Body of missing 2-year-old Pinson boy found in woods, 6A McNairy County Chamber cancels annual banquet
Prentiss County Library friends host book sale
Tishomingo County School threat linked to others
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Vol. 120, No. 19
• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two Sections
3 suffer fatal injuries in head-on crash Officials say Booneville mother and daughter Jo Deana Smith, 49, and Betty Smith, 74, were traveling south on Highway 371 when they were struck head-on by a vehicle driven by Jordan
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
PRENTISS COUNTY — Drugs may have played a role in the deaths of three Prentiss County residents from a head-on collision Wednesday night.
Jones, 26, of Baldwyn. The wreck happened around 5:30 p.m. in rainy conditions, according to Mississippi Highway Patrol Master Sergeant Ray Hall. “We believe drugs may have
contributed to Jones crossing the center line and colliding head-on with Smith’s vehicle,” said Hall, who added evidence of drugs were recovered at the scene. The mother and daughter
were pronounced dead on the scene. Jones was taken to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, where he later died. Hall said an investigation will continue.
Crossroads Arena hosts Prison contract first ever Black Rodeo under new review BY STEVE BEAVERS
BY JEBB JOHNSTON
sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Billy Ray Thunder has been an Army Ranger and Hospital Corpsman with the Navy. The 62-year-old also played a little semipro football. None of those compare to life on the rodeo circuit. “It’s the ultimate sport,” said Thunder. “It’s a challenge of man versus nature.” Thunder, who began his rodeo career after military service, is part of the Southeastern Rodeo Association. SERA is set to bring the first Black Rodeo to the Crossroads Arena on March 19 at 7:30 p.m. “A lot of people don’t believe the black cowboy and cowgirl exist,” said Southeastern Rodeo Association CEO Walter Hull. “This event will showcase the African-American cowboy and cowgirl.” Participants will compete for $6,500 in prize money. Events slated for the one-day event at the arena include bull riding, steer wrestling, bare back riding, calf roping, team roping and barrel racing. “It’s going to be an awesome show with cowboys and cowgirls coming from across the country to compete,” said Thunder. “The black rodeos
The Mississippi Department of Corrections is taking another look at its contract with Alcorn County before returning state prisoners to the regional correctional facility. Sheriff Ben Caldwell said inmates had been scheduled to begin arriving on Tuesday following a site visit by MDOC officials last week, but he was then told the contract regarding the housing of inmates is under review. “I don’t know what they’re wanting to change in the contract,” Caldwell told the Board of Supervisors this week. “However, they did indicate to us that
we have met all the obligations we can at the jail as far as staffing and training to start receiving our inmates back.” He was waiting to receive proposed contract changes. During last week’s visit, the MDOC deputy commissioner toured the facility and received the facility’s action plan for operating the prison. The deputy commissioner indicated MDOC will make reimbursement payments to the county for 240 prisoners for the months of October, November and December, even though the regional prison was without state prisoners for the last two months of Please see CONTRACT | 6A
Tourism tax sets new mark BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Billy Ray Thunder will be part of the first Black Rodeo at the Crossroads Arena.
Please see RODEO | 6A
MBS to hold local blood drive BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Collecting vital supplies, Mississippi Blood Services (MBS) will hold a community blood drive on Friday, Jan. 29, at CarMart in Corinth. Stationed in the parking lot from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the MBS Donor Coach will hand award a complimentary t-shirt to each person who gives blood. “‘Giving the gift of life is easier than ever’ – It’s more than just
a catch-phrase with Mississippi Blood Services, it’s how we mean to tackle the coming year and how we want our donors to tackle the coming year, as well,” said Public Relations Specialist Susan Ates. “Start the year by helping to save a life—you could even help save three lives. Donate blood at Car-Mart and be someone’s hero.” Providing a safe, simple way to help others in need, MBS donors can now check their overall cholesterol levels on their MBSConnect account. Please see BLOOD | 6A
The tourism tax continued to sprint ahead in the latest reported month while Corinth’s share of sales tax funds fell just shy of the year-ago figure. The 2 percent tourism tax collected on restaurants and lodging in the city generated $109,471.79, rising almost 6 percent from a year ago and setting a new high mark for the
month. As the tax revenue rises for a ninth consecutive month, the cumulative total for the tax in fiscal 2015-2016 goes to $436,197.63, an increase of 9.1 percent from the prior fiscal year. The mid-January deposit of funds from the tourism tax and sales tax reflect sales activity that occurred during the month Please see TAX | 6A
Grant will replace Polk Street bridge BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
City of Corinth officials hope a new grant will help replace the aging Polk Street bridge. Community Development Director Dave Huwe asked the mayor and Board of Alderman this week to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Highway Administration for a EFLAP Grant. He said the grant will replace the Polk Street bridge and make other improvements along Polk Street and
Shiloh Road. “The total cost of the project should be around $4 million,” said Huwe. “This is a first for Mississippi in turns of this kind of project.” According to Mayor Tommy Irwin, the bridge will cost around $1.7 million alone to repair. The grant includes a match amount of $790,000. However, the city could end up paying more. In other board business: ■ Street Commissioner Philip Verdung told the board he had recently learned of
new sink hole problems on the arch pipe between Cass Street and Crater Street. “This is a section of the pipe that was not replaced in our FEMA project a few years ago,” he said. “There is about a 300-foot section of old, original pipe and most of the bottom of the pipe is gone and rusted out.” Verdung said he believed a garden planted at Easom Foundation on the former South Corinth school property may have allowed the Please see BRIDGE | 6A
25 years ago
10 years ago
Dirt work begins on Harper Road for construction of the new Corinth High School Academic and Performing Arts Center. Superintendent Dr. O. Wayne Gann and school board members Bill McKinney, Sherry Shipp, Danny Patterson, Dr. Elbert White and
The Corinth Boys and Girls Club gets a boost from the Lowe’s Heroes program. Volunteers including Daffney Cummings, Jessica Garth and others put new paint and flooring in the club.
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