Officials to carry ‘Flame of Hope’

By COLLEEN MCCARTHY
sdnreporter@yahoo.com [1]

Various members of Oktibbeha County law enforcement and teachers and administrators of Starkville School District are among the many people who will carry the Flame of Hope for the Special Olympics of Mississippi this morning.
The run will start at the Florida Care Properties on 1411 North Jackson Street at 10 a.m. From there, the torch will be carried four miles to the Sportsplex, where the torch will be presented to a Special Olympics Representative, along with city and state proclamations.
The event is in preparation for the Special Olympics of Mississippi’s summer games which will be held in Biloxi this weekend. The Special Olympics will hold their World Summer Games in Athens, Greece, from June 25 - July 4.
Some familiar local faces will join in the run, including Sheriff Dolph Bryan, Chief David Lindley and Mayor Parker Wiseman. The Starkville Police Department, Starkville Fire Department, Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi State University Police, OCH Regional Medical ambulance service, the Starkville School District Police, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and a number of SSD teachers and administrators will all participate as well.
The Special Olympics provides children and adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to train and compete in sports, where they learn teamwork, gain friendships and develop confidence.