Thursday March 20, 2014 50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 67
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
School district searches for attorney BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
The search for a new school board attorney has begun in the Alcorn School District. “I know of two people who are interested in applying for the position,” said Mary Coleman, current board president.
want the meeting to go late into the night.” The new attorney hired for the position would be an independent contractor for the school district and would be paid on a flat retainer fee. One qualification immediately discussed by board members was
The position became vacant in early February with the passing of Jimmy Price. He had held the position for more than five years. “I think we should definitely call a special meeting for this,” said District Five board member Randy Wilbanks. “I don’t
an answer as soon as possible.” Price had a long history of school law experience and could offer answers to school board related questions without research. The board believes this criteria will be hard to find
the attorney’s availability to the board. “We want to be able to call the new attorney at any time of the day and know he or she will answer the phone,” said District Three board member Carroll Morton. “Usually when we have a question, it is one that needs
Please see ATTORNEY | 3
City contracts voter roll update BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The city of Corinth is contracting with the circuit court clerk to complete voter roll updates necessary after redistricting. Affected city voters should receive an updated voter information card in the mail. The city will pay Circuit Clerk Joe Caldwell $1,500 to complete the update to the
city voter roll and to notify the affected voters. City Clerk Vickie Roach said the updates need to be complete by March 25. Changes to the ward boundaries to equalize the populations based on 2010 census results have been described as minor. In other business before the Please see VOTER | 2
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Jim Mullins with Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District rebuilds a levee on Hatchie River.
Board anticipates Breaks repaired in Hatchie River levee school budget issues BY STEVE BEAVERS
sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
KOSSUTH — A crew with the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District finished work on the Hatchie River this week. The district, headquartered in Tupelo, has been in the area the last few weeks completing projects at Goose Pond and Hatchie River. “We have been rebuilding levees on each end,” said crew leader Jim Mullins about the work on the Hatchie River. Three breaks were repaired by workers Monday. Mullins and his crew of Michael Burt and Lee Graham worked on the levees after land-
“They are really great to work with and do a tremendous job,” added Mitchell. Since the crew has been in the county, they have replaced a bridge at Goose Pond and cleaned out the Goose Pond Creek for the 5th district. A three-person crew completed its latest project on lower Hatchie Monday. The mission of the district is to cooperate with local, state and federal organizations which have to do with the conservation and development of the natural resources and the human resources in the economic development of the district by multiple county activities.
owners discovered them and reported it to the Alcorn County Soil and Water Conservation District. “When sand spills over following a large rain it damages both trees and crops,” said Sandy Mitchell with the Alcorn County Soil and Water Conservation District. “We really depend on landowners to let us know when this happens … if it goes undetected it can cause severe damage to crops.” The Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District assists 12 counties in the state on projects pertaining to planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources.
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn School District hosted a special working session meeting this week focusing on the district’s current budget situation. Director of Finance Misty Whittemore presented a power point presentation to the board members. “We are in the preliminary stages of working on this year’s budget. I have prepared some numbers so everyone will hopefully understand what is coming up for us down the road,” said Whittemore. “Decisions will have to be
made going forward on ways we can balance our budget.” The 2013 physical year district maintenance account was $2,400,854.83, which is 7.9 percent of total revenues. “We currently have a board policy stating we must have at least seven percent of our fund balance at all times,” Whittemore said. “If we fall below that balance, we will have to submit a plan of action to the state on how to increase our balance. It looks like we are going to go below that number this year.” Please see BUDGET | 3
Staff photo by Zack Steen
‘Cinderella’ opens tonight at CHS BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
After a much needed Spring Break holiday, students in the Corinth High School Drama class dusted sand off of their feet before hitting the stage this week. The cast practiced for their upcoming play, “Cinderella”, four nights prior to leaving for Spring Break. This week the students got back into the swing of things as they remembered their lines and dance moves in preparation for tonight’s first public showing of the classic fairy tale. The cast of more than 80 students will work under the direction of CHS Drama teacher Kelly Treadway. Public performances are set for 7 p.m. tonight and Friday and 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Corinth High School auditorium. Tickets are $7 and are available for purchase in the CHS office or at the door prior to the show. In the play, Cinderella’s best friends are two mice named Jaq and Gus played by seniors Neal Lancaster and Zach Marlar. The two joked around briefly about their roles before hitting the stage. “We both sing mostly ,” said Lancaster. “They have these scooters that we get to
ride around on. The scooters make it look like we are running across stage really fast. It’s neat.” Marlar said he loves working with his classmates on plays. “We all have a lot of fun learning our roles and acting like fools,” he said. “It’s a great time.” The cast includes: Cinderella – Heather Kocurek; Drizella – Kate Mitchell; Anastasia – Shelby McElwain; Stepmother – Katie Jones; Fairy Godmother – Savannah Smith; Prince Charming – Logan Gates; King – JonMark Gardner; Grand Duke – Quajae Fisher; Herald – Jordan McDuffy; Lucifer the Cat – Frances Bullard; Jaq – Neal Lancaster; Gus – Zach Marlar; Perla – Katherine Matheson; Suzy – Mallory McClurg; Luke – Matthew Louis; Eric the Guitar Mouse – Luke Buffington; Narrator One – Teosha Boyd; Narrator Two – Nakia Strickland; Narrator Three – Claire Isbell; Narrator Four – Alyssa Park; Town Crier One – Katie Hurt; Town Crier Two – Monica Anderson; Town Crier Three – Zach Trest; Mice Singing in Chorus – Monica Hutchens, Please see CINDERELLA | 2
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Corinth High School Drama students Logan Gates and Heather Kocurek play Cinderella and Prince Charming.
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On this day in history 150 years ago
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Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk writes to the president about operations against the “deserters and traitors” in Jones County, Miss. Proclaiming to be “Southern Yankees,” Jones County secedes from the Confederacy but Polk’s troops suppress their activities.
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