071715 daily corinthian e edition

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Iuka Officials confirm Tuesday’s storm had straight-line winds.

Prentiss County Candidates will speak at Cairo Fire Station just ahead of primaries.

McNairy County Class AiMs to teach area photographers latest techniques.

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Friday July 17,

2015

75 cents

Daily Corinthian Vol. 119, No. 155

Hot Today

Tonight

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75

No chance of rain

• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections

Panelist airs grievance over raise BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

One board member raised concern about a salary increase request at this week’s Alcorn School District meeting. Board member Randy Wilbanks questioned the $2,000

salary increase request for district employee Tammy Johnson. The request was submitted to the board by Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith. “I feel like right here, at election time, it’s just a bad time to be handing out raises,” said

Wilbanks. “Four years ago, we put a stop to the superintendent giving out raises near the election. I think we should do something similar this time.” Johnson will serve as the district’s curriculum coordinator and testing coordinator during

the upcoming 2015-16 school year. She will manage both student and administrative testing and other state requirements. “The only reason I made the salary request was because of Mrs. Johnson’s increased workload,” said Smith. “She will ba-

sically be doing the work of two people.” Smith said she felt like the increase would put Johnson on the same salary level as a high school principal. Please see GRIEVANCE | 3A

Collections climb despite sales drop BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Tax collections continue on a record pace despite a slight drop in the latest sales tax funds returned to the city. This week the city received $530,523.87 from sales tax proceeds, a drop of about $6,700, or 1.3 percent, compared to a year ago. The small decrease snaps a streak of 19 consecutive monthly increases in sales tax proceeds dating back to December 2013.

Staff photo by Jebb Johnston

Know these faces? Gallery volunteer Janet Lindgren and photography enthusiast Bill Avery show vintage Joe McKewen portraits of people believed to be Jack Sweat and Anita Johnson.

50 years of faces on display at guild BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

For more than 50 years, just about everybody in the Corinth area posed before Joe McKewen’s camera at one time or another. Many of those faces are now

on display at the Corinth Artist Guild Gallery, where a collection of McKewen’s work will be exhibited until Aug. 29. Most of the subjects in the portraits are unidentified, and visitors are having a fun time finding people they know, sometimes

in photos from the ’60s, ’70s or ’80s. “They just really get carried away with it,” said Guild President Sonny Boatman. Some have notes stuck to the Please see DISPLAY | 3A

The latest deposit, which reflects sales activity in local businesses during May, pushes the fiscal year total to $5.157 million, up 7.1 percent from the prior year. For the latest month, collections were down six-tenths of a percentage point across the state, and eight of 11 area municipalities posted negative growth compared to a year ago. Please see TAXES | 3A

Freezers are hot issue for Alcorn Schools BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

In three years, the Alcorn School District has lost four large walk-in freezers to overheating and electrical issues. On Monday, the Board of Education voted “no” to hiring a monitoring company that promised to help prevent future cooler issues at cafeterias in the district. Food Service Director Peggy Bundy presented the board

with a proposal from the HumiTec Corporation which monitors humidity and gases inside coolers and freezers. The company promised to lessen the energy required for cooling, reduce AC compressor wear-and-tear, lessen overall maintenance costs, help achieve colder ambient temperatures, prolong the life of refrigeration equipment Please see FREEZERS | 2A

Pageant veteran vies for Miss Magnolia State crown BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com

Tackling a new challenge, Miss Alcorn County Magnolia State 2015, TaNechi Temple is preparing for yet another competition. A past Miss Southland (2010), Miss Spirit of the South (2011), Miss North Central Mississippi (2012), Miss Mid-South (2013) and Miss Mississippi United States (2014), the 24-yearold holds numerous titles and is no stranger to the rules of pageantry. “I had heard about the Miss Magnolia State competition before but have always competed through the

Miss America Organization because being in school, it offered the opportunity for scholarships. I am excited to try something different and see how it goes,” said Temple as she looks forward to experiencing a new system. “The competition will take me back to Vicksburg where I am used to competing, but it will definitely feel strange to walk into a different dynamic.” “This pageant promises to be a lot more fun because while it is a lot of work it is less stressful and tedious than those I’ve encountered in the past,” she added. “For instance, the Miss Magnolia

State Pageant has an evening gown portion like most competitions, but not a swimsuit round. They really stress the importance of being comfortable in your own skin and not having to look like the typical beauty queen. Their philosophy is that you should be comfortable enough to enjoy yourself while competing.” In keeping with the image of beauty being found in all ages, shapes and sizes, the Miss Magnolia State contest is open to all women and even offers a division for boys. “It is the biggest pageant in the state and there are no age

requirements to compete. They have categories from infant all the way up to late adulthood,” said the reigning Miss Alcorn County Magnolia State, who will compete in the Miss division for women ages 18-28. “In fact, last years winner, a former Miss Texas, was in her 70s.” “I love that the system not only encourages women, but promotes volunteerism and charity, which have always been a huge part of my life,” she continued. “They encourage all contestants to bring a gift to donate to their silent auction which will take Please see TEMPLE | 2A

TaNechi Temple of Corinth was crowned Miss Alcorn County Magnolia State during the preliminary to the Miss Magnolia State competition on Sunday, May 3.

25 years ago

10 years ago

The Corinth Rotary Club hosts the annual Magnolia Classic Horse Show at Corinth City Park. Rotary President Ernie Rice expects a big crowd with $7,000 in cash and awards up for grabs for competitors.

Southwest Volunteer Fire Department gets a major upgrade with the arrival of a new pumper truck. Fire Chief Jerry Hall thanks all those whose donations helped the department get the truck.

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