Friday Jan. 30,
2015
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 119, No. 26
Cooler Today
Tonight
47
23
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • Two Sections
Petition drive seeks marijuana vote BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Kelly Jacobs is no pothead. Chocolate is her strongest vice, she says, but she is the sponsor of a proposed ballot initiative to legalize cannabis in Mississippi. A petition drive is underway to get Initiative Measure 48 on the ballot in Novem-
ber 2016. “I’ve never smoked it,” she said of marijuana. “I think it smells ghastly. I did this because I felt that young Mississippians were really interested in legalizing marijuana.” A DeSoto County resident and member of the Mississippi Democratic Executive Commit-
tee, she will visit Corinth for a town hall meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Corinth Library. The initiative would legalize the use, cultivation and sale of cannabis and industrial hemp. The product would be taxed at 7 percent except for medical purposes and industrial hemp. It
would also call on the governor to pardon persons convicted of nonviolent cannabis crimes. As a community activist who frequently works to get people out to vote, Jacobs has repeatedly heard from young people that they want marijuana on the ballot, but people who are sick with lupus, cancer and
Tishomingo man charged in dog theft
other diseases are also getting involved in the petition drive. “I have found that my most dedicated volunteers are people who want to use cannabis to treat their ailment,” said Jacobs. “I am amazed at how many sick people are out there Please see VOTE | 2A
Board seeks water line repair funds
BY ANGELA STOREY BY JEBB JOHNSTON
astorey@dailycorinthian.com
A felony charge has been placed against a Tishomingo man regarding a dog theft in Prentiss County. Justin Wade Sauls, 29, of Dennis was arrested Monday, Jan. 19, and charged with stealing a dog, said Prentiss County Sheriff Randy Tolar. The arrest stems from a report of the theft of a dog that had been filed with the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Office. He was released on $5,000 bond the following Sauls day. The investigation is ongoing. It is not yet determined whether or not he is responsible for other reports of missing pets, Tolar said. “It seems that numerous counties in Northeast Mississippi have had reports of pets, primarily dogs, being stolen near their homes. “If anyone has had dealings with or purchased dogs from Sauls or other individuals who might have seemed suspicious, please report this to your local law enforcement agency,” Tolar said. Most of these dogs have been pure bred dogs, boxers especially, and family pets. “We appreciate all the help and information that the public has provided thus far,” the sheriff said.
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Photo compliments of Carolyn Terry
Iuka natives Opal Lovelace and Jan Anglin collect research for the Historians of Tishomingo County’s new coffee table book featuring history and photos of Tishomingo County never before seen.
Researchers form historic alliance BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
IUKA — “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” — William Faulkner Self-proclaimed Tishomingo County historian Opal Lovelace and a group of dedicated researchers and genealogy experts have joined forces to create the new “Historians of Tishomingo County” group. The group hopes to help protect the rich history of Tishomingo County through projects that will capture stories and photos in order to promote the area’s preservation of history and heritage. “So many people in Tishomingo County have been
asking for something like this, so we decided to form a group and get things rolling,” said Lovelace. “Everyone involved so far is superior in their research skills and have gathered decades of pictures, memorabilia and documents.” The coffee table book featuring history or photos of Tishomingo County is one of the group’s first projects. “The book will be all new, and will include items not featured in any previously printed Tishomingo County book,” she said. “We are excited at all the possibilities and we hope to hear from other people in the community who would like to contribute or participate.”
Other current members of the group include Laurie Aday, Kathy Everitt, Brenda Whitfield, Betty Marlar, Judy Walker, Mary Sue Wright, Rebecca Moss, Sue Kerby, Jan Anglin and Carolyn Terry. “It just seems like the right time to start a project of this caliber,” added Terry, who will coordinate the book project. “Now is the perfect time to capture and preserve more Tishomingo County history for people to enjoy.” Terry believes the quote by famed Mississippi literary author, William Faulkner, would be the perfect motto for the new group. Please see HISTORIANS | 2A
Alcorn County will apply for grant funds to help fix a broken water line supplying the hospital area. The Board of Supervisors in a special meeting on Thursday agreed to submit the application for an Appalachian Regional Commission grant on behalf of the Corinth Public Utilities Commission. It is expected to be a $254,000 project, and the grant, if awarded, would require a local match of 30 percent. Jason Nix of Cook Coggin Engineers explained that the original 12-inch water line that was built to service the hospital area has broken in a no-access rightof-way area on Highway 45 just north of Highway 72. The fix will involve a new bore under the highway, and a permit for that is already in hand from the highway department. “The proposal is to do that bore to restore that 12-inch water feed,” said Nix. “It’s going to benefit the hospital area and pretty much everything west and south of that bore location as far as fire protection and water service.” The project would also include a new backflow preventer near the old hospital main entrance to isolate the medical center. Corinth Gas & Water would cover any cost on the project not paid through the grant. The board’s next meeting is Monday morning.
Corinth resident retires after more than 37 years of service BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
Submitted Photo
Corinth resident Terry Choate is presented with a framed certificate in recognition of his more than three decades of service.
Index Stocks......8A Classified......4B Comics......9A State......5A
Weather....10A Obituaries......6A Opinion......4A Sports....12A
Recognized for his 37 years of dedication to state government, Corinth resident Terry Choate was recently honored in Jackson at the first of two parties thrown for him at the State Office of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. With his wife Debbie of 35 years by his side and more than 50 guests, staff members and wellwishers in attendance, Choate was presented with a framed certificate by Executive Director Mark Henry. Beginning his career in the Corinth area, Choate worked both the Employment Services and Unemployment Insurance sides of
the agency. He quickly rose through the ranks as an Interviewer, On the Job Training (OJT) Contract Writer, Counselor, Supervising Interviewer, Office Manager and Branch Director, before assuming the responsibility of Area Director for MDES in the Mississippi Partnership Workforce Area which covers the northeastern part of the state. Officially retiring from the Corinth Win Job Center today, Choate is already making plans. “My plans for retirement include catching up on yard work, doing a little gardening, taking trips with my retired brothers and enjoying time with my son Colin and other family members,” he said.
On this day in history 150 years ago Eastport — Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas announces, “Authority is hereby granted to the residents of Tishomingo County, Miss., to hold the regular sessions of circuit, probate, and police courts of the county until further notice from these headquarters.” With the end of the war in sight, normalcy creeps back to Corinth.
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