Inside today: More than $35 in coupon savings
Education
Books
Kossuth student chosen for medical conference.
‘Dad Report’ explores father-son bonds.
Page 2B
www.dailycorinthian.com
Sunday June 21, 2015 $1.50
Page 1B
Daily Corinthian Vol. 119, No. 145
• Corinth, Mississippi •
Mostly sunny Today
Tonight
93
72
0% chance of rain
20 pages • Two sections
Trains roar through Corinth at 40 mph Railroad boosts speed limits BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Freight train speed limit has been increased through some of the busiest crossings in the city. Norfolk Southern train speed limits were recently raised from 25 m.p.h. to a maximum of 40 m.p.h. The company operates the east-west line that travels through Corinth from Memphis to Charleston, S.C. An average of 31 trains pass through Corinth on this line each day. The public crossings affected by the speed increase include Linden Street, Fillmore Street, Franklin Street, Taylor Street, Madison Street and South Parkway. “The decision was made to increase the speed limit to help expedite the movement of freight trains through Corinth,”
said Susan Terpay, Director of Public Relations for Norfolk Southern. “The change is expected to improve public traffic flow and grade crossing safety by increasing train traffic fluidity.” According to Terpay, statistics show that more highwayrail grade crossing collisions and traffic delays occur at slower train speeds. “The warning devices at the each of crossings have also been adjusted to properly activate when the faster moving trains are approaching,” she added. Trains will often slow their speed when special events, like the Green Market or a festival, are occurring in the vicinity of a crossing.
Staff photo by Zack Steen
Please see TRAINS | 2A
Trains’ speed limit was recently increased through Corinth, affecting several busy crossings, including the Fillmore Street crossing downtown near the depot.
Absentee voting time nears New award honors BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
With about six weeks to go until the primary election day, absentee ballots will soon be available, and the voter registration deadline is near. The parties have finalized the ballots, and the Circuit Clerk’s Office is waiting for the state to make the final preparations. Circuit Clerk Joe Caldwell anticipates the ballots will be ready around June 29. July 4 will be the deadline for people who are not registered to vote to register and be eligible for the primary on Aug. 4. The clerk’s office will keep the doors open until 7 p.m. June
29 through July 2 for voter registration. The office will close on Friday, July 3, for Independence Day, but will be open from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, July 4, for the final day of registration. While the slate of county races is stirring interest in this year’s elections, the same cannot yet be said of the state offices — Caldwell said he is “not hearing anything at all” about those contests. But the office has fielded numerous calls from residents wanting to know about absentee ballots. In other election preparations, letters will be mailed to North Corinth voters about the
change of the precinct location from the former SportsPlex property to the North Corinth Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. The Aug. 4 primary is the first election in which North Corinth voters need to go to the church. Caldwell said signs will be placed at both locations to make sure voters know where to go. The decision was made to move the precinct when the future of the property was uncertain earlier this year. Caldwell believes it will be important to remind voters about voter identification. The recent special congressional election Please see ABSENTEE | 2A
Near-death experience creates message of hope BY JEFF YORK For the Daily Corinthian
It took a near death experience in a crystal meth explosion to help one man change his way of life from drug addictions to living a life for Jesus. Rodney Williams will come to Corinth to tell his life story at a Living Free Ministries meeting Monday, June 22. The meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m. at the Living Free building.
Williams has written his biography “Club Meth to Christ” as a way to tell his life story and maybe help others that have faced similar problems in their lives. “I began smoking marijuana at the age of 12 and then began to drink alcohol when I got to high school,” said Williams. “There are people who will say Please see MESSAGE | 2A
Williams
25 years ago
BY JEBB JOHNSTON
“Having a neatly trimmed yard, flowers and trees have all been shown to enhance business and the community.”
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
An attractive business is good for the community and brings in more dollars. That’s the drive behind Keep Corinth-Alcorn Beautiful’s new monthly Business Beautification Award, which aims to help entice business owners to keep things tidy. “Having a neatly trimmed yard, flowers and trees have all been shown to enhance business and the community,” said Community Development Director Andrea Rose. “We want to recognize those businesses who have consistently done what it takes to keep their establishments looking great.” Each monthly winner chosen by KC-AB will get a $50 gift certificate to a local nursery. The first honoree will be announced in July, and nominations may be made now. Rose said businesses can improve their curb appeal by picking up any litter that comes onto the property, keeping garbage bins tightly covered, making the entrance
Andrea Rose Community Development director welcoming with potted plants or trees, adding trees to the parking lot and keeping grass and landscaping trimmed. “A recent study by Texas A&M University found that simply adding flowers and shrubs outside of a business can increase sales and grow the customer base,” said Rose. “Keep America Beautiful has long promoted the fact that beautification draws customers and that those cusPlease see AWARD | 2A
10 years ago 41⁄4-pound
Barry Mills of Corinth shows off a crappie he caught. The near-world-record fish was caught in the Clear Creek Watershed.
RENTAL
beautiful businesses
Members of the Alcorn County Genealogical Society seek assistance from the county to preserve more county records and find new space for storage. Member Betty Robertson says genealogy is the number one hobby in the United States.
details Call for for complete details Rent a 2014 Nissan today! Now Renting 2014 Rentals starting at $32Nissans! per day! Call and rates! rates! and
286.6006 286.6006 HWY 72 E • Corinth MS BROSE www.brosenissan.com BROSE