Tuesday June 26,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 153
Today
Tonight
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57
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Politicians, vendors get ready Historic Jacinto Fourth of July Festival returns next week BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Politicians and vendors are signing up for next week’s hot ticket in Jacinto. The July Fourth Festival promises the familiar mix of politics, history, arts and crafts, food and old-fashioned atmosphere. After last year’s huge political speaking, a political “off-year” such as this brings more of a laid-back mood to the ghost-town festival. “It’s almost a different crowd on the off years,” said Jacinto Foundation Executive Director Beth Whitehurst. “This year should be a really friendly festival. In the off years, it’s more about the fun, the food and the crafts.” The much lighter slate of political speakers is scheduled to take the stage between roughly 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Local elected officials are always invited, and the festival usually draws prominent candidates for statewide or regional posts. “You either have to be in office or running for office, although you don’t have to be officially qualified,” said Whitehurst. “Haley Barbour came to speak at Jacinto the year before he ran for governor.” Candidates running for office who have confirmed they will appear are U.S. Rep. Alan
Mostly sunny
Tourism, sales tax posting gains BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Aaron Taylor and Elizabeth Whitehurst get the new sign ready for the Country Store across from the historic Jacinto Courthouse. The annual July Fourth Festival is set for next Wednesday. Whitehurst designed the sign and painted it along with help from Katie Jones and Sarina Patel. The sign was purchased through a grant from the Corinth Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Nunnelee; Brad Morris, challenger to Nunnelee; U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker; Thomas Cramer, Constitution Party candidate for U.S. Senate; and Richard “Flip” Phillips, who is running for an open Mississippi Supreme Court seat. Others who will speak include Corinth Mayor Tommy Irwin, Sheriff Charles Rine-
hart, Rep. Nick Bain and Northern District Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert. Chancery Clerk Bobby Marolt will serve as emcee. The Chucalissa Indians will again appear, and the Freeman’s Battery Forrest’s Artillery will fire a Civil War era cannon at 9 a.m. Lost Cause and other musicians will per-
form. Food will be available throughout the day, including breakfast served by the Jacinto Volunteer Fire Department. Spaces remain available for both food and craft vendors. To reserve a spot, contact the Jacinto Foundation office at 286-8662 or send an e-mail to beth8431@yahoo.com.
A solid month for sales tax revenue across the state gave Corinth its fifth consecutive month of growth. Ten of 11 area municipalities posted gains in their share of sales tax proceeds deposited at mid-June. For Corinth, the total was $472,043.33, a gain of 4 percent, or about $17,000, from the same month a year earlier. With nine monthly deposits received, the current fiscal year’s total is $4.10 million, an increase of 3 percent from the same point in the prior year. For the month, Mississippi cities collectively received $33.07 million, a 3 percent increase from a year ago. The 2 percent tourism tax on prepared food and lodging in Corinth also continued a positive trend. The month’s total was $91,018.36, an increase of almost 10 percent from a year earlier. It is the first June tourism tax deposit to top $90,000. The tourism tax has seen growth in seven of the fisPlease see GAINS | 2
Future car tags can show support for local schools BY BOBBY J. SMITH
“I think it’s a good program and a good, efficient way to raise money and show support for the schools.”
bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Alcorn County residents may soon get the opportunity to show some pride in local schools with their car tags. District 2 Rep. Nick Bain said during his time in the state capital he has notice many car tags with local school logos. Bain has filed a bill to allow Alcorn County residents to purchase customized car tags representing all of the local high schools — Alcorn Central, Biggersville,
Nick Bain State representative from Corinth
Corinth and Kossuth. For the customized tags to become a reality, at least 300 of
the tags must be pre-purchased. Once the minimum number is met, the tags will be produced.
From the cost of each tag, $24 will go to local schools. If the minimum number is met and the tags are made, it will raise at least $7,200 for local schools. “I think it’s a good program and a good, efficient way to raise money and show support for the schools,” Bain said. While local school leaders support the project, specific plans are not yet in place for the effort to meet the minimum number of tags. “Rep. Bain asked if we were
interested, and we said we were,” said Corinth Schools Superintendent Lee Childress. “Of course, we’ve yet to decide on a design or talked about selling the tags.” Childress said it will be a good way for the school district to raise money and local school leaders will soon decide how to take the next step. “We’re going to look at it and decide what to do — and how to roll it out to the public,” Childress said.
Retiring educator honored for 51 years of service BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Local and state leaders came together with Northeast in Corinth personnel to honor Nelson Wall — longtime educator and Alcorn County native — on the occasion of his retirement. Wall’s retirement marks the end of a 51-year career in education. For the last five years he has served as the director of Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Corinth facility. “Can you imagine anyone with over 50 years in education?” asked former Northeast President Joe Childers. “According to the Mississippi Public Employees Retirement Service, people ordinarily retire with 31 years of service. Nelson has nearly doubled the 31 years!” Childers paid tribute to Wall’s contribution to local education. “Nelson Wall is an inspiration to everyone,” he said. “He’s a legend and an icon in education. I consider him to be a friend and a great American. He’s done a lot for Northeast.” District 2 Rep. Nick Bain attended the reception and presented Wall a proclamation he wrote with House Speaker
Philip Gunn. The proclamation commends and congratulates Wall during “an epic conclusion to a stellar career in education that has spanned 51 years.” Wall was born in the Rockhill-Fields community of Alcorn County in 1933. He attended Fields Elementary and Farmington High School. After attending Northeast Mississippi Junior College, Wall earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Mississippi State University. He also pursued advanced studies at the University of Mississippi, Arkansas State University and Memphis State University. Wall’s teaching career began in 1960 in the Holly community and continued at Kossuth High School. Later he served as assistant principal at Oakland and principal at Alcorn Central High School, before taking another job in education in Arkansas in 1981. In 1992 Wall retired as a school district superintendent in Arkansas. He later returned to North Mississippi and began working initially as Tech Prep coordinator at NEMCC. His other positions at the Booneville campus include administra-
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
Rep. Nick Bain presents a proclamation he penned with the Speaker of the House of Representatives to congratulate longtime educator Nelson Wall on his “stellar” career and wishing the 51year educator the best in his retirement. They are joined by (left) Northeast Mississippi Community College President Johnny Allen and the school’s WIA Director, Jason Mattox. tive assistant to the president and dean of community service. In 2005 he was vetted to oversee Northeast at Corinth.
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 11 Wisdom...... 10
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
One accomplishment that is especially a source or pride for Wall is his 2008 designation as “Outstanding Older Worker of
Mississippi.” He happily shared this honor with his wife of 57
On this day in history 150 years ago Gen. John Pope, who commanded the Union forces in the fighting at Farmington in May, is transferred east and given command of the new Army of Virginia. Robert E. Lee’s troops initiate the first of the Seven Days Campaign at Mechanicsville, Va.
Please see WALL | 2