Tuesday June 12,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 141
BY JEBB JOHNSTON A line of severe thunderstorms with high winds downed trees and caused some minor property damage in Corinth and Alcorn County on Monday. The storm system greeted the area with dark clouds and wind gusts about 5 p.m. The largest tree blown down in the city blocked traffic on East Shiloh Road. It fell from the lawn of the Daniel residence across a roadside fence, with the top of the tree coming to rest in Shiloh Road.
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
School board selects sex education policy
Thunderstorms’ winds down trees jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Thunderstorm
Street Commissioner Jim Bynum said the tree hit a vehicle that was passing at the time, but there was apparently no major damage to the vehicle or injuries to the occupants. The residence is also home to the popular “Shiloh Road gorilla” lawn ornament, which Bynum said appeared to have been hit by the falling tree. “I don’t know how bad he’s hurt, but we believe he was pretty well hurt,” said Bynum. A large limb fell at Cruise and Proper, and the street
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth School District Board of Trustees on Monday adopted an abstinence-only sex education policy but agreed to revisit the issue after it has been in place for a semester. School districts are required to adopt an abstinence-only or abstinence-plus policy by the end of June. The policy will go into practice with the 20122013 school year. The board reached its decision after much discussion in
Please see STORMS | 2
which concern was expressed about youth becoming sexually active at younger ages. “I would like to take the position of abstinence-only, but I think that’s like wearing blinders,” said Board President Ann Walker. Superintendent Lee Childress said the differences between the two options are subtle. Abstinence-plus promotes abstinence while including information about how to use contraception but without demonstrating how to use it.
Abstinence-only does not altogether prohibit an instructor from talking about contraceptives, however. Board member Jerry Finger said he sees the need for sex education and is hearing it from others, as well. Childress agreed that the community faces an increasing problem. “Teen pregnancy has been a problem throughout this country for many years,” he said. “It Please see POLICY | 2
Local horse expert scores Belmont finish BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Rep. Alan Nunnelee (right) speaks with Corinthian Inc. Operations Manager Mark Coombs and employee Wendy McDowell Monday morning during a visit to Corinth.
Congressman tours industry BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Rep. Alan Nunnelee (R) visited a Corinth restaurant and industry while spending time in his home district Monday morning. At Corinthian, Inc., the congressman toured the Henson Road facility and learned about
the furniture manufacturing operations. “The economy is a little slow, especially in the furniture industry, but we’re hanging in there,” said Operations Manager Mark Coombs. Nunnelee, who represents Northeast Mississippi in the U.S. Congress, said the private
sector continues to struggle in the economic recession. “The good news is that the folks at Corinthian are operating, working and providing jobs,” he said. “But there is a cloud of uncertainty that is hanging over the economy. Please see NUNNELEE | 3
When Paynter finished second place in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes horse-race, Alcorn County resident Alan Porter had a reason to celebrate. The 55-year-old native of England consulted the mating for Paynter — along with many other top-tier racehorses over the years. Porter is a pedigree consultant, and as co-owner of three companies that promise their clients the best advice when it comes to breeding fast horses, the near-victory was an affirmation of the soundness of his advice. “I was delighted to see Paynter run so well in the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, and the race they call the Test of the Champion,” said Porter. “For a relatively inexperienced horse, making his first start in a major race, he performed remarkably well, very nearly leading from tape to wire, and just getting caught in a photo-finish by Union Rags, the
winter favorite for the Triple Crown.” Porter is a five-year resident of western Alcorn County, near the Hightown community. He moved to Alcorn following 13 years of living in New York. He has been professionally involved with thoroughbreds for almost 40 years, has been a writer on racing and breeding for more than 35 years and has been planning matings for 25 years. After several years working on a stallion farm in his native England, Porter turned to journalism, joining “Stud & Stable” magazine, which eventually became “Pacemaker,” where he worked as deputy editor. Over the years he has contributed to many racing publications around the world and has authored three books on racing, including “Patterns of Greatness” and “Patterns of Greatness II - The Americans” with Anne Peters. The websites for his conPlease see HORSES | 2
Coffeehouse continues cultural offerings Corinth’s cultural offerings will be on display this month in a series of upcoming events at KC’s Espresso.
She also emphasized that the event is open to everyone, not just the musically inclined. “You don’t have to be a musician or a singer to come,” she said. “Just come hang out.”
Open Mic
Book Signing
The coffeehouse will stage its monthly Open Mic Night on Saturday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. On Open Mic Night the KC’s staff shut the doors facing Fillmore Street to make room for the PA system and local, mostly young, performers take turns playing sets of their choice material. Customers and performers enter through the side door facing Waldron Street. Performers at the events are talented musicians who represent all walks of life and all genres of music, owner Melinda Billingsley said. Usually around 10 performers divide the night’s stage time, each playing 15- to 20-minute sets. The owner said she hopes the monthly event will offer a safe alternative for the area’s young people, where they can come together and enjoy music and friendship in an environment free from drugs and alcohol. And it’s not just for the kids, she emphasized. “It’s for kids and adults — but mostly it’s the kids that take advantage,” Billingsley said.
On Tuesday, June 26, West Tennessee author Jeanne Crews Taylor will sign copies of her third novel, “The Final Stretch.” It is the story of two siblings who were separated at early ages who reconnect over a shared childhood in an Oklahoma trailer park. “This story is filled with conflict and emotion, and will tug at your heart,” said the author. “I like to give my readers a little bit of it all — adventure, romance and heartache.” Taylor will sign copies of her new book from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Mark Boehler
‘Mud Bog’ Thanks to a lawn sprinkler turned on high to beat the heat over the weekend, Gregory Spencer of Douglas Street in Corinth transformed his front yard into a “mud bog” and some messy, happy times on his “mud bike” bicycle. He is the 8-yearold son of Amber Fletcher and Joseph Spencer, both of Corinth. Gregory will be a third grader next year at Corinth Elementary School.
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 11 Wisdom...... 10
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
Poetry Night Members of Crossroads Poetry Project will hold their monthly Poetry Readings on Friday, June 28, beginning at 6 p.m. “We meet one night each month for people to read their poetry or anybody else’s,” said the group’s vice president, Milton Wallis. “We just get together and have a good time with poetry.” Wallis said he wishes to invite anyone who is interested in poetry
to come read or listen during the monthly reading. “We welcome anyone of any age, and we have some wonderful talent,” said Wallis. “There’s so much talent in Corinth — people wouldn’t believe.” Musicians are also invited to play instruments and perform songs at the Poetry Reading. Crossroads Poetry Project is always seeking new members. To get involved contact Milton Wallis at 662-415-2446.
Shelby Pratt Concert A night of musical entertainment with Shelby Pratt is slated for Friday, June 29, at 7 p.m. Born in Izmir, Turkey, to military parents during the Gulf War and raised in Corinth, Pratt had her first solo in a church play at the age of six and has loved music ever since. Pratt’s strong background in musical theatre includes roles including Belle in “Beauty and the Beast,” Cinderella in Roger and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” and Daisy Mae in “Lil Abner” in local theatres. Over the last nine years she has trained with vocal coaches Renee Grant Williams, Bob Westbrook and Dr. Connie Roberts. Her voice is described as a fusion of pop and classical, with widely Please see EVENTS | 2
On this day in history 150 years ago The Army of the Mississippi under Gen. John Pope begins to settle into camps south of Corinth along Clear Creek. “The latter is a clear, running brook of excellent water, with many springs along the banks and with no swampland whatever in the neighborhood.”