Saturday April 25,
2015
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 119, No. 96
Warmer Today
Tonight
82
58
60% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section
Sales tax tops half million mark BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth sales tax collections continue to sprint toward another record-breaking year. The city logged a 17th consecutive monthly increase in the sales tax diversions returned to cities by the Mississippi Department of Revenue at midApril. With $500,084.89 for
the month, it is the first time the April deposit has topped the half-million mark. Reflecting sales activity in local businesses during the month of February, the total is up 11.7 percent, or about $53,000, from a year earlier. The FY 2015 total grows to $3,595,508.68, almost 10 percent ahead of the same point in
FY 2014. Funds returned to all cities for the month totaled $34.1 million, up about 3 percent from a year earlier. The 2 percent tourism tax on prepared food and lodging yielded $99,393.57 for the same month, a decrease of less than 1 percent from a year earlier. The tax remains well ahead
for the fiscal year, however, with $701,360.59, an increase of 11.6 percent from the same point in FY 2014. Other sales tax results from the region (percentages rounded): ■ Booneville — $153,829.03 (+2%) ■ Burnsville — $13,116.67 (+28%) ■ Farmington — $2,285.88
(-28%) ■ Glen — $1,688.66 (-3%) ■ Iuka — $60,114.45 (+7%) ■ Kossuth — $2,953.29 (-11%) ■ Rienzi — $4,515.81 (+15%) ■ Ripley — $108,089.47 (+10%) ■ Tupelo — $1,391,672.47 (-6%) ■ Walnut — $20,238.14 (+30%)
Wet conditions challenge farmers BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Alcorn County Welcome Center Supervisor Sherry Brown (left) and center employee Debbie Ryan are ready for the Traveler’s Appreciation Day on May 6. See related photo on Page 2.
An extremely wet end to winter and beginning of spring is challenging local growers who want to get some corn into the ground. The March rainfall total was about double the normal amount for the month, and unworkable conditions have continued through April. “I’ve never seen a year like this,” said MSU Extension Service Agent Patrick Poindexter. March rainfall hit 9.2 inches with a total of 22 rain days, including measurable precipitation every day from March 1 to March 14 with the exception of March 5, according
to data compiled by Corinth Weather Station, with measurements taken on North Madison Street. “This time last year, we had the majority of our corn planted,” said Poindexter. “Right now, we don’t have anything planted. We still are in situations where some of our row crop farmers haven’t even been able to put a preplant herbicide out there and been able to prep their fields. We still have a little bit of a window to get some corn in the ground, but I would imagine that our corn acreage will be significantly reduced this year due to the wet weather.” Please see RAIN | 2
Week celebrates tourism’s benefits BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Travel is more than just fun. It is also serious business and family bonding. Those are just a few examples the U.S. Travel Association has thrown out to promote National Travel and Tourism Week May 2-10. The Alcorn County Welcome Center will add its own touch to the week by hosting Traveler’s Appreciation Day. “Picnic on the Patio” will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on May 6. Tourists will be treated to a free hot dog lunch and music on the patio. “If it rains, we will move everything inside,” said center supervisor Sherry Brown. The Corinth Area Convention
Alcorn schools to get help with lawn work
& Visitors Bureau and Cross- visited the center. roads Museum will be on hand A wide cross section of travel and tourism professionals work to greet travelers. “It is good for Corinthians throughout the week to proand visitors to learn what all the mote contributions their travel Welcome Center has to offer,” markets and organizations BY ZACK STEEN said Tourism Director Christy make to the U.S. economy. per year includes all yard relatTan #6348 Silver #8715 White #0023 “Our main focus is to show Burns. “The Welcome Center zsteen@dailycorinthian.com ed work at each school, flower $ 00 $ 00 $ 00 $ $ $ 123 203 350 7,495 13,995 23,495 or. or. or. .......................... .......................... .......................... is a great place and we are very how travel effects the econoThree county schools are bed mulching and poison per month per month per month my,” said Brown. asking for yard work help. proud of it.” spraying. The cost will be split During tourism week, the Almost 7,000 visitors have PrincipalsRedat#9592 Alcorn Central between each campus. White #6555 Black, Crew, 4x4 #3232 $ $ 00 $ 00 $ $ $ stopped in the Welcome Center will00 be awardcampuses maintenance 159 359 requested 387contract 9,495 Welcome 23,995 or.school 25,795 “The or. .......................... Center or. .......................... .......................... per month per month ing random door prizes. this month. approval from the Board per of month would not include any ball Area businesses have com“Traveler’s Appreciation Education this month to hire fields on any of the campusBlue #2770 Red, #4844 Eddie Bauer, Blue #3876 each item Day gives a chance to invite$ lo- mitted to$ donating a third party company es,” said Superintendent Gina 00 $ 00to per$ $ $ 165 234 418 9,795 15,995 27,795 or. or. or. .......................... .......................... .......................... for the “Picnic on the Patio” cal