042214 daily corinthian e edition

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Tuesday April 22,

2014

50 cents

Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 94

A.M. showers Today

Tonight

75

46

40% chance of storms

• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section

Rogers leaves Arena board BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

The Alcorn County Board of Supervisors on Monday accepted the resignation of a member of the Crossroads Arena Board of Directors. Board President Lowell Hinton said Thom E. Rogers has decided to step aside after 13 years on the arena board. His exit comes before the conclusion of his term, which expires in August 2017. “We appreciate the work that he has done,” said Hinton.

Rogers is a county appointee, and the supervisors will consider naming a replacement at the next board meeting. The board will consider two other appointments on the airport board at upcoming meetings — a seat currently held by Robin Skelton, who completed the unexpired term of Waco Epperson, and one held by Hal Dilworth, who completed an unexpired term of William Alvie Bell. Skelton is a joint Please see BOARD | 2A

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

Corinth firemen battle a blaze that destroyed a 112-year-old home in Corinth on Saturday.

Fire still under investigation Tourism board mulls BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

The Corinth Fire Department is investigating the cause of a fire which destroyed a 111-year-old home in the city. An afternoon blaze demolished the three-story residence of Bert and Kathryn Sewell at 503 East Fourth Street. Fireman stayed on scene until late Saturday night following the 3:10 p.m. fire. City streets Fillmore, Taylor and Fourth were closed near the home as firemen with all five units battled the blaze. “It was a tough one,” said Corinth Fire Chief Billy “Lucky” Briggs. “The home was so tall and wood was real

old which made it one of our tougher ones.” Witnesses said the home seemed to explode in a matter of minutes. Andrew Blackwell, who lives next door to the home at the corner of Fillmore and Fourth, tried to put the fire out with a water hose. “It started flaming in the back and it was gone in about 10 minutes,” said Blackwell. The Sewells were not injured in the accident. Blackwell kept Mr. Sewell from going back into the house once it started flaming. Smoke covered the neighborhood at times as neighbors filtered through the streets

around the scene. Most were shocked at the suddenness that the fire spread. “It was instantaneous,” said Robert Gray. “There was a big boom then the whole thing went up in flames,” added Johnathan Horner. The Sewells purchased the home in 1988. The home was an example of the short-lived, Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced Prairie style. The Prairie style, which originated in Chicago, emerged around 1900 and peaked by 1920. Although the builder of the home is unknown, research found the home first appeared on tax records in 1903.

kids’ writing contest BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

My Corinth. Students in the Corinth School District may get the chance to describe what the two words mean to them. Corinth Area Convention and Visitors Bureau board members discussed the contest as an attempt to draw more people downtown in the summer. “This is a cool opportunity to let kids shine a little bit and have pride in Corinth,” said tourism marketing director Mia Nickels. “The cost would be under $1,000 and could be done

before school ends this year.” Members of the tourism board would like to use the idea to also teach students about the history of the city. “My concern is to get them downtown this summer,” added Nickels. “We need to figure how to get them past the festival walls of the city and keep the summer flowing.” The contest would be open to students in all 12 grades, according to the marketing director. “This is something we could start in the summer then also do something in the fall,” said board chairman Russell Smith.

Epps to be headliner at NAACP banquet BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps will headline this year’s Freedom Fund Banquet of the Alcorn Branch of NAACP. Set for 7 p.m. Friday at the Weaver Center, it is a time to reflect on the past year and honor some of the community’s outstanding members. “This is our only fundraiser for the year, and it’s for the whole community,” said Alexis Brown, event chair. “We invite everybody to join us.” Honorees for service to the city and service to the citizens are Leavern Copeland, Herbert Taylor Jr. and Raymond Patterson. Community service awards will go to Danny Patterson and Jonathan Taylor. The chapter will also recognize a student from each school for academic achievement, as well as Cortez Spence, runner-up for the state youth of the year honor from the Boys & Girls Club. The keynote speaker, Epps, is the longest serv-

ing commissioner of the MDOC, serving with both Democratic and Republican administrations. He was appointed by Gov. Ronnie Musgrove in 2002 and reappointed by both Haley Barbour and Phil Bryant. He began his career in corrections in 1982 as a correctional officer at the state’s oldest prison, the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. He has since served in numerous key positions, including chief of staff, deputy commissioner of institutions, deputy commissioner of community corrections, director of offender services, deputy superintendent, chief of security and corrections case manager, among others. His expertise in the field has led to interviews with the likes of The New York Times and the CBS Evening News. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Youth tickets are $15. For tickets or information, contact Dee Dee Brown at 643-3833, Pauline Sorrell at 415-3099 or J.C. Hill at 293-0290.

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

Corinth 10K Race Co-coordinator Amy Smith fills packets for the 33rd event set for May 3.

Spots in annual Coke 10K running out fast BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

The official start of the 33rd Annual Corinth Coca-Cola Classic 10K is less than two weeks away. Registration for the 6.2-mile event through the city is ap-

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

proaching the finish line in a much quicker pace. As of Monday morning only 350 spots remained for the May 3 run. “We are over a week ahead of last year’s registration,” said race co-coordinator Amy Smith. “Al-

though we haven’t filled up yet, those who want to do the race should go ahead and sign up.” The magic number for race officials is 1,500. Last year’s number surpassed the previous high

On this day in history 150 years ago

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

Four days after black Union troops are captured and slaughtered at Poison Springs, Arkansas, President Davis writes, “If the negroes are escaped slaves, they should be held safely for recovery by their owners. If otherwise, inform me.”

“Clients move for FREE”

Doug Jumper

Ann Hardin

Michael McCreary

Realty & Associates, LLC

662-286-2828

2782 S Harper Rd. • Corinth, MS 38834 • www.jumperrealty.com

Please see 10K | 3A


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