Tuesday May 19,
2015
75 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 119, No. 116
Partly Sunny Today
Tonight
82
59
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 Section
Loss of free inmate labor will be costly BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Alcorn County is bracing for a major financial hit and loss of free inmate labor if the Mississippi Department of Corrections succeeds in eliminating the Joint State County Work Programs. The county would also be left with a facility it built for the program in 2010 at the request of MDOC when the agency moved the workers out of its Community Work Center. “What I want to know is are they going to live up to their com-
for counties, but local county officials expect to lose the inmate labor. The number of inmates has already been declining at a facility that was built to house 70. “I think we have 34 this morning,” Rinehart said on Monday. The inmate population overall is declining as the number of offenders on supervised release increases. In March, the facility had 56 inmates, which would generate
“What I want to know is are they going to live up to their commitment that they made to these 30 counties. They are the ones that asked for these to be built.” Sheriff Charles Rinehart mitment that they made to these 30 counties,” said Sheriff Charles Rinehart. “They are the ones that asked for these to be built.” During construction of the justice center and regional correctional facility, the county agreed to build a metal building to house
the joint work program inmates at a cost of $840,000. MDOC wanted to shift its Community Work Center facility to the housing of inmates going through alcohol and drug rehabilitation. The sheriff also questions whether MDOC has the author-
ity to drop the program without legislative action. MDOC’s press release announcing plans to end the work program said those inmates will move to the 17 community work centers across the state and will still be available to perform work
Please see INMATE | 2
Purchase clerk files retirement papers BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Alaina Gass is escorted around the Cat House by the Fairy Godfather (Jacob Dooley) and Fairy Godmother (Kaylin Lavender) during her Princess Ball.
Princess Ball marks end of treatment
Some funds procured for AC sewage project
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Alaina Gass had a good excuse to put on a dress. The 11-year-old was the main character in a fairy tale complete with 20 Disney princes and princesses as she celebrated her last chemotherapy treatment. Gass and around 20 of her friends were treated to a Princess Ball at the B.F. Liddon Home – or “Cat House” as it is affectionately called – by owner Margaret Mathis on Saturday. “It was her wish to see the house,” said Mathis as she rushed all the characters into place before Gass arrived. “I wanted to do more than just that and thought it would be fun to get the youth group from theatre to be dressed in costume.” Members of the Corinth Theatre-Arts Youth Action Committee gave up a Saturday to surprise Gass and her friends. Gass, the daughter of Chris Gass
Alcorn County officially has a vacancy in the position of purchase clerk. Paul Rhodes had been on administrative leave since last July as a result of his arrest in connection with the state auditor’s investigation of a complaint against Second District Supervisor Dal Nelms. Board Attorney Bill Davis advised the Board of Supervisors of Rhodes’ status change in Monday’s meeting. “I was made aware on May 7 that he had, in fact, filed for his retirement from the county as of Jan. 1,” said Davis. “So, as of May 7 when the county first learned that, he was moved from purchase clerk full-time employee status to retired status.” Part of his leave was paid and part was not.
No action was taken, and Board President Lowell Hinton said supervisors will be taking a look at how best to fill the position. Rhodes’ case is pending in Alcorn County Circuit Court. In other business before the board on Monday, supervisors awarded several small-scale paving jobs on six Fourth District roads to Parsons Earthworks of Iuka. The jobs, with DBST, labor and equipment, include ninetenths of a mile on Road 627, $9,123.84; two-tenths of a mile on Road 628, $2,027.52; three-tenths of a mile on Road 616, $3,041.28; two segments of Road 614 totaling 1.6 miles, $16,220.16; seven-tenths of a mile on Road 602, $7,096.32; and nine-tenths of a mile on Road 635, $9,123.84. Kimes and Stone Construction of Booneville also submitted quotes for the work.
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Alaina Gass and her friends were treated to a Princess Ball on Saturday. and Katie Melvin, was almost speechless as she witnessed the 20 characters after arriving via the Crossroads Trolley. “This is really amazing and it is so cool to get to tour the Cat
House with my friends,” said Alaina. “Growing up here and hearing all the legend about the house, I have always wanted to Please see PRINCESS | 2
The process of securing grants to cover the connection of Farmington sewers to the Alcorn Central school campus continues. Farmington Mayor Dale Fortenberry said he has already successfully secured a sizable amount of funds needed to complete the project. “We have applied for many grants. Some have been approved, but others could take several months to hear an answer,” said Fortenberry. “If we weren’t pretty sure we could get this fully funded, we wouldn’t of approached the school board about it in the first place.” The Alcorn School District
recently granted the city a standard easement to enter into an agreement to connect the school with the city’s sewer. The agreement states if grants to fund the construction and installation of the connection is not secured by the city then the school district is not obligated to follow through with the project. “I think it will happen, but I have no idea how long it will take to get all the funding we need in place,” added Fortenberry. The mayor said he has received help from District 2 Rep. Nick Bain and District 4 U.S. Senator Rita Potts Parks at the state capital. Please see SEWAGE | 2
Fellowship of Christian athletes honoring Shirley with scramble BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Dennis Shirley and Fellowship of Christian Athletes are synonymous around these parts.
The former Corinth High School coach and guidance counselor has shared the gospel with countless students since his involvement with the chapter in 1978.
Those who have been impacted by Shirley will get the chance to honor him during the Modern Woodmen of America/Fellowship of Christian Athletes Dennis Shirley Tribute Tourna-
ment on May 29 at Hillandale Golf Club. “His name represents FCA from beginning to end,” said FCA District 1 Director Mark Boren. “It’s (tournament) a
25 years ago An agreement is formally reached to save the Corinth Depot from demolition. A group of citizens chaired by Johnny Ross, with the cooperation of the Corinth-Alcorn Chamber of Commerce, battled to save the historic landmark from destruction.
tribute to Dennis for his tremendous impact for FCA.” The four-man scramble is open to the first 24 teams. Please see SCRAMBLE | 2
10 years ago Corinthians line up for advance tickets to the first showing of “Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith”. Malco Corinth Cinema 10 General Manager Jeff Ayers predicts a sell out for the long awaited movie. EXECUTIVE RENTALS COR CORINT INTH, H,, MISSISSIPPI MISSIS MIS SISSIP SIPPI PI CORINTH,
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