Saturday Feb. 15,
2014
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 40
Partly sunny Today
Tonight
44
32
0% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Caterpillar to expand
Fatal fire declared homicide BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
wide. Remanufacturing is the process of returning an endof-life, broken or blemished product to like-new condition. Caterpillar says this gives customers the same performance and reliability at a fraction of new cost and is better for the
The death of two brothers found following a house fire is being investigated as a homicide. The bodies of James Copeland, 67, and Jerry Copeland, 64, were discovered by Corinth firemen after a fire was extinguished at the 912 Second Street address they shared. “We believe the fire was intentionally set by someone,” said Ralph Dance, Detective Capt. with the Corinth Police Department. “As of now we are classifying it as a homicide investigation.” Firefighters were dispatched to the white vinyl home around 12:30 a.m. Thursday after 911 received a call about smoke coming from the rear of the house. Both men were found in the back of the home after firemen extinguished the blaze. Most of the visible damage was done to the left rear of the home. The state fire marshal was in Corinth to investigate the cause of the fire on Thursday and the two bodies were sent to Jackson for an autopsy Friday. “Information is being developed as we go,” said Dance. “It could be a case were we are able to release more details in a couple of days.” James Copeland was remembered as a caring man by Brian Hjort of the Father Founded Organization.
Please see CATERPILLAR | 2A
Please see FIRE | 2A
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant speaks at Caterpillar in Corinth as (seated, from left) Mississippi Reman Operations Manager Roberto Ortega, Mayor Tommy Irwin and Board of Supervisors President Lowell Hinton listen.
New engine brings 30 jobs, $14.8 million investment to Corinth BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Caterpillar is adding 30 jobs in Corinth as a new engine joins the lineup of the Mississippi Remanufacturing Operations. At the former Tecumseh plant, which Caterpillar has previously used for warehouse space, the company on Friday
formally announced the expansion and $14.8 million investment. The C175 is used in Caterpillar’s mining trucks and electric power applications. The first one produced in Corinth, painted the familiar yellow, served as a backdrop for the event.
The expansion is a direct result of the success of the Mississippi Reman facilities during the last 32 years, said Greg Folley, vice president, Reman, Components & Work Tools Division. The Corinth facility is Caterpillar’s lead facility for large engine remanufacturing world-
Kiwanis starts scholarship program 4-H has busy day planned BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dalycorinthian.com
Fill out those applications and get busy. The Corinth Kiwanis Club has released their 2014 Leon Frazier Memorial Scholarship applications and hopes that many students will apply and take advantage of the resources the club has to offer. Applications are available at most schools and must submitted by the March 7 deadline. All applications should be completed and returned to either a counselor or mailed to Kiwanis of Corinth at P.O. Box 1211, Corinth, MS 38834. “This is our 17th year to do the Leon Frazier Memorial Gospel Singing,” said Kiwanis member Jimmy Rich. “The gospel singing is made possible by our sponsors and help from the community. It
is the main vehicle that funds the scholarship program.” The next gospel singing has been set for June 7 with more details to come. To date, the club has awarded $164, 000 in scholarship money to 208 students and hopes to add 10 more students and $10,000 to the mix this time. Each student selected will be given a $1,000 scholarship. The money awarded goes toward tuition, books, supplies and anything else needed for a college education. “Our kids are our next generation, said Reid Bostick director of this year’s scholarship program. “We want to help establish a foundation for them to be able to move on to the next level and get a college education.” The Corinth Kiwanis Club has served Alcorn County for
95 years and is associated with Kiwanis International. Their mission is “To serve the children of the world.” They take to heart this mission and follow it in a “quiet and unassuming fashion” while providing a variety of services to the community. According to the club’s website, “Kiwanians are volunteers changing the world through service to children and communities. Kiwanis members shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, mentor the disadvantaged and care for the sick. They are dedicated to changing the world, one child and community at a time.” (For more information about the Corinth Kiwanis Club and to download the scholarship application, visit www.corinthkiwanis.org)
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Today is going to be a busy day for local 4-H members. A number of members will begin the day by taking part in the 4-H Cloverbud & Cloverleaf Exhibit and 4-H Visual Presentation followed by the initial Showdeo event of the season. Youngsters age 10-18 are set to take part in the visual presentation at 11 a.m. at the Alcorn County Extension Service. Around 20-25 clubbers from four different age groups will present a demonstrated talk using posters and visual aides. “I encourage them to select subjects they are comfortable with,” said 4-H agent Tammy Parker. “They usually choose something they are involved in.” Following the visual pre-
sentation, the new Showdeo season begins at 1 p.m. The lone indoor event of eight shows throughout the year will be held in the Crossroads Arena. “The club has some exciting plans for this year,” said Parker of the event open to other 4-H clubs as well. Young people do not need to be a rider or even own a horse to join the Showdeo Club. “They can be part of the club in the non-riding portion,” added the agent. For more information about the events call the extension service at 286-7756.
Show features Graham’s Fishing Rodeo 101 BY LARRY REA For the Daily Corinthian
Carl Graham usually closes one of his fishing seminars with the same quote. “Life is a collection of memories. Take a child fishing and create some memories today.” That’s why the Corinth resident loves to talk fishing with youth. Not only youth but those people who take time to take youth fishing, whether they are parents, guardians, neighbors, friends or relatives. And that’s what he’ll be doing today in two seminars titled Fishing Rodeo 101. Graham’s seminars at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. are part of the 20 hours of seminars featured in the 50th annual Mid-South Sports & Boat Show continu-
ing through Sunday at the Agricenter in East Memphis, Tenn. The seminars are included in the ticket for the show, which is produced by Memphis-based Expo South and is among the oldest of its kind in the U.S. All of the fishing seminars will be held in the Agricenter’s Amphitheater featuring the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Fish Tank. Show hours will be 9 a.m.-7 p.m. today and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. As usual, parking will be free. Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $3 for children 7-14. Children 6 and under are free. The seminars by Graham, a retired Memphis fireman who lives in Corinth, will give youth the opportunity to learn how to properly prepare to fish in
the Mid-South’s many Junior Fishing Rodeos this spring. For sure, Graham has the credentials to do this one-of-a-kind seminar. His career includes: 1997-2012 – owner of Hammer Rod Company; 1974-1991 – owned Pro Line Company (Hog Rustler fishing lures); 7 years, promoted Polar Kraft Boats and worked boat shows; 9 years, promoted Fiber Sports (Sprint boats) and worked boat shows; 1 year, promoted for Skeeter Boats; 14 years, promoted for Venture Boat Company; 9 years, Ranger Pro Staff. But there’s more: Mid-South Fishing with Carl Graham (WREG, Channel 3,
Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 7 State........ 5
Weather........9 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
Please see GRAHAM | 2A
Carl Graham
On this day in history 150 years ago A Union cavalry brigade under Colonel Edward F. Winslow is dispatched northwest from Meridian in an attempt to find the missing cavalry column under Sooy Smith. Winslow and his men are not successful.