Thursday March 6,
2014
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 55
Mostly cloudy Today
Tonight
53
33
30% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Senate OKs teacher pay raise plan BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
The Mississippi Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a plan to raise teacher pay and reward academic progress at schools. The plan would give teachers an additional $1,500 in July and another $1,000 a year later. After that, teachers could become eligible for merit raises. Under the plan, cur-
rent Mississippi teachers would see a $3,500 increase in pay by July 2015. “I’ve received a lot of positive feedback on this plan. I think our teachers will feel like it is fair,” said Sen. Rita Parks (R-Alcorn, Tishomingo). “We have removed the criteria and some of the meaningless items from the bill the House had sent us.” Parks said the plan raises beginning salaries to help keep Missis-
sippi’s teachers from going to work in other states. “This plan establishes a true merit pay plan in Mississippi,” she added. “It is very important that we are making teacher starting pay competitive with surrounding states.” Mississippi has long had some of the lowest teacher salaries in the naPlease see TEACHERS | 2
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Alderman J.C. Hill honored for service BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Zack Steen
Corinth High School juniors Shelby McElwain and Kate Mitchell practice their evil face at a recent dress rehearsal of “Cinderella.” The two CHS students play the role of evil stepsisters Anastasia and Drizella.
CHS students staging ‘Cinderella’ BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
It’s 6:30 sharp on a recent Tuesday night at the Corinth High School auditorium. Kids, ages 15 to 18, fill seats around the room while main cast members stand on stage ... waiting, talking, texting and snapping selfies.
CHS Drama teacher Kelly Treadway announces at the top of her lungs, “it’s time, folks.” Time for the first of three scheduled full show dress rehearsals of “Cinderella.” Public performances of the all-student play are set for March 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. and
March 23 at 2 p.m. Even though students have two weeks before the first show, they still have a tough task ahead of them. They must learn their lines, songs and steps before Spring Break fever hits Friday and stuPlease see CINDERELLA | 2
A Corinth alderman has always felt the need to do more. Ward 4 Alderman J.C. Hill was recently honored for his dedicated service to the Selective Service System. The 63-year-old received a letter of appreciation along with a certificate for being a 10-year member of the Mississippi District Appeal Board. “This is my way to serve my country since I wasn’t in the military,” said Hill. “I take great pride in serving. The alderman became a member of the appeal board after a former member asked him to serve. “Willie (Walker) wanted me to serve in his place and wrote a letter of recommendation for me,” said Hill. “It’s something a person has to be interested in and committed to doing.” According to the Selective Service System website, District Appeal Boards are located in each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and Virgin Islands. The law requires at least one such board within the area of each federal judicial district in the United States and within each territory and possession. Members, who are uncompensated civilian volunteers, are appointed by the direc-
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Corinth Alderman J.C. Hill recently was honored by the Selective Service System. tor of Selective Service in the name of the president. Each is a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age, not an active or retired member of the Armed Forces or any reserve component of the Armed Forces, a resident of the geographical area in the federal judicial district over which his or her particular board has jurisdiction, and meets all of the other membership requirements of the law and regulations. The volunteer citizens are charged with protecting the individual rights of all registrants presenting claims should a military draft be reinstated. “The training is in-depth
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Weekend yard, bake sale will supply snack packs BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Pinecrest Baptist Church is using a sale to continue an important ministry to children. The church is hosting a twoday yard and bake sale Friday and Saturday to raise funds for Pinecrest Weekend Snackpacks for Kids Charity. Since the ministry started in March of 2011, more than 10,000 snack packs have been sent home with children in Alcorn County. “We supply foods they can eat without much supervision since most of them are by themselves on the weekend,” said founder R.M Brooks. Breakfast and lunch will be available both days of the sale which runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the church’s family life center. “We would like to raise $2,500, but we will be happy with whatever we get,” said Brooks of the annual event. Each Friday during the
Serving Lenten luncheons
school year, PWSK volunteers get 200 bags ready to go home with children. Behind the work of volunteers, who fill and distribute the snacks, along with the many prayers from PWSK, snack packs are able to be delivered to children at each elementary school in Alcorn County. “We have 25 church members meet each week to get the bags ready,” added Brooks. In 2012, the program received a tax-exempt 501 ©3 non-profit status. This year, a partnership with Mid-South Food Bank, in Memphis, Tenn., has helped keep costs down. Brooks started the program after being saved. “I felt like the Lord was calling me to do something to help children,” he said. (Those interested in making a donation to the charity can do so by sending it to the PWSK Fund at SouthBank on Harper Road or to PWSK, 313 Pinecrest Road, Corinth, Ms. 38834.)
Mary Louise Bell gets bread ready to be served during the first Lenten Luncheon of the new year. The First United Methodist Women have been in charge of the annual event for 34 years. The luncheons, held each Wednesday at noon, will continue through April 9. Related photo on Page 2.
Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 9 State........ 5
Evan Williams Black $ 99
21
1.75L
Kentucky Tavern $ 90
7
750ML 7 50
Please see HILL | 2
On this day in history 150 years ago
Weather...... 10 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
Blue Ice Vodka $ 98
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2015 Hwy 72 E. Corinth, MS. 38834 • 662-594-1877
A Confederate torpedo boat rams the USS Memphis two times in the North Edisto River, S.C., but the explosive device at the end of a spar fails to detonate and the mission fails.
Mia Dolcea Pink Moscato $ 99
12
750ML 7 50ML
McWilliams Shiraz $ 99
9
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Redwood Creek Merlot $ 99
9
1.5L
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