people out to see the latest form lawn maintenance. Rogers Smith. “The ball fi elds per month per month per month things we have going on and it’s event. Currently vocational staff, would remain the coaches’ realso an opportunity to promote On May 5, theMaroon center staff will janitors and even sponsibility.” #9459 White #9539 principals Red #3942 $ a Travel00 $ weed eat00 $ 00 $ $ $ travel,” said Brown. grass, the contract 179 Rally Day 234 and per357 10,595beor.putting 15,995 or.cut 23,895 Smith or. ..........................said .......................... up .......................... per month per month per month An increase in visitor stops display which will offer tips on form other yard duties. would be paid out of the distake place during the summer, everything to do with traveling. The principals presented two trict’s maintenance account White #9898 Tan #4311 Silver #5656 The display highlight according to Brown. bids to the consider$ will also00 $ board for00 $ 00 $ $ $ 215 328 288 14,795 21,995 19,495 or. or. or. .......................... .......................... .......................... In July of last year, 10,959 hotels in the area. ation. The low bid of $9,600 per month per month per month Please see LAWNS | 2 White #5348
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Countdown on for Coke 10K BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Time is running out. So are spots for the 34th Annual Corinth Coca-Cola Classic 10K. Less than 200 positions remain for those wanting to run/walk in the May 2 event through downtown Corinth. As of late afternoon on Friday, 1,342 had already registered. Registration, which must be done online, will close at 1,500. Last year, the 1,500 mark was reached a week before the race. The last two years registration has been capped at 1,500. Over 1,000 runners have registered the last four consecu-
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Diesel. Red #2410
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Career center counselor 398 234 15,995 making a difference Red #7640
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tive years. Black #6766 Silver #0710 Leather, White #6348 From 1989 to 1995, the $ $ race put together a seven-$15,995 or. .......................... $ 234 00 BY$26,995 KIMBERLY SHELTON 405 00 7,295 or. .......................... $ 119 00 or. .......................... per month per month kshelton@dailycorinthian.com year streak with at least 1,000per month signed up for the fun event. Recently recognized for her guiding light and Silver #0076 Silver #5644 Silver #7833 Cost to enter the 6.2-mile$ practical Career $ 00 $ 00 advice$ to students, Alcorn $ 00and $ 264 138 280 17,895 7,995 18,995 or. or. or. .......................... .......................... .......................... run is $25. Technology Center Jennifer Koon, reper month per month per Counselor month Co-sponsored by MRHC, ceived the Association for Career and Technical Red #5745 Black #8952 White #5111 the Classic 10K is called “one Education Region IV Career Guidance Award. 00 $ 00 $ of the 100 great short races”$12,995 or. .......................... $ 188 00 Selected from$22,995 amongor. .......................... state award winners in 342 11,995 or. .......................... $ 207 per month per month per month by Running Times. Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma More than $6,000 in cash and Texas, Koon and other Region members were Gray #5644 Red #5060 Tan #5923 prizes will be awarded. Prize$ at an awards ceremony$during the00 ACTE $ 00 $ honored 00 $ $ 375 10,995 or. .......................... 156 14,995 or. .......................... 256 24,995inor. .......................... money will be awarded to theper Region IV conference Little Rock, Ark., on Satmonth per month per month top three places in eight difurday, April 18. Red #0346 #0569 Black #6009 ferent divisions and in age “Last Gray week, I went through an interview compe$ 00 $ 00 $ 00 $ $ $ groups 25 and over. tition with the state winners. I was very honored 13,895 or. .......................... 199 16,895 or. .......................... 299 23,995 or. .......................... 358 per month per month per month For a third straight year, to receive the regional award and move on to be a Coke 10K officials are honornationalBlack finalist. The next round of interviews will Red #2081 #6348 Tan #2757 ing Gold Standard Bearers.$ in October,” explained Koon. 00 $ be by phone, 00 $ 00“My CTE Counselor Jennifer Koon and Alcorn $ $ 14,695Career 18,995 18,495 or. .......................... 273 or. .......................... 214 or. .......................... 280 and Technology Center students per month per month were per month Please see KOON | 2 featured on the cover of “Connections.” Please see 10K | 2 Gray #1832
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Tan, #9551
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On this day in history 150 years ago Tan #4093
$ group 00 00 Members of the Krossroads Kollection musical $ $ John$Wilkes Booth and David E. 280 14,995the 18,995 or. .......................... or. .......................... 218 Co-conspirators raise funds for a scholarship toper honor late Dr. Eugen Herold make their way to Bowling Green, Virginia, just month per month Doran, a former Corinth superintendent, high school south of the Rappahannock River. The duo has taken principal and high school band and chorus director. shelter in the barn of local farmer Richard H. Garrett.
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