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Daily Corinthian
2015
50 cents
Vol. 119, No. 70
Varying clouds Today
Tonight
77
58
40% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 26 pages • Two sections
Students won’t make up snow days BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth School District students will not have to make up this winter’s snow and ice days. Following an attorney general’s opinion and guidance from the Mississippi Department of Education, the school board on Monday amended the school
calendar to 177 student days to reflect the inclement weather waiver. Corinth students missed five days during a series of winter storms in late February and the first week of March. The calendar had two built-in snow days, leaving three days the district would otherwise have been
forced to reschedule. While state law requires a 180-day calendar, it contains some apparently conflicting provisions dealing with inclement weather. The AG’s opinion was sought by the state to clear that up. In order to get the waiver, the district had to submit docu-
mentation showing the superintendent has the authority to declare a weather emergency and close school. Districts that do not have have a written policy giving that authority will have to make up missed days up to four in total. If more than four were missed, those districts have the option
of adding an hour or more to school days to make up the rest. If the storms had hit earlier in the year, the outcome might have been different for Corinth students. “If this had happened, let’s say, in January, and we had Please see SCHOOLS | 2A
Timber company adds over 50 jobs BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
A Crossroads area timber company is helping grow the economy with a multi-million dollar expansion that will add over 50 new jobs. Pro South has announced plans to add a sawmill to its facility on new Highway 30 in Prentiss County, a $2.75 million investment by the company that will bring 57 new jobs. The diversified timber company operates logging, trucking, timber purchasing and
wood yard services divisions. The new sawmill will produce a variety of processed lumber and timber products. “We are excited about the future of our company and for the new job creation in our own hometown as a result of this latest sawmill project,” said Pro South President Russell Stites. “By diversifying our business, we are seeking to provide enhanced job security and longevity for all of our employees, new Please see JOBS | 2A
Kidnapping victim escapes; 2 charged Norton realizes childhood goal Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Dr. Valerie Norton knew she wanted to become a doctor at an early age.
Staff Reports
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Valerie Norton knew at a young age she wanted to be a doctor. Her mother has the picture to prove it. “I always wanted to be like my family doctor,” said Dr. Norton, D.O. “He (Dr. David Walt) looks a lot like Santa Claus and is the type person who always knows who you are every time he sees you … he was who I wanted to be.” Dr. Norton, a Cleveland,
Miss. native, came to Magnolia Regional Health Center for her third year of medical school in 2010. An internal medicine physician who works only with adults, she completed her three years of residency in July of 2014. “My husband (Allen) and I knew we wanted to stick around here,” said Norton. “Allen and I are both smalltown people and the medical advancement here in Corinth just pulled me in.” Dr. Norton, who graduated
Magna Cum Laude with a BS degree in Biology from Delta State University, settled on Magnolia Regional Health Center after completing her Medical Degree at Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences, Kansas City, Mo. “Corinth was close to home,” said Norton, a current member of the Mississippi Osteopathic Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association and American College of OsPlease see NORTON | 2A
Two people are charged with kidnapping after their alleged victim escaped from their vehicle at a Corinth convenience store. Keith Allen Dotson, 29, and Alicia Denise Dotson, 46, of Prentiss County were arrested Monday and charged with kidnapping. Bond has not yet been set and both remain in custody. Prentiss County Sheriff Randy Tolar said the pair are accused of kidnapping an adult male on the night of Sunday, March 1. Witnesses called Corinth police after they saw
the victim escape from the accused kidnappers and struggle as the suspects attempted to regain control of him. The victim was transported to Magnolia Regional Health Center to be treated for his injuries. Investigators with the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department developed information leading them to a residence on County Road 8401 in Jumpertown where additional evidence was found linking the Dotsons to the kidnapping. Tolar expressed appreciation for the Corinth Police Department’s assistance in the case.
Water line flushing ‘on tap’ for April BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Fresh and clean. The City of Corinth Gas & Water Department will begin the process next month to ensure their approximately 7,500 customers continue to receive that type of water. Beginning in April, the department is starting the annual process of flushing its water distribution system throughout the city. The procedure is expected to continue into May.
“It generally takes about five to six weeks,” said assistant general manager Chris Latch. “We try to do it about the same time every year.” A pair of gas and water employees are slated to handle the process of flushing around 1,000 hydrants. The routine procedure is set to start around 8 p.m. and continue until 5 a.m. “It’s done at night to minimize the inconvenience to our customers,” said Latch. “We hope most people will be
through washing clothes and taking baths by around 10 p.m.” Work to flush the system starts on a Sunday night and goes through Thursday evening. “This is something we have been doing since about 1998,” said Latch. “It’s a recommended practice by the health department and helps condition the water pipes … it is also a good program for us check the condi-
Staff photo by Mark Boehler
Please see FLUSHING | 2A
The City of Corinth Gas & Water Department will begin flushing its water distribution system next month.
25 years ago
On this day in history 150 years ago
Chancery Clerk Larry McCollum and Board of Supervisors President Travis Little say the Alcorn County Chancery Clerk’s office hopes to move into their renovated building by May.
Robert E. Lee’s attack at Fort Steadman is a devastating defeat and his plan to break the Union siege fails. He immediately begins plans for the evacuation of the Army of Northern Virginia from Petersburg.
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