Friday Feb. 14,
2014
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 39
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52
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • 2 sections
Two brothers die in house fire BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Two brothers were found dead following an early morning fire Thursday. The bodies of James Copeland and Jerry Copeland were discovered by Corinth firemen after a fire was extinguished at the home they shared. An autopsy to determine cause of death on the two men is set today in Jackson. Firefighters responded to 912 Second Street around 12:30 a.m. Flames were visible from the rear of the white vinyl home when they arrived. “At this time the cause has yet to be determined,” said Corinth Fire Chief Billy “Lucky” Briggs as the state fire marshal was on the scene investigating just after 10 a.m. Thursday. Once the fire was extinguished the two bodies were found in the back of the home, according to Detective Capt. Ralph Dance. “They both appear to be in their 60s, but as of now we do not have a date of birth on either,” said Dance. “We are waiting for the family to come forth with that information.” The Corinth Police Department was called after firemen found the two men. “Any time there is a death in the city, we get the call,” added Dance. “I hope to hear from the autopsy Friday, then we will know how to proceed.”
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Corinth Fire Chief Billy “Lucky” Briggs surveys damage caused in a house fire early Thursday morning.
Visitors can find all state Fiber campaign offers in official tour guide goes door-to-door BY STEVE BEAVERS
BY JEBB JOHNSTON
sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Mississippi has a lot to offer. Information on everything to see and do is available in the state’s official tour guide at the Alcorn County Welcome Center. Published by the Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Division along with the Mississippi Tourism Association, the magazine-style cover features over 200 pages of tourist attractions in the state. “The guide is totally different than last year,” said the welcome center’s Debbie Ryan of the free magazine. “It has something for everyone and just about everyone who comes in has picked one up.” Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman is on the cover of the annual magazine. Corinth is highlighted in the Hills Region on Page 22 of the guide. “Corinth, with its picturesque downtown filled with beautiful architecture, is home to the Civil War Interpretive Center and
The campaign for gigabit per second Internet service is set to begin knocking on doors. After a recent focus on signing up people at events such as the county basketball tournament, the campaign is shifting to door-to-door neighborhood visits to get the job done. Supporters of the effort to land C Spire Fiber to the Home service gathered Thursday to refine their game plan moving forward. Corinth’s numbers have shown little movement recently: The north section is at 8 percent of the required number of signups for C Spire to launch the service; the central section is at 2 percent; and the south section is at 1 per-
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Employees with the Alcorn County Welcome Center (from left) Sherry Brown, Debbie Ryan and Nancy Carter have the 2014 Mississippi Official Tour Guides and new maps to hand out to visitors to the state. Corinth Contraband Camp,” said the writer of the piece. Borroum’s Drug Store and the White Trolley Cafe were mentioned in the official publication. “Before you leave Corinth, try a slugburger – a popular local sandwich celebrated at the annual Slugburger Festival –
at Borroum’s Drug Store and White Trolley Cafe,” said the article. Apron Museum. Tishomingo State Park and Pickwick Lake also garnered mention in the Hills Region section. In the Civil War section, the Please see GUIDE | 2A
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The price of a student lunch will rise at the beginning of the next school year in the Corinth School District. The board of trustees on Monday approved an increase in the price from $2.25 to $2.50 as the district complies with requirements of the National School Lunch Program, the federally assisted meal program that provides low-cost or free lunches to students. The program wants the paid price to get closer to the amount the district is reimbursed for a free lunch. Superintendent Lee Childress
said the increase should cover a couple of years. In October, the district served 6,218 paid student lunches — about 40 percent of all lunches served — generating $14,000. In other business: ■ The board said farewell to Missy Woodhouse, whose last regular meeting as a trustee was Monday evening, ending three terms and 15 years with the board. “We certainly appreciate everything she has done,” said Childress. “We have certainly made some advances over the last 15 years.” The new appointee to the seat, Becky Null, attended the
meeting to observe. Her term begins in March. ■ In personnel matters, the board approved Rebecca Northcutt as CHS librarian, April Kennedy as a CMS cafeteria worker, Megan Joyce as a kindergarten teacher assistant, and Phyllis Capps and Amanda Nicole Barton as bus drivers. Joshua Matthews and Megan Joyce will serve as substitutes for classrooms, cafeterias and student workers. The board accepted the resignation of CMS cafeteria worker Sara J. Hisaw. ■ In developments with the
Index Stocks......8A Classified......4B Comics......9A State......5A
Weather....10A Obituaries......6A Opinion......4A Sports....12A
Please see LUNCH | 2A
Please see FIBER | 2A
Alcorn School District announces staff hires BY ZACK STEEN
Schools raise lunch cost 25 cents
cent. The north section needs 45 percent, while the other two need 35 percent. Meanwhile, several other cities among the nine who are in the running for residential fiber service are getting within arm’s reach of the target. The leading five fiberhoods currently are Allen in Horn Lake at 36 percent; South Montgomery in Starkville, 33 percent; Quitman, 33 percent; Bridgewater in Ridgeland, 26 percent; and Somerset in Horn Lake, 18 percent. The Somerset fiberhood has a 35 percent target, while the other four need to reach 45 percent. Supporters believe the message of the benefits of the ul-
zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn School District Board of Directors recently acted on numerous staff hires. The board voted to hire James A. Bondurant as the new Kossuth Middle School assistant principal. Charlette Foster and Rhoda Cannon was approved to head up the Alcorn Central High School fast-pitch program. Foster is slated to become head coach, while Cannon will take the assistant coach position. The board approved the hiring of two substitute teachers. Allie Garcia will take over Glendale Elementary School assistant teacher duties from Rhonda Dickerson. Dickerson will be taking time off for maternity leave. The board also gave Nancy King the okay to become a sub-
stitute teacher later this year. King is set to retire in May. Approval was given to employ the following principals and administrators for the 2014-15 school year which will get underway in August. ■ Chris Butler ■ Joe Horton ■ Tammy Johnson ■ Mike Kimmons ■ Nellie Massengill ■ Brian Phelps ■ Stan Platt ■ Samuel Roberts ■ Stephanie Clausel ■ Randy Holt ■ Richard Turner ■ Denise Webb-Harrell ■ Misty Whittemore ■ Lisa Wigginton The Alcorn School District’s next board meeting is scheduled for March 24 at 5 p.m. at the district office on West Sawyer Road.
On this day in history 150 years ago Sherman’s small army occupies Meridian and begins destroying the railroads for several miles in each direction. Sherman frets that there has been no word of his cavalry coming down from Memphis. Where is Sooy Smith?
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