Tuesday May 13,
2014
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 112
Cloudy, humid Today
Tonight
84
62
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Grissom rescinds beer sale vote BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
IUKA — A regularly scheduled Tishomingo Board of Supervisors meeting about state funded road construction took a different turn Monday when First District Supervisor Brandon Grissom rescinded the vote he made one week ago to allow Sunday beer sales. The motion died without a second and the ordinance will go into effect 30 days after public notice. Last week, the board voted 3-2 to allow beer sales in the county each Sunday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Supervisors Grissom, Danny Ryan and Greg Collier voted in support, while board president Nicky McRae and Steve Thorn voted against. On Monday, Grissom said his decision to vote “yes” last week was a hasty one. “I have wrestled with it all
week,” he said. “There has been a lot of people in my district contact me this week, asking me to please take back my vote. I feel like I Grissom made the decision without considering the best interest of the people who voted for me.” Grissom believed the issue should not have been voted on last week, but should have been tabled until the next meeting. “I feel like we halfway did it,” added Grissom. “I think both sides should of had the opportunity to voice their opinions about the issue.” When the motion died, Gris-
Staff photos by Zack Steen
Please see GRISSOM | 2A
Tishomingo Supervisor Danny Ryan and Brandon Grissom discuss Sunday beer sales at Monday’s regular board meeting.
Unemployment still down in US BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Pam Wallis (left) has spent more than 20 years caring for others. The Magnolia Regional Health Center vice president of nursing was among numerous nurses to wear all white as a tribute to early “Angels of Mercy.”
MRHC recognizes 391 nurses BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Magnolia Regional Health Center nurses celebrated Hospital Week by going back in time. Many of the 391 licensed nurses of the facility dressed in traditional nursing uniforms of all white along with a nursing hat on Monday to kickoff the week. “This symbolizes what a nurse
looks like when they come on duty,” said 24-year registered nurse Pam Wallis of her nurses cape. Wallis brought the cape out as most nurses went all white during their shift. “It seems like only yesterday I started in labor and delivery,” said Rita Holley, who is set to retire in June after 25 years in the nursing profession. Wallis and Holley are just two
of the local “Angels of Mercy” who continue the thankless and tiring effort started by Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. “I love my career and being able to take care of patients,” said Wallis, MRHC Vice-President of Nursing. “Nursing is the best job you can have … it’s a calling.” Please see NURSES | 2A
Alcorn County’s unemployment rate continued a downward trend in March, sitting at 6.9 percent for the month. It changed little from February’s revised rate of 7 percent but is down from 7.8 percent a year earlier. Among Mississippi’s 82 counties, Alcorn currently has the 15th lowest rate. For March, the county had 1,080 unemployed, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security reported, compared to 1,210 a year earlier, and 14,540 employed, compared to 14,360 a year earlier. The month saw 85 initial claims for unemployment insurance in the county, nearly even with 86 a year ago, and 746 continued claims, down from 884 a year ago. Regular benefits paid in the county totaled $109,723, down from $134,942 a year earlier. Among neighboring counties, Tishomingo posted the lowest March rate at 8.3 percent, down from 9.4 percent a year earlier; Prentiss was at 8.6 percent, down from 8.8 percent; and Tippah was at 9.4 percent, down from 10.6 percent a year earlier. Mississippi’s not seasonal-
ly adjusted nonfarm employment increased 4,600 over the month and was 5,500 higher than one year ago. Industry sectors registering the largest monthly employment gains were government and leisure & hospitality. Mississippi’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2014 was 7.9 percent, decreasing onetenth of a percentage point from the previous month’s rate of 8.0 percent. The estimated number of unemployed remained the same over the month, while the employed total increased 4,800 from the prior month. Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Twenty-one states had unemployment rate decreases; 17 states and the District of Columbia hadincreases; and 12 states had no change. Forty-six states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier and four states had increases. The national jobless rate was unchanged from February at 6.7 percent but was 0.8 percentage point lower than in March 2013.
Businesses thank officers with luncheon during police week BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Several businesses fed local law enforcement workers Monday as thanks for the work they do every day. It’s part of National Police Week and is the second year that a luncheon has honored local law enforcement. A big crowd of officers attended at
the Corinth Police Department. “We’ve had some serious crimes in the past year, and our officers have done a great job in responding to those situations,” said Police Chief David Lancaster. “We appreciate the community giving them some support.” The annual week is a time to take note of the dangers officers
face as they work to protect the community, said Grant Coordinator Katie Drewry, who organized the luncheon with CPD Office Manager Megan Burns. “Our law enforcement community enjoyed a wonderful meal and a time of fellowship among different agencies,” she said. “All who attended felt very grateful and humbled that local
Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 9 State........ 5
businesses had chosen to honor them during this special week.” Corinth officers, county deputies, correctional workers and others enjoyed the likes of catfish, pizza and tamales. National Police Week is observed each May to honor those who serve in law enforcement and to remember those who have fallen in the line of duty. It
began in 1962 when President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which it falls as National Police Week. The contributors to this year’s luncheon were Chop House, Taylor’s Escape, Pizza Grocery, Dilworth’s Tamales, Coca-Cola and Sweet Peppers Deli.
On this day in history 150 years ago
Weather...... 10 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
The casualties from the two-day Battle of Spotsylvania are still being tallied. The two sides suffer a total of over 28,000 casualties. Though Gen. Lee has fewer casualties, he cannot afford to pay such a high price. His army is being bled white.
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