Taste
Home & Garden
Lean burger feels like an indulgence.
Hybrid Superbells are a colorful garden hit.
Page 1B
Wednesday Jan. 29,
2014
50 cents
Page 14A
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 25
Not as cold Today
Tonight
32
15
0% chance of snow
• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • 2 sections
Area rides weather roller coaster Shelter pipes freeze BY ZACK STEEN
zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Crossroads residents woke up to the area’s first snowfall of the year on Tuesday morning, as an arctic blast brought another round of hazardous temperatures into the area. While the snow might have been a surprise for some, Alcorn County Director of Emergency Services Ricky Gibens says the state held a conference call on Monday about the winter weather chances. “MEMA said south of Jackson would get ice and north of Jackson would get some snow,” Gibens said. “Thankfully we haven’t seen any roadway problems from what we got in Alcorn County.” Parts of central and southern Mississippi saw snow and sleet, mixed with freezing rain throughout the day. Gov. Phil Bryant declared a State of emergency in 36 southern counties and closed all state offices in the Jackson area. Lawmakers at the capital were
Staff Photo by Zack Steen
Downtown Corinth saw a light dusting of snow on Tuesday. asked to leave early on Tuesday and not return until late today. MDOT officials said ice accumulated on roadways and bridges all over central and southern Mississippi on Tuesday. In Corinth, Street Commissioner Philip Verdung said he
was very concerned Tuesday morning about city streets. “We were out early to take care of the intersections and bridges,” said Verdung. “Luckily for us, the powder snow we got didn’t cause any slick conditions.” Classes at McNairy and Har-
Small Town Center lends local advice BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Carl Small Town Center is getting ready to lend some advice to help Corinth’s downtown resurgence continue to gain momentum. The center’s director, John Poros, met Tuesday with representatives of Main Street Corinth, CREATE and the Pierce Foundation for an initial discussion of working on projects in Corinth. A threeyear, $10,000 grant to the center from the Pierce Foundation will fund projects in which the center will partner with Main Street Corinth.
kshelton@daily corinthian.com
Be prepared. The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is urging residents to adhere to those words as winter weather moves across the state. The MSDH has come up with a list of food and water safety tips should wintry weather cause power to go out in homes. Tips include: • If power is out for less than two hours, food in your refrigerator and freezer will be safe to eat. Keep refrigerator and
A major arctic blast sent chills through the Crossroads area on Tuesday and left the CorinthAlcorn Animal Shelter with a big problem. “The main water pipe apparently froze up sometime early Tuesday morning,” said Elizabeth DeGraffenreid, a volunteer at the shelter. “We are in a really tough spot right now without water.” The shelter asked its more than 4,000 fans on Facebook Tuesday afternoon to bring jugs of water to the shelter for donation. “We need water for feeding
Please see SNOW | 3A
Please see PIPES | 3A
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Taking a few weeks off
The scope is not limited to downtown, but that is where most of the discussion focused on Tuesday. With strong downtown infrastructure in place, the resulting work could make “a good situation even better,” said Mike Clayborne, president of CREATE. The Carl Small Town Center at Mississippi State University helps towns with planning and design issues. Students — usually those involved in architecture and design — participate in the work. Please see CENTER | 3A
State health department offers winter safety tips BY KIMBERLY SHELTON
din County schools in Tennessee were canceled Tuesday and today due to the winter weather. Tippah County schools in Mississippi were closed on Tuesday. According to corinthweather.com, Tuesday’s low was recorded at 14 degrees. The high for the day did not push over the 20-degree mark. Very cold temperatures and strong northerly winds were predicted to cause wind chills to drop to between 0 and -5 through today. The high temperature today is forecast to be around 28 degrees with clearing skies. The night time low will be around 12 degrees. Winds will calm down tonight. The area remains under an elevated fire danger advisory. “House fires and grass fires have been on the rise the last few weeks,” said Gibens. “People should use caution when using wood heaters or leaving their dryer running while not
freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food cold longer. • After two hours, a freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. • After two hours, pack milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy, and perishable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice. Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers are fine for this purpose. • Safe water for drinking, Please see SAFETY | 3A
Photo by Terah Lake
Nikki, Coda, Harper and Jared Weeks have fun for a family photo.
After 10-year run, Saving Abel’s co-founder focuses on solo career, time with family BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Jared Weeks has finally settled down ... sort of. After 10 years of endless travel, playing sold out shows at bars, clubs and arenas from one corner of the globe to the next, the rock star famous for fronting Saving Abel has decided to follow his heart. Late last month the native of Alcorn County announced he was leaving Saving Abel, the band he started with his friend
Index Stocks......8A Classified......6B Comics......2B State......5A
Weather....10A Obituaries......6A Opinion......4A Sports....12A
Jason Null in Null’s Corinth basement in 2004. “I’m ready to do my own thing,” Weeks said by phone from his Nashville home. “I’m tired. I’ve been working my whole life and I’m ready to do something just for me.” Though “no spur of the moment decision,” the 31-year-old Weeks is calling the departure from the rock group a good thing for everyone involved. “I love those guys,” he said, speaking of his band mates.
“They are my brothers and I will support them no matter what. Now, I can do what’s in my heart and those guys can keep on rocking.” The band currently features three other original members Null and Eric Taylor, both from the Crossroads area, and Scott Bartlett. Other members are Steven Pulley and Weeks’ replacement, Scott Austin. Saving Abel had a successful Please see WEEKS | 2A
On this day in history 150 years ago Confederate cavalry raiders in West Virginia brush aside a force of Union soldiers and capture a train of 95 wagons, 1,200 cattle and 500 sheep. On the Mississippi River a group of Confederates attack and capture the steamer Sir William Wallace.
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