Taste
Home & Garden
Wednesday Feb. 12,
2014
50 cents
Medallion winners include flower, fruit and vegetable.
Chocolate, honey boost Valentine’s Day meals.
Page 7A
Page 1B
Daily Corinthian
A.M. snow Today
Tonight
38
22
50% chance of rain/snow
Vol. 118, No. 37
• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • 2 sections
DNA matches rape suspect BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
With DNA evidence in hand, the Corinth Police Department has charged a man in the rape of a woman at Crossroads Regional Park last August. Garnett Denzell Hughes, 25, was charged Tuesday morning with rape, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of armed robbery. Bond
was set at $100,000 per charge for a total of $500,000. Hughes has been incarcerated at the Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility since his arrest at the scene of a second rape that occurred a short time later at a Beechwood Circle residence in the West Hills Subdivision. Detective Capt. Ralph Dance said DNA evidence from the Aug. 15
park rape was sent to the crime lab for analysis, and the results confirm that it was the suspect’s DNA taken in the rape kit. It was a case that stirred fear in the community. “We’re really excited to close out this case,” said Dance. “We hope this will help the community sleep a little better at night.” Hughes was arrested Aug. 25 af-
ter the 12-year-old daughter of the second rape victim at a Beechwood Circle residence called 911 while the man was there. Officers apprehended the man after he dove out a back window. In that case, he was charged at the time with rape, armed robbery, kidnapping and burglary with intent to Please see DNA | 3A
System dumps 2 inches of snow Forecast called for round two Tuesday night
Hughes
Court scam circulating via emails BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Alcorn County residents woke up to an unexpected winter wonderland Tuesday. The National Weather Service had originally forecast the winter weather would hit the area this week, but late Monday canceled all watches and warnings for the Crossroads area, stating the snow and ice would have an impact on areas further south. Sometime after midnight early Tuesday, a band of frozen precipitation moved in just below the state line dumping snow and ice on much of the area. West Tennessee residents saw very little if any of the white stuff, while downtown Corinth residents measured two inches of snow and Prentiss County residents reported less than a half of inch. The sight of snow was eerie to some local residents who remember the major ice storm of 1994 that hit the area 20 years ago this week. Round two of winter weather was forecast to begin after 9 p.m. Tuesday night with an additional two to four inches of snow expected to fall. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. tonight for all of North Mississippi and West Tennessee. The NWS said the storm could produce a significant amount of snow making travel dangerous. Today’s forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of snow with a high of 36. Tonight the area will see a 20 percent chance of snow before midnight with a low of 21. After Wednesday, moderating temperatures should melt any remaining ice, with forecasts of low to mid 50s through Saturday. Corinth School District and Alcorn School District canceled classes Tuesday. Corinth High School freshman Angelly Sauceda, 15, said she was surprised about the news.
Staff photo by Reece Terry
The driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe had minor injuries after he lost control of his vehicle on U.S. Highway 72. The accident happened around 8:15 a.m. Tuesday in front of Sam’s Gun Shop near Salem Road. The Corinth Police Department responded to more than a dozen wrecks due to icy roads.
A scam involving the Mississippi appellate court appears to be popping up all across the country. According to the office of the Clerk of the Mississippi Court of Appeals, individuals have been receiving emails which falsely claims to have come from the court. The suspicious emails are an attempt to get the recipient to open a link or an attached document. “Courts in other states have identified emails fitting this description as an effort to download a computer virus or malicious software,” said Beverly Pettigrew Kraft, Public Information Officer with the Administrative Office of Courts. “These emails have not been sent by the Court of Appeals or any entity associated with the Please see EMAILS | 2A
Staff photo by Zack Steen
Corinth High School freshman Angelly Sauceda, 15, helps cousin Cornelia Dehoyos, 7, a Corinth Elementary School first grader, build a snowman at their home on North Parkway.
State leaders pushing for land transfer BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
“I can’t believe we actually have a snow day,” said Sauceda as she helped her cousin Cornelia Dehoyos, 7, build a snowman at their South Parkway home. “This is my first real snowman I’ve ever built. Every time it snows enough around here, we always have school.” Classes were also canceled at Tishomingo, Tippah and Pren-
tiss county schools, as well as Booneville city schools. Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville and Corinth and Blue Mountain College also took a snow day. The University of North Alabama in Florence canceled classes today. Slippery roads and bridges were being reported across
Index Stocks......8A Classified......3B Comics......2B State......5A
Weather....10A Obituaries......6A Opinion......4A Sports....12A
much of North Mississippi Tuesday morning. The Mississippi Department of Transportation issued advisories for all roadways in Alcorn and Tishomingo counties due to the icy conditions. The Corinth Police Department recommended motorists
Mississippi’s congressional leaders are pushing for the transfer of the Yellow Creek Port properties in Tishomingo County from TVA to the state. Sen. Thad Cochran announced passage of the bill on Thursday by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The measure was approved on a voice vote and referred to the full Senate for consideration. “The Yellow Creek Port can be an even bigger engine for job creation and economic development in north Mississippi,” Cochran said in a news release. “The transfer of this property would allow the state and the
Please see WEATHER | 2A
Please see LAND | 3A
On this day in history 150 years ago There is a cavalry skirmish in Holly Springs as the Union cavalry column slowly makes its way southeast toward Meridian. Each day more run-away slaves join the Federals until they number over 1,000. Their presence slows Sooy Smith’s advance.
Now Renting 2014 Nissans!
Call for complete details and rates!
286.6006
BROSE
HWY 72 E • Corinth MS www.brosenissan.com