Saturday April 18,
2015
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 119, No. 90
Tonight
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63
60% chance of rain
Rienzi weighs adding officer
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Please see SCHOOLS | 2
Today
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section
Schools approve personnel action The board members of the Alcorn School District approved several retirements and resignations this week. Alcorn Central High School teacher Dianne Houston will retire effective June 30. Kossuth High School maintenance worker Paul Mills will retire effective April 21, while ACHS cafeteria worker Rebecca Phillips will retire effective April 7. Resignations were accepted from ACHS teacher/coach Mitch Howell and Kossuth Middle School teacher Kent Lander. Both are effective July 31. The board approved the hiring of four SATP2 Student Assessment Test tutors for students who have previously failed the subject area tests. Those hired include Chris Byrd, Morgan Robertson, Rae Palmer and Sherry Shawl. On the recommendation of Kossuth High School principal Mike Kimmons and Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith, the board approved the hiring of Donnita Ginn for a math teacher position at KHS. The board also approved the hiring two new cafeteria workers on the Alcorn Central campus. Brooke Leatherwood will take a position in the Alcorn Central Elementary School cafeteria, while Rita Glidewell will take a position in the ACHS cafeteria.
Showers
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
RIENZI — Alcorn County’s southernmost municipality is looking for a way to give its residents the security of a law enforcement presence. The lack of a town marshal concerns Trevor Williams as he considers investing in a new building for Rienzi’s only currently operating business, Smith Drug Company. The threat of people trying to break into the store has been a concern for the business for many years, and those fears were realized in December when prowlers caused the long-running business to be destroyed by fire. “We need some type of security presence down here at night before I would build back,” said Williams, who currently operates out of the town’s former bank building. He believes a law enforcement presence could have deterred the break-in that led to the town’s tragic loss of a downtown block. Rienzi had town marshals in the past — the late Milton Bishop once filled the role — but Mayor Walter Williams said there are now more requirements for law enforcement than there were in those days, and the expense would be a burden. With sheriff’s deputies spread
Staff photo by Zack Steen
District 1 Rep. Lester “Bubba” Carpenter (R-Alcorn, Tishomingo) met with Corinth Kiwanis Club members this week. He discussed the new texting and driving law and the new law that will stop the use of inspection stickers in the state.
Sales tax issue dies for now to hold a special election to increase the city’s sales tax by a quarter of 1 percent. Citizens would’ve been advised of the specific projects to be pursued before voting in the election that would’ve required 60 percent approval. “This is not an easy thing to get passed,” said Carpenter. “There’s actually only two other cities in the state that have ever been successful in getting a sales tax increase passed.” Carpenter said Jackson raised their sales tax by 1 percent five years ago, while more recently Tupelo was able to raise their sales tax by 0.25 percent. “We’re not giving up. We’re going to get the ball rolling a lot earlier next term and maybe this thing will have
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth’s push to increase local sales tax has hit a roadblock. District 1 Rep. Lester “Bubba” Carpenter (R-Alcorn, Tishomingo) said the campaign spearheaded by Corinth Mayor Tommy Irwin to raise Corinth’s sales tax .25 percent was killed in the Mississippi Legislature’s local and private committee. “We got started too late,” said Carpenter, who addressed the issue at this week’s Kiwanis Club meeting. “The mayor and alderman really got behind this. Mayor Irwin worked hard and came to Jackson several times in support of the measure.” If the bill had passed, it would have allowed the city
a future,” he said. “I’m dead set against raising taxes, but something like this will give the citizens an opportunity to vote and say we want to raise taxes to get better roads, better drainage and better bridges.” A 0.25 percent sales tax would generate about $1 million annually. “The bill only has a threeyear shelf life, which means if it’s voted in, the people would be given the opportunity to vote on it again in three years,” added the representative. During the meeting, Carpenter also addressed a few other laws passed during the recently wrapped up threemonth session. Please see TAX | 2
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Trike-a-thon supports St. Jude Music club hosting ballet performance White #6555
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BY STEVE BEAVERS
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sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
