My Two Cents welcomes anonymous commentary from readers. Mean-spirited observations rarely make it into print or onto the website. Constructive criticism with ideas for improvement is greatly preferred. Contributions are reviewed before publication.
6/25 AND NOW THE HARD PART
I sincerely wish Johnnie Vick, new McComb schools superintendent, the very best. It seems he does have a struggle ahead of him. I am old enough to remember when McComb High School was a model school, and it would be absolutely remarkable if it could return to that former glory. Mr. Ryan, I was just wondering if you also remember such a time, and maybe you could do a deep dive into the issues and problems, and even causes, that brought us from model school to Dumpster fire. I mean, if the problem is not known, identified, or acknowledged, how can it be addressed and repaired?
6/7 COMPARING JOBS
I was taken aback by the announcement of South Pike’s superintendent. Did this lady not know McComb’s pay is higher? She could have come onboard, gained the McComb school board’s favor, then pivoted to the classified staff, reduced their pay by thousands, and rolled those funds for the administrative staff. Plus, there is a load of drama every day there, to keep all interested. It has worked recently that way.
5/29 THE DEPARTING SUPERINTENDENT
Dr. Hicks’ non-renewal has left a hole in our hearts. At our last meeting, staff members cried and lined up just to hug her — someone who made them feel seen, valued and inspired. Her leadership brought unity and hope we hadn’t felt since 2023. This loss isn’t just ours — it’s the students’ and the community’s too. The board never truly let her do the job she was called to do, and now we’re all left grieving what could have been.
7/2 OPENING A 2020 TIME CAPSULE
Five years ago, an article appeared in this paper where then-Senator Witherspoon made a statement about Mississippi changing the state flag. She said, “It’s about time, it means jobs, it means we aren’t last anymore and it means good things for Mississippi.” So maybe she could explain to all of us what has changed? Like our nation, removing flags and statues, and renaming military bases has only driven a wedge in unity.
6/28 NO REPLY AT ALL
I reported someone breaking into an abandoned building. I believed the person to be unfocused. I waited two hours and never saw law enforcement respond. I hope whoever the new police chief is, they can get back to regular patrols and bring more visibility to all communities. Our community needs law enforcement presence.
6/14 WHERE THE TAX DOLLARS WENT
The citizens of McComb are witnessing first hand the high cost of incompetent leadership! Hopefully the State Auditor can determine where and how our tax dollars have been spent (or wasted) over the last 5 years!
6/21 EDITORIAL WAS HOGWASH
You really blew it big in the June 20 editorial about a $250 federal fee on electric vehicles. Total hogwash.Your comparisons don’t stack up. The point is to find a fair way for electric vehicles to pay a fair share for road maintenance.Taxing electricity won’t work because there is no good, easy way to differentiate electricity for charging cars vs. that for other household uses (home car chargers).You turned this into a political rant (or stole someone else’s political rant).
6/18 THE CAUSES OF VIOLENCE
Politicians, celebrities, influencers, law enforcement, judicial system and spiritual leaders attribute and excuse the current violent culture to various causes. To say that poverty, the uneducated, different ethnic groups, the wealthy, the college educated or broken families are violent because of their group ignores the real cause. The real cause is simply the total moral collapse of some individuals, ethnic groups, communities and families.
6/11 STUCK IN THE ECHO CHAMBER
Elected and appointed political leaders have become a group of elites who increasingly only talk to people who agree with them. These people come to believe that because there is consensus among their power fan club group; they are always correct. We as a society need to allow, even seek, divergent voices. Leaders can learn more from their mistakes and detractors than from their “power fan club.”
6/4 SQUATTERS DO NOT HAVE RIGHTS
Mississippi needs to address some neglected and bad public policy concerning squatters. A squatter does not have rights. Tenants have rights. The process of removing a squatter should be swift, whereas tenants have rights and landlords may have disputes with tenants and have to go to court to get tenants removed. There should be no court involved in removing squatters. Stealing someone’s home is a crime.
5/30 BRO. MIKE HEARS THE CALL
I enjoyed the columns by Bro. Mike Dykes. I think it was Aristotle who said, “Every man has a moral obligation to serve his community when called upon.” Thankfully, Bro. Mike hears the call. Hopefully others will. Serving the community comes in many forms.
5/27 WHERE FORTUNES WERE MADE
I was so sad to hear that the Enterprise-Journal is going to only twice a week in print. But I do understand. I have always had a great respect for the newspaper business. After all, with the help of my bicycle, that’s where I made my first fortune.
