062415 daily corinthian e edition

Page 1

Wednesday June 24,

2015

75 cents

Taste

Home & Garden

Cut summer pies down to size.

Tour explores Gary’s landscape and garden.

Page 1B

Page 14A

Daily Corinthian Vol. 119, No. 141

Hot, humid Today

Tonight

96

74

20% chance of rain

• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • Two sections

Troubles continue for Rinehart BY STEVE BEAVERS

Sheriff will not resign

sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

Monday’s arrest was not the first time Alcorn County Sheriff Charles Rinehart has encountered problems with state officials. Rinehart, Teddy Cleveland Null and Pamela Denise Null were all arrested on 10 counts of fraud and conspiracy on Monday. State Auditor Stacey Pickering’s office uncovered the sheriff’s department had purchased six cars from Cars for Less, owned by the Nulls, over the past three years. Fraudulent quotes representing other vendors were created by the Nulls to ensure their business was the lowest quote. Rinehart then submitted the quotes of six vehicles to the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors as competitive quotes for vehicle purchases as well as for trade in and scale transactions. The six vehicles purchased from Cars for Less were salvaged vehicles at the time of purchase and were rebuilt with potentially stolen parts prior to being sold to the county, according to Pickering. Rinehart has also been in trouble with the Mississippi Department of Corrections. In October of 2013, Rinehart was admonished by then MDOC Commissioner Christopher Epps for granting leave to William “Danny” Whitaker and five other inmates. Whitaker was found dead at his mother’s home on Oct. 26, 2013 while on pass from jail. Rinehart’s repeated violations of the Offender Leave Program forced Epps to discontinue housing state inmates at the jail in November. MDOC resumed sending inmates to the correctional facility on Dec. 17 after Epps received a Please see SHERIFF | 2A

BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

A 2012 Chevy Tahoe was sold to Alcorn County by Cars for Less for $11,240 without being mentioned it had been wrecked.

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

State Auditor Stacey Pickering answers questions after Alcorn County Sheriff Charles Rinehart, Teddy Cleveland Null and Pamela Denise Null were arrested on 10 counts of fraud and conspiracy.

Alcorn County Sheriff Charles Rinehart has no plans to step down. Rinehart, indicted on 10 counts of fraud and conspiracy on Monday, is set to be arraigned July 1. “I would be glad to sit down and talk, but I have been Rinehart told not to by my attorney,” Rinehart told the Daily Corinthian Tuesday afternoon. Rinehart has obtained Ashland attorney Anthony L. “Tony” Farese with the law firm of Farese, Farese & Farese as representation. “I have no intention of resigning,” said the sheriff in his only other comment. Rinehart was first elected sheriff in 2007. He unseated four-term sheriff Jimmy Taylor in a runoff in August. Taylor finished first in the primary earlier in August before Rinehart defeated him 6,222-4,839. Rinehart earned another term in 2011 by defeating now Corinth Police Chief Ralph Dance 5,241-4,299 in an Aug. 23 runoff.

ASD announces hires, rehires Wheeler Grove set to reopen this week BY ZACK STEEN

zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

The Alcorn School District Board of Education announced earlier this month the hiring or rehiring of more than 100 certified and non-certified employees. Many of the new staff mem-

bers will get started on the job when the 2015-16 school year begins in August. Lee Busby will start the new year off at the Alcorn Career Technology Center. He will take over the duties of the automotive service instructor under the leadership of center director

Rodney Hopper. At Biggersville Elementary School, Rene Estes will become testing coordinator. Other new BES employees include Janet Baggett, administrative assistant; Martha Terrell, assistant; Please see HIRES | 2A

Operation Dry Water raises awareness BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com

PICKWICK — Shedding light on the devastating aftermath of drug and alcohol abuse on the water, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) will participate in Operation Dry Water

on Friday–Sunday as part of a nationally coordinated effort to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities as a result of boating under the influence (BUI). The aim of Operation Dry Water is to raise awareness and educate recreational boaters about the dangers of alcohol

and drug use on waterways. The initiative also serves as an increased BUI detection and enforcement effort. According to Mississippi North Region Boating Supervisor Lt. Ricky Barry, Alcohol Please see DRY WATER | 2A

BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

KOSSUTH — Almost four weeks after a tractor trailer wreck closed Wheeler Grove Road, officials say the road will reopen to motorists by the end of this week. According to Alcorn County Director of Emergency Services Ricky Gibens, crews have been working nonstop since the June 1 wreck to clear the area of the more than 5,800 gallons of mineral oil. “The oil contaminated the dirt in the ditch between the S-curve and the Highway 2 intersection on Wheeler Grove Road,” said Gibens. “Crews had to dig out the dirt and put

new dirt in. They are also adding culverts to that section of County Road 512.” Gibens said by adding the culverts, crews are able to widen the road in that area which may help prevent vehicles from running off the side of the road when passing in that area. “I didn’t really realize how busy this stretch of road was,” said Gibens. “Even though only a few homes are in the effected area, the closure has caused a lot of trouble for folks who use this road as a connected between Highway 45 to Highway 2.” Please see ROAD | 3A

25 years ago

10 years ago

Longtime Alcorn County Extension Service Agriculture Agent Robert Wolfe prepares to retire. Wolfe has served farmers in the county for 17 years through the agency.

Jed Dixon is honored for his fundraising work for the March of Dimes and Relay for Life. Dixon has raised over $88,000 to help others through the programs.

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