Thursday May 31,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 131
Thunderstorm Today
Tonight
84
64
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Debit card scam targeting area BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A rash of debit card scam phone calls has been reported in north Mississippi. Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley and the state attorney general’s office issued a consumer alert following nu-
merous reports of scam calls over the holiday weekend in which an automated call claims to be from BancorpSouth and asks customers to either validate or reinstate their debit cards. Similar calls a few weeks earlier targeted Renasant Bank customers.
The Corinth Police Department received numerous complaints about the calls on Wednesday. “It doesn’t seem to be isolated to any one bank,” said Police Chief David Lancaster. “Some have been automated calls that tell them their debit
card has been compromised and for more info to press 1.” Unless an individual has called the bank to discuss a matter, account details should never be given out over the phone, he said. “These calls came from a variety of numbers, including ‘pri-
vate’ numbers,” said Presley, “and asked consumers to give information including their debit card expiration dates and other confidential information in order to reinstate or validate your debit card. ConsumPlease see SCAM | 2
Sentencing set in Salts fraud case BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photos by Steve Beavers
Time capsule First United Methodist Church preschoolers were busy making individual time capsules that will be given to their parents to put up until their high school graduation. Raul Null decorates his plastic box with stickers, left. The 18 preschoolers also added a shirt, photo, small toy and note from their teacher in the box. Preschool teacher Diane Hilburn helps Doriya Cummings with her time capsule, right.
Former funeral home operators Michael and Marie Salts are scheduled to go before a judge next month to be sentenced for their role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain financing on a Tupelo home. The former couple is scheduled to appear separately before Judge Neal Biggers in U.S. District Court in Oxford on Monday, June 25 to for setencing in the case. Michael Salts pleaded guilty earlier this year to a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and Marie Salts pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Prosecutors agreed not to pursue any other charges in the case. Each defendant faces up to a $250,000 fine, 20 years in prison, three years post-release supervision and possible restitution. The pair were indicted last year on fraud charges for alPlease see SALTS | 2
Goodyear blimp’s visit causes stir in region BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Many eyes turned to the skies over Corinth Tuesday afternoon for the rare appearance of a blimp. The “Spirit of Goodyear” — one of three Goodyear blimps — flew over the Corinth and
Burnsville area as it traveled from Gadsden, Ala., to Millington, Tenn. Tim James spotted the airship near the hospital and snapped some pictures. “It came over my dad’s property, and it wasn’t much higher than the trees when it came
over,” he said. Airport Manager Donna Briggs said she had heard the blimp was coming into the area. The airport made contact to inquire if it would be stopping in the area and learned that it would not. Second District Supervisor
Dal Nelms was at the district shop with his son, who spotted the big object passing overhead. “We don’t see stuff like that too much in Glen,” said Nelms. “It reminded me of when we used to have the hot air balloon races, and you couldn’t take your eyes off of them.”
Eddie Ogden, public relations manager who travels with Spirit of Goodyear, which is based in Akron, Ohio, said the blimp was in Charlotte, N.C., over the weekend for a NASCAR event and was heading west into ArPlease see BLIMP | 2
Counseling to Career creates brighter futures BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
At Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Corinth campus, a group of students are working for a better future while getting some real world work experience. In the Counseling to Career program, local business owners have partnered with Northeast to help some young students get started on the road to a brighter tomorrow. Students earn money and work experience at local businesses — in addition to classroom instruction and counseling. The program’s goals
include providing one-on-one counseling and increasing literacy skills. Students who complete the smart work ethics training receive a certificate to add to their portfolio. The program will help students attain their GEDs (if needed) and gain work experience on the road to entering college, the military or finding permanent employment. The Counseling to Career program is for low-income students between the ages of 14 and 21 who wants to improve their learning and working Please see COUNSELING | 2
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
Seven students recently completed the Counseling to Career program offered by Northeast at Corinth. Shown here are (front row from left) Instructor Cassandra Evans, Amber Patrick, Chelsea Perkins, Danielle Rogers and Erin Wheeler; (back row) Pizza Inn owner Steve Henson, Amber Hopson, Nat Wilson, Jacob Walker and Subway manager Wade Tye.
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 12 Wisdom...... 11
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion......4A Sports........8
On this day in history 150 years ago The Battle of Seven Pines, Va. — The Union army is divided by the swollen Chickahominy River and Gen. Joseph E. Johnston attacks with his Confederate army outside of Richmond. The attack falters and late in the day he is severely wounded.
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