Friday March 28,
Daily Corinthian
T-storms
2014
50 cents
Vol. 118, No. 74
Today
Tonight
74
52
50% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • 2 sections
Heath care sign-up deadline nears BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
North Mississippians without health insurance are pressed for time as the clock counts down to the deadline for Obamacare. More than 25,500 Mississippi residents have signed up for the private health insurance offered via an online health ex-
change marketplace created by President Barack Obama. The official deadline to create an account is Monday. Account holders will be given several weeks to determine what coverage plans they want to choose. Ginger Dillinger, owner of Crossroads Insurance Services, has been offering locals a free
look at Obamacare coverage. “We have been super busy the last two weeks,” said Dillinger. “I think most people have waited until the last minute.” A licensed Affordable Healthcare Act agent, Dillinger is worried people are misinformed about Obamacare. “I don’t agree with every-
thing about Obamacare,” said Dillinger. “But the program provides a opportunity for the average person to receive very affordable and good health coverage.” A 28-year-old single person who is a nonsmoker with an annual income of $15,000 would expect to pay around $25 per
month, a couple between the ages of 59-60-years-old who are nonsmokers with an annual income of $34,000 would expect to pay around $198 per month and a family of two with a annual income of $34,000 would expect to pay around $104 per Please see INSURANCE | 2A
Garbage truck fire snarls traffic on 72 BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
GLEN — A garbage truck fire shut down a portion of U.S. Highway 72 for a short time Thursday morning. The Waste Connections truck’s cab was destroyed when a fire ignited near the battery box of the vehicle, according to Alcorn County Emergency Management Director Ricky Gibens. “The cab was burning pretty good when I got there,” said Gibens, who was the first to respond to the scene near the Glen Post Office. “We had to use foam to knock it down first before using over a tank and half of water.” According to the emergency management director, an 18-wheeler truck driver alerted
the garbage truck driver that the vehicle appeared to be on fire. When he got out to check the situation, the fire then quickly engulfed the cab. “The cab was gutted,” added Gibens. The garbage truck, which was loaded with half of its route, was westbound on Highway 72 around 8:30 a.m. when the fire happened. District 2 employees was called to the scene to spread sand where the truck had been burning. Farmington and Glen fire departments responded to the scene. Also on hand were the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Department of Transportation and Alcorn County Sheriff’s Department.
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
The Cat in the Hat (Katelyn Mathis) and Adriana Gwyn try to wrangle up Thing 1 and Thing 2.
Book club opens up Saturday Traffic stop results BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The Cat in the Hat has a chat planned for youngsters at the Boys and Girls Club. The lanky character, created by Dr. Seuss and easily recognized by his red and whitestriped hat and red bow tie, is also bringing some of his friends. Characters from the popular children’s publication will be part of the Book Club Extravaganza kickoff from 1-5 p.m. Saturday. “There will be all kinds of activities related to Dr. Seuss,” said Boys and Girls Club Unit Director Christy Grice. “Our goal is to get kids signed up for the Book Club and committed
to reading at least 30 minutes a day for 30 days.” Corinth Theatre-Arts’ Youth Action Committee is playing a big part in promoting the reading project. Many of the committee will don costumes of Dr. Seuss characters on Saturday. “This will be my first time to act a book out,” said CT-A Artistic Director Cris Skinner. “Saturday will be a chance to get the audience involved in the acting part as we take pages and bring them to life.” Youth Action Committee member Katelyn Mathis is ready for the opportunity to open the eyes of youngsters to theatre. “I just remember as a kid being able to do shows at school and everyone thinking it was
great,” she said. “Saturday will be an opportunity to show the younger kids what theatre is all about and how fun it is.” CT-A is slated to be acting out The Cat in the Hat and Horton Hears A Who! from 1-2:30 p.m. “The images are so great in The Cat in the Hat and all Dr. Seuss books,” said Skinner. “They always have a good message.” Mississippi Waste Management is sponsoring the event which will be filled with a day of crafts, food and a party jumper. “I am super excited about Saturday,” said Grice. “I can’t wait and plan on bringing my own grandchildren.”
in felony drug charge BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Driving recklessly led to a steeper charge for an Ashland woman. Lacey Culifer, 24, of 1557 Black Jack Road, Ashland, was stopped Thursday by officers with the Alcorn County Sheriff’s Department. “Alcorn County K/9 Officer Scott Dalton and deputy Shane Crowe stopped a vehicle on U.S. Highway 72 for reckless driving,” said Darrell Hopkins with the Alcorn Narcotics Unit. “After speaking with the two occu-
pants they became suspicious of drugs in the vehicle.” Culifer, a passenger in the vehicle, handed over a clear bag of methamphetamine that she had in her pants to the officers during the stop. Officers with the narcotics unit were called to the scene and charged the woman, who was also carrying a small amount of marijuana, with felony possession of methamphetamine. Judge Steve Little set a $3,000 professional bond only for Culifer.
United Blood Services Kids getting dirty for a cause Saturday reports critical shortage BY ZACK STEEN
zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
United Blood Services has issued a critical appeal for blood amidst a shortage in the Northeast Mississippi area. “It takes over 250 blood donations everyday to meet the needs of area patients,” said Donor Recruitment Administrative Assistant Catherine Holcomb. While all types of blood are needed, the stock of O negative and O positive types are especially low. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health in
order to donate. Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger. Donors who are 16 must have signed consent from their parents or a guardian. The following locations are holding blood drives for those who wish to heed the call for help: ■ March 29 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Biggersville Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Rienzi. ■ March 31 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Oakland Baptist Church Gym in Please see BLOOD | 2A
It’s time to get muddy. The Muddy Warrior Run, presented by the Corinth Elementary School PTO, is Saturday at the Corinth High School Softball Complex on Proper Street. A fundraiser for the PTO to help buy healthy snacks for CES students, the run is a youth obstacle course and fun run for youth ages 5 to 18. “We have so many kids signed up,” said PTO President Annie Richardson. “I think everyone -- participants and spectators -- is going to have an awesome time.” Participants will be given approximate race times at regis-
Index Stocks......8A Classified......3B Comics......9A State......5A
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Weather....10A Obituaries......6A Opinion......4A Sports....12A
tration and will race in waves of 12 to 15 participants at a time. Waves will start roughly every five minutes, allowing participants ample time to reach and attempt each obstacle without interference or overloads. “All obstacles and challenges are ‘challenged by choice’,” said Richardson. “Participants will be encouraged and allowed to try the challenge or obstacle, but they will not be
required to complete them.” Tentative start times are 10 a.m. for ages 5 to 8, 11:30 a.m. for ages 9 to 11, 1 p.m. for ages 12 to 14 and 1:30 p.m. for ages 15 to 17. The run will be held rain or shine. Richardson said participants should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to scheduled start time. “We are going to keep registration open until 10 a.m. on race day for those kids who haven’t had an opportunity to sign up,” Richardson said. Registration fees include $20 for ages 5-8, $25 for ages 9-11, $30 for ages 12-14 and Please see RUN | 2A
On this day in history 150 years ago In Charleston, Ill., an anti-war group gathers to hear a speech by congressional candidate John Eden. Hundreds of Union soldiers are in town enjoying their furloughs. The anti-war crowd draws hidden weapons and fires into the unarmed soldiers.
Going On Now!
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286.6006 HWY 72 E • Corinth MS www.brosenissan.com www.broseautoplex.com