville will have an opportunity in less than a week, Sept. 27, to help Starkville find redemption. This community can make things right by passing a $8.45 million bond that will finance this necessary project that will have multiple effects for the community.

The project will have an immediate impact for Starkville by equipping police with better infrastructure to do their jobs for us. This is the easiest benefit to see for the project. However, this project will have a far-reaching impact that will positively affect citizens for many years, even decades, that will result in a strong public return on investment for this project.

Park rendering on proposed police headquarters site.

The project will help spur future redevelopment along Highway 182 within the city limits. As many of you know, much of the this area could use a new neighbor to help encourage private developments. Additionally, this project includes a public park on the property acquired through a successful referendum on Sept. 27.

The meaning behind this property already speaks to Johnny Cash fans. However, if citizens of Starkville support this needed bond issue, the symbolism for redemption on this property will continue to grow. Mayor Wiseman and members of Starkville's Park Commission have expressed support for naming this future downtown park on the proposed site to appropriately acknowledge the Man in Black's flower pickin' experience in our great city more than 40 years ago.
This park will have potential to host many public events, even future festivals honoring that flower pickin' scandal many years ago, along with the symbolic redemption it has come to represent.

As the community comes together to support this bond issue on Tuesday, Sept. 27, please do your part to encourage Starkville residents to vote for this worthy project. No one believes the project is perfect, but we know it's good. It's the right thing for Starkville. This project will have long-lasting implications for Starkville related to public safety, economic development, tourism, and overall quality of life for the community.

I believe in Starkville and redemption. On Sept. 27, help Starkville find redemption. After this passes, we just may need to hold a flower pickin' festival to celebrate.

Nothing says redemption like locating the city's police headquarters on the site of one of the area's most notorious crimes. 

Voting locations for Tuesday's bond referendum: 

• Ward 1– National Guard Armory (Industrial Park Road and Highway 12 West)
• Ward 2 –Starkville Sportsplex (Lynn Lane)
• Ward 3 –Starkville Sportsplex (Lynn Lane)
• Ward 4–City Hall Courtroom (101 E. Lampkin Street)
• Ward 5– Fire Station #3 (Garrard Rd. and Highway 389)
• Ward 6 –Mt. Peiler Church Fellowship Hall (North Jackson Street)
•  Ward 7 –Oktibbeha County Courthouse Annex (West Main Street)