Tuesday Feb. 18,
2014
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 42
Partly sunny Today
Tonight
64
46
20% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 14 pages • 1 section
BBB warns against computer scam Consumers receive a phone call in which the caller claims to be representative of Microsoft or some other reputable computer company’s “Tech Support” department. The phony technician informs computer users they have a virus and offers to fix the
BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
Scammers masquerade as professionals, businesses and authority figures. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning Mississippians about the latest scam to hit the state.
problem. What they are really after is remote control access to the victim’s personal computer. According to Microsoft, once the scammers have access to a person’s computer, they can install malicious software, steal personal information, take con-
trol of the computer remotely or direct consumers to fraudulent websites where they are asked to enter their credit card information. “What the caller is attempting to do, is get remote access to your computer and install a virus, or steal personal informa-
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
A pair of juveniles were quickly apprehended after escaping the Alcorn County Juvenile Detention Center Saturday night. According to center director Shelly Hopkins, two juveniles compromised a cell door lock around 9 p.m. The pair then assaulted a detention officer and escaped the center. Officers found the juveniles
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Mississippi Forestry Commission’s Keith Wooten hands out some of the 3,000 seedlings that were passed out free of charge. See related photo on page 2.
Annual tree giveaway tops 3,000, mainly pines sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Warmer weather has the area in a planting mood. Forestry agencies provided over 3,000 seedlings Friday to help those who are ready to get the growing season started. The annual tree giveaway of the Alcorn County Extension Service, Forestry Commission and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service saw a slow start in distributing the free seedlings. “A lot of folks called in asking about the trees, but I think the weather earlier this week has
thrown their schedules off,” said Patrick Poindexter, County Director with the Mississippi State Extension Service. Representatives with the three agencies arrived early to hand out the trees on Valentine’s Day. “I have been advising men to not give the trees as a Valentine’s gift,” said Poindexter with a smile. Around 3,000 of the seedlings were pines with another couple hundred being of the hardwood variety. “The trees don’t have to be planted right after getting
Please see SCAM | 2
Juveniles captured after escaping detention center
Planting the seedling
BY STEVE BEAVERS
tion,” said John O’Hara, CEO of BBB serving Mississippi. “Since last week we have received calls from all over the state and luckily so far it has been consumers calling to check with us before they turn over access.”
them,” said Poindexter. “If people get them planted the next couple of days, they will be fine … the main thing is to keep them outside and not let them dry out. If the trees dry out they will be no good.” National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April, but most southern states celebrate the event in other months. Mississippi’s Arbor Day celebration is always scheduled for the second Friday in February. This year marked the second time the local event was held at the extension service instead of the Alcorn County Courthouse.
only a few blocks from the detention center and returned them without further incident. Both have now been charged with assaulting an officer and felony jail escape. Several agencies assisted in quickly capturing the two. The agencies involved included the Alcorn County Sheriff’s Department, Corinth Police Department, Farmington Police Department and Alcorn County Constables.
8th member of ring sentenced to prison BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
An eighth individual accused of being part of a north Mississippi drug ring has been sentenced to prison time. U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Marty Lambert of Booneville to serve seven years and four months in custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons on a plea of guilty following his indictment for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana. He must also serve three years of probation following his release. Aycock handed down the sentence in a hearing Thursday in Aberdeen.
Lambert was part of a group of 10 accused of arranging the purchase and shipment of drugs into the region, storing the drugs in stash houses and distributing them to local buyers. The indictment covers a period from Oct. 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012. Lambert was 43 at the time the arrests were announced. The group included five Corinthians. Among them are the last two individuals awaiting sentencing following prior guilty pleas — Jay Hill and Kenneth Scales. The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
Local extras Burns back in saddle included in for 100th birthday Brown biopic BY STEVE BEAVERS
sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
An Iuka mother and her son got the feelin’. Sherry Brown and her 17-yearold son, Jagger, took part in a oneday shooting of the film “Get On Up” in early January at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. The biopic of funk music legend James Brown was shot in Natchez and Jackson. The Browns served as extras during a scene about the “Godfather of Soul” on Jan. 7. “It was fun and we had a great time,” said Sherry. The mother and son were part of around 100 extras used in a scene from a Brown 1971 concert in Paris. Brown, who is supervisor at the Alcorn County Welcome Center, decided to give it a shot because of Jagger. “He wants to get into the business and I found a casting notice Please see BROWN | 2
Just like old times. It crossed Freddie “Freddie Boy” Burns mind as he took a couple of laps around the Crossroads Arena on a horse named Boots. All eyes were fixed on the 100-year-old cowboy as he climbed into the saddle for the first time since 1957. “It felt natural,” said Burns after dismounting a horse named Boots with the help of friends. “I grew up riding bareback mules in Prentiss County and use to ride with my band at the Central Riding Academy in Memphis, Tenn.” Burns’ wish was to get back on a horse when he turned 100. Members of the 4-H Showdeo Club made it possible Saturday morning. “He wanted to be back on a horse when he was 100 and have his picture taken,” said Hal Cooper, who attends
Danville Church of Christ with Burns. “Fred told us we could put ‘he is back in the saddle again’ under the picture.” “It was a honor to let him ride,” said Lee Bo Wilhite, who is over the Showdeo Club. “As he was getting on the horse, he got to telling us about the old days.” The old days for Burns, a former Corinth resident, included a radio and television broadcast career with the band Freddie Burns and His Ranch Boys. “We were a real county and western Band,” said Burns, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Feb. 1. The band was offered a chance to be regulars at the Grand Ole Opry and to make movies with Gene Autry. Both invitations were declined, according to Freddie Boy. “We weren’t after all of
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Please see BURNS | 2
Freddie “Freddie Boy” Burns celebrated his belated 100th birthday by climbing on a horse for the first time in 57 years.
Index Kids Page...... 10 Classified...... 13 Comics........ 8 State........ 5
Weather........9 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 11
On this day in history 150 years ago There is no sign of the Confederate submarine C.S.S. Hunley. Yesterday evening the sub attacked the U.S.S. Housatonic, the first ship ever sunk by a submarine. The sub went down in the explosion and it will be 136 years before she resurfaces.