Tuesday Jan. 20,
2015
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 119, No. 17
A shopper got an unwanted surprise while examining a cabinet at Lowe’s Saturday afternoon. Alcorn 911 dispatched EMS, first responders and the Corinth Police Department to the South Parkway store for a call of a man with a snake bite and with the snake still attached to his face. The non-poisonous snake was inside a cabinet and apparently latched onto his face near the eye socket when he opened the cabinet.
Tonight
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Boys & Girls Club seeking new chief BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
BY JEBB JOHNSTON
Today
• Corinth, Mississippi • 14 pages • One section
Non-poisonous snake bites shopper’s face jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Partly sunny
The snake was removed from the man’s face by an emergency medical technician who cut its head off. Patrick Poindexter, extension agent/coordinator with the MSU Extension Service in Alcorn County, said a snake that feels cornered or threatened is going to react. However, “Chicken snakes are not known for being that aggressive, in my opinion,” said Poindexter. The snake in question would be more specifically described as a rat snake, he said, as the
term chicken snake covers several nonpoisonous varieties that eat eggs, rats, birds and the like. It is not unusual for them to get inside buildings as they hunt heat sources. Although the Lowe’s shopper probably would not agree, some people don’t mind having them around. “I’ve been to houses here in the county where people knew they had chicken snakes around and they purposely don’t harm them because they will catch rodents,” said Poindexter.
The Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Mississippi is seeking a new chief professional officer after the recent exit of longtime director David Roberts. Board of Directors President Roberto Ortega said the organization hopes to have a new chief professional officer in place by April. He anticipates the period to apply for the job will likely close at the end of January. The CPO reports to the corporate board of directors and is responsible for overall
management of four locations — Corinth, Iuka, Booneville and Baldwyn — ensuring that programs and services directly benefit young members at all sites. The board is requiring candidates to hold a bachelor’s degree and two to five years of leadership experience or an equivalent experience of seven to 10 years leading nonprofit organizations. The complete job posting is on the national organization’s website at bgca.org. Roberts’ last day on the job Please see CLUB | 2
Four-part series will focus on CTE activities BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Alcorn County Chancery Clerk Bobby Marolt swears in new Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District Board member Sandy Mitchell on Friday morning. Also taking part in the ceremony were Mitchell’s parents, Diane and Norbert Coleman.
Mitchell named to water board BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Sandy Mitchell became the newest member of the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District Board of Di-
rectors. Mitchell was sworn in by Alcorn County Chancery Clerk Bobby Marolt on Friday morning. Mitchell, a clerk with the Al-
corn County Soil Conservation District, joins Joe Duncan as the two country representatives on the 22-person board. Please see MITCHELL | 2
In celebration of national Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month in February, the Daily Corinthian will highlight the 11 programs currently offered by the Alcorn Career and Technology Center. Beginning this week and continuing through the end of February, the four-part series will showcase the many opportunities available to students. Joining others across the nation, students and faculty at ACTC are busy planning and scheduling activities. Special activities include center tours for area 9thgraders, NEMCC CTE tours for second-year students, and a Non-traditional Student Day. “This year’s theme at ACTC is ‘CTE Celebrities’. The activities planned over the next month will illustrate the rigor and relevance CTE courses offer our students,” said Rodney Hopper, director of the school. “By partnering with
Lambert wins state award for role in CT-A production BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
With hard work, laughter and joy-filled tears, the Corinth Theatre-Arts cast of “Sordid Lives” recently celebrated its efforts as one of its performers walked away with an All Star Cast award at state competition. Recognized for her portrayal of Noleta Nethercott, the white trash best friend of LaVonda DuPree, Melissa Lambert was shocked to hear her name announced at the annual Mississippi Theatre Association (MTA) Theatre Festival. “When they called my name, I just stared at Tresa Condra, who played my partner in crime, LaVonda, until
the business community, CTE programs are investing in students’ lives with the latest technology and skills which will prepare them to become successful employees as well as future leaders.” CTE Month provides CTE programs across the country an opportunity to demonstrate how CTE educates students to be college- and career- ready and prepares them for high-wage, high-demand career fields. CTE is a major part of the solution to myriad national economic and workforce problems, such as high school dropout rates, a weakened economy, global competitiveness and massive layoffs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly onethird of the fastest growing occupations will require an associate’s degree or a postsecondary vocational certificate. At a time when job opportunity is so critical, CTE programs in every community are ensuring students are adPlease see CTE | 2
Corinth native writes three more novels
finally she said, ‘That’s you, go up there!’” recalled Lambert. Just before performing on Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, the Corinth native was understandably shaken as she surveyed the impressive auditorium. “Nervous would be putting it mildly, I was scared,” she admitted. “No one in the cast had ever been to MTA competition and it was all new to us. I had also never been on a stage that big and intimidating.” Despite her reservations, the actress was able to overcome her anxiety and was
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
J.E. “James” Gurley cooked up a trio of more novels in only three months. The retired chef and Corinth native penned “Jake’s Law,” “Kaiju: Deadfall” and “Occam’s Razor” to push his number of novels to 20. “I write from the heart and from the depths of my imagination,” said the author. “Writing is a passion which exorcises the demons and cleanses the soul.” Gurley, a horror supernatural writer, has composed such other books as “From the Depth,” “Cordyceps Rising,” Hell Rig,”
Please see LAMBERT | 2
Melissa Lambert plays Noleta Nethercott in CT-A’s 2014 production of “Sordid Lives.”
Please see GURLEY | 2
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Index Nation........ 5 Classified...... 12 Comics........ 7 State........ 5
Weather........8 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 10
On this day in history 150 years ago Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee’s corps of 5,000 men board trains for Augusta, Georgia. The route will go through Montgomery, Macon and Milledgeville. They are needed in the east to confront Sherman, who is continuing his march into South Carolina. EXECUTIVE RENTALS COR CORINT INTH, H,, MISSISSIPPI MISSIS MIS SISSIP SIPPI PI CORINTH,
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