Friday March 13,
Daily Corinthian
Rain
2015
50 cents
Today
Tonight
64
59
100% chance of thunderstorms
Vol. 119, No. 62
• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections
Police put vehicles up for auction BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Looking for a car? Corinth P.D. has a dozen to sell. Eight vehicles seized from criminal activities and several surplused police vehicles will be listed at govdeals.com, an auction site where governments offer vehicles and equipment.
Anyone can bid. Police Chief Ralph Dance said the department wants to let the local public know about the sale in case anyone is interested. In recent years, local governments have begun to use the auction site more and more. “It’s easier for us to put a few on there as we go than to stock-
pile and save up 40 or 50 vehicles for an auction,” said Dance. The vehicles were expected to be listed on the site today. They can be found by searching for the City of Corinth, and there will be no reserve pricing. Dance said some of the better offerings are a four-wheel-drive Jeep Liberty and a Cadillac that
runs well with 125,000 miles on the odometer. There is a Toyota Tundra that needs some work, and a couple that aren’t in working order, including a Trailblazer. Any defects in the vehicles will be noted in the auction listings. The former police vehicles,
including several Crown Victorias, have been stripped of the blue lights and other equipment. The department recently took some older vehicles off the street after the purchase of two new Chevrolet Tahoes for the patrol fleet. The vehicles are parked at the correctional facility parking lot.
J.A. continues banner tradition Corinth launches BY KIMBERLY SHELTON
safety initiative
kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
It was a gloomy Thursday morning as Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball Chair Jamie Jones and Charity Ball Co-Chair Lyndsie Beatty gathered at the home of James E. “Sonny” Boatman for a special surprise. Boatman was jovial as he stood on the front lawn of his Taylor Street residence where the traditional banner was soon placed, honoring him as JA’s 2014 Outstanding Citizen of the Year. The Corinth Artist Guild Gallery President said he was ecstatic upon first learning of his distinction on March 22, 2014, during Junior Auxiliary’s 52nd Annual Charity Ball. Nominated by Debbie Tallent as a tireless contributor who consistently avoids the limelight and accolades for his service, the Corinth resident graciously accepted the award. “I was stunned,” said a very animated Boatman. “I am humbled to be in such good company as the people who have won in the past.” Cementing his place among past Outstanding Citizen’s of the Year, the now 84-year-old achieved celebrity status as he pressed his palms in clay for his own star on JA’s Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Outstanding Citizen Award is presented yearly to an exemplary individual who has been dedicated to, served and contributed to their community. As is customary, the 2015 Citizen of the Year will be presented at this year’s ball. Invitations have gone out and the guest list is filling up quick-
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Safety is getting renewed emphasis alongside Corinth city employees’ mission of service. The city is partnering with the Mississippi Municipal Service Company, which provides the city’s worker’s compensation and municipal liability coverage, on a pilot initiative that will keep the safety message before employees through training and other efforts. In its last regular meeting,
the Board of Mayor and Aldermen adopted a safety mission statement and appointed Kim Ratliff as safety coordinator. “There has always been an emphasis on safety, but not to the extent that we’re getting ready to do now,” said Ratliff, who works with code enforcement and other projects. “Every department has their own different sets of liabilities. Everybody has different public interactions, and that creates Please see SAFETY | 2A
Group seeks funding for military packages BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com Staff photo by Kimberly Shelton
Charity Ball Chairwoman Jamie Jones and Charity Ball CoChairwoman Lyndsie Beatty present James E. “Sonny” Boatman with a banner honoring him as the Junior Auxiliary 2014 Outstanding Citizen of the Year. ly for the 53rd Annual Charity Ball which will be held at The Franklin Courtyard on Saturday, March 28. Tickets for “The GreatGatsby”-themed ball are $65 per person or $130 per couple with all proceeds going to fund
the chapter’s projects for the year. Those who wish to attend the event, but did not receive an invitation may purchase tickets from a Junior Auxiliary member or at the door on the night of the ball.
Mid-South Project Package needs help. The nonprofit group, which sends out care packages each month to service personnel from the Mid-South area who are deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait, is in desperate need of funding. “Funding has taken a severe hit after the holidays,” said Project Package volunteer Tom Chartres. “We need to be sending boxes to soldiers
every single month, but don’t have the funds to do it.” Another 262 soldiers are set for deployment in the coming Please see PACKAGES | 2A
Alcorn County 4-H hosts Creative Arts Day BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Build, make and decorate. Area youngsters took time out of their Spring Break to do just that at the Mississippi State Extension Service. Close to 20 children sampled the many opportunities 4-H has to offer during the Spring Creative Arts Day. “This is a great way to promote 4-H,” said agent Tammy Parker. “There is no cost for them to be introduced to everything 4-H involves.” Mary Linda Moore, in charge of Family Resource Management with the extension service, and Jaylene Whitehurst helped youngsters with a quartet of creative events. Kids constructed a block art design to get the day going. They also took part in making an Easter Tree and rain stick
before ending the day by creating a collage. The promotion of 4-H didn’t end on Thursday. 4-H Movie Night makes its debut on March 27 at the extension office. The event is set for 6-8 p.m. and is free, according to Parker. More than six million 4-H youth in urban neighborhoods, suburban schoolyards and rural farming communities stand out among their peers, making the club the nation’s largest youth development organization. 4-H builds revolutionary opportunities and implements community-wide change at an early age. It offers numerous programs and growth opportunities which put the heads, hearts, hands and health of youth to work learning and applying the essential elements of the 4-H program.
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Cadance Whitehurst works on her block art design. Related photos on Page 2A.
25 years ago
On this day in history 150 years ago
Rosemary Taylor Williams is honored with the Mississippi Association of Educators’ Humanized Education Award. The highest honor given by the group to those outside the education profession, the award recognizes Williams’ work with Horizon Inc., an educational support organization.
President Davis signs the “Negro Soldier Law” that allows slaves to serve. Though it is not stated, it is with the understanding the slaves will be given their freedom at a later date. The law comes too late to be of practical use.
RENTAL
Reserve yours now for SpringNissans! Break 2015! Now Renting 2014
Call details Call for for complete details and rates! rates! and
286.6006 286.6006 HWY 72 E • Corinth MS BROSE www.brosenissan.com BROSE