Thursday March 27, 2014 50 cents
Daily Corinthian
Cloudy, breezy Today
Tonight
64
59
30% chance of T-storms
Vol. 118, No. 73
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Narcotics unit makes felony arrests Alcorn County Justice Center on $20,000 bond. He has been charged with possession of two or precursors and intent to manufacture methamphetamine. “Derrick was a passenger in a vehicle the unit stopped,” said narcotics investigator Jason Willis. “During the stop it was discovered he had two Circuit Court indictments.” In another arrest Tuesday, the unit
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn Narcotics Unit added two more drug arrests to a busy few days. On Tuesday, James Derrick was taken into custody by officers following a traffic stop on County Road 702 in Wenasoga. Derrick, 45, of 55 County Road 755, Walnut, remains jailed at the
charged Lanny C. Holt, 52, of 1926 County Road 700, Corinth, with two counts sale of a controlled substance. Holt, on probation during the time of the arrest, is still jailed on $10,000 bond and has a hold placed on him by the Mississippi Department of Corrections. A Booneville woman faces a felony Please see ARRESTS | 2
Dillon
Holt
Derrick
February jobless rate drops slightly BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Area unemployment rates changed little in February as jobless figures continue to trend lower than a year ago. Alcorn County unemployment was 7 percent in February, according to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, compared to 7.1 percent in January and 9.2 percent a year ago. Meanwhile, the state’s unadjusted rate rose slightly from 7.9 percent in January to 8 percent in February. The state’s rate was 9.4 percent a year ago. The county had initial claims for unemployment insurance numbering 57, down from 84 a year ago, and continued claims totaling 687, down from 876. Regular benefits paid during the month totaled $111,630, down from $131,260 a year earlier.
Staff photo by Zack Steen
A district bus driver discusses route consolidation and how drivers are paid with the Alcorn School District Board of Directors.
School bus routes, driver pay discussed BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn School District met with district bus drivers and other school administrators recently to discuss consolidation of bus routes and how bus drivers are paid. “We have kicked around the issue of rather we are paying bus drivers fairly in the past,” said Board President and District 4 representative Mary Coleman. “We currently pay based on time the bus driver is on the route.” Director of Finance Misty Whittemore researched school districts of similar size across the state. “Comparing to other districts it looks like we need to look at route consolidation. We need to look at how long kids are staying on a route,” Whittemore said. “As far as driver pay, it’s really a toss-up.” Some districts pay on miles allotted during a route, while others use the time formula. Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith recently rode several routes to get an idea of time verses miles. “One route I rode is normally a 40 minute route,” said Smith.
The district’s transportation director said the district has a lot of real long bus routes. “We have to think about how long kids have to stay on these routes,” said Richie Williams. “How we pay our drivers is important, but we need to focus more on our kids.” The district is currently looking at purchasing a special tracking device that would log minutes, miles and a GPS map of the route taken. “We are going to try out one of these devices,” added Williams. “If it delivers the data we need we may be installing them on every bus in our fleet.” The device could also help determine the best pay for drivers. “Everyone would be paid by the number that is higher – miles or minutes,” said Smith. Williams made clear his main objective. “I want the pay to be fair for drivers. It’s tough finding bus drivers and we don’t want to lose any of our current drivers,” Williams said. “It’s also about safety and making sure our routes are efficient. I don’t want kids on a bus for an extending period of time.”
“On that day it was much shorted because five kids didn’t ride. Minutes could not be calculated correctly. In this instance miles would be more accurate then minutes.” Some district bus drivers voiced their opinion during the discussion. “It’s hard to pay a bus route on miles, because a trailer park is on my route,” said a long time bus driver. “I have 70 kids on a short route with a lot of stop and go driving. Another driver might have the same number of kids that are 10 miles apart, so they are clearly going further in miles. Both routes take the same amount of time, but my route is a lot less miles.” Another bus driver used a similar example. “How can the district justify a bus driver with a country road route verses a bus driver with a highway route? One bus can run 10 miles in 10 minutes, while another runs 10 miles in an hour.” District 3 Board Member Carroll Morton said it’s clear the minute system is much better than the mile system. “If it’s right, it’s fair,” he said.
Among neighboring counties, Prentiss posted a rate of 8.6 percent, compared to 10.2 percent a year earlier; Tishomingo, 8.8 percent, compared to 10.8 percent a year earlier; and Tippah, 9.7 percent, compared to 12 percent in February 2013. Alcorn County ranked 15th among the 82 counties as rates ranged from 4.8 percent in Rankin County to 17.3 percent in Tunica County. Mississippi’s not seasonally adjusted non-farm employment increased 2,500 over the month and was 5,800 higher than a year ago. Industry sectors registering the largest monthly employment gains were government, manufacturing, and educational & health services. The national unadjusted rate held at 7 percent from January to February and is down from 8.1 percent a year ago.
Program offers insight regarding Alzheimer’s BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
How to cope. Those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can learn more about the disease through Alzheimer’s 101–The Basics. The free community education program of the Alzheimer’s Association is set for Monday at the Mississippi State Extension Center from 2-4 p.m. “It’s so important those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s understand the disease,” said Keri Roaten, a
facilitator/ambassador with Alzheimer’s Association, MS. “This program will definitely provide valuable insight.” Roaten became her grandmother’s primary caregiver at age 15. What should have been the best years of her life were spent maintaining her grandmother’s health. “I cared for my grandmother 10 years before she passed away, all while helplessly watching her forget who I was,” said Roaten. According to the AlzheimPlease see COPING | 2
Farmington city leaders encourage safe digging during April BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
FARMINGTON — The Farmington Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously this week for a proclamation declaring April 2014 as Safe Digging Month. Mayor Dale Fortenberry signed the proclamation presented to the board by Mississippi 811. “I think this is a good thing,” said
the mayor. “Mississippi 811 has always been there when we needed them, so I think we need to do this for them and our citizens.” The proclamation encourages excavators and homeowners throughout the city to always call 811 before digging. The proclamation was presented to cities across the state. A monthlong campaign to make residents
Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 9 State........ 5
Evan Williams Black $ 99
9
750 ML
Kentucky Tavern $ 90
7
750 ML
aware of Mississippi 811 is planned for next month.
In other business: ■ The board approved participation in the 2014 Mississippi Municipal League Conference slated for June 23-25. “This is something everyone on this board needs to go to at some
point,” said Fortenberry. “I guarantee everyone will learn needed information about municipal law they did not know.” Alderman Lowell Gann, Jeff Patterson and Johnny Potts, along with City Attorney Greg E. Beard and Fortenberry are scheduled to attend the conference. The city’s deputy Please see FARMINGTON | 2
Fortenberry
On this day in history 150 years ago
Weather...... 10 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
Jack Daniels $ 99
17
750ML
2015 Hwy 72 E. Corinth, MS. 38834 • 662-594-1877
Telegrams are being wired at a furious pace among Nashville, Memphis, Huntsville and Paducah as plans are laid to cut off and capture the cavalry forces under Gen. Forrest as they make the ride back into Tennessee.
Southern Comfort $ 49 9
10
750ML
Canadian Mist $ 99
17
1.75L
Burnett’s Vodka $ 89
14
1.7 1.75L
Mon. - Sat. 10 A.M.- 9 P.M. • www.JRwinespirit.com