040114 daily corinthian e edition

Page 1

Tuesday April 1,

2014

50 cents

Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 77

Partly sunny Today

Tonight

77

56

0% chance of rain

• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section

Davis pleads guilty, gets 40 years BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

A Corinth man was sentenced to serve 40 years in custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for the 2013 shooting death of Karson DeAnn Stewart. Demarlen Obryan Davis, 26, appeared in Alcorn County Circuit Court Monday morning to plead guilty in the case. Numerous family members of 22-year-old Stewart, a Corinth resident who was shot in the face after the two had a quarrel, observed the proceedings as Davis, who was her boyfriend,

faced Judge Jim Pounds. Two family members read statements from the audience. “Karson always saw the best in you,” said Whitney Stewart, mother of the victim. But he did not have favor with the family. “We prayed daily that she would get away from you and see you for what you were,” she said. Struggling to hold back tears, she said the family does not hate him and forgives him. Davis showed little response as the family members spoke behind him, where they were

unable to see his face. He did, however, accept the opportunity to speak. “I would like to tell Karson’s family that I’m sorry and I never meant for any of this to happen,” he said. “I have to live with this for the rest of my life.” As part of a plea agreement, the district attorney’s office retired the previous indictment for murder and allowed Davis to plead guilty on a two-count criminal information for depraved heart 2nd degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Circuit Judge Jim Pounds imposed

the 40-year sentence with credit for time already served and imposed a concurrent 10year sentence on the firearm charge. Davis must pay restitution of $3,284.89 to the Mississippi Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund and $4,100 to Magnolia Regional Health Center for unpaid medical expenses related to the crime. Police have said Davis and Stewart had a troubled relationship that ended in her shooting death at 602 Martin Luther King Drive on the night of March 26, 2013. She was shot

with a .32-caliber pistol. Police retrieved threatening text messages that Davis sent to Stewart on the day of her death. Assistant District Attorney Richard Bowen said the state would have shown that Davis committed the shooting in Stewart’s vehicle around 9:30 p.m. that night after the two had an argument and altercation. Davis initially denied involvement in the shooting and later told police that it happened Please see DAVIS | 2

Gilbert concert sets Arena attendance mark BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

Brantley Gilbert owns the record in just his first trip. The third stop of Gilbert’s “Let It Ride” tour established a new attendance mark at the Crossroads Arena over the weekend. Over 7,400 fans packed the multipurpose facility Saturday night, besting the previous high-water mark of over 7,300 during the Luke Bryan concert in May of 2012. “These kinds of successes will help us build the arena reputation and assist in achieving its goals,” said general manager Tammy Genovese. According to Genovese, the Crossroad Arena broke all previous marks in attendance, concessions and merchandise sales. “It was a great night for the Crossroads Arena and Corinth,” said Genovese. “Area restaurants were packed before and after the concert.” Gilbert, along with specials guests Thomas Rhett and Eric Paslay, saw a near-capacity crowd turn out for their 22-city tour schedule. “Fans poured into the building when the doors opened at 6:30 p.m.,” said Genovese. “We

A new attendance record at the Crossroads Arena was set during the Brantley Gilbert concert Saturday. See related photos on page 2. heard only positive comments from fans and we know they had a good experience.” Two local concert fans were impressed with the show. “The best concert hands down,” said Allie Palmer of Biggersville. “Not only did I get to go to the concert, but I also got to meet Brantley Gilbert. He

was hilarious and such a sweetheart.” “I am a huge Brantley Gilbert fan and was so excited to be able to meet him in person,” added Brandy Shelton of Rienzi. “It was an awesome night.” Genovese was thrilled to hear the good experiences of fans during the night.

“That is what it is all about,” she said. Born in Jefferson, Ga., the 29-year-old country and country rock performer debuted his first album – Modern Day Prodigal Son – in 2009. Two songs on the album – “Country Must Be Country Wide” and “You Don’t Know Her Like

I Do” – both shot to number one on the country charts when his second album, Halfway to Heaven, was released. “It was a team effort from everyone in making the night a success,” said the general manager. (Writer Kimberly Shelton contributed to this article.)

Warrior run was muddy success Corinth Home Tour

set for Friday, Saturday

BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

Hundreds of kids had a muddy good time Saturday at the first annual Muddy Warrior Run at the future home of the Corinth High School Softball Complex on Proper Street. Presented by the Corinth Elementary School PTO, kids ages 5 to 18 took a lap around the nearly 1-mile course that featured 19 unique challenges and obstacles. “It was pretty cool hearing the reaction from the kids as they crossed the finish line,” said PTO President Annie Richardson. “Kids were coming up with purple lips and their feet weighted down with mud. The first thing most of them said was, ‘Can I run it again?’” Richardson said most of the youngsters ran the course at least two times. “One girl made it five laps around the course,” she said. According to Richardson, of the 278 who registered to participate only 235 actually ran the course.

Staff photo by Zack Steen

Please see RUN | 2

A Muddy Warrior Run participant jumps into a muddy hole on the course.

BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 9 State........ 5

The sixth annual Corinth Home & Garden Tour is one of the headlining events slated for Friday and Saturday in Corinth. Set for 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in downtown Corinth, the tour will feature the Taylor Street homes of Becky Williams and Chad Dickerson and the Main Street home of Brittany and Joshua Bryant. Tickets are $15 per person and all proceeds benefit the Verandah-Curlee House. The home tour plant committee met Monday to put the finishing touches on three arrangements which will be raffled off at the tour. “We have had a great time putting these arrangements together,” said volunteer Pam Wyont. “We hope these will raise even more money for the Verandah-Curlee House.” A potting rack featuring eight different potted herbs and gardening supplies will be on display in front of the Bry-

ant’s home on Main Street. Gerbera daisies and sweet potato vine highlight a large container on top of a terra-cotta pedestal that will be on display at Dickerson’s home. Trailing pansies and sweet potato vine highlight an Easter topiary in a tall planter set to be raffled outside of Williams’ home. “There will be one raffle item on display at each of our three homes during the tour,” Wyont said. “Tickets may be purchased and dropped off at each home or at the ticket tent on Main Street.” The three arrangements were completed with donations from Wal-Mart, Lowe’s. Sanctuary and the Green Door Trading Co. The home tour also features a special Luncheon On The Lawn on Friday. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the luncheon will be held under a 20x40 tent off Taylor Street. The menu will include chicken Please see TOUR | 2

On this day in history 150 years ago

Weather...... 10 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12

Reece Terry

Mark Boehler

publisher rterry@dailycorinthian.com

editor editor@dailycorinthian.com

Willie Walker

Roger Delgado

circulation manager circdirector@dailycorinthian.com

press foreman

April Fool’s Day. Reports race across the telegraph wires about the location of Confederate cavalryman Nathan B. Forrest. He is reported as being simultaneously in at least six cities in two different states. Today the joke is on the Federals. World Wide Web: www.dailycorinthian.com To Sound Off: E-mail: email: news@dailycorinthian.com Circulation 287-6111 Classified Adv. 287-6147

How to reach us -- extensions:

Newsroom.....................317 Circulation....................301 news@dailycorinthian.com advertising@dailycorinthian. Advertising...................339 Classifieds....................302 com Classad@dailycorinthian.com Bookkeeping.................333

Editorials represent the the Daily Corinthian. Ed columns, letters to the other articles that appe page represent the opi writers and the Daily C may or may not agree.


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