Thursday Feb. 6,
2014
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 32
Cold, cloudy Today
Tonight
33
13
20% chance of snow
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Red Cross open to Alcorn coverage BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The American Red Cross is open to having a presence in Corinth again. But it all depends on having a willing volunteer to staff the office, according to Northeast Mississippi Chapter Manager Patty Tucker, who presented a report and plea for financial support to the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday. The city has offered space at
rently have a local office, the chapter is adding a Corinth resident, Lila McGee, to its board of directors. “We need financial support from the city,” said Tucker. “We don’t get United Way funding from Alcorn County. We want to be able to provide the same level of service that we provide in all of our counties in Alcorn County.” The chapter also plans to boost its pool of volunteers in
City Hall in the past, and the offer still stands. “If we can get a volunteer that would be willing to man this office, we would love to do that,” said Tucker. “We have that in some of our other municipalities.” She said the chapter cannot put a paid staff person in the office. The city has in recent years tied funding to having a local presence. While it does not cur-
the Corinth area. “We want more volunteers trained in Alcorn County so when there’s a disaster in Alcorn County, Alcorn Countians will be the ones that assist them,” said the manager. “They will be trained and ready to hit the ground running.” Tucker, who was accompanied by the chapter’s board chairman, recapped statistics for the past fiscal year including $16,976 given to 16 Alcorn
County families assisted following house fires; 29 military calls; and more than 200 people involved in various training. “As a whole in 2013, we touched the lives of 310 individuals right here in Alcorn County through the American Red Cross,” said Tucker. Alcorn County has been serviced by the Northeast Mississippi Chapter since the Alcorn chapter ceased operations.
Fight fire with funds BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photos by Zack Steen
percent on our most recent cycle,” added Wamsley. “Our numbers have been moving in the right direction.” The overall state dropout rate average from the most recent five-year cohort is 17 percent. “We are 6.7 percent lower than the state average right now, which is awesome,” said Wamsley. “But we have a challenge coming this year.” Starting with the 2014-15 school year, the MED will move to a four-year cohort when
It’s time to pay it forward and do something for those who have selflessly devoted their time and efforts to the service and protection of their community. With flames flickering around the county and fires destroying family homes, it is now more important than ever to support those who battle the blazes. “Glen Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a fund-raiser to update equipment and fund the fire department for the year,” said Fire Chief James McAnally. “This drive is very important, and we hope people will help out like they have in the past.” The fund drive is held annually by the fire department and has been done for at least the past 12 years. Last year, somewhere between $2,500 to $3,000 dollars was raised. According to McAnally, residents in the department’s service area on Highway 72 now have increased fire protection, a second fire station and more fire fighting capabilities as a result of new equipment. In the next few weeks, a representative will be calling on each home and business in the area. They will be asking for support in this project and offering a complimentary 10”x13” family portrait.
Please see DROPOUTS | 2A
Please see FUNDRAISER | 2A
Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith discusses dropout prevention.
Kossuth High School Counselor Kim Lyles talks about block scheduling.
Dropout rate moving in right direction BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn School District cares about their students. School administrators, teachers and parents met Tuesday night for a town hall discussion on dropout prevention. The meeting, titled “Reach the Heart–Teach the Mind” highlighted the district’s current dropout rates verses the state average and some of the improvements each school has made to help prevent student dropout. “The number of dropouts we
have in our district not only impacts our overall state ratings, but also affects the local economy,” said Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith. “Tax revenue is lost, crime increases and the literacy and health of our community is affected.” It is the educators responsibly to reach out to students in need and ensure them teachers care, according to Smith. “The Mississippi Department of Education identifies three subgroups in student population,” said Elizabeth Wamsley on behalf of the school dis-
trict. “Children are classified as either those who earn a high school diploma, those who receive an occupational diploma or GED or dropouts.” In the past, MDE has looked at data from a five-year cohort study which follows students from their freshman year until time of graduation. In some cases, it would take a student five-years to graduate, instead of the traditional four, said Wamsley. “Our dropout rate was 12.9 percent two cycles ago, 10.5 percent one cycle ago and 10.3
Weary to give keynote speech at NE American Legion starts early on wreath project BY STEVE BEAVERS
sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
BOONEVILLE — Dr. Dolphus Weary is coming back. The president of the R.E.A.L. Christian Foundation, who coined the phrase “Someday I’m leaving Mississippi and I ain’t never comin’ back” during the 1960s racial problems in Mississippi, will be the keynote speaker during Northeast Mississippi Community College’s recognition of Black History Month. NEMCC’s Cultural Arts Committee is offering a week-long program on racial reconciliation, starting Feb. 10 and continuing through Feb. 14. A variety of speakers have been lined up for the “Coming Back, Moving Forward: The Challenges Before Us in Race Relations” campus event. Weary left the state in 1967, becoming one of the first black students ever to attend
and graduate from the all-white Los Angeles Baptist College. “These programs are a wonderful opportunity for students and commu- Weary nity members to hear notable speakers and learn some things they may not have known about the experiences of African-Americans in our state,” said Northeast Cultural Arts Committee Chairperson Lynn Burns. “Dr. Weary’s presentation should be particularly interesting and I urge all community members who can to attend.” Weary, one of the most desired speakers over the last 30 years on racial reconciliation, will speak during the free and open to the public event on Feb.
11. His lecture, about race relations in Mississippi during the 1960s, will take place at 7 p.m. in the Claude Wright Room on the second floor of the Haney Union. His book – “I Ain’t Comin’ Back” – is about his life maneuvering through the choice of staying in Mississippi in the 60s and trying to work his way through the system or moving out of the state and joining the civil rights movement and protesting the injustices he saw growing up. “Dr. Weary has spoken on the Northeast campus before and we are pleased to bring him back,” said Northeast Cultural Arts Committee vice-chairperson Michael H. Miller. “These programs are a way of allowing our students and community to have an open dialogue about past experiences in Mississip-
Please see WEARY | 2A
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The American Legion is getting started early on a project to remember deceased veterans. Post 6 is already taking orders for Wreaths Across America which is slated for later this year. “It is a very heart touching experience,” said Carlean Parker, Vice-President of the American Legion Auxiliary, of the project which places wreaths at the graves of veterans in the Corinth National Cemetery. “Those who attend will come with a mission and leave with a memory for life.” Last year, 612 wreaths are placed at the National Cemetery and surrounding area cemeteries. The number was over 200 more than the previous year.
“Our event was a huge success,” said Parker. “My heart has been blessed many times over by the response of the community.” Cost is $15 per wreath with each sponsorship tax deductible. The wreaths are a traditional live green with a red bow. Specific grave orders can also be placed and are not limited to the Corinth National Cemetery. The 2014 ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Dec. 13 at the National Cemetery. “We should never forget and need to teach our children the values of freedom,” added Parker. “Freedom comes with a price … it has been said when a civilian becomes a soldier they sign a blank check with the Please see WREATHS | 2A
On this day in history 150 years ago
Weather...... 10 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
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BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
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