WHEELER GROVE — The threat of rain had no bearing on a group of children intent on pedaling to end cancer. Over 40 children of the Wheeler Grove Learning Center took their rides indoors to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital on Friday. The annual trike-a-thon – in its 10th year at WGLC – had to be moved to the church’s gymnasium due to wet conditions. “It has been a while since we have had to move inside,” said learning center teacher Anna Martin. “The kids had been looking forward to the day all week.” The annual St. Jude TrikeA-Thon teaches students bike safety while also instilling in them the importance of helping others. “The students understand we are helping take care of sick children,” said Martin. Wheeler Grove’s fun day ended with a party after 44 students rode their bikes or big wheels around the gym for at least 30 minutes. Each of the five classes — from 2- and 3-year-olds to
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on Page 2 Ending on a high note, the Tan #4311 Silver #5656 Corinth Music Club will pres$ 00 $ 00 $ $ $ 328 288 14,795 or. .......................... $ 215 00 21,995 or. 19,495 or. .......................... .......................... ent its final Mid-Morning Perdance at Brigham Young per month per month per month formance of the season at 11 University for nine years, he choreoa.m. on Thursday in the newly regularly teaches andDiesel. White #5348 Black #4431 Red #2410 $ sanctuary $ $ $ in Japan. renovated 218 00of First 562 00 10,895 or. .......................... $ 155 00 14,995 or. 36,995graphs or. .......................... .......................... per month per month “He is a respected consulUnited Methodist Church. per month Free and open to the public, tant and coach for professionGray #1280 Red #7640 White #4507 al dancers and international the exciting feature $ 00 $ event will 00 $ $ $ $ 234 00said 17,995 or. .......................... 225 26,495 or. 15,995 or. .......................... ballet competitors.” 12.......................... dancers398 from Tupelo’s Civper month per month per month Campbell. “It was through his ic Ballet. Black #6766 #0710 Leather, White #6348 was vision that the Civic Ballet “The North Silver Mississippi $ $ $ is established 2009.” 00 119in00Tupelo $26,995 15,995 or. .......................... $ 234 00 $7,295 or.Dance or. .......................... in405 .......................... Center per month per month per month Dijkwel serves as the artistic the official school of the Civic Ballet,” explained Music Club director of the Civic Ballet. Silver #0076 Silver #5644 Silver #7833 He currently resides 00 in TuReporter Campbell. $ Bobbi 00 $ $ $ 138 280 17,895 or. .......................... $ 264 00 $7,995 or.“In 18,995 or. .......................... .......................... pelo with his wife, Sayuri ,and per month per month addition to the dancers, per month instructors Jan Dijkwel and their four children. Red #5745 Black #8952 #5111 “We have had Whitegood atBeth Richardson of the center $ $ $ $ will also be present.”00 tendance at$this year’s00 Mid207 342 12,995 or. .......................... $ 188 00 11,995 or. 22,995 or. .......................... .......................... per month per month per month Morning Concert Series,” A native of the Netherlands, said club member Vicki AvJan Dijkwel has vast experiGray #5644 Red #5060 Tan #5923 ery. “The Corinth Music Club ence in $ the world of $ 00 00ballet, $ 00 $ $ $ 256 10,995 or. .......................... 156 14,995 or. 24,995 or. .......................... 375 .......................... plans to continue this series including performances with per month per month per month next season and hopes that the Dutch National Ballet. Red #0346 Gray #0569of fine Black #6009memeven more community He holds a bachelor $ 00 $ 00 $ $ $ $ bers will come and enjoy arts degree in ballet perfor13,895 or. .......................... 199 16,895 or. .......................... 299 23,995 or. .......................... 358 00 per month per month per them.” mance from Amsterdam and month Staff photo by Steve Beavers Organized in 1922, the a master of arts degree in Marlee Beckham rides around the Wheeler Red Grove Baptist #2081 Black #6348 Tan #2757 Church gymnasium during the Wheeler Grove Learning Corinth Music memdance movement from 00 Center’s $ 00Drexel $ Club is a00 $ $ $ 214 280 14,695 18,995 or. 18,495 or. .......................... or. .......................... 273 .......................... Trike-A-Thon. Beckham raised the most money during the fundber of the Mississippi FederaUniversity. per month per month per month raiser for St. Jude by collecting $725. An associate professor of tion of Music Clubs. White #9898
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On this day in history 150 years ago
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$ Sherman 00negotiates $ 00 Funeral services will be held$today for Dr. $ for Johnston’s army but 280 14,995 18,995surrender or. .......................... 218 or. .......................... terms Frank Morrison Davis, 88, at First Baptist the War Department considers the terms too generous and orders per month per month Church. Davis is founder of National Bank him to offer only the terms given to Lee at Appomattox. Lincoln’s of Commerce. body lies in state in the East Room of the White House.
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