Tuesday June 10,
2014
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 130
T-storms Today
Tonight
81
65
80% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Houses targeted for demolition BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Some house demolitions are likely as the current round of property cleanup moves forward. While the rapid spring growth of grass and weeds has brought numerous addresses to the
property cleanup list, several declining properties where the city wants structures removed are also targeted. Among those considered prospects for demolition are 1224 White Street, 1007 Douglas and 1009 Douglas, all of which were adjudicated in the
last meeting of the Board of Aldermen, meaning the city can proceed with cleanup of the properties. But action by the owners is preferred. “If people have a plan, the City of Corinth is willing to work with all property owners,” said
Code Enforcement Officer Kim Ratliff. “The last thing the city wants to do is adjudicate and demolish a property. It ends up being a considerable cost on the taxpayer and on the individual property owner.” Demolition is also likely for at least one of the two proper-
ties involved in the Ella Spence Estate on Dunlap Street at the corner of Crater Street. Shirley Damons, speaking on behalf of the heirs, said her family is trying to get other relatives involved, and they hope to save Please see DEMO | 2
Staff photo by Zack Steen
A temporarily broken red light at Cass and Cruise Streets may have been the cause of a Monday morning two-vehicle wreck in downtown Corinth.
Officials set to work on red light problem BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
A temporarily broken red light at Cass and Cruise Streets in downtown Corinth may have been the culprit of a mid morning two-vehicle wreck Monday. According to a Corinth Police Department officer, the female driver of a gray Saturn Aura sedan was southbound on Cass Street when she collided with the male driver of a silver Mer-
cury Mountaineer SUV who was westbound on Cruise Street. The female driver of the sedan was transported to Magnolia Regional Health Center with minor injures. The driver of the SUV and two other passengers including an infant were not injured. Corinth Street Commissioner Philip Verdung said the traffic Please see WRECK | 2
Storm damage shuts down Highway 72 in Burnsville BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
BURNSVILLE — Downed power lines caused the closure of U.S. Highway 72 in Burnsville for several hours Saturday night. As the National Weather Series issued Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and Flash Flood Warnings throughout North Mississippi, strong winds were the corrupt of several main TVA Transmission lines being destroyed. According to the Tishomingo Sheriff’s Department, the downed power lines forced the closure of a section of the major
highway just west of the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway. Crews from TVA and Tishomingo County Electric Power Association worked to clear and repair the damaged power lines. “There were traffic delays in both the east and west bound lanes,” said the sheriff’s department. “We were instructing motorists to seek alternate routes.” A downed tree also closed Mississippi 25 in Belmont for several hours Saturday night. Trees were also reported across streets in the downtown Iuka area.
Staff photos by Zack Steen
A motorist passes over the crumpled portion of Farmington Road where heavy rainfall Saturday night washed out the roadway where a culvert had recently been installed. The road was closed for more than four hours while crews worked to repair the road. See related photo on page 2.
Drainage holds up following several rounds of heavy rain BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Several rounds of heavy rain since Thursday have put streets and drainage to the test. Officials urge caution as a chance for flash flooding continues today. “We’ve had some of the typical issues, some areas that we’ve had to manage, but nothing out of the ordinary for rain like this,” said Street Commissioner Philip Verdung. “We did some checks of the major waterways and bridges and culverts last week before all the rains started, and we are doing the same today trying to get prepared for the next round of rain.” Whenever water is over the roadway, he encourages motorists to remember the rule of thumb: “Turn around, don’t drown.” About 3.7 inches of rain has fallen since Thursday, according to observations at corinthweather.net, including about an inch that came down during storms before dawn Monday. At worst, “Some of our main
drainage canals were near the tops of their banks,” said Verdung. He was concerned the potential for heavy rain last night and today could lead to some flooding of roadways around the the major drainage canals, in low-lying areas and at the Cass Street underpass. The city has had a few trees down during the storms and reports of golf-ball size hail in Corinth during the severe storm that hit about 5:30 p.m. Saturday. If more flash flooding occurs, “We ask that people try to avoid those areas and be careful around the workers that are working on any problem areas,” said Verdung. In Farmington, heavy rains washed out a portion of Farmington Road just east of the Exxon Central Mini Mart. “I received a call around 7 p.m. Saturday night after the first round of storms came through,” said District Two Supervisor Dal Nelms. “The culvert installation near County Road 117 on Farmington Road
was quickly eroding due to the heavy rainfall.” Nelms said the road had collapsed approximately 2 feet on each side and the decision was made to close the road to traffic around 7:30 p.m. “Road crews worked into the night rebuilding the shoulders of the road until we felt it was safe enough to reopen,” he said. Buddy Ayers Construction assisted in the road rebuild. The Farmington Police Department and Farmington Volunteer Fire Department helped with traffic control. “The installation on the culvert project was only half completed,” said Nelms. “Under normal circumstances, had the contractor had time to complete this project, this wouldn’t have happened. It was very inconvenient timing. Mother Nature was laughing at us.” Nelms said the project will be completed as soon as the area gets a break in the rainy weather. (Staff Writer Zack Steen contributed to this report.)
Summer Library Program gets underway Wednesday with reptile show BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
With the likes of the “snake man” and a magic show lined up for the next few weeks, the Corinth Library aims to keep kids interested in learning during the summer break. The Summer Library Program kicks off at 1 p.m. Wednesday with the Living
Reptile Museum presented by Terry Vandeventer. “He drew our largest crowd in history last year,” said Librarian Brandon Lowrey. Vandeventer showed a variety of snakes including a hognose and a 6-foot-long indigo last year. “All snakes, venomous or not, help us in some manner,”
the herpetologist said in his Corinth debut. “The copperhead is a dangerous snake in Mississippi, and from his venom we are making medicine for breast cancer.” His will be one of four weekly presentations. “We are excited about of all of our summer events,” said Lowery. “The Corinth Library
Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 9 State........ 5
cares about keeping kids reading and keeping their minds active all summer long when they are out of school. We encourage parents and guardians to spend time reading to them.” Musician Mr. Richard will return for another singalong show at 3 p.m. June 18. New to the summer lineup this year is
magician Brian Jackson, who will present a magic show at 3 p.m. June 25. The sessions wrap up on July 2 with the demonstration of science experiments at 10 a.m. Participating children will receive a reading log to keep track of summer reading. Prizes will be given July 2 to those with full reading logs.
On this day in history 150 years ago
Weather...... 10 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
In one of the most stunning victories of the war, Gen. Nathan B. Forrest routs Sturgis’s men in the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads. Outnumbered 2 to 1, Forrest inflicts 2,420 casualties including 1,623 captured. Sturgis flees back to Memphis.
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Realty & Associates, LLC
662-286-2828
2782 S Harper Rd. • Corinth, MS 38834 • www.jumperrealty.com