Saturday March 16, 2013 50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 65
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Amnesty month paying off for court BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
An offer of amnesty on old court fines is bringing steady business to Corinth Municipal Court. At the midpoint of amnesty month, the court has worked with about six people per day who have come in to settle up on old fines, according to Court Clerk Zane Elliott.
“It is working,” he said. “It was not designed to take in a lot of money but to get people back into good standing with the city.” The majority are getting on a payment plan to gradually pay off their fines in an amount that fits their budget. Some who were on a payment plan are able to pick up where they quit before. A few have paid off their
account entirely. Since it is income tax season, Elliott hoped tax refunds would help some people be able to pay. “We have had a lot of people asking how it works and if they will be arrested,” said Elliott. The offer of amnesty is good for two more weeks. It is only for fines owed prior to March 1, 2012, and is only available to individuals who
voluntarily visit the municipal court office at the justice center on South Harper Road. Individuals who meet those requirements do not face the threat of arrest during amnesty month. “We’ve had a lot of people call who were not qualified because it was something that just happened,” the clerk said. If the person gets arrested, it
Music Club hosting concert at FUMC BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Bobbi Campbell has the heart of a musician. Campbell, a principal flutist with the Brunswick Civic Orchestra of Georgia for seven years, will be the featured soloist of the Corinth Music Club’s Mid-Morning Concert Series. The concert is slated for 11 a.m. March 21 at the First United Methodist Church Chapel. “Bobbi is known to many Corinthians for her active involvement in the Corinth Symphony and the musical offerings of First United Methodist Church,” said the music club’s William McMullin. Currently in her 17th year with the Corinth Symphony Orchestra, Campbell has also performed with the Tupelo Symphony as a substitute musician and is a member of the Arts in McNairy Community Band. “Every year brings an opportunity to learn and improve my craft,” said Campbell, who has been playing the flute for 40 years. Campbell, who will be accompanied by Sara Ellington on piano, has titled the concert The Moody Flute(s). “The pieces cover a variety of styles and express different moods,” she said. The concert is free and will last about 30 minutes, according to McMullin. The program opens with High Wire, the second movement of Acrobatics for Piccolo and Piano by Jessica Koslowski, a short piece reminiscent of an afternoon at the circus. A sweet and lyrical side in the Under Serene Moonlight movement of the Eric Ewazen composi-
is too late to claim amnesty. The court is offering the amnesty opportunity in recognition that some people get behind and just can’t keep up. Once the amnesty period ends, the court plans to crack down, working with a police officer serving warrants. For questions about outstanding fines, contact the court office at 286-2236.
Community egg hunt scheduled March 30 BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Bobbi Campbell will be the featured soloist of the Corinth Music Club’s Mid-Morning Concert Series on March 21.
“Bobbi is known to many Corinthians for her active involvement in the Corinth Symphony and the musical offerings of First United Methodist Church.” William McMullin Music Club tion On Wings of Song will follow. The remaining portion of the program will be performed on flute by Campbell. The third movement of Sonata for Flute and Piano by Otar Taktakishvili will provide an abrupt change of mood with its driving tempo, rhythmic variations, and
emotional intensity. “All of the pieces are short and cute,” said the flutist. Four short movements from A Day in the Life of the Flute by Elton Burgstahler are also part of the performance. “This unique piece is based on the idea that “instead of being a conglom-
eration of screws, springs, pads, and a rigid pipe, flutes are human, too,’” said Campbell. Campbell has also chosen to play Morning Exercise, Coke Break, Shopping, and Goodnight for this program. There are a few musical surprises in the short movements, but the audience will receive hints to listen for them. “I have spent a lot of time to craft something that is different every year,” she said. Ellington will return to the piano to join Campbell on the final piece, a grouping of familiar Celtic tunes Lannigan’s Ball, The Kerry Dances, and Please see CONCERT | Page 2
Eggs will be everywhere at Crossroads Regional Park come March 30. So will be the Easter Bunny. The 9th Annual Community Egg Hunt is slated for a noon start at the park. Organizers will have 3,000 eggs to be found by children with plenty of candy and prizes to go around. “It’s always a lot of fun and something that doesn’t take long to get done,” said organizer J.C. Hill. Groups will be broken down into four divisions. The categories are 0-3, 4-6, 7-10 and special needs. A golden egg will be part of each division. “We put a lot of effort into making sure each kid gets something,” said Hill. “Children like to be able to win something and we have it structured so everyone has a fair chance.” Besides numerous eggs, candy and entertainment, the day will also consist of a chance to have a picture made with the Easter Bunny. The free photos are courtesy of Walgreens. “The event has got so big that we had to have sponsors,” said Hill. “They have really been good to us.” All the activities are free on the huge day of egg hunting. Last year a little over 400 kids took part, according to Hill. “I am looking forward to it,” added Hill. “Our volunteers are great and it takes everyone of them to pull this off … we key ourselves on being safe.” The egg hunt is being hosted by Fox Promotions and the Corinth/ Alcorn Parks and Recreation Department. For more information contact Hill 662-293-0290 or Dana or Eric McLain 662-287-9102.
Report: 6 active hate groups in area BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Six hate groups are currently active in Northeast Mississippi, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The SPLC is a nonprofit civil rights organization based in Montgomery, Ala. It is recognized across the country for its successful legal actions against hate groups and legal support for the victims of hate groups. The SPLC also monitors hate groups, militias and extremist organizations and strives to provide educational programs that promote tolerance. The “Intelligence Report” is the quarterly publication of the SPLC and is considered by many scholars as the most comprehensive source on extremism and hate groups in the United States. Each year the “Intelligence Report” compiles a list of active hate groups in the United States. Six active hate groups are identified in North Mississippi in the Spring edition of the
Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 7 State........ 5
Weather........9 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
SPLC’s “Intelligence Report.” Half of the hate groups in Northeast Mississippi are chapters of the Mississippi White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. This group has chapters in Tupelo, Ripley and Shannon. The Tupelo-based American Family Association is designated as an anti-gay hate group in the “General Hate” category. The American Family Association was first designated as a hate group in 2010 for the “propagation of known falsehoods” and employing “demonizing propaganda” against LGBT people. One hate group in the “Neo Confederate” category is listed for the region — Pace Confederate Depot in Baldwyn. According to the SPLC, “Neo-Confederate” groups seek to revive many of the racist principles of the antebellum South. The other hate group is listed in the “White Nationalist” category. The Confederate Patriot Voters United group is also located in Baldwyn. “White Na-
tionalist” groups espouse white supremacy or white separatist ideologies, according to the SPLC, often focusing on the alleged inferiority of nonwhites. The SPLC points out that groups in other categories could also be considered “White Nationalist.” The entire state of Mississippi currently has 36 active hate groups, running the gamut from Ku Klux Klan to “Black Separatists” — organizations whose ideologies include tenets of racially based hatred — and everything in between. With 36 active groups, Mississippi ties Ohio as the state with the seventh most active hate groups in 2012. Coming in first is California, with 82 groups, followed by Texas with 62. Florida rounds out this dubious top-three with 59 active hate groups. The states with the least numbers of hate groups are: Hawaii (zero), Alaska, Vermont and Wyoming (each with two). Please see HATE | Page 2
On this day in history 150 years ago Federal gunboats on the Yazoo River make a second attempt to engage Confederate forces at Fort Pemberton near Greenwood. The attack fails. The gunboats are damaged, and the attempt to reach Vicksburg through “the back door” is abandoned.