Prentiss County Unemployment rate drops.
Tishomingo County Scenes from Renaissance Day.
McNairy County Woman faces fraud charges.
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Wednesday April 20,
2016
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Vol. 120, No. 95
• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections
‘Proud to be an American’
Staff photo by Zack Steen
A Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper looks over the wrecked vehicle on U.S. Highway 72 in Corinth on Tuesday afternoon.
Rollover accident sends 3 to hospital BY ZACK STEEN Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Greg “Weasel” Thacker has created a patriotic display on a wooden fence on Salem Road. See related photos on page 2A.
Artist displays patriotic pride in paintings BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Greg “Weasel” Thacker is proud to be an American. American Legion Auxiliary President Carlean Parker knew it before she even talked to the Salem Road resident. All it takes to see Thacker’s love of the United States is the nine pieces of art he has painted on a wooden fence. Seven of the paintings are flags – United States, Mississippi, Don’t Tread on Me, Vietnam Veterans Eagle Feather, Bonnie Blue, HOPI and POW-MIA. The Statue of Liberty – with the help of friend Andrew C. Bloomfield – and the Liberty Bell round out the colorful displays. “I want people to be proud of our country,” said Thacker as he described each painting. “Because of what those sol-
diers did, I get to do what I do today … freedom isn’t free.” Thacker, known as “Weasel” since the sixth grade, started his patriotism paintings with the American flag. “Over the summer, when I got bored I would come out here and paint,” he said. “It’s something I enjoy doing.” Thacker grew up in Lebanon, Tenn., but made his way to Corinth, where his mother lives. When not working second shift, Thacker has been known to help businesses and individuals with his “Signs, Lettering and Folk Art by Weasel.” “I always wanted to learn how to paint,” he said as music played from his motor home. “It’s very therapeutic to me.” Parker noticed Thacker’s talent when traveling through the
community offering to replace tattered flags. His life-size rendering of the American flag caught her attention. “I pass by here all the time and when I saw the paintings, I thought he needed to be honored,” said Parker. “Everyone needs to be proud to be an American like Greg.” On Monday, Parker presented a certificate from the American Legion. “The certificates are for people who are flying the American flag,” said Parker. “Weasel” isn’t done with his patriotic wall. Plans are in the works to include some sort of salute to policemen and firemen. “People stop all the time and take pictures,” he said. “The fence isn’t done, eventually it will go all around the property.”
BY STEVE BEAVERS First Presbyterian Church will host representatives from 40-45 churches during the Central South Presbytery. The meeting will cover the two days of Friday and Saturday with Dr. Ligon Duncan III being the guest speaker during a 7 p.m. worship service on Friday. “We will be using every inch of our buildings,” said Dr. Don Elliott, pastor at First Presbyterian Church. “This is our way of showing our appreciation to Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) for
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Four Crossroads area projects will get funding as part of the $249.6 million bond bill which passed both chambers of the state legislature this week. Two major projects will see Alcorn County get a grant for a railroad hub and Tishomingo County will build an agri-center.
A project Rep. Lester “Bubba” Carpenter has been working on for more than five years will finally see funding from the state level. Tishomingo County will receive $300,000 from the bond to be used to build a county agri-center near the Town of Tishomingo. In a joint venture with the Please see BOND | 5A
Ora Lee McManus, Iuka Photo by Opal Lovelace
For 34 years, Ora Lee McManus drove the same bus route for Iuka High School and Tishomingo County High School. “The kids were always good,” she said. “They knew where they stood with me. I kept a stereo for music and the kids knew if they acted up I would cut it off.” In high school, McManus was a local standout on the basketball court. She played on the 1958-59 Iuka High School state championship team and was a four-year letterman in basketball. Now a substitute bus driver, the 74-year-old is a full-time grandmother to her grandchildren Clohie and Austin. McManus’ daughter is Brenda Dawson, a teacher at Iuka Middle School.
Please see PRESBYTERY | 6A
25 years ago
10 years ago
Andy Elliott, son of Dr. and Mrs. Don Elliott, completes his Eagle Scout project, a renovation of the food closet at Corinth’s First Presbyterian Church.
Corinth aldermen approve a zoning change for Fieldstone Farms. The move from R-1 residential to SU special use gives residents control over the streets in the planned development.
NISSAN REBATES - *#$1,750 TOTAL SAVINGS OFF MSRP - $3,246 AT THIS PRICE! SALES PRICE... *#&$16,249
16,249
Please see ACCIDENT | 5A
Area projects will benefit from bond
being so kind and gracious in welcoming us to the presbytery in 2008.” The Central South Presbytery covers most of Alabama, North Duncan Mississippi, West Tennessee and Arkansas. Close to 120-150 people are expect to attend as the presbytery conducts its business prior to the worship service.
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A one-vehicle rollover stalled traffic for more than an hour and sent three people to the hospital late Tuesday afternoon. An adult man was ejected from the vehicle during the wreck on U.S. Highway 72 near Oak Forest Estates Road about
one mile outside the Corinth city limits. Also involved in the crash were an adult woman and young girl. The adult male and young girl were each airlifted from the scene by two Air Evac helicopters. The adult female was trans-
People of the Crossroads
First Presbyterian will host presbytery event sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
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286.6006 286 .6006
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