Saturday July 19,
2014
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 170
Warmer Today
Tonight
82
66
40% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Mayor, four aldermen unopposed Light slate ends election qualifying BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
No new candidates stepped up during the final week of qualifying, leaving Corinth with one of the lightest slates in many years as the window of opportunity
closed at 5 p.m. Friday. For city election holders, it will mean a little more breathing room than the typical election allows. For example, there will be no need for a primary for the Republican candidates. “And there will be no primary runoff — that’s a first,” said City Clerk Vickie Roach. With a couple of incumbents switching to the Republican
ticket (Mayor Tommy Irwin and Ward 5 Alderman Michael McFall), Republican candidates will, for the first time, gain a majority of seats on the board. The 2014 lineup ends with 13 candidates, compared to 23 in both 2010 and 2006. Candidates who have no opposition of either party include Mayor Tommy Irwin (R), Ward 1 Alderman Andrew “Bubba”
Labas (R), Ward 2 Alderman Ben Albarracin (R), Ward 3 Alderman A.L. “Chip” Wood III (R) and Ward 5 Alderman Michael McFall (R). Only police chief, ward 4 alderman and alderman at large have contested races. For police chief, the Democratic primary on Sept. 16 will have Ralph Dance and Ben Gann, while Fred Gooch (R)
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Home Dream Center’s Annie Saffore (left) and Tate Baptist’s Nancy Tenhet organize a hat rack during a week of volunteer work at the mission center.
Church group aids mission center BY STEVE BEAVERS It has been a long road for organizers of the Hope Dream Center Mission. An attempt to help the homeless and troubled women has been met with roadblock after roadblock. “I have been discouraged for a while,” said Annie Saffore, president of the center board. “We haven’t been able to do things ourselves and not many people have been willing to help.” Until this week.
Dream Catchers renewed optimism following a week of organization at the mission center. As part of “Tate Baptist Cares,” around 11 members of the church took on the project of getting things organized at the center. “Our main objective is to help them establish a clothes closet,” said Dream Catchers team leader Richard Tenhet. “There were mounds of clothes which needed sorting and labeled.” Work of the volunteers has re-energized Saffore. “They are our angels,” she
said. “The Lord wants to continue His purpose that’s why He sent help.” Some of those helping have tries to the place which use to be the home of Tate Baptist Church. “Three of us have a long history here,” said Nancy Tenhet. The Tenhets, Linda Hughes and Cindy Steen were all part of the church once located on Tate Street. Steen started church there 37 years ago. “Both kids were baptized in Please see MISSION | 2
FARMINGTON — The Farmington board of alderman voted to pull $78,000 of EPA Region 4 grant money out of the city’s current sewer improvement plan this week. “The state said if we used that $78,000 on this project, then we would have to rebid the project,” said Mayor Dale Fortenberry. “Since we already had contracts signed and pipe down, we decided to not use the money.” The city will be allowed to apply the EPA money to a future sewer projects. The board agreed to borrow the full $250,000 needed to complete the current sewer project from North Mississippi Planning and Development. The 25-year loan will be financed at two percent interest. Work began last month on the current sewer project, which will add 44 new households to the sewer system.
In other business: ■ The City of Farmington will look more festive when the holiday season rolls around in December. The board of alderman recently approved the purchase of 25 additional electric snowflake light pole decorations. “The new snowflakes will be installed on Central School Road all the way to the school,” said City Clerk Debbie Jackson. “If we have any snowflakes left over, they will be installed down Farmington
Local climber inspired by view at the top BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
With nothing but rock and vegetation beneath him, John Lavender scaled Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States with an elevation of 14,505 feet. The 45-year-old thrill seeker deemed the scene atop Mount Whitney as one that defies adequate description. “It’s hard to describe the view from the top of the mountain,” he said. “The closest thing I can compare it to is the view from an airplane. Instead of gazing through a tiny window, imagine if you could sit out on the wing.” Gear on hand and reservations forgotten, Lavender set out on the adventure of a lifetime. His solitary climb took two days to accomplish. “It was my first time to tackle Mount Whitney,” said the avid outdoors-man. “I climbed on June 14 and 15.” The rock climber said it was his friend Ray Burcham who first sparked his interest in conquering Mount Whitney.
Please see QUALIFYING | 2
Farmington shifts sewer grant funds
Helping Hope
sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
will automatically advance to the Oct. 14 general election. All are currently employed with the Corinth Police Department and seeking to follow David Lancaster, who is retiring. The alderman at large race will see two-term incumbent Mike Hopkins face Jennifer S. McCoy in the Democratic pri-
Road to the city limits.” The city previously purchased snowflakes in 2012 at a cost of $135 each. ■ The Farmington Police Department report for June 17-July 11 included 289 calls for service, 40 traffic stops, 29 citations, three arrests and one traffic accident. The department assisted the Alcorn County Sheriffs Department, Farmington Volunteer Fire Department and EMS on several calls. ■ The Farmington City Court report for June included one guilty plea for careless driving, one guilty plea for child restraint, one guilty plea for driving with a suspended drivers license, two guilty pleas for seatbelt violation, five guilty pleas for speeding 10-19 MPH over the posted speed limit, four guilty pleas for speeding 20 mph and over the posted speed limit and one guilty plea for reckless driving. ■ The Farmington Sewer Department report for June 17-July 11 included the active outstanding balance of $21,020.44, the active past due amount of $9,797.09 and the inactive past due amount of $25,248.47. The department placed 54 hang tags, four customers were disconnected for non payment and four customers are currently locked out for non payment. ■ The next board meeting is scheduled for August 19 at 6 p.m. at the Farmington City Hall on Farmington Road. The public is welcome to attend.
Pastor retires from police department BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
Photo compliments of John Lavender
Snow collects on Mount Whitney. “I had been backpacking with him in the Smoky Mountains when he started telling me about Mount Whitney,”
said Lavender. “It sounded fun and challenging, so I wanted to do it.” While he didn’t encounter
Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 7 State........ 5
Weather........9 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
any problems along the way, Lavender said it did take a toll Please see LAVENDER | 2
Pastor John Hall of Christian Light Church is closing the door on his 28 year career with the Corinth Police Department and opening his heart and mind up to new possibilities. On July 20, the church will hold a special retirement program for Hall in conjunction with the celebration of their three-year anniversary. The event is set to kick off at 3 p.m. and will come to its conclusion at 5 p.m. Pastor Donald Anderson and the Fountain Head MB Church will be the guests. Those wishing to celebrate with pastor Hall and his church family are invited to join them at Christian Light Church, located at 1603 East Third Street. “As I turn the old page in my life’s story, I am joyful as the Lord gives me a glimpse of the new page,” said Hall.
On this day in history 150 years ago Tupelo Campaign: The Confederate dead are being buried. As the friends of Sgt. John Cato of the 4th Mississippi Cavalry prepare to bury him, one looks in his pockets and finds paper with the words of his favorite song, “Who Will Care For Mother Now?”